o_O wow I expected alotta flames from people…when I was clicking the e-mails open I was like *please don't let it be a flame* . thank god I didn't receive any..at least the offended had the decency to walk away from the story without discouraging me YAY I love you all, including those who don't like it *mwah*
**************************************************
Corrupted Innocence: Chapter 4
by white seraph
**************************************************
More than a week has pasted after that incident, and it seemed to fade away from Kaoru's mind, buried by the busy events that seem to come like waves, one after another. It wasn't just the dance production, at least not anymore. Kaoru was one of the very few chosen to model for a successful kimono chain, and will need to take time out for artists to paint her pictures before sending them out on display. All she hoped for, was that fortune will be on her side, and she won't ever bump into that rude, perverted young man ever again.
On the contrary to Kaoru's busy life, however, Kenshin was living through the most boring week of his life. After the embaressing incident, Ikumatsu stopped taking him to her rehearsals all together, and for the rest of the week, she had unknowingly, left him musing around the lodge, thinking over and over again of what she told him.
Ikumatsu had finally told him, after she was reported of his despicable deeds, about her visit to Kaoru's house before, and she told Kenshin of their conversation; that the girl was in fact, as innocent as she looked, that from the very start, she was put on the highest shelf, out of reach for anyone. he had come to understand, come to realize everything, and lamented himself for his idiocy in forcing himself to seduce her when it was blatant and apparent from the very start that it would no work because she was a different type of woman that he was not accustomed to.
But quite unfortunately, this did not dampen his feelings for her at all, instead, the genuine innocence in the girl only made her the more appealing. Kenshin both wanted, and not wanted to see her, for now he knew he could never have her, unless by force of course, but that was out of the question. He did briefly think about being her patron, like Katsura with Ikumatsu, so he could spend his time getting acquainted with her, even if she would not bed with him. It wasn't that it didn't' matter, it did, of course it did, but Kenshin would take his time. If it meant her good, then he would.
What was he thinking? The thought of the latter had struck him right there. He had never put other people's thoughts before his own, or at last not anymore. But this was the second time now. First time, behind the stage, he had pulled himself away from the pleasure that was only one inch away, going against his own wills of desire, and putting himself in the pain of the deprivation. And why? For the bloody sake of a girl he didn't even know, and now he is meaning to spend his time, effort and patience, all for the sake of getting acquainted with her?
Kenshin sighed. This was crazy, it really was. He concluded that the reason he was letting his mind drift away was because he had nothing to do. There was simply too much time to spare for him to think about girls. Kenshin sat up straight, from is slouched figure. He was resolute in putting any thoughts of this girl out of his mind, it was driving him insane.
As if trying to prove to himself of his resolution, Kenshin decided he would drop by the rehearsal hall, where he knew Ikumatsu and others would be practicing at this time of the hour. He would prove to himself that he could control himself. He would not let stupid emotions take over, would not let that girl he barely knew conquer him.
The road was easy to recognize, and Kenshin had no problems in getting to the building, The sun was sinking behind the hills, and day was turning into night, but despite the time, the hall was more crowded than the first time he went there, and there were more people on stage than before, including Ikumatsu.
But still no sign of Kaoru.
Kenshin felt the tugging temptation of popping to the backstage to see if she was there, but that wasn't the point of him being here. He had promised himself that he would dismiss any thought of the girl, but here he was standing there, having doubts if he should find her. He sat down at a seat on one of the empty rows, finalizing his decision to stay and forget about the girl.
He did not understand the dance; all he was able to comprehend was the physical movements, accompanied by poignant music. Unfortunately, throughout the whole dance, Kaoru had not appeared, and it wasn't until the dance was nearly over, and everyone was leaving, when he himself was going to leave, too, he spotted her at the front yard, outside the hall, talking to the white haired man whom he recognized from the week before. At that sight, Kenshin immediately forgot about his resolution, as he seethed with jealousy.
Although now he realized that they were not the kind of couple that he initially thought they were; that there was nothing between them more than a piece of innocent friendship, Kenshin still couldn't help but feel his heart clench with jealousy, as he saw from a distant, the two standing at the side of the gates, face to face chatting happily, as if they had no intention in ever parting.
Kenshin's eyes narrowed with seething jealousy as Kaoru turned, and he saw the broad smile on her face, smiling cheerfully. It was an expression he had never seen from her, and expression he could never bring out from her.
The lights in the hall went out, and most of the people were already gone, including Ikumatsu, whom Kenshin had seen from a distance, who left with her other friends, but the two were still there, chatting away as if they were in their own world. Kenshin stretched his neck, and strained his ears trying to hear their conversation. But he was too far away. Hiding behind the wooden fencing, he could only stare from the distance.
Finally! The white an turned to leave, walking away in the opposite direction. He felt the urge to follow her, although he knew there was no purpose at all in his foolish behavior, yet somehow, out of irrational desire, he wanted to, just for the sake of whatever.
It was both fortunate and unfortunate that he followed.
