Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin is the creation of Nobuhiro Watsuki, with the manga and anime rights belonging to Jump Comics and Sony Entertainment, respectively. FF is non-profit, meant for entertainment only.
FF can be archived anywhere, just let me know where. Please send no flames, I'm sensitive. For all other comments 0_o you may contact me at kaoru_koishii@yahoo.com
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Chapter Three
*************
In a lightening fast movement his obstructions fell to the floor.
He cut her limp body from where it hung and eased it to the floor slowly. He held her face in his lap like she often did when she read to him.
- - - - - - - - - -
Turmoil. She felt it through out her whole being
She struggled against the hands that held her captive. She could see her rurouni a couple of feet away from her. Just looking at her. She thrashed about but she wasn't able get away. "I'm leaving," he said.
No, please." She tried to make him see he couldn't leave her.
He turned his back to her.
"Please," she said falling to her knees. The sorrow and fear she felt was overwhelming.
- - - - - - - - - -
Her screamed echoed through out the room. She had woken up with a start. She was breathing heavily. She looked around and raised her self from the position she was in.
Kenshin was still kneeled on the floor. She looked past him at the bodies. Then her eyes went back to him. She looked at his eyes. The color made her heart speed up.
She kneeled in front of him. "You killed them."
He looked in to her eyes unsure how to answer. Eventually though he nodded.
She embraced him.
He was confused by the action.
She pulled away slowly. She felt drawn to his eyes. They looked so savage.
"You're so beautiful." She breathed.
Now he really felt crazy. She couldn't have said what he thought she said. She hated the rurouni; therefore she must hold a certain amount of hate for him too. And if she had said it why would she choose now as the time to say it.
He opened his mouth to say something but she caught him off with a kiss.
His thoughts were running wild. He could taste the coppery flavor of her blood. But his thoughts were lost as she deepened the kiss.
When they finally broke apart from the kiss. They were both panting pretty heavily. She could see wildness in his eyes that thrilled her.
He looked into her eyes. They finally held emotion. They had darkened to the point they looked black.
Her arms went around his neck again. "I think I could fall in love with you Battoussai." She whispered before she kissed him again.
She was rougher with him. She tugged on him and pressed herself against him.
The statement had thrown him for a loop. He wasn't prepared for it or her actions. He responded when she tugged on him. He growled when she pressed herself closer. His body's reaction to her was almost immediate.
He pushed her away brusquely. His control was back in place. His was breathing hard but was she. Her eyes were have lidded, a look he found very enticing.
Kaoru was feeling very tired. "I'm feeling dizzy." She said just before she fainted.
He let out a heavy sigh and picked her up. He'd take her to the doctor in town. He left the abandoned house with his precious cargo. He'd have to let the authorities now what happened here.
*************
Kaoru woke up in her bedroom, for a minute there she thought she'd woken up in the forest. But no, that was in her dream.
She yawned, and stretched out. Her face turned to the right; see could see the rays of the sun starting to come in through the glass doors of the balcony.
"How are you feeling?" The voice came from her left.
Her head turned. She covered her mouth with her right hand as she yawned again. She smiled lazily at her bodyguard. "A little tired."
She yawned again. "Well maybe more than little. But I don't want to sleep anymore. Will you open the window it feels hot in here." She closed her eyes.
Kenshin did as he was told.
He'd stayed in her room last night. After he'd taken her to the doctor, he'd brought her straight back home. She had minor cuts on her wrists. They had applied some ointment on them and bandaged them up. She had two bruises on the side of her face though. Probably from where she was hit.
He went to his seat by her bedside. She'd fallen asleep again. Just as well, it was too early for anyone to be up. She was going to be fine. He closed his eyes and allowed himself a moment's rest.
*************
"I want to go outside."
"No."
"You do as I say. Not the other way around."
"You're not leaving."
Kaoru stomped her foot on the floor to her room. "I'm going and you can't stop me."
She made her way to the door but Kenshin stood in her path.
A week had passed since the incident had occurred and she was feeling all better now. But the fact was that it was raining and she was NOT going to go while it rained.
