I do not own Rurouni Kenshin ;-)
Treasured
Chapter 1 – A Lady
His body felt heavy and lethargic as a wave of nausea rolled through his stomach. Opening his eyes was painful, for salt water from the sea kept stinging him, almost with reproach for even attempting to cross it. In that moment Kenshin felt all hope slip away as he slowly ebbed in and out of consciousness. But then he felt something lifting him around the middle of his body, like he was being taken up by something…an angel perhaps?
He squinted down and saw a rope had been secured around his middle and he was being winched up to a black behemoth like ship. It sails were black and red…and suddenly Kenshin felt even worse, if that was possible for the condition he was in. PIRATES…I'm being taken away by pirates. This is the last thing I need he thought.
A multitude of colourful characters watched as he was set down on the deck and immediately searched for weapons. Being placed in a situation which compromised him gave Kenshin some strength to at least defend himself if he had to.
'I have no weapons. And I'm no pirate. If I could work my way to the next land stop upon your boat, I would be eternally grateful' He stated. He didn't know what telling them this would achieve but, pirates weren't stupid were they?
'Eternally Grateful?' said a sweet female voice from somewhere behind all the men crowding him. 'Don't overdo yourself…you might find that you like my boat' she continued.
Kenshin searched for whom the voice belonged to and found it as the men parted to let through a lady. Kenshin could not take his eyes off her. Her tight cotton pants were tucked into her knee high boots. The cotton short she wore moulded to her body like a second skin. Her hair was long and illustrious tamed several chopsticks at her nape. It was her eyes however, that captured him in their sparkling azure depths. She was gorgeous. Kenshin had always thought that he would be attracted to…well a lady in the most refined sense. Not a woman who masqueraded as a male pirate on a ridiculously large ship.
Walking towards him she let her eyes slide over his body, and face taking in every detail.
'Now tell me dearest aristocrat friend of mine. What is a gentleman doing floating around on a piece of driftwood in the middle of nowhere?' she inquired.
Kenshin didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He knew he was skilled in many types of combat, but with depleted reserves and well being in the middle of nowhere, with no weapon, limited his choices of escape significantly. He looked into her eyes hoping that if he told the truth she would believe him.
'I'm searching for my sister, my lady' he said.
'And your sister is lost on high seas because….' She said trailing off.
'She was taken by a group of pirates. Who they are, I know not. I thought if I travelled long enough and asked around I would find her. Eventually' he finished lamely. Now that he went over the plan in his head it seemed stupid to him as well. 'If you look in my top right pocket you will find a miniature portrait of her'
As she stared at him for a few moments and said 'Well, if she looks anything like you my sweet, she's a very lucky girl indeed'. She extracted the picture from his pocket and looked at it. The girl in the picture was young, about 16, and if her blond curls and blue eyes were anything to go by, she was definitely beautiful.
'What is your name?'
'My name is Kenshin Himura. And what perchance would be your name my lady' he dared to inquire.
'My name is Kaoru, and I am no Lady. You would do best to remember that in the future my sweet' she replied curtly 'Cut his rope. Give him a place in the Galley. Honestly he looks weak and the kitchen is the best place to start.' Looking at him she continued 'You will work your way to wherever we go. Should you wish to depart or stay is your choice. We work hard here but the rewards are plentiful. Working as a cabin boy and kitchen hand should suit you.' Turning away from him she looked to the tall man standing next to him with long brown spiked up hair. 'Sano, make him a hammock and show him the ropes. You know the deal' she said crisply, turning on her heel and walking away from him taking the picture of his sister with her.
As she walked away, Kaoru fought to gain composure. There was something about the man, Kenshin, which unsettled her. His beautiful features were quite startling, and anyone else in his position would have balked. Yet he stood tall and demanded what he wanted with pride but not arrogance. He looked handsome even though he looked drowned like a rat. She hadn't missed the sight of his muscled chest or the seawater as it glistened on his body. Her mouth was going dry just thinking about him. Sighing she closed the door to her cabin and threw herself into her chair. She would have to find out about this Kenshin, before she made her next move.
Kenshin was allowed a days rest before he began his labours in the kitchen and cabins. He was responsible for shopping vegetables for the appropriate meals, and general fetching for Kaoru and her first mate Sano. He enjoyed his job, as he felt that he earned every morsel of food he ate, and more than that they treated him well. The crew invited him into their card games, included him in their jokes and he felt better as each day passed.
Every night he drew a bath for Kaoru and each time he always left before she arrived. This night however as he strode into the room with a bucket of hot water, he stopped at the sight which greeted him. Kaoru was already in the bath almost submerged, if not for her shoulders and feet propped up on the side of the bath. Opening her eyes she looked at Kenshin and smiled wickedly as his face went red with embarrassment.
'Oh my sweet, you didn't have to bother tonight, I thought I'd bath early and so I drew it myself. You can join me if you like' she added after a small pause, while winking at him seductively.
'Uh well um, I was…that is…I'm not sure that would be appropriate' he said stumbling over his words. 'I'm sorry for walking in on you, I was unaware otherwise I wouldn't have dreamed of-'
'Enough!' she said. 'its fine, how do you think I've managed up to this point on a ship full of men? Sit down and talk to me…tell me about yourself.'
Kenshin felt highly uncomfortable being in a room with a naked woman let alone talking to her while she was naked. Then again she's in the bath, so technically she not naked. Just don't look directly at her and you'll be fine. Have some strength man.
Nodding Kenshin pulled up a stool and sat down in the corner about 5 metres from the tub.
'Closer my sweet, I want to have a conversation not lose my voice because you're so far away' she said lifting an eyebrow at him. Lifting the stool he moved in a metre.
'Closer'
Moving in another metre, he was about to sit down when he heard her imperious demand again
'Closer. As in next to the tub' she said in an exasperated tone.
Grimly Kenshin felt that the closer he got to the bath tub the closer he came to losing his sanity. Face it man, she's a beautiful woman, naked in a bathtub and you're talking to her so you're going to do just that and leave.
She shifted to face him.
'Where in England do you live?' she asked quietly
'I live on the corner of Mayfair and Grand in London City. My house there is not the largest but it was enough for my sister and I.' he replied honestly.
'And why is that you believe your sister is still at sea?'
'Since pirates took her I assume she must still be at sea…but honestly, it has been so long I have no knowledge of where she could be at all. Every day without her drives a stake through my heart. I swore to protect her, and I have failed miserably.' He whispered.
'But you have courage enough to brave the seas, pirates and more since you're here now. Most other men would remain at home and weep over the matter. You on the other hand, have actively sought her out despite the slimmest hope. That is true love for a sibling my sweet.' She said smilingly.
'May I ask you something?' said Kenshin and Kaoru looked at him urging him to continue, 'How is that a lady of elegance, grace and intelligence such as yourself is the captain of a pirate ship. You seem to be refined like a lady born and bred in London yet you're here.' He stated
'Can pirates not be elegant, graceful or intelligent? Each man on this ship is talented in his own right and they support me for they're own reasons. And I have my reasons for being here but, alas they are not as straightforward as yours. But that is a story for another day…Tell me, do you prefer lemons or limes?'
'I beg your pardon?' he replied bewildered
'I said, do you prefer lemons or limes'
'Uh personally?' he contemplated the thought for moment and answered 'Limes.'
'Hmmm…I thought so'
'Thought what?
'Oh nothing'. Sighing inwardly Kenshin managed to keep his face politely blank. He never knew what she was thinking.
Dearest Esteemable Audience,
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Cheers,
Iuvenalis.