I think this is going to be a little slow starting out. But bear with me,
lots of things to set up.
Oh, and btw I don't own Kenshin or any of the other characters. Though if
genetic engineering continues to advance I just might once day.
Enjoy.
~C
Touched
"See you later!" Kaoru yelled to her friend as they parted ways.
"Alright, call me. Byes." The perky girl called back, her braid swinging behind her as she bounced away. Her green eyes smiling as though she was privy to some unknown joke that some how made the entire world a happy place for her.
Kaoru turned towards her apartment, unconsciously sighing as the neighborhood deterated as she walked. When they moved there it had been one of the nicer sections of town. Now the sidewalk was cracked, graffiti spread it's dirt over the storefronts (most of which were now empty), and the few people that still lived there had begun to resemble the neighborhood. Three years ago a large corporation had begun buying up property, now the only things left was her father's dojo and a small restaurant run by her aunt. Since her father died two years ago the neighborhood had become prey to gangs, no one much cared what happened to a few uninhabited blocks these days. She smiled remembering how her father had rallied people against the gangs, and tried to talk their neighbors out of selling their homes. It was that pride in him that made her refuse to sell the dojo, no matter how bad things got. Oh, the corporate representatives had painted a pretty picture for her, the offer to be free of her debts, and even $50,000 to help her start over. At first they had been polite, figuring she would sell once most of her neighbors did, but when she continued to refuse they became pushy. The most recent action was their threatening the city to put her family's dojo up for sheriff's sale. Kaoru blinked her eyes, fighting the tears of hopelessness that were threatening to force their way out of her eyes, took a deep breath, and turned her mind to more important matters.
Most women would never have walked through a neighborhood like this one alone, but Kaoru refused to be cowed. Even when the group of men in front of her turned to take notice. Kaoru sighed, the set her eyes straight ahead of her, refusing to look at any of them directly. When she passed the first one her muscles tensed and her heart speeded up.
"Hey lil' girl, wanna have some fun?" A man in front of her said mockingly, stepping between her and her destination.
"Please let me pass." Kaoru said flatly, her eyes never meeting his. They where set on the roof of her home only half a block away. "Too good t'have some fun with us, hmm." The man licked his lips and reached out to touch her hair. Low laughter came from behind her, the other men closing around her like predators.
Kaoru tried to step to the side, fear coiling itself around her spine. But the movement was cut short as his hand curled around her upper arm, his grip bruising her skin. Kaoru jerked back, her foot lashing out to kick him soundly in the knee, then between the legs as she spun away from his grip. Before she could take the first step to run a hand tangled in her hair and fiercely pulled her backwards, just as the back of a hand hit her cheek with a resounding slap.
"No!" She gasped, her eyes watering from the blow, as hands dragged her into the alley. Dirty fingers pressed against her mouth, but she bit and lashed out against her captors until a second hand slammed into her stomach knocking her breath from her throat. As she wheezed and struggled for air a hand connected with her face again as she crumpled to her knees. Rough hands slammed her to the ground, knocking newly acquired air from her burning lungs as another set of hands pinned her wrists behind her head.
"Now." the man she had kicked began, his bulky form towering above her. "If you're a good lil' girl this won't hurt too much." A wicked smile twisted over his mouth as he pinned her legs with his knees.
Kaoru clenched her eyes shut, her mind screaming against her weakness. Tears slipped from the corners of her eyes, running clean lines down her dirtied cheeks. Then all movement stopped as she felt hands tearing away her blouse, and the cold prick of a blade as it slipped under her bra.
"No!" Her voice wretched in an animalistic cry before the hand slapped her again, sending a shower of black and red dots across her vision. Then there was nothing, no weight on her hips, no hands holding her wrists, just the sound of flesh hitting brick. Slowly she opened her bruising eye to meet the molten amber pits of her savior. Blood trailed lines and spatters over his pale skin, mixing with black cosmetics and matting vermilion hair. At that moment he was her angel, raging and dangerous.
