Chapter 1: Battousai met a Nobody
He who knows doesn't speak; he who speaks doesn't know
Edo Period
Year 1869: Night in Kyoto
"Who are you?", the red-head assassin lowly commanded, his cold eyes gleam with gold and amber sparks. The weather poured down on him heavily, the now wet dark blue gi clung to his body and his brown hakama was feeling heavy below him but that didn't bother him, in fact he didn't even realize that it was raining until he felt the wet coldness against his fair skin. He was too occupied to notice anything or anyone else. His calloused hands holding the tsuka of his katana with his blade pointing the neck of his victim, he was tempted to cut that perfect creamy skin before him. He was still looking at the dark depths of his victim.
The victim was just smirking at him. "I'm nobody", came the soft but firm reply. The victim didn't show any sign of fear, not caring that there was a dangerous blade on her neck.
"You will be", came the threatening reply
"So do it", at that moment he thought there was a wistfulness on the tone of her voice, like she wanted to end her fate this way.
To end by the hands of the Battousai.
You are all the same
"You're a coward", he said
"And you're stalling, Battousai", came the playful voice of his victim. She's a strange one, one of the rare ones for not fearing the infamous Battousai, the hitokiri who was an Imperialist Assassin since he had known for so long. Who never feared of killing, that was his fate, that was his goal when he joined the Choshu Ishin Shishi under the power of his leader who he had given his faith and belief to. He couldn't recall anyone who had ever looked at him with defiance while they had his kisaki pointed dangerously at them. There could have been someone before but he didn't care of the memory for they were all the same.
They all died in his cold-bloodied hands.
How could this one be different?
"Tell me why", he commanded
His victim blinked at him for a moment. How could she look at me with innocent eyes while looking at me without fear?
"Tell you what?"
"Why did you tell her?", he hissed
This woman was getting on his nerves and she's not even doing anything. He was provoked by hundred of enemies and even allies and not even once did he lose his temper but he lost his composure because of this girl who could no less be 2 or 3 years younger than he was. So she was probably 18 or 19 years old or becoming one this year.
Too bad she won't be celebrating her birthday this year
"It's better that she went on with a vengeance than lose to herself from her depression because you killed her fiance", she said calmly, her voice didn't choke even though he pressed his kisaki deeper to her neck.
"You are foolish", he spat at her
The wench arched a brow at him. "You're the one being foolish here, having a conversation with your victim instead of killing it"
He smirked. "So you're an 'it'?"
Her bangs covered her eyes which broke his trance, how long had he been looking into those dark orbs?
"I already told you…..I'm nobody", she whispered
The Battousai was angry, very very angry and not because of her although he wanted to blame everything to her but he was angry with himself. He couldn't seem to continue with his execution, he just couldn't slice her head off not even a piece of her hair. What was wrong with him? Was she a witch? Was he controlling his body? No, he could command his body to do it but his mind won't let him and another part of him that was untouched told him to let her go.
To set her free.
For now
He saw her eyes widened with astonishment when he released her neck from his sword. He was even more astonished with himself that he was actually doing this. He was relieved that he felt there was no other ki besides his and hers. The feeling of her ki was weak but it warmed him, somewhere unknown touched him. It made him wary of her.
"You're letting me go?", she asked, her dark orbs still widening from the shock
He slashed his katana to the air then with a grace and he placed it back to it's scabbard. His long fiery bangs hiding his golden-amber eyes that turned into slits.
"You're not worth the kill, after all…..", he looked up to her with a dangerous face, "you're just a nobody"
She softly smiled against the cold rain, it affected him in someway he couldn't understand beyond his learning of the bushido or the meaning of life in general.
"That's true", her voice was hush but husky
"Are you a geisha?"
