Fanfic by Blueroseulan
July 16, 2004
AN: And finally… the second to the last chappie folks! This one would be a bit too long (Hope yah guys don't mind ". anyways… don't forget to review okayish? The more reviews I get, the faster I'll be able to make the epilogue (Wow think about inspiration! Your reviews really inspire me you know!)
Standard Disclaimers apply! RK DOESN'T BELONG TO ME SOB
Previously on Chapter 6:
Instantly, his blood ran cold. Trying to keep his voice steady, he asked the trembling man. "Sanosuke, what happened? What happened to Kaoru? Where is she? Tell me!"
The questioned man shook his head. "I don't know! She just collapsed and they just disappeared in some magical powder… I don't know Kenshin! I DON'T KNOW!"
Amber eyes widened. "They…? They just disappeared…? What are you saying Sano?"
The taller man gripped his shoulders, "KENSHIN… ENISHI'S ALIVE! ENISHI'S ALIVE! HERE! READ THIS!"
The man practically shoved the letter to him. Reading the short note, he felt anger blind his senses and madness race down his spine. Crumpling the paper in his fist, his knees shook and he finally fell into the ground, form shaking and trembling with anger, anxiety and resentment towards the man who had kidnapped the woman he loved most.
"KAORUU!"
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The white light was much too blinding, causing Kaoru to wake inspite of the tremendous headache she was having. Slowly opening her eyes, she wondered why it hurt so much just to open her eyelids for just a short while. Her body was on fire and it seemed to her that every muscle screamed with each movement she had. Her mind was still in jumbles, her memory foggy and distant, and oblivion still threatened to cloud her senses. Groggy as she was, she could still feel something was wrong, terribly wrong with the way her balance swayed above the ground.
Where am I…?
A loud gasp escaped her lips when she gradually tilted her head to see why.
Her wrists and ankles were outstretched as far as they could go and they were each imprisoned in handcuffs that were fastened to the wall. Her position reminded her that of a fly caught unmoving on a spider's deadly web. She was suspended well above the ground and any other movement she made only served to make her sway and feel lightheaded.
What am I doing here…?
Biting back a sob, her mind still felt fuzzy and though she tried hard to remember what had happened to her, unclear images of Sanosuke and the battlefield where the only ones to filter her thoughts.
The room was small and shabby. The smell of cigarette reeked in the air and there was almost no light to enter the room. It was dismal and depressing and her position didn't serve as a sweet consolation.
Her wrists ached with the pressure of chained metals and she could tell the skin on that area was growing a quite interesting shade of purple and blue. She would have continued assessing her situation had not the door suddenly swung open revealing a man that caused her to gape and whisper with mixed bewilderment, relief and fear.
"Enishi…?"
For awhile he stood unmoving, silent with only his eyes showing how he truly felt. Deliberately, he neared her, creating a thunderous pace in her heart as she silently wondered what he would do.
When he came face to face with her, there was a tense moment, cobalt orbs clashing with silver gray ones and then suddenly, his calloused palm connected against her cheek in one loud slap. Before she could react though, his fist had roughly punched the wide expanse of her stomach making her lose her breath and gasp inspite her pain.
After he had satisfied his sudden urge to hit her, he stood in front of her, arms crossed in a defiant motion lips pulled in a serious frown.
"Kaoru…. My pretty dear wife… we meet again."
His tone was nowhere near sweet or caring. Instead, it was cold, detached and certainly devoid of any humanly emotions she could think of.
"E..Enishi… I thought you were…" she whispered
"Dead." He finished for her. "Yes… everyone thought I was dead… even you and your lover." His last word was punctuated with a certain bile that made Kaoru shudder with fear. "I had to do that you know… but I wasn't so sure everyone would be fooled including you for all the people who knew my capabilities and strength. I thought you would doubt me and of course, I would have done a change of plans… but thanks to you… things went quite easily for Me." he finished with a satisfied devilish grin.
