*Standard Disclaimer Applies*
A/N: Hey guys! So last time I was so eager to get my story up I forgot to mention some pretty important things so here are a couple of warnings:
This story is rated mature for adult content, language, violence and in the future sexual content.
This story is definitely taking place in an AU and therefore many of the characters will be either slightly OOC or entirely OOC.
I'm a pretty dramatic writer so if you don't like things being over the top don't read this story. Although, I will try and force myself to find a happy medium between boring and over the top.
Anywho thank you to everyone who reviewed! I'm so glad that you guys are excited about it. I hope I don't let you down and I hope you keep reading. And without further ado…
A young Kaoru sat at the kitchen table in deep concentration. The blue bubble gum she chewed matched the bright blue ribbons holding her pigtails. Brows furrowed and after a few more strokes of the crayon she jumped out of her chair, smiling victoriously, snatched the homemade book she had just created and ran into the kitchen.
"Mommy, mommy, look look!"
Kaoru's mother laughed as she tried to maneuver around the excited child without trying to drop the cake she had just baked. Frustrated from her mother's lack of attention Kaoru tugged on her Kasan's shirt. Her blue eyes narrowed and she crossed her arms pouting.
"Mommy, why are you ignoring me?"
With the cake safely transported onto the kitchen counter, Kaori Kamiya turned and swept up her daughter, lifting her up in the process and placed her on the counter as well. Kaoru's sapphire eyes lit up and she leaned forward to peck her mother on the lips.
"Now will you look?"
Kaori laughed at her daughter's impatience, something she knew she inherited from her father. "Yes, Kaoru-chan. Tell me what you are so excited about."
Smiling widely Kaoru moved her hands from behind her back and presented her book.
"Ta-da! It's a present for Otousan when he comes back. Wanna read it?"
Kaori pretended to think about and then after seeing Kaoru's adorable pout, she grabbed the book and opened it. It took awhile to try and interpret the misspelled words but using pictures and some outright guesses she figured out the gist of what the book said.
"Once upon a time there was a princess named Kaoru. Her birthday was tomorrow. For her birthday, the princess asked King Otousan for a teddy bear, a dolly, a coloring book, magical pens, a unicorn, a dragon, a bokken, a new dress, a kimono for her recital next week, a…."
The book went on to list about twenty more things and then it was over. Kaoru waited anxiously for her mother's reaction.
"Well Kaoru-chan," said her mother giggling, "it is very creative of you to give your father a present that reminds him to give you present." Kaoru only heard creative and that was good enough for her. The sound of the door opening caused both of them to freeze. There was a moment of silence then both of them screamed and Kaori placed Kaoru on the floor and they both raced to be the first to reach the man of the house. Naturally, Kaoru won.
"Otousan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't believe you're here! I missed you soooo much!"
Toru Kamiya hugged his daughter tight and closed his eyes, treasuring the moment. Two months was too long for any man to go without his family. But he was also a man of duty and his job as a government official had kept him away.
"Of course I'm back. I wouldn't miss your birthday for anything Kaoru-chan. I love you and I missed you too."
Loud coughing drew his attention away from Kaoru. "Um, don't mind me. I'm only the wife who hasn't seen her husband for two months."
Toru laughed and put down his daughter. He walked to his wife and embraced her. Kaoru smiled watching them hug, then when they shared a passionate kiss she covered her eyes and ran back into the kitchen.
That evening was one of the best times of Kaoru's young life. The Kamiyas celebrated Toru's return. Kaoru presented him with her present and they discussed the plans for her 8th birthday party. They were so happy to be together that Kaoru's parents let her sleep in their bed as an early birthday present.
At around midnight Kaoru woke up. She yawned and rubbed sleepy eyes before remembering the reason she was awake was that she needed to go to the poddy. Kaoru wiggled out of the blankets and kissed her parents on their cheeks before walking to the bathroom. As she was washing her hands she heard loud noises coming from the other side of the door. She gazed at her reflection in the mirror and smiled at herself realizing it was now officially her birthday. Maybe her parents were going to surprise her with early birthday presents. Kaoru dried her hands quickly and then ran out the door towards the bed before stopping frozen in her tracks.
Blood soaked the sheets. So much blood .If not for the blood Kaoru would not have expected anything was wrong for they looked almost exactly as they did when she had left them. Her blue eyes welled with tears and she took a step towards the bed.
