A/N: Hey everyone. I'm sorry that I haven't updated in a while! I just…zoned out I guess oO;;

Well anyway, This is chapter 4!

Warning – There's going to be a large scene where Kaoru's in 'trouble' so readers who despise salty situations, skip it.

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Chapter 4 – Expect the Unexpected

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Kaoru gazed at the boy next to her with a perplexed expression. Did he just say what she thought he said? Without a breaths hesitation, Kaoru spoke.

"Excuse me? What did you just say?"

She tried to maintain a polite composure so not to displease the man whom she had just met but the eagerness and anticipation of hearing exactly what came from the arrogant boys mouth was deadly and already clawed at her mind.

He turned to look at her, bewildered for merely a second before returning to the cold, irritated persona he was before he had whispered.

"I said nothing important."

And with that said, he showed that he obviously had moved on in the conversation with no second glance at what was said moments ago by breaking his eye contact with her in the simple turn of his head in the other direction. That irritated Kaoru to the extreme. She longed to reach out and strangle the words from the redhead but knew it wasn't in her place to do so.

So, she settled to cursing him under her breathe multiple times. She knew that he had said something and whether or not it was important to him, to her it could be vital information.

"Now. Where were we…ah yes. Kenshin. Why exactly is this girl within the Ishin shi shi midst?"

Katsura's questions weren't ones that anyone had dared leave unanswered. Although he had thrown his sword-fighting days to the dogs, he still maintained an eerie air about him that demanded control.

He didn't frighten Kenshin, however. If it was on the means of that basis, then Kenshin would have never succumb to any of his commands. It was loyalty that possessed the boy into obeying the man's orders until they became a distaste to him, and only then would be reject and turn away.

But this time, he answered.

"She was sneaking around the base, so to be safe, I brought her here and bound her in the Chamber."

His answer was short and contained no emotion of coyness or pride but it still triggered a spark in Kaoru's mind.

Sneaking, he says! I was merely trying to run from…whatever I was running from.

She wanted to scream that, or at least state it to defend her true reasoning, but smartly kept her mouth shut. Katsura nodded his head while thoughtfully stroking his bare chin.

"I see… and was she dressed in such a manner when you brought her in here?"

His comment suddenly lit a small fired memory in Kaoru's mind. Her clothes! They were ripped in the chest area! Kaoru quickly brought her arms up to fiddle embarrassedly at the torn fabric in a desperate attempt to cover whatever might have been unwillingly revealed to the eyes of others.

Good going, Kaoru. Now they're going to think that you're a prostitute or an almost-rape victim.

Kenshin shook his head, keeping silent. He didn't feel the need to discuss as to why she was lacking in the cover for her chest and waist.

"So…you did that to her?"

Refocusing on the small conversation between the older man and the golden-eyed boy, Kaoru almost wanted to smile cockily at the redhead.

Oh, so Katsura-kun assumed that Himura was up to no good? Well, it serves him right.

When he nodded his head, she felt the sudden urge to taunt by presenting her tongue to him in an immature manner of insult, but to her dismay, he backed up his answer with words.

"I was fighting her at first but then my suspicions rose about her real gender. At first, I was mistaken into thinking that she was actually a male but when I rid the clothing on her chest I found out like-wise."

Kaoru desperately wanted to deny what he said and claim that he was trying to rape her or something so she could see him be punished or at the least, scolded. But once again, it wasn't in her place to act under such ridiculous reasons.

Katsura nodded as if lost in his own thought. After a while of staring off at the shoji doors of the room, he languidly turned to Kaoru's still form.

"Kaoru-dono. May I ask as to why you were out on the streets of Kyoto? And at night of all times. Do you not know of the war that's presently in Kyoto's area?"

With an unnoticed roll of her eyes at the irritation of being spoken to in the manner of which a toddler might be, Kaoru looked up at him and somewhat answered his question.

"I was following after someone."

Katsura, once again, answered with only a dip of his head. Kenshin, however, seemed more interested in her answer then he should've been.

Following someone, huh?… Who exactly?

Many question seized his mind but he spoke nothing. It might be best to keep his thoughts to himself…just for the time being, anyway.

After a few more exchanged words from the trio, Kaoru and Kenshin were sent out and left with limited choices of things to do for the rest of the night.

Not taking the risk of her wandering off, Kenshin kept a tight fist around Kaoru's wrist.

"What's your problem? I'm no use to you and your base, and I can assure you I'm not a spy, so just let me go already!"

Trying to argue with the stubborn boy was pointless. Even if she knew she wasn't a spy, there was no way of convincing him of that. And as she suspected, he didn't listen to her and just continued on dragging her through the base.

