Claws of Emotion

PART ONE: It Gleams Inside The Cage

Disclaimer: I own nothing of the idea of Rurouni Kenshin... I wish though, then again who doesn't.

This purely fan based weird version. The plot of the story will not follow the anime or manga very well. Its a random idea boredom breed. SO... review, flame, just try to enjoy its weirdness like Azuki bean ice cream.


Silence loomed heavy in the midday air, that penetrating sound that pierced through body, soul, and mind. Blue sapphire eyes glanced around the dojo, somewhat in the mannerism of a seasoned ready fighter awaiting an enemy's blow. With bokken firmly gripped in taunt hands and slight crouch dominating her stance as she rocked on the balls of her feet. Precisely as years of practice taught her, arms cut swiftly parting the wind faster than normally done. She repeated over and over, her body drying out in the determination of victory. In her mind, she visualized an epic battle and her bloodied opponent, true it was against her beliefs to use as a means of slaughter, though sometimes she needed such a release. Sweat built upon her brow due to her strenuous activity performed for the multiple hours trickled down her high cheekbones that held a sight rosy color. This response due to her light panting from the exercise she pushed herself in her solitude. Quickly, Kaoru brought her light bubble gum colored tongue out to quench her parched strawberry lips. Her plain cream training gi seemed to cling to her upper torso as her dirty blue hamaka flowed around her long legs due to her activity. After her kata were finished, she stepped out of the lonely dojo and into the humble courtyard. She walked briskly each step hurried by the uneasy that she felt in the pit of her stomach, a sensation of loneliness she had to out run, for her sake. With her left hand, she brushed the slightly dampened hairs of her bangs out of her deep blue eyes. Her eyes acted upon a whim, side-glanced over to the closed gate, the tall foreboding barrier to the eyes of her peers.

"Right now, a bath would be nice." She moaned rubbing her muscles that seared with a pleasant ache, to release some building pressure. Once she finished her plan of attack, she remembered that Kenshin would not be constantly operating the fire, which warmed the water. He had been the doomed and feeble victim of another of Sano's idea of boys' day out. Yahiko on his own inculcation choose to follow the two older men to partake in the fun.

She wandered down the path that connected the large bathhouse to the rest of the complex. Gathering some of the firewood Kenshin managed to always stock up in his chores, she lit the fire striking the flint to a flat sheet of metal, which was rounded around the edges as to not cut herself. She watched the sparks fly of the colliding stones to awaiting logs, as she kneeled on the dry dusty ground. Her hands skillfully controlled the blazing flames her eyes reflecting their rabid dances.

Kenshin sat to the left of Sano; again, he had brought him to the gambling house. The tall man never did know when to stop. Yahiko had passed out for boredom roughly three hours ago.

"Odds, three." He muttered when the man rolling the dice asked in a small nod his bet. The middle-aged man wearing a petite yukata with short hamaka underneath lifted the cup away and showed the two die read one and two. Everyone around the mat looked at him again. Sano patted him on the back with a powerful slap. This sent the slight man into a face plant on the floor in front of his mat, not that Sano noticed the plight of his friend. "Oro!" He muttered his eyes swirling as he tried to recover from the direct "HIT."

"That's what I am talking about 69, 411 yen! (that's about 580 dollars) Will Jou-chan be happy or what. BUDDY KEEP WORKIN' THAT MAGIC!" Sano hollered his head flying back as he howled out the last part hair following as he tilted his neck elongating it in the process.

"Even six!" He managed to muffle for the next round his hand raised to show his call of a bet of 500 yen for the round. The politician's aids and the politicians themselves along with a range of men form higher classes to the lowest of the scum all totally in fourteen not including the dealer or roller and their little group gazed at them. All then pronounced differing wagers and bet. He still had yet to pry his face off the floor. This was going to take awhile... "Oro!" he quietly whined

Kaoru leaned into the steaming water. Her hair messily done up and towel kept the steam off, she knew of her time constriction dealing with the temperature. Her body relaxed into the water. Again, she massaged her sore shoulder muscles. Practice may make perfect, but it hurt like hell. "I still have to make me dinner!" She groaned at the realization. In the deepest part of her mind, she knew when they left early in the morning, they would not be returning anytime during that same day. "Oh I am a terrible mother figure! What kind of woman lets their important men just roam?"

