The Art of Seduction: Chapter 8 (revised)

Soliloquies and Kidnapping

By Iridian

Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin, it belongs to Nobuhiro Watsuki.

The sun rose on the estates of Lord Himura Kenshin, the bright rays streaming into every corner of the house. Kenshin's narrow gold eyes opened, the single stream of sunlight escaping the heavy black curtains casting light on his side of the bed. He looked down at his new wife entangled in his arms, allowing himself a moment to savor the moment, before he deftly disentangled himself and slid out of the bed, slipping on a dark blue gi, white hakama, and his shoes and slipping quietly out of the room.

Peaceful surroundings met him as he quietly slid open the shoji doors and stepped out into his front porch.

Marrying Kamiya Kaoru was probably the best political move he had ever made in his life. Now, due to the nature of said woman, whether he would be in the right state of mind to reap the benefits was called seriously into question.

She drove him crazy, of that, he was sure, but his honor to his three protectors from when he was very young would not allow him to relieve himself. And the option of taking on a mistress was not a favorable one. He suspected Saitoh would try to kill him if he pulled a stunt like that…not to mention Hiko's wrath.

She was beautiful, and very much so, but beauty fades and is so easily marred by the sword. What need did Kenshin have of beauty? But pretending that she didn't have other admirable qualities would be trying to blindside himself, and right now he needed clarity.

Flashback

Sometimes even the dim silver moonlight woke him up. It was an advantage in wartime…in peacetimes it made for an unhealthy lack of sleep. He sat up, his dark red hair covering his shoulders and his gold eyes narrowed in the manner of someone who just woke up. A warm mass shifted beside him, and his head snapped to the side, his body tensing then relaxing as he remembered where he was.

His Kaoru. For now, only in name, but that would change soon. He couldn't bear the thought of forcing a woman, it made him almost physically sick. But he was sure that she would not tarry too much longer. He would make sure of that.

End Flashback

As he glanced back towards his room, he wondered idly if he was the only man in Japan whose wife's body was unknown to him after a day, or more importantly a night, of marriage.

Deciding it was best if his new wife didn't wake up alone for the first time in new surroundings, Kenshin turned to slide the shoji open and stepped inside. It was for her security of mind, nothing else.

---

Kaoru woke up with a wonderful sense of wholeness, which was then quickly followed by a sense of being watched. Her senses seemed to be right on that morning, and she turned to find her husband sitting next to her in bed, watching her.

"I'm feeling a strange sense of déjà vu. I wonder why?" said Kaoru, her head tilting to the left, her eyes opening wide and questioning.

"Better déjà vu than constant surprise," replied Kenshin shortly. He got up from his position next to the bed and began brushing out his hair.

Soon enough, he felt hands on the back of his head, gentle fingers prying the brush from his hands. He began feeling the gentle, rhythmic motion of the brush moving through his hair.

---

Kaoru felt extremely content at the moment. She finally got to touch her husband…in a strictly platonic way, for now. She had felt some disappointment in his lack of initiative the night before, but furthermore a sense of relief. She felt his shoulders tense when her fingers brushed down his back, following the line of his hair. Suddenly she felt very foolish, sizing her husband up from behind, and not knowing what he really was like underneath his clothes. She must be the only woman on earth who did not know her husband's body after their wedding night!

Kenshin felt her gathering up his hair in his customary ponytail, tying it securely and running her fingers through it several times to get any tangles that the brush had missed.

"Done."

Kaoru brushed her hands together, a small smile of triumph gracing her features.

Kenshin got up, and carefully walked over to the wardrobe, slipping off his sleeping yukata, and rummaging around topless for his dark blue gi.

Unknown to him, Kaoru was blushing bright red, her eyes unwillingly glued to the muscles that were rippling in his back as he moved.

A small squeak was emitted from her mouth, and she frantically clapped a hand over her mouth, the sound being quickly stifled.

Kenshin, though, was not called Battousai for no reason. He halted his search, turning to find a very red Kaoru, her hands clapped over her mouth, and her eyes wide open and staring at him.

He grinned very slowly, his mouth turning upwards into a half-smirk.

"Like it? You're going to be living with it," he said. And with that said, he grabbed his gi from the western-style closet, and slipping it on, walked swiftly out of the room.

Kaoru only managed to narrow her eyes at the closed door, the man already long gone.

---

"Ohayou everyone, I trust that you all had an absolutely fantastic night?" announced Sano, breaking the serenity of the breakfast room.

He looked down, finally noticing only that only Aoshi and Kenshin were present in the room.

"Well, that introduction was worth nothing," he grumbled, sitting down and helping himself to rice and miso soup.

Aoshi and Kenshin looked up at him briefly, then turned back to their respective breakfasts, Aoshi only pausing to pour himself another cup of green tea.

"Where's Kaoru?" said Sano slyly, his face drawn up into a smirk.

