Rurouni Kenshin Fanfic
Rurouni Kenshin & Samurai X Original Japanese Version © N. Watsuki/Shueisha * Fuji-TV * SME Visual Works Inc. * Sony Pictures Entertainment
All Fanfics Created by Chiruken (me) and Rurouni Angel were written for the sole purpose of shared entertainment and not intended for publication or sale.
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Heh…and here you thought we'd dropped off the face of the planet.
RPG Collaboration Between Rurouni Angel and Chiruken
Warnings: Alternate Pairing, Possible Lemons, Occasional Violence and Bad Language.
Consider yourself Warned…
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Charmed
Part 33
By Chiruken
Fury lanced throughout Kenshin's being as he faced off against the man who had all but threatened everything he cared about in his life. There was no way he'd ever all Kaoru to come to harm, not in such a manner as was being implied. He fought to maintain control over the murderous rage swirling through him and remember his vow to never kill, but it wasn't easy when all he wanted to do was tear this Terada Ran limb from limb and beat him to a bloody pulp. Dimly, at the far edges of his consciousness, he could hear Kaoru calling to him and Yahiko stepping forward, raising his shinai in a defensive stance, ready and willing to come to his aid if need be. He was a good boy, but in his current condition he'd be useless. He raised a hand, halting his companions and their advancement, amber ringed eyes never leaving the man standing casually before him. "What do you want?" He managed to grit out, rather pleased by the fact that his voice was able to maintain a semblance of calm despite the inner turmoil assailing him.
"I'm the messenger, Battousai. I merely bring the message from my boss."
"And who is your boss?"
"You know him well. You've had dealings with him in the past. More than that, I am not at liberty to say." He continued to watch the smaller man warily while he tried to maintain his calm exterior when inside he was shaking like a leaf. Everyone knew that it was tantamount to suicide to stand against a hitokiri of Battousai's caliber. "He sends a warning, Battousai…" He paused and even managed a smile though he suspected it emerged more as a grimace. "If you don't abandon your foolish ideals and vow of non-killing, some one close to you will die. Be prepared."
Kenshin frowned uncertainly. That certainly didn't sound like something Takeda Kanryuu normally would say, not to him at least. What he did understand, however, that someone seemed to be rather intent on giving him a reason to forgo his vow and allow the hitokiri of his past to emerge once again. "Why are you doing this?" He asked with narrowed eyes and voice hard.
"Money is a powerful tool." He shrugged and stepped closer to the gate. "I find I am willing to do nearly anything to acquire it and the influence that would come with having a lot of it." He smirked and bowed mockingly. "You would do well to forget your silly insistence that everyone follow the same path as you do, Battousai. Farewell. I'm sure we'll meet again soon." He laughed and disappeared through the gate.
"Kenshin…are you just going to let him get away?" Yahiko frowned up at his mentor and father figure. "Kenshin?" He repeated his name when he didn't receive a reply to his earlier question.
"Hmm…who could he be referring to?" He murmured softly as he slowly slid his sakabatou back into its sheath at his side.
"And what about Miss Megumi?" Kaoru laced her fingers tightly together and shook her head. "There's no telling what they're doing to her. For all we know she could be…" She didn't finish the statement, but they all knew the implications. Megumi could be dead. It was a very real possibility. Their recent night visitor could have been lying about her supposed safety.
"Kenshin…aren't you going to follow him?" Kenshin looked down at his friend lying at his feet. "That bastard knows where Megumi is. If we let him get away, we could lose any chance at findin' her before it's too late."
Yahiko scratched his head, a puzzled frown tugging down his brows. "And who the hell did Saito marry? I thought he already had a wife."
"Watch your language, Yahiko." Kaoru corrected her apprentice automatically before turning her blue gave towards Kenshin. "But he has a point. Who could he have been referring to? Saito's new wife…from Kyoto…what could it mean? And why would he imply that we know her?"
