" "- 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 2

Kaoru peered nervously around Kenshin's back as they approached the inn. A handful of men were lounging around outside.

"Himura-san!" One of them called out.

Kenshin stopped in front of them, looking them over. "Been drinking again, I'izuka-san?" He asked in a bored tone.

The one who had done the talking grinned. "And you missed some hot women too. You really should come with us."

"No thanks. I have work." He brushed past them and walked into the inn.

Kaoru glanced fearfully at the men as they walked past, grabbing the sleeve of Kenshin's gi. He snarled softly at her, but her attention was on the gawking men.

Kenshin stopped abruptly, and Kaoru bumped into his back. He grabbed her by the arm and whipped her out to stand in front of him. Kaoru was surprised to find herself facing a very stern looking woman.

"Okami-san." Kenshin said, bowing respectfully. "This is Kamiya-san."

The woman looked Kaoru over. "Himura-san, we are not a brothel. Take her somewhere else."

Kaoru glared at the woman even as Kenshin responded. "She is not what you're thinking, Okami-san. I killed her husband, and she witnessed it."

"So why don't you kill her?" I'izuka asked from the doorway.

Kaoru moved faster than any of them had expected. In half a second, she had drawn Kenshin's sword from its sheath and placed it against her throat.

Kenshin carefully took it back, glaring at her. "Because she wants me to." He responded darkly. "Okami-san, can she stay here for the time being?"

"Hmm." The innladly muttered. "Fine. But we have no extra rooms available, so she'll have to stay in your room.

Kenshin bowed again, no emotion visible on his face. "Come with me." He told Kaoru bruskly.

"Poor Himura-san." The innlady murmured quietly. "He knows killing her is what he should do, what's expected. But he still has enough honor that he can't slay a willing innocent." She shook her head and went back to work.

I'izuka's eyes narrowed dangerously as he looked in the direction Kaoru and Kenshin had left.

After briefly explaining to Kaoru what she was not allowed to do, Kenshin left her in the room and went to find Katsura. "Katsura-san."

"Ah, Himura-san. Come in please."

Kenshin did so, shutting the door behind him.

Kaoru walked the halls of the inn, eyes narrowed. She wasn't going to stay in that room. Why should she? It didn't matter that a hitokiri had told her to, she wasn't going to do it. She heard Kenshin's emotionless, choppy voice coming from behind a closed door and tiptoed over to it to hear what was being said.

"I'izuka-san really wanted you to go with him this time." An unfamiliar voice spoke softly.

"He knew I had work to do."

"Mm. How did it go? Any hesitation about killing your own brother?"

"No. Yukishiro Enishi stopped being my brother years ago."

Kaoru frowned as silence fell. Brothers? Odd. They look nothing alike. She jumped back, startled, as the door slid open.

Kenshin eyed her coldly before grabbing her arm and pulling her into the room.

"Who's this, Himura-san?" Katsura asked, standing up.

Kenshin closed the door again. "Enishi's wife. She saw me kill him."

Katsura raised an eyebrow. "And you brought her back here?"

Kenshin shrugged. "She's mute. How can she betray us? Besides, look at her. Enishi beat her; I doubt she'll willingly help his allies."

Katsura thought this over. "And if she does?"

The look that Kenshin gave Kaoru was icy. "Then I will kill her."

Kaoru shuddered. Not like they have to worry. What incentive would I have to help anyone connected to that jerk?

Katsura sighed. "Alright, Himura-san, she can stay here for now. But she will be your responsibility."

Kenshin bowed. "Thank you, Katsura-san."

Over the next few days, Kaoru noticed that Kenshin disappeared rather frequently. She knew he only killed at night, so she was curious about what the young hitokiri did during the day. Aside from being distant and cold to her. So, she did her best to follow him, but he would lose her easily. Finally though, she managed to locate him in one of the inn rooms, due to the fact that she heard him talking. She stood quietly outside the room, ear pressed against the door, listening to the voices talking inside.

