The Boy and The Fox [Book 2]

17

Kenshin let out a sigh breaking the tense silence as he waited for the person who sat across from him to speak. He knew that she had only come to him because she was desperate; he knew that if she had any other option, she would have never gone anywhere near him.

"So, what brings you here, Isu?" He asked after another moment of silence, knowing that the girl wouldn't. "Tell me what you know," Isuzu demanded in a harsh tone causing Kenshin to suppress a smile as he remembered how shy and quiet she used to be.

"About what?" Kenshin asked, tilting his head to the side slightly.

"Don't play stupid you know exactly what I mean." The girl snapped, slamming a hand on the coffee table between them.

Kenshin let out a soft chuckle as he smiled at the girl, "I can assure you that whatever information you're looking for, I don't have, and if I did I would've already done something with it."

He listened as Isuzu let out a frustrated noise, "Please, I know you know something, why wouldn't you. Your Akito's brother, after all, he should tell you everything."

"I'm sorry to disappoint you, but Akito doesn't tell me anything unless he wants to."

"I'll give you the only thing I can, myself in exchange." Isuzu said softly as her soft unsure footsteps came closer and closer until they stopped right before where Kenshin stood.

"Don't lower yourself to that." Kenshin told the girl he knew she was desperate, but he couldn't believe that Isuzu had gotten desperate to the point that she would offer herself as payment. "What else am I supposed to do if you won't help me?" The girl asked bitterly.

"What if I told you I already tried to help you, Isu?" Kenshin said, looking in the girl's direction. 

---

That day had started like any other for Kenshin, that was until Akito had summoned him to her room. After that, things had only gotten more complicated for the young man as his sister told him about the newest piece of information she had received.

"Akito, I don't think they meant any harm." Kenshin said, trying to diffuse his sister's anger, he knew it would be difficult, but as long as he could keep both Isu and Hatsu away from her, they would be able to avoid her wrath.

"Don't tell me what to think!" The girl yelled angrily, "And don't think I've forgotten about you. You should've known about this and reported it to me instead, I had to hear it from someone else."

"I can assure you that I never noticed anything going on between them, but yet again, how could I if I can't see them." The young man said, never giving away that he had, in fact, known about the secret relationship. Kenshin had tried his hardest to keep the secret, but he knew that sooner or later someone would inform Akito.

"You don't need to see to get information." Akito told him, but Kenshin begged to differ on her assumption.

"Normally I wouldn't, but when two people are trying to hide something like a relationship, they tend not to talk about it." Kenshin responded, and it was true the only reason he had figured it out was because of the way Rin and Haru acted when they were together, it was subtle, but it was definitely there.

"All women are the same, always scheming and deceiving to get what they want." Akito muttered to herself angrily. "And what is it that Isuzu wants from Hatsuharu?" The young man asked, curious as to what his sister would say.

"Isn't it obvious she wants to take what belongs to me! To make me feel weak. To gain some sort of power over me." The girl stated as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"Akito, I don't think that's what Isuzu intended. Remember, they're both kids, and kids do stupid things."

"Don't patronize me!" Akito yelled.

"All I mean is that they were probably only experimenting, and nothing serious is going on between them." Kenshin replied calmly.

"I doubt it; that sneaky snake knows exactly what she's doing. She acts so quiet and innocent, but she's finally revealed her true nature." Akito said no doubt a smug smile crossing her features.

Kenshin sat silently, trying to figure out a way to calm Akito down or at least cause her to leave the two kids alone.

"What are you going to do?" He asked

"I'm going to have a little chat with them."

"I understand." The young man said, knowing that Akito meant the opposite of having a civilized conversation with either of them. "But would you at least wait until I am able to attend as well, just in case you need me to do something?" He asked.

There was a long moment of silence before Akito finally replied, "Fine, I wait."

At that moment, Kenshin had felt like a small weight had been lifted off his shoulders, knowing that Akito wouldn't talk to either Isuzu or Hatsuharu alone. If only he had known at that moment what his sister had really been planning, he could've tried to prevent what would happen even harder.

---

"What? Am I supposed to believe that you, of all people, wanted to help?" The girl asked, the venom in her voice evident. Kenshin knew she wouldn't believe him, but he had decided to tell her anyway so she could shift some of the guilt she had onto him. He didn't care if she hated him; he only wanted Isuzu to direct her anger to someone other than herself.

"No, after all I am a bad person. I've done terrible things to those around me, things that no normal person would do." He replied.

"How can you live with that?" Isuzu asked.

"How can I live with that? Well, it's easy really. I just put myself before anyone else, never really thinking about how what I do affects them or the consequences of my actions." The young man said softly, leaning back into his chair.

"I shouldn't have even bothered asking you. You're just as bad as Akito." The girl said as if Kenshin's very existence was a curse which to him it was at times.

He listened quietly as Isuzu made her way across the room before slamming the door shut behind her. "I really do hope you find what you're looking for, Isu." Kenshin whispered, letting his words disappear into the silence of the room.