".Kenshin." her voice gasped before kind darkness embraced her mind.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Kaoru stirred, her muscles crying out from stiffness and abuse, but slowly through the haze in her head thoughts began to form. Blue eyes opened slowly, wincing against the headache that assaulted her. Her first thoughts were that it had all been a nightmare, but as her vision focused on the room before her the memories flooded back into her mind.
She was weak, and she hated herself for it. Some kendo master you are, you couldn't even fight off some street thugs. What if some one hadn't rescued you? Kaoru's mind chided her harshly. With a shiver she gathered the sheets around herself, marveling at the texture against her skin. Against her skin, that meant she wasn't wearing anything underneath them. The tears started again, dripping in a salty torrent onto the velvet comforter and satin sheets alike. The tears only lasted a few minutes though, as she sniffled, and looked up to take stock of her surroundings for the first time.
Lines of artificial light filtered in through the room's only window casting the corners of the room into dense shadow, and pooling in a square one the floor. Other than the bed the room seemed barren, the floor was wood and nothing hung on the walls.
This must be Kenshin's home, she thought remembering how he had some how magically appeared to rescue her. At the time he has seemed her angel, glowing with a flurry of anger and worry. But the cruel fire that had burned in his eyes as though he had enjoyed hurting the thugs that had attacked her suggested a far less sacred occupation.
Carefully Kaoru sat up, a movement above her causing her to jump. The ceiling was an expanse of dark glass, it's surface reflecting her movement back to her.
What kind of person keeps mirrors above their bed, Kaoru began to ponder.
"I see you are awake." The fallen angel's voice drifted from beside the window.
Again Kaoru jumped, her heart racing for a moment. "How.How long have you been there?" Her voice came meekly from behind the curtains around the bed.
"All night."
Her stepped into the square of light, a smile forming on his lips as her gasp reached him. She was an innocent, so beautifully naive but at the same time strong and dangerously stubborn.
In the white glow Kenshin's skin was almost luminous, like living marble with his muscles shifting under his pale skin. Thin scars told the stories of his life in the graceful dance of the gagged lines over his flesh. Each imperfection leading her eyes lower, until they met the vinyl ridge of his pants. An impulse made her want to touch his scars, to run her fingers over each line as if she could heal the old wounds. Warmth grew in her stomach, making her fingertips tingle from being denied contact as she began to learn forward.
In silence he stood before her, watching her eyes as they followed his movement. But as the black satin slid from her skin, revealing each painfully distracting inch of creamy skin his thoughts scattered. When he met her earlier that day she seemed little more than a willful child to him, though now in the dim glow she was ethereal. Her midnight blue eyes sparkled with innocence from her soft face, now swollen with the beginnings of bruises. A reminder of his uselessness, he should have. should have what? His mind challenged him. Should have not given her a choice he retorted in his head. But then she would hate you. She is not weak. He had followed her out of curiosity; at least that's what he told himself not recognizing the cord of protectiveness she had struck inside him. He watched from a side street as she bid her friend good-bye, her laughter a balm to the rage he faced daily, her innocence a careful reminder of everything he had lost and now sought to protect. He had watched her square her slim shoulders and walk through the group of thugs and not around the, but unlike her he had noticed the silent nods that passed through the group. This had not been some random attack instead she was a target. But why? It was that question that made him hold back, made him wait. But at her scream from the alley the humanity in his eyes died.
They were little more than a group of scrappers and gutter-punks, untrained and distracted by their prey. By the time the rage had burned itself out he was holding her unconscious body close to him, his coat wrapped protectively over her bare skin. The luckiest of her attackers would never walk again, the unlucky ones were little more than so much meat.
