Disclaimer I don't own Rurouni Kenshin and make no profit.
Rated m+ for language, violence, cannibalism, possible adult situations if you're easily offended. Constructive criticism is welcome we should all be adults!
Kuebiko ~ A state of exhaustion inspired by acts of senseless violence
Blood flew to his face streaking the pale flesh bleeding rubies. In the dark alleyway between the buildings a sharp flick of steel was seen as moonlit drops flew behind the wielder with a splat when the ground was reached. The body collapsed to the dirt void of life not moving but to sprawl almost like trying to escape what had been done, clothing dishevelled puddle of red laundering the fabric.
Sheathing the blade the manslayer snapped open rusty gold eyes narrowing them in disgust at the scene. Sighing heavily his body relaxed itself as the urge he knew would come take over his mind. Crouching low he reached a steady hand swiping the fingers over the chest wound of the dead man and brought them to his face. The smell of tangy iron filled his nostrils making him close his eyes in content.
He hated this part so much. Hated that he needed it. Hated himself for what he was, what he was going to do. Sucking the blood from his fingertips his body jolted alive sending shockwaves through every nerve ending, every part of him sated.
Lifting the cooling corpses' arm he bit into the flesh blood rushing to his mouth gushing down his chin like a river. The clothes he was wearing became dark with the fluid branding him for what he was, a jikininki. Cursed for all time partly alive to seek out and devour human corpses. Sharp teeth cut away the flesh like one would slide a knife easily through soft yielding tofu. Chewing skin and meat into small pieces he swallowed going back for more and more. The hunger overtaking him like a starving tiger on the brink of death, vicious and relentless.
Cracking one honey hued eye open Battousai listened to the heavy footsteps turn into the hallway coming down the row of shoji in the part of the inn where the men of the Ishin Shishi were housed. Sitting opposite the door on the floor he straightened his back against the chest where his belongings were kept and watched as a small black envelope was shoved under the gap of the barrier to his personal space.
Staring at the offending scrap pf paper Battousai let out a huff and swallowed. It was too soon. He ate yesterday.
Turning his face away from the door he glanced out the window to his right. The sun was nearing its peak in the clear blue sky signalling the midday meal was soon to be served. Bright light had flooded his room hours ago when the clouds cleared just before his nap, halfway through the night it had begun to rain cleansing his clothes of any evidence of what had transpired.
He wondered who had found the half eaten body of his latest assassination. A passer by? Friend? Mother? Wife? Whispers of a demon jikininki had reached all across Kyoto forcing children to come indoors before nightfall and grown adults to hurry in any light they could.
He liked children but half dead things couldn't have children. Or could they? He had never tried to find out purposely.
Once again eyes fell back on the black envelope sitting so nicely on the floor just under the wood of the shoji. Wiping the sleep from his eyes Battousai stood up and went over to his door to pick up the summons. Who was the unlucky man to die tonight?
Unfolding the paper a name was on one side instructions on the other. Beautifully written kanji mocked him, the deed would not be so beautiful. Tucking the paper into a hidden pocket in his gi Battousai brushed back blood red bangs from his face and slid the shoji back one sure footed tabi covered step after another. He could smell the freshly brewed tea already.
His assignment heralded finished as he flicked the blood from his katana sliding it home into its sheath. The man had put up quite the fuss after he approached him with the blade drawn trying to run but he ended the escape shortly after it had begun.
Dragging the body around the corner where the candlelit lamp from the restaurant hid him from view Battousai closed his eyes as the familiar feelings gripped him. Really he wasn't hungry, eating normal people food filled him so quickly but the urge was still there and the blood smelled like the finest sake.
Quick footfalls brought him back to the present cracking eyes open he let out the breath he didn't realize he was holding and made a pass down at his latest kill. Shit! Reaching down he grabbed the dead mans' arm clad in a green sleeve and tucked it closer to the body. Closer to the darkness of the wall hidden by the bright moonlight. Crouching from eye level Battousai looked up just in time to see a female hurrying by.
A female that wore men's training clothes black hair tied up in a samurai knot much like his own. The unmistakeably female smell of jasmine wrapped about him else he would have thought them to be male. White skin in the light of the moon coaxed him up to just the corner as she continued down the dark street.