He grabbed her and threw her over his shoulder. She punched and kicked but he didn't let her go. When he was close enough to her bed he threw her down.
"Urghhh" She screamed.
The servants stopped for a minute and sighed. Some shook their heads but all of them had the same thought running through their head. "Poor Himura." They knew how she could get when she didn't get her own way. Over the months she'd gotten better but from time to time. She'd just lash out.
When she hit the bed, she simply rolled to the side. Now they were on opposite sides of the bed. She glared daggers at him. He just kept a cool expression. He'd become accustomed to her tantrums over time. At first he'd been afraid of manhandling her. But he'd quickly learned that sometimes that was the only way of getting through to her.
She put her hand on her hips. Then she touched her chin in a thoughtful gesture. "How about you open the windows then."
"You'll get sick." His tone was neutral.
"Not if you build a fire. We can sit by it and you can read to me. I'd like to finish that book sometime before the years over. We're barely half way." His eyes narrowed at her. She'd tricked him before.
"All right," he said. He grabbed her by the arm and they started for the door.
"Wait. Where are we going?" She pulled at her hand and then at his.
"We need some food." He pulled her along till they got to the kitchen. When they got there he pushed her through the doors first and then he came in.
"Kaoru-chan." the other woman exclaimed. She was glad to see her.
"Hi Kane." She sounded a little disgruntle.
"What's wrong?" She'd seen Himura come in right after her. He was usually the source of her problems.
"He won't let me go outside." She whined.
Kenshin found it amusing. She switched moods faster than he could draw his sakabatou.
"Honey, maybe it's because it's raining and he doesn't want you to get sick." She said patting the smaller woman.
She wrenched away from the other woman. "You're taking his side."
"Now Kaoru-chan." The other woman said trying to explain.
Kenshin's hand stopped her. "We came to get some food to take upstairs." The woman nodded and began the preparation of there food. Kaoru was off to the side pouting. "Baka," she said under her breath. The other two in the room heard her but neither said anything.
Kane prepared their food in record time. "Guess this mean you're not going to come down for dinner, huh?"
Kenshin shook his head.
She handed him the food and he thanked her. He took it in one hand and grabbed Kaoru with the other.
Kane could hear Kaoru muttering the whole way. She smiled. Kaoru was getting better.
Kenshin sat her down with the basket and began to build a fire. When he was done, he proceeded to open the window. Not the whole way, just enough for the fresh air to come in.
He turned to find her taking things out of the
Basket. "Are you going open the balcony doors?" She asked without turning.
"No." He said coming closer to take a seat.
"No." She repeated softly.
"You're going to get sick." He said as he took the cup away from her hand before she decided to toss it.
They proceeded to eat slowly. Talking about the book was her favorite thing. "Well don't you think he was stupid?" She said taking a bite of her fish.
"No," he said.
She waited for him to continue.
"He has every right to treat her Aeka that way. She's just a child." He said taking a bit of her vegetables.
Kaoru seemed outraged. "She's not a child. She's thirteen. And I think that it's Yosho who doesn't understand. She loves him; she only wants him to be happy. But she can't get him to talk to her. How is she supposed to know what's wrong with him."
Kenshin continued eating.
"You know what he does. He can't just tell her. She might hate him. She's all he has."
"Kami-sama" she said grabbing her head. "Are all men stupid? Please, I'd really like to know."
Kenshin didn't answer her.
"How could she hate him? It's been eight years since he killed Jurai. He avenged her mother's death. He's kept her safe and he's provided for her. What reason could there be for her to hate him? It's true he kills people but he needs the money. Their own money ran out years ago." She took another mouthful of rise and chewed on it angrily.
"The fact is she wouldn't understand." He put his bowl down; he always finished before she did.
She picked up her bowl and started eating again. "You don't know what you're talking about. She loves him and if he told her why he's out late at night then she wouldn't think he's out with other women. That what he's doing, he's doing for her. She would understand." She put her bowl down.
Kenshin was looking into the fire. This story she read to him had too many similarities to his own, to the past and to now.
