AN- To readers, I will like to thank all of you for your support! I hope you enjoy this next chapter! If you have any questions, or suggestions, please leave them in your review! Thank you so much for your support on my second attempt at writing a Battousai/Kaoru fanfic!

Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin series. I wish I did, but I don't. : (

Being Comforted

Chapter 3

Kaoru had the sword at the back of Battousai's throat. She thought she had the upper hand. After all the years he made her suffer, after all the happiness he took away from her, she finally had the monster at her mercy. But why was she going to kill him now? Why couldn't she kill him before, when she had the chance to? Why did she treat him so well, even knowing what he did to her family? Was she such a dishonor, a disgrace to her family?

Without realizing it, she put her guard, leaving Battousai his chance of getting back at the raven-haired girl. He ducked under her right arm, grabbed the sword from her hand, and held it against her neck. He was amazed to know the young woman wasn't going to fight him back. Obviously she couldn't because any move would slit her precious throat

"Go ahead and kill me Battousai. Kill me if you like. I will die out of bravery, not out of fear. I will be glad to join all the victims, who died by your sword. I know for a fact, I'll be joining my family, while you'll be in hell rotting," Kaoru said with a vicious voice. Her only answer from Battousai was his sword shedding deeper into the hollow of her throat.

"Come on Battousai. Why are you hesitating to kill me? You're the demon who kills without any emotions. Your sword lusts for blood, yet your holding back. Do you have a weakness? Imagine everyone getting to know Battousai has a weakness!" yelled Kaoru.

Within seconds Battousai pinned Kaoru to the ground. His larger frame crushed her smaller frame. His face spoke of mockery, his amber burned fierce with lust, possession, and some other feeling Kaoru couldn't place. His breathing on her shoulder, sent shivers up and down her spine. Kaoru have been in not normal positions. She's been in contact with men, but never did she feel a natural physical attraction to one. She couldn't believe out of all the men, she was feeling this way for Battousai. This was the man whom she considered her enemy, yet here she was shivering not of fear, but of pleasure.

"Killing you will just spoil the fun. I'm Battousai, and killing people is nothing for me, but it is very rare to come across a beauty like you. Instead of killing you, I'm going to make you mine. You're going to be nothing, but my servant, my toy, my possession, who I could do anything to, whenever I want. Got it?" Battousai asked harshly. His amber eyes pierced Kaoru's soul.

"I'm not some possession. I'll never belong to you. I rather die then to be your servant, or toy you speak about," said Kaoru disgusted by the way how Battousai thought. Her sapphire eyes, spoke defiantly to Battousai.

"So is that how you feel? I have to say you're one feisty woman. But don't worry, I will guarantee to break your spirit soon. Meanwhile I'll enjoy breaking it bit by bit," Battousai said harshly. His voice was soft but intimidating.

His finger traveled down her body boldly. It traced from the hollow of her throat, over her breast, down her navel, to her most intimate part. Kaoru shivered. Her breathing was irregular. Her eyes dazed by his hand's invasion of her privacy.

"Tell me, what's your name," Battousai demanded, his voice sounded husky from the pleasure he was giving her. Kaoru complied with his wished without even thinking. Her mind dazed as his hands left her most intimate part to travel over her flat stomach to play with her navel.

"It's… Kaoru… Kamiya," she said rather breathlessly. All her thoughts were lost. All of her senses were captivated by Battousai's light caress. Battousai! She thought, that one name struck recognition in her mind and senses. She struggled in his embrace, pushed at the heavy wall of his chest. He wouldn't budge. She pushed harder, but no matter how many times she pushed, he wouldn't budge. Kaoru struggled endlessly, until she had no more energy left to fight him. She looked hopelessly into his amber pleading him to get off her. His amber eyes only looked at her with mockery, amusement, and possession.

"You don't stand a chance against me, so if I were you I'll give up," he said a harsh voice. He got up quickly, leaving her alone in the room, to think.

"That bastard! Who does he think he is? Just because he's Battousai, doesn't mean he could have his way with me. I'm not some kind of possession, I'm not something to own. I'm a human being with feelings! He's my sworn enemy, and even though I let him live, why did he let me live? He could've kill me easily," Kaoru said to herself. She was folding her dry clothes and packing them away. She hadn't seen Battousai at all since this morning. Kaoru folded her uniform from her job, and packed it away with the rest of her clothes. After the incident with Battousai, she left to go to work in the restaurant. She had been working in ever since she was a child. The name of the restaurant was Akabeko. She told her boss Tae, who was also her friend, she couldn't make it to work for a couple of days. Tae of course always being concern for her welfare as her boss and a friend, told her to take as many days off to deal personal problems. Kaoru just look at her friend, Tae and smiled revealing her gratitude. When Kaoru came home she didn't see Battousai. She prayed he left her, and went about his own business.

"Kaoru! Kaoru where are you?" a familiar voice called her from outside. Kaoru went outside to check to see if it was her dear friend.

"Dr. Gensai, are you okay? Are your grand children okay?" Kaoru asked in a worry tone. She felt her heart beating loudly in her chest. Her senses panicked. She hoped Battousai didn't do anything to harm Dr. Gensai and his grand children.

"No it's not them, but it's this young boy here. He's been through some hard experience and he need to stay at someone's place," said Dr. Gensai. His face looking distressed as a young battered little boy appear from behind the dojo gates. The rain-washed over his body making him look worst. His body full blood from the wounds he received. Kaoru looked from the battered boy to her old dear friend.

