Disclaimer: Did I earn enough money to over take the Rurouni Kenshin owners
and buy them out? Uh.. I'm sorry but I don't think 5 dollars, some pennies
and some dimes will do it. I've got pocket lint! Nope, don't own Kenshin..
And it's not fair!!!!!! ^_~
Authors Notes: MWHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! I've got an idea on who the figure is. What would you do if I said it was FIGURES, not just figure? Hmmm? What do you say to that?! Finally, they have names. They will come out in this chapter. MWHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!! Yay!!! Last I checked I was at 69 reviews!!! I'm so HAPPY!!! I've almost got 80!!! I think I'm going to stick to that number for your next chapter after this.. (grins evilly) and guess what? I'm gonna leave the WORST cliffhanger in the world, too!!!! You can blame this idea on Beraith and Cutie Blossom. their reviews gave me the idea in the first place.. Sorry if this seems like cruel and unusual punishment, but with my mood swings, I'm just in the mood to torture you people!!! I've got review responses for ya at the end of the chapter. Yes, my alter ego, Sireta, has taken control of my body during the writing of this chapter so don't kill me..
On with the story!!!!
~Coming of the Dawn~
(where I last let you off)
Tonight, another would lose their life by the blade of his sword. He steeled his emotions. He wasn't going to let it get to him. But he knew he would fail. He just hoped everyone stayed out of his way the next day. He was going to be grouchy.
***Chapter 14- It Ends Here Tonight with Crimson Regret***
"Yahiko, you're strokes are too far to the left!" Kaoru instructed, watching as Yahiko swung his shinai. "Concentrate!"
"I'm trying busu!" Yahiko screamed back at her. "Maybe if an old hag wasn't hovering OVER ME every time I try, I wouldn't be distracted by your busu face!"
Kaoru gripped her bokken tightly in her hand and swung down hard on Yahiko's poor, unsuspecting skull. He fell to the floor with swrilly eyes, not even comprehending the pain enough to scream ouch.
"That's it, Yahiko-CHAN, give me 300 strokes. Now! And after that you can dust and clean the entire dojo!" she demanded.
"I'm not doing that busu!" Yahiko yelled back, obviously healed from his beating from his sensei, and getting right up into her face.
Kaoru hit him squarely above his ear, and he fell again, the pain ringing in his ear this time.
"Make that 800 STROKES and then you have to WEED the Aoiya's garden!" Kaoru screamed.
"800 strokes?! Are you insane?!" Yahiko asked her; shocked at the amount of training she was giving him.
"Would you rather have it 1000?" she asked, her tone warning.
Yahiko muttered some words under his breath and continued with his practicing. Kaoru grabbed a towel and wiped her brow before she left the Aoiya's dojo and walked into her room to change out of her training clothing and into a kimono. Of course, that would take place after her bath; she wasn't changing into a clean kimono when she was all sweaty and stinky.
After her bath and Kaoru was sure Yahiko had reached 300 of the 800 strokes she had assigned him, she left the Aoiya. She was going to go back to the Inn, with Sanosuke, of course, to visit with everyone again. She was going to try to do this as often as she could.
She arrived at the Inn, and Sano was immediately gone, to find Megumi, Kaoru figured. Kaoru walked to the kitchen area and opened the door.
"So, need any help?" she asked Tae and Hinoki.
They smiled at her. "Yes! Do the dishes!"
Kaoru laughed and walked over to the basin where the dishes lay. She started to scrub them. "It's been a while since I've done this!"
"Like we said before, you were more of a help than we thought you were!" Hinoki told her. "It's so busy around here, even after losing nearly a quarter of our men in that battle."
Kaoru nodded. "Well, you still need help. I'm gonna try and come by as often as I can to help you out."
Tae placed some food on two trays, and then resumed cooking. "Kaoru. would you like to take this to the meeting office with Hinoki?"
Kaoru stopped washing dishes and did what she was asked to do. She followed Hinoki to the new meeting room. The halls were just the same as before, Kaoru noted. It seemed to her that everything was in the same places they had been before. She looked ahead, and counted to the third door. She was right. Hinoki opened that door, and she and Kaoru went in.
"Ah. lunch is here!" said the same man Kaoru remembered from the first time she had brought food there. "Let's postpone this until we finish eating."
Again, Kaoru served 4 men and Hinoki served 4 men. Kaoru smiled as she worked away. She hadn't noticed she had become content working at the Inn for the Ishin Shishi until she couldn't do it anymore. She finally got to the end of the row, and found out that she would be serving Kenshin. He didn't seem to be in a good mood, either, she noted.
"Here Battousai." She said, placing a bowl in front of him and starting to fill it with the rice and vegetables that Tae had prepared. She decided not to call him Kenshin in his place of work. in front of his comrades in arms.
He just huffed as his acknowledgement to her presence.
She put rice balls with sushi in the middle on a small plate next to the bowl, a piece of bread on another plate, and then poured him a cup of sake. She made sure she gave him a glance and a friendly grin before she picked up her tray again.
"Enjoy." She stated.
He huffed again, and shot her an angry glance. She was taken aback. Either he was playing it up or he was really angry with her. She glared back, not knowing what else to do. And she wasn't going to let him think he won whatever battle he was starting with her, because she wasn't going to give up that fast. Kaoru turned on her heel and left the room, her anger boiling over. She didn't want to explode in his face in that room so she left before she could get her harsh words out at him. She was back in the kitchen before Hinoki.
She threw her tray down onto the pile of dishes she was going to clean. It was just like before the fire. He was being cold and distant. She was angry with him because of it.
Same old story.
Same old song and dance.
But he was supposed to be her friend now. They had said they would be friends. Was he backing out on that now?
Kaoru fisted her hands together and counted to 10. She wasn't going to get mad at him yet. She had to control her raging anger towards him. She really had no reason to be mad at him. He could have just been playing it up so that no one realized that they were getting along. She clenched, and declenched her fists, wondering what was wrong with him.
She rationalized, that here, he was Battousai. Nothing more. He wasn't Kenshin Himura; he was Battousai the manslayer, unfeeling and merciless. But boy, did she want to give him a piece of her mind and a kick to boot it all. Even if he was Battousai here, she was still Battousai's friend, not someone he could treat like he did everyone else he didn't want to know.
She found herself taking her stress out by scrubbing at the dishes mercilessly, killing every last germ that could be sticking to them. She attacked the stuck on food with a fearsome sponge, and won every battle she took on. Soon, before she realized it, she had done the huge tower of dishes that were next to her. She was done.
Kaoru stood up. She walked out of the kitchen, wondering momentarily where everyone had run off to without her knowledge. She was about to round a corner that would lead towards the meeting room, when she bumped into someone in a blue gi and white hakama pants. She fell back slightly and looked up at the person she had bumped into by accident.
"Watch where you're going." He growled.
"Why are you talking to me like that?" Kaoru asked, her hands on her hips as she stared up at Kenshin. "I didn't mean it!"
"Just get out of the way." He demanded through his clenched teeth. He pushed her aside with a lot of force, not really caring at the moment if he hurt her or not. He had KNOWN he'd be grumpy today, but really didn't expect his bad attitude to go into full swing because Kaoru turned up.
"Well it's nice to see you too!" she shouted at him, rubbing her arm absently where his hand had made a bruise.
That had hurt. He had a strong grip.
Kenshin spun around. "I don't feel like talking."
"Well you don't need to be so mean!" she cried.
"Why not?" he asked, obviously not in the mood to talk to her. Of course, being the defiant girl she was, Kaoru didn't back down.
"Because you don't act like this." She told him. "You aren't really this mean, I know it."
He gave her a half grin. "And what makes you so sure of that, little girl?"
'Little. GIRL?' "Kenshin Himura, what are you talking about?! And you know my name, so you better well call me by it!"