Kaoru drank her tea. She liked watching his profile. She put her tea to the side and stood to go get more cushions. She set them around them and threw one by Kenshin's feet.
Kenshin turned to gaze at her. She had her book in her hand and was waiting for him to take his reading position.
Kenshin rested against the cushions she had thrown against his back and placed the blue cushion she'd thrown by his feet in between his legs. She handed him the book.
She rested her head on his chest and placed her arms on his legs. She turned her face to the side and watched the fire as he began to read.
Chapter 14
I hear as Yosho comes in to the house. No matter how quiet he is I always hear him, maybe it's because I listen out for him. I keep my breathing even pretending to be asleep. I hear him changing his clothes and getting into the futon with me. I make a small gurgling noise to make it more believable and he scoops me up so I rest against him. I sigh and snuggle into his warmth. After all this years we still sleep together. Truth is I couldn't imagine falling asleep with out him. I feel real sleep come to me. It usually does once he's home. Once I know he's safe and with me. I let sleep in and dream of a better life, where we're both older and I'm just as beautiful as my mother was. In that perfect dream he loves me just as much as I love him.
Morning comes, he's sound asleep. I like to think my company helps him sleep. I disentangle my self from him and he grasps me tighter. Hmm, Maybe he's having a bad dream. I tough his face with my hand and he seems to calm. I try again and as I'm getting up I hear him moan. I'm confused. I draw closer to him and He's murmuring something. I put my ear really close to his mouth and I can barely make out what he says. "Aeka." It's all I was able to make out. I leave the room a bit confused.
Kenshin pauses and turns the page. He sees Kaoru smiling and resumes reading.
I take my time making breakfast today breakfast. I don't know what to think. I've asked him where he goes before but he's never really answered me. The one time I pushed for an answer was about two months ago. That day we had a huge argument. It was the day I told him I loved him. He was stunned.
"You don't know what you're saying. You're still a child." He said shaking his head.
"I admit I am young but that should that have anything to do with it. I asked were you go, out of concern. You're all I have in this world and if something happened to you I don't know what I'd do." I began to weep as soon as the words were out of my mouth.
He had moved towards me then but instead he retreated and left out house.
I cried myself to sleep. He didn't come back till sometime early morning. I felt him scoop me up but I didn't open my eyes. The tears still fell though. He smelled like alcohol and perfume. I maybe young but I can smell another woman on him. I waited till he fell asleep before I left him. I stood by the river washing our clothes. I couldn't see them. I couldn't see anything through the blur my tears had created. Finally I slap the Gi on to rock I had been washing it on and jumped in to the river myself.
Kenshin paused and turned the page. Out of the side of his eye, he could see Kaoru wiping her eyes.
1I didn't step out of the river till I felt numb. I finished my wash and stepped back on the path home. When I got home I hung up the clothes and began breakfast. I should have changed clothes I realized but what was the point. Yosho woke up sometime while I was making breakfast. I heard him head leave the house. I couldn't cry anymore. I cried all of last night and all of this morning. I just couldn't.
I had just served his bowl when he came in. I served his drink and tried to leave the room but his hand caught me. I jerked away violently. He seemed shocked, then hurt. But I was through caring.
My chores were done for the time being. I stripped down and slipped my yukata back on. As I lay there, I felt the tears coming back. He could have just told me he had someone before this. Before I told him how I felt. I curled myself in a little ball and cried.
Sometime later I felt Yosho come in to the room. I didn't say anything and neither did he. When he laid down I got up. He had only comforted me when I was really young. It's how we got into the habit of sleeping together. I know it's what he was trying to do now but I just couldn't deal with him right now.
The day passed and then another. The days became a whole year.
Since that day I had grown distant from him. I'm not sure if noticed. We still slept together but I made sure to be asleep before he got there. I didn't want to know what time he came home anymore. I would work myself ragged during the day so when I laid down, I would fall like a log.
I'm fourteen and a half, now. Finally, I can see the resembles between my mother and I. I've never cut my hair in all this years mainly because I wanted it long and second I don't think I have a steady hand to cut it myself plus I don't trust Yosho to do it. Maybe one day when I leave this house I'll be able to cut it.
