A/N: Ok so it's been awhile and I apologize. I was drowning in homework but I was able to come up for air long enough to write another chapter! Thanks a lot to everyone who took the time to review. It means a lot. So just to clear up some confusion:
I apologize about the confusion surrounding Kenshin's eye color. To me amber is a purple color. I don't really like describing them as purple cuz it sounds weird to me but I'll add it to my color vocabulary for you guys. So anytime you see purple, violet, amethyst, or amber we are dealing with Kenshin and anytime you see gold we are dealing with Battousai.
I also apologize for the age confusion. So I didn't really figure you guys would do the math lol but if you did then you discovered that Kaoru was 18 which you are absolutely right is a little young to be such an agent. The only reason I mentioned it was because I wanted everyone to understand she was very young when her parents died and I tried to keep her as young as possible because for the slave trade even 18 is kind of on the older side. So to solve all this I'm taking age completely out the picture lol and leaving it up to your imaginations, including Kenshin's age. So if you go back to chapter two it will now say a "young" Kaoru instead of a 7 year old Kaoru. So whether you want to make them 20 or 60 go for it lol!
I think that was everything. So now I present to you CHAPTER 3!!!
The metal spike on the whip punctured the skin of Enishi's back, ripping open his flesh as it sliced through the air in a downward arc. Sweat and blood caused his snow white hair to cling to his forehead. With another flick of a wrist, the whip pierced skin. Anguished screams reverberated through the room.
His arms hurt painfully from being held over his head for so long by the chains hanging from the ceiling. Almost all the flesh on his back had been stripped away and he knew soon he was going to lose consciousness.
Despite all this, a smile graced his bloodied lips because he knew although he was in excruciating pain, he would return the favor tenfold once he found who he was looking for.
After one more crack of the whip the torture finally subsided. There was a moment of silence, then the sound of a door opening. Enishi concentrated on the sound of the approaching footsteps. Before long, a figure appeared before him. Enishi bowed his head in submission. His pain was so intense he was barely able to utter the acknowledgement.
"Lord Akuma… I thank you for this punishment."
The Akuma simply nodded. "While it was fortunate for you that you caught the runaway, I hope you realize I hold you accountable for her disappearing in the first place. Do you have any idea the damage that you would have caused if she leaked out important information? The only reason your life has been spared is because of your outstanding loyalty to me in the past. I have also called in a special favor from a friend who will be investigating more into the identity of the girl as well as where she was headed that night. As for you, I hope you are prepared to defend your position as my lead assassin and prove to me you are still the best. I urge you to learn from this mistake and not disappoint me again."
Enishi's eyes simmered with determination and bloodlust. He lived for this competition: the blood, the whores, the god like feeling that comes with cheating death and inflicting it on those weaker than himself.
"I will not let you down."
After some time, the chains were removed and Enishi's battered body fell to the floor in a bloody heap. His vision swam and at last he succumbed to unconsciousness. His last thought was that of sweet revenge.
***
"Kenshin! Kenshin stop!"
Kenshin's eyes widened as he felt soft hands upon his shoulder and the press of a feminine body against his back. Silky black tresses brushed against his scarred cheek. Slowly his mind began to process the sound of Kaoru's voice.
"Kenshin! Please stop! You're hurting her!"
Hurting? Hurting who?
When Kenshin's brain finally caught up to the rest of his body he realized that he was straddling the waist of a young woman practically choking her to death. Surprise, guilt and shame flooded his eyes and he rose quickly, watching in horror as Kaoru ran to her.
"Kaoru…" his voice was barely a whisper.
"Kaoru, I'm so sorry …I wasn't...I must have been having a nightmare and…I apologize…I didn't mean to hurt…"
"Megumi! What the hell are you doing here?"
Still panting from the surprise of being pinned down by a sexy man, Megumi flipped her hair over her shoulder and flashed Kaoru one of her foxy smiles. While she stood up she let her eyes roam up and down the admirable body of the guilt ridden red head in the corner.
"Oh Kaoru, calm down. I let myself in… I duplicated a key for myself some time ago. I just never got around to using it until today."
