Temper


Kaoru stared down at the scarlet splotches that had gradually blossomed across her abdomen. There were matching spots on her arm, and her thoughts jumped to Yahiko, the dojo, and a duel long concluded. Specific meanings eluded her, but she was not so ignorant of the workings of spirit magic that she missed the implications of such wounds reopening.

A fist to her bloodied gut reminded her of more pressing concerns.

"Of course a woman who refuses to kill doesn't know how to fight." Gohei snorted out a mirthless noise, probably a laugh. "That's ok. I'll put you to proper use before I kill you."

She clawed at the hand that wrapped itself around her throat, kicking wildly as she felt the ground falling away from her feet. Though she wanted, needed to keep fighting, he denied her the luxury of breath and her limbs were turning to lead.

"Put Kaoru-dono down gently." Beyond her field of vision, there came a command, issued with quiet authority and deadly calm. "Your fight is with me."

Gohei's laugh rumbled through the room again. "So the minx found another runt of a champion." His grip around her neck tightened momentarily, and soon she was airborne, flying toward the wall. "Sure, let's play."

When the moment of impact came, it was not against cold stone, but firm muscle. There was a rasp of tempered steel against iron, the sound of a sword singing free of its sheath.

"That wasn't gentle."


A/N: Bonus post. I realized the last drabble was about as long as the author's note and felt guilty. Also, I've just been dying to get this chapter out. Who am I kidding? I live for Kenshin/Kaoru.