The Devil's Workshop
MysticShadowWanderer
*****
Chapter Twenty: Remember
Battousai kissed Kaoru awake and she stretched before meeting his lips in a sweet, gentle kiss. She yawned as he pulled away and sat beside her, tugging at her hair to get her up. Complying when it started to hurt, Kaoru sat up with a groan, pressing her hand to her head. Battousai chuckled softly.
"That's what happens when you drink too much, love," he said.
Kaoru shot him a withering look. "I'm aware of that, thank you very much."
"Of course," he said simply, pushing himself off the futon to stand. He rummaged in his sleeve for a moment. Pulling out a small bag, he tossed it to Kaoru, who opened it and was surprised to find a considerable sum of money.
"What am I to do with this?" she asked.
"Go to the market and buy me a new gi," he replied, holding up his arm for emphasis. Now that she looked at it, Kaoru could see that the gi he wore now was really in terrible condition and hardly wearable anymore. What once had been pitch black was now more of a dark, dusty grey, caked with so much dirt that it would probably never come clean.
"Won't you be coming with me?" she asked as she dressed.
"No," he answered. "I have other business, and I would prefer not to be seen, anyhow." He found a small dagger in her bag, he'd known it was there but had never mentioned it, and tossed it to her; she caught it easily. "Keep yourself safe. Oh, also, there should be enough money there to buy yourself a new kimono as well. Get something pretty."
***
Kaoru warily made her way through the crowded streets, searching for just the right gi before she went looking for anything for herself. It was difficult to find a black one like he'd had; she wondered where he'd originally gotten it. For half a second, she considered buying him a magenta one, giggling at the image that would make, but set it back down when she thought about how furious he would be.
'Imagine... the feared hitokiri Battousai in pink.' She chuckled to herself.
"May I offer you my help, miss?" a little old man said to her.
Kaoru smiled graciously at him. "Is it possible that you have anything in black?"
"Oh, no, dear," he said. "I'm sorry, but you just don't get many requests for clothing in that color."
"Of course, I understand." Kaoru seemed to be stuck, she obviously couldn't describe Battousai to the man unless she had the desire to be yelled at by an irate hitokiri, which wasn't high on her list of things to do.
The little man was very helpful, to the extent that he could offer assistance, and Kaoru finally bought a dark navy colored gi that was as close to black as she could find.
"And what of yourself?" the man asked, noticing the worn and dirty condition of her own clothes.
Kaoru looked down at herself and grimaced; she hadn't noticed that she looked quite as bad as she did. And Battousai did tell her to buy herself something. Not wanting to spend too much, although she had the vague feeling that his funds were far from limited, she chose a very simple, plain, wine-hued kimono with a lighter red obi. Satisfied with her purchases, she thanked the kind old man and quickly walked off down the street.
***
"I don't care how much it costs," Battousai grumbled. "I need to get myself and another there as quickly as possible."
He rubbed the bridge of his nose in annoyance and allowed himself to growl quietly through his clenched teeth. Everything this man was telling him was quite unnecessary, as he was already aware of costs, difficulty, and danger. His fingers itched to wring the man's neck and shake him until they understood each other. Instead he resigned himself to half-listening until the man was finished with what had escalated into nearly a speech.
After almost two hours of discussion, argument, and heated insults from Battousai, the man named his final price and the requirements, and Battousai accepted the reluctantly-given offer. The man rushed off to set about fulfilling Battousai's requests and the hitokiri left to return to the inn and wait for Kaoru.
He was surprised but pleased to find that she had been waiting for him. As soon as he walked in the room, she handed him a small pouch and a short dagger, which he began to inspect. Kaoru looked at him curiously and he offered her a grin.
"It would have been a disappointment had I missed watching you kill again," he said in a half matter-of-fact, half teasing tone.
Kaoru let one tear track down her cheek before stopping herself. "You're too morbid."
"I won't deny the accusation." Battousai didn't seem very concerned. "It's who I am."
