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
Chapter Four
*************
He stood for a moment just gazing at her. A wave of anger swept through him. He took a moment. He just needed to breathe. He wouldn't let anger rule him.
When his eyes opened next, they were an icy blue.
She watched in horror as the color of his eyes changed back. She stepped back.
He watched her retreat.
She started shaking her head to the side. "No." She said as her lip began to quiver. She collapsed near her bed. Too weak to go any further.
Kenshin was too confused. He didn't understand what it was all about if she would only talk to him he might be able to do something. He bent down and picked her up. He laid her on the bed. He waked over to the balcony doors and closed them. He sighed; he'd get someone to clean up this mess before she woke up.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
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.
Kaoru was bent over crying.
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. She stood up and ran to him.
His arms were open. She cried into his chest. He held her tight.
"Shh, it's all right." He said as he stroked her back.
"I'm sorry," she sobbed.
He pulled back a little but her grip around him increased. "I'm not the rurouni. I won't abandon you." He said looking into her eyes.
She smiled at the amber eyes she'd come to care for. She felt his hands wipe the tears off her face. He stroked her cheek.
Her sobs had subsided. "Can I stay here?" She said leaning into the caress.
"You can stay for a while." He said as he leaned into hug her. Trying to give her comfort. She sighed into his neck enjoying the feeling.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Kenshin sat by her side. She'd been in some discomfort; she must be having a bad dream. He wiped the tears that escaped the corners of her eyes. He caressed her cheek, she seemed to lean into it. He kept his hand on her cheek for a moment, touching the smoothness of her face. A smile appeared on her face. She seemed happy.
Kenshin stood up and stretched. He'd been sitting there all night. He walked over to the balcony watching the sun as it rose. He would've called a doctor but what good would that have done. Her illness wasn't physical. He turned to look at her; she'd turned on her side. She looked so peaceful when she slept, you wouldn't think someone like her could be such a little demon. She was a handful.
He kept his eyes focused on the horizon, not really seeing what was out there. She'd been fine till she got kidnapped. He'd had the doctor check her thoroughly and there was nothing wrong. He'd try asking her once. She had laughed. They hadn't harmed her, except for the one man slapping her, they hadn't done anything. So the damage was emotional. His thoughts turned over the problem.
Kaoru stirred around lunchtime. Her eyes opened. Where was she? She looked around for her companion. She spotted him by the balcony doors. He turned, he wasn't the same. She turned her head away.
He walked over to the bed and helped her sit up. She kept her head turned and he didn't say anything. He sat a tray down on her lap and left the room. He called a woman in. She watched them interact for a second before she came in and he left. Kaoru looked down at her food and proceeded to eat.
"Her morning has been uneventful; she just sat there in front of the balcony doors letting the sun wash over her face. She just stared out with a happy smile on her face. Other than that there is nothing else to report." Yukako a girl a couple of years older than Kaoru finished giving Kenshin the report. She stood in front of the door blocking Kenshin from getting in.
He looked over her head; Kaoru was still sitting in her spot. He thanked her without looking at her again and stepped in.
He stepped closer to Kaoru she had a serene look on her face. His eyes took in the way she looked today, very beautiful. He was about to call her name but something told him it would be useless. He picked her up and sat her in front of the fireplace. He started the fire and watched as her eyes refocused on the fire for a second.
There was a nock on the door. Kenshin stepped away to open the door. He opened it to see Yukako holding the tray with dinner. He took it from her and nodded his thanks, closing the door after him.
The girl stood on the other side for a moment. Hadn't he noticed she was pretty at all? She turned around and stomped all the way to the kitchen.
Kenshin set the tray down in front of Kaoru. She didn't seem to see it. He looked at her closely. Nothing. He took her hands in his and her gaze fell to their hands. She looked at them for a moment before she seemed to understand where she was. She let go of his hand and began to serve him and then herself. They ate slowly. Kenshin was hoping she'd start talking again, if nothing else at least about her book. She started to doze off before she even finished eating.
