" "- spoken word

italics- thought

- Kaoru's miming (in later chapters)

I do not own Rurouni Kenshin. I wish I did, but I don't.

Defiance

By: Shiara-dono

Chapter 1

She glared defiantly at her husband as she rose from the ground. He slapped her again and her vision swam, but she didn't retaliate.

Kaoru didn't make a sound. She'd learned early in their marriage that crying and screaming only excited him. Gradually, she'd stopped talking altogether. She hadn't spoken for over a year.

Her husband leered at her, his sake smelling breath making her gag, though she didn't show it. He slapped her again, then walked in a zigzag pattern toward his bedroom.

Kaoru breathed a silent sigh of relief. The pain of being hit she could handle; it was when he decided to rape her that she couldn't. Luckily, he'd been too drunk to do that tonight. She sighed again, and walked into the bath area to clean the blood off her face.

Not too bad this time. She thought, gently dabbing at her eye with a wet towel. She winced. At least, not as bad as he could have done. Kaoru knew that if she didn't get out soon, he could very well kill her. But, she couldn't leave yet. She was biding her time, waiting until she'd accumulated enough money, through small jobs unknown to her husband, to hire a hitokiri. She knew it was risky to even approach a hitokiri, but if she didn't, her husband would follow her when she ran. She thought maybe she'd approach Battousai, the young hitokiri she'd heard so much about. It was said he was very skilled, and that he didn't hurt women, so she might have a chance to explain her offer to him.

But it'd have to wait until she could get some more yen. She glanced sadly at her torn reflection in the mirror, wishing she could just disappear. Then she walked slowly to her room at the other end of the hall from her husband's.

She awoke with a start, trying to figure out what she'd heard. Then she heard it; her husband's angry voice. She was surprised to hear a soft, emotionless voice respond to him. Quietly, she slid out of her futon and padded down the hallway.

A stranger stood with his back to her, lit by the moonlight filtering in through the windows. A gleaming katana was in his hand. He had long red hair piled into a high ponytail. His clothes, a blue gi and gray hakama, had seen better days. He spoke with calm, deadly assurance in his voice. "What's the matter, Brother? You look surprised to see me."

Kaoru's husband was as white as his hair. He glared at the stranger with crazed eyes. "You lost the right to call me brother when you turned hitokiri and killed our sister! You should have known better than to return, Kenshin!" He lunged, producing a sword from behind him.

He had no chance of winning in his drunken state. Kaoru blinked and it was over. The red-head's sword protruded through her husband, blood gushing in rivers from his chest. "And you lost the privilege of calling me by my name the time you cut me." He answered coldly. He twisted his sword, pulling it free.

Kaoru swallowed hard and took a step back as the body fell to the floor.

The killer turned, sword ready. He paused when his eyes fell on Kaoru. So. This is my sister in law? His eyes narrowed as he took in her appearance; the cuts, the bruises, and one black eye congealed with blood. The rumors were true. He did beat women. Well, what to do now that she's seen me? He flicked his sword, ridding it of blood. Then he pulled out a scrap of paper with 'tenchu' written on it and tossed it on the body. He turned to leave.

Kaoru took a step forward and he whipped back around, eyeing her coldly with amber eyes. "Don't come near me." He threatened. " I'll kill you if you do."

Kaoru tilted her head to the side, staring him down. She took another step, pausing to see his reaction. He didn't move. Slowly, watching him the entire time, she took a couple more steps, stopping when his sword arm twitched. It's like he can't decide. She faced him fully, then bowed low.

The red-head was confused by her actions. She's… thanking me? "Yukishiro-san?"

Kaoru straightened and shook her head. Using slow movements, she spelled a word in the air for him.

Ka… n, m… Ka mi yo, no… Kamiya. "Kamiya?"

She nodded a conformation.

"Kamiya-san, you never saw me. Tell anyone and I will hunt you down." He sheathed his sword and walked out the door.

Kaoru panicked. She sidestepped her husband's body, dashing out the door after the red-head. She crashed into his retreating back, lost her balance, and fell, surprised when he turned and pulled her back up. She stood there for a moment, hands pressed against his chest, breathing hard from adrenaline.

Kenshin stared wide-eyed at Kaoru. "What?" He asked coldly.

She backed up a step at his sharp tone, but stared stubbornly into his fierce amber eyes. Again with careful movements, she air spelled what she wanted.

Kenshin's eyes widened farther. "You… you want to come with me?"

Kaoru nodded.

The answering laugh chilled Kaoru to the bone. Dark humor shone in the hitokiri's eyes. "Kamiya-san, you obviously don't know who I am." He laughed again as Kaoru spelled out his name. "Not anymore. I haven't gone by 'Kenshin' for a long time. Most people call me Hitokiri Battousai."

Kaoru's jaw dropped. She closed it quickly and smiled at him. Her hands flew as she spelled out another message for him.

Is she mute? That'd be just like him, to have a mute wife. Kenshin's eyes narrowed when he understood Kaoru's message. His hand twitched toward his sword. "Don't threaten me, Kamiya-san. I could just kill you right here."

Her hands flew again even before he'd finished speaking.

Kenshin turned away abruptly, eyes surprisingly pained. "Then come. We leave now."

So, what do you think? Iwasn't sure I wanted to post this story, but a friend of mine insisted. So, here it is. The title may change later, but that's what it is for now. I'll try to post the next chapter in a couple days. Ja ne!

Glossary:

sake: rice wine

hitokiri: manslayer

yen: Japanese money currency

futon: Japanese bed. It's more or less padding on the ground

gi: a type of Japanese shirt that allows easy movement

hakama: same as above, only they're pants

tenchu: Heaven's justice. Battousai left this on all his killings

-san: Mr., Mrs., Ms. It's the polite way to address someone

Battousai: what Kenshin was called during the revolution, so named because of his Battou jutsu