AN: this idea came to me after reading an inuyasha story. I hope you like
it... this is my first fic ever so please be nice! ^_^x Enjoy!
disclaimer: me no own.
Kaoru's thoughts: '...'
Kenshin's thoughts: /.../ or \...\
To Be Free
Chapter 1: Auction Day
Kamiya Kaoru sighed as she picked up a nice sized money pouch. 'Well here's all my savings. I just hope it's enough' she thought. She had been saving up for a certain occasion: the arrival of the slave traders. They were coming to Tokyo on this day and she was going to make sure she got there soon enough to get one. Not that she wanted a slave for work... she was going to buy one, then set him free. Simple, right?
Her friend Sano had pitched in some money (which surprised the hell out of Kaoru) to help. Kaoru wondered what she would do without him. 'I probably would've lost the dojo to Gohei and that other guy... what was his name again?' she mused, 'that must be Sano' she thought as pounding sounds came from the front of the dojo.
"Oi, jou-chan! Open up! Are you ready to go, yet?" he yelled impatiently. 'Yep, definitely Sano' "Hang on! I'm coming! Mou! Stop trying to break the door down!" She stepped outside, locked the gate, and turned to Sano. "I'm ready." "Good, lets go."
"Its too bad Gensai-sensei can't come with us," she said, disappointedly. "Yea... he and the fox were pretty busy when I left. But that's ok, right? You got me!" She just rolled her eyes and laughed at that statement.
They neared the city and immediately took note of the hordes of people swarming around one spot. 'I guess that's where the slavers are.'
Sano went before her pushing and shoving people out of their way while Kaoru followed close behind. She finally made it to the front so she can see what slave they were bidding on at the moment.
When she saw the slave, she knew that was the one. That was the one she was going to help, no, to free. As she told Sano to yell out the bids she took a closer look at the slave. He (or maybe she?) was short and scrawny as a mouse with long, thick, matted red hair, which was hiding his/her face. 'He doesn't look like he would be much use as a worker... hmmm... I wonder...'
She was brought out of her thoughts when she felt Sano's hand on her shoulder. She looked up saw his wide, joyful smile and knew they won the bidding for the slave. She and Sano made their way over to the slavers to claim their "prize". She still couldn't figure out the gender and asked Sano if he could tell. "It's a guy jou-chan. The rags he's wearing are actually a gi and a hakama." "And? I wear that, too, ya know..." Sano just laughed and replied, "They put all the women into showy kimonos to sell 'em faster." "Oh... right..."
They reached the slaver and she paid the amount she bid. She winced when the man was shoved roughly toward her and Sano, making him trip and fall flat on his face. While he got up, Kaoru yelled at the slaver, "Oi! Don't treat him like that!" The slaver laughed. "Don't worry 'bout it. He's jus' a worthless slave. You can treat 'em shit and they don't care."
She was soooo close to bashing his head in with her bokken but she stopped. And it wasn't the large crowd of people that stopped her either. It was the fact that the man, who had recently recovered from his fall, was staring at her with wide, violet eyes. 'Violet eyes?! I've never seen anything like them before!' Then she noticed something else, 'Sadness... such sadness... and pain...' Even the oblivious Sano could see, even feel, the pain and sorrow radiating from his whole being.
Another thing caught her attention: a cross-shaped scar on his left cheek. 'That scar! It looks terrible! I wonder where he got it.'
"His name's Kenshin, but ya' can call him anythin' ya' like. He don't talk much but I gotta' say he's pretty good at a 'lotta things," the slaver said, flashing Kenshin a quick, lust-filled look. Kenshin lowered his head so he wouldn't see it.
Neither Kaoru or Sano missed that look, though, and immediately they knew what the man was talking about. 'I knew he wasn't a worker slave! Poor guy... he's probably been abused by most of his masters...' Now, Kaoru REALLY wanted to bash his head in with her bokken, while Sano stood there pale and enraged, fist and teeth clenching and unclenching.
"Well he's yours now. Have fun 'Shin. I'll miss ya'," the slaver said as he walked away.
