A Betrayal of Hearts by Sweet Demise

Disclaimer: I own none of the Kenshin characters..just the story! P (Story is mine! MINE! MINE!!!)

Prologue: Confusion

Amber eyes burned into her soul, drowning her within their darkest desires. "Release me," it said, "and you shall be mine."

"Then," she whispered, "you must never be released."

Kaoru ran from the pursuing shadows as the night engulfed her. The metallic taste of fear dominated her senses. "I must hide," she thought frantically to herself. "I must not let them catch me."

But she was not fast enough.

She felt their claws sink into her skin as they screamed her name. "Kaoru, you can't run." She tumbled and fell. Dark figures loomed over her. "Kaoru, you must die." She screamed.

The demon smiled as he licked the trickling blood off of his deadly blade. "You are mine now. Finally..."

"Never," she cried.

She turned and ran into the night.

Kaoru clenched her eyes shut as the shadowed men unsheathed their blades. She knew they wanted to kill her, but why...? She opened her eyes. "Why...?" she cried out softly.

One of the men smirked. "It is better that you not know, you little traitor."

Kaoru stared confusedly at the glares from the assassins. "Traitor...?"

"Enough talk with the girl," the leader interrupted. "Your fate is sealed. Now you must die, wench!"

The assassins closed in on her and raised their swords over their heads. Swiftly, they brought their blades down at her.

A terrifying scream resonated throughout the night.

"Cherry blossoms," he murmured as he slid his fingers through the silky strands of her raven dark hair.

"Huh..?"

"You smell like cherry blossoms," he crooned as he inhaled her scent.

"Na...ni..?"

"I will remember this scent," he whispered, "so I will always be able to hunt you down. Whenever. Wherever. Because you are mine. You will always be. Forever."

"Imbeciles..."

Kaoru's eyes fluttered open. She was surrounded by the blood-stained corpses of the men who were about to kill her. In front of her stood a foreboding man with flaming amber eyes and a strangely familiar cross-shaped scar. Crimson hair flowed gracefully down his back as he stared emotionlessly down at her. For a moment, she was paralyzed with fear...but slowly, she regained her voice.

"M-M-My name is Kaoru. Thank you for saving me," she stuttered nervously as she stared at his bloody sword. Never in her life had she felt so cold...so afraid...and so alone.

"I've finally found you," he replied coldly and took a step toward her, "after a thousand years..."

She laid delicately on the bed, her pale, beautiful skin radiating in the pure darkness. The demon's eyes burned with desire as he flew to her sleeping form.

He reached down and caught her lips in a passionate kiss as he carried her into the starless night.

He stalked towards her. She tried to escape but soon found herself pinned against a wall.

"Let me go!" Kaoru yelled as she struggled against the stranger.

"I will never let you go," he said angrily. "Never."

To her surprise, he lowered his face and kissed her. She struggled violently when he deepened the kiss. His arms tightened around her. She could scarcely breathe. She clawed violently against him and tried desperately to push him away. One finger came in contact with the cross-shaped scar...

He growled. As quickly as he had kissed her, he shoved her away. His eyes burned dangerously as he fingered his scar. "Traitor," he seethed and he narrowed his eyes. "I will never forgive you."

The demon screamed in pain as she slid the blade down his cheek. Blood trickled down and splattered on the cold stone floor. "Traitor," he screamed.

Slowly, she brought the sword down again, carving a perfect cross on the demon's face...