Author's note: Thank you all for the great reviews. I appreciate all of you so very much. You guys are amazing! Thanks so much for sticking with me. Don't forget, that I would love to hear all of your comments and opinions...it truly is what keeps me going. I hope that I didn't make you guys wait too long. Hopefully this chapter will make up for the wait as it is just a bit longer than the last couple. Oh well---
ON TO THE STORY!!!!
Chapter 12: A New Relationship?
Planet Earth
Kenshin smiled lazily at his wife. They had made love for hours, several times. He leaned over and kissed her temple, then got up from the bed, careful not to disturb the still sleeping Kaoru. He just couldn't believe his luck. He couldn't believe she would have him, after everything he had done. What if she doesn't know?? What if I couldn't bring myself to tell her of my past? That would definitely explain why she was so willing to marry me. Kenshin furrowed his brow in concern. That won't do, no it will not, Kenshin said to himself. Kenshin gazed out the window, deep in thought. He decided that no matter what, he would sit down and speak with Kaoru, after they recovered from their lovemaking, and make sure she knew of his past. If she doesn't know---it could cause a huge rut in my marriage, that it could...but I don't think I could bear her not knowing.
"Kenshin, what is it?" Kaoru asked, the concern evident in her voice. Kenshin stared at his beautiful wife. She had propped herself up in the bed and the sheet had slid down revealing her nude, milky white skin. The midday sunlight shone through the window, making her skin appear to be shimmering in the light. "Are you okay? Come back to bed," Kaoru invited, patting the now cool place beside her.
"I'm fine Koishii, that I am. I was just having a hard time resting, that is all," Kenshin replied, making his way back into the bed. He leaned back, placing his hands behind his head and gazed up at the ceiling.
"Are you still thinking on those pillars? You said you would leave them be," Kaoru asked accusingly.
"No, of course not. I promised to not bring them up again, and I keep my promises, that I do," Kenshin assured her. "It's fine Kaoru, I promise. Go back to sleep, you need your rest. I think I will be able to sleep just fine now as well, that I do," Kenshin said with a yawn, to help prove his point.
Kaoru snuggled back up to Kenshin and lay her head upon his chest. "I am sorry for being accusing---it's just that I don't believe I have ever seen you looking so distraught," Kaoru paused to let her words sink in. "Are you sure you are okay. We can talk about what's bothering you if you'd like," Kaoru invited.
"I'm sure, that I am. Go back to sleep Koishii, what was distressing me will wait for later. I promise we can discuss it then, that I do. Sleep now, time to rest," Kenshin prompted.
Kaoru closed her eyes, yawning loudly. "Okay Kenshin. I love you. Try to get some rest too," Kaoru said sleepily. Kenshin just smiled. He wrapped an arm around her and continued to gaze at the ceiling for some time deep in thought before sleep mercifully claimed him.
Planet Areth
Megumi smiled at Sano as he headed towards the inn in town. He was going to scope out the town and make sure Kaoru wasn't trying to hide out somewhere right under their noses. If he wasn't about to find a lead, he was going to return to Megumi's home and wait for her there. Megumi was going to make the day's walk to Battousai's cottage in the woods and look for Kaoru there. Megumi and Sano agreed to meet back at Megumi's and if neither could locate Kaoru they would rest there for the night before starting off for the nearest town, a two day walk to the north.
Megumi turn towards the woods and took a deep breath as she began her journey. She didn't know how she was going to explain to Battousai that Kaoru was gone. She hoped for Kaoru's sake that she had made it away safely from Battousai, but she didn't understand why she would leave without saying goodbye. Megumi had quite a few contacts, after all she did take care of the town ailments. She was sure she would have been able to get someone to put up Kaoru until they could find a better solution. She was even sure that one of her regular klutzy patients would know of someone in the next town over who could have put Kaoru up, even given her a job maybe.
She was definitely going to have a talk with that girl. How selfish could she be? To make her and Sanosuke worry like this. She cared for Kaoru way to much to let her just up and leave, and what of Kaylynn? How could she possibly support her traveling on a road, with no money, no food, no anything?! Megumi sighed in frustration.
Megumi glanced up at the sun in the sky. The sun was starting to sink down in the west. She guessed it to be near the dinner meal. She had already been walking for quite a while. She wiped her brow as a bead of sweat tricked down her temple. It was quite warm out and Megumi was getting anxious to be out of the heat and in the cool shade of the cottage the Battousai owned. She knew she would be there shortly, she estimated about ¾ of an hour and she would be stepping out of the heat...that is, if Battousai was generous enough to allow her entry to his home. She still wasn't quite sure how he would respond to the fact that Kaoru was no longer able to be found...at least just yet.
