Author's Note: Special thanks to...

Shojin Takaru- you'll have to wait and see if Battousai notices any differences... ^_~
randomness- Thanks...I hope you continue to enjoy it.
The Girl Who Cried Oro- Well, when you hang around someone for so long you can tell...think of how people who are friends with twins can tell who is who...and Kenshin did say he had known Kaoru her whole life...
marstanuki- Thank you...I tried to create an original story line...
...- Yes, I'm sorry about the confusion...hopefully it should flow better later on, just remember that knowing what Planet the story is currently taking place on is the key to knowing who we are focusing on...btw, love the dots ^_^
Bunny / Sailor Moon- I'm glad you like my storyline...a lot of people have commented on it...I hope you like the way it develops.
Tsugoi Kakarlena- Hmm...I dunno...will the story continue 10 years down the road??? I guess you'll have to scroll down to find out! Sorry the update has taken a while...hopefully you didn't die...I'm counting on your reviews!
emsdesire- I try to keep things interesting, thank you. ^_^
Angel Kitty2-Yes, I know I will have a lot of writing on my hands! And thanks for the encouragement.
Syaoran's Blossom You were my first reviewer! Thank you so much for your comment and I hope to hear more from you. ^_~

ON TO THE STORY!!!!



Disclaimer:I do not now, nor will I ever own Rurouni Kenshin or any of it's characters.



Chapter Two: Commence Operation- Delayed Marriage


Planet Earth

Kaoru stared at the broken man before her. He looked as if he were desperately trying to keep himself together. After a moment he looked up. His eyelids were red from openly expressing his grief. His eyes were a deep dark violet...darker than when she first saw him. He looked so sad and depressed, almost as if his life was no longer worth living. Kaoru felt such shame and regret. This was her fault...all of it. She could not get over the deep grief she was causing the man before her. How could I have been so selfish. Look what I'm doing! It was not Kaoru's responsibility to deal with Battousai...I should have never agreed to letting her pass through that portal! Who knows what Battousai will do when he discovers that not only did I escape his clutches, but I pulled one over on him...and poor Kenshin. I'm destroying two innocent people's lives because of my selfishness and inconsiderate dreams. Dreams...funny how you'd do anything you can to finally get your wishes...and then just feel miserable in the end. I'm such a fool...

Kenshin stared at the young women who had his fiancee's face. How he wished he could just hold his Kaoru and tell her all he has wanted to say to her for so long...but he couldn't. And it was this girl's fault. But can I really blame her? After hearing of all the things that man put her through...I can understand why she ran. But what I don't understand is...why mix my girl up in this?

"Miss Kaoru, I must ask, why did you allow Kaoru to walk through that portal...knowing what would await her on the other side? I'm afraid I just can't comprehend what you were thinking!" Kenshin said, his voice rising as he spoke the last part.

Kaoru sighed deeply. "Kenshin, I'm so sorry...I never meant anyone to get hurt! But what was I supposed to do? Do you know what it's like living that kind of abuse day in and day out? It breaks your spirits! I had to get away! I know I was wrong throwing Kaoru into that kind of life, but it was her or me. He would have come after me if no one was there! He would have found me. I know he can change Kenshin, I know it! I just needed to get away for a while and think...I needed to find a way to get him to realize that it doesn't have to be like that...I just needed to get away," Kaoru spoke sobbing softly.

Kenshin walked over to the girl and put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry Miss Kaoru, I did not mean to blow up at you. I just don't know what I would do if anything happened to my bride. I wouldn't stand for anything else to harm her again...I can't let her go through any more pain," Kenshin spoke softly.

Kaoru looked up and stared into his dark eyes. Again, she saw the heaviness he so desperately was trying to hide. Why does he always look so sad? Why is it that any time I look into his eyes, it seems as though he has a million ghosts haunting his very soul? "Kenshin, can I ask you a question?" Kaoru asked cautiously.

"Why of course you can, Miss Kaoru. What is it?" Kenshin asked.

"What is it that you are hiding in the depths of those violet eyes? How is it that you've known Kaoru her whole life, and yet, it seems to me she is just beginning to know you?" Kaoru asked softly.

Kaoru watched the man carefully. She saw the slight slump in his shoulders, indicating the heaviness she had just laid upon him with her questions. She saw the way his eyes flashed in pain and regret, then quickly hid the emotions behind a veil of indifference. And she didn't miss in the slightest, the way his hands instantly clenched almost as if he were angry. Kaoru was beginning to think that those questions would have been better off left unasked...that is until she heard the gentle lull of his voice speaking with a heaviness she never would have imagined this man could carry.

"Well, you see...it all started about 20 years ago..." Kenshin spoke slowly.