"Listen, just stay out of my way." He warned her, in a tone he had never before used on her. One that warned her of consequences.
Kaoru was sick of his attitude. What had happened to him? This wasn't the Kenshin that had given her a firefly wish last night for her birthday, nor was it the Kenshin who had been watching over her for the past 2 weeks without her knowing. Nor was it the Kenshin who somehow found a way to make her nightmares go away the night she had made her wish to see him again. This wasn't the normal Kenshin she knew. Kaoru momentarily wondered if he was afraid of being normal.
Kaoru didn't really think about her next actions, she just did what her gut made her do. She ran up to him and took a tight hold onto his gi. He spun around, fire in his molten eyes as rage over took him.
She was REALLY pushing it with him today.
"WHAT do you think you're doing?!" he seethed, words soaked with venom as he spoke to her.
She glared up at him. He didn't scare her. She knew him too well. if not that well. to be scared of him. "What is the matter with you?! What happened to you? Last night you were giving me a birthday present and being really kind, and now you act like you did when I first came to the Inn! Is this all a façade, or are you."
He glared down at her, and rudely interrupted her ranting. "This is how I always am."
"It is not!" Kaoru stated, stomping her foot in frustration and at his arrogance. Did he really think she was THAT stupid?
Then she came to a realization, one that would make sense out of everything that was happening. "You killed someone last night, didn't you?" she said blankly, not really knowing how else to say it.
He glared at her. "Is it any of your business if I did or didn't?"
"How can you do that?! I can't believe you're still assassinating people!" she cried as she jumped back. "It's morally wrong! I figured after your little incident with Saitou you would have at least SLOWED DOWN on the killing!"
"Like I told you before, I don't care what you think of me. This is my job, it's what I do, and I can't just stop it." He told her flatly. "And just because you stopped me from killing Saitou doesn't mean you stopped me from killing period."
"You're supposed to be my friend, what do you mean you don't care what I think of you?" she stated, her sapphire eyes boring into his amber ones. "And you can too stop if you don't like it. That's why I stopped you. You don't like to kill. I can tell. Or else it wouldn't anger you so much."
"Maybe I do." He stated, crossing his arms, feeling like he was going to be there for a while.
"I know you don't." she stated. "It's a bad habit you have, and bad habits are hard to break."
Kenshin glared at her. "Just leave me alone."
"I'm not going to until you tell me what's wrong!" she demanded, again clenching and declenching her fists to keep herself from hitting him like she would do if he were Sanosuke or Yahiko.
He turned his back to her and stomped off to his room. Kaoru followed him, not about to back down from him. She was angry with him for talking to her like she was nothing more than a piece of dirt. She stomped up the stairs and then stormed into the room she saw him enter. She slammed the hard wooden door behind her and glared at him.
He made her so mad sometimes.
"Kenshin! Tell me what's wrong!! Don't make me beat it out of you!" she demanded of him, not really paying attention to what she was saying.
Kenshin turned around. "Go away Kaoru. Why did you follow me up here? And I don't think you can beat anything out of me."
"Because I'M not leaving until I know why you're acting like I'm the dirt beneath you feet!" she stated, anger evident. "And yes I CAN beat it out of you, so don't push me to that limit!"
Kenshin took in her appearance. Her head was lowered in anger; her hands both fisted together and they shook in frustration. She looked really intimidating, her eyes looked like they would kill him if they had hands. She glared at him. The blood red kimono she happened to be wearing didn't help to make her appear any gentler. Plus, she had carried her bokken in her obi, so she was even armed now. But he didn't back down. He just glared back at her angry from, mentally telling himself that she looked cute when she was mad.
Besides, he didn't think she would hit him.
"Then I guess you'll be here for a long time." He stated, sitting himself down on the floor. "I suggest you sit down, because you're not getting anything out of me."
Kaoru glared at him. "Don't make me any angrier than I already am!" she warned him. 'He just doesn't know what he's doing, trying to push my limits like this,' Kaoru thought inwardly.
He just shrugged her statement off. He didn't believe her. He knew a lot of people who spoke big and ever made true to their statements. Still sitting, he spun around so his back was to her.
All that did was make her angrier.
He didn't expect to get beat upon his tender head 4 times with her hard bokken. He was down on the floor, rolling around in pain and she continued to beat him mercilessly, taking her anger out on the suffering assassin.
"Kenshin, tell me what's wrong!" she demanded, finally stopping her abuse after landing a blow to his side and watching him shrivel up at the pain she was inflicting.
Kenshin glared up at her. He was PISSED now. Very very very angry. And very very very very much in pain. A lot of pain. Hitting him with her bokken was NOT the smartest decision Kaoru ever made. She shouldn't have hit him.
But before he could get a chance to do anything back to her, he caught sight of her kimono. It was gapping open just slightly. He didn't blush, he just grinned. He just figured a way out of his little jam with Kaoru. She'd probably leave after she realized what she was showing him.
"What a nice sight." He stated, leaning his head on his palm, as his arm was propped up on his elbow. He lay lazily there, staring at her.
Kaoru looked down, following his gaze and saw what he was looking at. She jumped back and adjusted her kimono in haste, inwardly shocked that he had done and at the same time not shocked. He WAS the Battousai, after all!
"HENTAI!!!" she shrieked as she continued to fix her kimono, all while still keeping a grip on the hilt of her bokken.
"Itai." He said in a sarcastic tone, rolling his eyes at her.
((itai means 'ouch'))
Kaoru glared at him, now finished fixing her clothing that had failed to cover her. She tightened her grip on her bokken as her anger turned to resentment, and she knew, soon enough, it would be wrath.
"Dame! You are a hentai!" she accused.
He just grinned at her, which earned him another hit on his head from that cursed bokken of hers.
"Mou! Kenshin no baka!" she screamed.
"Gomen nasai, but I AM a man, Kaoru, what do you expect?" Battousai asked her, trying to appear innocence, but failing.
She glared at him. "Shut up Kenshin. Tell me what's wrong."
"I can't, you said to shut up." He stated smartly.
She wanted to hit him again but resisted the urge. Apparently it didn't have the affect on him that it had on Yahiko. Kaoru just continued to glare at him, not knowing what else to do to show him just how mad he was making her. She started to tap her foot impatiently, waiting for him to answer her.
Kenshin kept his mouth shut. He liked annoying her. He got a rush out of the expressions she made. They made him want to laugh, and actually laugh, not a fake laugh, one that he really meant. A menacing grin spread across his face as he realized that he was annoying her and enjoying it. He had never really enjoyed watching someone get mad at him.
But it was entertaining when Kaoru got mad!
Kaoru gave out a frustrated cry and then planted herself right next to him. "I'm not leaving until you tell me!"
'Damn, she's determined!' the Battousai side thought. 'But that was a nice sight she gave me, even if she didn't mean to. should've kept my mouth shut longer and seen how much longer it would've taken for her to realize what I was looking at!'
Then came the little voice.
'Even thought you like her that way, you shouldn't look at her like that.'
Stupid, annoying, correct conscience. He hated it. Sometimes he wished he could just beat it up and kick it out of his head.
********** **********
Sanosuke ended up having to drag Kaoru from Kenshin's room kicking and screaming because he STILL hadn't answered her, even thought 8 hours had passed. She was bound and determined to get her answer. If she had to, she was going to come back the next day and get her answer from him. He WASN'T getting off the hook THAT easily, not while she had a bone to pick with him.
Sano got her home, and picked up a very tired Yahiko and took him home. Kaoru huffed as she sat in her room, looking for something to wear to bed that night. She found her last clean sleeping yukata, and took it with her out to the bathhouse. She decided a nice, warm bath would help calm her nerves. She had forgotten she could get that mad and frustrated when it came to the Battousai.
