Chapter 14: Skeletons in the Closet

She opened her eyes with much difficulty. Her sides and arms hurt like crazy. Her throat was dry and so were her lips. Her body felt heavy. As her eyes adjusted to the light, she wondered briefly if she was in heaven but dismissed that thought, as she smelt the familiar aroma of miso soup. Megumi...

Kaoru tried to get up but winced in pain. She heard a movement and saw Kenshin looking down at her with both relief and joy. "You're awake," he murmured softly, brushing her bangs away from her eyes. She could only nod. Her throat was too dry to speak. As though he sensed it, he fed her some water. Kaoru studied the man before her as he brushed her bangs away from her face. He looked tired and there were dark circles around his eyes. He looked haggard and thinner than she remembered.

What had happened? She wondered. "I'll fetch Gensai-sensei, Kaoru. Don't move, okay? I'll get you something to eat." He placed a loving kiss on her forehead and turn to leave.

What had happened? She closed her eyes and tried to think back. Images slowly filled her mind. White smoke...Shuichi and Aoshi fighting, Hideo kidnapping her...Arashi Sawamura...blood...lots of blood...and dark hair. She opened her eyes. Bits and pieces seemed to just join up and told her a story. The truth suddenly hit her.

She wasn't Kamiya Koshijiro's daughter.

Who was she? Was she really a yakuza leader's daughter as Shuichi and Hideo had told her?

Shuichi!

She wondered how he was. She knew she had to wait for the doctor but she was so tired.

Kaoru closed her eyes. Just for a moment, she reasoned. Just for a while.

He sensed that she was awake. Seeing her fingers moving slightly and her eyelids flutter open was the most beautiful thing he had ever laid his eyes on. One week. She had been asleep for one week. He barely had enough sleep for that week. He was so scared. He was scared that death would steal her away if he didn't keep watch.

That night replayed itself in his mind over and over again. He had been careless. He was concentrating so much on Shuichi that he had not been alert about his surroundings. When Kaoru got kidnapped, he thought he could tear Shuichi's limbs apart just by his hands. Anger and rage were coupled with fear and that nearly drove him insane when he was kept away from her. Truly, he was so glad that he had not killed Ice. At the last moment, he managed to knock the man out. By now, he would be lying in Saito's jail. But it was Arashi that made Kenshin even angrier. By Soujiro's account, it was evident that man was about to kill Kaoru and had caused her two head injuries that were fatal. Even Megumi took hours trying to stabalise Kaoru. At the end, he kept a silent vigil by her side.

She was in the realm of nightmares. She barely had a decent sleep. Always twisting and turning and screaming...Kenshin felt helpless. He couldn't help her no matter how much he wanted to. He was glad that she finally awoke.

When he appeared at the doorway, 7 pairs of eyes concentrated on him. "She's awake," he said softly and watched as relief flooded each of their faces. The fear of loosing her had put a strain on each one of them. Doctor Gensai stood up and nodded at Kenshin and both of them walked over to Kaoru's room.

Yahiko's eyes were filled with tears. "Thank goodness...she's alive." He didn't know what to say. The gloomy and tense atmosphere had taken its toll on him as it had on everyone else. Kaoru's screams and cries that suddenly burst out frighten the living daylights out of him. Sano nodded his head, too emotional to say a word. He glanced at Megumi and reached out to hold her hand before pulling her down. He hugged her tightly as she sobbed in relief on his chest.

Misao was curled in a corner. He wound had healed perfectly and was up and about again. However, she kept her distance from Aoshi. Not a word was uttered among the two and he only looked at her before turning his attention to the yard. Only one person stood up, dusting his pants with a smile on his face.

"Well...all's well that ends well. I should go and inform both Saito-san and Tokio-san. Perhaps even rest the minds of Tae-san at Akabeko," Soujiro said cheerily as he left. No one said a word. They wondered why he was there. Bugged him for answers. Neither he nor Saito revealed any. They said they would make things clear after Kaoru was better. After all, it did concern her. The person they were also worried about was the old doctor. He looked utterly devastated. Especially since...

