A/N: Thank you to all of my wonderful reviewers!! i love you all! and yes, it's true, this is a BRAND NEW NEVER BEFORE SEEN CHAPTER!!!! YEY!!!

THE PRICE OF BLOOD

Chapter 10: Thoughts and Mindtraps

The blood-tinged light flooded across his sleeping form. The rain-laden breeze followed, causing him to frown in his sleep. Daylight continued to soak the room, overtaking more and more of his body.

A grunt fell from his lips as he shifted, trying to move the annoying radiance from his face. After a few more moments, amber eyes opened, narrowing in annoyance. The light blended across his features, allowing the dulling amber to stand out sharply amongst the shades of crimson.

Sitting up, his head turned away from the offense. A visible ripple could be seen along his muscles through the light sleeping robe. His hand unconsciously reached out for the worn hilt of the katana that laid by his side. As his hands grasped the leather, his head whirled around to look at the sword.

Memories of blood and dying screams filled his mind, causing the Battousai to shut his eyes. He could never escape the soaking hate that filled his soul. He had never shared the bloodlust that was associated with his name. Fingers clenched around the katana, bringing it close to his body as he rose. The Battousai. The name he loathed, but the pain would never be known to any soul.

He began to dress quickly. There was something that he must do. He had no time to waste.

A cupboard door opened as a hand reached up to grab a bowl from it's contents. The darkened scowl reaped across his face as his hand drew the bowl to rest upon the counter. Turning back to the stove, he continued to prepare a simple breakfast for the woman he lived with.

The fidgeting amber of his eyes flashed slightly as he remembered the raven haired enigma. The woman intrigued him more with her passing moods and never-ending passion. Two weeks have passed since she had used his name and left him in a stupor. He had been uneasy around her ever since.

Her stubbornness forced a gentleness from him he didn't even realize. Although she still kept her distance from him, she no longer seemed to burn with a resent at his presence. If she did, she hide it well. The encounters with Kaoru have became more confusing to him-as well as well as haunting. He closed his eyes as he stirred the contents of the pot, his arm beginning to move less and less as he remembered the strange woman.

flashback

He walked silently through the dojo halls, making his way to the bath house when a strange sound reached his ears. It was a musical sound, one he had not heard since he hand begun his work as a shadow assassin. It made his stop dead in his tracks and his heart rate to increase.

Sliding open the nearest shoji to the dojo yard, his body stood rigid at what he saw.

Kaoru stood in the afternoon sun, the light shining off her dark hair like glass. Her soft features stood illuminating, making her look like an innocent angel. But was most magical was the pure laughter that came from her soft mouth. The warmth and joy traveled all the way to her sparkling eyes, which shone like the finest sapphires.

Slight movements caught his attention as his transfixed gaze fell away from the mystical woman before him. Two small sparrows flew in the air, following each other as they traced invisible patterns in the air.

Rolling his eyes back to Kaoru, he stood stone still, pondering. She was laughing over the birds? He had long forgotten what it felt like to be so carefree, and the thought brought a dull ache to his chest.

Throwing her arms into the air, the laughing woman spun around as the birds flew off. As she turned towards him, he tensed, considering fleeing from the seemingly private moment. She spotted him, however, before he could make an escape.

She stopped still as her eyes found his, her hair still traveling with her motion as it crashed against her neck. The smile on her face fell, but the joy would not leave her eyes.

The two stood, each watching the other carefully, and neither moving. As much as he tried, he could not tear his eyes away from the woman before him. He was caught in her trance, a power he never knew she had over him. Kenshin did not know for how long he stood there. Time did not seem to matter any more.

His left foot unconsciously stepped forward, moving in her direction. In that moment, the trance was broken, and her eyes shifted away to the ground. A slight smile played on her lips before she turned and ran off to the house. He still stayed there, watching her retreating form, cursing himself.

end flashback

As he opened his eyes and looked down, he noticed that his hand had stopped moving. Frowning, he took the spoon and dished its contents into the bowl. Turning around he walked to the table and placed the bowl down. Shaking his head, his hand moved to his katana, gripping it tightly as he walked to the shoji. Sliding it open, he glanced back one last time to survey the room before quietly walking out the door.

Kaoru stood before the kitchen table, her hands resting on her hips. She gazed warily at the single bowl on the table. Something wasn't right. The Battousai was usually in the kitchen when she woke, waiting for her to begin breakfast. Bunching her eyebrows together, she turned around, heading down the long cooridor, stopping to glance in each door.

She scowled as she neared the end of the hallway. He was still no where to be found. Was it possible that he decided to leave her? A slight pain reached her as she thought that. Did he not want to be here anymore?

Moving outside, she ran over to the practice hall, quickly throwing open the door.

"Kenshin?" she called, not realizing she immediately used his real name.

Yet, he was not there. Making her way back to the house, she hesitated as she saw the bath house. Tentivly, she knocked on the door.

"Are you in there?" she asked, but got no response.

Kaoru knocked one more time. "Kenshin?"

When silence answered, she opened the door slightly, poking her head into check. The room was empty.

"Damn him. He could have at least left a note," she muttered as she traveled back to the house. Trying one more time, she called out his name, hoping he would respond. But he didn't. Sighing, she plopped down before the kitchen table. She picked up a pair of chopsticks, poking at the food with the untensils. A recent memory floated back to her, clouding her mind.

flashback

Kaoru was walking around the outside deck of the dojo, distracted by the beauty of the day. She did not notice the small piece of broken board until her sandal caught upon it, throwing her into imbalance. She began to fall forward, rushing to the ground when arms wrapped around her waist from behind.