I wonder what that skin would taste like?
What was a woman doing wearing hakama?
Peeking around the building Battousai watched her get farther away his kill forgotten. Amber eyes studied the sway of her hips and bounce of her glossy tail as her scent begged him to follow. He had never seen a woman wear anything but a kimono. The body completely forgotten Battousai stepped out into the street following her for a few moments of curiosity before branching off to a side street towards the inn.
Days later on the same street but not so near the same restaurant, obviously a favourite to the targeted group, found Battousai following his newest assignment. A short plump man most likely going for the last meal of the day contemplating what he was going to eat most likely.
Tailing just a few more minutes until they came up to a darker side street Battousai grasped the mans arm with one hand the other grabbed the back of his neck as he shoved the man into the shadows. Crying out for help Battousai gritted his teeth he needed to be silenced. Pulling his katana out a rapid pace gold eyes dimmed their vibrancy as his arm swung out at breakneck speed.
A squelching noise was heard in the dark followed by a disgusting gurgle. Battousai grimaced and released a small sound as the portly man crumbled to his knees falling forward, using the mans' momentum Battousai pulled his blade free of his targets chest but not before he twisted the blade making the wound larger, easier to bleed out.
After the steel was void of blood he tucked it back into its sheath with care fingers ghosting over the wakizashi in familiarity.
Almost in mid crouch a scent assaulted his nose making assassin stop immediately belly rumbling in defiance. Jasmine. She must be close! Standing back up Battousai whirled on his heels his crimson tail gracefully floating in the breeze he created and again left his meal in favour of the delicious scent of a female.
Following her trail where it was the strongest it didn't take long to find her. She was headed in the same direction as that other night days ago. She was in white hakama and a light coloured gi the light from the moon hitting her long hair making the locks glisten dark blue. The back of her lovely white neck peeked out from beneath the fabric and he had to swallow hard to keep from drooling. Her walk was most definitely feminine with small strides and she carried herself most elegantly.
And he didn't even notice her sidestep a large hole in the street from an animal or children at play so he found himself moments later stumbling forward with a very audible, "Kuso." Battousai's mind shut down as he heard the object of his fascination gasp, very womanly he might add. Gold met azure as she turned while he straightened himself from his stumble. Oh Kami she had exotic eyes so ocean deep his voice froze in his throat.
Her lips were moving but his brain couldn't catch up so lost was he in her beauty. Long dark lashes shielded her eyes so lovely set in a gentle round face attached to a slender white neck. Blood pumped appealingly in her veins and she smelt so damn good!
Battousai blinked slowly as her body bent towards him invitingly, voice cooing so sweetly then her fingers were upon his shoulder shaking him ever so gently breaking him free of his musings. "Are you alright?" She was actually talking to him. No one spoke to him because of who he was.
The manslayer nodded mutely straightening. He was only a couple inches taller than her.
"I asked you if you needed a doctor your covered in blood." She was scolding him for his silence. Looking down at himself he grimaced, he truly was covered in blood. She must think the worst of him now.
"No it is not my own." He mumbled.
Kaoru frowned deeply at first she had been angry upon finding out she was being followed but when this blood splattered stranger had tripped and fell partially to the dirt seeming out of sorts she grew worried especially when she noticed all the blood. Was he hurt? Who did it? She knew walking home in the dark was questionable when there was a rogue jikininki loose in the city.
This dishevelled, dirty, bloody man didn't seem like the type to devour corpses. Eyes a curious shade of gold gazed down at her devoid of any emotion obscured by even curiouser red hair tinted bloody in the dark. Two swords graced his left side giving the strong hint the was most likely samurai.
"Are you sure you aren't hurt that's an awful lot of blood." He was rather intriguing. "Would you like to come to my home to get cleaned up?"
Battousai could have smiled if he weren't so flustered. No one had ever invited him into their home he had resorted to sneaking in. what a kind soul maybe he wouldn't eat her flesh. His rich voice warmed her heart, " No thank you but it is very late so I will walk you home so no harm comes to you."
He may be a jikininki but he was a gentleman even though he might be the worst this beautiful creature encountered. Kaoru beamed a dazzling smile up at him causing him to stop breathing momentarily. "I would like that." Battousai could have died all over again if he knew he could come back to this very moment with her, this blue eyed woman.
