King's Box
Lil-Sun-Rie
Author's Note I really don't like typing these all the time. Just review and check out my other stories. I decided to keep the powers! Just because I was struck with an inspiration…. Read on and you'll find out! I hope you like this fic. I find it kind of rushed, tell me if it is!
Summary Amber eyes glowed eerily in the dark surrounding them. 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 survives. Will a light pierce the dark abyss they call insanity?
Disclaimer I don't own Rurouni Kenshin so don't sue me.
King's Box
Chapter Twelve: Fear
Black is black,
I want my baby back.
Its grey, its grey,
Since she went away.
What can I do?
Cause I'm, I'm feeling blue.
-hmm… not really sure who sang this song
Kaoru screamed as she felt the wind blow out of her. She felt the hardness of the basket behind her and groaned in pain. Arrows were parading from both sides. Kaoru looked up and saw Kenshin towering over her. He draped his body over hers. She felt the basket move upwards. Aoshi and the rest of the soldiers were pulling them up. Kaoru's eyes widened as she finally took in what was happening. She lunged trying to get out.
"Kaoru!" Kenshin glared at her, but she didn't care. All she wanted was out. How could they do this to her? Kaoru lunged again, but Kenshin pressed his body against hers. He pinned her to the floor of the basket. Kaoru felt tears come to her eyes. They were lifting from the ground when suddenly red clad men latched to the basket. Some tried to climb in, but Kenshin managed to stay on top of Kaoru and protect the basket at the same time. Kunais flew past them to the other men who were latched to the bottom. Kaoru screamed, but a sound was not heard.
Soft lips were pressed against her own. It didn't stop there…. Kenshin pressed his lips hard on Kaoru's. He didn't let her go, for if he did he knew what would happen. Kaoru's eyes widened till they were almost as big as small dishes. She tried to push Kenshin off her, but she soon accepted the passion in which Kenshin had offered. It didn't matter what was going on now… It didn't matter. The world around them seemed to disappear. The last kiss was only a brief one, but this one was much different. The passions, the anger, aggression, and… gentleness? Kaoru found herself lost with passion. It made everything seem so faraway that she wished it would go on.
Kenshin was surprised when Kaoru released a small sigh. He ended the kiss. He could tell that Kaoru was drunk with passion, so was he. Kaoru's hands traveled to her lips… then suddenly, with an aggravated cry she rubbed them furiously.
"What's wrong with you?!" Kaoru slapped Kenshin. "You ignore me for days, wondering about the first kiss, and now this."
Kenshin just grinned sadistically, "So you've been thinking of me."
Kaoru went red with embarrassment, and then her embarrassment turned to anger. "Because of you, I couldn't go to sleep at night. Battousai, you are making my life miserable!"
The killers name on her lips bit through Kenshin. He didn't know why, but when she said it… it just hurt. Kenshin was so confused. His feeling were too mixed up, he no longer knew what he was feeling.
"My life is miserable." His voice was calm. He didn't raise or lower it. It was just blank. Kaoru didn't like this. It didn't suit him at all.
"You don't understand!"
Kenshin towered over Kaoru, his breath brushed against her face. He stared intently into her eyes. His amber ones swirled with a myriad of emotions. Kaoru couldn't help but feel awed at staring into them. They were so… beautiful. So mysterious and breathtaking. They were also frightening and threatening. Kaoru's breath quickened when she noticed how close they were.
"Make me."
Kaoru was about to reply, when the basket stopped and Kenshin tossed her out of the basket. She glared at him as he climbed out.
Soujiro and Yahiko broke out of the crowd and ran to Kaoru's side. Yahiko was the first to notice her blushing face.
"Kaoru, why are you so red? Are you sick again?"
Kaoru just shook her head, "I'm fine… It's nothing to worry about." She watched Kenshin hack at the pulley till finally it broke. The wood and basket fell to the ledge bellow, tumbling on top of unsuspecting soldiers. They died instantly, feeling no pain, but fear.
Yahiko backed off immediately. For some reason her words seemed to emit a kind of cruelty. Kenshin noticed that Kaoru was unusually quiet. Kaoru was reflecting about the past few days. She could feel confusion cloud her mind. Were the kisses real, or was there something else?
I wish this never happened!
Kaoru wasn't sure if Kenshin just kissed her because she was the only woman he had seen in these few days, or if there was a love between them. She couldn't figure it out. Did he think her weak and in need of a comfort such as infatuation?
She needed strength, not an affair. Kaoru clutched her bag of tears. This was the first time in years since she had sought comfort from her crystallized tears. She could hear the shouting of the Jupon Gatana, but she didn't care. They would never be able to get her. Their horses and supplies were left behind in their rush, but some men were able to stash a few morsels in their clothes. That night they had a small dinner. They didn't stop to camp. It was too dangerous. The needed to make it to their town before it gets attacked by the rival group.
Kaoru walked. Going down the mountains was faster than getting up.
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Kaoru still felt sick even though it was days before since she had ridden up that basket. She could still feel the swaying that she had not noticed when she was on it. She felt sick with herself. She was thinking about Kenshin more than usual and it was grinding on her nerves. She tried to push all these thought away. After all, when they reach the town there will be many women. If she got too fond of him… it will only break her heart.
The caravan moved slowly on foot. Days went past and they had short moments of rest. Kaoru felt exhausted. She knew the whole caravan was tired. Then one day, Yahiko acted more hyper than usual. Aoshi seemed to be less distant. It was then that Kaoru found out that they were in Aoshi's land. It was then that she noticed the huts against the sunset. Aoshi decided for the men to rest a full night, before entering the town. Kaoru slept soundly that night, like everyone else. Yahiko slept at Kaoru's side like he always did and Kenshin stayed to a corner.
