Story Note: I thought I would explain something about the Royal Guards. One is the King's private Royal Guard and another is the Royal Guard known to the entire Shadow Kingdom. Then there are also Royal Guards for particular areas, but the highest rank is considered Leader instead of Captain. Sanosuke and Saitou are part of the Royal Guard that has to look after the overall kingdom instead of just a section of it like the other group of Royal Guards, while Battousai's Royal Guards are a select group of men that are well skilled and work undercover. Basically, one is the main Royal Guard and the other Royal Guards are smaller branches of the main Royal Guard; the King's Royal Guard is a completely different group altogether.



In Order of Most Powerful to the Least:

King

Crimson Rose

King's Royal Guard

Main Royal Guard

Subdivision Royal Guards

Lords/Nobles

Slaves (Refer to Chapter Two Notes for specific order.)





Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin.







Crimson Rose

Written By DemonicShdAngel






Chapter Five

The Crimson Rose sat in the King of Shadow Kingdom's lap and stared off into the darkness. Her eyes having already adjusted allowed her to make out the details of the room. In front of her there was a mirror that reflected the moon's glow on a black stand and to its right a water basin. Further to the right was a screen and to the far left was the door that led into the room. Not wanting to move from her spot to eye the rest of the room, Kaoru stared into the mirror.

Pale fingers that seemed like ice stroked her midnight locks and she once again closed her eyes. The very presence of the one behind her made her shiver. He wasn't at all like any of the others she had met in Shadow Kingdom; he was someone that was to be either respected or feared.

"Cold?" asked the seemingly enchanting voice when the stroking stopped.

Immediately Kaoru shook her head and stared straight into the mirror. She lowered her eyes when she saw that he was staring into her own through their reflection. There was something about his amber eyes that made her seem weak and inferior to him. It was as if he was sucking the rest of her soul and spirit out of her body with his eyes.

"Koishii?" questioned Battousai again as his hold on her slender waist tightened slightly.

"I-I am fine," whispered Kaoru, her voice a bit hoarse from the lack of usage.

The teenager only looked up when the King's fingers held onto her chin and moved her face in his direction so that their gazes locked.

Kaoru could only close her eyes when his breath caressed her face from their closeness and visibly shuddered when his lips graced her own lightly. Normally she would be offended, but the tenderness and quickness of the kiss left her slightly dizzy and incapable of complaining. It was simple yet completely breathtaking. She became solemn when the demanding words of her captor reached her ears.

"Tell me what's on your mind," ordered Battousai as he pulled back and let go of her chin so she could speak freely.

Biting her lower lip, Kaoru shook her head no once again. She dropped her gaze when she saw the anger that flared within his depths of fire. Something within her told her to remain silent as if it were to be her last act of defiance. A part of her, the part that so many others had admired, was refusing to yield to Battousai's wishes and become what he wanted her to be. Her weakening spirit still held onto freedom and was still determined to be released from the King's hold as it was meant to be.

As her mind and spirit seemed to process this, she looked straight into Battousai's eyes and glared as she saw anger replaced by amusement. He had seen something that she was certain he was not supposed to within her eyes. She was an open book to the auburn haired man and the thought didn't please her.

"I was beginning to think that you weren't my Crimson Rose because you had submitted so easily. It seems that you needed only a bit of time to recover from my earlier actions on you," said Battousai when silence became almost unbearable for the girl.

At his reply, Kaoru turned her body completely so that she straddled his hips with her own. Her eyes narrowed as she spoke with pure resentment, "What did you do to me?"

His smirk only made her growl. She could feel herself coming back to life as if the light she had lost had turned on again. It was as if a spell had been lifted from her.

"I applied pressure to one of your vital points and that caused you to temporarily become unconscious. The after effects caused your brain to malfunction for a few moments after you came to," explained Battousai as he once again tightened his hold, which he had never released, on Kaoru's waist.

"Let me guess, you've done this before?" asked Kaoru a bit annoyed as she kept her hands on his torso to keep them at a distance. She wasn't about to let him steal another kiss while she was sober.

"Yes, but it's the first time I've explained it to anyone," admitted Battousai while he fingered the fabric of Kaoru's yukata, his eyes still connected with the replica of his love.

Kaoru frowned and tried to swap away his hands with her own but sighed when he wouldn't let go.

"You know I'm not your Kaoru, don't you?" asked Kaoru a bit irritated. She might as well try and get through to the man while she had his full attention. He needed to understand that she wasn't his past lover.

The moment the words left her mouth she had once again regretted speaking them. The sparkle in Battousai's eyes vanished as quickly as it had appeared and she knew he was struggling with himself even though his face expression was blank. His mask didn't fool her.