Kaoru calmed down and turned to the man, now known as Kenshin. He kept his head bowed, looking at the ground. 'Kenshin... I wonder how he got that name...' Kaoru briefly thought. 'No matter. I need to get him to the dojo and then Sano and I can talk to him. Maybe Gensai-sensei or Megumi-san can come later and give him a quick check-up as well...'
She turned to Sano, who still looked pissed, "Sano, can you pass by the clinic and see if Megumi-san or Gensai-sensei can come to the dojo tonight?" Sano's anger quickly dissipated. "Sure, jou-chan. I'm sure one of them will be able to take some time off," he replied. "Thanks Sano." "No prob'"
"Come on Kenshin. We need to get back to the dojo before lunch." She could barely see his small, shy nod. 'He will have to stay at the dojo a while until he gets his strength back... maybe I can find him a job... and some clothes...' And with that thought in mind, they started walking back to the dojo.
She noticed he was walking quite a distance behind her. "Hey, you don't have to walk so far behind me. Come here." He looked up with a puzzled expression. /That's odd/ he thought /They usually want me to stay as far away as possible in public/ He mentally shrugged and considered what she said an order. He rushed to catch up with her.
'That's better. Now he doesn't look so odd walking all alone...' she thought. Pretty soon they were at the dojo's gates. "Home sweet home," she said, mostly to herself, as she unlocked the gates. She walked in with Kenshin following closely behind.
/She has a nice place... maybe if I'm lucky I can sleep in the yard.../ The lady walked up to him, "I'll show you where your going to sleep. Follow me." /Oh well... I'll probably end up in a storage shed or something.../ He watched as she opened a door to the house and walked in. He followed a bit hesitantly /Why are we going into the house? I can't sleep in here... it doesn't make sense... the slave sleeps outside, the master sleeps in house.../
Kenshin was brought out of his thoughts by her voice. "This will be your room now. I hope you like it... it's pretty much the only thing I have... Kenshin?" He was shocked, staring at the room in disbelief. 'Of course, he's probably never had his own room before... poor guy.'
Kenshin was busy looking at the room in shock. /Is she trying to trick me?/ \Of course, baka. She's like the rest, just wait and see\ He heard the little voice of his fear warning him. /But why would she give me my own room?/ \That's obvious! Because she wants you to get comfortable so she can hurt you when your guard is down! Remember all the other times the masters made you 'comfortable'?\
Kenshin tried to repress the shiver that started down his spine. He was unsuccessful and Kaoru caught it out of the corner of her eye. 'He's uncomfortable here... I think I should make my intentions for him clear' "Kenshin? I need to talk to you about something important. Lets talk over some tea." She started to walk away when she suddenly turned, surprising Kenshin, who was following her. "I just realized something! You don't know my name! Call me Kaoru, ok?"
Kenshin simply nodded shakily. /I can't call her by her first name! And she didn't tell me her last name.../ \She's already trying to get you to trust her... she's quicker than the others...\ /But this is different. She seems sincere and trustable, not like the others.../
He was pulled out of thinking, once again, by the sound of her voice. "Mou! Kaoru no baka! Let me get you some clean clothes and then I'll heat a bath for you. We can talk after that, ok?" And, once again, a small nod.
She left him to his thoughts, alone, in his new room. /She seems very nice... but then again, most of my former masters seemed 'nice' too... she looks as if she means everything she says... I don't know anymore.../
As these thoughts and doubts plagued his mind, Kaoru rummaged through the storage shed looking for a practice gi and a hakama. 'I know there must be something in here that would fit him... AHA! Got something... I hope this works.'
She made her way back into the house towards Kenshin's room. When she got there he was still in the same exact place she left him. "Kenshin I got you some clothes. I'm afraid that's all I have right now. We will go shopping later, maybe tomorrow... how does that sound?"
"Whatever you wish, Kaoru-dono." There was a slight pause.
"Kaoru-dono? I told you to call me Kaoru. You don't have to be so polite to me. Oh! I still need to get the water warmed for your bath! Hang on." Once again he was left alone.
AN: well, that's all for the first chapter. I know, its kinda short. If anyone out there knows how to put italics and bold print in here, can you tell me please? Your help is appreciated! Gomen nasai if there are any mistakes. Hate it? Like it? Should I continue? Please tell me what you think! Domo arigato for reading! Please review!
disclaimer: me no own.
