EDITED REPOST, 09/02/05

Disclaimers: The regular. Kenshin, and friends aren't mine. They are Nobuhiro Watsuki-sama's.

CHAPTER 8

"What the hell are you doing here?" Kaoru whispered loudly as she wretched open her apartment door. The young man in front of her smiled appreciatively, and put his hands smoothly on her hips, pushing her back to allow himself inside. The brisk touch of his hard body against hers left her with unpleasant aftershocks.

"Is that really such a nice way to greet an old friend?" Enishi laughed at her scornful expression.

"What are you doing here, Enishi?"

No matter what, be on your guard, her internal alarm warned. She didn't trust this asshole one bit.

"What am I doing here?" Filling her with much surprise, she stood dumbfounded as he laughed at her again. "I'm here for you babe. Only, and always for you."

"What are you talking ab—let go of me!"

Enishi's large hands were fastened onto her hips and he was quickly drawing her forward by the belt loops on her pants. Of course he was much stronger than her and the struggle she gave only seemed to amuse his expression more. The black cutoff-sleeve shirt he was wearing showed off his muscular, tattooed arms.

There was a tiger on his left one.

All the will in her body spilled as she went limp against his own. Enishi pulled her tightly into a lover's embrace. One of his hands were now caressing the right side of her face, while the other crept up against the small of her back, holding her firmly in place. Trying to avoid the intimate closeness as much as possible, she hung her head back, away from his looming face, leaving her neck unintentionally exposed. Enishi smiled at his opportunity and bent forward so that he could kiss her tender skin. He did it so softly, gently, sucking at the smooth skin, causing wild pangs of heat to soar through her. She never thought the bastard was capable of being gentle. But he was proving her wrong now. In such a tastefully wrong way. Of course she felt revolted at what he was doing to her but her body wasn't listening. Simply, it gave in to the pleasure, choosing to brush up against his and striking a sudden throbbing need deep down inside.

Bright white shock blinded her thoughts and she tried to push him away.

"Stop it…" her heaving body tried to say but instead she sounded as if she were having the time of her life.

"What's wrong?" Enishi trailed his lips to her ear, and whispered, "Don't you like it?"

"No. Stop it. Please." Kaoru closed her eyes, and pressed her lips closed. Once again in her life, she was feeling something she hoped to never feel ever again.

Helpless…

The intense heat from his touch was gone as he let her finally move away. Enishi laughed again, and clicked his tongue at her.

"Don't worry, Ms. Kamiya, that was just a brief taste of what we'll be doing for the next little while."

"Excuse me?" Kaoru glared at him. She rubbed her neck furiously, disgustedly, where his warm lips had been only a second earlier.

"Feisty huh?" Enishi stared at her through narrowed eyes. She despised the look he was giving her. No, it wasn't like the normal, appreciative ones that she got, but more hungry, and savage. The kind when the target has been found but now it was only a matter of chasing it down. Hunting it with a bloodthirsty smile. It almost made her sick.

"What the fuck is so funny?" She exploded. "Get out Enishi! Now!"

She flinched when he quickly stepped up to her again, closing the comfortable gap as he thrust his face into hers.

"Are you sure you want to be saying that to me?" He said smartly. "I might have something important for you. Think about that before answering."

Kaoru glared at him angrily with her mind made up. I don't need to think SHIT through. I want him out of here!

"Get OUT!" She yelled and was about to start for the door. Instead, both his hands suddenly grabbed onto her arms in a grip of pure steel. She tried but failed to shake him off. In response, he violently shoved her down on the couch, making his own self comfortable though, practically lying on top of her. Kaoru was deathly still and her voice froze as he looked straight into her terrified eyes.

"Listen to me. I think after we have a little discussion you won't be so eager to get rid of me. It might be quite the opposite." He flashed her a perfect, white smile. Arm muscles rippling with swift movement, he let her go but maintained most of his body weight on her, pinning her down inescapably.

What's he going to do to me?

The obvious first thought that ran through her head was of rape. He's got you pinned down on the couch and you practically already gave him permission to touch you earlier. What's left? Impulsively with hope, she screamed.

Enishi silenced her with his hand and then covered her mouth.