She snorted then shook her head
"Even a nobody has a name"
"So does a Legendary assassin", she countered, giving him a challenging look which comforted him a bit but mostly irritated him more. He just noticed now the kimono she was wearing. The color blue with dragon flies flowing as the design and the obi was a matching color, it hugged her curves and considering it was wet because of the heavily cold rain, it clung to her even more. She was thin but not without flesh, she had a stubborn chin like her attitude. Her ebony hair was tied into a ponytail. Without the trance of her eyes he finally felt the coldness of the rain. He wondered if she felt the same effect as well.
He ignored her reply then turned his back on her. "I suggest you leave this place and never mention to anyone, if I heard anything", he looked at her sideways with a deadly glare, "I will hunt you down"
"Hai hai….Battousai, sayonara!", she replied cheerfully then walked the opposite side of his direction.
The wench already left 10 minutes ago but he was still there, his right hand on the hilt of his sword. His mind was reeling on the events that just occurred minutes ago.
He was on an assignment to kill a man called Akira Yamamoto which was successful. The man also had a fiancée named Tomoe Yukishiro but that didn't surprise him, he knew that already from the information he was given to. What caught him by surprise that there was a witness and the witness lived.
The witness told the fiancée herself and nobody else who killed her fiancé. Now the Yukishiro woman swore revenge and he was being followed ever since. He had no intention on killing her.
One: He wasn't given orders to kill her
Two: She wasn't the witness
It was the woman who lived from his sword. The wench with those tantalizing dark blue orbs that looked at him and he felt naked whenever he looked at her eyes, he should have resisted but he didn't. He dared himself. He wasn't sure if he regretted it.
"Oi! Kenshin, what the hell are you doing here just standing in the rain", his train of thought snapped once he heard that familiar rough voice. One of his allies and considered his closest comrade, Sanosuke Sagara.
Kenshin didn't answer him but Sano was to use that anyway, he rarely answered his questions anyway unless it involved his mission. Sano grinned. "Whatever on, let's get back to HQ and get some sake, I think I might get lucky tonight"
"You'll never win a bet even if you have to bet your own life", was the remark
"Oi!"
3 days after…..
Kenshin relaxed himself in the onsen of their HQ, he just finished another assignment. He killed another important political influence that was against them, against their beliefs.
For a better Kyoto, for a better a Japan
In just 3 days he did 15 assignments without breaking a sweat, for some reason he was more motivated, he concentrated himself on doing his assignment and more importantly finishing it. His other fellow comrades wondered why he was acting this way not that they didn't mind, especially their leader, he didn't mind at all. He was very glad that he was following his orders, ever the loyal and reliable samurai. None of them knew that the reason he was busying himself on his duty, that was he was concentrating only his duty was because he might concentrate on something or rather someone else.
It worked for awhile but when he was relaxing himself like right now, his mind began to wonder on certain events that he shouldn't dwell on. This humanity of his did him no justice on that, it was frustrating him. He was beginning to reconsider Sano's invitation on going to a whorehouse to enjoy himself but he wasn't interested at the moment. He couldn't remember when he last had one of those flesh under him and moaning his name, hungry for more of him.
Probably 2 years ago…
He shook his head, feeling ridiculous of giving it a thought. Maybe his duty was driving him insane because of the solidarity he was in.
He needed a break.
That's why he was right in front of his leader's door to his office. He quietly knocked the door 3 times.
"Come in", came the faint sound and he turned the knob opened then entered. The room was fairly big, the right wall was his leader's first katana that was displayed in a glass box, to the left was a bookshelf full of scrolls. Scrolls of names of his leader's subordinates, leaders of Japan, criminals, missions, maps and probably the names that he killed. Behind his leader's desk was a big map of Japan and those red marks on each district was the place where they killed all political leaders of every city.
The map was half red
"Battousai, my my…..this is a surprise, what can I do for you?"
The leader of the Choshu Ishin Shishi, Takasugi Shinsaku, looked at him with strong piercing black eyes which was slightly covered with short black bangs. He was wearing a white gi with his hands were supporting his head as he leaned on his desk and under his desk, Kenshin could see the sleeves of his gray hakama and his feet were covered with black tabi socks and black zori.
