Between the Devil and the Deep
A Rurouni Kenshin Alternate Universe Fic
by Gemini

Rated PG-13 for language and tongues
For Moonspark, Who Beta-Read The Wrong Chapter. Surprise!
Disclaimer: Not mine. Seriously. I checked.
Chapter 5: Between Duty and Desire

Kaoru held the cold compress to her mouth and winced. Her lower lip was swollen and still slightly bloody. Megumi had tried to help her, but Kaoru had sent her away to look after the rest of the crew. All she had was a bloody lip; lord only knew how the rest of her men had fared. She frowned, ignoring the brief twinge of pain when she moved her lips, and stared out the multi-paned windows that encompassed the entire back wall of her quarters. The sky was still gray, but the clouds were no longer ominous having dumped their contents and moved on.

Kaoru wasn't particularly concerned with the weather anymore. She had other things to be worried about. In fact, she was consumed with worries. Worries about her ship and crew, worries about their new passenger and her conflicting feelings in regards to him, worries about their chances of catching up with the Miburo now that the storm had slowed their progress and worries about her fight with Sano. She leaned her forehead against the cool glass and closed her eyes, wishing, for a brief moment, that she was simply a girl with silly concerns about dresses and boys and dances.

"Kaoru?" Aoshi tapped on her doorframe.

She banished such useless thoughts from her mind and turned to face her navigator. "Well? Have we lost him?"

Aoshi shook his head. "Not if we keep the wind in our sails." He replied quietly. "The storm only delayed us a little bit and we managed to stay on course."

She leaned back against her windows and smiled. "Good. Go up top and keep a watch over who ever is at the helm. Make sure they keep us going at our current rate of speed."

Aoshi inclined his head and vanished into the shadowy hallway, she could hear his footsteps echo as he made his way to the deck.

One less worry, then. She dropped the compress onto her unmade bed and shrugged on a dry coat. She needed to find Sano so they could finish their argument about Kenshin. And then she needed to find Kenshin and…she frowned. What exactly would she do when she found Kenshin? Her fingers fumbled over her coat buttons. Kenshin was a problem. He was a captain in the Imperial Navy, a man well known for his dedication to his post. What would he do when he found out what her plans were?

She remembered how warm he had been as he held her on the sea-swept deck of her ship, how strong he had felt…how his eyes had seemed fathomless. She shook her head and straightened her coat. It was useless to run around swooning like a school girl. Even if they had an uneasy truce now, their relationship in the future could be nothing but adversarial.

She strapped her sword around her waist and went in search of Sano.

She knew something was wrong the minute she saw the crowd around Kenshin's private cabin. Her men were whispering among themselves as they watched some drama unfolding from within the room. She heard the sound of two men arguing. Sano's deep growl followed by Kenshin's lower, angry voice. She scowled and pushed into the crowd. When the men saw who was shoving them, they immediately parted to allow her through. She made it to the door and her eyes narrowed.

Sano was standing with a dark look on his face, his pistol aimed at Kenshin, who was holding a sword level with Sano's chest. Kenshin's expression was calm, neutral only his eyes belied his true feelings, but Sano was clearly angry.

"Like I would fucking trust one of you Navy bastards!" Sano spat, cocking the hammer of his gun.

"Sano!" Kaoru growled. "Stand down! Now!" She rested her hand on the hilt of her sword and leveled him with a merciless gaze.

Both men looked at her in surprise.

"Kaoru…I was just…" Sano began to explain but she cut him off.

"Shut up, Sano. We talked about this! I told you to do nothing!" She turned to the men gathered in the hallway. "Don't you all have a ship to fix?" She asked darkly. The men scattered, leaving the three of them alone.

"Lower your weapons, both of you." She said quietly. Kenshin immediately sheathed his sword, but Sano hesitated. "Goddamn it, Sano, if you don't put that gun down right now, I swear I will put it down for you." She drew her sword and pointed it at him.

