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Chapter Three

By: BattousaiChic197

Kaoru slowly awoke on a black leather couch. As she quietly rubbed the sleep from her eyes, Kaoru quickly sat up; remembering what had happened just the last night. She looked around at her surroundings. The whole apartment seemed dark and empty. She cast her eyes into the flames of the roaring fire, and glanced at the chair placed next to it. She screamed and jumped to her feet when she noticed that Kenshin had been staring at her intently, all along.

"What did you do to me! Where am I!" Kaoru yelled, with fright and demanding in her voice.

"Damn girl, would you shut up!" Kenshin glared daggers at the girl. He liked quiet, and of course with his luck, he needed the help of a loudmouth, hormone bomb of a teenager.

"Me! You scared the hell out of me and then kidnap me! Why!" Kaoru let her anger get the better of her, and took a step towards her captor. Kenshin flew to his feet and pushed Kaoru back on the couch. She gasped and slightly cowered as he stood above her.

"I said shut up, you stupid girl! I don't have time to deal with your raging hormones" Kenshin stalked off towards what Kaoru assumed was the bathroom, because he swiftly took off his tight black tee shirt.

"Then why the hell did you kidnap me!" she yelled at him. "where are you going!"

"I'm getting a shower. Sit down and don't touch anything! I'll explain when I'm done." Kenshin answered as he proceeded into the bathroom and slammed the door shut.

"ugh!" Kaoru fell back onto the couch as she heard the water begin to rung in the shower. She noticed a picture of a woman on the small, round, end table. Kaoru carefully picked it up and saw that it had been ripped in half once before. Not noticing that the water had turned off, Kaoru was startle when Kenshin ripped the picture out of her hand. "that was fast!" she thought.

"Don't touch that!" Kenshin yelled as he put the picture in his back pocket of his jeans; which were all he was wearing, Kaoru noticed.

She pulled her eyes reluctantly away from his tight abs, and quietly asked, "Who is she?"

Kenshin glared at her before he walked into the kitchen where he grabbed a bottle of Vodka and poured some into s shot glass "…my wife…" he said dryly.

"Oh!…where is she?" Kaoru asked; ashamed that she was checking out a married man.

"She's dead" Kenshin's eyes were downcast. There was a slight hint of pain that flickered in his eyes, but only for a second.

"I…I'm so sorry!" Kaoru stood up and walked to Kenshin's side. "…what happened?"

"Stop prying into other people's business, stupid girl!" Kenshin walked past her and sat down in his leather chair. "Sit down, we need to talk."

Kaoru obeyed his orders, and slowly sat down on the couch across from him, "About like why you kidnapped me?" she asked.

Kenshin leaned forward, "Yes…I need your help."

"My help? What could I possibly…"

"I'll get to that later. But first my wife, Tomoe, was murdered…" Kenshin stated, "…by my hands."

Kaoru gasped, and sunk back into the couch.

"…she was kidnapped by the Shinjuku clan. They left a note telling me to meet them in an alleyway; so I went. Apparently they have heard of me and my…past" Kenshin paused.

"What do you mean?" Kaoru asked; almost afraid to ask.

"I'm the legendary Battousai…" Before Kenshin could explain himself, Kaoru fell off the couch in surprise. She quickly stood up and moved away into a corner, trying to add distance between her and the Battousai. "What do you want with me! I know who you are now; I've heard the stories! You're treacherous, monstrous man who…" Kaoru gasped when it hit her "….you're…you're my father's murderer! Get away!" she ran to the door and tried to get out but the door was locked; she screamed for help. "Help! Somebody help me!" She quickly looked back at Kenshin and fell to the ground as he walked closer up to her. Kenshin grabbed her by the arm and pulled her to her feet. He pushed her into the wall and held her there, so he could get her under control.

"Kaoru! Let me explain! I am the Battousai, but you are not one of my targets! I know you won't believe me, but it's the truth; I won't hurt you." He explained.