She was asleep when they came in but the doctor was sure she was out of danger. When Kaoru did wake up, she was too weak to do anything so Misao and Megumi slowly nursed her back. They didn't ask any questions neither did they entertain any questions of hers. Kaoru soon felt resigned to her fate of just getting better. She was quite shocked when she was told she had been 'asleep' for a week.

Getting up, she made herself presentable before walking out. The voices from the porch were gay and merry. She smiled softly as she walked in and said good morning. Instantly, everyone kept quiet and focused on her.

"Why the sudden change of atmosphere?" Kaoru teasingly asked as she slid down beside Misao. The hyper young lady, who had grown quite subdued, jumped up happily and hugged her friend. "You're up! You should be resting," Misao grinned as she settled down. "Aa, Kaoru. You should be in bed," Kenshin said softly, his eyes gazing lovingly at her. Kaoru shook her head. "I have been asleep for so long and barely seen the outside world. It's good to be out."

She looked around. Was the dark-haired man just a fragment of her past? She wondered silently as she saw no one fitting that description. Where is he?

"Ano...where is Shuichi? You refused to say anything about him at all. I'm much better now...can I go and see him?" she asked mainly to Megumi who paled at his name. She instantly was alert at the expression on Megumi's face. She felt uncomfortable and an intense feeling of dread filled her. "Where is Shuichi? What happened to him?" No one said a word, looking the other side instead or looking down. Kaoru felt frightened. No! No, it can't be! "Why are you all so quiet? Where is he?" she cried out.

"Kaoru..." Kenshin placed his hand on hers but she pulled away. Tears sparkled in her eyes unshed. "What happened to him? Why won't anyone say anything?" No! No! No!

Doctor Gensai walked quietly towards her. "I'll tell you." He sat in front of Kaoru and held her left hand carefully. It was after all, still healing like her right arm. Kaoru looked at him in confusion. He took out a small beautiful box and placed it on her palm. Suddenly, struggling for breath, Kaoru opened it and gasped. A beautiful hairpin lay in the box. It would match the kimono she was wearing on Tanabata day perfectly. Tears fell from her eyes and no matter how much she tried they refused to stop.

I have so much to tell you but if I don't make it, my father will give you a gift I bought for you some time back.

Clutching her neckline desperately for control, understanding dawned upon her as she looked up at the doctor. Understanding and desperation for it to be wrong. But the look in the doctor's eyes told her the worst for the news. She cried then. Not just her tears flowing but her whole body shook in realisation.

He was gone. The man that loved her and whom she loved in return. It might not be the same type of love...but it was love nonetheless. The man who sacrificed his life for her. Sobbing, she wrapped her arms around her tighter. Kenshin reached out to pull her against him but she refused his touch. She wasn't the only one. She knew that. The doctor before her was hurting as well.

"You...he was yours?" Kaoru struggled to get the words out but she could not even contain the shock of that knowledge. The old doctor nodded. "Yes, my child.

Shuichi is my son."

No one spoke. The silence was deafening. The truth of the matter shocked all of them. "What the hell do you mean he is your son, doc? That can't be true!" Sano yelled as he watched the old doctor. Gensai-sensei only shook his head. "He was my son. My only son. I had him a few years after Suzume and Ayame's mother. But he was never truly mine." The doctor looked straight at Kaoru. His tears had dried up days ago when Shuichi managed to mutter his dying wish in the doctor's arms. His son was a White Dragon member till the end. Shuichi's love for the young woman before him was so great that even the doctor could not feel any anger towards Kaoru. Oh but the pain...Pulling himself together, he grasped her hands.

"He met you when you were very young. He liked you so much but then...he knew to get to you; he had to join the gang. He managed to prove his importance when he located you a few times after you disappeared. Your father thought he would be a good bodyguard. Shuichi was overjoyed."

