The Devil's Workshop
MysticShadowWanderer
Disclaimer: I know a mouse and he hasn't got a house, I don't know why I call him Gerald. He's getting rather old, but he's a good mouse. (Anyone else know that song?)
*****
Chapter Eight: Breaking Point
The dim lights of a small rural town came into view just before sunset that day. Kaoru wasn't sure exactly where they were, but Battousai seemed to know the village well, and led her straight to the door of an inn. The place reeked of smoke and sake, but Kaoru did her best to ignore it as Battousai made arrangements for a room. She didn't like the way that the woman helping him eyed his bare chest, and stepped to his side again. He smirked at her, as if he could read her thoughts, and put his arm around her waist once more. Kaoru's face burned; it hardly seemed appropriate to be held by a half-dressed man in public, but it wasn't really avoidable. The woman scowled and showed them to their room. Battousai dismissed her without thanks, in addition, ordering her to have food brought to their room.
"That was rather rude, wasn't it?" Kaoru questioned with raised brows.
"Yes." Battousai shrugged. "I won't lose any sleep over it."
"Have you ever considered that maybe that's the reason you aren't very well liked?"
"You mean besides the fact that I'm a ruthless hitokiri?"
"Oh," Kaoru said, twisting her hands as was habitual when she was nervous or embarrassed. "Yes, I'd forgotten."
"Forgotten?" Battousai seemed shocked. "You were able to completely forget... that?"
"I... well... yes."
Battousai stared at her curiously, and she tried to keep her face blank while also attempting to read his eyes. It was impossible, he was too well guarded, but she thought, or maybe hoped, that she caught a fleeting look of gratitude. Still, although he wouldn't let her see his thoughts as he could see hers, she could tell that he was amazed. It surely wasn't every day that someone treated him like an individual, instead of just a feared demon.
"But you aren't," she whispered to herself.
"Aren't what?" She'd failed to take into account his exceptional hearing.
"A demon. You're not just a hitokiri, there's more to you than that," she said softly.
"Really? You think so?" he asked, stepping closer to her and taking her chin in his hand. "You want to know who I am?"
"Yes."
With an unknown emotion glinting in his eyes, he pulled her to him, moving his hand from her chin to her neck, and kissed her hard. She gasped, this wasn't a kiss like any of the others he'd given her. She tasted raw need and desire, and something deeper. The way he held her so tightly that it was nearly painful, but was still tender, the way his body melded into hers; she could feel anguish thrumming through his every heartbeat. Anguish, loneliness, and coldness.
Battousai pulled back upon hearing light knocking. Kaoru quickly composed herself as best she could, which wasn't very well, and he slid the shoji open, still breathing heavily. The girl who'd brought their tray looked no older than sixteen or seventeen, and appeared to be scared out her wits, as well as being embarrassed at walking in on the scene between the two. Mumbling a few apologies and with a polite bow, she handed the tray to Battousai and nearly ran down the hall.
"I'm going to make up for last night's dinner," he said with a grin. Setting the tray on the floor next to the futon, he sat down. "Come here and sit next to me." Kaoru followed his command readily; she was hungry. Battousai moved her legs so that they were stretched over his lap, and then set the tray on them. "I'm going to feed you."
Kaoru didn't dare disagree, and, in truth, the prospect sent chills down her spine. She was neither deaf nor stupid, she could hear the sultry undertones to the offer. She no longer shied away, she couldn't anymore. Now that she knew that he was lonely and sad, there had been no need for him to actually say it, she felt like she could love him with all her heart. He could return the emotions, she thought, if she could only get him to.
The meal was good, and warm, but nothing spectacular. Really, she hadn't focused on it much, her attention being drawn to and held by Battousai's eyes. They spoke more than words could possibly even have conceived, and they captivated her. When she had eaten her fill, he insisted that she, in turn, feed him, and she did so without complaint. His gaze had followed her every move, watching the graceful movements of her hands with a fierce intensity. As soon as she set the tray to the side, he took her hands in his and brushed his thumbs over her knuckles.
"You're quite an amazing woman Kamiya Kaoru," he worked the words slowly, as if he were trying to say something that he wasn't sure quite how to express. His eyes dropped back to her hands, his fingers stroking the backs gently. She pulled one hand away and lifted his chin to be able to see his eyes. For once, they spoke volumes.
"You're lonely," Kaoru whispered. "You've been alone for so very long, with no one to trust."
Battousai stood swiftly, brushing Kaoru's legs aside. All thoughts of seducing her flew from his head as he clenched and unclenched his fists. She'd guessed him too easily, how could she possibly have known that? No one should know that, it was what kept him going in this world.
"No," he hissed. "You can't say that. You couldn't have said that."
