Sorry for the slowness! So how was the Thanksgiving! Meh, mine sucked...no one showed up -.- But hey! Gave me more time to work on the story! And get much need sleep! Now, this chapter, I am not sure how good it is. I don't think it is as good as the previous chapters, but that's what reviews are for! So please, drop a review in and tell me what your opinions are! I'm welcome to criticism and such...oh yes, I forgot to do one thing...

Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Kenshin, Enishi, Sanosuke, Yahiko, Megumi, Kaoru or any other Kenshin character. I DO OWN Tomoya, Kiyoko, Diru, Akira and Kiyoko's mother. So please do not steal my characters!

Chapter 7: Fragrance

-Enishi's Household. Afternoon-

Kiyoko woke up to see the sun shining through her window. There wasn't a cloud in the sky to mar the immaculate, masculine beauty. To sweeten the scenery, a crisp yet sweet floral fragrance crept its way through the open window. Kiyoko stretched her body out across the white bed, breathing in the heavenly scents of the distant paradise. Kiyoko tried to move her hands but found she couldn't! Now, she remembered with a grimace that Enishi had tied her to the bed to prevent any future attempts to escape. There was nothing to do besides lat there and sleep or be bored to death. A gentle, yet nipping wind circulated within the room, making Kiyoko cringe up and shiver from its bite. When the chill passed, Kiyoko tugged and pulled ferociously at the ropes binding her two hands to the brass frame of the soft bed. Tears came to her eyes when she finally realized there wasn't a way to even loosen the constricting ropes. Now she lay there, sniffling like a child who had been punished for their bad behavior. And there to witness it now was Enishi. He stood by the doorway, an ominous presence to her sight. Kiyoko turned her face away from him, not wishing for him to see her so distraught like this.

"If you hadn't tried escaping, you wouldn't be tied up to that bed, Kiyoko. So don't blame me for your own actions."

" You're a monster! How dare you kidnap an innocent woman like me! I've done nothing wrong by you, in fact, I don't even KNOW you!"

" Don't you raise your voice to me! I have no problem gagging your smart mouth!"

Kiyoko's head rolled to one side of the plush pillow, casting her sight out the window and onto the ocean's horizon. It was degrading and humiliating for her to be seen in such a state. She heard his approach, the hollow steps upon the wooden floorboards coming closer to the bed. The bed sunk in as he sat on its edge, taking her jaw roughly and forcing her to look at him. She did and with such fright. Enishi lifted his chin when he saw the tears in the corners of her eyes. She may yell and do her finest to be the best actress at being a tough, hard-boiled woman, but this was the moment he realized just how timid of a creature she was at the core of her heart.

" So you're not the hardened, haughty noblewoman I thought you were. You truly are a very shy, traditional girl. Do not worry. I will do nothing to harm you unless you make a reason for such. All I need is some money...I've taken you captive and given your fiancee, Akira, a ransom note. No doubt he'll come with the money and retrieve his woman. I've promised to leave you unscathed and in perfect condition...don't make me go back on my word, Kiyoko."

Kiyoko stared into those intense orbs, nodding involuntarily. Her chin was let go and he stood to leave the room. Kiyoko became relieved with his statement. He'd promised to not harm her in any way which was her most constant fear. The door slammed shut and snapped Kiyoko's thoughts. Now she was left alone yet again to lie in the emptiness and misery of being tied up like some kind of animal. For this, she despised Enishi. If he had explained to her what he did just now, then she wouldn't have attempted to escape. she knew Akira better than Enishi could ever know. Akira wouldn't come with the ransom money. Akira looked down upon Enishi's type and the only thing he would bring to Enishi, would be a fight.

-Traveling road heading north. Late Afternoon-

On a narrow road rode Akira and the Emperor's soldiers. Diru rode beside Akira but either had anything to say to one another. Kenshin and Sanosuke rode behind them, watching how quiet and dilute both of them seemed. The clattering of horse hooves, the imperial armor of the soldiers and the jingling reigns clambered its way up the road. People stepped aside to let the exalted men pass, these people bowing their heads in respect. Kenshin let his head down, his purple eyes staring at nothing in particular. He had wished the best for Enishi's future. It was disappointing t see him up to his old ways. Was Enishi still mad at him?

"Kenshin...hey you okay there?"

Kenshin glanced to Sanosuke and with an empty smile, nodded his head a few times. Sanosuke sat back in the saddle, knowing Kenshin was lying. There was no need to pursue further into his mood. Plus, Kenshin wasn't the one Sanosuke worried about. Ahead, the two leading this small army, they were the ones Sanosuke worried about. Both were set on the emotion of anger. Something precious had been taken away from them and now they banded together to bring their sense of justice to the man that did this. But was it right justice? If they were to beat and mangle the man who did this, would they be any different from that man or from any bandit in the entire world? If Diru and Akira indeed did plan to murder Enishi, then they are no better than him or any common criminal for they wish to murder out of hatred.

