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
Warning: Please try to remember the rating. It does say Pg-13 because there is some adult content. Don't say I didn't warn you.
Chapter Six
*************
She slapped his hands away not bothering to hide her dislike of him.
He grounded his teeth in frustration. He tried very hard to keep his temper under control. He had to keep telling himself, this wasn't her fault. She was sick. And it was his fault she was sick.
She turned to him. "Get out, I need to change."
He set his emotional barriers in place and stood up rigidly.
She started to unfasten her obi. She didn't care if he was still in the room. It dropped to the floor. He heard her kimono drop on the floor as he was reaching the door. He stood there a moment and closed his eyes trying to desperately to clear his head. His eyes remained closed even as he felt her move behind him. He opened his eyes and made a grab for the door but as he did, he saw her arms wrap around his waist. He felt her press herself against his back.
"Is there a reason you haven't left yet?" She said over his shoulder
He stood motionless in the face of temptation. Enticing. He gripped the wood on the door, tightly. She was trying to arouse him. He blinked back the uproar.
He had to get a grip. The madness the demon in him was creating was astonishing. Her hands moved below his hips. She was trying to arouse the battoussai.
He pushed her to the side and stepped out. He closed the door firmly behind him. He stood in front of the door, his mind battling his need. Each side fighting for dominance. A part of him wanted to go in there and show her just how savage he could be. But his reasonable side reminded him she was sick. She didn't know what she was doing. He heard someone open a door from his left. His head turned.
The man was about to stepped out of his room when he looked up. He had but a glimpse of the red head before he slammed his door shut. The look in those amber eyes was enough to give him nightmares.
When she was like this he needed to be careful. She was more out of control. Much harder to restraint. He heard her reach for the door so he moved to the side.
"Let's go." She said as she stepped out of their room.
She walked on without giving him a second thought. He trailed behind her as she moved through the crowd.
They finally came to a stop. It was a restaurant. They sat down and ordered. She didn't look at him. "What did the man from yesterday look like?"
Her eyes turned to his. Maybe he could find him. Her mind struggled for an answer.
He watched her eyes. Her eyes were deep and cold like gems. "I might be able to find him if you saw what he looked like."
"He was a tall, lanky man. Somewhat young. Large blonde hair that stood on end like a broom. I've seen him before." She turned her attention to the waitress who brought their food.
Kenshin knew someone like that but it couldn't be the same man. Why would he be here? But if it were, then it would explain the reason he'd runaway.
They finished their meal in silence.
Kaoru's thoughts ran all over the place. What should she do when she found the man? She didn't remember him only what he looked like. The odds of her finding him were very small, so why run away.
Kenshin watched her closely. She seemed to be plotting. He didn't want to have to drag her kicking and screaming back to the ship. As long as he remained cold and unfeeling in her presence he'd be able to keep her controlled.
The day was very stressful to say the least. She hadn't spoken to him again, since the restaurant. They had just walked around town until she became tired.
He watched her sleep. Thankful she hadn't run away. She held his happiness in the palm of her hand. He turned away from her.
He felt the medallion in the dark, knowing what it meant. He tucked it back in and stepped out of the room. He came back a moment later with another man. The man picked things up and carried them outside. Kenshin bent down and picked her up slowly. She leaned her head on him as he moved through the inn. He laid her into the carriage and helped the man bring the rest of their things out. Finally everything was onboard. "Drive slowly."
The coachman nodded at Kenshin.
He stepped into the coach and held her so she wouldn't fall. He pulled the pin out of her hair and watched as it flowed over his lap and onto the seat. He couldn't help but get angry everything had been going just fine. The next stop would be in four days. That's where they were going to have to get off. The port in Kanazawa, Ishikawa. From there he'd have to play it by ear. He needed to be careful if they were being followed. His thoughts turned over the recent events.
He felt the carriage come to a stop. A quick glance at the window confirmed that they were by the docks. The man opened the door and Kenshin stepped out carefully, with a bundle in his arms. He made his way up the rail and into the boat. He laid her down once he was back at the room. He closed the door behind him and paid the men who'd brought her things the rest of the way. They set everything in his room and left. He went back up to the deck were it was starting to get busy. People were coming back onboard. He watched the sky over Kasugayama. It was orange red. He squinted, a moment later he sniffed the air. He could be wrong but it looked like it was on fire. A moment later he went back to her room. She hadn't stirred.