She proceeded to bathe and then change into her sleepwear. She braided her wet hair before walking out of the bathhouse. The chill of the night air on her still wet skin sent a rush through her body, and she embraced it. It was peaceful and chilled the still lit anger she had towards Kenshin.
It was dark now. Kaoru knew she needed to go back inside the Aoiya, but the night was so inviting. So she decided to stay in the garden. Just for a little while, long enough for the stars to finish coming out.
******** ********
Again Battousai placed his katana and wakizashi in his belt, before throwing on his black trench coat. Today, again, he had orders to assassinate. Again, today, someone was going to lose their life at the end of his blade.
And this time, he wasn't ready for it. This time, he was thinking about Kaoru, and how much she disapproved of his choice to be a hitokiri. Part of him wanted to forget the mission and go watch her from the tree again that night. That part of him was a mix of Battousai and the little voice in his head. Only the Battousai part had other ideas in mind for Kaoru. That little voice in his head was annoying him, and he thought that he should probably tell her what he felt.
But at the chance of bringing her back into danger, he wouldn't do that. That was why he had agreed not to have Kaoru brought back to the Inn. Saitou was still out there, and she would make another easy target again. He wasn't going to do that to her. Tonight he trusted that Aoshi and the rest of the Oniwabanshu would watch over her, as he could not be in the tree that night.
The Battousai left his apartment, the door hanging slightly ajar as he walked away. He burst through the door and out into the dark night, which enveloped him in the sense of knowing his dark deed that would take place that night.
His last thought before going into assassination mode was how right Kaoru was when she had said that he didn't like killing people.
******** ********
A figure slunk into the Battousai's room, placing a note on the futon where it would be visible. Tonight, he and his counterpart would attack. Tonight, they would get their revenge.
He just hoped his counterpart was doing his portion of the job.
The figure slipped out of the room, and out the back of the Inn, towards the Aoiya where he would meet up with his partner. He would take the time another night to ravage through the Battousai's room.
They would leave a pleasant surprise for the Battousai and his friends that night. A large grin plastered to his face, he thought of all the things that could be done to that little unsuspecting victim of his, and the emotional wreck they would make the Battousai.
Tonight, they would see if the Battousai could feel. Tonight, they would prove to be higher than the Battousai. Higher than the Battousai and the Oniwabanshu, and that rooster head named Sanosuke. And stronger than that girl named Kaoru.
******** ********
The other figure slipped silently around the Aoiya. It was just their luck that tonight Aoshi and half of the Oniwabanshu were out on a mission. That meant no interference with the plan. Perfect time for the attack.
He watched as Kaoru got up out of the garden and slowly headed back to her room in the Aoiya. He had been watching her here at the Aoiya, his partner staying near the Inn to watch the Battousai there. Everything was folding out into their perfect plan. Nothing could ruin this now. All he had to do was get inside and take her by surprise.
And that wouldn't be hard. For tonight, she had no one guarding her. The Battousai wasn't there to protect her.
********* *********
Kaoru stepped into her room, still not tired enough to fall asleep. She sat on her futon, not really ready to sleep, so she thought of what she could do to help make her fall asleep. She looked out her window, where the moon's light seeped through and bathed her in its brightness. She stared out the window for at least 10 minutes.
Just enough time to miss the figure slinking inside in room undetected.
Kaoru turned to lie down, but a hand found it's way around her mouth. Kaoru's eyes shot open, shock registering through her body. She knew this wasn't Kenshin, because the aura around this person was different. She struggled; trying to get out of the strong grasp that had found it's away around her waist as her assailant lifted her off of the futon and into the air. Her feet weren't touching the ground, but she knew she wasn't that high off the ground. She still couldn't attack to her full extent.
Blast her luck.
Kaoru kicked at her assailant, trying desperately to inflict some form of pain upon him. It did nothing to help her. He didn't seem to be affected by any of her futile attempts to hurt him. Suddenly Kaoru found herself being flung across the room, hitting the wall with a force that sent pain shooting through her body. It took a while before she felt enough pain subside to move. She reached for the closest thing to be considered a weapon, but upon seeing the sword in her face, she knew it was useless.
She wasn't going to escape this time.
The sword went under her chin, lifting her head up to face her assailant. All she could see of this dark figure was the sword, a few small tuffs of hair, and ruby red eyes. It was too dark for Kaoru to see his face or anything else. She could tell that he was grinning and was very happy with himself, though, as if she was some sort of a prize that he had been lucky enough to win.
Kaoru was scared stiff. She wasn't even this scared when the Battousai came and kidnapped her, if you could call it that.
"Such a pity." Came his voice, his sword cutting from her chin to her right collarbone, just enough to draw blood. "To have to dispose of such a pretty little gem such as yourself."
Kaoru winced. Even that small cut was painful. She glanced up again, feeling the sword place slices into her shoulders. She stopped herself from crying out. She just kept her eyes on the man in front of her. She didn't like the way he was talking about her. It made her nervous. Normally she wouldn't be scared. But she had no weapon, and she knew almost everyone was gone.
No one would be able to help her.
It was now that she wondered if Kenshin had been able to watch over her that night in the tree outside the Aoiya. She didn't know why she cared, but she did. It was obvious he wasn't watching her, or else he'd already be in that room.
Kaoru bent down, her face looking down at the floor so it was over her heart. And she started to pray.
The figure lifted his sword.
No mercy would come from him.
Blood sprayed everywhere as it penetrated the soft, porcelain skin of the victim. It was caking the walls, the floor, and the person wielding the sword. The wielder didn't seem to mind the blood. He looked at it with a fascination, and looked at his victim with a lust that only seeing the pain of another could fulfill.
A body fell limply to the floor, eyes wide in pain as the life inside of them was slowly drained away with each droplet of precious blood that found it's way out of the body that so desperately needed it for life. Kaoru's last thoughts before being lost in the darkness was her regrets for not realizing until now why she found comfort in the Battousai.
Kaoru found herself lost in a world of blood and pain, washed away into the darkness of the night, with no hope of return.
AUTHORS NOTES: MWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!! What do you think of that? Is she dead? Is she alive? You'll have to reach 80 reviews to find out and I'M NOT BACKING OUT ON THAT ONE GUYS!!!!! You'll just have to review like mad if you want to know what happened!!!! Oh, and PLEASE don't KILL ME over this chapter!!! And no flamers because even if I am Sireta right now, I'm still sensitive!!!
Now, do you have any idea who these people are yet?! Huh? Do ya? Because names are coming out in the next chapter!!!!! MWHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! Sireta is so evil when she takes control of Crystal's body.
((Crystal fights for control over Sireta, who fights back, not wanting to give control up.))
You'll know if Kaoru lives or dies. just depends on if Crystal gets control or Sireta gets control.. We will see.. But I don't think either side could kill her.. Injure and torture, yes, but kill, probably not.. But still.. There's always that chance.. Reviews will help out in the outcome, you know!!!!! And, I want know, does the title of the chapter fit? It took me forever to come up with it. I was reading through my Evanescence lyrics, and I found two song parts I loved and put them together for the title!!!!
Oh, and I know that one part in here has a lot of Japanese talking in it, but I was trying to see how I could use the words. I'm so used to English. but I wanna learn Japanese.
Time for bed.
Okay, I wrote this chapter last night, and I reviewed to the responses this morning. so ya, I'm kinda in a NON-EVIL mood now, and this is an evil chapter and oh well but here's your review responses:
Kenshin'sgrl: MY GOODNESS THAT WAS A LONG IDEA!!! I think I'm gonna use snippets off it because I wrote my next chapter before I got your review!!! But it's a pretty good idea. Thanks SOOOO much, I really needed an idea!!!! I'm glad you're enjoying this enough to help me brainstorm.. ^_~, you can have some plushies and goodies for helping me out!!!!