The next three days were just a bit of the same. Today there had been a small break in the rainy weather. It was cold but no rain. He opened the balcony doors wide and allowed her to sit in her usual spot as long as she kept on the thick blanket he'd given her. He brushed her bangs back and caressed her face with the same movements. Her eyes seemed to flicker back to life. He let her go and stood back. Her eyes lingered on him for a moment before they went back to the sky. That was very interesting, he thought. Over the last couple of days he'd noticed that a small flicker of emotion would appear if he held her long enough. The touch however needed to be intimate in nature. Otherwise she'd ignore it. When he carried her from spot to spot she didn't notice but when his touch was 'different'. She seemed to notice. Yesterday she'd had a little rice stuck to her lip. He had moved it but not before brushing his thumb over her lips. It had been a while since she'd kissed him. The first time she did it he'd been surprised by it but enjoyed it nonetheless. It had been two months after that before she kissed him again.
He stared at her with and unreadable expression. He heard a crackling sound. Thunder he thought. He saw her eyes registered the flash of lightning. And then all of a sudden everything made sense. The way she acted, her reference to the Battoussai. The color of his eyes. The comment about him appearing beautiful to her. And the reason she responded to his touch. He allowed a small smile to grace his lips but it went away just as fast as it had come. Then why was she acting like this now? His eyebrows furrowed in thought, giving him the appearance of being angry.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Come inside." She called from the doorway.
A man stood outside the small house looking out into the dark blanket of night. He could almost blend into the shadows. The only thing visible was his animal like eyes, in the dimness of night. His head turned when she called to him.
He turned his back to the outside and came inside to the comfort of his home.
She served him dinner and they ate silently. She loved gazing at him. He was so beautiful. His head came up and he smirked at her. She felt her face grow hot.
She cleared the plates and put them into the basin. She'd wash them tomorrow. When she came back she noticed he was gone. She went to the front of the house and noticed he'd built a fire outside. The flames were large. He beckoned her to him. She walked over and took his hand. He'd set a large blanket out for them. They sat down and he held her as they stared out into the fire.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Kenshin sat her in front of the fire. He didn't want her to get sick. She seemed happy watching the flames. He stepped back to add more wood to the fire. He understood what she wanted. It had taken him long enough to figure out. He just wasn't sure if he was strong enough to break away from what he knew to resort to the madness of the hitokiri and still remain sane.
He didn't turn when the door opened. He knew who it was.
"Kaoru-chan?"
Kenshin grounded his teeth but didn't turn.
"Himura-san?"
Kenshin turned to Yasuyoshi. He was kneeling by Kaoru. Turning her face to his so he could look into her eyes. Her face turned but her eyes didn't see him.
He let go of her face and she went back to staring at the fire. He stepped away and Kenshin followed him. They walked over to the door and Kenshin explained the situation in a couple of words.
"I see." Yasuyoshi said looking over to Kaoru. He stepped back over to Kaoru and knelt down in front of her.
Kenshin watched the scene unfold in front of him. He couldn't make himself leave and was unable to turn away.
"Kaoru-chan, it's Tokuma. Do you remember me?" He said holding her hands. She didn't respond.
"I've come home. I missed you a lot." He said smiling at her.
No respond.
"I'm going to spend more time with you. Would you like that? Why don't we go out to dinner? What do you say?" He said brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
He rose up and headed for the door. "I'll have the girls come and fix her up. I'm going to take her to dinner. You've been a great help. You can take the night off, I'm sure you need sometime away from the house, so go ahead and enjoy yourself." Yasuyoshi ended his speech. Opening the door for Kenshin to leave.
Kenshin didn't say anything he just stepped out.
*************
They were sitting in the restaurant. "Hitomi's is the best restaurant in Aomori." Tokuma said looking at his beautiful companion. He smiled at her. He could talk enough for the both of them. They spent dinner in the warm atmosphere of the restaurant. He told her all about his trip as she sat next to him. Their desert came and he watched her stare down at it.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
The battoussai held her close to his chest as she cried. "I don't understand why I have to leave? Don't you want me here?"
He rubbed her back. "That's not what I said. Your stay here was temporary. We have a deal remember?" He said turning her face upward so he could give her a kiss.
"But I want to stay here with you." She said sniffling, scrutinizing the look in the amber eyes.
"You promised to set me free." Was the rough reply before he deepened the kiss.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Tokuma was gazing at her when he heard some shouts a couple of tables ahead. His eyes widened.
This....
How....
And on the night he left him free...................
"Come on honey take it off."
Six men were robbing the restaurant
The woman took her bracelet off with shaky hands.
"The earrings too." The man was a tall husky fellow. He looked the part of a villain with his face covered so that only his eyes showed through.
