AN: Yes people I'm still alive and well thank you very much.

And the winner of the polls is... (drum rolls) Death Shadow!

Whew! It was a close race but Death Shadow is the winner by one point from Blood Rain. Also, thanks to Jisusaken for the translations to 'Death Shadow'.

Note that I have no say in the polls and that I am merely the counter. Polls also include those sent by email.

Thank you to everyone who had submitted their choices!

Special Thanks to those who reviewed:

samuraiduck27; half-breed-demon-fox; Jisusaken; xellacard; Avion; tif; Kaoru Gal; Satora-chan; Kaorufan; sakabatousinuchi; Mini-Oro-Kenji-Himura; ariel; weasel wonder; Angel of lonlyness; Deus X Machina; Reviewer; cc; Scented Candles; lisiegirl; Crystal Winds; kik-ting; the squirrel; ghettotaku; Scarlet Heir; MMM; hotohori P; pnaixrose; MightyTaco; Atomic Toaster; Captured Moon; scythe195; Jazze Pha; Prince Aoshi; angelstarhikaru

General Answers (if you want me to reply personally, please tell me so since I never answer my reviews because it just adds up the space):

1. Will this story be like the OVA? Hmm, nope…well not much anyway. Maybe.

2.Will Kaoru take in the role of Tomoe? No! No! No! and did I mention no? Sorry Tomoe fans but I don't like her that much…but I don't bash her if that's what you're wondering.

3.Who do you choose? Soujiro or Battousai (Kenshin)? Can't I have both? Well for this fic…I don't know. I'm not sure since I both like them to be with Kaoru…Sigh. Decisions. Decisions.

4.Who is hotter? Soujiro or Battousai (Kenshin)? Isn't this a little out-of-topic? Well, both are good-looking in their own way but my heart will always belong to Aoshi! (winks)

5. It was pretty corny how Kaoru said what Tomoe said in the OVA. Yes, it was. But to those who read my other RK fics, they may know that I like adding cliques here and there. (laughs)

6. How in the world did Kaoru made herself faint? Acutally, it's not as difficult as it may seem. I actually tried that once to get out of doing manual laber (Hohoho!) Though it wasn't as graceful as Kaoru's...

Upon A Raven's Plight

Chapter five: Kaoru Kamiya aka Raven aka Death Shadow

She can feel it. Feel it prickling against her skin like thousands of tiny, ice cold needles. It hurt for a bit but then grew to be painless as her body adjusted and went numb to the feeling.

Though her eyes were closed, Kaoru could envision what she must've looked like. Her long hair wet and unruly and her clothes drenched, clinging every hallow curves possible in her body.

She wanted so much to open her eyes and see the beauty of the rain. But Kaoru knew that she couldn't if she wanted to keep her façade up.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Kaoru knew by how the wind furiously howled in her ears that the man carrying her was running at an undeniably fast pace. Yet she was intrigued that his footsteps never seemed to make more than a slight, almost unheard, tapping sound as his sandals splashed against the wet, muddy forest ground.

Battousai never ceased to amaze her.

A sudden gust of gale blew, making Kaoru shiver involuntarily as harsh rain water hit her face like brittle icicles.

Kaoru heard what sounded like the beating of drums, it was like a whisper at first but then it grew into an almost ear-splitting pounding. Kaoru initially thought that the sounds were caused by the thunder booming in the sky but she soon realized that it was coming from inside her own head.

Blood flowed in their vessels like an angry river; the force accompanied by the pain was just too great that Kaoru almost lifted her hands with the intention of cradling her hurting cranium.

Then, not to her complete surprise, Kaoru noticed her already low ki diminishing. The gentle, easy rhythm deescalating until what was left was a sleepy and strangely contented feeling.

Her body betraying her, Kaoru unconsciously leaned forward in an almost desperate attempt to seek for warmth. She smiled faintly when her cold face pressed itself against something warm, the steady beating of a heart indicating that the 'something' is actually a person's chest. A male's to be exact.

That last thought crept into Kaoru's uncaring mind just before she succumbed to complete darkness; her mind's eyes finally closed and asleep.

X-x-X-x-X

Feeling a small movement, Battousai peered down at the young woman cradled in his arms. At first he thought that the woman was coming to but her eyes were still closed.

Suspicion caused his lips to twist into a deep scowl but it vanished as Battousai noted the dimness of the woman's aura.

