Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Disclaimer: Fairly standard.  I do not own the original characters, but enjoyed them enough to allow them to live rent-free inside my imagination.

Chapter One

            Heat swirled in the air like an oppressive blanket of thick humidity and shimmering mirages. It was well into summer, and the streets of Neo-Tokyo were hot enough to fry eggs. The sun high overhead beat down onto the city like a club determined to cause dizziness, and there was not one cloud in the clear blue sky to signal hope for cool rain, or even hot rain. Though mid-day, the few brave pedestrians milling about on the sidewalks appeared drained, and walked as though they had been stranded for days without water. With the exception of one.

            Kenshin walked at a brisk, almost refreshed pace. Summer was his favorite season, and he felt none of the wear that others did from the heat. On the contrary, he felt energized, like a re-charged battery or a sunflower basking in the rays of daylight. Even better, he did not have to fight the crowds to get to his destination.

            Not that he was in a particular hurry. The lunch date he was on his way to had been forced upon him. Despite his protests, he was still running early. Frankly because he really just had nothing else to do. The restaurant was closed for the day, and his services were not needed elsewhere. While typically not social, and not afraid to inform others of the same, he had been hard pressed to make excuses on this particular occasion. It did not, however, stop him from actively trying to find a way out as he walked.

            Focused as he was on his own plight, the hubbub of jeers and laughter coming from up the street caught him by surprise. It was, unfortunately, not uncommon for the larger daemons to pick on the smaller ones, and Kenshin sighed in resignation as the reminder pushed his shoulders down so that he was finally at the same level of weariness as everyone else. As he drew closer to the spectacle, he was able to translate the demands from one of the three daemons who were cornering a fourth.

“Aren’t you going to apologize? You hit me so hard when you walked by. I’m going to need a doctor.”

Another laughed, and pushed down at the smaller daemon that was shielded by their hulking frames. “Yeah, can’t you see how much pain he’s in? You obviously broke his arm.”

Red lashes lowered over violet eyes. It’s not your problem. You shouldn’t get involved. A second of thought later, and Kenshin’s eyes parted into slits as a slight smile pulled at the corner of his mouth. Or should I? Thinking of the lunch date he was currently trying to get out of, he nodded his head slightly in agreement. What if someone gets hurt? That wouldn’t be right to ignore.

Observation and well-honed reflexes informed him in advance that he should move if he still wished to remain outside of the altercation. Firmly decided on becoming part of the dispute, Kenshin took the hit to his side with an exaggerated amount of alarm. Stumbling, he steadied the small daemon that had been shoved into him, but tactfully placed himself in the way of the others.

“Nice catch, old timer.” Laughter erupted from the one on the left, loud and abrupt like a hyena.

Old timer? A brief frown tugged at his brow line, but he replaced it quickly with a harmless smile. “Is everything alright here?”

“Sure, old timer. Just hand her back over.” The one in the back was speaking now, and his voice was a little less humorous.

Her? A fleeting look out of the corner of his eye was directed at the daemon sadly trying to slump out of his grip, and the frown dug back into his features. “She seems to be a bit distressed. Did she do something wrong? If so, I’m certain she’s quite sorry for troubling you.”

“It’s none of your business, old man. Now hand her over. I want to hear her apologize.” The largest one at the right reached forward to snag her out of his hands, but Kenshin stepped neatly to one side and wrapped his palm around the extended forearm lightly. An offended yell, tinged lightly with pain, tore from the daemon’s throat, and he jerked back to cradle his now seared forearm to his chest.

“A… a fire daemon?!” Spooked, the one at the front, who was clearly the muscle, took a step back. To his credit, he threw out his uninjured arm to block his friend still standing behind him. “Let’s get outta here, boss. Fire daemons are bad luck.”

The hyena to the left laughed. “Fire daemons went extinct ages ago, you chicken-shit. He’s probably just a coal daemon.” Lunging forward with a more cynical titter, he latched onto the small daemon with both hands like a child trying to rip a toy away from another. Caught slightly off-guard by how straight-forward he was, Kenshin smacked a hand to the side of his face to knock him away. Another cry ripped through the air, and his assailant slammed into the side of the building as he cradled his burned cheek.

Clicking his tongue in annoyance, Kenshin reached in his pocket and pulled out a card. That was stupid. With an outstretched hand he offered it with a slight bow to the muscled daemon still protecting the silent one at the back. “You’ll have to forgive me. Hot days make it harder to control my temperature. Get yourself and your friend to the hospital. I’ll pay for your treatment.” Hesitantly the larger daemon took the card, and then ushered his friend back down the street. The no-longer-laughing hyena was left to stumble after. Before Kenshin turned his attention back to the small daemon, he caught the third daemon cast a scowl back over his shoulder.

Watching them warily, he sighed once they had disappeared around a corner. Sudden movement redirected his attention to the ground at his feet, and he frowned once more as the small female daemon started crawling away from him on all fours. She was dirty. Extremely dirty, and she was wearing a heavy long-sleeved shirt as well as sweatpants despite the heat of summer. Stranger still, she was bare-foot, and the bottoms of her feet were red, cracked, and aggravated from the heat-seared concrete.

“Are you alright, miss?” She didn’t appear to hear him as she kept creeping away, or was perhaps ignoring him. Crouching down next to her, he tapped her lightly on the shoulder only to watch her flinch violently enough to flip onto her backside. Holding up both hands to show he was not a threat, he lowered them slowly as she breathed in deep heavy breaths of fear. Hair as black as night cascaded around her shoulders and over her face in dirty strings of unkempt disaster, and what skin he could see through the clumped strands was smeared with unknown grime. One eye peered back at him, wide and full of fear. Kenshin knew that fear well. It was the fear of punishment. The fear of pain.

But that eye was also blue. So blue it put the sky to shame. So blue it humbled the proudest sea. So blue. It rivaled the purest of flames. Shaking his head, Kenshin tore his gaze away from hers, and focused instead on something else. Anything else. With a shaky breath, his eyes landed once more on her feet and he was again steadied. “Where are your shoes, miss? It’s too hot to be bare-foot.” As if only just aware of the temperature herself, she scooted back so that she was sitting upright, and then rubbed her palms together from where they had been touching the sidewalk. Well, she’s definitely not a daemon that tolerates heat. “Do you… have any shoes?”

Her one uncovered eye glanced at him again, before she ducked her chin. A moment later, she shook her head. Kindly, he smiled. “Wait here.”

At a small shop around the corner, he found a cheap pair of slippers. The soles of her feet were obviously torn up, and he was afraid sandals would be painful. When he came back, she had already crept her way into a nearby alley to hide. She ducked behind a pile of trash when he noticed her, so he made sure to approach her slowly. “You should wear these.” Gently he placed the slippers between them, and then shuffled back. That blue eye glanced downward, quickly, as if afraid to focus her attention away from him for even a second. She did not move to take them. “Are you hurt, miss?” Silence met his questioning, and she did nothing but continue to stare. “Do you have any family I could call for you?” A blink. Then her eye lowered, and a frown finally formed along her brow. “Should I… take you to the hospital… or the police?” He lifted his hand unconsciously, perhaps to offer it, or perhaps to push back her hair so that he could see both of her amazing eyes. The action was interpreted as a threat, however, and she recoiled into the pile of trash bags.

“I’m sorry, miss.” For a moment he chewed his lip, and then he stood. “I didn’t mean to frighten you. I’ll leave now, but… please stay safe.” It was as he was standing, looking down at her, that her expression finally melted into something other than fear. The hair covering her face slid to the side, and both of her blue eyes stared up at him, as if startled. He tried another smile for her, but it seemed awkward now, so he bowed slightly at the waist and turned to leave.

It seems wrong to leave her there. She obviously needs some help. Should I make a report to the police? They might be able to help her find her family. After all, she looked really young. Decided, Kenshin stopped at a crosswalk to wait for the light, his destination now the nearest police station. A light jog put him on the other side of the road, but it was by chance that he glanced behind him. Chance, or perhaps worry. Out in the middle of the road, stranded in the medium as traffic whizzed by, was the young woman. She was crouched down fearfully, and her head kept turning this way and that as she watched the cars pass so close by her vulnerable form. Both of his red eyebrows shot up, and he slowed to a stop in surprise. Is she following me?

Once the light changed again and the traffic stopped, the small daemon stood and limped the rest of the way across the road. Safely on the same side as him, she bent at the knees and sucked in a few deep breaths. A helpless grin twitched his lips, and he was happy to notice that she was wearing the slippers he had left for her. The fact that she was limping confirmed that she was in pain. When she glanced up to find him watching, she tensed and frantically looked around for somewhere to hide. In a rather obvious, if not cute, dash, she ducked behind a nearby sign where she peeked after him through the large, wooden handle at the top.

Al-right… perhaps I can lead her to the police station. Turning deliberately away, Kenshin took three careful steps, before surreptitiously looking back over his shoulder. She’s following. Glad for it, Kenshin made sure to walk slowly to accommodate for her no-doubt painful gait.

The police station was fortunately not far, and he was eager for her to be inside where there was air-conditioning and a real chair to sit in to relieve her feet. So eager was he to be inside, that the sudden fist in the back of his shirt jerked the collar hard into his throat and caused him to wheeze. Off-balance, he waved his arms out to either side, and earned several strange looks from passersby. With both feet finally steady underneath him once more, he turned to find that the young woman had been the culprit of his less than graceful halt in stride.

Normally he would have questioned her quite forcefully on her reasons for nearly choking him to death, but her posture was so ducked and frightened that he couldn’t. The hand still grasping his shirt was shaking as well. Instead, he took a long breath in and glanced at a curious cat daemon as it sauntered by. “Is everything alright, miss?” Immediately she shook her head. It was the first time she had immediately answered anything. “What is it? What’s wrong?” Again, she shook her head, but this time her eyes swung to the police station and an officer that had just exited. Glancing towards the station himself, Kenshin frowned. “Don’t worry, miss. This is a police station. They can help you find…” A rough, whiny noise ground against her vocal cords, and her head shook hard enough to whip her hair around. Now they were getting attention from the police officer, and out of the corner of his eye he watched the stocky dog daemon dressed in uniform turn towards them with a frown. “You don’t want the police to help you?” Large pleading blue eyes turned on him, and when her head shook again it was much more pitiful. For some reason, he just couldn’t deny those eyes.

A resigned sigh relaxed his shoulders, and Kenshin turned to the officer with a smile. “Is everything alright over here?” The officer’s no-nonsense voice spoke of authority and wariness.

“Yes, sir.”

The searching brown eyes of the officer slid to the young woman. “Is this man bothering you, miss?”

Wide blue eyes shot to him, and she half-ducked herself behind Kenshin before she shook her head. Kenshin’s smile did not waver. “My cousin has had an unfortunately rough day, officer. I’ve been looking for her everywhere, and what do I find when she turns up? It looks like she jumped in the river to cool herself off. And she lost her shoes. Her mother is going to take it out of her hide, and then mine when I get her back.” A light smile cracked the hard expression on the dog daemon’s face.

“You realize it’s illegal to go swimming in the river, don’t you?” The small daemon behind him ducked as the officer was now speaking with her, and Kenshin jumped in quickly.

“We’re really sorry about that, officer. I promise it won’t happen again. Right?” He looked pointedly over his shoulder, and those pure blue eyes glanced up at him before sliding over to the officer. A slower nod of her head agreed. Kenshin turned his harmless smile back on the dog daemon. “If there’s some kind of fine, you can give it to me. I know her family can’t afford it, and I don’t want her to get in any more trouble.”

Brown eyes closed on an outward breath. “Just… don’t do it again. We’ll skip the fine this time.” The stocky dog daemon shifted his weight to one side as he once again addressed the young woman. “Make your cousin here take you to a pool next time. You’ll have more fun that way. Good day.” He bowed to them both, and then turned to head out. Presumably to patrol the surrounding area. Kenshin let out a long breath of relief, and tossed a grin over his shoulder.

“Are you sure you wouldn’t rather he help you out? He seemed pretty nice.” Timidly, the young woman released his shirt and stepped back, but once more shook her head in negation. “Alright, but you’ll eventually have to tell me why.” Studying her thoughtfully, Kenshin bowed slightly in greeting. “My name is Himura Kenshin. May I have your name as well?” A startled breath pulled fast past her teeth and produced a light whistle of air, but when she looked at him again, there was sorrow in her eyes. There was just something about those eyes. “Okay, you don’t have to tell me.” His concession only seemed to sadden her further, though, and he watched as her entire body hunched. Slowly, one of her hands reached to ball under her chin, and the very tip of her tongue flickered out to skate over her dry, cracked lips. Almost as if she had to strain for it to reach.

“Are you thirsty?” Her eyes widened in wonder, and his smile became genuine. “We can at least take care of that.”

Her pained gait made sure it took them awhile to reach the nearest convenience store, but though she had willingly hidden behind him at the station, she had resumed her distance afterwards. She would not allow him to help her walk. He did, however, make sure to find her a bench to sit on while he bought her a bottle of water.

The bottle was emptied greedily while he sat on the opposite end of the bench and debated on what to do with her. He wasn’t sure why she had followed him, or why she had denied the assistance of the police. An old human adage whispered in the back of his mind about feeding stray dogs, and he cracked a smile that he had to hide in his shoulder. It was at that moment that his phone rang, and he suddenly remembered his forgotten lunch date.

“Ah, yes, I’m sorry. I came upon something… urgent and was unable to make it. Could you apologize to her for me? …No, I’m not making this up…” Kenshin sighed and raked a hand back through his red hair. “You’re right. I’ll apologize myself… she’s not still waiting, is she?” A soft wince hissed between his lips. “Dammit. Yeah, I know… bye.” The phone dropped into his lap where he cradled it with both hands, and he stared for a while at the sidewalk.

Rustling reminded him of his new companion, and he glanced at her to find she had scrunched herself into a ball on the seat. Both of her knees were pushed into her chest, and she was dangling the now empty water bottle by two fingers in front of her legs. It was strange enough to pull a chuckle from him. “You are an odd duck, aren’t you?” Her head tilted, as if she didn’t really understand what he meant. “Well, I suppose we need to figure out something for you.” A frown crunched his forehead, and he glanced again at her cracked and bleeding feet. “You should really go to the hospital and have those looked at.” She blinked at him, but there was no immediate denial. “Of course, they’ll want to know who you are when we get there. Are you sure I can’t call someone for you?” For reference he held up his phone, and she glanced between him and it, confused. “Don’t you have family? Or maybe a friend?”

Blue eyes studied him for a moment, then drifted away to gaze across at the other side of the road. A minute later her shoulders lifted in a half shrug and her head shook slowly. But then a deep frown creased her forehead, like she wasn’t quite sure of herself. Maybe she doesn’t remember? Could she have amnesia? That might be why she won’t tell me her name. “Alright, well we can at least get your feet taken care of. I’ll cover your expenses for now, but you’ll owe me.” He stood and offered her a hand with a smile. A couple of blinks determined that he was being genuine, and she hesitantly placed her dirty hand in his.

As she stood to her feet, the front of her large sweatshirt became visible. The cloth around her neck appeared dark and wet, where before it had been simply dirty. “Did you spill your drink on yourself?” She must have been really thirsty. The thought birthed amusement at first, but as he continued to study the damp cloth, he noticed that her neck was also wet. Her chin, however, was bone dry. Slowly, so as not to startle her, his hand reached for her chin. Anxiously, her blue eyes flitted back and forth, back and forth in quick succession, as she allowed him to tilt her head up. Rivulets of water drew multiple grimy lines outward from a single, circular area just behind the forward round of her jawbone. At its center, a flat piece of steel was pulled flush against her skin, and red patches of irritation could be seen surrounding it.

Something leaden dropped into his stomach as he could and could not imagine what it meant. Now, he had to know. “Open your mouth.” The words came out like a command, and while she ducked, she obeyed.

Sitting like a perverted pearl at the center of her tongue was a large metal ball to match the steel plate.

Someone had literally pinned her tongue to the bottom of her mouth.

Chapter Text

Chapter Two

Who could do such a thing? And why? Offended rage burned the spark of his soul into the white-hot flames of purest life… or destruction. As he stood before her, he consciously had to remove his hand from her skin to keep from burning her in his moment of abandon. Instantly her mouth shut, and she balled both hands beneath her chin in uncertainty. But her eyes, they stayed on him, and their sapphire pools watched as he lost control for the first time in several decades.

This was not why he had fought in the war. This was not the world he had hoped to create when he had committed himself to the rebellion. Hurting others just because they were smaller, causing others pain just for the pleasure of it, these were concepts he wanted nothing to do with. To see another treated so despicably reminded him of things he had thought long since buried, and for them to resurface now threatened to upend the stability of his new life.

Stuck in a swirling chaos of anger, Kenshin’s shaky mind slowed to a crawl as he watched in perfect clarity the corners of her lips tilt happily upward. A smile, the first he had seen on her face, changed the entire ambience of her person. Though covered in dirt and layers of grime, she glowed with whatever joy she had found in that moment. Staring up at him, her blue eyes full of awe, she smiled softly and reached one steady hand towards his face. Captured by her innocent desire, he didn’t think to stop her.

A pained wince sucked air between the crevice of her lips, and she jerked her burnt fingers back into her chest. Upset by her pain, Kenshin forcefully struggled to pull in one long, deep breath to calm his racing heart. Turning the entire city to ash would not solve the problem he had been presented with, and hurting her only added to it.

“I’m sorry.” The fire of his being cooled reluctantly, and Kenshin knelt before her as she flopped back down on the bench. The slight twitch of her legs hinted that it was the pain in her feet and not her fingers that had demanded she find stability once more. It did nothing to dampen his guilt. Twin blue irises peeked up at him through the clumped strands of her hair, and he was surprised to find that her smile had not disappeared. In fact, it widened just slightly as she watched his own features twist in regret. Quickly her head shook, and she showed him her hand as if to prove that it wasn’t as bad as he had imagined. While the first two fingers on her right hand were red and irritated, the skin had not melted or deformed. It was only a mild heat burn and nothing more.

Swallowing down his unsteady emotions, Kenshin focused himself on the metal he could just see glinting back at him from under her chin. “Who did this to you?” A frown barely touched at the lines between her eyebrows, and her head tilted minimally to one side. Again, she held out her fingers, and he shook his head. “No. This.” He indicated the steel plate, but made sure not to touch her. “Who did this to you?” The two burnt fingers retreated, and she touched the nail of her longest finger against the metal, almost as if she had only just noticed it there. After a moment of thought, she met his gaze, held his gaze, and then dropped her chin into her chest. The expression of shame that contorted her smile was unexpected. Slowly, her head shook once again.

She either doesn’t want to tell me, or doesn’t know. Either way, this situation has become much more complicated than before. If he took her to a hospital now, they would have more questions than he would be able to answer. Trying to explain her feet was already going to be difficult, but he was confident enough in his storytelling that he could come up with something believable. Once anyone caught sight of the metal plate and ball pinning her tongue in place, the police would undoubtably be called. Apparently, that was something she did not want to happen, for whatever reason. For now, he would trust that reason, simply because he had no clue what was going on. That meant he would have to find some other way to get her treatment and figure out who she was.

Scratching at his scalp, Kenshin turned his head away and bit back a curse. This was about to get complicated anyway. Glancing back at the young woman, his eyes closed to find her studying him curiously. So be it. It’s my own fault for trying to find something to get me out of that lunch date.

Once more the phone was dug from his pocket, and he hesitated on a shaky breath before hitting the call button. A few tense rings droned in his ear, and then the gentle voice of the woman he had stood up answered. One more swallow. “Hey, it’s me… Sorry about lunch.” As hard as he tried, he could not keep his voice from softening. Not for her. “Something came up on my way there. I… kind of need your help.” Despite standing her up, and despite his less than genuine apology, she graciously glossed over his shortcomings and agreed to offer whatever help she could. Making a face, he stepped away from the bench and provided a brief explanation of his current predicament.

Without even a single change of tone, the woman on the other end of the phone gave her understanding, and promised to meet him at his apartment. A part of him did not want her to be there, but he knew it was only because he was trying to avoid her. Too late now. A light tug on his sleeve demanded his attention, and Kenshin smiled down at the woman stretched awkwardly on the bench. “I’ve found someone else who is willing to lend a hand. It means you’ll have to come back to my apartment, though. Is that alright with you?” A blink, a tilt of her head, and she nodded. “Good. Unfortunately, it’s not close by.” Looking her up and down, he thought over his options. “How about a ride?” Facing away from her, he knelt on the ground again, and held his arms out to either side to indicate she was to climb on his back. “You probably shouldn’t walk anymore.”

There was silence for a long time, and then ever so lightly one of her fingers tapped him on the shoulder. He craned his neck around to see what she needed. A new first. Embarrassment distorted her mouth, and she looked down at herself even as she pulled on the hem of her dirty sweatshirt. “Ah… that’s alright. Clothes wash, and it won’t hurt me.” He smiled again, this time in encouragement. “I promise it’s alright.” The tiniest bite of her lip stalled for time, and then she shifted forward on the bench.

She weighed nothing. Through the thick sweatshirt she was wearing, he could feel the harsh bones of her arms where they wrapped over his shoulders. Where her legs rested on his forearms, he could feel only the hard length of her thighbones. It felt more like he was carrying a skeleton than a young woman. More like a doll than a real creature.

They earned many strange or shocked looks as they made their way back to his apartment, and he could only imagine what it looked like to others. She was a tiny, dirty thing that appeared to be more hair than flesh. Did it even look like he was carrying someone, or did it look like he was the host of a parasite daemon feeding off his energy? It was an amusing thought that entertained him during the long walk back.

At his apartment, he found that his lunch date had beat him there, and she stood like a lady should; with spine straight, shoulders back, and her feet together. Long, coal black hair hung flawlessly straight down her back, and her pale skin glowed with soft ambience. She was a beauty, no matter how one looked at her, and when she saw him, she bowed in a perfect ninety-degree angle. Next to her he always felt awkward, and slightly off-balance.

“Himura-san.” Though she had known him for too long, she still addressed him with respect and a slight distance. He preferred it that way. When she was straight once more, her deep, black eyes slid to the small daemon draped over his back. With careful scrutiny, she observed what she could, and then waved a hand for him to lead on. “She appears to be in bad shape.”

“Did she fall asleep? I can’t really tell.” Despite weighing next to nothing, the walk had been long, and the muscles in his arms, shoulders, and back were starting to cramp. Grumpily, her face rubbed against his shoulder, but one of the hands hanging limply over his chest tapped him. She was awake, but barely.

The small apartment occupied the space above the restaurant where he worked. The owner allowed him to live there, as long as he provided heat for the building in winter and fire for the cook stoves. It was a tiny, single room, with only a small kitchenette, a sink, and a toilet in a separate, closet-like space. There was no bath, but then again, he did not need one. Carefully, Kenshin settled the young woman onto the only cushion in the room, and tried to steady her even as he turned to face her.

“I should have bought her a change of clothes.” The soft declaration almost startled him, and Kenshin closed his eyes as her presence became inescapable. “She really needs a bath as well. This level of neglect is not healthy for her.” Gracefully, his lunch date knelt beside him, and reached a hand to touch the corded hair on the young one’s head. Irrationally, Kenshin did not want her touching that hair, and a frown deepened the lines next to his mouth before he looked away. Only because it is dirty, and she shouldn’t be dirty.

“I have some extra clothes she can have for now.” His declaration was off-hand, his thoughts elsewhere. This time a brief frown touched the woman’s mouth, and she turned away to open a bag she had brought with her.

“First I would like to look at her feet.”

Removing the slippers finally produced a lucid reaction from the young daemon now in his home. The glazed fatigue weighing down her lashes evaporated, and she jerked as the material of the slippers stuck to the opened wounds of her feet. A wince hissed from her mouth, and she wrenched her head up to stare at the new presence he had brought before her. To say she was shocked was obvious, but her frantic and almost angry scramble to escape their looming presences tore through everything between her and the far wall.

“Whoa, it’s okay!” Crouched on his toes, Kenshin leaned forward so that he was half standing on his bent knees. Both of his hands lifted again to announce peace, and he tried to calm her as best he could. “It’s okay. She’s not going to hurt you.” Frightened breathing heaved her chest, and she darted a look between him and the still calm woman kneeling at his side. “She’s here to help. She’s a doctor. For your feet.” A gesture towards the fresh blood now oozing from her wounds tried to persuade her of the urgency of her situation, but she continued to cower in the corner as far from either of them as she could get.

“Forgive my sudden appearance, young one. My name is Yukishiro Tomoe. I mean you no harm.” The soothing tone of her voice never changed, and even though she rarely smiled, she exuded a gentle aura that invited those near her to relax. Even the muscles in Kenshin’s shoulders loosened, and his lashes fell in a bid for patience. More than anything, he did not want her to be there.

It seemed Tomoe’s calming effect had reached her, as the young daemon slowly relaxed from her scrunched and defensive position. An adjustment pushed her into a more comfortable and upright posture, but her hands kept returning to clutch against her chest. She really is a pitiful thing. But not when she smiled, he remembered. Offering out his hand, Kenshin tried coaxing her into coming back.

“You’re safe here, miss. I promise.” Blue eyes connected with his, and the rest of the tension left her body. Whatever trust he had previously won had been regained. Both hands curled around his fingers this time, and she allowed him to help her back to the cushion.

With practiced ease, Tomoe spoke to the young woman while she examined each foot. It was meant to distract her patients, especially for injuries that were scary or painful. It seemed to work, as the small daemon stared at Tomoe, her blue eyes drinking in every aspect of her face in a strange type of wonder. One of her hands, however, stayed firmly grasped in his.

Tomoe was what those three daemons on the street had accused him of being; a coal daemon. Her constitution made it possible for her to conduct heat, but she could not produce any of her own. It gave her an advantage as a doctor, as she could remove heat from burns, heightened fevers, and even inflammation. The nature she had been blessed with was mellow and comfortable. A direct contrast to his own wild and fiery personage.

“I would like to soak her feet. It will help clean the wounds and remove any impurities. Do you have anything we can use?” Kenshin frowned in thought, before standing to rummage in his kitchenette cabinets.

“I have this large bowl.”

Tomoe’s head bowed graciously. “That should work. Please fill it with warm water. I will prepare a solution to add to it.” The forgotten bag she had brought along was pulled closer. “This will be a little painful, young one, but do not worry. I will include a numbing agent in the solution to make it as bearable as possible.” Without a hand to now cling to, the small daemon’s fists returned to ball under her chin. “After the soak, we will use wet dressings soaked in antibiotic ointment to wrap your feet. This will help remove dead tissue and stimulate the healing process. You will need to do this for several days.” Gently, one of Tomoe’s hands touched her shoulder. “After we dress your feet, I’d like to help you wash up. Would you be agreeable to that?”

Still staring with her deep blue eyes, she blinked as if coming back to reality, and then glanced down to grasp at her dirty clothes self-consciously. Timidly, she nodded.

While her feet soaked, Tomoe transferred her attention to the more alarming situation of her mouth. With Kenshin once more sitting on her other side, she asked about the steel plate and ball. A smaller surge of anger filled him at the reminder, but he was able to keep himself in check this time. Perhaps because the shock had worn off, or perhaps because Tomoe’s personality made it easier for him to stay in control of his emotions.

“Will you show her what you showed me, miss?” Irises as deep as the ocean darted a look at him, but strangely she seemed less inclined to share now. With a slightly stubborn pull of her lips, her chin ducked into her chest and she shook her head. Red eyebrows lifted in surprise. “What’s wrong? You showed me immediately when I asked before.” Petulantly, both of her arms crossed over her chest, and she turned away from him. Why is she acting like this? Is it because of the way I reacted before? A wry twist of his mouth agreed with the assumption. I suppose I did overreact a little.

Deep black eyes studied them both. “No matter, young one.” Like the soothing flicker of a candle, Tomoe’s voice interjected. “Why don’t we figure out your name instead? Can you write it for us?” The young daemon looked thoughtful for a moment, before she nodded enthusiastically.

A small, foldable table was brought, as well as a piece of paper and pencil. Upon first grasping the pencil, however, she dropped it when the first two digits of her right hand reminded her of the burn they still suffered from. Without question, Tomoe reached forward to wrap her hand around the red area, and the pain instantly disappeared. Shocked, the young woman jerked her hand away to stare at her still dirty but now healed fingers, and then shoved them abruptly in Kenshin’s face for him to see as well. He smiled kindly, but secretly felt awful that Tomoe had to come behind him and fix a pain he had caused.

Shakily, as if unpracticed, the small daemon fumbled with the pencil, but eventually the kanji for her name came to life on the page. Squinting over her shoulder, it took Kenshin longer than Tomoe to read it, but he agreed with her interpretation when she spoke.

“Kaoru.” Dark eyes lifted to connect their gaze. “Is that correct?” A small smile and nod confirmed. Picking up the paper, Tomoe studied the kanji closer. “I wonder why the kanji is written like a boy might.” Glancing up, she shared her puzzlement with Kenshin. “Are you sure she’s a girl?”

Thinking of her light weight resting against his back, Kenshin rubbed an eye to hide any shame or embarrassment in his confession. “Fairly sure.” A small nod accepted his response without question.

“What about a surname, Kaoru-san. Can you give us your family name as well?” An unsure look melted the joy from her expression, but she could not give a response this time.

After her feet were fully cleansed and properly wrapped, Tomoe shooed Kenshin from the apartment to allow them some privacy. Seated on a small stool next to the tiny sink, Kaoru watched Tomoe prepare an old rag they would be using to free her of as much grime as possible. “Himura-san only has dish soap in his apartment.” Kneeling gracefully next to her, Tomoe lifted the wet rag and carefully began wiping away the dirt on her forehead. A hair tie had already been unearthed, and was now barely containing the almost dreadlocked mass of her mane. “Unfortunately for us, he has no need for soap. Fire daemons cleanse their body naturally, without the use of water. You will find no cleaner being in the world.” A small smile pulled at her lips. The young daemon was eating up her words, as if unused to being spoken to. I can only imagine that means she is used to being spoken at. “You have beautiful eyes, Kaoru-san. Like twin sapphire gems.” With one cheek cleared of filth, a blush became noticeable and flushed her skin pink.

The underclothes beneath her heavy sweatshirt and pants were just as soiled as her outer clothes. Worse, Tomoe was dismayed to realize that she could easily count each of her protruding ribs. A soft brush of her hand across the young girl’s cheek conveyed reassurance, and she set to work spot-washing her as best she could. She was grossly underweight, and the clothes that Kenshin had provided for her use hung about her arms and legs almost comically. Due to her state of health, she did not even fill out the bra she had been wearing, and so Tomoe tossed it out with the rest of her clothes.

A small mirror hung above the sink, and Tomoe found Kaoru staring into it as she wrung out the now brown rag. Slowly her fingers touched the area under her eyes, and there was a light smile on her lips. But then her fingers drifted lower to her red-streaked cheek. The smile melted, like wax under heat, and her fingers curled away. Quickly her eyes peeked over at Tomoe, almost shamefully, and then her chin ducked and her brow-line scrunched. Empathy washed over Tomoe, and she put down the rag to help her back onto the cushion in the middle of the room. A girl indeed.

“Health comes first, Kaoru-san. Beauty will follow.” The declaration was mulled over seriously, but must have resolved something inside her mind. Only a few moments later, the small daemon took a quick, decisive breath before lifting her chin all the way back. Just as Kenshin had described, a metal plate sat directly at the center between her jawbone. Tomoe had felt its presence when cleaning her, but had not pushed her to see it clearly. Now she was able to study just how raw and aggravated the skin surrounding it was. Some of that could be the fault of the wash rag.

“May I see the inside of your mouth?” Lightly she cupped the girl’s chin in one hand, and tilted her slightly to each side to direct light upon the round, metal ball sitting upon her tongue. “Does it hurt you?” A frown formed around her eyes as she thought. “Do you feel any sharp pains?” The frown convulsed briefly, before she lifted a hand perpendicular to the floor. A back-and-forth shake conveyed her answer. “Sometimes?” Her head nodded. “How long has it been there?” This time she was unsure. “Do you taste any blood?” No. Her next question was softer with hesitance. “Do you know who did it?”

An observable swallow tugged at her throat, and her lips came back together as she looked away. Shaking, almost desperate shaking, denied Tomoe an answer.

“Alright, young one. That’s enough questions for one day.” Stroking her cheek again, she dropped both hands to clasp around hers. “Himura-san is an excellent cook. Would you like for him to make you a meal?” Painfully, her stomach answered with a demanding gurgle.

Kenshin was allowed back in, but was surprised to find that Kaoru refused to show him her face. A small, almost sad smile pulled at Tomoe’s mouth in response, but she distracted him by conveying her promise that he would cook Kaoru a meal. While Kaoru busied herself with scribbling on the piece of paper left for her on the foldable table, Tomoe assisted Kenshin with the food.

“She’s painfully malnourished.” A frown darkened Kenshin’s features, but a quick duck of his head hid the look behind his hair. “We will need to make sure her food is bland for now, and avoid any rich flavors.” A noncommittal hum announced he understood. Tomoe continued in that calm tone he both hated and was grateful for. “I would like to take her to the lab.”

He glanced at her, and she could see it in his eyes that he disliked the idea. She knew that lab did not hold any good memories for him. Almost desperately, he searched for a reason to deny her. “She didn’t want any authorities involved. The lab would have to report her presence.”

“Not if I kept her presence off the official reports.” Patiently she explained her reasoning. “She allowed me to look at the pin in her mouth, but I will need a scan of it before we can determine how to remove it safely. The lab also has a proper bath. I did what I could, but I would prefer she soaked her entire body and her hair. I found… lots of scars that I was unable to fully study.” He blinked, but kept his attention on the food. “There is also evidence of some recent trauma to her outer thigh. It appears to be fairly acute. You mentioned that she was limping, and I thought it was because of her feet at first, but there might also be some underlying condition in her leg that will need addressed.”

A deep breath pulled silently into her lungs. This was what he would hate the most. “I want to consult with a colleague.”

“No.” The scribbling stopped as the one hot word filled the small room. Trying to remain calm, Kenshin flattened his hands on the tiny counter space and consciously lowered his voice. “Not her.”

“She’s the best, Kenshin.” Red lashes fell hard like a door slamming shut. Don’t. A soft sigh announced she understood her mistake. “I’m sorry, Himura-san, but I think she could be a benefit.”

“I disagree.” The temperature in the room was rising. A telling sign that he was angry. Lowering black eyes to her folded hands, Tomoe took a small step back.

“I couldn’t find any markers.” Finally, his full attention settled on her, and his red brows were lifted in surprise. “I can’t tell what kind of daemon she is.”

Chapter Text

Chapter Three

Markers referred to a physical trait that identified the type or abilities of a daemon. Most times, those markers were easily identifiable. Cat daemons, for example, had fluffy ears to match their namesake, a wide range of colored hair, and long tails. Their eyes could also be slitted, unless they were a specific type of big cat, such as a tiger or leopard. Other daemons were a little more difficult to identify by their marker, and usually required a demonstration of skill before their daemon type could be confirmed. Coal daemons were one such type. They generally had dark, rough hair and eyes that were so black they appeared bottomless. Nothing else about their appearances were similar to one another. It was when their abilities were activated that they revealed their true nature. For small things, Tomoe was able to keep her normal appearance. If her abilities required a more thorough use, her entire body would turn black, and if heated, red.

The fact that his small ward had no discernable marker was extremely rare. Kenshin had argued that her eyes were her marker, as they were a unique shade of blue. However, Tomoe had argued against it, as any known daemon-type to have blue eyes also had other markers that were easily recognizable. Water or ice type daemons usually had bluish skin, green hair, or gills. No daemon that either of them could think of only had blue eyes as a marker. That, of course, did not mean that there were none. When they tried to question the young daemon about her origins, though, she had been unable to answer. Kenshin was beginning to suspect more and more that she had some form of amnesia. For now, that left them with two options: either her eyes were her only marker, or, more likely, she was unconsciously hiding them.

There used to be many daemons that were able to hide their markers, back when humans were the dominate species. In order to walk amongst them unmolested, they would disguise themselves as humans as best they could. Now that the humans were long since gone, no daemon felt it necessary to hide who they were. Not many even knew how to hide their markers anymore.

Kenshin was one of the few who still did, at least, to an extent. His red hair was his marker, but it was a watered-down version of it, and it was only one of the many that he had. It was, in fact, the only one he allowed to show. Fire daemons were feared, as bad omens or bad luck. As the last remaining fire daemon, Kenshin preferred to leave his daemon-type ambiguous. He had no desire to frighten others, or cause any unnecessary trouble. For the most part, others assumed he was a super-heated coal daemon, or even a fox daemon.

His age had much to do with the latter assumption, as Kenshin had been born while the humans were still alive. Fox daemons were notoriously long-lived. Elemental daemons were as well, but not many knew that fact anymore. Many of the elemental daemons were considered part of the old guard, like his father, and had died out during the great clash with the humans.

It had, in fact, been his father who had taught him how to hide his markers. For some reason, though, he could never turn his hair any color but red. It had amused his father so much, that he had started leaving his own hair red so they could match.

A small smile pulled at his lips as memories from what felt like another life surfaced in his mind. Slowly the smile faded as a familiar twinge of sadness accompanied it. Though it had happened ages ago, his father had showed him nothing but love, and he had always carried that love with him as a result.

Sighing, Kenshin adjusted his shoulders against the hard wood of the floor, and blinked open his eyes to stare at the ceiling of his apartment. That bored him quickly, so he let his muscles relax and his head rolled to one side. Between the legs of the small table separating them, he studied the young daemon that had stolen his futon. I guess I let her have it. A rueful grin tugged one side of his mouth upward. She was bundled beneath the blanket with nothing but the strange ball they had pulled her hair into sticking out. Like a cat with a ball of twine. This time he stifled a snicker, and shifted onto his shoulder completely as his boredom retreated.

Kaoru. She was definitely a strange one. Why she had attached herself to him so quickly, he could not fathom. But there she was, sleeping in his apartment, wearing his clothes, and eating his food. For some reason, her presence made his apartment feel… different. He could not explain what that difference was, but knew it was there all the same. It did not really feel wrong, either. In fact, he kind of liked having someone else to focus on. To say she needed a lot of attention was an understatement. After everything Tomoe had explained to him about the condition of Kaoru’s body, she had obviously suffered extreme abuse. She needed more help than he could give her on his own, and he knew that.

“I’ll be back tomorrow. We can talk about it more then. For now, you should let her get some rest.” Another perfect bow, and then Tomoe had turned to walk away.

I’ll need to come to a decision on this. I know this is her best chance of getting the help she needs, but…

But going back there was something he had promised himself he would never do. Crossing his arms over his stomach defensively, he curled in on himself though he felt no chill.

Sometime later, soft, exerted breathing interrupted the silence of night, and Kenshin woke from his doze in time to watch the blanket suddenly rip wide to one side. One shaky arm barely braced the young daemon for several long seconds as she caught her breath. Then a flop dropped her straight back into the futon in a way that could only be described as disgust. Both hands came up to cover her face, and she lay quietly like that for some time, with her elbows angled in the air. Just barely, a sniffle signaled the end of whatever had just happened, and then her arms slumped into the cushion of the mattress as well.

A nightmare?

“Are you alright?” Making sure to keep his voice low so as not to scare her, he was not surprised when he did not succeed. Her head snapped toward him with more force than he thought she was capable of, but it took barely half a blink for her to recognize him. With the glow of artificial light filtering in the window from an outside streetlamp, he easily watched her lips bow into a smile. Turning onto her side to face him, she balled her hands beneath her chin, and nodded as if nothing scary had ever happened to her in her life.

She trusted me so easily. I don’t understand why. And how can she be this happy when such terrible things have been done to her? Why do I… want to help her?

Kaoru continued to smile, even while fighting a yawn. Though the room was well-lit, it was still nighttime, and any details the day would uncover were now muted and concealed. As a result, it took him a while to notice that her hands were still shaking. Is that a show of pride? Or is it something else? Is she trying not to worry me? Or fear that I will react negatively if she shows me her weaknesses?

Such strength.

Extending his arm underneath the small table, he offered her his hand as comfort. Strength did not supersede a need or want for comfort. Deep blue eyes blinked as she considered how to respond. It took little time before her still quivering fingers bridged the distance and slipped into his. The smile on her face softened to something warmer, and she pushed her nose into the pillow bashfully before closing her eyes.

The next morning, he found his ward had woken before him, and was back to scribbling on the piece of paper left on the foldable table. She smiled briefly at him when he sat up, but returned her attention quickly to what she was doing. As far as Kenshin could tell, there was no subject of her drawing, only deep scratches from the pencil in harsh squiggly lines back and forth. Not really concerned, he stood to make something light for breakfast.

As with her previous meal, Kenshin had to make sure she did not eat it too fast for fear she would make herself sick… or choke. It was obvious the ball in her mouth made it hard to eat, and whenever she drank anything parts of the liquid would run down her throat. Despite her struggle, she was eager. Truth be told, he wanted to feed her anything she wanted until she could not eat anymore, but knew that would be counterproductive. It would be a long, slow process before she was healthy again. For that to happen, he also knew he was going to have to accept the help that Tomoe had offered. Even if he did not like it.