"But… why are you doing this….? Why…?" she murmured, head bowing in shame as tears began to mock her eyes.
"Because…" he started, walking towards her and roughly grasping her squarely in the jaw making her moan and quiver in pain. "this is my revenge… Revenge to you and to the man who stole you from me."
She gasped, "Please… please leave Kenshin away from this… he's got nothing to do between the two of us…"
"Oh but you are wrong Kaoru love." He sardonically whispered in her ear. "The emperor has everything to do with this…" Grinning like a mad man, he turned his back against her and started to walk away.
"I can't say that your stay here would be wonderful. In fact I couldn't even call it humane. But don't worry, I wont kill you. Not until the emperor comes anyway."
The door slammed shut, leaving nothing but a cold draft and darkness in the room. Bowing her head in misery, Kaoru allowed the tears to fall and her sobs to escape her lips.
Kenshin… how I wish I had listened to you…Kenshin… would you come for me…?
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Settling himself on the dusty floor, Yukishiro Enishi glanced at the man who sat deathly still with a cigarette stick dangling on his lip.
"How's the girl?"
Frowning, Enishi was surprised to see the wolf acting in a civil way. Still, he shrugged his shoulders and answered non-chalantly. "She's in the room. I'm sure Himura would come for her."
The other nodded, taking a deep puff on his cigarette he retorted. "Let's get this clear Yukishiro; I want to eradicate the emperor even if it means killing him in the process. Once I set my sight on him when he comes, I cannot possibly promise you that you could still have the chance to confront him for he is likely to die under my sword."
"Oh but you will certainly get the chance to fight with him. Though what I ask is that you would hand him to me afterwards. After all, I want to settle his affair with my wife once and for all. I think my objectives are deeper than yours Saitou."
Inwardly, the silver haired man glowered. So, he had been mistaken. The wolf hasn't been taught how to act in a civilized manner afterall. But of course, he couldn't express that in front of the man. Saitou was a real pain, but he would certainly play an important part in his revenge. He would use the wolf's desire in killing the emperor to manipulate the play of events. He would allow Saitou to fight Himura first. But his cards were on the latter. He knew the red head would kill the wolf given the right reasons and Kamiya was reason enough. After he had tired himself and killed Saitou, then, then he would face him and victory would be his.
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She stood unmoving in the dark. Too tired to even lift her head, her muscles cried out in pain and her ankles and wrists had developed a numbed feeling.
True to his words, the way Enishi treated her wasn't anywhere near humane. She had forgotten to keep track of the date, the time… her moments filled with his beatings. He had gotten far more brutal than from what she had seen when he was worst drunk. He would come in her cell, beat her until she was black and blue and sore all over and he would just stop for awhile only to start all over again. He's insane… many a times this words filtered her head when he would just hit her recklessly, his fists landing in different sections of her body.
But at times, he could really really get brutal.
Such was the time when he had fancied himself in carving her skin with a sharp knife. Kaoru teared up with the memory of seeing him draw numerous lines with blood all over her body. Some were only shallow, only harrying a slight sting. Some though, were deep and her wounds would continue to bleed even after for a long time.
Such was the time when he came inside the room carrying a burning torch. For a moment she could not comprehend what the hell was he engaging himself to. It was only after he had neared her with the torch in hand did things clicked in her mind.
Burn torture! Mercy no! Oh god help me…not burn torture… no… Mercy!
He had almost set her body aflame after that. Playing the fire against her stomach, the middle part of her kimono caught on fire and she almost collapsed in fear of burning herself. It was a good thing the singed cloth did not scatter all over her body, leaving only her abdomen burnt. For Kaoru, it was better than burning all together. Most of her clothings were torn and burnt and her skin still stung with open burns.