Diru walked the path, letting Akira lead by a few feet. since his sister's abduction, so much hate had taken into his heart. It was highly unusual for Diru to express such dark feelings to his own conscious and so persistedly. For a moment, he closed his eyes and could imagine, could feel, himself holding the man by his hair beaten and bloodied. The aroma of blood fed that dark animal inside Diru, awakening the demon inside. A transparent smile crept into his face as he could imagine the total bliss he would feel to deliver the justice this man deserve for crossing his family. The best feeling would be the second Diru would take that man's life, would take death's almighty power into his mortal hands. A snicker was barely heard, meant only for his own ears. The aroma of that thick, scarlet giver of life reached his deeper beast and made Diru shudder within his seat with malicious excitement. The smile, the chuckle dissipated as he realized all the bad things this horrible man could be doing to his beloved sister. Anything from starving her, tying her up, beating her and the worst outcome of possible molestation or rape. Diru's fingers fastened tighter around the leather reigns in flooding madness. If that man dared to lay such filthy hands onto his pure sister, there would be hell to pay.

-Enishi's household. Evening-

Tomoya was awake after his short nap and training outside under the sun. Sweat dripped from his hardened muscles, making his skin glisten attractively. Enishi stayed inside on this warm day. He sat in his bedroom in a chair, reading through his sister's diary as he often did now. No emotion came to his face when he read the old pages of his sister's history, of her true feelings that she wouldn't have dared to admit to Enishi himself. A servant knocked lightly on the oak door to Enishi's room, announcing that dinner was ready to be served. Enishi set aside the diary and looked out the window. His sister did truly love the Battousai. The way she wrote about him was just too convincing. Yet, if Enishi did kill the Battousai now to avenge not his sister but his own waste of half his life, he felt that his sister would be mad at him. Then again, his sister did say she wished him to be happy...and to kill Kenshin, that would make him so incredibly happy. It would be as if some kind of pending weight had been lifted and he could finally be free of his mind's stubborness. Enishi exited his room, closing the door behind him and locking it. He stopped before heading down the staircase, looking at the closed door to Kiyoko.

Kiyoko laid perfectly still, staring at the ceiling. The sun was becoming a golden orange as it prepared itself to set. With a sigh she closed her eyes, wishing there was something she could do. Being tied up like this, there really wasn't a choice. The door's handle jingled. Kiyoko shut her eyes closed, pretending she had fallen asleep. Enishi walked in and saw her roll her head to the side quickly. It made him smile that she would try fooling him into believing she was sleeping.

" Hm, she's asleep...I guess she won't get any dinner then."

Kiyoko's stomach betrayed her, letting out a loud growl for food. Truly, Kiyoko was very hungry. The last she ate was yesterday afternoon. Cramps begin to settle in as she could smell the faint scent of food from the downstairs lingering in the ocean breeze air of the room. She heard him coming closer and sit at the same spot on the edge of the bed. And again, he grabbed her jaw but much more gently than before. When she opened her eyes to face there was somewhat of a pleasantness to his facial expression.

" Can I trust you to not try any more escapes if I were to untie you?"

Escape wasn't the first thing on her mind as of the moment. It was the wonderment of what smelled so delicious downstairs. she gave a simple nod of obedience. Enishi leaned toward the front of the bed, producing a sharp knife from the sleeve of his blue and orange shirt. The confining ropes were cut with ease, releasing her from their biting grasp. Kiyoko sat up and rubbed her sore, red wrists, staring in horror at the deep indentions and bruises the ropes made. Enishi saw how sore the wrists were, no doubt from her rough struggling.

"They'll be fine. Come now, let's get you fed."

Enishi stood up and she only looked up to him with a soft face, the eyes so sad yet held in complete wonderment. Kiyoko scoots across the bed and stood up, letting him watch her and then lead her out of the room and into the dining room. She stayed behind him loyally, letting him know that she wouldn't betray his trust. Downstairs, servants rushed about to set the table with such rich, succulent foods only top money could buy. Sushi, Calamari, Fugu, Yakameshi, Sukiyaki and more. Her stomach gave another rumble. A cramp kicked her in the side, making her legs buckle. Enishi looked back to see her arms tight around her stomach. Since when did she last eat?

" Come on. Once we get you fed, those cramps will go away."

Tomoya was already inside, patting himself down with a towel. Enishi walked over to talk to him while Kiyoko waited patiently.

"...Enishi, you think it's wise to trust her so fast? Aren't you afraid that she'll try running again?"

Enishi glanced to the girl, seeing her face a bit pale and the eyes a bit dull. Even from across the room he could hear how her stomach cried for food. Tomoya laughed and nudged Enishi.

" Come on, let's all eat. I'm starving too."

All came and settled down. Enishi sat at the head of the table, Tomoya and Kiyoko at either side. Though hunger plagued her, it didn't plague Kiyoko's manners. She waited for Enishi and Tomoya to fill their plates before she ever dipped a hand into the tempting foods. Once the men took their share, she held her head up, and of all things asked permission.

" May I take my share now? Please?"

"...Of course."

Enishi had said it so coldly. Kiyoko took the lacquered chopsticks and took her share of food slowly, trying to not let the hunger best her table manners. Enishi turned his head slightly to her, looking at her from behind his glasses. The way she spoke with the softness of rabbit's fur, and the liquid movement her elegant, slender fingers made captivated him. Truly there was something different about her than anyone else. A chuckle shook his chest deeply before he turned back to his plate and began eating his dinner. Tomoya had watched the interaction closely. I dare wouldn't say this to you Enishi, but...I fear bringing a woman like this into your house wasn't the best of ideas you've had. Faults lay ahead for you and these follies may be enough to finally take your life if you're not careful.