"Wait...that would mean his name is Shuichi...just it's not Haname," Yahiko asked the doctor. The old man smiled sadly. "Hai...his real name is Shuichi Gensai but he choose his mother's maiden name to protect us. Her family name was Haname."

"That was why you said you trusted him with your life that day. You knew he was your son. He wouldn't hurt Kaoru or any of you," Kenshin put in understanding the situation slightly. Yet there were still many questions...

The doctor nodded. "I couldn't tell any of you because I promised him I wouldn't. He has been watching over you, Kaoru-chan because he loved you so much for so long." Kaoru stared at the hairpin, Shuichi's face in her eyes. He loved her and she couldn't love him back. She was a monster. He died because of her! Her tears wouldn't stop and she didn't have any will to stop it.

"Why join The White Dragons for Kaoru? I don't understand," Yahiko questioned as he looked around to see if any knew the answer.

Megumi felt the urge to yell at everyone to shut up. Kaoru has yet to heal completely and her face was getting paler. She didn't think Kaoru could handle the truth just yet. But before Megumi could open her mouth, Kaoru butted in.

"I am not Kamiya Koshijiro's daughter." It was a quiet statement but everyone heard it and stared at her but before they could say a word, Kenshin and Aoshi felt two strong ki and looked up. Saito and Soujiro stood at the yard, a mile on the younger man's face. "Yeah and I still haven't figured out about Seta here."

"How are you feeling, Kaoru-chan?" Soujiro asked softly as he sat across her. Saito just decided to stand and watch the show. Tokio couldn't come so he thought of clearing matters with Kaoru before his wife's appearance. Kaoru looked up at the soft voice and saw a handsome young man with a happy smile looking at her. She felt as though she should know him but just couldn't place him anyway.

"You were there that night," she said softly. "Thank you for saving me but I...I don't know you." Soujiro laughed. "Your friends here know me as Seta Soujiro. I was a follower of Shishio Makoto before Himura-san decided to straighten me up. We haven't met though except for that night," he said with a smile. It was warm and comforting, she thought. Oh...so he was the tenken. But why did he help me?

Saito settled down before he lit up a cigarette. "I think you should know some truth about yourself, tanuki. It is going to be hard but it is not that bad a truth. You are a Kamiya just not Kamiya Koshijiro's daughter. You are Kamiya Obihiro's only daughter."

"So...my name is still Kamiya?" Kaoru asked in confusion. Saito nodded while others kept quiet. "My father and yours decided the war was hurting too many people so to protect their family and friends, they established a yakuza gang. It started out for good purposes. Take care of the farms, children and women. Your dad became the leader while mine preferred some action. They made a good team. They helped the government silently underhand while maintaining a strict and firm hold in front of others. Easily, they became one of the most feared yakuza during their time and still are. People stay away from them.

Some problems became to arise as some members became bloodthirsty and power hungry. Arashi Sawamura was a relative of your father but he fell in love with your mother. No one knew this. He was angry when they got married and started plotting a way to get in power. But your dad was good and kept his position. When your mother gave birth, she had a pair of fraternal twins. Your baby brother was kidnapped and never to be found again." Here Saito paused and nodded at Soujiro. Everyone stared at him while he smiled.

"You?" Kaoru asked in shock, her voice barely a whisper. Soujiro nodded. "You know, I was quite shocked and happy to know I was not a Seta but a Kamiya. Quite happy indeed."

Kaoru felt a stirring in her heart and concentrated back on Saito as he continued.

"Your mom, Lady Naoko, was resigned to her fate and decided to name you a unisex name to remember your brother. Touching, right. Well...as problems arose, the government sent a spy to see why there were problems in The White Dragon. They couldn't loose this gang because it was one that not only gained respect of other yakuza gangs but also maintained some peace. They wanted to wiggle out the bad eggs. That man was your foster father, Kamiya Koshijiro. Ironic right...both are Kamiyas. Koshijiro thought Kamiya Kasshin Ryu for the younger generations. That's how Shuichi learnt it. He was good and gained Koshijiro's approval and also your father's. You were a difficult child. Always running away from your bodyguards but you liked Shuichi. You extended your friendship to him and blah blah blah...puppy love turn crush turn love."