Irritated with being ignored, Kaoru mustered up all her strength and ripped her wrist away from his grip.

"Would you just listen for a second?.!"

Obviously annoyed with her actions, he briskly turned his head to look at her.

"Why don't you just let me go?.!"

Cradling her throbbing wrist, Kaoru tried not to break her eye contact with him. When she had delivered her irate question, he only turned on his heel toward her and kept a sour smile on his face while quickly re-clamping his hand around her already injured wrist.

"You know the answer to that."

And without another word, he turned back around and continued on his destined path.

Just as she had suspected. No direct answer from him. She quickly spat her insult with a small flick of her tongue. Swiftly, he snapped his head back at her with a glare of his golden eyes and she quickly drew her tongue back into her mouth.

Maybe it would be best if she just kept her insults and taunts to the minimum, Kaoru thought to herself. One thing was for sure…

He wasn't your ordinary swordsman…

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Kaoru shifted uneasily as she tried desperately to sit still and look unnerved. But the truth was, she was feeling like the only sheep in the herd that was black.

To her surprise, Kenshin hadn't led her back to her confinement or 'the Chamber' which he called it, but instead, brought her to crowded room that once again, smelled of sake and smoke.

But instead of spread out among the room, men were now gathered around a short but elongated table with many sake cups scattered among its surface.

The men gathered at the table were chatting mercilessly with each other, obviously in the middle of a fierce debate. Slamming of fists and sputters of curses were being tossed back and forth. Kaoru winced. It seemed almost as bad as war.

And just as she had predicted, to her absolute horror, he led her over to the bantering group. Quietly sitting down and somehow managing to get her into a sitting position beside him as well, the whole group, as if by magic, quieted at his arrival.

"Ah! Battousai, it's good of you to join us! We were just discussing about the Shinsengumi's fleet and the force of their attack power!"

A man spoke out from the silent crowd with a smile and deep voice while bringing up a dish of sake and taking a large swig. When he busied himself, a more narrow looking man spoke up.

"Yes, and how Iruna here was dead wrong on his predictions."

The man, now known as Iruna, spit out his sake in a fit of rage and turned to the kinky looking man with a red face and a clenched fist.

"And who ever ruled that idea?.!"

Kaoru sighed as the rally started up again, but was surprised when she heard her sigh in unison with Kenshin next to her. Who ever thought they'd agree on something, even something so little and incoherent as sighing? It still meant that they were both annoyed with the same thing, didn't it? Kaoru desperately wanted to rush outside and stare up at the sky to see if she spotted any pigs flying, but resisted.

"Enough."

His words were so…light. No force was behind them at all, but yet, they were all that was needed to shut the useless banter up. Kaoru turned to Kenshin in utter shock.

Is he the top dog or something…?

Bringing a small bowl of sake to his lips and taking a small sip, Kenshin lifted his eyes to stare at the other men.

"Without the different opinions, what is the basis of your discussion."

Small mutters here and there were exchanged amongst the men until they came to a decision.

"The Shinsengumi attack force."

Kenshin nodded only once before taking another sip of his sake quietly. Kaoru felt herself feeling even more out of place. She was the only female in the group and much to her displeasure, she was getting those certain stares again. When would it ever stop?

"You will all focus on this situation."

Taking notice of the men who were staring at her, and how they almost nervously averted their gazes, Kaoru confirmed that this boy was no one to mess with. Even though it was clearly displayed among his teammates, Kaoru didn't find herself in any way threatened or even obliged to take note of the warning.

She was almost flattered by the way he became bristled with the men's stares. But almost was the key word.

It's going to be a long time until Himura gains my respect, that's for sure.

"We all know that the Shinsengumi is the Ishin shi shi's worst and most feared enemies. It does matter if their forces are strong or not, but it's not that we must focus on. Making ourselves more immune to any attack they might surprise us is the key to our problems. Expect the unexpected. One of the phrases I live by, and it's gotten me this far."

Lowering his sake glass and taking full attention of the older men, Kenshin spoke his theory and to her surprise once more, Kaoru agreed with what he said. Two times had to mean something.

But it reminded her of what her father had told her when she was younger and still in training. 'You mustn't keep your attention on attacks that are coming, but a way to counter them.' It was simple, but a very important piece of advice.

Nods and agreements among the men showed that they understood Kenshin's reasoning's.

"Now that that is settled, you shouldn't waste this time in quarrel."

Kaoru took that Kenshin's meaning was to let loose. Something that made her stomach uneasy. Almost immediately after he said that, the men's stares were directed back at her.

