Chapter two of: OF SWORDS AND STRANGERS
Warnings: slight shonen ai hints in this chapter. OC. And there might be a little OOC in some parts.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It was rather early in the morning, around three to be exact, but Kenshin was already up, doing chores and fixing things up. He never usually got up so early, but something had been bothering him. He just couldn't sleep well, for thoughts of the one that had been watching him had plagued his mind endlessly. He had even dreamed that he had come face to face with a shadowy monster. Alas, he felt tired as he scrubbed the deck, his sleeves tied back around him so they wouldn't get in the way. He sighed softly, nearly finished, and wiped his forehead, and it was then he heard a slight creak behind him. He whirled around, reaching for his sword, only to find it wasn't at his side. He'd left it in his room.
"Why are you up so early?" Yuuki's voice came as the redhead blinked up at him.
"I could ask you the same thing," said the Battousai with slight suspicion.
"Oh, I always wake up around this time, I never get very good sleep nowadays. When I was practicing in the woods only a few months ago, I had to get up at this time. My master made me." He smiled slightly. There was something about that smile that sent a shiver up and down the redheads back, but whether it was because he liked the smile, or hated it, he didn't know.
"I see. Well," his gaze traveled down to Yuuki's bare feet. "I was just cleaning up the deck." He said, implying the fact he wanted him to get off of it. But Yuuki didn't, instead he took a step forward, crouched and lifted the Battousai's chin. Startled, all Kenshin could do was blink in surprise and stay still, much to his bewilderment. His body just wouldn't move an inch. When Yuuki's face got closer to his, his eyes began to widen in anticipation of what this man might do. Mind producing many possibilities, he wasn't prepared when lips touched his. Of all the things, this was the last on his list. He'd never been kissed by a male before. Ever. It was frightening, yet thrilling at the same time. The sensation sent little butterflies flittering in his stomach and finally, he pulled away, cheeks red and breathing irregular. "Wh-what are you doing?"
Yuuki smirked, advancing upon him, crawling on all fours, and right up to Kenshin again. "They just looked so tempting I had to taste them."
"You hardly know me." He stated trying to back away. Why was he acting like this? His defense barriers were down, his face was hot, and he didn't know what to think. He certainly had never felt like this before. There had to be some rational explanation for this, he though, like lack of sleep! Yes, lack of sleep, that must have been it.
"I know, but I'd like to get to know you." The other said calmly.
Kenshin finally scrambled up and cleared his throat, pulling the knot undone to the tie that held his sleeves back. He had his back to the other, trying to calm himself and things were going smoothly. It seemed the other was settling for watching... or so he thought until his hair was yanked and he fell back against Yuuki, hair undone, falling over his shoulders. Maybe he should ask miss Kaoru to reconsider this man sleeping in their dojo, Kenshin though, warm lips descending to his neck. He shivered again, hands clenching with tension that ran through him. Why couldn't he move? Why wasn't his body listening to him? Well, he concluded, it didn't feel so bad, at least this man wasn't hurting him or threatening him in any way, right? Then why DID he feel threatened. It was all too much to handle.
"Battousai."
Eyes going wide, he whirled around, out of the man's arms and narrowed his eyes. "What do you want? You're not here just for a few nights' stay, that you are not."
"Well, not anymore. But I didn't lie. I did come here for just a few nights' stay at first, but when you told me your name, I had to find out if you were the Battousai." Yuuki said, looking him up and down, with a raised eyebrow. "Can't say you look like much, though." At the remark, Kenshin snorted.
"So then what is it you want now?"
"You."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Golden eyes narrowed, taking in the scene in front of them. Yes, he had observed the little exchanged through this new guest and the Battousai. This stranger didn't waste any time, he noted, as he had seen him arrive just the other day. Jealously flared through him, and he debated going down and interrupting their little mushy scene, but, as it turned out, the stranger whispered something to the redhead that obviously sent him on edge, as he whirled around and glared at the other. He could not hear what they were saying. He cursed himself for not being able to get closer. He knew that, in time, he'd find out, so he was really in no hurry.
Continuing to observe, he watched as the Battousai, again, was taken aback by something said. He really was cute when shocked, the golden eyed shadow admired.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Me? I'm afraid I don't understand. Does this mean you wish to kill me, like all the rest?" The tone of his voice was serious now, very serious. It was no joking matter in the first place.