In the back of her mind, she heard the words of Megumi "A sweaty girl ... A tanuki"

She sighed and emerged. Drying herself off she placed a light beige yukata as she walked to her room to change into a heavier set of clothes. She hummed a soft meldoy pushing her rejuvated body out of the steaming furo. Quickly Kaoru dried off her body and clothed her in a plain kimono ... a dull aged thing that she was to poor to replace. She had many to care a such expenses were unneeded. She rewrapped her bindings first. Then an inner cream layer she carefully draped herself in. She paused looking at the solid brown dotted with white fuzz balls.

"I guess that you and I are alike ... plain. Huh?" She wept to herself in silent mourning of things she lost. "Silly me ... talking to clothing." Kaoru wiped her eyes and scolded with a slap of the wrist to herself.

The air grew deep, thick and hazy in the falling twilight. Kaoru sat upon a step of the porch. Her fingers twitched already wanting a bokken; she thought of why Megumi sent the message of

Be prepared for a night on the town ... when the boys are away the cats will the strays

Kaoru's dress was plain, a light brown with a yellow obi. Her bindings were tight against her uneasy chest. She waited calmly

Kenshin dragged his tired form through the streets of the stirring awakening city of Tokyo. His sandals barely made any indent. Hopelessly he followed the disappearing Sano.

"This one is in much pain." His eyes drooped; the night was unkind to the forced gambler. Both Yahiko and Sano took turns napping to make sure that he kept winning and winning. Both were high on the amount of yen HE had accumulated. "Sessha does not deserve this torture." His magenta gi was dull from his stumbling, tripping, and falling. The little trek had morphed into a march of a tango of reality and dreams. His staggered again, he clutched his sakabato for strength. The trio in the pit of their stomach knew they had to get to Kaoru before she awoke in the morning.

The gate opened and Megumi sauntered in.

"What?! You are now just getting here?" Kaoru exclaimed. She leaped off the step and stood thumping her foot against the dirt.

Megumi slanted her eyes closed, brought her elegant hand to her red mouth and muffled her laughter. Kaoru was just the funniest person at times.

"Perfection takes time." Megumi chided while waving her free hand around her outfit as an example. "Now, lets be off!" She recovered and spoke in a faux serious tone.

"Whatever..." Grumbled Kaoru slumping she followed Megumi into town. Tokyo seemed to expand as night fell. If the timing was wrong the two of them could in up in a whole lot of trouble. Instinctively, they hurried their pace. They arrived at a restaurant; it was deeper in town and not her usual scene. It consisted of private rooms, and basically served sake.

"Here you go, ladies, enjoy your relaxation and time away from home." The hostess chanted almost with practiced smile.

Kaoru almost refuted the girl's claim until Megumi told her this was a gift from on of her patients, for her and one friend to take some time off.

The sake came soon, on a giant onyx platter, in a multitude of flavors she had never heard of before. Timidly Kaoru took her first cup. Holding the small cup in her trembling hands, she spotted her reflection in the liquid. A chill ran down her spine, nevertheless, she threw back the drink. It burned her throat leaving her breathless, and she didn't give a damn.

Kenshin rocked back and forth; he finally arrived at the gate. His body collapsed at the welcoming aura of home. Sano and Yahiko pulled his limp body back into his barren room. He dozed. The two counterparts counted the winnings, and tried to silently cheer at the good fortune.

Kaoru and Megumi kept throwing back drink after drink- it no longer stung. Kaoru managed to pass her usual violent drunken stage and passed into an entirely different type of drunkard. She again stared deeply into her cup. With a quick shake to her head, she realized that Megumi was rambling to her.

"... I mean, why do they put up with us, I mean especially," She slurred and tried again, "You. I mean look at you!" A girl fakkking being an adult. Aa ... A baby clutching onto everyone!" Megumi hiccupped and giggled as she reached for another tiny cup.

The words stung more than usual. Kaoru grew still. She blinked and wavered side to side, she managed a grimace.

Megumi laughed unaware and continued after placing the empty cup on the table, "Its not your fault. You, never had anyone to teach you the mystic ways of women" She crooned, extended her lips with every word.

Kaoru slumped, her shoulders hunching slightly and mournfully murmured "yeah..."

The waitress began to worry about the rapidly declining awareness of the pair and sent them home quickly. It was dark out, street lanterns flickered in the breeze. Even crime had gone to the warmth of bed. Megumi danced through the streets her kimono weaving and billowing majestically. Kaoru somberly dragged her feet. She felt numb down to her very soul, the sake had left her vacant, then again it could have been Megumi's words. Her sapphire eyes started to dim, her smile wore away.

"TANUKI-CHAN!! Move it!" Megumi giggled midst her twirling.

