Hope you enjoy this! It's my first! Read and review!
Chapter One: Am I Not Merciful?
The metallic clang of chains rattling pierced the silence as if a
beast were struggling against its restraints. A single, dusty beam of light shone
through a crack in the warped ceiling revealing a mane of fiery hair and
violet eyes. Eyes filled with confusion, anger, and a hint of desperation.
"Who has done this?" The man called out with a voice defying his small size. "What do you want from me?!" this time emphasized with a violent shake of the chains capturing his wrists and ankles. His movements suddenly ceased when he heard a distant sound outside of the wooden walls enclosing him. It was so faint he might have imagined it, but then he heard it again.
The sound of a familiar feminine voice calling his name.
"Kaoru-dono?" he called hesitantly, almost unsure, but then louder when her cries became closer and more frantic.
"KOARU-DONO!"
Suddenly the door to his makeshift prison burst open, cutting off his yells and blinding him momentarily as the harsh sunlight assaulted his dilated pupils. Squinting against the glare, he made out the outline of a tall man with white hair and heard the familiar psychotic laugh.
"Enishi!" he growled menacingly as anger overcame confusion and his eyes flashed amber, but it disappeared as quick as it had come. "What have you done with her? If you've hurt her..."
"Heh heh. You will see soon enough." He taunted, turning so the chained man could see the malicious grin. The light glinted off his spectacles as he moved out of the doorway so a few of his minions could move in behind the redhead. Then he stepped forward with his hands clasped behind his back as the smaller man jerked his chains in a futile effort to clasp his hands around the other's neck.
"Calm down. Your chance will come… Or mine will...brother."
"Brother?" the small man asked suspiciously, his eyes narrowing. Then he continued hesitantly.
"You admit-"
"I ADMIT NOTHING!" Enishi yelled before gaining his composure, grinning
evilly once more. "All I know is that Sister trusted you, maybe even loved you,
which I just don't fucking understand. And you were supposedly married...until
you murdered her." He couldn't keep the menace from his voice and missed the
pain that flashed in the eyes of the man before him.
"But ...that makes us brothers...doesn't it?" he bit out sarcastically and moved forward as if to embrace the chained man.
"Smile for me, brother."
The subtle emphasis on his last word was all the warning Enishi gave before thrusting a narrow, drill-like dagger into the redhead's defenseless side. A choked gasp was the only sound the wounded man made before a sword hilt cracked over his skull and his world went black. Enishi laughed, pleased with himself, and then turned to his men to issue his orders.
"Unchain him and wrap the wound, but not too tightly. Dress him in dark clothes
so the blood doesn't show, and put his hair in a high pony-tail...just like the
hitokiri he is." And then he walked back the way he had come.
Outside the shrine-like building Enishi had disappeared into, a young, raven-
haired girl kneeled in front of her captors. Her dark locks hung like a curtain
from her bowed head, shielding her tear-streaked face from view.
"Kenshin..." she whispered. As she squeezed her eyes shut and bit the inside of her cheek to keep from sobbing. She knew her red-haired rurouni was being held against his will and she was hopeless to help him with her hands tied and Enishi's men watching her every move. Her head suddenly snapped up when she heard a door slam and Enishi's devilish laugh. Fury overcame caution and she screamed at her kidnapper.
"What have you done to him, you devil! If you hurt him I... I will never forgive you!" She finished in a rush.
"Such brave words from such a small girl. You should watch your mouth or else you'll get hurt." He sneered as he walked towards her defiant form. "He's just a little...preoccupied," Enishi stated merrily. "But he will die. I will kill him. He'll pay for what he's done."
"You're wrong!" the beautiful girl yelled in a vehement response, the words torn from her throat, revealing her anger and grief. Her exquisite cerulean eyes, glistening with tears, mirrored her anguished heart.
"Don't you understand? He's already paid. He's paid for ten years! He lives with the pain... the memories. It tears him apart. I can see it in his eyes! Can't you see?" Her young frame shook with emotion as she bowed her head once more to hide her tears.
"Just let him live! Let him forget! He's hurt for so long...just leave him alone. LEAVE US ALONE!" she screamed.
Tears ran in rivulets down her pale cheeks as she lifted her face to look beseechingly into Enishi's pale eyes, hoping to see understanding, forgiveness, an ounce of compassion, but saw only revenge. Her heart sank as she dropped her head in defeat.
"He hasn't paid! He killed Sister. He killed her! He will pay with his life and nothing less. But don't worry," her smirked and squatted down in front of her, taking her chin between his thumb and index finger, forcing her to look at his face.
"You will not die. You will take Sister's place and stay with me forever, and he will know before he dies that you are mine. You should die as Sister did, but I will spare you." His grin widened at the idea and he inched his face closer to hers.
"Am I not merciful?" he whispered, smiling, expecting a whole-hearted agreement. She answered by closing her eyes, refusing to speak, and finally turning her head away in disgust. Enishi's grin faltered.
"AM I NOT MERCIFUL?!" he practically spit in her face.
Her only response was the fresh rush of tears that slipped from under her lashes and onto her bound hands. Finally realizing she was not going to answer, he snorted in disgust and stood to face his men.
"Take both of them to Kyoto. You know what to do. I have a few stops to make before Japan sees my triumph over its most infamous samurai legend." He laughed psychotically as he turned towards the road that lead back towards Tokyo. The young girl looked towards the shrine where she knew Kenshin was, and whispered his name one last time before a foul-smelling cloth was pressed over her mouth and nose. She struggled fruitlessly for a few seconds, and then lay still.
A few meters away, hidden by dense foliage, wide sky blue eyes watched
intently as two limp bodies were loaded into a carriage that then started in the
opposite direction Enishi had gone. With a whip of a long, black braid,
and the twist of a blue clad body, the girl turned and disappeared into the bushes
in hopes of reaching Tokyo and relaying her information before heading back to Kyoto.
Aaaaahhh I don't know why I'm writing an angsty piece! I'm sucha happy person!
Chapter 2 is coming, but I need reviews!! There's only gonna be 2 chapters, but
only if you think this one's any good. It's my first fanfic EVER and I seriously
need some opinions. I got the 2nd chapter planned so give me your advice and
I'll try to make you happy!