Tokuma saw the men making their way to the back of the restaurant. He swallowed hard. He should have let Himura come.
"Hey there cutie." The man addressed Kaoru. Kaoru didn't respond but she did look up at him.
"I'll be taking that broach and hairpin." He said to her. "You're money too buddy." When he spoke to Tokuma his voice has harsher than when he'd spoken to Kaoru. Tokuma gave up his money and reached over to Kaoru.
The man hit Tokuma's hand with the flat of the sword.
"She can't do it herself she's sick." Tokuma said rubbing his hand.
"Is that right." He said turning to look at Kaoru. She was awfully beautiful. This man's prize wife. He reached over to take the broach off her kimono but her hands stopped him. "Why don't you be a good little wife and take them off." He said putting the sword back in its sheath.
"I'm not his wife." She said as she stood.
The man smiled underneath the cloth that covered half his face. "His woman then."
She snorted then. Her hands took the sword, sheath and all right out of his daisho. Her movements were fast.
The man gave her an appreciative glance. "Very daring. I think too much woman for him." The man said nodding towards Tokuma.
"I'm not his woman." She said as she charged him. She held the sword like she would a shinai. The movements came to her without thought. She hit him in the stomach hard. He fell to the ground and she hit again on the side of the face. The other two men closest to them charged at Kaoru and she easily dropped them down.
"Boss." One of the men yelled from near the entrance. The first man got up shaking his head. His ear rang. He pulled a gun out of his Gi and pointed it at Tokumas' head.
"Feisty." Was all he said.
Kaoru didn't lower the sword and Tokuma swallowed hard. She looked so fragile she didn't look like she could fight. He'd forgotten she was an instructor at her dojo.
The man loaded the weapon but she didn't blink.
"Boss." Came the voice again from near the entrance.
The man lowered his gun and nodded at someone behind her. "Maybe you'll put it away for him," he said.
Kaoru looked behind her to see they were holding a gun at a little boy no more then six. Kaoru's hand released the sword she held. It dropped to the floor with a loud clank.
The man came closer to her and removed the hairpin. When his hand reached for her chest though she grabbed his arm with one hand and used her other hand to hit his nose with the same upward move she'd used on her bodyguard. The man hit Kaoru hard with the back of his hand. He felt blood drip onto his Gi.
Kaoru flew back to the floor. Tokuma helped her up; she spat to the side trying to remove the blood from the mouth. She licked the side of her lip. She was right, he got her on the side. She removed the broach and threw it a bit past his feet. "Fetch," She said.
One of the other men behind him picked up the broach. "We should leave boss."
"Right," he said not giving his back to this woman. "Very feisty." He said to her as he left.
Kaoru saw the men leave and with them she felt her adrenaline disappear. She slumped into Tokuma's arms. He set her down easily. Everyone's head turned when they heard gunshots outside.
*************
Tokuma was about to lay the covers over Kaoru when she woke up. She sat up and looked around.
"We just got home, Kaoru. Lay back." He said pushing her back down.
"Where's the battoussai?" She said pushing his hand away.
"He's not here." He said giving up and taking a seat on the bed.
"Not here." She repeated in quiet voice. She felt her hands start to shake. And the tears began to stream down her face.
"Kaoru-chan?" Tokuma said trying to calm her. "You're in shock." He said rubbing her arms.
The doors were thrown open just then. Scaring both people inside half to death.
Kaoru blinked the tears back trying to confirm what her heart seemed to sense.
"What happened?" The tone sent a chill down his spine. Tokuma turned his head to look at the battoussai. He looked really angry.
"We were robbed." He said getting of the bed. Somehow it didn't seem right to do it in front of the battoussai.
Kaoru tried to get up but the sheets were tangled around her legs.
The battoussai took one look at the side of her face and felt his anger rise. "What did they look like?"
"I don't want you to go after them." She said finally rising from the bed. At the moment though he could care less what she wanted. Nobody did this to her and got away.
"They had their faces hidden so we didn't get a look at the men. Their boss has a broken nose though. Kaoru-chan broke it. Sometimes I forget she knows how to fight. But it happened at Hitomi's I'm sure you can get more info....."
"That's enough Tokuma." She said cutting him off.
He had enough of a lead to go on. So he just left.
"No," she said.
"No! Hey come back! Get back here!!" She said running towards the door.
