Konnichiha-wa!! T_T its Sunday that means school starts back up Monday T_T No.  Hopefully school will not interfere with updating!  But I should think positive only nine more weeks left of school ^_^x yay! Well enough babbling, here's chapter 17! ~Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin

"...." -Talking

'....' -Battosai's thoughts

'...' -Kaoru's thoughts

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A/N: I hope to make my next update Monday.  But I'm not promising that the next update will be Monday but I will try not to make it where there's a whole week between updates.

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Following Thank You:

Half_breed_fox: Thank You!! ^-^x Yay you thought it was cute ^___^ I'm happy now!!

Sailor-Earth13: Thank You Bunches!! ^_^. I was having the hardest time figure out what would happen on their walk so I finally came up with him taking her to a place he knew of ^.~

Victoria: Thank you!  Yes, who doesn't love a romance thought Ha-ha!!  There should be more waff/fluff, whatever you want to call it, latter on as the story progresses ^.~

Alendra: =^_^= Thank You!! I'll try to keep the chapters kawaii!!

Battousai-Lover: Thank you, I'm so happy that you enjoyed it!  also glad you thought it was wonderful! Thanks again!

Kaname-Chan: Aww phyco-kitty =^_^= My kitty is like that to.  Like she'll be sleeping next to you and just wake up and rip you're eyes out O.O It hurts to Ha-ha!  -_- It's weird though don't know why she's like that. O.o maybe it's a cat thing.  ^_^ I would love to answer you're question but then that would give stuff away.  Right?  But I can tell you that right now the story is manly going to focus on Kaoru and Kenshin and their emotions that they are building up towards each other! ~Thank you!

The evil witch: Thank you! ^_~x I try to make chapter 16 sweet!  I'm glad you found it funny!  I'll try to keep the humor in the chapters to come. ^_^

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Previous on Kaoru and the Battosai-

They stay sitting next to each other watching the day pass by in silence. Kaoru placed her hand down on Battosai's shoulder falling a sleep right after it hit. 'She must be really sleepy.....I don't blame her I could fall a sleep now to...' Battosai got up placing his hand under her head so that she wouldn't fall and bang her head on the log. He then took her in his arms and headed back to the castle.

~Kaoru and the Battosai~

Chapter 17

~The Cat, The Bad Food and The Storm

          "Meow...meow." Hearing Rena meow, Kaoru slowly opened her eyes letting them adjust to the sunlight that filled the room.  She sat up and looked around the room, "How did I get in my room?  It's seem like every time I wake up I found myself here when I never came here.  Wait.....I was with Battosai at that river...I must have fallen asleep.....so I guess he put me here."  She then looked over at the door, where Rena was sitting meowing.  "Come on Rena, let's go outside."  Grabbing Rena she left to go to outside.

          When she was outside she sat Rena down on the cool grass. "So you're up finally."   Kaoru turned toward the voice behind, "No I'm sleep walking," she said to Battosai.  Frowning "You slept all day yesterday."  "Huh.....you mean I slept a whole day?"  "Yeah."  "Oh...What time is it?"  "It's noon." 'This girl...she's made these new emotions that I've never felt come to me....how can this simple girl do this to me....it irritates me...I hate it that I can't stop from having these emotions toward her...hate it so much that I can't stand being around her' Battosai said turning going back inside the castle. 

          "Hey!" Kaoru yelled. She caught up with Battosai and questioned him.  "Where are you going?"  "What's it to you?"  "I just want to know.  Is there any harm in me knowing where you're going?"  "No there is no harm, I just don't want to tell you.  It's none of you're business."  Battosai said growling at her.  "You're a jerk." Kaoru said starring into Battosai's amber eyes. 'Jerk?....how I'm I a jerk .....does she have the right to say I'm a jerk..... how should I reply to her calling me that....should I be rude...and tell her she's a foolish little girl....maybe I should just walk away......' Battosai thought, then finally replied to Kaoru's statement.  "How I'm I a jerk?"  "You just are."  "Answer my question?"  "I don't have to answer anything."  As Kaoru began to walk away a firm grip grabbed her wrist.  "Don't walk away from me when I asked you a question.  You made a statement now answer me why do you think I'm a jerk?." 

