You guys are such wonderful reviewers! I am so happy. You are my muses, whenever I am unsure what to write, or am frustrated I simply reread the reviews and am immediately inspired. Thank you!
Disclaimer: :see chapter 1: Non-profit means Non-lawsuit
Sorry about it not being as long . . . the chapter is worth the shortness though, promise!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The sun was gone. Captured by the restraints that bind day and night, forever separated. The pale moon high gave the night a false light. The darkness follows the false light, waiting, hoping for the dawn to return to him.
"Damn. Damn. Damn."
Battousai's abused form twitched. Gradually, laboriously, he propped his beaten hulk against the wall. His breath came in short gasps. Painful puffs of oxygen were all his body allowed. He needed help, fast.
The cold, calculated Battousai mind took into account the amount of blood lost, how much strength he had left in reserve, and how close he could get to Megumi's clinic before collapsing. Things did not look good. His only hope was rested on a certain spiky-haired, fighter-for-hire who made a habit of dropping by at the most inopportune times.
'Please, let Sano have lost his money gambling again.' Battousai prayed. 'Please let him come and try to get some money from me.' Strange, he never would have guessed he would be wanting the loafer to"borrow" money from him.
The Hitokiri glanced out the window at the dimming night. It was just about the time when Sano would have been beaten and wandering home, poor, looking for a free meal. All Battousai had to do was stay conscious.
A tall, lean, wolfish man sat against the hotel room's wall. He patiently watched as the young woman tended to his wounds. Despite her protests, Saito knew that there was no need to see a doctor. These cuts were not deep enough to be life threatening, as long as they were sterile and bandaged . . . She was doing an excellent job of that.
He watched with pleasure as she moved about his body. Her deft fingers gently wrapping his chest, careful not to cause him more pain. He enjoyed seeing her face crinkle in disgust as she stitched up his left knee. He let his eyes roam over every inch of her. This bird, this innocent-one was his. He would make that very clear to her, later.
Kaoru could feel him watching her. She could sense every movement he made with grim recognition. Kaoru knew he would take her into his bed tonight. The thought of his hands caressing her filled her with fear. She did not know this man anymore.
Her mind wandered back to the first time they met. Saito had been in the house for one of her father's ever-so-important and ever-so-secretive meetings. She had always hated those days. Her father's work had always brought men into the house that smell of sake and looked at her with knowing grins. She attempted to hide in her room til the last carriage had gone, but to no avail. She was summoned into his boardroom by midday.
'Scared to death, I stood frozen.' Kaoru recalled. 'All those men leering at me, my father saying something about the bonds that bind a man and woman also bind futures. I felt like a prime pig being sent to market, inspected by butchers for how much meat I would bring. Then I saw him, Saito. He was the first person I'd ever seen with golden eyes. He was also the only man not looking at me with hunger. His eyes held promise, a promise to take me away from all other roaming eyes. I thought I loved him that day.'
That same man was now siting before her. The blood had stemmed, clotting, healing. With the look of hunger dominating his features, Kaoru could easily understand his nickname of the Mibu wolf.
"My innocent-one." Saito purred huskily.
His long fingers traced her cheek and throat. He pressed his palm against her collarbone, willing her onto her knees before him.
She descended warily. The kimono was tight and constricting, allowing her little room to bend beside him. Saito's cold hand still on her collar, she shuddered. The feel of his long fingers wrapping around her neck, scared her. He was pulling her toward his thin smirking lips.
'What am I afraid of?' She chided. 'This is my betrothed. My soon-to-be husband. The man I belong to. The only man who had the right to kiss me.'
As their lips met, Kaoru's mind brought her the memory of another kiss. She closed her eyes and was swept into the rush of pleasure. His tongue parted lush lips, searching. She let out a small moan and tasted his mouth. He tasted of . . . of . . . smoke!
This was not how her love kissed her. Kaoru pulled back suddenly. Expecting to see crimson-hair creating an enchanting halo around her love, she was startled. A wolf sat near her, waiting. She had wanted Battousai. She wanted him to be the one caressing her lips, not this cold, demanding, animal. She shook her head sharply.
"No." She whispered.
"No?" He snarled, pushing himself onto his feet, looming over the quivering girl.
"NO!" She cried, as he crushed her against the ground.
A dark-haired beauty began closing shop. Megumi's whitewashed clinic was just closing for the night when she spotted them. Two hazy outlines entered her vision as she gazed lazily out the window. Her mind had been wandering after a long day treating every ache and pain of countless patients. She had been absently wondering if she was to be visited by a rooster-head begging for a free meal, when she say them.
One tall, dark-haired man in a white jacket stood out as a stark contrast to the deep night. He had a limp bundle slung across his shoulders. Megumi gasped as the men entered her clinic. The other man was Kenshin, and he was bleeding profusely.
No words passed between the medic and the fighter. Quickly and efficiently they prepared him for surgery. Sano laid out his friend on the operating table, stripping off his clothing that blood had stained. Megumi stitched late into the night and on until midmorning. As the lady doctor sutured the last gash, she finally spoke.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Reviewer's Corner:
Chris: Wait and be calm. All will reveal it's self in time. And after a stop at Megumi's to heal a bit, off he goes to find Kaoru.