"Yea," Kaoru choked she replaced her regular expression on her face. "We better get back soon."

"I'll race you!" Megumi cheered almost screaming. Neither rationalized it, but took off in stumbling speed.

Their feet nearly slipping from underneath them, each step seemed like falling, a magnetic pull driving them home. They reached the dojo quickly. Amidst their giggles, they poorly snuck in.

Sanosuke and Yahiko were asleep in the hall, leaning against the wooden wall.

Megumi motioned over to Kaoru to wait where she was. In hurried steps, Megumi tiptoed over to Sanosuke's large strong form. He breathed heavy and slightly turned. Megumi neared him and reached out with her skilled hand. Lightly grabbing his tanned face, gathering courage, she licked her lips. She leaned her face towards his. Quickly she kissed him with drunken speed. Kaoru barely withheld clapping at the affectionate display. Megumi hastily retreated back to Kaoru's side.

"I've always wanted to do that." Megumi whispered to Kaoru with a mild blush staining her normally placid cheeks. "He tasted like ... like the sea smells ..." She swayed placing most of her weight on Kaoru. "
Next time, I'll run my fingers through his hair." She sighed and smiled with a hazy look in her eyes.

"Next time," Kaoru question, "Will you be drunk and Sano sleeping?"

"NO!" Megumi screamed in horror loudly, "We'll be in the throws of passion in my medical office" She giggled happily and continued "And he'll whisk me away to a temple for a marriage ceremony! Them we will have five children." Megumi finished with a serious expression and glint in her eye.

"You really have this planned don't you?" Kaoru mumbled in shock at the detailed plan.

Megumi suddenly stopped. Kaoru lost balance and fell on her butt with a thump.

"Kaoru," Megumi stated in a motherly tone, "Go, say goodnight to Sir Ken!" Her eyes glaring at Kaoru's beet red face.

"I couldn't possibly!-"Kaoru rambled in terror of her embarrassment.

"I guess you are right ..." Megumi sighed in defeat.

After fumbling to get up, Kaoru deposited Megumi in an extra room and fled back to hers. She collapsed as she entered the room. Having no energy to change out of her clothes, she passed out on the floor. A tear trickled down her pale cheek.

Kenshin awoke a little before sun arose. He stretched and smiled widely. After changing into another of his classic magenta and whit ensembles, he pranced out of his room. His smile widened when he saw Sanosuke and Yahiko, so similar that they looked like brothers. He went to check on Kaoru-dono after he began boiling the rice and soup. He heard a low groan from behind the closed door. One of his red eyebrows arched in question. Silently he peered in, almost frightened. Kaoru-dono had sweat on her brow and a frown marred her beautiful face. She groaned and twisted in pain. Kenshin bit his bottom lip to keep from running to her side to help.

In midst of his dreaming of holding her and rocking her angelic form into serenity, Kaoru awoke violently. She lurched from her bed, her throat on fire, and unconsciously ran over Kenshin in her hast to reach the outside.

"Oro..." Kenshin groaned, the world was dark but his head managed to feel like it was spinning.

Kaoru barely made it to the back of the property before she vomited the contents of her stomach. Her blue eyes were heavy in grief and glazed in alcohol; she tried to stumble back to the dojo. The calm serenity of the morning seemed to mock her turmoil. Green leaves played in the light breeze that cooled her raging temperature. The blue sky had some large white clouds in the distant horizon. Her socks caught most of the dirt she kicked up when she walked, stumbling down the path. Kaoru tried to focus but ... nothing came to mind; everywhere the world spun ... faster... and faster.

"That's the last time I go drinking with Megumi, kuso." She spat her voice dripping in a hoarse hum.

Heady smells tickled her nose, the smells of the kitchen, the smell of Kenshin's hard work. A thought crossed her mind of what would she do if Kenshin saw as such. Horror and dread ran down her spine, it pricked every nerve. She rushed, fidgeting with her appearance.

Kenshin after regaining consciousness walked, patrolling, around the perimeter of the dojo for Kaoru's lovely figure. He worried deeply over her status of her health.

"Kaoru-dono? Sessha would like to know where you are." Kenshin questioned to the still morning air. He ran, barely touching the ground, through the hallways.

Kaoru wavered on she seemed to still fumble. Her raven hair flew about in its ponytail. Kenshin rounded the corner after picking up her slight groan. He ran to catch her falling form, she landed limp in his strong arms. Her long black lashes flickered and her blue eyes gazed happily at his striking face.

"Are you alright, Kaoru-dono? You gave Sessha quite the scare." Kenshin murmured into her ear as her pulled her up into his arms bridal style.