She could not for one comprehend how deep his anger could go. She couldn't even understand his main reasons for revenge aside from her affair with Kenshin. And if that was his real concern, then he wouldn't her wouldn't he? Kaoru… stop thinking… just conserve your strength…True, thinking about Enishi strained her mind and put far too much pressure on her brain. Her strength was running out. Her wounds weren't healing and she was starting to lose too much blood. And that only her physical problem. Her emotions were much into turmoil right now. The panic and alarm she always experienced and the mere thought of hovering in a thin line between life and death… the excruciating pain that accompanied every wound and beatings… she was powerless to stop it.
Kenshin… can you hear me…? Are you coming for me Kenshin…? I guess not… I have failed you and I have lost your trust…I guess this is the price I have to pay in disobeying you… Maybe I really deserve this… But I wish you could find the ehart to forgive me… remember that… I love you… forever I'll always do…
With these thoughts, tears raced down towards her blood smudged cheeks and finally, her head sunk back in the darkness of the room.
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Kenshin…
Jolted out in his reverie, he thought he heard Kaoru's voice. Standing up, he strode towards the balcony and peered outside.
Tomorrow… tomorrow I would finally see her…
Three days. Enishi had given him three days. And tomorrow he would come to save the woman who held a special place in his heart. Sanosuke had told him everything… from her means of escape to her reaction in the battlefield. He was furious not only at her, but at Sanosuke as well. He treated the man as his own brother, his own blood and yet, he had betrayed the emperor by even accompanying Kaoru outside the palace. He didn't want to put the entire blame on Sanosuke, but in some certain points, he was inclined to do so. No matter how unfair it seemed to be.
But of course, love won over madness.
If he would be given another chance to see Kaoru, he would gladly forget her disobedience and foolishness. He would forget that his world had suddenly turned upside down with the madness her disappearance dealt him. Gladly he would forget. Gladly he would do so. If only he could still find her alive…if only…
He could not sleep. Seemingly counting the minutes that ticked on. His mind was filled with thoughts of her and tactics on how he would fight Enishi. Surely, the man also had tricks up on his sleeves. And with what Sanosuke had told him, he was almost certain the officer was likely to use different attacks.
A few more minutes and it would be midnight.
A few more moments and the sun would rise.
A little more and noon would transpire.
Darkness would soon cloak the sky.
The moment the clock struck ten, the red haired man rose, donned a black gi and a white hakama, tied his hair in a high pony tail, slid his katana into its saba and left the room.
Tonight…everything will fall…
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It's time… gazing at his watch, Enishi grinned. Tonight, victory would be his. His plans were all laid out. Saitou would be the first one to greet the emperor, and of course, their fight would be the first spectacle. If the man was lucky enough to survive the wolf, he would proceed to Kaoru's cell where they would duel.
A loud crash reverberated on the whole house. Smirking, he cocked his head. Himura has come… that must be Saitou fighting with him.
The loud clangs of metal against metal and slides of swords echoed here and there and the loud shouts of charges only served to amuse Enishi. Everybody was a fool. Even Saitou was a fool. Can't they see? He's merely playing with them, like chess pieces manipulated by players. It was too easy to depict who the winner was. The only question was how long would this game last?
The moments seemed to wage on. Gray eyes were only focused on the door, waiting for it to burst open. When it did, Enishi stood up, glad to see that the light silhouetted a short frame of a man with a long red mane. A smile of sardonic satisfaction traced his crooked lips.
"I greet you good evening.. Your highness…" he bowed with mock respect.
"Where is she!"
The younger man frowned. "Oh… touché aren't we? Oh well, we'll see about that. Anyways, come, if you really insist on seeing her… though I would have to warn you she isn't a pretty sight to see."
Kenshin gritted his teeth. The man was insane! But he had to control his anger. He would have to see that Kaoru was safe, before he killed Enishi. Killing was against his ideals, but Enishi was of course an exception. He had thought about that for a long time.
