Author's Note: Okay, 3rd ch. Yay! Thank you muchilies for all
the loverly reviews on the last chapters -they are such an
inspiration to me. I'm doing my best to make sure the
Kaoru/Kenshin romance isn't rushed. However, I already have the
outline for the story written, and I expect this story to be
approximately 15 chapters in all. So that means although I'm not
going to rush the romance, I am going to really keep it moving
along and try to make it seem as natural and smooth as possible.
And please realize that the attraction is already there for Kaoru
& Kenshin -it just needs a little spark. ^_^x.
I also realize that this is an AU fic, so the personalities of the characters in my story may conflict with the personalities they have in the anime/manga. With that in mind, I decided to provide a mini description of each person in an effort to make the story a bit easier to understand.
Kaoru: A cold but amazing fighter. She isn't exactly an assassin in the sense that she makes her living killing people. In fact, she swore to never take a human's life except for the Battousai's -otherwise she would be no better than the man she is trying to kill. She is an assassin in the sense that her fighting style is that of an assassin's and she does have a target -Battousai. Basically, she's cold and tough as nails and perhaps a bit unstable. But underneath it all, she still has a heart, and as you'll see, occasionally the old, kind Kaoru that she was before the revolution shines through. As the story progresses, you'll find that her cold exterior gradually melts, and she slowly begins to change back to how she was before the revolution.
Kenshin: He's the kick-ass Battousai -what else is there to say? He is not really as cold as he acts. He is deadly, and he is an assassin, but that's the only way he knows to make a living. He has never known any other way of life and was brought up to not feel anything for his victims. He doesn't have a painful past, the mental battles, or the strong morals that Kaoru is constantly plagued by. Underneath it all, he's just a nice laid-back type of guy with a tough persona. The more he stays with Kaoru, the more we see the sweet rurouni side of him emerge. He can't seem to catch a break as he seems to be the butt of everyone's joke.
Sano: He's just the reoccurring drunk guy that knocked up his rich psychotic drug-dealing girlfriend, Megumi. To sum it up, he's the resident idiot.
Megumi: Sano's rich psychotic drug-dealing girl friend that apparently got knocked up. She plays a minor part in the story.
Yahiko: He's pretty much exactly as he is in the anime/manga. He also plays a minor role in the story.
(I hope that has cleared things up a little) ------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------
Warning: Use of colorful language
Disclaimer: If I actually owned Rurouni Kenshin, do you honestly think I'd be writing fanfiction?
Chapter Three: Lethal Intentions
It was 3:00 in the AM. Still pitch-black outside and late enough that even the Battousai would be at home in bed. Now was the perfect time to make my move. That bastard would never see me coming. I'd sneak in through his window and murder him in his sleep. It wouldn't be an honorable death; but then again, the Battousai didn't deserve anything short of torture. Yes, tonight will be your last, Battousai.
And so, according to my plan, I infiltrated his room via the window. The room was small and I easily spotted him, fast asleep and covered head-to-toe by his blankets. I decided it would be best to rush over and kill him quickly before I changed my mind. After all, killing someone cold-blood without them even being able to defend themselves was really dirty. No, I can kill him anyway I please. He never thought twice before he annihilated everything that I ever held dear.
That's right Battousai. Now here comes your just dessert! I charged at the bed where he lay and stabbed at his body like there was no tomorrow. I showed his now lifeless form no mercy as I repeatedly skewered him with my sword. There were no words to describe the rush -the feeling of pure joy that surged through the every fiber of my being. I continued to release all the pent up anger, frustration, pain, and sorrow that this man had inflicted on me over the past years.. Then I realized something was terribly wrong.
His body was too easy to pierce through. You would think a man like him would have lots of muscles to cut through and I didn't even hit any bones -and with the angle at which I was stabbing him, my sword should have at least come in contact with his rib cage. But my blade did not feel the tearing of muscles, nor the crunching of bone -not even the satisfying squelch of vital organs. Something was not right. I quickly pulled my sword out of the body and to my amazement, the blade was clean. There was not even a single drop of blood. This was getting weird.
I pulled back the covers of the bed, fully expecting to see the dead and bloodied corpse of the Battousai. Unfortunately, what met my eyes was far less than the phenomenon I was expecting. There, spread out before me on the bed was nothing more than a mess of feathers and blankets. Apparently the Battousai I had just "murdered" was nothing but a pile of strategically placed pillows. Fuck. The legendary manslayer was slyer than I had estimated.
How did he know that I would return tonight to seek his life? Further more, how could I be so stupid as to fall for such a juvenile trick? They were pillows for the love of Christ! This night has truly been an embarrassment. So, the bastard wants to be sneaky, eh? Well I can be sneaky too. But I now realize another attack like this would be futile. The only way for me to kill him is in a battle. Face to face, sword to sword, battle to the death.