"Otous—"
Before Kaoru even realized what has happening she found herself lifted off her feet and thrown against the wall. She didn't process the blade that cut into her shoulder or the pain. She didn't process the tears that fell down her cheeks or the way her small body shook from pure fear. The only thing Kaoru processed were the golden eyes that bore into her wide blue ones. Well she also noticed the blazing red hair that reminded her the bloody bodies of her parents were laying on the bed not more than two feet away. Slowly, the sword lifted, poised to attack.
"It's m..my berfday." The whisper was barely audible.
Kaoru watched as amber specks suddenly appeared within the golden orbs. What seemed like an eternity passed before the hand holding her up released her and she fell to the floor. From her new view she could see the blood stained sword. She watched as the blood dripped onto the carpet. It reminded her of the raindrops that dripped from the roof when it rained. Yes, that's what it looked like. Red rain. Red, bloody rain. She watched the dripping so intently that even when she closed her eyes she could still see the bloody rain and sometimes… she could still see those piercing golden eyes.
Kaoru shot up in bed and immediately her hand gravitated towards her left shoulder. She closed her eyes, breathing heavily. That was the third night in a row that she had a nightmare. Not just a nightmare but that nightmare. The one where the blade doesn't stop at her shoulder and cuts all the way through her body. The one where it rains so much blood that the room floods with it. Kaoru sighed. She remembered a time when that nightmare had been a dream. A time when she had wished that she died that night with her parents. If it wasn't for Saito and the rest of the police officers who found her a week later lying in bed with her dead parents, she might actually have wasted away and died after all. But Saito had found her and taken her to his home, even though it was with the intention of handing her over to child services the next morning. Thankfully, his wonderful wife Tokio had felt for Kaoru and convinced him to let her stay with them. It took a long time, but eventually Tokio's love and in a weird sense, Saito's disregard for her that forced her to realize life goes on, saved her. Kaoru owed Saito her life and even though they fought, she knew that she would do anything for him. She loved him and had known him longer than she had even known her own father.
But this—this was asking too much. After knowing everything that she had been through, how could he possibly expect her to be his companion? If he cared for her, even a little, how could he expect her to not only face the man but stand by and watch him awaken the monster? For the millionth time, Kaoru found herself crying. She hated feeling so weak but this week had been so hard for her. First, Tae's death, then reliving her parents murder every night in her head, and now today. Today, she and Saito would drive for hours to the outskirts of Honshu. Today, after ten years of peace, Saito would ask the Battousai to come back. Today, after ten years of suffering, Kaoru would have to see the man who took from her, her parents and her childhood.
The loud sound of the door bell snapped Kaoru out of her reflections. She put on her robe and walked to the door.
"Tanuki, you can try and stall all you want but even if I have to drug you, I will get you in that car. You are coming with me."
Saito let himself inside and looked around taking note of the mess.
Her voice was soft when she spoke.
"Saito, please. Don't make me do this. I can't. Let me work on finding Tae's killers. You can find someone else to be his companion. If you care, even a little—"
"—Tanuki..Kaoru." Saito turned around to face her and saw the pain…and fear in her eyes. He had watched her grow into a strong, capable young woman, but now she looked more like the scared little girl she was when he found her. "I know this is hard for you. Tokio's been trying to convince me to change my mind too- only god knows how she even finds these things out. But Kaoru it HAS to be you."
"Why?!"
"Because Kaoru. I know Himura Kenshin and when he chose to lay down his sword he did so with the intention of never using it again. It will take more than just me explaining the seriousness of the situation to convince him to do this."
Kaoru's midnight eyes blazed with anger. "And why do you think that my presence will make a difference? Why would you want to unleash such a monster and all the suffering that follows it?"
Saito reached for a cigarette. "Kaoru, don't you understand? Himura is trying to repent for his sins. You think you have nightmares because you witnessed death? Imagine the nightmares one is plagued with when you're the cause of it. Bringing Battousai back will only cause more pain and nightmares. Himura would never willingly do it. But if you ask him, you the one person he let live during his days as an assassin, then he will have to. It is the ultimate way for him to try and make things right and in the process repent for his transgressions. Do you understand now? It has to be you and it has to be him. No other swordsman will make it to the 5th Ring. And to the Battousai, no other girl is worth fighting for. It is the only way."
