THREE
Chapter 3
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DISCLAIMER: I'm sure Nobuhiro Watsuki would be embarrassed by the suggestion
that he might have written this ridiculous little piece of citrus.
(Or in other words, this is fanfic and I don't own Rurouni Kenshin...)
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"Kaoru-dono." Kenshin straightened, his chest heaving as if he'd just
finished running a great distance. Although his voice softened when he spoke
her name, his posture had shifted subtly -- shoulders squared, knees slightly
flexed, his center of gravity in careful alignment, ready to move in any
direction without hesitation. Even as the hopeless ache settled into her
stomach, the kendoka in Kaoru's head watched with admiration. How does he do
that?
When Kenshin became the Battousai, his detachment was almost tangible -- in a
way, he was more present, he radiated power -- but he moved through his
surroundings as if he had no connection to anything other than his sword. No
connection to the ground, no connection to the things around him, no connection
to the person he was fighting.
No connection to me.
Even though Kenshin was standing no more than three feet from Kaoru, she knew
that she couldn't reach him now.
Across from Kenshin, Saitou knelt, still wearing that intolerable smirk. His
eyes met Kaoru's, and the smirk widened into an arrogant grin. He wanted
this, she realized. He was baiting Kenshin. He was baiting both of us.
"You!" Kaoru launched herself at Saitou, fists first. "You
bastard!"
Before she'd taken more than two steps, strong arms closed around her waist,
held her impassively, without warmth. Kenshin. Through the sheer silk of her
yukata, she could feel the muscles in his chest and stomach tense as she
struggled to break free. I could be a total stranger to him right now.
She twisted violently in his grip, not caring that he'd see the tears streaming
furiously down her cheeks. "Dammit, Kenshin, let me go!"
Kenshin just stared back at her, patiently, and Kaoru felt the last of her
control snap. She brought her foot down hard on his instep, then dug her elbow
into his ribs, as hard as she could -- a technique that he had shown her, she
remembered bitterly. But he showed no pain, merely tightened his arms,
immobilizing her. Another time, she would have wriggled against him, playing with
his hair or licking the gentle curve of his jaw, trying to tease him into
letting her go. Or holding me tighter. Now…
"Kenshin… Kenshin, let go…" She pushed against his chest, his
shoulders, his arms, but she couldn't get any leverage. It was like pushing
against a tree: nothing gave. He's not much bigger than I am. How can he be
so much stronger? His face was expressionless except for a slight tension
at the corners of his mouth. "Kenshin…"
He didn't move, but something in him shifted, and suddenly he was open to her
again. Anger. Fear. Regret. Grief. And an overwhelming sense of relief. She
felt his hands tremble slightly against her back, and she fell against him,
resting her forehead against the damp skin of his shoulder.
Is this the last time I'll ever touch him?
"Kaoru-dono." He lowered her gently to her knees, then sat beside
her. "Please."
Please, what? She rubbed her sleeve over her face, smearing tears across
her cheeks. The silk still held traces of warmth where it had been pressed
against his body.
A few feet away, Saitou knelt comfortably on the floor and watched them
intently. Strangely, he wasn't smirking any more.
He saw.
And then, the surreal thought -- he's still not wearing anything but his
fundoshi.
Saitou didn't seem to be self-conscious at all, in spite of the fact that he'd
just witnessed the most hideous moment of her entire life, and worse, that he'd
been sitting there casually in his underwear while it happened.
So why am I the one who feels naked? The sash of her yukata had come
loose while she was grappling with Kenshin. Kaoru yanked the thin strip of silk
tight around her waist, tucking the front of the yukata back into place and
securing it with a firm knot -- as if by covering up her exposed flesh she
could somehow hide her humiliation.
When this is over, she promised herself, I'm going to kill Saitou
with his own sword.
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Kendoka - someone who practices kendo
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Ok, now for the pop quiz:
A) How was the emotional tension in this scene? Was there any point where it
didn't feel real?
B) What was your favorite moment in this chapter?
Tell me what you think so that I can do better in chapter four!
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