LittoGrrlStephie: I'm glad you adore this fic!!! And yeah, the whole thing with Tomoe. I really don't like her, but the thing is, she is part of Kenshin's life and he loved her, so ya know, she's still there. Besides, if she mentioned in the fic, then one of my mystery people could never be... oh well, this is MOSTLY going to revolve around Battousai/Kaoru, so no more Tomoe unless it's 1000% percent necessary.
Ana: Everybody wants Enishi, don't they? Make him the figure!!! The first one to say that was Beraith. man, you people like him being the evil one, don't you? I guess it works, but you will know for sure in the next chapter. Remember, there are TWO figures.
Krystlsaliormoon: Hahahaha. you have conversations just like me!!! And I don't want a Kaoru mad figure hanging over me, I bruise too easily!!! I will update at 80 REVIEWS, and nothing less!!!! We're already almost there, anyway.. Just 11 more reviews!!! And that IS a good question!!! I was wondering the same thing the other night.
Kenshin: Oro.. You girls have your mind the gutter, that you do.
Crystal: Too bad, so sad, I'm glad, and you're not gonna get mad because I'll unleash Sireta again if I have to deal with Battousai again.
LOL!!! Well, thanks for your review!!! Thanks so much!!!!
Crimson Feline: AWWW!!! I'm a (sniff) great (sniff) writer? AWWWW THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!! I'm so easily touched (stupid mood swings)... but thank you, have a plushie!!!
Krystalsaliormoon: Me, think bad things about your Kenshin-angel? Ooo, never (whistles innocently and inwardly thinks bad things about Kenshin- angel) I would NEVER do that!!!
Sano: Geez. I go from one girl to the next, and MAN that ANGIE sure can fight! I think she broke my fingers!!!!
Crystal: Poor baby.. Here! (bonks him on the head)
Sano: HEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Be nice to the poor crippled guy!!!!
Kenshin: (squeaks. like a mouse!!) Bad thoughts about.. ORO!!!!!!
Crystal: (grins) What's wrong?
Kenshin: orororororo....
I think we embarrass him too much, angie!!! LOL!!!! I'll update soon, no worries!!! You're like me, when my stories get exciting I get all bouncy and hyper and NO ONE can slow me down it's so funny!!!!!
Nicky9: Thanks for being so nice!!!! I like Kaoru over Tomoe quite a bit, but I accept the fact that Tomoe was a part of Kenshin's life, so you gotta live with it!!! Besides, if Kaoru can, than so can I, right?! Thanks for liking my story and reading it!!!!
Morgan: Oh don't you worry, there will be A LOT MORE Battousai/Kaoru action if she's still alive in the next chapter.. I have yet to make up my mind because MY OTHER HALF THAT IS EVIL (Crystal glares at Sireta, who unsheathes her katana and points it at her, and Crystal takes a sword from the wall and prepares to fight) is still in my head wanting more evil things to happen!!!!
Cutie Blossom: Thank you for thinking that was a super great fluffly chapter!!! I don't know how I update so soon. I just really have nothing else to do with my life but write (jumps up and runs into kitchen, since she forgot she was cooking potato soup for her dad) so I just write and it comes out. I think my muses are coming back to me!!!! I just update. I write a lot, but I don't know. I write when I'm bored because I always stay up SO DANG LATE!!! Like I said, I think I'm nocturnal. So anywayz, I stay up late, get bored and don't' want to go to bed and I write and write and write and write and it's fun!!!!!!!!!! I like fluffy chapters too myself (grins really wide)
Asylum Escapees: I like your name!!!! My mom seems to think I escaped from an asylum.. Lol.. And thank you so much!!! Yeah, I'm still kinda getting used to Sano and Yahiko being brothers but hey, they act like it!!!!!!
Cutie Blossom: Yah, I'm getting too lazy to clump all the review responses into one response. so, anywayz, this has probably got to be the most evil chapter to you, ne? I don't mean to torture you or make you cry!!!!! (hands her tons of tissues) But I will try to see what I can do to numb the pain.. (hands her bunches of goodies in return for forgivness) and Shishio, eh? Hm.. there ARE two figures in this story.. and you gave me one idea, ne?
LittoGrrlStephie: I'm glad you like it and are coming to love my story!!! Battousai/Kaoru are so cool, ne? I kinda like the more aggressive part of Kenshin, but then again, I like the Rurouni. it's confusing. but GEEZ IT'S ALL THE SAME!!!!!!
Zeus The Moose: I will try and make Battousai a little more aggressive (although I think he's going to be SUPER HYPERDRIVE AGRRESSIVE after this chapter!!!!!!) And I'm glad you like the fic!!! I still can't get over your name.hahahaha.. I'm sorry, but I live in a SMALL town and the stupidest things interest me.. Oh, and oh, was part 12 evil? I'm so sorry. (grins) yes, I know Battousai would do that. I thought it was very sneaky. very sneaky Battousai. BAD BATTOUSAI WORRY KAORU LIKE THAT!!! Geez. Oh well, he's Battousai, is he not?
Tiaravball15: Yeah, I'm really starting to get into Aoshi/Misao right now (haven't read any fics completely dedicated to it, but a lot of the Battousai/Kaoru fics have Aoshi/Misao in them for some reason) so there will probably be some part in here SOMEWHERE, but right now, I think the story will be mostly about Battousai/Kaoru/Mystery Figure 1/Mystery Figure 2.
Zeus The Moose: I'm sorry you don't like brownies and chocolate!!!!!! I'm so mean, give you stuff you don't like!!!!!!!! But still, I'm not a big fan of chocolate myself!!!!!!!! So you can have some sugar cookies and frosting, okay?! And plushies for your forgiveness!!!!! ((I think I'm gonna need A LOT of plushies after this chapter... gomen nasai!))
Beraith: See, like I said, Saitou was too obvious, so he couldn't be the figure!!!! I'm glad you thought that chapter didn't suck. my thing is when action fails, go to fluff!!!! No, it's none of the people you said it wasn't, but still, you gave me an idea. Okay, this is going to be so stupid, but I don't like the Hiruma brothers because they're evil and Hiruma is too close to Himura for my liking and THEY CAN'T STEAL KENSHIN'S NAME!!!!!!!!!!!! Okay, I had to get that off my chest. I don't know how many people noticed that, but I did!!!! Yeah, my mom is okay now, and I WANT TO DO THAT TO THAT GUY soooo bad!!!! (grins at her friend, the evil version of Beraith which is insane and grabs a root beer (hey, I really got one of those!) and a dr.pepper and a hyper active Crystal/Sireta joins in on the insanity!!!) That would be so much fun. lol. evil ideas (grabs more pop and goes into hyper overdrive!!!!) Maybe I will do that some day.. (going insane....)
Piper: Well I absolutely love that you absolutely love this story!!!!!! Thanks so much!!!!!!!!!!!!
Britannie Love: Don't kill me for this chapter, okay Brittanie?! Please don't kill me!!!!!!!! Yes, I want the relationship to grow myself, but it doesn't look like that's gonna happen anytime soon, now does it? I'm so sorry!!!!!!!!!! But thanks for your review. No one's gonna know if Kaoru's alive or dead until I REACH 80 REVIEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well, their your responses and you all get caldrouns full of goodies of your choice (I don't care what, because I've got Kenshin's credit card because Kaoru gave it to me because I guess she's mad at him again)!!!!!!!!!! While I sit her and fight with my evil side, Sireta, then I will wait my 80 reviews!!!!!! Sireta's not really evil (so don't hate her) she just come to protect me and well. she just HAS evil ideas, that's all.....
Today's debate question I DID NOT COME UP WITH!!!!! Krystlsaliormoon sent this to me as the debate question: Debate question: what IS it with that boy and his sex-appeal? He's gentle, quiet, a bit clumsy, and sweet--and there are thousands of fan-girls panting over him! Or over Battousai, whom we all agree is a dangerous sexy beast. Hm...