A pang of concern gripped him like a vice and the legendary manslayer snapped his head up to look at his surroundings.

His golden, hawk-like eyes spied a large oak tree not far from his right. Readjusting the bundle he held in his arms closer to him, Battousai quickly speed up his running.

As quick as the bolt of lightning that just flashed above them, Battousai reached the tree's shade where he deposited the young woman in the dry grass beneath it.

Leaning her limp body against the trunk of the tree, Battousai pressed the first two fingers of his hand against the woman's throat, noticing that her neck was deathly cold, and checked for her pulse.

He breathed out the sigh of relief he didn't know he was holding. Her pulse was weak but the beating was remarkably fast.

Battousai pressed the dorsal side of his other hand against the raven-haired female's forehead and swore obscenely.

Her skin was feverishly warm against his'.

Battousai narrowed his amber eyes dangerously. It was just as he had suspected.

He stood upright from his kneeling position. Unnoticed by him, a long rain drop trickled down the bangs of his red blood hair and fell to the grassy floor.

Drip. Drip.

The small sound just made Battousai notice his current state. His gi and hakama were soaked to the bone and looked to be in no condition to withstand the cold for long.

With this in mind, Battousai crouched down to place one arm across the woman's shoulders while tucking the other beneath her knees.

Once he got to his feet, the hitokiri sprinted from the tree's dry haven and out into the pouring rain and hollowing wind.

In a speed that could only be described as god-like, Battousai ran down a familiar path.

As soon as both were out of sight, a lone figure crept up from the shadows. It moved a few steps forward then halted to a stop.

Then another flash of lightning erupted from the heavens and in a fraction of a second, the place was shrouded in light.

In that small amount of time, the figure's face was revealed.

The young man lifted his gaze from the ground where he stood to look at the road which Battousai had taken.

He could catch up with the pair if he wished so, tracking the faint muddy footprints of the Battousai as his guideline.

But he had to follow his own orders, just as Kaoru's had to follow hers'.

And though it pained him, he had no choice but to leave the two of them alone for the meantime.

"Soujiro!" He could hear Kamatari's voice calling him.

Soujiro turned his back and walked away, his steps faltering as he glanced behind his shoulder.

"Until then, Battousai." He said venomously only for his voice to be smothered by the stormy gusts of wind.

Faint footsteps heading towards him made Soujiro looked back north. Kamatari stopped in front of him, an almost scolding look on the feminine man's face.

"We can't stay in Tokyo any longer Tenken," Kamatari said, addressing Soujiro by his combat name.

"Shishio-sama's waiting for us to return." He explained.

Soujiro stared into Kamatari's green eyes for a moment then nodded his head in agreement.

His lips turned up into his usual smile. "Let's head back then, shall we?" He said.

Brushing aside Kamatari, Soujiro stepped forward as if to take the lead. His damp dark brown hair shadowed his eyes.

Kamatari momentarily stood still in shock but quickly regained his bearings and moved to follow the younger man.

He shuddered vaguely at the memory of Soujiro's eyes as they gazed upon him.

They were like the eye of the storm, calming at first and then…disastrous.

X-x-X-x-X

-flashback-

Kaoru got down on one knee, one fist pumped on the floor for balance. She bowed her head.

"Lord Shishio, Lady Yumi." greeted Kaoru each of the two figures before her.

"Get up, my young Shidobu," commanded the drawling voice of her lord.

Kaoru did as she was ordered and stood up. Her feet a mere few meters away from each other and her body tensed, prompted to attention.

Shishio nodded his head to the guards lined inside the hall.

"Leave us now." He ordered in an uncaring and blunt voice.

The three masked-men nod their heads to show their compliance.

"Yes, Master Shishio." They chorused and closed the double doors behind them.

A feminine chuckle emitted in the silent room, coming from the brown-haired woman leaning against Shishio's throne.

The woman was very beautiful. Her alabaster skin, only a little paler than Kaoru's rosy porcelain skin tone, set off her lovely eyes which were an interesting shade of green with just a touch of light violet in them.

"Shishio-sama has a way with his men, does he not?" said Yumi in a way that made her question sound more like a statement.

Yumi leant closer to Shishio and gently hugged him from behind. Shishio in turn; reached out a gloved hand to caress one of Yumi's arms.