"She's right here, rooster-face," said Kaoru serenely, walking into the dining room in a black kimono patterned with black chrysanthemums.

"Sleep well?" said Sano, his eyebrow arching into his brown hair.

"Rooster-face, stop trying to say something intelligent, you might hurt yourself," drawled a voice from the door.

Tsukinoyo strolled into the dining room, her gold eyes mocking. Her two cousins trailed after her, Nari stifling laughter, and Inoe shooting Tsukinoyo a reproving glance.

Tsukinoyo only sent a disarming glance at Sano, who didn't so much as blink an eye.

"Last night was wonderful, was it not?" said Inoe, her long pale hair sweeping across her shoulder as she gracefully refilled cups of tea.

"It was," replied Tsukinoyo, "I never thought I would see Misao and Sano make more of fools out of themselves, but they outdid themselves. I can't take the credit for such a masterful performance though."

Tsukinoyo glanced over at Aoshi, who was currently absorbed in stirring his miso soup with his chopsticks.

"And where is your partner in crime, Aoshi-kun?" added Nari, smiling broadly at the tall man.

Aoshi steadfastly ignored her, turning his head towards the window.

Breakfast continued on.

---

Soujirou had intended to leave Misao alone for the night after he had settled her in, but unfortunately, he very rarely got what he wanted. Misao had rather decidedly latched onto his arm after he had tucked her in, refusing adamantly to let go, her sleep-hazed mind stubborn.

He had reluctantly sat on the edge of her bed, staying there in hopes that she would perhaps let go sometime during the night.

Obviously, he had never been subject to the whims of the weasel.

Misao was currently sprawled over the bed, her chest softly rising and falling as she slept on. Even the sunlight streaming through the cracks in her window didn't disturb her in the least.

Soujirou was too much of a gentleman to wake her up so he could leave, so he had been sitting here for the entire night, the better part of night being spent awake and staring into space.

He had tried meditating, but Misao's hand on his arm effectively prevented him from being able to get enough off of his mind to try any kind of successful meditation.

He had tried going to sleep, but every time he rested his head downwards, Misao's arm would tug him off the back of his chair and closer to the bed, so he always ended up in a position half-hanging over her, half-sitting.

He sighed and brushed a stray piece of hair out of her eyes, a new level of exasperation reached when she didn't even stir at his ministrations.

But then, a particularly bright ray of sunshine came in through the window, landing squarely in Misao's eye, the light sending a faint signal that perhaps it was time to get up in her brain.

True to form, her eyes slowly opened to find a blue-eyed assassin leaning over her, his hand dangerously close to her face.

"Soujirou?"

Soujirou gulped. "Yes?"

"What are you doing here?"

"Uh…heh, well, you see…last night, I was carrying you back to bed, and you fell asleep and wouldn't let me go, but I didn't want to wake you up, you looked so peaceful and well-."

Misao cut him off. "I see. Well…arigatou."

Soujirou's blue eyes were widened, an adorable "Ara…?" hanging off his lips.

Misao leaned over, giving him a light peck on the cheek.

"I really appreciate it. That's what friends are for, ne?"

She got out of bed, jumping up, her usual energetic self.

"Let's go get something to eat?"

She skipped off, bounding out of the door.

Soujirou's smile faltered for a moment, his mind repeating the words over and over in his head.

That's what friends are for, ne?

---

Tae had already been up and bustling about for quite a time now, getting the Akabeko ready for the rush of breakfast goers that came right at opening time. Her work done, she sat and watched her loyal employees finish boiling water, washing teapots and plates and the like, and simply reveled in the feel of her accomplishment.

Warm hands closed over her eyes, obscuring her vision.

"Oh my…I am so scared," said Tae, her vice coming out huskier than usual.

"Don't be afraid," replied her attacker, a hint of a laugh creeping into his voice.

"And why would I go do that? Maybe I'll scream," replied Tae, leaning back into a warm chest.

Hiko turned her around, his hold shifting down to her waist, chuckling a bit.

"I'll just tell them that you agreed wholeheartedly."

"Did I? And who will they believe, the poor helpless woman-."

"Or her husband?"

Tae laughed, muzzling her head into the hollow between Hiko's neck and chest.

She felt his chest rumbling with his own laughter.

She looked up, taking in the face of the man she married, and simply reveled in the feel of her greatest accomplishment ever…catching Seijirou Hiko.

A startled gasp turned into giggles as Hiko swept her up into his arms, and left down the hallway.

Her employees only smiled, hearing the distant sound of a couple laughing disappearing down the hall.

Their boss never did work the morning shifts anyway.

---

Souzou strolled into the dining room, finding only dead silence.

Nari was the only one who greeted him, and it was only a smile at that.

Sano was gorging himself, and was, as per the norm, blissfully unaware of his surroundings.

Inoe looked up and offered him a polite smile. After all his years of knowing her, she had never once gotten angry or been anything but the picture of civility.

