Standard disclaimer applies.

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The Sound of Jasmine

By: Luna

Part Eleven: Kurogasa

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"Kaoru-san? Kaoru-san? There is someone here to see you." Kasane called out, her wavy brown hair tied back into a high ponytail. I smiled in thanks and, thinking it was Sanosuke coming to visit again, I hurriedly took off my apron and rushed out of the back room.

I looked around, searching for a certain tall dark and spiky haired man, but finding none. Instead, to my utter delight, I found a handsome golden- eyed man waiting at his old table. The room was dark and musty as usual, the stale smell filled also with the stench of alcohol and bad body odor. The men surrounding the table were talking quietly among themselves, not one of them sitting with their backs turned towards him. They eyed him warily, as if afraid he was going to jump up and bite them.

But I paid them no heed, my eyes for Kenshin, and Kenshin only. Smiling, I grabbed a bottle of sake and two cups. Still smiling, I made my way towards him. One of the waitresses grabbed my arm worriedly halfway across. "Kaoru- san... you don't want to go over there. The men are saying that he has the eyes of a hitokiri, and not that of the local yukaza's, but a real one." She leaned forward more closely. "They say he's the infamous hitokiri Battousai."

I shook my head and leaned away. "You shouldn't listen to the rumors. And don't worry, nobody serves him but me." She nodded uncertainly and let go of my arm. She was new here, so I didn't blame her for worrying. If anything, it was quiet touching.

When I reached Kenshin's side, I sat by him in the shadows and slowly filled his sake cup, then smiled from underneath my lashes. He brought the disk up to his nose, swirling the liquid around in the small disk like cup and taking a deep breath, then he slowly took a drink. Filling my own cup and smiling, I whispered softly, "Hi."

The hard look in his eyes softened just a bit, and he nodded towards me. Bringing the cup to my lips, I whispered for his ears only. "Does anyone know of your identity here?"

No expression filtered across his face, but I knew him, and I knew he was waiting for me to continue. "There are rumors going around that you're the Battousai. I wonder... who would say such a thing?"

Kenshin was quiet as I refilled his sake. I heard him sigh while refilling mine. "I was hoping to walk you home tonight. Thank you for the sake, and thank you again for telling me."

A small noise was heard from the back of my throat, and I reached up to grasp his sleeve. "Please... just a couple more minutes. My shift is almost over."

He stared at me for a moment, and it was only then that I was suddenly aware of almost every eye looking upon me. Blushing scarlet, I averted my gaze and let go of his sleeve. Suddenly, the plain design on my kimono looked very interesting.

Kenshin hesitated only a minute before slowly sitting back down.

A few minutes later of just sitting there in Kenshin's company, serving and drinking sake with him, I decided that it was time to get my stuff together and head home. However, once in the back room, Kasane and the new waitress, Taka I believe her name was, rushed towards me.

"Kaoru! You shouldn't grab at him like that! What if he killed you!" Kasane fretted, biting the nail of her little finger.

"Yeah! Did you see his sword! Looked pretty lethal to me! I know you said you were the only one who serves him—but did you see his eyes? Talk about scary and foreboding. It's like he can see right through you!" Taka whispered, looking around the room as if Kenshin was lurking in the shadows. He wasn't of course, but I didn't tell her that. And all swords looked menacing, but I didn't say that either.

"Look, thank you for being worried. Your concern really touches me, but Kenshin would never hurt me. That I know for sure." I smiled at them reasuringly, then picked up my small pack.

As I walked out the back room, I heard the smile in Kasane's voice as she spoke. "Wow. She sure has changed. I'm happy that she's found happiness. Before, she always looked so sad."

"Well, if I had that hunk of burning muscle visiting me everyday, I'd get happy too."

"What? The red head?"

"No! I walk by her house everyday to pick flowers and some tall gorgeous guy always goes knockin' on her door! Too bad flowers arent really blooming anymore now that winter is coming; now I don't have an excuse to walk by there everyday."

Kasane sighed. "Some girls just get all the luck."

"Yeah..." Another sigh.

I smiled and didn't look back as the curtain fell behind me.

The walk home was quiet and uneventful, but for some odd reason, I just couldn't escape the feeling that someone was watching me. Shaking it off as me being to paranoid, I shivered as a cold wind blew over me.

I felt something warm and slightly calloused grab my hand, and I looked down in surprise at mine and Kenshin's clasped hands. I smiled warmly and looked at him, but he was looking straight ahead instead of at me. But I smiled anyway and gently squeezed his hand.

Once we got to the house, Kenshin opened the front gate and gently pushed me in. I looked up at him in confusion. "What...?"

But he only smiled and shook his head, a rueful look barely discernable in his golen, cat-like eyes. Slowly, he brought his free hand up and curled a finger under my chin. A warm look entered his eyes, and he lowered his head and gave me a lingering kiss. Blinking my eyes shyly, I met his heated gaze with my ever-present smile—the one I give to no one else but him. I didn't look away when he allowed me to see the desire in his gaze, but my face sure got warm and I just knew I was blushing.

He shook his head, looking almost regretful, but his emotions seemed even more closed off than before, so I was left guessing.