Kaoru didn't utter a single word but her mind played and replayed the information being fed suddenly to her. She was a yakuza leader's daughter. Shuichi was her boyfriend...sort of and her bodyguard. That means the story he once told her was about her. The incident where so many lost their lives.

My sister. I remembered what an idiot I was and how I failed to protect her.

Sakura.

Shuichi is Gensai-sensai's son. So...

Sakura is his daughter. She is dead because of her!

"That incident during the outing," Kaoru cut in, desperately wishing she was wrong. "Shuichi mentioned his sister, Sakura died when they were attacked. Was she...was she your daughter?" Kaoru asked the old doctor.

With a sigh, doctor Gensai nodded. "My youngest and my most loved. Her mother died giving birth to her."

"When he realised you might have seen him raping your mother, Arashi ordered for your untimely end. Quite a few got caught in his web. Only you and Shuichi escaped. Even then, you lost your memory," Saito said knowing that this was going to be tough on a woman with a soft heart like Kaoru. And he was right.

She felt like the whole world was closing in on her. She was the reason two of her favourite doctor's children were dead. But here he was sitting before her, still caring for her. "It's not right. I am so sorry," Kaoru cried, tears flowing freely. "I am the cause of their deaths. I caused you to loose your family, Gensai-sensei. Gomen...gomen nasai. I'll understand if you refuse to see me again. I am so sorry." She held his hand in a tight grip willing him to slap her or anything. But he just stroke her hair.

"You are not the reason they died. Arashi Sawamura should be held for that. You...you gave my son happiness. He was most alive when he was with you. But we both know that you could not love him the way he loved you. You looked at him as though he was an idol. You admired him. That was enough for Shuichi. I don't blame you, my child. My son loved you and so do I," Gensai-sensai said softly, trying to calm Kaoru.

Long ago Shuichi had made it clear. He wanted to be with Kaoru. He had to give up his family for that. Gensai-sensai had lost his son the day the young boy laid his eyes on Kaoru. All Gensai-sensai was happy for was that Shuichi had been genuinely happy till the end. Although his son died in his arms, he died with a smile. To the doctor, that was more important than anything else. Besides, Kaoru had a heart of gold and his granddaughters loved her. That's all he needs.

Her watery smile brought tears to the doctor's eyes but he held it back. Saito took this as a sign to go on and continued with the important information. " Arashi dueled with your father and beat him. Obihiro-sama wasn't ready to fight a kin and died as a result. Your mother heard the news plus your own untimely demise that she committed suicide. Just before she died, she confided with a maid. Luckily, a loyal one who reported to my father. I have mentioned this to you, Kaoru but I didn't mention that she was your mother.

After that incident, you lost your memory. You were very weak and your parents were both dead. Realising this, my father decided the best was for you to lead another life. Luckily Kamiya Koshijiro was a man Obihiro-sama trusted so my father trusted you to his care. He created the story that you had a 'sleeping illness' to kill any arising suspicion. Shuichi left to protect you. If he hung around you, people would notice who you are. Besides, it was my father's orders and he could not refute it. It was also not safe for his family. He disappeared. That is until you were once again attacked."

The people listening digested these information and understood Kaoru's past. She too slowly understood the things that have been happening to her but Kenshin wasn't satisfied.

"Why are they attacking her now? If they were suppose to think she died..."