The Shinsen headquarter was small and yet, different oaths lead to different rooms and parts of the house. A typical house for a typical wolf… Stopping slightly, a hand came to grasp the bleeding wound on his side. Goddamn you Saitou… it was a good thing I got out of our fight with this and a couple of bruises. You were lucky you struck me once. Nevertheless, it just goes to show that the dragon will always be stronger than the wolf.
Enishi stopped in front of a dark room with not even a small candle giving light. Grabbing the lamp that stood beside the door, with a key he twisted open the door.
For a moment he could not see a thing, the darkness obscuring his vision. But there was a morose odor that seemed to dance in the room. A scent of blood and burnt flesh. Before he had any time to react though, the light of the lamp filtered through out the whole room and his lips emitted a loud shocked gasp, an unholy sight meeting his eyes urging him to take a step back.
"Your majesty, I am proud to show you my wife Yukishiro Kaoru."
With the sound of her name, the sunken head pitifully lifted itself up.
No…Kaoru… No… Whatever words he had any plans on saying disappeared right through his throat. Her vision would remain forever etched in his mind, would forever seek to haunt his every sleep. She was suspended in the air, Wrists and ankles handcuffed with her whole form suspended in the air. Her clothings were bloody, torn and tattered. Her inky locks, jet black as it once was, was now matted with sweat and blood, forming thicking clumps. Her kimono gaped open, revealing once creamy skin turned into a patchwork of burns. There was so much blood, so much wounds that he almost gagged with the sight. What the last straw was though was when she lifted her head and he saw her indigo eyes, once vibrant and cheerful, now reduced to mere dull and lifeless black pools.
"Release her… release her… release her and fight me!" he shouted with desperation. He was shaking with anger and fear. Fear that she would not live through her wounds. Strangely though, Enishi moved to pull a lever situated across the far wall. Immediately, the handcuffs broke open and Kaoru fell in the emperor's arms, as limp as a rag doll.
"KAORU! KAORU! IT'S ME… KENSHIN… KAORU… PLEASE OPEN YOUR EYES FOR ME…PLEASE…OH LOVE!"
The empty black pools that stared right through him, closed, and then opened revealing cloudy sapphire orbs in its stead.
"Ke…Ken…shin…Ken…shin…" she whispered, his name escaping into broken syllabus. A calloused finger gently came atop her lips.
"Hush… don't speak… conserve your strength…" he murmured, careful not to aggravate her pain with his hold.
With all her strength, she rolled her head in one side. "I… I'm sorry… go…me…nasai…"
He shook his head, trying to dismiss the tears in his eyes. "No… there's nothing to forgive…there's nothing to forgive…"
He would have continued comforting her, had he not seen the smirking form of Enishi. At once, his blood seemed to boil, anger singing in his senses.
"YOU!"
The arrogant leer pasted on the mad man's face only served to fuel his anger more. Carefully lifting Kaoru, he set her beside the wall seeing to it that she wouldn't get hurt whenever a fight began.
And fight they did.
Shouts of their kiai resounded in the room as their swords clanged heavily against one another. Dull sapphire eyes slowly began to open as she watched with silent trepidation the fight between the two most significant men in her life. She knew that Kenshin was a skilled warrior. Having been trained by none other than Hiko Seijurou himself under the Hiten Mitsurugi School only worked for his advantage. His father had also seen to it that he study other techniques in far flung countries.
But she also knew Enishi.
She also knew that the man practiced Chinese Martial Arts. That his skills were well praised in the country. She had seen him train, shattering a large old tree with a single blow. Though she would like to say that Kenshin would easily win, on the other hand, she was aware that Enishi wasn't going down without a fight.
Kenshin was the first to fall.
She opened her mouth to scream and yet not a single sound would come out. With one shoulder wounded, it was easy to see his blood soaking through his black gi. Another thing caught her sight, he had been wounded on his side and blood was still there. Dread continued to mount her heart. If this fight doesn't end soon… I don't think Kenshin could make it…
"Hiten Misturugi Ryuu Sou Ryuu Sen!"