The sound of thunder broke Kenshin away from his reading. It looked like it was going to rain hard. Lightning could be seen in the distance. He took a drink of his tea. It was still warm. "Should I keep reading?" He asked her.
She shook her head no. "It's a good place to stop. Will you change my bandages?"
Kenshin nodded.
She got up to retrieve a bowl of warm water, a rag, the ointment and the new bandages.
Kenshin cleaned her wounds. They were healing nicely. Put the ointment on and bandaged her up again.
She looked at her hands for a moment. The thought came to her out of the blue. "I want to go on vacation."
"The weather isn't right for traveling." He said putting everything away.
"Baka, not today. Maybe once Tokuma comes back." She said getting up. She started unfastening her obi while she talked.
Kenshin noticed and turned his back. "You want to go on vacation with him?"
"Kami-sama you are stupid." She said.
Kenshin didn't say anything.
"NO! I meant I could go and of course if I go you go. I was thinking of Kyoto or maybe Sapporo. I don't know, yet." She tied her yukata and walked around so she was in front of him.
"Isn't there someplace you want to go?" She said as she pulled him towards the bed.
"No." He said pulling back the covers and tucking her in.
"Will you let me outside tomorrow? She asked as she yawned.
"If it doesn't rain and it's dry out than yes." He turned to take a seat in his usual spot till she fell asleep but she grabbed his hand.
"No" She said. "Here" She pulled back the covers and patted the spot next to her.
He shook his head.
"Don't shake your head at me." Her sleep seemed to have vanished at his refusal.
That stupid book was giving her ideas. He still refused though.
"You will get in here now," she hissed.
"Kaoru." He began but she shook her head.
"I don't want excuses." She said as she crossed her arms over her chest.
She really pissed him off sometimes. He knew she was sick and it was his fault but sometimes he swore she knew what she did was wrong. He practically ripped his sakabatou from his side and threw it down on the floor. He went to the spot she'd been patting and pulled the covers over him.
All the while she watched.
She got up and blew out the candles. She noticed he'd turned on his side. So he was angry. The thought amused her. She got back into bed. "I'm in love with Kane." She said.
Kenshin turned so quickly he actually scared her. He gave her a disbelieving look. She threw herself over him. "Just kidding," she said. She drew the covers over them and snuggled closer to him till she was content.
She'd tricked him. She often did that. Problem was he couldn't stay mad at her long enough to lecture her. He sighed and felt her smile. How could he not she was right on top of him.
Morning found Kaoru on her side and Kenshin spooned up right behind her with his arms around her waist. The loud roar of lightening woke Kenshin with a start. He looked around recognizing the room as Kaoru's. He looked down to see she'd turned when he'd woken up. She felt around till she found the front of his Gi. "Too early. More sleep," She said pulling him down again.
He tried not to smile as he set his head back on the pillow. Usually once he woke up he couldn't fall back asleep.
He turned his head to the balcony. You could barely tell it was morning, it was so dark. He felt Kaoru throw her leg over him. He closed his eyes and drifted off again.
*************
Turmoil. She felt it through out her whole being
She struggled against the hands that held her captive. She could see her rurouni a couple of feet away from her. Just looking at her. She thrashed about but she wasn't able get away. "I'm leaving," he said.
"No, please." She tried to make him see he couldn't leave her.
He turned his back to her.
"Please," she said falling to her knees. The sorrow and fear she felt where overwhelming.
It was always the same.
How could he leave?
Why?
Her crying echoed through out the woods. She felt a chill. She looked up. A couple of feet away she could see a man sitting on a branch looking at her. She stood on shaky legs and made her way to the figure. She looked at the face and recognized the eyes.
He jumped from the branch to land in front of her. "Am I who you seek?" His voice was rough and deadly.
Her voice was broken from all the crying. "Yes."
"You've only seen glimpses of me." He said as he circled her around.
"The man you're staying with, it's the rurouni pretending to be me." He stopped in front of her.
"No." She began shaking her head.
"He's supposed to be dead." She grabbed her head with her hands.
"What do I do?" She was becoming hysterical.