Vegeta26: I'm glad you liked the battle! Kenshin is too worried to let his wounds heal much. tsk tsk tsk.
SilverLightning: You have no clue how many time's I reworked this sequence trying to get it right. Thanx... It's good to know that work made a difference.
Luna Angel: I appreciate your restraint in not killing the writer. If the writer dies then you'll never know what happens. Battousai will, of course, go after her, but will not heal himself fully first! Bad Battousai, bad.
Nicky: I'll read Rainy Night today. And review, promise! Lust and love are too similar to decipher immediately, but your right. Kaoru does deserve someone to love her.
Lilfrozenfire: *snatches the cookie, shuns chocolate* I'm lactose-intolerant. So I'm one of those strange creatures who hate chocolate. Ken/Kaoru and Battousai/Kaoru are great. If you really like this story try Dark by Doveofnight. It's awesome!
DoveofNight: Sorry about the tense changes. I had a difficult time with this one. *looks at pile of broken pencils* I love messing with Saito! Oh and only one thing can distract our Battousai- raven-hair and tears of azure eyes. By the way what the hell is a Beta reader?
Kakarlena: I'll try my best.
Eikichi: Thankfully someone listens to me! I'm so happy! Actually everyone's great about reviewing. I hope you liked!
Flambeau-Willow: Sorry I don't write lemons. But I create similar tension with much less . . . how to say this . . . less explicative. As you can see, there is some SaitoXKaoru, but it stops quickly. Kaoru didn't know how fast she fell! Til next time!
Rk-128- The reviewer's corner can be confusing because I write every response especially for that person. Answering questions and that type of thing. I am very protective of my storyline, so I cannot tell you who will succeed, but everyone seems to be rooting for Kenshin. You'll just have to see!
Snorkeypuff- Cute name!! How did you come up with it?? I wouldn't go that far with my praise on this story, but you definitely brightened my day! If you like this story read Dark by DoveofNight, I got my starting push from her fic. I hope you like it as it progresses.
Moonlight's Sorrow: No problem about the name, it has special meaning only to me. Everyone always picks Aoshi or Sano or Enishi to be a second love interest! I wanted to do something different. I also wanted to see how he and raccoon-girl would get along!
Thank you for all the reviews. Keep it up! Oh and constructive criticism would be good. Tell me what's wrong or what you would like changed. If it doesn't fit in the storyline, well I can't control that. Anything that seems off just tell me!
'Til next update Love and torture!
Disclaimer: :see chapter 1: Non-profit means Non-lawsuit
Sorry about it not being as long . . . the chapter is worth the shortness though, promise!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The sun was gone. Captured by the restraints that bind day and night, forever separated. The pale moon high gave the night a false light. The darkness follows the false light, waiting, hoping for the dawn to return to him.
"Damn. Damn. Damn."
Battousai's abused form twitched. Gradually, laboriously, he propped his beaten hulk against the wall. His breath came in short gasps. Painful puffs of oxygen were all his body allowed. He needed help, fast.
The cold, calculated Battousai mind took into account the amount of blood lost, how much strength he had left in reserve, and how close he could get to Megumi's clinic before collapsing. Things did not look good. His only hope was rested on a certain spiky-haired, fighter-for-hire who made a habit of dropping by at the most inopportune times.
'Please, let Sano have lost his money gambling again.' Battousai prayed. 'Please let him come and try to get some money from me.' Strange, he never would have guessed he would be wanting the loafer to"borrow" money from him.
The Hitokiri glanced out the window at the dimming night. It was just about the time when Sano would have been beaten and wandering home, poor, looking for a free meal. All Battousai had to do was stay conscious.
A tall, lean, wolfish man sat against the hotel room's wall. He patiently watched as the young woman tended to his wounds. Despite her protests, Saito knew that there was no need to see a doctor. These cuts were not deep enough to be life threatening, as long as they were sterile and bandaged . . . She was doing an excellent job of that.
He watched with pleasure as she moved about his body. Her deft fingers gently wrapping his chest, careful not to cause him more pain. He enjoyed seeing her face crinkle in disgust as she stitched up his left knee. He let his eyes roam over every inch of her. This bird, this innocent-one was his. He would make that very clear to her, later.
Kaoru could feel him watching her. She could sense every movement he made with grim recognition. Kaoru knew he would take her into his bed tonight. The thought of his hands caressing her filled her with fear. She did not know this man anymore.
Her mind wandered back to the first time they met. Saito had been in the house for one of her father's ever-so-important and ever-so-secretive meetings. She had always hated those days. Her father's work had always brought men into the house that smell of sake and looked at her with knowing grins. She attempted to hide in her room til the last carriage had gone, but to no avail. She was summoned into his boardroom by midday.
