Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin.

He who has no mind to trade with the devil, should be so wise as to keep it away from his shop.

-Robert South

Cherry Blossom Dream

Chapter Six: The Devil's Maiden

"Kaoru you sit up in this room all day long, don't you want to go out? You should really get out." William conversed while putting on his jacket of navy blue. Kaoru got out of bed pulling her robe around her.

"I find the sun to be so tiresome good William, I'd much rather be with you." Kaoru smiled sincerely thinking that it did no good because the room was dark as night with the drapes pulled closed though it was already early morning. She heard his cat like steps come towards her and felt his breathe on her face before his soft hand, a hand so different and so cold from a pair six years ago.

She leaned into it in more of exasperation than want. "If that is what you wish." He back away. "But you should see my acquaintances they all wish to meet you..." There was a pregnant silence and Kaoru couldn't help but give a little elfish smile. "...and all the ladies wish to meet this dazzling young sprit that I keep talking about."

Kaoru didn't need the use of a lamp for she could feel his smile sweep up her body. "Good William don't worry they will meet me someday. When is the nearest soiree?"

"Ah, all in good time, all in good time dear." Was his suave reply. Kaoru nodded sitting down at the secretary as she poured herself a glass of red chardonnay. She held up the glass. "My I?"

"My dear a little to early for bad habits don't you think?" He chuckled in the darkness, "But since you already poured it you may."

'How nice to have permission.' Kaoru impishly thought.

She felt his soft hand on hers. "Kaoru please try to enjoy yourself today." He kissed her hand, she felt nothing. The man was old enough to be her father- her smile widened to cover for her sudden confusion. What was her father's name again?

"As you wish good William." He patted her hand and left her in darkness, not even the rays from the opened door fell on where she had stepped. She was the darkness to swallow up the light, the sin to purged purity.

The door softly closed. "Ma'ma do you need anything?" It was Sylvia.

Kaoru got up and strode to her quietly. "Why don't I let in some light?" She could almost feel the girl's fake attitude; maybe she could give her some lessons on how to hide her emotions- all she would have to do is send her to Master.

"You despise me don't you girl?" She heard a sharp intake of breath. She heard the girl nearing the windows setting her hands along the crimson drapes. "Don't touch those windows, and answer my question." Her voice was sweet and mellow, far more dangerous than that of a bellow.

"Ma'ma I'm not at liberty to-" The girl's reply was cut short.

"I do indeed hate fakes don't you?" The girl was silent and darkness was still all around except for the shimmer of the girl's golden hair. "I suppose you do too?"

"Ma'ma-" She held up her hand.

"Please I'm talking, or didn't your mother ever tell you that it was rude to interrupt people." What a bitter sweet voice Kaoru heard from herself, it was enough to send chills down even the Wolf's spine. Kaoru slowly started feeling herself, no longer a meek actress to please, but succubus in a sphere of darkness feeding off the hatred and loneliness of a girl.

"My mother died when I was five, Miss." Did the girl except pity, she sounded oh so sad enough to make tears come to any mother's eyes. Good thing Kaoru wasn't a mother...she closed her eyes taking in a deep breath. She shivered in past memories, the girl still sulking, she heard screams. So many screams with hot metal. Shaking her head Kaoru covered her momentary lapse with a yawn and continued as if nothing ever happened.

"Do you expect pity my dear girl?" She felt the girl's fear turn into anger.

"No." Kaoru laughed.

"Then why bring it up if you don't want pity. You're pathetic." The girl's hands fisted.

She was silent, her anger boiling the darkness as if they were contained in a crucible. "I hate you." A whisper sweep over the room.

"Then my girl that's something you're going to have to live with." What fun was this? Kaoru couldn't help but smile while she slowly ruined this girl. What else was there to do in this primitive city? Why not inflict the same damage that Sally had inflicted on her so many years ago, and maybe once she was done toying with this girl she could give her to Master.

The girl was silent again. "You knew I already knew of your dislike of me." The blond hair bobbed as her face met Kaoru's. "Can you say how I already knew?" Kaoru coaxed sounding as motherly as possible slowly paving her way into the girl heart, and hopefully if she buried herself far enough in her white soul.

"Because you're the devil's maiden." The exclamation was quite an exhilaration for Kaoru's nerves. "You have fallen as his servant, you have been tricked into a life of lies and..."

