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 Fifteen: Jealousy

Upside down, Bouncing off the ceiling,

Inside out, take me to the feeling.

Got no clue, what I should do,

I'd go crazy if I can't get next to you.

The next morning Kaoru and Misao were walking back to the training grounds. There was a large crowd and two almost invisible figures fighting. It was Kenshin and Aoshi. Aoshi seemed to be doing better than yesterday.

"He was injured during a spar with another fighter when he took on Kenshin."

Misao watched with eager eyes.

The day before, Aoshi had spared with many soldiers and had a wound on his side. He didn't really let anyone know. That's why he failed during his spar with Kenshin. He was overexerting his body. Misao's eyes changed from eagerness to worry.

She wasn't sure if Aoshi's wound was properly treated. It seemed to be, but you can never be too sure.


Kaoru watched as Aoshi jabbed and twisted with his twin kodaches. He brought them together and apart in one fluid motion. He was not even breaking a sweat this time. Kaoru knew from Misao that he had acquired a wound during his spar with the other men, but no one knew. Misao had been the only one who knew after his fight with Kenshin because she was the one to dress his wound.


Kaoru watched as Aoshi jabbed and twisted with his twin kodaches. He brought them together and apart in one fluid motion. He was not even breaking a sweat this time. Kaoru knew from Misao that he had acquired a wound during his spar with the other men, but no one knew. Misao had been the only one who knew after his fight with Kenshin because she was the one to dress his wound.

Kaoru watched with wide eyes as the two figures appeared and disappeared in the fast moving pace of their dance. Kaoru smiled and turned to Misao.

"Do you want to spar?"

Misao smiled energetically and nodded. They walked a little off the training grounds and got into their fighting positions. Misao pulled out her kunais and had one between each finger.

Kaoru grinned as she wielded her sword. The two paused and then they were off. Misao couldn't believe the speed in which Kaoru fought. Misao's eyes darted side to side trying to find Kaoru. She sensed a presence behind her and threw a deadly kunai. The weapon missed and was deeply embedded into the bark of a tree. Misao turned and saw Kaoru grinning at her. She threw a punch and was blocked by the dull end of Kaoru's sword.

Misao kicked, but Kaoru moved to the side and she missed. They broke apart and continued their long fight. Kaoru disappeared again and Misao instinctively threw a kunai behind her. There was a clang and Misao saw that Kaoru blocked her shot. Misao tackled Kaoru, wrapping her arms around her waist and laughed out loud. Kaoru laughed too as they both fell into a heap of giggling tangled limbs.

Clapping was heard behind them. They turned and saw the most peculiar man. He had a piece of straw in his mouth. He was very tall and had a menacing look. He grinned sadistically.

"I'm Saito Hajime." Kaoru felt a sense of relief. She would finally be able to leave and save Hiko-sama, but she also felt sadness. She would have to leave Kenshin because he was so infatuated with Tomoe Yukishiro. Kaoru untangled herself from Misao and walked up to Saito.

"Let us speak in town."

Saito nodded and threw his piece of straw away.

Kenshin saw from the corner of his eyes that a man was talking to Kaoru. It was a new man…. How many suitors does she have? Kenshin was too busy looking at the threesome that he didn't notice Aoshi kick him. Kenshin fell and before he could get up, two deadly blades were poised above his neck. Kenshin glared at Aoshi and pushed him off.

"You won."

Aoshi could tell that there was something bothering Kenshin. He followed Kenshin's line of sight and saw that Kaoru was talking to a man. It was…

"Saito Hajime."

Kenshin's head snapped up and he glanced at Aoshi.

"It's the man she came all this way for. Saito Hajime. He's very sadistic, but he is nice behind what he puts out."

"And why are you telling me this?"

Aoshi grinned, the first hint of any emotion to anyone else but Misao.

"I know you're jealous."

Kenshin glared at Aoshi and continued watching them. Suddenly they were walking away. Kenshin started to follow them.

************

"Do you know where the box is?"

"What box?"

"I don't know if it has a specified name, but it has angels and rubies on it. I heard it was the King's box?"

Kaoru sounded unsure. She didn't want to say something that wasn't true.

"Do you know what's in the box? Do you even know why you're looking for it?"

Kaoru shook her head. "I just know I need the box to free Hiko-sama."

"Ah, the sensei who taught the Battousai."

Kaoru glared at Saito. Was he trying to change the subject on purpose?

Suddenly he was serious. He put his hands on the table.

"The box holds something that the guy who sent you wants. It is something dangerous and only you would be able to control its powers."

Soujiro listened in on their conversation. Saito wants to use Kaoru? Then why did he send me to kill her if he needed her.

Soujiro listened more intently.

"The box holds a jeweled necklace called Draupnir. Only the king's mistress was ever able to use it. There are many legends about Draupnir. It caused the destruction of the gods because their own mistress couldn't use it to bring good. This necklace can either cause good or bad."

Kaoru nodded her head, taking all this information in.

"The mistress of Draupnir must be a descendant of the most cherished of the eight immortals."

Kaoru looked up surprised. She was not a cherished descendant. How could she be when the king's mistress was? How could she be when she was born to a instructor and not a king? She wasn't royalty and she would never be.