"You know just as much that I am a very commanding person, Yumi." Shishio replied; a knowing grin etched on his mummified face.

Sensing that the conversation was starting to get off-track, Kaoru coughed loudly. This gave the desired effect as both Shishio and Yumi turned to face the raven-haired young woman.

Her sapphire eyes showed neither amusement nor displeasure at such public display of affection. Rather they were nothing but blank, emotionless depths.

"Shishio-sama," started Kaoru, a serious look on her face.

"You have called for me?" She asked.

"Ah yes, I had almost forgotten about that." Shishio said.

He grasped Yumi by the chin as the woman settled her head on Shishio's shoulder and stroked the skin beneath it. The pair momentarily looked into each other's eyes, as if the whole world revolves around just the two of them.

Their contact broke when Shishio left go of his hold on Yumi who then stood upright and backed away a few steps to her previous position behind Shishio.

"Distraction is like a double-edged sword. It gives you pleasures then stabs you in the back when you're not looking." Shishio philosophized.

Kaoru cocked a slender eyebrow. "Yeah well, I'll be sure to remember that Shishio-sama." She answered.

Now, normally a comment like that would result in the disrespectful person's tongue to be cut off, every single tooth plucked out of his inflamed gums, and his lips stitched together…if Shishio is in a good mood that is.

Which is why non-Juppongatana members of Shishio's men would be shocked to find that instead of getting angry, Shishio simply laughed at Kaoru's words.

"Your wit's just as razor sharp as always Shidobu." He commented.

Then his face turned serious and the atmosphere around them seemed to intensify. "You know of the Battousai do you not?" He asked.

Kaoru narrowed her eyes. "How could I not? He's one of the most infamous hitokiris during the Bakumatsu." She replied.

Shishio nodded his head. "Yes, you are right. Six years have passed since then and this era's government is sadly fragile and weak. It's officials corrupted and evil."

He clenched his fist tightly and his red eyes seemed to have burst into fiery flames.

"But that will change as I soon will accomplish my goal to take over Japan and form a new government to my bidding. And the Meiji era will be no more!"

He laughed bitterly at the thought. Yumi just smiled as she gaze adoringly at her Lord Shishio, a slight flush of excitement for her lover colored her cheeks.

Kaoru merely stood in silence, knowing better than to interrupt her leader.

After a few moments, Shishio quieted down. His eyes were closed for a moment, as if he was in deep thought.

Then he opened them, a deep scowl etched on his lips as if he was disgusted.

"However, there is one man who stands in my path to ultimate greatness." He said.

"Battousai," The words just merely came out of Kaoru's lips.

Shishio nodded his head. "Yes, Battousai is the reason that I am in this miserable state. He has been a very large thorn by my side that I just can't seem to get rid of."

"It shouldn't have been too difficult," He added, more to himself than for the sake of the other occupants in the room. "But the Battousai is strong and in my condition I couldn't possibly defeat him."

Hoshi, who had been contented to stay in the shadows, stepped forward into the light and spoke.

"That's impossible! No one is greater than you Shishio-sama." He exclaimed.

Kaoru resisted the urge to gag herself. Hoshi's truly such a kiss-up.

Shishio, however, seemed amused at his adviser's proclamation and said. "That may be so but a battle with the Battousai now could take at least an hour and you know that I can't fight in battles more than a few lousy minutes without self-combusting."

Shishio said the last part in a low voice that almost sounded like a growl. Yumi's eyes widened as Shishio's words implanted in her mind.

"Battousai is that great of a swordsman." Yumi whispered softly in a mixture of awe and fear.

"But I have a plan," continued Shishio.

A menacing smile crept up to his lips. "An ingenious plan,"

Shishio turned to face Kaoru who raised an eyebrow in question. Not long after, both Yumi and Hoshi too turned their gaze to the raven-haired young woman.

Uncomfortable to be the center of their attention, Kaoru frowned.

"What?" She spat, almost angrily at the looks she was given.

Yet, somehow Kaoru already had a hunch as to what Shishio's plan for Battousai is.

And she didn't like it one bit.

-end flashback-

X-x-X-x-X

Darkness. That was all that she could see.

Infinite black, the bringer of the night.

Then light, a blinding white light.

"She's waking up!" squealed a childish voice that rang in Kaoru's head.