"Yeah sure! I bet that's what they all say!" She countered back.

Kenshin slapped her across the face, "Think whatever you want, I won't hurt you." Kenshin retreated back to his leather armchair and sat down. "I only kill the one's who deserve it." He grit his teeth. "The Shinjuku Clan deserves it. My wife wanted me to stop killing so I wouldn't go insane with blood lust; but I couldn't. So she spent her time making sure she was always there for me, so I wouldn't go off the deep end. Tomoe helped me, and I wish I could've done the same for her.." Kenshin trailed off. "I..killed Tomoe. In the middle of the battle, I was blinded and mistook her for the enemy..there's nothing I can do about it now. But if it wasn't for the Shinjuku Clan, none of this would have happened." Kenshin met Kaoru's slightly fearful eyes, and them cast them into the fire. "The clan is also known to sell drugs, and murder innocents like you."

"So…you help to keep the streets clean, by taking the lives of men, like the one's that kidnapped Tomoe?" Kaoru asked. She sat down on the couch opposite him. Though she still didn't trust him, for he was the Battousai, and he was also the man who had killed her father two years earlier; when she was fifteen.

"Right" Kenshin answered, exhausted.

"Soo…where do I come in? How am I supposed to help?" Kaoru looked at Kenshin with confusion.

"I hear that you've got this weird talent; telekinesis?" Kenshin raised an eyebrow at the across from him.

Kaoru hesitated, "how…how did you know?"

"I have my sources." Kenshin continued to watch Kaoru, pressing for an answer.

"Yes, I can. But-"

"I can use your abilities to my advantage." Kenshin cut in, "I can use you to go around Kyoto and figure out the plans that are being carried out by the Shinjuku clan…and various others. I need to stop all their malicious acts now before it goes any further; I won't let it go any further." Kenshin said through gritted teeth.

"What! No! I will not be your tool!" Kaoru yelled.

"Little girl, if you had a choice, I wouldn't have kidnapped you now would I?" Kenshin glared at her; his eyes tearing at hers. Kaoru's mouth opened in protest, but closed again when his stare increased with intensity. Instead, she crossed her arms, in front of her chest, and slumped further down into the couch.

"So..what now? I mean, why me? Why am I the one to be your 'tool'?" Kaoru asked, a hint of annoyance in her tone of voice.

"You are not obligated to know that." Kenshin stood up and proceeded in to his room.

"I'm what!" Kaoru yelled, as she stood up also. "What do you mean I'm not obligated? That's a load of bull!" Kaoru's eyes slightly closed in suspicion, "..what are you not telling me…?"

Kenshin came back from his room, pulling on a tight black tee shirt. He picked up his car keys from the glass table and walked to the door. He stopped in mid-step outside the door, and turned to face Kaoru, who had been waiting for an answer the whole time. "Let's go."

"Go? Go where? Wait! You didn't answer me!" she yelled at him incredulously as Kenshin started to walk down the hall.

"You need clothes don't you? Or would you prefer to just wear that same outfit everyday?" Kenshin countered as he talked over his shoulder; already knowing her answer. Kaoru stared at him for a few short moments, and then trotted lightly to his side, as they walked to the apartment garage. 'Just like a girl. You offer them clothes or jewelry, and they bounce right back into your arms like little puppies' Kenshin mockingly thought.

When they reached the car garage, Kaoru looked around, wondering which one was Kenshins'. As they neared a little gray box-like car, Kaoru thought, 'ewe. For a Battousai he has really bad taste.' But then she was surprised to see that Kenshin passed the gray car and opened the door to the black, slick Ferrari that shined against the garage lights. 'whoa!'

"This is your car! It's soo cool!" Kaoru walked up to the car and went to touch it, but Kenshin quickly grabbed her hand and pulled her away.

