Obsession

WANRNING: If your quotes and commas (¡§¡¨,) look like ¡¡±Battousai,¡¨, you¡¦ll need to change your browser. If you¡¦re using Netscape or M. Internet Explorer, just go into your pull-down menus at the top of the screen and select ¡¥Character Set ¡¦ (Font ). Open it and select ¡¥Chinese Tradition Big5¡¦. That¡¦s the font this story is in. I¡¦m sorry it took you guys so much trouble! If you have any troubles, tell me in the reviews. Arigatou minna-san!!

Author¡¦s notes: Here it is! Third chapter! Sorry it took so long, since it¡¦s Chinese New Year and all¡Kyou understand. Money!! Lol. And Ezra, I guess I¡¦m kinda shamed to actually write this before you. Sorry! This fic is NO LEMON.

Standard disclaimers apply.

Chapter three¡Xblack winged

¡§What do you think you¡¦re doing?¡¨

His voice rang out through the dark forest like a hiss of a snake. Butterfly breathed in uneasily as her confused eyes deepened into a darker shade of blue. She didn¡¦t understand. A moment ago she was alone, with only the comfort of butterflies dancing around, and now Battousai appeared before her, glaring down at her as if she was insane.

She was staring, she suddenly realized, and Battousai was staring right back.

Accusingly, the Hitokiri¡¦s grip on her wrist tightened. Butterfly ignored the sting of her mark on the other hand as blood trickled down onto the dusty ground. Battousai sensed this, somehow, and he lowered his hand.

¡§What were you doing?¡¨ he asked huskily.

¡§Tracing my wound,¡¨ she whispered. He hated that, every time something came out of her mouth as soft as a whisper, he felt lightheaded. Butterfly smiled and brought her bloodied hand up, touching his face. Battousai¡¦s eyes never wavered as the stains of blood trailed down to his chest. Her hand lingered there.

She leaned in closer, ¡§You were following me,¡¨ she whispered hotly once again to his sensitive ear. Battousai¡¦s heart pounded against his chest as he kept silent, denying the truth.

She pulled away and stepped back, staring at him mischievously, ¡§You like me.¡¨

He released her, without so much as a sound and turned his back. ¡§I do not prize anyone, especially a worthless whore.¡¨ He said coldly.

She winced mentally as he reminded her. Offended, her voice rose, ¡§I am not just some useless slut that takes no clarity in themselves! I¡¦m human!¡¨ she shot back boldly.

Battousai glanced back in mere surprise. His penetrating amber eyes glistened under the pale moonlight that sent Butterfly quivering.

Hell.

She saw hell in his eyes.

Then she remembered. Battousai was the well-known Hitokiri, the most feared assassin in all of Japan. He murdered people, by his own hands! Clutching the layers of her kimono she couldn¡¦t help but want to know, what does the man do at night?

Battousai used the hilt of his sword to lift her bloodied hand up, examining the wound. ¡§Infection. You¡¦ll get it soon if you don¡¦t stop and clean it.¡¨

Butterfly snatched her hand away and held it, ¡§I know. I chose to do it,¡¨

¡§Why?¡¨

The question surprised Butterfly, as she stared at him in silence.

¡§Because¡K¡¨ she breathed in sharply, her expression heartrending, ¡§Because of what I am.¡¨ She quickly shook her head, ¡§That¡¦s my business.¡¨

Battousai grunted and looked away.

¡§What is your problem?¡¨ she asked, annoyed by his actions.

¡§I have no problem, whore. It is you who has problems.¡¨ He emphasized.

Butterfly gasped, ¡§Excuse me, I have a name!¡¨

¡§Butterfly?¡¨ he answered coldly, ¡§That is not a name. It is a façade for you at the Sakura House.¡¨

Cruel, but truce.

¡§I did have a name.¡¨ She said quietly.

He raised his eyebrow.

¡§But that was before. I am Butterfly and will be!¡¨ she said sternly.