With her leading the way the two strangers set out down the street with only the moon and a few outside lanterns to guide them. It was a warm summer night where the crickets chirped happily and laughing voices could be heard a ways off. The air was warm but not stifling perfect for walking. Battousai chanced a sidelong glance at his companion, the young woman was so captivating with the breeze picking up her long black hair making the strands caress the very edges of his shoulder in passing.
Finally the red head asked his curiosity, "Why do you wear hakama and gi instead of kimono?"
Again her smile stilled his faintly beating heart. She seemed to puff herself in pride before she declared voice confident yet feminine, "I teach the Kamiya Kasshin style swordsmanship at a dojo across town."
So that was why she followed the same path at night she was a sensei, why she dressed not so womanly.
Battousai listened to her endless chatter for the rest of the way as she told him about her dojo, her father, the other school even some things she enjoyed in life. He revelled in listening to her the contact making him feel more human than he had in so many years he forgot what it was like to talk to someone without just discussing a kill and whether he did a quick job of it. So he simply listened and answered her own questions about him albeit a bit vaguely.
When he told her he was a hired sword she didn't shy from him as he had expected only the line in her forehead hinted at her distaste. Battousai felt no harsh judgement or scorn from her only mute acceptance. It was just what was done, what was normal in this age.
The beautiful woman in mans clothing had an infectious laugh and an interesting way she moved her hands around in the air when she became excitable. She was fierce when she spoke of her practise and whimsy as she remembered her father.
He hoped against everything he hadn't been the one to kill her father, to loose this new found connection would eat away at him for all of his days. She would hate him until her last breath.
All too soon the woman slowed then stopped in front of a large door to an outer wall, the wood dark and intimidating in the shadows, a large plaque displaying a proud family dojo name nestled above the door comfortably.
Battousai watched as her navy eyes scanned his blood spattered clothing the line on her forehead returning, they rose higher caught by the light dancing off his top knot of fire hair connecting with blue when she boldly looked him in the face he gave a small curve of his lips. She was checking him out! He knew he had almost girlish features enticing his targets to underestimate him making killing them so much easier.
He watched her cheeks darken at having been caught with wandering eyes. It had been a long time since any girl had looked at him in the face without terror let alone blushing under his cat-gold stare. The manslayer wanted to spirit her away and keep her confined to his room so no one else would see her beauty but him. No one would get her smiles but he alone. Her sweet skin would never know harm for he would swath her in his protective aura. Or he could bury his katana deep into her strongly beating heart savouring her lusty gasp for air while he leaned in to kiss her paling lips ever so gently. He would pull at her milk white skin like a starving man and sip her ruby liquid as if it were the finest sake in all of Japan, taking in her essence bathing in jasmine. He would croon sweet words of comfort to her falling body as he retracted the blade with the utmost care brushing her inky blue tresses down her back as a lover would.
Decisions. Decision. His mind was torn.
No.
He would not kill her. He could not.
Kaoru watched the dull glaze fade from the samurais' odd gilded eyes noticing them brighten to an almost fluorescent. "Thank you for walking me home." She hesitated a moment before giving the red head her name.
Battousai's mind worked out the letters and pieced and un-pieced the woman's name a few times before he gave her a pleased smile. A beautiful name for a more exquisite being. He approved. "Kenshin." Was all he gave her, his surname lost to him when most of him perished. "Now that I have you home safe this is good night Kaoru." Battousai gave her a tilt of his head before he turned slowly almost missing her whispered call of good night his name sugar sweet on her voice.
Goodnight Kaoru.
Two nights later found Battousai sitting in his room tatami cool under his body. He sat beside his shoji staring out his window wakizashi by his rolled futon, katana in his firm grasp lost with unseeing dim eyes. His body screamed its hunger having not consumed flesh for many days. No black envelopes meant he refused to kill just to feed his need if it couldn't be helped. Kami he hated this. This need so strong it could drive him further down the hell that was a jikininki. If he could succeed in ending his life he might be happy.
Happy.
Kaoru invoked such a bizarre feeling.
If he could truly die what of her, would she be safe walking home alone? He was more human like than most of the creatures that prowled at night. Who would if not him be graced with her smile, her endless chatter, her affectionate concern?