"Himura, c'mon…let us have a go at her. She's the only decent one who's been in our base in quite a long time."

The man who had requested Kenshin's permission gave a luscious lick at his lips while gazing almost madly at Kaoru. Many other men chanted in agreement, letting the one man speak for them all.

Kaoru gulped slightly and turned to Kenshin for some back up but was rudely greeted with an unconcerned slurp of his sake.

"Himura, don't just sit there sipping your stinking sake, do something!"

Kaoru whispered harshly through clenched teeth. Kenshin only moved his eyes toward her and smirked.

"What would just want me to do, kitten…?"

Well, forget the idea of him being irritated with guys looking at her. Kaoru rolled her eyes.

And for a brief moment there, I actually thought you were a slightly decent guy, Himura. Stupid Kaoru, Stupid, stupid Kaoru.

"Get them to stop staring at me!"

Kenshin put down his sake and at first, she had this small idea that just maybe he might do what she asked him. But she was wrong and only 1/6 of her was surprised while the rest of her expected it. Like he said, expect the unexpected.

Kenshin didn't tell them off, no. He simply brought his arm out only slightly in front of her in the motion of 'presenting' her like a prize.

"What are you waiting for? I said to let loose so…let loose."

Kaoru gaped wide-eyed at the redhead beside her who only greeted her back with a cocky smile. At this point, Kaoru really wished she had expected the unexpected. Then maybe he'd have his sword at the throat of any man who glanced at her.

Yeah right…like thatwould ever happen.

It was almost disgusting, how the men acted after he said that. Ones across from her fervently stepped over the table in means to get to her, pushing others aside if they got ahead, while ones beside her pushed each other out of the way in desperation to claim the 'prize' the Kenshin willingly lent to them.

Kaoru didn't waste any time in getting to her feet to scramble away from the crowd of lust-hungry men. Sure, she felt, in a way, flattered that she was a major target for these men, but her flattery didn't even come close to over powering the repulsion she held at both Kenshin and the men.

What am I anyway? Some sort of rag-doll now?.!

The men around didn't seem to get the hint that she didn't want them around her or near her. But then again, even if they got the hint, Kaoru was positive that they wouldn't care regardless of her feelings.

Kaoru tried desperately to get her feet to work but ended up tripping over herself and falling in a heap to the floor. Cussing under her breath, she quickly pushed herself up in a quick recovery but was immediately weighed down by the pack of men who had breached her.

Twisting her body violently to get them off of her, Kaoru hissed out at Kenshin.

"Himura! What the hell is wrong with you!.?"

Continuing to struggle against the savages on top of her, Kaoru could only manage to lift her head as Kenshin languidly sauntered over to where Kaoru lay bound and bent down slightly so their faces were a couple feet apart.

"I got them to stop staring, didn't I…?"

His smile he wore made Kaoru retch. She scowled sourly at him.

"You…sick…"

Kenshin only silenced her with a chuckle. That only angered her even more. She violently jerked her body in attempts to free herself but to no avail.

Damn him!.!

Kaoru could feel the many hands that roved over her body and felt herself start to panic. She was being fondled and touched in many placed she knew were off limits to all men and yet they proceeded without a thought of her opinion.

She had lost track of how many times she had tried to jerk them off of her even though her mind told her it was useless. Her hakama has been torn and shredded and her gi was practically reduced to mere threads of fabric peddles.

She felt weak. And it sickened her to think such a thing. She hated being helpless! Loathed it! But helpless was exactly what she was. Her strength was leaving her as her flailing continued on. She screamed in anger many times at the still form of Kenshin who stood and watched as they seized her.

I should have listened, Daddy… I should have listened… I'm sorry…

She felt her chest that was roughly pressed against the tatami mats suddenly become clamped in the disgusting palm of one of the lust-sick animals. She screamed at the thought of being so carelessly used and managed to break her right arm free of hold and without any focus of aim or skill, whipped her arm around and to her luck, accomplished a harsh back-of-fist deliver onto the cheek of the man who so rudely fondled her.

The blow she struck was powerful enough to knock the fellow right off his feet and with one less holding her down, Kaoru had managed, with what little hope she cradled, to pounce back onto her feet and escape the griping hands of the mad men. Grinding her teeth in fury, Kaoru glared deploringly at Kenshin and readied herself to deliver to him a well-earned sock in the face but a large hand on her wrist jolted her backward.

The sudden press of her body against the body of one who held her wrist was irking.

"Going so soon, girly? Come and play for a little while."