"Don't touch" he said, and opened up that back seat door for Kaoru; locking it once she was in. Kenshin slid in the drivers' seat, and started the car; he revved it a few times to warm it up. When Kenshin had reached the exit of the garage, he waited until traffic had passed before he sped into the busy streets of Kyoto.

About half an hour later, Kenshin pulled into the main parking lot of the Higashi Ikebukuro Mall. Kenshin exited his slick Ferrari and walked around back to let Kaoru out. "Let's make this quick, I don't like to shop." Kenshin stated dryly.

"What? How can you not like it? Every girl loves to shop! We take up a whole day just hanging around at the mall. Kaoru exclaimed.

"Yea, well, I'm not a girl. So let's get this over with." Kenshin led Kaoru into the mall and suddenly stopped.

"What?" Kaoru asked.

"Damn mall is so huge, I don't know where to go first." The confused captor stated.

Kaoru laughed, "Well then, c'mon and follow me. I've been here dozens of times" Kenshin's eyes widened when Kaoru pulled him by the collar of his shirt, into the crowd after her.

A few hours later, Kenshin and Kaoru were still shopping around the mall. Kaoru held seven bags and made Kenshin hold five more for her. Kenshin was slowly walking behind Kaoru, exhausted from the many stores Kaoru had dragged him into.

"C'mon Kenshin! You of all people shouldn't be tired just from walking." Kaoru called back at him.

"It's not that," Kenshin said, "let's go now." 'Oh God let me go!' Kenshin thought, 'she made me stare at her nice, lithe, body for hours, while she tried on clothes! If only she knew how much she was torturing me!'

"Go! Kenshin, can we please get some food first? I'm just starving!" Kaoru pleaded.

Kenshin sighed, "Alright, but nothing expensive, you've already cost me a huge fortune with your revealing skirts and shirts."

"Hey, what's so bad about a little skin showing huh? I don't see why to guys it's such a big deal" Kaoru said flippantly.

'Oblivious girl…' Kenshin thought, 'it's always a big deal to guys…always.' Kenshin sighed in pretend defeat, and asked Kaoru what she wanted to eat.

Kaoru led Kenshin to a little food court and stepped into the waiting line. When their turn had finally come, Kaoru ordered a few hamburgers and Pepsis for them and wandered off to find a table after she told Kenshin to grab the napkins. When he started his way to the table Kaoru had claimed, he stopped when he saw two guys approach her.

"Hey baby, I'm Kano, and this is Toya. What's your name sweetheart?" Kano leaned onto the table Kaoru was sitting at.

"You look like you need some lovin'. Come with us." Toya whispered in her ear, as his right hand slid up to her thigh.

Kaoru jumped away from them and yelled, "no way you pervs!"

"Oh, so it's like that, huh?" Kaoru shut her eyes tightly when Kano grabbed her arms and pulled them behind her back. His free hand slowly slid up her thigh and dug his fingers into her thigh. Meanwhile, Toya had moved up close to Kaoru, and started to whisper cruel ministrations of which he would act out on her. As soon as his hand moved up to Kaoru's chest, Kenshin ran up and pushed him away.

Kano stepped back; letting Kaoru go. Kaoru fell to the ground stunned and slowly crawled closer to the table. "What the f-?" Kenshin grabbed Kano by his leather jacket and pulled him in closer.

"You leave Kaoru-dono alone." Kenshin demanded through grit teeth. His eyes sent off a dangerous aura about him. Kano cowered under Kenshin and pleaded his forgiveness. When Kenshin delivered a swift kick, he walked away and pulled Kaoru lightly to her feet; meanwhile, the two guys quickly ran away, defeated. "Kaoru?" Kaoru didn't respond, she continued to stare into nothingness and started to shake. Kenshin grabbed a women walking by and paid her to carry Kaoru's bags. Kaoru easily let herself ease into Kenshin' warm embrace as he picked her up into his arms; she was too traumatized to move. She had never been harassed before, never been touched before, and felt dirty to know that her body attracts men in that sort of way. When Kenshin reached his car, he sat Kaoru in the backseat, and then placed the bags in the trunk. When he got back into the drivers' seat, he saw that Kaoru had lain down, and noticed faint, little, pools of tears building on the edge of her eyes. Slowly, Kenshin drove away from the Higashi Ikebukuro Mall, and back to his apartment.