Jasmine.
The wrinkled gi clutched in his other fist teased his nose as the smell of her drifted up and off the fabric of the shoulder where her hand had rested after he tripped. He knew he should have washed the bloody garment but being greedy the great Battousai let himself have this one luxury. It was too late anyway the blood was set in the fibres days of soaking were ahead for the poor cloth.
Closing brassy amber eyes Battousai sighed deeply cutting off from his cannibalistic mind. Absolutely not. Swallowing down hard resolve he let himself slip into oblivion where nothing mattered.
The very next night no slip of paper came to find itself under his door so he decided he'd go out anyway. Maybe Kaoru needed an escort home again and holing himself up in his room again didn't hold too much appeal. Katsura waved him in greeting as they met each other in passing. No words were exchanged but there was no need his superior looked quite busy with the heavy jug of sake clutched like a lover in his arms. A meeting must have gone sour.
Warm night air brushed his cheeks playing with his crimson tail tangling knots into it with glee as Battousai exited the wooden gate. Securing it behind him a hand subconsciously flitted over to his hip insuring that both weapons were there before he set out towards the path of streets his obsession favoured. The sun was barely set when he reached her path the sky an orange and red bursting with the last lights of the day. It had had been so warm today he didn't dare even go out into the courtyard. he was very early.
Early meant she would still be teaching at the dojo across town having no students of her own anymore. Sidestepping two older women as they hurried past him Battousai set himself to follow her morning routine, up the street he went steps sure and face determined completely ignored by passer-by's.
What would he say when he reached the dojo?
Would she be happy to see him?
The more he walked the more his confidence crumbled. Step after step his thoughts whirred inside his mind and almost, he almost turned around until he passed a couple. The woman barely stumbled on the uneven dirt in the dim sunlight Battousai watched her face contort in surprise tipping forward when the man reached out to grab her gripping her colourful kimono clad arm to catch her from landing in the dirt.
Breathing laboured the pretty woman looked up to her companion with gratitude. Eyes shining with something he couldn't name then she smiled and they disappeared out of vision. Sneaking a glance behind him the red head found the couple continuing down the row of houses and restaurants her hand on his arm for reassurance.
He wanted to be that man for Kaoru. Her solidity. Always there. Battousai shook his turned down head she would never allow him that close to her soul not after she found out what he was or what he had done. But he could try couldn't he? Smiling to no one in particular he concreted his decision in his mind to continue his original idea. He would walk her home lest she too tripped and damaged her pretty skin.
Up the street he walked past busy homes and food establishments the smell of cooking foods wafted out to him but he didn't hunger never needed it just wanting it to convince himself he was still normal in some way. Drifting through the sea of people rushing around him to get home his eyes scanned the names on top of buildings looking for the name of the school she had more than happily supplied him with. She was so very proud of her teachings and her students the woman seemed to puff up in pride as she talked his ear off. Her training gi had become tight and filled out for just a moment with her prideful inhale. He had watched.
His surroundings became dimmer shadows collected in corners where he knew there were no corners and reading was becoming difficult. The sun has set he must hurry! Passing a large handful more of houses he was hit with the smallest hint of jasmine and sweat, she was close. Passing a large shop on the corner that was going dark just as he looked left than right he spotted her in the seconds left of lamplight from the shop. All his worry melted from his bones. She was just leaving he did not miss her.
Her grey hakama and purple gi fit her oh so well curving with her back and bottom as she bowed to the owner of the school thanking him quietly. A pouch was pushed into her hands as he waved her off bolting the gate for the night behind her.
Battousai watched as the beauty hurriedly tucked the pouch into a light blue kinchaku drawing the strings tightly closed. It struck him as odd to see her carrying such a feminine item in her dirty sweaty training clothes but it didn't sway the charm she held over him. Tossing her tail over her shoulder he watched her step away from the gate towards him.
Blue met gold and she smiled just for him. She was happy to see him!
Battousai inwardly celebrated he was sure she would not appreciate him waiting outside at the dojo she taught at. He always proved to be a good listener if a little brash at first. Gold eyes followed her as she came over to him face bright even in the dark.
"Hello Kenshin have you come to walk me home?" He almost melted into a puddle hearing the voice he had longed to hear for days. Then she was worrying her bottom lip with her teeth causing him to almost come undone.