Tapping a finger against his leg restlessly, Kenshin stared at his phone for a full five minutes before he convinced himself to dial the number already brought up on the screen. Tomoe answered after two rings, and he gave her his decision without fanfare.

“You can take her to the lab, but I don’t want her to perform any experiments on her.”

There was a slight pause. “Do you intend to appoint yourself as her guardian?”

The question caught him off guard, as it made him think through his decisions. I owe this young daemon nothing. Doing this much is more than enough. And yet abandoning her did not feel like an option, either.

“For now… a-at least until we can find her family.”

“I see. I will send a car to pick her up. You will accompany her, I assume?”

“I would prefer to.”

“Very well.” There was no judgment in her voice, but then again, there was no approval in it, either.

Sighing, Kenshin put the phone down and watched as Kaoru doggedly persisted with covering the once white page in gray lead. As he stared at it, he realized that there were two places on either side of center that were lighter than the rest, but was still unable to recognize what she was trying to draw. If she was trying to draw anything.

“Miss Kaoru?” With features now clear of most of the dirt from the day before, he could see more of the emotions that played across her face. At that moment, she was distracted, but gave him her attention begrudgingly. Her cheekbones were much too pronounced. “Would you like to see Tomoe again today?”

An instant smile, and she nodded. It appeared that Tomoe had earned her trust quite quickly as well.

“This time, we are going to where she is. To where she works. Are you fine with that?”

The return of fear in her eyes was startling, and she shook her head. Her free hand jabbed a single finger down onto the table, as if to demand that she come there instead.

“You’ll be safe, Miss Kaoru. I’m going to be with you, and I promise nothing will happen that will cause you harm.”

Stubbornly, her head shook again, and for a moment he wanted to give in. She needs more help than you can give alone. Repeating the confession to himself, he tapped his fingers again upon his knee restlessly.

“Don’t you want that pin out of your mouth? They can take care of that there.”

Strangely, the declaration seemed to alarm her, and she dropped the pencil to lean away from him. Almost protectively, her hand came up to cover her mouth, and her head only shook harder.

She doesn’t want it out? Why would she ever want to leave it? “What… do you want to do, Miss Kaoru? You can’t stay here. It wouldn’t be healthy for you.”

The tension in her body loosened all at once in heartbreaking dejection, and a soft, shaky breath sucked into her lungs. Undecided, she looked between him and the door and then back again, and every muscle in her face scrunched. It was not until she lurched to her feet, almost over-balanced, and started limping for the exit that he realized she had misunderstood him. Luckily, but also sadly, she could not move very fast, and he caught her before she could completely abandon her slippers and once again brave the outdoors without anything on her feet but the dressings Tomoe had applied.

“Wait. That’s not what I meant.” Holding her upright by the shoulders, he swallowed when her eyes glanced tearfully up at him. Eyes so deep they consumed him. “I’m not kicking you out. I just… I want to help you. I don’t know what you’ve gone through, but your body needs more than some bandages and ointment. You need proper care in a proper setting. I know you don’t want the police involved. I don’t understand why, but I’m not going to pry, either. Tomoe won’t report you, and whatever happens at the lab, no one will hurt you. I promise.”

She was listening, but still seemed undecided. She wanted to trust him, but something frightened her. At that moment, her fear ran deeper than any brittle trust she had for him.

“How about we make a deal? If you’re scared at any time and you want to leave, we’ll leave. No matter what’s happening, I’ll take you away and we won’t go back. Not unless you want to.” Still cracked lips pursed slightly, and he could tell she was on the verge of believing him. “Just do this.” Rushing to think of something, he held up a closed fist, but left his pinky finger extended. “If I see this little-finger I’ll know you want to leave, and we’ll leave. Okay?” This young daemon was so afraid, and it was starting to affect him. He wanted to help, but his attempts did not seem to be working. As a result, it jerked at his vocal cords vulnerably. “Okay?”

Hesitantly, she nodded, and he breathed an unsteady sigh of relief.

The fear in her had not been assuaged, however, and she clung to his hand in the back of the car Tomoe had sent to pick them up. Once they arrived at the lab, Kenshin’s own apprehension threated to swallow him, but he bit it back desperately to keep from influencing her. This was her best chance of getting help, or at least the best chance he could provide to her.

The lab Tomoe worked at was not strictly affiliated with any hospital, and was meant for the study and development of rare or extinct daemon abilities and their potential for medicinal applications. That was their external motto, at least. There were many departments within the company, and it required immediate access to most equipment and medicine found in a hospital. There was, of course, a risk that Tomoe could lose her job just by bringing in an unofficial subject, and Kenshin knew this was part of the reason she had suggested consulting with her colleague. If that “colleague” also happened to be her boss, it would make it easier to explain away a presence that was not supposed to be there.

Tomoe was waiting for them in the parking garage with a wheelchair, which Kaoru was placed in so that she would not be required to walk. Nothing was said until they were standing inside the elevator that would take them to an upper floor.

“I’m glad you changed your mind, Himura-san.” One of Tomoe’s hands unfolded from the other and reached over to touch Kaoru’s forearm. “I was worried about her… and you as well. I know this isn’t easy for you.”

“I’m fine.” The lie was not as smooth as he had hoped, and it earned him an almost sad smile. She understood. Better than anyone else.

From her seated position, Kaoru twisted to latch both of her hands around Tomoe’s one. When dark eyes connected with blue, she studied the expression of anxiety on the young one’s face. “It’s alright, Kaoru-san. You will be safe here.” Uneasily chewing her lip, Kaoru let her chin drop, but kept hold of the coal daemon’s arm until the doors dinged open.

“This lab requires a high level of clearance, and is remote compared to the other labs in the building. No one we don’t want to know about her will be able to access her here.”

At a steel door with no window, down a hall far from the elevator, Tomoe swiped her access badge across a card reader, and then pushed open the door for them to enter. The immediate room they stepped into was small with expected lab equipment and computer screens. Another door to their right led them into a larger room with floor to ceiling metal cabinets, a long line of monitors with three keyboards, and a full glass wall that partitioned off another space with a hospital bed. A wide range of medical equipment cluttered the walls of the glassed-in space and surrounded the bed that was situated at the very center of the room. Three of the monitors hanging from the ceiling caught different camera angles of that bed, for recording and observation purposes. The remaining monitors were dark, and lined a metal table that bordered only half the glass wall.  There were two desks in the room as well, opposite the wall of glass, but they were bare, as if no one had used them in a long time.

Two other doors exited from opposite sides of the second room. One was firmly shut, but a sign next it to identified it as the radiology room. A warning sign on the door itself instructed anyone going in to make sure the room was not in use first. The other door was open, and it was here that Tomoe’s colleague waited. It appeared, at first glance, to be a rec room of sorts, with a heavily cushioned couch, a small desk, and even a carpeted portion of floor. A camera in the corner suggested the room had nothing to truly do with relaxation. Standing with her arms crossed next to the couch was a tall fox daemon, and she lifted her chin when they entered and spoke impatiently.

“There you are. You know I’m very busy, Tomoe-san.” When Kenshin came in behind her, pushing the wheelchair that Kaoru sat in, the fox daemon paused. “Ken-sama.” Cinnamon colored irises looked him up and down. “What a surprise. Are you why Tomoe asked me to meet her here?” Half-mockingly, she shifted her weight. “I thought you said you’d never come back.”

“I certainly did not plan to.” He could feel his lips smiling as he attempted to protect himself, but he was forced to grip the handlebars of the wheelchair harder than necessary to keep his hands from shaking. “Needs must.”

“Right.” There was no half to the sarcasm in her tone now. “And what is this need exactly?”

Stepping in smoothly, Tomoe touched a hand to Kaoru’s shoulder. “This young daemon needs our assistance.”

One of the black ears sprouting from her unbound hair twitched. “Then take her to the police. This isn’t a charity.”

“The police… are not an option in her case.”

The fox daemon huffed out a breath and tapped her foot. “You brought a criminal into my lab?!”

Tomoe took a step forward to place herself in front of Kaoru, and bowed her head politely. The poor girl was already terrified, and her boss’ admittedly justified alarm was not helping matters. “Of course not, Megumi-sensei. But she does appear to be a victim of some sort of trafficking or kidnapping. She…”

“All the more reason to take her to the police. You’re wasting my time, not to mention your own. Get rid of her and get back to work.”

Somewhere inside him, Kenshin was actually relieved, but mostly he was just annoyed. “I’ll pay you. Whatever your price.” The words were firm, and the fox daemon’s ears perked up. Behind her, five dark tails swished against one another in barely contained interest.

“Will you now?” Staring over Tomoe’s bowed head, Megumi smirked with only one side of her mouth. “Now, you see, Tomoe-san. This is interesting. Very interesting.” Red-tinted eyes were practically glinting in that excited way that made Kenshin leery and uncomfortable, and they observed him as only a scientist could. A moment later, they finally dropped to look at Kaoru. “And just what is so special about this scrawny scrap of a thing? Hmm? Why would you go through so much trouble? Is she someone you know? Some long-lost acquaintance?”

“No.” Reaching down to place a steadying hand on Kaoru’s shoulder, his usually amiable features darkened. “I ran across her only yesterday.”

“Yesterday?” Laughter erupted from the fox daemon’s mouth, and she pushed Tomoe out of the way so that she could press her face close to Kaoru’s own. “Are you clever then, girl, to bewitch this fire daemon so thoroughly? You certainly aren’t anything to look at.”

Seated in the wheelchair, Kaoru tried to force herself backwards away from this new person she did not know or trust, but succeeded in only stretching the backrest taught until it creaked under the stress. With the fox daemon now bent in front of her, the long hair hanging down Megumi’s back fell all to one side and revealed that it was only dark around her face and shoulders. Halfway down its length, it faded into a soft orange, like tangerines. The five tails sprouting from her lower back were also only dark at the tips of each individual strand of fur. Underlying that deep black was a deeper orange mixed with red.

“She’s an unknown type.” Trying to bring some order back into the encounter, Tomoe spoke up in what was almost a hasty way. Successfully, her statement grabbed Megumi’s attention. “I was hoping you might help me identify her since your specialty is genetics.”

“Re-ally?” Straightening, Megumi observed the three before her thoughtfully. “That still sounds boring.” Purposefully, her eyes landed back on Kenshin.

A solid pit of suspicion dropped into his stomach. “What… do you want?” He did not need to ask. He already knew, and something akin to despair clawed at him from behind.

"I think you know. My research was interrupted so rudely last time, and has been left unfinished. I hate unfinished things. I promise I’ll be nicer this time. I just didn’t know you were so fragile.”

“No.” The denial was nearly inaudible.

“Megumi-sensei, that research was abandoned for a reason. There’s no need to continue it anymore.”

While Tomoe tried to reason with the fox daemon, Kenshin felt his mind retreat inward. This was a place he did not want to be. It drowned him in misery and helplessness. It removed the peace he had finally achieved in his simple life and reminded him of the things he had done and the things done to him as a result. For his own survival, he had separated himself from that past version of himself, and now thought of him as someone else entirely. He did not want to remember that man, nor the torture he had endured as a result of that man’s actions.

Ever so gently, a hand curled around the one he had left on Kaoru’s shoulder, and he blinked his unseeing gaze to find her staring up at him. As terrified as she was of this new place, those fears had been pushed down to reveal concern for him. He did not know how long she had been pulling at his fingers for attention, but it must have been too long. Not a moment after his return to reality, she unveiled a new first for his eyes to bear witness to.

Anger contorted her mouth and flattened her eyebrows, and a sudden push half stood her from the wheelchair. The abrupt movement swiveled the free-turning wheels in a drunken projection, forcing Kenshin to hold it steady as she braced her weight on one armrest. Momentarily distracted, his wide violet irises jerked upwards when Kaoru started speaking in garbled noises of unmistakable outrage.

Startled, Megumi stepped back and her brow line lifted as the young woman continued to lecture unintelligibly. Because of the pin in her tongue, she was unable to articulate hard consonants or fully sound out the vowels as they should. This forced her to use more air and grunts, which could be produced from her chest and throat instead of her mouth. It continued for far longer than anyone imagined she would. Finally, Kenshin caught her by the shoulders and forced her back down into the wheelchair, and she huffed irritably before gesturing with her hands that she wanted to leave.

“What… in the hell was that?” Unconcerned by the reason for her outburst, Megumi bent forward once more and stared not at Kaoru’s eyes, but her mouth. “Is the girl dumb?”

“She…” Slightly startled herself, Tomoe had to clear her throat. “Has some sort of metal pin holding her tongue in place. It prevents her from being able to speak.”

“Hmm.” A noncommittal noise informed Tomoe that Megumi was no longer listening. Something was turning over in her mind, and the sharp interest in her eyes betrayed her. With one hand, Megumi pinched her bottom lip between her thumb and forefinger, scraping the pointed claw of her thumb against the fragile skin. A telltale sign that she was deep in thought. Kaoru’s deep blue eyes stared back with a less than welcoming expression. One long minute later, she stood and folded her arms so that her hands were gripping each opposite elbow.

“Fine. You can treat her here.”

Wary, Kenshin frowned. “My answer was no.”

Impatiently, Megumi waved a hand in the air and her tone was dismissive. “I’m not interested in you, Ken-sama. Stop being so conceited.”

Now he had even more reason to feel mistrustful. “Why the change of mind?”

A sly smirk twitched her mouth, and she braced her chin on her thumb. “Because I’m such a good person, obviously.” Switching her attention to Tomoe, she pointed haphazardly behind her. “You can store her in the room here. And give her a bath. She stinks.”

“You mean ‘house her.’” Tomoe’s voice patiently corrected her, but there was a note of exasperation in her tone.

“Yes, that’s what I said.” Megumi’s response was flippant. Walking past them, Megumi touched a hand to Kenshin’s shoulder. “Oh, and you will be paying me for this. I’m too good for my services to be free.” Smiling sweetly, she left them in the lab alone.

X

Sipping at his coffee and ready for the end of his shift, the dog daemon waltzed through the police precinct towards his small desk tucked away against a far wall. It had been a quiet day, and while he preferred it that way, it made his shift feel longer than ever. Positioning the coffee mug against his lips to finish it off, his eyes slid to the side and glanced over the computer screen on the desk he was walking by. A large picture was plastered over it, and it briefly caught his attention. Mostly out of off-hand curiosity at first. Two steps past the desk, and he choked on the now lukewarm liquid.

“Hey man, you alright?” A large hand pounded him on the back as he continued to cough, and he recognized the voice as his missing-persons colleague.

“That girl.” Trying to catch his breath, the dog daemon cleared his throat and pointed with his now empty mug. “I’ve seen her.”

“What? You sure?”

“Yeah. Yesterday, right outside. She was with someone. I think he said he was her cousin or something.”

“If it was right outside, I bet we’ve got security footage.” The police officer’s voice was excited. “That’s great! I’ve had her on my missing person list for at least three weeks. Her brother’s going to be thrilled if we can track her down. He’s called almost every day.”

Chapter Text

Chapter Four

“Kaoru-san, you’re bleeding.”

Tomoe turned on her heel to disappear into another room, presumably for a towel, while Kenshin knelt in front of her. Exasperation softened the leftover frown on his face, and he reached for Kaoru’s chin even as she continued to stare petulantly off to one side.

“What were you thinking, Miss Kaoru? You’ve only hurt yourself.”

Blue irises peeked at him, then dropped to her lap where her fingers were tugging against one another. Sighing, he caught the line of blood running slowly down her throat with his thumb, and in the process felt the suppressed jerking of her muscles at the contact. When he spoke again, his voice was soft.

“Thank you.” Black lashes swept upwards, and he smiled at the look of obvious relief on her face. She had hidden it well, but she had been scared. “But, let’s get you taken care of before you start taking care of anyone else, alright?” A hesitant nod agreed.

Tomoe returned shortly with a damp rag, and wiped gently at the blood dribbling off the metal plate under her chin. Trying so forcefully to speak had torn something open inside her mouth, and the light frown on Tomoe’s features spoke of concern.

“First thing’s first. Let’s get you in the bath.” Dark eyes averted to Kenshin. “I imagine it will take a while, with her hair in the state it’s in. Afterwards, I’m going to take her over to the radiology room for some x-rays. You can wait if you like, but if you have some other business, I’ll have a guest badge left for you at the front desk.”

I do need to give my landlord a call and let him know I won’t be able to make it into work today. “I’d rather stay for now, unless you have any errands I can run for you.”

Thin fingers abruptly latched themselves onto his sleeve, causing him to jump, and Kaoru shook her head desperately in denial. Curling his own fingers around her shaking grip, he smiled in reassurance.

Tomoe smiled as well. “It would probably be best if I did the clothes shopping for her, but you could think of some things she might need while you wait. It does not appear she will be comfortable if you left immediately.”

It was sometime later before they reemerged from the bath tucked away behind the rec room. Adjacent to the bath was a small toilet room, and across from both was a bedroom with a single cot. The setup was familiar to Kenshin, but he tried not to dwell on such thoughts.

At one point, Tomoe came out alone looking for a pair of scissors. A slight frown on her brow marred her perfect features as she explained Kaoru’s hair could not be completely salvaged. Clean now, and minus the wildness of her mane, Kaoru appeared even smaller than before. What hair that had been saved feathered around her face and shoulders in uneven cuts. Now that it had been washed, he realized that it also had a bluish tint. It was darker blue than her eyes, and mimicked the midnight blue just at the end of eventide.

A small bag in Tomoe’s hand was deposited next to him with the clothes that he had lent to Kaoru the day before. Instead, she now wore a pair of shorts and a long-sleeved shirt that was closer to her size. Unfortunately, they still hung from her tiny frame in a sad reminder that she was a mere skeleton of her normal self. Even her skin, though now clear of dirt and debris, was dull and dry. Despite her pitiful appearance, she smiled from the wheelchair at the sight of him, and worked the wheels with her fragile-looking hands so that she could be closer.

Infected by her good mood, Kenshin smiled in return and patted her head. “Do you feel better?” A happy nod conveyed her agreement.

“She became a bit dizzy in the bath. I’m going to set her up with an IV to fast track some of the fluids and nutrients that she needs, then we need to get her into radiology. Her thigh is very purple and bruised this morning.”

Tomoe performed multiple x-rays and a few ultrasounds in the small radiology room. Luckily, Kaoru did not appear to suffer from deep vein thrombosis, but did have a hairline fracture of her left femur. Evidence of callus formation confirmed that the fracture was approximately three weeks old, but Kenshin suspected she had been unable to stay off the leg during that time. Which meant it had been unable to heal as fast as it should have. The fact that she was malnourished also played a heavy hand in its continued inflammation. Tomoe assured him that she would heal now that she would be off the leg and on some antibiotics. With her feet and her leg taken care of, they were finally able to turn their attention to the metal pin in her mouth.

Imaging confirmed that there was indeed a metal post speared all the way through her tongue, the bottom of her mouth, and out the underside of her chin. It was quite thick as well, so it was not a fragile or even temporary punishment. The way it was melded onto the plate and ball also created a problem, as it would not be easy to remove without hurting her in some fashion. The most alarming aspect about the pin, however, only became known when Tomoe decided to perform a CT scan on it to get an idea of the tissue damage in the surrounding area.

“What is that?” A side view revealed what appeared to be a lighter design wrapped around the metal of the post.

“Oh… my.” The concern in Tomoe’s voice gave her away as she scrolled quickly to the next view. A soft gasp pulled past her throat, and she sat back in the chair. Kenshin leaned forward.

“Is that… some kind of symbol?” I haven’t seen something like this since the war.

“It’s a seal, but I… I don’t know what kind. It’s much too intricate. I’ve never seen one like this before.”

“What’s it sealing?”

Black eyes glanced over the top of the screen at Kaoru lying so patiently on the radiology table. “Whatever it is, we can’t remove that pin until we figure it out.”

X

It was afternoon before Megumi came back to check in. With a printed version of the film in hand, the interest written on her face seemed to brighten the longer she stared at the clear image of the symbol. She did not know what kind of seal it was, either, but Kenshin suspected that was why she was so excited about it. It worried him, in more ways than one.

“Did you do a full body scan?”

“No, Megumi-sensei. I focused on the immediate areas of concern first.”

“Do a full body scan. If there are any other seals, we need to know about them.”

“Why would there be more than one?” Tomoe seemed confused, but Megumi slowly smiled as she stared at Kaoru scribbling away on a piece of paper.

“I don’t know, but wouldn’t it be fascinating?”

“Fascinating isn’t the word I would use.” Kenshin’s tone was ill-tempered. I don’t like this. I’ve seen that expression before.

“It’s alright, Himura-san.” The gentle tones that resonated in Tomoe’s voice worked to soothe his ire. “It would be dangerous to operate under any misconception. The more we know, the less chance there will be of harming Kaoru-san unintentionally.”

Sighing, Kenshin let his lashes fall. She’s right. I shouldn’t let my bias affect me like this.

“Ken-sama, your phone is making a racket.” Pulled from his thoughts, Kenshin reached for his back pocket as Megumi continued to complain. “Please turn it off while you’re in here. It interrupts my thought process.”

It’s the landlord. I did call to let him know I couldn’t make it. “Sorry, I need to take this.” Hurrying into the other room, Kenshin answered to the noise of chaos.

“Hello?”

“Himura-san! You need to get here now!” Indistinguishable shouting could be heard in the background.

“I’m very sorry, sir, but I’m in the middle of something important…”

“NOW, Himura-san! Or you will be homeless and without a job!” The line went dead, and Kenshin was concerned. I’ve never heard him so upset before.

“Is everything alright?”

A glance up revealed Tomoe in the doorway, and he took a breath. “I’ve got to go. Something’s happened at the restaurant. Will you…?”

“I’ll take care of Kaoru-san.”

“Thank you.” Her normally passive features dipped slightly, but then she bowed her head to accept his gratitude. Preoccupied with his own situation, Kenshin hurried past her to explain his absence to Kaoru.

To say she was less than happy about him leaving was an understatement, and she even seemed ready to leave with him. She only shakily conceded when Tomoe promised that she would stay with her until he came back. Quite frankly, he would not be able to stay with her all the time going forward, anyway. Allowing her to get used to others and discovering that she could trust them as well as herself would be beneficial to her in the long run. Even as he left, though, he found himself working out a way to get back as quickly as possible.

The distance between the lab and his apartment required almost an hour by foot and train. When he arrived at the restaurant it was to discover that the chaos had not died down. If anything, it had spiraled out of control. The owner, who was also his landlord, pulled him hastily through the back door, and straight to the front where a young man was standing outside the entrance and shouting for all to hear.

“This establishment employs a fire daemon! Despite everything the fire daemons did to almost destroy this world, the owner of this restaurant is putting your lives in danger by allowing him to live and work here! Don’t you know how unstable their powers are?! What if he loses control?! He could turn this entire city to ashes! How is his life more precious than yours?! And what about your children?! His mere presence is a danger to us all! It’s not safe for him to be here!”

The young daemon making such loud and dramatic claims had pale blonde hair, and an array of white and orange scales along his jawline and forearms. His eyes were perfectly round and the purest black, and just above each corner of his mouth were two long white whiskers.

“My phone has been ringing off the hook all afternoon, accusing me of harboring a war criminal.” The landlord crossed his arms and looked quite annoyed. “All the customers left as soon as he started making claims about a fire daemon working here. He was saying earlier that you hurt his friends as well. Is any of this true, Himura-san?”

Ah, I recognize him now. The young man was strangely alone, but Kenshin finally remembered his face. He had said little during their only encounter, and had left the talking to his large friend and the one who had laughed like a hyena. Taking a deep breath, Kenshin bowed his head somberly. There was no point in denying his origin now. “Yes, sir. It was not malicious, but I did cause harm to two of his friends yesterday. And… it is true that I am a fire daemon.”

Something akin to fear drained the color from his landlord’s face so fast that it was startling, but it was not totally unwarranted. While fire daemons were seen as a bad omen, it had much to do with the role they had played in the war against the humans. Too much of the world had been scorched by their powers, and now lay barren and unlivable.

“I-I’m sorry, Himura-san, but you need to leave.” While trying to keep his stern tone, he started backing his way into the restaurant. “I can’t have you working here i-if you scare off my clients. Please pack your things and vacate the apartment tonight.”

“Yes, sir. I understand.” Bowing low, he stayed bent as the owner rushed back inside.

“Look! There he is! Did I not tell you?!” The koi daemon was pointing at him now, and Kenshin sighed, smiled, and turned to walk around to the small set of steps leading up to his apartment.

“Running away, fire daemon?! Shouldn’t you take responsibility for lying to all these good people and putting them in harm’s way?!”

The koi daemon followed him to the stairs, and Kenshin paused for a moment before turning around. Defensively, the young man’s hands came up, but Kenshin merely sat on the second step up and continued to smile.

“You seem to have quite a lot of free time. I usually enjoy a good dry sauna when I have the chance. Your hobbies seem much more stressful to me.”

“Hobby? This is more of a public service!” He was still speaking much too loudly, as if trying to make a scene. Unfortunately for him, most of the people still passing by only quickened their steps to get past them faster.

“I see.” Nodding his head slightly, as if understanding his stance, Kenshin abruptly brushed it off as unimportant. “Then what do you do for a hobby? Surely you would rather be doing something you enjoy instead of standing out in this blessed heat.”

The young man was still bristling, but Kenshin could tell that he had been caught off guard by his questioning.

“I don’t have any hobbies.” The statement was almost haughty, and his nose even went up slightly as he said it. As if hobbies were beneath him.

“Ah… you haven’t found something you love do yet. I understand. It’s not always an easy feat.”

“I have something I love doing.” The words must have escaped him, because he stepped back after they rushed from his mouth.

“That’s good.” Kenshin’s smile was more genuine. “I’d like to hear about it.”

“Why?” Uncertain and guarded, the koi daemon looked at him like he was crazy.

“It’s good to talk about what you enjoy.” Kenshin’s response was more than reasonable, and slowly but surely the tension in the young man’s body was dissipating.

“You’ll laugh.” The accusation was quiet.

Red brows lifted, and he blinked honestly. “If it’s something you enjoy, it should never matter if someone laughs.” His smile softened. “But rest assured, I will not.”

Round, black eyes appeared unsure of his intentions, but he must have decided that he was at least being sincere. “I like… dancing. But… you know, performative dance.”

“Ah, kabuki?”

“Noh mai.” His response was immediate this time.

“Noh mai,” Kenshin repeated, and his tone was impressed. “That takes a lot of discipline and balance. Do you practice often?”

“I used to.” His blonde head turned to the side, and there was a sad pull to his features. “My father said it’s a waste of time.”

“I see.” Kenshin stood and dusted off the seat of his pants. “Well, why don’t you come up and have some tea? You can tell me more inside.”

“But…”

Kenshin was already up the stairs, and he purposefully left his front door standing open while the young daemon outside made his decision on whether to follow or not. About a minute later, he peeked his head through the doorway just as Kenshin was pouring water he had heated himself into the teapot.

“My name is Kenshin. I’m afraid I forgot to ask yours.”

“Oh, um… it’s Yūtarō.”

“Have a seat, Yūtarō-kun.” Kenshin indicated the only cushion next to the small table.

“Uh, sure.” The scribbled-up piece of paper on its surface was eyed skeptically. “Do you have a kid?”

Surprised, Kenshin darted a look over his shoulder, and chuckled when he caught sight of the drawing. “No. A friend of mine left that here.” The vague explanation seemed to confuse the young man, but Kenshin left it at that.

“Have you spoken with your father about wanting to continue dancing?” The teapot was settled onto the table, and Kenshin knelt across from him.

“I’ve tried… but he wants me to help him with the family business.” Petulance was now the main emotion tugging harshly at the lines between his eyebrows. “He won’t listen to me at all.”

Taking his time to respond, Kenshin took a sip of the tea. “Have you listened to him?”

“Of course, I have! He never lets me talk!”

“So, you’ve been helping him with the business?” Kenshin knew the answer. If he was busy, he would have never had time to harass others on the street as he and his friends had done the day before.

“Well, no. Why should I? He doesn’t even care what I want to do.”

“But if you haven’t been helping him and you’re also not doing what you enjoy… doesn’t that seem like a waste?”

“…Maybe.” His agitated tone had quieted, and he stared into his teacup as if embarrassed.

“Would you be willing to take some advice from an old timer like me?” There was a tease in the question, and Yūtarō’s mouth twitched on a grin. He was a good kid. No doubt just trying to look tough in front of his friends and find his place in the world.

“I guess.”

“Why don’t you ask your father what he’d like you to help with? If you can prove to him that you can be responsible and practice your dancing at the same time, I’m sure he’d be more open to talking to you about it. You never know, you might even enjoy helping him out.”

“But… my father used to be so cool, and now he’s just some shop owner. Half of his clients make fun of him.” The idea of watching others belittle his father was obviously humiliating for him, and no doubt Kenshin would have hated it just as much.

“But isn’t he just doing what he loves?”

Shock was the predominant emotion that froze the young man’s face, but it lasted barely a second before he dropped his head onto the table with a bang. “Ah, you’re right!”

Kenshin’s hands steadied the small table, but he smiled when the young man started to laugh.

“I never thought you’d be such a good listener.” Suddenly his eyes scrunched shut. “Sorry I got you fired.”

It was Kenshin’s turn to chuckle. “Don’t worry yourself on my account. It was time for me to move on. But you should probably cut back on making trouble for others going forward. If your father is a merchant, it will reflect badly on him.”

“Right.” His response was sheepish.

“By the way, Yūtarō-kun, how are your friends doing? I hope their injuries were not severe.” The somber question softened his tone, and Yūtarō’s enthusiasm quieted.

“They’re alright. The burns weren’t that bad, and the hospital took care of them pretty fast. I-I’ll go ahead and take care of the bills. You don’t need to worry about it.”

He really is a good kid. “I told you not to worry yourself on my account. I am the one who injured them, so I’ll take responsibility and pay the bills.”

Yūtarō scratched his head, but nodded. “Alright.”

“Instead, why don’t you give me a call when you get good enough to put on a live performance. I have a friend who I think would enjoy it very much.”

“Really? It’s a deal!”

True enthusiasm was always a delight, and Kenshin smiled as the sullen looking boy he had seen earlier on the street appeared to be a different person altogether. He had found that being kind to others, even when they refused to be kind in return, was way more gratifying and productive than the alternative. I am glad that he has found a path that he can be excited about, but now I have a new problem to solve. A glance out the window revealed the lowering angle of the sun, and Kenshin sighed. “I’d enjoy speaking to you longer, Yūtarō-kun, but I need to pack my things before evening. Of course, feel free to give me a call if you would like to talk again another time. You still have my card, I assume?”

“Oh.” Reality seemed to come back to him, and he sat back. “Do you… need some help packing up? It’s the least I can do.”

Pleasantly surprised, Kenshin nodded. “I would appreciate that. It shouldn’t take too long, as I don’t have much.” Now, where am I going to stay while I look for a new place? Kenshin did not have many friends, which unfortunately limited his options. I suppose I could stay at the lab for now, but I’ll have to store my things in the meantime. That should make Kaoru happy, at least.

“Actually, I bet my father knows some people that might be leasing apartments. If you’re interested.”

Hmm, perhaps this was better fortune than I first realized.

Chapter Text

Chapter Five

“I haven’t been able to find a personal phone number for him, but there’s been some noise about a red-haired fire daemon working at a restaurant in the ward over.” The tengu police officer dropped the address and phone number of the restaurant onto the desk of the dog daemon. “I’m sure it’s just some overblown paranoia about the fire-daemon part, but he fits the description. Want to check it out?”

Stuffing the remaining piece of a pork bun into his mouth, the dog daemon snatched up the paper and stood. “Le’s go.” Grunting, and swallowing the half-chewed food with a cough, he slapped a hand against the shoulder of the missing-persons officer on the way out. “We got a lead on that missing girl.”

“Great! I’ll come along.” Pretending he had not already been eavesdropping on their conversation, the grass daemon half-stood from his desk.

“Nah, we got it. Just wait here.”

Watching the dog and tengu daemons disappear through a far door, the grass daemon slowly lowered himself back into his chair before pulling his personal phone from his pocket. A quick dial later, and the phone was answered almost immediately.

“It’s Cho… Yes, sir, we have a lead. There’s a rumor she’s with a fire daemon… I know… but if it’s true, she has to be the unluckiest girl in the world.” Amusement thickened his voice, but the person on the other line was less amused and more fascinated by the prospect of the fire daemon being real. “You want to meet him? I’m not sure if that’s wise, sir… Sure, whatever, if this lead pans out we’ll arrange a meeting. Just don’t piss him off if he is a fire daemon. I like living.”

X

After packing up his small apartment, and finding somewhere to store his things, it ended up being much later than Kenshin had anticipated it would be. The last train had already run and he didn’t have the money for a cab. Not to mention he already knew that when the lab shut down, it shut down hard. Not only to make sure no one could get in, but also to make sure no one could get out. In the end, he had been forced to find a cheap hotel to stay at for the night. A quick call to Tomoe had explained his situation, and she had agreed to stay with Kaoru so she would be more comfortable. As he had hung up the phone, he again wondered why he was so worried about this small daemon he did not even really know.

When he arrived at the lab the next morning, he found a guest badge waiting for him at the front desk, like Tomoe had promised. Once on the eighteenth floor, he easily navigated the hallways to the out-of-the-way laboratory that Kaoru was being kept in. As he made his way, he amused himself with thoughts of how Kaoru would react when he finally reappeared. Would she throw a tantrum, or would some form of petulance rule her actions since he had not returned as he had promised? As long as she did not react with fear, he was discovering that he was quite glad for any of the emotions she showed. Subsequently, he was less than pleased when she immediately stumbled her way out of her wheelchair and latch herself to his torso where she clung to him and shivered pitifully.

Instantly suspicious, Kenshin frowned over the top of her head at both Tomoe and Megumi, who was ignoring them as she worked away at one of the computers. “What have you done to her?”

The barest crease formed between Tomoe’s brows, and she folded her arms, almost defensively. Her voice, however, stayed patient and soothing. “Nothing has been done to her, Himura-san. She’s simply happy to see you.”

With both arms held out to either side of her, Kenshin glanced down and Kaoru looked up. Sure enough, she was grinning quite happily, and he realized that it was her legs that were having a hard time holding her up. Her quivers were due to imbalance and not fear. Imbalance and pain. The frown on his face stayed, but his frustration switched targets.

“Why are you out of your chair, Miss Kaoru? You need to stay off your feet so you can heal.” Scolding her gently, Kenshin wrapped one arm around her shoulders and helped her to back up to the forgotten wheelchair. Once she was settled, Kenshin looked up at Tomoe and ducked his head sheepishly. “Sorry, Tomoe-san.” Again, his voice softened in that way that could not be helped.

“It’s alright.” Oddly, there was the lightest touch of amusement in her voice.

Returning his attention to Kaoru, who was pulling demandingly at his shirt, Kenshin smiled and held out the bag he had brought along in his other hand. “I got this for you.” Surprise widened her eyes, and the boldness from moments before disappeared as her hands reached and then withdrew uncertainly. “Go on. It’s yours.” Eyes such a wonderful shade of blue stared at the bag longingly, then glanced up. They looked deep into him, as if attempting to read his intentions, and it only solidified his suspicion of the kind of treatment she had become accustomed to before he had found her.

Kneeling on the ground in front of her, he settled the bag onto the floor and then pulled from it a large sketch pad. The hesitation in her eyes melted into excitement, and this time she reached for the gift with a little more certainty. With the spiraled pages now held tight to her chest, he withdrew next a box of multiple-colored pencils, which she accepted at his insistence with a shaky hand.

Smiling encouragingly, Kenshin turned her towards the rec room. “Now you can add some color to your drawings.” She finally smiled; a smile full of suppressed joy, and though she hugged the presents protectively, her eyes looked only at him.

Tomoe intervened as Kaoru jerked on Kenshin’s fingers for him to come with her. “We will join you in a moment, Kaoru-san.” Gentle tones and the soft brush of her fingers over her hair seemed to calm the young daemon immediately. She nodded, though with a slight air of reluctance, before rolling herself into the other room.

“Did you find something else on the full body scan?” With a sinking heart, Kenshin watched the soft line of Tomoe’s mouth firm.

“We found… a few things.”

“A few quite interesting things.” Now that they were on a subject that appealed to her, Megumi pulled her attention from the computer, and swiveled around in the rolling chair she was seated on. “By the way, Ken-sama, where’s my apology?” A sweet smile tinged with a small amount of derision curled her lips.

Closing his eyes for patience, Kenshin forced a smile in return and bowed his head. “Forgive me, Megumi-san.”

“For what?” Now her voice feigned innocence as she urged him to continue.

“For assuming you had harmed Miss Kaoru.”

A light chortle dismissed his apology just as easily as she had demanded it, and Megumi reached behind her to click a few buttons on the keyboard she sat in front of. Multiple images revealed themselves on the computer screens in the room, and her voice switched to a more no-nonsense tone. “The girl has five additional magic symbols: one on each limb, and the last at the middle of her sternum. As you can see, these sigils are different from the one in her mouth. In fact, I don’t think these are seals at all.” Cinnamon irises looked up from her chair towards the highest computer screen near the ceiling. “Unfortunately, they are as unfamiliar and foreign to me as the seal in her mouth is. It’s going to take some time to decipher them and what they’re meant for.”

“And if you were to guess?” Kenshin had suspected since the day before that Megumi was feigning ignorance on how much she had deduced about Kaoru and her situation. She never would have given in so easily if there wasn’t something specific she was expecting out of having her here.

A red-tinged gaze glanced at him thoughtfully, and her ears twitched as she grinned. “You were always sharp, Ken-sama. I suppose those instincts of yours are what has kept you alive all this time.” Standing from her chair, Megumi turned her back to him and fluffed her five dark tails. “If I had to guess, this girl was going to be used as some kind of pawn, and not just for something small. Or she’s already been used as one. I can’t imagine she’s much use now, what with the state she’s in.”

“What makes you think that?” Kenshin wanted specifics, and Tomoe had been right. Megumi was the best.

“The sigils are much too intricate and powerful. Without even knowing what they mean, I can tell that they were placed carefully and with intent. They won’t fade anytime soon, and removing them would require a no doubt specialized incantation or ritual. No one goes through this much trouble if they don’t have a specific goal in mind. Pinning her tongue to the floor of her mouth, and then sealing it in place, means that whoever did it wanted to make sure she had no way of betraying them. Say, if she was captured or tortured, or even if she escaped. They’ve even hidden her daemon-type, which is curious on its own. The blood work I drew yesterday after you left is inconclusive. I haven’t been able to find a single match in our system. Which means she’s either extremely rare, or…”

“Or?”

“I’m not sure.” Megumi shrugged. “That will take some time to figure out. My final clue, at the moment, has to do with her internal organs. Or rather, a missing internal organ.” Another key was pressed, and a new image pulled up on the main screen. “As you can see, they removed her uterus.”

The startling revelation shot Kenshin’s brows into his hairline. “Removed…?”

“We made sure to eliminate the most obvious reason for its removal.” The soft tones of Tomoe’s voice were somber. “Her cervix remains intact, but there is no internal scarring to suggest trauma. When I questioned her, she reacted the way an innocent girl might: with confusion at first, and then with shy embarrassment once she understood what I was asking. As far as we can discern, no one has touched her in such a way. It makes sense, as she is most comfortable with you, despite you being male.”

“Which means it was a tactical decision. Without a uterus, she is not handicapped by the problems a woman can have with one. That means, if she is not a sex slave, and the sigils make her much too valuable to be used as a mere servant, then she must be meant for something much larger.” Gracefully her arms crossed and she turned once more to lean against the metal table. “Of course, this is all just speculation at this point, but finding the truth is what I do.”

Kenshin thought on everything for a moment, and then asked softly. “If she’s so important to whoever did this to her… then why have they all but starved her?”

“Yes, that is a curious contradiction. Could be that the pin in her mouth has something to do with it. We also are not certain how long she has been on her own.” Once Megumi started speculating, it was easy to keep her talking.

“It could be that she is no longer of any use.” Again, Tomoe’s subdued voice spoke up, and there was something just a touch sad about her countenance.

Megumi sighed. “How boring. I hope that’s not the case. I would really like the chance to discuss a few things with whoever did this.” Fox eyes slanted a look at Kenshin, and her next statement was carefully crafted to make him uncomfortable. “While they’re strapped down, of course.”

A shiver raced up Kenshin’s spine, and he turned his head away to hide any distress his face might show. The gentle nudge of Tomoe’s calm words diverted the conversation towards something more important.

“Will we need to consult with someone else about the sigils, Megumi-sensei?”

“Hmm, yes, I believe so. Genzai-sensei is the most knowledgeable person I know on sigil magic. He’s usually kept busy by the government, but he may be able to spare one of his assistants to act as a go between.”