Four days with her like this, it was going to be difficult because someone was bound to snap. Either she snapped or he did.
*************
"I don't want this," she said slapping it away. Neither turned as the cup flew out of his hand and rolled onto the floor.
"I want to go outside. You can't keep me in here." She was in a dark mood. She'd been forced to stay in this stupid room for two days, now.
He was amazed by his own level of control, though it only lasted a second. He smashed the teapot he held against the door. It shook with the blow.
She didn't seem the least bit bothered.
They stared at each other for a long while. Neither blinking, neither wanting to give up control of the situation.
"If you don't let me out of this room. I swear, I'll make you sorry."
He reasoned that he should let her out and he might have if she hadn't said that. "You can try." He held her with a cool gaze.
"Don't push me." Her tone became harsh.
He smiled.
He actually smiled at her remark. That really infuriated her. "Don't be so certain of yourself. I know what to do to wound you." Her tone held hidden meaning.
His smile disappeared.
"I want out." She was insistent.
He rose to his feet slowly and made his way to the door. "Don't make me bind you." He said with his back to her.
That was it. She threw all her weight on to him. She caught him off balance and he landed on his hands an knees right over the broken tea pot. He felt the pieces dig into his hands. It was starting to bleed.
She was about to jump over him to get away but she just couldn't. She felt a pang in her heart. Her eyes teared-up. "I'm sorry." She said as she kneeled next to him. She held him tight. He straightened up and she was able to cry into his shoulder. "I'm Sorry" She wept.
He sighed into her hair. She pulled back a bit and took his hand so she could look at it. The tears flowed faster. She removed the pieces of the teapot from his hands and used the sleeve of her Yukata to clean the blood off. When she was done she kissed the palm of both hands.
"I need to bandage them." Her voice was no more than a whisper.
He allowed her to clean them, watched as she bandaged them.
She was feeling drowsy. "We need a nap."
"Why don't you change first." He said coaxingly.
She nodded.
He turned his back as she did.
"I'm tired," she said as he approached her. He sat down next to her. She looked worn-out. "Go to sleep."
"Sleep with me." She said as she pulled him down to sleep next to her.
He didn't want to but it was best to get some rest while he could. He wasn't sleepy but he would try. She cuddled him until she felt the warmth of his body envelope her. His eyes drifted close and dreamt of a time where Himura Kaoru laughed at the silliness of everyday life.
*************
She crossed her arms over her chest. "I'm not going out like this."
His head bent down in defeat. For three days now, all he had heard is 'I want out.' 'I want to go outside.' Blah, blah, blah 'outside.' And now that he was willing (more like worn down) to let her go she didn't want to.
He sat back down. "We'll stay here then."
"What about my lunch?"
"If you promise to stay, I'll go and get you something to eat." He could never negotiate with her. She held the upper hand.
"What do you promise me if I stay?" She said as she uncrossed her arms.
Sometimes he felt like ripping his hair out. "Stay."
"Or else what?" she said in a haughty tone.
"Or else you're going to get it." He was exasperated.
"Promise." She said giving him a sly look.
He didn't want to smile, he didn't want to. He stopped it just before it showed. He was not going to get into this kind of conversation right now. "If you don't stay I will stop sleeping with you." There that aught to do it.
A frown appeared on her face. Why was she arguing with him. He would do as she asked. She couldn't forget who he was, the reason she was living with him at the moment was because she couldn't bring the battoussai out. She had to settled for this inadequate replacement.
Battoussai. She gave an inner sigh.
Her eyes lost their spark as she looked at him. She wasn't really seeing him anymore. She saw what she wanted to see.
He knelt in front of her. She slowly blinked. She didn't want to be here. She had no way out. It was easier to retreat to a place where she could be happy.
He tilted her face up but she wretched it away. "I wish to be alone."
Why did he think threats were going to work. He tried for her face gain but she slapped him hard across the face. She hated him. He stood up and left the room. She wasn't going to try to run off in this state of mind.
