Date Started: February 14, 2005

Wow, only one day has chapter 3 been out, and I already received three reviews! Thank you readers. I can guarantee, that if you review, I check out your stuff if it's signed. I like to know about my readers and what they write. Anyway, thank you again. It has inspired me to start this chapter already, when I SHOULD be doing make-up work for school. I had the flu last week… horrible. Anyway, I hope it doesn't take too long to write this thing and have it out. We'll know at the ending author's note. Now… how to start the chapter…

Butterfly Kisses

By: Hotaru

Rating: R; for language, gore, and some adult material

Standard Disclaimer:

I do not own Rurouni Kenshin in any way whatsoever. I do, however, own any characters that I may introduce as my own, and this plot line. If I catch you stealing it, you grovel at my feet and beg forgiveness, or die.

Chapter 4
Shishio sat in his dark room, on the hard, cold, wood floor. He was in deep meditation. He had finally figured that Hiko was trying to learn the secret. It probably wouldn't take them very long to find out what it was that Kamiya was. He concentrated even harder, as he felt around for the ki of the girl. He felt it faintly, but it was there. He snickered, "Haha… poor girl, you have no idea what you got yourself into when you refused our hospitality." He and her alone were the only ones who could understand what was in the envelope, and it would remain that way… he hoped.
The amber eyes glared hard at the envelope, like they were trying to burn right through it. He stared at it a few moments longer, before he finally went back inside and closed the door, 'should I give it to her? Maybe I should look at it first…' Placing his black katana back in its place on the smooth rack, he turned around and noticed Kaoru looking at him with curiosity.

He turned around and looked out the large window that allowed a lot of sunlight in now that it was daytime. Swiftly, he closed the dark, heavy curtains, turning the once bright room into a dim one. Closing his fiery eyes, Kenshin finally decided he better just give the damn thing to her. It didn't feel heavy; only a very small lump was in it. Yet, that was what worried him.

Finally deciding, he turned back around, and walked towards the girl. She looked at him strangely, "What is it?" She slid down from the tall chair next to the bar and stood in front of him. Looking up the few inches it took to, she stared into his eyes as though in a challenge, "Cat got your tongue?"

The red head returned the stare intensely and finally, instead of answering, he reached for her small hand and placed the envelope into its palm, "Open it."

Glancing at the envelope, she asked, "And why is it that you had to shut the curtains in order for me to open this? What is it anyway?" She was looking at the envelope in disgust as she noticed the heart sticker sealing it.

"I don't know. It has your damn name on it." He then moved from her and went over to the leather couch and sat down, crossing his well defined arms over his chest. He closed his eyes, concentrating on her as she moved towards the window to open the curtains a little so she could see better. He could sense everything in the room, actually, the entire floor. Putting aside everything else, he tensed himself up, preparing to react to anything that may surprise the girl. The thought suddenly hit the slayer, 'Why the hell am I so worried about the damn woman! It's not like I care if she's killed or something. Ha! Like an envelope would!'

Kaoru looked at the envelope. She didn't like it. How could anyone know where she was? 'Maybe it's that Hiko guy?' Tucking her index finger under the flap, she separated the sticker from the envelope and opened it. Peering inside, she found a piece of paper, and a small jewel.

"What the…" she whispered to herself. Turning her attention to the folded paper, she pulled it out of the envelope. Unfolding the small paper, she saw a single line that read in blood red ink:

'We know where you are and who you are with. Take this jewel as a last memento.'

She stared at the paper several moments longer and then crumbled it up into a ball. She pulled the small, round, blood red jewel out of the envelope and stared at it long and hard. Finally, she looked up with a slightly scared face, and stared at the flaming hair of Kenshin.

He stood up, and walked into the kitchen, "Well, what is it?" He wasn't sure what to make of it. She had just frozen up when she had read the paper. Kaoru now wasn't replying to him. He set down the bowl he was now getting ready to wash and stared at her. The small amount of sunlight, now being let into the room from when she had pulled aside the curtain, framed her lithe body. She came out of her slight trance, and shook her head, "Nothing!" She then turned around, closed the curtains again, and rushed into the bedroom down the hall. He heard the door slam.

"What the hell was that all about?" He glowered. Glancing at the clock, the assassin saw it was already 3:30, 'time to leave.' As he walked towards the bedroom, he noticed that the insufferable ki was flaring again. Whatever had been in that envelope must have meant something. Without even a knock, Kenshin turned the cool, metal doorknob, and barged into the room.

Kaoru was staring out of the window. She turned immediately around to face him, and brought herself into a defensive stance, "Don't you know how to knock!" Standing up straight, she kept her fists balled up.

"We have to leave." The red head said sternly. The dark blue orbs looked him over searchingly, and then she asked, "Where are we going?"

"That is none of your concern. You will find out soon enough." He walked over to her, and grasped her wrist. He moved towards the door and she struggled, "Jesus, I can walk!" He let go of her immediately and then stopped.