Her jaw line was caressed by his free hand while drawing it closer for a kiss. Jerking her head from his grip and quickly backing away from him, she was greeted with yet another unwanted body.

This time, she wasn't turned around but was embraced from behind.

"Oh, you smell nice. Mmmm."

His hands slipped around her hips and rode their way down to the inner part of her legs while his large nose rubbed against Kaoru's feather soft neck and gave a small lick there. Kaoru shrieked and was about to escape him until he pushed her to another waiting man across from him.

They had formed a large circle around her, successfully trapping her. Kenshin, however, was not in the circle but was observing as he leaned against the wooden beam of the wall, an evil smile on his face.

Kaoru made a not-so-graceful face plant into the bare chest of a larger man who smelled strongly of liquor and sake.

"Don't get too excited now!"

His laugh was sadistic as Kaoru ripped her face away from him. Her heart beat had sky rocketed and her hope of escape had narrowed down to nothing but the size of a salt crystal. Panic clouded her senses as she recklessly backed into the waiting arms of yet another lustful man.

The realization hit her as her breast where tightly grasped by two greedy hands. She opened her mouth to scream and thrash but what little strength she harbored only allowed her broken gasps as she tiredly tried to pry the hands from her chest.

She felt herself start to get dizzy with the constant tosses from man to man. She'd lost count how many times she had been groped or fondled. Her eyes were heavy with exhaustion and she pleaded mentaly for it all to stop. How long it had been going on had left her.

Then, after one man had his way with her and pushed her over to whom ever she was headed toward, Kenshin stepped in and happened to be the one she was in the way of clashing with. She stumbled on her way toward him, still unaware that it was him exactly, but was given a news flash when his hand roughly grasped her chin and brought her up to look into his eyes.

Kenshin looked down at her with slight amusement. Her ebony hair had became tussled and out of place with the now drooping pony-tail as strands escaped in various placed. Her neck and lower collar bone along with the skin of her barely covered chest were covered in red marks made from the nips and sucks from the mouths of the men around her. Her lips were surprisingly not claimed but were still swollen from the bashes and collisions she had.

He would have smirked at her appearance. She looked quite appealing all disheveled and tousled. Neither did she look repelling clean and orderly. But it wasn't her fashion that caught his attention. It was her eyes.

Her sapphire eyes burned with pride and dignity even though she had been carelessly tossed about. The fire in her eyes flared beautifully as they stared into his. And as if cold water splashed down on him, they suddenly produced small tears droplets. And without another second, they were streaking down her bruised face, no doubt making up for the tears she held back when being jerked around.

She didn't quake, nor did she sob or hiccup. She simply stared, exhausted, up at him while her eyes continued to cry for her. The smirk had long left his face while his mouth was only slightly agape. For the first time in the longest, he felt guilt flush out all the cockiness and smug feelings in his heart.

And what did him in were the words she had murmured. Her voice was almost spent from the cries and protests she had shouted moments before, but it wouldn't have changed the effect.

"no more…Himura, please…no more…"

She exhaustedly shook her head in unison with her last words, but continued to shake her head even when she finished speaking. Her tears rolled down over his hand and he found himself fighting against the urge to wipe his hand dry. The thought of hertears on his hand bothered him.

"That's enough. The hour is late and we need our strength."

He broke his eye contact with her and looked at his disappointed comrades sternly. They all groaned in dissatisfaction while regretfully heading back to their rooms. Kenshin felt his mind debate with itself. If he hadn't stopped looking into her eyes, he could have bet he would have lost it.

Once the room was empty, he put a stern face back on and turned to Kaoru in hopes she would think he was displeased.

"And you-"

But he was quickly cut off as a small hand came in contact with his cheek. No matter how exhausted she was, she still felt the strength to deliver the deserved blow. His eyes were slightly widened in surprise as he slowly turned to gaze at her.

Her expression wasn't hateful or sour, but expressionless. Her lips were slightly gaped but weren't pulled into a frown or a smile. Her eyes still leaked out tears but just stared into his own, not narrow nor wide.

"I hate you…"

Her words were soft and just as her face, held no particular emotion. Her words stunned him as he held his stinging cheek.

But after she had distributed her thoughts, she felt no reason why she couldn't do what she did.

Her exhaustion had gotten the best of her while her panic, fear, and ongoing alarm cracked her composure. Her legs gave in beneath her and Kenshin suddenly found himself clumsily embracing the suddenly sobbing girl.

What was he thinking…

When he so willingly let her be sabotaged…

What was he thinking…

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A/N: Well everyone, this was chapter four!

I had fun writing it! Please remember to review!