Chapter Two

Tired and Beautiful

Usually if she stared at something long enough, she would see something beyond what was obviously there. Usually. Today Kaoru stared at gray walls and could see nothing beyond her annoyance. Sighing, she squirmed in her hard chair, trying to achieve some semblance of comfort. She couldn't believe she was actually sitting in the visiting room of a maximum-security prison.

Kaoru hated prisons – and jails, and courtrooms. She hated particularly anything that had to do with law enforcement. They reminded her of her father…and the corruption that killed him.

"Father," she breathed, letting her head drop between her legs. 'Stay away from this life,' she whispered to herself, remembering her father's precious words.

'Of all the places I could be on a Thursday morning…I'm a student for crying out loud,' Kaoru grumbled to herself.

Even so, maybe supporting her friend was worth missing a little school. Perhaps anything was worth missing a little school. Kaoru smiled sardonically at the thought.

Megumi didn't want to go alone. Not that she could blame her. What kind of friend did Megumi need to visit in a maximum-security prison? Recalling their earlier conversation about the visit, Megumi simply stated she needed to see a friend. Kaoru knew very little about Megumi's personal life and she didn't have the current interest to pry. It was obvious from the beginning of their relationship that Megumi had secrets. Kaoru really didn't care about the woman's past. She just let it be. If Megumi didn't want to talk, she was fine with that. Yet, she was curious as to whom Megumi knew in this prison and why she wanted Kaoru to come along.

"Hey! Girl!" Megumi snapped her fingers in front of Kaoru's face.

Kaoru snapped her head up, glaring at her friend. "What?" she muttered as she heard the lock on the door jingle.

"They're bringing my Kenshin. He can only have one visitor at a time for a personal visit, so you'll have to leave," she replied pertly.

Kaoru just stared absently at Megumi, wondering why they were friends and why she was calling this guy hers. Kaoru knew she was seeing some Sano guy. Her violent musing were halted as the door swung open and, a young man, flanked on either side by two muscular guards one of which had spiky hair and was chewing on a cherry stick. The other had tall blond hair, which reminded Kaoru of a broom.

'I thought prison guards had to adhere to a dress code,' Kaoru thought. However, her attentions were quickly diverted as she laid eyes on a most strange man. He had long red hair, somewhere between the color of fire and blood. His eyes were a deep shade of blue-lavender. He was decidedly strange looking, though altogether interesting. His peculiar eyes were red and his shoulders sagged. He looked positively miserable. Before Kaoru could think more on this sadly attractive enigma, Megumi began to shift in her chair. Kaoru glanced at her friend. Megumi actually looked nervous, her face slightly flushed.

The red head smiled ever so slightly, while the spiky haired guard gave Megumi a once over, a smirk forming on his lips. Megumi cut her eyes over him in reply before turning her attention back to the prisoner. Her glance over the guard was quick, too quick for the guard to notice an appreciative, familiar gleam in Megumi's mischievous eyes.

"Sano," Megumi acknowledged his presence with a tilt of her head.

Sano looked disheveled, perhaps a bit miffed.

'So this is Sano,' Kaoru thought. Kaoru had no idea that the man Megumi had recently been dating worked at a prison. Kaoru began to feel more out of place as she wondered about Megumi's associations. She was honestly a bit surprised at this choice. This one looked a bit rough around the edges, compared to the men Megumi had dated since she and Kaoru had been friends.

"Hey. It's been a while, Ms. Takani," the redhead said quietly as he extended a hand towards Megumi, his eyes softening pleasantly. Kaoru blinked at his formality and sudden transformation to happiness. There was something strange about his smile. Perhaps it was the fact that his eyes seemed to be rather sad and angry. Kaoru didn't know if she'd ever seen such a diverse combination of sadness, anger and happiness all one face. Glancing up at Megumi, she wondered if she noticed it too. But Megumi seemed oblivious as she reached out to grasp Kenshin's hand.

"No physical contact ma'am. Sit down." The blond guard looked down at Megumi while pointing to her chair. Kaoru thought this man had a strange face also. He had one lazy eye and toothy grin. His face didn't fit what Kaoru imagined a guard should look like.

The guard's toothy grin widened as Megumi complied with his orders and gave her a once over. He was obviously very pleased with her small act of obedience.

"To bad for you eh?" He glanced at Kenshin. "I'd want to touch her too. Ten years is a long time." The guard pushed Kenshin roughly, clamping down on his shoulders and slamming him into the seat. Kenshin tensed. Sano started. Kaoru's eyes stretched a bit wider at this sudden display of violence.

"Hey! Have some respect! He hasn't done anything!" Megumi slammed her hand down on the table.

"Watch it bitch," the blond guard smirked.

Kaoru blanched and her temper flared. She'd had about enough. She was in a bad mood to begin with and now it looked like she might get caught in fight. Kaoru had possessed a sharp temper ever since she was very young. It didn't take much to rattle her emotions. Nobody was paying attention to the small young woman in the corner, her temper flaring.

Just as she was about to take action, any action, Kenshin, stood up with such force his chair hit the ground and the blond guard stumbled backward. Kenshin's shoulders were taught, his jaw set in a fierce snarl.

