To the Reviews:
Reignashii- hehe, thanks for rereading my story! hey, you never know, maybe you will find things you never noticed!
Nanakilover/Brukaoru-thanks for reviewing for me! you always did rock! hehe kenshin's stealth powers, i wish i had that, he is so freakin cool...
nobody-hey, what were your other pennames? hmm? i would love to read them, or know if i had! lol, i am sure that you could kick my but in writing! you are already back in school? wow, i have 22 days left before i start, but i will keep leaving you after school reads!
goldmund-do not fear! there is more mystery and confusion to come! as well as many arguments between kaoru and kenshin. kaoru will not find out the truth for quite some time, i just finished that chapter (number 11) so you have some time! lol
ahem-thank you for telling me. it didn't strike me at first since people have posted "porn" of equal or greater stature than i. i am sorry if it offends you, but a romance scene was the entire basis for one of my stories. i just feel that if detail and description is required to make a good scene, then love scenes should be no different...and for the record, i do not get off to any love scenes in stories
THE PRICE OF BLOOD
Chapter 3: Introduction and Tears
A pale shimmering uchikake slipped over her smooth flesh. It caressed over her shoulders and kissed her chest as her small hands pulled it together, tying it gently at the waist with a matching obi. Slowly, hands reached up to her hair, freeing the shining mass from a loose braid. Gently waves tumbled down her lithe back as she ran her hand down its length. Her feet glided effortlessly to the window. Piercing blue orbs gazed into the yard, enjoying the feel of sunshine of her pale face.
Her body stilled as she listened intensely. Her brows creased slightly as she urged her ears to grasp a farther range. Finally, she leaned back from the window. Those delicate hands perched upon the window sill. The refined lines of her face hardened in displeasure. She could not hear a sound. The absence of all noise distressed her. Something was different about today.
Turning around, she moved to collect her bathing supplies. Perhaps a hot bath would help to ease the sinking feeling rising in her stomach. Sighing, she stepped out into the sunshine, shivering slightly as the sun's rays passed over her body. A smile graced across her face. Yes, a bath would be lovely.
A cup traced across his lips as a sweet liquid danced down his throat. Calloused hands removed the steaming cup from his mouth and escorted it back to its place on the saucer.
Inhaling deeply, he savored the quiet that dominated his mornings. If only all of his days could be this quiet. Golden eyes opened slowly, steadily gaining coldness with each passing second. It was true. These past years had been relativity quiet for him, but he could no longer live in such a way. Yes, he had taken the job with hopes of fading into oblivion, but with no success. He had enough waiting, his patience had grown thin.
Standing up, his experienced hands gathered the flaming silk that flowed down his back. Carefully, he smoothed it down before capturing the liquid fire in a leather band. Several strands managed to escape from the trap, falling to frame his youthful face. The silken strands swayed slightly with his movements. They teased his cheeks, falling over his face, veiling his eyes from the world.
Finally, he grasped the deathly katana that lay by his side. Sliding it into his belt, his hand came up to his sleek face. Tracing a solitary finger over his scar, he closed his shocking eyes once more.
This was a daily ritual for him, reminding himself of whom he once was and who he is now. Suddenly, the hand dropped away, and deadly orbs opened to the world.
His feet soundlessly padded to the shoji before sliding it open and stepping out into the light. A scow adorned his face. He would have to be careful today. It would be easy to recognize him on a clear day such as this.
A toss of his head made the light scatter across his hair, making the ruby strands come alive. Lifting his head up, he allowed his face to visibly harden. A hand engulfed his katana as he slowly began his trek to the dojo, to where he would introduce himself to his property.
Her petite hand reached out to caress the aged plaque that hung from the dojo wall. Her hand lowered, her mind becoming plagued with memories. It was her father's plaque, stating him as master of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu. Directly next to it stood a similar plaque, yet to be worn by the winds of time. Across it read 'Kaoru Kamiya-Assistant Master.'
Bringing her head up, she glanced across the plaques, only stopping when her eyes lay upon the swords on the adjacent wall. Walking over to them, she ran her calloused palms over their sheaths. She was amazed by the excellent craftsmanship that they possessed.
She sighed as sadness and confusion washed over her beautiful features. Carefully, she picked up a bokken from the rack. Training was the only way she knew to release the emotions that she was feeling.
She couldn't help but smile as she stepped back into the sunshine once again. Ignoring the panging alarm in her mind, she moved further into the yard. Raising her arms, she began by executing a perfect swing of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu.
Kaoru's body glistened with sweat in the afternoon sun. Her muscles ached from practicing, but she would not allow herself to stop just yet.