He hit me! He just hit me! My father would've KILLED him! And look at me now! Kamiya Kasshin Ryu can't help me. I never kept up with it. Her thoughts turned dark. Maybe this is my punishment.

"If you try screaming again," he threatened her, "I WILL hurt you. I mean it." And Kaoru believed every word he said. There was a fierce edge to his eyes. They were glowing strangely like the core of the blue flame that sparked whenever she turned on her gas stove. The truth sunk in. Right now, I'm at his mercy. I have to just do what he says… for now.

"Are you going to shut up?"

She could barely meet his eyes. She was too afraid to move.

"I said, are you going to shut up?" He asked again, each word expressing itself dangerously slow.

She agreed by nodding her head. Only then did Enishi comply by removing his hand.

"You… you're hurting me!" Kaoru whispered, the breath in her chest hitching. A couple tears instinctively appeared in her eyes. Enishi smiled bitterly, but removed some of his weight from her body. How it turned him on to be so dominant in situations. For the females to always be turning to him, the one with the power, the one with all the control.

"Is that better for you, babe? I guess we know in advance that this position isn't your favorite." No sarcasm was in his tone. Only a casual smirk across his lips.

Kaoru blinked. A single tear slid down her face.

"Are you alright?" He asked but there was no emotion in his voice at all. You couldn't care less, you bastard! Kaoru raged inside.

He leaned in close to lick the tear from her face, tasting the fear that had slid within it. Oddly, but not surprisingly, he found himself liking the flushed hotness of her skin.

"Why are you doing this to me?" Kaoru whispered to him through clenched teeth.

"Yeah, I guess I should get to that shouldn't I? Well, the reason that I'm here is because I have come to make you an offer. Believe me, this is very generous. Think of it as being saved from my sister." A sinking, knowing feeling developed within her. She was hoping it wasn't going to lead to that, the situation between her and Kenshin but Enishi made no attempt to cover his knowledge or happiness about it. It was a nightmare to hear him actually say it.

"Let's just say," he cocked his head, "I heard this little rumor goin' around. One that had two people that I so dearly love involved. Kenshin and you. Does that sound… familiar?" Wiping all slyness from his face, he posed as if he were confused and just searching for confirmation, like a co-worker overhearing the latest gossip. Like he was used to hearing these things everyday.

She glared up at him. If looks had the power to indeed kill others, Enishi would have been a dead man.

"Rings a bell, doesn't it?" Airy breaths hit her face as he lowered himself closer.

"I have no idea what you're talking about!" She spat out hatefully and jerked her shoulder into his face. He hissed furiously, like a snake ready to spring, and Kaoru soon found herself flipped over with Enishi pinning her arms to her back. Helpless, she coughed but it was cut short when he yanked on her hair.

"Ah!" she cried out.

"Now, princess, I would hate to imagine the consequences of lying to me again. Tell me the truth about you fucking around with Kenshin."

"You… asshole! I never di—" She stopped.

At first she hadn't felt it, but with all her struggling she was sure of what it was now.

Enishi understood.

"If you stopped fighting it you'd get the chance to learn to love it," he commented before thrusting his hardened member against her.

Kaoru bit her lip to keep from crying out when he caressed her stomach, slowly heading down, stroking his hand on her inner thigh with exact precision.

A gasp escaped her lips as he came threateningly close to touching the center of her heat, and Enishi mused over the fact that it easily could have been mistaken for an outburst of pleasure.

"Stop… it…" Kaoru struggled, incoherently, as Enishi lowered his face to nip testily at her ear. He purely enjoyed feeling her body arch into his.

"You say no now, but later on I guarantee you'll be begging for it."

Roughly, with the palm of his hand, he slapped her ass and got up, waiting for her to follow. Black streaks of mascara clawed under her eyes, and she stared up at him loathingly. After several minutes spent on staring him down, she finally spat out that she hated him. Enishi caught her chin in his hand and kissed her hard. It left her breathless, a reaction she didn't want shown.

"Let's go over this one more time, princess." He sat down beside her as she cautiously observed every movement. "What have you and Kenshin been up to behind my sister's back?"

"If you listened to me the first time, you would have understood by now that we haven't been doing ANYTHING! Nothing at all, you jerk!"