Megumi laughed as the girl's mouthed dropped to the floor.
"I have a good reason. I heard that a certain legendary swordsman was staying with you and…"
A blush stained Kenshin's cheek as Megumi walked towards him with a mischievous glint in her cinnamon eyes. As she ran a manicured finger down his bare chest, he gulped and tried to ignore the sensation she was causing with her light touch.
"I just LOVE a man who knows how to use his sword. It must be hard trying to wield such a long sword. You must be very talented."
Kaoru growled and pulled Megumi away from Kenshin.
"You almost got yourself killed! You do not sneak up on a trained killer when he is sleeping! And you do not break into my house early in the morning so that you can flirt with the man who killed my parents!"
Kaoru was so angry she missed the hurt reflected in Kenshin's eyes but Megumi caught it. Cautiously, she placed a hand on Kaoru's shoulder.
"Hun calm down ok. Saito sent me. He said that you are going undercover as a whore and I better than anyone should know how to prepare you for the job."
Kaoru couldn't help but smile a little. That sounded just like him.
"So I'm here to take you shopping. I was also told to start training you in the basics of medicine so that poor Battousai here doesn't die."
"Are companions required to cook for the fighters too? Cuz if that's the case, he's dead anyway."
Kaoru's blue eyes flashed dangerously as she turned to glare at the dumb rooster that just walked into her apartment.
"Does everyone have a damn key to my place?"
Sano laughed as his eyes scanned the room.
"Gee nice to see you too, Jouchan. The door was unlocked. Hey sexy."
Megumi rolled her eyes and then wrapped her arms around Kenshin surprising everybody.
"Sorry baka, I'm interested in real men, not dumb roosters. So for the last time, try going after someone who's actually into bestiality. "
Sano glared at Megumi feeling jealousy rise inside him.
"Oh yeah…well...come here Jouchan."
Kaoru tried to run away but he was quick and before she knew it she found herself being squeezed tightly by his muscular arms.
"Sano let me go!"
"Come on Jouchan, you know I'm sexy."
Kaoru burst into laughter at the absurdity of her finding a man whose hair resembled that of a bird attractive.
"Oh you think it's funny huh? I'll give you something to laugh at."
"Sano no!"
Megumi watched in jealousy as Sano proceeded to tickle Kaoru. Kenshin watched her blue eyes sparkle with happiness. He was angry. Angry that the arms wrapped around Kaoru weren't his own. He gently removed himself from Megumi's hold and leaned against the wall trying to regain control over his self.
Kaoru watched his movements out of the corner of her eye. After some struggling she managed to remove herself from Sano's grip.
"Ok, we seriously need to establish some control here. You two. Sit."
There was some grumbling about not being so bossy but eventually Megumi and Sano situated themselves on her couch.
Pouting Sano raised his hand. Kaoru smiled thinking it was silly.
"Yes, Sano."
"Why doesn't Battousai have to sit on the couch?"
Before Kaoru could speak, Kenshin interrupted.
"Please, call me Kenshin. And I am comfortable with wherever Kaoru-dono would like me to be."
For the first time Kaoru noticed that Kenshin was shirtless. She blushed, realizing she had been staring while he was talking. Quickly, she turned back to face her friends.
"Kenshin you can sit on the couch if you like. This is Sanosuke Sagara and this is Megumi Takani."
He bowed to them and then at Megumi's assistance, placed himself next to her on the couch. Kaoru glared at the fox silently warning her to keep her hands to herself.
"Ok so I know why Megumi is here, Sano why are you here?"
"Uh hellllo. Underground expert in the house. Saito sent me to prep Kenshin on how things in the underground work since he went into hiding, more specifically regarding the competition AND I'm supposed to give him some advice on how to deal with you."
Megumi smirked.
"Kaoru seriously let's go already. The stores do close you know and I only have three days to transform you into the sluttiest doctor ever. Let the boys have their alone time and let's get a move on."
Kaoru sighed giving in and glanced nervously at Kenshin and Sano. Why did they have to have a talk about her? She wondered what kind of "advice" Sano would give him.