Planet Areth

Battousai paced back and forth in his living room. He had left Kaoru tied to the bed, he couldn't risk her running away. The Kaoru he was used to wouldn't have dared...but there was something different about her today...something he couldn't quite place. Stupid wench...why do I even bother keeping her around? She knows the procedure...she knows how I am...so why did she throw such a fuss when I punished her? It's almost as if she were acting the way she did when I first found her years ago. I don't want to have to break her in all over again! So help me, she better get her act together! Battousai snarled and punched a hole in the wall. He made his way to the bedroom Kaoru was occupying. He threw open the door waking her from her restless sleep. "Are you ready for more?" he laughed mercilessly. His eyes greedily swooped over her still form when he suddenly noticed something he hadn't noticed before. In anger he pounced on Kaoru and brutally punished her.

When he was done, Kaoru was gritting her teeth to refrain from crying out in pain. Blood was seeping from her nose and her mouth where he had hit her. Her eyes were swollen shut, she could barely make out his form, for that she was thankful. She was bleeding from various places on her body where he had savagely bitten her. Before he walked out he threw a blanket over her form and cut the ropes that tied her hands to the headboard.

"You can release your ankles from their binds on your own. You'll find some of Kaoru's clothes in closet. When you are finished dressing, come to the living room...I will need to have a word with you, wench! Don't even think about running...I can sense you, you'll never get far enough away..." Battousai snarled and exited the room.

Kaoru sobbed once he left. She pulled the blanket up around her covering her nakedness for the first time in ten hours. She was cold and frightened, but at the sound of Battousai's angry scream, she quickly did as she was told. She fumbled with the knots around her ankles for a while. It was hard to see what she was doing through her blurred vision. When she finally was able to free herself she wrapped the blanket around her and stood up then walked over to the closet. Every muscle and bone ached with pain. She opened the closet doors to find torn clothing before her eyes. Everything was on the floor, nothing properly hung up. It looked as if none of the items had been washed for weeks, months even. She didn't want to anger Battousai further, inflicting punishment on herself, so she quickly grabbed a pair of torn jean shorts and a shirt. She put them on.

Having no undergarments, the denim sorely chaffed against her delicate skin. Everything was tight. The shorts rode up her butt, exposing skin, and the shirt was ripped up to her bust-line. She might have well gone out their naked, because in clothes like the ones she wore, she felt naked anyway. Kaoru wiped the tears that were still streaming from her eyes and wrapped the blanket around herself. She quickly exited the room and found her way to the living area, following the angry grunts coming from Battousai. When she walked in she found him pacing the floor. He grabbed her arm and threw her on the sofa.

"Who are you, wench, and where the heck is Kaoru?!?!" Battousai shouted, his brilliant golden eyes flashing in anger and resentment.

Kaoru shook her head more tears beginning to fall. "My name is Kaoru, and the girl you know...is on planet Earth...where I should be!" Kaoru broke down sobbing. She quickly received a blow to the face.

"Shut up you stupid wench! So the girl made it through the portal did she? You now belong to me, but mind you, Kaoru has not gotten away! I will have her...she will be mine again," Battousai growled. "As for you, I'll just have to have my fun breaking you in, like I did her! I knew something was wrong when I didn't see that scar I gave her two years ago. A small scar right below her belly button...no matter, I'll scar you up in no time...you'll look just like her. But don't think you can replace her, from now on you are just a lowly wench. No one will take the place of my Kaoru, now where is she on that stupid planet!"

"She is at my home, living with my family...she is to be married in a weeks time," Kaoru cried softly.

"So she thinks she can betray me by being with another man!!! Whoever he is, I'll kill him...nice and slow...and she will be mine again," Battousai spoke in a dark tone. Kaoru realized her mistake of speaking of the marriage to Battousai, not only did she just sign Kenshin's death warrant...but Battousai stalked over to her and started beating the crap out of her. I just hope this is all...a...nightmare... She silently prayed for Kenshin to be safe as the world faded from her sight.

Battousai stopped hitting her once he realized she was no longer conscious. He grabbed her by her hair and dragged her back into the room he had first placed her in. He went outside to the shed and grabbed some plywood and nails and proceeded back into the bedroom. After nailing up the lone window in the room, he stared at the unconscious woman on the floor. He looked at the ugly black and blue bruises covering her face. He snarled as he noticed her swollen eyes and lips and the blood that was caked thick and dried around her nose and mouth. It's a pity I had to hit her so much, she really is a beautiful woman, just like my Kaoru is. But the stupid wench brought it upon herself! He spit on the girl and kicked her seemingly-lifeless form in the ribs before exiting the room and locking it from the outside.

Planet Earth

Kaoru stared in shock at the man before her. By the story she just heard, she was filled with a renewed hope for her Battousai. I know he can change...I know it! Kaoru smiled softly at Kenshin. She sat on the bed and watched as he gazed out the window into the courtyard. She supposed he was thinking of his Kaoru and the life they were supposed to have shared...the life she ruined for them.

"Kenshin, I'm sorry I messed everything up for you. It will be ten years before the portal opens again. If you'd like, I can take her place so people won't suspect things. I would be more than happy to marry you..." Kaoru stopped as she watched Kenshin's back go rigid and his fists clench at her words.