Kaoru looked confused, but slow realization came to her. He was more confused than she was. 'Interesting,' she thought. Standing, she came up behind him and slipped her arms under his, bringing them up to put her hands on his shoulders. He moved as if to shake her off, but then apparently thought better of it. Battousai allowing her to manoeuver him at her will, she sat him down on the futon and then sat behind him, leaning against the wall. She smiled, he was finally melting to her, all it took were a few choice words that she would have said the first time she met him, if only she had known. Kaoru didn't know anything else that she could say to make him feel any better, but she felt completely and totally terrible for him. Not even being able to begin to comprehend all that he had been through, she simply rested her chin on his shoulder and whispered to him, her breath tickling his neck.
"I'm sorry," was all she could come up with, as hollow as that probably sounded to him. "How can I help you?"
"I don't want your help," he growled, but she could tell he was losing his resolve.
He was like a little boy sometimes, she decided. In need of nothing more than someone to hold him. Or, on second thought, maybe 'little boy' was inappropriate, because she felt the need to not only hold, but to caress and kiss him, as well. Perhaps that was only for her benefit, though. Still, he needed someone to care for him, someone to listen and let him relieve some of his burdens. And Kaoru had the feeling that he'd never had someone like that before. She decided to go out on a limb and be brave.
"Kenshin, you can tell me," she murmured. "I won't think any less of you, and I would never tell another living soul. You can keep up your image."
Battousai sighed heavily, it was so very tempting, especially with her breathing her words into his ear like that. This woman got under his skin, she didn't have to try. She was arousing without even knowing it, and he loved that. He was wavering between potentially breaking himself further or letting his burden go, he wasn't sure which it would be, when she pulled away. He whimpered slightly, and then could almost hear her smile. The whimper was quickly replaced with a deep sigh of content when she carefully set his hair free and began running her fingers through the thick, crimson locks. Previously unbeknownst to him, he greatly enjoyed the sensation. He'd never let any woman do that, he'd never been so close to anyone. And here Kaoru was, taking the liberty as if he were any normal man. Of course, he had told her that she was to take consideration in bringing him pleasure, he remembered. She was certainly fulfilling that part of his requirements well.
"Kenshin? Will you tell me?" she asked as she dragged her nails down his scalp and neck.
"Mmm, that isn't really fair," he groaned. "You have the advantage right now."
"It's alright, you don't have to say anything," she said.
And that was all he needed to break. That she would let him choose, that she cared enough to give him the option. No one had been so unselfish toward him in such a long time. This was the woman he was meant to be with, like it or not.
"Damn," he whispered. "I didn't want that to happen."
"Want what?"
"Semi-mortals have what humans would define as a set of rules. One of the rules is that we don't get to choose who we l... are attracted to."
"Me?"
He didn't answer, but sank his weight against her, closing his eyes and turning his head into her neck. What would happen tomorrow, he didn't know, but at that moment, he was happy. For the first time in centuries, he was fairly certain that the emotion he was feeling was happiness. He would have fallen asleep, with her stroking his hair so softly, but she shifted restlessly. One of his amber eyes cracked open to look at her.
"You're heavy," she complained. "And I'd like a bath before I go to sleep, I feel like I'm caked with dirt."
Rumbling discontentedly, Battousai moved to let her stand and gather her things. She grabbed a smaller bag out of her 'luggage' and a clean yukata, and headed for the hall. Just before she slid the shoji open, she stopped and turned her head back to look at him.
"Thank you Kenshin."
"Battousai," he replied. She frowned slightly, but didn't say anything. She'd thought that maybe she'd be able to revert him to the man he once was, but obviously that wouldn't be so easy.
As she left, Battousai slumped against the wall. He rubbed his forehead in confusion; he needed some time to think. She'd gotten him to open up more than he had in all of his life, or at least as far as he cared to remember. And he'd let her call him Kenshin twice. Damn it all, he really was letting her melt him. Part of him liked it more than words could express, but the other part was scared. For the first time in the better part of two hundred years, the legendary Hitokiri Battousai was scared. All because of one small woman who threatened to turn his world upside down.
*****
A/N: Ohhhhh the fluff. I couldn't help myself, I happen to love fluffyness. Yes, this fic is supposed to be dark, but I mean, come on, if it's dark ALL THE TIME it's going to be really depressing. Plus, I'd be getting deeper into my strange and twisted imagination, and you REALLY don't want to see that. Seriously. I mean, yeah, some of it's cool, but there is some stuff that would get me kicked off ff.net three times over, and I happen to like it here. You guys are awesome. Merf... (stole that one from my friend...) I'm thinking next chapter is going to be a lemon. I'm in a lemony mood lately. By the way, I saw Master and Commander, and it ROCKED! I highly recommend it, unless you're really squeamish. Then you may want to sit out. I, of course, was sitting there on the edge of my seat thinking "Blood. Gore. Amputation with a slicey thing. FUN!" while the people around me covered their eyes. Yeah...