"Someone has been following us, koishi." I would have blushed at the endearment, but as it were, a sudden fear entered my mind. "Shh, it's alright, koi, I'm to go and... investigate this matter. Go to your room and don't leave until I get back. You will be safe, koi. Please wait, I will be back shortly."

I felt a grin stretch across my face as I spotted her. She just arrived, smiling at customers and silently taking their orders. She never spoke to them. Of that, I am certain.

She only spoke to three people. All of them just happened to be men.

I myself had never heard it—the beautiful sound I knew her voice to be, but yearned to. And I swore to myself that by the end of my assignment, I will hear something from those lips directed at me.

Battousai thought he could track me down the other night, but I am far too clever for the likes of him. Pushing the bastard out of my mind, I once again focused on her.

She was quite the looker, so it didn't surprise me too much that Battousai was attracted to her. Long waves of ebony silk cascaded down her back to her hips, bangs cut to delicately frame her perfect face. Soft midnight blue eyes that radiated a strong, but silent iron will—sometimes almost daring men to approach her. For a soft woman, she handled herself well among a room full of drunken men.

She had a beautifully sculpted body—a magnificence I witnessed just a few nights ago when bastard Battousai had taken her to bed.

She stood in the doorway of the bath house, her white robe plastered to her pale wet skin, her rosy nipples standing out, two pink spots against all that white. Of course my gaze was drawn there. Hell, even Battousai's was. The rest of her robe gaped slightly open, almost enough for anybody to just lean forward and take a peak inside and look upon her treasures.

She was absolutely magnificent. And I only ached now more than ever to take her. My grin turned into a sneer. Preferably as a dying Battousai watched.

He had humiliated me. He had defeated me. And what's more, he let me live with the shame. I was going to rip him apart, piece-by-piece, laughing the whole while.

It was going to be grand. Absolutely grand.

She hadn't noticed me yet, I don't think, but that was good. She didn't need to know.

When her shift ended, I waited.

She smelled wonderful—the sweet honeyed smell of jasmine.

It had been quite easy taking her. When she saw me, surprise shown on her face before I hit the back of her head with the hilt of my sword. Very easy. Disappointedly so.

I left a note, deliberately inviting him to follow me. If he wanted her back—that would be the only way.

I had to make haste. He will come looking for her as soon as he finds the note.

And if I wanted to get to Edo before Battousai—I'd have to leave now.

It was dark. I was cold. Pain tingled its way up and down my spine, and my head was killing me. Where was I?

That man.

That frightening man that had been at the tavern all those days ago—the one with the leering grin and the dark, crazed eyes of a madman. He was the one who took me. Why? And for what purpose? To humiliate and shame me? No, if that had been the case, he wouldn't have gone through the trouble of kidnapping me. He would have just taken me into an alley somewhere and...

No, he must have a different agenda in mind. But what? I had no living relatives, and no one to care about me being gone except Sano and Kenshin...

Realization hit me, but I swallowed my gasp and was proud my body stayed still, my breathing even. I was strewn across a horses back, and it was far into the night. Blood was rushing to my head, making me dizzy, and my hands were bound tightly behind my back, the rope cutting off the flow of blood to my hands making them hurt with numbing pain.

I remained still.

I forced myself for countless hours to seem like I was unconscious. If we stopped, I wanted to be prepared to flee.

Sadly, I had a sinking feeling that escape was in no way shape or form possible.

But I hurt. Blood was pounding in my head, the pressure in my head reaching to a crescendo, and I wanted to scream. My hands lost all feeling to them, and I still felt that phantom pain running up my arms. But I refused the weakness inside of me begging to be released. I refused myself to break down and cry like I wanted to; to curl up in a tiny ball and cry out my fear.

I wanted to. Oh, I wanted to.

I was scared and alone, and I wanted someone, anyone, to be by my side. Well, minus maniac kidnappers anyway.

After what seemed like days, or maybe just a few hours—who knew? We finally stopped. The man lifted me from the horse and dropped me unceremoniously at the base of a knarled tree.

My eyes snapped open at the added pain, my gaze falling on a pair of black boots standing in front of me. Following the legs up, they landed on the features of the man whose face seemed permanently etched into a grotesque sneer. Man, but he really was an ugly man.

I hid my fear when his eyes started wandering, and I drew my knees protectively to my chest. Smirking, the man crouched down and started to reach behind me. Cringing, I tried to scoot away, but he grabbed my bound hands and cut the ropes with the knife I should have noticed in his hand. Scooting backwards, I brought my purple, tingly hands up and crossed my arms defiantly.

One thing for sure, I would not very easily allow this monster to take me.

She hid her fear well, but I could still smell it. My grin slowly widened as I took her in. But no, I would not take her just yet. "Quit frowning, wench. I didn't bring you here to eat you." I gave a short laugh. "Yet, anyway."

"Why did you take me? What is your purpose?" I imagined her saying to me. But no, she didn't move. She didn't even blink, and her mouth stayed firmly shut.