Kaoru gave the man once known as Kenshin a sympathetic smile. He had changed things in the name of the one he loved and upon her return she had rejected him. She felt her heart squeeze for how he must have felt when she refused to allow him to believe that his fiancée had returned to him. At least she was able to allow him to keep the charade up for a little while. She would have kept it up if it meant changing the cold-hearted king again, but she knew that she had to go home. Prolonging her departure from him would only make it worse when she had to go back to her own world. In her heart she knew that she would go back one day, no matter how unlikely it seemed right now.

"Please try and comprehend the fact that your love is gone. She died saving your life," said Kaoru as she tried to reassure her host.

When the sentence died on her lips, she went completely still as Battousai's eyes held hers so well that she couldn't break away.

"You are my Crimson Rose. The mark on your wrist says you are," shouted Battousai as he grabbed her left wrist and showed her the symbol of the red rose and the golden heart in the center. "How else would you know so much about our past? Why do you deny it?"

"Why do you deny it?" countered Kaoru as she felt her anger rise again. He had all the evidence yet he still refused to accept the truth.

"I am only stating what I see," said Battousai, his voice unusually calm after his previous display of making a point.

"You only see what you want to see," corrected Kaoru as she would a child. "You know that even if your love did live she wouldn't have remained as young as I am. Prince Kenshin, you know that you didn't place this mark on me or your bride-to-be. There were no slaves at the time when you two were to wed. Please move on, if not for your own sake or your people's, then hers."

At Kaoru's words, Battousai dropped her wrist and hugged her tightly.

"But you're like her in so many ways, Kaoru," said Battousai, his voice muffled in her lavender hair of silk.



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The blue violet slave finally dared to look up when she didn't feel the usual lash against her and could tell that the Captain before her was staring at her in amusement. Although she couldn't see his eyes, she could make out the slight tug at the man's lips and immediately looked down when she saw that he had begun to frown.

"Your name?" demanded the Captain of the Royal Guard.

"Misao, milord," replied the slave quickly and as politely as she could manage. She didn't dare to look up again and the black stallion the man was riding was staring at her; it wouldn't be a surprise if everyone else was too.

"How did you get that injury?" asked the Captain, this time his voice less insistent. If she didn't know any better, she'd say that the older man was actually concerned. For what important person would care for the well being of a worthless slave?

"An accident, sir," Misao lied; she knew that telling that truth would only get her whipped again.

There was a long silence and still she did not dare move her eyes from the soiled ground. It was the sound of another set of hooves coming their way that made Misao lift her head slightly so she could make out the outfit of yet another Captain.

"Captain Sagara, what is the delay for?" questioned the Third Captain of the Royal Guard in annoyance when his horse came to a halt.

"This violet is bleeding badly and you know that we need our slaves to be in a somewhat good condition to work on the fields all day, right Captain Hajime?" asked Sanosuke instead.

Misao could have sworn that she heard a snort coming from the other man before he barked out the orders, "Get the slave girl some bandages and salve. I don't want to find blood on any of the Black Seeds collected today."

When she was finally pulled away by grumbling guards to the Treating Hut, she heard more than saw the two horses move on down the aisle and couldn't help but smile when she saw the grin on the considerate Captain's face.

"I guess not all nobles are evil," thought Misao as she quickened her pace to catch up with the guards. She gave Tsubame and Megumi a reassuring smile before she reached the Treating Hut.



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"Since when did you learn to make up such great excuses?" asked Saitou sarcastically when they moved on.

"The day I realized that I could get what I want without making a huge scene and still keep the respect of others," answered the Captain with a grin still on his face.

Rolling his eyes, Saitou inquired almost curiously, "Why did you help that blue violet slave? No one of a high ranking status gives a damn about any of the slaves."

Sano simply shrugged his shoulders and dismounted when they reached the end of the rows of people. Giving his reins to one of the guards nearby, Sanosuke wiped off invisible dust from his clothing before facing the Leader of the Royal Guard within this particular area.

"Captain Sagara, Captain Hajime. What can I do for you?" bowed the Leader to both men.

"You can start by telling us what happened earlier today," said Saitou. He was never one to stall.

At those words the Leader bent his head and motioned for them to walk ahead into his personal hut.

Already knowing the direction to go in, Saitou led them towards the Leader's office on this particular Black Seed Field. One of the guards at the door quickly opened it for the three to enter. Not bothering to say thanks, both Captains sat in the chairs seated in front of the Leader's desk.

"I see you've both heard about the Crimson Rose's sudden appearance here in these fields," stated the Leader as he sat down and offered them tea.

Waving it off, Sano demanded, "We don't have all night to linger here. Now tell us what you know."

Nodding, the Leader began his story, "It happened this morning when one of the King's advisors sent a message saying that one of the rose slaves had fled the Black Castle and was thought to be hiding in one of the Black Seed Fields. I immediately ordered a roll call when I received the message and was just about to search the huts when the sla—Crimson Rose revealed herself. She fainted and I carried her off to the Black Castle.