MysticShadowWanderer
Disclaimer: I know a mouse and he hasn't got a house, I don't know why I call him Gerald. He's getting rather old, but he's a good mouse. (Anyone else know that song?)
*****
Chapter Eight: Breaking Point
The dim lights of a small rural town came into view just before sunset that day. Kaoru wasn't sure exactly where they were, but Battousai seemed to know the village well, and led her straight to the door of an inn. The place reeked of smoke and sake, but Kaoru did her best to ignore it as Battousai made arrangements for a room. She didn't like the way that the woman helping him eyed his bare chest, and stepped to his side again. He smirked at her, as if he could read her thoughts, and put his arm around her waist once more. Kaoru's face burned; it hardly seemed appropriate to be held by a half-dressed man in public, but it wasn't really avoidable. The woman scowled and showed them to their room. Battousai dismissed her without thanks, in addition, ordering her to have food brought to their room.
"That was rather rude, wasn't it?" Kaoru questioned with raised brows.
"Yes." Battousai shrugged. "I won't lose any sleep over it."
"Have you ever considered that maybe that's the reason you aren't very well liked?"
"You mean besides the fact that I'm a ruthless hitokiri?"
"Oh," Kaoru said, twisting her hands as was habitual when she was nervous or embarrassed. "Yes, I'd forgotten."
"Forgotten?" Battousai seemed shocked. "You were able to completely forget... that?"
"I... well... yes."
Battousai stared at her curiously, and she tried to keep her face blank while also attempting to read his eyes. It was impossible, he was too well guarded, but she thought, or maybe hoped, that she caught a fleeting look of gratitude. Still, although he wouldn't let her see his thoughts as he could see hers, she could tell that he was amazed. It surely wasn't every day that someone treated him like an individual, instead of just a feared demon.
"But you aren't," she whispered to herself.
"Aren't what?" She'd failed to take into account his exceptional hearing.
"A demon. You're not just a hitokiri, there's more to you than that," she said softly.
"Really? You think so?" he asked, stepping closer to her and taking her chin in his hand. "You want to know who I am?"
"Yes."
With an unknown emotion glinting in his eyes, he pulled her to him, moving his hand from her chin to her neck, and kissed her hard. She gasped, this wasn't a kiss like any of the others he'd given her. She tasted raw need and desire, and something deeper. The way he held her so tightly that it was nearly painful, but was still tender, the way his body melded into hers; she could feel anguish thrumming through his every heartbeat. Anguish, loneliness, and coldness.
Battousai pulled back upon hearing light knocking. Kaoru quickly composed herself as best she could, which wasn't very well, and he slid the shoji open, still breathing heavily. The girl who'd brought their tray looked no older than sixteen or seventeen, and appeared to be scared out her wits, as well as being embarrassed at walking in on the scene between the two. Mumbling a few apologies and with a polite bow, she handed the tray to Battousai and nearly ran down the hall.
"I'm going to make up for last night's dinner," he said with a grin. Setting the tray on the floor next to the futon, he sat down. "Come here and sit next to me." Kaoru followed his command readily; she was hungry. Battousai moved her legs so that they were stretched over his lap, and then set the tray on them. "I'm going to feed you."
Kaoru didn't dare disagree, and, in truth, the prospect sent chills down her spine. She was neither deaf nor stupid, she could hear the sultry undertones to the offer. She no longer shied away, she couldn't anymore. Now that she knew that he was lonely and sad, there had been no need for him to actually say it, she felt like she could love him with all her heart. He could return the emotions, she thought, if she could only get him to.
The meal was good, and warm, but nothing spectacular. Really, she hadn't focused on it much, her attention being drawn to and held by Battousai's eyes. They spoke more than words could possibly even have conceived, and they captivated her. When she had eaten her fill, he insisted that she, in turn, feed him, and she did so without complaint. His gaze had followed her every move, watching the graceful movements of her hands with a fierce intensity. As soon as she set the tray to the side, he took her hands in his and brushed his thumbs over her knuckles.
"You're quite an amazing woman Kamiya Kaoru," he worked the words slowly, as if he were trying to say something that he wasn't sure quite how to express. His eyes dropped back to her hands, his fingers stroking the backs gently. She pulled one hand away and lifted his chin to be able to see his eyes. For once, they spoke volumes.
"You're lonely," Kaoru whispered. "You've been alone for so very long, with no one to trust."
Battousai stood swiftly, brushing Kaoru's legs aside. All thoughts of seducing her flew from his head as he clenched and unclenched his fists. She'd guessed him too easily, how could she possibly have known that? No one should know that, it was what kept him going in this world.
"No," he hissed. "You can't say that. You couldn't have said that."
