Chapter 1: Entrapment

A/N: We have absolutely no idea what we're writing. Work with us here. By the way, *....* is for telepathy, "...." is talking (DUH) and '....' is thinking. As if you didn't know. Oh, and if we use *....* in the A/N, it's for an action. We aren't trying to talk to you telepathically. We may be weird, but we aren't stupid.

Disclaimer: I'm not sure what will turn up, but I'm pretty sure we don't own it.

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"What's this?" Kenshin said as he walked through the darkened forest. One second he'd been talking to Kaoru, the next....he was here. But where exactly was here? Kenshin plodded along, puzzling over this development. Then from his left he saw movement. Whirling around he faced....nothing. "Kaoru-dono?" he called. No answer. Movement again, to his right this time. "Is someone there?!" His voice cracked. For some odd reason he felt frightened. "Who is there!" Kenshin practically screamed. His hand reached for his sakabatou, but he grasped thin air. Kenshin spun in a circle, trying to find anything.

His instinct cried for him to run, but the egotistical pride of the long buried hitokiri wouldn't allow it. Narrowing his eyes he sought the answers he didn't have. Dampening his external sense he felt for ki. What he found frightened him more than anything he'd ever seen---well felt. His terrified senses shut down, prohibiting him from seeing or even remembering what had frightened him.

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Kaoru lay huddled on the cold, stone floor. Blackness surrounded her, such a blackness that no matter how long she stares, she could not make out even the outline of her hand. A shallow scraping sound rose in the darkness, never coming closer nor going farther away.

She tried to imagine what could be causing such a noise. Strange and terrifying images arose in her mind, and she tried pushing them away. The more she resisted, the worse the images became. Sleep evaded her, dodging and flitting out of her grasp. Hunger had long since left her, but her parched throat screamed for refreshment.

Soon the scraping stopped, leaving Kaoru wondering where the cause had gone. Straining her ears she listened for sounds, for anything. Far, far away she heard dripping water. Her thirst overpowered her fear of the unknown noise, and slowly she got to her knees. Feeling around for something, Kaoru crawled towards the sound of water. The floor was damp and slightly sticky, not to mention cold and hard. "Where the heck am I?" she whispered. Her quiet voice reverberated and echoed, even though she had barely spoken. Kaoru suddenly felt cold. Not just skin deep, but the kind that permeated through her whole body, chilling her bones.

Something was in there with her.

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Kenshin wasn't sure whether or not his eyes were open. He felt nauseous and dizzy. A rank smell overpowered him. Sitting up, he tried to focus on something. Too dark. Reaching out with his ki, he sensed Kaoru was near. Guiding with his hands, he crawled towards her, only to find himself face to face with a wall. He wanted desperately to call out to her, but something told him to keep quiet.

Just when he thought it was hopeless, he heard her voice. Then, he sensed the other. Something so horrid and disgusting, it had to be the something he encountered before. Kenshin pressed his ear against the wall, grimacing when it met squishy mold and fungi. Cutting off everything, even his ki, he focused his attention on listening.

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Kaoru shivered. The cold wrapped its icy tendrils around her, encompassing her, swallowing her. She could feel the presence, and belligerent it was. She was frightened, more fightened than she'd ever been before. Where was Kenshin? Was he ok? What happened to her? Kaoru stopped crawling towards the water and pondered these questions for a while. She rocked back onto her toes, no longer sitting on her knees. It was from this position she saw the dim candlelight.

She watched it as it slowly approached her. She couldn't see anything outside of the light. Though her eyes stung, she focused on it anyway. Before she knew it, the light was upon her. She could hear the intake of breath originating from the holder of the light. She was slowly drawn into the light; everything else just faded away until it was just it and she.

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Kenshin could barely hear it breathing. There was no way that was Kaoru. He heard her sharp intake of breath and a soft thump as she hit the floor. "KAORU-DONO!" Kenshin shouted, jumping to his feet and pounding at the wall. "Kaoru!!!" he yelled again after receiving no response. An icy wind pierced Kenshin's very soul; the temperature plummeted, leaving him gasping against the cold.