"I know that," she said quietly, and turned away. "I accepted that."
Grabbing her the arm, he turned her to him and wiped the back of his hand across her face. The gentleness in his touch was affirmed his words.
"Stop that. You know I hate it when you cry." Kaoru nodded and closed her eyes. "So..." he said slowly. "What did you bring me?"
Her eyes shot open and she tried, unsuccessfully, to stifle a giggle. Battousai, for once, seemed to have lightened up a bit, or at least his wit had. Kaoru supposed he was just humoring her, but she couldn't help but ask what had him in such a good mood.
"A business deal went, mostly, my way," he said casually, waving it off effectively. "Now, in all seriousness, what did you buy today?"
Kaoru rummaged through the small packages and tossed him the navy gi, which he caught and examined. She watched him for a moment and he nodded his approval. She held out the kimono she'd bought and he looked at it closely. He gave half a smile and murmured something about the color looking like blood, and that it suited her.
"However," he said more clearly. "While that is fine enough for traveling, I won't have my woman wearing something that plain when she's seen getting off a ship with me in America."
***
"...A-America?"
"The Hawaiian islands, to be precise. At least for a little while."
For someone who hadn't ever been far from Tokyo until dragged away by a hitokiri, this was a lot to take in all at once. Kaoru sank to the floor in disbelief.
"Battousai, I... can't do that. I can't leave," she whispered.
He knelt by her and took her chin in his hand. "You can and you will. I must go, and I refuse to leave you behind. You see, you really don't have a choice in the matter. Now, I have more business to attend to, so just what here for me. Actually, on second thought, why don't you go take a bath and change into your new kimono. Don't even think of leaving the inn or going anywhere near the bar. If you do, believe me when I say you will be severely punished."
Stunned into silence, Kaoru simply nodded.
"Good. I'll be back soon."
Battousai stormed out of the room, practically slamming the shoji shut behind him. Kaoru's mouth hung slightly agape. He was still the same moody, temperamental man; she almost smiled. Though he was complicated, she had a hard time faulting him. Maybe that was part of what it was to love selflessly. Or should it be considered loving helplessly? Somehow the two were intertwined in such a way that seemed to make them synonymous.
Someday, she would unwind him completely, find out who he was and what made him be. She knew comparatively little, at least in her mind. In heart and soul, she knew him as well as she knew herself, thought sometimes she was unsure how familiar she was with even herself. But she promised herself in that moment that she would make herself understand him fully. She would break past his barriers with fingers, lips, tongue, and teeth, and she would make him bare his soul to her.
To be so close to him, or even to want that closeness, was a disturbing, if not frightening thought. Before Battousai's unceremonious arrival, Kaoru had been alone, so it was difficult to accept the feelings that raged within her. She wondered, if he hadn't come to her dojo, would she still be alone? The searing pain of cold loneliness had been hard for her to cope with as it pressed itself heavy and repetitive upon her. It was challenging to know what was real when faced with so little human contact. And then Battousai had come into her life...
Battousai made her question everything she knew; he shattered her beliefs and blind faith. All she could come up with was that there was something above, and that was why she'd found Battousai.
"Someone deliver me," she whispered futilely.
But as soon as the words left her mouth, she realized that maybe she already had been delivered. Perhaps Battousai was, by some odd twist of fate, her saving grace. It seemed strange that a creature that harnessed such darkness and hatred could be someone's salvation, but when she thought about it, that was what he had been to her, and what he continued to be. Amidst all the tragedy that was the hitokiri Battousai, there was an entity that was capable of rendering beauty and worth upon her. With his effortless gracefulness, his rough-velvet touch, and his awkward love, he'd given her back a sense of self, a placement in the broader existence.