Kaoru bowed her head in submission. She knew that Saito was right. If she wanted to protect Japan she had to stop The Akuma. This was the only way to do it. Had she not told everyone she would sacrifice herself? What could be more of a sacrifice than this?
"Fine. I will do it. But, I will NEVER forgive the Battousai for what he did. NEVER. I don't care how much he repents, he will always be evil."
Saito blew out smoke and gazed at Kaoru intently, wondering what she would think of him if she knew some of the things he had done in his past.
"Perhaps things are not as simple as good and evil. Perhaps Battousai also thought he was creating a better Japan."
"By killing people?!"
"Are we so different?"
Kaoru looked up at Saito with hurt eyes. "How dare you defend him?" A rouge tear travelled down her face. "How dare you suggest killing my parents was for a better Japan?"
Saito looked away seeing the hurt in her eyes and took another puff of his cigarette.
"We leave in 15 minutes."
Kenshin finished his afternoon meditation and his amber eyes scanned over the small cabin he had made his home. Emptiness overwhelmed him. Emptiness and loneliness. But that was as it should be. He did not deserve the company of others. Even after seven years of seclusion and isolation—seven years without a woman's touch or the sound of a child's laughter or the joy that comes from just being in the presence of others- ghosts from his past still haunted him. He knew that the nightmares would never go away. No matter how much he denied himself, he knew the Battousai was always there lurking just beneath the surface. The scar on his cheek was a constant reminder of the scar on his soul.
The sounds of an approaching car caused his violet eyes to darken just a little. He did not get visitors and this place was so far away from civilization is was impossible to get lost and end up here by accident. Instinct made him swiftly grab his sakabatou and years of practiced control made him quell the number of golden specks materializing in his eyes. His whole body was alert as he listened to the sound of a car door closing. He heard each footstep taken towards the door. When the knock came even though he was expecting it, he felt his heartbeat increase. Who could this be?
"Battousai, open the damn door. It's cold out here."
Kenshin's eyes widened in surprise. He knew that voice. It had been awhile but the voice was relatively still the same. Saito.
Cautiously, wondering if Saito had changed his mind and come to finish what they started years ago, Kenshin walked to the door and opened it. Just as he had predicted, Saito stood in front of him looking as if he hadn't changed at all. Physically, he still looked the same but Kenshin noted a new found softness (not weakness) in the wolf's eyes. Kenshin was instantly filled with longing for the peace reflected in Saito's eyes. He blinked and tried to concentrate knowing there was a reason for the unexpected visit. He also noted a second person still sitting in the car but he could not see who. He tore his eyes away from the car and looked at Saito.
"What are you doing here Saito? How did you find me? I will not fight you so if you came to kill me you should do it now."
Saito rolled his eyes and walked inside the cabin. "Stop being so dramatic Battousai. I didn't come to kill you and if I had, you would be dead by now. I came to talk…and to ask for a favor."
Kenshin closed the door and watched Saito as he situated himself comfortably on Kenshin's only chair.
"Do not call me Battousai. He is dead. I am Himura now. How would you like it if I called you Miburo Wolf?"
Saito smirked. "I wouldn't mind. I don't deny who I am. The battousai is not dead. He is sleeping."
Shame flashed across Kenshin's eyes so fast Saito barely noticed.
"I am here to wake him up."
To say Kenshin was angry is an understatement. He was seething. The grip on his sakabatou tightened. Saito merely reached for a cigarette.
"Get out. This is not funny and you must be getting senile, old man, if you drove all this way thinking that I would even listen to anything that you had to say on that topic."
"Have you heard of The Akuma? Of course not, you live in the middle of nowhere. He is a drug dealer, slave trader, and murderer. And that's just what we know. He probably is involved in many other illegal activities. 100 girls in the last month have gone missing, thousands over the last couple of years. The girls-and sometimes boys- are kidnapped and then sold into slavery where they are raped every night by men old enough to be their grandfather."
Kenshin felt his eyes narrow and his hand clench around his sword. He might have done some bad things but rape was something that he would never understand. Feeling his anger start to overwhelm him, he closed his eyes, trying to regain control. "Saito this is concerning but—"
"Japan needs your help Battousai. The only way to discover the identity of The Akuma is to enter the 5 Rings competition and reach the 5th Ring."