So, your opinions are welcome!!!
Well, I think I will go now!!!!!! So until the next chapter!!!!!!!
Luv,
Crystal Renee and Sireta
Authors Notes: MWHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! I've got an idea on who the figure is. What would you do if I said it was FIGURES, not just figure? Hmmm? What do you say to that?! Finally, they have names. They will come out in this chapter. MWHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!! Yay!!! Last I checked I was at 69 reviews!!! I'm so HAPPY!!! I've almost got 80!!! I think I'm going to stick to that number for your next chapter after this.. (grins evilly) and guess what? I'm gonna leave the WORST cliffhanger in the world, too!!!! You can blame this idea on Beraith and Cutie Blossom. their reviews gave me the idea in the first place.. Sorry if this seems like cruel and unusual punishment, but with my mood swings, I'm just in the mood to torture you people!!! I've got review responses for ya at the end of the chapter. Yes, my alter ego, Sireta, has taken control of my body during the writing of this chapter so don't kill me..
On with the story!!!!
~Coming of the Dawn~
(where I last let you off)
Tonight, another would lose their life by the blade of his sword. He steeled his emotions. He wasn't going to let it get to him. But he knew he would fail. He just hoped everyone stayed out of his way the next day. He was going to be grouchy.
***Chapter 14- It Ends Here Tonight with Crimson Regret***
"Yahiko, you're strokes are too far to the left!" Kaoru instructed, watching as Yahiko swung his shinai. "Concentrate!"
"I'm trying busu!" Yahiko screamed back at her. "Maybe if an old hag wasn't hovering OVER ME every time I try, I wouldn't be distracted by your busu face!"
Kaoru gripped her bokken tightly in her hand and swung down hard on Yahiko's poor, unsuspecting skull. He fell to the floor with swrilly eyes, not even comprehending the pain enough to scream ouch.
"That's it, Yahiko-CHAN, give me 300 strokes. Now! And after that you can dust and clean the entire dojo!" she demanded.
"I'm not doing that busu!" Yahiko yelled back, obviously healed from his beating from his sensei, and getting right up into her face.
Kaoru hit him squarely above his ear, and he fell again, the pain ringing in his ear this time.
"Make that 800 STROKES and then you have to WEED the Aoiya's garden!" Kaoru screamed.
"800 strokes?! Are you insane?!" Yahiko asked her; shocked at the amount of training she was giving him.
"Would you rather have it 1000?" she asked, her tone warning.
Yahiko muttered some words under his breath and continued with his practicing. Kaoru grabbed a towel and wiped her brow before she left the Aoiya's dojo and walked into her room to change out of her training clothing and into a kimono. Of course, that would take place after her bath; she wasn't changing into a clean kimono when she was all sweaty and stinky.
After her bath and Kaoru was sure Yahiko had reached 300 of the 800 strokes she had assigned him, she left the Aoiya. She was going to go back to the Inn, with Sanosuke, of course, to visit with everyone again. She was going to try to do this as often as she could.
She arrived at the Inn, and Sano was immediately gone, to find Megumi, Kaoru figured. Kaoru walked to the kitchen area and opened the door.
"So, need any help?" she asked Tae and Hinoki.
They smiled at her. "Yes! Do the dishes!"
Kaoru laughed and walked over to the basin where the dishes lay. She started to scrub them. "It's been a while since I've done this!"
"Like we said before, you were more of a help than we thought you were!" Hinoki told her. "It's so busy around here, even after losing nearly a quarter of our men in that battle."
Kaoru nodded. "Well, you still need help. I'm gonna try and come by as often as I can to help you out."
Tae placed some food on two trays, and then resumed cooking. "Kaoru. would you like to take this to the meeting office with Hinoki?"
Kaoru stopped washing dishes and did what she was asked to do. She followed Hinoki to the new meeting room. The halls were just the same as before, Kaoru noted. It seemed to her that everything was in the same places they had been before. She looked ahead, and counted to the third door. She was right. Hinoki opened that door, and she and Kaoru went in.
"Ah. lunch is here!" said the same man Kaoru remembered from the first time she had brought food there. "Let's postpone this until we finish eating."
Again, Kaoru served 4 men and Hinoki served 4 men. Kaoru smiled as she worked away. She hadn't noticed she had become content working at the Inn for the Ishin Shishi until she couldn't do it anymore. She finally got to the end of the row, and found out that she would be serving Kenshin. He didn't seem to be in a good mood, either, she noted.
"Here Battousai." She said, placing a bowl in front of him and starting to fill it with the rice and vegetables that Tae had prepared. She decided not to call him Kenshin in his place of work. in front of his comrades in arms.
He just huffed as his acknowledgement to her presence.
She put rice balls with sushi in the middle on a small plate next to the bowl, a piece of bread on another plate, and then poured him a cup of sake. She made sure she gave him a glance and a friendly grin before she picked up her tray again.
"Enjoy." She stated.
He huffed again, and shot her an angry glance. She was taken aback. Either he was playing it up or he was really angry with her. She glared back, not knowing what else to do. And she wasn't going to let him think he won whatever battle he was starting with her, because she wasn't going to give up that fast. Kaoru turned on her heel and left the room, her anger boiling over. She didn't want to explode in his face in that room so she left before she could get her harsh words out at him. She was back in the kitchen before Hinoki.
She threw her tray down onto the pile of dishes she was going to clean. It was just like before the fire. He was being cold and distant. She was angry with him because of it.
Same old story.
Same old song and dance.
But he was supposed to be her friend now. They had said they would be friends. Was he backing out on that now?
Kaoru fisted her hands together and counted to 10. She wasn't going to get mad at him yet. She had to control her raging anger towards him. She really had no reason to be mad at him. He could have just been playing it up so that no one realized that they were getting along. She clenched, and declenched her fists, wondering what was wrong with him.
She rationalized, that here, he was Battousai. Nothing more. He wasn't Kenshin Himura; he was Battousai the manslayer, unfeeling and merciless. But boy, did she want to give him a piece of her mind and a kick to boot it all. Even if he was Battousai here, she was still Battousai's friend, not someone he could treat like he did everyone else he didn't want to know.
She found herself taking her stress out by scrubbing at the dishes mercilessly, killing every last germ that could be sticking to them. She attacked the stuck on food with a fearsome sponge, and won every battle she took on. Soon, before she realized it, she had done the huge tower of dishes that were next to her. She was done.
Kaoru stood up. She walked out of the kitchen, wondering momentarily where everyone had run off to without her knowledge. She was about to round a corner that would lead towards the meeting room, when she bumped into someone in a blue gi and white hakama pants. She fell back slightly and looked up at the person she had bumped into by accident.
"Watch where you're going." He growled.
"Why are you talking to me like that?" Kaoru asked, her hands on her hips as she stared up at Kenshin. "I didn't mean it!"
"Just get out of the way." He demanded through his clenched teeth. He pushed her aside with a lot of force, not really caring at the moment if he hurt her or not. He had KNOWN he'd be grumpy today, but really didn't expect his bad attitude to go into full swing because Kaoru turned up.
"Well it's nice to see you too!" she shouted at him, rubbing her arm absently where his hand had made a bruise.
That had hurt. He had a strong grip.
Kenshin spun around. "I don't feel like talking."
"Well you don't need to be so mean!" she cried.
"Why not?" he asked, obviously not in the mood to talk to her. Of course, being the defiant girl she was, Kaoru didn't back down.
"Because you don't act like this." She told him. "You aren't really this mean, I know it."
He gave her a half grin. "And what makes you so sure of that, little girl?"
'Little. GIRL?' "Kenshin Himura, what are you talking about?! And you know my name, so you better well call me by it!"
"Listen, just stay out of my way." He warned her, in a tone he had never before used on her. One that warned her of consequences.
