OOC behaviour for Kenshin in this chapter

DISCLAIMER

I do not own Rurouni Kenshin or any of the characters within the series.

"..." speaking

'...' individual thoughts

Italics flashback

Chapter 2

Realization and Rejection

Kaoru sat alone in her room trying not to hyperventilate.

'Pregnant? But how? When? Even more importantly, who?' she asked herself.

Then a flashback crashed into her like a tonne wave of water breaking open the floodgates into her subconscious.

She was in Enishi's mansion. She did not know how long she had been imprisoned as the time had seemed endless, for part of it at least. She had been neither eating or sleeping, but only watching and waiting on the veranda. She heard the outside doors open behind her but she refused to turn and acknowledge the person. Only after the door had closed did curiosity get the better of her. She turned to find a simple, yet extremely tempting meal set out for her.

'How long had it been since she had eaten? '

Her stomach growled in response to the thought.

'One bite won't hurt, right?'

However her famished body had other ideas and before she knew it she had devoured the entire meal. After finishing she went to rise from the chair but found her legs were no longer responding. As she fell forward onto the ground her vision became distorted. A figure appeared before her and she reached out to it.

"Ken…shin," and with that she fainted.

Upon awakening she found herself not in her own room but in a much larger one, lavishly furnished with her in the middle of an enormous western-style bed. As she went to rise she found her robe had come undone, leaving her exposed. Once the issue had been rectified she went to stand and realised her body felt different and a little sore. She shook her head telling herself it was the after-effects of finally getting sleep. She then proceeded to leave the room in search of her captor.

Kaoru had her hand to her forehead as the information flooded back to her and, before she knew it she was heaving once more.

Upon hearing the sound of her retching Megumi rushed back into the room, followed closely by Kenshin. After her fit had ended Megumi lifted Kaoru's face to wipe her mouth and gasps. Her eyes were wide and panicked, darting around erratically.

Seeing this rage hits Kenshin like a rock in his gut. Someone has defiled his Kaoru and left her in this state. Then a voice he knew far too well invaded his mind.

'Technically she's not yours anymore Rurouni. Someone has beaten you to the prize. But who's to say she didn't ask for it?'

A light touch snaps him out of his reverie. He looks to see a pale, calloused hand on his wrist.

"Kenshin, gomenasai," she offers, her voice trembling along with her body as she covers her face with her hands.

Looking at her meek from Kenshin feels something inside of him snap.

"Gomenasai? Gomenasai?" he asks with a laugh.

Kaoru raises her head to look at him, surprise etched into her features. Only then does she notice the amber hue that had begun to creep into his eyes. Seeing this she reaches out to him but it is too late. He snatches his hand away from her.

"Don't touch me filth," he snarls. "It was him wasn't it? I think that I am coming to save you when it turns out you were quite content where you were, with him! Enjoying yourselves I daresay? Making a mockery of me?" he accuses, his voice gaining volume with each word. "You betrayed me. You were my woman you traitorous wench!"

Kaoru flinched at the tirade of accusations being directed toward her.

"Ken-san, mou ii," Megumi tried to interject but Kenshin, or more correctly Battousai was focussed only on Kaoru.

"Do you know what happens to traitors?" he asks, his voice getting eerily calm. "They are sentenced to death" he states grasping his sword.

Megumi's eyes go wide as Kenshin unsheathes his sword.

"KEN-SAN, DAME!"

At hearing the scream Sanosuke bursts into the room, takes in the situation and quickly attempts to restrain Kenshin.

Kenshin resists, screaming at Kaoru, "You will die! You and that man will die by my hand!"

Hearing the commotion the Oniwaban run in to assist and manage to secure Kenshin. Kaoru watches on with tears silently falling down her face. Before their eyes Kenshin's resistance begins to quieten as his usual lavender hue returns to his eyes. When no more amber remained he is left gasping and directs a look toward Kaoru. He takes in her distraught state and pain fills his eyes.

"Sanosuke, get him out of here if you would please. I need to tend to Kaoru, she is in shock," Megumi ordered in her doctorate manner.

Sanosuke nods and as he drags an unresisting Kenshin with him he hears a whisper, "Kaoru-dono…gomenasai."

Author's note

Feel free to let me know what you think. I had a bit of trouble with Kenshin's characterisation in this chapter so any feedback would be appreciated.

Until next chapter :)

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