19 Thorns of a Rose

Disclaimer: It isn't mine!

Joh: Hey my readers! Sorry for the long wait, I'll try my best with this chapter!

0oo0o0o0

"Quiet. She is here."

Sano turned around when he heard a soft thump behind him. A girl had just landed in the middle of the street. Her long black hair was tied up in a ponytail and fell across her back.

Beads of sweat rolled down the side of her face, showing that she had been going at a fast pace. She straightened and looked Battousai in the eye, blue eyes shimmering with defiance.

"I made it." She told him calmly, striding up to him.

Battousai leaned towards her and waved his hand lazily at Sano, signaling for him to leave. "So you have." He whispered in her ear.

0o0o0

Battousai traced her jaw line with lazy fingers.

"What did you want?" Kaoru hissed out, doing her best not to slap away his hand.

He lowered his hand, much to Kaoru's relief, and grinned. "I wanted company tonight."

She glared at him, fury rising inside of her. As she opened her mouth to snap back he spoke.

"You've been to the clubs before, haven't you?" he asked her suddenly, eyes sparking.

Kaoru raised her eyebrows. What type of question was that? Of course she had gone clubbing before. Not one of those large shiny clubs of course. "Yeah." She answered slowly.

"That's good." He murmured.

"Why? What are you planning?" Kaoru asked. Hopefully he hadn't called her down for her company in a different way. She repressed a shudder.

Battousai curled a lock of her black hair around his finger absentmindedly. "I just wanted to go out tonight."

"Did you? I kind of wanted to sleep." She said dryly.

Battousai shrugged and pulled her forward, pressing himself against her. "We can do something else if you want," he whispered huskily into her ear.

She pulled back quickly. "No thanks."

He smirked and twined his fingers with hers. "You'll have fun, I promise."

"You're just trying to get me drunk." Kaoru pointed out bluntly.

He raised an eyebrow. "I don't need to get you tipsy to get you in bed with me."

She glowered at him and dug her nails into his hand, but he didn't even flinch.

"Well, let's go." He said softly, tugging her along the streets.

Kaoru fell into a sulky silence as they plotted down the streets together. It was going to be a long night.

0o0 (I got bored with that scene)

"This is it?" Kaoru scoffed as she was pushed into the club.

It was located in a dim basement with a grimy door labeled 'Eclipse'. The inside was crowded with a pack of swaying teens that didn't have anywhere else to go. Loud music blared from speakers making your head and ears thrum in time with the beat.

"It's nice, isn't it?" Battousai sneered down at her and pulled her through the crowd to the bar.

Kaoru stared at him blankly as he sat down and raised his eyebrows at her, his expression demanding her to take a seat next to him.

With a sigh she sat and rested her arms moodily on the bar, leaning forward so that a curtain of ebony hair blocked her face.

Next thing she knew a cup of clear liquid was being thrust under her nose. Kaoru jumped and pulled back quickly, eyeing the drink with suspicion. "What is it?" she asked, sniffing at it.

"A drink. You need to relax." Battousai answered in a bored tone.

"I don't drink." That was partially true seeing as how Kaoru only drank on special occasions. In her opinion she didn't need any kind of intoxication to make her mellow.

An amused chuckle was wrung from Battousai's lips as he absorbed her words. "Really? The Great Rose doesn't drink? You're kidding, right?"

Kaoru raised her eyebrows and crossed her arms over her chest.

He shook his head in disbelief and shook the cup at her. "Take it. You'll like it."

"No I won't."

"How do you know if you've never tried before?" The gang leader shot back, frowning slightly. He was getting annoyed. He always did have a low tolerance to these kinds of things.

Kaoru growled and swiped the drink from him, jugging it down in one gulp. The cool liquid burned down her throat in a satisfying way, leaving her with a warm aftertaste. "Happy?" she hissed, slamming the now empty cup down on the bar.

Battousai grinned and raised his hand, ordering for another drink. In a few seconds a second glass was placed before the girl. "Up for a second round?"

Without hesitation Kaoru gulped it down, smacking her lips loudly. She turned her defiant blue eyes on Battousai and smirked. "What about you? You can dish it out but you can't take it huh?" She teased.

