Alright, here we are ladies and gents! Rated M towards the end!
"Ame I'm so scared," Kaoru whispered to her best friend. The two of them were hog tied and in the back of a carriage with their eyes covered. "The worst of it all is that I can't say that I know he will find me, that he will come and save me. I wish I could Ame, I love him." She started crying again and Ame inched over closer to her and laid her head on his shoulder.
"I know I should not care because of all the horrible things that he has done to you and I. But from what I have seen of our father's associates is that they were no saints either. I mean why would they even be associated with these type of people?" They felt the carriage stop and heard the doors open.
"Associated with these people you say?" they heard a man ask and Kaoru knew with all of her heart that the voice was familiar. She was thrown over someone's shoulder and could only hope the same was happening to Ame. They were carried for a few minutes and then laid down on a comfortable bed. Kaoru rolled a bit and bumped into someone. It was another girl who was reaching for her fingers.
"Ame it's ok it'll be ok," Kaoru lied but it gave Ame faith. The blindfolds were taking off of their faces and the first one that Kaoru saw was Kumara.
"Kumara what is wrong with you why are you doing this to me?" she cried out and he just shook his head. He pulled her by the hair and threw her down on the floor. "This whore sleeps on the floor," he told their guards who just looked at Kaoru and nodded his head.
"I am saving you from yourself. Your precious Battousai has been killing up everyone in Kyoto and they are looking for revenge. Somehow rumors got out about a girl living here at a dojo that owned Battousai's heart. It's a real treat. Rumor has it that the devil has returned because he had to leave his heart behind with you." He explained but Kaoru was still confused. "The only way I could keep you and her safe was if I had you myself. We're putting a rumor out now as we speak that you have been killed. It will give you a chance to correct this mistake of yours. With everyone thinking you're dead they'll stop coming after you and the Battousai will be distraught and an easy target. So I'll be needing this." He reached down and yanked the bow from her hair.
"Now this may hurt a bit but try not to scream!" he sliced in the middle of her hand and she bit down on the inside of her jaw to muffle her scream. He loosely wrapped her hand up with her bow and smeared her blood all over it. "Take this and nail it to the doors of the dojo," he told one of the men and then he looked to Ame.
"Now ladies, if your father's would have hidden a map where would it be?" Kumara asked but neither of them knew the answer. It was either that or they had no idea they really knew.
"Ladies, rest up, questioning begins tomorrow," he smiled at Ame and ran his finger across Kaoru's jaw. He pulled her by the hair and forced his lips upon her. She slapped his face and was thrown down to the floor.
"Make sure you get that one cleaned up…" he ordered the guard at the door. "Have her ready for a long day in my bed," he said loud enough for Kaoru to hear. She picked herself up from the floor and climbed into the bed next to Ame.
"It's going to be ok," she whispered to her crying friend. "I'm not going to let them hurt you…I'll do everything it takes to keep you safe," Kaoru assured her. She spent the rest of their free time trying to wiggle out of her ropes only to be grabbed and forced to take a bath. Ame went peacefully into the bathwater and allowed the woman to scrub her. The entire time Kaoru just glared at her. She had to be the manliest looking woman she had ever seen in her life. She wondered what type of woman could allow herself to be a part of something like this. The male guard they had was just outside the bath house but it would be too risky to do anything now. If she was alone she would have taken the woman out and caught the guard by surprise and then made her great escape. Unfortunately, Ame had no fighting skills whatsoever and she was a slow runner.
A few more girls came in with hot buckets of water and Kaoru's mouth was left gaping open. The girls couldn't be any older than six or seven. The most disgusting part of it all was that her father was allegedly connected to the people in some type of way. She tried to recall the hints or clues her father might have dropped her over the years. She felt the woman grabbing her arm and she looked up to see the tub had been changed and another bath had been drawn. They were all simply waiting for her. Kaoru yanked away from her and put herself in the water.
"I prefer to bathe myself if you don't mind," she snapped when she saw the woman nearing her person. Her hard manlike features softened and she nodded her head at Kaoru. She wondered for a second if she would replace the woman one day. If Kumara had his way she probably would be. Ame sat on the floor by the tub looking very sullen and beat. It pained Kaoru to see her usually bubbly and cheerful friend so down. She wasn't used to being the emotionally supportive one in their duo. Kaoru got out of the bath and dried off. They were both given yukatas and then carted off to their room to sleep.
Kaoru watched over Ame rubbing her hands over her hair as her friend drifted off to sleep. She would not be able to let her guard down so easily. She thought of Kenshin and she let out a pleasant sigh. Everything between them had been established so quickly but she did not mind because time was fleeting. She thought of how gorgeous he looked when his red hair was free from his ponytail. She vividly remembered him beneath her with his hair sprawled out on the floor and his face showing the tenderness that was Kenshin. Bit by bit she was bringing the more humane side out of him. He would still fuck her like the manslayer he was but he could now also make love to her. At least he could.