"No thank you Miss Kaoru. No one can take the place of my Kaoru! And I refuse to marry anyone except her! I know you want to get away from that man, but I'm sorry, I will not give up on Kaoru, I will not just get married to someone I don't love just because she's not around. And just because you look like her and you sound like her...YOU ARE NOT HER!" Kenshin said, spinning around and glaring at her with flashing golden eyes. After taking a few deep breaths, his eyes returned to their normal violet color, but his face remained firm with his jaw set.

"Kenshin, I know no one will ever take Kaoru's place. I'm not trying to! You never let me finish...our marriage would be completely platonic. Plus, if we don't get married, don't you think Kaoru's parents will wonder? They'll think you've lost interest in their daughter and will most likely just marry her off to someone else," Kaoru spoke gently. Kenshin's face faltered at the thought of her marrying someone aside from himself.

"But we can prolong it!!! There's got to be a way we can stall the wedding, set it back! After all, Kaoru just met me a few weeks ago. I can say I want to properly court her for a while!" Kenshin desperately tried to come up with a plan.

Kaoru walked over to Kenshin and looked up at him. "Kenshin, of course we can do that, but remember. Kaoru is 19 now...she's over the normal marrying age. Most women these days are married by 16 or 17. They won't hold out for long...a year tops. How do you propose us lasting 10 years without me getting Kaoru married off before she comes back? And what will you do when she returns and I have to go back to my planet? She'll end up belonging to a different man, and you won't be able to do anything about it," Kaoru said.

"I don't want to betray her trust, Miss. I love her. I've loved her for so long and I've waited for what seems an eternity to marry her. What can I do though..." Kenshin trailed off in his thoughts.

"Marry me, Kenshin. It is the only way! I promise, it will be completely platonic! I love someone else too you know. We don't have to have sex, we don't have to have a relationship. We can just be friends who married out of convenience to save the life of the one you truly love," Kaoru said.

Kenshin stared at her deep in thought. It seems the most logical thing to do. But is it really fair? What about Kaoru's wishes? What if she truly does not want to marry me? What will happen when she does return and I have to tell her the story I just shared with this woman...will Kaoru be able to forgive? Will she be able to push it aside and just let me love her? Let me hold her? Let me have a family with her? Will she even be capable of making decisions herself? What if this man completely ruins her and makes her incapable of feeling. I don't know what I'd do if Kaoru lost that spark in her that I love so much. Kaoru, please...don't let him kill your spirit. I love you so much Kaoru...come back to me alive...

Kenshin glanced up at Kaoru. "Okay, we will wed if that's what it must come to. But no touching, no hugging, no kissing, no sex! I want Kaoru and her alone. We will have separate bedrooms. And so help me, we will prolong this wedding as long as possible. I will speak to Kaoru's parents tonight. I'll explain to them that you don't feel ready for marriage yet. That you are still scared because you do not fully know me and that I will take as long as you feel necessary to get you to feel comfortable around me. If they speak to you, keep pushing the date back until you no longer can. Meanwhile, I will "court" you. I will come over at least two times a week so that it does not look as if I am losing interest in you. I will spend around 3 hours with you during these visits. When Kaoru's parents are lingering around, we will discuss things about ourselves. Our hopes and dreams, favorite foods, stuff like that. When they aren't around, I want you to explain in full detail everything you know about that portal. I want to know thoroughly everything about this man that is holding Kaoru captive. I want to know everything about the life you used to live. The planet you lived on, the home you lived in, the people you used to communicate with. Do not leave any details out because when Kaoru gets back, if I find out you were holding back on me...just don't tempt me to go back to my old nature. Now I'm going home for the night. It is late, and I need to do some serious thinking, that I do. Sleep well Miss and I shall see you later. Goodnight," Kenshin said. Then he turned and exited the room, leaving Kaoru to think on all he had just said.



Well, what did you think? I'm sorry it has taken so long to update. One reason is because I've been busy talking to a recruiter...and studying for my ASVAB (armed service vocational aptitude battery) Yep, I'm planning on enlisting...I take the ASVAB Oct. 2, 2003. And another reason is because I'm sick, I've come down with Laryngitis and just have not felt up to doing anything recently. I'm sorry...hopefully I'll be better next time. Well, I didn't get as many reviews as I would have liked...but such is life. Hope you all like how this is going so far. Just for a little input...do you guys think that two people can be a married couple living under the same roof for ten years living with people who look exactly like the people they are in love with...and yet not become romantically involved? Do you think they'll be able to maintain a completely platonic relationship? And if you don't...who do you think will be the one to cave first? The next chapter will end up jumping a ways down the road...not too too far though. Hope you will continue to read and please let me know your input. I will never know how much you like the story and I will never know how many readers I have unless you press that little button at the bottom left hand side of the screen that says review. Thanks to all of you who reviewed the first two chapters!

~*~*~
Videl621