He grabbed her hands and pulled her into him. She looked into his amber eyes transfixed by them. "You have to make him mad."
Her gaze told him she didn't understand.
He came closer to her and put his arms around her waist. He let his hand travel down till they cupped her bottom and then squeezed. "I will be free once he's mad."
"How?"
"I think you know." He said rubbing her back.
"What if that doesn't work?" She asked holding on to his Gi.
"Then you can get someone to try and kill him. Try it the other way first though." He began to pull away
"No don't." She said trying to grasp for him.
The smile he graced her with was a seductive one. "If you want me you'll set me free. You know what to do."
Kaoru's eyes opened slowly to the pitter patter of rain.
She had always had that dream since becoming sick. But this was the first time there had been resolution. She looked around to see she was alone. She felt her blood start to boil. All this time, the man she hated most in this lifetime was pretending to be the only man she'd accept.
She looked up at the ceiling. How do you make a man with unremarkable control, mad?
She heard the door open but didn't turn.
"I've brought breakfast."
"I don't want any." She said.
"You need to eat."
"I will eat when I become hungry. I don't plan to leave this room all day so I won't need you. You may leave." Her voice was curt. She was angry.
Kenshin gazed down at her.
Why was she upset? Was it because he got up before her. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, leave." She couldn't look at him. He could control the color of his eyes. This wasn't who she wanted.
He set the try down and sat down on the bed.
The moment she did that she rolled of the bed. She walked over to the balcony and threw open the doors. She felt the strong wind wash over her.
Kenshin was at her side in a moment. He started to close the doors.
Before he closed them both she stepped out into the balcony. The water felt heavy.
"Get back in here." He said.
She stepped closer to the rail.
He grabbed her by the arm and pulled her.
She dug her heels in to the floor.
It was the first time she had turned to stare at him. He had a stern expression on his face. But his eyes lied.
She turned her face away not able to deal with it. She didn't want him. She hated him. "Would you do anything for me?" She asked him.
He kept his grip on her knowing she might try something. "Yes." He said.
"Would you leave this place if I asked you to?" Her eyes had fixated on the rail.
He thought for a moment, not sure what she meant. The statement could be taken any number of ways.
"Would you leave?" She asked again.
"Not with out you." He said.
"Not even if I didn't want you?" Her eyes came back to his.
He didn't say anything, he just watched her.
"What if I told you I hate you." Her face was serious.
"I wont leave with out you." His tone had grown cold.
"What if you had no choice?"
"It doesn't matter." He said pulling her roughly.
She slipped and scrapped her knee.
He watched her. He still held her hand. He was confused by all of this. Why the questions?
She pulled her hand back and he let it go.
She stood up slowly, she took a step forward and then ran off to the side. She jumped of the balcony.
His mind didn't seem to register.
He jumped off and landed on the floor in seconds.
He was there to catch her.
He didn't wait for her to land in his arms. He caught her in mid air. He jumped up and they landed on the balcony, he strode inside the room quickly. He threw her on the bed and went back to close the doors.
He threw the doors closed and locked them. His jaw clenched and unclenched. He was trying to keep calm.
It was stupid of him think she'd want him after she'd told him she hated the rurouni. His heart was racing, she was sick. He had to keep telling himself that. She's sick. She doesn't know what she's doing, she's sick.
He took a deep breath, he'd barely managed to keep his cool. He remained by the balcony.
When she saw he made no move to come any closer. She walked over to her dresser. She threw her yukata off. "Bastard!" She said out loud. He had no right. She put on a clean one and went back to the bed. She sat back down on the bed but it was wet. She got up and stripped the bed off the first sheet. She felt the next one, that one was wet too. She stripped the entire bed, gathered the blankets and threw them in to the large fireplace. She watched as the flames grew large.
She was pulled back from the fireplace. She didn't look at him.
He remained there the rest of the day. Didn't trust her to stay alone.
*************
Three weeks had passed and tension ran at an all time high.
He was in her room. He sat across from her, having tea. The only time she would look at him was to argue, other wise she refused to. He didn't understand what had happened. They had stopped talking completely.