Tokuma held her back. "Kaoru-chan I think it's best to let him go."
"No." She said as she struggled. "You don't know him."
"You don't know what he's capable of." She said.
She grabbed his arm and threw him over her shoulder and ran out of the room.
*************
Morning found Kaoru walking down the road. She was so tired of walking around. She'd spent all night looking for him. She yawned. She took a moment to rub her eyes. She needed to get some sleep.
The battoussai walked down the road on his way home. He saw Kaoru on the road just standing there. He sighed. She could be just impossible sometimes. He approached her, silently.
"Oi." He said right near her ear. He watched her jumped five feet back. He smiled. He'd startled her.
Kaoru turned around ready to give a good beating to whom ever had scared her. But to her surprise it was him. She jumped to him and embraced him for a good while. She just held him. Happy she'd found him. She pulled back a little and noticed there were flecks of gold in his eyes.
He picked her up and carried her home. He didn't say anything and she was just happy he was there.
He jumped the gate and then the fountain to her balcony. He set her on the bed. And walked a bit to her dresser where he set down her broach and hairpin.
He turned to her. "Take a nap. I'll be by later." It was all he said before he left.
Kaoru gave a sleepy smile. She took her obi off and went to sleep in her kimono. Her first rest without dreams. No battoussai to remind her of her promise.
Kaoru opened her eyes to the smell of food. She smiled wide. She rose up and noticed Tokuma. Her smile almost faltered. She expected to see battoussai not him.
"How are you Kaoru-chan?" He said taking a seat near her bed.
"I'm fine thank you." She said.
"I was worried about you. Himura found the men. He brought back my money." He said.
Kaoru eyed the food. "Do you mind if I eat?"
"Forgive me, where are my manners." He said giving her the tray that held lunch.
Kaoru ate her food happily. When she was done she looked at Tokuma who had a thoughtful look on his face. "Tokuma," she said.
His attention came to her. "What is it Kaoru?"
"I've been meaning to ask you this, but I guess I just haven't had the chance." She said stirring her tea.
"Whatever it is, you know you can ask me." He smiled at her.
For the first time since she'd gotten here, she noticed just how nice he was. She smiled at him. "I wish to go on vacation."
"Kaoru-chan I just got back." He said to her as he watched her face drop.
"Why do you wish to go now?" He said.
Kaoru turned her face away from him. Being locked up in this house is making me sick, she thought. "Being here makes me..." She didn't know what word to use.
"I feel imprisoned. Maybe that's the wrong word. I don't feel free. I need..." She wasn't able to elaborate what she wanted. "Never mind." She said giving him a small smile.
He let the subject drop. He stayed with her for a while longer till he saw her getting sleepy again. She was almost asleep when he left.
Kenshin watched the man go. When the door was finally closed he came into the room through the balcony. He sat on the bed and touched her face. She seemed to stir. She opened her sleepy eyes at him. "Hi" she said putting her hand over his.
He didn't say anything simply looked at her. She felt sleep escaping her. And her eyes focused clearly on him. Her hand left his to touch his face. He didn't move as she caressed the contours of his face.
'He's cold,' she thought as she touched him. She was warm, so maybe he had just come in from outside. She felt her heart start to beat faster. He rose from the bed and she threw the covers to the side. He went to the fireplace and started a fire. "I'll be back when you've had your bad." He didn't even turn as he said. He just left.
She was a bit confused but did as she was told.
*************
Kaoru had refused to come down and have dinner downstairs. Tokuma sat at his table alone with his thought. His head turned as he heard the pitter patter of rain coming down. They were having odd weather this year he thought.
*************
They sat near the fireplace eating their dinner in silence. Afterwards they just sat there staring at the flames. There was something about them she couldn't remember right now. There was something she was supposed to do. Her head tilted to the side, a habit of hers when she became deep in thought or confused. Kenshin watched her out of the corner of his eye.
Spring would be here soon. The days were becoming dry enough to have outings. As the days passed she became withdrawn again. Something both Kenshin and Tokuma noticed.
"Himura I think you know why I've called you?" He said from behind his desk.
Himura didn't say anything.
"I will allow Kaoru-chan to go on her vacation. I plan to tell her after I'm down here with you. You can go and make sure things are ready." Tokuma said as he wrote something down. "Do you know where it is she wants to go?" He said looking up.
Kenshin shook his head.