Kaoru forced herself to open her eyes to try to get a glimpse of who the owner of the voice is. But she quickly closed them as the morning light from the window hit her vision and almost blinded her.

Kaoru let out a groan as she reached a hand to massage her throbbing temple.

"Did a herd of cattle stampeded over me? Or is it that I drank too much sake again last night." She mumbled, not really expecting anyone to answer her.

The same childish voice from before giggled. "Onee-chan's so funny! I like her already Grand'pa!"

"Yes, yes Suzume." Kaoru could hear another voice reply only this time, it sounded much older and deeper than the first.

More curious than before, Kaoru opened her eyes again. She shielded them from the light while she waited for her eyes to readjust to the luminosity.

Satisfied that her vision finally cleared and that she could no longer see red and blue spots, Kaoru lowered her hand to her lap.

"Where am I?" She asked, craning her neck to look at her surroundings. Kaoru noticed that she was in a simple room with wooden floors and walls.

Her gaze turned to the people around her. To her right was a little girl with brown hair held up in two pigtails and huge brown eyes. The child wore a pink kimono with yellow and other pastel-colored flowers adorning the fabric.

Kaoru turned to study the man at her left. He was old and judging by what the child – Suzume if she heard correctly – said he was the girl's grandfather. He wore a doctor's uniform of a blue and white male kimono. His face was mustached and heavily bearded and his head was protected by a short blue bandana.

"How did I get here?" Kaoru demanded, though her voice was still weak and so barely came out more than a hoarse whisper.

Kaoru was both confused and alarmed. Where was the Battousai? Had he simply left her here?

'I have to find him.'

Kaoru grunted as she tried to lift herself up but her body wobbled weakly so the old man rushed to support her by the shoulders.

"No, you have to rest. You are still weak and your body's just recovering from the fever." The old man explained when Kaoru frowned as his gestures.

'Fever?' thought Kaoru. She must've looked confused because the old man replied.

"You have gotten a fever from the storm last night. Luckily it had broken not long after but you fell asleep and we didn't want to wake you since you're still recuperating."

Kaoru frowned deeply.

Weak. How dare he call her weak! This man before her is nothing but a living pile of old bones and skin and yet he hastily accused her to be a meek, delicate woman.

Kaoru hated to be called weak. It is in opposition of what Shishio-sama had taught her.

"The strong shall live and the weak shall die." Kaoru could still hear her leader's words flowing clearly through her mind just as he first said it years ago when she was still a weakling.

"Excuse me…but who are you?" Kaoru asked in a pleasant voice, successfully hiding her resentment to the old man's words from before.

"Ah, my name's Dr. Gensai and this is one of my two granddaughters, Suzume." The old man answered, gesturing first to himself then to the little girl across from him.

"What is your name Miss?" He asked.

"My name's Raven." She replied, her voice steady and calm. Kaoru had already expected them to ask for her name so it was easy for her to lie.

"Where am I?" Kaoru asked her unanswered question again.

"You're in Himura's house for the moment." answered Dr. Gensai.

Kaoru raised an eyebrow. "Who's Himura?" She asked.

The shoji door slid opened and a figure stepped into the room, leaving the door open for ventilation

"That would be me," replied the figure, his voice deep and husky.

The morning's sun rays shrouded from behind the figure and into the room, illuminating his features.

Kaoru fought off a gasp. Her sapphire eyes widen as they interlocked with a pair of amused amber depths.

"Battousai," Kaoru said in a voice that's something between a gasp and a hiss.

The corner of his lips twitched into a devilish smirk, Battousai replied. His voice just as powerful as the display of his swordsmanship Kaoru had witnessed last night.

"Glad to see that you're finally awake."

X-x-X-x-X

Soujiro stared blankly at the ceiling of his room. His mind in a haze as he recalled the previous conversation with his leader the night before.

-flashback-

Soujiro stomped his palms flat against the table, his eyes burning with anger directed at the older man sitting in front of him.

Kamatari, Yumi and Hoshi, the only other occupants in Shishio's office, looked alarmed at the display of emotion from the normally reserved Tenken.

Shishio, however, didn't even flinched but did quirked a hairless eyebrow at one of his two best assassins' antics.

"Why can't you let me fight him? I know where Battousai has taken Kaoru." Soujiro said angrily, though his voice was still not above its' normal pitch.