Then the memory was gone, but it had served it's purpose. Reminded him of his new vow to protect Kaoru's precious innocence. His eyes watched the black satin slip dangerously low on her chest, another inch and it wouldn't matter. Such innocence was a dangerous invitation as their eyes met for a moment. An offer of salvation for his tormented soul was there before him, but one so pure as her could never see past how stained he was. Kenshin cleared his throat, breaking the eye contact her had grown to covet over the past seconds. A slow blush spread a flattering shade of pink across her cheeks as she gathered the blankets once more around herself.
"Do you know why you were attacked?" Kenshin's voice came huskier than usual as he mourned her now hidden skin.
Kaoru flinched, pain rising in her throat, ".No.I.have no idea." It was a lie, easily betrayed by her eyes.
"Kaoru, I am serious-" Kenshin began, but was immediately cut off as Kaoru's pain turned to anger.
"I can take care of myself, thank you very much." The walls she had constructed with careful precision since her father death rose around her with a new force. "May I have my clothing back now, or must I walk home wrapped in your sheets?" He had seen her. The thought raced through her mind adding new rage, no man had every seen her before.not until. The rage melted away, her walls crumbling. She had refused to acknowledge what had almost happened to her, her thought dancing around it until now. The tears came, uncontrolled torrents forming burning rivers down her cheeks. Why couldn't they just leave me alone? WHY?! Her mind screamed as she clutched her shoulders for comfort.
Kenshin's eyes softened, her pain taking the chill from his blood. Cursing the thugs, his stupidity, and most of all himself; he sat down on the bed beside her wrapping his arms tightly around her shaking form even as she tried to push him away. Amber eyes glared, who ever had caused this would die. Carefully he pressed his lips against her hair and waited for her tears to calm.
Kaoru exhaled forcefully, fighting back the despair that clung to her spirit. Slowly the tears dried, leaving her drained and newly aware of how close they were. The sheet had slid away from her as she clutched him for comfort and safety. Hesitantly she looked up, gathering the sheet around her once more.
"Ken.shin.?" She whispered, cringing at fury that radiated from him. Rage chiseled his face with a controlled violence, his amber eyes reflect like blood in the moon light.
Kenshin blinked and looked down at her, his eyes less violent, but just as intense as he forced his warmest smile to his lips, the smile didn't match his eyes. The fear was the first thing he met in her eyes, fear of the world and worst of all fear of him. But under that was something darker, her eyes begged him to make her forget and he could. For the night at least, but in the morning it would return with more force than every. Carefully he disentangled himself from her and slid off the bed.
"You should sleep now, I'll take you home in the morning." He whispered, walking towards the door. "Good night"
Kaoru nodded as he left, her eyes fixed on the tattoo that spanned his back. Black wings were drawn on either side of his spine starting below his shoulder blades the folding up to the top of his shoulders before they dipped down his back again, their tips hidden by his pants. Rather than the feathered wings angels were depicted with, the tattoo was made to resemble the taut leather wings of a bat, folded so that they seemed three- dimensional. The intensity in his eyes had left her thoughts reeling; she wanted to call him back to her. But knew such an action would have consequences she was not yet ready for.
Kenshin closed the door and sighed as he picked his cell phone up off of the end table. "Aoshi." He hissed into the receiver and waited as the phone dialed, dumping Kaoru's purse out onto the end table.
"Yes." An emotionless, though surprisingly not cold voice answered.
"It's me, I need some information." Kenshin paused, flipping through Kaoru's wallet, "Her name is Kaoru Kamiya."
"She's a target?" Aoshi asked distastefully.
"No, more of a project."
"I'll see what I can do. Bye"
"Thank you." Kenshin said hanging up the phone. Kaoru Kamiya. Kenshin's thoughts trailed off as he flipped through the pictures she kept in her wallet. Why did this girl have such a power over him, most women barely kept him interest let alone seduce him. But she had, and with out even knowing. Those thoughts settled Kenshin into the first peaceful night's sleep he had had in year.