"Yeah…and someone that Aoshi might be interested in, too." Yahiko sat on the edge of the engawa and stared at the ground thoughtfully. "Who could it be?"
"Who cares?" Sanosuke jumped up, hands closed into fists. "I don't care about that bastard and whoever was unlucky enough to marry him! I care about Megumi!"
"Easy, Sano." Kenshin soothed his friend softly. "Anger won't get us anywhere, that it will not." He smiled reassuringly before frowning again. "I suspect that Saito has done something incredibly stupid this time if it involves Shinomori Aoshi."
"What do you mean?" Kaoru looked at him curious, suspicion entering her eyes. "Do you know who it might be?"
Kenshin nodded curtly. "Yes, I do. I believe the woman Terada was referring to was Miss Misao." Shocked silence met his statement.
*~*
A Saito approached the door to the cabin he shared with his wife he scowled. Something seemed out of place…wrong. He wasn't certain what was tickling at the edge of his consciousness, but it was there all the same, threatening to make his hair stand on end. Balancing the tray containing the light meal he'd procured for Misao, he reached down with the other to lightly caress the familiar and comforting leather of the hilt of his katana. He sensed a lingering ki filled with hate, bitterness and a cold rage directed towards him. Looking around the narrow hall cautiously, he stepped forward slowly, narrowed amber gaze taking in all the details of his surroundings with careful attention. Nothing. He was alone in the hall, yet the feeling persisted. He paused outside the cabin door next to his own and turned his head to stare at it hard for several long moments before stepping closer, allowing his own ki to rise in challenge with a slight smirk. Shinomori. He should have known it was him. It truly was ironic that he was currently occupying the room next to his own. He had a feeling the current animosity being directed towards him was directly related to his previous activities with his young wife. His smirk widened into a grin. Misao hadn't been quiet and he suspected the sounds of her pleasure had reached Shinomori's ears through the thin walls. It was satisfying knowing that the other man was finally being forced to acknowledge the enormity of his folly. If only he hadn't been such an ass, it could have been him rather than Saito. He shrugged and turned away from the door. It was Shinomori Aoshi's loss and his gain.
Pushing the door open, he smiled at his young wife as she jumped up from the bed, the sheet wrapped loosely around her enticing curves as she bounded across the short distance to him and threw her arms around him, reaching up on tiptoe to press her lips against his jaw. "Saito…" She whispered huskily, green eyes dark with an indescribable emotion. "I missed you." She ran her small hands down the front of his uniform, tugging on the buttons until they unfastened. He raised one eyebrow and let her continue, a slight smile curving his lips upwards and softening his stern features as he gazed down at her. His little wife charmed like no other had ever done before.
"Are you hungry?" He asked, lifting the tray for her inspection.
"Later. Right now I want you." Misao dropped her hands and began tugging on Saito's belt. "Hurry up, Saito…I can't wait."
He blinked and set the tray aside, pulling her into his arms and claiming her lips in a searing kiss that left both their breathing ragged and their hearts pounding. "So eager…" He murmured as he shrugged out of his coat and allowed it to drop to the floor, forgotten. He ran his hands down her generous curves and guided her towards the bed as she tugged his shirt free of his pants and ran her hand up under it to caress his chest, fingers splayed wide. "Mine…" He growled and tore the sheet away from her, tossing it to the side as he grasped her hips in his strong hands and lifted her to claim her lips again.
"Yes! Yours!" She cried before returning the kiss passionately, legs wrapping around his waist as she moved against him almost desperately. "I need you, my husband, now!" She thrust her hands into his hair and threw her head back as he pressed his lips against the graceful column of her throat just over her pulse. The food forgotten, he carried her to the bed and, one handed, reached down to unfasten his belt and remove his katana. Letting the sheathed weapon dropped to the floor with a clatter he leaned forward, pressing himself against her. He would never fail to be amazed at how incredibly responsive she was to his touch nor how he burned for her in a way he'd never imagined possible. All thought vanished as he lost himself in the young woman and her eager responses.