Kaoru was sick of his attitude. What had happened to him? This wasn't the Kenshin that had given her a firefly wish last night for her birthday, nor was it the Kenshin who had been watching over her for the past 2 weeks without her knowing. Nor was it the Kenshin who somehow found a way to make her nightmares go away the night she had made her wish to see him again. This wasn't the normal Kenshin she knew. Kaoru momentarily wondered if he was afraid of being normal.
Kaoru didn't really think about her next actions, she just did what her gut made her do. She ran up to him and took a tight hold onto his gi. He spun around, fire in his molten eyes as rage over took him.
She was REALLY pushing it with him today.
"WHAT do you think you're doing?!" he seethed, words soaked with venom as he spoke to her.
She glared up at him. He didn't scare her. She knew him too well. if not that well. to be scared of him. "What is the matter with you?! What happened to you? Last night you were giving me a birthday present and being really kind, and now you act like you did when I first came to the Inn! Is this all a façade, or are you."
He glared down at her, and rudely interrupted her ranting. "This is how I always am."
"It is not!" Kaoru stated, stomping her foot in frustration and at his arrogance. Did he really think she was THAT stupid?
Then she came to a realization, one that would make sense out of everything that was happening. "You killed someone last night, didn't you?" she said blankly, not really knowing how else to say it.
He glared at her. "Is it any of your business if I did or didn't?"
"How can you do that?! I can't believe you're still assassinating people!" she cried as she jumped back. "It's morally wrong! I figured after your little incident with Saitou you would have at least SLOWED DOWN on the killing!"
"Like I told you before, I don't care what you think of me. This is my job, it's what I do, and I can't just stop it." He told her flatly. "And just because you stopped me from killing Saitou doesn't mean you stopped me from killing period."
"You're supposed to be my friend, what do you mean you don't care what I think of you?" she stated, her sapphire eyes boring into his amber ones. "And you can too stop if you don't like it. That's why I stopped you. You don't like to kill. I can tell. Or else it wouldn't anger you so much."
"Maybe I do." He stated, crossing his arms, feeling like he was going to be there for a while.
"I know you don't." she stated. "It's a bad habit you have, and bad habits are hard to break."
Kenshin glared at her. "Just leave me alone."
"I'm not going to until you tell me what's wrong!" she demanded, again clenching and declenching her fists to keep herself from hitting him like she would do if he were Sanosuke or Yahiko.
He turned his back to her and stomped off to his room. Kaoru followed him, not about to back down from him. She was angry with him for talking to her like she was nothing more than a piece of dirt. She stomped up the stairs and then stormed into the room she saw him enter. She slammed the hard wooden door behind her and glared at him.
He made her so mad sometimes.
"Kenshin! Tell me what's wrong!! Don't make me beat it out of you!" she demanded of him, not really paying attention to what she was saying.
Kenshin turned around. "Go away Kaoru. Why did you follow me up here? And I don't think you can beat anything out of me."
"Because I'M not leaving until I know why you're acting like I'm the dirt beneath you feet!" she stated, anger evident. "And yes I CAN beat it out of you, so don't push me to that limit!"
Kenshin took in her appearance. Her head was lowered in anger; her hands both fisted together and they shook in frustration. She looked really intimidating, her eyes looked like they would kill him if they had hands. She glared at him. The blood red kimono she happened to be wearing didn't help to make her appear any gentler. Plus, she had carried her bokken in her obi, so she was even armed now. But he didn't back down. He just glared back at her angry from, mentally telling himself that she looked cute when she was mad.
Besides, he didn't think she would hit him.
"Then I guess you'll be here for a long time." He stated, sitting himself down on the floor. "I suggest you sit down, because you're not getting anything out of me."
Kaoru glared at him. "Don't make me any angrier than I already am!" she warned him. 'He just doesn't know what he's doing, trying to push my limits like this,' Kaoru thought inwardly.
He just shrugged her statement off. He didn't believe her. He knew a lot of people who spoke big and ever made true to their statements. Still sitting, he spun around so his back was to her.
All that did was make her angrier.
He didn't expect to get beat upon his tender head 4 times with her hard bokken. He was down on the floor, rolling around in pain and she continued to beat him mercilessly, taking her anger out on the suffering assassin.
"Kenshin, tell me what's wrong!" she demanded, finally stopping her abuse after landing a blow to his side and watching him shrivel up at the pain she was inflicting.
Kenshin glared up at her. He was PISSED now. Very very very angry. And very very very very much in pain. A lot of pain. Hitting him with her bokken was NOT the smartest decision Kaoru ever made. She shouldn't have hit him.
But before he could get a chance to do anything back to her, he caught sight of her kimono. It was gapping open just slightly. He didn't blush, he just grinned. He just figured a way out of his little jam with Kaoru. She'd probably leave after she realized what she was showing him.
"What a nice sight." He stated, leaning his head on his palm, as his arm was propped up on his elbow. He lay lazily there, staring at her.
Kaoru looked down, following his gaze and saw what he was looking at. She jumped back and adjusted her kimono in haste, inwardly shocked that he had done and at the same time not shocked. He WAS the Battousai, after all!
"HENTAI!!!" she shrieked as she continued to fix her kimono, all while still keeping a grip on the hilt of her bokken.
"Itai." He said in a sarcastic tone, rolling his eyes at her.
((itai means 'ouch'))
Kaoru glared at him, now finished fixing her clothing that had failed to cover her. She tightened her grip on her bokken as her anger turned to resentment, and she knew, soon enough, it would be wrath.
"Dame! You are a hentai!" she accused.
He just grinned at her, which earned him another hit on his head from that cursed bokken of hers.
"Mou! Kenshin no baka!" she screamed.
"Gomen nasai, but I AM a man, Kaoru, what do you expect?" Battousai asked her, trying to appear innocence, but failing.
She glared at him. "Shut up Kenshin. Tell me what's wrong."
"I can't, you said to shut up." He stated smartly.
She wanted to hit him again but resisted the urge. Apparently it didn't have the affect on him that it had on Yahiko. Kaoru just continued to glare at him, not knowing what else to do to show him just how mad he was making her. She started to tap her foot impatiently, waiting for him to answer her.
Kenshin kept his mouth shut. He liked annoying her. He got a rush out of the expressions she made. They made him want to laugh, and actually laugh, not a fake laugh, one that he really meant. A menacing grin spread across his face as he realized that he was annoying her and enjoying it. He had never really enjoyed watching someone get mad at him.
But it was entertaining when Kaoru got mad!
Kaoru gave out a frustrated cry and then planted herself right next to him. "I'm not leaving until you tell me!"
'Damn, she's determined!' the Battousai side thought. 'But that was a nice sight she gave me, even if she didn't mean to. should've kept my mouth shut longer and seen how much longer it would've taken for her to realize what I was looking at!'
Then came the little voice.
'Even thought you like her that way, you shouldn't look at her like that.'
Stupid, annoying, correct conscience. He hated it. Sometimes he wished he could just beat it up and kick it out of his head.
********** **********
Sanosuke ended up having to drag Kaoru from Kenshin's room kicking and screaming because he STILL hadn't answered her, even thought 8 hours had passed. She was bound and determined to get her answer. If she had to, she was going to come back the next day and get her answer from him. He WASN'T getting off the hook THAT easily, not while she had a bone to pick with him.
Sano got her home, and picked up a very tired Yahiko and took him home. Kaoru huffed as she sat in her room, looking for something to wear to bed that night. She found her last clean sleeping yukata, and took it with her out to the bathhouse. She decided a nice, warm bath would help calm her nerves. She had forgotten she could get that mad and frustrated when it came to the Battousai.
She proceeded to bathe and then change into her sleepwear. She braided her wet hair before walking out of the bathhouse. The chill of the night air on her still wet skin sent a rush through her body, and she embraced it. It was peaceful and chilled the still lit anger she had towards Kenshin.