"Oh Dr. Gensai, what happened? Why does he look like that?" asked Kaoru anxiously. She took the boy by his arm gently and took him inside her home. She led him to a vacant room, and told him to stay there. Mean while she went back to talk to Dr. Gensai.

"His family was killed by assassins, and they will be after him. He's needs a place to stay, but he also needs protection. He's seen a lot, and knows a lot of information. Kaoru his life is in danger. We tried to inform the police, but the police won't believe us. The only thing I could've done assist in this matter was to bring him to you. Please Kaoru, I ask you to let him stay," Dr. Gensai pleaded.

"Yes of course. I'll look after him. I'll protect him with my life. I'll treat him with the best care, as though as he if were my own child Dr. Gensai," said Kaoru, her voice full of determination.

"I thank you Kaoru. You truly are like your mother. She was very compassionate. She always cared for others then herself. Look after him well. It will take him sometime to heal, but eventually he should be back to his normal self," said Dr Gensai. He took one step closer to her. "Is Battousai still here? I don't see him anywhere?"

"I don't know, and right now I don't care. Let me take care of this young boy. Does he have a name?" Kaoru whispered.

"Yes. His name is Yahiko. That's all I know," he said.

Kaoru nodded her head, as a gesture of her farewell to Dr. Gensai. She ran back into the vacant bedroom, where she left the boy standing there. What she saw broke her heart. The young boy looked at her with fear in his eyes. His body crouched on the floor hoping to conceal his small form from her view. Kaoru was fuming at the assassins who did this to him. They left him with a battered body, no home, no parents, and no spirit.

The only option she had left was to get acquainted with the boy. Kaoru moved quietly, but carefully towards the boy. She didn't want to startle him. Her sapphire eyes, met with his chocolate brown eyes. Determined not to scare him, she bent down, and continued to look at him.

"My name is Kaoru Kamiya. I'm not here to hurt you. I only want to help you. Please give me a chance to help you," she whispered to the young boy. He continued to stare at her, until he finally gave himself into her caring. Kaoru gently picked him up and led him to the bathhouse. She gestured the boy to take his bath, while she went to fetch him some clothes. She was lucky she found some old boys training clothes she use to wear, when she practiced her swordsmanship with her best friend Soujiro Seta. Kaoru headed back to the bathhouse and waited till he changed. She wrapped new bandages around his chest and arms to make sure the wounds were completely covered. After that she made him and herself some nice warm vegetable soup, to help calm him down. Finally when nighttime came, she tucked him in his bedroom and left to deal with her duties.

Later on that night, Kaoru heard noises coming from his room. She heard moans, and thrashing. Kaoru got up to see what it was. When she went into Yahiko's room, she found him awake. He was tumbling, tossing the sheets. His feet kick the wall. Kaoru could see tears falling from his eyes. Seeing him like this disturbed her. It reminded her of her childhood days. Her father was the only man to have her tears. She never cried after her mother's death. She grew up keeping all her pain, and grief within herself. There were many times in her life, when she wanted to die. She wanted her life to end, so she could no longer be able to feel. She had nothing worth living for. Everyone treated her badly. The only friend, who helped her live, was her best friend Soujiro Seta. After he left to fight in the war, he left with a promise to return to her. Kaoru lived with that hope. Even after the war she somehow knew he was still alive, somewhere out there waiting, and willing to keep his promise. She will would for him, even if it killed her. Her friend was worth the wait.

Kaoru went to the bed and cradled the young boy in her arms as though he were a baby. She rocked him back and forth, whispering soothing words. His tears fell from his eyes onto her shoulders. All that could be heard was his sobs. She understood his pain. Losing his family, and home, having nothing else left, and the will to not live were all thoughts from the boy. He lost so many things today. She and he both knew from this day on, he had to grow up. He had to find a way to live. Kaoru was there to help him. She promised herself to never leave his side. For the first time in what seemed to be years, she let herself cry with the boy. She cried for knowing, and understanding his pain. She cried for him, and for the tears she couldn't shed through all the struggles she overcame. She cried until they both fell asleep.

Battousai watched from the shadows as the young woman cradled the boy in her arms. He saw how protective she was while she rocked him back and forth. He also saw her expressive face filled with so many emotions. When she cried, it astonished him. For some odd reason he felt he wanted to go over to her and wrapped his arms around her. He felt himself feeling emotions, of anger, regret, and hatred of who made her feel pain. But he also felt the need to hold her, to protect her, to tell her everything was going to be all right.

Battousai continued to gaze at her until she fell asleep. It was then he left her to be. Earlier in the evening when he found her gone, he thought something bad happened to her. He went to look out in Tokyo streets scanning the areas for her ki. He wondered if she got herself into danger. He remembered a group of men following her the night before. He hated to admit this feeling, but he was afraid she attracted a next group of men. Knowing that men that men lusted for her body enraged him. Kaoru was a beautiful young woman who lived by herself. Men looked for women like her to take advantage of. They knew women like her were vulnerable, unable to defend themselves. Why should he care? Why should he care if this young woman saved his life? Why should he care about her as a person? The problem was he did care. This woman didn't know how she did it, but she was able to bring out feelings in him, that he thought he lost a long time ago. Seeing how compassionate she was to the little boy, only made him fall for her more. Not only that. He saw her determination, her will power. He saw her spirit to live. Of all the men he faced, this young woman was the only one left still standing. He found so many things about her to admire. However, the main reason he thought he was really attracted to this woman, was because she knew how it was like to be, to know, to feel alone.