"No, not really. Now that I've seen you."
He still didn't understand. What was this man hinting at. He was being rather dodgy with his questions, dancing around the answers, implying something the redhead couldn't grasp, and Yuuki knew it.
"How naïve you are, Battousai." The other swordsman said softly, advancing upon him again. "And how old are you now?"
"My age has nothing to do with this matter and stay where you are!" He hadn't meant for so much panic to drip into his voice, he hadn't meant for any to show itself, really, but it did, and that seemed to amuse the other swordsman. Yet, he suddenly withdrew, laughing.
"Oh, man, you should have seen the look on your face! I'm only kidding around with you." He said through a laugh. Kenshin relaxed slightly. So it had been a joke. Such a cruel joke, and he didn't find it funny, but at least he wasn't serious.
"So then how did you know I was the Battousai?"
"Oh, well, I'd heard about it from some villagers, talking of the Battousai living in a dojo, I didn't actually know it was you. I just sort of guessed.. .. So.. you really ARE the Battousai then?" Yuuki asked, mock surprise in his voice, but it was apparently enough to fool the redhead. He just shrugged and walked off.
"Foolish Battousai. You've become so trusting over the years and I, a great actor." He smirked, licking his lips slowly. He was still reveling in the taste of him. This would be a very interesting stay, indeed it would.
Running a hand through his bangs, the redhead kept walking. It was all so suspicious, this guest and his actions, he had just wanted to get out of there and be to himself. 'Maybe the guest WAS joking' he thought to himself. 'I mean, why would someone who's coming after me reveal themselves so quickly? Yes, then it must be a joke.' The poor redhead could barely think to himself now. He had gotten such a headache for some reason. Lack of sleep, he guessed, so he went off to his room.
When he got there, he sat down, pulling his sword into his lap, andresting his back against a corner. He pulled the sword into his arms, getting into a comfortable sitting position and began to drift off to sleep. It had been a long time since he had slept this way. A very long time...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Scythe: So. How was the second chapter? Short I know, and there's no Saitou/Kenshin action yet, sorry. Anyways, I kinda like the naïve Kenshin and the Yuuki thing going on.. I promise I won't make it about them... unless you want me too oO Review please.. an author can't go on writing without fans T-T
Warnings: slight shonen ai hints in this chapter. OC. And there might be a little OOC in some parts.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It was rather early in the morning, around three to be exact, but Kenshin was already up, doing chores and fixing things up. He never usually got up so early, but something had been bothering him. He just couldn't sleep well, for thoughts of the one that had been watching him had plagued his mind endlessly. He had even dreamed that he had come face to face with a shadowy monster. Alas, he felt tired as he scrubbed the deck, his sleeves tied back around him so they wouldn't get in the way. He sighed softly, nearly finished, and wiped his forehead, and it was then he heard a slight creak behind him. He whirled around, reaching for his sword, only to find it wasn't at his side. He'd left it in his room.
"Why are you up so early?" Yuuki's voice came as the redhead blinked up at him.
"I could ask you the same thing," said the Battousai with slight suspicion.
"Oh, I always wake up around this time, I never get very good sleep nowadays. When I was practicing in the woods only a few months ago, I had to get up at this time. My master made me." He smiled slightly. There was something about that smile that sent a shiver up and down the redheads back, but whether it was because he liked the smile, or hated it, he didn't know.
"I see. Well," his gaze traveled down to Yuuki's bare feet. "I was just cleaning up the deck." He said, implying the fact he wanted him to get off of it. But Yuuki didn't, instead he took a step forward, crouched and lifted the Battousai's chin. Startled, all Kenshin could do was blink in surprise and stay still, much to his bewilderment. His body just wouldn't move an inch. When Yuuki's face got closer to his, his eyes began to widen in anticipation of what this man might do. Mind producing many possibilities, he wasn't prepared when lips touched his. Of all the things, this was the last on his list. He'd never been kissed by a male before. Ever. It was frightening, yet thrilling at the same time. The sensation sent little butterflies flittering in his stomach and finally, he pulled away, cheeks red and breathing irregular. "Wh-what are you doing?"
Yuuki smirked, advancing upon him, crawling on all fours, and right up to Kenshin again. "They just looked so tempting I had to taste them."
"You hardly know me." He stated trying to back away. Why was he acting like this? His defense barriers were down, his face was hot, and he didn't know what to think. He certainly had never felt like this before. There had to be some rational explanation for this, he though, like lack of sleep! Yes, lack of sleep, that must have been it.