Unknown to all of them… a spy was within their encampment. The spy was accepted easily and now crept among them freely. How else would the Jupon Gatana know exactly where the Battousai and Kaoru were?
Blue eyes narrowed dangerously. They flashed and blinked, then within a few minutes, were asleep.
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When the caravan entered the town, they were greeted by many women, men, and children. Yahiko immediately ran off with his friends.
Kaoru watched Yahiko go and she felt a pit of dread within her. Without Yahiko distracting her, she would see the all the peasants staring at her. Kaoru felt like she did not belong, and she didn't.
Kenshin could tell that something was wrong with Kaoru ever since the kiss. Kenshin touched his lips and he could still feel the warm softness of hers against his. It made him want to kiss her again and again.
Aoshi offered Kenshin, Kaoru, and Misao a place at his palace. When Kaoru entered she was in awe. The house was more beautiful than her fathers. It had elegance in simplicity. The beauty of the house radiated off every wall and stone. Kaoru felt the hospitality of the warmth and welcomed it eagerly. They had spent days on the cold mountain that warmth held a value of silver and gold.
"There will be a returning feast and I expect you all to come." Aoshi looked at all three of them and turned to leave. Misao watched his retreating form with a want to run after him, but she restrained herself from doing so.
The servants showed them to their rooms and they bathed and got dressed for the special ceremony.
Kaoru was dressed in an exquisite kimono. It was green with silver lining and butterflies scattered across the material. Kaoru wore a darker green obi and a green bow. She got out of her room and saw Misao emerge from the room across the hall. Both girls saw each other and smiled, giving each other a playful wink.
Misao was wearing a beautiful lavender kimono with dark purple flowers. Her obi was dark purple and she wore her hair in its regular long braid. The girls entered the great hall together and were awed at the magnificence in which it was built. Kaoru could feel eyes on her and Misao, and she tried to distract herself with fingering the bottom of her obi.
Kaoru could see Yahiko wearing a black gi and white pants. His clothes fit him perfectly and made him seem much older. He was with another boy about his age or older.
Kaoru walked all the way to an isolated corner. Right now she did not want to attract too much attention. She wouldn't do well with that. Misao was the complete opposites. She was perfectly adaptable to this. She walked her way to Aoshi's side.
********************
Aoshi could see Misao approaching him.
Misao walked up to him and smiled. Aoshi looked down at her.
"Misao you have two more suitors."
"Tell them no."
"Will you not hear their names first?"
"Tell me so I can say no."
"The baker's son, Onimusha, and the herder's nephew, Hideki."
"No."
"Misao, you have to marry soon, or you'll be too old to marry off."
"Aoshi-sama, Kaoru is two winters older than I am. She still isn't married." Misao pointed out with her matter-of-fact voice.
Aoshi grunted in response. He hated it when people brought up other things to end the conversation.
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Kaoru sat all alone in the corner. She watched all the couples dance in their ordered dance. The steps, rhythm, and beat of every dancer were almost the same. It made it seem like they were possessed. The slow beat music played and Kaoru gently swung side to side in time of the music.
Yahiko approached her.
"Kaoru, why aren't you dancing?"
Kaoru smiled down at Yahiko and pinched his cheek. The boy just shoved her hand away. Most boys do that when a woman shows affections for them.
"I don't feel like it. Yahiko-chan, why aren't you dancing?"
"Don't call me chan!"
Kaoru just giggled and pointed to a pretty little girl who was a bit older than Yahiko.
"She's pretty, Yahiko. Ask her to dance."
"Tsubame! But, she's… she's a girl!"
"What's wrong with that?"
Yahiko didn't answer, he just ran away. Kaoru laughed and shook her head. It was then that she noticed a lot of men staring at her. Kaoru got a sudden chill. Her instincts were telling her to kick their asses, but Kaoru didn't want to wear out her welcome. She just sat there, in the middle of a group of men who were staring at her.
Kenshin saw Kaoru in this situation. At first he didn't recognize her. He made his way to her. Most people got out of his way because he had a dangerous air around him. He kept his gaze on Kaoru and he could tell that she felt like someone was watching her. She turned his way and saw that he was heading straight for her. She bowed her head and fidgeted with her clothes. Kenshin grinned as he hovered over Kaoru. He leaned his hands on either side of Kaoru.
Kaoru was starting to get nervous. They had already shared two kisses that left her confused and broken, she didn't know if she could take another one. Kenshin cupped her chin and brought her face close to his. He lightly pressed his lips onto hers. The kiss was so light that Kaoru could barely feel his lips, but she could feel his breath blow against her face. She could feel the warm desire of his kiss. She could feel a passion awaken within her. She could feel the longing and need of something. The kiss, although they barely touched, left Kaoru dizzy.
Kenshin glared at all the men around and Kaoru finally understood what he did. In her mind she was half grateful and half upset.
She was happy that Kenshin had managed to drive all those other men away, but she was upset because Kenshin only felt protective of her, but nothing else. It was like she was his responsibility. Like she was nothing to him.
Kaoru felt her cheeks burning, but she refused to look up at Kenshin.
"Thank you."
TO BE CONTINUED….
I hope you liked this chapter. Please review and if you have the time, review all my chapters!!!!!!!!!!! Just kidding, review at least two of them please!
I await a new review!!!!!!!!!! If you have ideas or problems for the story, just tell me!!!!!!!!!!!
TALLY-HO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ^_^ {The author of this story is really crazy)