As the two began serious discussions on matters Kenshin did not understand, he found his attention drifting to the rec room and Kaoru’s hunched over form. Once more, she was intently scribbling away, now within the sketch book that he had brought for her. Now that her picture would be in color, he wondered what it would look like. Would it bring any clarity to her subject, or would it confirm that she simply liked covering the pure white of the pages with something other than emptiness? With a last glance at the two women in front of him, Kenshin snuck away to sate his curiosity.

Over her shoulder, Kenshin blinked to find the page covered in red and orange and gold. As before, with the lead version, two portions off from center were lighter than the rest of the drawing, but now they were golden and a sharp contrast to the surrounding shades of red. The vision of what he was looking at became suddenly clear, and he was shocked to realize what it was she had been trying to recreate.

“Kaoru.” Kneeling next to her, he placed his fingers on the sketch pad. The fragile hand that had been vigorously scribbling in the leftover white sections with orange, paused. Curiously, she tilted her head to meet his gaze. “Have you… met another fire daemon?” Slowly her brows creased. “Besides me. Have you met another fire daemon besides me?” He could not keep the excitement from his voice, but it was held in check by more than a little anxiety.

Her nose scrunched as she thought on his question. Barely a second later, she nodded enthusiastically. Suddenly, it was hard to breathe.

“Where?”

The colored-pencil was settled on the sketch pad, and one of her hands lifted to point at her temple. Confused by her answer, Kenshin shifted his weight.

“In your mind?” What is she trying to say?

Another nose scrunch, only this time it was exasperated. Shaking her head, she tapped her temple emphatically, then closed her eyes and pillowed her cheek on her hands. The tension in Kenshin’s body released.

“In your dreams?”

Happy agreement was his response, and Kenshin let out a long breath. Was that why she followed me that day we met? Did I remind her of her dreams? Then he remembered her nightmare.

“Are they scary dreams?”

She seemed undecided this time, as she both nodded and shook her head.

If she’s been dreaming about a fire daemon… she may have met one before and doesn’t remember. “How long have you been dreaming about this fire daemon?”

With no way to answer through signals, Kaoru pulled a scrap piece of paper closer to her and struggled with the correct katakana. Squinting at first as he deciphered her reply, he swallowed and then returned his gaze to her bluer than flame irises.

“Forever.”

Or at least as long as she remembers. It occurred to him then that the seal in her mouth had little to do with her divulging secrets. After all, she could still write and mime a response to questions. Perhaps instead it completely removed her ability to recall certain details. It was even possible that the placement was meant to be misleading. But that still does not explain why they forcibly muted her with a metal pin.

“Miss Kaoru.” Broaching the subject slowly, he made sure to hold her gaze so that he could observe every shift in her emotions. “Why did they pin your tongue to your jaw?”

Tiny tremors jerked at her bottom lip and chin, and her eyes dropped in shame.

“It’s alright. You can tell me. No one’s going to hurt you.”

Trembling harder than ever, she took up the pencil again, and scribbled out the answer.

“I was disobedient.”

With three small words, Kaoru confirmed that the metal pin had been a punishment and not a planned course of action. Forcing himself to smile gently in the face of her overwhelming terror, Kenshin lifted a hand to comfortingly stroke one over-pronounced cheekbone. The nervous quaking of her body was jarring under his touch, but she quickly accepted his offer of solace by wrapping both of her hands around his one. Twin sapphire globes vanished behind the thick crescent-moon of her dark lashes, and she turned her nose into his palm like a cat might when scared and wanting to hide.

“You’re safe now, Miss Kaoru. I promise you’re safe.”

Beneath his smiling façade, anger burned slow and dangerous. If he ever met the person responsible for such a thing, Kenshin had already decided that they would deserve no kindness.

X

“So, he lied when you interviewed him and claimed he was just a small spark daemon?” The dog-daemon officer jotted down the information faithfully, before looking back up at the restaurant owner again.

“That’s right. He said he couldn’t do more than warm the air and start cook fires. I let him stay since it lightened my utility bills, but I had no idea he was an honest and true fire daemon. I swear I would’ve never let him work here if I had known.”

“And he lived in an apartment upstairs, you said?” Next to him, the tengu daemon spoke up as he looked around the interior of the currently closed establishment.

“Yes, sir.”

“What about a young woman? Did you ever see him bring a young woman back to his apartment?” A picture of the missing girl was pulled from the back pages of his small notepad, and he held it up for the owner to have a look.

After a moment of study, he shook his head, “Can’t say I have. He was a real loner. Never saw him with any friends the entire time he was here.”

“And could he have brought anyone up to his room without you knowing?”

“Well, sure. The back stairs are a separate entrance. I used to live up their myself, until I got a bigger place down the road for me and the wife.”

“This is the most current contact you have for him?” The tengu daemon held up a card with Kenshin’s number and the address of the apartment.

“That’s right. The phone number should still be good, but I had him pack his belongings and leave last night. You’re free to take a look up there, if you like, but there isn’t much to see. He wasn’t one to keep much, and he was clean.”

“Thanks for talking with us.” Returning a short bow, the dog daemon stood and handed the owner a card of his own. “Give us a call if you think of anything else.”

“Of course, officers.”

The door shut behind them as they stepped out onto the sidewalk. “You want to give him a call now, or set up a trace first?”

“No need for that. That old man said something about him burning a couple of kids the other day. I’ll get him down to the precinct to settle that, then we’ll have him in custody to question about the girl.”

Chapter Text

Chapter Six

“While you’re out, would you mind picking up a few things?” Tomoe walked with him as he exited the building, and he automatically shortened his stride to accommodate her more graceful steps. Even though she was just a hair taller than him, her gait was dainty and smooth. His own natural pace was swifter and more fluid than graceful.

One of her folded hands slipped into the pocket of her lab coat, and she pulled out a piece of paper. “I added quite a bit to the list you made.” Amusement curled her lips just slightly. “Unfortunately, Himura-san, the rest of us require a bit more attention to hygiene than you do.”

“Ah, right.” Accepting the paper with an embarrassed grimace, he flipped it open with one finger and blinked at the number of items she believed Kaoru needed. “And all this is necessary?” He failed to hold in his incredulity, despite his best efforts.

The softest huff of air pushed from her nose, and she covered her mouth with the back of her hand. It was rare for Tomoe to laugh. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen her laugh. It was pleasant, he realized. For most of the time he had known her, she had always been reserved. As if she could not allow herself to react with any other emotion but calm patience. He appreciated that patience. How could he not after all she had done to help him? Over time, however, that reservedness had made her appear more sorrowful than soothing in his eyes, and the part of him that had been ready to leave his sorrow behind had recoiled from her as a result. Now, just being near her made him feel awkward and guilty.

This, though, was relieving.

“Is my ignorance amusing?” Despite himself, he smiled, but kept his gaze forward.

“A little.” Softly, her hands came back together. “But it’s not unexpected. Ladies generally require more products. I admit I added a few things. Kaoru-san has such pretty features, it would be a shame not to take care of them properly.”

Kenshin purposefully avoided responding to that observation.

“You’ve grown attached to her.”

“Perhaps.” The front doors loomed large before them, flooding the lobby of the building with sunbeams. “Her personality is so warm… like sunshine.” Even Tomoe’s normally low tones were muted with awe. “I can’t imagine the strength she must possess to be so warm despite…” Her words trailed off as the doors slid open and the heat from summer hit them both like a wall. Kenshin enjoyed the heat, but Tomoe’s body conducted it a little too well. Too much heat made her uncomfortable, and they stopped just outside.

Deep black eyes lifted upward to the blue of the sky. “She climbed in my futon the other night to cuddle with me. Do you remember the way she reacted to my presence only the day before? It’s truly frightening, how easily she trusts.”

“Hmm.” Agreeing, Kenshin looked away and thought about her shivering hand clasped in his after her nightmare. She had only known me for a few hours, and still trusted me enough to fall asleep in the same tiny room.

“I won’t keep you, Himura-san.” A smooth bow bent her body forward. “If there is anything on the list you have trouble with, I will pick it up later.” She turned to reenter the building, and Kenshin bowed at her retreating figure before descending the concrete steps.

A message had been left on his phone the day before, requesting his presence at the local precinct in the ward where he had burned those two boys. It was not unexpected, but it was strange that it had been delayed. Stranger still that he was being called in after Yūtarō-kun had made his scene at the restaurant. When he had returned the call that morning, the voice of the officer had been shocked, and he wondered if they had thought he would attempt to avoid them. He did find it strange that they were so intent on making sure he physically came in, and as quickly as possible. While he certainly wanted to get it out of the way so that he could focus on more important things, such as finding a new job, a home, and taking care of Kaoru, he could not shake the feeling that something was off.

His arrival at the precinct found him face-to-face with a tengu officer who waved him through the doors and followed him down a far hallway at the back of the building. If nothing else had felt suspicious about the situation, this would have tipped him off. The greater the distance they put between them and the front entrance, the harder it would be to leave when he wished.

The tengu officer settled him into a private room that was neither comfortable nor uncomfortable. It was well lit, but had only a single table and four padded chairs. There was a double window on one wall, however, and it relieved him of any notion that he was to be held against his will. At least, he saw no bars.

“Officer Inu will be with you shortly. Please make yourself comfortable.” Kenshin returned a polite bow before seating himself in one of the chairs facing the door.

They made him wait a full thirty minutes before a dog daemon squeezed his broad shoulders into the room. Keeping his body relaxed, he smiled to show nothing but patience, and was rewarded with a small frown. I recognize this officer. He’s the one who approached Kaoru and I outside.

“It’s a pleasure to see you again, officer.” Standing, Kenshin bowed a little lower than normal, and carefully observed the dog daemon’s reaction to his immediate greeting. He expected me to pretend as if I did not know him. Why?

“Yes. I would rather it be under different circumstances.” His voice was gruff to create distance between them. “Unfortunately, it was brought to our attention that you burned a couple of boys the other day. Would you like the chance to explain yourself?”

Violet eyes studied the officer, then sat back in his chair to fold his hands in his lap. The polite smile stayed in place on his lips. “Is someone pressing charges?” Ever so slightly, the officer’s mouth firmed. “If so, I would like to press charges myself.” Kenshin was certain Yūtarō was not behind this, but he was almost as certain that the other two boys were not as well. “Two young men were harassing my cousin before I found her. When I confronted them, they came into contact with my hand. Unfortunately, my body becomes quite hot in the summer time. I have already committed myself to paying for their hospital bills, but was assured that the burns were not severe enough to scar.”

“Your cousin.” The abrupt shift spoke of true intentions, and Kenshin’s chin lifted. Ah, here it is. “She made it home safely, I presume.”

“Of course. Her mother was quite upset with her.”

“And where does she live? I’d like to get her statement of the event as well.”

Something’s not right. Kaoru’s refusal to enter the police station or request their help jumped to the forefront of his thoughts. For some reason, she did not trust them, and for someone that trusted easily, as Tomoe had pointed out, there had to be a damn good motive behind her cynicism. While Kenshin believed that this specific officer had good intentions, he was going to trust Kaoru’s intuition.

“I’m afraid that would be a waste of your time, Officer Inu.”

“And why is that?”

“My cousin does not speak. She has not since a… traumatic incident robbed her of the ability.”

“How convenient.” There was sarcasm in the officer’s voice, but Kenshin’s smile softened sadly.

“Not really. I would like nothing more than to hear her voice.” The smile returned to his features after a moment, and he closed his eyes. “Besides, I would rather not involve her in my affairs, as it was my own fault for burning those two boys. I’m willing to cooperate, if charges are being pressed against me. Do you know if they are willing to settle? I’m afraid I don’t have much in the way of assets, but I’m sure we can come to some form of agreement on the matter. Especially since they were the aggressors in the confrontation.”

“No one has pressed charges against you.” The statement was pulled from him begrudgingly.

Red brows lifted happily. “That’s good. May I leave?”

“No.”

A double-tap on the door alerted them to someone on the outside requesting attention, and the dog daemon stood with a scowl to crack the door. Whispered words were traded, and then the scowl was thrown at him.

“Don’t move.” The officer disappeared into the hallway, and Kenshin was once more left alone in the small room. Five minutes later, he returned, but with two others in tow.

One was dressed like an officer, but was much taller and thinner than the dog daemon. Impossibly yellow hair stood straight up from the top of his head, providing even more height to his already lanky frame. Each strand was as thick as a finger and sharply pointed, but their weight bowed them near the top, like tall grass in a field. Whenever he moved, they rattled and rubbed together with a gentle rustling noise. A thicker band, about the width of a hand, wrapped around his forehead and kept the strands of hair upright. He smiled amiably, but there was something a little insincere about his expression. As if he was laughing at the world, and not with it.

The second presence was smaller in contrast to the officers, and wore civilian clothes. Strangely, Kenshin found it hard to look at him, as his outline appeared hazy and unclear. Something dark hovered around him that was not dispelled by the sunlight pouring through the window. When he moved, his body flickered and almost jerked. It would have felt awkward, but he was sitting down across from Kenshin before he was even able to register that he was no longer standing in the doorframe.

Startled, Kenshin sat up, and it was hard to keep his smile in place. Especially with this new presence smiling unwaveringly at him from across the table. Both of his eyes were closed, but his face was directed at him, as if he were staring intently. Deep black hair fluffed about his ears, and his fingernails, when he clasped his hands together on the tabletop, were just as dark. Now that he was closer, Kenshin also noticed that the air surrounding him seemed to shimmer, like perverted glitter.

The grass daemon bowed before seating himself next to the smaller presence, and the dog daemon, while still frowning, pulled the chair next to Kenshin away from the table completely to sit near the door.

“The name’s Cho. I work in the missing persons department of the precinct.”

The smile on Kenshin’s face froze, and his eyes swung back to the small daemon sitting before him. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Officer Cho.” The words were forced and distracted as he practically burned his gaze into still closed eyes. “Is there something I can help you with?”

“I’m glad you asked. You see, we’ve been looking for this young man’s little sister for three weeks now. We were hoping you might recognize her.” His hand dug into his shirt pocket for a picture, but before he could get it onto the table, the small daemon next to him shifted in his seat.

“Why didn’t you call me when you found her, cousin?”

The grass daemon turned a strange frown on the unintroduced daemon with a single lifted brow, but the dog officer dropped his crossed arms in unadulterated surprise. Kenshin’s observation became a bit shrewder. He had no way of knowing if this was the daemon responsible for Kaoru’s torture, or merely a pawn to get her back. For now, he would focus on why he was playing along with his tale of being Kaoru’s well-meaning cousin instead of fully committing to Kenshin having kidnapped her. Just what is he playing at? Letting his smile widen, Kenshin propped his own crossed hands onto the table.

“Don’t you call your mother anymore… cousin? She’s been quite safe from anyone who would wish her harm.”

“Sorry, cousin. I must have lost her number when I changed phones. Would you remind me?” His voice sounded falsely helpful, like a customer service agent pretending to be nice. Even though his tone matched his smiling and slight pretty features, his aura was… non-existent. Kenshin felt nothing from him, and it was as unsettling as his flickering form.

“But you surely haven’t lost her address.” A convincing chuckle hummed against his chest. “Come now, cousin, have you stopped visiting as well? It’s no wonder you thought your ‘sister’ missing.”

There was a pause, and then the man across from him sighed in perfect, faked resignation. “You’re right. I may have overreacted. We fought recently.” His chin tilted downward, as if feigning sorrow. The smile remained. “I’m strict, and she was rebelling against the rules of my home. I was worried that she may have run away after I was forced to…take away something she enjoyed.” Dark lashes finally parted, and the steel grey of his irises were as dead as his deficient ambience. The look was purposeful, to observe his reaction, but Kenshin was helpless to his response.

Kenshin’s vision wavered, but he saw in clear detail the metal pin causing Kaoru such grief. The smile on his face vanished for only a moment, but the change in his expression was noticeable when it finally returned.

“It’s a bit hot in here, ain’t it?” Cho fluffed his shirt out, but his dog daemon colleague talked over him.

“Wait a minute. So, you really know this guy?” Officer Inu stood incredulously from his chair by the door, and there was a bit of a growl in his voice.

Steel grey irises closed once more, and he stood to bow his apology. The motion was sudden, and felt more like a splice in old movie film than a physically possible movement. “Forgive me, Officer Inu. I was not aware my cousin was in town. It’s entirely my fault for not keeping in touch with dear mother.”

“If this is a family matter, then keep it in your family. You shouldn’t waste police resources with this kind of ridiculous infighting.” The door was yanked open. “Show them out, Officer Cho, and get someone in here to fix the A/C.”

Cho laughed uncomfortably, and glanced at Kenshin. Waves of heat were pouring into the room, and he could already feel his skin starting to shrivel from it. “You’re welcome to use the room, if you would like to talk some more.” This time his eyes glanced at the daemon next to him, but his dark head shook slowly.

“I think not, Officer Cho. My cousin and I should continue this conversation elsewhere. We do apologize for wasting your resources.” The air around him warped as he shifted toward the door, but his smiling face stayed aimed at Kenshin. “Would you like to join me for a walk?”

“Definitely.” The drop of his normally tenor voice to baritone rumbled against his chest tellingly. It was hard to keep the harmless smile on his lips now, but even though it felt unnatural, he forced himself to retain it. Standing, he realized they were nearly the same height. Despite that, his naturally fluid gait had a hard time keeping up.

Cho saw them all the way out of the station, and frowned after them as they continued up the sidewalk. Kenshin was more certain than ever that Officer Cho was connected to this dark daemon he was now following, and probably the main reason Kaoru had refused to look to the police for help. Luckily, it would not be hard to remember his face.

About a block down the street, and the daemon walking in front of him paused. He smiled over his shoulder, but his eyes remained closed. “You’ll have to forgive me. I have a hard time reducing my pace for others slower than I.” The insult was a bit obvious, and Kenshin brushed it off easily. The man turned to continue walking without fanfare. “I’m a shadow daemon, you see. Hiding from the light is what I do best, and the summertime makes it especially hard for others to… catch me.”

“My name is Sōjirō, by the way. And you?”

They stopped under a tree, and the shadow daemon faced him with his still empty but smiling expression. For a moment, Kenshin was tempted to test his claim that he could not be caught.

“Kenshin.”

“Kenshin.” The name repeated, as if committing it to memory. “And do you truly have my sweet little sister safely in your custody, Kenshin-san?”

“I don’t know. Do you truly have a sister? Perhaps you have a picture of you together?”

“Ah.” A fake chuckle huffed from his nose. “I’m afraid I lost my phone. I do believe I said that before.”

“No problem. I believe I have a photo.” Pulling out his phone, Kenshin held it up and blatantly snapped a picture of Sōjirō’s face. “That should do. Wouldn’t you say?” Turning it around to show the very clear photo to him, Kenshin’s smile looked more like a snarl. “Perhaps you’re not as hard to catch as you thought, Sōjirō-san.”

The smile finally disappeared from his face, and his lashes parted once more to tiny slits. Nothing was said for a long time, and then air sucked past his teeth. “Ahh, that’s it. Himura Kenshin, correct?” A small crease formed between Kenshin’s brows. “Yes, I know you. Your father was the fire daemon murdered by the humans. Such savage beasts they were. Did you ever catch his killer? Or was there more than one? I heard they sliced him into multiple pieces and used him to enhance their bombs. Do you think that was true?”

Humans. Standing face-to-face with the daemon responsible for Kaoru’s pain already boiled his blood, but piling an old, well-worn rage on top of it turned the very air pushing from his lungs into tiny licks of fire. The sane voice in his mind was chanting that he needed to keep himself calm, but there was an inferno now loose in him. One that was hard to control, and responded easily to his hatred for that race of beings responsible for his father’s death. Its flame was too hot for the world to survive, and too savage to be tamed by half-hearted attempts. It was the reason his own kind had been forced to contain him after the war.

“You seem upset, Himura-san. Forgive me. Our meeting was about my sister, not the tragic death of your father.” His words were hollow and muted by the building roar in his ears, and Kenshin even failed to realize that the wall he had placed on his expressions had crumbled completely.  Sōjirō, however, seemed unfazed, even when his features shifted to mimic different emotions. “Is she still mad that I took away her voice? She knows I do not tolerate disobedience. Refusing my commands are detrimental for her. I had to show her that, for her own good. If she can promise to do as I say, I’ll remove the pin for her. Her singing has been missed by the house.”

Golden eyes blazed behind red lashes, and the leaves of the tree they were standing under withered and smoked on the branches nearest to him. The already warm summer air scorched and warped around him, and the shimmering darkness surrounding Sōjirō seemed to quiver in excitement. But he could not speak. If he spoke, the world would surely die.

Glancing at his watch, Sōjirō bowed. “I must leave now, Himura-san. Please give Kaoru-chan my regards. She means the world to me, so be sure to keep her safe.”

Beams of light filtered through the leaves, and Sōjirō vanished without a trace.

X

Loud and shrill, the weather alert sounded from Tomoe’s phone as a warning to everyone in Southern Japan. Glancing at the notification banner glaring red against her muted background, Tomoe sucked in a breath and stood. Beside her, Kaoru glanced up and curled a hand into her lab coat in question.

Within only minutes, the temperature had jumped ten degrees above the predicted high for the day, and was steadily on the rise.

More interactions in the next chapter as Kenshin’s instability becomes a problem. I hope you’re still enjoying, and stay safe!

Chapter Text

Chapter Seven

            Kenshin was not answering his phone.

            Ten minutes after the weather alert, the temperature had finally dropped, but held steady at five degrees above the predicted high. The news was warning citizens to stay inside to avoid heat stroke, and recommendations for increased fluid intake would run across the bottom of the screen every three to five minutes. It was good news, but still worrying. What had caused the spike in temperature, or, more specifically, what had upset Kenshin enough for him to lose his temper?

Standing straight and tall in front of the large open windows of the lobby, Tomoe divided her outwardly unhurried attention between her phone, the TV hanging above the receptionist’s desk, and the front doors. During the time Tomoe had known Kenshin, he had changed a lot. In the beginning, he had been lost to his emotions, and out-of-control of his fire. Multiple triggers had led him to that point. Many traumatic events had scarred and torn away his ability to empathize with the world. He had hated everything and everyone, and had trusted in nothing.

Since that time, Kenshin had struggled to rebuild himself and his ability to interact with others. It had taken many, many long years, but it had paid off. While it felt at times as if he were merely playing along, it was his determination to keep trying that ended up being his strength. For the last few decades, he had even appeared to be genuinely content, if not truly happy, and his kindness was now natural. He went out of his way to help others, his attitude was more confidant and cheerful, and his aura made those in his presence feel safe. Kenshin had long since left behind that sullen creature that used to lash out in fear and rage. In fact, losing his temper was not something that had happened in a long, long time.

Tomoe shuddered to think what could have caused him to lose it now.

The phone in her hand buzzed insistently for her attention, and her heart lurched as she rotated her wrist to check the caller. A steadying breath pulled into her lungs. “Megumi-sensei.”

“Where is he?” The no-nonsense tone of her boss spoke of irritation.

“I don’t know.” Her gentle voice softened. “I have been unable to get in touch with him.”

“Dammit. He must have turned his phone off. I haven’t been able to track him, either.”

In the back of her mind, Tomoe wondered if the phone had even survived the spike in temperature.

“If he’s the cause of this, you know we’ll be blamed. I stuck my neck out for him once and it’s been permanently on the chopping block since.”

“But the temperature stabilized.” Interjecting, Tomoe glanced at the curious receptionist before shifting her stance to face away from him.

“It better normalize or he’s going back in that damn freezer!”

“I’ll take care of it, Megumi-sensei. I know what my assignment was for…” A sharp pop to her right made her flinch, and deep black eyes swung to a crack in the thick window pane. One moment later, and that crack branched and climbed all the way to the ceiling. Noise, like the warning twang-snap of a frozen lake, echoed within the lobby as every piece of outward glass suffered the same fate. Quick stepping away from the windows, Tomoe waited for them to shatter, and breathed a sigh of relief when they did not.

“What was that?!” Megumi was yelling at her over the phone, but Tomoe only thought to look around after it was too late. A glimpse of red hair and the elevator doors sliding shut suggested Kenshin’s return to the lab.

“He’s here. He must be heading for Kaoru.”

X

The plastic of the guest badge warped under his thumb and forefinger as he swiped it for access to the small lab that was housing Kaoru. As a result, it took four tries before it allowed him entry. Irritation mixed with anger, and the badge crumpled in his fist like a distorted and shrunken ball once the door finally opened. The soft noise of metal and rubber turning announced Kaoru before the wheelchair spun through the rec room door hurriedly. There was concern on her features. She smiled when she saw it was him, though, and his irritation eased enough to drop the melted badge to the floor.

“Kaoru. Stay in your chair.” His voice rumbled through the air like an unstable volcano, and her hands came off the wheels cautiously. Every muscle in her body had tensed as well, and the smile that had bowed her lips slid slowly into uncertainty. Sweat was already beginning to bead from her forehead due to the spike in temperature, and the air conditioning whined as it desperately tried to keep up. Maintaining a safe distance, Kenshin withdrew his phone and held up the screen for her to see. He was acutely aware of the shake in his hand.

“Do you know this man?”

Cracked but healing lips formed a small O, and terror, unlike the kind she had shown to or because of him, consumed the liquid flame of her blue eyes. At first, she froze, as if holding herself still would convince the world that she was not truly there. Not one second later, and she lurched out of her wheelchair so suddenly that it careened towards the glass wall behind her. All of her weight shifted naturally to her dominant right foot, which slipped out from under her as the force plus mass propelled the momentum behind the chair’s trajectory, and she slammed face first into the floor.

No whimper of pain or cry of surprise squeaked from her throat, and instead she scrambled so that she was flattened over her bent knees into the smallest possible ball she could manage. Both hands covered the back of her head, pressing her nose into the cold floor, and there she stayed without so much as a quiver. Only the quickened expansion of her ribs now hinted at her fear.

Standing with her kneeling at his feet, Kenshin’s chin came up, and his golden eyes widened. Today was the first day Kenshin had seen Kaoru in a short-sleeved shirt, and with her arms bare he could see the scars Tomoe had spoken to him of. Cowering as she was, the bend of her elbows aligned the marks along her arms and hands perfectly. No doubt, they would extend onto her back with the same vicious precision.

A cane? Or a whip? Did it matter? Kenshin knew well what both felt like, and the phantom pain contracted the muscles along his back. This posture of submission and supplication she knelt in was habitual for her, or else she would not have instantly gone to it in her state of panic. In Kenshin’s experience, captors usually demanded submission. A bowed head meant a broken spirit. Perhaps she starved herself. Did you not once try to do the same?

Why am I remembering these things?!

Anger. An anger he had fought long and hard to put aside, gutted him from within. It sparked and raged in his soul, burning his mind with hatred and malice. This feeling was just like before; when he was still young and totally consumed by his own fire. Unlike before, indignation welled up the back of his throat for this broken daemon, and he slammed to his knees to smash one flaming fist into the floor between them.

“Get up!” The demand was nothing short of a heated shout, and she flinched at the abrupt change in his attitude. “Do not bow your head to anyone! Do not let them break you! Do not give in! You owe them nothing! You deserve to live!”

Slowly, her sapphire irises peeked up at him, and the hands at the base of her skull slid off while she observed his tantrum in silence. The longer she studied him, the more definitive the creases around her eyes became until he recognized what he did not expect. Empathy. Somehow, she understood what he was truly saying, and that it was not necessarily aimed at her. Heat, like slow and dangerous magma, seared a crimson trail from the corner of each golden eye as he watched her frail hands lift toward him in an open offering of comfort.

“S-stop.”

He tried to deny her, but the smile was back on her lips, and she was up on her knees now. Both arms extended towards him, and she did not even wince as the skin of her fingers reddened. Her intentions were clear, but he still had no control over his emotions. Hazardous levels of heat and tiny licks of fire had formed a barrier around his body, protecting him from what he hated… and what he feared. It would cause harm without prejudice, and there was nothing he wanted less than to hurt this fragile young woman with her irises as blue as complete combustion.

And yet, he was tempted to accept.

No. She’ll die.

“Kaoru!” Alarmed by the scene before her, and still breathing heavily from her run through the halls, the name tore from Tomoe’s lips. Hurrying forward, she wrapped an arm around Kaoru’s middle and drug her as far from Kenshin as she could. “You cannot touch him!”

Struggling, Kaoru latched both hands around the arms holding her from behind, and twisted her chin to direct wide, pleading eyes up at Tomoe. The expression was easy to read.

“I know. But it will hurt him more if he hurts you.”

“Tomoe…san...”

A soft gasp shuddered in Tomoe’s chest, and she unconsciously hugged Kaoru tight to her as she gathered her strength. The man now kneeling across the room from them no longer resembled the caring red-headed daemon who had gone out of his way to help a stranger on the street. Instead, his body roared like a forest ablaze, and the sheer heat emanating from his fire was beginning to melt everything within a certain proximity of him. Sooner rather than later, that proximity would include them. This form was terrifying, and even Tomoe faltered in the face of his raw power.

“…I can’t… stop it.” The words ground from between clenched teeth, and thick, liquid fire dripped from Kenshin’s chin in one large drop before hitting the concrete floor with force. Between his hands, it hissed angrily as it began eating its way through the solid mass. Despite the ferocity of his appearance, he was clearly in pain, and Tomoe knew well the struggle he dealt with just to keep this dangerous power of his in check.

“Stay here, Kaoru-san.” Whispering the words into her hair, Tomoe released her and stood. One long breath in focused her own power, and on her exhale her entire body turned black. Not even the whites of her eyes were visible when her lashes once more parted. Each step toward him and into the wall of heat was harder than the last, and what felt like an eternity was merely seven steps.

Standing before him, Tomoe place both hands on the top of his head and instantly felt the heat sear through her. Within mere moments, the deep black of her skin superheated and she glowed red like an ember. Pain shot through her core, but Kenshin’s fire did not lessen. Panic joined the pain, and she concentrated harder on absorbing more, on lessening the flame. Whatever control Kenshin had regained was quickly falling apart, and she had to stop him, she had to calm him. Again, she wondered what had happened to undo his hard-won control.

An audible crack stole her breath, and she fell to her knees.

“Dammit!”

The explicit filled the room a second before biting cold hit Kenshin square in the back, wrapped around him, and covered Tomoe completely. Smoke and mist from the fire extinguisher diffused through the air, but Megumi did not let up until she had emptied the large canister in her hands. Shivering, covered in freezing gas that was already evaporating, Kenshin’s violet eyes rolled up into the back of his head and he fell onto his side.

“What the hell were you thinking?!” The fire extinguisher was dropped, and Megumi took three long strides to steady Tomoe’s swaying body. Helping her stay upright did not stop her from scolding her. “I put these in here specifically for him! Why didn’t you use one?!”

“Forgive me, Megumi-sensei.” A quivering inhale stalled her speech, and she flattened one hand over her sternum as she swallowed. “I was not thinking.”

“Obviously not.” Megumi’s tongue clicked in irritation, and she toed Kenshin’s unconscious body. “I really will put this idiot back in the freezer if he can’t control himself.”

“I don’t… think it was necessarily his fault.” Pushing herself to her feet, Tomoe staggered slightly, and her soft voice was breathy with pain. She too had been covered in the chill of the extinguisher, and the sudden change from hot to cold left her feeling brittle.

“Oh? Why’s that?”

“I’m not certain, but it… felt unnatural. He hasn’t lost himself in a very long time, and even then, he was able to control it after coming back to himself. This time he could not. It was almost as if... someone wanted him to lose control.”

Eyeing her, Megumi crossed her arms. “If he was mad at someone, why did he come directly back here?”

Both turned their attention to Kaoru, who had crawled her way over without notice and was gently trying to shake Kenshin awake. Upon catching their gaze on her, she froze and ducked slightly into her shoulders.

“Hmph. Guess we’ll have to wait until he wakes back up.” Trying to interrogate a mute sounds like too much work. “Go clean yourself up, Tomoe-san. I’ll take care of this idiot.”

“Are you sure, Megumi-sensei? I can help you.” Despite her protest, her shaking body betrayed her.

“Get out of here before I change my mind.” Impatiently, Megumi’s hand waved, and Tomoe bowed before disappearing further into the lab towards the bathroom.

In Tomoe’s absence, Kaoru became a touch hostile, and scowled at Megumi from her now protective position. One arm had wrapped around Kenshin’s back, and her eyes were fierce enough, but her skeletal form and one bum leg cancelled any level of intimidation she could have managed. Laughing outright, Megumi flipped a finger up, and hundreds of tiny fox fires lifted Kenshin into the air and out from under her reach.

“He’s fine.” Dark brows flattened over blue eyes, and Megumi cocked a hip. “He just passed out when his body temperature dropped too low. Once his fire kicks back in, he’ll wake up, alright?”

A whiny noise protested, but Megumi ignored her as she directed his prone body through the rec room door and dropped him without fanfare onto the couch. When she turned, Kaoru was already trying to pull herself across the floor towards them, and she rolled her eyes before physically picking her up and depositing her into the wheelchair. She fought her at first, but quickly realized her intentions. Once situated, Kaoru hesitated and then bowed her head in tense thanks.

“You’re welcome.” Though sarcastic, she plopped one clawed hand onto her head before leading the girl back into the rec room.

Kaoru stopped at the couch, and frowned at the crumpled mess Megumi had purposefully left Kenshin in. As Megumi continued on towards the bathroom, Kaoru tugged on Kenshin’s arm to reposition him so that he was laying comfortably on his back.

“Let me see.”

Seated on a bath-stool in nothing but a towel, Tomoe’s head lowered slightly before she stood. The clawed hands of the fox daemon carefully undid the towel, and studied impassively the blackened and ashen-tipped crevice that now extended from Tomoe’s shoulder, between her breasts, and to her opposite hip.

“You cannot afford to do that ever again.” Black lashes fell, and Tomoe’s chin turned to the side. “Do you understand? Never again.”

Slowly, Tomoe nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

“He’s relied on you too often. Let him suffer the consequences on his own, for once.”

“I don’t… do it just for him.”

Red-tinted eyes studied her intently, but apparently decided to let her have the half-lie. “Good.” Turning away abruptly, Megumi reached for the door. “Clean up and then come to my office. I’ll do what I can, but it will mostly be cosmetic.”

“Thank you, Megumi-sensei.”

The wheelchair whizzed by the bathroom as Megumi exited, and she trailed behind Kaoru to find she had retrieved a blanket from the small bedroom. Carefully, she covered Kenshin with it as his body continued to shiver from the CO2 gas of the fire extinguisher. Whatever he had done to earn this young girl’s trust, it seemed not even his daemonic fire form could destroy it.

Ugh, why did I agree to this again? Disgusted with herself, Megumi pinched two fingers to the bridge of her nose and left.

When Tomoe finally returned from the bathroom, she was wearing a spare set of scrubs and looked quite pale. Each small step was tentative to stall any shots of pain, but she smiled gently to find Kaoru still hovering over Kenshin’s unconscious body. She was currently trying to share her own warmth by placing her hands against either side of his neck and jaw. Upon seeing Tomoe, she turned her worried expression on her.

“I’m alright.” Smoothing back her still unevenly cut hair, Tomoe searched her face. “What about you? Are you hurt anywhere? Ah.” Two thirds of every one of her fingers was blatantly red. “Give them to me.” Taking her hands in hers, Tomoe removed the heat from the burns easily. A small twinge in her chest, however, reminded her that it was not something she could carelessly handle any longer. Hiding the strain it caused with a sad smile, she fussed with the fly-a-way hairs stuck to Kaoru’s cheek.

“I need to take care of some things this afternoon. Will you look after Himura-san while I’m out?”

Sapphire eyes blinked, and she nodded agreeably.

“There are some rice balls in that fridge there that I brought this morning. Be sure to eat something, and then brush your teeth and wash up before bed.”

A light blush tinged Kaoru’s cheeks and nose, and she ducked her head shyly before nodding again.

“Don’t be concerned if he does not wake up tonight. He expended a lot of energy, and fire daemons do not tolerate cold well. If you need anything, you can contact either myself or Megumi-sensei by that panel on the wall. Just like I showed you yesterday. Do you remember?”

Kaoru nodded again, and then watched Tomoe leave. Returning her attention to Kenshin, she fitfully ran a large chunk of his long red hair between both hands, and waited several long minutes until she was sure she was alone. Grasping the wheels of her chair, she rolled herself slowly back into the main room and retrieved Kenshin’s phone from under one of the empty researcher desks. A glance at the screen showed it was still functioning, and it lit up with the picture of Sojiro’s smiling face. Every muscle in her body tensed, her hands cinched around the phone, and her jaw clenched so hard the metal pin dug into the roof of her mouth.

In a fit of rage, she slammed the phone into the arm of the wheelchair with both hands and broke the screen. Feeling decidedly sick, she repeated the motion again and again until the picture disappeared, the phone died, and the body had distorted. In one last desperate attempt to be rid of her twisted emotions, she threw the phone hard and watched it smash into the floor before sliding back up under the desk to connect with the wall. Breathing heavily, she wrung her fingers until she had calmed herself, and then returned to her vigil beside the couch.

Chapter Text

Chapter Eight

            Something dark was latched to his ankles. No matter what he tried, it tangled about his legs like thick shackles. It weighed down his gait like vines pulling him from below. He tried to run, but his body was heavy and his limbs moved as if he were running through water. The darkness was winning, and soon it would drag him down into a void of despair.

            Just as he was about to give in, a tiny blue light flitted across his vision, focusing him away from the shadows. It sang to him, in a voice so haunting and with words he could not understand. But he knew what it wanted. The light was beckoning him to follow, and he gave in to its temptation without a second thought.

X

            Red lashes came open as suddenly as they had closed hours before, and as he lay in the muted light of the laboratory, the scene he had caused came back to him. Violet eyes clenched shut briefly, the breath he had not realized he was holding flooded his lungs, and he twisted to get up. Was everyone alright? How much damage had he caused? Barely one step was taken, and he tripped over a solid lump in his path. One ungraceful face-plant later, and he was sprawled over the solid lump and what felt like soft bedding.

            With his arms bracing his weight, Kenshin curled his upper spine so that he could see the cause of his embarrassing mishap. At the same time, the lump moved, and he found himself staring at Kaoru’s once sleeping form, now propped up on her elbows as she blinked back. Immediately, she smiled, and he scrambled to remove himself from squashing her.

            “Miss Kaoru.” Situating himself cross-legged next to her futon, he struggled for a moment as he watched her sit all the way up. “Why are you out here?”

            Smiling features creased slightly as her forehead dipped into worry, and one of her hands lifted to point at the couch.

            “I… see.” Briefly he dropped his chin towards his lap, and closed his eyes. “But you don’t have to sleep out here. I’m fine, Miss Kaoru. I promise.”

            Slowly, her hand came back to rest in her lap, and the smile melted from her face as she tilted her head to one side. Sapphire irises, shining brighter in the dark than he thought they should, studied him intently. As if she did not believe him.

            Red brows creased heavily, and he looked away.

            “I’m sorry, Miss Kaoru.” His tone softened in shame, and a thick swallow interrupted his apology. “That you had to see what you did.”

            Movement caught his attention, and when he glanced back at her, he found she had lifted the edge of the blanket nearest to him in invitation. For several long seconds, she held it patiently in the air, waiting for him to understand. Abruptly, he remembered her kneeling before him with arms outstretched in open acceptance, and realization dawned like a slow rising sun. Red eyebrows lifted towards his hairline, the muscles in his chest tensed, and his hands shot forward to force the blanket back down around her waist.

            “T-thanks, but no.” She seemed confused by his refusal, and he heard himself laugh uncomfortably. The smile on his face felt tight. “I-I’m fine on the couch, really.” One of his hands came back to pull at the collar of his shirt. “Besides, I still feel gross and… not quite myself. I’m going to clean up and change, but…” And now she’s getting up. Does she expect to help?!

“Stop!”

She froze with one knee under her. A long breath drug itself deep into his lungs.

“Stop. I’ll be right back, so please, Miss Kaoru… go back to sleep.” Blue eyes blinked, and there was the slightest touch of petulance on her lips. Unable to help himself, he stroked one finger down her cheek in reassurance. Her dry skin was a touch softer than before.

“Thank you, for staying with me.” The smile returned, and it lifted his spirits.

An overnight bag he had left in the lab was retrieved from behind the couch, and he locked himself inside the bathroom, just in case. Though he did not bathe like others did, with water, he wanted to be somewhere he could douse himself if he needed to. Something still felt off, and he was hesitant to use his cleansing fire. Even though it was the easiest and most natural of his flames to use. In consequence, he took his time to commit fully to his focus.

When he returned to the recreation room, he was relieved to find Kaoru asleep, or at least lying down with her eyes closed. Carefully stepping over her this time, he used a scrunched-up blanket he found to tuck around the seat cushions, before lying down himself. The couch had retained a funny smell from the CO2, but Kaoru was utilizing the only spare bedding and it didn’t feel right to sleep in her cot.

As soon as his eyes closed, he felt the return weight of the darkness from his dream once more. Unwilling to face it, red lashes snapped apart, and he tried his best to hide his unsteady breaths. It did nothing to help. Turning onto his side, he tried watching Kaoru breathe easily on the floor directly beside him, but the blue light of her eyes was hidden away.