Kaoru looked confused, but slow realization came to her. He was more confused than she was. 'Interesting,' she thought. Standing, she came up behind him and slipped her arms under his, bringing them up to put her hands on his shoulders. He moved as if to shake her off, but then apparently thought better of it. Battousai allowing her to manoeuver him at her will, she sat him down on the futon and then sat behind him, leaning against the wall. She smiled, he was finally melting to her, all it took were a few choice words that she would have said the first time she met him, if only she had known. Kaoru didn't know anything else that she could say to make him feel any better, but she felt completely and totally terrible for him. Not even being able to begin to comprehend all that he had been through, she simply rested her chin on his shoulder and whispered to him, her breath tickling his neck.
"I'm sorry," was all she could come up with, as hollow as that probably sounded to him. "How can I help you?"
"I don't want your help," he growled, but she could tell he was losing his resolve.
He was like a little boy sometimes, she decided. In need of nothing more than someone to hold him. Or, on second thought, maybe 'little boy' was inappropriate, because she felt the need to not only hold, but to caress and kiss him, as well. Perhaps that was only for her benefit, though. Still, he needed someone to care for him, someone to listen and let him relieve some of his burdens. And Kaoru had the feeling that he'd never had someone like that before. She decided to go out on a limb and be brave.
"Kenshin, you can tell me," she murmured. "I won't think any less of you, and I would never tell another living soul. You can keep up your image."
Battousai sighed heavily, it was so very tempting, especially with her breathing her words into his ear like that. This woman got under his skin, she didn't have to try. She was arousing without even knowing it, and he loved that. He was wavering between potentially breaking himself further or letting his burden go, he wasn't sure which it would be, when she pulled away. He whimpered slightly, and then could almost hear her smile. The whimper was quickly replaced with a deep sigh of content when she carefully set his hair free and began running her fingers through the thick, crimson locks. Previously unbeknownst to him, he greatly enjoyed the sensation. He'd never let any woman do that, he'd never been so close to anyone. And here Kaoru was, taking the liberty as if he were any normal man. Of course, he had told her that she was to take consideration in bringing him pleasure, he remembered. She was certainly fulfilling that part of his requirements well.
"Kenshin? Will you tell me?" she asked as she dragged her nails down his scalp and neck.
"Mmm, that isn't really fair," he groaned. "You have the advantage right now."
"It's alright, you don't have to say anything," she said.
And that was all he needed to break. That she would let him choose, that she cared enough to give him the option. No one had been so unselfish toward him in such a long time. This was the woman he was meant to be with, like it or not.
"Damn," he whispered. "I didn't want that to happen."
"Want what?"
"Semi-mortals have what humans would define as a set of rules. One of the rules is that we don't get to choose who we l... are attracted to."
"Me?"
He didn't answer, but sank his weight against her, closing his eyes and turning his head into her neck. What would happen tomorrow, he didn't know, but at that moment, he was happy. For the first time in centuries, he was fairly certain that the emotion he was feeling was happiness. He would have fallen asleep, with her stroking his hair so softly, but she shifted restlessly. One of his amber eyes cracked open to look at her.
"You're heavy," she complained. "And I'd like a bath before I go to sleep, I feel like I'm caked with dirt."
Rumbling discontentedly, Battousai moved to let her stand and gather her things. She grabbed a smaller bag out of her 'luggage' and a clean yukata, and headed for the hall. Just before she slid the shoji open, she stopped and turned her head back to look at him.
"Thank you Kenshin."
"Battousai," he replied. She frowned slightly, but didn't say anything. She'd thought that maybe she'd be able to revert him to the man he once was, but obviously that wouldn't be so easy.
As she left, Battousai slumped against the wall. He rubbed his forehead in confusion; he needed some time to think. She'd gotten him to open up more than he had in all of his life, or at least as far as he cared to remember. And he'd let her call him Kenshin twice. Damn it all, he really was letting her melt him. Part of him liked it more than words could express, but the other part was scared. For the first time in the better part of two hundred years, the legendary Hitokiri Battousai was scared. All because of one small woman who threatened to turn his world upside down.
*****
A/N: Ohhhhh the fluff. I couldn't help myself, I happen to love fluffyness. Yes, this fic is supposed to be dark, but I mean, come on, if it's dark ALL THE TIME it's going to be really depressing. Plus, I'd be getting deeper into my strange and twisted imagination, and you REALLY don't want to see that. Seriously. I mean, yeah, some of it's cool, but there is some stuff that would get me kicked off ff.net three times over, and I happen to like it here. You guys are awesome. Merf... (stole that one from my friend...) I'm thinking next chapter is going to be a lemon. I'm in a lemony mood lately. By the way, I saw Master and Commander, and it ROCKED! I highly recommend it, unless you're really squeamish. Then you may want to sit out. I, of course, was sitting there on the edge of my seat thinking "Blood. Gore. Amputation with a slicey thing. FUN!" while the people around me covered their eyes. Yeah...