Shishio clasped his hands together and used his arms as a base of support for his chin. "Soujiro, I highly doubted that the footprints would still be there the next time you go. Also, by slim chance that the marks weren't washed away by the rain, how sure are you that you would successfully find the Battousai's residence? And if you did, you'd risk the possibility of putting Kaoru in danger."

Seeing Soujiro's eyes widen slightly, Shishio continued his explanation.

"The Battousai is a smart and highly suspicious man. If you had followed him, there is no doubt that he would have suspect that Kaoru is somehow involved and that is the last thing we would want him to believe."

Shishio paused to let Soujiro reflect more on his words. For a few moments, there was silence.

Finally, Soujiro asked. "But Shishio-sama…Why Kaoru? Why not me or Kamatari or someone else from the Juppongatana? What is your reason for choosing Kaoru to take the task?"

Shishio shook his head in dismay. "Have you not realized it yet Soujiro? Kaoru is the only member whom neither Battousai nor anyone else alive has seen. Also Battousai had seen her fight with a bokken so he would never suspect her as the infamous yet unknown Deafusu Shidobu of the Juppongatana."

"Regardless to what rumors say, Battousai isn't perfect. He has to have his own weaknesses and strengths just like any other person. All that I have told you now are my reasons why I choose Kaoru for this assignment. With her charm she will be able to persuade Battousai to reveal his weakness."

Shishio smirked as he added as an after-thought. "No one is immune to Shidobu's charms, not even Battousai the Slasher."

-end flashback-

Soujiro sighed and glanced at the clock atop his night stand. It was nearly late morning. Kamatari would be upset if he skipped on breakfast.

And the last person you'd want to get pissed is Kamatari. The guy can even be scarier than Shishio when he wants to.

Besides, Kaoru wouldn't like it if he starved himself while she was away.

"Soujiro! You better take care of yourself or else I'll punch your sorry face until it's an exact replica of your ass!" Soujiro could already imagine Kaoru saying those words to him.

He chuckled at the thought but got up from his bed either way. Grabbing a spare light blue gi in his drawers, Soujiro slung it across his shoulders and slid his arms inside the sleeves. He knotted the ties of his gi securely, covering his previously-bare chest.

Since he already had his pants on, Soujiro founded his sandals and clasped the straps together. Fully dressed, Soujiro opened the door and walked outside into the hallway.

Shishio's last words rang in Soujiro's head and the dark brown-haired young man slightly frowned.

'Yes, Kaoru is a charming person and beautiful as well.' He thought.

Soujiro could only hope that Battousai doesn't fall for her.

As he had did.

X-x-X-x-X

"How old are you?"

Battousai cocked up an eyebrow in question. Kaoru wanted to slap herself for asking such a thing but she was curious.

After Battousai had entered, he questioned Dr. Gensai about her condition. Dr. Gensai told him the same thing that he told Kaoru. Also, the doctor gave Battousai a small list of vitamins she should take for her fast recovery and for her immune system to become more resistant.

Afterwards Dr. Gensai bide them both goodbye, taking his granddaughter Suzume along with him.

Now, only the two of them are left in the room.

"Twenty-five. Why do you ask?"

Kaoru shook her head. "Ah, just wondering." She replied.

Honestly, Kaoru first thought that Battousai was in his late thirties like Shishio but he looked not a day older than twenty-one!

Battousai's voice broke Kaoru out of her musing and she turned to face him.

"How old are you?"

'Should she tell him?' Kaoru debated in her mind.

Mentally she shrugged. Why not? It's not like he'll use their age differences against her.

"I'm nineteen," She answered.

Battousai nodded his head as if he approved. Kaoru wondered how finding out that they're just six years apart could make any difference.

Hmmm….

X-x-X-x-X

"Pass the mashed potatoes Anji." mumbled Usui from at the end of the table.

"Not until you say please." Anji replied in his monotone voice.

If Usui had eyes, he would've rolled them. "Fine. Please pass the damned potatoes Anji."

The Black Monk gave an uncharacteristic smirk but passed the said bowl of food.

Henya, the Birdman of the Juppongatana, noticed Soujiro's lack of interest in his food and nudged the younger man in the ribs.

"Are you gonna eat that?" He asked, pointing at the last piece of uneaten chicken in Soujiro's plate.

Soujiro pushed his whole plate towards the malnourished-looking man-bird hybrid.