(Kenshin's POV)
I was awoken in the early morning by some soft thuds on my windowsill. I ignored them, figuring it was just some annoying squirrel up at unholy hours of the morning looking for nuts. But the almost silent thuds quickly turned to rapid footsteps coming towards my bed. Shit. No squirrel I know of walks on two feet. My immediate reaction was to draw my sword. But then I remembered I was under my bed, and didn't bother to sleep with the worthless reverse-blade sword.
Why was I sleeping under my bed, you may ask. Well ever since the robbery of my clothes and sword I've been especially cautious around the inn. I know the person who stole my stuff was no ordinary thief and whoever they are, they swore to return. The last thing I need is to be murdered in my sleep, so I have taken to setting up pillows in the form of a body on the bed and covering them with blankets. Then I fall asleep underneath the bed. I'm just glad this Inn has Western-style beds that are raised up off the ground a few feet so I can easily fit under them. This way of sleeping is by no means comfortable, but I can't afford to take any chances. And it seems that on this night, my precautions saved my life.
The intruder ran over to my bed and proceeded to stab the stuffings out of my pillows. I would be so dead right now if that was really me under those covers. Man, whoever this person was, they really hated me because they just kept stabbing away. Sheesh, talk about over-kill. This person was a maniac. And they meant business.
Oddly enough, I found that the trespasser was a female. I came to this conclusion from her light footsteps and feminine voice. A voice that I think would sound very nice if it hadn't been screaming things like "DIE, BASTARD!" and "TAKE THAT, YOU WEAKLING." Or "HOW DOES THAT FEEL, BATTOUSAI?". Even though all I could see from my hiding spot were a pair of small sandal clad feet, I felt like I had met this woman before.
The rhythmical pounding of her sword on the bed boards stopped abruptly. I smiled. So, the idiot finally realized she was only injuring a bunch of pillows. Haha. I'm just so clever. I was wondering if she'd ever stop her assault on my bedding. She'd been going at it pretty furiously for a good five minutes now. I heard her mumble a few choice words and say something like "sneaky Battousai.. I can be sneaky too!" Then I heard her swift footsteps back to the window from which she came, and then sharp THUD of her landing outside the Inn, signaling her certain departure.
I crawled out from under my bed with a sigh. That was close. What if I hadn't decided to start sleeping under my bed? I could be dead right now. I wouldn't be so worried if I still had my really cool sword. But I don't and it was probably that crackers lady who took it. Damn her! I do have this reverse-blade sword, but I never used one before. It was made purposely so it could not take a life. I suppose I could use it to defend myself, but if I went up against a fighter of my caliber, I probably wouldn't be able to get a decent offensive maneuver in. And that could possibly mean the difference between life and death for me.
Now if only I could remember why that woman seemed familiar. And why is she after my life? I know that she was aiming to kill me tonight and in a rather gruesome manner at that. I know she couldn't one of my victims -I always finish a job completely. I leave no survivors. And I don't remember crossing any women lately.
Well, there was that really gorgeous chick that bumped into me in the alleyway. She clearly knew how to use a sword and definitely meant business, but why would she be after me? I didn't do anything to her deserving of death. Maybe I cursed a little, but so did she. Besides, she called me a "worthless rurouni" meaning she had no idea that I am really the Battousai. And the woman who was just here was clearly after the Battousai. Ugh, this shit is way too confusing. I just better be on guard from now on. And I had damn well better stay away from women -they could cost me my life and my sanity.
Suddenly, my training master's words came to me, and they seemed to be all too true. He had told me to never become involved with women in any way, shape, or form. Women are crafty and manipulative, especially in the game of love. He had explained love as being like a flame ~ beautiful to look at, but it burns when you touch it. Love is a game you cannot win. When you lose, you can end up with a broken heart, or even worse -castrated. And have I heard stories! And even when you win, you lose. You're stuck with some wench for the rest of your life. The same face day after day. the kids, the screaming, the annoying voice, the bills - the horror!!! And when they get old, oh brother.. You know what? Life is a real bitch.
------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------
A/N: Sorry this chapter is so short. Originally, I had this chapter and the next couple of chapters as one, but it was ridiculously long (I'm talking 40 pages here). So, I cut it into three separate chapters. That means that next couple of chapters might be on the short side, but I will be able to post them relatively quickly.
Also, I've decided to start a mailing list. So if you want to be notified via e-mail every time I make an update to the story, just e-mail me and let me know, and I will be happy to add you to the list. Next Chapter: Let the K&K sparks fly!
