AN- To readers, I wanted to make this story different. How I made it different was instead of Kaoru growing up with her father, she grew up with her mother. As you noticed in my story Kaoru acts more like a girl, because the way she grew up with her mother. She's a woman with a lot of responsibilities, but she's still very compassionate, has a strong spirit, and within time you'll see her temper rising. Please enjoy this chapter. If you have any questions or suggestions, leave them in your review please.

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

Being Controlled

Chapter 4

Nightfall hit. Tokyo streets were quiet. There was no one in sight, except a young woman wearing a cloaked to cover her petite figure. As she turned the streets, she saw the bar, where she worked in. In all her years she worked in this bar, as a part time job. Here she made great money well at least enough to buy her food and clothing. She didn't care about her reputation for she carried a different name. Instead of being known as Kaoru Kamiya she was known as Raven Whitney. She didn't know how she came up with that name, but it really didn't matter. Most of the men in the bar thought the name suited her fine, because she had raven hair.

Kaoru walked through the bar, passing many men. She felt their gazes, knew they nodded their heads in acceptance. They were all waiting for her performance. They were waiting for her to arouse them all, with a provocative dance. She gave them a wicked smile. Her eyes glint a mischievous look. She very much enjoyed the attention from men. She couldn't believe how popular she became after just a few performances. Usually it took a girl a couple of years to have a reputation in the bar but for Kaoru, it took her a couple of months. The men enjoyed her very much.

"What took you so long Raven? You know how badly the men waited for you? They are eager to see your next performance. Don't make it bad as the last one. Last time you had men lusting for your body. Remember?" said her boss. He was a tall man, with brown air, light brown eyes, and very muscular. He walked around the bar, carrying his sword. His appearance alone struck fear in the core of men. He admired Raven. Ever since she worked in the bar, he got more business then usual. Men came in night after night, just to see Kaoru serve them as a waitress or to perform for them. Raven was his best business. Even though, he received a lot of business because of her, he knew it would be hard to give her up, if she ever decided to leave.

"Don't worry Yami. If they want a performance, then they are going to get themselves a performance. They are not to going to get anything more then that. Got it Yami?" said Kaoru with a demanding voice. She faced Yami with determined eyes. She remembered the argument they got themselves in. He argued about the fact she should give herself to men to make a better business for him and for her. She refused. She said she was a woman of honor. She only did her job, because she desperately needed the money. If she gave herself to men for business, then it would be disrespecting her body and her honor. People could talk their bullshit about her as long as there was no fact to their cruel words.

"Yes Raven I understand. Not will you go on stage. While you're at it, take off that black cloak," Yami replied in a rich tone.

Kaoru walked on stage slowly, but quietly, using accurate precision. She didn't want the men to miss one move she made. She took off her cloak slowly letting it fall to the ground to show the beautiful, yet skimpy dress she wore. Her back and stomach exposed, only the strings on her back kept the upper part of her dress together. The dress, hugged her hips, and thighs. The side of the dress had slits, which reached her upper mid thigh. The dress itself was a glimmering black dress she wore, which showed a generous amount of her creamy skin. The men howled and whistled at her. She felt their eyes roaming to every inch of her body, not missing one single spot. She smiled a feral smile leaving an encouraging smile for them to continue ravaging her with their eyes. Slowly, but steady she moved her body to the slow music. She swayed her hip, while moving her hand slowly above her head. The men continued to howl at her. For some reason being here made her feel beautiful, made her feel wanted, made her feel so much like a woman. She danced erotically around the room moving her body intimately against men, dipping down low against their body and rising up. She let their hands roam her body freely, but only up to a certain extent. She sang arousing words, only making them want her. They can see and touch but they could not get too intimate. She smiled at the power she held over them. When the music ended, all the men were disappointed. They all wanted her to stay longer, but she couldn't. She had a boy to watch at home, one who need her time more then these men.

She made her way to her boss, swaying her hips while driving all the men insane. Some reached out to grab her, but a glare from her boss made them think twice about it.

"Raven I have to admit, every time you make a performance, you find a way to drive the men insane. I don't know if business could've been good if you weren't here," Yami said with a wicked smile Kaoru knew all to well.

"It weren't for me; you would've been in a bad position. Oh yeah before I do forget, I won't make it here for a couple of nights. I have personal reasons I must attend too," said Kaoru looking at her boss with a serious face. When it comes down to business, the seductive angel turned into a serious angel.

"Take the time off, after all you never did miss out a night's work," replied Yami. Before Yami could do anything Kaoru went up to him and kissed him on the cheeks. She picked up her cloak, took the money and left him alone. On her way walking out the bar, she noticed a man looking at her. What was bizarre about his stare was the familiarity of it. Not taking the man seriously, she walked out the bar, into the cold, gloomy night, all the while amber eyes followed her every move.

Kaoru walked in the cold, gloomy night. There was no one in sight. The streets were quiet. The wind blew her cloak gently to one side. Her raven hair fell from its bun. As Kaoru continued to walk down the streets, she heard footsteps, as though someone was following her. With a quick turn, she looked behind her to see if anyone was there. No one. She walked a few more steps, when she heard a noise from behind her. Increasing her speed, her movements took her home. Leaving her dojo gates open on purpose, Kaoru retrieved her sword and waited patiently for her opponent.