Kenshin's attention was unconsciously drawn to the dank, luminous orb floating towards him. He caught his mind wandering, drifting away. He reached out and yanked it back. His eyes were slowly drawn back to the light. 'NO!!' he thought, refusing to look at it. It drew ever closer, hesitating every time Kenshin fought the urge to look at it. Kenshin realized this. He knew as long as he didn't give in to it he would live. For the time being.

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Hey, Kid. Have you seen Kenshin or Kaoru lately?" Sano asked Yahiko. Yahiko growled at the 'kid' remark. "No. They went for a walk in the woods about two days ago and haven't came back." "That's not like them to just go off like that.Maybe we should go look for them." As much as Yahiko hated to admit it, he was worried about them. It WASN'T like them to do something like this. "Ok." He agreed. And with that, Sano and Yahiko ventured off into the woods.

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Kenshin struggled against the light, refusing still to look at it. The closer it came, the harder it was to resist. Kenshin fought to keep his eyes closed. He saw the awful luminosity through his eyelids. The orb and it's owner were right beside him. Finally Kenshin was forced to open his eyes, even though it was against his will. The figure standing before him could not possibly be the owner of such a dark ki. The young woman stepped forward, illuminating herself in the brilliant light. It contrasted sharply with her large maroon eyes and long, black, flowing clothes. 'Perfect.' She thought to herself. 'One who can resist the light.'

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When Kaoru awoke, she was hanging by her wrists against a wall. Her ankles were also shackled. There was light in here, though it was dim. A cloaked figure approached her. Kaoru tried to speak, but the only sound that issued from her was a shallow croak. "SH!" it hissed as a dainty, well-groomed hand reached down to unlock her ankles. The figure helped Kaoru down from the wall, providing a shoulder to lean on. The hood fell back, revealing a beautiful face and long golden hair. A finger to her lips was all that Kaoru needed to understand that the girl was not supposed to be here.

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'Mmm....I suppose I'm lucky he's so handsome.' Akia quirked an eyebrow. She didn't believe in luck. Everything happened for a reason. Taking everything, including Kenshin's outburst, in, Akia made her decision. 'He will be mine.' Kenshin strained against the urge to peer into the light. His mind thrummed with one thought, and one thought only. "Look at the light. Look at the light. Look at the light! LOOK AT THE LIGHT!" These thoughts were eating away at him. His eyes would glaze, then drift to the light, but then he would snap back and look away. Akia watched this with great interest and amusement. Breaking the silence, Akia tried to catch Kenshin's attention. "Hello?" her voice had the same effect as the light, drawing Kenshin's eye and partial attention. "I am Akia. You will come with me."

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Sanjira led the weak girl through the dungeons. 'She must still be a child....' she thought, looking into Kaoru's eyes. Sanjira's deep plum colored eyes glistened with pity. When the girl could hold herself up no longer, Sanjira stopped. "We should be far enough away. I am Sanjira, and I am sure you are very thirsty. Drink slowly and not in excess....." Sanjira offered the leather water pouch. The girl obeyed, sipping the water, relishing it. "What is your name? Or is your voice still gone?" "Kaoru." "Are you feeling any better?" Kaoru nodded. "That is good. We have a long journey ahead of us, but first we must find your friend." "Kenshin? He is here?!" Sanjira was startled by Kaoru's sudden strength. "Ye-yes." Sanjira sighed. "I guess I should explain about this place."

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Though he was not being completely controlled, Kenshin still followed the mysterious woman. Something about her enthralled him and his curiosity was full-blown. "Sessha....is....where?" He had a time controlling his voice. "You will know when the time comes," comes her simple answer. Kenshin thought, 'Why is that always the answer!' 'Because.' Kenshin was utterly astounded when her voice answered his unspoken question in his head. He had no choice but to follow her in silence.