Big thanks to my wonderful reviewers: Unfortunately, ff.net is being a bitch and is not letting me see half of my reviews. So if you reviewed, you know who you are, and I love you. Any extra comments or questions, feel free to e-mail me at dragongrlz@cs.com or qtpievtg@cs.com. Thank you, and REVIEW!!!!! PLEASE??? Need.. reviews. must have reviews. ^_^x.
I also realize that this is an AU fic, so the personalities of the characters in my story may conflict with the personalities they have in the anime/manga. With that in mind, I decided to provide a mini description of each person in an effort to make the story a bit easier to understand.
Kaoru: A cold but amazing fighter. She isn't exactly an assassin in the sense that she makes her living killing people. In fact, she swore to never take a human's life except for the Battousai's -otherwise she would be no better than the man she is trying to kill. She is an assassin in the sense that her fighting style is that of an assassin's and she does have a target -Battousai. Basically, she's cold and tough as nails and perhaps a bit unstable. But underneath it all, she still has a heart, and as you'll see, occasionally the old, kind Kaoru that she was before the revolution shines through. As the story progresses, you'll find that her cold exterior gradually melts, and she slowly begins to change back to how she was before the revolution.
Kenshin: He's the kick-ass Battousai -what else is there to say? He is not really as cold as he acts. He is deadly, and he is an assassin, but that's the only way he knows to make a living. He has never known any other way of life and was brought up to not feel anything for his victims. He doesn't have a painful past, the mental battles, or the strong morals that Kaoru is constantly plagued by. Underneath it all, he's just a nice laid-back type of guy with a tough persona. The more he stays with Kaoru, the more we see the sweet rurouni side of him emerge. He can't seem to catch a break as he seems to be the butt of everyone's joke.
Sano: He's just the reoccurring drunk guy that knocked up his rich psychotic drug-dealing girlfriend, Megumi. To sum it up, he's the resident idiot.
Megumi: Sano's rich psychotic drug-dealing girl friend that apparently got knocked up. She plays a minor part in the story.
Yahiko: He's pretty much exactly as he is in the anime/manga. He also plays a minor role in the story.
(I hope that has cleared things up a little) ------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------
Warning: Use of colorful language
Disclaimer: If I actually owned Rurouni Kenshin, do you honestly think I'd be writing fanfiction?
Chapter Three: Lethal Intentions
It was 3:00 in the AM. Still pitch-black outside and late enough that even the Battousai would be at home in bed. Now was the perfect time to make my move. That bastard would never see me coming. I'd sneak in through his window and murder him in his sleep. It wouldn't be an honorable death; but then again, the Battousai didn't deserve anything short of torture. Yes, tonight will be your last, Battousai.
And so, according to my plan, I infiltrated his room via the window. The room was small and I easily spotted him, fast asleep and covered head-to-toe by his blankets. I decided it would be best to rush over and kill him quickly before I changed my mind. After all, killing someone cold-blood without them even being able to defend themselves was really dirty. No, I can kill him anyway I please. He never thought twice before he annihilated everything that I ever held dear.
That's right Battousai. Now here comes your just dessert! I charged at the bed where he lay and stabbed at his body like there was no tomorrow. I showed his now lifeless form no mercy as I repeatedly skewered him with my sword. There were no words to describe the rush -the feeling of pure joy that surged through the every fiber of my being. I continued to release all the pent up anger, frustration, pain, and sorrow that this man had inflicted on me over the past years.. Then I realized something was terribly wrong.
His body was too easy to pierce through. You would think a man like him would have lots of muscles to cut through and I didn't even hit any bones -and with the angle at which I was stabbing him, my sword should have at least come in contact with his rib cage. But my blade did not feel the tearing of muscles, nor the crunching of bone -not even the satisfying squelch of vital organs. Something was not right. I quickly pulled my sword out of the body and to my amazement, the blade was clean. There was not even a single drop of blood. This was getting weird.
I pulled back the covers of the bed, fully expecting to see the dead and bloodied corpse of the Battousai. Unfortunately, what met my eyes was far less than the phenomenon I was expecting. There, spread out before me on the bed was nothing more than a mess of feathers and blankets. Apparently the Battousai I had just "murdered" was nothing but a pile of strategically placed pillows. Fuck. The legendary manslayer was slyer than I had estimated.
How did he know that I would return tonight to seek his life? Further more, how could I be so stupid as to fall for such a juvenile trick? They were pillows for the love of Christ! This night has truly been an embarrassment. So, the bastard wants to be sneaky, eh? Well I can be sneaky too. But I now realize another attack like this would be futile. The only way for me to kill him is in a battle. Face to face, sword to sword, battle to the death.