She laid back of her futon, her eyes glazed over as she pictured the battoussai in her mind. Beautiful and wild. Savage and dangerous. I man whose eyes alone sent shivers down her spine.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Miss me?" Came the amused voice.
She blinked. She could see him in the room kneeling in front of her. Just looking at her. She swallowed the lump in her throat.
His head tilted to the side.
She watched with eager eyes as he parted her yukata and massaged her leg.
"I think you have." he murmured as he bent low to kiss the leg he massaged.
"Do you know what I want?" He purred as he made his way up her body.
Her body shook in ardent enthusiasm. "To be free."
He let his hand travel over the yukata, caressing the material.
"Among other things." His smile was feral.
She closed her eyes as he bit her. Even through the yukata she could feel the pain his teeth caused. A happy sigh escaped her mouth.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Kenshin came back to see she'd fallen asleep. He placed the food he'd brought to the side and took a seat next to her. He brushed back some strands from her face. This thing with the battoussai, though it had stemmed from the hate she had for the rurouni, it had grown to be more. It wasn't just fascination she held for him.
He hadn't wanted to admit it. Even now, though he wouldn't say it out loud it didn't keep it from being any less true. She longed for the battoussai and it hurt. It hurt her not to have him and it hurt him to see her want some else so badly.
He'd driven her to this, so maybe the least he could do was give her what she most wanted.
*************
Kanazawa, Ishikawa. Finally.
The boat had docked sometime at dawn. A shadowy figure stepped of the boat to arrange his means of transportation.
An hour later.
Kenshin picked Kaoru up, careful not to wake her. He made his way down the rail and placed her inside a carriage. All there luggage was brought down from their rooms and boarded on to the carriage.
The carriage set off at a slow pace. It didn't stop till they reached the next town some miles away. They stopped at a shady shop. Kenshin was in there a while, when he came back out he went directly to the coachman.
"This should be more then enough." He said giving the man a small pouch full of yen.
The man quickly opened the bag. His eyes widened at the amount. He closed the bag then his mouth. He bowed deeply to Kenshin and left.
Kenshin sat up where the coachman usually sat. He drove the carriage further into town till he found an Inn. This would only be a rest stop till they could reach Fukui. His eyes scanned the area. He parked the carriage around the back and stepped in. A moment later he stepped out to the carriage and removed the precious bundle he'd left inside. He'd covered her before they disembarked so no one could see her. He walked cautiously to the room where the owner held the door open for him. Kenshin nodded to him and the man left.
He laid her back and left to take a quick bath.
Kaoru opened her eyes slowly. She looked around the room. Where am I? Everything was so hazy. She rose up slowly. Her head was pounding.
"You're finally awake."
Her head snapped back around to see him. But the pain stopped her. Her hands flew to her head and she bent over in pain. He was by her side in a less than a second. She tried to slap his hand away but she felt so weak.
He held her up. "You haven't eaten in the last few days."
She tried to make sense of what he was saying but it all seemed so fuzzy. She felt as he lay her back. When she opened her eyes again she saw a tray of food but he was gone. She rose up and ate slowly. As soon as she finished she lay back down.
*************
Spring was in full bloom. The wind stirred the leaves of the trees and the flowers leaned in to the hint of the breeze.
Her eyes snapped open. She rose up quickly only to fall to her knees. She tried again. It was hard to stand up straight her back hurt. She took small steps to the door. She tried to slide the door open but someone else did it for her. Her eyes met eerie blue ones. "I need a bath."
Her companion simply nodded. He picked her up and took her to the bath house. "I will bring your things." He said as he left her in there. She looked around the bath house. Everything felt strange. She dipped her hand in the water, it felt nice and warm. She was pulling her hand out when the door slid open. She looked at him as he put down a small basket with her things including a clean yukata down by the door. He left with out looking at her.
That was strange.
She took her bath without giving it much thought. She dried off and put her yukata on. She stepped out of the bath house only to find the her body guard outside the door. 'Now, that was more like it,' she thought. She was about to walk away but she realized she didn't know where the room was. So she just stopped.