A smile tugged his lips up. This girl was really something. "Oh, is that a challenge Rose?"

She shrugged her shoulders, her face flushed. "Take it as whatever you want it to be."

Without another word he ordered two more drinks, one for himself and one for Kaoru. "Cheers." He raised his glass before sipping it all down smoothly. He licked his lips suggestively as he slammed the glass down.

Azure eyes narrowed as Kaoru gripped her drink tightly. So it was a challenge huh…?

0o0

Kaoru swayed along with the group of dancers, not hearing the actual music, but listening to the beat. Her hips rocked in time with the thumping through her chest, and her arms swung gracefully enough for a drunken person.

Battousai watched her hungrily from the corner he was sitting in, nameless girls draped over him. He knew they were speaking to him, but he was busy taking in the sight of Rose letting her self go.

Her hair spun out around her, swinging with her like a dark web.

Battousai closed his amber eyes and let his head fall back, thinking about how nice it would be if he could get Rose to act like this more often.

0o0

Kaoru had her eyes closed to everyone, not even paying attention to random hands straying across her body.

That was until a pair of arms wrapped themselves around her waist and a hot breath played across her ear.

"What's your name babe?"

She sprung open her eyes and turned her head slightly to stare into onyx eyes. "Fuck off." She told him bluntly, stumbling out of his grasp.

The stranger pouted playfully, his handsome features enhanced by the shadowy club. He had long brown locks that fell partially into his tanned face where dark eyes were set, staring out at you in a calculating way.

His full lips parted into a smirk as he grabbed her arms, pulling her close. "I think you're drunk." He whispered huskily, turning his head to the side to survey her through one eye.

Kaoru studied the black band in his ear for a moment before pulling away again, more violently this time. "What the hell do you care? Back off already!" She snarled, fisting her hands.

"Not until you tell me your name."

Kaoru breathed in deeply and turned to walk away from him, but a cold hand latched onto her wrist.

That did it.

She swung out at him, hitting him squarely in the gut. She withdrew her arm slightly, watching as he doubled over clutching his sides. "I think you're right. I am drunk…I was aiming for your face." She sneered.

He looked up, scowling. "You bitch!" he swore, straightening slightly.

Kaoru swung her fist once more but he knocked her aside. Kaoru stumbled into someone who immediately pushed her away.

Not that many people seemed to be concerned about the fist fight taking place in the middle of the dance floor. It happened before.

Kaoru pushed her way through the crowd, head swimming and eyes blurring. It wasn't like her to run from a fight, but the intoxication seemed to have knocked up her senses a bit and she was in no mood to take on a fight in this condition.

She turned and frowned when she noticed the tall man following her. Crap.

With a resigned sigh she turned to face him, glowering. "What the hell is your problem? Go get a whore if you must, just leave me alone!"

He glared at her and unconsciously rubbed his stomach where she had punched him. "That's gonna leave a mark you slut." He growled.

"Oh no. I hope I didn't mar your perfect skin, how awful." Kaoru crooned sarcastically, flipping her long hair back.

He gritted his teeth and lunged forward, aiming at her face. Kaoru ducked clumsily and nearly tripped.

Quickly she swung her right foot out, kicking him sharply on the knee. With a leap back she caught herself on the bar edge, breathing heavily as the room began to spin dizzily around her.

She could hear the man cursing and advancing on her, the music blaring, and the drunken laughter…

A fist connected with her head, forceful enough to have sent her flying back if it weren't for the sturdy bar she was leaning against.

Kaoru inhaled sharply. Truthfully, she was used to hits like that, maybe even worse then that, but in her current state it was enough to make her feel nauseas. She gasped for breath as she kneeled over, clutching her head.

She opened her eyes and saw his legs. He had gotten closer now. Hiding a smirk she brought up her leg and kneed him hard in the groin. A satisfying howl of pain reached her ears.

But her satisfaction didn't last long before a wave of sickness swept through her forcing her to bend over.

As she closed her eyes tightly fighting the nausea rising within her she didn't see the man rise and pull back his fist.