"You can have it. I'm going to the gym to practice."

Soujiro stood up from and grabbed his sheathed katana that hung behind his chair. Silently, he walked out of the room without so much as a goodbye.

"Well, Tenken sure is perky today, isn't he?" sarcastically asked Fujimaru's master, pointing a long, clawed finger at the Tenken's back. (AN: Sorry I forgot his real name. Help!)

"He's just worried about Deafusu Shidobu." Kamatari explained.

A chorus of 'ahhs' emitted in the dining hall occupied by the Juppongatana, minus two, members.

The Blob, a pink man who is inhumanely chubby and whose IQ rivals that of a pea's, merely scratched his head in confusion.

"Duh..."

"Eww! That's gross! Get away from me Blob!" exclaimed Kamatari as the Blob's drool dripped down his clothes and food.

"Duh…" was the Blob's intelligent reply.

X-x-X-x-X

Kaoru fingered the hem of her cream-colored yukata, uncomfortable at the way her companion was staring at her.

Vaguely, she wondered who had changed her clothes.

Kaoru frowned prettily. If it was Battousai, she swore she'd kick him in the place where the sun doesn't shine.

"Suzume and Ayame were the ones who'd dressed you. I thought that you might not be comfortable in your damp kimono." Battousai said out of the blue, breaking the silence between them.

Kaoru nodded her head, making sure not to look into the hitokiri's eyes. For some reason, she felt unease being under his gaze.

She let out a surprised gasp when Battousai suddenly grasped her by the chin and forced her to look at him.

Battousai frowned when he saw the small tint of something akin to fear reflected in her gem-like eyes. Usually he didn't have a problem that someone feared him and even relished in those emotions but for reasons unknown, seeing it in her eyes frustrated and greatly displeased him.

"Where is the fearless maiden that I saw last night fighting off a group of men even though they vastly outnumbered her? I wish to see that brave young woman, not the meek and scared weakling that I see before me now." He practically growled out the words.

Kaoru narrowed her eyes, their color drastically changing into sapphire-silver. With a force she didn't expect to show, Kaoru angrily slapped his hand away from her.

"How dare you speak to me in such a way as if you know me," she hissed at him, her anger rising up to the surface, breaking the cold icy barriers she put around herself.

"Who are you to judge me as so?" Kaoru continued, already pissed to the point that she didn't care if anyone would hear her. "You may be the Battousai but I am not afraid of you!"

Electrified sapphire-silver eyes glared at the redhead before her. Even when red swirls began to appear in Battousai's amber eyes, Kaoru's stare remained unwavering.

Then to her outmost shock, the red tints disappeared in his eyes and Battousai let out a hoarse laugh.

Strangely, Kaoru found his laugh deep and sexy. Not that she would ever admit it, even to herself.

Battousai looked at her with amused amber eyes, a satisfied smirk on his face. "Now that's the woman I saw last night. My proud, beautiful Raven."

Kaoru raised both her eyebrows. "I am not yours." She said calmly, though the silver in her eyes deepened.

"Yes you are; mine to hold, mine to care for, mine to break." Battousai murmured as he leaned forward until their faces were merely inches apart.

A smirk twisted in his lips as he added. "And mine to touch."

His amber eyes held a hypnotizing gaze in them that Kaoru let him inched closer. Only when she felt his warm breath blowing her loose raven hair did she came back to her senses and held a hand between them as a barrier.

Kaoru's sapphire silver eyes intensified as she said in a dangerous voice. "Don't touch me. I'm not some piece of property that you can just throw away when you grow tired of it."

In a flash, Battousai grasped Kaoru's outstretched hand and gripped it; not hard for it to leave a bruise but enough for her to feel the pain.

Kaoru gasped at the sharp pain and Battousai took this opportunity to press his lips against her opened mouth and kissed her.

As he kissed her, Battousai placed his hand at Kaoru's nape to support her head while snaking his free arm across her slender waist and pulled her closer to his body.

Kaoru didn't respond at first, but her body soon began to have a mind of its own and Kaoru found herself kissing him back.

Their tongues were entwined, each trying to dominate the other. But it was when the redhead pulled her even closer against him that realization hit Kaoru like a cold slap in the face.

Her pleasure was replaced by disgust. Both at herself and at the man holding her in his embrace. Kaoru couldn't believe that she was actually kissing open-mouthed the guy who just happened to be her lord's most hated enemy.