Suddenly it all because that much clearer to her as she fingered the thin scar on her wrist then, deftly pushing shrouding material aside, the one on her thigh. That was what he'd had in mind each time he picked up the blade. With pain and crimson regret, he'd shown her what it meant to be alive and to exist. Somehow he'd known what she hadn't; he'd known exactly what she needed and how to give it to her. It amazed her how he could that in so many situations. It was as if he could read her mind before she even completed her thoughts. Alternating roughness and gentleness, pain and pleasure, or blending them, he infallibly saw to her every desire before she was aware he had it. Perhaps that was love, she didn't know. In truth, she didn't really want to understand, didn't want there to be a set meaning to the emotion. Love was what it was, mysterious and confusing, but, with Battousai, never dull and always full of passion.
Kaoru was still sitting there on the hard floor, head bowed and shoulders slumped forward, when Battousai returned. When she didn't look up or even open her eyes, he moved to fluidly sink down next to her. A slight smile crossed her face and she leaned over just a bit to feel the heat emanating from his body. He tilted his head to whisper softly to her.
"I brought you something." With each syllable his lips brushed her ear, sending delicious shivers down her spine.
"Hmm, what?" she hummed. He tossed a package in her lap and she opened her eyes to look into his. He appeared thoroughly pleased with himself, but his smug grin was belied by the molten warmth that illuminated the deep gold of those wonderfully terrible eyes. "What is it?" she questioned, but his eyes bade her to open in and find out for herself. She pulled carefully at the string and let the brown paper fall away gently. A quiet gasp escaped her as her fingers trailed over rich black silk.
Battousai tugged her to her feet and made quick work of removing the travel-worn kimono she wore. Kaoru allowed herself to be manipulated like a doll as he dressed her, reveling at the feel of soft silk and rough hands on her skin. As Battousai drew the obi into a simple knot, she looked down at herself. The color of a midnight sky, the kimono fit her elegantly, the silver obi pulled taut about her trim middle. She lifted an arm to look at the delicate silver-threaded patterns that trailed to her elbow like vines before tapering off. The hem that skimmed just about the floor was decorated the same. As she gaped at the garment she wore, she felt Battousai's arms encircle her from behind, pulling her flush against him at the same time he yanked her hair down with his teeth.
"You're so beautiful." His voice was a husky whisper; she could feel the way his hands were shaking, ever so slightly. She whimpered as he traced her ear with his tongue and pulled at the lobe with his teeth.
"Wh-where'd you get this? I thought you didn't want to go out," she moaned as his teeth rasped against her neck.
"I have my ways, precious," he breathed, tongue hot against her skin. "You didn't take your bath, did you?"
"No."
Battousai's eyes lit up as if he were a child receiving a coveted toy. "Get your things."
"B-but... what about people?" He cut her off with a quick kiss.
"Who cares about them?"
It was hard to disagree when his mouth was making such a convincing argument. Kaoru's defenses were entirely shattered when he turned her around and sought out her lips with his. Sinking to his chest, she couldn't do anything but nod. With a whimper when he let go, she quickly picked up a yukata and various other items.
***
As soon as they were safely in the confines of the bathhouse, Battousai practically slammed into Kaoru; she dropped her things instantly and wrapped her arms around him. Fingers trembling, they began pulling each other's clothes off. Battousai carefully extracted Kaoru from her new kimono, whispering promises never to tear this one. Kaoru was much less gentle, and Battousai had to restrain her from simply ripping the ties off his hakama.
"Shh, love," he soothed. "I'm here. Always."
He set her kimono aside where it would be safe, letting his own clothing merely fall to the floor at their feet. Placing a hand on his chest, Kaoru pushed Battousai back until he hit the edge of the tub and stopped.
"Easy, darling," he crooned. "Slowly." He lifted her into the steaming water and was soon pulling her into his lap. He brought his lips to her ear to whisper to her. "This is our last night in Japan. I want you to always remember this."
He might have said more, but his words were cut off by a groan as she brushed against his arousal. Before she could even finish the thought, he grabbed her hands as they were traveling down his abdomen. He shook his head in disapproval.
"Slowly." Kaoru pouted, but he ignored it and, flicking his tongue out to lick the top of her nose, reiterated. "Slowly."