"Battousai," he was sitting in his room with his back up against the wall wallowing in his misery. He wanted nothing more than to hear the loud screams and soft pants of her voice. To see her in so much pleasure and know he was the cause of it was all he would ever need in the end. He could still feel her body in his arms. Her bare skin pressed up against him after they finished making love. He looked over to Ayao wondering why he dared disturbed him. "Yes, Ayao," he growled under his breath. He looked up to the man staring down at him with short jet black hair and big almond brown eyes. He was initially an ally but to him, right now, he only had enemies.
"Sawa didn't want to tell you this but," he looked at the Battousai to see if he should continue or just walk away. He had seen him brooding and sitting around angry but never had he seen him sitting around sulking. After he attacked the Shimashou-Shogunate Kyoto chapter head on and won things have been eerily quiet; it was the quiet before the storm. "A bloodied bow was found pinned to the door of the Kamiya dojo." Ayao reported only to find himself locked eyed with an amber eyed devil. He stood up from the ground and fixed his two swords to go onto his belt. He walked slowly from his room and brushed past Ayao.
The few unlucky souls that crossed paths with him as he walked from his room to leave the compound all ran to Sawa and alert him to the psychopath on the loose. They had never seen him looking so fierce and menacing before. There was something going on with him and of course it was a secret though everyone was dying to find out. He was three feet from the door when he heard someone run up behind him. Instinctively, his hand went to the hilt of his sword while he stared from his peripherals.
"Himura, just where are you going?" Sawa asked him and it didn't miss him that he still had not removed his hand. "Himura, you know about the bow don't you?" he asked and Kenshin squinted his eyes at him. "Himura, with all that you have done, all that you have strived for will you just turn away from it all to exact revenge for some girl?" he pleaded. He was fully prepared to beg Kenshin to stay if he thought it would be effective.
"Initially, my job was over when the revolution ended. I joined you and the secret police force we work for in order to keep something like the revolution to keep from happening ever again. It is true that we agreed to make sacrifices for the greater good of our people. I am supposed to make the sacrifice not Kaoru. If she is indeed dead then I will declare my own revolution and everyone with a weapon will pay for it with their lives," he dropped his hands to his side and walked off from Sawa. He was leaving and he was not going to look back. 'Damn Kaoru please still be alive.'
"Word has it that the Battousai is headed back to Tokyo," Kumara said to Kaoru. She was tied to a chair in the middle of the room. She had been sitting there for over an hour without any type of contact from any one. Kumara had come in a few moments ago and all he had done was stare at her and try to plant kisses on her. "At first I only thought you were Battousai's whore but seeing as he threatened to declare another revolution over you proves otherwise." Kaoru finally paid attention to what he was saying to her. She could picture him coming back to Tokyo and slaying anyone who dared touch her. It was admirable but not what she wanted. She didn't want to add to the number of kills he already has just for her.
"Now about your father," she cut her eyes over to him. "After the revolution ended your father began gathering factions of swordsmen of all kinds. He knew that the Meiji government would be weak and he had plans to overthrow it. The nice humble and mid class daddy you knew was just a front. Your forefathers helped build Edo and had vast fortunes of money hidden somewhere. Him along with Junko would have been the most powerful men in Tokyo and soon all of Japan had they not been assassinated by the Battousai." He explained but Kaoru did not want to believe it. "The reason your precious Battousai could not lay down his sword after the revolution was because of your father. He, Junko, and the Battousai were enemies even though the Battousai never knew it." Kaoru could feel the tears forming in her eyes from his words.
""The opportune moment came when he left the shadows and came out into the open," he continued even though he knew it was painful for her to hear. "But he just vanished into thin air. He was further in than the shadows could ever provide. No one dared to even speak his name. He caught them when they were together and killed them slowly." He clicked his teeth and began pacing around in front of her.
"The money and supplies your father hid would assure us victory and we would be able to take full control of Japan in no time," Kaoru tried to free herself from her ropes again but found it was still useless. "Well I don't mean to rain down on your take over Japan plans but we have no idea as to where your treasure is!" she spat. She scrunched her brow at Kumara as he stood wide eyed looking at her. She watched as blood rain tears from his eyes and he began choking and coughing up more blood. She heard the sound of metal and then a click. Kumara dropped down to his knees and then fell face first right at her feet. Her eyes lit up when she saw her redhead standing there looking her over.