"Watou ichimonjuku!"
"Kuzu Ryuu Sen!"
Up to the last, the match was still fairly undecided. She could tell that Enishi's wounds were also catching up on him. The man was still precise, but a bit slower, guarded and yet only a bit sluggish. They continued to fight one another until the duel was no more than a battle of will and not of strength. Blood was everywhere and Kaoru concluded that the first to fall to the ground will ultimately lose the fight.
She watch with shock and desperation the man with the flaming red hair collapse to the stone cold ground and remain unmoving, saw blood spurt from out of the corner of his lips…
No…This can't be true… No… Out of despair and hopelessness she began to drag herself towards the fallen man, ignoring the terrible pain and amount of blood that seeped out from her wounds. Her only objective was to reach the man that and nothing else.
"Victory is mine. You are all a bunch of fools. I have used and manipulated you in my little game so that everyone of you will fall, and of course, Yukishiro Enishi will rise to fame and power. Everybody will regard of me as the hero who found the emperor dead and bathed in his own blood… I thank you for participating in my own game. However…" he stopped, regained his sword stance and prepared to strike, "I must make sure that the emperor is eliminated… first."
With that, the man rushed towards the unmoving body on the floor. Victory was sure for him. He had triumphed and his plans had ultimately succeeded. And yet, as he plunged his sword, he stopped for something had connected to his body as well.
It was the woman he had hit and not his true target. He had realized it a mere second too late when the sword entered his chest. The woman had shielded the emperor from his attack and plunged the man's own katana in his torso. In return, Enishi's sword had stabbed her cleanly at the side, a gaping whole evident form the sudden blow. He was a second too late, his error proving to be a fatal mistake as he fell to the ground, mind still in shock with the sudden twist of events. I thought I had everything controlled… How did that happen…? I don't… under— and everything became black.
He had seen everything. From Enishi's final attack to Kaoru's sudden stance between the two of them. As stun and bewilderment shot to his senses, he heard the sickening collide of metal against flesh. Forgetting his own pain, he rushed to catch Kaoru's fallen form, both of their visions clouded by their own tears.
"Kaoru! Kaoru!" he croaked, voice already constricted with the sobs that threatened to escape his throat. In response, a bloody hand crept to touch his cheek, smudging the rounded skin with the metallic liquid. He leaned to her touch, like a desperate animal seeking for the touch of its own master and a small weakened smile blossomed from her lips.
"Ai…shi…terru…"
No…No… Not like this… Her life won't end like this! Shaking his head, he carefully lifted her in his arms, and started to leave the bloody room, fully intending to return back to the imperial palace when a loud whistle stopped him.
"OI KENSHIN!"
The voice sounded utterly familiar and he caught sight of Sanosuke with a lady standing beside him that he could vaguely recognize as Megumi. There was a carriage behind them and relief seemed to crash upon him like a wave.
Rushing towards the man with an unmoving bundle in his arms, Sanosuke assisted both of them in the carriage as Megumi grew pale with the sight of so many bloody wounds. Her shock lasted only for a mere few moments though, for she started to fuss all over the woman bathed in her own blood. Even with his wounds painfully creaking with each movement, he convinced the doctor that the other's wounds were more fatal than his and she therefore needed more of her attention. Wounded as he was, the emperor could just sit and watch with hopeless amber eyes.
Kaoru… please... live… live for me… Please… don't die on me Kaoru…Not now… Not now that we could live together…
TBC…
Tut tut… Will this story be a happy ending? I don't know (smiles slyly) it all depends on the reviews you know… MWAHAHA! I'm so like evil! Anyways, I thought wording Kenshin's fight with Saitou was cool but a tad bit long. Not to mention his fight with Enishi. And I suck at fighting scenes. You guys may just end up flaming me! I swear! So… I guess we're all happy ne? (Hope yah guys don't get mad I'm a softie
On to the last chappie!
JA!
BLUEROSE