Kaoru slumped against him in compliance; as always, Battousai got what he wanted. Part of her was disgusted simply because she gave in, but she couldn't help but submit to Battousai's natural dominance. She knew that if she begged, he'd give her what she wanted, but she didn't have it in her to deny him. As he molded his tongue to the curves of her neck and shoulders, he whispered all the things he could do to her, his voice low and rasping. She was helpless, unable to respond as his words flowed over her like the water he cupped in his hand and let cascade over her breasts. She tugged urgently at his hair; he knew she wanted his lips on her breasts, but refused her, instead leaning forward so that his loose hair barely brushed against her nipples. She cried out to him, but again he passed by her pleas, tilting his head upward to nip gently at her lips.
"You want me, love." His words were punctuated by his tongue dipping in and out of her mouth quickly.
"So badly," she breathed, chest heaving with the effort of her restraint.
"What would you do for me?"
"Anything."
He loved the way she said it, so wantonly and needy, breathless. Now was the time to indulge himself in what he could make her do. Planting kisses on her face, he took her small hands in his. After guiding them over his own body for a few minutes, reveling in the way his skin tingled at her touch, he moved them away to rest against her own stomach. She eyed him curiously, and he gripped her hands more firmly as he slid them upward to cup her breasts. She gasped in shock and flushed slightly, though her cheeks were already reddened enough that it wasn't noticeable. When she tried to withdraw, he frowned.
"No you don't, love," he said. "Touch yourself. Go ahead, show me what your desires are."
Could she have found her voice, she might have protested, had she not seen the look in his eyes. Tentatively, she ran her hands over her breasts, and he let his drop to rest at her hips, fingers tapping lightly. For a few moments he allowed the before whispering to her.
"Come, precious, you know what you and I both want."
Again it was his eyes that convinced her, told her it was alright. Trailing a hand down her abdomen, she pressed it lightly to her womanhood, uncertain. He bit her shoulder gently, his own method of encouragement. Slowly, deliberately, she began to stroke herself, and was soon moaning quietly at the sensation. Battousai groaned at her sounds of pleasure, the sight completely and powerfully erotic.
If it was wrong, Kaoru didn't care. The feel of her hand against the thrumming pleasure was impossible to deny, and she almost smiled when she felt Battousai's grip on her waist tighten painfully. She could feel his body shaking slightly and could tell how affected he was; the thought was only more arousing. Just before his nails broke the skin on her hips, he freed a hand to cover hers and stroke her insistently. She writhed against him at the doubled sensations, it was too good and too much to take. Pushing both their hands away, she rubbed against his manhood, begging without the words she couldn't get out. Battousai let out a deep groan and lifted her, pulling her down until he was fully within her.
"Gods..." he growled. "So good..."
They sat that way for a few minutes without moving, trembling in each other's arms. Kaoru took the initiative and began to rock her hips, forcing another strangled groan from Battousai, who ground his hips against hers.
"Oh gods... harder, love..."
She obeyed instantly, swallowing her amazement at his words. She'd never had control like this before. He moved against her, closing his eyes as she put more force behind her actions. She bent to catch his mouth in a fiery kiss, but it was soon broken by their moans. The state Battousai was in was almost overpowering.
"Oh..." he hissed through his teeth. "Just like that, precious..."
He reached down to stroke her, not wanting to leave her behind. It was all she could stand and she climaxed under his attentions, muffling her cry against his shoulder. The way she tightened around his length was more than enough to send him over the edge, and he threw his head back with a load groan as his hips bucked up, spilling himself inside her.
Heated and panting, Kaoru let all her weight be supported by Battousai, who sank bonelessly against the tub, quietly trying to calm his erratic breathing. When she opened her eyes, he was staring back at her. The way he kissed her was proof enough of his overwhelming approval. Kaoru shifted to deepen the kiss; she heard Battousai growl and felt him growing hard again. She broke the kiss with a grin.
"Again?"
He smirked and she smiled. Battousai had hardly failed to make this a night to remember.