Sano reluctantly lowered his weapon. She strode into the room and yanked it out of his hand, sticking it into her belt. "I told you not to do anything." She said, sheathing her sword. "I asked you to trust me."

Sano scowled. "And I told you that we can't trust him! He's one of THEM!"

Kaoru shook her head slowly. "Sano, just trust me, okay? He's not like the others."

"How do you know?" Sano shot back.

Kaoru hung her head for a moment, seeming to be contemplating something. When she looked up, her eyes were cold, her mouth set in a firm line. "Sanosuke, if you do not leave this room right now and return to duty, then I will have no choice but to throw you into the brig. You have no right and no authority to question my judgments. Am I clear?"

Sano slumped. "Crystal." He muttered. He shot Kenshin one final glare and left the cabin, slamming the door in his wake.

"What was that all about?" Kenshin asked, slightly bewildered, his own anger vanishing the moment Sano left the room.

Kaoru sighed and rubbed her forehead before turning to face him. "Sano's adopted father committed suicide when he was about ten or so." She chewed on her tender lower lip for a moment before continuing. "He was a lawyer and a social activist who made himself rather unpopular by criticizing the Navy and its policies. So, certain members of the Admiralty made sure that his life was completely and utterly ruined. He killed himself because of all the negative publicity and such."

Kenshin sat down heavily on his bed. "Souzo Sagara." He said, quietly.

Kaoru nodded, surprised. "How did you know?" She asked. "You couldn't have been in the Navy when that happened…"

Kenshin shook his head. "I was, actually. Just barely enlisted, a scullery boy, but I heard the story. It was whispered about, a warning to anyone who dared oppose His Majesty's Navy. I had no idea that Sano was Sagara's adopted son. No wonder he hates me. I represent everything he despises."

Kaoru sank down next to him. "He's afraid that you will betray us." She said, glancing at him from the corner of her eye.

Kenshin frowned. "Hardly a fitting way to repay you for saving my life and Yahiko's." He said. "You don't have to worry about me. Just drop us off at the nearest port and be done with all of this."

Kaoru nodded again. "Of course, but we have to make a brief stop, first."

Kenshin straightened and looked at her with alarm. "When a pirate says they need to make a brief stop, it generally isn't just to pick up some groceries." He said uneasily.

She laughed, just a trace too forced.

Kenshin looked her square in the eyes. "What are you going to do?" He asked quietly.

Her smile vanished. "Nothing for you to concern yourself with." She said stiffly.

He raked his hand through his still damp red hair. "Well now, that concerns me." He replied.

Kaoru bit her lip again, and tried to come up with a way to keep him from finding out too much, something to distract him. She hit upon an idea that caused a slight flush to creep up her neck. She couldn't, no…she wasn't that type of girl, especially not after...she blinked and shook her head slightly, clearing her thoughts. If it would distract him from his present course of thought, then she would do it.

"Kaoru? What are you planning to do?" He was looking at her with a troubled expression. She wasn't entirely sure how much they could trust him, no matter what she told Sano. She had to keep him from finding anything out for the time being. After they had rescued Misao, then she'd spill everything. What had her father always said? It was better to ask for forgiveness than permission.

"Oh hell." She muttered and turned to him. Without allowing herself any time to think about what she was going to do, she reached forward, grabbed his face between her hands and kissed him square on the mouth. If this didn't distract him, nothing would.

He gasped in surprise as she slanted her lips across his and she took the opportunity to run her tongue along his bottom lip. For a few long moments, he didn't respond. Then, just as she was getting worried that she had made a huge mistake, he pulled her into his lap and began returning the favor, with interest.

The next few moments went by in a pleasurable blur of lips and tongues and hands. She was so completely distracted that she didn't even care that her lower lip was protesting. Then, quite suddenly, Kenshin shifted and somehow, Kaoru found herself flat on her back, the mattress beneath her and Kenshin looming above her. In a split second, she had lost control of the situation. She tried desperately to ignore the tightening in her chest and the fear that burned like acid. He wouldn't hurt her, she shouldn't be afraid.