A dark feeling settled over his body that the manslayer had not felt since he was truly alive almost not knowing what it meant anymore. Desire for this female rolled in hard like a hurricane had hit him.
Battousai nodded to her question not fully trusting his voice to say what it needed to right now.
No! she would never let me touch her that way not if she ever found out. She wouldn't ever be with someone like me.
but what if she never found out? Only Katsura knew he was a jikininki and he preferred to keep it that way. She must have noticed his nervousness because she smiled even wider and grasped the edge of his sleeve forcing him to turn to face the way he had come. Letting the fabric go they fell into step beside each other to start the long walk to her home. "I haven't seen you for a while Kenshin, have you been alright?"
Amber eyes glanced over to his companion she was swinging her intake ever so lightly so the pouch of coins wouldn't escape its nest. "Yes I have just been busy." He watched her peek down at the swords at his opposite side then catching her attention again he demanded, "Tell me about your day, your students."
Finally distracted from his daisho she began to chatter excitably and almost too fast for his ears to follow about her entire day. Her voice rose and fell while her slim hands waved about in the air as she spoke and he listened to every word hanging onto her pauses like a lifeline genuinely curious. He loved that her emotions displayed on her face making her so easy to read, to understand. She was so alive the blood pumping through her cheeks when they tinted in anger or embarrassment. Battousai soaked everything up like a sponge.
The moon had risen to half its zenith where it would rest for most of the night and the crickets well into their night song when the pair reached the outer gate to the woman's dojo. Shyly azure eyes peeked up from dark lashes as she asked quietly, "Would you like to come inside for tea?"
She must live alone inviting him in so late when not an emergency. Battousai looked down at her inhaling all of her in one breath then without thinking brought a hand up, his sword hand, to grasp her chin tilting it up so she could not hide her expressive eyes from him. Nervousness and curiosity shone back at him.
"No Kaoru." Disappointment. Not tonight. As long as you have reached home safe that is enough." His thumb stroked her jaw line as her lashes blinked wiping anything away replacing it with calm understanding.
She was so close he was drowning in her their chests almost brushed with their breathing and he almost lost himself. If he entered her home he would take all of her forcing her to concede and bend to his will whether she was willing or not. It had been so long he didn't think he would be able to recognize if he was hurting her.
The hurricane sputtered out inside him when the thought of hurting her arose. Gently releasing her chin Battousai brushed the knuckles of his hand over her small jawbone before dropping it to his side. Smouldering dark brassy eyes searched her face for disgust but absolutely nothing but finely muted desire not unlike his own was present. She must have seen the lust placed blatantly over his eyes responding in kind.
But being the honourable being he was she would have to ask first he would deny himself that for forever if it meant she would stay smiling. Her heady jasmine smell should never be mixed in blood.
He heard her clutch her bag tighter the coins shifting noisily, "Goodnight Kaoru. Perhaps tomorrow?" His silky baritone thrummed around her.
She nodded once. "Goodnight Kenshin."
He gave her a tiny smile as he reached around her to slide open the door. Turning her he used his body to crowd her into the doorway. "Bar it immediately Kaoru." All she could do was nod again as he slid the door shut. Upon hearing the bolt jump into place Battousai turned on his heel and started away from temptation. Bar me out, it is for your safety tonight.
Frowning the manslayer batted at a pesky firefly in front of his face shoving the creature away not so gently as he hissed in annoyance. The black envelope had come earlier that day crammed under his shoji when he had come back from the mid-day meal. He had plans tonight and that damned Katsura had to ruin it by giving him a job this had better be a quick and easy job.
The sun was low in the sky but still high enough that Kaoru would be teaching for a while yet. Just as well because his target was being slow coming out of the racy geisha house he had tracked him to.
Hurry up! Hurry up!
Minutes later the red head was rewarded when his target stumbled out displaying to all of Kyoto he had had one too many bottles of sake. He was a tall man of slim build similar to himself so would be no trouble taking him down, Kaoru awaited him. As the drunk man passed him Battousai stood from the engawa wrinkling his nose. Not very good sake. Following at a distance Battousai quickly judged his surroundings calculating exactly where was a good spot to finish him and eat it had been almost a week he was starving with the hunger that plagued him. It was so bright still he had no cover by shadows.