Kenshin took this as a sign of frailty, so he picked her up. He carried her into the room where he sat her down. As he leaned over to set her of the futon, his medallion slipped out. She stared at it. She felt hers over her yukata. She locked gazes with him. He displayed battoussai characteristics. Her eyes soften a bit. She reached out to touch it but he pulled back. "I need to get us lunch." He said as he turned to leave.
"Where are our things? The things I bought?" He voice was hoarse. She felt like she'd been screaming.
He stopped by the door. "They're in the carriage still."
Why where they in the carriage. Wait what carriage. "Shouldn't you bring them inside?"
"What for?" His voice was monotonous.
"So I can change clothing when we go out." She stated. 'Why else would I need them for, she thought.
"This is a rest stop only. We will continue our journey in one day." That was all he said. He left the room.
Journey, this is my vacation. She felt weak, her movements were sluggish. She opened the window, there wasn't much to see. It looked like they were close to the a forest. The outskirt of some town. Maybe. She stood there for a instant, eyes closed, feeling the wind stir her hair. She kept them closed even as she heard voices.
"Yes, they say it was three men." woman one
"Murdered. I just can't believe it." woman two
Kaoru opened her eyes to see the women. But the voices were coming from outside the window. She padded acros the room and stood by the door.
"They say someone on the boat did."
"One of the other passengers?" woman two
"They think it was someone they picked up in Niigata." woman one
"I just can't imagine." woman two
Kaoru stood close by the door straining to hear the conversation. She frowned when she couldn't hear anymore. She turned back to the window. A scream died in her throat. there had been someone at her window. She'd seen a flash of someone. They'd been all covered up.
The door suddenly opened and this time she did scream. She let out a unearthly shriek. Her hands flew to her heart as she sank to the floor.
Kenshin bent over to pick her up. She was shaking.
"Doushte?" He asked.
"You scared me. I thought you were someone else." She breathed. "There was someone by the window watching me just a bit ago. I thought you were them."
His color drained. Someone. Watching.
His worse thoughts had been confirmed they were being followed by someone. He thought they'd lost him when they boarded the ship in the middle of the night. But that hadn't been so.
Her blue eyes were watery while his were a deadly shade of silvery blue, like the gleam of a blade. His felt the hairs on his arm stand on end.
He looked down on her finally meeting her eyes. They didn't seem frightened anymore just curious. "I brought you something to eat." He said handing her a plate. He'd forgotten in the confusion. He helped her up.
They sat in the middle of the room. Eating their meal silently. He should go out there and check. But something told him that he wouldn't find anything or anyone out there. Plus there was always the possibility of those trying to draw him away to take her away from him. It wasn't something he could afford. He was not going to gamble on this. He heard a faint snap. His eyes turned to hers. She seemed amused.
"I told you not to grip them like that." Her eyes fell to his hand.
He looked down to see he'd broken his chopsticks.
She smiled at him. "Here, I'm done with mine." She removed his out of his hand and placed her instead.
He nodded at her and continued to eat. She moved her line of sight back to the window. She smiled. The battoussai was close to the surface. Danger had a way of bringing him out. It wouldn't be too long before he emerged on his own. She'd just wait. Her smile turned to a frown, then. It was what she'd told him that had upset him. She'd seen the look in his eyes, it was deadly. The someone she saw at the window. It must be someone he knows. Someone who hates him. He must, to have followed them. Her hands fisted close. Her battoussai could be hurt in all of this. This other person, they might not be alone. What if this was a trap? She felt fear squeeze her heart. What if they tried to kill him? Her eyes watered. She wouldn't be able to stand that. If someone killed him....
He ate silently watching the flow of emotions run across her face. From happy, to confused, to worried, to plain frightened. What really scarred him was this last look. She really seemed insanely desperate. He pulled on her hand.
Her face turned to his and the look she gave him broke his heart. He steeled himself against her. No display of emotions could be seen on his part.
Her lip quivered. "Battoussai, what if they kill you? I won't go on without you."
He felt his eyes gather moisture. He had to reassure her. "They can try but I doubt they'll succeed."
The sleeve of her yukata went over her face and mouth. So it was true. There was the possibility. She sobbed into her sleeve. She blinked back just enough to look at him. He didn't seemed frightened or worried.
