19 Thorns of a Rose
Disclaimer: I don't own Kenshin…heh
Everyone: What's up with her?
Kaoru Gal: heh heh heh.
Everyone: I have a bad feeling about this…
"Where are we going?" Kaoru asked quietly as she stared at the small building ahead of her.
"It's my hideout." Battousai replied turning his head to flash her a grin.
She snorted loudly and crossed her arms. "It's ugly like you."
"Sticks and stones." Battousai said in a singsong voice.
Kaoru scowled at him silently as she huffed past him into the building. Immediately a tumble of noise hit her as she opened the doors. An old beat up boom box was blasting music in one corner while in the other a large bar was stuffed with half empty beer bottles. A group of young men and women were packed together in the center of the room grinding against each other.
Battousai shoved Kaoru farther into the room and stepped up behind her. An immediate hush settled around the two as soon as Battousai had taken two steps in. After a long silence a girl stepped forward clumsily, her brown eyes studied Kaoru critically. "Who's the wench?" she asked in a slightly slurred voice.
Kaoru flushed indignantly and opened her mouth, ready to fire off a round of nasty remarks. She stepped towards the woman but was pulled back by Battousai. He wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder. "She's my servant." A couple amused eyes turned towards Kaoru and they laughed at her crestfallen expression.
Sano swayed towards them, grinning playfully. "Girly actually agreed to your terms then?" he laughed and stumbled when the woman from before pushed him aside.
"What makes her so special? All I see is a scared little girl!" she taunted staring at Kaoru directly.
"Be nice Megumi…She is Rose after all." Sano said regaining his composure.
Megumi flipped her long black hair over one shoulder and pouted prettily. "Well she doesn't look like a gang leader."
Kaoru narrowed her eyes angrily and struggled to throw Battousai off her. He grabbed her tighter while Sano gripped her flailing wrists. "Why you little slut! Ya' know I could say the same about your leader! I think you're just full of-!"
Battousai sighed and moved his hand from her waist to her cheek in a sharp slap. Her head turned towards him in that moment and he caught her lips in one swift movement. Sano laughed loudly and Megumi crossed her arms across her chest looking haughty.
Kaoru simply pushed away from him looking sick. "What the hell?" she hissed slapping his hands away from her.
He laughed and grabbed her wrist. "Making you shut up." He explained licking his lips mockingly.
Her blue eyes shimmered with embarrassment and she bowed her head so that no one would see the way her face had reddened.
"Now my friends, we must leave you." He continued pulling her through the crowd to a rusted spiral staircase. When they had reached the top she could hear the hum of noise start up again. The narrow rickety hall was dark and dusty.
"Do you live here?" she asked flicking a spider off her shoulder. He shrugged and continued to pull her farther down the hall, farther and farther from the buzz of music and laughter.
"Answer me!" Kaoru snapped trying to ignore the feeling of dread building up inside her.
He groaned in annoyance but kept walking. "I like staying here a lot so you could say that I live here if you want."
Kaoru said no more as she allowed herself to be led into a dark room at the end of the hall. He slid the door shut and flipped on the lights illuminating the shadowy room into a spacious bedroom.
A surprisingly comfy looking double bed with black sheets was pushed against the center wall. Large dusty sliding windows were closed against the cold night's wind. A small old table in the corner was piled with clothes, bags, papers, and pictures. Kaoru walked up to the desk and ran her hands across one of the photographs.
It wasn't framed but you could tell that there was something special about it, something that held importance. Maybe it was the way the women in the picture smiled so delicately, the way her elegant eyes shinned with content.
Kaoru glanced at Battousai curiously. "Who is this?"
His amber eyes widened and he snatched the picture from her. "Just an old gang member." He murmured not meeting her eyes.
She watched him fold the picture up and place it in one of the bags. He turned towards her with flashing eyes. "Don't ever touch that again, got it?" he hissed.
She didn't flinch; she held her ground and stared at him defiantly. He stared back but then broke out in a sneer. "Go fetch me some beer, slave." He ordered waving his hand at her dismissively.
Kaoru stomped out of the room and slammed the door behind her. With deliberately slow steps she crept down the stairs back into the dancing crowd. She walked steadily to the bar and waited until Sano noticed her.
"What can I do for you, Rose?" he teased.