Kaoru's thoughts: '...'
Kenshin's thoughts: /.../ or \...\
To Be Free
Chapter 1: Auction Day
Kamiya Kaoru sighed as she picked up a nice sized money pouch. 'Well here's all my savings. I just hope it's enough' she thought. She had been saving up for a certain occasion: the arrival of the slave traders. They were coming to Tokyo on this day and she was going to make sure she got there soon enough to get one. Not that she wanted a slave for work... she was going to buy one, then set him free. Simple, right?
Her friend Sano had pitched in some money (which surprised the hell out of Kaoru) to help. Kaoru wondered what she would do without him. 'I probably would've lost the dojo to Gohei and that other guy... what was his name again?' she mused, 'that must be Sano' she thought as pounding sounds came from the front of the dojo.
"Oi, jou-chan! Open up! Are you ready to go, yet?" he yelled impatiently. 'Yep, definitely Sano' "Hang on! I'm coming! Mou! Stop trying to break the door down!" She stepped outside, locked the gate, and turned to Sano. "I'm ready." "Good, lets go."
"Its too bad Gensai-sensei can't come with us," she said, disappointedly. "Yea... he and the fox were pretty busy when I left. But that's ok, right? You got me!" She just rolled her eyes and laughed at that statement.
They neared the city and immediately took note of the hordes of people swarming around one spot. 'I guess that's where the slavers are.'
Sano went before her pushing and shoving people out of their way while Kaoru followed close behind. She finally made it to the front so she can see what slave they were bidding on at the moment.
When she saw the slave, she knew that was the one. That was the one she was going to help, no, to free. As she told Sano to yell out the bids she took a closer look at the slave. He (or maybe she?) was short and scrawny as a mouse with long, thick, matted red hair, which was hiding his/her face. 'He doesn't look like he would be much use as a worker... hmmm... I wonder...'
She was brought out of her thoughts when she felt Sano's hand on her shoulder. She looked up saw his wide, joyful smile and knew they won the bidding for the slave. She and Sano made their way over to the slavers to claim their "prize". She still couldn't figure out the gender and asked Sano if he could tell. "It's a guy jou-chan. The rags he's wearing are actually a gi and a hakama." "And? I wear that, too, ya know..." Sano just laughed and replied, "They put all the women into showy kimonos to sell 'em faster." "Oh... right..."
They reached the slaver and she paid the amount she bid. She winced when the man was shoved roughly toward her and Sano, making him trip and fall flat on his face. While he got up, Kaoru yelled at the slaver, "Oi! Don't treat him like that!" The slaver laughed. "Don't worry 'bout it. He's jus' a worthless slave. You can treat 'em shit and they don't care."
She was soooo close to bashing his head in with her bokken but she stopped. And it wasn't the large crowd of people that stopped her either. It was the fact that the man, who had recently recovered from his fall, was staring at her with wide, violet eyes. 'Violet eyes?! I've never seen anything like them before!' Then she noticed something else, 'Sadness... such sadness... and pain...' Even the oblivious Sano could see, even feel, the pain and sorrow radiating from his whole being.
Another thing caught her attention: a cross-shaped scar on his left cheek. 'That scar! It looks terrible! I wonder where he got it.'
"His name's Kenshin, but ya' can call him anythin' ya' like. He don't talk much but I gotta' say he's pretty good at a 'lotta things," the slaver said, flashing Kenshin a quick, lust-filled look. Kenshin lowered his head so he wouldn't see it.
Neither Kaoru or Sano missed that look, though, and immediately they knew what the man was talking about. 'I knew he wasn't a worker slave! Poor guy... he's probably been abused by most of his masters...' Now, Kaoru REALLY wanted to bash his head in with her bokken, while Sano stood there pale and enraged, fist and teeth clenching and unclenching.
"Well he's yours now. Have fun 'Shin. I'll miss ya'," the slaver said as he walked away.
Kaoru calmed down and turned to the man, now known as Kenshin. He kept his head bowed, looking at the ground. 'Kenshin... I wonder how he got that name...' Kaoru briefly thought. 'No matter. I need to get him to the dojo and then Sano and I can talk to him. Maybe Gensai-sensei or Megumi-san can come later and give him a quick check-up as well...'