It was dark now. Kaoru knew she needed to go back inside the Aoiya, but the night was so inviting. So she decided to stay in the garden. Just for a little while, long enough for the stars to finish coming out.
******** ********
Again Battousai placed his katana and wakizashi in his belt, before throwing on his black trench coat. Today, again, he had orders to assassinate. Again, today, someone was going to lose their life at the end of his blade.
And this time, he wasn't ready for it. This time, he was thinking about Kaoru, and how much she disapproved of his choice to be a hitokiri. Part of him wanted to forget the mission and go watch her from the tree again that night. That part of him was a mix of Battousai and the little voice in his head. Only the Battousai part had other ideas in mind for Kaoru. That little voice in his head was annoying him, and he thought that he should probably tell her what he felt.
But at the chance of bringing her back into danger, he wouldn't do that. That was why he had agreed not to have Kaoru brought back to the Inn. Saitou was still out there, and she would make another easy target again. He wasn't going to do that to her. Tonight he trusted that Aoshi and the rest of the Oniwabanshu would watch over her, as he could not be in the tree that night.
The Battousai left his apartment, the door hanging slightly ajar as he walked away. He burst through the door and out into the dark night, which enveloped him in the sense of knowing his dark deed that would take place that night.
His last thought before going into assassination mode was how right Kaoru was when she had said that he didn't like killing people.
******** ********
A figure slunk into the Battousai's room, placing a note on the futon where it would be visible. Tonight, he and his counterpart would attack. Tonight, they would get their revenge.
He just hoped his counterpart was doing his portion of the job.
The figure slipped out of the room, and out the back of the Inn, towards the Aoiya where he would meet up with his partner. He would take the time another night to ravage through the Battousai's room.
They would leave a pleasant surprise for the Battousai and his friends that night. A large grin plastered to his face, he thought of all the things that could be done to that little unsuspecting victim of his, and the emotional wreck they would make the Battousai.
Tonight, they would see if the Battousai could feel. Tonight, they would prove to be higher than the Battousai. Higher than the Battousai and the Oniwabanshu, and that rooster head named Sanosuke. And stronger than that girl named Kaoru.
******** ********
The other figure slipped silently around the Aoiya. It was just their luck that tonight Aoshi and half of the Oniwabanshu were out on a mission. That meant no interference with the plan. Perfect time for the attack.
He watched as Kaoru got up out of the garden and slowly headed back to her room in the Aoiya. He had been watching her here at the Aoiya, his partner staying near the Inn to watch the Battousai there. Everything was folding out into their perfect plan. Nothing could ruin this now. All he had to do was get inside and take her by surprise.
And that wouldn't be hard. For tonight, she had no one guarding her. The Battousai wasn't there to protect her.
********* *********
Kaoru stepped into her room, still not tired enough to fall asleep. She sat on her futon, not really ready to sleep, so she thought of what she could do to help make her fall asleep. She looked out her window, where the moon's light seeped through and bathed her in its brightness. She stared out the window for at least 10 minutes.
Just enough time to miss the figure slinking inside in room undetected.
Kaoru turned to lie down, but a hand found it's way around her mouth. Kaoru's eyes shot open, shock registering through her body. She knew this wasn't Kenshin, because the aura around this person was different. She struggled; trying to get out of the strong grasp that had found it's away around her waist as her assailant lifted her off of the futon and into the air. Her feet weren't touching the ground, but she knew she wasn't that high off the ground. She still couldn't attack to her full extent.
Blast her luck.
Kaoru kicked at her assailant, trying desperately to inflict some form of pain upon him. It did nothing to help her. He didn't seem to be affected by any of her futile attempts to hurt him. Suddenly Kaoru found herself being flung across the room, hitting the wall with a force that sent pain shooting through her body. It took a while before she felt enough pain subside to move. She reached for the closest thing to be considered a weapon, but upon seeing the sword in her face, she knew it was useless.
She wasn't going to escape this time.
The sword went under her chin, lifting her head up to face her assailant. All she could see of this dark figure was the sword, a few small tuffs of hair, and ruby red eyes. It was too dark for Kaoru to see his face or anything else. She could tell that he was grinning and was very happy with himself, though, as if she was some sort of a prize that he had been lucky enough to win.
Kaoru was scared stiff. She wasn't even this scared when the Battousai came and kidnapped her, if you could call it that.
"Such a pity." Came his voice, his sword cutting from her chin to her right collarbone, just enough to draw blood. "To have to dispose of such a pretty little gem such as yourself."
Kaoru winced. Even that small cut was painful. She glanced up again, feeling the sword place slices into her shoulders. She stopped herself from crying out. She just kept her eyes on the man in front of her. She didn't like the way he was talking about her. It made her nervous. Normally she wouldn't be scared. But she had no weapon, and she knew almost everyone was gone.
No one would be able to help her.
It was now that she wondered if Kenshin had been able to watch over her that night in the tree outside the Aoiya. She didn't know why she cared, but she did. It was obvious he wasn't watching her, or else he'd already be in that room.
Kaoru bent down, her face looking down at the floor so it was over her heart. And she started to pray.
The figure lifted his sword.
No mercy would come from him.
Blood sprayed everywhere as it penetrated the soft, porcelain skin of the victim. It was caking the walls, the floor, and the person wielding the sword. The wielder didn't seem to mind the blood. He looked at it with a fascination, and looked at his victim with a lust that only seeing the pain of another could fulfill.
A body fell limply to the floor, eyes wide in pain as the life inside of them was slowly drained away with each droplet of precious blood that found it's way out of the body that so desperately needed it for life. Kaoru's last thoughts before being lost in the darkness was her regrets for not realizing until now why she found comfort in the Battousai.
Kaoru found herself lost in a world of blood and pain, washed away into the darkness of the night, with no hope of return.
AUTHORS NOTES: MWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!! What do you think of that? Is she dead? Is she alive? You'll have to reach 80 reviews to find out and I'M NOT BACKING OUT ON THAT ONE GUYS!!!!! You'll just have to review like mad if you want to know what happened!!!! Oh, and PLEASE don't KILL ME over this chapter!!! And no flamers because even if I am Sireta right now, I'm still sensitive!!!
Now, do you have any idea who these people are yet?! Huh? Do ya? Because names are coming out in the next chapter!!!!! MWHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! Sireta is so evil when she takes control of Crystal's body.
((Crystal fights for control over Sireta, who fights back, not wanting to give control up.))
You'll know if Kaoru lives or dies. just depends on if Crystal gets control or Sireta gets control.. We will see.. But I don't think either side could kill her.. Injure and torture, yes, but kill, probably not.. But still.. There's always that chance.. Reviews will help out in the outcome, you know!!!!! And, I want know, does the title of the chapter fit? It took me forever to come up with it. I was reading through my Evanescence lyrics, and I found two song parts I loved and put them together for the title!!!!
Oh, and I know that one part in here has a lot of Japanese talking in it, but I was trying to see how I could use the words. I'm so used to English. but I wanna learn Japanese.
Time for bed.
Okay, I wrote this chapter last night, and I reviewed to the responses this morning. so ya, I'm kinda in a NON-EVIL mood now, and this is an evil chapter and oh well but here's your review responses:
Kenshin'sgrl: MY GOODNESS THAT WAS A LONG IDEA!!! I think I'm gonna use snippets off it because I wrote my next chapter before I got your review!!! But it's a pretty good idea. Thanks SOOOO much, I really needed an idea!!!! I'm glad you're enjoying this enough to help me brainstorm.. ^_~, you can have some plushies and goodies for helping me out!!!!
LittoGrrlStephie: I'm glad you adore this fic!!! And yeah, the whole thing with Tomoe. I really don't like her, but the thing is, she is part of Kenshin's life and he loved her, so ya know, she's still there. Besides, if she mentioned in the fic, then one of my mystery people could never be... oh well, this is MOSTLY going to revolve around Battousai/Kaoru, so no more Tomoe unless it's 1000% percent necessary.