His dark violet eyes were narrowed on her flushed face and he stared at her for a long moment, thoughtfully. Worried, she raised her slightly shaky hands to bring him back down into kissing range, but he grabbed a hold of her wrists before she could. "Wait." He said, his voice low and slightly husky.

"What's wrong?" She asked, trying her best to appear winsome and welcoming instead of frightened.

He took a deep breath and smiled at her slightly, letting go of her wrists. "Nice try." He said, wagging a finger at her. "But you didn't answer my question."

She scowled and pushed him off, leaping out of the bed like it was on fire, her panic forgotten. What was wrong with him? Most men would have been much more interested in getting her out of her pants than finding out what she was plotting. She smoothed her rumpled jacket and checked to make sure her hair was in decent shape. She felt oddly upset, like she had been rejected. Wasn't she beautiful enough to distract him?

He sat on the bed, waiting for her to answer, his arms crossed.

Finally, the oppressive silence was too much for Kaoru. She whirled around and threw her hands up. "You want to know? Fine. We're going to waylay a ship and rescue a friend of mine." Suddenly, she didn't care if he knew. What could he do to her anyway, on her own ship? If he gave her any problems, she'd have Sano throw him into the brig.

Kenshin raised an eyebrow. "What ship?"

"The Miburo." She replied haughtily.

"Hajime Saitou's ship? Are you insane or just stupid?" He asked incredulously.

"Neither." She snapped.

He frowned. "Kaoru, it's either one or the other. I know Saitou. He'd rather take a bullet himself than let a crew of pirates aboard his precious ship. You'll never make it off the Miburo alive."

She shook her head stubbornly. "Perhaps that would be true if I planned on engaging him in combat, but since I don't, I rather think our chances are good."

"Tell me then, how exactly are you going to board his ship without him noticing? Do you have some sort of magic that makes you invisible?" He asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Just about." She replied archly. "Don't you worry about us, Captain Himura. It's not as though we've never done this sort of thing before. Just mind your business and we'll mind ours. Agreed?"

Kenshin slumped slightly. "So it's back to Captain Himura again?" He asked quietly.

"Agreed?" She asked again, ignoring his last remark.

He stood up and looked at her with an inscrutable expression on his face. "I suppose there is nothing I can say that will change your mind then?" He murmured.

She shook her head.

He sighed. "Agreed. I'll keep my nose out of it. Just…" He trailed off.

"Just what?" She asked waspishly.

Gently, he reached forward and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "Just don't get hurt." He said quietly, his fingers trailing across her cheek before dropping away.

She stared at him and saw something in his eyes that she found both worrisome and exciting at the same time. Without saying a word, she turned and left his cabin quickly, slamming the door hard behind her.

What was he playing at? She stormed as she marched down the narrow hall. Why did he look at her like that? And why did she like it? This situation was fast spinning out of her control. "Argh! Why didn't I leave that barnacle in the sea?!" She exclaimed out loud. A few of her crew that were passing stopped and stared at her in alarm.

"Captain? Are you all right?" Beshimi asked anxiously.

Kaoru stood up straight and flipped her hair over her shoulder in a move of false confidence. "I'm fine Beshimi, just occupied. Now go about your work." She said irritably.

Alarmed, he and the two men with him nodded and scurried out of her way. Nothing good ever came of being around the captain when she was in that kind of mood.

Kaoru stomped up to the deck and waved Kamatari off of the helm. "Go and see if Sano has some work for you. I'll steer this old bucket." She said, still terribly annoyed.

Kamatari nodded and quickly left the helm, shooting a look at Aoshi that seemed to say 'Look out, she's in one of her moods.' Aoshi acknowledged him with a small nod.

"Everything all right, Kaoru?" Aoshi asked, moving from the railing to where she stood, her hands clutching the wheel like it stood between her and death.

"Fine. Just fucking fine." She replied through clenched teeth.

"How did your talk go with Captain Himura?" He asked offhandedly, but though his voice was neutral, his keen eyes had picked up several interesting tidbits of information.