Despite that he couldn't help but remember what she had said to him. "I think I could fall in love with you Battoussai." Why had she said it when she didn't mean it. It had given him false hope.
She put her tea cup down and gazed at the reflection. Yellow eyes looked back her. She smiled at the reflection. 'I'm trying' she thought. Maybe she should try a different tactic. They hadn't left the house since she'd had her dream.
"I want to go to town today."
He didn't bother to nod because she wouldn't look at him.
*************
They walked down the street. She wasn't sure what kind of shop to go into. She stopped at a medicine shop, he waited outside.
"Good afternoon." She said to the older man.
"Afternoon miss. What can I do for you?" He asked coming closer to her.
"Do you have anything to induce sleep." She said. She wanted to sleep more since it was the only place she could see her battoussai and it was the only way to get away from this fraud. Her eyes narrowed as she spotted the patch of red hair outside..
The old man handed her something. Do you have anything to make one loose their inhibitions? You know to make you're real personality come out." Her gaze was intent.
The older man looked at her carefully. "Is it for you?"
"No, but I'm willing to pay your price. Whatever it maybe." She didn't break eye contact with the man.
"Let me see." He said disappearing off to the back.
He handed her a forest green bag.
"Is this strong? The man I know is able to control his emotions to the point he can't feel pain. His will is very strong." She took a quick look outside to make sure he wasn't listening.
The old man nodded. "This is really strong. It will do all you ask."
Kaoru felt her mood brighten. She gave the old man a large smile. "Will this be enough?" She asked laying down a large amount of money.
The old mans eyes lit up. He only nodded.
"Will it taste odd?" She said hiding the pouch in her obi.
"No, drink it like regular tea." He said gathering up the money.
She thanked the man and stepped out of the shop.
She made her way to the restaurant where she'd gotten kidnapped from and took a seat. Kenshin sat right across from her. She met his stare dead on. Soon she thought, soon I will have him. She smiled at her companion. They ordered a small snack and left as soon as they were done. She got what she came for.
*************
"I've missed you." She said snuggling next to him.
He held her tightly. He nibbled on her ear. "I want you." His voice was rough, it send shivers down her spine.
"Soon." She said.
He pulled back a little, by doing so she could see into his amber eyes.
He gave her a lazy smile.
Kaoru woke up. Today was the day. She looked at the ceiling and smiled.
She flung the covers back and left her room. She took a different route to the kitchen, she avoided going in front of Kenshin's room he would hear her if she was anywhere near.
She peaked into the kitchen. "Kane-chan" She said from around the corner.
"Kaoru-chan, I'm so glad to see you. Haven't seen you in a while." She said coming to a stop.
"Yes, I haven't felt like coming out much." Kaoru gave the other women a big smile.
"It's awfully early for you to be up."
"Yes well, I didn't have dinner last night. I just came home and fell asleep." She said picking up a baby carrot. and tossing it in her mouth.
"So you must be starving." Kane finished Kaoru's statement.
Kaoru nodded. "Yeah, please do me a favor and send it up. I need a bath. Oh and instead of making the tea only send the hot water, kay." She hugged her friend and left.
Kaoru hummed as she took her bath. She scrubbed herself and washed her hair. She made sure she was nice and clean. Ready for the day ahead.
She dressed in a simple teal colored kimono. There were small white flowers at the bottom of the kimono and towards the end of the sleeves. She added some balm to make her lips soft and fixed her hair in a large loose bun. She held it in place with a dragonfly hair clip made out of silver with emeralds embedded in it.
*************
She sat on cushion in front of the balcony, staring out into the endless blue sea, they called a sky. That's how Kenshin found her.
She turned to him and smirked.
He took his seat at the table and they began to eat.
"I thought we could go back to town and buy some things. Kane's son is turning eight next Monday, so I'd like to get him a present today." She said as she served him his tea.
Kenshin nodded.
"I'm not exactly sure what to get a boy his age. Are you?" She saw Kenshin shake his head no.
She talked through out the whole meal. She ate about half her meal and had less than a cup of tea which didn't matter, her tea was different. Kenshin finished his meal and had four cups of tea.