~*~*~
Kaoru stepped over the threshold helplessly. She couldn't believe that she was willingly walking back into a life of nonexistence. A life where she would just be used and abused and thrown away into the dust. But what choice did she have? Battousai had threatened the lives of her friends...the only ones on this planet she had. And who knew what he could have possibly done to her child, or even herself. Kaylynn couldn't survive without her. She had no choice. She had to think about survival. Even if it meant going back to a life of meaningless existence. Kaoru gazed at Battousai with a mask of apprehension. What would he do now, what if he ripped Kaylynn from her life all together? What if he raised her as his own and taught Kaylynn to know her as no more than a slave? Kaoru let a small sob escape as her mind tormented her with the possibilities. She made passage to the door of the room she once occupied. She waited there for Battousai to hand over her child, and prayed that he would.
Battousai gazed at Kaoru indecisively. He didn't know how Kaoru would react to what he would soon demand of her. He saw Kaoru stop before the door of the room she once occupied. She just stared at the lone lock on the frame and immediately dropped her gaze to the floor. He decided it would be best to first get some food into their bellies before making his demands. She was likely to fight him on it, and he wanted her to have her energy.
"What are you doing Kaoru?" Battousai asked in wonderment.
"Waiting for you to come lock me back into this horrid room. That is what you are planning, is it not? And what of Kaylynn? She has no cradle. Will you at least provide this room with clean linens since I will be forced to take her to my bed?" Kaoru spoke monotonously. She dreaded his answer.
"That's no longer your room," Battousai said flatly. Kaoru's head snapped up in surprise. She gazed at Battousai with her mouth agape, just staring in question.
"What do you mean?" Kaoru asked, the confusion evident in her voice.
"Don't ask stupid questions. Follow me," Battousai growled in frustration.
Battousai walked into the small kitchen and nodded his head towards the table. "Sit. We need to eat," Battousai ordered.
"I'm not hungry," Kaoru stated unemotionally.
"You will need your energy," Battosai smirked.
Kaoru didn't grasp his meaning and just nodded. She realized she really was very hungry. They had been walking for a very long time and she felt very drained. She was trying to punish herself by not eating...she wanted to punish herself for being so weak, for allowing herself to be taken.
Battousai walked to where Kaoru was seated and deposited Kaylynn within her arms. "She will need to eat as well, and I need both hands to make some food. Do not think of doing anything stupid, for if you try to run, I assure you, I will catch you and you will regret it," Battousai spoke matter-of-factly.
Kaoru gulped with effort. She did not like the insinuation that was implied with those words. She nodded dejectedly as Battousai glared at her with eyes ablaze of burning desires and intentions. He wanted to be sure she understood the consequences should she try to take advantage of his inattentiveness while he was preparing their dinner. Battousai walked away with the satisfaction that Kaoru would not make any bold moves and began gathering supplies to make a nourishing meal.
Kaoru began unbuttoning her top so she could nurse her child. Kaoru watched from her place in her chair as Battousai skillfully sliced large chunks of beef and placed them in a boiling pot of water. He also sliced thick pieces of carrots, adding them to the stew. He used a paring knife and swiftly pealed several large potatoes. He cut them into several nice-sized pieces and then added those to the stew as well. After adding a few spices and some chunks of tomatoes, he covered the pot and cleaned his hands. A knock sounded on the door, startling Kaoru. Battousa growled in annoyance. He didn't need any more distractions, it was going to be trying enough to keep watch over the cooking food and Kaoru.
Battousai sent one warning glare to Kaoru and then swiftly made his way to the front door. He opened it to find Megumi standing before him.
"What do you want wench, I'm busy," Battousai spoke in annoyance.
"I'm looking for Kaoru," Megumi said fearfully. She expected Battousai to go into a rage over her not knowing where she was.
"Kaoru is no longer your concern," Battousai said coldly.
"What do you mean?" Megumi asked. "What have you done with her?" Megumi wailed.
Battousai stepped back allowing Megumi entrance. "Come see for yourself. She is fine. She is no longer your concern, she belongs to me. She always has belonged to me. I didn't want her near that imbecile who dared try and touch her, so from now on she will stay here. She belongs here," Battousai said.