Kenshin eyes shot open and he gazed at Saito. "The 5 Rings….it is real? ..I heard whispers of it before I went into seclusion. Back then, if it was real, I was considering entering just to prove I was the best fighter but now…I would never. Saito I'm sorry that you came all this way but the Battousai is asleep for a reason. I can't control him...me. I can't control myself when I kill. I will not go back to monster I used to be."
Saito saw the determination in Himura's eyes. He truly did not plan on ever becoming the Battousai again. For the first time, Saito noticed the sakabatou Himura was holding. How far things had come if the Battousai had given up his katana for a useless sakabatou. Yet, the weapon was just like the man holding it. A sword of two sides. One side dangerous and deadly. The other potentially just as harmful, but with a control the other side lacked. Right now, this was the side Himura fought with.
"If you don't fight, thousands of more deaths will be on your shoulders."
That one caused a reaction. Guilt was evident in his Kenshin's amber eyes. However, the guilt was quickly replaced by sadness.
"If I do fight, more death will be on my shoulders anyway. The only difference is if I don't fight, the death is caused by someone else and not me. I do not need any more ghosts to haunt me. You of all people should understand this Saito."
Saito sighed. In the corner of his eye he saw the doorknob turning. For a second, he questioned if he was doing the right thing. But, the image of Tae's body lying in the alley erased all thoughts of doubt.
Kenshin had heard the footsteps awhile ago. He wondered if Saito was going to try and get someone to provoke him until the Battousai came out. With firm resolve Kenshin decided he would rather die than fight no matter what the person on the other side of the door did.
However, his expectation of a huge, armed man was soon squashed by the image of the petite, beautiful woman who walked through the door. He felt his whole body react. It had been so long since he had seen a woman at all and even then, only a few matched the beauty of this one. The jeans she wore hugged her body in all the right places and even though her sweater was a bit oversized it still couldn't hide the figure Kenshin assumed was underneath. Her beautiful midnight tresses were a sharp contrast to the smooth paleness of her skin but Kenshin thought it only added to her unique beauty. He felt an overwhelming urge to wrap his fingers in her hair and rest his scarred cheek upon her soft, unblemished one. But it was her eyes that had him most mesmerized. She had the most beautiful sapphire eyes he had ever seen. Right now they were overflowing with emotions. So many that he couldn't read them all: anger, hurt, sadness, fear, surprise, wonder. And yet somehow, they seemed so familiar. Like he had seen those cerulean orbs….
"You."
If not for the deep silence Kaoru wasn't sure she would have heard him. It had taken every ounce of her will power to force her out of the car and into this cabin. She had only "met" the Battousai once and it had been very dark. For some reason, she had always imagined him to be ugly and grotesque. But, the man who stared at her now was…the complete opposite. His red hair was even more remarkable than she remembered. It was exotic and captivating. But so was the rest of him. He was younger than she expected and even with his clothes she could tell his body was lithe and toned. Most surprising, was the fact that the golden eyes that had haunted her dreams for so long had been replaced with the most striking amber ones. There were still golden flecks within them but they were nothing like the eyes in her nightmares. Regardless of his alluring appearance she tried to remind herself of the disgusting monster inside him.
"You.." Kenshin repeated. Those eyes. She was the little girl who haunted his dreams constantly. Even now, he hadn't forgotten her. Why was she here? Was she going to be the one to kill him? The more he thought about the more just it seemed. He couldn't take his eyes away from hers but he still heard Saito speak.
"This is Kamiya Kaoru. She is my surrogate daughter and an agent in my special victims division."
Those amber eyes were gazing into her soul. She knew even if she wanted to she wouldn't be able to look away. However, her brain managed to process what Saito had just said. He had never in the ten years she had been with him referred to her as a daughter of any kind. The fact that he introduced her like that touched a part of her heart she had thought she healed. It wasn't the confession of love she had desperately wanted growing up, and in all honesty, still wanted from the stubborn wolf, but she would take it.
"If you enter the 5 Rings, she will be your companion and a spy for our agency."
Companion? Kenshin did not know what this meant. The competition must have evolved since he last heard of it. He was about to decline once again but then she spoke.