His eyes watched her from the shades of tress. A smile teased his lips as the corners of his mouth twitched upwards. Her eyes were spared from the gruesome and awkward sight that composed of his smile. The years of heartless killing had stripped away any beauty that it might have held. The time was almost right. He could see the labor that harbored in her every move. Soon it would be time.
She let out a loud sigh as she brought her bokken down one last time. Just as she was allowing herself to relax, a foreign sound came to her ears causing her to tense once again. Someone was clapping.
Whirling her head towards the sound, she could see no one.
"You need to straighten your arms after you swing. That way you can brace yourself for your opponents counter."
The voice was strange to her. She shivered slightly before the fire awoke in her eyes. "Who are you? Show yourself," she called out to the shadows.
A figure moved from behind the trees. It stepped out into the yard. The sun's rays came from behind the figure, causing an eerie shadow to fall across the stranger's face. Taking a step backwards, she turned her head to the side in fear. Why did that figure look so damn familiar?
Sharp yellow eyes bore into her as he stepped forward once again, lifting the shadows from his face. A cool reply came to her, "Hello, Kaoru."
She gasped. Her eyes traced over his face, lingering on the deep cross-shaped scar and the flaming hair. It couldn't be, could it?"Who...Who are you?" she whispered softly.
He blinked at her impassively. "Who am I? I am the Battousai. But you will know me as your new master."
The overpowering look of fear on her face was soon replaced by anger. "Master? Who are you to say that?" she said hatefully, forgetting who she was standing before. His eyes slit as he advanced towards her once more.
"I can say whatever I wish, lovely. I own you," he whispered fiercely. She trembled at his voice, but held her ground. She would not back down before him. But that did not stop her large eyes from cautiously watching every move that he made.
"You do not own me," she spit out, raising her bokken unconsciously in defense. "I am not for sale. I am not a geisha that can be bought for your disgusting fantasies." Her eyes flamed in anger. She would not allow even a fearsome man such as the Battousai control her life. Not even a man that was supposed to be dead.
In a flash he was upon her, forcing her to drop her bokken in surprise. He was holding her wrists tightly as he towered over. She tried to ignore the pain that was rising in her wrists as she felt him breath on her face. What had she done?
"You will be my geisha if I please, woman." His breath was even on her skin, making it tingle in some strange pleasure. However, his voice made her skin crawl, immediately stripping away any pleasure she might have gotten. "You are right, though."
He could read the confusion that flashed over the pain and fear in her eyes.
"You are not for sale. No one shall own you but me," he growled. "However, you were sold to me...by your father."
Her eyes widened, a wild fury taking over her body. "You lie!" she screamed frantically. She thrashed wildly, trying desperately to escape form this man. A strangled cry emitted from her throat as his grasp tightened.
Shoving her backwards, her feet moved unsteadily. Show would have fallen if it were not for the wrenching grip he had on her. Finally, he back found support as her body slammed into a wall.
"Stop," he called to her. The thrashing only grew worse as she cried out, thinking of nothing but fleeing from this killer. Violently, her body was slammed into the wall again. Gasping for air, she stilled as his growling came to hair width from her lips.
"Stop this woman. I do not lie. Your father gave you to me..." he removed one hand from her wrist, trailing it up her shaking arm before grasping her fragile chin. "...right before I killed him."
He watched as her face paled and her eyes grew distant. Silent tears traveled down her face as she pulled back slightly. Words could be heard from her mouth as she whispered repeatedly, "You lie."
Her body became limp, sliding down the wall. His strong arms captured her, forcing her to stand once again. Moving closer to her, he could smell the sweet scent of her hair mixed with the salty flavor of her tears.
Moving his lips to her ear, he whispered, "Believe me. You are mine now. I will not tolerate your misbehavior. I do not want to have to hurt you. I do not like damaged goods, that I do not."
A racking sob rang out through the air. He frowned. Was she listening to him at all? Releasing her from his grasp, he let her sink to the ground. She wrapped herself in her arms trying to find comfort. His eyes flashed at the sight.
"I will return," he said solemnly as he turned on his heel. Before he could get far, he heard a tiny whisper that made him stop dead in his tracks.
"Why?" came a tiny whisper. Looking back over his shoulder, he smirked as his eyes ran over her body.
"That will all come with time, my Kaoru."
Once again he walked on, becoming swallowed by the shadows of the fading light. Her body shuddered once more time fore all was lost to the hysterical pain that consumed her body. She lay there crying, not caring as the sun slowly began to surrender to the night.
TBC...
A/N: how am I doing? If you have any suggestions or hopes for the story, let me know! I love to hear them, and you never know...it could show up in the story!! :)