"I know, but I'd like to get to know you." The other said calmly.
Kenshin finally scrambled up and cleared his throat, pulling the knot undone to the tie that held his sleeves back. He had his back to the other, trying to calm himself and things were going smoothly. It seemed the other was settling for watching... or so he thought until his hair was yanked and he fell back against Yuuki, hair undone, falling over his shoulders. Maybe he should ask miss Kaoru to reconsider this man sleeping in their dojo, Kenshin though, warm lips descending to his neck. He shivered again, hands clenching with tension that ran through him. Why couldn't he move? Why wasn't his body listening to him? Well, he concluded, it didn't feel so bad, at least this man wasn't hurting him or threatening him in any way, right? Then why DID he feel threatened. It was all too much to handle.
"Battousai."
Eyes going wide, he whirled around, out of the man's arms and narrowed his eyes. "What do you want? You're not here just for a few nights' stay, that you are not."
"Well, not anymore. But I didn't lie. I did come here for just a few nights' stay at first, but when you told me your name, I had to find out if you were the Battousai." Yuuki said, looking him up and down, with a raised eyebrow. "Can't say you look like much, though." At the remark, Kenshin snorted.
"So then what is it you want now?"
"You."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Golden eyes narrowed, taking in the scene in front of them. Yes, he had observed the little exchanged through this new guest and the Battousai. This stranger didn't waste any time, he noted, as he had seen him arrive just the other day. Jealously flared through him, and he debated going down and interrupting their little mushy scene, but, as it turned out, the stranger whispered something to the redhead that obviously sent him on edge, as he whirled around and glared at the other. He could not hear what they were saying. He cursed himself for not being able to get closer. He knew that, in time, he'd find out, so he was really in no hurry.
Continuing to observe, he watched as the Battousai, again, was taken aback by something said. He really was cute when shocked, the golden eyed shadow admired.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Me? I'm afraid I don't understand. Does this mean you wish to kill me, like all the rest?" The tone of his voice was serious now, very serious. It was no joking matter in the first place.
"No, not really. Now that I've seen you."
He still didn't understand. What was this man hinting at. He was being rather dodgy with his questions, dancing around the answers, implying something the redhead couldn't grasp, and Yuuki knew it.
"How naïve you are, Battousai." The other swordsman said softly, advancing upon him again. "And how old are you now?"
"My age has nothing to do with this matter and stay where you are!" He hadn't meant for so much panic to drip into his voice, he hadn't meant for any to show itself, really, but it did, and that seemed to amuse the other swordsman. Yet, he suddenly withdrew, laughing.
"Oh, man, you should have seen the look on your face! I'm only kidding around with you." He said through a laugh. Kenshin relaxed slightly. So it had been a joke. Such a cruel joke, and he didn't find it funny, but at least he wasn't serious.
"So then how did you know I was the Battousai?"
"Oh, well, I'd heard about it from some villagers, talking of the Battousai living in a dojo, I didn't actually know it was you. I just sort of guessed.. .. So.. you really ARE the Battousai then?" Yuuki asked, mock surprise in his voice, but it was apparently enough to fool the redhead. He just shrugged and walked off.
"Foolish Battousai. You've become so trusting over the years and I, a great actor." He smirked, licking his lips slowly. He was still reveling in the taste of him. This would be a very interesting stay, indeed it would.
Running a hand through his bangs, the redhead kept walking. It was all so suspicious, this guest and his actions, he had just wanted to get out of there and be to himself. 'Maybe the guest WAS joking' he thought to himself. 'I mean, why would someone who's coming after me reveal themselves so quickly? Yes, then it must be a joke.' The poor redhead could barely think to himself now. He had gotten such a headache for some reason. Lack of sleep, he guessed, so he went off to his room.
When he got there, he sat down, pulling his sword into his lap, andresting his back against a corner. He pulled the sword into his arms, getting into a comfortable sitting position and began to drift off to sleep. It had been a long time since he had slept this way. A very long time...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Scythe: So. How was the second chapter? Short I know, and there's no Saitou/Kenshin action yet, sorry. Anyways, I kinda like the naïve Kenshin and the Yuuki thing going on.. I promise I won't make it about them... unless you want me too oO Review please.. an author can't go on writing without fans T-T