"The mistress of the necklace must be a descendant of Li Teiguai who was the first of the eight immortals. It is said that his soul left his body and inhabited that of a lame beggar. He used magic to revive the dead and rejuvenate the unholy spirits. He was the first to own Draupnir. It was that necklace that gave him the power to heal. Later, it was passed to Zhang Guolao, who used it for evil. He destroyed the others and gave the jeweled necklace to his son. And so it was passed down from parent to offspring."

"But, how can I be able to control its powers?"

"You are not the daughter of Kamiya-san. Izanami is your mother. Your mother is the murdered mistress of the king."

Kaoru looked up at Saito with tears in her eyes.

"I don't know what you're talking about!"

"You're a bastard child. You are the result of an affair. That's why your mother didn't want you. Please understand. The king didn't reveal their relationship till after her death. Izanami was very beautiful. You have her eyes, her cheeks, and her nose. You are her own daughter. You carry the powers that were passed down in the Li Teiguai line."

Kaoru closed her eyes. Was that the reason her father didn't get close to her? Sure she had the father and daughter relationship. Sure they were happy and laughed all the time… but she noticed that he stayed distant and his eyes were empty.

But still, they loved each other as a father and daughter would. They spent time learning and teaching.

"So… I have Li Teiguai's powers. How does that help Shishio?"

"Even though you bring the box and the Druapnir to him, he will keep Hiko-san as a prisoner and blackmail you with him. You will be slaved under him and he will use you. If you bring it to him your suffering will continue."

"It is better if Hiko-sama is safe. I rather it be that way instead of putting him in more danger than he deserves."

Saito looked down at her. "I don't know where it is."

Kaoru looked up at him with wide eyes. "What?"

"I don't know where the Draupnir is."

"But, I need it!" Saito grinned sadistically.

"Well, that'll be a problem won't it."


He got up and pats Kaoru on the back. "See you."

Kaoru watched angrily has he walked away and picked up a blade of grass. He stuck the blade into his mouth, turned to her, and winked. Kaoru felt anger boil within her. She wanted so much to slap him so hard that it he would never ever dare to bother her again.

Unbeknownst to Kaoru, Kenshin was listening in on their conversation. He was outside and he watched as Saito exited. He picked up a blade of grass and winked at Kaoru. Kenshin didn't know why, but he felt angered that he had disrespected Kaoru-dono so.

He shouldn't think that. He had disrespected her too, but she didn't seem to hate him for it. She seemed more distant and unattainable. Saito turned so he was facing the sunset.

"You better take care of her."

Kenshin didn't know if he was talking to him or to someone else.

Saito turned to Kenshin and pointed at him.

"Get out of the bushes and stop hiding like a common thief. Battousai, you better take care of her."

Kenshin stood up and glared at Saito.

"She needs someone to comfort her now that she knows the truth of her powers."

"You should not have told her."

"I know you knew that she was not the daughter of Kamiya. Did your lord tell you?"

Kenshin nodded warily.

"She needed to know it. She needs to know so she won't betray herself to this fantasy of her worthlessness. She is a very giving girl and she needs to know that life is not about helping Hiko-san."

Kenshin looked at the ground.

"Do you love her?"

"I… I don't… I don't know." Kenshin kept his head down.

Tomoe watched as the two men talked. If this Saito kept on doing what he was, her plans would fail and she would betray her love. She wouldn't be able to lose herself in her blue depths and she wouldn't be able to caress his black hair. She didn't want to lose him. She didn't want him to forsake her. Saito walked away.

Tomoe intentionally ran to Kenshin. She limped a little.

"Ken…shin… Kenshin!"

Tomoe ran into Kenshin's arms.

"Kenshin! They attacked me! All I wanted to do was surprise you! They stole the sake I bought and would have laid with me if a sir knight hadn't come…" She grew quiet and suddenly went limped in Kenshin's arms.

Kenshin held the unconscious Tomoe in his arms and Kaoru walked outside.


She saw Kenshin holding Tomoe close and almost fainted. She wanted to cry, but she held her head up high and walked pass them. Kenshin saw Kaoru walk away, but he couldn't go to her. He had to make sure Tomoe was alright.

What all of them didn't know was that Tomoe was conscious and was grinning behind her mask.

TO BE CONTINUED…

I hope y'all loved the chappie! Sorry it kind of took long, but what can I say? Patience is a virtue! LOL!

Someone reviewed saying that patience was not a virtue, but a nuisance and I really liked that! LOL! It's so cool! I hope to see a new review!

Now for my favorite pair:

Rie {Another chapter has come and gone.)

^_^ {Thank good its over, huh?)

Rie {You really should support your own story.)

^_^ {It's not my story! I feel offended that you think I write that horrible!)

Rie {IT IS SO YOUR STORY! AND IT'S NOT HORRIBLE!)

^_^ {Just keep telling yourself that…)

Rie {You are weird… your dissing yourself, you know that. You're the voice in my head, baka…)

^_^ {Good point! This is the best story in the universe! You better review… or else!)

*dun dun dun*

Great job everyone! Move out!

For all those wondering, I don't like Tomoe. I'm really sorry to the Tomoe lovers out there!