Kaoru never felt as vile as she did right now.

Kaoru placed both hands firmly against Battousai's chest and pushed hard, trying to get him off her to no avail.

Then an idea crept into Kaoru's mind and so she waited for just the right moment. Withdrawing her tongue as far as possible from his, Kaoru bit him as hard as she could.

His yell muffled, Battousai pulled away from Kaoru, releasing her from his hold, and clamped his mouth. His amber eyes darkening with pain.

Kaoru fought down a smug smirk as she saw a tiny trail of blood dripping down the corner of the redhead's mouth.

Then to her surprise (Kaoru cursed at herself. What is it about this man that just left her surprised?), Battousai lowered his hand to reveal a smirk on his lips.

Before she could question why he wasn't angry at her, Kaoru yelped as Battousai leant forward once more, only this time he did something she completely didn't expect him to do.

He bit her lower lip hard to the point that it bleed. He cupped her face and, in a slow and sensuous manner, Battousai licked the blood off her lip. Once the blood was gone, he kissed her again. This time though, it was quick and just on the lips.

Battousai chuckled as he saw Kaoru's surprised expression.

"You have the most gorgeous shade of eyes. A beautiful sapphire that glitters with pure silver, such a rare combination of eye colors." He murmured.

Kaoru scoffed. "This coming from a man who has amber eyes that gleams red. What a hypocrite."

Battousai smirked. Not letting go of his hold on her face, he lifted his chin so that his mouth hovered just beside her ear.

"Mine." He whispered to Kaoru softly before he pulled away.

Growl.

Both looked down at Kaoru's stomach where the sound had come from. Kaoru blushed red with embarrassment.

'Oh great.' Kaoru sarcastically thought. 'What perfect timing.'

Battousai chuckled again, finding the various changes of situations amusing.

"I'll prepare your breakfast. In the mean time, don't leave this futon." He ordered.

Releasing his hold on her, Battousai stood up from his crossed-leg sitting position and turned his back towards Kaoru to leave the room.

Just as his hand grasped the handle, he glanced back once more at the raven-haired young woman sitting in the futon. Her sapphire-silver eyes gleaming with various emotions.

"Always remember this, my pet. I play for keeps. When I said that you are mine and mine alone, I mean it."

Leaving those words for Kaoru to ponder on, Battousai slid the shoji door open and stepped out of the room.

As the door closed behind him, Kaoru sat still unmoving. Only when Battousai's footsteps grew fainter, then out of earshot, did she relax and lied back down on her futon.

Kaoru let out the sigh she was holding and stared up at the ceiling.

Just what had she gotten herself into?

X-x-X-x-X

Soujiro stood at the center of the gym, his katana grasped in his hand. Tiny pieces are what remained of the countless wooden practice dummies that Soujiro had eliminated.

He snapped his wrist, flicking his katana as if to remove imaginary blood from his blade, before he slowly sheathed his sword back into its scabbard.

Kaoru…

X-x-X-x-X

to be continued

Sapphire: Well? Did you guys like it? I hope so…Man was it hard writing this chapter! Would you believe I spend almost an hour thinking of how to write the kissing scene without being too gross? Sigh.

Anyway, I think that in this chapter, I had revealed a more humane side to Shishio and the rest of the Juppongatana. Also I mentioned somewhat the relationship of Shishio and Yumi. Believe it or not, I actually love this pairing. Yumi's so dedicated to Shishio that she still loved him despite that he killed her. These two are my favorite evil couple. Enough said.

Also, if I had missed out someone in the Juppongatana, please don't hesitate to notify me. My memory's not as sharp since I haven't seen the series for a while now…

Lastly, yes I know that in the RK series, Kenshin wandered for 10 years before he met Kaoru. But in this fic, Kenshin is still the Battousai so he never wandered as a Rurouni. Also I made Kaoru and Soujiro older because I don't like the 11 years difference (for Kaoru that is) to Kenshin. In simple terms, Kaoru was born at the time of Bakumatsu. I hope this clears things up about the history of the fic.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to email me (if you don't want your questions publicized that is). My email can be found in my bio for those who are members.

Now, click that purple button below and send me a review! or criticism if you want, just as long as it's constructive and not destructive. (winks)

Pa-alam! For now that is. Hohoho! (smiles)