Kaoru's limbs fell against his lean form; her motionless fingers tickled his exposed chest. Kenshin took a hidden inhale of Kaoru's hair, the smell of sweet jasmine soothed his worries. She felt clammy, cold now that the rush of her drunken fever passed. The tiny niches of her mind managed to register the feel of Kenshin's soft hair caressing her cheek, unknowingly she began to nuzzle him.

A slight blush crept onto Kenshin's face, followed by a secret wide smile.

"Today is turning out to be a wonderful day." Kenshin happily whispered to himself and to Kaoru's deaf ears. Even the dark recesses of his mind where the dark Battousai lurked were happy.

The sun began to flood the dojo as Kenshin placed Kaoru on his futon, his room was closer to the kitchen and breakfast would burn if he didn't get back soon.

Sano and Yahiko groaned as the light began to diffuse. Sano pulled Yahiko onto of him as a blanket. Sanosuke took slow long tranquil breaths, while Yahiko snored peacefully.

Megumi moaned while she tossed and turned on the futon, the sake also did not settle well in her stomach.

Kaoru slept on Kenshin's futon in magical nirvana surrounded by his rich aroma. She snuggled into his futon and released a pleasant sigh.

Kenshin rushed into the small kitchen and swiftly picked the rice pot off the fire, as it began to boil over. He stirred the soup and waited for everyone to awaken.

"This is going to be a while ..." Kenshin groaned into the morning silence.

The sun rose and shined brightly overhead, the city already bustling. Shouts and noise of the clamoring citizens wafted in the summer breeze. But in the Kamiya dojo all save one still slumbered.

Kenshin began to reheat the rice as the smell of food finally lingered to Sano and Yahiko's awaiting noses. A single muscle on each of their faces twitched. Their eyes shot open, in a loud stampede they made their usual way to the kitchen.

"Good morning. Sessha is almost done with breakfast." Kenshin answered, as they threw open the door, without turning around.

"Hey! That was some money we raked in!" Sanosuke exclaimed stretching his massive arms above his head. He noted a sweet taste lingering on his lips; instinctively he began to slowly lick it off.

"Kenshin, What are we having?!" Yahiko whined followed by a growl of his stomach.

"To begin ... tea, miso soup, fish ..."Kenshin rattled on trying to keep his mind busy.

Kaoru awoke to eerie silence and a dull and constant pounding in her head, startled blue eyes darted around Kenshin's room. With a rigid ache in her body she tired to push herself off the futon.

"I wonder why they stay?" She whispered to the morning as she straightened her clothes. "I understand that Kenshin-gumi wants to stay around Kenshin and that Kenshin would like to stay around the Kenshin-gumi." She rambled. Stumbling she exited Kenshin's private sanctuary, a place she felt she somewhat had violated. The wind blew the trees leaving sweet wind to dance around her. "But I wonder ... how I fit in ..." She pondered walking to the kitchen. "Dear Kami! They must think me an irrational landlady!" Tears began to form in her eyes. Her worry and fear gnawed on her soul. She collapsed on the ground and gazed up at the passing clouds.

"Tanuki?!" Megumi called loudly in a hoarse voice as she woke up in an unfamiliar room.

"Mou!" Kaoru chided. She wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. She reached down and added a sprinkling of dirt to cover up the flushing of her face.

Megumi slowly crept to the kitchen as she restored her usual poise and elegance. She groaned at her headache, nonetheless, she plastered a coy smile on her face as she entered the kitchen and sat down at the table.

"This one believes everyone has awakened." Kenshin happily commented and began to set the table.

Kaoru ran toward the kitchen near the main hall. Her legs felt heavy and numb.

A deep dark emotion plagued her mind. Something disturbing bloomed in her psyche when she opened the door to find everyone: happy, together, perfect, beautiful, and completely unaware of her existence.

In her mind, her vision was overtaken by a single black blossoming bud of a rose.

Kenshin jolted, he sensed the air crackle with a new foreign power, his eyes slightly narrowed with specks of amber and quickly he patrolled the area with his sight. Then he noticed that Kaoru-dono stood silently panting in the doorway.

Tension flooded from his body. "Hello, Kaoru-dono." He automatically responded with a cocked smile,

"Hello, ... everyone..." Kaoru slowly responded her voice nearly an octave lower than normal. She awkwardly sat down at the table.

No one noticed ...


SO how was it? Its styled kind of weird, but then again its a weird idea.

Forgive my spelling or grammar, I don't have a beta so its kinda rough...