Striking a Balance

Disclaimer - I do not own Rurouni Kenshin.

Striking a Balance

Chapter 3


“Why am I not surprised to see you in trouble?” Saito said, trademark smirk firmly in place. He took a drag on his cigarette and exhaled sharply. “Does Himura know you’re out this late in this neighborhood?”

Kaoru struggled to her feet, wincing at light pains in her now tender neck and right shoulder and the insistent throb of her left. Her eyes flashed at Saito as she straightened.

“Kenshin knows I can take care of myself,” she retorted hotly.

Saito snorted, eyes lingering on the red marks on her neck and face, eyebrow raising as she arranged her left arm carefully in its makeshift sling in her haori sleeve. Kaoru noticed his gaze and blushed lightly, embarrassed.

“I had a bit of a run-in with a student in the dojo, okay? I would have been able to handle those guys if I hadn’t been injured.”

“Yes, but you are injured,” Saito took another long drag of his cigarette. “Any good fighter knows when they are outmatched and changes tactics.”

Kaoru bristled at his insinuation. She wasn’t playing a game; she was defending her father’s style! Her family’s honor was at stake.

“If you are thoroughly done insulting me,” she bit out, carefully lifting her small bag awkwardly onto her right shoulder, “I need to get home before Kenshin does worry.” She started down the road past him.

Saito dropped the cigarette to the ground and crushed it under his polished shoe. He strode to catch up with her and fell into pace beside her.

“I don’t need an escort Saito,” she insisted, tossing her ponytail angrily.

“I’m not escorting you,” he said, “Consider it part of my rounds as a policeman. Besides, I want to see Himura’s face when you tell him what happened.”

Kaoru stopped short, bangs shielding her eyes from view.

“Please don’t.” Saito’s eyebrow rose at her words.

“Don’t what?”

“Don’t tell him what happened today.”

Saito chuckled as he turned forward and started walking again.

“Baka. Those thugs are owned by Masuyama Hideaki. They won’t hesitate to hurt you again if you go back to that neighborhood unescorted.”

“I’ll figure something out,” Kaoru said, catching up to him. “It’s my business. Kenshin worries too much about me as it is. I don’t need to add to his burden.”

Saito shook his head at her hard-headedness. Her stubbornness was going to get her in trouble. Ultimately though, it was not his problem.

“Fine. But I won’t stop from keeping my eye on those thugs. They’ve caused trouble before, and will again I’m sure.”

“That’s your business,” Kaoru replied. She let out an internal sigh of relief. There were some good things about Saito’s blasé attitude.

“Just don’t get yourself killed. I don’t want to have to deal with a homicidal Himura.”

Kaoru looked up at him in disbelief. How she wished she could wipe that smug look off his face. Jerk. She wasn’t surprised that he thought her weak, but it just hardened her determination to deal with this problem herself.

Kaoru stopped briefly when they were within a few blocks from home. She carefully lowered her injured arm out of the sleeve-sling, and drew the sleeve over her arm so it rested in its normal position at her side. She would need to be careful tonight, but it would be better in the morning.

Saito watched this process with detached amusement. He didn’t agree with the small woman’s reasoning, but made it a habit to not get involved in domestic squabbles.

Straightening carefully, Kaoru continued walking towards home. When the dojo came in view, she saw Yahiko come skidding out the front gate.

“Bye Kenshin!” he hollered, waving back into the dojo. “Hey Kaoru!”

A fourteen-year old Yahiko sprinted the short way down the fence towards where Kaoru and Saito were walking. He had hit an impressive growth spurt, and now as tall as Kenshin. He stopped and watched them approach.

“Oi, what’s the Wolf doing here?” he said a bit too loudly for Kaoru’s taste. Kenshin’s head popped around the edge of the gate, stepping out once he confirmed Yahiko’s outburst. Before she could answer, Saito spoke up as he continued walking.

“Just walking in the same direction. I do patrol the city, kid.”

Yahiko turned red at being called a kid and hollered after the tall policeman. Kaoru watched Saito walk past Kenshin and turn towards her, smirking. She could have sworn that he murmured something, but couldn’t be sure. Kenshin stood tense, watching Saito with unreadable lavender eyes until he was out of sight.

“Kaoru, you got paid today, right?” Yahiko asked suddenly.

“Hai, what in the world do you need now?” Kaoru answered, watching Kenshin approach slowly from the gate.

“We-l-l, I don’t get paid until next week, and it’s Tsubame’s birthday,” Yahiko looked down, a bit embarrassed. Kaoru sighed and dropped her bag from her arm, handing it to him. She couldn’t take money out without moving her other arm, and she wasn’t sure she could do that right now without wincing in pain.

“Take a few ryo from the bag,” she said. “I expect you to pay me back next week.”

“Aw right, thanks!” He whooped, pulling some money out of the bag and tossing it back to her. She caught it awkwardly with one hand as he sprinted off.

Kenshin approached her, following Yahiko a bit with his eyes. He placed his hand lightly on her right shoulder.

“Kaoru-koi, everything okay?”

Kaoru rolled her sore shoulder slightly, gently removing his hand.

“Hai, just a bit sore from class today. Is the bath ready?”

“That it is. Let’s get you inside.”

Kaoru breathed a slight sigh of relief as she walked into the dojo. He didn’t make a big deal about Saito or her strange actions with Yahiko. Hopefully she could get a bath and go right to bed. She was ready for this day to be over.

Kenshin locked the gate behind her, and watched her retreating back for a moment. Something was off, but he couldn’t quite place it. He was also concerned about what Saito said when he passed Kenshin on the street, too lowly for Kaoru or Yahiko to hear.

‘Watch your treasures, Battosai,’ he had said. Saito rarely used his battle name any more on the rare occasions that they spoke. What had he meant?

Kenshin walked towards the kitchen. He would finish dinner, and he would question Kaoru further this evening. Something wasn’t right, and he had relied on his instincts for too long to ignore them now.