That ruled out alleys and alcoves.
Hhmmm. Where?
There were no abandoned places close by in the city.
Where?
In his home?
Battousai continued to follow the man picking up his feet more to create less noise as they entered a quieter part of the city.
A grove of trees?
Amber eyes narrowed to slit's the closer they came to the bridge separating two subdivisions by a river.
The bridge?
Under the bridge?
He'd have to be careful there was a small festival going on on the other side of the river. If he made the fall look like an accident and he the saviour it should draw no attention. Flaring out his ki he searched for witnesses behind him but came up empty. Act natural!
Still following Battousai looked everywhere but at his target seemingly admiring the bushes along the riverbank. My what pretty leaves are on those branches.
Closer and closer he approached at a controlled pace as if wanting to pass the man to walk faster. Battousai was fast right behind him as they were just steps from the bridge. Warm breeze playing with the long grass making it bend and sway in time to a silent song of death. All of a sudden the killers masculine hands graced the targets' back and one arm as he was thrust sharply to the side. Being drunk and unstable helped his falling momentum along as he tumbled down the small incline towards the lazy water below.
Battousai spared no time as he ran after the tall man that was rolling down the bank giving him no chance as the red head unsheathed his katana stopping his movement brusquely. He had plans tonight with a certain blue eyed woman. Raising the steel he plunged it into the heart of his target not thinking twice twisting it a few times to destroy the muscle, bone and skin there. Blood gushed heartily from the large wound spreading over the green grass and clothing articles
A sharp intake of air permeated his ears like music as he waited a minute to catch his mind, pulling the blade out of the warm body he flicked the blood from the steel harshly slamming the katana into its empty sheath before he dropped to his knees the red liquid creeping up the grey fabric.
Lowering his face to the wound Battousai opened the haori further to give him access to his victims skin. The metallic smell of blood assaulted his senses making his mind crazy in hunger. Ripping away as much flesh and meat as his mouth could handle gold eyes closed in ecstasy blood covering his face running down his neck to stain the fabric.
He was so hungry. This felt so right in this moment. Tearing chunks from the body with sharp teeth he felt almost drunk from the alcohol running in the veins he tore open but the flavour was fantastic. All he knew how to do in that moment was tear and chew and swallow. The sun was barely setting he would have to eat quickly if he wanted to make it to Kaoru's dojo she taught at.
A tiny muffled scream broke through his hungry haze pausing mid chew dull gold eyes lifted from the corpses' chest. Blood coated his face, front and dripped from his nose. He knew he must look positively frightening cradling a cooling lifeless body devouring the flesh like it was a tasty plate of onigiri.
It was Kaoru! She most certainly not teaching because she wore a bright yellow patterned kimono one hand gripping her blue kinchaku the other hovering over pink lips holding back her screams. Horror written across her face eyes welling like the ocean spilling over.
What was she doing here?
Damn that kimono fit her waist nicely.
The shock lifted soon after as he watched her turn to struggle, escape, back up the bank away from him as quick as a restricting kimono would allow.
Kuso.
Dropping the corpse Battousai scooted over to the river splashing his face clean trying to dilute the blood as best as he could. She wouldn't get very far her attire would ensure that, it looked deliciously uncomfortably tight. He could just as easily let her go but if she described him to the police another assassin would destroy her life force. He had to protect her. He was so attached to her he needed her.
It did not take long to find the woman only a matter of minutes she had only gotten as far as his first kill when he had first smelt her. Trained eyes caught her slipping into a dark side street most likely to catch her breath.. Speeding his steps Battousai crossed the almost empty street and into the alley to follow.
Jasmine and salt hit him like a brick wall forcing him to exhale quickly at the onslaught of it. Her beautiful form rested against the wall with eyes closed one hand stricken to her chest, a chest that heaved and strained by her efforts against the confining layers of fabric, her obi looked much too tight for her she was either trying to vacuum herself in or she really did have a tiny waist.
The lust he felt for her rose up in him again upon seeing her in woman's clothes with the barest tint of kohl on her lids. She must have been at the festival. Stomping the urge to the deepest parts of his mind he frowned. Now is not the time.