Obsession
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Standard disclaimers apply.
Chapter six¡X Forsaken
I told you that love was a dangerous thing. Even the most powerful man could fall easily.
I told you.
Butterfly stared down at her own hands, which were covered in blood. They looked so unreal, so imaginary to her. She couldn¡¦t breathe, couldn¡¦t think. Her head throbbed. It was as if all the events that occurred in the room all clashed down. It¡Kit was so unbearable.
¡§No¡Kno¡K¡¨ she whimpered and rocked herself back and forth. Back and forth. The blood stains blemished her blue kimono as she cried.
His katana still drowned in the red pools of crimson, as he stared harshly at the young girl. It was because of him that caused her torment; it was because of him the man died. And still, he stood motionless after. If he could just say something, do something, to make the pain go away¡Kbut he just stood there.
All of a sudden, loud and fierce poundings hit the door repeatedly, snapping Kaoru put of her empty reverie. She gasped in horror and scampered up, rushing to Battousai and clutched onto his bloodied gi, eyes begging.
¡§I need you to go,¡¨ she swallowed down the lump in her throat. ¡§There,¡¨ she pointed toward a hidden doorway behind the closet. ¡§It¡¦s a secret outlet.¡¨
The fire in the Hitokiri¡¦s eyes died down when her broken words reached his ears. Pulling the frail girl into his blood-spattered arms, he whispered fiercely.
¡§I¡¦m not going without you.¡¨
¡§Please!¡¨ she screamed. ¡§Go!¡¨ taking a step back, she lost all the warmth from him and pushed with all her might. Battousai was pressed into the doorway abruptly; his eyes glowed with unseen fear. ¡§Kaoru!¡¨
¡§Don¡¦t ever come back Kenshin! Don¡¦t ever come back¡KI love you.¡¨
Taking the last of her remaining strength, she shoved the heavy door closed and locked it, while pushing the closet in. Leaning against the hidden passage, her heart ripped. She could hear the pounding on the other side barely, with her blood drumming in her ears.
Dashing to the bloodied floor, she picked up the only weapon- the murdering sword, and held it tightly against her chest. She turned back to face the large doors just when they kicked open. The stewardess stepped in with several people behind her. Her face paled when she saw the scene.
¡§I did it! I killed him!¡¨ Kaoru screamed hoarsely. Her palms were sweaty and she swallowed, ¡§I killed him¡K¡¨
¡§L-lock the doors and get out.¡¨ Merely a whisper, the stewardess stated to the people behind her. For a while they just stood there, somewhat dumbstruck by the sudden event.
¡§Do it!¡¨ she barked.
¡§H-hai!¡¨ Off they went.
When the door closed, the older woman walked closer to the dead body and held her breath. Her eyes held dread and terror that etched deep into her black eyes.
The young prostitute couldn¡¦t slow her quickened breathing. She prayed silently that she would believe. She had the weapon, she was the only one in the room¡Kand the blood was all over her pale skin. She had to believe.
¡§Is he¡K?¡¨ the stewardess asked hesitantly.
Butterfly stared down at the lifeless form beneath. Is he? She didn¡¦t even know.
¡§Is he.¡¨ The matter became no more a question but a declare. Staring fearfully into the woman¡¦s eyes, Kaoru dropped the katana in her hands and collapsed. Her sobs croaked from her trembling body, ¡§Yes! He¡¦s dead all right? I did it, I killed that man!¡¨ she shouted.
The older woman placed her cold hand over her forehead, ¡§Oh god.¡¨ She sputtered.
Tears burned her vision as Kaoru wept.
I did for you Kenshin¡Know you knew. Onegai- don¡¦t ever come back.
For me. For the both of us.
Suddenly, Kaoru felt a pair of cold hands firmly forced her to stand up. She barely got up and was met by a freezing slap.
¡§You bitch¡Klook what you did.¡¨
Placing her bloodied hand over her flushed cheeks, Kaoru stared in mere disbelief.
¡§Look what you did!¡¨ her tone became cracks as the older woman clutched her hands in anger. She pointed toward Kaoru accusingly, ¡§You did this.¡¨
Kaoru stared down at the bloodied weapon beneath; a flash of flamed red hair blinded her vision for a moment. Her eyes softened. No¡Kit was alright. She could get accused or punished. She could handle it.