Without warning, a sword slid through the paper door, embedding in the sleeve of her kimono. She gasped and fell backward. Scrambling to her feet, she bolted for the room she and Kenshin shared.

"Eh? What is it, Himura-san?" One of the men asked.

"Nothing." Kenshin replied, sheathing his sword. "Thought I heard something."

Living with a hitokiri was very educational for Kaoru. She absolutely refused to stay locked in the room all day, wanting instead to see how things were run. Consequently, she had been caught listening in on more than one meeting. When she wasn't trying to play spy, she was watching Kenshin. His sword fascinated her the most, but she didn't dare try to communicate that she wanted to touch it. Instead, she had managed to find a wooden pole about the same length and thickness as a sword, and had taken to practicing with it when no one was watching. Also by watching Kenshin, she was learning to walk softer and her posture was improving.

Kaoru was beginning to become aware that some of the men were showing more interest in her, now that her bruises were almost healed. It made her nervous, especially when they licked their lips while staring at her. She found herself seeking Kenshin's company more often for protection.

He, for the most part, ignored her. Other times, he was cold to her, harsh even. When he spoke to her, a handful of words at most, it was to tell her to stay out of his way, or to reprimand her when she was caught doing something she shouldn't be doing, like listening to the meetings.

Kaoru sighed. After two long weeks, she was getting bored. There was nothing for her to do, and it annoyed her. She bent her head, focusing her attention back to mending another tear in her kimono, thanks to Kenshin's sword. The oddest sound reached her ears, and she looked around. Her eyes landed on Kenshin, asleep against the wall.

He was whimpering. Kaoru's eyes widened as another whimper, this one closer to a sob, escaped from his mouth. His eyebrows were furrowed against whatever was distressing him. It made Kaoru wonder what he was dreaming about, to make such a cold, heartless man look so vulnerable.

She sighed. Even a heartless man didn't deserve to be plagued by nightmares. Quietly, she stood, walked over to him, and knelt down, reaching out a hand to shake him awake.

She was on her back before she could register that he had moved. He leaned on her, one of his knees pressing into her stomach, sword at her throat. She turned her wide, fearful blue eyes to his cold amber ones.

"What were you doing?!" He asked, venom lacing every word.

Kaoru didn't move, didn't respond, hardly even dared to breathe.

After a moment, he moved away. "Waking me is not wise." He sheathed his sword as a knock sounded on the door. "Yes?"

The door slid open and I'izuka stepped in. He glanced at Kaoru, who sat up slowly, eyes still wide as she clutched her throat.

"What is it, I'izuka-san?"

"Forgive me, Himura-san, but Kazaki-san would like to know if Kamiya-san will serve him dinner tonight?"

Kenshin's lip curled in disgust. Kazaki was known to sleep around with women. It didn't matter to him what happened to the girl, but since she was his responsibility… "I'izuka-san, that's not-"

"If we might ask Kamiya-san?" I'izuka asked quickly.

Kenshin growled darkly at being interrupted, but turned to Kaoru. "Kazaki-san wants you to serve him dinner tonight. Do you want to?" He paused, then added with distaste, "He uses women."

Kaoru shook her head vigorously.

"There. She says no. I assume you'll tell him?" Kenshin ground out, dismissing I'izuka with a cold look. After I'izuka had left, Kenshin went back over to the wall again and sat down, bowing his head for sleep.

Kaoru looked at him, perplexed. Why would he do that? She wondered. Why warn me?

So, another chapter down. This story will be seven or eight chapters long. Thank you to everyone who read and/or reviewed chapter 1. I'll try to post the next chapter early next week, when I have access to a computer again. Ja ne!

Glossary:

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

gi: a type of Japanese shirt that allows easy movement

hitokiri: manslayer

kimono: what most Japanese women wore. It's usually made of fine silk, with long flowing sleeves