“Kaoru.” The name was nothing more than a whisper, for fear of waking her if she truly was asleep. Straightaway, her eyes opened, and her head turned towards him in question. One moment of hesitation was all he could stand before he extended his top arm over the side of the couch. He did not even try to hide the shake of his fingers. Pink lips curved into a gentle, comforting smile, and she unearthed the arm nearest him to grasp his hand in hers. With elbow bent, she pressed the back of his hand against her cheek, and the last image he remembered before sleep took him was of her blue eyes glowing in the dark.

X

In the dimness of the rec room, a shadow detached itself from the couch and slid quietly to the back corner. Slowly, it climbed the wall until it finally pulled itself away to form a solid, three-dimensional shape out in the open. When it moved, however, the shadowy figure did not walk, but instead seemed to flicker out of existence to appear somewhere else. Now standing behind the couch, one dark, shimmering hand rested on the back cushion and grey eyes looked down upon the two peacefully sleeping occupants of the lab.

A smile, that was both habitual and fake, pulled at the shadow’s mouth, and he studied the pair as he circled the couch. When he spoke, his voice was calm and emotionless, like a scientist coldly analyzing an experiment.

“You were much stronger than I thought, Himura Kenshin. I would have liked to see if the stories are true about your kind, but you resisted. You don’t seem to have any real control over your powers, though. Such a pity.”

Glancing away, he flitted across the room to the small desk with Kaoru’s scattered drawings. There the shadow bent to study the papers, but refrained from touching. It was several long minutes before he turned back to the couch.

Squatting next to the futon, he tilted his head to find the fire daemon’s hand still clasped against Kaoru’s cheek as she slept.

“This is an interesting development.” Sojiro’s flat voice was hushed. “My seal is working perfectly, but you persist. Is your attachment unconscious? His presence is detrimental to your survival, but now I am curious to see how this plays out. What if I do this?”

One glimmering finger extended to press down upon an area just between her breasts. Creases twisted the half-smile on Kaoru’s face until she appeared in pain, and her spine bowed as her muscles contracted.

“Sweet dreams, my little doll, but do not worry… I will not let you die.”

A single, smoky-blue tear escaped from the corner of her lashes, and Sojiro’s hand carefully withdrew. As it rolled slowly down her temple, he slipped that hand into the dark abyss of his jacket and withdrew a tiny black box. The tear was collected delicately, and then tucked back into the darkness for safe-keeping.

Sojiro stood once more, and glided through the door to the main room of the laboratory. Char marks and melted plastic formed a perfect spherical perimeter around the area the fire daemon had been kneeling, but Sojiro was interested in only one small section of the floor. Kneeling on the scarred concrete, Sojiro dug a pair of long tweezers from out of the void that was his jacket, and carefully extracted a small red lump out of a hole in the floor.

“Perfectly intact.” Holding the mass up before his eyes, Sojiro rotated it, and watched it sparkle like a raw ruby. “What luck. Fire daemon tears are unheard of.” Another, larger box was removed from his jacket, and the solidified magma disappeared into the darkness as well.

As the box was pushed down into the endless confines of his shadow, Sojiro tilted his head at the gleam of metal and glass underneath one of the far desks. A quick flit of his body, and he reached with his tweezers to turn over what was once an outdated phone.

“Ah. You thought this was how I got to him, didn’t you? An admirable attempt to break my hold, but ultimately pointless. You know I only let go of my toys when I’m finished playing with them.”

The phone was left behind, and Sojiro turned his attention at last to the computer and monitors lining the glass wall. A few skilled keystrokes later, and Kaoru’s information was displayed upon the screens. The fake smile stayed upon his features as he gave the data a quick once over.

“How disappointing. I did not expect you to have such connections, Himura Kenshin, but they do not grasp my doll’s importance. Not even a little.”

Kaoru’s imaging was brought back up, and Sojiro purposefully left it on the screens.

“You’ve also missed one of my runes. It’s an important one, you know.” Lifting dead, grey eyes to the camera in the corner, Sojiro stood and bowed slowly. “I believe I’ll leave her in your care for now. After all, this place is perfect to test my plan.” Melting back into the floor, the shadow that was now Sojiro slid underneath the exiting door and disappeared from the building.

X

Tomoe did not return to the lab the next day, or even the day after that. Although Kenshin had been assured that she was fine, her absence bothered him. It was easy to tell that it bothered Kaoru as well. The use of her powers was draining on her. Even more so since she had a gentle disposition. That she needed to rest wasn’t exactly unusual, but Kenshin feared it was more than that. Despite his concern, he found himself unable to call to check personally on her well-being. The fact that his phone had obviously been destroyed by his meltdown provided him with a perfect excuse.

In Tomoe’s absence, Megumi claimed the project wasn’t worth her time and avoided them. At the moment, Kaoru really needed to heal more than anything anyway. However, Kenshin had been informed, quite irritably, that he would be paying for the damages he had caused to the building. Specifically, to the glass lobby, the elevator, three industrial air conditioning units, and the heat damage inside the lab. Exactly how he was going to afford to pay for anything at that point was a mystery even to him, but he had accepted that he was responsible for the damage. It was only right that he reimburse the lab somehow.

I really need to find a new job soon.

On the third day, Tomoe returned to the lab, and with another set of hands in tow. She seemed relaxed and well-rested, upon careful scrutiny, and Kenshin was relieved by her usual perfect appearance. She was even toting several large department store bags in both hands with ease, which he quickly offered to carry for her. It was the guest trailing along behind her with copious amounts of additional bags that put him back on edge in a completely different way.

“Himura.” The tone in his voice was thick with disapproval, but the tall daemon still bowed his head in greeting. He had been taught to be respectful, if nothing else.

“Enishi.” Kenshin nodded his head back. “You’ve been… well I hope.”

“Hmph. Better than you, I heard.” Green eyes like hard emeralds offered him a side-look, before he marched past Kenshin to deposit the bags where his older sister indicated.

Tomoe was a coal daemon, like her father, but her mother had been an elemental. An earth daemon, to be exact. Not long after Tomoe’s eleventh birthday, her mother had passed away in the war with the humans. From what Kenshin understood, Tomoe’s father had mourned the loss of his wife for one hundred years. At the end of that time, her father decided to create a golem using his wife’s ashes. He had not wanted someone to replace his wife, though, and instead created a son by combining a piece of his own body with hers.

Enishi was tall, like Tomoe, but with hair the color of pale stone. His body was hardened earth with a rich skin-tone to match, and his voice was gravely and deep as a mine. Unlike Tomoe, he was blunt and straightforward, which would come off as mean at times. He did not lie to spare someone’s feelings, even for his sister. But he was honest and trustworthy. Kenshin did not hate him, per se, but Enishi had never really liked him. A part of him knew why, but that same part refused to dwell on it.

All that mattered to him right then, was whether he would upset or frighten Kaoru. That and the inordinate number of parcels now stacked and spilling off the couch.

“What’s all this for?”

Tomoe had already made her way straight to Kaoru, and was rubbing off a smear of pencil lead from her chin. In turn, Kaoru was happily grinning back. “You obviously forgot all about the items I requested you bring back for Kaoru the other day, so I took the liberty of bringing them myself.” The gentle tones of her voice were equal parts reproachful and calm.

Red lashes blinked. I should feel guilty, but… I doubt I could have afforded this.

“Thank you, Tomoe-san. I’ll be sure to pay you back.”

“No need. I heard you have quite enough on your plate right now. Besides, these are for Kaoru, not you.”

“Right.” Still feeling quite sheepish, Kenshin grimaced. Tomoe, on the other hand, had already moved past the conversation. Sitting down in the chair next to Kaoru she lifted a hand to direct the young woman’s attention to the unintroduced man in the room.

“Kaoru, I would like you to meet my brother, Enishi. He’s been a bit lonely lately, so I promised to bring him along today.” Sapphire eyes were uncertain as she looked up at the towering man standing beside Kenshin, but she bravely ducked her head in greeting. Enishi looked bored by Tomoe’s explanation, but bowed much lower than he had when acknowledging the fire daemon.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Kaoru-san.” The rumble of his voice unnerved her, and Kenshin instinctively stepped closer when she bit her bottom lip and ducked her head.

“Don’t worry, Miss Kaoru.” Smiling to dispel her worry, he pulled up a chair to sit on her other side. “He’s not as grumpy as he sounds.”

Tomoe’s brows creased seriously. “My brother is quite sweet, Himura-san. I’ve never thought him to be grumpy at all. Well…” She looked thoughtful, and Kenshin threw a suppressed grin at Kaoru. “Perhaps he is a bit ill-tempered when he’s hungry, but he always calms right down after a meal.”

A noticeable breath in and out of Enishi’s nose spoke of restraint. “I’m not a child anymore, sister.” Kenshin tried to hide his snickers by quickly rubbing his nose, but had to clear his throat when Enishi scowled. Tomoe’s dark lashes blinked, ignorant of Kenshin’s teasing, and she sighed instead at her brother’s show of petulance.

“I know, but you are my little brother, and you were so cute when you were small. Ah, I know. Why don’t you make yourself small while you’re around Kaoru? She might feel more comfortable if you’re her size.”

Enishi’s brows slammed together.

“That’s not a bad idea.” Playing along, Kenshin nodded and then winked at the curious sapphire eyes that were darting between the participants of the conversation.

“Stay out of this, Himura.”

As the siblings argued, Kaoru turned her attention back to him, and he continued to smile to let her know everything was fine. For a few long seconds, she studied him without blinking or responding to his expression of reassurance. It was something she had done often over the last two days. It felt to him like she was not quite sure his expression was real, or that he was actually fine after everything that had happened. Slowly, one of her hands lifted to touch his cheekbone, and the curve of his lips faltered. Flame blue eyes were burning into his soul in an attempt to find something that he was not even aware was there. Whatever it was recoiled, and a nauseous pain in the base of his skull forced him to shake his head and break eye-contact.

“What is it, Himura-san? Are you alright?” Distracted from the attempted coercion of her little brother, Tomoe witnessed only a part of what had occurred.

“I’m fine.” Swallowing, he tried repositioning his smile, but ended up with a sad replica. “I’ve just… felt a bit off since the other day.”

Dark eyes watched Kaoru’s small hand lower away from Kenshin’s face, but her eyes stayed locked on him and her head tilted unconsciously to regain eye-contact.

“Has she done that before?”

“A few times, I suppose.” Playing it off, Kenshin was unsure why it was important.

“Kaoru.” Requesting her attention, Tomoe had to physically tilt Kaoru’s chin towards her. “Look at me, okay?” Blue eyes strained to keep Kenshin in sight, but eventually she nodded with a short sigh. Although deep black eyes remained locked with Kaoru’s gaze, the young daemon’s pupils were unfocused now, and they looked back and forth between each of her dark irises curiously. Tomoe’s mouth turned down slightly. “Forgive me, Kaoru-san.” Her hand slipped from her chin, and she sat back. “I thought perhaps she was displaying a daemon skill, but it may have been nothing.”

“Or it’s only something she sees when she looks at him.” Enishi’s rough voice spoke up suddenly, and he crossed his arms when everyone looked at him. His emerald eyes, however, were already trained on Kaoru. “What did you see?”

Kaoru’s eyes dropped, but Tomoe took hold of one of her hands to convey gentle comfort. “It’s alright, Kaoru-san. We just want to know if you can see something the rest of us cannot.”

Fitfully, she chewed her bottom lip, and she glanced over at Kenshin. The smile was gone from his face as he sat in complete silence, and her eyes sadly lowered once more. Slowly, she nodded. This time, Tomoe glanced at him as well, but something painful and unsure had contorted his face.

“Can you tell us what you see?”

One shaky hand reached for a pencil amongst the scattered colors on the desk and grasped it in her palm. A scrap piece of paper was pulled towards her, and she slammed the lead of the pencil hard into the center. Holding the pencil more like a weapon than a drawing device, she scratched and dug the tip into the page over and over again in an uneven sphere of back-and-forth violence until it tore. Before she could stop herself, a single angry line grated across the desk all the way to the edge.

The rec room was deathly silent as they all stared at the brutal mess she had made, and Kenshin even forgot to breathe until the flattened pencil clattered from her hand onto the floor.

“A-and… what is that? A shadow?”

“Looks to me like she can see how full of hate you are, Himura.”

“Enishi.” Tomoe’s scolding voice was soft.

“It’s not as if he’s wrong.” Kenshin looked away in shame and missed the tremble of Kaoru’s bottom lip. Tomoe did not.

“What would you like to do about this, Kaoru-san?” Tapping the drawing for reference, Tomoe encouraged the conversation forward. Without hesitation, Kaoru’s hands crumpled up the paper as hard as she could, and then she grabbed one of Kenshin’s wrists and shoved it into his palm. Startled, Kenshin held it up uncertainly, but Tomoe’s mouth had curved into a small smile.

“I think she wants you to burn it.” One red eyebrow lifted. “Right, Kaoru-san? You want it to disappear?”

She was nodding before Tomoe finished, but then strangely started to shake her head, almost desperately. Something Tomoe had said was not completely right. Without any urging, she grabbed at another piece of paper and a fresh pencil to struggle out what she wanted to relay.

“Shadows hate light.”

A sharp breath hissed past Kenshin’s teeth, and he sat up straighter in his chair. “Sojiro’s a shadow daemon.” Sapphire eyes lifted to connect with his, and she nodded slowly. Looking over at Tomoe, Kenshin elaborated. “I met him the other day. He’s the one who did this to Kaoru.” His voice dropped an octave as he revealed what he had learned. Tomoe looked stricken, but it was Enishi who provided surprising insight.

“I’m not sure what’s going on, but I’ve heard that shadow daemons can enhance dark emotions in others. Like hate.”

Kaoru’s hand shot up and over the back of her chair to point at Enishi excitedly, but her eyes stared desperately at Kenshin for him to understand. It was an uneasy conclusion to arrive at when he realized what Kaoru meant by seeing a violent mass of darkness in him. A darkness that had been heightened by other darkness.

“He… cursed me?”

Chapter Text

Chapter Nine

            “How is that possible? I didn’t even notice?”

            Tomoe’s brows tucked ever-so-slightly, and her eyes lowered. “It may have been his intention to distract you so you would not notice.”

            Enishi scratched his chin and nodded in agreement. “He obviously made you mad on purpose.”

            Thinking back through their brief conversation, Kenshin’s scowl darkened. “I suppose he did.”

            “Fire daemons are notoriously hot-headed.” The rumor was spoken with a deep laugh. “I’m sure it was easy.”

            Except being hot-headed was not something Kenshin had been in a long time. The dark lashes of the coal daemon blinked as her brother attempted to rile Kenshin up, and Tomoe glanced at Kaoru. Her deep eyes continued to study Kenshin with clear worry on her features. It was much too easy. A deep breath expanded her lungs, and Tomoe ignored the implications by diverting the discussion.

            “Do you know any more about this ability, Kaoru-san?” Distracted blue eyes returned to Tomoe once more, and her uncomfortably pinned tongue strained to lick her lips. “Anything at all would help. The more we know, the better chance we have of breaking it.”

            She appeared pensive for a time, but then pointed at her sloppily written message before slapping a hand over her eyes.

            “I think we’ve established that shadows hate light.”

            The snide remark was met by a frown from both Kenshin and Tomoe. Looking quite sulky herself, Kaoru narrowed a glare at Enishi’s smirking features and then pointed meaningfully at one of her eyes. When she was sure she had everyone’s attention, she folded her fingers inward at the same time her dark lashes fell.

            “Of course.” Annoyed with himself, Kenshin’s sigh was a grumble. “It was daytime, and Sojiro’s eyes were closed the entire time. When he did open them, it was barely at all, and only for a short period.”

            One fragile hand gripped his, and Kaoru looked really upset. Her other hand again pointed at her eye. Closing his own, Kenshin squeezed her hand back.

            “I guess that’s all it took.” One look and it was already over? What a dangerous power.

The demanding pull of her fingers wrenched his attention away from his thoughts, and he opened his eyes to find her shaking her head. Dismay still dampened her usually happy aura, and she covered her scribbled words until only hate remained in view.

“She’s right.” Enishi’s solid body had leaned forward to look over Kaoru’s shoulder. “I don’t think their powers work unless you’re actively angry or upset. Like I said, he made you mad on purpose and you fell right into his trap.”

“Kaoru-san, has he ever used this power on you?”

Kenshin’s chin jerked up to watch Kaoru’s reaction, but her eyes were now trained upon Tomoe. Cracked lips parted, dark lashes lowered then lifted, and she slowly nodded. Shifting forward in her seat, Tomoe brushed back the young girl’s unruly bangs.

“Did it work?”

One finger lifted in the air, but Kaoru did not seem proud that she had only fallen for Sojiro’s deception one time. In fact, she seemed almost ashamed. Briefly, Kenshin wondered what he had done to make Kaoru angry, and what had happened afterwards when she had lost control of herself. Without any clue as to what kind of daemon she was, the scene was a mystery.

“You are not currently under the influence of his power. Does it fade, or does it have to be broken or remov…?”

Heavy pressure slammed into Tomoe, as if a bucket of thick liquid had been dropped directly onto the top her head. At the same time, a shiver raced up her spine, and she felt nauseous and dizzy. From the way Kenshin and Enishi both reacted, it was clear that she was not the only one suffering from the side-effects. Someone had just constructed a barrier, and it was powerful.

“What the hell was that?” Enishi was already heading for the exit, and Kenshin stood to follow him. When Tomoe stood as well, however, it caught her attention that Kaoru only seemed confused by their reactions, and the coal daemon frowned suspiciously. For anyone not to have felt a barrier that strong was strange. A child would have felt it and known something was wrong.

“Stay here, Miss Kaoru.” Gently, Kenshin’s hand rested on the top of Kaoru’s head before he hurried after the stone golem marching quickly through the lab. Just as they made the exit, the security alarms went off in full force. It was not until they made it to the elevators, though, that they were given a clue as to what, or rather who, had caused the commotion.

The density in the air was their first warning, even before the doors parted to slide open. An ominous crackle was their second. Once fully exposed, the single occupant of the elevator appeared menacing and dangerous as floating fox fires the size of grapefruit hung about her threateningly. The rich red-tint of her irises glowed behind her straight-cut bangs, and her fangs were slightly extended and exposed. When she marched off the elevator, both of the men backed away cautiously, and Tomoe, still hurrying down the hallway after them, froze.

“M-Megumi-sensei…”

“That son-of-a-bitch.” Each word was punctuated by a deep growl in her throat, and her chest heaved with repressed breathing. All five tails bristled at her back, and her claws fisted into her palm. “Who does he think he is?”

“What’s going on? Was the barrier yours?” Carefully, Tomoe had finished her approach, but Kenshin made sure that he was still partially between them, for safety. Something had obviously angered the fox daemon, and he wasn’t quite sure what to expect. As long as he had known her, Kenshin had never seen the woman react so passionately.

Gleaming irises shot to her subordinate. “Of course, it’s mine!” An angry snort tore at the back of her throat and one nostril. “Get me some damn tea! Before I have to put myself in the freezer!”

“Yes, ma’am.” Tomoe bowed, still quite gracefully, before turning on one heel to return to the small lab behind them. Left with a volatile fox daemon, both Kenshin and Enishi slowly made room to let her march past them. Making their way back down the hallway, Megumi glanced in irritation at the flashing lights of the security alarm. Flipping out her phone, she barked into it instead of holding it to her ear, and a few moments later the alarm died like the slow whine of air releasing from a balloon.

Up in front of them, Kenshin heard Megumi mumbling to herself before dropping into a chair in the smaller, front room of the lab. Strangely, he thought he heard something about it being his fault. Almost bitterly, he wondered what she was going to blame on him now.

Tomoe returned quickly with a cup of hot tea, and Kaoru wheeling herself close behind. One look at the crippled young ward and Megumi’s scowl turned impatient.

“Get her out of here. The grown-ups need to talk.”

Kaoru appeared more than offended, but Kenshin jumped forward to help her turn the wheelchair around. Blue eyes frowned up at him as he pushed her back to her desk, and he smiled down at her in understanding.

“I know, Miss Kaoru. I’m not her biggest fan, either. Let us try to calm her down, and I’ll tell you what’s going on after. Is that alright?” Pink lips pursed in a look between petulance and pensive, and she sighed loudly before nodding her head. “Thanks. Just be patient.” A gentle stroke of his thumb down her cheekbone conveyed reassurance, and his smile warmed into something more affectionate before he left her alone. Blinking at the empty door, Kaoru’s frown creased with resignation before she directed her gaze over to the spiral notebook Kenshin had gifted to her, now partially hidden by her scattered scrap pages. Drawing helped her maintain focus of her slippery thoughts, and bring clarity to her hazy dreams.

Reentrance into the room the others now filled revealed Megumi accessing the single computer off to the side. The cup of tea was already empty, and Tomoe excused herself to bring back the full pot. Glancing at Enishi, Kenshin jerked his head.

“Do we know what the barrier is for?” He tried to keep his voice low, the same way he would around an angry animal. Truth be told, he was more than a little apprehensive about there being a barrier at all. He would never say so out loud, but it was making him claustrophobic. At the same time that Enishi shrugged, Megumi snapped at him without even turning.

“I’ll show you exactly what it’s for, and you better be ready to thank me afterwards.”

A few angry keystrokes later, and Megumi pushed herself away from the screen to reveal a camera angle of the main room in the lab. Standing deliberately at the center of the picture was Sojiro, smiling directly at the camera. One clawed finger pointed at the screen.

“Who the fuck is that, and why is he in my lab without permission?”

Kenshin’s eyes narrowed, and the muscles in his chest constricted resulting in the deepening of his voice. “That’s him. He was here? When? What did he do?” Why didn’t he try to take Kaoru?

“Him who?” Wanting specifics, Megumi crossed her arms haughtily.

Tomoe came back as Kenshin explained who Sojiro was and what had happened during their meeting three days prior. Upon hearing that a curse was responsible for Kenshin’s meltdown, Megumi abruptly stood and grabbed him by the chin. Pushing her face close to his own, she clicked her tongue at whatever she saw and rolled her eyes.

“Juvenile.” Crossing to a refrigerated cabinet, Megumi dug out a small vile and then a syringe from a nearby drawer. Flicking a fingernail against the syringe to remove any bubbles, she jerked up Kenshin’s sleeve, swabbed his skin with an alcohol pad, and then buried the needle into his arm.

“There. That should remove any lingering effects, but it won’t prevent it from happening again. On to more important things.” Kenshin blinked in surprise, as the problem they had been deliberating only minutes before was solved in barely seconds. What felt like a heavy weight disappeared from his chest, and his mind cleared of the fog he had been unaware was clouding it. A long breath of relief released from his lungs, and he felt like himself again.

It was Tomoe, however, that appeared to be the most flustered.

“B-but… how do you even know that will work?”

“Tomoe-san.” Pressing the tips of his fingers against his sternum, Kenshin nodded to confirm. “It’s gone.” The fox daemon went on to explain in an off-hand manner.

“It was obviously a hasty curse, and not well-set at that. I developed a counter-curse for such things ages ago. Otherwise, I would have had to waste too much time on breaking them every time a subject, or employee, lost their temper in my lab. It doesn’t even matter what kind of daemon he is. Really, Tomoe-san, I’m more surprised you didn’t know we have an antidote.”

“I…”

“Looks like your assignments have been too narrow. I’ll have you work on some broader projects from now on.”

“…Yes, ma’am.”

“Now, my barrier covers the entire laboratory building as well as the parking garage. It should keep him from getting back in, and it will keep me aware of everyone inside of it.” A disgusted sneer bared one fox fang. “The fact that he was in here without anyone knowing, and it’s been almost three days, makes me feel dirty. I dare him to try it again.”

“How did you figure out he was here, Megumi-sensei?”  

“I was reviewing the footage of Ken-sama’s… temper tantrum. I must say, it was less than flattering, but it did offer some insight. I’m assuming you don’t want Kaoru to know about that man being here, judging by the way she reacted to his picture on your phone.”

“You assume correctly.” Violet eyes lowered, and he tried not to linger on what her fear of the man meant. “I was going to show the picture to you, to see if you might be able to help identify him, but I inadvertently broke the phone.”

“Actually, the phone slid up under one of the desks when you dropped it.” Turning back to the keyboard, Megumi slid the video clip back to a few hours earlier when Kaoru had wheeled herself into the room alone. “Little miss unknown is the one who broke your phone.”

Watching Kaoru slam the screen of his phone into the arm of her wheelchair over and over again was shocking, but also concerning. Better than anyone, Kenshin knew how consuming anger could be, and he already did not want Kaoru to be tainted by it like he was. He liked it much better when she was smiling and cheerful. I need to work harder to keep her that way, instead of making her worry or upsetting her like I have.

“You can certainly tell she doesn’t like him.” For the first time, Enishi’s voice sounded impressed and a touch amused, which earned him a frown not only from Kenshin but Megumi as well.

“I’ve been meaning to ask, but just who the hell are you?”

Interceding quickly, Tomoe’s soft voice worked to soothe Megumi before she fell back into her irritation. “This is my brother, Enishi. You’ve met him before, Megumi-sensei. Remember?” Red eyes narrowed, but she was too distracted to give it too much thought or care at that moment.

“Sure.” Waving her hand dismissively, Megumi swiveled back to the computer. “This Sojiro is pretty slick. He apparently attached himself to your shadow and snuck himself into the lab that way. Even if we leave out the fact that you didn’t notice, that he did not trip a single security alarm coming in or going out is impressive.” Allowing the video to play out Sojiro’s entire trip around the lab, Megumi tapped a finger against the metal tabletop as everyone frowned in concentration. When he knelt next to Kaoru, Kenshin stepped closer.

“What did he do to Kaoru? Do you have another angle?”

“Unfortunately, no. He purposefully put his back in the way, so we have no way of knowing what he did. I’ll take a look at her later to make sure he didn’t curse her as well.” Skimming the video footage forward, Megumi stopped it again with Sojiro holding up his long tweezers. “What I found most disturbing, besides his obvious disregard for the cameras recording him, is that he took your solidified tear. I was going to study it myself, but needed to let it cool off. I thought it would be safe inside my own lab, but now he’s stollen it and I am quite put out.”

An uncomfortable feeling made Kenshin roll his shoulders as Megumi nonchalantly brought up the physical result of his open show of pain and emotion. “What… would he want something like that for?”

“I’m not sure, but we can assume it won’t be for charity.” The reply was droll, and the video continued.

“What do you think he was looking for in Kaoru’s records?” Tomoe spoke up quietly as they all watched Sojiro blatantly display the imaging scans they had taken of Kaoru’s body.

“No doubt to know what we know, or rather, how much we know. He makes it look like it’s some game to him. He didn’t even try to take Kaoru back. I’m going to assume he left her here on purpose, and that does not make me happy.”

Kenshin lowered his gaze when Megumi turned hers pointedly on him. “If you would prefer that we leave, I would understand.”

“You must be joking. I couldn’t be more interested.” An almost evil grin bared her sharp teeth, and she daintily leaned her chin into one loosely curled hand. “This kid thinks he can waltz into my lab, throw down a challenge, and then walk out without even looking me in the eye? I’m going to eat him alive.” The glee in her voice reflected in her eyes, and a chill ran down Kenshin’s spine.

“As long as Kaoru remains safe.”

“Pretty sure that’s your job, not mine. But while we’re on the subject, I should probably warn you that this little counter-curse I developed isn’t something you can or should rely on.”

“What do you mean?”

“First and foremost, I’m the only one who knows how to make it. Which means, I’m the only one that has any. Secondly, it eventually loses is effectiveness against the same curse, and it’s kinda… hit-or-miss, depending on the strength and components of the curse you’re dealing with. Otherwise, we would have already marketed it, and it would be a household item.”

“Right… and even if it would work, it wouldn’t help me in the middle of a fight.” Feeling grim, Kenshin settled on one of the metal stools.

“Co-rrect.” Reaching into the pocket of her lab-coat, Megumi pulled out her phone again, and then slid a nearby sticky pad closer. Thankfully she had calmed down from her earlier wrathful visage, but the almost cheerful flits of her ears was disconcerting to someone who had at one time been subject to her whims. “Which brings us to Neo-Kyoto.”

Red brows curled together suspiciously. “And what’s in Neo-Kyoto?”

“Someone almost as old as the Emperor.” Peeling off the top sticky note, Megumi offered it to him from one finger. “And with a lot of pull. He asked the Prime Minister’s administration to contact me personally… and they did.”

Taking the small, yellow note, Kenshin continued to frown at Megumi. “Why are you telling me?”

“Because he asked for you. Apparently, he was not very happy about the spike in temperature. Said it overheated his clay pots, or something. Anyway, he has offered to help you gain better control of your powers, and from what I was told, that’s not only unheard of, it’s enough to piss off the military. They’ve apparently been trying to get him to train their soldiers for years.”

Kenshin glanced at the note. Hiko Seijuro. It was not a familiar name.

“I’ll… think about it.”

I can’t just leave Kaoru here by herself. What if Sojiro comes back?

“It’s not a choice.”

Kenshin’s head snapped up to watch the normally playful look on Megumi’s face drop back into a serious frown.

“The government isn’t going to overlook your loss of control. They’ve left you alone until now only because you’ve kept yourself out of trouble. The only reason why they haven’t seized you yet is because you have someone as influential as the man on that paper willing to train you. And you know they wouldn’t be satisfied with our underground freezer. They’ll take you back to the facility they have in the Arctic Circle, and probably leave you there.”

“I thought that was a human facility. It was supposed to be destroyed.” The stone golem’s reminder lurched Kenshin’s stomach with a mixture of fear and rage.

“Congratulations. Now you know they were lying.” Megumi stood tall from her chair and headed further into the lab. “Don’t worry, Ken-sama. While you’re getting your ass-kicked by a relic, I’ll figure out just how to remove the seal and rip that metal pin out of your girl’s mouth. I’m looking forward to hearing all the secrets she can tell.”

Chapter Text

Chapter Ten

            Kaoru didn’t really remember much before her escape. Frankly, Kaoru didn’t remember much about her escape, either, or if it could even be called one. Most of her memories were either shy and evasive, or obscured by a thick fog she could not penetrate by force. Sometimes, they would clear without warning, but only to reveal bits and pieces of a whole. Without any solid reference or foundation, the smaller images were confusing and, more often than not, frustrating.

What she did know, was that she was not meant to escape. Or at least she knew that her fall from the third-floor window had been the will of someone other than Sojiro. The man responsible for her fall had been wrapped in bandages from head to toe, and in that unclear moment in her mind, she thought he was yelling at her. Following that, her memories were mere sensations: his hand shoving her; her back breaking the window; pain in her left thigh; and the air stolen from her lungs.

Somehow, she had forced herself to rise. To walk. Weakness had weighed down her malnourished limbs, but some stubborn, buried will to survive had awoken in her. The further she had removed herself from her place of confinement, the clearer her mind had become. Her first unhampered memory was of tripping into mud, and everything after that was crystal clear. From digging through garbage for food, to hiding from others with unkind eyes.

She tried to remember things from prior to her escape, because Kenshin and Tomoe wanted to know, but most of her knowledge from before then was primarily instinct. Sojiro was synonymous with fear. Where she had been kept was bad. Disobeying meant pain, but it was not pain that she was afraid of. For a reason she did not completely understand, Kaoru feared hate and anger more than she feared pain. Those two heightened emotions somehow felt like a betrayal. Which led her to disobey.

Kaoru did not even know what kind of daemon she was, and Tomoe’s careful questioning about her powers had drawn a blank. She felt no powers within her, but then again, she didn’t really know what she was supposed to be searching for. What did daemon powers feel like? Would she recognize them if she did find them? She could not remember using any powers, either. Only a strong feeling of shame. A shame for a betrayal.

There was one other strong emotion that she had held onto from before her escape. An emotion that came from somewhere much deeper. It, and it alone, had driven her on when starvation had nearly claimed her. The emotion visited her in her dreams, even when those dreams seemed as if they were frightening. But Kaoru was never afraid, even when she knew she should be. Instead, Kaoru was overcome by a desire. A very simple desire.

Look at me.

It was all she wanted. All she could think about. No fear, or anger, or hatred.  Look at me. Notice I’m here. Why she wanted that was unknown to her. How could she know when she was not even sure what was happening? Nothing was really clear, even, or especially, in her dreams. All she could see, all she could recognize, was the flaming golden eyes right in front of her. But they weren’t looking at her. They refused to look at her. They looked over her, or through her, when all she wanted was for them to look at her. More than anything in the world, she wanted them to see her.

A fire daemon. That was what Kenshin had said the being in her dream was. A fire daemon, like him. At that moment, clarity had struck, and she had remembered. Yes, that was what the being was. Somehow, she had already known it was a fire daemon. A beautiful, vibrant fire daemon. With eyes as golden as the sun, and a body as red as scorched embers. And she wanted that fire daemon to look at her.

She wanted Kenshin to look at her.

Look at me. Please, look at me.

Happiness, in a way she was uncertain she had ever felt before, warmed her chest every time his eyes connected with hers. She loved when he looked at her. She loved that he truly took notice of her presence. It made her giddy. It made her fearless. It made her want to sing.

But she couldn’t sing anymore. An offended frown tucked her brows together, and her fingers closed around the flat piece of metal under her chin. For one overwhelming moment, she wanted to rip it out. Thankfully, that moment past quickly, and she recoiled from the reckless action. After all, the intuition that something horrible would happen if the pin was to ever be removed was also within her. This pin was meant to punish her, and punished she was. However, there was another purpose it served. A darker purpose she could not recall.

It was much later before Kenshin returned from the conversation she had been excluded from, but she smiled at him happily when he seated himself next to her. Violet irises were searching her own, and her mind and heart swelled with warmth. He was so considerate and gentle, but there was a lot of pain buried deep inside of him that she could sense. Pain did not frighten her, only anger and hatred caused by pain. Such emotions took away too much happiness, and she wanted Kenshin to be happy. At the same time that she wanted to monopolize all of his attention, she wanted to give him all of hers. She would do anything for him, because he had looked at her and offered his hand.

“Miss Kaoru… Megumi-san wanted to talk about what happened… a couple days ago.”

Okay. Are you in trouble?

Kenshin lightly pinched the hand she had rested on top of his between his thumb and forefinger. “Don’t worry. No one was hurt, but there was some concern about how… easily I was influenced by that man.”

A tight breath released from her ribs, and she nodded.

“If I’m going to ever face him again, I need to be able to control myself better, so I can protect you… and anyone else.” His eyes averted for a moment, and she bit her lip against the flutter of her insides.

I don’t need protection. All I want is for you to stay with me, and to keep looking at me the way you do.

“Megumi-san knows someone who might be able to help. I was never really taught much about my powers. My father did the best he could, but he… died when I was only a teenager. Fumbling about as I have until now doesn’t count for much. If I could learn more about how to handle myself, I should have a better chance of facing someone like Sojiro without getting caught by his tricks.”

Nodding eagerly, Kaoru agreed that such a thing was a good idea. Having better control would no doubt remove some of his stress and calm his mind. Not to mention, she never wanted Sojiro to do what he had to Kenshin ever again. I don’t want him to harm you again, or force you to feel such pain.

Kenshin’s smile softened, and he reached forward to brush back a stray clump of her bangs. “I’m glad you understand.” Slowly his hand slipped from her face, his chin lowered, and he sat back in his seat. “In order to do this… I have to go to Neo-Kyoto.”

Okay. Let’s go. Immediately, she started gathering all of her colored-pencils and placing them carefully back in order within their box. Kenshin blinked as he watched, but did not seem to understand what she meant until she had placed the spiraled notebook in her lap with the pencil case resting meaningfully on top.

“W-wait.” His hand caught hold of the arm of her wheelchair, and held her in place. “Kaoru… you need to stay here. You’re still not well. You need time to rest and heal. Megumi-san has promised to help remove the pin in your mouth, as well, but she needs more time to study the seal.”

No. Shaking her head desperately, Kaoru frowned. I’m going with you.

“Kaoru…”

No! Wrenching the wheelchair out of his grip, she watched his body jerk and the surprise that lifted his eyebrows. I don’t care! I’m not staying here! Fear welled up inside her. Fear of him leaving her. Fear of being alone once more.

What if he doesn’t come back? What if he forgets about me? Panic was near to taking over, and her entire body shuddered. Just like that fire daemon in her dreams, he was no longer looking at her, but over her.

Please. I only want you to keep looking at me. I don’t care about anything else.

“Miss Kaoru.” Both of his hands curled around her fisted fingers, and she continued to tremble with repressed anxiety. Briefly, his eyes lowered as he noticed, and when his gaze lifted, his expression was twisted with something close to anguish. “Don’t be afraid. You’ll be safer here than with me. Even if you did come, I won’t be able to give you the attention or protection that you deserve.”

Her face scrunched in misery, and his head bowed forward.

“Please, Miss Kaoru. I’m not abandoning you. I need to do this, but it will amount to nothing if I cannot be certain of your safety here.” His voice dropped to a whisper. “Please don’t be upset with me.”

The pleading tone of his voice played on her emotions, and she turned her face away as she fought her breathing. She knew she was acting selfishly, and a part of her was ashamed of it. He was being open and honest with her, and she had no right to demand that he prioritize her over himself. But she was so scared, of so many things. He had made her feel safe, for the first time in… she couldn’t even remember how long. None of the impressions that she got from the fog in her mind included safety. If he left, she would once more have to deal with that fear and insecurity on her own.

The fact that he wasn’t giving in proved this was something he either could or would not budge on. Trying as hard as she could to still her shuddering lungs and quivering muscles, Kaoru closed her eyes and forced a smile. Slipping her hands out from under his, she picked up her notebook and pencils and deposited them both back onto the desk. Light pressure on the wheels turned her around, and she kept her eyes averted as she wheeled herself down the hall and into the small room they allowed her to sleep in.

X

“Kaoru.” Standing, Kenshin took three quick steps after her, but hesitated. How could he tell her that this was something he was being forced to do? How could he tell her that it was something he knew he needed to do? Just hearing him speak what awkward explanation he could manage had turned her back into that frightened and pitiful creature he had found out on the street.

“Himura-san.” Tomoe’s gentle voice beckoned him from the opposite door, and he glanced at her but was unable to hold his gaze steady. “Let her think on it.”

The young unknown daemon did not reappear for the remainder of the day. Tomoe took food to her, but seemed worried about how little she ate. She refused to bathe, and instead spent much of her time lying on her cot with her back to the door. The only time she moved was when Megumi forced her to for a check-up. Thankfully, it did not appear that Sojiro had cursed Kaoru in any discernable way, and her feet were starting to heal up nicely. Kenshin had been reassured that Megumi would keep a close eye on her, though, to be certain nothing less obvious and more sinister had been done during Sojiro’s unauthorized visit.

When night fell, Tomoe offered to stay, but Kaoru denied needing or wanting her presence overnight. With a melancholy sigh, Tomoe had departed the lab with her brother in tow, and Kenshin had been left alone once more with Kaoru.

Staring up at the ceiling as he lay on his back in the rec room, Kenshin tried to think of a better way to convince Kaoru that his leaving was not as bad as she imagined. After all, she would not truly be alone. Tomoe would still be there, and she seemed to trust the temperate coal daemon. At least, it appeared she was comfortable enough with her, after hearing about her climbing into the same bed. While he did not particularly trust Megumi, he understood that the current situation was nothing like the one involving her in his past. What truly mattered was that she was powerful, and very protective of her lab. No one would be able to enter it without her knowing, and for now it did not appear that Sojiro was looking for exposure or an open confrontation.

It still confuses me. How have I grown so attached so quickly? I’ve only known her for a little over a week, but knowing I’ll have to leave… makes my chest ache.

Rubbing a hand over his face, he clenched his lashes shut. He blamed it on her eyes. The mesmerizing texture of them seemed to undulate like a softly burning candle. No other blue-eyed daemon he had ever come across had affected him this way. It was only her eyes that took his breath away and unsettled his awkward heart.

I’d like to see those eyes one more time before I leave, for luck… and strength.

A slight frown of concentration dipped his mouth downward, and he rolled onto his shoulder on the spare bedding. Would it comfort her… if she had something to hold onto?

While it was true that he had experienced only enough time with his father to learn the basics of his powers, there was one advanced spell he had picked when fighting in the war against the humans. It was not a spell he had ever had any use for, and the daemon responsible for teaching it to him had died long ago. Kenshin was still unsure why that daemon had persisted in making him learn it. Irony? Hope? Boredom? No matter the reason, the words floated to the forefront of his mind, and he immediately began indulging the idea.

It will not be as strong as it is meant to be, but I will do what I can with my current level of skill.

Sitting cross-legged on the futon, Kenshin undid the tie holding back his thick hair. What many others did not understand about his hair was that it was not simply an expendable extension of his body. It was, in fact, fully part of his true form. It could not be cut by scissors, it did not fall out when brushed, and while it did grow, it grew at a very slow rate. It had taken centuries for his hair to grow to the small of his back. His father’s hair had hung to his knees, and had symbolized not only his age but his strength and high-rank amongst other fire daemons.