*~*
Aoshi closed his eyes and tried to block out the sounds from the room next to his own. It was driving him slowly out of his mind knowing that his Misao was in the arms of another man and apparently enjoying it very much indeed. He stretched out on the bed and stifled a groan as he heard her voice rise in increasing passion. He hated Saito with every fiber of his being in that moment. He even hated his sweet Misao for her ability to forget him in the arms of another. He reached to the side and grabbed his pillow, planting it over his face and held it against his ears to try to block out the noises drifting through the thin walls. How could they be going at it again so soon? Had they no shame? He gritted his teeth and tried to ignore the way his own body ached for the young woman he'd so recently seen. Her creamy smooth skin, her large jade eyes, the way her rosy lips pursed. She was perfection personified and he'd allowed her to slip away. He groaned again and shook his head. No, he'd driven her away with his inability to act on his deep and innermost feelings.
He closed his eyes and focused on the purpose for this trip rather than the mattress creaking in the next room. It was impossible. The sounds were too loud, intruding on his mind, destroying his control. Sitting up abruptly he swung his long legs over the edge of the bed and stood. Crossing the short distance to the door he yanked it open and emerged in the narrow hall. Pausing for a moment to cast a venomous look towards the room the loud noises were emerging from he bared his teeth in a snarl and whirled towards the steps leading up on deck. He wouldn't listen to that much longer without completely losing his sanity. He emerged from below deck and stared at the starlit sky for a moment before crossing to the rail. Folding his arms against it, he leaned forward and looked down into the swirling black waves below. It was cold up on deck, but blessedly silent and free of the moans and groans of the newly wed couple in the room next to his own.
*~*
Megumi moaned and slowly opened her eyes. Her mouth felt as if it were filled with something bitter and completely devoid of moisture. Her body felt heavy, lethargic, and she knew instantly that she'd been drugged. Raising a shaking hand slowly, she brushed her long dark hair out of her face and moved to sit up. Drawing in a ragged breath she bit back another groan of pain as her head began to throb. Her pulse quickened in panic as memory flooded her awareness. She was back in the clutches of Takeda Kanryuu. She blinked back the sting of sudden tears. She'd thought the nightmare over when he'd been sent to prison. How had he escaped execution? He should be dead, yet here she was under his control again. It just wasn't fair! She'd been happy, making a new life for herself, no longer causing harm to people with her medical knowledge and trying to make amends for the crimes she'd committed under his command in the past. She raised her head slowly and looked around the dark room and tried to push back the despair threatening to engulf her. She would escape. She wouldn't allow herself to be used again. She would never, ever work for Takeda again. She'd die first before making that poison for him to distribute on the streets.
"Ah…awake?" Her head snapped around at the low, familiar and taunting voice. "Good." She gasped when her gaze fell on the man sitting in a chair beside the door, one leg crossed over the other as he regarded her with hate-filled eyes glaring at her from behind his glasses, long fingers steepled beneath his chin as he leaned forward. "Now, Miss Megumi, you've been a very, very naughty girl, haven't you?" She shuddered when he smiled. It wasn't a pleasant expression by any means.
"What do you want, Takeda?" She asked coldly, rather proud of the fact that her voice remained steady despite the terror gripping her heart and squeezing it, making it nearly impossible to breathe.
"Now, now…is that any way to speak to your gracious host? I'm disappointed in you, my dear. I thought you had better manners than that." He stood and crossed to her. "Ah…still as beautiful as ever. Those dark eyes holding such mystery, that silky hair…those luscious lips just begging to be kissed…mmm…indeed you are still lovely to behold." He reached out a hand and laughed when she shrank back from his touch. "No need to act the part of shy virgin, Miss Megumi. We both know you are anything but a maiden so save the blushes and outraged shock." He ran his fingers over her cheek and sighed. "As soft as ever…you really have been taking care of yourself, my pet." He smirked and abruptly struck her. "I'm pleased." He turned on his heel. "You'll make a fine bargaining tool."
**To Be Continued…**