He ran over to her and pulled her ropes free. She grabbed his face and planted a soft sweet kiss on his lips. He felt his heart begin to beat again with her touch. Her kiss set his body on fire. He tucked her hair behind her ear and pulled back from the kiss. With his help she stood up and he was pulling her back the way he came in. She stopped and looked over her shoulder.
"Ame is here to and I cannot just leave her," she whispered and he allowed her to pull him in the other direction. He wanted to argue with her. He wanted to force her to get out while he went to save her friend. The idea was quickly thrown out because he knew he wouldn't be able to leave her alone. She navigated through the halls using the steps she memorized when she was pulled from the room. They could blindfold her but it didn't matter she could see more than with her eyes sometimes. She slid the door open and revealed her friend tied up on the bed and asleep. She ran over to her friend as he kept watch out in the hall. Kaoru untied Ame and woke her up from her sleep.
"He came for us," was all Kaoru had to say for Ame to understand. She wanted to tell Kaoru he came for her and not them but she knew they were pressed for time. When they ran out of the room he dragged Kaoru out into the yard. They ducked down and watched as a few guards walked by chatting. Kenshin wanted to avoid any more confrontations but he knew there was a possibility they would not. Just as they were running for cover into the bushes someone blew a whistle.
"We have an intruder! Kumara is dead!" one of the guards shouting sending the others into an uproar. "Kaoru run that way and do not stop or look back!" he ordered and she grabbed Ame's hand and ran off through the bushes. She was about to look over her shoulder but Ame shook her head no. Kaoru saw a box carved out of the wall and smiled when she thought of how strong her Kenshin was. She rushed Ame out of the wall and heard her cousin Yahiko greet her on the other end. She looked from the whole back to the yard where Kenshin was fighting and she took off.
She ignored their screams as she ran through the garden headed back towards her man. She could hear the screams of men and the sound of blades clashing together. She stopped herself by grabbing on to a tree and just stared off at them. He was as acrobatic as he was skillful. She saw him move swiftly through the groups of men leaving a trail of bodies behind him. The moonlight no longer shined upon his sword since it was drenched in blood. She watched as a man came up behind him and ripped into his back making him drop one knee down. He swung upwards from the ground and swiveled to kill the man who cut him. At times all Kaoru could see were the tips of his red hair and the burn from his golden colored eyes.
Kaoru saw more men running from the house and she ran to grab a sword from one of the fallen. She never thought she would have to take a man's life before. She knew from the moment that she picked up the sword that she would do it. She would kill for Kenshin. She took a fighting stance and readied herself for the group of men that were heading their way.
"Kaoru no," he said appearing in front of her throwing her sword down to the ground. "You should get out of here now," he said grabbing her and pulling her up to his chest. He heard the men stepping closer and he pushed her to the ground. She could hear the sound of his blade cutting into flesh as he took them down two by two. It was horrible watching the manslayer in front of her kill all of those people. It was even worse to love said manslayer. He had seen the look of horror and disgust in her eyes and for the first time he felt ashamed of himself. He didn't want to turn around and look at her. He didn't want her to see him squat down and clean his shirt on the body of the deceased; but she knew who he was beforehand and he would be damned if he let someone make him feel bad about himself.
"We ought to leave now," he growled without ever making eye contact with her. She nodded and stood up from the ground walking solemnly back to the whole in the wall. When she stepped out she saw Ame, Yahiko, and Megumi arguing and fighting with one another. Megumi grabbed her and pulled her up into a hug. "Oh Kaoru I was so worried about you," Megumi cried out as Kenshin stepped through the wall. "There is no time for family reunions," Kaoru knew she recognized the monotone voice of his; it was the voice of a manslayer. He began walking down the street back to her dojo when she saw the cut in his back. She had completely forgotten that he was wounded back there.
"Kenshin you're hurt," she ran after him and the others simply followed. "Megumi, how did he know where to find us?" Ame asked in a whisper. "I had been arguing back and forth with police ever since the bow turned up. He just came out of nowhere. He was so fearsome and distraught over the possibility that Kaoru was dead it was romantic. Sano had heard word of where she was likely being kept and he rushed over here." She explained and Ame nodded. "I do not believe Kaoru is right for Sir Ken." Megumi whispered incidentally saying that bit aloud. "How do you mean?" Ame asked her. "Sir Ken needs a real woman that can deal with all that he has done and all that he is. I'd be more than happy to take him off of her plate," she cooed staring after the two of them.
"You're sick you know that?" Ame slowed down a few paces so that she was next to Yahiko. "Yes, I heard," he mumbled and Ame shook her head. "What do you think of him?" Yahiko looked up into the night sky and then down at the redheaded murderer. "I don't know he scares me I guess…the fact that he could slaughter us all in our sleep and think nothing of it afterwards frightens the shit out of me." He paused. "But if he really cares for my cousin, and I mean love, then I guess he'd be cool. A lot better than that damn Sano of course," Ame shook her head at him, he cursed so much to be a kid.