At one time, Kenshin had fought another fire daemon, which had unfortunately resulted in a few sections about his face being seared off. Taking hold of a large section behind his now chin-length bangs, he wound it tight, took a deep breath, and used his own fire to melt the ends together. Now permanently coiled into a braid, he steadied himself, closed his eyes, and separated the piece from its base. Though it was not the same as losing a limb, it certainly felt as if he had lopped off a toe, at the least.

Feeling light-headed and breathless, he pumped his fist to encourage blood flow, and focused on the pain of his fingertips digging into his palm. It was a while later before he was steadied enough to proceed. The chunk of red hair looked longer than he had imagined when held out between his hands, and was roughly the width of his pinky finger. A slight smirk tugged one side of his mouth upwards.

I guess you’ll do.

Curling it firmly around his fingers, he formed the sign he had been taught with his hands, and concentrated painstakingly on the correct chant necessary to set the spell.

It was several hours later before he was done.

X

When his eyes finally opened, Kenshin felt something heavy pressing against his chest. Struggling to take in air, he blinked open leaden eyelids, and strained to lift his chin. It had not occurred to him that performing such an advanced spell would drain so much energy. Scrunching his lashes a few times to clear his vision, his eyebrows shot up then back down into a frown to find Kaoru’s upper body sprawled across his torso.

Her face was angled at him, as was the inner curve of her body, but her eyes were closed and she slept peacefully. Without a blanket to cover her, she had curled her legs up close against the side of his upper arm and shoulder for warmth. Though he was glad she had put on some weight, he was feeling it in that moment as the limp mass of her form felt more like iron than flesh.

Dropping his head back into the bedding, he tilted his chin to look at the red numbers of the digital wall clock. Five in the morning. Still pretty early. I’d let her sleep, but… this is really uncomfortable.

“Kaoru.” Shifting his shoulders to rock her awake, he called her name again. “Wake up.”

An almost full pout curled her bottom lip out, and he blinked as her dark lashes clenched together harder in denial. Is she pretending? Unable to help himself, he chuckled. Lifting his unpinned arm, he gently ruffled her hair.

“Come on, odd duck. It’s getting hard to breathe.”

One sullen sigh huffed from her mouth, and she pushed herself up and off. Instead, she tucked herself into a tight ball next to him with her spine brushing his side. Staying on his back, he studied the dark lump that she was.

“Are you still mad at me?” She didn’t respond, or move, and he directed his gaze back to the ceiling. “I understand, Miss Kaoru.” There was a long pause with nothing but strained silence hanging between them. “I’m afraid, too. No one knows better than I do how dangerous my powers are. I thought I would be fine if I just ignored them.” I lost more control than gained when I fought in the war. “Until now, I’ve gotten along with just the basics. There hasn’t been any reason for me to need more than that. I suppose… until now I’ve just been trying to survive and live quietly. I’ve never had something… or someone… that made me want to be better or stronger.”

The uncomfortable quiet stretched until the turmoil inside him felt unbearable. What else could he say to make her understand? Then Kaoru sighed. Still fragile looking hands pushed her upright, and he was given a brief view of her stubbornly pouty features. A sudden deep breath pulled into her lungs, and her pout turned into a smile. The most heartbreaking smile he had ever seen. Within the darkness, her blue eyes seemed to hover like distant guiding lights.

Three seconds later, and she lifted her right arm so swiftly he jumped. Her hand fisted, her forearm curled, and it took him a moment to realize what she was doing. After all, her oversized t-shirt did little to help show off her diminished muscle mass. Sitting up to face opposite her, he laughed deep in his chest. Seeing her react in a somewhat more normal way had infected him with joy.

“Are you saying you’ll get stronger, too?”

Kaoru nodded, and her serious features were surprisingly cute.

“Shall we make a deal then?” His right hand lifted in offering. “That both of us will do what we can to get stronger during our time apart.” Lowering her arm, she blinked at him, as if judging whether he was being serious. Deciding him to be sincere, she wrapped her fingers around his and rewarded him with an unexpectedly firm shake.

Her fingers loosened a moment later, per proper hand-shaking etiquette, but he kept his curled in order to tilt her wrist upward. With his other hand, he slowly coiled the length of his braided hair into her grasp.

“I want you to have this, Miss Kaoru. It has been reinforced with a protective spell, and will keep you safe from anything that wishes you harm.” Astonishment opened her mouth, which gave him an unfortunate glimpse of the shiny metal ball sitting on her tongue. “You must keep it on you for it to work, but… you should try to avoid submerging it in water.”

Both of her hands wrapped around the red hair, and she balled them both into her chest. It didn’t take her long to realize that heat was exuding from the gift like a living thing, and she parted her hands again to look at it in surprise. One more chuckle escaped him, and he watched her press it happily to her cheek and smile.

The memory of this smile is what I will take for me.

Chapter Text

Chapter Eleven

            The walk up the mountain was starting to wear on Kenshin’s legs. He had taken the bus as far as it would go, but no public transportation went further than the bottom of this particular area. Even if he could have afforded a taxi, he had been informed that the road did not go where he was headed. It was telling of the kind of man this Hiko Seijuro was.

            He obviously doesn’t like company, but does he grow his own food? I can’t imagine he makes many trips to town.

            Slightly out of breath, Kenshin stopped to lean against a tree. The woods were thick, and if not for the worn trail he would have been lost long ago. The air was also becoming thinner the higher he climbed, and he remembered something his father had once told him. Being a fire daemon meant many things, but one of them included a higher dependency on oxygen than most others. While the cold of the fire extinguisher Megumi had used on him the week prior had forced him into a temporary state of hibernation, the sudden lack of oxygen had been the true reason his flame had gone out so quickly. Walking as he currently was uphill and with a decreased level of oxygen was beginning to make him dizzy.

            It was coming late evening before Kenshin began to question if he was truly on the right path. There was no discernable end in sight, and he had been forced to stop multiple times to rest his weary body. As the chill of the higher elevation worked his muscles into a shiver, he braced himself with his hands on his knees and bent forward to desperately wheeze in as much of the thin air as he could. Too much further, and he would turn back.

With the angle of the sun far off to his left, he blinked as a definitive shadow caught his attention out of the corner of his right eye. Red lashes widened as the shadow focused and took the shape of a man, and he twisted his head slowly to look up into the trees behind him.

            Before he could fully turn, the figure in the trees had already moved, and Kenshin was forced to jump to one side or be crushed. His first, if rather brief, impression of Hiko Seijuro, was that he was a tall, stern looking man with eyes and hair as dark as wet dirt. He wore traditional clothing underneath a cape, which seemed like a strange thing for any man to be wearing, but his stature pulled it off as if it were the most natural piece of clothing for him to have on. No additional time was allowed for observation, though, and Kenshin sucked in a breath as he dodged again to avoid the large hand that was swiped directly at his head.

What the hell is he doing?!

Some insistent instinct was telling him that any blow delt by this man would be fatal. Already short on breath, he didn’t waste time trying to talk to someone who had instigated a fight. Instead, Kenshin put all of his effort into evasion, since he could manage very little else. Sliding on some damp foliage, Kenshin froze for a second as he watched Hiko Seijuro’s hands form a sign that was known to him. A dangerous sign that seemed a touch excessive. Left with no other choice but to dive downhill, he heard every tree behind him crack and split apart. Now forced to duck and roll, he had no time to even study what type of power the sign had manifested, and was therefore still unsure what kind of daemon he was dealing with.

Megumi had also been uninformed on Hiko Seijuro’s daemon type. Apparently, he preferred not to let others know. That was certainly apparent by his surprisingly human-looking features. Just like Kenshin, Hiko was obviously hiding his daemon markers, and he was doing so well that there was not one single clue to be determined from his outer appearance. Which meant Kenshin would only know by figuring out what kind of powers he used. While hand signs were somewhat universal, each daemon’s powers manifested the correlating effect differently.

Slamming sidelong into a tree trunk, what little air Kenshin could pull from the atmosphere was ejected from his lungs. Gasping, in pain, and lying on his back, violet eyes widened as the man he was running from was already sliding upright and completely balanced down the incline after him. Whatever was happening, there was no time to rest.

Forty minutes later, and Kenshin no longer knew where he was on the mountain. It was getting harder to see, and with the sun getting lower and the trees blocking nearly all of its rays, the chill in the air was stabbing into his skin. Hiko Seijuro’s attacks were getting more and more lethal. Worse, Kenshin’s body was getting less and less agile. With fatigue weighing down his limbs, very little oxygen to reinvigorate his muscles or flame, his instincts were screaming and desperate.

I think I’m going to die. No. I know I’m going to die. This man is a monster. He brought me here to kill me.

The last few hits had landed, and blood was dripping into his left eye. Trying with all his might to force his legs to jump, he slipped off the branch he had been perched on and fell face first into the dirt below.

You’re going to die.

Flipping onto his back, he stared up at the man that had landed next to him. One foot was already lifted, as if to stamp out his soul, and the impassive expression on his face made it clear that it would bother him little.

I don’t want to die.

            “Stop!”

            Fire burst from him like an ignited gas leak, but even he could tell that it was not nearly as strong as he would have managed with more air, less fatigue, and in a warmer climate. It didn’t matter. As long as he did something. Anything to stall death.

            A new hand sign immediately slammed his attacker’s knuckles together, and Kenshin found himself doused from head to toe by what felt like a waterfall.

            Horrified, and gulping in one deep lungful of air after the other, Kenshin rolled to one side and vomited until there was nothing left. Then continued to dry-heave until the shock wore off.

            “Good.” The booming voice was heavy, like the crushing weight of the ocean. “I have your measure now. Superior instincts, decent reflexes, and a passable will to live.” One large hand outstretched to offer him assistance. Still coughing, Kenshin hesitated, but ultimately accepted the pull to his feet. “Too many of your kind were willing to kill themselves in that damn war. I’m not interested in wasting my time on one of those.”

            “Hiko… Seijuro?” Down to simply wheezing now, Kenshin fought with the rhythmic jerking of his diaphragm. The water still clinging to his clothes, skin, and hair hissed as his body temperature slowly started to evaporate it. It didn’t matter that it would soon be gone. He still felt disgusted by it covering him.

            “That’s right.” A slight jerk of the large man’s head acknowledged the name as belonging to him.

            Forcing himself through the motion, for politeness if nothing else, Kenshin bowed as he introduced himself. “Himura Kenshin.”

            “I know who you are, boy.” Waving an arm, and the cape with it, Hiko lead him deeper into the darkening woods. “This way.”

            Boy? Surely, I don’t look that young. The last time Kenshin had looked at his own reflection, he had thought himself to be sufficiently adult-enough in appearance. He certainly didn’t think he looked as young as Kaoru did.

            “Don’t expect me to be impressed that I’m in the presence of the last living fire daemon. I have no respect for your kind.”

            That’s quite obvious. Not that Kenshin could fault him for it, but there was something about the way he spoke down on him that was irritating. Clearing his throat, Kenshin pressed a hand against his aching ribs and held in a wince.

“You are a water daemon?” Trying to change the subject, Kenshin offered a new topic.

            “No.” Except he provided no further explanation or embellishment on the response, and Kenshin frowned at his back.

            “Where are we going?” As far as Kenshin could tell, they were no longer heading up the mountain, but around.

            “My home. Unless you prefer to sleep in the woods.”

            “Uh… I left my bag…” Kenshin looked behind him as they walked, but could see nothing but an endless sea of trees. “…somewhere.”

            “I had it brought to the house.” His replies were clipped and partial grunts, as if he was unused to conversations lasting as long as this one had.

            “Brought? Is there someone else?”

            “Hmm. Maybe your instincts aren’t as good as I thought.” As they trudged deeper into the woods on their unmarked cross-path, Hiko Seijuro explained why there were no roads for outsiders to traverse. “This entire mountain is mine, but it is much too large to monitor on my own. Two komainu live here as well and protect the mountain from intruders. They informed me immediately of your presence the moment you first stepped foot onto my land.”

            Komainu? I thought they generally protected sacred areas or shrines. “They must be quite skilled if I did not even notice them.” Trying to continue his show of politeness, Kenshin attempted a smile, but earned a snort for his trouble.

            “You’re a few centuries too young to be on their level.”

            Their trek continued, and Kenshin found that his breathing was becoming easier despite the persistent ache in his side. With a better supply of oxygen, he closed the wound above his left eye with a precision burn, and wiped carefully at the blood trying to seep into the crack of his eyelid. The man he followed seemed happy to remain quiet, but Kenshin found he was full of unanswered questions.

            “What did you mean when you said you had my measure?” Features twisting in sardonic shame, he averted his gaze out into the woods. “I did nothing but run away.”

            “True enough.” There was a thick amount of amusement in Hiko’s now mellow voice. There was something deep and melodious about his tone, though, that spoke of power. “You were tired, breathless, and out-of-your-element. The air is thinner and colder on the mountain as a fact, but I know well that it is twice as hard on fire daemons. I sent you up this mountain for that exact purpose. You were already stressed when I attacked you, but you did not once blindly use your fire to counter my attacks. Which tells me one important thing about you, Himura Kenshin. You do not like destruction, and I respect that. Fire is as much life as water, wind, and earth, but too many have used it for nothing but death. Unfortunately, I can assume your lack of use means you have little to no control over your flame. Just how long have you been suppressing your powers?”

            Violet eyes looked at his feet, and his voice lowered. “Since the war.”

            A low hum vibrated the large man’s chest, but he did not look back. “So, you are afraid of them.”

            “I… suppose.”

            “But they are yours, are they not?” The question was matter-of-fact, and red brows creased towards one another.

            “I…”

            “If you wish to be less afraid of anything the best thing you can do is learn more about it. Do you know so little about your own powers that they terrify you?”

            “I know enough about my own powers to be terrified of them.” Correcting him in a meaningful voice, Kenshin lifted his chin, but the action was pointless since he was still only looking at the other man’s back.

            “How can you even know what you’re capable of if you haven’t tried to use your powers to the fullest?” The deep words were impatient, as if he should already know what he was explaining to him. “I’m not talking about raw power, boy. You have that in spades. I mean complete control. True power is not about maximizing damage. True power is about precision. True power is balance. True power is an awareness of all that is inside and outside of oneself. You are not here to learn how to keep a lid on your strength. You are here to master it. Or am I wasting my time?” Finally, he looked back at him, and Kenshin’s spine unwillingly straightened.

            “Yes, Shisho. I-I mean no. No, Shisho” Bowing his head quickly at the shoulders, he looked up when Hiko began to laugh.

            “You’re not as stupid as I first thought you to be.”

            “W-what?”

            The small house that was Hiko’s residence rested in a pristine clearing on the southern side of the mountain. It was not grand, but was well-kept and felt peaceful after the turmoil of the day. Through the trees, Kenshin could see the lights of Neo-Kyoto as they grew brighter in the coming gloom of night.

            So, he’s not that far from town. Feeling a touch cheated, Kenshin let his lashes fall so he could roll his eyes without being noticed.

            “Welcome home, Master.”

            Two small voices chorused the greeting together, but Hiko all but grunted in return before jerking a thumb at Kenshin.

            “Get him some food and show him where he’ll be sleeping. We start training at first light.”

            “Yes, Master.”

            With the bulk of the large man, and his white cape, gone, Kenshin blinked down at two small girls about waist height. Their hair and eyes were a golden-brown, and thick, rounded ears covered in fur protruded upright from either side of their skulls. Large paws covered in the same golden-brown fur replaced their hands and feet, though they stood upright, and ivory fangs could be seen overlapping their bottom lip. One was taller than the other by only a finger width. She stepped forward first.

            “Good-evening, Himura-sama. I am Ayame the Swift.” A full, ninety-degree bow accompanied the strange introduction. The other took a quick step forward so that she was level with her sister, before she too bowed perfectly at the waist.

            “Good-evening, Himura-sama. I am Suzume the Strong.”

            Curious about their self-proclaimed titles, Kenshin bowed politely in return. “It is a pleasure to meet you both.”

            “Follow us.” Their voices chorused once more in unison, as if they were used to speaking as one. They turned as one, as well, and he trailed behind them towards the entrance to the house. Though they appeared to be but children, Kenshin thought about what Hiko had said and wondered how old they truly were.

            Later, Kenshin found himself resting on warm bedding with a full stomach and the sound of the komainu breathing peacefully in sleep and tucked together in their own futon. Hiko Seijuro either did not sleep in the house, or had other business to attend to that night. Crossed hands braced the back of his head, and he stared up at the ceiling of this foreign place as he digested his day. With an indrawn breath, he reached one hand out to dig through the bag next to him, and withdrew a replacement phone he had bought with some money he had saved. It was not a new or even recent model, but it suited his needs.

            As he had expected, there was already a message from Tomoe waiting for him, and he opened it without fanfare. Briefly he scanned her words of concern for his lack of communication, and touched instead the picture she had sent already hours before. Warmth softened his expression into a slight smile, and a soft laugh huffed from his nose.

            Before he had left, he had explained to Kaoru that eating was a part of gaining strength, and she therefore had a duty to eat, per their agreement. She was never to skip a meal again, otherwise he would assume their agreement was null and void. The expression she had rewarded him with for that revelation had been comical, and he still chuckled when he thought of it. Hastily her head had shook, and she had agreed fervently to eat her meals without complaint or denial.

            The picture Tomoe provided proved her to be true to her word, but in her own strange and unusual way. Both cheeks were stuffed full like a squirrel, and upon seeing that Tomoe was photographing her, she had lifted her left arm into a daemonstrative flex. The message was perfectly clear, and he was glad she seemed to be doing well in his absence.

            Typing a quick response to confirm he had arrived safely, Kenshin placed the phone next to his pillow and closed his eyes for sleep. Tomorrow, it seemed, he would hold up his own end of their agreement.

X

            One loud, dangerous bang rattled the steel door that Sojiro stood before, and he blinked as he studied the single, bandaged occupant through a small glass opening. Black marks and deep gouges decorated the interior walls of the small room, and the window behind a row of steel bars across from the door was broken. Again. There was a lot of rage in the bandaged creature, that had nothing to do with Sojiro’s powers.

            “Forgive me, Master Shishio. I know you are angry with me.” A single touch of true sorrow trembled his voice, before it faded into nothing, and his smile became empty once more. “But her singing was affecting you unfavorably. Once you calm down, I will let you out again.” Another strong kick jarred the door. Sojiro took a small step back.

            “It’s my fault, Sojiro-sama.” A tall man appeared at his elbow, dressed in black and wearing a human skull mask. “I failed to create a body strong enough for Master Shishio.”

            “Thank you, Gein, but the fault is my own. His body had all but disintegrated by the time I found him. If I could have saved more, he would not have turned out so… incomplete. It truly is a shame.”

            Bowing his head, Gein placated him. “No one could have foreseen that he would not retain his reason.”

            “True. He has the intelligence and mentality of a toddler. Never-the-less, I will see that he has his revenge. Whatever the cost.” Turning away without hurry, Sojiro paced down the dark hallway, Gein at his heels. “I have a new project that will require your expertise.”

            “Excellent, Sojiro-sama. I am here to serve.”

            Reaching into the inner lining of his jacket, Sojiro removed a black box roughly the size of his hand with a folded piece of paper. “The exact description and specifications are on this paper, and you will use the contents of this box as its core. This build will be more complex than any other I have asked of you. You must take your time to make sure it is nothing less than perfect.”

            “Of course, Sojiro-sama.” Glancing over the instructions, Gein grinned behind his mask and his voice rose with excitement. “It will be the most beautiful doll I have made yet.”

            “I thought you might be pleased.” There was nothing smug about his expression or tone, though, to suggest Sojiro felt anything similar. “I must leave to collect the remaining necessary ingredients to bring it to life, but it will not be an easy task. You will look after Master Shishio while I am away.”

            “It would be my honor.” Another deep bow, and a wicked smirk twisted Gein’s features as Sojiro walked away.

Chapter Text

Chapter Twelve

            Bright and golden, the eyes in her dream refused to look at her. They always refused to look at her. As she stood, directly before the blazing fire daemon, Kaoru tried to move, tried to speak, but was able to do nothing more than stare up in jealous envy of that golden gaze. Would they ever look at her? Would she forever be tormented by their indifference?

Look at me! Why won’t you look at me?!

Moments later, and a fairly new sensation invaded her dream. A tight pressure pushed against her sternum, and it made it difficult to breathe. It was a focused force, instead of a dead weight on her lungs. For two weeks, she had suffered from this new occurrence, but with her eyes glued to the fire daemon’s averted gaze she could not be sure of the source. Tonight, for the first time, her chin lowered, and she looked down upon the reason for her discomfort.

Red-orange flames in the shape of a single finger was pushed into the middle of her chest, directly between her breasts. As soon as her brain recognized that the fire was touching her, a burning sensation accompanied the pressure. The longer she stared, the more uncomfortable it became, and for the first time, she was afraid.

But not of the pain.

Kaoru woke with a start, and her hand went immediately to her sternum. Hunting fingers pushed and searched through the material of her shirt in frantic motions, before stopping seconds later over the sensation of raised scar tissue between her breasts. Frowning, her fingers pressed harder, as if to make certain it was real, or flatten it back into her skin to make it not real.

Was… that always there?

Tossing back her blanket, Kaoru settled her feet gently against the cold floor and stared briefly at Tomoe sleeping peacefully in the spare bedding. Carefully, so as not to wake her, Kaoru gathered the crutches they had replaced her wheelchair with and stood. With her feet fully healed, and her thigh close behind, she had been informed that she would soon start working on physical therapy for strengthening. Apparently, Enishi was going to help her with it, since neither Tomoe nor Megumi had the time or skill to assist. Enishi, being a stone golem, knew much about strengthening, or so he had bragged.

After their first meeting, Enishi had returned afterwards in a different form. Instead of his tall and rather imposing adult body, he now presented himself to her as what she assumed was an early teenager. Their heights were roughly the same, and his features were much less intimidating. Kaoru understood that he was still the same person, but she had to admit that it did put her at ease. It helped that his personality had also started to soften, somewhat.

As quietly as possible, Kaoru swung herself to the door with the crutches taking most of the weight off of her left leg. Across the hall and in the bathroom, she closed the door firmly, and set the crutches aside. A long mirror took up part of the wall in the shower area of the bath, and she studied herself hesitantly in the harsh overhead light. Quivering fingers gripped tight the edge of her shirt, and then she lifted the hem up past her breasts.

Sapphire eyes squinted at the mirror, before dropping immediately to look at her sternum. Directly in the middle, her skin was puffed and raised as only a healed burn could. It wasn’t quite circular, but instead oval-shaped with licks of the burn reaching away from her center. Dropping her shirt, Kaoru felt herself tremble and sought comfort from the length of red hair Kenshin had left for her. While she slept, she liked to keep it wrapped around her wrist, and she was glad for it as her heart raced.

I don’t remember that being there before. Uncontrolled breathing overworked her lungs, and she leaned into the wall when her leg twanged in pain. Was it always there and I just didn’t notice it, or… or…?

Pressing her face into the length of crimson braid, she fought against fear. Fear for something she didn’t understand. I want to remember but… a part of me really doesn’t. Why? What is this dream trying to tell me? Unsteadily keeping herself upright, she focused on the warmth seeping through the red strands, seeking comfort. I don’t like this. This isn’t what I wanted. Before, I thought what I felt was simple longing. Now, this fear feels too much like… anger.

It was several minutes later before she thought herself calmed enough to return to the bedroom. Instead of the cot, Kaoru put aside her crutches and climbed under the covers of the futon Tomoe occupied. Dark eyes came open drowsily, but the coal daemon was no longer surprised by her nightly intrusions. Cuddling her in her arms like a mother might a child, Tomoe settled her chin on the top of Kaoru’s head and let out a long, gentle sigh.

“Are you feeling lonely, my little blue-eyed one?”

Soothing tones wrapped around her, and Kaoru clenched her eyes shut. Fighting the tremble of her mouth, she nodded. A soft hum vibrated Tomoe’s chest in response, and one hand warmly stroked the back of her head. Kaoru loved this open indulgence. It was a luxury she felt compelled to shamelessly take advantage of as often as possible. Tomoe appeared to be such a calm and composed woman, but was in fact filled with such warmth and love.

“Don’t be afraid. You’re not alone. I may not be as strong as Himura-san, but I will keep you safe in his absence. You have nothing to fear.”

Hugging herself tight to Tomoe’s chest, Kaoru released a shaky breath. Seconds later, a low tune hummed from the woman’s throat, like a lullaby for a troubled child. It felt nostalgic, like some vague memory from a time so very long ago. Relaxing within a cocoon of safety and warmth, Kaoru felt herself gratefully falling back into the realm of sleep.

You’re strong, Tomoe-san…

X

For three months, Kenshin did nothing but run all over the mountain. He had always thought himself to be physically fit, and in fact in better shape than most. Being on the mountain, though, had shattered that illusion like brittle glass. He had learned fast that Hiko was not easygoing or a liar. What he said went, and he allowed for nothing less than perfection. In order to achieve that perfection, Kenshin had been informed that he would have to learn more about his own body and how far he could push his physical limitations. Until then, Hiko had nothing to teach him.

Instead, Ayame and Suzume were his trainers, and their self-proclaimed titles of Swift and Strong were alarmingly modest. They had promised him, in their sweet voices, that they would do their best to get him in shape for the real training. After a few days, Kenshin had wondered if he would survive the beginner level to make it to what Hiko had to offer. If he was stronger than the two komainu, which Kenshin imagined he was, he feared what that meant for not only his sanity but his self-esteem.

Ayame’s swiftness pushed his lungs and his legs to the absolute limit every day. Suzume’s strength beat his reflexes into shape like a swordsmith hammering a katana. Sometimes, Ayame and Suzume would chase him around the mountain, and sometimes he would have to chase them. He never caught them, but they certainly caught him most of the time. For a while, he feared he would be permanently bruised.

In the beginning, the days seemed to crawl, and what time he did have to himself was spent sleeping. He rarely saw Hiko, who largely kept to himself, but would sometimes appear for meals. There were moments when he felt that the master was watching him, though, and he knew better than to assume Hiko had no grasp on his progress. Slow as it seemed to be.

It took three full months, but Kenshin only happened to notice his own progress in an abrupt moment of clarity. What felt like overnight, he was able to breathe easier, and the movements he had struggled to keep up with felt smoother. He was adapting to the environment, as well, and even though there was no way to increase the oxygen levels in the air, his body was able to maintain what he considered to be the perfect temperature while utilizing less energy. The simplicity of the exercise made him want to berate himself. It wasn’t only about physical fitness and cutting out unnecessary movements, but also removing excessive energy consumption. Everything he did was to fine tune his own power.

Feeling blessed with more energy and less fatigue, Kenshin started offering to assist with breakfast and the evening meal. He had learned that whenever only one of the komainu trained with him, the other would go to town to shop for groceries or essentials. They were also apparently responsible for cleaning. Used to living alone, it felt wrong to Kenshin for someone else to do all of the house chores. They were skeptical of him cooking at first, but learned quickly that he was quite good at it.

They were cheerful daemons, despite their age and strength. While they trained, it was easy to remember that they were powerful guardians. During every other moment, however, they seemed to be content with acting like children. At least, after they had warmed up to him.

“What’s for supper tonight, Ken-nii?” Ayame’s right paw curled up a section of his pant leg, and she strained up on her tippy-toes to see over the lip of the countertop. When they cooked, they had stools to accommodate their height.

Kenshin bit back a laugh, but failed to hide the smile that crinkled his eyes. They both had fallen into addressing him this way, and it was amusing considering the age difference.

“It’s getting colder, so I thought a hot pot might be welcome.”

“Yay!”

Suzume’s giggles lit up the interior of the house, and he braced himself as she threw herself against his other side. After weeks of training, they had both become used to being in contact with him, whether while attacking him or doctoring him. In the end, they showed no hesitance in using him like a jungle gym. He enjoyed their innocence, though. In a way, they reminded him of Kaoru, and he hoped that one day she would be as carefree and fearless as they were.

The invasive reminder of their continued separation was accompanied by a gentle ache in his chest.

The back door opened, and Hiko’s large frame squeezed into the small kitchen. Both of the girls greeted him without delay, but neither moved from Kenshin’s side. Bowing slightly himself, Kenshin welcomed him home with all respect. Dark brown eyes blinked at him, glanced at the knife he had in his hands to chop up the ingredients, the komainu hanging from his hips, and the apron covering his front.

“I believe I agreed to train a fire daemon, not prepare you to be someone’s wife.”

Both guardian lions snorted with laughter, but Kenshin continued to smile quite happily.

“I believe the term is house-husband, and there’s no reason I can’t master both.”

The girls were laughing in earnest now, and Kenshin chuckled at their open hilarity. Even one side of Hiko’s mouth cracked a small smirk.

“Not on my watch, boy. If you have enough energy to do house chores, you’re ready to start training with me. We’ll start tomorrow.”

“Awwww.” The light-hearted laughter turned to petulance in a flash, and the two little lion daemons clung to him sadly. “Ken-nii won’t be playing with us anymore?”

“You knew that was the deal from the start.”

“But… we want to keep him now.”

A heavy crease formed between Hiko’s brows. “He sure as hell isn’t staying here forever. If he wants to play with you two, he’ll have to make his own time to do it. If he’s still alive.”

It was Kenshin’s turn to frown at the insinuation, but he winked down at Ayame and Suzume’s upturned faces. “Don’t worry, I’ll make some time.” Both bared their pointed teeth in triumphant grins.

With night fully set in, Kenshin walked himself away from the house. The komainu were sleeping, and Hiko had once more disappeared. It was generally the only time he had to himself, as well as to check his phone for updates on Kaoru. Some progress had been made on identifying the seal in her mouth, and Kenshin was hopeful that they would soon have a way to remove the pin holding her tongue in place. In the interim, Kaoru was also putting on weight and muscle from her physical therapy, and her progress could be clearly seen in every picture Tomoe provided to him. It was heartening to see, and to know that she was still such a silly thing by her poses or actions in every photo.

For the first time, though, Tomoe had provided not only a picture but a video as well. Though the picture was sent second, he peeked at it first, and found that it was not of Kaoru. Instead, the phone in his hand framed a drawing she had done, once more of a fire daemon. Her skills had improved dramatically with constant practice, and Kenshin blinked at what was obviously a drawing of him. An unwilling smile tugged at his features, and he studied what she had accomplished until it became embarrassing.

Swiping away the image, he turned finally to the video. At first, he didn’t know what he was supposed to be looking at. The picture swung about without focusing on really anything, in what he recognized as the rec room of the lab. Then it settled on Kaoru seated at her desk. She was facing away from the camera, and seemed quite intent on whatever project she was in the midst of coloring in. A headset noticeably covered her ears and cradled around the top of her head, but he was still confused by the significance of the video until Tomoe drew closer.

Soft and almost haunting, humming filtered through the speaker of his phone, forcing him to immediately hold down the side button to turn up the volume as far as it would go. For a solid minute, Kenshin did nothing but stare. The sound was captivating, and he held his breath without thinking. Every muscle in his body had frozen, causing the fingers holding his phone to almost painfully clench in place. Despite a lack of words, the song flooded him with emotion. Every wonderful emotion, including heartbreak. And he wanted to listen to it forever. He wanted to follow it anywhere.

Abruptly it ended, and he sucked in a deep breath as if water had been thrown in his face. Left feeling bereft, he thought to play the video again, when a deep voice off to his left interrupted his plan.

“A beautiful voice.”

Jerking his chin towards the intruder, Kenshin blinked at Hiko sitting plainly next to a large kiln. The fire under the kiln had been perfectly maintained.

“I am reminded of a light I once saw, hundreds of years ago now.” His eyes never left the fire, to make certain it perfectly heated whatever clay pot was within the kiln. The story was offered without any prompting. “I was exactly where I am sitting now, and it hovered out in the woods. Just there.” His arm lifted to point, but his gaze did not. “It sang to me for a time. Then left.”

Surprised, Kenshin came closer. “What was it?”

“Something long since extinct.” The words were low and astonishingly sad. Unexpectedly, dark eyes steadied on him. “Tell me, boy. You fought in the war with the humans. Did you do so merely for survival, or because you hated them?” Instant revulsion and hatred twisted Kenshin’s features before he could turn his face away, and Hiko grunted. “That, also, tells me a lot about you.”

“It matters little now.” Though he spoke the dismissive words, his face was still locked in a recognizable expression of disgust. Hiko studied that expression, before continuing on.

“Indeed. But I do miss them visiting me. No other species in this world were quite so full of wonder.”

What does he mean by that?

Unwillingly, Kaoru’s face appeared in his mind as it was the day they first met. She had gazed up at him with such an expression of awe and delight, even while he lost his temper. Not for one moment, even while pained, had she lost that wonder of him and his fire. It was such a blessing, when most of everyone else only ever looked at him with fear.

Thinking to correct this man who thought only humans could be full of wonder, he was cut off by the dismissive wave of his hand.

“Get some sleep. You’re going to need it.”

X

In the chill morning air, Kenshin found himself standing next to a waterfall. The spray battered him with cold droplets of water, and he shivered even as it sizzled and popped on his heated body. A small ravine next to him dropped into a pool the waterfall had created at its base, and then disappeared down the mountain stream. Peeking over the edge curiously, Kenshin wondered what they would be doing, while a sick churning in his stomach could guess.

“Today, you’re going to use your fire.”

Surprised, Kenshin turned his head back towards Hiko standing next to him, and he was instantly flooded with relief. That meant the water was only for safety. Two seconds later, and one large hand settled on his shoulder.

“Down there.”

Open air enveloped him before he understood what the large daemon meant, and his lungs seized at the same time his limbs flailed futilely. Desperation took hold of him, and he knew he needed to say something, but could manage nothing in his current state of shock. When he finally hit the water, that shock turned quickly to panic.

His entire body submerged under the liquid, and his terror heightened. Thrashing about frantically, he managed to break the surface long enough to gulp in some air, but misjudged the motion and sucked in a mouthful of water as well. Again, he went under, and his next resurfacing produced an awful projection of water from his lungs, but allowed no time for additional air to be taken in. It wasn’t until his fourth, and most feeble, breakthrough that Kenshin managed to yell.

“I can’t swim!”

Standing atop the sheer incline, Hiko listened to the echo recede.

“Shit.”

The cape was discarded before he jumped over the ledge and into the water below. Kenshin was already sinking towards the bottom when he dove down to retrieve him, and when they surfaced the fire daemon barely wheezed. Flopping him up on a rock along the edge, Hiko pulled himself up to sit next to him.

“You’re losing your form.”

Curled onto his side and shivering, Kenshin looked at his hands to find that his skin appeared to be melting. A suppressed cough jerked his entire torso, and he swallowed.

“Were you trying to kill me?”

“You can’t handle a little water? What do you do when it rains?”

“Stay inside.” The reply was immediate and slightly higher pitched than normal.

A chuckle rumbled Hiko’s chest. “How pathetic.”

Kenshin grunted, but ignored the jab to focus on reforming the core of his flame. Usually, it was something he did unconsciously, even when exposed to water. Large amounts of water with constant exposure, however, threatened to extinguish him and he had never attempted such lunacy before.

“New plan.”

Once more, Hiko’s large hand reached for him, but this time fisted in his shirt before tossing him again into the water. Thrown directly back into a state of alarm, Kenshin fought against the liquid that wished to drag him under. Until that same hand locked around his arm and forced him upright.

“Stand up, boy. It’s not even that deep here.”

Thrusting both feet down, he stood, but automatically clung to the larger daemon for stability.

“Can you maintain your form? Boy!” The hand shook him, and he snapped his eyes upwards. The impatience on Hiko’s face faded as he stared down on him. An uncomfortable grumble rubbed against his throat, but his stern tone seemed less forceful. “Focus.”

Slamming his eyes shut, he pictured the barrier of his body and where it met the water forming around him. “Yes.”

“Good. Now lay back.”

“W-what?” Violet eyes came back open.

“Look, baka, if you can’t swim, you can’t learn. Now lay back. Even fire can survive on the surface of the water.”

Hesitantly, Kenshin lowered his weight backwards into the pool, but was only partially reassured by the large hand suspending him under his upper spine.

“Now relax completely, but keep focusing on your form.”

It took several tries, but the moment Kenshin found himself capable of floating on his own filled him with a sense of accomplishment. After all, water was a natural enemy to fire, and he was in the process of conquering it.

“I’m doing it!”

Deep, amused laughter echoed off the walls of the ravine as Hiko threw his head back. Chagrined by his own childish enthusiasm, Kenshin sank under the water.

Chapter Text

Chapter Thirteen

            The cold bothered Seta Sojiro little. To be fair, external temperatures were not something he wasted much time thinking about. Shadows cared little for the weather, except to contemplate the ease with which one could move or hide within the possible darkness created by such phenomena. It was not even true to say that light was a shadow’s natural enemy. After all, brighter light merely created deeper gloom. Perhaps an inexperienced shadow daemon would find the light irritating, but Sojiro was not inexperienced.

            Infiltration of the Arctic Lab was tricky, but not impossible. There were several layers of barriers to work around, as well as physical security guards, cameras, and gates to navigate. For five days, he had worked his way through the facility, figuring out the timing of the guards and burrowing through the barriers without damaging them or setting off an alarm. The facility was huge: a labyrinth of hallways, stairs, prison holds, security checkpoints, dormitories, mess halls, and, deeper underground, bloodied labs. It slowed his progress, but Sojiro was a patient daemon. Impatience required a degree of emotion, and that was not something he was very familiar with.

The sector with the highest levels of security held the rarest and most valued prizes. As a facility that had been built by humans, that sector used to imprison the deadliest species of daemon. While the current generation of daemons remembered the war as an extermination of humans, Sojiro knew the truth. More than one species of daemon had been wiped out with the humans, and many of those species would have threatened the new world powers. Sojiro was of the mind that it was their own fault, however, and felt no pity for their demise. Only a stupid being flaunted their true power when it wasn’t necessary.

Master Shishio had once told him that true power was causing change without ever being discovered, but Sojiro wasn’t sure if he believed that to be the best way, either. Philosophical conclusions or thoughts were not his forte. They were messy, and more often than not, had no solid answer as they were generally pulled from individual experience and empathy towards others’ experiences. Not only was Sojiro unable to empathize with others, he had no desire for others to empathize with him. He simply wanted what he wanted, and had no way to explain why.

At the heart of the deepest level underground, the rooms were so cold that none of the guards or researchers ventured there without special gear. The lighting was less, to conserve energy and resources, and half of the doors were frozen shut. Sojiro imagined that it provided an extra layer of natural security for those items they wished to be forgotten. As he drew closer to his destination, however, he saw more droplets of water instead of ice.

With a nearly inaudible crackle, the final thread of the barrier pealed back on the triple-layered steel room he had been searching for, and Sojiro slipped inside. Even the door had been welded shut as an extra precaution. After all, the contents of that room were a carefully guarded secret, but were also so shameful that no camera even monitored it. No one still present within the facility was even aware of its existence.

Sojiro had known of its location for decades, but it had taken longer than that to discover it. He had purposefully waited for the right time to collect it, and that time was finally upon him.

Suspended in the center of the room, the katana glowed and spun slowly in place. The sword itself appeared to be nothing but a regular, although well-crafted, katana. The edge was smooth and razor sharp, the guard worn but well-kept, and the wrapping faded but clean.  It was not the steel of the weapon that made it special, but rather the blood it had drank and the life it had severed. The glow corkscrewed around the entire length of the bare katana, from pommel to point, and though Sojiro felt no discomfort, he was able to appreciate the heat of the room.

Carefully parting the front of his jacket, Sojiro withdrew from the abyss of his own body a specially crafted sheath of pure darkness. Positioning the opening with steady hands, he slid the sheath slowly over the blade and watched as the glow disappeared as if sucked into the deep black. Making sure not to touch the hilt, he cautiously leveled the katana so that it was perpendicular to the floor and studied the wrapping intently. No longer overpowered by the glow of the blade, the tiniest sliver of red thread shimmered back at him from underneath the greyed cord of the hilt. Satisfied, Sojiro pushed the katana down into the darkness within his jacket and turned to leave.

The most important ingredient had been secured. Everything else required simple, tedious hunting.

X

Soothing heat from the tea wafted about Megumi’s chin and nose as she held the cup with both hands, but her thoughts were far from the hot beverage. Wandering, but not lost, her mind imagined days long since passed, as her cinnamon-tinged eyes stared with a hint of sadness at the picture frame angled towards her on the desk. Tightness abruptly hitched her breath, and she caught herself with a tiny shake of the head. Blinking, she averted her gaze down into the tea cup, before sitting it back onto the small tray next to her.

Megumi lived at the lab, quite literally. The entire top floor consisted of her own personal laboratory space, her office, and a separate living quarter that no one but her had access to. The lab was her life, and she took her life seriously. Megumi liked order, but she also hated to be bored. After five hundred years, she was more afraid of being bored than anything else. New and interesting was becoming rare, and life was starting to become mundane. Which, unfortunately, made Megumi impatient.