A/N- have noticed it's been a little awkward, will see what I can do to smooth it over as the story progresses. Hope you like how it is going so far.
~Chandra
Touched
"See you later!" Kaoru yelled to her friend as they parted ways.
"Alright, call me. Byes." The perky girl called back, her braid swinging behind her as she bounced away. Her green eyes smiling as though she was privy to some unknown joke that some how made the entire world a happy place for her.
Kaoru turned towards her apartment, unconsciously sighing as the neighborhood deterated as she walked. When they moved there it had been one of the nicer sections of town. Now the sidewalk was cracked, graffiti spread it's dirt over the storefronts (most of which were now empty), and the few people that still lived there had begun to resemble the neighborhood. Three years ago a large corporation had begun buying up property, now the only things left was her father's dojo and a small restaurant run by her aunt. Since her father died two years ago the neighborhood had become prey to gangs, no one much cared what happened to a few uninhabited blocks these days. She smiled remembering how her father had rallied people against the gangs, and tried to talk their neighbors out of selling their homes. It was that pride in him that made her refuse to sell the dojo, no matter how bad things got. Oh, the corporate representatives had painted a pretty picture for her, the offer to be free of her debts, and even $50,000 to help her start over. At first they had been polite, figuring she would sell once most of her neighbors did, but when she continued to refuse they became pushy. The most recent action was their threatening the city to put her family's dojo up for sheriff's sale. Kaoru blinked her eyes, fighting the tears of hopelessness that were threatening to force their way out of her eyes, took a deep breath, and turned her mind to more important matters.
Most women would never have walked through a neighborhood like this one alone, but Kaoru refused to be cowed. Even when the group of men in front of her turned to take notice. Kaoru sighed, the set her eyes straight ahead of her, refusing to look at any of them directly. When she passed the first one her muscles tensed and her heart speeded up.
"Hey lil' girl, wanna have some fun?" A man in front of her said mockingly, stepping between her and her destination.
"Please let me pass." Kaoru said flatly, her eyes never meeting his. They where set on the roof of her home only half a block away. "Too good t'have some fun with us, hmm." The man licked his lips and reached out to touch her hair. Low laughter came from behind her, the other men closing around her like predators.
Kaoru tried to step to the side, fear coiling itself around her spine. But the movement was cut short as his hand curled around her upper arm, his grip bruising her skin. Kaoru jerked back, her foot lashing out to kick him soundly in the knee, then between the legs as she spun away from his grip. Before she could take the first step to run a hand tangled in her hair and fiercely pulled her backwards, just as the back of a hand hit her cheek with a resounding slap.
"No!" She gasped, her eyes watering from the blow, as hands dragged her into the alley. Dirty fingers pressed against her mouth, but she bit and lashed out against her captors until a second hand slammed into her stomach knocking her breath from her throat. As she wheezed and struggled for air a hand connected with her face again as she crumpled to her knees. Rough hands slammed her to the ground, knocking newly acquired air from her burning lungs as another set of hands pinned her wrists behind her head.
"Now." the man she had kicked began, his bulky form towering above her. "If you're a good lil' girl this won't hurt too much." A wicked smile twisted over his mouth as he pinned her legs with his knees.
Kaoru clenched her eyes shut, her mind screaming against her weakness. Tears slipped from the corners of her eyes, running clean lines down her dirtied cheeks. Then all movement stopped as she felt hands tearing away her blouse, and the cold prick of a blade as it slipped under her bra.
"No!" Her voice wretched in an animalistic cry before the hand slapped her again, sending a shower of black and red dots across her vision. Then there was nothing, no weight on her hips, no hands holding her wrists, just the sound of flesh hitting brick. Slowly she opened her bruising eye to meet the molten amber pits of her savior. Blood trailed lines and spatters over his pale skin, mixing with black cosmetics and matting vermilion hair. At that moment he was her angel, raging and dangerous.