They were walking down the street looking for anything an eight year old might find interesting.
Kenshin felt odd. His mood had changed drastically and his senses were razor sharp.
Kaoru was walking ahead of him. She passed by a couple of men who stared at her for to long. Kaoru kept her line of vision straight ahead. She wanted to try him out when they got back. Not out here in public. She sped up her pace.
Kenshin eyes narrowed when he saw the men ahead. He could almost sense there thoughts. He saw Kaoru speed up her pace. He fell into place beside her with his next step. His arm went around her, he guided her across the street. Kaoru didn't say anything.
The men saw his actions and smiled at each other. Very protective for a guy his size. They'd seen her hair clip though. That little thing could buy them sake and women for at least two months. The men looked around before following the couple.
Kenshin rounded a deserted street and slid into an alley. He picked Kaoru up without any notice and leapt up to a roof top. He jumped twice more before coming down a different alley.
"Finish your shopping quickly," His tone was curt.
She grabbed his hand and smiled.
He missed the gesture, he was busy looking around. His mind told him to go back and confront the men. Stop it here, otherwise they might follow them home.
Kaoru finally found what she was looking for, a puzzle box. The man who sold it to them had showed them how it worked. It would take a long time to figure out. He would have fun with it.
She looked up to see her bodyguard scanning the area. She saw his eyes narrow. She followed his line of sight and was able to get a glimpse of one of the men before he pulled her forward.
They'd been out to long, he thought. They weaved through the crowd. until they blended in. He pushed her into a flower shop and continued alone into an alley.
Kaoru almost knocked a table over. She saw one of the men from before pass by her. She let a couple of seconds go by before she followed him. After all the work she put in she didn't want him to get hurt. All though that as supposed to be option number two. Kaoru followed the man into the alley. She was able to hide from view. There were three men in the alley. 'Hmm' weren't there supposed to be four.
She felt a hand clamp over her mouth and grab her by the waist. Damn it, she thought. She had wanted to see the fight.
There was a sound of clashing metal. It made her attacker tense. She wanted to see. The man moved them both to take a peak.
There were three men on the floor and the red head was looking down.
She missed it. Tears welled up on her eyes. She lost the chance to see those eyes. The ones she had constant dreams about. She made a whimpering sound and the man held her closer.
"Shhh." He said close to her ear.
Kaoru bit his hand and he cried out.
She stood away from him on shaky legs. Her tears started falling. All she wanted was to have her battoussai that wasn't too much to ask for.
Kenshin's head shot up when he heard a noise up ahead. He ran to see one of the men who'd been following them. His eyes narrowed. He'd left her at the flower shop. She was shaking and she was crying. His eyes turned to the man while his hand extended to Kaoru. She took it and was pulled towards him. Kenshin held her face to his chest.
Kaoru felt the movement of his arm and a cracking sound but didn't get to see what it was. They started to move forward in that position. He let her go once they were some distance from the alley. She sniffled.
He didn't turn.
"Where's the puzzle box?" She said wiping the tears from her eyes.
He stopped his eyes were a glinting blue with small flecks of gold, though the gold was barely visible. She smiled, it wasn't quit what she'd hoped for but she was getting there. "Did you leave it in the alley?"
"Stay." He told her before he headed back.
Kaoru stayed in her spot. She looked around and saw a purse on display. It was the same shade of pink as her favorite kimono. She crossed the street to go buy it.
She looked at her 'new' purse, it was so cute. She turned to go back across the street when she bumped into someone. She looked up into those glinting eyes. She smiled at him. He turned on his heel and started to walk away.
"Where are you going?" She asked catching up to him. He didn't say anything he just kept walking. "Are you mad at me?" She ran a little faster. "Hey" She said grabbing on to his arm. He jerked his arm away.
She stopped walking. No matter who he was, when he did that it hurt her feelings. She started running the other way.
Kenshin heard her run off. He stopped, his shoulders slumped. No matter how angry he was he couldn't just let her wonder around town on her own.
Kaoru ran in to the first store she came across. She hadn't been to this one before. She looked at the odd garments.