The street was cold, and the moonlight was flooding the stony ground, with occasional dim yellowy light provided by the lights from street lamps, and closed down shops. He followed her form a fair distance, making sure the girl would not notice his presence. [yes basically, he's stalking her lol]
Kenshin watched as she turned down to the dim corridors of the quieter streets, alone. And it did not occur to him that it was in fact, dangerous for a girl, as attractive as her to walk all alone in the deserted streets in such a late hour, at least not until it really happened.
At first, Kenshin did not only thought they were people, acquainted with her, and only approached the girl to greet her. They were a group of men, all circling around Kaoru, blocking her from his view.
He had no idea they were not acquainted, no idea that how they attempted to touch her the way he did before, no idea how they pushed her around, hurting her physically.
It wasn't until his impatience and curiosity drew him closer to the group that he realized how wrong he was to assume that they were as innocent as they did not look. It wasn't until he heard the girl's shriek that he realized what was happening. Kenshin's felt the anger rushing through his veins, he was so angry, that it did not occur to him that his actions were no better than these men's. All he saw was the immorality and how degrading these men were.
He needed to justify their actions, needed to save girl, needed to set her the heroic image of himself. Or a least what he perceived as heroic and justifying.
Without anymore thought, Kenshin drew out his sword. "Do you people not think that it is slightly inappropriate for you two harass a poor weak girl like her?" He pushed his chin up confidently, not at all intimated by the size of the men, and the deadly weapons at their belts.
The largest man from the group turned away from the circled girl, and looked at him right in the eye, dangerously, attempting to intimidate Kenshin. "Trying to be a heroic to impress the girl here aren't we?" He sneered, and all the others turned their heads around to look at the intruder, including Kaoru, who stretched her neck to the side to see who her savior was, and her eyes widened immediately at the glimpse of the familiar red hair.
The men, deceived by the young lad's appearance, snickered. "Go home and get your daddy to teach you to respect warriors first before trying to be one." Another added, finding it rather humorous.
Kenshin looked unaffected by their insults, but of course, inside he was boiling with anger; not only had they made him look like a fool, they did it in front of Kaoru, completely giving her the wrong idea that he was a pathetic, useless weakling. Well he'll show them what a real warrior is like, he'll show the girl who the true warrior was here. "I don't see where men like you get their respect." He replied, breathing n the cold air, as he prepared himself for an attack.
At seeing him draw his sword out, the other men followed his example and drew out their weapons. "You'll be sorry for this" The same man said, before charging up to Kenshin, quickly, he obviously looked very skillful by the way he held his sword. Everyone made the obvious assumption that the more mature man would win, seeing that Kenshin made no movements to dodge or defend himself at all.
Suddenly, a blur of motion disorientated the spectators, and within seconds after, blood splayed all over the cold, hard ground. At first, the thought it belonged to the red haired young lad. "Killed him in one go? Well done!" one of them men still in the bunched group called out.
Or perhaps it was too soon for them to make a conclusion.
For the moonlight ran across the street, lighting the scene with it's white, creamy cloak. The tall man was no where to be seen by the briefest look, and the red haired lad was covered with blood. "Where…where did he go?" The same man asked. But he quickly held his breath at the instant his gaze fell to the bloody ground.
"Yes I did, and now, you will all follow his path." His eyes, reflected by the moonlight, were dark, amber and dangerously cold.
"You…you" The man did not finish, for all his companions turned around and started running away, down the quiet street, leaving him all alone. But he, too, quickly followed their examples, and ran for his life too, leaving the bloody street, empty, with a lone assassin, standing with angry eyes and bloody swords.
He looked across the corner, where he thought they left Kaoru. But she was no where to be seen. Kenshin's heart skipped a beat at the empty corner, did they take the girl with them?!
He quickly scanned across the street, and noticed the girl, running down the other way, and immediately spotted the raven haired girl, scurrying off. How dare she! He just saved her life, and without a word of thanks, she runs away like that?!
Kenshin chased after the girl, and caught up with her soon after the run started. "Just where the hell do you think you are going?" He pulled Kaoru's shoulder backwards, to him, and yanked her to the wall aggressively.
He heard the girl wince at his forceful grip, and immediately let go of his grip, and leaned, with an arm against the wall, blocking her from escape.
Kaoru gulped fearfully, and remained silent, she did not know what to say, what to do. In fact, she was still trembling over what she saw. Every single bit of it. The men, the blades, the blood…
As if reading her mind, Kenshin gripped her hand, a little too tightly, wanting to reassure her that she had nothing to be afraid of. "I just saved your life, where is your gratitude?"
Kaoru stared up at his golden eyes. "I have no gratitude for murderers" She spat back.
…. Again my ideas run out, MORE IDEA SUPPLY PLEASE dammit I'm like the worst writer ever, I don't got my ideas planned, I don't write in good prose, god dammit, I should have written in narrative form, d'be so much easier…T.T
* * *AN: sorry that was like REEALLY short, and sorry for the delay. updates will be excruciatingly slow for the next month cos I have do courseworks *very important* and I got 40% for my math test *cries* need to catch up on it for a bit) PLUS I have two stories to write..pfft