(Kenshin's POV)
I was awoken in the early morning by some soft thuds on my windowsill. I ignored them, figuring it was just some annoying squirrel up at unholy hours of the morning looking for nuts. But the almost silent thuds quickly turned to rapid footsteps coming towards my bed. Shit. No squirrel I know of walks on two feet. My immediate reaction was to draw my sword. But then I remembered I was under my bed, and didn't bother to sleep with the worthless reverse-blade sword.
Why was I sleeping under my bed, you may ask. Well ever since the robbery of my clothes and sword I've been especially cautious around the inn. I know the person who stole my stuff was no ordinary thief and whoever they are, they swore to return. The last thing I need is to be murdered in my sleep, so I have taken to setting up pillows in the form of a body on the bed and covering them with blankets. Then I fall asleep underneath the bed. I'm just glad this Inn has Western-style beds that are raised up off the ground a few feet so I can easily fit under them. This way of sleeping is by no means comfortable, but I can't afford to take any chances. And it seems that on this night, my precautions saved my life.
The intruder ran over to my bed and proceeded to stab the stuffings out of my pillows. I would be so dead right now if that was really me under those covers. Man, whoever this person was, they really hated me because they just kept stabbing away. Sheesh, talk about over-kill. This person was a maniac. And they meant business.
Oddly enough, I found that the trespasser was a female. I came to this conclusion from her light footsteps and feminine voice. A voice that I think would sound very nice if it hadn't been screaming things like "DIE, BASTARD!" and "TAKE THAT, YOU WEAKLING." Or "HOW DOES THAT FEEL, BATTOUSAI?". Even though all I could see from my hiding spot were a pair of small sandal clad feet, I felt like I had met this woman before.
The rhythmical pounding of her sword on the bed boards stopped abruptly. I smiled. So, the idiot finally realized she was only injuring a bunch of pillows. Haha. I'm just so clever. I was wondering if she'd ever stop her assault on my bedding. She'd been going at it pretty furiously for a good five minutes now. I heard her mumble a few choice words and say something like "sneaky Battousai.. I can be sneaky too!" Then I heard her swift footsteps back to the window from which she came, and then sharp THUD of her landing outside the Inn, signaling her certain departure.
I crawled out from under my bed with a sigh. That was close. What if I hadn't decided to start sleeping under my bed? I could be dead right now. I wouldn't be so worried if I still had my really cool sword. But I don't and it was probably that crackers lady who took it. Damn her! I do have this reverse-blade sword, but I never used one before. It was made purposely so it could not take a life. I suppose I could use it to defend myself, but if I went up against a fighter of my caliber, I probably wouldn't be able to get a decent offensive maneuver in. And that could possibly mean the difference between life and death for me.
Now if only I could remember why that woman seemed familiar. And why is she after my life? I know that she was aiming to kill me tonight and in a rather gruesome manner at that. I know she couldn't one of my victims -I always finish a job completely. I leave no survivors. And I don't remember crossing any women lately.
Well, there was that really gorgeous chick that bumped into me in the alleyway. She clearly knew how to use a sword and definitely meant business, but why would she be after me? I didn't do anything to her deserving of death. Maybe I cursed a little, but so did she. Besides, she called me a "worthless rurouni" meaning she had no idea that I am really the Battousai. And the woman who was just here was clearly after the Battousai. Ugh, this shit is way too confusing. I just better be on guard from now on. And I had damn well better stay away from women -they could cost me my life and my sanity.
Suddenly, my training master's words came to me, and they seemed to be all too true. He had told me to never become involved with women in any way, shape, or form. Women are crafty and manipulative, especially in the game of love. He had explained love as being like a flame ~ beautiful to look at, but it burns when you touch it. Love is a game you cannot win. When you lose, you can end up with a broken heart, or even worse -castrated. And have I heard stories! And even when you win, you lose. You're stuck with some wench for the rest of your life. The same face day after day. the kids, the screaming, the annoying voice, the bills - the horror!!! And when they get old, oh brother.. You know what? Life is a real bitch.
------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------
A/N: Sorry this chapter is so short. Originally, I had this chapter and the next couple of chapters as one, but it was ridiculously long (I'm talking 40 pages here). So, I cut it into three separate chapters. That means that next couple of chapters might be on the short side, but I will be able to post them relatively quickly.
Also, I've decided to start a mailing list. So if you want to be notified via e-mail every time I make an update to the story, just e-mail me and let me know, and I will be happy to add you to the list. Next Chapter: Let the K&K sparks fly!
Big thanks to my wonderful reviewers: Unfortunately, ff.net is being a bitch and is not letting me see half of my reviews. So if you reviewed, you know who you are, and I love you. Any extra comments or questions, feel free to e-mail me at dragongrlz@cs.com or qtpievtg@cs.com. Thank you, and REVIEW!!!!! PLEASE??? Need.. reviews. must have reviews. ^_^x.
