Call Me by the Night


"Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear Kenshin! Happy..."

She peered through the slats of the large window. It was a little high up, but that was okay. The girl was shoved down. With irritation and a little fear, she looked up at the man who called her his own.

"Take the damn instrument and play."

Grudgingly, she carefully took the violin from him. Unerring, she placed the instrument under chin and raised the bow. She held it for a long moment and thought about what would happen if she carried this through.

And then thunder crashed, and she held a sudden victory smile. No playing in the rain.

"Dammit!" the man half muttered, to low for even trained ears to hear. But still, she did, and she hoped Battousai would or any of the others within. That would be a godsend. Spitefully she thought to herself, If they were anything as good as me they'd hear. Though she didn't think about the ruckus they were still making inside about the birthday.

Still muttering silently, he grabbed her up and dragged her along. Once out of earshot, he released her and began cursing. "Fuck! We almost succeeded. If we happen to be blessed with another chance, you'd better be damned faster about it."

"I'll go about it the way I want. What are you going to do?"she challenged, her yellow-green eyes mocking. "Are you going to threaten to break my hands? No. You need them."

"Listen to me, you stupid little girl, you will do as I say, or I'll give you back to the Order you came from, full papers, lineage, and all. Don't think you're such hot baggage just because you can play. And you'll wish you never had the talent if you go back there."

When she would have said more, he yanked her long tresses, straight as an arrow and the color of dark roses, and pulled her close up. With his hot breath on her face, he threatened her in a calm, quiet way. "If you do not listen, I will break your hands. What good do they do me if you're constantly an uncooperative bitch?"

"They're the only limbs in the entire world that can play it, "she shot back, but her eyes lowered and she gave in.

"Better. On the next full moon that falls on Battousai's birthday we'll try again. Until then, try to be a little nicer."

The clean-shaven, raven haired man smiled wickedly and she became more determined than ever that he would not circumvent her attempts at furthering her skill in the arts of combat. And then she would defeat him on his own playing field.