"All right then it is all." He said closing his books and getting ready to leave.
Kenshin left before Tokuma even finished putting on his coat. When he looked up, Himura Battoussai was gone.
Tokuma made his way to Kaoru's room slowly. He knocked and opened the door. She was sitting in front of the balcony watching the birds fly around.
"Kaoru-chan" he said coming close to where she sat. She was pale he noted. "I've got good news," he said as he sat down next to her. She looked at him expectantly and so he continued. "I'll allow you to go on vacation." He said giving her a great smile.
'Allow,' she thought. No matter how nice Tokuma was he wanted to control her actions. Control her.
"Kaoru-chan." he said breaking into her thoughts.
"What did you say?" She asked confused for a moment. It happened to her often. She forgot her train of thought and no matter how much she tried to remember she just couldn't.
He smiled at her. "I said you could go on your vacation."
"Vacation." She repeated. "Oh yes, I wanted to go on vacation," she said. Her eyes shown brightly. "I wanted to go to Nagasaki."
His eyes showed disappointment. That was so far. "How long did you plan to stay?
"A month." She said responding quickly. To finally be able to leave this house. She'd be free.
"All right well I'll arrange things for you. When do you wish to leave by?"
"As soon as possible but can I go by boat." She said.
He nodded. "Of course."
He caressed her face and stood to leave. She turned her head back to the outside. She smiled. She wondered what the mountains were like this time of year.
He looked at her one last time and closed the door. He didn't want her to leave. If she got all better she might not want to come back. It was selfish but as long as she was sick, she'd be here. She'd already been here for a year. She only had two more to go and then she'd decide. She'd stay here. Her rurouni was dead so there was nothing for her out there. It was the only thing that made him feel better. She would reject the world outside simply because it had taken her rurouni away. He smiled feeling a bit better.
Kenshin came into her room sometime after dinner. She was brushing her hair when she spotted him. She was surprised to see him. He knelt down by her side and she turned her attention to him. She brushed his bangs a little and smiled down at him.
He didn't smile. "Are you sure you want to go on this vacation?" He asked.
She nodded. "Of course."
"Why do you want to go?" His expression didn't change.
Why was he asking so many questions? Couldn't he just come along quietly? "I need to leave this place. I feel like a prisoner the way you and Tokuma watch over me."
"Then you don't wish me to come." He said rising to his feet.
"Wait a minute, just wait." She said grabbing him by the arm. They had stopped in front of her bed. "It's not what I said. I want you to come with me."
He turned around and her hand dropped. "Is it?" His voice was so deep. It stirred something, a memory. "You're so beautiful" she said. "I think I could fall in love with you battoussai." She remembered saying that.
"Could you?" He said as he stepped closer to her.
Surprised registered, had she just said that out loud. Her eyes turned to his. She felt strange looking into his eyes. Like she was being hypnotized.
He grabbed her by the arms and pulled her closer to him. She swallowed hard. She felt nervous and excited. He brought her closer till he was just an inch away from her face.
"Could you?" He whispered before his mouth descended on hers. He kissed her hard.
Oh, how she enjoyed it. She threw her arms around him and fell into the moment. She felt her feelings swirl around in her head making her dizzy. His arms tightened around her waist and she whimpered at the intimate contact.
He broke the kiss when he felt she needed air. She was panting hard, trying to get air into her lungs. She looked at him with hungry eyes. A look he'd never seen on her but one he liked. He allowed a small smile to appear on his face. He let his hand caress her cheek. "When you pack, I want you to take ONLY your favorite things. Do you understand?"
She nodded putting her hands on his hips and trying to bring him closer.
"Greedy, are you?" He said letting her pull him closer.
Ok, I hope this was enough. My friend is making me read his book. So I've had to split the time between reading and writing. Anyhow I hoped you enjoyed the chapter.
Small Notes: Ok, well I hate to repeat myself but we all now she's out of touch with the world right. Yes? Good. Now Kenshin has finally come understand her irrational behavior. He knows what she wants from him but is still a bit unsure if he should give into her.
- - - - - - - -
When you see these dash things over dialogue it means she's retreated to the world in her mind. She began by having this happen only in her dreams. But as she got worse she began to do it while she's awake. It's why she often stares off into space. Things are happening while she's being comforted by the battoussai her mind has created.
- - - - - - - - -
Ok, I hope this helps. I'll see everyone in the next chapter.