She looked back at him, surprised. "How did you…?"

"You just missed Sano." He said by way of an answer.

She frowned and turned her attention back to the sea.

"Did he not like your plan?" Aoshi quizzed, enjoying his rare opportunity to torment his captain.

"He was adverse to the idea." She replied.

"I see. It does appear as though he had quite a violent reaction to it." Aoshi murmured, rocking back and forth on his heels, his hands clasped behind him and a tiny smile on his face.

"What are you talking about?" Kaoru snapped.

"Three of your buttons are undone and it looks as though you have a bruise on your neck." He replied, his smile growing a bit broader.

Mortified, Kaoru's hands flew first to her shirt and then clapped over her neck. "I, um, fell, Aoshi. That's all."

Aoshi raised an eyebrow. "You fell onto his mouth?"

Kaoru stomped her foot, a rather juvenile way of venting her anger and frustration that she had never quite grown out of. "Aoshi!" She shrieked.

He smirked. "It was rather hard to resist, Kaoru." He replied archly. "Think of it as payback."

She pointed a shaking finger at him. "You're lucky I don't put you in the brig!" She squeaked.

He shrugged.

She stomped past him, headed for her quarters to button her shirt and find a scarf. "One word of this to anyone, Shinomori and I'll send you straight overboard with a cannonball attached to your leg, got it?" She hissed.

He saluted smartly. "Aye, captain."

She stormed off the deck and, a few moments later he heard her door slam. He grinned and took a hold of the wheel. Revenge was quite satisfying.


Misao stood at the railing of the Miburo and heaved her guts out. She was quite surprised she had anything left, frankly. She was fairly certain that she had surrendered everything she had eaten that day and possibly the day before that to the sea. She had absolutely no tolerance for the kind of violent to and fro movement that a ship besieged by a storm could make. She rested her head on the smooth wood and gulped in fresh air, hoping she was through.

"Not an experienced sailor, are you lass?" A deep voiced boomed over her shoulder.

She turned, half expecting to see Captain Saitou. But the man standing behind her was not the unpleasant captain. It was the other passenger who had come on with her, a Navy man, the only person save Tokio that Misao had ever seen Saitou be polite to. It took her a few moments to come up with his name. Not surprising since she hadn't seen him since almost the first day she had boarded the Miburo. He had taken meals in his quarters and rarely left it.

"Commodore Shishio, it is a rare thing to see you about." She said, steadying herself on the railing.

He smiled and she revised her opinion of him. Although his smile was nice, there was nothing behind it and the effect was more chilling than comforting.

"I do not like to spend too much time rubbing elbows with the unwashed masses." He said disdainfully, waving a pristinely white gloved hand in the direction of a knot of crewmembers currently engaged in repairing sails damaged in the storm.

She almost frowned but held it back, remembering who he was, but she could not resist a small comment. "It is rather odd that a Navy man would have no patience for his fellows." She replied.

His smile faded. "I do not consider those…" He paused to find a proper word for the crew, "filthy things to be my fellows or peers. They just help make the ship move. They are rather like sails, really. Terribly useful, but easily replaced."

This time she did frown. "I'm sorry, I don't share your opinion of this crew. They seem like fine men to me." She said quietly. "I bid you good day, Commodore." She bowed slightly and beat a hasty retreat, vastly relieved to be out of his unpleasant presence.

She hoped the Kami Kaze hadn't been held up or damaged by the storm. She could only pray that Kaoru made it in time, the alternative was unthinkable.

P.S. I couldn't resist giving this chapter a smutty title. I've been reading a lot of pirate smut lately.
P.P.S. Yes, Kaoru had a hickey. Go Kenshin!
P.P.P.S. Aoshi was getting Kaoru back for teasing him about Misao.
P.P.P.P.S. A Commodore has a higher rank than a Captain, hence the reason why Saitou was polite to Shishio.
P.P.P.P.P.S. I brought Shishio into the story. Shishio! Ain't I a stinker?