"I don't want them to try." She half sobbed half said.
"They won't succeed." His voice was cold.
She sobbed into her sleeve.
"Not if they die first." He amended. He grabbed her by the arms and moved her so she could sit on his lap. She cried into his neck. Frightened of what could happen. He held her, running his fingers through her hair in a smoothing manner.
She pulled her face away just slightly, enough so that it wasn't resting against his shoulder. Their faces side by side.
She closed her eyes, even with them closed she could still feel the tears escaping. "I want to be married as soon as possible." She stated, her voice hoarse from all the crying.
This isn't were he had wanted to get married. He had wanted to get married in Izumo, Matsue. The shrine there was dedicated to Okuninushi no Mikoto, the god of marriage, good fortune and agriculture. He felt as she rested her head against his shoulder again. She continued to cry. He closed his eyes. There was a shrine not too far from here. They could marry there.
"I'll go get your trunks, pick something to wear. We'll marry today." He deposited her on the floor and left.
She sniveled into her sleeve. She felt her heart constrict. She needed to compose herself. He was here and he was safe. As long as the knowledge of that remained a fact then there was nothing to fear. He was the Hitokiri Battoussai.
Yes she nodded to herself. He was the hitokiri battoussai. He'd be just fine. She sighed, trying to rid herself of the fear.
Kenshin came back a moment later with a trunk. He placed it in front of her so she could look through it.
She frowned. The shiro-maku. and uchikake weren't in this trunk. "The things I want aren't in this one. I've bought your
Montsuki and matching Haori. They're here but you can't wear them if I don't have my kimono."
He gave an inward smile. She'd bought their wedding things already. "This is marriage has to happen today before nightfall. We can wed again in Matsue." His tone gave no room for arguing. She scowled but didn't say much after that.
He walked over to the window and closed it. Threw her a casual glance as he walked back to stand by the door. She rummaged through the trunk till she found something she'd like. He turned his back to her when started to undress.
It was an odd kimono. It was indigo almost black like the color of his Gi. The bottom of the kimono much like the sleeves had sakuras all along the hem. She brushed her hair quickly. She did her hair into complicated twists and held them with small clips. When she was done she added two large jeweled combs. They were pink butterflies. They watched the kimono perfectly. She added a bit of rouge balm to her lips and rose to leave.
They walked outside wordlessly sided by side till they reached the shrine.
The wedding was quick. They walked back to the Inn silently each occupied with their own thoughts.
"Do you want to stop and eat somewhere?" These were the first words she had spoken since the shrine.
He nodded.
They walked to a restaurant. She seemed happy all through out dinner. He ate, his moves practiced. He kept his eyes on the entrance. Scrutinizing, anyone who looked half suspicious.
"I feel worn-out. The walk to the shrine seems to have drained my energy." She walked contently down the street her hand around his.
People regarded them with odd looks. Stares, she was oblivious to.
As they walked to their room she halted. His head turned to her. "Will you get some water so I can make tea?"
"Water?" He echoed.
"Yes, I have tea, but I need the hot water." she said coaxed.
He felt uneasy letting her go alone to the room. He stared at her for a long moment. Trying to decided. "I'll walk you to the room first."
He nodded and they continued to the room. He opened the door cautiously. He walked in first. Examined the room and walked over to the window. He gazed out into the yard. He took a moment closed his eyes reaching out further with his sense. He felt nothing. It was safe. He closed the window and left.
She watched him survey the area. She'd turned and lit a small lamp. The glow gave the room a warm look. She watched him close his eyes. That was curious. She wondered if he could hear better with them closed. She waited till he left before she pulled out the green pouch. The battoussai was close to the surface but he could use a small push. She smiled as she set out the futon. She pulled pillows out of the trunk. Ha! and he said there could be no use for them. You had to admit. There were some benefits to trading with the west.
He came back in with the a teapot and two cups. He came in quietly just in case she'd fallen asleep. He slid open the door.
She quickly hid the book. She smiled at him.
"Are you cheating?" He asked her in an audacious tone.
"I ...." What could she say he'd seen it.
He placed the teapot in front of her.