          Silence filled the room when Kaoru refused to answer. Growling Battosai pushed her back letting go of her wrist then walked off.  Rubbing her wrist, she looked at it seeing that his hard grip made a burse around it.  "Don't worry about him."  Kaoru than looked to her side where Sano was. She asked him "Why does he seem mad at me?  He seemed so nice when we went walking.  What happen?"  "He's more mad at himself than you."  "Why?"  "I'm not for sure, but I think it has something to do with the way you make him feel."  "Me?...How do I make him feel?"  "Well, you seem to care for him even though you're his prisoner.  He doesn't fully understand why you do care for him."  "Is that why he is mad at me?"  "I'm pretty sure that's the reason but don't take my word on it Jou-Chan."  "So then why is he mad at himself?"  "I can't answer that.  You would have to ask him.  But it just appears to me that he's mad at himself more than he is toward you."  "Arigatou, Sano." Kaoru said smiling.  "Any time Jou-Chan."

          "Oh....no I left Rena outside."  She said dashing outside.  "Rena!?!" She yelled when the little calico kitten was no where in sight. "Rena?!" Kaoru looked for Rena every where she could possible think of where she could be but could not find the kitten.  'Rena...where are you?...don't scare me like this.....oh no what if she ran away...she's just a kitten...I need to find her.'  "Rena?!" screamed at the top of her lungs.  Hearing her scream Battosai raced to where she was.  "Kaoru, what's wrong?" he asked showing a little bit of worrier in his face when he saw tears falling down Kaoru's cheeks.  "I...I.. ca...can't f...f...find Re...na?  I've...I've be...been call...calling h...her f...for some...some time." 'That's what she crying over that hair ball...' Sighing Battosai replied "I'm sure that hair...Rena is somewhere around here."  "B....but I can't f...f...find her,"  Kaoru said sobbing, "w...well you he...help?"  "Yeah, I suppose if you'll stop that annoying crying," Battosai said rolling his eyes. 

          "Do you think we'll ever find her, Battosai?  The sun is beginning to set.  And it's beginning to get cold."  "Kaoru we'll find that hair ball..." "Rena." Kaoru corrected him. "Yeah  Rena, we'll find her soon."  "But we're almost out of light.  After the sunsets what will we do?"  "Well we will continue to look for the rat...Rena till we find her."  Suddenly a soft meow came from above them, looking up they saw Rena in a tree.  "Rena!  Aw....I think she's stuck Battosai."  "And what do you want me to do about it?"  "Go up there and get her!"  "She's a cat!  They know how to climb.  If that sorry excuse for a feline got herself up there than it can get down!"  Battosai yelled frustrated.  Kaoru's eyes began to water as she looked at Battosai's dark amber eyes.  "Fine!  I'll get that stupid cat." Battosai said throwing his hands up in defeat. 

          He jumped up to the limp Rena sat on, as he made his way toward Rena she made her way further away climbing out on the branch.  'Stupid cat...when I get my hands....on it I swear I'll ring that little neck.'  "Battosai!!" Kaoru yelled from below.  "What?!" he said angrily.  "Call for her!  I'm sure that she'll come to you then!"  'What have I come to...saving a rat from the tree it got it's self in...'  "Come here hair ball!"  "She's never going to come if you call her hair ball!  Call her by her name!"  'What's the cats name....I forgot.' "What's the hair ball's name?!" he yelled down toward Kaoru.  'haven't I've told him her name is Rena like a thousand times he sucks at names.' "Rena!" Kaoru yelled back up.  'Oh yeah...now I remember.'  "Rena come here."  He said softly.  When Rena didn't budge Battosai lost all the patience he had, which wasn't much to begin with.  "Come here now you damn cat! Or I'll kill you!"  pulling out his katana.  "Meooow..." Rena bugged eyed looked down at Kaoru then back at Battosai.  "Don't kill her!" Kaoru  yelled.  Battosai sheathed his katana as her looked down at Kaoru "Then what the heck do you want me to do?