He tilted his head and played with a silver ring on his finger.

"Really?"

"Yes really," Kaoru replied, her body reactively moving back to put more space between them.

"Are you scared of me?"

She looked up over her knees and stared questionably.

"What?"

"I said," he began while crawling towards her at a slow, stalking pace, "Are you scared of me?"

Kaoru didn't care what she hit as long as she hit something. Flinging her leg out, she kicked with all the strength she could gather, and jumped up off the couch, heading straight for the door.

"Kaoru!" Enishi's voice rang out dangerously, but she didn't dare look back.

Almost there, she thought frantically and jumped over her carelessly scattered textbooks. Oh god, please let me out of here, please le—

THUD!

At first she didn't know what happened. Then her eyes scanned the floor and she found the culprit. A shoe. Fuck! Damn it! Without another second thought, she tried to get up but was stopped. One hundred and ninety pounds of flesh and muscle landed on top of her, and she collapsed back to the ground.

"Don't you EVER try to run away from me again. I promise you, bitch it'll be the last thing you ever do," a deep voice snarled into her ear. And then he bit her.

Kaoru screamed.

Her body shook as if she were having a seizure, the pain being horribly unbearable. This feeling was worse than anything she'd ever felt. It hurt more than the gun that pierced her ears.

After several seconds he removed his mouth, but left behind a large mark that would need careful tending if it was to disappear without leaving a scar.

Still shaking uncontrollably, he hauled her up by the arm and threw her down back onto the couch, and there she stayed, clutching at her shoulder. Bright blue eyes widened childishly, she avoided his direct gaze and chose to look down instead.

"Don't ever piss me off again. I'm going to ask you one last time, and I'm expecting an answer, bitch. Don't fuck with me again, and this won't happen. When I get angry, I lose my mind and I do shit. If you wanna stop that, you need to co-operate and so far you haven't done SHIT princess, so speak up. Tell me the truth. Did you fuck him here? Or back at his apartment? Or maybe not at home at all. Maybe in that same auditorium that you two were discussing private things, back up in the higher seats with you against the wall. Is that how he did it to you, huh?"

Small tremors shook at her body. He knows about the discussion Kenshin and I had. How he knows, I have no clue but he knows. He knows! I'm as helpless as a rabbit is to a hawk. Enishi has me where he wants me. There's nothing I can do about it. If I talk to Kenshin, that means Tomoe will find out. I can't let that happen, I don't want to be the cause of the end of their relationship. God what do I do? Do I just tell him? All these thoughts scattered themselves in her mind and she could barely tune into what was going on around her. Just tell Enishi for now. He's already proved that he's a low, pathetic bastard that would resort to violence against women. I don't think you need any more marks, she reminded herself and clamped down tightly onto her shoulder.

"We didn't do anything serious like that. The most was just a kiss. A two second kiss," she finally admitted to Enishi, who had been standing on the other side of the room watching her intently with a crazed expression. "You can go ahead and tell Tomoe that. It was just a friendly kiss, nothing more."

Laughing lightly, he stepped towards her.

"You think that I'm just going to tell her that? Of course not. We've gotta make it better than that princess. Hotter details. That way oneesan would never forgive you or that bastard."

"You'd lie to your own sister?"

He shrugged.

"What does it matter to you? She isn't your best friend, why are you suddenly giving a crap about her?"

"I'm not!" Kaoru shouted back. "You're just a pathetic asshole for saying that you'd lie to her when you're supposed to care about her like any brother would."

"Are you saying I don't care about her?"

She just stared. He is mental. Yukishiro Enishi is just a plain wacko to the max. Suddenly, her safety had become a major issue.

"Why are you doing this?" She questioned with a new light in her eyes.

"I don't think you're in the position to be asking me anything. So just shut up."

She complied.

"And don't forget that even Kumi knew what was going on while oneesan didn't."

Kaoru froze. What!

"That's right. Yamoichi Kumi. She's my cousin, you idiot, and she told me what happened between you and Kenshin. Naturally I told her I'd take care of you and keep him away from you. She was so… upset that you had your pretty little heart trampled on. She didn't even realize it was the same Kenshin that Tomoe was going out with. What a small world, ne?"