"Earlier I had sent two of my men to go on ahead to announce the Crimson Rose's arrival. When we arrived, my men told me what had transpired within the castle walls. Lord Battousai had said that he made no such mark on anyone and demanded that the maiden be brought to him for personal inspection. I told my co-leader to follow her in and he told me that our King simply ordered him out of the room. Anything else that occurred after their meeting has not reached me."

"That's all that happened?" asked Sano as he took in the information. He was still confused.

"Basically," replied the Leader.

"What do you mean by basically? Tell us everything," ordered Saitou, his patience wearing thin.

The Leader shifted uncomfortably before adding, "On our ride to the Black Castle, the Crimson Rose asked a few peculiar questions as if she didn't know anything about her own position. She even asked about what world she was in. It seemed as if she didn't believe that she was in the Shadow Kingdom."

Sano tapped his chin thoughtfully as he tried to think up a logical reasoning, "If it really is my sister, then she would be use to our kingdom being called the Kingdom of Hope and there were no slaves let alone the title Crimson Rose while she was still with us."

The Leader nodded in understanding before looking down at his table in deep thought.

"Is there any other thoughts you would like to speak aloud?" prodded Saitou when he noticed the look of concentration in the man's face.

"She thought that I didn't hear, but I heard her say that the Shadow Kingdom was a legend. If she really was the Lord's fiancée, then she shouldn't have even ever heard of our kingdom," stated the Leader as he shook his head from side to side.

"See, that's why I'm baffled. I can't find a reasonable explanation on how all of this connects to one another," Sano sighed as he ran his right hand through his hair out of habit.

The Third Captain of the Royal Guard lit a cigarette and blew a smoke ring in the air.

"Any suggestions, Captain?" asked Sano as he turned to face the older man.

"We could always ask the girl ourselves. A brother wishing to speak with his sister wouldn't cause any questions," said Saitou after taking another whiff of his cigarette calmly.

Grinning Sano stood up and quickly moved to leave the hut. He paused only when he noticed that Saitou wasn't following him and demanded a bit irritated, "Are you coming?"

"After I finish my cigar, Sagara," answered Saitou as he relaxed into his chair, showing that he wasn't going anywhere any time soon.

Rolling his eyes, Sano left the hut to announce that they were leaving soon. He knew that Saitou already knew he wouldn't leave without him. Why else would Saitou stay within the hut while he was outside and could easily ride off to the Black Castle?

Patting his horse, Sagara Sanosuke waited for his comrade to come out of the hut.



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Kaoru didn't know how long Battousai held onto her, but when she felt his lips on her neck she felt her head grow dizzy again at the sensation he was emitting through her body. She suddenly became conscious of how close they really were and could feel her curves fit perfectly within his muscular body. The only thing separating them at the moment were their clothes.

Blushing when she felt Battousai's hands trailing her curves, Kaoru pulled back and shook her head.

"I'm not who you think I am," insisted Kaoru as she tried to get off his lap, but his hands held her down securely.

"I won't let you go again," said Battousai while he pulled her closer until her head was on his chest.

Only when she was certain his hands wouldn't wonder did she relax in his hold and play with the fabric of his clothing. It was then that she realized just how silky the feeling of his and her own clothing were.

"You haven't eaten," stated the King of Shadow Kingdom suddenly as he easily lifted her off his lap and placed her on the edge of the bed.

Kaoru raised a brow when Battousai stood up and walked behind the screen in the far right corner of the room. The man was full of mysteries. One moment he was silent, then demanding, stubborn, and now considerate. Predictable obviously wasn't one of his traits.

Giving up and just letting him do as he pleased seemed so much easier than denying him. At least if she did give up, she'd never have to worry about taking any tests or doing any hard labor. She was certain Battousai would take care of her every need. If she wasn't so hell bent on returning back to her needing family, she would have gladly decided to stay and become the princess any girl in her world could only wish to be.

Before her mind could wander off any more than it already did, a red and white kimono floated into her lap. She stared at the rose design on the soft material before staring up at the amber eyed King. Now that he was standing directly in front of her, she was finally able to make out what exactly he was wearing. The blood red cape he had worn was now covering his entire frame and his black boots didn't even click when they touched the ground with each agile step he took.

"You want to look beautiful in the presence of others, don't you?" asked Battousai when he noticed that she was staring at him.

Nodding dumbly, Kaoru almost moved to take off her yukata when she remembered that Battousai was still in the room. She looked at him expectantly to give her privacy, but he didn't seem like he was about to leave any time soon.

"Behind the screen is a cloak for you to wear. The stones that make up the castle tends to make this place colder," said Battousai.

When his words registered, Kaoru blushed. The reason why he didn't leave was that he expected her to change before the screen. Why else was it placed in the corner?

Getting up, Kaoru was grateful to find that she was walking on carpet instead of stone. With the kimono in her arms she walked over to the screen and went behind it to change while Battousai waited patiently for her to finish.



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