          "Rena, go to the mean Battosai please."  Kaoru told Rena.  As she was told Rena walked carefully toward Battosai.  Just as she was about to reach him a huge gust of wind came making Rena lose her balance and fall.  "Renaaaaaaaa!" Kaoru cried. Jumping from the tree Battosai caught Rena, flipped in the air then landed by Kaoru's side.  Holding Rena by the fur of her neck he said "Here's you're damn cat."  Kaoru grabbed Rena and hugged her tightly, "Arigatou Battosai!"  "Yeah whatever."  "Hey how about I make you dinner for saving Rena?"  Kaoru said haply. "Do whatever."

          Kaoru was in the kitchen cooking rice balls when Yahiko came in.  "Hey ugly....what in the world is that smell?"  "Don't call me ugly, Yahiko-Chan!!  And it's rice balls."  "I'm not little!  And you're rice balls smell like rotten eggs seasoned with crap.  You need lesson in cooking ugly."  Infuriated Kaoru grabbed the little cup, opened the door to the dinning room and chucked Yahiko out.  "Stay out of the kitchen!!"  Yahiko hit with Battosai's head, who was sitting at the table waiting for dinner.  "Ugly, I was going to leave anyways before I died of the smell of you're awful cooking!" Yahiko yelled at the closed kitchen door.

          "Yahiko."  "Oh....hey Battosai sorry about hitting you're head."  "Yahiko don't tell me that terrible smell is Kaoru's cooking."  "Yeah, ugly is making race balls," laughing he continued, "I'd hate to be you Battosai."  Turing to look at the door Battosai frowned "I never smelled anything as bad as those "rice balls" she's cooking."  Yahiko still laughing was suddenly kicked across the dinning room, "Yahiko-Chan you better not have been talking about me!"  "Stop calling me little, ugly!!"  "Stop calling me ugly, Yahiko-Chan." Battosai he rubbed his forward head.  "Shut-Up both of you!"  Kaoru and Yahiko both turned and looked at the annoyed Battosai.  "Yahiko leave for you're on good." He demanded.

          After Yahiko left, Kaoru turned and smiled at Battosai, then went to the kitchen and brought out the rice balls.  She placed three on each of their plates and looked at Battosai wanting to see his reaction to her cooking.  "Well are you going to eat?  Come on I want to know what you think about my cooking."  'This stuff looks disgusting...well here goes nothing.'  Taking a bite, he closed his eyes as it's taste came to his taste buds; barely chewing he quickly swallowed the food.  'That was the worse thing I ever tasted....great now she's going to ask if I liked it.....so should I make her feel bad by telling the truth or lie to her.'  "Well what do you think?  Is it good?  Are you going to want more?  Because I'll be more than happy to make more for you."  "No Kaoru I think three is enough for me." 

          "Oh, okay....but what do you think tell me.  Is it good or bad?"  "Well, Kaoru.....it's okay."  "Okay?  What is that suppose to mean?"  "Umm...well...it's not to bad but it's not the greatest.  I'm sure with a lot more practice you're cooking will be the best."  "What do you mean more practice?"  "Well if you practice than there would be no doubt that you're cooking was fantastic."  Battosai said putting on a fake smile.  "You're smiling.....are you lying?"  "No"  "Tell the truth."  "Fine you want the truth!  You're cooking sucks it's the worst thing I tasted." Mad Kaoru flung the rice balls at Battosai yelling "I hate you!  You're so mean!"  Kaoru ran up to her room slamming the door.

          "She wanted the truth."  Battosai said still sitting at the table with rice ball bits all over him.  "Guess, I'll take a shower now."  Battosai left going to his bathroom in his room.  When he got out of the shower, he put on his white hakama with his hair clinging to his body he took a towel and began to dry his hair.  He stopped to looked at outside the window, "A storm is coming,  a bad one at that."  Soon after a flash of lighting flashed and a deep thunder followed, then rain began beating on the window. Sighing he threw down his towel and put his dark blue gi on.

          Meanwhile Kaoru, in her room, smothered Rena as she curled up on her bed.  Another thunder roared, she tried covering her head under her pillows to drown out the noise.  But no matter what she did she still heard the thunder and the pouring rain noise.  She couldn't hear the thunder is when she lifted her head 'Is the storm stopping....I don't hear the thunder anymore.' Unfortunately to Kaoru it didn't, a flash of lighting caught her eyes lighting up her room, followed by thunder.  Unable to contain her fright of the storm she screamed. As her scream barely came to Battosai's ears he took his katana and raced toward her 'This time it better not be about that hair ball.' 