Ana: Everybody wants Enishi, don't they? Make him the figure!!! The first one to say that was Beraith. man, you people like him being the evil one, don't you? I guess it works, but you will know for sure in the next chapter. Remember, there are TWO figures.
Krystlsaliormoon: Hahahaha. you have conversations just like me!!! And I don't want a Kaoru mad figure hanging over me, I bruise too easily!!! I will update at 80 REVIEWS, and nothing less!!!! We're already almost there, anyway.. Just 11 more reviews!!! And that IS a good question!!! I was wondering the same thing the other night.
Kenshin: Oro.. You girls have your mind the gutter, that you do.
Crystal: Too bad, so sad, I'm glad, and you're not gonna get mad because I'll unleash Sireta again if I have to deal with Battousai again.
LOL!!! Well, thanks for your review!!! Thanks so much!!!!
Crimson Feline: AWWW!!! I'm a (sniff) great (sniff) writer? AWWWW THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!! I'm so easily touched (stupid mood swings)... but thank you, have a plushie!!!
Krystalsaliormoon: Me, think bad things about your Kenshin-angel? Ooo, never (whistles innocently and inwardly thinks bad things about Kenshin- angel) I would NEVER do that!!!
Sano: Geez. I go from one girl to the next, and MAN that ANGIE sure can fight! I think she broke my fingers!!!!
Crystal: Poor baby.. Here! (bonks him on the head)
Sano: HEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Be nice to the poor crippled guy!!!!
Kenshin: (squeaks. like a mouse!!) Bad thoughts about.. ORO!!!!!!
Crystal: (grins) What's wrong?
Kenshin: orororororo....
I think we embarrass him too much, angie!!! LOL!!!! I'll update soon, no worries!!! You're like me, when my stories get exciting I get all bouncy and hyper and NO ONE can slow me down it's so funny!!!!!
Nicky9: Thanks for being so nice!!!! I like Kaoru over Tomoe quite a bit, but I accept the fact that Tomoe was a part of Kenshin's life, so you gotta live with it!!! Besides, if Kaoru can, than so can I, right?! Thanks for liking my story and reading it!!!!
Morgan: Oh don't you worry, there will be A LOT MORE Battousai/Kaoru action if she's still alive in the next chapter.. I have yet to make up my mind because MY OTHER HALF THAT IS EVIL (Crystal glares at Sireta, who unsheathes her katana and points it at her, and Crystal takes a sword from the wall and prepares to fight) is still in my head wanting more evil things to happen!!!!
Cutie Blossom: Thank you for thinking that was a super great fluffly chapter!!! I don't know how I update so soon. I just really have nothing else to do with my life but write (jumps up and runs into kitchen, since she forgot she was cooking potato soup for her dad) so I just write and it comes out. I think my muses are coming back to me!!!! I just update. I write a lot, but I don't know. I write when I'm bored because I always stay up SO DANG LATE!!! Like I said, I think I'm nocturnal. So anywayz, I stay up late, get bored and don't' want to go to bed and I write and write and write and write and it's fun!!!!!!!!!! I like fluffy chapters too myself (grins really wide)
Asylum Escapees: I like your name!!!! My mom seems to think I escaped from an asylum.. Lol.. And thank you so much!!! Yeah, I'm still kinda getting used to Sano and Yahiko being brothers but hey, they act like it!!!!!!
Cutie Blossom: Yah, I'm getting too lazy to clump all the review responses into one response. so, anywayz, this has probably got to be the most evil chapter to you, ne? I don't mean to torture you or make you cry!!!!! (hands her tons of tissues) But I will try to see what I can do to numb the pain.. (hands her bunches of goodies in return for forgivness) and Shishio, eh? Hm.. there ARE two figures in this story.. and you gave me one idea, ne?
LittoGrrlStephie: I'm glad you like it and are coming to love my story!!! Battousai/Kaoru are so cool, ne? I kinda like the more aggressive part of Kenshin, but then again, I like the Rurouni. it's confusing. but GEEZ IT'S ALL THE SAME!!!!!!
Zeus The Moose: I will try and make Battousai a little more aggressive (although I think he's going to be SUPER HYPERDRIVE AGRRESSIVE after this chapter!!!!!!) And I'm glad you like the fic!!! I still can't get over your name.hahahaha.. I'm sorry, but I live in a SMALL town and the stupidest things interest me.. Oh, and oh, was part 12 evil? I'm so sorry. (grins) yes, I know Battousai would do that. I thought it was very sneaky. very sneaky Battousai. BAD BATTOUSAI WORRY KAORU LIKE THAT!!! Geez. Oh well, he's Battousai, is he not?
Tiaravball15: Yeah, I'm really starting to get into Aoshi/Misao right now (haven't read any fics completely dedicated to it, but a lot of the Battousai/Kaoru fics have Aoshi/Misao in them for some reason) so there will probably be some part in here SOMEWHERE, but right now, I think the story will be mostly about Battousai/Kaoru/Mystery Figure 1/Mystery Figure 2.
Zeus The Moose: I'm sorry you don't like brownies and chocolate!!!!!! I'm so mean, give you stuff you don't like!!!!!!!! But still, I'm not a big fan of chocolate myself!!!!!!!! So you can have some sugar cookies and frosting, okay?! And plushies for your forgiveness!!!!! ((I think I'm gonna need A LOT of plushies after this chapter... gomen nasai!))
Beraith: See, like I said, Saitou was too obvious, so he couldn't be the figure!!!! I'm glad you thought that chapter didn't suck. my thing is when action fails, go to fluff!!!! No, it's none of the people you said it wasn't, but still, you gave me an idea. Okay, this is going to be so stupid, but I don't like the Hiruma brothers because they're evil and Hiruma is too close to Himura for my liking and THEY CAN'T STEAL KENSHIN'S NAME!!!!!!!!!!!! Okay, I had to get that off my chest. I don't know how many people noticed that, but I did!!!! Yeah, my mom is okay now, and I WANT TO DO THAT TO THAT GUY soooo bad!!!! (grins at her friend, the evil version of Beraith which is insane and grabs a root beer (hey, I really got one of those!) and a dr.pepper and a hyper active Crystal/Sireta joins in on the insanity!!!) That would be so much fun. lol. evil ideas (grabs more pop and goes into hyper overdrive!!!!) Maybe I will do that some day.. (going insane....)
Piper: Well I absolutely love that you absolutely love this story!!!!!! Thanks so much!!!!!!!!!!!!
Britannie Love: Don't kill me for this chapter, okay Brittanie?! Please don't kill me!!!!!!!! Yes, I want the relationship to grow myself, but it doesn't look like that's gonna happen anytime soon, now does it? I'm so sorry!!!!!!!!!! But thanks for your review. No one's gonna know if Kaoru's alive or dead until I REACH 80 REVIEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well, their your responses and you all get caldrouns full of goodies of your choice (I don't care what, because I've got Kenshin's credit card because Kaoru gave it to me because I guess she's mad at him again)!!!!!!!!!! While I sit her and fight with my evil side, Sireta, then I will wait my 80 reviews!!!!!! Sireta's not really evil (so don't hate her) she just come to protect me and well. she just HAS evil ideas, that's all.....
Today's debate question I DID NOT COME UP WITH!!!!! Krystlsaliormoon sent this to me as the debate question: Debate question: what IS it with that boy and his sex-appeal? He's gentle, quiet, a bit clumsy, and sweet--and there are thousands of fan-girls panting over him! Or over Battousai, whom we all agree is a dangerous sexy beast. Hm...
So, your opinions are welcome!!!
Well, I think I will go now!!!!!! So until the next chapter!!!!!!!
Luv,
Crystal Renee and Sireta