The seal wrapped around the metal pin in Kaoru’s mouth was irritatingly elusive in origin. After careful study, Genzai-sensei had discovered that it in fact had a foundation that was both western and eastern based, but they were no closer to figuring out how to reverse it or remove it. In fact, they were still unsure what the purpose of the seal actually was. From what Kenshin and Tomoe both described, Kaoru had issues with her memory. Sometimes she was quite lucid and capable of answering questions quickly, but at other times she seemed lost and incapable of providing a response. Whether this was due to the seal in her mouth or something else, was another uncertainty. She certainly had no appreciable physical abnormalities hampering her brain, but such things were not always so easily diagnosed. The lack of history made the girl an enigma.

She had no family that she could recall. She barely remembered anything other than the shadow daemon who claimed he was her brother. No database even recognized her, except for the missing person report that Sojiro had filed on her. For all intents and purposes, she didn’t exist, but that also was not unheard of.

While humans had monitored their population systematically, daemons were much looser about their requirements. Most of the daemons who decided to live and work in cities were registered, but there were many species of daemons that chose to live their lives differently. Daemons rarely looked similar to one another, even if they were of the same type. Some daemons were monstrously large, while others were quite small. Some bore resemblances to humans by walking upright on two legs with two arms and one head. Others had tails instead of legs, or no limbs at all. Some chose to communicate using a known and agreed upon language, while others could not speak at all. They were usually of lesser intellect, and interacted with the world on an instinctual level. No daemon of lesser intellect or power ever took the form of a human, however, and Kaoru did not appear to be unintelligent.

Sighing audibly, Megumi stood from her desk. Now she was simply thinking in circles.

A flutter out of the corner of her eye captured her attention, and she paused to glance at a charm she kept draped over the picture frame on her desk. Two long tailfeathers drifted across the glass protecting the photo, like the brush of a ghost. As they settled, the reflection of light from her tinted office windows turned the black and green of their plumage pearlescent. A slim leather strap of deep brown bound the two feathers together at their base, and small wooden beads clacked from where the leather threads hung behind the frame.

The charm was useless now, as its original purpose had faded long before. Honestly, it was never a particularly strong charm anyway, but she kept it none-the-less. She even illogically wasted energy on a preservation spell to keep it from deteriorating.

For what? Does it ever make me happy when I look at it?

The scathing question burned, but another, regretful twinge convulsed her ribs. It was, after all, something much too precious to ever get rid of. Turning on her heel, Megumi marched from the room.

On her way to the lab where most of Kaoru’s information was being kept, Megumi took a detour to check on the girl’s progress in physical therapy. Even suffering from memory loss, the girl’s body had not forgotten what it was used to, and Kaoru was obviously an athletic girl. In an impressively short amount of time, her body had bounced back from skeletal and sickly to lean and flexible. While still smaller than herself and Tomoe, she was already physically stronger in terms of muscle only. Strangely, they were still waiting for her to manifest and use her own daemon powers.

Enishi, Tomoe’s younger brother, had set himself up as Kaoru’s personal trainer on the days when he was not working his real job. He was tough, but seemed to know what he was doing. Megumi really didn’t care, as long as the girl was healthy enough for testing and eventual surgery when they finally did remove the pin. Which she hoped was soon, if only to break some of the monotony of her day.

“Megumi-sensei, we were not expecting you.” Tomoe came up from behind her as she stood just within the doorway of the small gym area they kept for employees. As they were not a hospital, they did not have the complete equipment necessary for physical therapy; however, Kaoru and Enishi were making due with what was available.

“Neither was I.” Off-hand and feeling ill-tempered, Megumi tried to avoid small-talk, but Tomoe was used to her moods. It never seemed to faze the woman, and she always reacted with the same grace and calm no matter the circumstance.

“Kaoru-san has made wonderful progress. I hardly recognize her at times.” The coal daemon stood next to her, and watched as Enishi spotted Kaoru’s squats.

“If she’s not careful I’ll start thinking she’s an ogre.”

“Megumi-sensei.” There was an amused tone to the chastisement, but her follow-up statement noted her own concern of the amount of weight being utilized. “I’ve already instructed Enishi to be careful of her regimen. Has there been any progress on the seals?”

“Not much. I was on my way to the lab now, since I have some free time.”

“You must have spent days already staring at those images. Kaoru and I have planned a girl’s night after she’s done here. Why don’t you join us? I reserved the larger employee bath, and I bought some of the good face masks. It might help to relax for a little while.”

“I’ll pass.”

Tomoe opened her mouth as if to argue, but lowered her chin instead. “Very well.”

“Kaoru.”

Enishi’s raised voice brought their attention back to the gym, and both Megumi and Tomoe frowned to see that Kaoru had disappeared. The stone golem was headed towards a far door as he called for her again, and Tomoe instantly followed after. Curious, but nothing else, Megumi trailed along.

The second room was open but covered in tatami mats. Megumi vaguely remembered a few of her researchers requesting a room to spar in, and to let out some frustration. It was by no means as large as a dojo, but it had pacified her employees enough for them to leave her alone. Most of them left their practice swords there unattended, since Megumi had a no-tolerance policy for theft. It was with one of those bamboo swords that Kaoru was found.

She looked at it as if uncertain and excited at the same time, and carefully turned it over in her hands to familiarize herself with its shape. A few steps into the room, Tomoe had caught up to Enishi and stopped him from interrupting Kaoru’s moment of curiosity.

“What happened?”

Emerald green eyes tossed Megumi a look, and accompanied it with a shrug. “I was putting the weights back and she wandered off.”

“If she’s interested, do you feel comfortable adding it to her work-out?” Megumi rolled her eyes as Tomoe instantly jumped to spoiling the girl.

“I suppose I know enough to teach… her…” The statement slowed from Enishi’s mouth as they all watched Kaoru finally grip the practice sword, correctly, and then swing it a few times straight down. Both arms crossed over the stone golem’s chest. “But it looks like I don’t need to. Her form is perfect.”

Kaoru executed a few more swings, before her face lit up in pure, unadulterated delight. Animated hand gestures tried to convey her emotions, and Enishi shook his head as he walked over. Without any way to communicate, Enishi had been the one to suggest sign language for simple responses and a keypad for more complicated conversations. The girl had picked it up surprisingly fast.

“Yeah, I see, but you need to put that back. It belongs to someone else.” A slight touch of fear and guilt replaced her enthusiasm, and she quickly handed over the practice sword without a fight. “I’ll see if I can find a couple to bring for us.”

“It may even help her remember how she knows it already.”

Tomoe’s helpful input brought Kaoru’s attention to her, and she hopped over to grab both of the coal daemon’s hands and bounce in place. A light giggle tickled Tomoe’s chest, and she stopped Kaoru’s lively actions with a hand.

“Calm, young one.” But she smiled as she avoided the sweat beading from the girl’s forehead. “You certainly are ready for a bath now.” Kaoru grinned. “How about you, little brother? Would you like to join in on our spa night?”

“No.” His cheeks tinged slightly pink and he turned his face away with a huff. “I had a new test of courage video for Kaoru to watch.”

“Oh, stop tormenting her with those things. I know you find it amusing, but I think they give her nightmares.”

Kaoru looked thoughtful, but shook her head to disagree.

“Truly? But you really do seem frightened by them.”

She made a face, as if she didn’t hate them, but didn’t really like them, either. Enishi snickered.

“She likes the arrangement, because she gets to choose something that I have to do afterwards. If you’re going to lecture me, do her, too. Her demands are ridiculous.”

“Oh, I don’t know. I thought you looked adorable in that rubber ducky raincoat. I use it for my phone background.”

Enishi made a noise of disgust and slapped a hand over his face. While they laughed at his expense, Megumi reached out to touch the loop of red she had noticed in Kaoru’s hair. After finally receiving a real haircut, they had discovered that the girl preferred her hair in a ponytail anyway. Accompanying the now shoulder-length tail was a longer, independent length of red, braided hair. Megumi had seen it before in passing, but only now realized the significance of it. No doubt because of the charm upstairs on her desk. The girl jerked slightly when she noticed Megumi was touching it, and a sardonic expression twisted the fox daemon’s features. Crossing her arms loosely, she cocked one hip.

“That charm of yours is melting your hair tie.” Kaoru’s fingers went straight for her hair just before the tie snapped, and she caught the red braid as it slipped towards the floor. “If my assumption is correct, which I’m certain it is, that charm is incapable of causing you harm in any way. However, even a little bit of constant heat can be destructive. You might want to consider a metal hairpin instead, if you insist on wearing it that way. I would suggest tungsten.” Turning sharply, Megumi waved a hand when Tomoe thanked her.

Great. Now I’m spoiling the girl.

Megumi attempted to focus on the imaging once seated before the multiple monitors in the main room of Kaoru’s lab, but was no less distracted than she had been in her office. Something bugged her about the seal in Kaoru’s mouth, she just couldn’t put her finger on what. Unfortunately, the harder she forced herself to think about it, the easier it was to get lost in unproductive deliberations.

It also didn’t help that she could hear Tomoe and Kaoru in the next room as they laughed and giggled about whatever nonsense they were in the midst of. Megumi had assumed they would go to the employee bath immediately, but apparently Tomoe had planned a deep conditioning for their hair. Instead of washing off in the larger bath upstairs, they had bathed in the small lab and were currently in the midst of nail care while they gave the deep conditioner enough time to work through their strands.

Thankfully, it did not take long before they had set off for the employee bath to wash out the deep conditioner and soak. Finally alone in the lab, Megumi stared at the imaging in front of her, but only succeeded in dragging out a deep noise of disgust from her gut. Now the very air buzzed with the silence, and that was just as annoying as their fussing. Standing to pace, Megumi walked around the lab, hoping the movement would help kick start her brain. Something was off. But what was it? Why couldn’t she figure it out?

Standing in the middle of the rec room, she looked around at the mess the girls had made with their spa night, and the mess Kaoru generally made with her drawings. A month before, Tomoe had brought paint for her, and now there were paint stains decorating the carpeted section and the desk. Another noise of disgust later, and Megumi snatched up one of the face masks laying out and marched her way out of the lab.

I need a bath anyway.

The employee bath faced no other building, and was therefore walled with glass to allow a magnificent view of the sunset and the city. It was still a two-way glass, for privacy, but gave an illusion of open air. Tomoe and Kaoru were already soaking when she came in, but she ignored Tomoe’s surprise to instead lower herself fully into the blessedly hot water. The chill of winter was in the air outside, and it was quite pleasant to be back at a temperature that allowed her muscles to relax. Ripping open the face mask packaging, Megumi tossed it carelessly over her shoulder before skillfully fitting the mask onto her face. With a happy little sigh, and a stretch of her toes, she dropped her neck back onto the lip of the bath.

Inexplicably, Megumi’s drifting thoughts landed back on charms. Charms usually became a part of an object or only affected something briefly, but they were never permanent. They required upkeep and renewed energy from the original castor. Using a piece of oneself, like Kaoru’s braid of red hair, made the charm last much longer and be much stronger. However, even they would eventually run out of energy. Seals and runes were different. Seals were capable of drawing from the energy around them, allowing them to last nearly indefinitely. They could not be torn or forcibly removed, but were easily manipulated and retracted by the original castor. They also had to be touching what they were meant to seal or affect.

A frown curled her brows together.

Then why would he put the seal on an object that can be removed?

“Son of a banshee!” Surging to her feet, Megumi peeled off the mask, tossed it over her shoulder to land with the packaging, and forced her way through the water to Kaoru. The girl had been happily staring out the glass wall with her chin resting on her crossed arms, but was now scuttling herself as far into one of the corners as she could to escape the determined expression on the fox daemon’s face.

Grabbing her by the chin, Megumi forced her mouth upwards at an awkward angle. “Open.” She did, though reluctantly, and Megumi instantly shoved two fingers down her throat. A tussle and gag later, and Megumi withdrew her hand to once more peer at the ball sitting uncomfortably on her tongue.

“What is it, Megumi-sensei? What did you figure out?” Tomoe was next to her, and she was no longer the domesticated woman happy with spoiling their little ward. Instead, she was the doctor Megumi had hired her to be.

“That slick little bastard. The seal isn’t even attached to the metal pin.”

“What? But how?”

“I knew it looked strange.” Ignoring Tomoe’s question, Megumi finally released Kaoru to instead frown at the glass wall. “We thought the seal was wrapped around the metal pin, but it’s too distorted.”

Insight almost immediately struck Tomoe, and she sucked in a sharp breath. “The metal pin is stretching it. The seal is actually attached to her tongue.”

“Which means the pin has no purpose at all.” Gnawing at a claw, Megumi’s red-tinged eyes narrowed. “He was buying time. That’s why we haven’t seen or heard of him since that little fiasco with Ken-sama.”

“But…” Thinking it through, Tomoe argued. “He pinned her tongue before she even escaped from him. He couldn’t have known she would be here. Could he?”

“Shit, you’re right. It may have been a contingency plan, or…” Megumi glanced down at the girl. “He’s just sick.”

Tomoe’s tone lowered. “She did say that it was a punishment for being disobedient. Whatever the reason, we can remove the pin now, correct?”

“That’s the plan.” A smile finally pulled at her mouth and bared her fangs. Things were interesting again.

“Kaoru, what’s wrong? You don’t have to cover your face.”

A side look found pink spreading down the girl’s neck and cheeks, and Megumi chortled. Infected by a good mood, the fox crossed her arms under her breasts and leaned closer to tease. “Are you embarrassed that you don’t have any?”

“Stop it, Megumi-sensei. You’ve got a cute figure, Kaoru-san.”

X

A/N: Side note: this is how my stupid brain works, “What if Kenshin farts?” (X_X)

Chapter Text

Chapter Fourteen

            White mist diffused into the air as Kenshin exhaled into the early morning chill. All around him, snow fell in large flakes from the thick overhead blanket of dark clouds, and the dead calm of the forest created an eerie atmosphere up on the mountain. Barren rock was visible within the arm’s width circumference surrounding his body as the heat from his core created a bubble that melted the snow. Even still, the bite in the ever-moving air touched him, but no longer affected him as strongly as it once had. Kenshin was aware of his environment, but was currently directing his main focus inward.

            His training with Hiko Seijuro had plateaued. For some reason, he could not find his rhythm and was still much too hesitant to use the powers raging within him. It was not as if he did not know how to use his powers. During the war, he had honed certain skills to a razor’s edge. However, most of those skills were violent and murderous, and had only been perfected to keep himself alive and to inflict, as Hiko had once said, maximum damage. That was not how he wanted to use his powers ever again. Anger should not be at the center of his abilities. Sojiro’s curse had taught him that much.

            Something did not feel right about using his bare hands, though. He felt awkward and acutely aware of his small stature in comparison to Hiko. Over and over again, Hiko had barked at him that his size did not matter. As long as he could utilize his flame correctly, he would be capable of overpowering any daemon much larger than him. The komainu were perfect examples. They were half his size and easily able to protect the mountain. Kenshin knew the theory was sound, but still could not shake his discomfort with the training.

            Training with his father had been much easier, but then, learning from another fire daemon had advantages. His father had also been a patient teacher, but no less strict. Fire was, after all, a dangerous element that required control and discipline. As most elemental power was.

Elemental children were few and far between for a couple of reasons. One being that not many survived taming their own power. Another being that elemental daemons rarely got along with one another, and rarer still, paired for procreation. Kenshin never had the opportunity to meet his own mother, and his father had only spoken of her briefly.

            His father had attained perfect control over his flame, and was the best example of what a fire daemon was meant to be. If he had one flaw, Kenshin would say it was his love of humans. A love that Kenshin believed had resulted in his death.

            A deep, shuddering breath upset his calm demeanor, and Kenshin parted his lashes to gaze down into his lap. Kenshin remembered his last moments with his father clearly. A smile had crinkled his features to illustrate his joy and relief that the humans had consented to peace talks, and he had spoken long about how good it was going to be for the world. Before leaving for the summit, his father had left him with a task, no doubt as a way to comfort his anxious, teenage son. Kenshin doubted his father had realized the trauma that simple task would later cause.

            Drawing forth from deep within his core, Kenshin exhaled fire into the palm of both hands. Twisting his right wrist slowly, he reverently drew the fire out, like pulling a weapon from its sheath. As the flame took shape, it hardened into a katana with hints of red blushing from underneath the steel. Golden cording wrapped around stout decorative flames along the handle, and twin dragons breathed fire at one another around the metal guard. His father’s sword was still as beautiful and pristine as the day he had been tasked with guarding it. Kenshin had only used it once himself, on the day he had taken revenge on his father’s murderer. If only his father had kept the weapon, he surely would still be alive. Instead, he had insisted on leaving it. After all, he was going to a peace summit, and taking a weapon was disrespectful to that end.

            “Where did you get that, boy?”

            Violet eyes jerked upwards to find Hiko standing at a distance out in the snow. His long dark hair shadowed his eyes and his tone was firm. Nothing had alerted Kenshin to his approach, and his question was suspiciously specific. Wary, Kenshin kept his body still and his features blank.

            “Get what?”

            Kenshin’s father had warned him against revealing the weapon to just anyone.

            “Do you not know what it is you hold?” The master’s voice was heavy again, like rushing water pounding against rocks.

            “I hold nothing that is not mine to hold.” Slow and meaningful, Kenshin offered the response.

            “And where did you acquire it?” Their careful banter continued, and Kenshin’s eyes narrowed slightly into a frown.

            “Does it matter?”

            “It does.” Hard eyes finally became visible as the large man tilted his chin upwards and his long bangs parted. For the first time, Kenshin saw caution in his master’s gaze.

            Swallowing, Kenshin’s spine straightened. If he had learned anything during his training, it was that Hiko was trustworthy, and not surprisingly wise to much lost knowledge. “It was my father’s, and his father’s before him.” Holding the sword up and out, Kenshin rested the dull side of the blade on his sleeve. “Kagu-tsuchi was the name my father gave for it. Are you satisfied?”

            Hiko was quiet as he considered him down the length of his nose.

            “Who did you say your father was?”

            “I didn’t.” This was something he could not reveal.

            A low grumble vibrated Hiko’s chest. “I did not ask for his true name.”

            Briefly, Kenshin’s brows contracted together.

            “Don’t look so shocked. Do you really think I gave you my true name?” His arms crossed. “Do you think I believed ‘Kenshin’ was yours? Come on, boy, what name did the world know him by?”

            “…Takibi. Himura Takibi.”

            “Hmph. A bit on the nose for a fire daemon. But I don’t recognize the name. Which is… curious.”

            “Because you recognize the sword?”

            Dark eyes considered him. “That’s right.”

            “How?”

            A slight smirk pulled up one corner of his mouth. “Let’s just say… it has a reputation. Did your father teach you how to use it?” The quick change of subject hinted that its reputation was either frightening or shameful. From the way Hiko had reacted, Kenshin guessed the former.

            “I was taught to fight with a sword as soon as I could walk.” The statement was confrontational and nearly boastful. “I was told I must master this before he even started training me with my flame.”

            A single, loud laugh shot from the larger daemon’s mouth, and he covered the distance between them in long strides. The heavy atmosphere hanging between them dissipated into the still morning air. “That explains why your reflexes are off, and why you’re shit with your bare hands.” Kenshin’s frown deepened with petulance. “But now that I know, we can appropriately adjust how you’re being trained.”

            Hiko’s right hand reached out to his side, and water flowed from out of thin air to collect in his palm. Closing his fingers into a fist, a sword appeared as swiftly as river rapids. Its handle was simple wood, but the ripples in the steel of the blade resembled ocean waves. With katana in hand, his already intimidating persona intensified, and revealed just why Hiko Seijuro had denied being a water daemon.

            Light blue horns, like thick coral, branched from either side of his head just behind his temples, and his once black hair resembled the deep blue of the ocean. Rough scales covered his knuckles, and his irises were large but the color of sea foam. Understanding hit Kenshin like a kick in the chest, and his eyes widened in surprise before he quickly prostrated himself on the ground at his feet.

            A dragon!

            “You’re a water dragon.” His voice was breathless from the tightness in his chest. “I thought… the emperor was the only dragon left.” The statement was not really a question, but was doubtful all the same.

            “Get up, boy. I don’t like others kneeling to me.” Violet eyes peeked up at him, but found only the same serious set to Hiko’s features as he was used to. Sitting back on his haunches, Kenshin carefully angled the katana in his lap.

            “Are you related?” Technically, the emperor was a sky dragon, but not a lot was known about dragons other than they were the most powerful and sacred beings on Earth.

            Another short laugh burst from Hiko’s chest. “Hell no, and I’m thankful for it. That lifestyle doesn’t suit me at all.” Resting his katana on his shoulder, Hiko shifted his weight. “You, like most everyone, incorrectly assume that dragons are born.”

            Red brows lifted. “They’re not?”

            “No, boy. I wasn’t born a dragon, and neither was the emperor. I was a water daemon, just like my parents.”

            “Then… how did you become a dragon?”

            “By mastering the energy within and gaining perfect control.”

            “That’s it?”

            Kenshin’s skeptical retort forced a huff from Hiko’s nose, and his voice dripped with sarcasm. “That’s it.”

            Chagrined, Kenshin looked away, but pushed himself to his feet. “But that means… anyone could become a dragon.”

            “Theoretically.” Extending the katana at his shoulder in one quick swish, the water dragon pointed its tip directly between Kenshin’s eyes. “How about it, boy? Are you satisfied with remaining the last living fire daemon in the world, or would you like to become the last fire dragon in history?”

            Red lashes blinked at the steel just barely brushing the skin of his nose before he averted his eyes to study the softly falling snow. It took him a moment to respond. “It occurs to me that I made a promise… to return stronger than I left. That means, I must do all that I am capable of in order to genuinely hold up my end of our agreement.” A gentle smile pulled at his lips.

            What kind of expression of wonder would she wear… if one day I could show her a form that was completely under my control? The tender expression firmed into one of determination. More importantly, if I attain perfect control, I will be better able to protect those in need… and no one would be able to hurt her ever again.

Violet eyes turned on Hiko, and he automatically morphed the expression into something harmless. “Unfortunately, you keep raising the goal posts of what I must aim for. If I am capable of reaching your level, then I’m afraid I must do it.”

            “I never said you were capable of reaching my level.” Heavy amusement thickened the master’s voice. “But you most definitely will be stronger. I will warn you… I can help you on this path, but at a certain point, you will have to walk the rest of the way alone.”

X

            When training with Hiko, there was no room for anything else. Especially now that they had added swords. However, on that day, Kenshin was distracted. According to Tomoe, Megumi had discovered that the metal pin in Kaoru’s mouth was not in any way bound to the seal. Which meant, the pin was finally coming out. If Kenshin was being honest, he was more than a little disappointed that he was not going to be there to witness it. Apparently, Kaoru felt the same way.

            Kaoru had already informed Tomoe and Megumi that she would speak to him and him only immediately after the pin was removed. Since he was still stuck in Neo-Kyoto until Hiko deemed him capable of continuing his training on his own, Megumi had irritably offered a compromise. Once the anesthesia wore off and Kaoru was once more coherent following surgery, they would video call him on his phone so that she could relay whatever message she wanted. With the surgery scheduled for that day, Kenshin was hard pressed to keep his attention only on training.

            For the first time since his arrival, Kenshin was carrying his phone with him. Due to the high probability that it would be broken, he usually left it with his things at the house. Since he hardly received any calls or messages from anyone other than Tomoe, he really saw need to have the phone with him at all times anyway. Although, he had toyed with the idea of adding another phone to his plan so that he could communicate with Kaoru directly.

            Hiko was getting irritated with him as the afternoon wore on, and he only narrowly avoided accumulating a few new scars to his body; more out of luck than skill. When the call finally did sound, he found himself face first in the cold, wet dirt with a foot in the middle of his back.

            “About damn time.” Growling like an angry bear, Hiko shoved off his shoulder blade with more force than necessary to stomp away into the trees. “Talk to your little girlfriend and get your head on straight. I’d like to accomplish something before supper.”

            Grunting as he rolled onto his back, Kenshin sat up and reached for his phone. When he answered, he caught the tail end of them speculating on why he had not yet picked up.

            “It’s alright, Kaoru-san. I’m sure he’s just busy.”

            The screen lit up to reveal Kaoru’s slightly anxious features, and she was not actually looking at the phone, but over it. When she looked down again to see he was there, the anxiety instantly melted and was replaced by an elated smile. Her entire body perked up, from the lift of her shoulders to the straightening of her neck. Even the phone angled a touch higher, and she glanced sideways to nod happily when Tomoe asked if she could see him.

            “Hello, Miss Kaoru.”

            He couldn’t keep the warmth from his voice, and it was so involuntary that he was surprised by the pink that tinged her cheeks in reaction. Cheeks that were fuller now that she had regained a healthy weight and vigor, and skin that was brighter with the soft glow of youth. A second later, and her eyebrows knitted together before she pointed at her own forehead. Blinking, Kenshin reached up to find dirt caked on his skin, and he chuckled as he brushed it away.

            “Hiko-sama is quite strong, but I’ve gotten much better. I have not forgotten our promise.”

            A touch of excitement animated her sapphire gaze, and the phone pulled further away from her so that he could see the arm she lifted to show off her own progress. Through the light material of her gown, he could clearly discern the outline of her lean muscles.

            “Impressive!”

            “Alright.” A hand appeared on top of her head, and he was strangely distressed by Tomoe’s interruption. “Wasn’t there something you wished to say to Himura-san?”

            Two quick nods agreed, and a sense of impatience filled him as he watched her open her mouth. No metal peeked back at him through the screen, and relief relaxed the muscles around his heart. The pin no longer tormented her, and he would finally hear the voice that had haunted him ever since that first video of her humming.

            A deep breath pulled into her lungs… and then her tongue stuck out at the screen mockingly. Stitches could be seen where the metal post had been removed, but it was her mischievous features that made him laugh.

            “You silly thing.” Tomoe’s gentle voice was a sigh. “Don’t kill us with the suspense.”

            Still smiling, Kenshin propped his arm up on one knee. “I agree, Miss Kaoru. Even if it is just a greeting, I will be content.”

            Another flush of pink decorated her cheeks, and she swallowed before licking her lips. The phone was moved a little closer to her face, and he watched eagerly as her mouth moved. He read the words of gratitude she had waited to convey, but no sound transmitted over the phone. Frowning, Kenshin instantly adjusted the volume, but bewilderment had also marred her expression. Again, the words were mouthed but not spoken, and her eyes were plainly stressed. Her third, fourth, and fifth attempts were just his name, before her lashes slammed shut and her body tensed in a silent scream.

            No sound escaped her except for the rush of air forced from her lungs. For whatever reason, the absence of the metal pin had resulted in the complete suppression of her vocal cords.

X

            Gein grinned happily from his workshop as the clearly upset and angry banging from upstairs persisted. The sound was not irritating for him in the least. In fact, it was better than music. It was not, however, as lovely as Kaoru’s screams had been, but he was content to make do with what was available. The beautiful sounds of torture were the perfect backdrop for his art.

            Laying prone on the large metal table at the center of his workshop was his current masterpiece. A thick metal frame made of light but durable material formed the base of the doll, and each joint had been painstakingly fitted and hinged perfectly so that they moved without sound or any catching. Cable corded like muscle across the metal skeleton to add strength and shape, and eventually movement. There was still much to be done, but Gein was content to take his time.

            On another table, he was painstakingly coiling thin, red, razor floss to a length of exactly one hundred and six centimeters. Although they would be added last, there were many to create if he was to mimic a full head of hair. Gein typically preferred to add hidden weapons to his dolls, but Sōjirō insisted on simplicity for his commissions. As a result, Gein had to be creative with his additions, and it challenged him as an artist.

            The alarm on his wrist beeped three times for his attention, and Gein sighed before sitting down the black box Sōjirō had left in his care. He hated to leave while so inspired, but it was time to feed Master Shishio.

            Like a dog in a cage.

            The comparison amused him, and he ascended the stairs with a grin hidden behind his skull mask. At the door to Shishio’s room, he slid aside the metal lock before dropping down the access door for the food tray. Bandaged hands greedily reached for the food, but Gein removed it quickly from reach.

            “What did we talk about? You will accept the tray respectfully, or eat nothing at all.”

            Skeletal hands shook before they fisted into tight balls. Gein’s grin widened in satisfaction.

            “Good. You remember the deal. Do as I say, and I’ll play our special recording again.”

            The tray was offered and accepted, and the access door was reset into place. All it takes is a little singing, and he’s right in the palm of my hand.

Chapter Text

Chapter Fifteen

            Sagara Sōzō could tell the fox daemon was in a bad mood as soon as he walked into her office. She was doing an admiral job of hiding it, but it was in the subtle creases between her brows and the tightness of her lips. Once, he remembered being told to watch out for the rigidity of her tails, as well. When she was in a good mood, they twitched and shifted as if they had a life of their own. When she was in a bad mood, though, they stiffened and were held almost purposefully still. At that moment, they were even hooked, like the angry baring of claws.

            Dangerous, pointed nails clicked against the surface of the desk as she drummed her fingers impatiently. A phone was pressed against her ear, and whoever was on the other end was not ingratiating themselves with her. Covering the distance to her desk, he seated himself without invitation in the chair across from her. She did not even glance at him. However, her agitated hand did flatten over the rim of her tea cup protectively. Shifting the large envelope in his hand to settle on his lap instead, Sōzō’s one working eye landed on a picture frame angled away from him. As the air moved from the ceiling fan overhead, the edge of a dark feather peeked at him from around the frame and his features softened.

            “Are you done?” The words were restrained and falsely sweet, and whoever was on the other end went quiet. “Good. Because I am not your mother, and I don’t have time to wipe your ass. You messed up, now take responsibility and fix it.”

            The phone slammed down onto the wooden desktop, and her red-tinged eyes finally snapped up to glower at him.

            “You really do just suck the moisture out of everything, don’t you?”

            A slight smile pulled at his mouth. “It’s a bit involuntary.” His voice was dry and cracked, as was usual.

The tea cup was tilted in her direction, and she sighed upon finding it full of nothing but now crispy tea leaves. “Then I would ask you make your visit quick. If you involuntarily mess up any of my research by evaporating the liquid, I will remove your eye.”

            “Still so hostile.”

            “Still so disgustingly nice.”

            Sōzō laughed, and Megumi joined in with a brief chortle. “It’s nice to see you again, Megumi-san.”

            “I’m surprised to see you here at all. I thought you were busy protecting some government facility.”

            “I am.” His laughter tapered off. “But it just so happens to be the same facility Genzai-sensei runs. Apparently, he’s helping you with a favor. Some kind of… top-secret favor?”

            Megumi’s features reflexively relaxed into a blank expression. “Oh?”

            “Don’t worry, I have no intention of prying. He only asked me to deliver this.” The envelope was handed over, and Megumi accepted it with a frown.

            “I thought he was sending over one of his assistants. Why wouldn’t he just ask them to deliver this?”

            “I wasn’t given specifics, only that I was to give it to you and you alone. Perhaps he was afraid his assistant would lose it?”

            “That’s doubtful.” Megumi pursed her lips as she unsealed the envelope and pulled out the thick documents within. Whatever was on the top page ever-so-slightly widened the edges of her eyes. Or he was afraid they would read the documents themselves.

            “Is something wrong?”

            The fox’s spine straightened, and she withdrew the documents from the envelope completely. “No.” The word was easily nonchalant, and she flipped the top page forward to rest against her sternum. “Nothing I did not already suspect.” She proceeded to ignore him as she glanced through the remaining information.

            Shrugging his shoulders, Sōzō sat for a few seconds, tall and rigid. Habit was hard to break after spending as many years as he had in the military. Suddenly leaning forward, he reached for the only picture frame on her desk and pulled it closer. Cinnamon irises lifted slowly to watch him, but made no move to stop his intentions. Once the frame was turned, he released it and sat back into his chair.

            “Megumi-san…” His dry voice deepened with something close to empathy and sorrow. For a while he seemed to struggle with what he was going to say, but then a sigh released from his lungs. “Thank you.”

            “For what?” She cleared her throat, and continued to flip through the papers distractedly. “Being a sentimental idiot?”

            “Don’t be like that. It’s been two hundred years since the war ended. That’s a long time. Even for a fox.”

            “Forever is a long time for anyone.” She was being dismissive again, but the lines around her eyes had softened. “That is what we promised.”

            “So you did.” The grin returned to his face, but it was tinged with nostalgia. “That idiot brother of mine was a lucky man.”

            A short, mocking laugh burst from Megumi’s mouth. “Not if you asked him. Luck apparently had nothing to do with it. He touted himself as some kind of conquering hero.” Though she appeared annoyed, there was affection in the twitch of her mouth. Sōzō laughed in turn.

            “That’s right. The rooster who tamed the fox. He told that story a lot.” Megumi returned to leafing through the documents, and Sōzō’s smile turned gentle. “He always followed it up with some example of how feisty you were. Like he couldn’t get enough of it.”

            The envelope and its contents were plopped onto the desk and Megumi stood. “Well, that’s quite enough of that.”

            Sōzō stood to attention and bowed his head. “Forgive me, Megumi-san.” When he straightened, her face was turned away. A change of subject seemed to be in order. “Before I go, I was hoping you might know what’s happened to Himura-san. I’ve tried calling him a few times, but he hasn’t answered or returned my calls.” Her chin lifted, and she gathered the documents into her arms.

            “Ah, you three fought together in the war for a time.” She stated the obvious as if reminding herself, but continued as if bored. “What makes you think I know anything about what he’s doing?”

            “Well, he was under your care for almost a hundred years. I thought perhaps you were keeping tabs on him.”

            “Why? Because the government all but handed me his leash?” Venom injected into the question without warning, and Sōzō knew he needed to tread lightly.

            “No, because Sano asked you to look out for him.”

            Dark lashes fell, and the ears sprouting from her hair flattened. “He’s stranded in the mountains, or something.” Navigating the desk, she headed for the door and her tone turned spiteful. “The government ordered him there. I’m surprised you didn’t hear about it.”

            Sōzō’s one good eye blinked in surprise, and he followed closely behind Megumi’s ground-eating stride. “I haven’t heard. What’s going on?”

            “They’re making him train with some old hermit near Neo-Kyoto.” Her hand waved in the air.

            “You mean, Hiko Seijuro?! I thought he kept himself separate from the government.”

            “I suppose he technically requested Ken-sama, but the government all but forced him to go.” Correcting herself, Megumi stopped before the elevators and pressed the call button.

            “He wasn’t going to do it? I know a few generals that would kill for that opportunity. Hiko Seijuro is practically legendary.” Although Sōzō preferred his position under the radar, he could not help feeling a bit jealous.

            “Is that so?” Megumi dismissed him as easily as a fly. “Then he should be able to whip Ken-sama into shape. Is the interrogation over? I’ve got work to do.”

            “Of course.” Sōzō bowed again.

            “Where’s the assistant Genzai-sensei was supposed to send over? Did he not come with you?” The doors to the elevator swished open. Sōzō climbed on with her.

            “He apparently already knew where he was heading. We parted ways on the elevator.”

            “Fine.” When the doors dinged open on one of the middle floors, Megumi placed a hand over the sensor and turned towards Sōzō. “I have something I need you take back to Genzai-sensei for me. Do you mind?”

            “Of course not.”

            “Just… keep your powers in check. Seriously, the air is choking me it’s so dry.”

            “I will try.” He smiled, but bowed graciously.

            She led him to a small, out of the way lab that did not appear to be of any major importance. Once inside, he found the assistant he had escorted seated next to a woman he recognized. They both looked over as they entered, and the woman smiled gently as she stood to bow in greeting.

            “Tomoe-san, I’m glad I was able to see you while I’m here.” Suddenly, his dry, cracked voice sounded too rough in his own ears.

            “Me, too.” As always, her calm demeanor and gentle tones relaxed those within earshot.

            “Are you the assistant?” Megumi’s sharp voice cut through the atmosphere, and the newest member to their research team jerked a ninety-degree bow.

            “Iizuka, ma’am.” Iizuka was a large ogre, but quite small for his kind. His skin was a dark green, and two tusk-like teeth protruded upward from his lower lip. A single horn also sprouted from the right side of his forehead, but had been filed down to a few blunt inches. Dressed as he was, in a suit and a small pair of reading glasses perched on his flat nose, he appeared studious despite what had once been said about ogres.

            “Your specialty?”

            “Eastern runes. I recognize parts of these seals,” his hand pointed to the monitors and the images plastered across them, “but whoever set these combined them with several other.”

            “That’s what we thought as well. What exactly do you recognize?”

            As Megumi took over the seat that Tomoe had occupied, Tomoe touched a hand to Sōzō’s arm. “They’ll be at that for a while, I imagine. Would you like to meet our young ward?”

            “Ward?”

            “Do you remember that lunch date you set up for me last year, with Himura-san?”

            “Of course. The one he skipped?” There was consternation in his dry voice, but she smiled.

            “He had a good reason, and I was able to spend some time with him regardless, so I do not feel cheated.” They stepped into another room. Off to one side, a young woman was seated before a large canvass. Paint was smeared all over her arms and the back of her neck, but she painstakingly continued to smooth her brush across the surface. When she heard them enter, she turned with a happy smile. It faded into caution when she saw there was someone new.

            “Don’t be afraid, Kaoru-san. This is Sagara Sōzō. He’s an old friend of Himura-san.”

            Sōzō smiled. “A really old friend. It’s a pleasure.” He bowed, and she seemed to remember her manners as a moment later she jumped up and bowed in turn. “Having only one eye makes me look scarier than I am.”

            The paintbrush still in her hand was clasped in front of her, and she shook her head to disagree. Blue eyes, like clear Caribbean water, stared up at him in interest. Clearing his throat uncomfortably, Sōzō pointed a finger at her painting.

            “Is that Himura-san? He looks…” Unsure how to describe it, his voice trailed off.

            “Like she added some glamour?” Tomoe modestly covered her mouth with the back of her hand. “She does that with everyone.” A few other paintings were indicated around the room, and Sōzō looked impressed. When his eyes came back to Kaoru, she was frowning slightly.

            “They’re great, don’t get me wrong.” Her smile came back instantly, and her head tilted as her shoulders lifted with the praise. Suddenly, blue eyes jerked towards his legs and she circled him to study the tail twitching at his back. It was something he was a bit self-conscious of. His true form was not pleasing to the eye, and he preferred the form he had created to seem more human. With only one eye, however, the right side of his face appeared disfigured. His tail was uncomfortable to hide, though, and he had long since given up on trying. It was stretched and thin, and covered in stringy brown hair. Even to him, it was ugly.

            A grin of excitement lit up her entire face, and she shook Tomoe’s hand to share. Tomoe simply petted her hair, as if it was normal, but scolded her lightly for being rude. Then turned her small smile on him.

            “I told you. She sees everyone that way.”

            “Huh.” Slightly embarrassed, Sōzō took a step back. “I’d probably better not stick around too long. I don’t want to dry out her paint. It was nice meeting you, Kaoru-san.” He bowed again, and she waved enthusiastically before returning to her art project. A frown pulled at his features when he noticed that the red hair-tie he had thought she was wearing was actually red hair wrapped around her own.

            “Does she not talk?” As they returned to the main room of the lab, Sōzō curiously questioned.

            “She can’t speak.” Tomoe proceeded to explain how Kenshin had found her, and the state she was in at the time. “That’s why we’ve asked Genzai-sensei for assistance. We can’t seem to figure out these seals.”

            “Hmm.” Sitting down at one of the desks across from the monitors, Sōzō took in all of the information he had accumulated. As troubling as it all sounded, as a friend, something else was bothering him. “How are things between you and Himura-san?”

            A light tinge of pink touched her cheeks and she looked away. “He’s still very distant with me, but Kaoru’s presence has opened him up more.”

            “You as well?”

            She nodded. “I think so. She’s a very energetic child, and so warm. It’s hard not to be affected by her.”

            “A child?” Sōzō seemed skeptical. The young woman in the room next door did not look like a child to him.

            “Even if we don’t know much about her, it’s obvious she’s still very young. We all feel as if we’re taking care of her in some way.”

            “Even Himura-san?”

            “I would say he feels the most responsible for her. He even sent her a phone so they can communicate directly. I think he could tell how much it upset her when she couldn’t speak after the pin was removed.”

            Sōzō was not very convinced, but since he was an outsider, he had no choice but to take her word for it.

            “Have you explained everything to him, Tomoe-san?” Megumi called over to them, and Tomoe was taken aback.

            “I’m sorry, Megumi-sensei. Was I not supposed to? I assumed he was aware since you brought him in with you.”

            “He wasn’t, but I was hoping you’d take care of that for me.” A very sly grin bared one canine tooth. “Now that that’s out of the way, I plan to abuse this little courier service Genzai started with you.”

The smile on Sōzō’s face disappeared.

“I think we’ve figured out what’s going on with this little seal on her tongue, and why it has only now suppressed her vocal cords.”

            X

            It was getting warmer again, and Kenshin relaxed gratefully in full exposure of the sun as he ate his lunch. Hiko sat a short distance away in the shade. They rarely looked at each other while eating, and rarer still spoke unless it was to discuss his training. Everything was starting to feel smoother, though, and their discussions were a bit more technical as he progressed.