Again the only response she could find was to sit quietly, fear filling her thoughts. Everything was going from bad to worse. If she wasn't feeling like complete shit before, she was now. Entirely. It was all sinking down way too fast like a canon wounded ship. Either she jumped off and used whatever shrapnel to float on, or decide to pitifully hang on and go under. Whatever it was, the first option was the only one that had other options to follow with later. If you don't do what he wants, he's going to hurt you even more. He's a psycho. Just agree and get him out of here.

Sighing with her eyes closed, she spread her lips and whispered for him to hear.

"What do you want from me?"

She didn't flinch when Enishi came close again and nuzzled against her cheek. His stubble slid like sandpaper against her smooth skin. Not even when he took her bottom lip into his mouth did her eyes open. They remained shut. submissive. Just like the rest of her body.

Not breaking contact, Enishi gently brought her body with his so that they were leaning against each other on the soft cushions of the couch. Despite the gentleness that everything was being conducted with, Kaoru was smart enough to know that he was equally capable of both destruction and pleasure. Like a god… she thought faintly. Minutes flew by, she wasn't exactly sure how many, and they continued to kiss each other, his hands roaming over her body while her arms lay limply around his neck.

When he finally withdrew away from the warm feminine softness, he opened his slowly, only to find that her eyes were on him. The grey-blue of his were sultry, blinking carefully.

"Was that so bad?" He whispered as his masculine fingers traced over her lusciously swollen lips. "I'm sorry about before. When I'm angry I lose control, so please don't make me mad again," he pleaded softy. It had her taken aback but before she could do anything, or even think anything, he snatched her lips up with his again. But not before whispering passionately that he was going to make the pain even with generous pleasure. And Kaoru let him like a lifeless doll.

She was a silken virgin in his hands, moving whichever way he wanted her to, molding to his body, causing his member to stiffen fully with desire. When the eruptive moment was over, when she was breathless in his arms, she looked upwards at his face and took all of it in.

Enishi is a devil in disguise. That perfectly sculpted face, along with the strong, muscular body makes him look as if he was some kind of model. But he's a demon. One of hell's worst kind.

"Let me give you your two options," he began to say, his hands moving to her fallen ponytail, grazing the silken locks with his fingertips. "One: I tell oneesan everything I know about you slutting around with her lover, Himura Kenshin. Who knows what went on between you two. For all I know, Kumi could have bullshitteded as well. She might have lied about what exactly went on when Kenshin and you were alone together here." His arms tightened around her possessively as if afraid that Kenshin was going to pop up out of no where and snatch her away.

"Your second option, babe, is as follows: You become mine. You become my girlfriend. And as my girlfriend, I have the right to do anything I want. Anything," his eyes widened joyfully. When he captured her own staring worriedly, he added on almost seductively, "That also goes the other way around too. Eventually you'll learn to love it. They all do," he finished off coolly.

…And he's enjoying this. That… that coward of a bastard. He's enjoying every second of this, as if it were some game. My life is just as unimportant as a roll of the dice. I'm just a playing piece to him. He wasn't giving her a chance at all. She had to choose the most befitting one but what could she do? If she let him go to Tomoe he could cause a lot of damage, and Kenshin would be furious, and upset. He had already expressed that Tomoe was a part of his life; now, and forever.

"So what'll it be?"

Kaoru ignored Enishi. She was trying to think of all the other options but no matter what, it all came down to messing everything up for Kenshin, and Tomoe. That girl would kill me, Kaoru thought. Kenshin, and I are both to blame in this but I know I'll be taking more of the damage. And he's… happy, she finished off. There's nothing else TO do. He loves her. He really loves her and I have a chance here to save them. Oh Kami-sama, I hope I'm making the right decision.

"The second one…" Kaoru whispered to Enishi, but she avoided his eyes.

"Look at me," he demanded in a whisper. Kaoru turned to him immediately. The way he had said it… it reminded her of someone.

Kenshin…

Enishi relaxed his weight against Kaoru. He repositioned himself on her, and started to kiss her wonderfully tasting lips.

And Kaoru did not struggle.

She gave in.

Thank you to everyone who reviewed! Muah!