*****
MysticShadowWanderer
*****
Chapter Twenty: Remember
Battousai kissed Kaoru awake and she stretched before meeting his lips in a sweet, gentle kiss. She yawned as he pulled away and sat beside her, tugging at her hair to get her up. Complying when it started to hurt, Kaoru sat up with a groan, pressing her hand to her head. Battousai chuckled softly.
"That's what happens when you drink too much, love," he said.
Kaoru shot him a withering look. "I'm aware of that, thank you very much."
"Of course," he said simply, pushing himself off the futon to stand. He rummaged in his sleeve for a moment. Pulling out a small bag, he tossed it to Kaoru, who opened it and was surprised to find a considerable sum of money.
"What am I to do with this?" she asked.
"Go to the market and buy me a new gi," he replied, holding up his arm for emphasis. Now that she looked at it, Kaoru could see that the gi he wore now was really in terrible condition and hardly wearable anymore. What once had been pitch black was now more of a dark, dusty grey, caked with so much dirt that it would probably never come clean.
"Won't you be coming with me?" she asked as she dressed.
"No," he answered. "I have other business, and I would prefer not to be seen, anyhow." He found a small dagger in her bag, he'd known it was there but had never mentioned it, and tossed it to her; she caught it easily. "Keep yourself safe. Oh, also, there should be enough money there to buy yourself a new kimono as well. Get something pretty."
***
Kaoru warily made her way through the crowded streets, searching for just the right gi before she went looking for anything for herself. It was difficult to find a black one like he'd had; she wondered where he'd originally gotten it. For half a second, she considered buying him a magenta one, giggling at the image that would make, but set it back down when she thought about how furious he would be.
'Imagine... the feared hitokiri Battousai in pink.' She chuckled to herself.
"May I offer you my help, miss?" a little old man said to her.
Kaoru smiled graciously at him. "Is it possible that you have anything in black?"
"Oh, no, dear," he said. "I'm sorry, but you just don't get many requests for clothing in that color."
"Of course, I understand." Kaoru seemed to be stuck, she obviously couldn't describe Battousai to the man unless she had the desire to be yelled at by an irate hitokiri, which wasn't high on her list of things to do.
The little man was very helpful, to the extent that he could offer assistance, and Kaoru finally bought a dark navy colored gi that was as close to black as she could find.
"And what of yourself?" the man asked, noticing the worn and dirty condition of her own clothes.
Kaoru looked down at herself and grimaced; she hadn't noticed that she looked quite as bad as she did. And Battousai did tell her to buy herself something. Not wanting to spend too much, although she had the vague feeling that his funds were far from limited, she chose a very simple, plain, wine-hued kimono with a lighter red obi. Satisfied with her purchases, she thanked the kind old man and quickly walked off down the street.
***
"I don't care how much it costs," Battousai grumbled. "I need to get myself and another there as quickly as possible."
He rubbed the bridge of his nose in annoyance and allowed himself to growl quietly through his clenched teeth. Everything this man was telling him was quite unnecessary, as he was already aware of costs, difficulty, and danger. His fingers itched to wring the man's neck and shake him until they understood each other. Instead he resigned himself to half-listening until the man was finished with what had escalated into nearly a speech.
After almost two hours of discussion, argument, and heated insults from Battousai, the man named his final price and the requirements, and Battousai accepted the reluctantly-given offer. The man rushed off to set about fulfilling Battousai's requests and the hitokiri left to return to the inn and wait for Kaoru.
He was surprised but pleased to find that she had been waiting for him. As soon as he walked in the room, she handed him a small pouch and a short dagger, which he began to inspect. Kaoru looked at him curiously and he offered her a grin.
"It would have been a disappointment had I missed watching you kill again," he said in a half matter-of-fact, half teasing tone.
Kaoru let one tear track down her cheek before stopping herself. "You're too morbid."
"I won't deny the accusation." Battousai didn't seem very concerned. "It's who I am."
"I know that," she said quietly, and turned away. "I accepted that."