"Fine. Kenshin I'll be back around six."
"I'll be here. Kaoru-dono please be careful during your outing."
Surprised by his concern for her, she waved goodbye to the both of them and let Megumi drag her out the door.
***
Kaoru bit her lip in deep thought. These last couple of days with Kenshin had not been anything like she expected. Ever since that day when she asked him to become the Battousai again she had expected nonstop golden eyes and a demonic sword fighter who could care less about her feelings. But, Kenshin had been the total opposite. He was the perfect gentleman and the day she had gotten a paper cut while looking at some files the concern he showed for her practically melted her heart. Plus, she couldn't lie to herself and say the man wasn't attractive. If their past had been different she was sure she would have been all over the swordsman by now, figuratively and literally.
But he was her parent's killer. He took from her what was most precious. She should hate him. She should despise him. Why did he have to make it so hard to loathe him? She had been furious when Saito had first suggested Kenshin stay with her but he had actually been a wonderful guest. He cooked and cleaned and so effortlessly engaged her in small conversation that she forgot she was sitting across from one of the most deadly men in all of Japan. She was so confused. And three days from now the competition would start and the two of them would be forced into an intimate relationship in which they depended on one another for life. She had a feeling things would be different once Kenshin started killing again and once new demons started coming to haunt him. Killing was bad enough but on top of that he would have to live knowing that he sentenced many girls to the life of a sex slave by killing their companion. She wondered how he would handle it. Heck, she wondered how she would handle it. Saito's words rang in her head.
"If you don't want to see the Battousai consume him then help him control it."
If only the wolf had said how.
Kaoru was snapped out of her thoughts by the skimpy thong that materialized in front of her eyes.
"Absolutely not."
Megumi sighed, irritated with Kaoru's lack of attention.
"Kaoru you are going undercover as Battousai's sex slave! After what happened with Tae we have to be even more careful that nobody catches on that you are a cop which means that you have to blend in. Now Sano told me most of these girls hardly wear any clothing and some of them even go stark naked."
Kaoru's sapphire eyes widened.
"Hun, you are going to have to adopt the philosophy less is more. Don't worry about it. You're sexy. I mean not as sexy as me but you're definitely up there on the hot scale."
Kaoru shook her head imagining herself walking around stark naked. She could practically see the disgusting group of men whose eyes would roam all over her body and maybe even their hands too. She had always thought she was so strong but these last couple of days had been testing her limits.
"I don't think I can do this."
Frustrated, Megumi's cinnamon eye's flashed in anger.
"Tae was a virgin just like you are and she sucked it up because she knew what she was doing was for a greater cause. She put on these clothes and completely immersed herself undercover. She was touched and fondled and probably raped multiple times. Sometimes Kaoru, people have to do things that they don't want to do. So get off your spoiled ass and get your head out of the clouds because a lot of people are counting on you."
The silence that followed was deafening. Kaoru's eyes shimmered with unshed tears. "I'm sorry. You're right. If Tae could do it, so can I. I have to. I'm so sorry Megumi. I'm paying attention now. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make this work. Whatever it takes."
***
A large belch filled the room followed by the clang of a bowl hitting the table.
"Kenshin, this food is sooo good. Nothing like Jouchan's. Advice about Kaoru number 1: If you are ever seriously hurt DO NOT let Jouchan cook for you unless you are trying to put yourself out of your misery. Ya here?"
Kenshin chuckled.
"Actually Sano I do not mind Kaoru-dono's cooking."
Sano's chopsticks dropped to the floor.
"You truly must be trying to punish yourself. Anyways, I got some gambling to do soon so what do you want to know about the competition?"
Kenshin thought for a moment.
"This companion thing. I still do not truly understand it."
"It's sick in a hot kind of way. Ok so basically when you arrive at the competition you will see the most beautiful girls you have ever laid eyes on paired with some of the most skilled swordsmen. The women are referred to as companions. They are there to tend to the swordsmen needs whatever those may be."
At this Sano winked at Kenshin.
