King's Box

Lil-Sun-Rie

Author's Note Please review.

Summary Amber eyes glowed eerily in the dark shadows. All he knew was that a soft heart wasn't a heart at all. It must be of stone, so as to carve the law of living: The strongest survive. Will a light pierce the dark abyss they call insanity?

Disclaimer I don't own Rurouni Kenshi.

King's Box

Chapter Two: Talking


Five years past and Shishio was still haunted by Kaoru's eyes. The fear was dull and he felt that he could face her hateful eyes again. He needed that box. But, how was he going to get the girl to speak?


"Good job Kaoru," Hiko wiped some sweat off his head. "You're getting better. Soon you'll be better than me."


Hiko took deep breathes and charged at Kaoru, who hadn't broke a sweat yet. Kaoru's stance tensed as she blocked his chest strike. She ducked before his elbow connected with her nose and punched upwards nailing him in the stomach. She stopped only centimeters away from actually punching him.


That's what confused Hiko. She would always stop centimeters away from actually hitting him when he didn't hold back. He hit her with all he had in order to make her stronger.


He drilled her in the martial arts over and over.


"Okay drop your bokken; let's practice your martial arts. Okay show me your form."


"Left low block," Hiko recited while Kaoru demonstrating. "Double punch, turn, right low block, double punch, face front low block, double punch, left midsection block, elbow strike.." She continued till she finished.


It always amazed Hiko how Kaoru was able to perform each form and stance with such perfection. It seems like she mastered this before. Hiko approached her and aimed a punch in her midsection. She pushed it away with her palms and punched him in the midsection. They pulled away.


Hiko charged at her with an elbow strike. Kaoru sidestepped and pushed him forwards. Hiko smiled. Although he was still going easy on her he had to admit that she was good and would probably be a worthy challenge when he stopped letting her win. Kaoru pulled both hands up and feet apart.


One behind her as she crouched low. Hiko looked at her stance. This was one he didn't teach her yet. But, he knew what it was. The step back tornado kick. Hiko narrowed his eyes. Although she never hit him he had the feeling that she wouldn't be able to stop.


Hiko brought his hands up and matched her stance. She charged. She nailed him in the side with a round house kick and with great speed stepped back, spin, jump, and kick.


Hiko closed his eyes waiting for the pain to come. But, it didn't she was able to stop like always. Hiko opened his eyes and saw Kaoru bowed in front of him.


"Kaoru, you are really improving. Your accuracy and speed has never been sharper. Now for us to spar for real. I won't hold back."


Kaoru only nodded.


"First to touch wins."


Kaoru and Hiko stood to face one another.


"Oh yeah, wait just a moment." Hiko rushed into the stable. He came back carrying a sheathed sword. He pulled the sword out and showed it to Kaoru.


"A reverse blade. I want to see you fight with your first sword." Kaoru nodded. Hiko sheathed the sword again and handed it to Kaoru.


Kaoru stared at the sword in her hand. It was fairly new. The hilt was clean and tightly bound with red cloth showing that it was never used. Kaoru finger the hilt the let her fingers travel along the sheath. It was a long black leather cover, with an imprint of a dragon along it.


Kaoru gripped the hilt and pulled the sword out of the sheath. She listened to the quiet hum the sword gave of. She laid the sheath next to the stable and went back to stand in front of Hiko. They both bowed and charged at each other. A loud clang echoed around. Hiko was the first to pull back.


Kaoru had exerted a lot of force into the first blow that she toppled forwards and Hiko brought the dull end of his sword on her back. Kaoru coughed out blood.


"Kaoru never show your back to the opponent." He help Kaoru up and put her to bed. Hiko went down to prepare a dinner. He heard a knock on the door. He opened it and gasped when he saw his baka deshi. Hiko flared with anger.


"Kenshin, why are you here?" Hiko hissed, his voice carrying distaste.


"I have come to bring the girl to Shishio." Hiko glared into Kenshin's amber eyes. Kenshin made a motion to go in, but Hiko stopped him by covering the entrance way with his body. Kenshin looked up at him.


"Hiko-Sama, do yourself a favor and let her go. You don't even know her."


"Your right I don't."


"Then move."


"Never."


Kenshin gripped his sword tighter. He stepped back a few steps then without warning charged at Hiko.


Hiko didn't have a chance. Kenshin rammed into him causing him to fall back and crash into some discarded pottery. The crash made a loud sound and Kaoru snapped up when she

heard it.


Then she heard voices. One she recognized as Hiko's the other was younger but menacing. When Kaoru heard his voice her eyes glazed over as she saw him. He had red hair and amber eyes. They were like cat eyes. He had a cross shaped scar on his left cheek.


Lots of dark memories were the cause of his scar. Lots of dark memories made him into what he was.


Kenshin looked down at Hiko as he tried to get up. It's been five years since he had seen this man. When he was twenty three. Kenshin heard stumbling he looked to the stairs and saw a frightened girl. She stared wide eyed at him, but did not speak. Kenshin knew immediately that this was the girl that Shishio wanted. He made his way to the girl.


Hiko heard the stumbling and saw Kaoru at the foot of the steps. He saw Kenshin make his way towards her. But that was something he would not allow. Hiko kicked Kenshin's feet from right under him.


Kenshin laid sprawled on the floor next to Hiko.