Kenshin took a step forward until he was just a few inches from Takasugi's brown desk.
"I request to have a 2 weeks break"
Takasugi arched a brow, he never expected this then he remembered the missions that he had been busying with lately. He had a sinister smile on his face. "You probably deserve it anyway, considering the 15 missions you did in 3 straight days. It could probably make a man insane even for a hitokiri"
Kenshin's golden-amber eyes narrowed. "I'm used to it", his voice was crisp and cold that Takasugi cringed a bit from the harsh tone.
Takasugi waved his hand off about it. "Calm down Battousai no need to have a temper", he chuckled a bit then looked back at his elite samurai, "Alright then, I'm giving you a break as you requested. Only 2 weeks, go wherever you want then come back here immediately. If you break your promise, I will have your comrades hunt you down", he said that last statement with a strict tone, holding promise.
Kenshin nodded then turned away, not leaving room for a reply and left the office.
Next Day: Early afternoon in Shiga City
From Kyoto he was heading north and he arrived in Shiga, from 6 hours of walking he found himself an inn to stay for the night. After he was situated to his room, he thought of going fishing. It was rare to find any restaurant or a bar for food because the people in Shiga prefer homemade cooking so he might as well cook food for himself, he haven't even eaten lunch yet and his stomach was growling much to his dislike.
He found a river and sat down on the grass of the riverbank. He used raw shrimp that he asked from the inn as bait. Seconds later the shrimp was floating on the river waiting for it's prey to take the bait. To say he was bored was an understatement, he was sitting there with a stiff back for half an hour and still no catch, he was beginning to think that fishing wasn't a good idea.
Why am I taking a break again?
"Nee-chan! Nee-chan! Please help!"
Kenshin hurriedly turned his head to the source of the sound, there was a small little girl who was being cornered by 2 men who was ready to attack. The little girl was holding a small brown sack on her hands, it could be coins and they were trying to steal it from her.
Disgusting
Before he could take action and prove justice there was another figure that dropped right in front of the 2 men, the figure was a few inches smaller than the two. He can hear the little cry with glee and relief that her 'Nee-chan' finally arrived. The figure was covered with a brown cloak and only the head was exposed from it's hood, obviously it was a woman because the little girl called her 'Nee-chan'. He felt her ki, it was weak and slightly familiar.
With swift moments, the person kicked the two hard on the gut then kneed their heads. The two got the message then ran away with fear.
"Arigatou Nee-chan! You saved me!", the little girl cried as she rushed into the cloaked-figure's arms who comforted the girl with endearments.
That ki feels very familiar
The figure must have known he was watching them for the person looked up.
That wench!
He couldn't believe that it was that woman who saved the girl from two men who had bigger muscles and was taller than her although he knew that physical power wasn't everything but he never would have thought that….that wench could fight. He froze when she was smiling his way then leaned down to the girl, whispering something to her ear. The little girl nodded to her then she was running.
His way
"Hi aniki!", the little girl greeted cheerfully when she was just at arm's length away from him
He arched a brow. Aniki?
"Nee-chan was asking….I mean….would you like to eat lunch with us instead of fishing for nothing?", came the innocent question but the meaning meant something else, his temper slightly rose again. That wench was mocking her again, she was defying him again but he wouldn't take it out on this little girl, one way or another he will have his revenge on that impulsive, impudent, irritating, infuriating……….damn wench!
He nodded to the little girl and that was enough for her because she was smiling happily.
"Great! Meet us at the Mel Inn, that's where we are eating. Just wait in the entrance and I will be there"
Again he nodded
"Arigatou Aniki!", she bowed then ran back to the wench then they left not without that infuriating woman waving back at him as if he was an old friend of hers.
She's my enemy
After that incident, he returned his fishing necessities back to his room then asked directions from the clerk on where the Mel Inn was, once he was clearly told he followed to the direction of what he was told by the old lady. The Mel Inn was slightly larger than the Inn he was staying for the night. He went inside then the little girl was there waiting for him, she changed into a pink kimono with patterned roses with a matching obi. The clerk greeted him first before the girl did.