She didn't say anything. She just started to make the tea.
He watched the shadows created by the glow of the candle. The glow was familiar to him. It reminded him of the days with the Ishin Shishi. He frowned. He usually kept those thought buried deep within. It must be the threat of danger in the air.
His attention turned back to her when she sat the cup in front of him. She took a sip of hers and watched him drink his. She smiled ad him and gave him another cup. She drank one cup sip by sip while he drank four cups.
He put the cup down. It had actually calmed his nerves. The tea and her cheerful face made him feel relaxed.
"Let's go to bed." She said putting her cup down.
"You change, I need to step out for a second." He rose up and left.
She changed and got under the covers. Her eyes were drooping close. Tomorrow first thing in the morning her battoussai would be here. She should get some sleep. She was just barely aware when he came back in.
He watched her sleeping form. He sighed and got into the futon with her. He brought her close to him and fell asleep.
*************
"Hurry!"
"We have to get him!"
Kenshin woke up to the running of people in the hall. They were screaming. He got up careful not to wake her up. He slid the door open and stepped out. He reached out and stopped a man who was running by. "What's happened?"
The man seemed in a hurry to leave. "Someone's been murdered and the other side of town in on fire."
"Murdered?" He repeated.
"Let me go." The man struggled against Kenshin's hold.
"Yes murdered. He was in the first room." The man stopped struggling. Kenshin's hold had increased.
"Of this Inn?" His voice had grown colder by the second.
Someone! The man's getting away!
Kenshin let got of the man and back to his room. A second later he ran out with his sakabatou in hand.
The man watched as Kenshin ran off. Why on earth would he try to catch the killer for? He was going to get himself killed. The man ran out through the back entrance.
whp
The mans head flew off. "Good sword," said the man as he licked the side. He threw a bottle at the body and then three more at the side of the inn. He watched as they caught fire.
"Will see how you like this battoussai." He laughed as he ran off.
Kaoru woke up to the smell of smoke. She sat up coughing. She looked around but her husband was nowhere to be seen. She rose up and left her room. She watched the smoke eating away the bath house and half the Inn. 'His haori,' she thought. She rushed back to her room and threw everything inside the trunk. She pushed it with all strength. The smoke was getting stronger. She finally made it to the street. She was having trouble breathing.
She coughed.
She stood there watching not just the Inn but every building on this street. They were all on fire. What's going? She coughed again and again. The smoke was getting worse. She watched as the flames engulfed a little shop.
The flames.
There was something about them..........
She stood there transfixed by the flames as people ran around screaming.
*************
Kenshin ran back to the inn as fast as he could. How could he have been so stupid. He should have known. It was the perfect way to rouse him up. Even from far he could see the Inn. He stopped for a moment. It was on fire. Despite the heat in the air, he felt his body go cold. He'd left her there. She'd been sleeping.
"NO!" he screamed as he ran off in to the flames that covered the street.
Ok, I'm sorry this took so long. I want to thank all of you for your reviews. Very inspirational. I'm glad you guys like the story.
Small Notes: Well aside from the wedding info I don't think there is anything else I need to mention. Yes, she's still trying to awaken her battoussai though it looks like someone else did it for her. :)
- - - - - - - - - - -
You guys still know that anything between these dash things mean she's dreaming or she's retreated back to her world. A world created in her mind.
- - - - - - - - - - -
The wedding info:
The traditional white wedding kimono is called shiro-maku. Shiro meaning white and maku meaning pure. The Japanese wedding kimono actually consists of several different kimono. The white wedding kimono is worn for the wedding ceremony and an elaborate rich patterned silk brocade kimono called uchikake is worn over the white kimono at the wedding reception.
The uchikake kimono is usually made of silk and beautiful silk brocade. The kimono is rich in fine embroidered patterns and scenes of flowers, cranes, pines, flower carts and nature motifs embellish the kimono in rich color. Red is the most popular uchikake kimono color, however they are available in many different colors from imperial purple to sea green.
The traditional Japanese wedding kimono worn by men is a combination of a montsuki kimono and a short haori overcoat with pleated hakama pants.
Thanks for reading. Love the reviews. So please review.