Weelll, got some more reviews. I was so HAPPY. Someone READ my fanfics! YAY! Hahah. And I got some nice advice that addressed stuff I had overlooked.
WhiteRabbit5 – Thank you so much for letting me know…I guess I was trying to prove my maturity when I wrote the multiple 'fucks.' I was trying to express his anger, but that could be expressed just as well with other words. SORRY IF I OFFENDED ANYONE! Well, I'd been reading other works and it really bugged me how they put so much AU and OOC'ness in their stories that the only thing the characters had in common were the names. I'm glad that you liked my slight distortion. I'm looking forward to reading your stories.
Triste1 – Hm. I do need work on my grammar…and I've been forgetting to use spellcheck which is, I guess, inexcusable…I'll work on it and hopefully improve. And I am looking forward to writing some nice yelling and fighting between Kaoru and Kenshin. That's the fun part, after all; I hope I can write it right! And I've been lengthening my chapters (I hope; though it's probably really quick to read.)
Shadow61x – Thanks!!! I love writing this one. It's fun. AND I CAN MAKE THEM ACT JUST LIKE I WANT THEM TOO! MUAHAHAH! (cough) And the lines make such a biiig difference. Not all mixed together anymore.
Flaming-amber – YEP! And it's hopefully going to keep rollin' for a while.
I feel so inspired.
Disclaimer: You want the truth? YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH! At least I can't anyway…Kenshin will never be yours. Nor mine. How depressing.
Chapter Four: Conflict
Where am I?
Battousai thought, eyes still closed. What happened? I remember…swords, blood – and Saito! Am I in enemy territory?
No, I can't be. There is fighter's ki, but nothing malicious. There is no hunger for blood. But there is someone here…and only one.
A soft finger touched his cheek, caressing his scar.
TOMOE?
His eyes snapped open and his fingers shot up to catch the wrist of the hand.No…not Tomoe…it could not be her. She is gone.
Amber eyes searched frantically the face beside him.
It's a girl. Maybe seventeen. Her eyes are blue, and clear but deeper than the untrained eye could notice. So deep I could drown in them. Her lips are pink and her hair is long. It is like night flowing down her back; it does not shine, but draws in light and absorbs it. Her face is twisted in pain – and her eyes, clouded with rage…
"Let go of me!" The girl screeched angrily. "LET GO!"
She is high-strung and energetic.
His grip loosened, and she twisted away.
Nothing like Tomoe.
"You…idiot!" She growled, and gave him a vicious slap.
She hit me…she doesn't know who I am, does she?
We should educate her.
No…Tomoe…I cannot kill her. No.
When did I say 'kill'?
"You whelp," Battousai breathed. "Your life is forfeit with one raise of the hand. Do you know who I am?"
"I don't give a damn who you are. You're in my dojo. If it weren't for me, you would be lying in a pool of your own blood, already well on your way to Kami right now.I've been keeping care of you for nearly a whole week, and no matter who you thought you were out there, you're in here, and you're staying in here until I say." She was leaned close to his face, pronouncing every couple words with a special distinction. Both of them were practically shaking with rage. "So SHUT UP. All right? You're hurt pretty badly and I doubt you'll be able to leave for the next couple of weeks. So PUT UP WITH IT."
She rose from the mat with an air of pride, and even though the kimono she wore was old and tattered, even though she had no jewelry of any kind, the Battousai felt himself in slight awe at the young woman standing in front of him.
"By the way, sir," She said, hand on the sliding door, "My name is Kamiya. Kaoru Kamiya. Not 'whelp.'" She opened the door and slid the door closed, leaving her sarcastic tone floating in the air.
No, nothing like Tomoe.
A faint smile played across Battousai's handsome features.
But beautiful, nonetheless.
Kaoru strode across the dojo, breathing heavily, irritation obvious in her expression.
I can't believe that…that…jerk.
In her own dojo! Lying in HER rooms! And still with that stupid 'whelp'!
She was beginning to regret ever letting him stay with her in the first place. But now that he was here, she couldn't let him go. He would probably get infected, or something like that. Damned compassion.
And he had grabbed her wrist – hard, too! She looked down at her already red skin and winced. If he had been so strong when in this condition, what would he be at full health? He must have fought in the war; he must have been an asset for whichever side he had fought on..
Kaoru was still not very experienced at reading the ki of her opponents, but she could still feel this man's spirit like a broken arm; sharp and unrelenting. She could still feel his essence pounding in her head. He was a skilled swordsman, master of all that he had learned. He was probably legendary. A part of her yearned to see him fight.
But – that didn't matter! What did matter was that he was injured and she would keep him in custody until he was okay.
I'm not going to have Megumi yell at me 'cause of him.
She made straight for the large room where the students practiced, and leaned against the sturdy walls, closing her eyes and inhaling deeply the rich scent of pine.
Father…
As memories flooded over her, she breathed deeply, letting the frustration that had pent up inside ease out of her body with every exhale.
Father…
The Swordsman…he was handsome. His eyes were piercing, and unlike anything I had imagined. They suited him.
Ugh. I'm delirious.
With a sigh, she straightened herself and stretched her limbs to hear a horrible growling noise. With a groan of disgust, she realized she was hungry.
Even I don't like my food. But it's better than starving, and anyway, it's not that bad.
Her stomach shriveled further inside her chest. Time to cook.
"Hooray," she muttered.
The Swordsman was in for a treat.
A/N – By the way, Kenshin is NOT MEAN. I repeat: THIS IS NOT LIKE THOSE OTHER FANFICS WHERE HE IS RUTHLESS AND CRUEL. This is supposed to be after Tomoe, and therefore when Kenshin is well on the road to becoming the sweet and lovable Himura we all know and love. Just in case you were confused. Please R and R.