"Konnichiwa Aniki! Follow me, I'll take you to the room now"
Room? Probably where we would eat…….is the wench already there?
They arrived on the 2nd floor and the little girl slide open the shoji. The room was slightly larger than his room, probably enough for 2 or 3 people. How was this girl connected with that conniving woman? Was this little girl actually her younger sister? He was slightly alarmed that a pair of small hands dragged him to the dining area. There were two older people seated in front of a low table where the food was already prepared.
Probably her parents…..is that also the woman's parents? They don't look alike though
The two saw the both of them coming in and the man spoke. "Is this the guest, Ayame-chan?"
"Hai papa!", so he was right that these two were her parents. He was just relieved that they didn't recognize him or else there would be tension. What was that wench thinking? Inviting the Battousai for lunch with a family. He snorted. She probably wasn't thinking at all.
"Oh, so you did come after all", that voice again, it was a long while that he hadn't heard her voice and it was making strange reactions to his stomach and he felt sick about it. He turned to the figure and there she was, wearing a yellow kimono with violet orchids. Her hair was tied up again in a ponytail, she was wearing white tabi socks and she removed her zori before stepping on the tatami floor. Now that he was looking at her face clearly from the last time they met, he could see her clear sapphire eyes were smiling.
"Nee-chan! You're finally here, now we can finally eat our meal!", the little girl called Ayame exclaimed
"Yes, please sit down", the older woman, who Kenshin assumed was the mother, responded with a welcoming smile.
Kenshin followed suit when she sat down on the tatami. They both watched the family prayed to Buddha then greeted with an Itadikimasu then started eating their meal. He wondered if the woman beside him cooked this meal herself. They had Oden for lunch, a nabe dish prepared with various fish cakes, daikon, boiled eggs, konyaku and kombu seaweed, boiled over many hours in a soya sauce based soup. For once, his meeting with the woman gave him a benefit for instead of eating fried fish and rice that he planned, he was eating a delicious homemade cook meal but if this woman made it he wouldn't admit to her that he liked her cooking.
During their meal, there were introductions.
"So who is this other friend of yours, Ayame-chan?", asked the mother was poked her rice with her chopsticks.
"This is Aniki! It was Nee-chan's idea to invite him for lunch", answered the genki-girl. Now Kenshin was a bit alarmed, if they would ask for his name should he tell them his real name or lie to them? It seems a bit unfair to lie when he was just fed with a delicious meal.
He didn't know he was going to be rescued by the wench.
"This is an old friend of mine, his name is Ken. I saw him by the river and thought I'd invite him. I felt bad for him if he didn't have anything to eat, he just arrived to Shiga today", said the calm woman beside him and she was actually telling the truth well except about his true name which could be his nickname and the implication that he wouldn't have anything to eat. He would eventually catch a fish.
"Oh you just arrived here, Ken-san? Well you are very welcome to eat lunch with us. Buddha must have blessed you for this occurrence", said the father with a firm nod of belief
Kenshin fought himself from snorting. A blessing? More like a curse since I bumped into her again
"I am relieved to hear that you don't mind this sudden invitation, Yori-sama", said the wench with a smile which he wasn't sure if she was sincere or not.
"Aniki is lucky that nee-chan didn't cook the meal! Such a blessing!", exclaimed the genki-girl then busied herself with her soba. The mother gasped then scolded her daughter and Ayame muffled a 'sorry' but the mother wasn't content with that and gave Ayame a lecture about table manners and to say nice things or Buddha will punish them while the father ignored the commotion and silently ate his food.
So she didn't cook the food after all…
From the corner of his eyes, he looked at the woman who slightly blushed from embarrassment. Kenshin smirked, satisfied with this new information. Also he figured out that this wasn't her parents since she addressed them with their names. He wondered why she was here? Did she actually live here or was she just visiting someone, maybe this Ayame girl.