".Kenshin." her voice gasped before kind darkness embraced her mind.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Kaoru stirred, her muscles crying out from stiffness and abuse, but slowly through the haze in her head thoughts began to form. Blue eyes opened slowly, wincing against the headache that assaulted her. Her first thoughts were that it had all been a nightmare, but as her vision focused on the room before her the memories flooded back into her mind.
She was weak, and she hated herself for it. Some kendo master you are, you couldn't even fight off some street thugs. What if some one hadn't rescued you? Kaoru's mind chided her harshly. With a shiver she gathered the sheets around herself, marveling at the texture against her skin. Against her skin, that meant she wasn't wearing anything underneath them. The tears started again, dripping in a salty torrent onto the velvet comforter and satin sheets alike. The tears only lasted a few minutes though, as she sniffled, and looked up to take stock of her surroundings for the first time.
Lines of artificial light filtered in through the room's only window casting the corners of the room into dense shadow, and pooling in a square one the floor. Other than the bed the room seemed barren, the floor was wood and nothing hung on the walls.
This must be Kenshin's home, she thought remembering how he had some how magically appeared to rescue her. At the time he has seemed her angel, glowing with a flurry of anger and worry. But the cruel fire that had burned in his eyes as though he had enjoyed hurting the thugs that had attacked her suggested a far less sacred occupation.
Carefully Kaoru sat up, a movement above her causing her to jump. The ceiling was an expanse of dark glass, it's surface reflecting her movement back to her.
What kind of person keeps mirrors above their bed, Kaoru began to ponder.
"I see you are awake." The fallen angel's voice drifted from beside the window.
Again Kaoru jumped, her heart racing for a moment. "How.How long have you been there?" Her voice came meekly from behind the curtains around the bed.
"All night."
Her stepped into the square of light, a smile forming on his lips as her gasp reached him. She was an innocent, so beautifully naive but at the same time strong and dangerously stubborn.
In the white glow Kenshin's skin was almost luminous, like living marble with his muscles shifting under his pale skin. Thin scars told the stories of his life in the graceful dance of the gagged lines over his flesh. Each imperfection leading her eyes lower, until they met the vinyl ridge of his pants. An impulse made her want to touch his scars, to run her fingers over each line as if she could heal the old wounds. Warmth grew in her stomach, making her fingertips tingle from being denied contact as she began to learn forward.
In silence he stood before her, watching her eyes as they followed his movement. But as the black satin slid from her skin, revealing each painfully distracting inch of creamy skin his thoughts scattered. When he met her earlier that day she seemed little more than a willful child to him, though now in the dim glow she was ethereal. Her midnight blue eyes sparkled with innocence from her soft face, now swollen with the beginnings of bruises. A reminder of his uselessness, he should have. should have what? His mind challenged him. Should have not given her a choice he retorted in his head. But then she would hate you. She is not weak. He had followed her out of curiosity; at least that's what he told himself not recognizing the cord of protectiveness she had struck inside him. He watched from a side street as she bid her friend good-bye, her laughter a balm to the rage he faced daily, her innocence a careful reminder of everything he had lost and now sought to protect. He had watched her square her slim shoulders and walk through the group of thugs and not around the, but unlike her he had noticed the silent nods that passed through the group. This had not been some random attack instead she was a target. But why? It was that question that made him hold back, made him wait. But at her scream from the alley the humanity in his eyes died.
They were little more than a group of scrappers and gutter-punks, untrained and distracted by their prey. By the time the rage had burned itself out he was holding her unconscious body close to him, his coat wrapped protectively over her bare skin. The luckiest of her attackers would never walk again, the unlucky ones were little more than so much meat.