            “Your control is getting better.” The grunted compliment was nearly reluctant. “From now on we need to work more on your technique.”

            Kenshin nodded as he chewed.

            “Do you have any flames capable of anything other than burning?”

            Blinking, Kenshin swallowed, and put down his chopsticks. “My father told me once that as a fire daemon, we are capable of using all flames… with the exception of one.”

            “That’s a rather vague flex. Which one can you not use?”

            “I believe he called it onibi.”

            Hiko was silent, and violet eyes glanced over to see if he could judge the water dragon’s reaction. His master was looking down at his lunch box.

            “He said it is a cold flame. Too cold for a fire daemon to use.”

            “It’s not just cold. It’s death.” The large man’s voice was soft, and a deep breath inhaled through his nose. “Only the dead are capable of using it. A single touch will pull a soul from its body.”

            “Oh.” After studying the remains of his lunch, Kenshin lifted his head to the sun. “He also said that only a fire daemon can neutralize the onibi, but that it requires the hottest flame we can manage.”

            “That sounds promising. Show me.”

            “Now?”

            Hiko nodded, and Kenshin frowned. Sitting aside his lunch box, Kenshin angled one hand upwards and concentrated all of his strength in his palm. It took too long, and required too much energy, but he succeeded in producing a small white-blue flame approximately the size of a baseball.

            “I can’t… maintain it for long.” Within seconds, the flame sputtered and died, and he was left to catch his breath in the aftermath. The use of so much power had a side-effect he had not counted on, though, and when he glanced up again, he found his master staring at him with something like pity. Thick, red blood, like lava, dripped from his left cheek, and he immediately lifted one hand to cover it.

            “Who wounded your core?”

            Rebuilding the façade he kept up to hide his daemon traits, he next used his fingers to suck the heat out of the blood that had landed on the ground before it could start a fire. Even with the façade, the deep crossed-wound on his left cheek was still visible, like a faint scratch mark on his skin. A part of him had no desire to ever talk about it, but… what was the use of hiding it now?

            “After I killed the man who murdered my father, I sat next to his body and waited. I don’t know why. Maybe I thought whoever came looking for him would lead me to someone else I could blame. Instead… they buried me under ice, like the stupid kid I was, and tried to use me to make their weapons more powerful. I was lucky the facility was raided before they could do any further damage to my core.”

            Silence pressed down on the sunny mid-day, and gloom seemed to hang in the air like a dampening hand of fog. A light grumble of air vibrated up Hiko’s throat and issued from his nose.

            “What about the heat? Can you contain the heat and still maintain the flame’s temperature?” Violet eyes looked over at him, and the expression was vulnerable. “We don’t need another weather alert for all of Japan.”

            Torn away from ugly memories, the crease of his frown deepened in thought instead of pain. “I think so.”

            “Good. What else you got?”

            The remainder of their break was spent discussing the different types of effects he could produce with his flames. When lunch was deemed over, Hiko stood, and for the first time, appeared satisfied. Which made Kenshin leery.

            “Don’t look so afraid, boy. You should be happy. A couple more months, and I’m kicking you off this mountain.”

            “W-what?”

            “We should be able to refine your technique in that time, but I can’t help you with the rest. Luckily, you already figured out what you need to master in order to transition to dragon rank. Most times, it’s not that easy to identify.”

            “I did?” Kenshin looked confused, and Hiko’s satisfied features dropped flat.

            “Dammit, boy. I thought you were quicker than this.”

Chapter Text

Chapter Sixteen

            The sketch book was propped up on her knees as Kaoru sat sideways on the couch and doodled drawings of irritated chibi foxes. The lab was quiet, and she was supposed to be spending the evening alone, which was rare. Most times Tomoe stayed with her, but it didn’t feel right to demand she stay when she had a home to go back to. Truthfully, Kaoru was becoming a little more comfortable with being alone, and was starting to enjoy the lack of pressure it required. It also freed her to do whatever she felt like without having to worry about how it bothered someone else.

            Without any ability to utilize her vocal cords, Kaoru had discovered that she could make different sounds depending on how she pushed air from her mouth or nose. She could whistle as well, and by using a combination of these sounds, could even put together a tune. Currently performing along with the music in her headphones, she happily bounced one leg in time with the up-beat song.

            Vibrating under the right side of her butt alerted her to a new message on the phone Kenshin had sent to her, and she jumped before digging the small device out from between the cushion and her shorts where she had wedged it earlier for safe keeping. Pressing her thumb against the message displayed on the screen, she grinned to find a playful animation flopping itself face first onto a bed in exhaustion. Kenshin messaged her every single night now, and their communication ranged from comforting to lighthearted. She enjoyed the ease at which they understood each other’s sense of humor, but it was the moments he looked to her for encouragement or quietly made sure she wasn’t lonely that made her heart swell.

            Choosing the perfect reply, she grinned in anticipation of his response to the overly muscled character flexing his pecs that she had chosen. Moments later, she was not disappointed by the pre-pubescent boy he sent back doing the same. Kicking her feet, she found an animation of two people enthusiastically giving a high-five in triumph. Two, crying/laughing faces appeared directly below her last message, and her grin was starting to become painful from restrained laughter. Before she could come up with another silly topic to keep it going, a new message popped up for her to read this time.

            “Heard you were by yourself tonight. Everything ok?”

            Hilarity melted into soft joy, and she chewed her lip as she tapped out her answer.

            “Yes. Enishi sent me some videos to watch, but I was drawing just now.”

            “Can I see?”

            A quick snap and send shot him a picture of the doodles she had been working on. It wasn’t long before he responded with another crying/laughing face.

            “Don’t ever show those to Megumi-san.”

            Responding with just a toothy smiling face, she conveyed her mischievousness.

            “BTW, I got something for you. It should arrive tomorrow.”

            Excitement briefly straightened her spine, but the smile on her lips faded slowly as her shoulders relaxed. “You don’t need to get me anything.” I’d rather see you instead. Leaving the last part unspoken, she hugged the phone to her sternum. I really have more than I need, but you just keep giving and I know you can’t really afford it.

            “Alright. I’ll cancel the delivery, I suppose.”

            Pouting just slightly, Kaoru blinked at the chilly tone in the message. He continued immediately.

            “If you don’t want it, I guess I’ll keep it for myself.” He followed up with a half-smirking face, and the purse of her lips became a bit more pronounced.

            “Nah. It might be cheaper to just let me hold onto it for you. I promise to keep it in good shape until you get back.” A little angel halo swore good intentions, and her grin had returned.

            A thoughtful face said he was drawing out the suspense, just for fun.

“I guess that sounds reasonable… but be sure not to break it. It’s a little worn.”

            Wondering what it could be, Kaoru chewed her lip again, but came back with what she really wanted to know. “When do you think you’re coming back?” It took her a few long seconds to work up the nerve to ask, and she waited with bated breath for his response.

            “Hiko-sama seems to think sometime soon, but I’m not sure I agree with his confidence in me.”

            Overjoyed with the knowledge that she might see him sometime in the near future, her answer was typed out quickly.

“He’s the master. I think you can probably trust him.”

            “Yeah, you’re right. He’s okay.” It took a moment before he resumed, and the notebook still balanced on her now outstretched legs had long since been forgotten. “I look forward to seeing you again.”

            The jerk in her stomach was unexpected, and her teeth bit down on her bottom lip hard enough to bruise it. “Me, too.”

            “Don’t stay up too late.”

            “Ok.”

            “Goodnight.”

            “Get plenty of sleep!”

            A closed-eyed smiley face, and, “Ok.”

            “Goodnight.”

            Content, and smiling happily, Kaoru let the phone drop into her lap so she could reach once again for the notebook. Out of the corner of her eye, an out-of-place object captured her attention, and she jumped to find the suited-up ogre standing in the doorway. Some strange expression caught between a grin and a smile pulled at his mouth, and he just stood there staring at her. She wondered for how long. After an uncomfortable period of time, he started, as if she had just noticed him.

            “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.” He stepped closer without invitation, and her knees came back up into her chest defensively. The grin stayed in place. “You looked so very pleased with what you were doing, I didn’t want to interrupt.”

            Slowly, because she hadn’t heard a word of what he had said, she pulled the headphones down off her ears.

            “Ah. I’ve heard you really like your music.” Sitting down on the other end of the couch, he shifted so that his knees were angled towards her, and kept grinning. “I enjoy karaoke myself. We should go sometime.”

            Keeping her eyes averted to discourage the unwanted interaction, she watched him out of her peripheral vision. One of her hands came up to clutch at the red hair draped over her shoulder.

            “Well don’t be so chatty.” He laughed, as if it was the funniest thing in the world to say, but she frowned. “Get it? Chatty?” Self-amused laughter continued to spew from his mouth, and she shifted uncomfortably. “Oh well. I only came back in to get some paperwork I forgot this morning. I didn’t realize you would be in here… alone.” He scooted a little forward, and swallowed hard. “You know, if you’re lonely, I could stay with you. The lab is about to shut down, and no one else will be able to get in… or out.”

            Shaking her head desperately, she denied his offer.

            “You sure?” Quickly, she switched to nodding. “Your loss.” He clicked his tongue and stood to dip a bow. “Take care, Kaoru-san. I’ll most likely see you later. Maybe we could do that karaoke soon.”

            As soon as the outer door to the lab clicked shut, Kaoru stood and slammed the door to the rec room closed. It didn’t have an internal lock, however, and she had to make do with pushing the couch against the door for leverage. Taking three steps back, she stared at the door and waited for several minutes for any noise that might suggest someone was on the other side. Still uneasy, she snatched up her phone, and retreated to the bathroom to wash up before bed.

            The uncomfortable atmosphere the ogre had created lingered with her long after he was gone, and she jumped at every noise while sitting on a bath stool and clutching the detachable shower head. Feeling stupid for being afraid, and childish for wanting to contact someone, she rubbed her thumb up and down the burn scar on her sternum. It, however, was not a comforting reminder for her, either.

            Ever so slightly, the scar had spread itself outward since the night she had first noticed it. No longer was it a small, oval burn approximately the size of a finger pad. Instead, it was now nearly the same size as the palm of her hand. Just along the bottom of it, something new had appeared just within the last few weeks. While the rest of the scar was what appeared to be a burn that spread outward from the center, a thin crescent strip at the bottom hinted at the lip of something smooth.

The dream had not changed in appearance, though. What had changed was her own internal reaction to it. That first desire she had experienced, of wanting the fire daemon to look at her, had morphed into an emotion closer to desperation, envy, and frustration. She wanted so much for them to look at her, but they continuously refused. What did she have to do? Why could they not see she was there? All she wanted was for them to notice her, because she wanted so much to know… him.

A shaky breath filled her lungs, and she rinsed the remaining suds from her skin, before hopping into the hot bath water. The fire daemon in her dreams had no distinguishable features due to its entire form being consumed by flame. Even still, Kaoru could not explain why she suddenly knew that the fire daemon was male. What she did know, because it had confused her at first, was that her desire to know this strange fire daemon in her dream was not the same desire she felt towards Kenshin.

Fully submerging herself under the water, she held her breath and squeezed her eyes shut in shy embarrassment. There was something heartbreaking about her interactions with the fire daemon in her dreams. With Kenshin, it was much warmer and exciting. He never failed to assuage her fears, and his eyes always looked straight at her.

Coming up for air, she sat dripping in the tub as a longing for comfort came over her again. Why had that stupid ogre ruined her evening when everything had felt so wonderful? Reaching for her phone in the corner, she worried her lip and wondered if he would be annoyed.

“Are you asleep?”

            It took a little while for him to respond, and she was ready to assume he was already in bed when he replied.

            “Is everything ok?”

            The fact that he didn’t answer her question confirmed she had woken him up. Feeling a bit contrite, and unsure how to explain her unease, Kaoru took too long to respond.

            “Do I need to call someone?” Her silence had caused him to worry.

            “No.” Clutching the phone tightly, her bottom lip trembled. She really didn’t want to bother anyone, but she was still apprehensive. He must have understood.

            “It’s ok to be afraid.” Resting her chin on the lip of the tub, her smile was more of a pout. “Do you have the charm I left with you?”

Kaoru looked over at the braided hair carefully coiled on top of a towel where it could stay dry. “Yes.”

“Good. It is still very much a part of me. I will feel if it activates. If necessary, it will keep you safe long enough for me to return.”

Dark lashes blinked. Was that how it worked? Heat spread up into her cheeks happily.

“Thank you.” Now she felt silly. “Sorry I bothered you.”

His response was as warm as the bath.

“Not at all.”

X

By the time Kenshin departed the train from Neo-Kyoto, it was afternoon, and he still had to navigate the train system to the lab. The days were getting hot again, which made the other passengers cranky, but Kenshin was glad that he no longer needed to worry about his own temperature affecting those near to him anymore. He used to soak in the heat indiscriminately, which caused his body to emanate waves of hot air. With a better grasp on his own internal temperature and a conscious control over what his core was doing, it was almost second nature now to retain only what he needed and refuse the rest.

Adjusting the travel bag thrown over one shoulder, Kenshin entered the lab and marched straight for the elevators. The receptionist gave him a strange look, but Kenshin ignored him to instead dig the access badge from his pocket and slide it over the panel to activate the doors. The ride seemed long, but had soon deposited him on the correct floor. Anticipating the reaction his arrival would receive, he unlocked the lab door with his badge and slipped quietly in.

It was the second door to the main room of the lab that made the most noise, and it was Tomoe who first appeared from the rec room. Her dark eyes widened at the sight of him, but though her mouth opened, she did not greet him or say a word. Instead, she turned back toward the room she had just exited, and with a small smile lifted a hand to beckon Kaoru.

“Kaoru-san, there’s a surprise here for you.”

Quick steps could be heard from the other room, and Kaoru’s head peeked through first before the rest of her body could catch up. Blue eyes looked initially at Tomoe, and then swung over where they froze and widened on him. The smile on Kenshin’s face warmed as she appeared shocked, and it was in that moment he was able to observe how much she had changed. No longer was she the sickly, skeletal creature he had found on the sidewalk over a year prior. Now she was a healthy young woman with youthful features that were truer to her form and personality. Although she was shorter and smaller than Tomoe, her frame was not soft and elegant. Instead, her shoulders were square, and her body leaner with muscle that was easily discernable in her current outfit.

The moment passed much quicker than expected, and Kenshin had to drop the bag and brace one foot back when Kaoru threw herself at him. Holding her by both shoulders as she clung to his neck, he chuckled at her enthusiasm but did not push her away.

“Hello, Miss Kaoru.”

Her arms cinched tighter in response, and he awkwardly patted her arm in an attempt to offer comfort. With her chin braced on his shoulder, he found himself with a face full of her ponytail, but it was the length of red, braided hair that warmed his chest. She had carefully maneuvered a small wire through the top part and attached it to a specially made tungsten hairpin. With that hairpin, she had hooked the end of the braid to her ponytail, and then looped the length into a makeshift bow so that it would not get in her way while she was working out. On the tail end of the braid, she had decorated it with five metal beads, no doubt made of tungsten as well.

She has definitely made it her own.

Over Kaoru’s shoulder, Kenshin briefly noticed the smile on Tomoe’s face had fallen as she watched them. Upon noticing his gaze, she lowered her own. Before he could wonder what was wrong, Kaoru finally release him and stepped back, and his attention returned to her without thinking.

            “You’ve certainly gotten stronger.” The observation was stated with a light chuckle, and his smile softened happily on his next statement. “It’s nice to see you standing as well.”

            Her flame blue eyes closed on a toothy smile, and she nodded in agreement. Not one second later, however, and that smile wavered with a downward jerk of her mouth. She fought the expression to keep the smile, but the contorted twitching of her features wrenched at his own stomach in concern.

            “What’s wrong?”

            She was clearly struggling, and he couldn’t help the hand he lifted to cup her cheek. A shake of the head denied anything was wrong, but her chest lurched on a hiccup to contradict her claim. Both of her hands curled into the front of his shirt, and her bottom lip was full on trembling when Enishi’s voice cut through the reunion.

“Come on, Kaoru. It’s time for our afternoon workout.”

Kenshin’s chin turned to look over his shoulder at Enishi standing in the doorway. From his appearance, it was apparent he had decided to take Tomoe’s advice and assume a younger version of himself while around Kaoru. Even though he was a golem, doing such a thing took effort. At that moment, the stone golem was glowering at him, and Kenshin returned the frown with no small amount of puzzlement.

Kaoru, however, was torn. Her trembling had subsided, but her hands remained cinched in his clothes as if reluctant to leave. Those blue eyes he had missed looked up at him, and the vulnerability in them tore at his insides. Just as they had that first day. Fighting for the return of his smile, he lifted a hand to pet the top of her head this time.

“It’s alright, Miss Kaoru. We can catch up afterwards.”

A swallow worked at her throat, and then she nodded once decisively. A sniff reined in whatever emotion had attempted to take her over, and she released his shirt to follow Enishi out. Just before exiting through the door, he heard her pivot on her toes and then lurched forward as she once again slammed into him, this time from behind.

Tapping one of her hands in understanding, he was surprised by the empty feeling that was left behind when she let go.

Chapter Text

Chapter Seventeen

“She’s definitely a hugger.” Kenshin chuckled in the quiet room that was left in the wake of Kaoru’s departure. “I forgot how unexpected her actions can be.”

Violet eyes focused on Tomoe who was still standing next to the door to the rec room. Briefly her perfect features were tarnished by an expression he couldn’t quite interpret, but the creases between her brows and around the outside of her eyes smoothed away as her chin lifted. Her hands folded in front of her, and her quiet voice avoided his assumption.

“She is energetic, and very happy that you have returned.”

Despite her normally gentle voice and calm demeanor, Kenshin felt strangely uneasy. While he had never felt completely comfortable around her, her presence had always induced a certain level of tranquility. This was not the same. Even Enishi’s normal hostility had upped a notch since their last encounter, and Kaoru had appeared upset by something. Coming to the only conclusion he could imagine, Kenshin spoke up with a frown.

“Has something happened to Kaoru that I wasn’t told about?”

This time the tinge of sorrow in the aversion of her gaze was apparent, but it disappeared with a slight swallow. “No, Himura-san. Besides our lack of progress in removing the seal on her tongue, nothing has happened. Although,” her dark eyes glanced into the rec room, “we did find the couch had been pushed up against the door this morning, but I assume she must have been uneasy sleeping alone last night. She’ll be much more comfortable with you here now.”

She did seem a little frightened last night when she messaged me. Maybe it was relief and not anxiety she was fighting just now?

“Ok, then have I done something? Enishi looked even less happy to see me than normal.”

“You have done nothing wrong. I will speak with him later.” Small steps brought her towards him, and she stopped when they were shoulder to shoulder. “It’s nice to see you again, Himura-san.”

“Oh… uh… yeah.” The awkward reply was strongly recognizable, and a part of him felt guilty for an unexplainable reason. Tomoe’s head turned away from him as she continued her progression towards the outer door.

“Would you like to see what Kaoru has been working on? We thought showing you might be easier than telling you.”

Jumping on the change in topic, Kenshin agreed readily and followed her out.

They journeyed to another floor and entered a small exercise room that was empty. Recognizable clacking noises could be heard coming from a separate room in the back, and Kenshin trailed behind Tomoe as she led him there. Once inside the door, he was surprised to see that his assumption about what the noise was had been correct. Enishi and Kaoru were both holding wooden practice swords, and were sparring quite intensely. After the initial shock dissipated, and his violet eyes relaxed, he studied Kaoru’s moves carefully.

“Her form is excellent.” The astonished statement was involuntary, and he crossed his arms as he continued to watch. “Enishi has done a good job teaching her.”

This explains the formation of her lean muscle. Working out alone doesn’t strengthen your full body the way sparring does.

“Actually… Enishi said she had perfect form from the start.” Kenshin glanced over at her, and she smiled softly. “It seems as though Kaoru already knew swordplay. We were hoping she might remember something if she practiced it daily, but so far all it has done is sharpen her skill. She enjoys it, as well.”

“I see.”

“We’ve been trying to figure out if there is a specific style we can attribute her moves to, but Enishi has been unable to pin it down. Of course, he isn’t proficient by any means, but we had hoped that if we could identify the style of swordplay she was taught, we might be able to learn who she is. Whoever taught her should know if she has any family, or at least where she comes from. I believe you said you practiced at one time. Do you happen to recognize her style, by chance?”

“I don’t.” Kenshin had made it a habit to downplay his knowledge and skill with a sword, and now only Hiko knew his proficiency with one.

To Kenshin, her sword style seemed unusually foreign. Most styles were rooted in the same basic principle, but it actually looked like there was something missing in her style that he couldn’t put a name to. It was most definitely fierce even if it was lacking in power, and precise despite what appeared to be wasted movement. Removing his shoes, Kenshin stepped all the way into the room when the two finally paused.

“Do you mind if I give it a try for a minute?” Smiling harmlessly in the face of Enishi’s frown, he accepted the reluctantly relinquished wooden sword and squared off with Kaoru. She blinked at him curiously, but raised the tip of her own practice sword when he readied himself.

“After you, Miss Kaoru.”

Letting her lead him, he waited until she had relaxed back into a focused mindset, and then purposefully allowed an opening for her to attack. Without delay, she went for the hit, and he moved as if to parry to give the illusion of defending himself. At the last second, however, he stopped short so that her attack would land. Stinging pain shot up his shoulder, but his lack of defense had shocked her enough to relax her muscles. The result meant that there was not as much strength behind her sword as there should have been.

Blue eyes were dampened by worry, but he laughed it off and suggested they continue. A few minutes later, he baited her again, and took a second hit to his thigh. A third burgeoning bruise was later earned on his left elbow, and he switched to using his right hand only. The distress on Kaoru’s features only continued to heighten, and each hit was lighter than the last. By his fifth such diversion, Kaoru had had enough and his red brows lifted as she threw her wooden sword to the floor and stomped her foot in frustration. It was more than apparent she had caught on to the fact that he was allowing her to hit him on purpose. Enishi started laughing from the sidelines, but earned himself a scowl from the already irritated young woman.

“It’s alright, that’s enough.” His hand reached for Kaoru’s forearm, and she wrenched it out of his grip reflexively. Sharp blue eyes shot to him and scorched him like a blowtorch, before she remembered herself and relaxed the expression into an upset frown.

“I’m sorry, Miss Kaoru.” His rejected hand touched her shoulder instead. “I wanted to see if I was correct about this style you use, but I needed you to react instinctively. You did nothing wrong, and I promise I’m fine.” A light chuckle escaped him, and his hand lifted completely to flatten over the crown of her head. “I’ve gotten used to getting beat up over this last year.”

“Are you trying to say you only learn from pain now, Himura? ‘Cause if that’s the case, why don’t you spar with me next time?”

Whatever he thinks I did really seems to have pissed him off.

Deciding to ignore the offer, Kenshin bent to retrieve Kaoru’s practice sword from the floor. “I merely wanted to test the target of your strikes.”

Kaoru appeared thoughtful and skeptical at the same time as her eyes darted to and then away from him.

“Do you realize you’re only targeting limbs and joints, or is that how you naturally move through the style?”

The frustration completely wiped from her face, and she blinked.

“Did you not realize that’s what you were doing?”

A shake of her head confirmed. Kenshin smiled.

“This style you were taught is a non-killing technique. Your attacks are meant only to disable your opponent. Honestly speaking, you wouldn’t even need a real katana to utilize it. Your practice sword would serve just as well… except you probably shouldn’t pull back just before your attack lands.”

She smiled sheepishly, but a deep inhaled breath spoke of happiness. Turning to Enishi, her hands moved excitedly, and Kenshin turned his head curiously to the stone golem for translation. Enishi’s head nodded in understanding, and a rare genuine smile jerked at his lips.

“She said she’s glad, because she has no desire to ever kill anyone.”

“And so you should never have to.” His smile warmed, but his eyes flickered over the braided hair charm he had given her. I will make sure of it.

“Then you recognize the style she uses, Himura-san?” Tomoe called out from the doorway, and they turned to include her in the conversation.

“Not the specific style. I remember my father talking to me once about a non-killing technique he had heard of, but it’s been so long I’ve forgotten much of the conversation we had about it. I know it’s not typical, at least. Hiko-sama might know, but I’ll have to write him a letter. That old man doesn’t own a phone.”

X

“I really am sorry, Miss Kaoru.” Seated cross-legged on the floor, he tried hard not to smile at the permanent pout that had taken over her face. She was not happy about his deception during their sparring bought, or the bruises he had earned from her sword as a result. Currently rubbing ointment on his shoulder, she offered him a side-glare in response to his apology. When she moved to his elbow, her fingers brushed against a faded bruise on his forearm.

“Ah, don’t worry, that one wasn’t you.”

The frown on her face convulsed, this time with more concern, but she proceeded to smear the ointment on both the new and old bruise for good measure.

They were finally alone in the lab after a few hours of catching up with the others. Take-out had been ordered for their supper, and Tomoe had all but dragged Enishi away afterwards. When Kaoru had finished with her bath, she had insisted on treating his wounds. It felt strangely the same as when the komainu would bandage him up after training, which made him smile.

A tap on his arm focused his wandering attention, and he found Kaoru had finished with her first aid administrations. In quick succession, her hands flashed a few signs at him, and his brows drew together almost guiltily.

“I’m sorry, Miss Kaoru. I don’t know what that means.” One side of her mouth jerked, and he hurried on. “You’ll have to teach me, if that’s alright.”

The smile that lit her face was eager, and he knew his reaction had been the correct one as she nodded. A thought suddenly occurred to her, and she walked herself a few steps to one side on all fours to reach for her phone on the desk. Shortly thereafter, his own phone dinged with a message.

“What was the master like?”

Kenshin laughed. “Like a grumpy old hermit, but he’s fair and strong. Maybe even stronger than my dad.”

Interest immediately brightened her features, and her thumbs flew across the screen of her phone.

“What’s your dad like? Can I meet him?”

Sorrow tarnished his smile, and it took him a bit longer to look back up at her after reading the message. It wasn’t her fault that she didn’t know, since it was not something they had ever talked about before.

“No. He… passed away a long time ago.” One of her hands wrapped around his wrist, and when his gaze lifted the deep blue of her eyes were as saturated as a gas-fueled flame. “I think he would have liked you, though. He enjoyed life in much the same way that you do; all in and with open arms.”

Her teeth chewed her bottom lip, and then her gaze dropped back to the device in her hands.

“Did he look like you?”

“A little bit.”

She responded with only a grin, and then changed the topic.

“Did you get any stronger?”

“Ah, I thought you would never ask. Would you like a daemonstration?” He winked, and she nodded impatiently. “Alright, stay right there.”

Pushing himself to his feet, Kenshin flipped off the lights to the rec room and threw them into a muted darkness. Waiting for his eyes to adjust, he knelt back down in front of her and held out both of his hands for her to take.

“Now lay down on your back.” Her brow lifted at him curiously, but she didn’t hesitate to follow his command. With her situated in the middle of the room, Kenshin carefully laid down opposite her so that his head was next to hers but his feet were pointed in the opposite direction.

“Ready?” The sound of her hair scraping against the floor agreed. Rubbing his palms together to create friction, he lifted his flattened hands to his lips and blew air between his thumbs and into the crevice his hands created. The force of the hot air whooshed out the other side, and with it, thousands of tiny red sparks burst towards the ceiling. A gasp rushed into her mouth as the sparks faded in color to a soft yellow and turned to pinhole lights that spread out to cover the entire room. They then hung suspended above them like a multitude of faraway stars.

“This is what the sky looked like up on the mountain.” Letting his voice lower to a whisper, he stared up at the condensed specs of fire. “I worked on it every day to make sure it was perfect… so I could share it with you.” Swallowing, Kenshin rambled on. “The flames are harmless. They don’t even create heat. Just light. The fluctuation in the air even makes them look like they twinkle. If we were in the forest, they might look like fireflies dancing.”

Out of the corner of his eye he caught her looking not up but over at him. Turning his chin to meet her gaze, the gentle glow of her blue irises seemed to swell with suppressed joy. Simply because he was looking at her. For several long seconds she did nothing but stare, and then her head turned back towards the ceiling and she smiled at the beautiful gift.

They both seemed content to lay there in the dark and quiet under the fake sky he had created. After a while, her hand reached up between their ears in search of his, and without thought, he did the same. As if they both needed the contact to confirm they were indeed there together. Calloused fingers curled around her smaller structure of bones, and then her temple tilted into his knuckles comfortably.

It wasn’t until a yawn overtook him several minutes later that he glanced over again, and found that exhaustion had already claimed his companion. Warmth spread down his chest, and he lifted his free hand palm up to collect the specs of light and meld them back into his own fire. Gently, so as not to wake her, Kenshin hefted her into his arms and carried her to her room. For a single moment before he released her onto the cot, he didn’t want to let go, and he realized that she was not the only one who had been lonely during their separation. Frowning at himself, he tucked her into the bedclothes, and was about to turn away when something else captured his attention.

On a small table next to her was the coiled length of braid she had removed before bathing. Remembering he had meant to ask her for it earlier, his hand reached for it and hefted it between the grip of his fingers. Almost instantly something deep within it fought him, and his red brows shot up in surprise. Responding in kind, Kenshin pushed steadily back with his powers to make sure the charm recognized him as the source of its creation. It gave in, though reluctantly, and he frowned at it curiously before leaving the room.

You already prefer her to me? I’d say traitor, but… that is what I wanted from you.

Chuckling under his breath, Kenshin seated himself once again cross-legged on the floor of the rec room, and wrapped the length of braided hair around his fingers. Now that he had better control over his own flame and he had strengthened it considerably under Hiko’s tutelage, it was time to set the protective spell in the manner it was meant to be set in to begin with. When he was finished, the charm would be much stronger and even better able to keep Kaoru safe on its own. Not that he believed she would ever need it, since he had no plans to abandon her going forward.

X

“Come in and have some tea with me.” Tomoe’s gentle voice may have sounded normal to anyone else, but as her younger brother, Enishi could tell that she was not offering him a choice. Frowning, he followed her up to her apartment. Without a mother, Tomoe had practically raised him, which gave him an unfortunate viewpoint and understanding of his sister that no one else had. It was also the very reason he was overly protective of her.

Staring at her back as she unlocked her door, he wondered bitterly, for what was not the first time, why his sister’s life had to be so lonely. From a young age, his sister had represented to him what the perfect lady was: poised; graceful; soft-spoken; intelligent; beautiful; and respectful, to name a few. Others had thought they could overpower her soft voice with their own, but she was not easily cowed, either. Her very presence demanded respect from those who knew her, and those that did not know her were entranced by her beauty. If she had a flaw, it was that she insisted on putting everyone else before herself.

“Sit. I’ll only be a moment.” Her hand gestured gracefully at the small table in the middle of the room, before she deposited her things in her bedroom and returned to the kitchen to make tea. A few minutes later, and she returned with a tray, her good tea pot, and two small cups.

“What did I do?” His deep voice broke the tension in the air as she patiently sipped at her tea. Carefully her hands settled the teacup back onto the table in front of her, and she folded her hands into her lap before replying.

“I would ask that you be nicer to Himura-san. He has done nothing to earn your scorn, and you were quite rude to him this afternoon.”

Snorting, Enishi turned his head to one side and sipped his own tea. “What, did he cry to you about it?”

“No, I was there, Enishi. He was only concerned that he had done something to upset you.”

“Maybe he did.” The statement was scathing, but he kept his eyes averted.

A slight crease formed between her brows. “What do you mean? He only just got back after being away for a year.”

“And the first thing he did was upset you.” The words were heated and rough like course steel. “I can’t be mad about it? Am I not your family?”

“I-I wasn’t upset. You’re mistaken.”

“Am I?” Folding his arms onto the table and leaning forward, Enishi’s frown turned to a glower. “Am I?” He asked again, and her dark eyes lowered.

“You are.” But her voice wavered, and something vile turned over in his stomach.

“I guess I missed it then. The moment he greeted you as happily as he greeted Kaoru.” Laughing cynically, Enishi pushed himself away from the table so that he was seated upright once more. “I mean, it’s not like he’d be dead now if it wasn’t for all the times you looked after him. It’s not like you wasted about a hundred and fifty years of your life putting him back together or anything. You don’t think I haven’t noticed that you can hardly use your powers anymore?!”

The coal daemon’s chin dipped toward her sternum at the mention of her powers, but Enishi continued on without pause.

“The least he could manage is a ‘thank you’, or maybe a ‘it’s nice to see you’ after all this time. He full on ignored you for her. You can’t look me in the eye and tell me that you aren’t upset about that. By how he treats her. In front of you!”

She swallowed, but her eyes finally lifted, and they were as cool and calm as always. “I can, because I know it’s different. Our relationship has always been complicated, but he has always treated me like an equal. Kaoru is young and fragile. It’s only natural to pamper her more, especially after everything she’s gone through. If anything, her presence has brought us closer together. Like a child might.”

“A child?!” His voice was getting louder with incredulity, but he ignored the inconvenience they were probably causing for the neighbors. “Is that what you’ve been thinking all this time?! Dammit, sis! Are you really this naïve?!”

“Don’t take your anger out on me, Enishi.” Tomoe’s voice finally took on a hint of sharpness. “If you’re mad at him, let it be for your own reasons. You’ve spent just as much time with Kaoru as I have this last year. Perhaps you should look in the mirror before you start reflecting your jealousy onto me.”

For several long seconds they glared at one another, but only Enishi’s chest heaved with suppressed anger.

“Fine. You’re right. I didn’t like the way she threw herself at him, but at least I understood from the beginning that I had no chance.” Standing up, Enishi’s deep voice dropped to a growl. “And truthfully, I’m not even mad at him. I’m mad at you.”

Tomoe’s chin stayed level, but her eyes no longer looked at him.

“Stop putting yourself last. You deserve better.” She refused to respond anymore, and the tension in the air threatened to choke him. Sensing that they both needed space, Enishi sighed.

“I’m going home. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

Heading for the door, he stopped with his hand on the knob.

“For the record, he doesn’t see her as a child.”

Chapter Text

Chapter Eighteen

            A stray cat growled low from the darkness of an alleyway as Sojiro walked by, and he turned an absent smile on its hostility. Instant hissing barred its teeth at him threateningly, and he blinked before walking on. The shopping bag in his hand swung lightly with the breeze as low hanging clouds darkened the sky. A storm was rolling in off the ocean, and with it came relief from the harsh heat of summer.

            The small office building he entered was old and worn down, but the exterior was perfect to disguise what it held within. Its age had much to do with its remote location as well, as many of the neighboring buildings were abandoned now in the wake of progress. Most companies had moved inwards to the heart of Neo-Tokyo, and those residents that worked for those companies had moved with them. Unfortunately, he had made a mistake by thinking no one would bother to investigate such an area, and had failed to form a barrier around the building initially. As a result, Kaoru had slipped through his fingers before he was ready to let her go.

            Not that it mattered. Things were working out well, albeit slower than he had predicted.

            The barrier let him walk through without so much as a tingle of energy, and banging was suddenly audible from high up above him. Master Shishio was angry again. Tilting his head, Sojiro’s grin slanted his eyes as the cadence was not so much sharp but drumming instead.

Ah, finally.

Unlocking the door, he pocketed his keys and went straight for the basement. Gein preferred the dampness of the basement to the comfort of the upper floors. It was also easier to keep some of his… ingredients fresh in a cooler climate. Settling the shopping bag on an empty table next to the door, Sojiro stepped quietly so as not to disturb his companion’s concentration.

Four extra limbs sprouted from Gein’s back, and each one carefully inserted an individual strand of razor floss hair into the doll’s head. The doll was no longer a mass of wires and metal frame, but was now nearly complete. Caramel-colored skin covered its length, and even its face had small pores to imitate real flesh. Clear, though hardened, nails adorned each finger and toe, and even its lashes looked soft. Nothing looked out of place, with the exception of the split in its sternum from collarbone to stomach.

Twenty minutes later, the final strand of hair was positioned gently so that it draped over the top of the metal table and off onto the floor with the thousands of others. Still standing perfectly still and to the side, the hands clasped behind Sojiro’s back tensed. The doll was a masterpiece. Finally, Gein turned his head, and the skull mask stopped on him. Sojiro perked up.

“I found the dye you need.”

The long, hairy limbs behind him rattled excitedly.

“Let me see.” His raspy voice was quickened by delight.

From within the shopping bag a small bottle of dark red dye was removed. Gein held it up to the light, and grinned with a happy sigh.

“Perfect.”

Immediately, a small bowl was collected, and the dye was emptied into its sterile container. A syringe was then gathered from a drawer to use as a medium for dispensing the dye. Delicately, the eyelids were pried open, and the syringe was inserted into the iris of the left eye. With the same patient precision he had shown with the hair, Gein allowed the color to spread within the iris until they were the deep brown red flame of 600˚ Celsius. The right eye was shown the same treatment. When all was done, Gein stepped back and even his breath was taken away by the perfection of what he had created. No mere doll laid on that metal table before him. It was art.

“He looks so peaceful.” Sojiro’s observation sounded playful in his soft tenor voice, but Gein knew well that there was no true emotion behind his words or smile. However, Gein did not expect him to gush with praise. Their partnership had a different level of appreciation. “Like he could be sleeping.”

Gein bowed low. “He is ready for you, Master Sojiro.”

“You left room like I asked?”

“Of course.”

“Then let’s add the finishing touches.”

In the far corner of the room, a small safe protected the black box Sojiro had left in Gein’s care. With a long pair of tweezers, Sojiro withdrew the solidified chunk of magma he had stolen from Megumi’s lab and transferred it to a table already prepared for his use. Light sparkled across the surface of the fire daemon tear, as if it still cried out in agony. The tweezers were settled next to it, and Sojiro tucked his hand inside the dark depths of his jacket for something else.

“Is that Master Shishio’s sword?”

“Yes.” Responding absently, Sojiro gestured for another table to lay it on. “It has something very important.” As he worked the studs loose from the handle and slid it from the tang, he spoke aloud his praise and adulation for the man they both called master.

“Master Shishio was only a mist daemon, with particles as sharp and deadly as thin blades, but his constitution made him the perfect covert killer. In fact, his kill count far exceeds the numbers officially attributed to him. Not that it matters anymore. No one in this age remembers or knows how powerful he was, and that is unfortunate. But despite that, it was his final kill that would have made him a legend. Those in higher positions of power thought it would be detrimental if others knew what he did. Or rather, what they had asked of him to do.”

Several long minutes later, and Sojiro had the wrappings completely undone from the hilt of the sword. Coiled around the dark cording, a thin red length of hair shimmered back at him.

“After all.” The long red hair was worked free, and he held it up to inspect its shape. “Killing a dragon is a mortal sin, even for a daemon.”

Gein looked thoughtful. “Is that why Master Shishio’s daemon trait was altered?”

“I believe you are correct. Dragon fire probably isn’t simply hotter than daemon fire, and Master Shishio was bathed in it at the end. I wonder what it felt like?” Curious, Sojiro tilted his head.

“Probably like hell.”

“The term seems quite pedestrian and overused. Purgatory, perhaps? Like being suspended in between life and death with no escape?”

“Perhaps.” Gein considered Sojiro quietly as he painstakingly straightened the tangled piece of hair. “How did you discover he was a dragon? Even before the war, dragons were rare, and everyone believed he was a fire daemon. The most powerful fire daemon alive, but still just a daemon.”

“You’re right. Even his son thought so.” Sojiro actually managed a fake laugh at the irony. “It was simple really, if you think about it clearly enough. Here we are.” Holding it stretched between two pairs of tweezers, Sojiro’s smile remained slight. “Fire dragon hair. And it’s still hot.”

“Will that be enough?”

“It’s more than enough. Fire daemon… I mean dragon, hair is not just disposable. We are fortunate that it maintained its form after all these years, though. A testament to the strength of its owner. Combined with the energy contained within this tear, it will be enough to power the core of your doll and fulfill what I need it for.”

With the hair twisted around the magma tear, it glowed bright like superheated wire and heat instantly rolled off the pair in waves.

“Quickly now. Open the chest.”

Gein held the chest open as Sojiro slipped the core into the already waiting heart. As soon as he backed away, Gein immediately went to work closing him up. Sojiro busied himself with putting Master Shishio’s sword back together in the meantime.

“How much longer do we have to wait?” It was hard to contain his excitement with their endgame finally on the horizon.

“It should take about a month to set the seals. After that, I will need some time to work on control. I’ve never had the pleasure of doing this to a dragon. I want to take my time with it.”

“Of course. Should we retrieve Kaoru? Master Shishio has missed her terribly.”

“No. Not yet.”

“Are you not concerned they may figure out the seals?”

Sojiro’s eyes closed, and his grin remained. “Not in the least. Our man on the inside has kept me updated, and I’ve paid him to make sure he keeps them running in circles. Even without his misdirection, they’re so slow, it’s embarrassing really. It took them over half a year to remove the pin from her tongue.”

Gein’s raspy laugh echoed in the room. “That was only a temporary measure to keep Master Shishio happy without risking her influence overwhelming him. They should be happy I set it so precisely, otherwise she might have permanent damage.”