¡§Why did you do it?!¡¨
¡§Kill me if you want to. It¡¦s already done, anger cannot rewind the time.¡¨ She spoke quietly. She didn¡¦t have to fight back.
¡§Are you insane? You could be put to death for this!¡¨
Her fumed voice rang out the heavy tensioned room. Butterfly kept silent. The stewardess hung her head low, somewhat ashamed. How could she possibly, afford a life?
The weary Butterfly lifted her head up; her pale eyes spoke it all.
¡§You¡¦ve already destroyed me.¡¨
¡§Did you hear?¡¨
¡§Of course. That man¡Kwhat was his name?¡¨
¡§Takashi. No last name, no family, just some street stalker.¡¨
¡§Really? That¡¦s too bad.¡¨
¡§It sure was.¡¨
¡§But I also heard that it got something to do with one of the whores in Sakura House.¡¨
¡§Whores? You¡¦ve got to be kidding me,¡¨
Her chocolate brown eyes saddened as Tsubame passed over the two women, gossiping secretly. She heard all about the bloody incident. A man died, said it was because of some connections with one of the whores. The details weren¡¦t exactly proofed, but all the focus was on the House now, the place where she worked.
¡§Kaoru-san?¡¨
She opened the door hesitantly, and stepped in. ¡§It¡¦s me, Tsubame.¡¨
The figure didn¡¦t move.
¡§Please, you¡¦ve got to eat something. It¡¦s been three days.¡¨ She begged. Advancing toward the prostitute, she touched her shoulders gently.
No movement.
¡§Kaoru-san?¡¨
Edging closer, the girl noticed she was holding onto something. A long object. Tsubame frowned as she brushed her hair away and stared. The item was wrapped with a dark layer of fabric, hiding its mesmerizing identity. She tried to touch it, but Kaoru snapped her hand away abruptly. She didn¡¦t even look at her.
¡§G-Gomen,¡¨ she apologized meekly.
She didn¡¦t respond.
Silence passed them, one sat, one stood.
Tsubame stared at the object. Kaoru was clutching it like it was her only life support. It seemed like she needed it so much.
¡§Kaoru-san, what is that?¡¨ she pointed out.
Butterfly clutched on it tighter.
¡§Please say something-¡¨
¡§Memory.¡¨
¡§Excuse me?¡¨
The prostitute whispered vaguely again, ¡§It¡¦s my memory.¡¨
Memory?
The girl could hear Butterfly¡¦s slow breathing as she shifted. The object showed its black hilt as Tsubame narrowed her eyes briefly.
The object held something more than she thought.
¡§Is it¡Ka sword?¡¨
She didn¡¦t answer. Her head hung low, touching the surface of the soft fabric. Breathing harshly to herself, she swore that the tears wouldn¡¦t come out. She couldn¡¦t show her weakness. No one could reach inside of her already broken heart. She wouldn¡¦t allow.
But her pale eyes betrayed her.
She simply felt¡Kdrained. Tired after all that had happened. She wanted to give up. The prostitute never did have a valid purpose in her life. She lived till this day because of what?
¡§I heard a man had passed away.¡¨
Kaoru mentally flinched.
¡§People thought it has some connections with the House¡K¡¨ Tsubame turned her head away. ¡§Or more specifically, one of the prostitutes.¡¨
The girl awaited her response. Anything that would get her to open her mouth.
¡§¡KIs it vital?¡¨
She nodded.
Kaoru raised her hands up and spread out her palm, staring at the imaginary blood three nights ago.
She missed him. So much.
¡§You look so thin, Kaoru-san. Your health is getting weaker.¡¨ Sitting beside the prostitute, Tsubame urged, ¡§You need rest, and food.¡¨
¡§I don¡¦t need anything.¡¨ She said emotionlessly.
Tsubame sighed, ¡§It¡¦s because of Battousai, isn¡¦t it?¡¨
She could feel her tensed up.
Gazing sadly at Butterfly, her thoughts wondered, oh kami-sama, why must you be so hard on them? Kaoru-san is a kind person; she did nothing to deserve this. Why couldn¡¦t you just spare them?
Standing up firmly, Tsubame put her hands on her chest.