In her peripheral Kaoru could see the sakabatou in his hand. Images of her parent's dead bodies lying in the bed, the bloody sword and nightmares of bloody rain flashed before Kaoru's eyes. Unconsciously, her hand moved to her shoulder.
"Battousai. You stole my parents and my childhood. The scar on my shoulder is a constant reminder of the pain you caused me." Kaoru was surprised by the anguish and…self-loathing reflected in his eyes. The golden specks disappeared completely and only tormented violet orbs stared back at her. She had to fight the desire to go to him and hold him until the pain went away. Disgusted with herself for even thinking about hugging the person who killed her parents, Kaoru closed her eyes so she wouldn't have to look at him.
"I have never loathed someone as much as I do you. But, despite all that, I made a promise that I would do everything in my ability to stop the monsters like you who make Japan an unsafe place. I am asking you to use the evil inside of you for good and help me bring down the one person who has caused me as much pain as you have. Will you…awaken the battousai? You are our last chance at catching this demon and maybe the thousands of people saved from The Akuma's hands will make up for the thousands of people who died by yours."
Every word spoken was like a dagger thrust into Kenshin's soul. He felt so much pain. She had confirmed everything he knew about himself. He was a monster. A monster who had never and would never feel love or be human ever again. Even though he tried to repent nothing could save his soul from the eternal damnation that awaited him. Just hearing the suffering she endured because of him affirmed that. Kenshin swallowed and took a step towards Kaoru. He looked down ashamed as she took a step back.
"I am sorry for the pain I caused you Kamiya-san. If I could change my past……..I thought that maybe part of me was still…human. But a sleeping monster, is still a monster."
Kaoru couldn't help the guilt she felt. She had been honest but she was not prepared to see the grief and anguish on his face. Despite how much she thought she loathed him, it was clear he loathed himself ten times more. Saito's comment about things not being as simple as good and evil replayed in her mind and she wondered if she had misjudged. She felt so conflicted. What kind of person would she be if she showed sympathy for the man who killed her parents? But, what kind of person would she be if she became immune to such human suffering?
His voice was pained. "If you want me to awaken the Battousai then I will. I will fight for you Kamiya-san. Only for you. Only because you ask me. I will sacrifice myself to my personal demons in hopes that fighting in this tournament will make up just a little for all that I have put you through."
Kaoru turned to look at Saito in panic. Maybe they had made a huge mistake. She loved Saito but he asked too much. Even as she stood there she knew that this…Himura Kenshin that she looked at now was not a monster. Only a broken shell of a man who just wanted peace of mind. She remembered finding a file on Saito labeled the Miburo Wolf when she had first became a special agent. She remembered that no matter how much she tried she could not hate the man he was today. And even though she didn't think she could ever forgive him, she knew no matter how much she wanted to hate the broken man in front of her, she could not.
Kaoru and Saito both watched as Kenshin flipped over the sakabatou.
Kaoru closed her eyes trying to hold back tears. Tears for herself, tears for Kenshin, and tears for the unavoidability of their situation.
Saito rose and finished off his cigarette. "Alright now that all the unnecessary drama is over, Battousai go pack. We have a lot of preparation that needs to get done before the competition."
Kenshin silently nodded, gazed at Kaoru one more time and then walked into his room to pack his things. As soon as the door closed Kaoru ran over to Saito.
"I don't like this! I don't want to awaken the Battousai."
"Kaoru he only needs to "be the Batttousai" when he fights. When he's not fighting, he can be whoever the hell he wants. I don't care if he prances around in a tutu and talks about his feelings……Look, if you don't wanna see the battousai consume him, then help him control it. We've accomplished our purpose. After seven years of hiding, the Battousai will fight in the 5 Rings. What's done is done."
Kaoru sighed and wondered how all this would turn out.
"Kaoru…there's no turning back."
A/N: I hope this chapter cleared up some confusion. For some reason I didn't really like this chapter as much as I thought I would…no need to agree lol! Next Chapter should not be as dark as the first two have been and then the chapter after that it's THE FIRST RING woohoo! To the reviewer who asked if I based the fighting competition off Mortal Combat, the answer is no. The Five Rings competition is my twist on the Japanese sword fighting "Book of Five Rings". Also I enabled anonymous reviews so now you have no excuse not to read and review! In closing, thanks for viewing, now get to reviewing!!!