“That would be unthinkable, Gein. I will not have my perfect little doll damaged.”

Dark eyes looked him up and down from out of the human skull mask. “What about this man on the inside? Are you sure we can trust him?”

“To a point. He’s greedy, so he’s allegiance runs only as deep as his benefactor’s pocket. I know he’s selling the same information to certain members of the government to turn a profit. Fortunately, he knows nothing but what I want him to know. So even if they catch him, he won’t be of much use. They’ll be more concerned about the information he was selling us, and most likely take him out, like the trash he is. That should save us the trouble.

“As for the seals, they’ll remove the one on her tongue when I want them to and not before. Even if they do figure out the others, they wouldn’t dare remove them.”

“And the one on her chest?”

“I loosened that months ago.” A falsely happy smile beamed upwards toward the ceiling. “I’ve kept track of its progress, and it’s been steadily releasing since. Once it has fully dissolved, she should be ready. And then my doll will truly shine. Such a rare and beautiful advent of destruction she shall be.”

Gein frowned. “There is still that element of unknown about her. She disobeyed, even when she should not have been able to.”

Sojiro’s smile disappeared. “Yes. That pesky freewill she has does make her difficult. Which is why I’m allowing her to stay where she is. It will be like a test run. Once she remembers, I’m counting on her rage to blind her from fighting my control. Her kind really are fueled by such rage. If she performs the way I want her to, I’ll collect her for the finale.”

“And if she doesn’t?”

“We’ll make some adjustments. I can use her either way.”

Banging sounded from above them, and Gein glanced upwards with a slow grin. “And Master Shishio? He’s been… bored lately.”

“Yes. It’s about time we let him out.”

X

Several stories below the lab was a large empty room that spanned nearly the entire width of the building above ground. It was reinforced, and cold, and perfectly safe for all manner of experimentation. When asked, Megumi had directed Kenshin there as the most secure area for him to practice control over his flame. It was eerie in the wide-open room, and dark despite the overhead lighting. It was also uncomfortable for other reasons. Once upon a time, Megumi had forced him to use his flame in that very room, over and over again. For research. Although Kenshin knew the government had coerced her, to an extent, the experiments had brought out a side of her he would never forget… or understand.

That was long since in the past, and Kenshin urged his thoughts away from the darkness he had been subjected to. But that darkness lingered at times, and being down in the depths made it difficult to fight. Even still, it compared little to the time he had spent before that under the thumb of humans.

No matter how bad his experience was in Megumi’s lab, being in the Arctic Lab had been worse. The humans had tormented him, poked and prodded him, until his mind had receded from reality. His blood alone could melt steel. His hair could cut through any non-liquid material, as long as it was not super-chilled. Pieces of his flesh produced enough heat to last years inside their coal plants. Then they found a way to shave away pieces of his soul. How pleased they had been with themselves to discover that they could harness the power he possessed. With barely a drop, they could lay waste to an entire country without the fallout of a nuclear warhead. He was a national treasure, a trump card they would use to decimate everything in their path.

What had left that lab was not the fire daemon that had entered it, but the broken husk of a demented soul. It was no wonder his own kind had feared him, and why he had very few people he could call friend. No doubt it was difficult, getting close to someone so thoroughly terrified of any form of contact.

Pulling violet eyes up, Kenshin recognized how this place had destroyed him, but in a different way. Megumi had pushed him to his breaking point every day, and every day Tomoe had put him back together. No cutting, no torture like the humans had done, but there had been no mercy or relief. Flames had raged out of him until he was exhausted, with himself and with the world. Until that one day when he had finally looked around him and saw what he had become. That one day, when he had wanted to be something else.

This is no longer a place where I will be destroyed. This is now a place where I will create something stronger.

White hot flames flickered at the edge of his vision, burning his irises into a bright blue-violet. Completely focused and in control, the flames spread slowly down his cheeks, engulfed his hair, and flooded down his arms and torso like liquid. With his entire body covered by the hottest flame he could currently create, he stood slowly to his feet and exhaled clear flames from his mouth. Now came the hard part. Trying to maintain the layer of flame around his form, Kenshin released the Kagu-tsuchi from his core and called it directly to the palm of his right hand, the way Hiko-sama had done with his weapon. It had taken many days and nights of impatient barking from the master, but the technique had finally taken.

For thirty minutes, he was able to walk himself through the kata his father had taught to him while keeping the flame alight. If he tried to go any faster, the fire would diminish with the loss of focus. It was all he could manage for now, but it was more than he could manage only a few months before. More than he had ever managed in that very room.

An alarm beeped at him from a panel next to the door, and he released the flames on a controlled breath. He had something important to do today, and taking some time to prepare was a must. After all, it was probably best if he didn’t show up to a job interview smelling like something burnt or half-cooked.

Inside the rec room of Kaoru’s small host-lab, Kenshin paused to find the young woman seated on the couch and coughing violently into a damp cloth. Lightly, Tomoe was patting her on the back, and Enishi stood nearby looking puzzled but concerned. After a few seconds, the coughing ceased, and she glanced up weakly to see him standing there. The cloth, with her hand, dropped into her lap, and she immediately smiled, like all was fine and there was no reason he should suspect she had just attempted to hack up a lung.

“What happened?” The instant curl of his brow and anxiety in his voice softened the smile on her face briefly, but she doggedly pushed forward with her conviction by shaking her head to deny anything had happened at all.

Enishi grunted angrily.

“We don’t know.”

Tomoe embellished.

“Her chest started hurting her, so I made her lie down, but then she began to cough a few minutes ago. Drink your water.” A half empty water bottle was pressed into Kaoru’s free hand, and she suppressed another weak cough before complying.

“She keeps saying she’s fine.” The growl of Enishi’s voice said he believed otherwise. Kaoru flashed a few hand signs, and Enishi pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. “She says her throat tickled.”

One gentle hand pushed Kaoru’s bangs behind an ear, and Tomoe sighed. “It could be a respiratory infection. She’s not running a fever, though. Either way, we’ll figure it out.” Dark eyes glanced up at him, but did not maintain contact. “You have an interview this morning, right? You should get ready. It would not be a good first impression if you show up even a little late.”

“Right.” For a few seconds, though, he couldn’t move. It seemed like such a silly thing, but for Kaoru to suffer from even a minor illness upset him. Finally, he stepped forward, and placed a hand carefully on the crown of her head.

“Are you sure you’re alright?”

The same happy smile she had showed to him their first night together assured him that she was. Though he was conflicted, he chose to believe her.

“I’ll be back in a few hours.”

X

Tae was a cheerful tanuki towards her customers, but straight business to her employees and vendors. She loved food, money, and others who loved to buy her food. Her restaurant was located near enough to a university campus to get business from the college students, but was also close enough to the medical campus Megumi’s lab was a part of for their lunch or dinner rush. As a result, business was good. Unfortunately, it also made it difficult to keep help. Her applicants were either college students only looking for a part-time job, or didn’t last due to the high volume and fast pace their clientele provided.

Or so Tae told him as he sat across from her at one of the empty tables. From the kitchen, he could hear her workers busying themselves with their preparations for opening time.

Kenshin had hesitated to apply at the Akabeko for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, he didn’t think it wise to hide the fact that he was a fire daemon anymore, for fear of a similar scene from his last job harming whatever business he might be hired on to. If a customer did get upset, it would be best if it didn’t come as such a shock to his boss. Secondly, it was near the lab. This was also one of the reasons he had applied, however. If he could work there, he would be nearby if needed, and the commute wouldn’t take as long. Unfortunately, it was undoubtedly going to cause an issue with finding somewhere to live.

Not only would an apartment near there be expensive, due to most of the cheaper apartments having already been snatched up by college students, any openings would probably be almost impossible to find. Never-the-less, the pros had outweighed the cons in his mind, and he had gone for it halfway expecting he would be rejected. Strangely, when he confessed to her what his daemon trait was, she blinked at him in blatant disinterest.

“But can you cook?”

Kenshin blinked back.

“Because that’s what the application claims.” The paperwork he had completed for the position she had advertised was lifted from the table. “I don’t see any schooling on here, though.”

“Ah…”

“But you have experience.” She cut him off before he could even articulate a response. “Which is fine. I wouldn’t want to pay you some outrageous salary just for a school’s name. You willing to daemonstrate?”

There was a short pause before Kenshin took a breath. “Now?”

“That’s right. I don’t have all day.”

Kenshin stood immediately and jerked a quick bow with his head. “Yes, Ma’am.”

She led him into the back, and barked orders at one of her workers to free a station.

“Is there anything in particular you would like?”

“Surprise me.” Her arms crossed and she tapped her foot impatiently.

It was a bit uncomfortable having someone watch his every move, but Kenshin was confident in his cooking more than anything else. After all, it was the very first thing he had found joy in after coming out of his deadened stupor at the lab. When the dish was finally presented, Kenshin smiled harmlessly and waited for the verdict.

Tae took one bite and handed it off to one of the waiters walking by.

“You’re too slow. If our customers wanted to wait on their mama’s food, they’d go home. You’ll have to work faster. Think you can do that?”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

“This is good!” The waiter had taken a bite out of the dish, and exclaimed the verdict loud enough to garner everyone else’s attention. Soon enough, the rest of the kitchen staff was agreeing that the food he had created was better than their own.

“I could use your help today. Can you start now?”

Violet eyes shot back to the boss in surprise, and he almost instantly agreed. But in the back of his mind he thought about Kaoru, and his claim that he would be back in only a couple of hours. The memory of her smiling features reassured him, and he let out a held breath. If she truly wasn’t feeling well, it would be best if she rested. And he really did need the money.

“Well?”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

Chapter Text

Chapter Nineteen

            The smell of cooked food and the feel of leftover grease lingered as Kenshin yawned and stepped off the elevator. It was fairly late, and he was lucky the lab had not shut down completely, thereby leaving him homeless for the night. Before he did anything else, he wanted to be clean. Mostly because he feared if he sat down, he wouldn’t be able to get back up. Tae had not lied about the volume or intensity of the business her restaurant pulled in, and learning to work at a pace he was not used to had exhausted him without realizing.

            This is almost worse than being back on that damn mountain.

            Kaoru’s host lab was dark when he entered, and he quietly snuck his way through the rec room and into the bathroom for some privacy. Cleansing by fire was much quicker than by water, and he was glad that he no longer needed to think much about it since his brain seemed almost incapable of focusing. Stripped of all strange smells and foreign coatings, he threw on a set of comfortable clothes and exited the bathroom. Tempted to just pass out on the couch, Kenshin drug his drowsy gaze over to the closed door to Kaoru’s bedroom instead.

            Tomoe’s message said there was nothing to worry about, but…

            He was still worried.

A peek into the room confirmed Kaoru was alone and fast asleep. He had no desire to disturb anyone, and it would have been awkward with Tomoe there. Thankfully, that also meant the spare bedding was free and he wouldn’t have to suffer through sleeping on the small rec room couch.

            I’ll just check really quick.

            Apparently, Kaoru had repeatedly insisted that she was fine, and had suffered no additional coughing fits or chest pain the remainder of the day. Just to be safe, Tomoe had forced her to rest anyway, and forbid Enishi from sparring with her. As he knelt next to her cot, Kenshin listened intently to her even breathing and was reassured by the absence of a rattle or rasp in the soft sound. Closing his eyes on a relieved sigh, he was partly amused with himself for being so anxious about what was undoubtedly nothing. Without warning, all of the nervous energy he had left to function on vanished from his body as his limbs relaxed, and a second later he had to fight another yawn. Twisting himself in what was more of a weary roll, he settled all the way onto his backside and leaned his spine against the cot for support. It was calming, listening to her breathe, and he was just so tired…

X

            The brush of something cold on his cheek pulled him from sleep only a few hours later, and red lashes fluttered as his mind fought to respond but his body demanded rest. When his vision finally focused, he found that it was still dark and there was little for him to see inside the room. Lightly, the cold touch on his skin traced the longer line of his cross-shaped scar, and a chill went down his spine as the motion disrupted the placement of his hair and tingled across his scalp.

            Jerking fully awake with a gasp, his head wrenched towards the unseen culprit to give the illusion that he was ready for whatever confrontation awaited him. What he found, however, was Kaoru’s wide blue eyes and her hands scrunched under her chin in fear and contrition. Releasing his tension with an exhaled breath, he blinked and fought a yawn.

            “Did you need something, Miss Kaoru?” His voice was drowsy, and barely above a whisper.

            Minimally, her head shook, and he hummed as a way to avoid using the energy it would require to speak. Taking a deep breath, and fighting the hitch caused by a second yawn, he shifted his weight so that he was facing towards her instead of away.

            “Your hands are ice.” He meant for the observation to sound like concern, but his lethargic faculties made it sound more like an accusation.

            Both lips curled back between her teeth, and she rubbed her hands together fitfully as if ashamed she was cold. Another hum rubbed against his throat, and he reached towards her without thinking. If words weren’t working, then actions would. When he captured her left hand, she fought him for a moment, but hesitantly allowed him to straighten her arm and then flatten her fingers onto the mattress. Without an ounce of warning, he plopped his left cheek directly into her palm, adjusted his legs on the floor for a comfortable position, and then closed his eyes.

            “Don’t worry. I’ll keep… you warm.”

            He let his voice trail off as exhaustion tried once more to claim him, but the soft shifting of her weight pulled him back to the surface of consciousness. Fluttering his lashes back open, he stared up the length of her arm and watched without comprehending the shy way she chewed her lip as she gazed back. Almost involuntarily, he smiled as the atmosphere tricked him into imaging he was stuck in some warm dream.

A dream where she gathered her courage before brushing one finger of her free hand across his forehead to dislodge the hairs falling in his face. A dream where she ran that same long finger down the bridge of his nose almost confidently. A soft grin tilted her mouth upwards, but she stopped touching him to instead settle her right hand on the outstretched portion of her left forearm. Pink lips moved, framing some unspoken words in the comfortable silence, but no sound escaped her. His sleep deprived brain was also much too hazy to guess at what she might have said. She seemed unfazed by his lack of understanding, though, and instead tilted her nose into her pillow and closed her eyes.

X

When Kenshin awoke the next morning, he had no recollection of their late-night encounter, and was therefore quite shocked by the situation he found himself in. Stranger still, his right hand had somehow found hers while he had slept, and had decided on its own that the best way to keep both of her hands warm was by breathing hot air directly onto her captured fingers. Which also meant they were pressed intimately against his parted lips.

Jerking himself violently upright, his vision darkened as a wave of vertigo hit him without warning, and he was forced to catch himself as he swayed. A sharp twinge in his neck sharpened his focus with pain, and he winced as he twisted it cautiously. The abrupt movement unfortunately woke Kaoru, and she sat up almost as fast on the cot. She seemed out-of-it at first, and then twitched her chin towards him questioningly. For a few moments, they did nothing but stare at one another in guilty silence.

Then Kaoru pointed at him, and her lips sputtered over a burst of air that continued to wheeze up and out her throat in muted, amused laughter. A full, red hand-print could be seen in perfect clarity on his left cheek, but Kenshin was only aware of the deadened numbness on that side of his face. Even as Kaoru pointed, though, she shook her left hand as if to wake her own sleeping appendage. Kenshin mock glared at her, but even though he wasn’t sure what she was laughing at, the way it brightened her features warmed his heart.

It also distracted him from the embarrassing, and slightly intimate, situation he had woken to.

“Alright, odd duck. What do you find so funny?”

She grinned and shrugged her shoulders mischievously.

“Okay. I guess I’ll keep to myself that you’re covered in drool.”

A snicker escaped him as she instantly slapped a hand to the left side of her face, and then grimaced at the slick moisture collected there. Her cheeks reddened, and she pouted as she wiped the drool away with the back of her knuckles. Standing to his feet, he groaned and regretted his sleeping posture as his shoulders, back, and legs all announced their own displeasure with the night’s sleep. Scratching a hand at the back of his head, he grinned down at her when she glanced up.

“I’ll go get something ready for breakfast.”

The lab usually didn’t start coming to life until mid-morning. By that time, Kenshin found himself on the blissful end of a shoulder massage after Kaoru all but bullied him into it. Apparently, his continued winces of pain over breakfast had either upset her or annoyed her. He certainly wasn’t going to deny that the massage felt nice, or stop her for that matter. Even when the lab door opened and closed as a way to announce they were no longer alone, he couldn’t find a care to give.

“Good morning, Kaoru-chan.”

The greeting called out before the owner of the voice could be seen, and Kenshin frowned. He didn’t recognize the male voice, but it seemed happy enough to be there. Kaoru’s hands paused against his neck. Only a second later, and an ogre with a single filed-down horn stopped in the doorway to the rec room. A huge grin was plastered across his face, but it disappeared quickly when his eyes landed on Kenshin.

Recognizing that this was their first encounter, Kenshin stood, and bowed his head politely.

“You must be Iizuka. Tomoe-san has told me about how you have been assisting with Kaoru’s seals. We appreciate your help.”

The ogre noticeably swallowed, and bowed his head in turn.

“And you must be Himura Kenshin… t-the… the fire daemon.”

One red brow lifted, but Kenshin decided to let it slide. There were many people afraid of fire daemons, after all. “Getting to work early?”

“Yes.” The ogre’s shoulders squared up even as his voice squeaked, and he turned sharply on his heal. “Better get right to it.” A nervous laugh drifted off into the lab as the ogre planted himself at one of the far desks, and Kenshin internally shrugged.

He seems a bit twitchy.

Behind him, Kaoru had slowly gained her feet, and had watched the encounter without any enthusiastic greeting like she would normally give to Tomoe or Enishi. Even Megumi garnered a stuck-out tongue or, on days when they were getting along, a short wave of the hand. When he glanced curiously over his shoulder at her, he found her blinking in wonder at the empty doorway. Upon returning his gaze, she rewarded him with the slow, toothy grin of a naughty child.

Tomoe arrived with lunch, but left quickly afterwards with Iizuka for a meeting with Megumi. Since Kenshin did not have to work that day, according to the schedule Tae had emailed him, he had decided it would be a good day to spend entirely with Kaoru. Soon he would have to hunt for an apartment, which would mean he would have even less time to give her. After finally coming back, the knowledge was somehow disagreeable. Kaoru had excitedly decided that watching a video together was a good way to spend some time, since there was little else to do in the lab. To his chagrin, though, he inadvertently found himself napping on the couch as a result.

When he woke an hour later, it was to discover that Kaoru had allowed him to stretch out on the full length of the couch, and she was instead seated on the floor facing him. Her drawing notebook was balanced against her updrawn knees, and she was intently working on whatever had sparked her inspiration. Bright, blue eyes lifted up to meet his own half-conscious pupils from behind a curtain of dark lashes, and she smiled as she always did when finding him looking at her.

“I’m sorry, Miss Kaoru.” Yawning, Kenshin moved to sit up, but her hand reached quickly over the top of her notebook to stop him. Blinking, he relaxed back into the cushions. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”

Her head shook, and the smile stayed in place as she returned to intently smoothing the pencil in her hands over the paper.

“Can I see?”

An amiable nod, and she flipped the notebook around to face him. Immediately, his features twisted to imitate droll amusement. Apparently, Kaoru had decided the best way to get him back for that morning was by drawing him sleeping in an oversized puddle of his own drool.

“Very funny.”

But when she grinned impishly, he couldn’t help but laugh.

X

The real estate company Tomoe had recommended was nice and friendly, but Kenshin was a little afraid he wasn’t going to be able to find an apartment within his budget. The lady helping him was certainly determined, but he could tell by the increasingly stressed crease between her brows that she was having a hard time. In the end, they were forced to widen the search area to further away from the lab and his job than he would have liked. However, he was certainly used to doing what he had to, and was not usually one to complain about his circumstances.

Usually being the key word.

They had just enough time that afternoon to tour the few apartments they were able to find, and while they were all nicer than his last apartment, he kept finding fault in them when he never would have before. There was always something missing, or something he instantly criticized. One was too cramped. One had no windows. Another was too old, or was facing the wrong direction, or had a shared toilet. Honestly, he thought perhaps it was the distance from the lab that he truly didn’t like, but could not be sure.

By the end of the afternoon, he felt so guilty about dragging the poor real estate lady around for nothing, that he offered to buy her iced coffee. She seemed happy to accept the peace offering, and bid him a good day as they exited the small coffee shop. She had also promised to look into some more apartments, and contact him the next day with her finds. As he made his way back to the lab on foot, he stopped to take a call when his phone started ringing.

The number was not one he recognized, and while he would usually send those straight to voicemail, he answered on a whim.

“Hello.”

“Himura-san! You finally answered!” The unknown person sounded excited, but also slightly petulant. “I’ve called you a few times over the last year. Why didn’t you ever pick up? Or return my call?”

“Um… who is this?”

“Oh, uh, this is Himura Kenshin, right?” The voice became a little distant, as if to make certain the number was correct.

“Yes.” Hesitant, Kenshin decided it wouldn’t hurt to confirm who he was. “Forgive me if I’ve misplaced your number, but I’m at a loss.”

“Right, sorry. This is Yutaro. We met last year. Well… I kinda… got you fired… and kicked out of your apartment.”

“Ah, Yutaro-kun. How have you been?”

There was an embarrassed laugh. “I guess I can’t complain.”

“Forgive me for not answering your calls. I was… out of town for a year and I didn’t have very good reception.” Half the time, he was lucky to even receive a notification of a missed call. The rest of the time, he admittedly ignored them.

“Oh, so did you just get back in town recently?”

“A couple weeks ago.” Brushing aside his own situation, Kenshin immediately asked after the young man he remembered that had been struggling to find a purpose in life. “How are things with your father?”

“Pretty well.” His tone returned to something a bit closer to normal, and rang with boastful pride. “You know, I don’t mind helping him out as much as I thought I would. It can be boring at times, but I really like haggling with the vendors. Dad’s been pretty impressed with the discounted prices I’ve been able to get for us.”

“That’s great, Yutaro-kun.”

“And you were right… he really warmed up to the idea of me picking back up my performative dance practices after I started helping him out. Which is… kinda why I called.”

He sounded nervous again, and Kenshin smiled. “You’ve been working really hard.”

“Well, yeah. So, you know, they’re going to let me perform at the summer festival coming up next month. If you’re still interested… I could get you a couple tickets.”

The idea perked him up immediately. He had been thinking hard about how they had basically locked Kaoru up inside that lab. She never complained, that he knew of, but he had an unfortunate understanding of what it meant to be stuck there without any way of leaving. Taking Kaoru to a summer festival sounded like the perfect way to get her out into the fresh air and allow her some more freedom.

I need to start taking her out more when I’m not working. I can imagine the imprisonment she suffered under Sojiro, and that it is most likely the main reason why she doesn’t complain. She doesn’t know anything else, and I want to change that for her.

“That sounds great. I’m looking forward to it.”

“Yeah?” Relief cracked Yutaro’s voice, but he covered it up immediately by clearing his throat. “Should I mail you the tickets? Where are you staying?”

“Ah, well… I’m actually in the process of looking.”

“Wait. You said you just got back in town. If you’re looking for an apartment, I know someone who owns real estate that I could talk to for you. Where are you looking?” Kenshin relayed the general area, and Yutaro hummed thoughtfully. “Yeah, I think he’s got some places around there. If not, I got some other people in mind. I promise I’ll get you a better price than any real estate agent can. Dad says I got a silver tongue for haggling.”

“I would appreciate it. Let me know what I owe you.”

“Nah, no need for that. I mean… I am the reason you’re homeless.” Some muted yelling could be heard in the background, and Yutaro’s voice pulled away from the speaker to yell back. “Well, gotta go. I’ll call when I get some pricing for you. Bye.”

Yutaro hung up before Kenshin could respond, and he chuckled as he pocketed the phone. He was glad the young man seemed to be doing well, and was pleasantly surprised by the unexpected help with his apartment hunting. It briefly occurred to him that Kaoru might not be very excited to see him, but then wondered if either would recognize the other after so much time and growth. Either way, he was confident enough in Kaoru’s recovery and personality to believe she was willing to forgive someone for their immature actions. And if she didn’t forgive him, then he certainly wouldn’t force the young man’s presence on her.

Standing at a large crosswalk and waiting for the light to change, Kenshin absently glanced up at a large screen displaying the news for those traveling by foot. A warning was being issued to the residents of one of the outer prefectures of Neo-Tokyo. Three violent homicides in as many days were currently under investigation, and the culprit was still on the loose. A curfew was being set for safety while the police increased nighttime patrols for the area. Kenshin frowned at the screen, but was quickly caught up in the rush of bodies crossing the street.

Chapter Text

Chapter Twenty

            Yutaro came through fast on his promise to locate a few appropriate apartments, and after some discussion, Kenshin even thought he might be able to afford the asking prices. Better than the prices he had found at the real estate agent, anyway, and the apartments Yutaro had found were closer to where he wanted, as well. Feeling a bit more optimistic about his chances, an appointment with Yutaro’s acquaintance had been set for that Thursday when he had the afternoon off.

            Kaoru had been pretty chill about the entire process, even though she still pouted slightly when he had to leave for work. She never complained, though, just like she never complained about anything. She even made a point to encourage him. Still, he could tell she was lonely. It showed clearly in the sad tilt of her blue eyes when she thought he wasn’t looking.

            As soon as I get everything settled, I’ll start taking her out for a change of pace.

            Apparently, Tomoe and Enishi had come to the same conclusion. When he had mentioned the summer festival to them, they had shared their own in-progress plans, which included taking Kaoru to the beach to hunt for seashells and swim. Their family owned a small beach house for just such outings, and they had already obtained their father’s approval to open it up for an afternoon. While he certainly wasn’t excited about the water part, he had agreed it was a good idea for her to have as many opportunities as possible. It was too bad it could not be a longer outing for her, but they had all decided that she might be overly stimulated by an overnight trip.

            Standing behind her as she worked diligently away at her newest drawing, he realized she had almost used up the entire notebook he had originally bought for her. I’ll get her a new one while I’m out. Tapping her on the shoulder, he explained where he was going, and she smiled at him with a nod of understanding. A quick shake denied she needed anything, followed by another nod when he asked if she was going to be alright while he was gone. Frowning despite her reassurances, he nodded his own head and turned for the door.

            Tomoe was working away at one of the free desks in the main room of the lab, and she too smiled at him as he paused in the doorway. It was a brief acknowledgement, though, as she returned her attention to the multiple sets of example seals and runes displayed upon her computer screen almost immediately. They were still having trouble identifying the combination Sojiro had used on Kaoru, but Megumi was meeting the challenge with the same determined excitement she had shown while experimenting on him. Which was worrying, but also encouraging as it meant she would not stop until she figured them out.

            It hit him in that moment, that Kaoru had been so patient with the lot of them. Whether it was waiting on him to return from that mountain, or waiting on Megumi to remove the metal pin in her mouth, she had done so in good-nature. She waited on Tomoe to bring her meals each day, and Enishi for sparring when he could. Now she was waiting to spend time with him while he figured out his life, while also waiting on Megumi to remove the seal that was keeping her from speaking. Keeping her from singing. All while smiling, or playfully teasing, and hiding the sadness from her forced isolation. Certainly, they could claim it was for her own safety, and say it was enough to spend time with her when it suited them. It did not change the fact that her life had been left to the whims of others.

            Again, he remembered how her soft flame irises had glanced up at him just before he had turned to leave, as if wistful and dejected at the same time.

            Slightly angry with himself, Kenshin grabbed the trim around the doorway and leaned his shoulders back into the rec room.

            “Would you like to come with me today, Miss Kaoru?”

            The short length of her ponytail whipped to one side as her head jerked towards him, and the look of unadulterated excitement that lit her face was well worth any risk the outing might involve.

            “Although, you may be bored.”

            She scrambled out of her seat and rushed the door with such enthusiasm that her socks slid on the floor and she had to make a grab for the door jam to stop herself. Instead of him, though, her gaze looked eagerly for Tomoe. The coal daemon actually laughed in delight.

            “You certainly don’t need my permission.” One elegant hand waved. “Go clean up your desk and grab your shoes.” Before she could even finish the sentence, Kaoru was doing just that. Kenshin decided he’d better elaborate.

            “Make sure they’re comfortable shoes. We’ll be walking.”

            From the desk, Kaoru gave a thumbs up over her stooped head and then continued to rush through organizing her mess.

            When Kenshin turned back towards Tomoe, lingering satisfaction brightened his features, but it dampened slightly when his gaze landed on her. Though Tomoe continued to smile, it was a bit sad.

            “Are you alright, Tomoe-san?” As always, his voice softened when speaking with her. Dark eyes closed, and she turned her face away. There was a long pause before she took a deep breath.

            “I know I should not worry, since she’ll be with you, but I fear I cannot help it.” Briefly her eyes glanced at him. “You’ll keep her safe, won’t you?”

            Red brows creased, and he automatically bent his upper body forward. “Nothing will hurt her. I promise.” When he was once more upright, he swallowed awkwardly. She was back to staring at the desk, and he was suddenly overcome by guilt. “I put a lot on you this last year, Tomoe-san. I’m sorry… and thank you.”

            Small hands twisted together in her lap, and when she looked at him again, the smile on her face was a bit pained but rueful.

            “You certainly have, Himura-san.” The response held a tone of unexpected rebuke, and Kenshin blinked. “Honestly, you’ve become a bit too reliant on others. While I don’t necessarily think reliance is a bad thing, I do believe you should work on being more independent.” The smile softened. “Especially if you want someone to rely on you before anyone else.”

            Kaoru’s shoes dropped next to him, and he jumped as she shoved her feet into them. Once the task was successfully complete, she graced him with an expectant grin. Tomoe’s claim certainly held some truth. It had slightly irked him that Kaoru would go to Tomoe for permission as if his word held less authority.

            “Stay close to Himura-san, and be sure to do as he says.” Kaoru’s head nodded, and Tomoe’s expression was full of fondness. “Have fun, blue-eyed one.”

Another nod, and Kaoru waited on twitchy feet for him to lead the way. Before they could make the second door, however, Tomoe called after them like a concerned mother.

“Wait.” A purse was pulled out from under her desk, and she dug into the depths of it to withdraw a pair of sunglasses. “Put these on when you get to the lobby.” They were pressed into Kaoru’s hands, and then Tomoe’s worried eyes looked past her to Kenshin. “The sun is so harsh in the summertime, and she’s not used to natural light.”

Kenshin bowed his head. “Thanks again, Tomoe-san.”

It wasn’t until the elevator dinged for the ground floor that Kaoru appeared to second guess her decision. Once in the foreign environment of the lobby, her breathless excitement turned to hesitant apprehension, and she half-hid herself behind his shoulder as they walked towards the front doors. The way the receptionist stared helped little. Urging her to don the sunglasses, Kenshin collected the hand nearest to him in his, and pushed open the glass entrance doors to powerful sunshine. She flinched slightly, even with the darkened lenses to protect her delicate eyes.

“Are you okay?”

Slowly, her neck twisted to look around.

“I promise you’re safe with me.”

From behind the dark glasses, he watched the outline of her lashes twitch up to settle on him. Then blink. Finally, she smiled, and cradled his one hand between both of her own.

Everything was absorbed with a mixture of animation and wonder. As if she had never been outside in her life. It was a marked contrast to the dirty, frightened being she had been when he had happened upon her by chance a year prior. At that time, she had been simply trying to survive, but now she was able to fully appreciate her surroundings without that shadow of fear trailing behind her. That, at least, reassured him that they had done something right by her.

Yutaro’s connection met them outside of a large, fairly new apartment complex. He was an aosagibi, and had no qualms in revealing his true daemon nature to anyone. Light blue feathers sprouting from his head glowed minimally, even in the bright light of day, and long thin legs ending in three large toes and sharp talons made him quite a bit taller than both of them. When he bowed to them in greeting, his beak scrapped the pavement at their feet, and his large wings spread slightly to balance his weight. Briefly, Kenshin wondered how a koi fish had made friends with a heron.

“Takimi Shigure at your service.” His voice was softer than expected from such a large daemon. “Himura Kenshin, I presume?”

Kenshin bowed in turn. “Thank you for meeting on such short notice.”

“Not at all. Any friend of Yutaro-kun’s is a friend of mine.” One large yellow eye turned toward Kaoru. “Unfortunately, Yutaro-kun mistakenly informed me that you were searching for an apartment for a single occupant. Your lovely companion might be a bit put out by the selection I’ve made ready for your viewing.”

Pink immediately tinged Kaoru’s cheek at the compliment, and she shyly shot her sapphire irises over to him as if unsure how to react. Kenshin, however, was briefly confused by the statement, and it showed in the crease of his brows. Those red brows raised a moment later, and he glanced at the hand still held comfortably in his. “Ah, well… you were told correctly. Miss Kaoru is… lending support for the day.”

“I see.” There was quite a bit of amusement in the short reply. “Shall we?”

Although the apartment complex was fairly tall compared to the surrounding buildings, most of the apartments within his budget were on the lower floors. They were all clean, with simple layouts, but ranged in sizes to allow not only for a multitude of incomes but also the many sizes of potential residents. Due to the wide-range of daemons living in the city, landlords were expected to accommodate the needs of many different beings. It was an obvious challenge, but made their trip an interesting one. Especially for his blue-eyed companion.

Kaoru was enjoying herself without reserve. Once it was apparent that their heron guide was not just well-mannered but good-natured as well, she had fully relaxed into her regular goofy self. Her antics were not just amusing, but tended to point out things that might make staying in some of the apartments uncomfortable. At their first stop, she entertained herself with touching both walls with her barely outstretched hands. At their second, she could do the same with the ceiling, which also meant Shigure had to duck fairly low just to come into the room. Sometimes she unwittingly daemonstrated how unfortunate the placement of the kitchen area was, simply by wanting by. Other times she was just bored. It was those few apartments that seemed to be Kenshin’s best bet.

Still, with Kaoru there, he couldn’t help but think about something he had never considered before about an apartment. Company. Which then led him down other avenues of deliberation. As a fire daemon, he had no need for a bathroom, just a toilet. While this made his decision easier and cheaper, it was a bit of a hindrance for company. While he had no plans to take in anyone else, the absence of a bathroom for Kaoru had meant his eviction from his own apartment while Tomoe had spot clean Kaoru with a cloth out of a sink. Not a pleasant experience all around. Additionally, if he had company over, he might want to cook for them, and having a larger kitchen area would allow him to really show off his abilities and impress said company. Both options unfortunately meant more money.

“You seem a bit undecided on what you want, Himura-san.”

The observation startled Kenshin out of his thoughts, and he offered the blue heron an apologetic smile. “Forgive me, Takimi-san. I don’t mean to waste your time.”

“If you like, I can show you a few of my other open apartments. They are more expensive, but have more options. They might give you a better idea of what you are looking for, which will help me identify a better apartment to show you. I have other buildings, if we discover this one does not accommodate you.”

A quick bow conveyed gratitude and apology. “Thank you.”

The larger apartments were higher up, and had multiple rooms instead of just the one. The most expensive one they viewed had a separate room just for the kitchen, in addition to a living space, bedroom, a bathroom, toilet room, and an area for a full washing machine. It also had its own balcony with a breathtaking view. While Kaoru entertained herself at the balcony, Kenshin had time to critique the layout. It was obviously much too big, but at least he was a bit surer about what he might want and what he would settle for. After relaying his thoughts to Shigure, the heron absorbed the knowledge with a slow nod of his head, and confirmed that he had a few apartments in mind that might fit his preferences. However, they were in a different building and a little further away.

With a tilt of his large beak, the heron turned his attention to Kaoru at the balcony. “I’ve noticed she loves windows the most. If you don’t mind, I think she might enjoy one of the apartments here. It also has a different layout that you might find you like.”

Smiling at her brightened features, Kenshin was glad he had decided to bring her along. She was loving the freedom, and no doubt seeing something new was invigorating compared to the stale view of the lab. If he had to equate their afternoon to anything, it would be like watching a flower blossom under the sun. Calling for her, his smile warmed when she half-skipped over to slip her hand in his, but closed his eyes to hide the expression when he turned to the heron. “Lead the way.”

The final apartment of their afternoon was on a mid-to-upper floor. The entranceway was a little dark from a lack of natural lighting, but was lit by two small overhead lights for a more calming ambience. A cabinet for shoes and coats was built into the wall, and was also lit by small lights that were activated by the door opening and closing. A short hallway led first to a separate toilet room, and then a compact but comfortable bathing area comprised of first a room with a sink, mirror, and washing machine, and then a room with a bathtub and detachable shower head on the wall beside it.

When they finally came all the way into the apartment, Kenshin understood why Shigure had claimed Kaoru would enjoy it. The entire far wall from floor to high ceiling was glass. They were separated windows for stability against the high winds brought by typhoons, but it still provided an amazing view. Especially since the ceiling in the main room was much higher than a normal apartment might be. The tall windows on the lower level of the glass wall were all the same height as the glass door on the far-right side, which opened onto a balcony wide enough to sit in a chair on. The second level of windows were much taller.

When Kenshin glanced at Kaoru, he chuckled to find her mouth open, and he urged her forward so that she could stare as much as she wanted. The view itself was beautiful in the afternoon sun. Since they were on the South-facing wall of the building, the apartment was awarded all of the benefits of natural light without having to suffer from direct light at any time during the day. The building was tall as well, with no other buildings to block the view, and no need to worry about someone peeking into the apartment from across the street.

The main room wasn’t very large in and of itself, but when Kenshin turned he found the reason for the high ceiling. The apartment had a loft area, but instead of it being open to the main room, it too was separated by another wall of windows. This allowed some additional privacy, but also helped with heating and cooling. When Shigure urged him up the steep set of steps, Kenshin found that he could actually stand up comfortably in the loft area, which was not common. It was also spacious enough for more than just a bed, as it was the same size as the apartment below minus the main room.

Back on the main floor of the apartment, Shigure made sure Kenshin got a good look at the kitchen area as well. While not large, it was separated from the main room by a half wall, and had a sink, a three-burner stove top in the shape of an oval, a small fish oven, a refrigerator, cabinets, and a small amount of countertop space. It was also off to one side of the entrance to the main room, thereby making sure there would be no disturbances for the cook.

The whole apartment was… kind of ideal.

There was a bathroom if company needed one. There was a separate space he could keep anything private, such as his clothes and bed. There was a nice kitchen space. Best of all, there was a view for Kaoru to enjoy.

“What do you think?” The heron was talking to Kaoru, who had opened the balcony door and was leaning further out against the railing than Kenshin liked. Instantly, Kaoru whipped around and the grin on her face looked like it hurt. A few hand signs formed and twitched out her fingers, and Kenshin laughed.

“I’m still learning, but I’m pretty sure this means ‘beautiful’.” His hands formed the sign as he spoke it, because Enishi had told him that forming the sign while speaking it aloud would help him learn. Kaoru nodded happily to confirm. “I must admit, I like it, too. How much would something like this cost me?”

“It will be more than the single-room apartments downstairs, but I could give you the same discount Yutaro and I discussed for those.”

Unfortunately, it was still well above his budget. Thinking over his options, Kenshin contemplated other ways he could work around it.

“What kind of heating system do you use for the building?”

A brand-new discussion revealed Shigure’s surprise that it was even an option for Kenshin to assist with heating the entire building, and he was all too happy to discount the monthly rent further.

But it’s still too high.

“Thanks for your help, Takimi-san. I’ll have to pass on it.” An embarrassed chuckle closed his eyes as he scratched the back of his head. “I should really stick to my budget.”

“Of course, Himura-san. Let’s schedule another day, and we can review the apartments in my other building.”

When his eyes reopened, Kenshin noticed the delight on Kaoru’s face had melted off, and her bottom lip worried between her teeth. One last, long glance over the balcony drank in the view, and then she closed the door and joined them by the kitchen. Her hand slipped into his, and she offered the blue heron a smaller, more composed smile. The heron bowed his head graciously.

“You, my good gentleman, have found yourself a keeper.” Red lashes blinked in surprise as Kaoru once again blushed pink. “Many couples fight over such things, or try to whine to get their way, but you understand something truly important. Relationships are not about always getting your way, but enjoying what you have together just the same. Yes?”

The question was aimed at Kaoru, who nodded her head vigorously in agreement. Kenshin wondered if she understood what he was actually saying. Either way, he was grateful for Kaoru’s instant acceptance, but was saddened by it as well. If she had acted upset, it would have been distressing, but the fact that she had learned to hide her disappointments was also worrisome. In a way, he really just wanted to spoil her.

“I have some applications already on file for this apartment, but I find I like you, so I’ll hold them for another week. Just in case your situation changes.” Amusement once more thickened his voice, and as the heron led them from the apartment, he offered some additional wisdom. “After all, wanting to give what we cannot is another form of love. It pushes us to be better versions of ourselves.”

Kenshin cleared his throat and turned his head away, because it felt a little like the aosagibi had read his mind.

X

A/N: I'm not on this site as much, and it didn't occur to me that I might really be annoying someone with notifications after posting 13 chapters at one time. I'm so very sorry!! I'll hold off for a little while before posting more.

Next chapter, Kenshin might appreciate his fire daemon origins a bit more?