"Silence girl!" Kaoru laughed humorlessly after which she bowed. "What an honor to be bestowed with the title of the devil's maiden."

The girl's eyes widened. Her small hands came together, her head lowered, and she prayed. Kaoru raised a delicate eyebrow.

"You are weaker than I thought." The girl seemed to ignore her, but Kaoru knew better.

"It is your western God who lies. When has he ever helped a person? When has he ever shown his face for I don't see him anywhere to save you." The girl shivered.

"He is real." Kaoru shook her head and pressed forward in the subject.

"Yes I would rather be blessed by Lucifer himself who promises action and carries it out, he never lies, and he never fails."

"You're wrong." The girl shivered silently. Kaoru laughed.

"That's why I like you little slut." Kaoru laughed as the girl slowly bent over. "You didn't take anything from me, I like that."

"Slut? but I' m not a..."

"But you will be. I know you can feel it throw your veins, you know that you are destined to serve." Kaoru made motions with her hands to emphasis her comment.

Quietly, the girl ventured one last reply. She all of a sudden was tired, and so weak. She felt her heart flutter and rush up into her throat; her eyes came upon Kaoru's smile. It was the smile that made her chest burn on the spot where her silver cross necklace lay on her chest. There was something about her raven haired mistress that made it futile of argue. Her mind became hazy and disoriented- what was happening to her. The floor trembled beneath her as the sound of foot steps ventured nearer.

Fear clutched at her heart. "Please stop..."

"But why," Kaoru pouted fairy like, "why when its so fun?" Kaoru hand came under the girl's collar. Instantly she started struggling, but it was already too late. Something snapped. She felt a pain in her neck area. Quickly she glanced up and saw a brightly shinning silver crucifix necklace intertwined in Kaoru's hands.

Kaoru felt a cold burn run up her fingers and she threw the necklace not wanting to touch it any longer. Such though of pure artifacts such as a cross weren't meant to be held by her.

The girl, feeling desperation surround her fell silent. "Why...why are you doing this?" Kaoru saw the girl start to fall. 'Just a few more days of this and she will be nothing more.'

Kaoru went over to the girl whose hair seemed to be fading slightly. She rubbed her hair burrowing herself into the girl heart. "Why dear, I think you know." She looked up at Kaoru who smiled back so warm that it chilled her.

"Because I can."

"Kaoru you are a pathetic fool." Sally laughed blowing her sandy blond hair from her vicious eyes. Kaoru drew in a breath, her eyes slowly becoming duller with the out pour of life. She bit her lip, oh why had she told her why she ran from Japan? Was it because she knew that Sally would never tell that man, or was it because she just needed someone? Someone to talk to...anyone.

"I'm sorry." Was her lame reply which instigated Sally to slap her across her face. She was too weak to even try to stop the woman. She was too broken from every night the past month when that man took her to his bed, or as he called it training.

"You will soon learn, you slut, never to apologize for then we as women become weaker than we already are." The elegant woman strode over to a hard back chair in the corner of the dark cellar. "We as women are nothing more than toys," A smile formed across her visage.

"Play things actually, but that doesn't mean we have to apologize. Look at us as women. Yes us Kaoru servants to men needs. We are strong enough to see the fucking truth of this world, and all those other girls are nothing more than whores who give themselves away to men who never love them."

Kaoru sat still against the wall, her heart leaping in her chest; she shut her eyes and covered her ears. No what Sally said wasn't true, but then there was Kenshin- did he ever truly love her, and how about her parents they always had fought before her mother died; was love even possible, even real?

"But what about those who love each other?" Sally shot her a hateful glace, her hazel eyes suddenly clouding over for the briefest of seconds.

"Kaoru you really are stupid. Love isn't real, not when money is present." She walked over to Kaoru and kneeled down with the gentlest of movements. "Why would any man want you, Kaoru when he could just use you for service and then rid himself of you?"

Kaoru closed her eyes...Kenshin.

A hand grasped her jaw tightly. "Don't even think about crying you primitive monkey." Kaoru said nothing learning that it was better to say nothing than something.

"Kaoru, you are a lower being, something to be subjugated, to be play with. You are nothing more and nothing less dear." Her voice was sweet, almost as a mother soothing her child. A shiver ran through her.