Grabbing her the arm, he turned her to him and wiped the back of his hand across her face. The gentleness in his touch was affirmed his words.
"Stop that. You know I hate it when you cry." Kaoru nodded and closed her eyes. "So..." he said slowly. "What did you bring me?"
Her eyes shot open and she tried, unsuccessfully, to stifle a giggle. Battousai, for once, seemed to have lightened up a bit, or at least his wit had. Kaoru supposed he was just humoring her, but she couldn't help but ask what had him in such a good mood.
"A business deal went, mostly, my way," he said casually, waving it off effectively. "Now, in all seriousness, what did you buy today?"
Kaoru rummaged through the small packages and tossed him the navy gi, which he caught and examined. She watched him for a moment and he nodded his approval. She held out the kimono she'd bought and he looked at it closely. He gave half a smile and murmured something about the color looking like blood, and that it suited her.
"However," he said more clearly. "While that is fine enough for traveling, I won't have my woman wearing something that plain when she's seen getting off a ship with me in America."
***
"...A-America?"
"The Hawaiian islands, to be precise. At least for a little while."
For someone who hadn't ever been far from Tokyo until dragged away by a hitokiri, this was a lot to take in all at once. Kaoru sank to the floor in disbelief.
"Battousai, I... can't do that. I can't leave," she whispered.
He knelt by her and took her chin in his hand. "You can and you will. I must go, and I refuse to leave you behind. You see, you really don't have a choice in the matter. Now, I have more business to attend to, so just what here for me. Actually, on second thought, why don't you go take a bath and change into your new kimono. Don't even think of leaving the inn or going anywhere near the bar. If you do, believe me when I say you will be severely punished."
Stunned into silence, Kaoru simply nodded.
"Good. I'll be back soon."
Battousai stormed out of the room, practically slamming the shoji shut behind him. Kaoru's mouth hung slightly agape. He was still the same moody, temperamental man; she almost smiled. Though he was complicated, she had a hard time faulting him. Maybe that was part of what it was to love selflessly. Or should it be considered loving helplessly? Somehow the two were intertwined in such a way that seemed to make them synonymous.
Someday, she would unwind him completely, find out who he was and what made him be. She knew comparatively little, at least in her mind. In heart and soul, she knew him as well as she knew herself, thought sometimes she was unsure how familiar she was with even herself. But she promised herself in that moment that she would make herself understand him fully. She would break past his barriers with fingers, lips, tongue, and teeth, and she would make him bare his soul to her.
To be so close to him, or even to want that closeness, was a disturbing, if not frightening thought. Before Battousai's unceremonious arrival, Kaoru had been alone, so it was difficult to accept the feelings that raged within her. She wondered, if he hadn't come to her dojo, would she still be alone? The searing pain of cold loneliness had been hard for her to cope with as it pressed itself heavy and repetitive upon her. It was challenging to know what was real when faced with so little human contact. And then Battousai had come into her life...
Battousai made her question everything she knew; he shattered her beliefs and blind faith. All she could come up with was that there was something above, and that was why she'd found Battousai.
"Someone deliver me," she whispered futilely.
But as soon as the words left her mouth, she realized that maybe she already had been delivered. Perhaps Battousai was, by some odd twist of fate, her saving grace. It seemed strange that a creature that harnessed such darkness and hatred could be someone's salvation, but when she thought about it, that was what he had been to her, and what he continued to be. Amidst all the tragedy that was the hitokiri Battousai, there was an entity that was capable of rendering beauty and worth upon her. With his effortless gracefulness, his rough-velvet touch, and his awkward love, he'd given her back a sense of self, a placement in the broader existence.