Saito shook his head. "First of all, Kamiya Koshijiro was found out by Arashi. Arashi had gained political power and found out that Koshijiro was an agent. He sent men to kill him, the same men who attacked Kaoru the night Shuichi came to her rescue. He wanted to check in on her and arrived at an appropriate time. Those men found Kaoru living with Koshijiro. Since they recognised her as Obihiro-sama's daughter, they only killed Koshijiro and a woman called Sayuri. Poor guy was burnt to death and if I am correct...in front of Kaoru," Saito replied as he looked at the pale woman. He wondered if he should stop but decided to put the matter to rest.

Kaoru realised everyone was looking at her and nodded. "It gave me nightmares for a long time and still do. Otou...I mean Koshijiro-san was burnt in front of me while Sayuri-san, a woman he intended to marry, was raped before us and killed."

Kenshin closed his eyes. So much pain, he thought as the truth came gushing forth. His angel was going through so much pain. He slid his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close, wondering if she would pull away but Kaoru only gripped his gi and pushed herself closer. She needed this. She needed the comfort he was giving her. Kenshin tighten his grip.

The most important thing do was Shuichi. Not only Kenshin was wrong about him, it was obvious that he loved Kaoru a lot. All this while Shuichi had been protecting Kaoru. Kenshin couldn't believe his jealousy had shadowed his judgment about the young man. He mentally shook his head at that thought and realised Kaoru was hurting even more. He sighed at that.

Saito cleared his throat. "Well...Arashi thought it would be alright to leave her alone but you see, he wanted to take over the leadership and my father was in the way. They managed to kill him somehow but than his partnership fell to me. Since Arashi decided that he wanted to take over Obihiro-sama's place, many were against it. They wanted a Kamiya to lead even if it was a woman. I kind of mentioned that an heir was alive. Truthfully, I did not expect that heir to be Kaoru. I was betting on the male heir everyone presumed dead. While I was looking into that, Arashi ordered Kaoru's death. That was when they got rid of you but they only attacked her the night I wasn't around because they thought I knew it was her.

My father had told me that Kaoru was alive. He only managed to utter one name...Kamiya. I never met Kamiya Koshijiro so I did not suspect Kaoru to be the heir. But my research proved that something was amiss and my meeting with Shuichi and doctor Gensai confirmed that she was the heir. At the same time I had a lead about the missing baby boy. I sent Shuichi to take care of that and found out about Soujiro. Of course, no one knows about Soujiro."

Finally, Saito thought, it was over. The Kenshin-gumi played the story over and over until they understood the whole weight of the truth.

"Holy crap! That means you are big goon's daughter and you are going to lead the yakuza. Jou-chan!" Sano yelled as he stared wide-eyed at Kaoru.

"Eh?"

"Shut up, tori-atama! You are not helping things," Megumi yelled as she hit Sano over the head. "I think Kaoru has had enough excitement for now and should go and rest. No arguments on that," Megumi said firmly as she got up. But Kaoru didn't move.

A yakuza leader?

Saito only shook his head.

Fools! He thought. They were all fools!

"I don't want to be a ...yakuza leader. What about you...onii-san?" Kaoru asked softly. Silence reigned once more.

Soujiro stared at Kaoru. He knew he was ecstatic when he heard the news. He had a real family. Yet when Kaoru called him onii-san ( big brother ), he felt as though he had the world in his hands.

"I don't think I might mind a little responsibility. It would not be good to let the wrong one in Otou-san position. After, Saito-san can guide me. Only if that is alright with you, though," Soujiro said softly, this time his smile was sincere and truly happy. Kaoru grinned and nodded. She got up then and Soujiro walked up to her. He was only slightly taller, Kaoru mused. Leaning, before she lost her nerve, she kissed him softly on the cheek. Soujiro beamed.

"Rest well, hime-chan," Soujiro said softly. He stroke her head softly. His sister. She nodded with a smile and Kenshin lead her away. Megumi decided to leave the couple alone and settled to making something to eat.

Sano whistled softly. "Never thought Jou-chan was such an important person. Darn important!"

Yahiko nodded in awe. He couldn't believe it either. However, Aoshi wasn't quite satisfied. "When I was looking for information, nothing turned up on Haname...san."