Kaoru was shocked once again at his transformation; she almost thought she heard a low growl rumble out of the redhead's throat. Kaoru wondered what Kenshin would have did if Sano hadn't stepped in between the two, his face dangerously close to the blond guard's.

"Shut that shit up Chou! Less' you want me to introduce your cracked teeth to the floor! Don't be starting shit with the visitors cause you got a fix on Kenshin! Especially with cameras in here. You'll get us both written up!" Sano hissed at the blond guard.

Kaoru cocked one unmanicured eyebrow, wondering what kind of situation she'd stepped into. She pursed her lips and crossed her arms, the strangeness of the situation, causing her to become suddenly objective. Sano and the guard Chou were practically radiating aggression. Megumi looked like a cat ready to pounce. Kaoru was beginning to confirm that a low snarl was indeed emanating from the redhead.

Kaoru pressed a finger to her temple. There had to be away to diffuse the situation without anyone getting hurt. Somehow she knew a fight would not be in anyone's best interest. Megumi had never mentioned anything about this Kenshin or prison until recently, yet she seemed fairly well acquainted with both Kenshin and the two guards. Kaoru poised herself for a fight. The situation could get very hot in a matter of seconds.

ooo

Kenshin lowered his head, searching for control. He was angry, furious even. Chou had been brimming with aggression since the moment he laid eyes on Kenshin. He was itching for a fight. Some of the guards (especially Chou) got their joy in life from abusing their power and thoroughly screwing prisoners. He'd been pressing Kenshin hard for at least a week now. Kenshin did not want trouble, with his final parole hearing approaching. But trouble was calling him. His body was screaming for action. He wanted to answer Chou's aggression with some of his own.

If he could keep his head down, breathe even and keep his eyes closed, then everything would be all right.

'Sano can handle this,' Kenshin thought to himself.

The news of his parole had him acting strangely enough. The fact that everyone wanted to pick a fight with him before he got out didn't help matters. Ever since his earlier dream he had been feeling irritable and on edge. His ruthless side wanted to give Chou a taste of something slow and painful.

Kenshin let his head dip lower. He could pick a fight with his eyes alone. It was taking all of his will to avoid trouble, but he couldn't afford any fights. Not when he was so close to parole.

Chou smirked and dusted himself off. He hadn't missed the frustration on Kenshin's face.

"Shit, Sano, just havin' some fun. The big man knows I wouldn't harm a prisoner" he replied pleasantly, gesturing towards the security cameras. With a scowl, he walked out the door. "Just watch it Himura, one false move and you're back in the hole."

Chou's threat sparked a strange combination of sadistic happiness and fear in Kenshin. He loved and hated the hole; also know as solitary confinement. At good times it was a sanctuary, sealing him off from the world, insuring that he could hurt no one and nobody would hurt him; a place of quiet, were he could meditate. At times like this, the hole could be a welcome respite against the harsh realities of his life. During bad times, the hole was just a dark, dank square that allowed all of his sick thoughts to resurface and bring out that side of him that he would rather stay buried. A place where he could be starved and beaten by the guards, in both body and soul. A place without windows. Kenshin swallowed hard and held his breath.

"I want my window," Kenshin said as he slowly lowered himself to his seat.

He was carelessly aware that he probably looked crazy and all eyes were on him. All the emotions swirling around the room were directed at him. Kenshin was quite used to being a constant object of negative and curious attention. Even when he was free he'd always attracted strange looks and curious stares.

"I'm sorry, I-I apologize," he stammered to the group, his expression regretful and worrisome. They stared back. Sano leaned against a wall and scratched his stomach.

Kaoru twitched in her seat, realizing that she had been forgotten in the conflict. She felt confused, uneasy excitement turning inside her. She felt as if she were witness to some great injustice. The red head was talking crazy and looked truly pitiful. Megumi was frowning. The guard, Sano, looked a strange combination of confused and pissed. Kaoru's heart fluttered a bit. Everyone was silent and discontent. She couldn't stand it.

"Fool!" Kaoru screamed pointing at Kenshin. "How dare you apologize? It wasn't your fault, it was that stupid guard!"

Megumi started at Kaoru's sudden outburst.

"Damn," Sano remarked and leaned against the wall.

Kenshin turned towards the girl sitting in the corner of the room. He had consciously noticed her when he entered, but her presence became muddled with the drama. All eyes were now on this tiny person, with a big mouth.

She had called him a fool. Being beyond flippant insults, Kenshin found himself slightly amused by this pretty, loud, stranger. Her long black hair was tied in a high ponytail. Even in a ponytail, her hair cascaded down her back, nearly reaching her hips. Thick lashes, as well as tiny dark circles framed expressive, dark blue eyes.

She was beautiful…and tired. She was staring at him.

Kenshin returned her stare. He couldn't remember the last time an unfamiliar attractive female had come to visit him. In fact, Kenshin was sure that he'd never been visited by a beautiful female that he'd never seen before. Unable to hold her stare any longer (he often avoided prolonged eye contact) Kenshin relented and looked away. After a second he stole another peak at her as Megumi and Sano simultaneously decided to clear their throats.

For a moment lavender met sapphire in an intense gaze. A few seconds suspended. Kaoru felt her heart skip a beat. Although she was embarrassed and a little scared, she refused to tear her eyes from his heated gaze. Kenshin smiled.