Suddenly it all because that much clearer to her as she fingered the thin scar on her wrist then, deftly pushing shrouding material aside, the one on her thigh. That was what he'd had in mind each time he picked up the blade. With pain and crimson regret, he'd shown her what it meant to be alive and to exist. Somehow he'd known what she hadn't; he'd known exactly what she needed and how to give it to her. It amazed her how he could that in so many situations. It was as if he could read her mind before she even completed her thoughts. Alternating roughness and gentleness, pain and pleasure, or blending them, he infallibly saw to her every desire before she was aware he had it. Perhaps that was love, she didn't know. In truth, she didn't really want to understand, didn't want there to be a set meaning to the emotion. Love was what it was, mysterious and confusing, but, with Battousai, never dull and always full of passion.
Kaoru was still sitting there on the hard floor, head bowed and shoulders slumped forward, when Battousai returned. When she didn't look up or even open her eyes, he moved to fluidly sink down next to her. A slight smile crossed her face and she leaned over just a bit to feel the heat emanating from his body. He tilted his head to whisper softly to her.
"I brought you something." With each syllable his lips brushed her ear, sending delicious shivers down her spine.
"Hmm, what?" she hummed. He tossed a package in her lap and she opened her eyes to look into his. He appeared thoroughly pleased with himself, but his smug grin was belied by the molten warmth that illuminated the deep gold of those wonderfully terrible eyes. "What is it?" she questioned, but his eyes bade her to open in and find out for herself. She pulled carefully at the string and let the brown paper fall away gently. A quiet gasp escaped her as her fingers trailed over rich black silk.
Battousai tugged her to her feet and made quick work of removing the travel-worn kimono she wore. Kaoru allowed herself to be manipulated like a doll as he dressed her, reveling at the feel of soft silk and rough hands on her skin. As Battousai drew the obi into a simple knot, she looked down at herself. The color of a midnight sky, the kimono fit her elegantly, the silver obi pulled taut about her trim middle. She lifted an arm to look at the delicate silver-threaded patterns that trailed to her elbow like vines before tapering off. The hem that skimmed just about the floor was decorated the same. As she gaped at the garment she wore, she felt Battousai's arms encircle her from behind, pulling her flush against him at the same time he yanked her hair down with his teeth.
"You're so beautiful." His voice was a husky whisper; she could feel the way his hands were shaking, ever so slightly. She whimpered as he traced her ear with his tongue and pulled at the lobe with his teeth.
"Wh-where'd you get this? I thought you didn't want to go out," she moaned as his teeth rasped against her neck.
"I have my ways, precious," he breathed, tongue hot against her skin. "You didn't take your bath, did you?"
"No."
Battousai's eyes lit up as if he were a child receiving a coveted toy. "Get your things."
"B-but... what about people?" He cut her off with a quick kiss.
"Who cares about them?"
It was hard to disagree when his mouth was making such a convincing argument. Kaoru's defenses were entirely shattered when he turned her around and sought out her lips with his. Sinking to his chest, she couldn't do anything but nod. With a whimper when he let go, she quickly picked up a yukata and various other items.
***
As soon as they were safely in the confines of the bathhouse, Battousai practically slammed into Kaoru; she dropped her things instantly and wrapped her arms around him. Fingers trembling, they began pulling each other's clothes off. Battousai carefully extracted Kaoru from her new kimono, whispering promises never to tear this one. Kaoru was much less gentle, and Battousai had to restrain her from simply ripping the ties off his hakama.
"Shh, love," he soothed. "I'm here. Always."
He set her kimono aside where it would be safe, letting his own clothing merely fall to the floor at their feet. Placing a hand on his chest, Kaoru pushed Battousai back until he hit the edge of the tub and stopped.
"Easy, darling," he crooned. "Slowly." He lifted her into the steaming water and was soon pulling her into his lap. He brought his lips to her ear to whisper to her. "This is our last night in Japan. I want you to always remember this."
He might have said more, but his words were cut off by a groan as she brushed against his arousal. Before she could even finish the thought, he grabbed her hands as they were traveling down his abdomen. He shook his head in disapproval.
"Slowly." Kaoru pouted, but he ignored it and, flicking his tongue out to lick the top of her nose, reiterated. "Slowly."