Saito understood the statement. "Obihiro-sama found out from the beginning that he was the doctor's son. To protect the doctor and his family, he arranged so that the information would be buried. I knew about Shuichi. To keep Kaoru safe, I acted as though I didn't know him. I covered any trace of evidence that could link him to the doctor or to Kaoru."

Aoshi understood. No wonder he could barely get much information. Saito made sure of that. Even the yakuza protected the information causing it to be harder than usual. He looked across the room to his young charge. She spared him a glance and got up.

Misao felt she was being watched and saw Aoshi looking at her. Feeling flustered and irritated, she got up. She needed to cool down.

"Hey rooster head, I am going to town," she yelled as she went out. Soujiro watched her intensely and smiled. He too got up and left.

None of that missed Aoshi's observant eyes and he felt like breaking every bone in Soujiro's body. He hoped that idiot didn't go with Misao.

Saito noted everything that was going on with his trademark smirk. He got up to leave. Tokio was waiting for him.

"Are you alright?" Kenshin asked Kaoru as they entered her room. He knew she was feeling tricked, betrayed and hurt but he could not do anything. "Kaoru?"

She collapsed on her futon. A family...she had a family and a brother. She had people who cared and wanted her. She also caused many to die. Her father, her mother, Shuichi, Sakura, Kazuo, Nakuru and Shigure all died because of her. Finally, she understood.

Kenshin felt his heart break at the sight of Kaoru. He gathered her slowly in his arms and rocked her comfortingly until her crying died down. She only whimpered slightly. She knew what she had to do. Kaoru basked in his warmth before pulling away.

"Kaoru?"

"I understand now," she replied, her voice broken and unsteady but determined. "I understand now why you chose to leave me. I get it. This guilt...its hard to live with. You couldn't live with yourself after...after Tomoe."

"But Kaoru...That was then. I love you now," Kenshin started but she cut him off.

"Yes, and because of that if anyone hurts me...you can't live with yourself." She looked at him but he didn't deny it. "You would kill yourself with guilt. You lived in Rakuninmura when you thought I had died. You guys left because I would be safe and you would not be responsible for me, didn't you?" Kaoru asked softly.

"If you died, I can't live with myself. Not only because of the guilt but because I love you and I would be empty without you. When I left, I was still empty. I could barely sleep. I was worried and I envisioned bad things happening to you. Coming back for you was the best thing I did and I am not leaving again, Kaoru," Kenshin said softly, looking deeply into her eyes. She saw flecks of gold in his violet eyes and tears just leaked out again. " I don't want to go through that again. I don't want you to go through that too."

"But what if something happens to you because of me! Look at them...all of them...Shuichi! He died for me! I don't want you to die for me. I can't live with that...I can't!" Kaoru cried. "He died because he loved me. I don't want anyone else to die for me. I can't take it!"

"Shush..." Kenshin pulled her back into his embrace. "You know...I realise I hurt both of us by my actions and my not giving you a choice. When I left, that was my worst decision. I didn't let you make your own decision. You have proven to me, you make good ones. I was wrong about Shuichi and you...were right," Kenshin said with a smile.

Kaoru laughed as she cried at that. "I told you so."

"Yeah...yeah you did. But now, koishii, you are making a wrong decision by asking me to leave. You want me to leave because you love me and I want to stay because I love you. That's that. You are not changing my mind. We will get through this together. That is what Shuichi would have wanted."

"How would you know what he wants? You never really knew him," Kaoru chided.

"Aa. But you did. Besides all men in love want one thing," Kenshin said as he lifted her chin so their eyes would meet. "They want their loved ones to be happy...with them. You have no idea how I felt seeing you in Soujiro's arms. You were bleeding and I could not do anything. I don't want to be in that position again. I want to be with you, koishii."

"Stubborn, aren't you," Kaoru tried to lighten the mood between her tears.

Kenshin tighten his hold.

"You haven't seen anything yet."