"Run, Kaoru!" Kaoru shook her head and rushed to Hiko's side. She tried to help him up, but he pushed her away.


"Kaoru don't be stubborn, run!" Kaoru didn't listen. Kenshin stood up behind Kaoru. Hiko saw him and grabbed his sword from his waist band. He pushed Kaoru away and stood to face Kenshin.


In a red flash Kenshin ran behind Hiko. Hiko swung his sword behind him, and in another red blur disappeared. Kenshin appeared again behind Hiko.


"Over here!" He swung his sword down. Hiko blocked his attack and side stepped to the left. He swung his sword at Kenshin only to miss again. Kenshin swung his blade at Hiko's arm.


Kenshin's blade met flesh and blood started to run down Hiko's arm.


Kaoru helplessly watched as Kenshin and Hiko fought. She remember her blade in her room and ran to get it. When she came back, blade in hand Kenshin and Hiko were still fighting. Kaoru flung the sheath away and dived in the battle. She blocked an attack from Kenshin and started with a chest strike. Kenshin was surprised to see Kaoru welding a sword.


Kenshin saw as she struggled to get used to the weight of the sword in her hands. Kenshin blocked her chest strike, but didn't expect her elbow strike.


Kaoru's elbow connected with Kenshin's nose. Kenshin stumbled back holding his nose. Blood started to run down his chin. Kenshin wiped the blood away and charged at her with a head strike. Kaoru side stepped the strike and hit his back with the hilt of her sword. Kenshin whipped around and swung his sword towards her shoulder.


Blood started to run down Kaoru's arm. Kaoru barred her teeth to stop her from screaming out in pain. Kenshin stepped back and charged at her with a head strike. Kaoru got into defense stance.


She was ready to block the head strike, when Kenshin switched his stance while charging at her. Kaoru's eyes widened as she was prepared to meet her death. Suddenly she was pushed to the floor and she looked up to see Hiko blocking Kenshin's sword.


Kenshin started attacking Hiko with such force and speed that Hiko was knocked off his feet. Kenshin had Hiko on the floor. He was ready to make the death blow. Kenshin raise his bladed with the point down. Kaoru's thoughts were racing. She was going to lose another father. Kaoru had learned to love Hiko as she loved her father. Kaoru wasn't sure if she could take another heartbreak.


Tears started to form in Kaoru's eyes but she didn't let them fall. She stared at he shining blade. She could prevent it.


'How? Fight again?' Another voice enter Kaoru's mind. 'Don't you might get yourself and Hiko killed.'


Kaoru contemplated her choices. She stared at the blood stained blade and she couldn't take it any more.


"Stop! I'll go to Shishio! But, please don't kill him!" Kaoru threw herself over Hiko's body. She hugged him tightly.


"Please don't kill him.." She sobbed into his chest. Kaoru heard Kenshin sheath his sword and she risked a glance behind her. He was outside.


"I'll let you time to pack."


Kaoru helped Hiko into a chair and went to pack, all the while not meeting Hiko's eyes. Kaoru got a small basket and placed an extra gi and pants in.


She covered a loaf of bread and placed it in there too, with a wine pouch and cheese. Kaoru picked up her sword and sheathed it. She placed it on her waist band and was about to leave.


"Kaoru.." Kaoru closed her eyes as she turned to face Hiko.


"Hiko-Sama, I'm sorry. I just couldn't watch them kill you. Your like my second father."


Hiko nodded his head, understanding her.


"Kaoru, this might sound old, but your like the daughter I have never had."


Kaoru walked over to Hiko and hugged him.


"Father," she whispered in his ear.


"My daughter," Hiko whispered back.


Kaoru felt tears well up in her eyes and she let them fall. For the first time in five years she cried willingly.


She cupped her hands under her chin to catch the diamonds. She gently placed them in Hiko's hand and left.


She turned at the door. Kaoru sniffled. Her first conversation in five years and it was a good-bye one. She locked eyes with Hiko.


"Good-bye.."


The walk back to Shishio's mansion would be a long one. Around one week at least.


It was the first day of walking and Kaoru followed Kenshin like a dog on a leash. Kenshin expected Kaoru to whine like his normal prisoners, but she stayed silent.


She didn't eat a lot when they camped, but gave him a larger portion. Kenshin stared at the bread she laid in front of him. He shifted his glance to her loaf. It was a lot smaller than his.


"Why don't you eat more?"


"I gave you half of my share."


"Why?"


"Because I know you didn't want to hurt me or Hiko-Sama, you were only doing your job."


"That doesn't explain why you gave me half of your share."


"Don't worry about me." She smiled a forced smile up at him. Kenshin narrowed his amber eyes and ate. When they finished Kaoru packed up everything and followed Kenshin.


Kenshin was waiting for her whines, he was waiting for her crying, but it never came.


"Kenshin.." Kenshin closed his eyes and smiled to himself.


She was going to start whining and he was going to start torturing her.


'Kenshin, I'm tired can we rest.' He imagined her voice saying.


"Kenshin," Kaoru paused. "How far do you think we'll walk?"


Kenshin opened his eyes and glared in front of him. Where was her whining?


"Far." He answered.


Kaoru felt a growing hate inside her, but she pushed it down. She could never hate anyone for a long time.


It was something her father drilled into her, forgive and forget. Kaoru stayed silent as they walked on.