"But don't try anything with Jouchan. She packs a mean right hook which brings me to advice about Kaoru number 2: if you start to see flames in those blue eyes of hers, duck! But anyways, The Akuma is one genius bastard coming up with this thing. I mean think about it. He gets to discover the best fighters in the whole country and since the beauty of the girls determines whether or not the fighter qualifies he also gets the year's 100 most beautiful women. Well actually he gets 99 since the winner gets to keep his. But do you know how much money he can make off 99 top "quality" slaves in the black market? Millions man. Plus people pay huge bucks to be able to watch the tournament. So that million's more. Then, he takes those millions and buys drugs which he then sells to make millions more and he just continues to fuel his power. Only a soulless genius could come up with the idea of an annual competition that gets him an assassin, 99 slaves, and millions of dollars."
Kenshin clenched his fist. Sano was right. It was a disgustingly brilliant idea. One that ruined millions of lives. The weight upon his shoulders was finally starting to hit him. He was most likely their last chance to catch this monster. If he loses…Japan loses. Not only that but Kaoru…she would be sold who knows where, forced to service men who did not deserve her. Just the thought of men touching her while she screamed for them to stop—
"Kenshin!"
Kenshin looked up to see a worried Sano standing over him.
"Man, you're bleeding."
Kenshin looked down and saw that he had been clenching his fist so hard his nails had broke the skin.
"And your eyes are gold… what the heck's wrong with you?"
Kenshin closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He tried to tell himself that everything was ok and that no one was going to harm Kaoru because he would not allow it. He knew he did not want to kill anyone or watch as girls were shipped away. But, he also knew that it was them or her. He needed to distance himself. He needed to not care about other people's welfare and truly take on the mindset of his youth. He had been trying to avoid it. But, he needed to give into what he really was. Kenshin, the innocent boy he used to be, had disappeared a long time ago and it was time to face the facts. He was and would always be Battousai.
Sano ran his fingers through his hair and looked at Kenshin wondering if he had said something wrong.
"Yo Kenshin you ok?"
Everything depended on his ability to get Kaoru to the 5th Ring. Everything depended on him. Lids opened and intense golden eyes stared back at Sano causing him to gulp and take a couple of steps back.
"Uh…what you thinking about Kenshin?"
Man was he praying the red head wasn't in the mood for killing. Sano knew he wasn't no punk but he doubted he would be able to take the legendary Battousai.
"I'm wasting time. I would like to hear more about this tournament."
Sano was unsure. Even as he was looking at him, Kenshin was changing. Not literally but Sano could feel it.
"Ok…um…so where was I?"
***
At around midnight, Megumi drove Kaoru back to her apartment. They exchanged some words and then sleepily Kaoru carried all her shopping bags up to her room. She knew that Kenshin was most likely already dozing on the couch so she tried to be as quiet as possible. Her brain was throbbing and her body was exhausted. She seriously had a new found respect for serious shoppers. Her key finally went into the lock and grateful Kaoru walked inside and let all the bags fall to the floor before closing the door. It wasn't until she put the lock in place that she felt something was wrong.
"You're late."
Kaoru spun around surprised by the voice. Frightened she reached for the gun strapped to her hip.
"Kenshin? Is that you?"
"You're late."
Ok now she was getting pissed off. Irritated she slipped out of her jacket and started making her way to her room.
"Last time I checked I did not answer to you."
She hit the wall so hard that she barely had time to catch her breath before her hands were held over her head. His body was pressed full against hers and she took a shaky breath realizing she was trapped. How dare he?! Her blue eyes flamed with anger and she tried with all her might to break free from his grip but it was useless.
"Damn it Kenshin, let me go! If you don't release me this moment I'll—"
Kaoru's threats died instantly when she felt his forehead press against hers. She couldn't see anything other than his molten gold orbs but she could feel. Feel his body, his hands wrapped around her wrists, his forehead, his hair, his nose and she knew that if she moved just an inch their lips would touch. So many thoughts ran through her head but for some reason she couldn't speak.
"You do answer to me Kaoru."