When Kaoru awoke, the same dark, empty apartment invited her again; though now it was probably nighttime. Kenshin noticed that Kaoru had woken, and got up from his chair and walked to her side. As Kaoru sat up, Kenshin knelt down beside her and asked quietly, "Are you okay?" Kaoru took a few slow breaths to steady her emotions to prevent herself from crying.

"I..I'll be okay…It's just…I didn't know that my body could possibly attract men like that…I didn't think…" Kaoru trailed off, and ran her hand through her slightly tangled hair. Kenshin didn't know how to handle situations like this, so he just sat there listening to her. His hand slowly went up to her back to comfort her, but she jumped away. "No.." Kaoru said, looking confused while shaking her head. Kenshin quickly retreated, and stood up. 'She may be an annoying teenager,' he thought 'but she must not have been loved by anyone, truly. I bet no one ever told her how beautiful she was, in a kind way. This is why I must stop the clans that hide in the shadows of day and come out at night; to either satisfy their greedy lust or to kill.' The idea of it just made him sick. Kenshin walked over to his kitchen table and grabbed a plate of food that was meant for Kaoru. When Kenshin got back to Kaoru's side, he offered her the plate, and she slowly took it from his hands.

"Can I take a bath?" Kaoru quietly whispered, "I feel so…dirty"

"Of course you can, the towels are in the cupboard in the bathroom. Of all the clothes you bought, we should have gotten you a bathrobe; you can you mine." Kenshin offered.

Kaoru slightly laughed, "thank you." And when she finished her meal, she quietly padded down the hall and into the bathroom. Kenshin watched as the girl disappeared into the dark bathroom of his. When the door shut, and he saw light underneath the door, Kenshin went back to his chair and sat down; but only to get right back up when the phone rang. When Kenshin answered, he was greeted by a low, smooth voice of a man.

"We've got a group of men lurking in-between the alleys of Choshu and Shichijo; you know what you've got to do. Get to it." The man hung up without another word. Kenshin placed the phone back in its cradle and went to pull on his leather jacket. 'Damn Katsura,' he thought, "it's all for the better of Kyoto." He said aloud, reassuring himself. When he came back from his room after retrieving his swords from a glass cabinet, he fastened them around his waist and hid them under his jacket. Kenshin left a note on the table for Kaoru, explaining that he had an errand and would be back later. He left the apartment, and made his way to his car, preparing for his next battle.

Kaoru stepped out of the bath, feeling a little bit more refreshed. She grabbed the black robe Kenshin had offered her, and secured it around herself, tying the sash tightly shut. When she exited the bathroom, she found that the apartment was empty and noticed Kenshin's note on the table.

I've gone out on an errand; be back late. Make yourself

comfortable, and get some rest. You can sleep in my bed,

I'll sleep in the chair.

-Kenshin-

Kaoru set the note back down, and decided to look around Kenshin's apartment. She noticed that there was no television, or radio, not even a computer. 'What the hell does this man do? He's got nothing in this apartment of his," Giving up on finding something entertaining, Kaoru decided to go to sleep. She crawled in Kenshin's big, fluffy bed and burrowed herself under the covers.

"Mou. I don't know what to do." She whispered aloud, "he won't let me go, but how can I trust him? He killed my father….and he never did answer my question. There's something he's hiding from me, I know it…." Slowly, Kaoru's eyelids grew heavier, as she pondered this thought for a long while. Finally, sleep welcomed her into yet another relaxing episode; all problems and concerns would have to wait, for the next day.

Read on to Chapter Four...