A color of pain flashed before her eyes as she felt the impact in her side before she fell to the ground coughing madly. "Damn it." She cursed through gags.

Kaoru felt her eyesight slipping away. She heard a strange rise of noise and crashes then felt herself being lifted and carried away until he blare of sound left to be replaced with the gentle noise of rain.

Cool droplets ran down her cheeks and body, rousing her from her half conscious state. Kaoru looked up and saw Battousai holding her with a bemused look on his face.

Kaoru frowned and began to struggle wildly, demanding to be put down.

Battousai blinked then set her down on the sidewalk, wrapping a supportive arm around her waist as she steadied herself.

"What happened?" she asked groggily peering at him with glazed over eyes.

He didn't answer; he merely laughed and grinned down at her. "You're really something else, you know that?" He trailed off, shaking his head laughing quietly as the rain poured down on the two.

0o0o0

Joh: I tried. It didn't turn out as good as I wanted it to, but I think it passes.

Answers to Reviews

Polly
Your wish is my command! -Bows-

Garowyn
Thank you! I hope you like this chapter.

Kikio
Don't worry, Battousai didn't take Misao, but he does know her location so he could if he wanted to.

Hot German Butt sex
I tried to make this chapter come close to Fluff, but this story isn't very fluffy. Nice pen name by the way…XD

aznmoonstargurl
Aww you're too sweet! Thank you so much for putting this on your favorites.

rose-in-may
I know, but I had really bad writer's block! I'm sorry for the LONG delay. I'll try harder.

Sara-Chan 11
Is this chapter long? I tried to make it long but it may still be short.

underworld
Sorry, sorry! -Bows head- Hopefully this chapter didn't have a bad cliff hanger?

ELLIE 31773
Ah, a new face on ffnet? Welcome aboard then! Glad you picked my story first to read!

Adelaide MacGregor
You actually liked my cliffhanger? yay!

raechan-17
Yes, the 19 thorns does symbolize something, but I can't tell you! It's a secret.

.Kuroi Tsuki Jyurian
I've been writing this for nearly a month now, that's how bad my writer's block is. But at least I was working on it.

Kuroi Tsuki Jyurian
I haven't read any Kenshin fan fictions either in a while. Kind of funny since I still write them. Oh well…

KTJduDe
Aw, I'm so flattered to know that my cliffhanger has been getting to you. –Evil smile- Things are going as planned then…

kkfan
Yes, I do seem to indulge myself in cliffhangers, don't I? -Evil laugh-

Lady Dark Angel
Me? A tease? -Scandalized look- Haha!

Via x Infinito
Sorry about the short chapter. I hope this one was long enough.

Ayuka
No offense taken. I knew that was a really short chapter!

lilrich
Thank you so much! I hope you love this chapter too!

plili125
I'm sorry to leave you hanging like that!

Pixel-the-evil-fairy
I love evil Battousai!

Jisusaken
Heh heh, sorry about the torturing you part…

tenshi hoshiko
Thank you! Is this a nice chapter too?

Aniwolf
Thank you! Sorry about the long wait, hope I didn't annoy you!

Rurouni-maxi
Yes, almost all guys are perverts. But then again almost all girls are perverts too! Hah!

satsujin-muzai
Yes…sometimes I just see a line that's a perfect stopping place and I can't help myself.

ladydot
Hahah! 'Holey moley' you're funny.

happyloveygirl
Kenshin hasn't done much to Kaoru yet it seems.

bubblygoo
I know I know! Shortness sucks!

Dragon Snow
Yes, Misao gets her Aoshi in this, although the story will remain centered around Battousai and Kaoru. And yes, they will get their…'alone' time!

antica
Now your wonders have been answered.

Firalyn Tiatra
It's okay, I celebrated Christmas. You probably don't know what I'm talking about seeing as how I haven't updated in forever!

Reignashii
Thank you so much! I'll try hard to update!

peanut butter
Aw thanks! I'm glad my writing flows for you!

horsegirl
Thanks! And so now you know, what happens next.

crasyducky
Quality not quantity. Just kidding. Quantity does help in this case.

meghan
I didn't update soon did I?

Review please!

-Joh