¡§I¡¦ll help you.¡¨
Kaoru smiled bitterly. ¡§Tsubame-chan, I know you¡¦re saying this to make me feel better. Arigatou, but just let me be.¡¨
Tsubame shook her head, ¡§I can help! I want to help.¡¨
¡§Tsubame-¡¨
She cut off her sentence, ¡§When I was little, my parents both died. I was left alone, the only family I had was my aunt.¡¨
Kaoru kept her silence.
¡§My aunt was a ruthless woman, she only accepted me because I could help her with the business of the House,¡¨ lifting her chocolate eyes up, she gestured, ¡§The stewardess of the House¡K¡¨
Butterfly¡¦s eyes slowly widened.
¡§Is my aunt.¡¨
He could never forget the night when they had shared their passion, together.
Glowing tears shone in his menacing eyes as he clenched his fist.
His katana was gone, and so did she.
That night, Kaoru had given all herself to him. Her skin was so soft, her eyes were so blue. Her tears added bitterness into their forbidden devotion, ravishing its deadly beauty.
Yes, their love was forbidden, their devotion was forbidden. Damnit, why don¡¦t they make his fucking life forbidden, too? He¡¦s nothing without her, absolutely nothing.
Damn he missed her.
But he accepted it, as well.
He accepted the fact that their love was not allowed, restricted, bounded by the coding of prostitutes.
Sometimes, he asked himself, was it because of desire that made him fall in love with her? Or was it the love that made him desiring for her?
Growling silently to himself, he would not make the same mistake again. He would take her away from that damned whorehouse and wisp her away to somewhere far, away from her past. She didn¡¦t belong there, for such good dignity. And himself? Quit. Quit as a manslayer, putting all the stained past behind him and start over. God, starting over at the age of twenty? How pathetic is that?
But that doesn¡¦t matter; they had each other.
This time, he was right. She was wrong. It would be the last time he went to the House, and it would be her day as a prostitute, too. The name Butterfly would be lost, to him, to her, to everyone.
Kaoru- wait for me.
¡§She¡¦s¡Kyour aunt?¡¨
Her tone dripped with atheism, as her pale eyes widened.
Tsubame nodded. ¡§I should¡¦ve told you earlier, but¡KI knew she was hard on you, I¡¦m afraid that you¡¦ll see me as the same with her.¡¨ She confessed.
Butterfly¡¦s eyes wavered with tears, ¡§Oh Tsubame, silly. I would never think of you that way.¡¨ She motioned for her to come, as Tsubame moved to her opened arms. She smells so nice, she thought inwardly.
¡§I¡¦ll help.¡¨ She whispered.
The girl¡¦s offer of help once again lit up her hope. She only nodded, it seemed at that time words were extra.
She pulled away; her chocolate eyes bore into her graduating blue ones. A smile crept upon her lips, ¡§Let¡¦s go.¡¨
Hesitantly, Kaoru stood up. ¡§Tsubame¡K¡¨
The girl stared up.
¡§I¡¦m¡KI¡K¡¨ she bit her lip. Though the hope had burnt within her, however the feeling of fear and dread could not be shaken away so easily.
Sensing the look in the prostitute¡¦s eyes, realization dawned on her face.
¡§Don¡¦t worry. I¡¦ll do as much as I can.¡¨ She reassured.
Kaoru smiled faintly.
Consequences¡K
Do I really care?
They trotted down the stairs, with Tsubame in the lead. The girl thanked the heavens that the House was closed. Or they wouldn¡¦t even have a chance. Kaoru¡¦s heart thumped two times faster, she clutched onto her kimono. She really wanted to see Kenshin. She really wanted to be with him. She wanted to live a new life with him, more than ever. More blue began to graduate in her eyes as she smiled inwardly.
¡§Come on I-¡¨ Tsubame opened the large doors but stopped abruptly.
Kaoru stopped also, surprised by her sudden halt. She followed her gaze towards the entrance, as she froze by the sight of him.
He was already there.
¡§Ken-Kenshin¡K¡¨ she whispered.
As if by magic, soon enough the Hitokiri¡¦s amber eyes rested on her. He was penetrated by her intense stare, his whole body burnt with heat. He advanced toward her, in slow, steady steps. Neither broke their eye contact. Tsubame moved aside, Battousai stopped when they were a step away from each other. He could feel the hot breath on his face, and could see the tears rolling in her eyes over and over again. His own gaze softened. Love, desire, compassion all rushed to him like a mad fever. He found himself choking at his own words.
