Ch. 3

Riko's Mansion

Kaoru stood and waited for Riko to leave her room. When it sounded like all was quiet she left the bathroom and started looking for a way to escape.

-I have to get out of here. Have to go find Kenshin. Damn it, the window is too high.-

Kaoru didn't see any other choice. She would have to leave her room and find another way to escape. She opened the door and checked the hallway. Seeing that the coast was clear she entered the hallway, and proceeded to find a way out. Unfortunately, she didn't know that the mansion was bigger than she thought, and that there were more people there than she knew.

As she was sneaking around corners she managed to nearly bump into the security that was out on their patrol, but luckily, they were preoccupied with other things to notice too much. Her luck ran out when she turned a sharp corner and ran right into somebody.

At first they were both stunned, but after Kaoru recovered she started to run down the hall. The man she had left behind yelled to the nearby security personnel and took off after her. The man couldn't catch her, but somebody else did.

Riko had been prowling the hallways for no reason when he had heard the commotion not to far away from him. With a speed that seemed to match Kenshin's he tracked Kaoru down and found her. He had beaten her badly, whipped her, and then had someone take her to the south wing where the hospital was located. Kaoru had stayed conscious, cursing Riko violently, until he had stopped and called for someone to take her away.

Waking suddenly thanks to the sun that was shining right in her face Kaoru tried to sit up, but the movement only brought pain to her arms, legs, and back. She tried to remember where she was and was about to call Kenshin when the previous night had come rushing back to her.

Kaoru looked around the room and noticed she was alone. Her thoughts turned to Kenshin, and she began to cry. "I see you are awake," spoke a voice from behind a far screen. She wasn't alone after all. She muffled her cries by closing her mouth until they had all quieted.

"Who are you," Kaoru demanded in a voice filled with anger and pain. "My name is Erika, and I have been given the job of being your doctor." Kaoru remained silent for a time until she couldn't take it anymore. "Can't you close those curtains, or are you trying to insure that I go blind."

Erika only laughed as she headed in the direction of the screen from where she had come. Moments later the sunlight in Kaoru's face started to dim as the shadow of Erika pulling a long cord attached to the window blinds could be seen. Kaoru could see that she was in a private room –probably mine-, with her bed, a guest bed, a table, chair, and a desk that was situated behind the black folding screen.

Looking towards the screen after her survey of the room a woman, who appeared to be no older than Kaoru, was leaning on the wall just beside the screen. The woman, Erika, was Kaoru's height and size. She had short brown hair with hazel eyes. At present she was wearing a simple kimono with a white doctor's overcoat.

As Erika stepped over next to Kaoru's bed to check her vital signs the door slid open. A large male figure quietly stepped into the room. Erika was still checking Kaoru when she, having known who had entered her room, pretended to be asleep. Finishing up her task, Erika glanced to the chair next to the bed wear Riko was sprawled. She looked into his eyes, but they didn't give away what he was thinking or feeling.

Looking to her patient to gage her reaction to the newcomer she was shocked to find that Kaoru had fallen asleep. Upon closer inspection she noticed that she was in fact very much awake, which brought about even more confusion. Deciding to leave her alone because she felt some type of bond with her, Erika headed back toward the screen. Stopping just shy of going behind it by Riko's voice she turned slightly around. Given the order to leave the room Erika hesitated slightly before heading out of the room, closing the door slightly behind her.

Riko went to go stand next to the bed over Kaoru as she feigned sleep; he also knew that she was only pretending. Moments passed and yet she kept her eyes closed even though he knew she felt his presence. "Open your eyes bitch. I know your not really sleeping." For a few more seconds Kaoru's eyes remained shut until they snapped open and fastened themselves onto Riko's face.

"My name is Kaoru you fucking bastard! What do you want?" Riko watched the girl amused and then furious that she dared speak to him that way. Bringing up his had he slapped her hard across the face, leaving a bright red mark in its wake.

Kaoru's training and teaching stood her in good stead as she tried to hold in how much pain she was actually in. Her other injuries combined with the fresh one she had just received was to great, and so she began to whimper softly in agony. Riko laughed at her, finding pleasure and amusement in her pain. As the blows came harder and faster Kaoru's cries grew until she finally began to scream.

The sliding door was slammed open as Erika entered the room, her eyes already on the sight of Riko beating the helpless woman that was in her care. "Riko, stop! She is already in pain. Leave her alone. At least wait until she is well again, or you will kill her." Giving her a few more bruises before finally relenting he stepped back with a smile on his face. Looking at the evil masterpiece he had created Riko abruptly left the room with not another sound.

Rushing to Kaoru's side, Erika checked her to see all of the places that she had been bruised. As she was being checked over Kaoru spoke, "He is going to pay for this." Saying absolutely nothing Erika pulled up the chair that Riko had sat in, and situated it closer to the bed. Finally, she spoke, "Can I ask you a question." Kaoru looked over at Erika for a minute, wondering if she should would tell her anything, let alone answer. "What is it." Looking Kaoru square in the eye Erika asked, "What are you doing here?"

Deciding to answer, for what reason she wasn't quite sure of, Kaoru began her tale with an introduction. "Well, first of my name is Kaoru Kamiya." Closing her eyes for a moment Kaoru began the rest of her story as to how she had ended up inside Riko's mansion. Kaoru and Erika talked long into the night, switching from topic to topic as if they had been friends forever.

What they didn't know was who the other person really was. What would happen to their newfound friendship if they ever found out?