          He opened the door and saw Kaoru hiding herself under the covers as she cried. "Kaoru." He spoke as he came to the bed. Once by her bed he called her again "Kaoru." When she didn't reply he placed his hand upon her back.  At his touch Kaoru's body tighten, she turned her head to see who had touched her.  All she could see was Battosai's piercing amber eyes that seemed to glow in the dark.  She screamed again and pushed Battosai back as she jumped out on the other side of the bed.  She then backed in the corner.  "Kaoru stop."  "Don't come near me!  Stay away!" she yelled.  Battosai came closer to her "Kaoru clam down."  Just then a flash of lighting light the room giving Kaoru enough light to see that it was Battosai.

          "Battosai." She said flinging her herself in his grasp.  She cried into his gi as her arms wrapped around him.  "Kaoru, what happen?"  "T...t...the s...storm." She said as tears poured down her face soaking Battosai's gi.  'The storm scared her that much...what do I do....should I....comfit her.' He questioned himself looking down at Kaoru.  "Kaoru, it's okay.  Everything is fine, I'm here." Battosai said bringing his arms up and wrapping around Kaoru.  He brought he closer, then lifted her up.  "B...Battosai wha...what...are...you....d...doing."  "Hush Kaoru."  With Kaoru in his hands he made his way the door.  "Re...na....we...can't leave her."  Battosai turned back looking at the sleeping Rena.  "You wouldn't want to wake her up, now would you?"  "N...n...no...I...I...guess."  As thunder clapped Kaoru began to cry again, tried to get closer to Battosai.  Battosai and Kaoru left her room.

          Feeling that they had stopped Kaoru looked to see where he had taken her. 'This is his room.....why did he take me here?' She asked her self blushing.  Lucky for her, her blush went unnoticed by Battosai because of the darkness of the room.  He laid Kaoru on the bed pulling the covers over her.  "Now sleep Kaoru." She watched Battosai, on the other side of the room, he pulled his katana out of his belt then, sat down, leaning his back against the wall, he then propped his katana against his shoulder.  Not the long after lighting flashed and thunder clasped.  Scaring Kaoru she jumped out of the bed and ran to Battosai throwing herself into his lap.  "Kaoru." He whispered.  "I'm sorry, Battosai I'm scared of storms." 

          The rain hitting the window, and the thunder roaring he asked her "Why?  Why do you hate them so?"  Kaoru crying too much was unable to answer him.  He wrapped his arms around her placing his head on her shoulder.  "Kaoru, go to bed please.  You can't stay up all night crying."  "N...n...no please don't leave me."  Whispering in her ear "Kaoru I'm not leaving you I just want you to go to bed.  Can you do that for me please Kaoru."  "I....I...I don...don't ...want  ...t...to...be...by...myself."  "You're not by.." Kaoru cut Battosai off "Only if you come with me."  "Kaoru I...I can't...."  Another thunder clap brought Kaoru even closer to him and her tears soaking his gi again.  Sighing he picked her up and moved toward his bed.  Laying her down he climbed in bringing the covers over both of them.  Kaoru moved closer to him and Battosai wrapped hi arms tighter around her.

          'Do I love Kaoru?......have I fallen in love with this girl who is my prisoner.....do I love her?'  Battosai thought as he held Kaoru close.  Soon her sobs turned into a quiet breathing, letting him know that she had fallen asleep.  With the lighting flashing it gave enough light for him to see the burse around her wrist. 'Kaoru... I'm sorry..' he thought.  He brought her body closer to his, her head buried in his chest. With her warm breath against his chest he spoke softly "Kaoru, I will never let anything or anyone bring tears to you're eyes ever again, I promise." As the storm began to lighten up Battosai slowing drifted a sleep with Kaoru in his arms.

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A/N: Okay that's all for Chapter 17! This is by far the longest chapter I've done ^_^ x  I can't promise when the next update will be I hope I can make it Monday but I don't know and Also the other chapters may not be as long as this one was!

Please Review and leave ideas if you have any!

~Arigatou~

rk Moon Dragon