Megumi immediately made her way to the locked room Kaoru used to inhabit...the room that she herself was held in for such a long time. She stopped short when she found Kaoru casually nursing Kaylynn in a chair in the kitchen. She rushed to her side in bewilderment.
"What are you doing Kaoru?! Why are you here?" Megumi inquired desperately.
Kaoru glanced behind Megumi's head and saw anger in the eyes of Battousai. She felt her face go pale as he mouthed soundlessly, "Get rid of her, or I will."
Kaoru didn't speak and Megumi's voice brought her back to her senses. "Kaoru! We got your note. Did Battousai kidnap you? Why are you here? Tell me what happened...Sano and I will find a way to get you away from him," Megumi spoke as quietly and urgently as she could. She was afraid what Battousai would do if he heard her words.
Kaoru closed her eyes. She envisioned Megumi and Sano smiling and happy. She could see Megumi large with child as Sano wrapped his arm around her, protecting her from the world. Then she opened her eyes to the cold reality of everything. Megumi knelt before her whispering words of rescue while Battousai soundlessly spoke of ending her if Kaoru did not make her leave. He was cruel, and he was hateful and Kaoru had no doubt in her mind that he would do such a terrible thing. Kaoru wanted Megumi to be happy. She wanted Megumi and Sano to know the joy of having their own child, like Kaoru envisioned for them. She needed to make Megumi leave and needed her to do so quickly.
Battousai gave a warning glare and moved into the kitchen to check the stew.
"Megumi, I'm fine. I came back here myself. Battousai didn't bring me here. I came to let him see Kaylynn before I left for good. I know in my note I mentioned never coming near him again, but as I was leaving I realized...whether I like it or not Battousai is Kaylynn's father and for Kaylynn's sake, I wanted him to say goodbye," Kaoru spoke calmly.
"Kaoru, no! You can't be serious!" Megumi said in shock.
"I am serious, Megumi." At a glance from Battousai, Kaoru hurried on with her fabricated tale. "Anyway, I got here and we began talking and came to an understanding. I've decided to stay here, with Battousai. We are going to raise Kaylynn together. It will be okay, I promise. This is my decision. Kaylynn and I will stay in the spare room and I will work for Battousai...it will be genuine work. He won't hurt me. I didn't want to impose on you anymore, and I'm happy here Megumi, really I am. Look, Battousai is even making us dinner," Kaoru added lamely.
Megumi was shellshocked. She couldn't move, or speak. She didn't know how to respond to what she just heard. Kaoru had come into this home of her own intentions? Kaoru was going to stay? She looked into Kaoru's face and found a firmness there she had never seen before. Kaoru really was serious about this. But taking one glance in her eyes, she found such a sorrow and desperation there. Kaoru was desperate for Megumi to believe her. Megumi didn't know what was going on but she knew Sano would have a hard time believing this. She nodded her head numbly.
"Megumi, please go now. Go home to your soon to be husband. That is where you belong, and I belong here. Please don't do anything rash, I will be okay. And maybe, just maybe I can convince Battousai into letting us take a trip to visit you in a weeks time. Just please, go now, I love you my friend," Kaoru said, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
Megumi glanced at Battousai whose face was unreadable. She slowly stood and made her way to the doorway of the kitchen. "I will just let myself out. I hope to see you next week," Megumi said numbly and made her way to the exit. There was nothing more she could do. She had to trust that Kaoru knew what she was doing. She sighed uneasily as she made the slow trek home where she knew she would find an anxious Sano waiting for her. She didn't know how, but she was going to have to find a way to keep him from tearing down the walls of Battousai's home to get to Kaoru...but she would find a way. She would not lose Sano, not when she just got him.
~*~*~
Battousai smirked in satisfaction at the way Kaoru was able to rid them of the annoying presence that was Megumi. He stalked over to her and removed Kaylynn from her arms. He placed a bowl of stew in front of her, "Eat," he said coldly.
Kaoru sighed and picked up her spoon as she began to eat the food that had been prepared. She briefly wondered whether he had drugged her food but her fleeting thoughts drifted away as she saw Battousai himself begin to eat the same stew.
They finished the meal in relative silence. When Kaoru had laid her utensil aside, Battousai stood from the table and removed their dishes. With one glance at Kaoru he instructed her, "Come. Follow me."
Kaoru followed in apprehension, wondering where she would be sleeping since Battousai had spoken that she would no longer occupy the only room she had known.