"Don't you want to know why I took you?" No response. Not even a flick of an eyelid. Oddly enough, I couldn't even sense a thing in her ki. No anger, no hatred, no... nothing. How was she able to hide herself from me? I wondered.

"Battousai will come, because he feels responsible for your well being. Any weak man would, I suppose. Especially after a night of thorough bedding." Still no response. Just that stare that seemed to see straight through me.

Out of need to get a reaction—any reaction out of her, I forged on. "But if that were the case, a lot of men would have to feel responsible for you, since I'm sure Battousai isn't the only one to share your covers. Lots of customers, I hear. Tell me, how much do you charge?"

I looked hard into her eyes, waiting for her to take insult to that comment. She wasn't a whore, I knew that, but I wanted a response. Anything. I got my wish. Something barely discernable flickered across her blue gem like eyes—realization, perhaps? Realization of what? It was gone before I had any more time to analyze.

My grin reasserted itself. "I wonder what Battousai's reaction will be while he lies bleeding to death while I take you in front of him." I laughed. "Oh, it will be grand."

Nothing. Fine, she doesn't want to talk, she can starve tonight. By morning, she'll be begging me for food. I'll give her that. And then some.

Once I reassured myself, I continued grinning at her while I started smoking a cigarette, pulling in one long drag after the other, then I started making dinner. For one. But when I looked over at her, she was no longer staring at me, rather, her eyes were half closed and she was looking down at the ground.

I felt a stirring of irritation at her.

Why wasn't she reacting?

She didn't even bat an eye or curl her lip or furrow her eyebrows as I ate my dinner in front of her noisily. What, did she get kidnapped so many times that she was used to this sort of thing? I was frustrated, and I didn't like it. I was supposed to be the one in charge; the one in control—no one should be able to upset me like her.

Why is she so different?

Why am I so fascinated?

Staring at her while I chewed my food, the answer came a moment later.

She was nothing sort of a goddess.

Her eyes held so many hidden secrets, so many mysteries. Her body was one to be desired by all, the flesh beneath all those layers of clothing just waiting to be touched, just waiting to be discovered.

I have watched her for so long—even before I was hired to get Battousai out of the way. But even after all this time—not once have I heard her utter a single soft-spoken word.

But that bastard had.

And I'm going to kill him for it.

Now, after all this time, I finally have the chance to unlock all the secrets she holds in her beautiful blue sapphire eyes.

And I will know them. Forced out if need be.

Damn that man. Well, at least he sat me upright on the horse with my hands tied in front of me and not as tightly bound. My stomach quietly growled, but I was used to going days sometimes without food, so it really didn't bother me too much.

I wondered why he took me to get back at Kenshin. Sure Kenshin cares about me—there was no mistaking that. But would he come after me? Would he disobey orders, leave his post, and follow the trail of this maniac to get me back?

Yes.

It was the only answer I would allow myself to receive. I must have hope. I must believe Kenshin cares enough about me to come after me. If I lose hope now, this bastard just might sense what I'm thinking.

The morning breeze brushed up against my cheek, almost comforting in its caress. The sun was rising, and with the misty clouds in its way, the horizon was covered in flame.

I immediately thought of Kenshin. Was he seeing the same sunrise as me? Was he staring at the same beautiful sight and thinking of me? But I pushed the thought from my mind. I needed to take in my surroundings, to remember what was where as best as I could.

The road was dusty, and many people were already traveling up it. Some with hired kago barers trotting up the trail, many people on foot, and only a few rode by on horseback. Some people were carrying loads so great, it was a wonder how they kept their chests from dragging on the ground.

He didn't pause his pace. This nameless man that kidnapped me. He wore a dirty white kimono, and I knew from my view of his boots the other night that he wore pants underneath. He must be hot, and I was glad. Let him burn. Let him be as uncomfortable as possible.

I wondered too why he chose to ride on the high road going east to what I'm pretty sure led to Edo. He was in plain sight for anyone knowing what they were looking for to see. A man galloping along the high road on a black and white flashy horse wasn't very inconspicuous. Kenshin would be able to track him down immediately. If, that is, he knew what he was looking for.

Despair clogged my throat for a moment when I realized that no, Kenshin really doesn't have any idea what he's supposed to be looking for. The man came in only when Kenshin was gone or far away. Kenshin wouldn't even know the direction they were going in.

I looked around me again and my heart sank. No, this kidnapper was smart. Of course he'd choose a busy road. Too many footsteps already overlapped the ones made by their horses. It truly was impossible for Kenshin to even find a corner of the horses hoof print.

Hope.

It was what that tiny beacon of light in a storm of darkness was called. I could almost hear the voice on the other end whispering, "Don't give up! It'll be alright... everything will be alright..." Whispering. Soothing. A voice that sounded suspiciously like Kenshin's.

Hope.

I bowed my head and smiled, and imagined a familiar warmth envelope my body, cocooning me its protective heat.

Kenshin...

He would come.

I knew it.

I felt it in my heart.

Somewhere out there, someone was worried.

Somewhere out there, that someone was looking for me.

I closed my eyes and smiled, imagining Kenshin's beautiful face in my mind and wishing, hoping, that he was imagining me in his too.