"Give me your foulest tasting beer." She barked ignoring his mockery.
He shrugged and started to pour a drink into a small cup before she stopped him. "No, it's for him," she said his name with venom. "Gimme the whole bottle." Without waiting she grabbed the bottle and ran back up the stairs into the hall.
"This tastes like crap." He growled at her as she sat on the floor as far away from him as possible. He smirked. "Come here."
Slowly she stood up and walked forward until she was a foot from him. He smiled coldly and motioned for her to come closer.
She took one step towards him. He grabbed her hair and forced her head back. Roughly he forced the bottle to her gasping lips and made her swallow the horrid drink. The liquid slid down the sides of mouth down her neck as she struggled to drink the beer slowly without choking.
Finally he threw the bottle on the ground pushed her coughing form to the floor. Her blue eyes peered up at him still burning with defiance. Then she looked away and wiped the beer from her lips disdainfully.
A strange feeling bolted through him, something that made him almost regret what he had done. He shook his head and suddenly he wanted to hit her, for he knew what this feeling was called: remorse.
He knelt on knee and held her chin with one hand. "When you're with me you are no longer a leader, you're a servant. He whispered harshly.
"When may I leave." She said in a forced kind of voice.
"In the morning."
When he said that he made sure she was looking him in the eye.
"You're…you're not serious?" she choked out.
He grinned and whispered in her ear. "Wanna find out?"
She shook her head and rolled away from him. "When you said servant I thought you meant to clean and stuff…" she lied stumbling away from him.
"Then you thought wrong." He crawled to her.
Her back hit the wall and she forced herself to stop trembling. If there was no way out of this she would at least try and have some dignity. "You're sick." She spat shrinking against the wall as he loomed over her.
He said nothing but grinned and crawled between her sprawled legs. He was so close she could hear him breathing steadily unlike her rapid breaths.
"Relax." He crooned planting his arms on either side of her head.
Kaoru squeezed her eyes shut and moved her head so that only one side of her face was exposed to him. She could feel his laughter.
Battousai slid his hands from the wall to the bottom of her shirt and snaked them in. His fingers pressed against her rose tattoo and her eyes flew open. "Don't you dare…" she warned him shaking with anger.
His hands crept higher.
With a sudden jolt of fury she bucked against him and thrashed her knees. She heard him groan in pain. Quickly she slid away from and flew to the door. But before she could open it a hand flew it and caught it.
"Going somewhere, wench?" Battousai snarled.
She growled back just as furiously and fought him tooth and nail when he grabbed her.
Every time she struck him she felt him stiffen up to bear the pain but his grip never loosened.
After a couple moments of this Kaoru fell limp though her piercing blue eyes still burned with an ever-burning fire. "You bastard." She whispered as he rubbed her arms.
"Shhh. Relax." He breathed nuzzling her hair.
At that moment the door opened and revealed a boy about 14 years old. He blushed when his wide eyes took in the two of them.
"Ah…um…Sano told me to get you." He stammered.
Battousai to Kaoru's embarrassment continued to stroke her arms although his eyes and attention was focused on the boy. "What for?"
"One of ours has been beaten up pretty bad." The boy replied still averting his eyes from the couple.
Battousai unwound his arms slowly from her. "Give her a windowless room, lock the door and guard it." He ordered running out of the room.
The boy motioned for her to follow him back into the dreary hall.
This will be never ending, Battousai... Kaoru thought as the boy searched for the right room.
Because, I'll never give myself up to you
Kaoru Gal: I'm back! With a bang.
Kenshin: Why are you so happy, you have 56 people to respond to.
Kaoru Gal: -Twitches- 56…
Soujiro: Oh dear you've upset her.
Kaoru Gal: -starts laughing uncontrollably-
Everyone: -silence-
Kaoru Gal: HAHAHAHA!
Yahiko: Just respond already! -Hits Kaoru Gal over the head-
ANSWERS TO REVIEWS
Lenna Hunter
Thanks Zolo! Your praise makes me happy!
anonomous
You really think I have brilliant writing? -Eyes shimmer with tears-
Jisusaken
I will update fast! I hope you enjoyed my chapter!
aquafinaSEK
You've always read my stories? Thank you!
saltwortgirl
Thank you Sanji!
kimberlyann
The first chapter is usually the best!