After lunch, he and the wench said their goodbyes to the family and left the inn. Now the two were standing outside.
"I'm waiting", she said with a playful look in her eyes
What is the cursed woman talking about now?
"Waiting for what?", he scowled at her
She smirked. "Oh….I don't know….maybe a little gratitude because you won't starve the whole afternoon since I invited you for a delicious meal"
"Which you didn't cook", he retorted and she was blushing again which he actually, dare he say it….find her pretty. He shook his head.
"Ok ok ok….so I didn't cook the meal, cooking is not really my cup of tea here", she said with an exasperated sigh, scratching the back of her hair then she looked back at him again, her eyes sparkling with determination. "I'm still waiting you know", she grinned
Kenshin rolled his eyes, he ignored her and just glared at her.
She gave in mock-surrender. "Fine fine….I can take a hint. Mood killer", she grumbled then walked past him then stopped when a firm hand encircled her wrist. She turned around and saw Kenshin looking down to the ground. She grinned, finding him adorable like he was some puppy missing his master.
"Well…..???"
"Thank you"
When he looked up, he regretted it when he saw her eyes soften and he felt his stomach churning again which made him sick, he released her wrist then slid his hands into his sleeves of his dark blue gi.
"See….now that wasn't hard. Even though you are hitokiri you are still human you know", she said then turned away
His eyes widened, something what she said disturbed him. He looked at her back, it was like de ja vu again. She was walking away from him again. His eyes widened.
"Wait!"
She turned around with a questioning look.
"How did you know my name?"
Her eyes widened incredulously. "So your name is actually Ken?"
What? So she didn't know? She was just guessing?
She giggled. "Wow…..it was just a wild guess must be my lucky day", she grinned
He glared at her, this woman was really irritating him. How dare she infuriate him? Always looking at him with a challenging look. "Just who are you wench?", he asked angrily
She glared at him. "Wench you say….you jerk! I never did anything to you and you just call me that out of the blue? You got some lot of nerve, Ken"
He clenched his fist. "I'm not Ken"
"Don't change the subject"
"It's also disrespectful to be identified wrongly", he countered
She sighed then took a step forward until she was just a foot away from him. "Forgive me then-"
"I don't want your apology"
She glared at him again. "Then what do you want, I can't be standing here all day. It's not worth my time"
Damn her! Damn her to HELL!
"I want your name, the nobody excuse won't work this time"
She was taken aback on what he said. So he wanted to know her name. She gave it some thought, rubbing her chin as if she was seriously thinking about it which just irritated him. She was mocking him again. This woman had a death wish alright.
He was surprised when she cheerfully smiled at him. "Ok then!", then she offered her hand. "My name is Kaoru, what's yours?"
Kaoru……Kaoru…..
"Kaoru…..", he liked saying her name but he'll be damned if he'll tell her that then he looked down at her hand, waiting for him to shake it. Introductions were important to him and he always gave the person some respect for giving his or her identity, she was no excuse although he really really love to give an exception to her. He took her hand and firmly shook it, he was stunned at the sudden electricity he felt the moment he touched her skin. He noticed her hands were small compared to his and her hands were soft and smooth, contrasting to his rough ones from training and missions he had gone through.
"Kenshin", he stated
"Are you staying over for the night?"
He looked at her skeptically with keen eyes. What was she leading on to now?
"Yes"
For a slight moment he thought he saw a flash of disappointment in her eyes but why would she?
"Well it was rather nice knowing you and bumping into you again. Better than the last one I'm sure", she smirked
He realized he didn't release her hand until she pulled away from him and walked away. He admired the way she swayed her hips, her long ebony hair swishing from left to right behind her. He had an urge to follow her but he planted his feet from where she left him.
From where he let her go, again….
