Chapter 4
(Kaoru)
I sat silently in Kenshin's room, watching the still rurouni. I could not close my eyes; the image of Kenshin's dead eyes wouldn't leave my mind. I shuddered slightly at the memory. That would never leave me.
Kenshin lay still on his futon for the first time in two days, his breathing soft. He still had a raging fever, but his shivering had toned down. Megumi had given him some other medicine, and it seemed to be doing better, but I was still worried. I couldn't even tell when he was dreaming anymore, the redhead just lay there, still as death.
I stood slowly, walking towards him. His face was so peaceful, red hair glinting in the soft candle light. I knelt beside the futon, reaching one hand out to hesitantly touch the cross-shaped scar. I suddenly shrieked as a hand grasped my wrist with surprising strength, and I looked up to see violet eyes piercing into my sapphire.
I gulped. "Kenshin,"
"Miss Kaoru," he breathed; his grip loosening. His eyes were glazed with fever, yet he seemed aware. I watched as those eyes widened in apparent fear. "Miss Kaoru, you must help me. Please, make him stop!"
I frowned. "Make who stop Kenshin?"
He ignored my question and continued on. I saw true fear in those violet orbs, sheer terror. "You must save me Miss Kaoru."
"From who Kenshin?" I asked urgently.
"From myself," he whispered. His eyes widened again. "No! He's coming back, please no! Make him stop, please!"
I put my hands on his face, forcing him to look at me. "Kenshin!" At that moment his violet eyes locked with mine and I remembered no more.
When I next opened my eyes it was dark outside. I was lying on hard packed dirt, and there was a soft rain falling. I sat up, rubbing my head and looking around. I whirled when a sound came to my ears, the soft noise of sobbing. Confused I climbed to my feet, trying to locate the cries.
I found someone crouched against a wall, head down and thin shoulders heaving with sobs. I moved closer, going slowly as not to frighten the small person. "Hey, are you alright?"
The sobs stopped abruptly as the figure cowered away from me. "No! Please, leave me alone!"
I knelt beside the shivering form, reaching out to touch one slight shoulder. "It's alright, I promise I won't hurt you." The face was raised and I gasped. "Kenshin!"
The man looked horrible. His skin was pale, tears soaking his cheeks. His red hair was filthy and matted, hanging loose around his thin face. His gi was sliced to ribbons, exposing a lean chest covered in bruises, cuts, and blood. What scared me most were his eyes. The normally gentle expression was gone, replaced by overwhelming fear, watching me as though I was going to attack him.
Recognition dawned on his face. "M-miss Kaoru! How did you get here?" He suddenly jumped, turning to look to my left. "No! He's coming, you must run Miss Kaoru. He must not find you!"
Before I could say anything he shoved me away from him into a dark niche in the wall, standing and running away from me. I watched, horrified, as a knife flew and embedded itself to the hilt in Kenshin's right shoulder.
With a scream he tumbled to the ground, one hand going up to clutch at the pained area. He looked up as I saw another person come into view. Lightning flashed and I gasped. "The Battousai!"
There was no mistaking it. His long blood-red hair was gathered into a high ponytail, amber eyes burning with hate and malice. He moved closer to Kenshin, a chuckle escaping him. "You didn't get far this time my pet."
'Pet?' I thought. 'What is that monster talking about?'
I heard a pained moan from Kenshin as the Battousai crouched beside him, reaching out to Kenshin's face. "Pity," the hitokiri said, one finger trailing down Kenshin's jaw. "I so enjoy the chase."
My eyes widened as he wrenched the dagger from Kenshin's shoulder, leaning forward and locking his lips around the bleeding wound. A groan escaped the rurouni's lips as the blood was sucked from him, his violet eyes fluttering. I watched terrified for a moment more, and then something in me snapped. With an angry look on my face I stood, grabbing a piece of wood from beside me. Silently I crept up behind the Battousai, raising my arms to bash his head in.
"Not so fast missy."
His voice stopped me dead, striking fear into me. He turned his head to look up at me, and then darted around behind Kenshin. I eyed his face for a moment, then spotted the reason he had stopped. The dagger was held to Kenshin's neck, the point causing a thin trickle of blood to run down his skin.
"Make one more move and I will kill him," the Battousai hissed; a smirk of obvious pleasure on his face. He was enjoying every minute of this, watching me fight my battle.
Kenshin looked pleadingly at me. I could see it in his eyes. 'Kill him Miss Kaoru,' his eyes pleaded. 'Kill him and end this.'
I couldn't bring myself to do it. I knew that even if I brought the wood to the Battousai's temple and killed him that he would slay Kenshin in the same movement. I just couldn't do it.
An evil chuckle escaped the hitokiri's lips, his eyes glowing. "I knew that would stop you. You love this weakling don't you?" I watched as he smirked, leaning his head forward to put his lips against Kenshin's ear. "I must admit, he is a delectable little morsel isn't he?" He licked a tear from Kenshin's cheek and the rurouni shuddered, his eyes fluttering. I could see Kenshin fighting his own battle to remain conscious.
I growled slightly, glaring with hatred at the Battousai. "Release him you monster."
He snorted lightly. "Sorry missy, this one is just too good to let go." He stood, dragging Kenshin up with him. The knife remained steady at Kenshin's jugular vein, and I still did not back down. I may have a chance, if he let his guard down at all….
The Battousai started backing away, watching me as I moved with him. The knife went closer to Kenshin's neck and I stopped as the blood trickled down his pale skin. "Don't follow me now. I'm not afraid to kill him. I'll still be able to enjoy his blood that way."
I gritted my teeth in frustration, trying to think of something to do. "Just let him go Battousai."
He raised his left hand, the one that held Kenshin's arm. Kenshin's eyes suddenly flashed in a slight bit of resistance, and he flung his head back, nailing the Battousai's forehead. The hitokiri let go of him with a snarl, stumbling backwards. I took my chance without hesitation, running forward and slamming the wood with all my strength into the man's temple. He dropped like a stone and lay still. I dropped the wood and crept forward, feeling for a pulse. Nothing. Blood was leaking slowly from the Battousai's ears, and I suspected I had ruptured something with my blow. Thank Kami for strength training when I was younger.
I turned to look at Kenshin, shocked to find him in a limp heap on the ground. "Kenshin!" I cried, diving for him. He was deathly pale and his breathing was ragged, but he was alive. I suddenly blinked as the world spun and I was thrown into blackness.
HM: Okay, just to clear up some stuff, Kaoru became an image in Kenshin's mind, and she managed to kill the Battousai. This doesn't kill part of Kenshin; it just puts the Battousai back under control. Kenshin lost it there for a while, but Kaoru helped him out. Well, until next time all!