Then the memory was gone, but it had served it's purpose. Reminded him of his new vow to protect Kaoru's precious innocence. His eyes watched the black satin slip dangerously low on her chest, another inch and it wouldn't matter. Such innocence was a dangerous invitation as their eyes met for a moment. An offer of salvation for his tormented soul was there before him, but one so pure as her could never see past how stained he was. Kenshin cleared his throat, breaking the eye contact her had grown to covet over the past seconds. A slow blush spread a flattering shade of pink across her cheeks as she gathered the blankets once more around herself.
"Do you know why you were attacked?" Kenshin's voice came huskier than usual as he mourned her now hidden skin.
Kaoru flinched, pain rising in her throat, ".No.I.have no idea." It was a lie, easily betrayed by her eyes.
"Kaoru, I am serious-" Kenshin began, but was immediately cut off as Kaoru's pain turned to anger.
"I can take care of myself, thank you very much." The walls she had constructed with careful precision since her father death rose around her with a new force. "May I have my clothing back now, or must I walk home wrapped in your sheets?" He had seen her. The thought raced through her mind adding new rage, no man had every seen her before.not until. The rage melted away, her walls crumbling. She had refused to acknowledge what had almost happened to her, her thought dancing around it until now. The tears came, uncontrolled torrents forming burning rivers down her cheeks. Why couldn't they just leave me alone? WHY?! Her mind screamed as she clutched her shoulders for comfort.
Kenshin's eyes softened, her pain taking the chill from his blood. Cursing the thugs, his stupidity, and most of all himself; he sat down on the bed beside her wrapping his arms tightly around her shaking form even as she tried to push him away. Amber eyes glared, who ever had caused this would die. Carefully he pressed his lips against her hair and waited for her tears to calm.
Kaoru exhaled forcefully, fighting back the despair that clung to her spirit. Slowly the tears dried, leaving her drained and newly aware of how close they were. The sheet had slid away from her as she clutched him for comfort and safety. Hesitantly she looked up, gathering the sheet around her once more.
"Ken.shin.?" She whispered, cringing at fury that radiated from him. Rage chiseled his face with a controlled violence, his amber eyes reflect like blood in the moon light.
Kenshin blinked and looked down at her, his eyes less violent, but just as intense as he forced his warmest smile to his lips, the smile didn't match his eyes. The fear was the first thing he met in her eyes, fear of the world and worst of all fear of him. But under that was something darker, her eyes begged him to make her forget and he could. For the night at least, but in the morning it would return with more force than every. Carefully he disentangled himself from her and slid off the bed.
"You should sleep now, I'll take you home in the morning." He whispered, walking towards the door. "Good night"
Kaoru nodded as he left, her eyes fixed on the tattoo that spanned his back. Black wings were drawn on either side of his spine starting below his shoulder blades the folding up to the top of his shoulders before they dipped down his back again, their tips hidden by his pants. Rather than the feathered wings angels were depicted with, the tattoo was made to resemble the taut leather wings of a bat, folded so that they seemed three- dimensional. The intensity in his eyes had left her thoughts reeling; she wanted to call him back to her. But knew such an action would have consequences she was not yet ready for.
Kenshin closed the door and sighed as he picked his cell phone up off of the end table. "Aoshi." He hissed into the receiver and waited as the phone dialed, dumping Kaoru's purse out onto the end table.
"Yes." An emotionless, though surprisingly not cold voice answered.
"It's me, I need some information." Kenshin paused, flipping through Kaoru's wallet, "Her name is Kaoru Kamiya."
"She's a target?" Aoshi asked distastefully.
"No, more of a project."
"I'll see what I can do. Bye"
"Thank you." Kenshin said hanging up the phone. Kaoru Kamiya. Kenshin's thoughts trailed off as he flipped through the pictures she kept in her wallet. Why did this girl have such a power over him, most women barely kept him interest let alone seduce him. But she had, and with out even knowing. Those thoughts settled Kenshin into the first peaceful night's sleep he had had in year.
A/N- have noticed it's been a little awkward, will see what I can do to smooth it over as the story progresses. Hope you like how it is going so far.
~Chandra