Rurouni Kenshin Fanfic
Rurouni Kenshin & Samurai X Original Japanese Version (c) N.Watsuki/Shueisha * Fuji-TV * SME Visual Works Inc. * Sony Pictures Entertainment
All Fanfics created by Chiruken (me) were written for the sole purpose of shared entertainment and not intended for publication or sale.
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Endurance
By Chiruken
Chapter 1
Pain assailed her senses. Everything hurt. She tried to move, to straighten out her cramped muscles, and found that she couldn't. The bite of rope into her tender flesh prevented her from struggling against her bonds. Slowly opening her eyes, she tried to blink her vision into focus, tossing her head to move her long, unbound hair from her face.
She was lying on her side, arms bound behind her causing her to arch her back uncomfortably to relieve the painful strain on her shoulders and elbows. Her wrists felt raw, the harsh fibers of the rope digging into the delicate flesh, cutting off her circulation. She wiggled her fingers and winced, feeling the sharp stinging needles of poor blood flow. She didn't know how long she'd been tied, unconscious, but by the way her hands felt cold and swollen she had a feeling it had been several hours.
She heard the moan of wind whistling through cracks in the wall in front of her and shivered as it blew over her bare legs. Shifting so she could see herself she stifled a sudden cry, seeing her kimono torn and stained with blood. Biting her lip, she felt tears burning in her eyes and fought to hold them back. She didn't know what had happened to her, but by the way her body ached she knew it had been bad. **Why can't I remember?** She shook her head sharply and pushed the rising panic away desperately. She couldn't afford to lose her head. She had to look at her situation logically and with a clear mind.
Her first priority should be to free herself of her bindings and she began to struggle, twisting her hands desperately, feeling the bite of the rope digging deeper. Tears trickled down her pale cheeks as her raw wrists began to bleed, but she ignored the pain, focusing instead on continuing her struggles. The rope became slick with her blood and soon she was able to slip one hand free. Breathing heavily, she held her numb and tingling hands against her chest, whimpering at the agony of rope burn and the way the air stung the wounds her efforts had caused.
Slowly pushing herself up, she looked around the room and cringed, seeing the filth on the floor as well as pieces of her torn kimono. Biting her lip, she shifted her weight and barely suppressed a cry of pain. She felt raw and bruised, the pain centering on her hips and thighs…but mostly between, in her private area. Looking down, she pressed her shaking hands against her abdomen before moving the ripped material aside. A soft moan escaped her trembling lips when she saw the smear of blood and something else on her thighs as well as the bruises darkening the tender flesh. Now she knew what had happened.
Lifting her shaking hands to her face she wept silently, bitterly, the quiet sobs shaking her slender form. She wanted nothing more than to curl up into a little ball and cry forever, her heart broken for the loss of her innocence in such a brutal and savage way. She couldn't remember the face of her attacker, only the terror and acute sense of horrified betrayal.
As her sobs slowly lessened to hiccoughs, she lowered her hands. She had to get away, before the unknown assailant returned. He wouldn't have left her here, tied up and unconscious…alive…if he didn't intend to return. Using the wall for support, she slowly dragged herself to her feet, whimpering at the pain wracking her slender body. She felt violated, abused, and so utterly alone it was difficult to force her body to move. Drawing on her reserves of inner strength, she finally managed to stand upright, breathing heavily in the cold room. Running her gaze over the room, eyes haunted and filled with fear, she finally spotted a single door. Biting her lip, using the wall again for support, she staggered towards her only hope for freedom.
Reaching out a trembling hand she fumbled with the catch on the door, feeling her panic rising with the certainty that she was about to be caught. Finally, the door swung open, revealing nothing but shadowy darkness, trees looming up to tower above her, partially blocking out the light of the moon shining down on her. Shivering in the increased chill, she wrapped her arms around herself and slowly stepped forward, her movements stiff and uncertain. She had to get away, she knew that, but to where? She didn't know where she was, nothing was familiar.
A snapping twig galvanized her into motion and she half ran, half stumbled away from the filthy cabin with suppressed memories of terror and pain. Her chest burned with the efforts of her exertion, her heart thudding painfully against her ribs with the certainty that she was being pursued, her captor close behind. She ignored the sharp sting of branches clawing at her, tearing her already tattered kimono, catching in her unbound hair to drag her back, her terrified mind envisioning that they were hands trying to stop her flight.
Tripping on an exposed root she fell, sprawling to the spongy ground, the scent of rotting vegetation overwhelming her senses as she tried to crawl forward, her limbs quivering from exhaustion. Breath catching on a sob, she fell, face first and curled herself into a little, protective ball, shaking uncontrollably from terror and cold. In the distance she could hear voices, but they were too far to make out the words. For a moment she wondered if those who belonged to the voices were there to help, but discarded the thought immediately. She couldn't take the chance. Whoever was nearby could easily be the man who'd abducted her and attacked her.
Struggling to her knees she began crawling until she reached the broad trunk of a tree. Pressing her hands to the rough bark, she pulled herself to her feet, legs trembling from fatigue, teeth chattering in fear and cold. She ignored it all, one thought, and one thought only, in her mind. She had to get away. She had to find a safe place where she could hide.
Forcing her tired muscles to obey the commands of her mind, she began to run again, wincing at the loudness of her passage. She heard a shout behind her and panicked. She'd been detected! Tears falling unchecked down her pale cheeks, streaking through the dirt staining her face to drip off her chin, she panted and forced herself to run faster, tripping and stumbling over the unfamiliar terrain.
She screamed when strong arms came around her, swinging her around forcefully. She fell forward, against a strong chest, and she began to struggle, fighting with everything left in her to escape. The arms fell away and she staggered back, still screaming as she tripped over another root to fall to the ground. She felt some surprise when she didn't feel the hard impact, only strong arms supporting her, holding her tightly. Sobbing uncontrollably she brought her hands up to feebly strike against the superior strength.