But he had a feeling that this wasn't the last time he'll see Kaoru
2 days later in the middle-eastern part of Gifu Prefecture
Damn himself for being right
There was Kaoru again, she went inside an inn to stay over for how long, he didn't know but he didn't care. He was cursed, damnit he was curse for seeing her again. The reason why he had this break in the first place so he can relax and clear his mind but it seems that the gods wanted to mock him with a cursed angel.
He snorted. Kaoru was an angel in disguise, oh how he loathed her whole being.
He hated himself more for he paid a room to the same inn Kaoru was in. He didn't understand himself why he did that and stopped wondering because it was giving him a headache and it will just annoy him even more.
When he entered his room he heard something fell from the other room to his right then he heard some more noises falling and hurried foot steps and it stopped right in front of his shoji door and it was slide open with a disgruntled Kaoru who was looking down, with her left hand on her neck.
"Gomenasai but could you help get my…..woah! Kenshin! Never thought I'd see you again, 3 times the charm I guess', she grinned at him
Kenshin muttered something under his breath that she didn't catch it, not that it mattered to her at the moment. "Anyway….umm…could you help me, oh wait nevermind. I need to find someone else who can do it"
The way she said it implied something. "What do you mean, someone who can do it? I'm sure whatever you need some help with I can do it", he said with annoyance
She grinned. "I need someone tall enough to do it"
That did it, he fumed. He stomped after her and placed his hands on her arms dragging her to him until their nose touched. "Are you telling me, the Battousai can't do what you can't? Don't insult me wench"
"Ok fine…..I deserved that one", she muttered to herself then looked back up at him, this was the first time she was actually close to him. Man this was tempting her but she got more issues to finish like the Battousai who was seething in front of her. "You wanna help?"
"Yes!"
"Fine then! Help me get the blanket that's way above the high cupboard, I can't reach it"
He smirked. "That's all? Foolish wench", he finally let her go then moved past her and entered her room.
"Hey! Stop calling me wench! Mou!"
He ignored her then looked around for the blanket, once the target was in sight he took a leap then got the intended object and landed gracefully to the floor. It took less than 3 seconds and Kaoru saw the whole thing. He gave her the blanket.
"Thanks", she muttered
He smirked then was about to leave the room when her voice stopped him.
"Hey! Ano….I was just wondering….what are you doing here? Do you have a mission here or something?"
"Why? So you can report to someone else like what you did the last time?"
She cringed on the harsh tone of his cold voice. She sighed then walked up to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry that I caused trouble for you but….I just had to…."
He felt her hand shaking, he turned around and noticed she was shivering. The atmosphere was getting colder, winter would come soon. He took the blanket from her arms and placed it around her shoulders and pulled her closer to him, he felt her relaxing so he fully enveloped her in his arms. She laid her head on his chest, welcoming the warmth that was radiating from him.
"Ne Kenshin…..may I know your full name?"
Kenshin's eyes hardened but Kaoru wasn't looking at him. "There's a catch though"
Kaoru giggled. "Yes yes, I'll tell you mine after you tell me yours. You have my word"
Did he?
"Himura….Kenshin Himura"
"Kenshin Himura……..I like that name, it really suits you", he bit his inner cheek from smiling
"Tell me yours", he said as he tightened his arms around her.
"Kaoru Kamiya", she whispered then she looked up to look at his face. She felt vulnerable in his arms at that moment.
"Kenshin Himura…I'm sorry….", her voice was so soft, so sincere, filled with compassion and the way she looked at him with those innocent eyes that he couldn't help but kissed her forehead and pulled her closer to him.
They spent the rest of the night in a bar, drinking sake. Kenshin was mostly the one drinking, Kaoru only took a little then just asked for an Ocha. Kaoru was surprised on the possessiveness nature of Kenshin Himura, when there was a guy who was hitting on Kaoru, he glared at him and pulled her close to his seat. In fact, he was glaring at every guy who even just took a glimpse at her. She wasn't sure if she liked it or not but as long she was in his arms, she ain't going to complain. She really liked being in his arms even though he was the Battousai, it just gave her a warm feeling, much much better than a warm blanket.