"Whose out here? Show yourself right now, or else I'll… you're going to regret it," she replied in deadly calm voice, first unsure then confident of her abilities. Her sapphire eyes cold. Her senses heightened ready, scanning her dojo area. Focusing on a strategy to make her opponent attack first, she didn't notice her opponent.

"Is that how you greet a friend you didn't see for a long time Kaoru? I thought you would treat me better, but I have to say the years haven't changed your personality one bit," the other voice answered calmly. Out from the shadows, appeared a tall man wearing a black shirt that hugged his chest showing his muscles. He wore baggy pants, and at his side he carried a sword. What really shocked Kaoru were his smile and the innocent in his eyes, truly a rare combination to come across in an enemy.

"Soujiro Seta, is that you?" Kaoru asked, silently anticipating his return.

"Yes Kaoru, it's me," said Soujiro with a gentle smile. Kaoru couldn't contain herself any longer. She ran to him and hugged him. He kept his promise to return to her. He promised to return to her after the war, but he didn't. Not after a long time. That didn't matter. The fact was that he returned to her, safely. She didn't think she ever been this happy to see anyone in her life. This was her best friend, and he still is. This was the boy who taught her some of his sword skills, who taught her to use god like speed when she was in battle.

"Oh Soujiro! I'm so glad to see you! You know how much I missed you!" she screeched, letting him go from her hug. "I missed you so much, that I don't even know how to explain it to you. Where have you been?"

"Well after the war, I went to look for you, but since I carried so much blood in my hands, I decided to atone for it. So throughout the past ten years, I wandered from place to place, helping people and I made a vow to never kill again," said Soujiro sadly. His eyes never looked at hers. Somehow he still managed to keep a smile plastered on his face while he continued speaking. "I wanted to come you earlier, because I knew about your father's death, but I didn't want to come to you with my hands tainted hands. I truly missed you Kaoru. It was my promise to you that kept me living. If it weren't for my promise, if it were not for the inspiration of you and your father's teaching then I would've died in the war."

"Please don't say that. I know you. You're the best swordsman that I've ever known. If anyone is a survivor it's you. You always beat me when we sparred against each other. I only beat you once, and it was because I used everything within my skills to beat you," Kaoru replied slowly.

"Thanks Kaoru for your support. You always stood up for me no matter what. How's your mother Kaoru? I have to say you look so much like her. You are as beautiful and as brave as her," Soujiro said.

Kaoru lowered her head quietly. The pain at the lost of her mother was well hidden from his view. Soujiro sensed he said something wrong. Realization hit him when he could sense her mother's presence in the dojo.

"I'm terribly sorry, for your lost. I knew I should've come sooner. Can you ever forgive Kaoru?" Shaking his head solemnly he added, "The time you needed your best friend the most, was the time I wasn't there. Please find it your heart to forgive me."

"It's okay Soujiro. I'll always forgive you. After all, you are like an older brother to me. Please come inside and make yourself at home in the dojo. Right now I have no time for talk. I have business to attend to," and with those last words Kaoru kissed Soujiro's cheek, and left him to close the dojo gates.

Kaoru retired for the night. In her room soundly asleep, she didn't hear anyone walk into her room nor did her senses forewarn her of another presence. The footsteps were quiet against the polished wooden floor. It eased by her limp figure. His amber eyes stared at her face, and lingered down her form. He wanted her, hungered for her. When he saw her dance in the bar, he wanted to kill every man who laid eyes on her. She was addicting, soothing, seductive, and inviting only for him. He just wanted to grab her and haul her into his room. There he would keep her, bed her, and exhaust her so she could never want to leave his room to please another man. He envied the fact so many men got the chance to touch his woman, his Kaoru. He waited for the right chance to confront her about her actions, to take her into his room and show her a few lessons about why they called him Battousai; instead some man whom was familiar to both him and her interrupted him. No matter what, he wasn't going to let anyone stop him from claiming his possession. She was his toy, his servant, and she had no choice, but to obey him. If she couldn't accept the fact he didn't like her to dance those provocative dances then she'll have to learn to accept it, if that meant force had to be issued behind his command. He couldn't believe this young woman could bring out his emotions. Possessing her, claiming her, wanting her as his own over riled his cold side. The emotions stirred in his mind and chest. Not knowing how to handle his emotions made his act on his instincts, the same he used whenever in heat on a battlefield. When she was performing her dance, he felt enraged, so much hatred for all the men. They acted like they never seen a woman before. They all shamed him. Inferior class men who didn't know how to find themselves a woman.

Battousai carefully touched her cheek. With his light caress, he kissed her forehead. His amber eyes burned fiercely with passion, longing, and possession. His hand continued to move down from her cheek, to the hollow of her throat, between her valley breasts to her stomach. His hand spanned her stomach.

Kaoru turned her body gently. She felt someone's touch. At first she didn't pay any attention to it. She thought it was her mind playing tricks on her, but when she felt a hand on her stomach, her eyes flew open. Her sapphire eyes bore into amber eyes. When she saw so many mixed emotions she couldn't help but gasp. His hand continued to caress her stomach. His other hand caressed her cheek. Suddenly feeling hot, Kaoru shivered. The sensations were new for her. Her sapphire eyes dazed. Her body burned with fire, and a longing. It seemed as if her body cried out for his, searching for something that only he knew.

Battousai looked at his raven hair beauty. Earlier during her performance she smiled a feral smile, because she knew she held power. Now he held power.

"Now tell me little one, is this what you feel when the other men touched you?"