73Hey! Here's the next chappie! I know this is kinda short and I hope you will forgive me but I wanted to go ahead and get this up!
I want to apologize for the last chapter for those that were confused. When I said END at the end of chapter 15 it was for the end of the chapter NOT the story. The story still has a ways to go! I will be better about that from now on. Sorry!
Disclaimer: I have no rights at all to RK, they belong to Watsuki-san, but I wish I did.
Rating: T for Teen which is subject to change.
Chapter 16: Answers
Kenshin couldn't believe his ears as Toshiro opened the door at the end of the corridor and led the way into the next room. He thought his capture had nothing to do with the kidnappings that had been plaguing the areas around Tokyo but Neji, the old man that Yahiko had witnessed being kidnapped, was here! Kenshin was able to keep the surprise out of his face but as they entered the next room, which consisted of a bland, small staircase that was clearly reserved for the prisoners use, Toshiro's face told him it didn't matter if he reacted or not.
"Neji you say?" Toshiro smiled evilly, turning around and leaning towards Kenshin's face. "Isn't he the one your little brat and his girlfriend witnessed?"
Kenshin remained silent, resisting an urge to step back away from Toshiro and tensing slightly at the mention of Yahiko and Tsubame. A slight reminder of the danger that they were in if Toshiro signaled Tsume. He refused to talk about his friends and family if he could avoid it. While he may deserve this, he didn't want the others to get more involved than they are.
Toshiro smiled a little wider, he decided to take that as a yes. He stepped back triumphantly. "I bet you are surprised to find him here. Who could've guessed that you would take that detective job and make your kidnapping all that easier as well as sweeten the deal? That was just fortune smiling down on me I guess! Or perhaps justice?"
Ruyo and Katsu snickered.
Kenshin watched stiffly as Toshiro sat down on a middle stair step, relaxing his elbows against the steps behind him in a comfortable way. Kenshin resisted the urge to sigh. I can't believe that all this time he has been the one kidnapping all those people. But why would he start kidnapping closer to Tokyo as time passed by when it would have been safer to stay away from a whole police force hunting them and why focus on people who lived alone and/or were orphaned? Was it because he was toying with me? Was the trend just because it was easier and nobody would miss them?
"Although I must say, you and the police have what I am doing all wrong," Toshiro said as he slowly got softer with each word as if trailing into thought.
Kenshin stared down at his captor as he said this and noticed something. Toshiro's eyes had softened just like before with Shinji, the little boy earlier in his cell.
"You have me thought of as a cruel, serial kidnapper and, while I certainly have kidnapped you," he smirked, then softened again, "I am actually saving these people from an awful fate. The fate of being alone!" his voiced picked up as he glared at Kenshin. "The fate you bestowed on me as a seven-year-old child!"
Kenshin winced as guilt panged him again. He hesitated and then began, "I understand what it feels like to be orphaned as a small child, that I most certainly do, but taking people against their will…"
Toshiro shot up from the stairs and screamed angrily, "DO NOT EVEN PRETEND THAT YOU UNDERSTAND ME!" Then, after taking a deep breath to calm himself, sat back down in the previous position and continued, "I save orphans and those who do not have anybody from loneliness and welcome them into my family. I give them purpose, companions, and jobs. And eventually all of them come around to like and enjoy it here. Besides, I was taken against my will into a place similar to this and loved it. It worked out great for me. I had a family again and look at me now!" Toshiro swept his hands in a grand gesture.
Kenshin could feel Ruyo and Katsu shift behind him as if they were annoyed at him. "Sir..." Ruyo began.
"Do not interrupt me!" Toshiro said, annoyed, sending a glare in Ruyo's direction.
"But, sir…we need to get back out in the fields so that we can monitor the sl…workers," Ruyo corrected himself quickly.
Kenshin raised his eyebrows, noticing the slip with his sharp ears. The slip was so subtle and so quickly covered that he doubted Toshiro had noticed. Was he just about to say slaves? Something tells me that Ruyo and Katsu have different opinions about this place, that they do. Kenshin eyes narrowed. And they don't seem to be very positive ones.
Toshiro sighed, "I guess you are right." He then got up and started to lead the way up the stairs.
Before Kenshin had time to follow, Katsu took the chance to push him forward to the stairs but "missed" the necessary angle and ended up ramming him into the railing of the staircase.
Kenshin gasped as pain flared in his right arm as it connected with the railing. Luckily, it was mainly from surprise than anything but if he had been rammed any harder he could have been severely hurt.
Toshiro froze as Kenshin put his left hand on his arm and swayed as he stood back up. Slowly, Toshiro turned around with a barely controlled smile that showed sadism yet impatience at the same time. He started in a low voice, "Enough Katsu! Both of you need to control yourselves! I can see from your actions this morning that you want to have some fun with him as well…which can be arranged," he smiled evilly for a moment before going back into a frown. "but only if you behave! You could've broken his arm just now and while that would be fun for the moment that would mean he wouldn't be able to go out in the fields!"
"Yes sir," both Ruyo and Katsu responded before starting to nudge Kenshin up the steps.
Toshiro smiled, "Now! Let us give you the grand tour of the fields!" He then turned and continued up with Kenshin, Ruyo, and Katsu following close behind.
End of Chapter 16
I hope you enjoyed the chapter even though it was short! Please review! I would love to hear from you!
Till next time,
~KaoruKamiya307