This lady puzzled him. She was very beautiful, very beautiful indeed. Kenshin couldn't help but be attracted to her. Akia was just.....helping him like her. Kenshin would never be attracted to anyone, not without assistance. This mildly annoyed Akia. She preferred for her possessions to worship her without inhibition. Why was this man different?

Kenshin had no idea if Akia could hear ALL his thoughts or not. He attempted to keep them tightly sealed. 'This woman does not seem horrid or disgusting, that she does not. But why is her ki so dark?' Akia frowned from in front of Kenshin. He cried out as his mind was violently assailed with 'Look at the light' thoughts. Akia smiled. Much better.

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Just as Sanjira began to explain, the steady beat of approaching steps sounded down the hall. "Quick! In here!" Sanjira whispered, pulling Kaoru by the wrist. Kaoru glanced around the room. It was obviously someone's bedroom and not extra; there was no dust, and the sheets on the bed were still ruffled. "Oh Kami-sama...." The color drained out of Sanjira's face; she was staring past Kaoru. Kaoru didn't have to turn to know someone was standing behind her.

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'Can't....take....much....more....' Kenshin's mind broke through the mental assault enough to worry Akia. She pushed him in front of her, just in case. "We are almost there. You won't have to worry much longer...." Kenshin winced as the yelling became louder and a glowing orb appearing in front of him.

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"Hey, Sanji...." Came the husky male voice. Kaoru looked back over her shoulder to see a tall, well-built man wearing only a towel. Water droplets glistened in his jet-black hair and his ice blue eyes seemed to stare into her soul. "Kail, we came into your room by accident and-" "That's what you said last time...." he flashed abnormally white teeth and winked. Sanjira turned red, mostly from anger. "Kail, we will be gone soon enough." "Leaving so soon? I thought we would have some fun....who's your friend?"

"Kail! Pig! How did you pass the competency test?!" Sanjira threw her arms into the air. Kail sighed and a bottle of sake and three glasses floated through the air. Sanjira growled, "Oh, shove it up your-" She was interrupted by a knock on the door. "Kail? Is someone in there with you?" came Akia's voice from the other side of the door. Kail grinned. *What should I tell her?* he asked a pale Sanjira. She turned her plum gems to Kail's blue abysses. *She can't know this girl is in here!* she pleads. *Please help!*

Kail's eyes glowed with adventure and amusement. "Akia, it's just Sanjira and I." He offered the frightened Kaoru and the steaming Sanjira a smug smile. "Sanjira?" Akia asked. Sanjira cursed softly. Kaoru heard a voice in her mind. The clear, fluid tone of Sanjira rang through her thoughts. *Hide. Now if you value your freedom and the life of your samurai friend.* Kaoru looked about frantically. *In here!* Kail's voice sang.

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Kenshin's mind screamed for quiet as the incredible clamor only increased. He squeezed his eyes shut to calm his threading sanity; the cracked lines in his vision remained in sight. Red seeped up from the bottom corner of his vision. His anger seethed, frustration boiled. He was stretched to the breaking point, so many times he'd bent but not broken, swayed but not fallen. He was tired of being pushed around, tired of taking crap from enemies he didn't know. Something had finally snapped.

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Kaoru hid in the bottom of Kail's bathtub. As Kail hid her, Sanjira took off some of her clothes, leaving her undergarments on, and hurried into the bed, covers to her chin. Kaoru could tell she hated this. Kail answered the door, still wearing just the towel. Akia strolled in and smirked at her sister. "Couldn't keep your hands off him could you?" Sanjira stuck her tongue out. "You are just jealous!" Kail reveled in Akia's icy stare. He peered into the hall at the struggling man. "Um....hey....is he supposed to do that?" Kenshin stopped struggling. Akia tried to take him back over. "Uh- oh..he has broken through!" Akia's already pale face drained further. The Battousai stepped forward slowly. "I want an explanation, and I want it NOW."

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A/N: Well, what do you think so far? Weird enough for you? This is actually extremely fun to write, so...get over it. LOL. Well, we're going to go work on the next chapter now.