¡§I told you I¡¦m not going without you¡K¡¨
Kaoru let out something like a whimper and her hands went up to her mouth.
Suddenly he broke their barrier and puller her toward him in a fierce embrace. Kaoru¡¦s teas fell silently and she stared up at the ceiling. Battousai breathed erratically on her bared shoulder.
Tsubame smiled, truly happy for the two forsaken lovers.
¡§Why¡Kwhy¡K¡¨ Kaoru asked in her tears.
¡§I love you. No once can break us, I swear.¡¨ He pulled away from her barely, his eyes traveled up her body.
¡§Kami-sama, you look so thin.¡¨ He commented in heavy concern. ¡§I¡¦m sorry it took me so long. I¡¦m sorry¡K¡¨ Kaoru touched his face tenderly, her eyes shining with affection. He was putting on all the blame on himself, baka Kenshin.
¡§Baka, those days were like years to me.¡¨ Then she shifted in order to brought something up. His katana. Battousai took them with much gratitude and their hands met. He placed his katana on his other hand as the original one stayed with Kaoru¡¦s.
Their heads were getting closer, to the limit of touching. But then, a horrifying of woman¡¦s laughter filled their ears. They shot up and found the damned stewardess, standing on the staircase.
¡§You,¡¨ Battousai took a step toward the older woman and accused angrily.
She ignored him, his black eyes rested on the girl aside.
¡§Oh dear, dear Tsubame-chan. I didn¡¦t realize that you were so foolish.¡¨
Tsubame¡¦s eyes flared, ¡§You were wrong, auntie! Just let them go!¡¨
The stewardess advanced, Battousai stayed in front of Kaoru in protection, his amber eyes narrowed and his hands brushed past the hilt of his katana.
¡§Butterfly, get in here.¡¨ The stewardess commanded.
Fear crossed her delicate features as she felt his grip on her tightening. ¡§Don¡¦t go.¡¨ He whispered. Staring at the older woman, she shook her head.
¡§I want to live a new life. Onegai, spare us.¡¨ She pleaded.
¡§No!¡¦ her tone rang out with anger. ¡§I will not. The House has bloomed perfectly since you entered, Kamiya. Those men were in love with you. Do you know how much money we earned?¡¨
¡§But I¡¦m not happy! I will never be if I stay,¡¨ she fought.
¡§Please auntie, you¡¦ve hurt Kaoru-san enough already. Why are you being so cruel?¡¨ Tsubame shouted.
¡§She is my money tree, Tsubame. Without her, my business would sure fail.¡¨ She turned her attention back on Kaoru. ¡§Now get in here Kamiya, before I say it thrice.¡¨
¡§She¡¦s not going.¡¨ Battousai said in a cold voice.
¡§Oh?¡¨
¡§You slut, look at the way how you treated her!¡¨ he barked. ¡§She looked so frail, for god¡¦s sake!¡¨
¡§That¡¦s my business, Battousai. Don¡¦t think you can scare me with your attitude. Kamiya.¡¨ She warned once more.
¡§Kenshin¡K¡¨ Kaoru whispered and clutched onto him firmly. Battousai had to fought back in order not to swept out his sword and cut off that damned woman¡¦s head.
¡KWhat¡¦s going to happen now? What do I do? Kaoru asked inwardly.
I will never hand Kaoru to that damned woman. Never! Battousai thought with resentment.
¡§Auntie¡K¡¨ Tsubame spoke suddenly, her face converted from worry to anger, also. ¡§If you don¡¦t let them go¡K¡¨ she pulled out a small dagger from her kimono. ¡§I will kill myself, right now.¡¨
Any suggestions people? This is getting hard¡K read and review please! Tell me what you think!! Damn that stewardess, I¡¦ve already thought of an ending for her, and our beloved couple. ^-^ Only one or two chapters to go, then the story would be finished. I know it¡¦s so fast! Is it too fast? Advices are always welcome. Oh, btw, I will finish this ficcie first then my other ones. K? With all the schoolwork¡Kganbette to myself!! REVIEW!!!!!