"I cannot lie, I am afraid, the way he is with Kaoru is kind and timid like he is an average man but of course he is a manslayer." She grabbed Yahiko and held him back a few paces. "A manslayer is a manslayer until the day he dies," she froze and clutched her chest tightly. "Ame what is the matter?" Yahiko shouted out in panic. Kaoru and the others turned around and rushed to Ame. "I heard my father say it once," she whispered leaving everyone but Yahiko confused.
"A manslayer is a manslayer…" she was surprised when Kaoru cut her off. "Until the day he dies," she finished looking at Ame sort of understanding. Their fathers had been talking while they waited in the other room. They were making some sort of plans that they were not allowed in on. But there were a few things that they often heard them say.
"Red hair and cross shaped scar," Junko would often ask the scary people they crossed. "There is little else for him to do. He shouldn't be that hard to find. A manslayer will be a manslayer until the day he dies," those were Kaoru's father's words.
"Ame where did they used to take us?" Kaoru asked but Ame shook her head no. Perhaps they knew something about the whereabouts of the treasure after all. "This is all grand but unless you know where the treasure is I suggest we keep moving," his void was so depressing that it was sickening. They all started to walk again nearing the dojo now. When they made it inside Kaoru didn't even have time to ask him how he felt since Megumi was all over him.
"Kaoru go and fetch us some hot water would you?" she asked making Kaoru pout before she ran off. Ame knew what she was up to and she couldn't just stand by and watch. Ame went off to her room and got ready for bed. She was sure she would hear all about it in the morning.
"Listen here Battousai the manslayer," Yahiko growled grabbing both his and Megumi's attention. "I don't care how strong you are or how many people you have killed. If you hurt my cousin ever again I will hunt you down and slay you." He threatened and Kenshin simply smirked at him. "Though I do not think your threat is viable I assure you I have no intentions of causing Kaoru any more harm. I will return to the shadows and protect her from there," he heard Kaoru gasp and he looked over at her. Her eyes were filled with tears but she would not let them fall. She gave the bucket of water to Megumi and ran out of the room.
"Sir Ken a girl like her does not understand," Megumi pulled off his kimono glaring at his bare chest. For such a feared man that had seen many battles he had very few scars on his body. She cleaned his wounds and used that moment to feel him up as well. He was silent the entire time. The only thing on his mind was the look on Kaoru's face. She had gotten extremely attached to him. "I know how to be the woman you need Sir Ken and I am more than adequate enough to satisfy any urges you may have," she announced as she snaked her arms around his frame. He grabbed both of her arms and peeled them off of him.
"Though I do not doubt anything you have said Megumi, no one will ever fill the void that is Kaoru. I would never allow it now bandage me up so that I may go make amends with her." He dropped her hands and waited for her to obey. Yahiko sat in the corner snickering the entire time. Megumi was upset they all could tell but she didn't say another word to him. When she finished she got up and simply walked out of the room. He grabbed his kimono and clenched his swords as he stood up.
"Hey Battousai!" he heard Yahiko call and he felt his nerves begin to pinch. "Don't underestimate Kaoru she's wiser than you think," he offered and Kenshin looked over his shoulder at him and nodded. He stepped down from the walkway and headed towards her room. She was sitting in her door gazing up at the stars when he found her. He took his swords from his belt and sat down beside her. She had peeped down at him before he came near her so she knew he was bare chested. Her point would never be taken into account if she looked at him so close to her without a top on.
"Kaoru you have to understand," he put his arm around her and pulled her into his arms. "People will come after me and if I stay here with you they will come after us." She looked from the stars to his beautiful violet colored eyes. He could literally see her heart beating in her chest. He knew what she was feeling and he could feel it as well. "Kenshin and if you could understand I am more than capable to take care of myself," she answered and he shook his head. "It will never be enough for me Kaoru I won't take your safety lightly not ever. Even if it means I myself cannot be with you." He kissed the top of her head but she pulled away from him. "You always talk like that, we could never be together because you never even give us a chance," she cried out and he felt that awful pinch in his heart.
"Well then I will not speak of it again, if you promise to accept that it is the truth," she thought about it for a while and wiped the tears from her eyes. She nodded her head at him and he pinned her down in her doorway. "You already know what I want to ask," he said nipping at her neck. She had been waiting for a long time to hear him ask those words again. "Will you belong to me once again Kaoru?" she grabbed his face and pulled him into a kiss. He kissed her slowly and began to undress her. Her back arched up immediately and as he kissed on her breast she felt volts of electricity singe through her body.
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