Kenshin told her that he was taking a break from his missions and Kaoru teased him that he was thinking of her too much that she was distracting him but the one was surprised in the end was Kaoru when he admitted that she was distracting him. She wondered if that was the sake talking or must be her wishful thinking.
"Why are you here and alone, Kaoru?"
She liked him saying her name and even more if it was in a rather intimate incident, she grinned at the thought then shook her head.
"I just wanted to travel for awhile", she answered not leaving anymore room to explain further and she was glad that he didn't ask anymore, maybe he was too drunk. Thank god.
Considering it was getting very late already, Kaoru decided that they should head back to the inn. She brought Kenshin's arm over her shoulder and supported both of them and they left the still noisy bar.
"Kaoru…..", his tone was hush and so low that Kaoru had to strain herself to hear him
"Hai?"
"I..don't want you….drinking sake…", even though his tone was soft, it still had that strict and commanding intention
Kaoru was amused then gave him a cheeky grin. "Hai Aniki!", she teased
Kenshin still had the power to glare at her. "I'm not your Aniki", he hissed
"Well you're certainly not my father", she answered back with a smirk
Kaoru was relieved when they finally arrived back in the inn and with the help of the clerk, they made it up the stairs to Kenshin's room. Kaoru bowed to the clerk with thanks then she helped Kenshin tucked in bed. Now that Kenshin was lying down on the futon and relaxing, she decided it was time for her to leave. When she turned around, she heard his voice.
"Stay", his voice was hoarse, she couldn't see his eyes for it was hidden under his fiery bangs. She couldn't help herself from brushing them off from his eyes, he had his eyes closed but she knew he was still awake, waiting for her to answer him. She cupped his cheek with her right hand, her thumb caressing the scar.
"I'll stay, only if you tell me the story of this scar"
There was a moment of silence, you can only hear the bustling sound of the cold wind and the brushing of leaves outside. Kenshin let out a breath then opened his eyes, she was mesmerized of the violet color that was mixed with a spark of gold. She envied those eyes.
"Always a catch, huh?"
Kaoru smirked.
"Fine then, tomorrow morning"
"I'll go change into my yukata", she said then left the room to hers to change.
He wondered why he felt cold all of a sudden when the moment the warmth of her hand left him. It was an odd feeling, it made him want. Wanted more. It felt like….he's actually alive, that he could actually live to the fullest. Wasn't he living to the fullest? He became a hitokiri to fulfill his beliefs, his duty.
For a better Kyoto, for a better Japan
Yet this woman…..Kaoru made him think otherwise. Kenshin sighed. Maybe he just missed having to hold a woman, he wasn't getting any for the last 2 years for gods sake.
Is she still virgin?
She didn't look like to be a prostitute. He can't imagine Kaoru to be one of those soiled doves. She's just an innocent who had a temper and she's as stubborn as a mule that she drove him nuts. But for the past meetings until now, he had grown fond of her. If they parted again, he felt like it wouldn't be their last meeting. It felt natural for him that they will see each other again.
If we parted……..
He heard the shoji to his room being opened and closed. He can feel Kaoru's ki, he moved aside of the futon, giving her space to lie down. He looked up to see Kaoru kneeling down, smiling at him as she caressed his cheek, rubbing his scar again.
"Lie down beside me, Kaoru"
His voice was a soft command. She lay down beside him, under the covers then instantly Kenshin wrapped his hands around her waist, pulling her closer to him. His head burrowed to her ebony hair, he can smell the scent of jasmine.
Never again will I drink Jasmine tea without the thought of Kaoru
She sighed against his chest, cuddling herself to him. She was about to doze off when she felt a draft on her left shoulder. Kenshin let her yukata slide off her left shoulder and started nibbling on it. She shivered on the sensation, her breath hitched up.
