Thank you everyone who reviewed, it really does wonders for my self esteem, and its especially helpful in making me sit down to finish up that one inevitable yucky paragraph in each chapter that never seems to be quite right. I actually wrote this chapter at least 3 times (they don't give me much to do at work), so if its still off or not so good just smile, nod, and spout me off some good advice k?
Whoops, in all my ramblings I nearly forgot! – RK characters aren't mine, everyone else is, though I do seem to be killing them all slowly chapter by chapter, and I have nothing more to say on the subject for the time being (mostly cuz everyone around me at work is giving me funny looks- better start acting busy)
Should I kill him now, or wait and watch him squirm? Battousai silently debated the two options as Kaoru looked over at the caller.
Morita? Is that who Haku was talking about?
Battousai said nothing, still undecided and the silence stretched, heavy with discomfort and tension. Desperate to fill the void, Morita rushed into his deceptive spiel.
"It's Akira-sama, he's gone mad with power! There's no telling what he'll do or who he'll turn against next. After all these years I can't- "
Battousai tuned out his words like he would the buzz of an annoying fly. Alright, definitely kill him – at least then he'll shut up! He took his sword out in a slow, careful motion. Morita, foolishly caught up in his implausible story of treachery, did not notice at first, but as Battousai came closer there was no way to mistake the manslayer's intent.
"What are you doing Battousai? P-Put your sword away…heh…heh" he giggled nervously, trying to act nonchalant and failing miserably. "There's no need for that, I brought no one with me and I'm unarmed!"
When Battousai continued to move forward, Morita could no longer maintain even a pretense of calm. He began to scramble backwards seeking to make distance between himself and the murderous look in Battousai's eyes. "You wouldn't dare to harm me! I'm Akira-sama's most favored-" Morita tripped over a rock and fell to the floor. He continued to try and crawl away, "I- I'm…I'm under Akira-sama's protection, you swore loyalty – have you no honor?"
"Akira-sama's protection? Loyalty?" Battousai chuckled menacingly, "Weren't you just saying how unstable and traitorous he was? Maybe I misheard you," he tested his sword in sharp swipes near Morita's neck, "I could have sworn you just said that he had turned against his allies. Wasn't that what you came all the way out here to warn me of?"
"No, Battousai, no you misunderstood; I was just-"
Battousai was no longer in the mood to listen to his babbling, and with eyes narrowing to dangerous slits, his voice cut through the air as his sword had moments before. "I am well aware of what you were 'just' trying to do. There was no need for you to rush out here Morita, I was going to come visit both you and your precious Akira-sama to discuss his recent…activities. But of course since you have come to me instead, I suppose I need not wait to exact my payment."
"Your payment?" Morita squeaked out. "What do you mean?"
"Well, with all these years of loyal service, I think I deserve some form of compensation, don't you?"
"But…but you already asked for-"
"Oh I'm sure Akira would not begrudge me a small additional parting gift. After all, he did try to have me killed" Battousai's eyes flared here with cold anger. "- but I'll take that up with him later. For now I'll just content myself with you, Morita."
Realization swirled through Morita and knowing that he was going to die, he consoled himself with the thought that he alone would not suffer the consequences of his treachery. Battousai, thought to be dangerous when simply killing on orders, was oozing murderous thoughts with every breath. .
As Kaoru watched in shock, Battousai swiped his sword in a deadly motion and took Morita's head. It rolled past her and out of the cave, trailing blood behind as she shrank away in horror. Battousai then proceeded to dump the body in the woods. He returned to find that his captive had gone from terrified to reproachful.
"You didn't have to kill him; was clearly no real threat to you anymore." Kaoru was dismayed by Battousai's hasty action.
Somewhat gratified by his revenge and willing to tolerate her questions for the time being, he raised an eyebrow and answered in a flippant tone. "What difference does it make if he's dead or alive? If he was of any use to the world, he would have been able to save himself from my sword."
"You say it so casually as if his life had no value. A sword should be used to protect people, not condemn them to an unjust death!" Kaoru's voice trembled as she attempted to control her outrage.
Battousai's face sobered as he walked over and kneeled before her, taking her chin in his hand. He applied force until she looked up into his eyes. His expression was unreadable.
"Swordsmanship is to kill people. This is an absolute truth. Any other nonsense about protecting people is just some glorified ideal that could only be believed by those who have never stained their hands with blood. Accept this and you might live to see another day."
Kaoru stared at him defiantly, disregarding his closeness.
She whispered, "I could never live on the spilt blood of others, how can you?"
His jaw slackened and he paled slightly. Kaoru's question had come too close to old wounds and Battousai's tolerant attitude was now gone.
Letting go of her chin, he lashed out, "What does a whore understand of blood or death? All you need know is how to spread your-"
That was the final straw. She could suffer through the indignity of being dragged around the forest, she could deal with nearly being eaten alive; she could even get over his violent attitude, but she'd be damned if she let him slander her in this way.
Accepting that Battousai would either beat or kill her for her what she was about to do, Kaoru disregarded all caution and control. She shouted, letting him know exactly what she was thinking,
"Insufferable bastard! How dare you speak to me like that? I have never let a man touch me for love or money and you sit there and you treat me like a – you treat me like-" Kaoru was so outraged she couldn't get anymore words out and trembled uncontrollably.
Let him come and kill me now, I'll come back from death and haunt him to his grave!
She couldn't hold back her tears of frustion as she waited for him to strike her or pull out his sword. But Battousai didn't move. He sat frozen in front of Kaoru, too shocked to retaliate. It vaguely occurred to him that no woman had ever dared to so much as raise her voice to him before, let alone insult him in any way.
I should be angry now, shouldn't I?
But he stared at her with wide eyes watching tears roll down her face. His hand itched to move and this time he didn't deny himself. Battousai reached out thinking,
- What the hell is wrong with me? -
and to Kaoru's surprise, wiped the wetness from her cheeks. Kaoru looked at him in confusion and opened her mouth to speak but Battousai stopped her, saying, "We are leaving now." He walked out of the cave and after staring blankly for a few moments at the space he had left behind, Kaoru followed.
Battousai led her through the last mile before the fort in quiet, silently working out what years of bitterness and cynicism told him he should feel.
Virgin or whore? I don't know which she is and I don't care. She's my ticket into Akira's fort and that is all that matters about her.
Ignoring the discomfort that often results from lying to oneself, Battousai turned his attention back to the task at hand. The wench had been right, he hadn't had any real reason behind killing Morita other than petty revenge. His true target was hidden behind the towering stone walls ahead of him. Setting his resolve Battousai vowed,
You'll go to hell tonight Akira. Straight to hell.
I
paraphrased/added on to a bit from the anime in the Bats/Kaoru
conflict, in case anyone was wondering. I kinda wanted to do a
showdown with Bats, Akira, and Morita together but...if I was Morita, I
would have snuck out right then and there cuz who knows what Akira
might do to me to save himself. Maybe 2, possibly 3 more chapters
I think. Please Review!