He sighed. He wasn't going to be getting any conversation till he left this room, so he decided to eat as quickly as possible, and leave.

This was going to be a long breakfast.

---

Misao skipped into the dining room, calling out behind her for Sou-chan to hurry up.

"Ohayou minna-san!" came her bright greeting, plopping down in the empty chair next to Tsukinoyo, who glanced up and grinned at the bubbly young girl, reaching out to pour her a cup of green tea.

"How are you, Misao? Did Sou-chan get you to bed alright?" asked Tsukinoyo, her face the picture of polite inquisitiveness, only given away by the mischievous twinkle in her gold eyes.

Misao choked on the riceball she had been stuffing into her mouth, immediately followed by a crimson red blush.

At that moment, Sou-chan himself walked into the dining room, offered his polite good-mornings, and turned to look at a sputtering Misao.

"You managed to choke yourself already? Misao, I have only left you for five minutes at the most!"

Almost everyone in the room chuckled, Misao sending a betrayed glance to Soujirou, who promptly sat down and began eating quietly.

She then sent a venomous glare at Tsukinoyo, who only smiled and turned back to her food.

"So, this is your first day as a married couple. Congratulations," said Soujirou, glancing at Kaoru.

"Arigatou gozaimasu, Sou-chan. Though I hope that you save all the congratulations until we have made it through a month of marriage," said Kaoru lightly, hoping to brighten the mood.

She failed, but life goes on.

---

Megumi was one of those people that believed in early to bed, early to rise. She had gotten up with the sun, preparing the clinic for the usual onslaught of patients that came in the morning.

Some patients needed her medically, some just needed comfort, and some needed more than she could offer. But it was all she could do sometimes, offer every medical remedy she had, offer condolences, offer herself as a shoulder to cry on.

Sometimes she wished someone would offer her something.

When she cried at night about the people who she was unable to save, who was there for her?

But Megumi didn't have enough daylight to ponder about these things. But last night, her thoughts began to wander.

Shinomori Aoshi had danced with her last night. He hadn't offered to dance with anyone else there, but he had chosen her to dance with.

Odd, since she hardly ever talked to the man, very sure that the man had an icicle stuck somewhere where it shouldn't be, and he was too cold for it to melt on its own.

Aoshi was the kind of man that lent a sense of stability just by being himself.

Dancing with him last night had been…pleasant, and she had entertained the thought of doing it again.

She paused at her task of sorting out her various herbs, and thought about that once more.

She would dance with him again. And after that, who knows…maybe he would like to do it again.

---

Kaoru gave out a sigh, relieved at finally escaping the dining room, where no one seemed to be able to start decent conversation.

She had spent the majority of her breakfast staring at her husband through her lashes, and thanked Kami that he never seemed to notice.

Everyone seemed entirely at ease with the silence at the table, but Kaoru had never been to a meal where everyone sat silent and still.

Flashback

"Saitoh, you foolish man. Let the boy go this instant!" cried Tomoe, throwing her hands up in irritation.

"This boy was trying to kill me!" roared Saitoh.

"He only tried to kill you because you tried to arrest his father!"

"His father was caught stealing from the treasury!"

"Well, if you would just go through with the plan-."

"NO!"

Saitoh sat back down and gestured for the guards to take the boy away.

Tomoe leveled a glare at the soldiers. "If you so much as touch a hair on his head, you will be banned from this castle."

The soldiers looked absolutely lost, coming to an abrupt halt halfway on their path to the boy.

"Saitoh, I want you to employ this boy's father in the royal guard. If that does not work out, and he is as lazy and worthless as you believe, you may do whatever you want with him," said Tomoe.

Saitoh raised an eyebrow at his wife.

"Please, Onee-san? I'll play with the boy and make sure he learns proper manners," said Kaoru, batting her eyelashes at her father. As soon as he stopped looking at her, she turned and winked slyly at the boy.

Saitoh sighed. "Just…do whatever they said."

The guards grinned at the king, already used to this. The king always ended up being nice, even if he did hold out very well before giving in.

Kaoru grinned.

All in a day's breakfast for the royal family.

End Flashback

She sighed, hoping that she would get the various members of Kenshin's estate to loosen up and talk.

Maybe they would…eventually.

A figure silently slipped a drugged cloth over Kaoru's mouth, unnaturally bright red eyes glinting in the darkness.

Kaoru felt the cloth cover her mouth, her breathing becoming erratic as she panicked, pulling at the cloth.

Eventually, her body fell limp, the drug taking its toll on her.

"Goodnight sweetheart."

Cliffie! I know I haven't updated in forever, but I've been really caught up in things. Review!

Iri

Thanks to:

Reignashii

DeeKaui

IvoryCoral

Royal blueKitsune

critique

kimahrigirl

MoonStarDutchess

sulou

For reviewing!

As for whoever unknown is: please read the a/n's in other chapters.