Kenshin couldn't control himself any longer, he wanted to touch her more, feel her more. He tried to call forth what little compassion and honor he still possessed, but he could not force himself to let her go. Never in his life had he wanted anything as much as he wanted her. He kissed her bare shoulder to her throat, nibbling and suckling then licked the shell of her ear which satisfied him with a moan. He felt her soft hands exploring his fiery red hair, tugging them softly. He caught one of her arms and kissed her palm then trailed it down to her shoulder then nibbled on her neck, she suppressed a moan. He caught her staring at him with misty and dark eyes.
"You must be experience to be this good", she purred, the sound made him hardened, he eyed her possessively.
"And you are not?", his voice was rough with lust, it took all his power to control himself from going further.
Kaoru arched a delicate brow, her eyes amused. "Experience? Battousai….", she caressed his scarred cheek, "you're the first man who ever touched me this way…."
And the last man to touch you
"Yet you do not fear this as you do not fear me"
Kaoru smiled. "I had enough of fear in my life, Battousai. I'm just sick of it"
"And I'm sick of talking", he growled then bent over to her willing and luscious lips, thinking that he'd never had to seduce a woman before, not when every corner of Japan and even the world was filled with willing ones. For him, the act of mating had always been quick and intense. But now he wanted something different, wanted it enough to wait with unnatural patience.
"I will not take you unless you are ready", he whispered against her ear then continued with their passionate kiss.
"You will not take me", her voice was firm and that puzzled him. He expected that she wasn't ready for her first time but he had not expected her refusal, that angered him.
"Explain wench", he hissed, he had both of her arms pinned to the futon with his grip. She looked at him incredulously.
"I'm an idealist when it comes to giving my virtue to my husband"
He laughed coldly, finding this to be unbelievable. "Wench, you're 19-"
She gasped. "How did you know?"
"- you're still a virgin, unmarried and you're here with me in my room and on my futon"
She looked puzzled. "So?"
"You're Mine"
"How the hell did it conclude to that! Mou! Kenshin no baka!"
He was a bit startled at the insult but then composed himself. "I want you"
"You're drunk"
They both glared at each other, challenging to the other, daring the other to say something, to prove something that the other was right. Kaoru took the challenge. She pushed him away so she could sit up on the futon, she fixed her yukata to the proper places.
"What are you doing?", he demanded
She glared at him as she tied the cord of her yukata. "I will not be taken by someone just because he wasn't getting any lately", she spat then turned and was about to stand up when Kenshin held her tight around the waist and pulled her into his lap.
"Let me go", she ordered, pushing his chest away with her hands but Kenshin didn't relent, he bent over to touch her lips but she moved her head away. "Don't touch me", she hissed as she struggled from his grasp but he wouldn't let go no matter what. She was shock when he pulled her close then burrowed his head to the nape of her neck, he was holding her so tight that she almost felt her lungs being crushed. It felt different when he was holding her like this, like she was his lifeline.
"What is it about you that draws me to you…..", he whispered then he started nibbling on her neck, "You're the most infuriating, impossible, irritating, and stubborn woman I have ever met. I regretted that I didn't you kill on that rainy night", then he went up to her ear and stuck his tongue inside, making her gasp and shudder under him, "Now that you're here…..in my arms, I want you so badly……wench you haunt me", he turned to her face and smirked at the lust he saw in her hazy eyes, "I want to take you….", she struggled, "But I wont", she stopped then he brought his face inches away from hers, "and there's no way in hell that I'll marry you just so I can have you", he growled and saw her smile.
"Good enough for me", she said and that was enough for him to lose his control again and devoured her mouth.
Tonight, it didn't matter to him that he couldn't take her as long as she was with him, in his arms where he could touch her the way he wanted. It didn't matter that this was the woman who defied him, challenging him every minute that drove him up the wall. All he cared was to feel her under him and that she was letting him which was even better. At the night, the sky decided to cover the earth with a blanket of snow. But neither of them felt the coldness of the weather for they were warmed with the touch of the other and the touch of something deeper to their unknown soul.