Battousai walked past the room Kaoru once inhabited and continued down the hall, still carrying Kaylynn safely within his arms. Kaylynn just stared up at Battousai, midnight eyes watching his face curiously. She had long since given up her fright of Battousai, as he had not released her from his arms aside from allowing Kaoru to feed the child. Several feet down the hall, he opened a door to his left and motioned Kaoru to step inside. Kaoru stepped inside and to her amazement found a very neat room with a large and inviting full size bed. It sat upon a frame of black-painted iron, the bars large and ominous looking. The mattress was draped in a black sateen comforter with a dark blood red trim. Off to one side of the bed lay a dark cherry night stand with a small oil lamp sitting upon it. There was a large, man-sized rocking chair in the corner of the room with a black knit blanket draped over the back of it. Kaoru gasped as she saw that within arms reach of the bed, stood a cradle. It was furnished with a small black and red quilt.
Kaoru was beyond confused. Why would Battousai bring me to this room? Could it be possible--
"You will sleep here," Battousai said, unaffected by the look of confusion Kaoru was giving him.
Kaoru stared uncertainly at the Battousai for quite some time trying to ascertain whether he was being cruel and sinister. After what seemed like ages, Kaoru seemed to accept what he said as truth.
"Thank you," Kaoru said somewhat sheepishly. "I don't understand why you saw it fit to grant me a more functional room, but I thank you deeply. I suppose I must thank you for getting a cradle for Kaylynn as well. I appreciate you treating me as a human being instead of as a sexual plaything for you to use and abuse. Even though it still baffles me to no end...I appreciate your kindness, Battousai."
"I am not kind. Make no mistake---your place in this home has not changed. You are still mine," Battousai stated lustfully, groping her with his eyes, gazing up and down over her whole body to confirm his words.
Karou looked at Battousai in surprise. "But I thought---this doesn't make sense then! Why am I in this room. Why am I sleeping here with Kaylynn. That is too kind! For you to sacrifice your room for us--"
"Who said anything about sacrificing?" Battousai smirked, cutting her off. "I have no intention of just giving up my room to you. All I said was 'you will sleep here'. Did I say that I would sleep elsewhere?" Battousai asked in amusement. He deposited Kaylynn in the cradle and sauntered seductively over to where Kaoru stood. Grabbing her wrist firmly, leaving no room for escape, he pulled her to the one door in the bedroom.
Kaoru looked at Battousai uneasily, fearing he would force her to sleep within the closet. Battousai chucked sadistically at Kaoru's look of fright.
"As much as it would entertain me, you will not be sleeping in this closet. You will be sleeping in that bed---with me," Battousai said, cocking his head towards the bed with emphasis. Kaoru looked between the bed and Battousai with bewilderment. The bed that once looked so large and inviting when she thought it would hold her solely, now looked undoubtedly small. They would nearly be sleeping on top of one another. Kaoru was not amused.
"You can't be serious," Kaoru balked at Battousai.
Battousai just smirked even wider. "I had a feeling you might object---no matter," Battousai said, drawing open the lone closet door. Kaoru looked up to find shackles hanging over a peg on the inside of the door. A dark shiver ran through her as she heard the hard clanks of the metal shackles banging into one another, sending forth their malevolent intentions. "Either you sleep in this bed willingly, or I shall make sure to enjoy making you..." Battousai stated darkly with emphasis.
Author's Note: Okay, that's it for this chapter. It certainly is longer then the last 2. My husband just got home and isn't feeling well so I want to make him some lunch and also my son will be waking from his nap soon. Only time I feel able to write is when my son is napping or down for the night and my husband is still at work.
Please don't forget to review and let me know what you thought, I hope I get more reviews then I did last chapter, but we will see. And I know, a LOT of this chapter was taking place on Planet Areth, but I did warn you all from the beginning that Areth would be where the main focus of this fic would take place.
Also, I still have my email set up for a mailing update list. If you wish to receive an email letting you know when I have posted a new chapter, please email me at and put "Captive Hearts" in the subject and I will add you to the address book for update reminders.
Once this story is finished, I will begin updating Impermissible love. I know some of you have been waiting for that one to continue as well. Captive Hearts has always been my baby though. And some of you actually loved Captive Hearts so much, that I was receiving reviews on my Impermissible Love story asking me to update Captive Hearts! Thanks for all the encouragement everyone. I love you all!
Ja-ne!
~Videl621