She turned to Sano, who still looked pissed, "Sano, can you pass by the clinic and see if Megumi-san or Gensai-sensei can come to the dojo tonight?" Sano's anger quickly dissipated. "Sure, jou-chan. I'm sure one of them will be able to take some time off," he replied. "Thanks Sano." "No prob'"
"Come on Kenshin. We need to get back to the dojo before lunch." She could barely see his small, shy nod. 'He will have to stay at the dojo a while until he gets his strength back... maybe I can find him a job... and some clothes...' And with that thought in mind, they started walking back to the dojo.
She noticed he was walking quite a distance behind her. "Hey, you don't have to walk so far behind me. Come here." He looked up with a puzzled expression. /That's odd/ he thought /They usually want me to stay as far away as possible in public/ He mentally shrugged and considered what she said an order. He rushed to catch up with her.
'That's better. Now he doesn't look so odd walking all alone...' she thought. Pretty soon they were at the dojo's gates. "Home sweet home," she said, mostly to herself, as she unlocked the gates. She walked in with Kenshin following closely behind.
/She has a nice place... maybe if I'm lucky I can sleep in the yard.../ The lady walked up to him, "I'll show you where your going to sleep. Follow me." /Oh well... I'll probably end up in a storage shed or something.../ He watched as she opened a door to the house and walked in. He followed a bit hesitantly /Why are we going into the house? I can't sleep in here... it doesn't make sense... the slave sleeps outside, the master sleeps in house.../
Kenshin was brought out of his thoughts by her voice. "This will be your room now. I hope you like it... it's pretty much the only thing I have... Kenshin?" He was shocked, staring at the room in disbelief. 'Of course, he's probably never had his own room before... poor guy.'
Kenshin was busy looking at the room in shock. /Is she trying to trick me?/ \Of course, baka. She's like the rest, just wait and see\ He heard the little voice of his fear warning him. /But why would she give me my own room?/ \That's obvious! Because she wants you to get comfortable so she can hurt you when your guard is down! Remember all the other times the masters made you 'comfortable'?\
Kenshin tried to repress the shiver that started down his spine. He was unsuccessful and Kaoru caught it out of the corner of her eye. 'He's uncomfortable here... I think I should make my intentions for him clear' "Kenshin? I need to talk to you about something important. Lets talk over some tea." She started to walk away when she suddenly turned, surprising Kenshin, who was following her. "I just realized something! You don't know my name! Call me Kaoru, ok?"
Kenshin simply nodded shakily. /I can't call her by her first name! And she didn't tell me her last name.../ \She's already trying to get you to trust her... she's quicker than the others...\ /But this is different. She seems sincere and trustable, not like the others.../
He was pulled out of thinking, once again, by the sound of her voice. "Mou! Kaoru no baka! Let me get you some clean clothes and then I'll heat a bath for you. We can talk after that, ok?" And, once again, a small nod.
She left him to his thoughts, alone, in his new room. /She seems very nice... but then again, most of my former masters seemed 'nice' too... she looks as if she means everything she says... I don't know anymore.../
As these thoughts and doubts plagued his mind, Kaoru rummaged through the storage shed looking for a practice gi and a hakama. 'I know there must be something in here that would fit him... AHA! Got something... I hope this works.'
She made her way back into the house towards Kenshin's room. When she got there he was still in the same exact place she left him. "Kenshin I got you some clothes. I'm afraid that's all I have right now. We will go shopping later, maybe tomorrow... how does that sound?"
"Whatever you wish, Kaoru-dono." There was a slight pause.
"Kaoru-dono? I told you to call me Kaoru. You don't have to be so polite to me. Oh! I still need to get the water warmed for your bath! Hang on." Once again he was left alone.
AN: well, that's all for the first chapter. I know, its kinda short. If anyone out there knows how to put italics and bold print in here, can you tell me please? Your help is appreciated! Gomen nasai if there are any mistakes. Hate it? Like it? Should I continue? Please tell me what you think! Domo arigato for reading! Please review!