"Can I help you." She turned to an older women. A lot of make up and a heaving bosom.
"What are these?" She asked coming closer a blue garment.
"These are nightgowns. Like your yukata." She said taking a white one and bringing it close to Kaoru.
Kaoru ran her fingers through it. It was so silky. Her hand went behind it. It was so see through.. She looked at the woman. The women could almost read her mind. "These." she said pointing to slightly thicker ones. "Are for everyday wear."
"And these" She said pointing to the blue one Kaoru held "are for special occasions, you know like your wedding night or your anniversary." Kaoru's eyes widened.
The women smiled. "Why don't you try those two on." She pushed Kaoru to the back of the shop with the blue and white night gowns.
Kaoru stood in front of a mirror looking at her reflection. She smiled, it was see through indeed. She spent the next two hours there trying things one.
She spent almost everything she had. She only kept enough money to pay for a carriage to take her home. The boxes were loaded on. She waived at the women. "Good bye Nago-chan. Thank you for everything."
"Good Luck." The elder women waived at Kaoru.
Kaoru sat back and enjoyed the ride back. Nago was a women of the world. She gave a lot of pointers on how she should deal with her husband. (True, the battoussai wasn't her husband yet, but one day he would be.) Kaoru blushed scarlet all the way to her roots. She was so open about her life. She admired Nago, a special women in her own way.
She made it back to the house in record time. She paid the man and the servants brought the boxes to her room. Kaoru unpacked everything and set one of the night gowns to use for tonight. She smiled. They even had cute robes to go with them.
*************
A glint of amber could be seen approaching the Yasuyoshi home.
Kenshin was very angry. He had searched the entire town for her. He was going to check here before he went back out. If she was here, was she going to get an ear full. And if she wasn't then she was really going to get it. He looked up to her side of the house. His eyes narrowed. The lights were still on.
Kenshin snuck into the house. Jumped on to her rail and walked in through the balcony. He spotted her by the table having tea. He felt the hairs on his neck stand on end. He needed to control his anger.
"This is where you were." His voice startled her.
She turns her head to him. "Hi, I've got dinner set out for you."
He came closer to her. "I've spent the last Five hours looking for you, where were you?"
"I ran into a store, I was there a couple of hours and then I came home." She said as she poured him some sake.
He looked down at her and the food. He tried to shake off the anger but it didn't work. She got up and handed him the sake.
He'd deal with her tomorrow. When he'd had time to calm down. Right now his nerves were too on edge. He turned to leave but she grabbed him by the arm. He jerked away from her.
In return she threw the sake into his face.
He felt a searing sensation start from the bottom of his toes to the ends of his hair. She really liked to piss him off. His jaw clenched. He fisted his hands. His eyes burned but he opened them anyways to look at her.
She sat back down. "Wash up and come to dinner. I'd like to eat dinner sometime before midnight." She crossed her hands on the table and waited.
His foot kicked the table over.
She was stunned but only for a moment.
Her body shook with repressed anger. She hadn't eaten yet. She'd waited for him.
He actually smiled. She pulled the hair pin (a long silver chopstick) holding her bun in place and threw it at his face.
He dodged it easily.
Just like she knew he would. The pin was merely a distraction. The moment he started to move she rushed forward. She used the palm of her hand and struck upwards. She heard the crunching sound. He thought she was too weak to strike at him with any real force so he often left himself open. She jumped back. She saw the small trickle of blood coming down his nose.
This time she smiled.
She saw the amber overcome the blue completely.
At last.
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Ok, I hope this chapter is long enough. I've been working on it for several days. I hope you guys like it.
Small Note:
The kidnapping is something that has affected her deeply. Not because of what they did but the clothe Hayao kept his blade in was the same shade as the eyes of her hated rurouni. I know she acts out of character but she's not quite sane. Despite that she's come to notice that he was not the battoussai at least not fully. Whenever he starts a fight with someone his eyes always turn a eerie blue. Only certain people bring out his murderous side that side brings amber eyes. A side she's now determined to bring forth.
Thanks for reviewing.