"Ladies first." With that, Kaoru glared at him and walked on. Battousai simply followed, closing the bedroom door behind him. When they left the hallway, he walked over to the stand which held his treasures. He picked both of them up, and secured them at his side. Kaoru was waiting by the door, eager to leave her prison for a while. Sure it was nice, with smooth wood floors in the front, and shag rug in the bedroom, along with nice furniture, but it was all beginning to close in on her. Grabbing his final attire, the long trench coat, the captor led his captive out the door, locking it behind him.

Stuffing something swiftly into her pocket, not unnoticed by Battousai, Kaoru followed him quietly. She was no longer being distracted by words, and she began to start thinking again.

Instead of taking the elevator, the two took the stairs. Not that Kaoru disagreed with it, considering she wanted the exercise. After going down the several flights of stairs, they ended up in what looked like the back of the building. Battousai motioned for her to be quiet, and then for her to follow him. She looked at him annoyed, wanting to know why the hell she had to be quiet. Before she could speak, he placed his strong hand over her lips and glared at her furiously.

She took a step back, and nodded, and then simply followed him around to the side of the building. He led Kaoru to a different car from the one the night before. It was black, and that was the only thing that was similar to it. This car only had two seats. It was obviously a sports car, and that was kind of appealing to Kaoru. Of course, she wouldn't let him know it, but at least she liked it.

Kenshin opened the passenger door for her and she got in. He closed the door quickly, and walked around to the driver's side. As soon as he was seated, he told her to buckle up, and he did so as well. Almost immediately after starting the engine, he paused. Kaoru glanced over at him, and saw his eyes go cold, their gold shade glinting dangerously. He swiftly reached over and pulled her down, just as gun shots rang out.

"Stay down!" He shouted to her over the ringing of the shots hitting the car, and then, keeping his head low, he put the car into gear, revved the engine, and instead of backing out, he went forward, driving the car over the sidewalk and into a side street. The shots continued incessantly. Kaoru looked up for a split second, and saw the side-view mirror shatter as it was hit by a bullet. She quickly lowered her head back down.

The gunfire didn't last more than a minute, due to the speed the trained man was driving, but Kaoru was still slightly dazed by it. After about five more minutes, Battousai stopped the car, and she thought, 'What the hell was up with that!' And as soon as she thought it, she said it.

The assassin merely looked at her, his eyes still cold and fiercer than ever, "That, Kamiya-san, was the first attack on you by the enemy. That was why I had you be quiet, and that was why we went around through the back. If you had spoken and we had gone through the front, you would have been shot, possibly killed if that was their intent."

She got another of her annoyed looks, "Don't call me by my last name. It's beginning to bug the crap out of me." The amber eyes softened slightly, loosing their coldness, even looking amused. He merely remained quiet, and raising her hands in exasperation she cried, "What! What point is there in using formalities?"

"Would you like me to address you by Kaoru-kun, merely Kaoru?" He toyed around with the name, letting it roll smoothly out of his mouth. She fumed silently, "Whatever you please, anything but Kamiya-san."

He now had an animated look on his face, which was the first time she had seen him in such a state, "Then, Kaoru, I must ask that you not call me," He paused, and then coldly said, "Battousai."

She stared at him oddly, realizing now that he despised the name, and that he possibly had some form of a heart, and quietly she asked, leaning in, "What is it that you wish me to call you then?"

"Kenshin."

Their faces were barely an inch apart, and Kaoru could feel his breath as he spoke the name. Looking into each other's eyes, the two received a sense of calm and understanding of each other, acceptance. The moment did not last long though, and Kenshin turned away from her and concentrated on the road, "We need to go now. We are to meet Hiko." Putting the car into gear again, the black car that was now decorated from gunfire, made its way towards its destination as he drove.

Kaoru leaned back into the leather seat. She was thinking again, but this time, she was not concentrating on anger, or the strange note she had received, or even the small jewel that lay in her pocket. She was thinking about what had just passed between her and her captor. She realized that she could no longer be angry with him for something he had no control over. She could no longer hate him with the fiery passion she had barely ten minutes ago. She now wanted to know about him.

Wheew…. I finished this chapter. I don't really like it all that much. Especially towards the ending. Gaah! Please give me your criticism! I really need some. Just don't be flaming me with, "Ugg! You suck!" and that sort of stuff. Productive criticism! That is what I really desire right now. I can't seem to figure out what it is that has caused me so much trouble with this chapter. Well, then, I look forward to the criticism. However, if you actually think this chapter was good, a nice review is fine too. Sorry if the grammar was bad to. I've been having trouble making good sentences lately. But, spring break is next week, so I should be able to write some! Maybe I'll be in a better writing mode.
Till next time,
Misanagi

Date finished: March 10, 2005

Another note added - March 22, 2005 -
Sorry for the long wait everyone! I've had this thing ready since the noted date. It's like so: every time I got on the computer, I intended to upload this, and then bam! I leave my disc upstairs and am to lazy to go grab it. So my apologies.