Tsubasa O Motsu Mono
Wow! Thanks! I'm sorry I didn't update soon.
Spring Rose
You like my other stories too? I'm feel so flattered!
Drawkcab
REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW!
ToHeLlWiThThEnIcKs
Battousai does have dreamy charms, doesn't he? Sigh.
kasumi977
I will thank you!
misumi-san
I'm glad you liked it! I really hope you'll like this one!
froggi3
Nice smiley face!
crasyducky
Hey hey hey, I love your name, have I said that before?
Rurouni-maxi
Wow! Thanks for the long review! Yes of course I'll be updating Lady and the Tramp soon! I'm glad you're eager for that too. It does seem like I made Kaoru too weak...well...she's not weak it's just that Battousai is way stronger and faster making her seem weak? Yeah that's right!
mirsan4ever
Aw! Thanks! I got so much feeback I know I'll have to continue!
C Queen
Thank you! It's so nice to get a review!
x-iridescence
Another person who has read all my stories! Thanks!
Jo
I'm glad to have your total undivided attention!
misenagi
We all love Battousai! Dreamy sigh…-swoon-
HANNAH
This is your fav? Thanks so much!
XxAznLadyxx
Wow! Love is such a strong word!
CryingOro
Heyyy, thanks for the looong review! I love getting those! Isn't Battousai hott?
I LUV Anime 0.0
Thank you! I'm serious, thanks!
Dragon Master271
You really think my fic is the best one? Aw shucks now! By the way, I like your pen name!
2dalu
Thanks! For calling my story cool you get a free Battousai sweater! -Gives sweater-
Yami Chikara
Thank you! I'm happy you think it's interesting. I feel the love.
Yami Yasha 4ever
It's pretty hard to picture Kaoru as a gang leader, I'll try and make it more easy as the story continues. Thanks for the insightful review!
a sleepy reviewer
Hell yeah it's hot!
royal blueKitsune
Thanks! I won't keep you waiting, next time.
Snow Lepord
I love snow lepords! They're pretty…
inukenny
I'm sorry for the delay, I was sailing the ocean's blue!
lili125
Thank you! Of course I'll keep writing!
kawaii meeh
You can really tell this is gonna be a good fic? Thanks! I feel so light and care free!
Axl The Angel Knight
Intresting name! thanks for the review!
Via x Infinito
Ah, I'm sorry for the wait, I was on vacation, please don't stop reading!
epuneyujah
Thanks! I hope you like it.
alex
Such enthusiastic words. sigh.
Samurai Demon-God Sekikage
Ah thanks! No one has ever called me the best writer before!
Of course more updates are gonna come up now that I'm back from my vacation!
...
Aw now, no need to beg!
CC
Wow! I actually wrote something serious, for once! -Parties-
Black Metalmark
Rock on! -laughs- thank you for liking my idea!
sophia
I hope I'll continue this story well. –bows-
rain angst
Hey, I recognize you! I think…you read one of my other stories haven't you?
half-breed-demon-fox
Dude, I cannot get over how awesome your pen name is! I just used the first thing that came to mind…how I regret that…
Asian Anime Freak
Hee, I'm asian and I like anime too! We have a bond… -laughs-
Reignashii
I don't think Kaoru knows kendo, perhaps someone will teach her in the way future…-Stares impressively into the sunset- Someday
erica6060
Oh nowwww of couuurse Battousai won't treat her bad….-whistles innocently-
Aya45
Yes, I pity yet envy Kaoru's position right now. Though if I were her I probably wouldn't say that…and duh she'll kick someone's ass!
Silver Kitsune6291
I love you for loving my story!
Miko Kagome Archer
I know, I just had to put this up, I won't neglect my other stories!
Kaori-Angel
Poor Kaoru, sigh...we all eagerly wait for what happens to her.
violetjewelz
Yay! Thank you! In case you forgot you said I was good at coming up with ideas! Thank you for noticing! That's why I have so many stories…sigh
Xujin
Hahaha! Make him 'happy'. That's a funny term…-laughs- Thank you for the awesome review!
Rose Mitzkah
It does have an awesome plot, huh? I'm so full of myself! Thank you for the review!
Kaoru Gal: Finally! Please review, the more reviews I get the more eager I will be to write!
Rock on and keep that smile!
-KG