The two figures alone in the forest stood in silence. Each couldn¡¦t take their eyes away. Anger burnt in azure ones as the emptiness lingered in amber ones. Battousai stiffened his breathing. Those stunning blue eyes seemed to hide something away from him. Was there a tragic past lurking behind them? Or was he thinking too much? Feeling the need to know the mysterious Butterfly better, he asked, ¡§What was your name?¡¨

She smiled bitterly, ¡§Is there a reason why I should tell you?¡¨

Frowning, he took a step forward and said in a low tone, ¡§I demand to know.¡¨

¡§Why do you want to know?¡¨ obviously, she was playing with him. Battousai took the katana out of the sheath in a swift motion so fast before Butterfly could even blink, she found herself pinned down against a tree, with the Hitokiri leaning dangerously close. His blade touched the skin on her neck as she shuddered inwardly. Leaves fell caused by the impact of Butterfly¡¦s weight suddenly, flying around them.

The redhead assassin glared with a burning desire.

It seemed like hours until he broke their intense stare, asking in a mystified tone when he found no hints of fear in her eyes.

¡§Why aren¡¦t you afraid?¡¨

¡§Why should I?¡¨ she asked back.

Baffled and annoyed, he leaned in closer. ¡§Answer me.¡¨ The sharp blade embedded into more of her skin as she winced.

¡§You¡¦re hurting me,¡¨ she whispered.

Battousai tried to block out the lightheaded curse as he lowered his katana. Taking that as a chance, Butterfly flung the sword away abruptly and crashed her weight down against him. The Hitokiri lost his balance as the two collapsed together, onto the earthy ground.

Atop of him, Butterfly smiled and touched his cross scarred cheek, ¡§I found myself attracted to you.¡¨ She said gently.

His mind began to swirl lightly as the curse began to work its charm. He fought back and tried to remain focused.

¡§You look dangerously dashing for a man these days,¡¨ she leaned in closer. He could feel her hot breath on his face as the scent of jasmine sent him into a trance-like state.

Gently, she brought down her lips against his and gave him a warm, soft kiss. Jolts of electricity shot through him as he leaned in to her, wanting more. Smiling in their kisses, Butterfly pulled herself away from him, ¡§I have to go back,¡¨

It took a moment for Battousai to sink in the meaning of her words.

¡§Come by the House sometime,¡¨ she said, standing up before giving him a desiring smile. Taking a step back, she turned when suddenly, his voice stopped her.

¡§You still haven¡¦t told me your name.¡¨

Without looking back, she kept her voice even, ¡§Butterfly.¡¨ And left.

¡§I thought you would come,¡¨

¡§How did you know?¡¨

¡§It¡¦s quite obvious.¡¨

¡§Really?¡¨

¡§Absolutely.¡¨

She smiled. The powerful and rich landlord stood before her, waiting.

¡§I don¡¦t like to wait beauty,¡¨ he urged.

¡§I wasn¡¦t going to,¡¨ then he kissed her.

Taking a step back, the man buried his face into her neck and sucked at it.

¡§Toyoma-san,¡¨ she gasped lightly.

¡§Just a second,¡¨ he whispered and took the first layer off her body, kissing her at the same time.

¡§You¡¦re making me lose myself,¡¨ he breathed in fully and stopped.

She opened her eyes again and stared at him quizzically, ¡§What¡¦s wrong?¡¨

¡§Curse this, I got a meeting later and I forgot totally about it.¡¨ He sighed wearily and stepped back. The prostitute picked up the fabric on the floor and began to dress herself in silence.

¡§We¡¦ll continue this maybe¡Ktomorrow?¡¨ he asked, lips curved up into a hungry smirk.

¡§I¡¦ll always be here Toyoma-san.¡¨ She said with a small smile.

¡§Good.¡¨ With that, he turned and opened the door.

¡§Ah¡KI¡¦ll escort you to the front door Toyama-san,¡¨ she said quickly and followed him outside.

¡§Even better.¡¨ He laughed.

As Butterfly and the powerful landlord walked down the stairs under the roof of the House, smells of alcohol and heavy perfume reached her nose and scenes of men and women covered her sight. Yes, welcome to the Sakura House. Where only the word ¡¥sex¡¦ survives.

Butterfly walked down slowly on the long stairway, with the landlord right in front of her. She wasn¡¦t focusing on the steps that she supposed to, instead the memory of a few days before echoed throughout her mind like a never stopping record.