When he said her name she felt just the lightest brush of his lips and it sent tiny shivers down her spine.
"You see I think we should start practicing for the tournament. I am your master Kaoru. You answer only to me."
Anger coursed through her veins. She was not some obedient little slave. And she was not the scared little girl she had been all those years ago.
"Kenshin it's not real. We are only preten…" her voice trailed off as her lips brushed against his ever so softly. It had been an accident. Unavoidable from their close position but her body was betraying her.
"It is real Kaoru. When people start dying around us and we start drowning in the darkness of the underground, the only thing that will be real is the fact that you are mine and I am yours. Be careful what you wish for. You wanted the Battousai, well here I am. I am possessive and demanding and untrusting and willing to do whatever it takes to protect you."
Kaoru stood there frozen as his lips brushed across her cheek and she felt his scarred cheek press against hers. Her eyes closed and she tried desperately to get her breathing and heart rate under control.
"Is this how you protect me? By hurting me?"
It had been a whisper. She couldn't see his eyes but his hands loosened slightly around her wrist. But, before she could continue his voice sounded in her ear.
"I cannot promise I will not hurt you. It is the only thing the Battousai knows how to do. But I can promise that no one else will hurt you. I can promise that you will belong to no one other than me."
"I belong to myself."
"Your heart, mind, and soul belong to yourself. But your body belongs to me."
His mouth was so close to her ear that every whispered word sent tingles through her body. She tried to move but he only squeezed tighter around her wrist and pushed her even more into the wall. Hands held over her head she felt like a prisoner. Like his prisoner.
Kenshin rubbed his cheek against hers. She was so soft. The beautiful blue eyed angel that haunted his dreams had filled out nicely. How easy it would be to take her right here against the wall. That's what he wanted. To be sheathed deep inside her. To feel her legs around his waist and her body become pliant beneath his calloused fingers. To hear her moan. And most of all to watch the waves of emotions in her ocean eyes. He wanted to temporarily forget that he was scarred and unloved. He wanted to make her feel so much pleasure that he forgot his pain. But he wouldn't. If he took her innocence he would never be able to live with himself. Turning his head he placed a kiss on her neck. The scent of jasmine reached his nose and he had to stop himself from ripping off her clothes. Instead, he placed a second kiss on her neck and inhaled deeply knowing the scent would find its way into his dreams.
Kaoru's eyes widened and she had to fight to stop the soft moan that wanted to escape from her mouth.
"Do not come home late again."
With that Kenshin released her and disappeared into the darkness leaving Kaoru panting against the wall. When she had composed herself, she lifted off the wall and took the few strides to her bedroom. After Kaoru climbed into bed, she found herself wide awake staring up at the ceiling. It was like she could still feel him on her. He had finally become the Battousai. But it was still nothing like what she expected. She was angry and frustrated and turned on and…terrified. Desperate for sleep Kaoru closed her eyes tightly. But, Fate was cruel. All night voices and images played over and over in her head.
"Otousan! I can't believe you're here. I missed you sooo much."
Red rain.
"Perhaps things are not as simple as good and evil."
Pain in her shoulder.
"The scar on my shoulder is a constant reminder of the pain you have caused me."
A kiss on the neck.
"Will you awaken the Battousai?"
"Saito don't make me do this."
Red, bloody rain.
"I promised her that everything would be alright. I promised her…and now she's dead…because of me."
"When people start dying around us and we start drowning in the darkness of the underground, the only thing that will be real is the fact that you are mine and I am yours."
His hands, his forehead, his nose, his hair.
"I, Kamiya Kaoru, will sacrifice myself for this agency, for Japan, and for Tae."
"You stole my parents and my childhood."
So much blood.
"I cannot promise I will not hurt you."
His lips.
"Sometimes Kaoru people have to do things that they don't want to do."
His eyes.
"I am your master."
***
Hope you guys liked it! I really want this story to be as good as everyone hopes it will be. Pleeeeease review. It motivates me to keep going. The next chapter they arrive at the first ring! I'm excited. Hope your holidays are going well. Anywho thanks for viewing now get to reviewing!