A strand of flaming hair entered her vision as she was hauled back to her feet. Kenshin had caught her. He held her tightly in his arms for a moment. She could feel his breath along the side of her neck. What was he going to do?

Her eyes were wide, waiting for him to do something. Her heart was pounding, and surprisingly, it felt good to be trapped in his arms. His head moved slightly, and she felt soft lips hesitantly brush against her neck.

A gasp escaped her lips as a bolt of electricity shocked through her body. But he suddenly jerked back away from her, his arms dropping. She turned around quickly, hoping for something else. But he was gone.

Placing a hand to her neck, she closed her eyes, trying to slow her racing pulse.

end flashback

Suddenly, she did not feel hungry anymore.

He crouched behind a bush, watching the house with hawk eyes. He remained unmoving for several minutes, just listening and waiting for any signs of occupancy. Upon receiving no clues, he silently rose, trecking his way swiftly to the porch. With his hand upon his katana, he stood beside the shoji, waiting patiently before barging in.

Whipping the door open, he stood tensed and ready for any attack that might come to him. Stepping fully into the house, he looked at the contents. All of the belongings in the hose had either been destroyed or tossed about. It seemed as though someone was searching for something.

"You are a little late, Battousai," said a calm, yet bored voice.

Kenshin's eyes narrowed viciously as he whipped to the left, glaring daggers into the shadows of the house. Out walked a tall, lean man with a lit cigarette in his mouth.

"Saitou," Kenshin seethed out, his hand tightly clutching his katana. "Leave my house this instant, unless you wish to die now."

Saitou laughed lowly, his wolf like eyes glaring in the dim light. He pulled the cigarette out of his mouth, flicking his wrist lightly, sending the cigarette towards Kenshin.

Pulling out his sword in a flash, Kenshin swung his blade, splitting the thin cigarette in half. The small white strips floated down to the ground. Kenshin stood still in his attack stance, his yellow eyes seeming to shimmer with fire.

"Well, I see you are as skilled as ever, Battousai," Saitou drawed out, his voice tinted with amusement.

"What's going on?" Kenshin spit out, gradually rising from his crouched position.

"They are still looking for you," the wolf replied, pulling another cigarette from his pocket. "And it seems that they are drawing closer."

Kenshin growled, stalking up to the taller man. His hand flew up to Saitou's neck, demanding answers from him. "What do you mean?"

Saitou smirked at the red haired assassin, he hand immediately drawing up to knock Kenshin's elbow away, throwing his hand from his neck. "They know that you have some connection with the raccoon you are with. They raided your house in hopes that they would find some information to your whereabouts. However, they will not find any...unless I tell them."

Growling fiercely, Kenshin pushed Saitou back into the wall, his katana instantly appearing against his head as the cigarette flew out of his mouth. "Do you wish to die now, wolf?"

Saitou frowned as he took in the smaller man. It was no wonder that he was so feared. He was frightening and unpredictable, even with his small stature.

"I will make you a deal, assassin."

The sword inched closer to his head, amber eyes burning holes into his skull as he waited for the man to continue.

"I will not give away your location, if you leave my citizens alone. Their death only brings me more work," Saitou concluded.

Kenshin regarded the deal carefully, deeply considering the choice. Backing away quickly, he sheathed his sword, turning towards the shoji. "So be it. Just know that you and your family will die if you break your end of the deal."

Lighting up another cigarette, Saitou watching the man walk away. "I don't doubt it," he mumbled darkly.

Kaoru sighed as she continued to pull the broom against the wooden planked floor. She had been sweeping at imaginary dust all afternoon. IT gave her something to focus upon, as well as an excuse to wait for Kenshin's return.

The sun was beginning its trek into the evening horizon, and yet Kenshin was no where to be seen. At every noise her head snapped up, her eyes simmering with hopes of his return. She knew that she should be happy that he was finally gone, giving her freedom, but yet disappointment panged her heart.

She had gotten used to his quiet company and his sometimes extreme concern. If only he could turn his intense passion into something a bit more...useful. Kaoru blushed at the thought, shaking her head as she stopped sweeping.

She shouldn't be thinking of such things. But she could not forget the way his eyes trailed over her. Each morning she awoke with fire in her spirit, remembering what this man had done to her family. Yet as she saw him and the day wore on, she forgot. Most nights she could not even remember their fights of what had happened to her father. Was it wrong of her? Or was this man just invading her mind?

Narrowing her eyes, she made a decision. She was going to town, to see if he had left her, or if he was just out for fun. Dropping her broom, she strode across the yard, pushing the gate open in determination.

Kaoru walked down the dirt path in the fading light, wondering exactly what she would say to him if she found him. Could she really ask where he was? More importantly, would he answer her?

There was a slight rustle from the bushes beside her. Whirling around, she looked over the plants, checking for any sign of danger. Deciding that there was no threat, she turned back around only to be met with the angry face of Kenshin.

Startled, she gasped, stepping back slightly. Her eyes grew determined once more. She might as well ask. "Where were..."

Her words were wasted for he flew upon her, grasping her arms roughly. "What are you doing out here?" he growled.

She could tell that he was trying his best to hold in his anger. He began pulling her back to the dojo. Kaoru struggled in his grasp, but he only held on tighter, pulling her next to him.

"Don't you remember that happened the last time you went to the village alone?"

His grasp got tighter when she didn't answer. She whimpered slightly at the pressure. He stopped dead, pulling her against his body before slinging her over his shoulder and taking off down the path.

TBC...