'Scared to death, I stood frozen.' Kaoru recalled. 'All those men leering at me, my father saying something about the bonds that bind a man and woman also bind futures. I felt like a prime pig being sent to market, inspected by butchers for how much meat I would bring. Then I saw him, Saito. He was the first person I'd ever seen with golden eyes. He was also the only man not looking at me with hunger. His eyes held promise, a promise to take me away from all other roaming eyes. I thought I loved him that day.'
That same man was now siting before her. The blood had stemmed, clotting, healing. With the look of hunger dominating his features, Kaoru could easily understand his nickname of the Mibu wolf.
"My innocent-one." Saito purred huskily.
His long fingers traced her cheek and throat. He pressed his palm against her collarbone, willing her onto her knees before him.
She descended warily. The kimono was tight and constricting, allowing her little room to bend beside him. Saito's cold hand still on her collar, she shuddered. The feel of his long fingers wrapping around her neck, scared her. He was pulling her toward his thin smirking lips.
'What am I afraid of?' She chided. 'This is my betrothed. My soon-to-be husband. The man I belong to. The only man who had the right to kiss me.'
As their lips met, Kaoru's mind brought her the memory of another kiss. She closed her eyes and was swept into the rush of pleasure. His tongue parted lush lips, searching. She let out a small moan and tasted his mouth. He tasted of . . . of . . . smoke!
This was not how her love kissed her. Kaoru pulled back suddenly. Expecting to see crimson-hair creating an enchanting halo around her love, she was startled. A wolf sat near her, waiting. She had wanted Battousai. She wanted him to be the one caressing her lips, not this cold, demanding, animal. She shook her head sharply.
"No." She whispered.
"No?" He snarled, pushing himself onto his feet, looming over the quivering girl.
"NO!" She cried, as he crushed her against the ground.
A dark-haired beauty began closing shop. Megumi's whitewashed clinic was just closing for the night when she spotted them. Two hazy outlines entered her vision as she gazed lazily out the window. Her mind had been wandering after a long day treating every ache and pain of countless patients. She had been absently wondering if she was to be visited by a rooster-head begging for a free meal, when she say them.
One tall, dark-haired man in a white jacket stood out as a stark contrast to the deep night. He had a limp bundle slung across his shoulders. Megumi gasped as the men entered her clinic. The other man was Kenshin, and he was bleeding profusely.
No words passed between the medic and the fighter. Quickly and efficiently they prepared him for surgery. Sano laid out his friend on the operating table, stripping off his clothing that blood had stained. Megumi stitched late into the night and on until midmorning. As the lady doctor sutured the last gash, she finally spoke.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Reviewer's Corner:
Chris: Wait and be calm. All will reveal it's self in time. And after a stop at Megumi's to heal a bit, off he goes to find Kaoru.
Vegeta26: I'm glad you liked the battle! Kenshin is too worried to let his wounds heal much. tsk tsk tsk.
SilverLightning: You have no clue how many time's I reworked this sequence trying to get it right. Thanx... It's good to know that work made a difference.
Luna Angel: I appreciate your restraint in not killing the writer. If the writer dies then you'll never know what happens. Battousai will, of course, go after her, but will not heal himself fully first! Bad Battousai, bad.
Nicky: I'll read Rainy Night today. And review, promise! Lust and love are too similar to decipher immediately, but your right. Kaoru does deserve someone to love her.
Lilfrozenfire: *snatches the cookie, shuns chocolate* I'm lactose-intolerant. So I'm one of those strange creatures who hate chocolate. Ken/Kaoru and Battousai/Kaoru are great. If you really like this story try Dark by Doveofnight. It's awesome!
DoveofNight: Sorry about the tense changes. I had a difficult time with this one. *looks at pile of broken pencils* I love messing with Saito! Oh and only one thing can distract our Battousai- raven-hair and tears of azure eyes. By the way what the hell is a Beta reader?
Kakarlena: I'll try my best.
Eikichi: Thankfully someone listens to me! I'm so happy! Actually everyone's great about reviewing. I hope you liked!
Flambeau-Willow: Sorry I don't write lemons. But I create similar tension with much less . . . how to say this . . . less explicative. As you can see, there is some SaitoXKaoru, but it stops quickly. Kaoru didn't know how fast she fell! Til next time!
Rk-128- The reviewer's corner can be confusing because I write every response especially for that person. Answering questions and that type of thing. I am very protective of my storyline, so I cannot tell you who will succeed, but everyone seems to be rooting for Kenshin. You'll just have to see!
Snorkeypuff- Cute name!! How did you come up with it?? I wouldn't go that far with my praise on this story, but you definitely brightened my day! If you like this story read Dark by DoveofNight, I got my starting push from her fic. I hope you like it as it progresses.
Moonlight's Sorrow: No problem about the name, it has special meaning only to me. Everyone always picks Aoshi or Sano or Enishi to be a second love interest! I wanted to do something different. I also wanted to see how he and raccoon-girl would get along!
Thank you for all the reviews. Keep it up! Oh and constructive criticism would be good. Tell me what's wrong or what you would like changed. If it doesn't fit in the storyline, well I can't control that. Anything that seems off just tell me!
'Til next update Love and torture!