Dark Side

Chapter 7

Author's Note: Kat drama asked me why Kenshin and Kaoru fell, well when Kenshin leaped off of his window sill, he brought Kaoru up with him, so the whole incident happened in midair in a time span of about a second. I hope that cleared things up. (and read the Author's Note at the end, it contains some very very very inmportant information!!!!!!!!!

Now on with the story.

Kaoru practiced vigilantly; swing down gracefully yet powerfully every time. Yahiko did the same. Just because they were captives of the Battousai doesn't mean they have to stop their daily ritual.

At the thought of Battousai, Kaoru wrinkled her nose in annoyance. 'Who does he think he is anyways, I'll definitely teach him a lesson one day that he won't forget.' Kaoru thought as her concentration faltered and her swing became a crooked one.

"Oy, Kaoru, what's the matter?" Yahiko looked at his sister. "You have done that twice already, what's wrong with you today?"

"Oh, it's nothing really." She answered quickly.

"Oh, I get it, it must be you and Battousai." Yahiko teased. "After all, you guys were all over each other last night."

Kaoru blushed so hard that she thought she looked like a tomato. "Just be quiet Yahiko." Kaoru snapped. "And for your information, his name is not Battousai, it's Kenshin."

"Oh, you guys must be pretty close if he told you his real name." Yahiko, not getting the hint, continued to tease before he was left behind knocked out swirly eyed.

"Kids." Kaoru said when she bumped into Battousai. He eyed her coldly. A chilling aura radiated from him.

Kaoru put her hands over her mouth as she saw blood all over him and the metallic smell tried to suffocate her. Her eyes widened. "How, how could you..." "Do this?"

"That is none of your business." Battousai brushed past her and strode purposefully towards the bathhouse.

Kaoru swung around and stared at Battousai's back when she yelled, "you are nothing but a murderer, you don't deserve to be called legendary at all." Tears streamed down her cheeks as she thought about the lives that he took. "Your skills might be legendary but your heart is rotten!" Battousai stopped. He slowly turned around to glare at Kaoru with those amber eyes. Her blood froze. He walked slowly and menacingly towards her, she fell to the ground for her legs would not support her under the penetrating glare. In a moment, Battousai stood over her, he reached out an arm and hauled Kaoru up by the front of her shirt.

He drew his sword and put it to her throat. "How dare you." He whispered eyes never leaving her. Kaoru whimpered, but she wouldn't bend to his threat.

"That's right, your heart is rotten." Battousai wanted nothing more than to kill her but something held him back.

He threw her on the ground. She was certainly courageous, but doesn't know when to quit. Those where his thoughts as he left her on the ground to recollect herself.

Kaoru ate dinner by herself that night; Yahiko had gone to bed early, saying he needed some rest. Battousai was not seen after their little incident. She sighed, How could such a good-looking guy be so ruthless? She flinched, 'good looking? Him, ha, you've gotta be kidding me.' But deep down, she knew he was.

Her thoughts were cut short when someone loomed over her. She looked up defiantly, thinking that it was Battousai. But it wasn't. It was the same guy she met on the first day, the man with the hairy arms and fowl smell of liquor.

"Hey, girl, I don't see your precious Battousai with you today. That means I can pay you back for what he's done to me the other day." He dragged her along out of the hotel and into a back street that was dirty and dark. Kaoru shrieked when she saw a rat run by.

"What do you want with me?" Kaoru asked as fear began to grow.

"I'm just going to have some fun." The man said.

Kaoru tried to get free of his grasp but he was too strong.

"Let me go!" Kaoru yelled.

"Too late to say that now." The man said in his disgusting drunken and indecent voice.

He pushed her against a wall and began to open her shirt. Kaoru screamed.

The blood-curdling scream echoed.

Battousai was sure he knew whom it belonged to. A growing pit of dread began to form in his stomach as he rushed to where he thought the sound was. He turned one last corner and saw something that made him burn with rage.

The man from the first day had Kaoru pushed up against a wall. He was beginning to open her shirt while she struggled like anything. Battousai felt his anger grow. The man was touching his Kaoru; the man was touching his woman! Battousai didn't know why he referred to kaoru as his woman but without wasting a second, he ran towards the man. His eyes were of a golden color. For the first time in his life, he wanted to kill someone.

He drew his sword from its sheath. No one could have seen how he followed through with the attack for he was so fast.

The drunken man's head flew off of his shoulders before he could do any damage. Kaoru screamed even louder if possible although she was relieved. This is the first time that she has seen anyone die. And it happened right in front of her. Blood began to fountain out of the man's neck.

She dropped to the ground in a messy heap. Kaoru thought she was going to be sick. Then she looked up to witness the most horrifying person she will ever see.

Battousai stood before her, his sword stained red, blood dripped from his bangs. His eyes were that of a demon's. They were a golden color that practically spelled death. Kaoru couldn't help but shiver. She had never felt so powerless.

Battousai didn't know why he was so mad. After all, she was his captive. he shouldn't care about her. But that anger he felt when he thought she was being stained. It consumed him. He decided to ignore it.

Kenshin slowly bent down to pick her up seeing that she wouldn't be able to walk after such a thing. Kaoru shivered, she put her arms around his neck to prevent from falling.

For a moment, all they could see and feel was each other; they held each other's gaze for a second before looking away. Kaoru blushed. Battousai's anger began to disappear when he stared into those deep pools of sapphire as if it cleansed his soul, Kenshin noticed that she was blushing and his lips curved up into a gentle smile that went unnoticed by Kaoru. Who felt that every thing is okay now that she is with him.

Kenshin didn't know what emotion he felt just then but decided to take her back to her room.

When they arrived, Yahiko wasn't there. He must be practicing again. Kenshin put Kaoru down gently on her futon.

"Get some rest now." He said.

Kaoru was about to lie down when she noticed the wound on his chest with Aoshi. She fingered it gently. That sent a shock through them both, Kaoru quickly pulled away. Looking shocked.

Before he knew what he was doing, Kenshin bent down and kissed Kaoru. It was a light yet passionate kiss. Her eyes widened with surprise. As fast as it had begun, Battousai pulled away. He looked down at Kaoru's surprised face; he didn't know what came over him.

Without a word, he walked out. Leaving Kaoru to recollect herself from shock.

To Be Continued

Okay, I'll update when I reach 27 reviews. (Learned that from Dove Of Night. She got over 1000 reviews like that!!!!) Well, I hope you guys liked that, remember, the Author's Notes are very important. A lot of information is in there. If you guys read the A/N please leave me the word Barrie in your review, thank you.