¡§It is not a name. It is a façade for you at the Sakura House.¡¨

¡§You still haven¡¦t told me your name.¡¨

Stop it Kamiya! You¡¦re losing yourself! She cursed herself inwardly as she tried to block out the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. Butterfly reached the very end of the stairway and the landlord smirked at her before saying, ¡§I¡¦ll be back, soon.¡¨

¡§I await your presence,¡¨ she replied back, like a repeating voice message.

Now that he is gone, I¡¦ll go take a bath and take that icky smell of that man away from my body. Talk about seduction! I hope all of this could stop¡KI felt so tired.

Sighing softly, she began to walk to the stairway again when another man blocked her.

¡§Hey there sexy,¡¨ he grinned.

She smiled automatically, ¡§How may I help you Takashi-san?¡¨

¡§I need some reassurement.¡¨

A hand grabbed Takashi suddenly as another prostitute came and cooed, ¡§Oh Takashi-san, honey, I¡¦m enough for you.¡¨

Takashi laughed and said aloud, ¡§Order a room! We¡¦re getting busy!¡¨

Butterfly smiled forcefully, as she excused herself. She was going up the stairs again when the sound of the stewardess rang out the House in a clear voice.

¡§Ah! It¡¦s such a pleasure to see you again Battousai, and your colleagues.¡¨

Battousai? Butterfly whirled around to find a redhead and several other men alongside. She suddenly forgot what she was going up the stairs for as her heart mentally stopped.

¡§I found myself attracted to you.¡¨

The Hitokiri clenched his fist. He came here for one reason and one reason only.

Her.

For her, he will come.

He chose to.

He had to.

His cold amber eyes searched around the area, no sign of the bluest eyes yet caught him.

Where are you woman? I came here because of you, you told me you found yourself attracted to me. You¡¦re driving me insane.

Then he stopped. He found the target he was looking for ever since he entered the House. She was standing, and looking amazingly elegant as he had remembered. She began to walk towards him, in slow, steady steps. He could almost hear the footsteps in his heart; despise the noise all around them. Her eyes held him captive, he felt as if the people around him disappeared and there was only he and she. His eyes never moved as she advanced closer.

Then she stopped.

The environment around began to slowly coming back as Butterfly said, ¡§So you¡¦ve came.¡¨

¡§I came here because of unwanted answers.¡¨

¡§Oh?¡¨ she raised her eyebrow and smiled.

The smile wasn¡¦t fake.

It shattered the walls around him for a brief moment, however.

¡§Hey there hotness,¡¨ one of Battousai¡¦s colleagues stepped from behind and flashed Butterfly a grin. ¡§You busy?¡¨

The Hitokiri didn¡¦t know why, but he felt a pang of covetousness shot through him. He glared at his colleague with his amber eyes viciously.

The stewardess clapped her hands in delight, ¡§I¡¦m sure she¡¦s not. Butterfly, I trust you will escort our friend here to your room.¡¨ She answered for her. The prostitute put on a smile, ¡§Of course. This way.¡¨

His colleague gave thumbs-up to the other men and followed her up stairs. They all grinned and slapped each other¡¦s back proudly. Except for the redhead.

Betrayal.

That¡¦s what he felt.

He had never felt betrayed; he didn¡¦t have any reasons of being betrayed. So why now¡K?

A pair of chocolate brown eyes stared at him from aside, realizing the look in the assassin¡¦s eyes.

Jealousy.

The eyes belong to no one but the fifteen year old.

Tsubame.

She smiled vaguely as she cleaned the empty cups on the table nearby.

¡§Please, step in and enjoy yourselves.¡¨ The stewardess motioned for them to get in. Battousai stood there, unmoving. His nails dug deep into his flesh as they turned white. But he didn¡¦t care. This was wrong. He shouldn¡¦t have come here in the first place. Now that he¡¦s here, he¡¦ll have to kill himself for seeing Butterfly, with other men. His colleagues for kami-sama¡¦s sake!

He bent over slightly, trying to erase the anger. He thought that night in the woods¡Kthat she told him she was attracted to him. He laughed at himself bitterly in silence. Attracted? Him? She was a whore! She was only trying to get him seduced, how foolish of him to think that for real.

¡§Battousai,¡¨ a young voice called out.

He lifted his head up, to find a pair of chocolate eyes staring right back at him.

She bowed. ¡§Welcome to the life under the roof of Sakura House.¡¨

This is how things are.