Kaoru slumped against him in compliance; as always, Battousai got what he wanted. Part of her was disgusted simply because she gave in, but she couldn't help but submit to Battousai's natural dominance. She knew that if she begged, he'd give her what she wanted, but she didn't have it in her to deny him. As he molded his tongue to the curves of her neck and shoulders, he whispered all the things he could do to her, his voice low and rasping. She was helpless, unable to respond as his words flowed over her like the water he cupped in his hand and let cascade over her breasts. She tugged urgently at his hair; he knew she wanted his lips on her breasts, but refused her, instead leaning forward so that his loose hair barely brushed against her nipples. She cried out to him, but again he passed by her pleas, tilting his head upward to nip gently at her lips.
"You want me, love." His words were punctuated by his tongue dipping in and out of her mouth quickly.
"So badly," she breathed, chest heaving with the effort of her restraint.
"What would you do for me?"
"Anything."
He loved the way she said it, so wantonly and needy, breathless. Now was the time to indulge himself in what he could make her do. Planting kisses on her face, he took her small hands in his. After guiding them over his own body for a few minutes, reveling in the way his skin tingled at her touch, he moved them away to rest against her own stomach. She eyed him curiously, and he gripped her hands more firmly as he slid them upward to cup her breasts. She gasped in shock and flushed slightly, though her cheeks were already reddened enough that it wasn't noticeable. When she tried to withdraw, he frowned.
"No you don't, love," he said. "Touch yourself. Go ahead, show me what your desires are."
Could she have found her voice, she might have protested, had she not seen the look in his eyes. Tentatively, she ran her hands over her breasts, and he let his drop to rest at her hips, fingers tapping lightly. For a few moments he allowed the before whispering to her.
"Come, precious, you know what you and I both want."
Again it was his eyes that convinced her, told her it was alright. Trailing a hand down her abdomen, she pressed it lightly to her womanhood, uncertain. He bit her shoulder gently, his own method of encouragement. Slowly, deliberately, she began to stroke herself, and was soon moaning quietly at the sensation. Battousai groaned at her sounds of pleasure, the sight completely and powerfully erotic.
If it was wrong, Kaoru didn't care. The feel of her hand against the thrumming pleasure was impossible to deny, and she almost smiled when she felt Battousai's grip on her waist tighten painfully. She could feel his body shaking slightly and could tell how affected he was; the thought was only more arousing. Just before his nails broke the skin on her hips, he freed a hand to cover hers and stroke her insistently. She writhed against him at the doubled sensations, it was too good and too much to take. Pushing both their hands away, she rubbed against his manhood, begging without the words she couldn't get out. Battousai let out a deep groan and lifted her, pulling her down until he was fully within her.
"Gods..." he growled. "So good..."
They sat that way for a few minutes without moving, trembling in each other's arms. Kaoru took the initiative and began to rock her hips, forcing another strangled groan from Battousai, who ground his hips against hers.
"Oh gods... harder, love..."
She obeyed instantly, swallowing her amazement at his words. She'd never had control like this before. He moved against her, closing his eyes as she put more force behind her actions. She bent to catch his mouth in a fiery kiss, but it was soon broken by their moans. The state Battousai was in was almost overpowering.
"Oh..." he hissed through his teeth. "Just like that, precious..."
He reached down to stroke her, not wanting to leave her behind. It was all she could stand and she climaxed under his attentions, muffling her cry against his shoulder. The way she tightened around his length was more than enough to send him over the edge, and he threw his head back with a load groan as his hips bucked up, spilling himself inside her.
Heated and panting, Kaoru let all her weight be supported by Battousai, who sank bonelessly against the tub, quietly trying to calm his erratic breathing. When she opened her eyes, he was staring back at her. The way he kissed her was proof enough of his overwhelming approval. Kaoru shifted to deepen the kiss; she heard Battousai growl and felt him growing hard again. She broke the kiss with a grin.
"Again?"
He smirked and she smiled. Battousai had hardly failed to make this a night to remember.
*****