"This Kenshin that you told me of...he was lying." She got up and walked around the dark room. "At least you were able to see that, but it absolutely disgusting how much crap you ate from his mouth. Men are swine's and the only one you should trust is Master."

Kaoru seethed weakly, unconsciously covering her body. That man how she hated him, but maybe Sally was right, maybe Master didn't lie. He told her the truth these past twp months never lying about what he did to her...about what he would do to her.

"I see hate in your eyes."

"No."

Slap! Kaoru touched her cheek and looked up at hazel eyes; the stinging sensation had yet to go. "If you are going to lie you will do it right."

Kaoru's blue eyes looked up at Sally's perfect face. She was evil. Pure evil. Pure hate...pure truth. "I will teach you whore how to be the perfect escort, you will be the perfect actress of the world stage." She made a wide gesture. "By the time I' m done with you, Kaoru, you will know the truth of men, of this world and you will face it with cold distain. Shortly you will be a bitch by both definitions."

Kaoru lowered her head forever hearing a echoing laugh of a woman named Sally, a woman who didn't lie...ever.

"What are you saying Hori?" Saitou crushed his imported cigarette in the glass ash tray. The man named Hori trembled at little as he thought for the hundredth time why he had gotten stuck the job of informing Saitou. At least, he sighed, it wasn't Himura-san.

The red haired detective might have been more civil, but there was something about his eyes that made all the government underlings shy away from him. Maybe it was the cold emptiness in those violet orbs, or maybe it was the shade of unholy loneliness in them and perhaps it was both. Rumor had it that that Kamiya woman he stayed with disappeared and it was gossiped among those in Tokyo that he loved that young kendo instructor and was completely shattered when she left.

Saitou raised and eyebrow, "Well get on with it, or leave and stop wasting my time." With a quick apology the man handed Saitou the newest files and stepped back from the desk.

"Derek Lacher is in Tokyo, sir." Saitou cursed. This wasn't good; Lacher was the best at what he did meaning everything and anything that could get the man money, women, and power. Saitou motioned for the man to go, and closed his eyes when he heard the door shut.

Lacher along with Sishio were some of the only criminal master minds that he could ever respect...the men knew what they were doing, but Lacher was on a whole different level than Sishio ever was. For instant Lacher didn't let revenge cloud his thinking.

Saitou leaned forward at his desk, the man was intelligent and powerful and together it wasn't a very good thing. The government still didn't know exactly what he did all that they knew it had to be something with trading and maybe even politics, and Saitou would have like nothing more than to put the bastard into jail. Or better yet trap him and then kill him. But he had an idea in mind. Well it was more of Battousai's idea- lure Lacher into a position in which he couldn't refuse.

The Oniwaban, he knew, had relations with let's say less than honorable company. He could use this to Japan's advantage, as Battousai had clearly put it. Aoshi and his wife, Misao, had many creditable sources who roamed the in the same levels as Lacher did, though Saitou thought it would be hard for someone in those same levels not to squeal on their plans. Saitou sat back in his chair. They're plan could be easy set against them with the right amount of pocket change.

Himura and he would have to plan carefully, but if all worked out to plan then not only would they have some of the leading criminal smugglers, but also Derek Lacher.

Never in his plans did it occur to Saitou that Derek Lacher, though knowing nothing of the Japanese Government's plan, would have a spy implanted. His dearest woman whom he would soon put to use by the powers of her past, a woman who had the power to destroy them all.

A/N: Sorry that this chapter is so short, and I hope I gave you a little insight at what Kaoru's personality has become (though she just thinks that's the real her). Poor Kaoru. Also, I gave you a little insight to my plans, but I will give you a hint...someone is going to die very soon. Would any care to guess...and if you guess right then either ya'll are stocking me or you are just freakin' good at telling what happens in stories before it happens.

I alluded to a certain part of Kaoru's past in this chapter...if anyone can guess it I would like to hear what you think it is!

I would like to thank everyone for all the reviews. I'm so happy with 77! Yay! Also I really do appreciate everyone's support and keeping up with the story. There is just so much to explain that I get confused with all the facts sometimes.

Oh Yeah! I need votes:

a) Should there be a squeal, because if you want one I' m heading a certain direction.

b) No squeal- a different path for the story

c) Happy endings (always puts a smile on people's faces)

d) Sad ending (Yes, it's sad but ultimately a way better, more moving ending)

Don't You Just Hate Me,

CrypticMaidenRK