Escape
By Bri-C123
Chapter 5
Recap from chapter 4…
"Jin-eh." The voice was cold, nothing like what she was used to, but she knew it was Kenshin.
"Battousai."
The name would have made her freeze, if she wasn't frozen already. Her concentration on the spell broke. Kenshin…Battousai? This man… her mate… was Battousai?
Kaoru felt like she was out of breath. He couldn't be… She had heard stories of the Battousai when she was younger. It always made her afraid, but it also always made her sad. She would pity him.
He was always scorned. Scorned and feared as the largest and most powerful wolf. It was said that people cowered at his feet wherever he walked. Flowers died if he came near. He was evil.
Of course, she couldn't believe everything. There was no man or wolf in this world that would make her cower. Surely mother nature would never allow one person to roam this land if he was so destructive to her surface. Her father always said he told her the true story of Battousai. The story where he is just a man who fought for what was his.
But that was not important now. She had to concentrate on getting free. She would hound her mate later for not telling her. Right now, she had to fight Jin-eh on fair grounds. She quickly found the trigger and released the spell put on her. Jin-eh and Kenshin were still talking. Kaoru turned and blasted a spell towards Jin-eh. It was not strong, just a pinch of what she could really do. It got his attention and he turned, no longer bothered by Kenshin.
"It isn't right to interrupt a conversation like that dear."
"It isn't right to throw a paralysis at me while I'm trying to have a conversation with you either."
"If I remember correctly, you looked like you were ready to attack. Like you were ready to kill." He smiled, showing teeth.
Kenshin let out a loud snarl. It echoed through the clearing. Shivers made their way down Kaoru's spine, but her face remained impassive. "This is my fight Kenshin. Please stay out of it."
"Ah yes. I love how she says your true name, not going by your title. What the little one says it true Battousai. This is our fight. You cannot interfere."
"I have a right to your fight as well Jin-eh!"
"But her's has a stronger hold than yours. We are rivals. She has revenge." Jin-eh turned to Kaoru. "Well, little bird, you have me, and you may never get a chance like this again." Kaoru stalked forward, keeping her shields up.
"We fight fair. No spells."
"No spells."
They were bound to this fight now. Nothing can stop them. It was Kaoru that made the first move. She rushed forward, her fist raised. She knew it was rash. She knew it was stupid, but she did it anyway. She knew what she was doing, or so she hoped.
He dodged it, as expected. She stumbled and turned, keeping him within eyesight. He watched her with a keen eye. Kenshin was at her back. She could feel his eyes on her, burning into her soul. She took a deep breath and charged. It became a dance. Jin-eh would dodge as Kaoru came at him. Kenshin stared, confused. She was only wasting energy. Jin-eh became interested. He knew she was better than this.
After about ten minutes, she finally stopped. Her breathing was unfazed. "Little bird, I really don't have all the time in the world to play. I just need you to come back to alpha. Maybe then, I can get permission to play this little game of yours."
"I will never return to that place" she snarled darkly. "You and your kin will never make me."
"Tch. Haven't I taught you better manners than that? I'm sure the last time we were together, you were much more mannered. Perhaps I need to show you again?" Jin-eh was suddenly in front of her, a sharp finger nail just barely touching her face. "It will be as fun as last time, I promise you."
"Oh joy" she said. Her hand grabbed his, her own elongated fingernails showing how close she was to changing, to tearing him apart. "No need to bring up the past. I already remember it perfectly."
"Of course." He stepped back in a gentlemanly gesture. "Well then, shall we end this quickly and relive the past?" It was now his turn to attack. Kaoru just barely blocked the punches and kicks. He was quick to land one on her side. The force of it propelled her to the ground. She took a deep breath and let it out. The smell of magic hung in the air. "Didn't you say no spells?"
"Personal magic does not count as a spell. You already know that." She stood. "Come on, we're not here to chit chat." She launched another series of attacks, all of them blocked by Jin-eh. He parried everything and then attacked as soon as she stopped. To any eye, it would seem as if they were evenly matched, but Kenshin could see that Kaoru was starting to tire. Her blocks were half a second later than usual. It wouldn't be long until Jin-eh got the upper hand.
Then suddenly Kaoru dropped down to one knee and launched forward. She tackled Jin-eh to the ground and put her hand against his neck. Elongated nails pricked at his skin. "What are you waiting for? You can kill me now."
"You know I won't do it."
"But you've done it once already. Once a killer, always a killer, isn't that right Battousai?"
Kaoru didn't turn, but she knew Kenshin's eyes would be darkened with fury. His ki radiated rage. "You will go back, and you will tell them that I will never go back. You have nothing there for me."
"Don't we?" He held out a hand and in it were a few strands of fur.
Kaoru's eyes blazed. "You dug them up?!" she shrieked. "How dare you retched-"
"If you want them to go back, you will come with us. No need to make a decision now, I'm sure you want some time to say goodbye. But tomorrow, we will take you back. That is, if you want their bodies back where they belong."
"That is against all laws! How dare you defy such-!"
"These laws that bind us do not bind the humans. They can do what they may. There is no law that tells us to stop them."
Her hand tightened around his throat. "I ought to kill you right now" she growled.
"But you won't. Unless you suddenly want to contradict your words earlier." She snarled and scratched his face. The marks easily disappeared but it made her feel better as she leaped off him.
"What use do you have of me? I am nothing to you. Nothing to them."
"Everyone has a purpose. Its only a matter of time before you find out. I shall be seeing you tomorrow." He turned and left, taking his crew with him. Kaoru had to use all her control to not go after him and tear him to pieces right then and there."
"Kaoru…"
"You need to go" she ground out. "You and your pack need to leave right now. They will find you if you don't."
"We can take care of ourselves."
"No you can't!" She turned to him. "They have dozens, maybe as many as a hundred wolves. You and yours will never be able to fight them all alone."
"Come with us."
She clenched her hands. "I can't. You know I can't."
"But Kaoru…"
"Kenshin, I must go. If I don't go with them…" She turned away. "Anyway, I'm sure Battousai is no better company than those wolves" she said. Those words hit home, just as she suspected it would.
"Battousai is only a name" he snarled. "It does not define who I am."
"It defines who you used to be then? How is that any better? Who knows, perhaps one day I will anger you and then, what? Will I be killed like that pack? Or will you kill the people I run from? I will not be responsible for murder, and I will not let myself be the excuse for such things."
He pushed her to the ground and he straddled her, his golden eyes burning into hers. She closed off all emotion. "Do you know why I did what I did? Do you know why I earned such an appalling title of pack murderer? Do you know anything about me?" he roared. She didn't answer. He softened his voice. "Nothing. You know nothing. You don't know how I take care of my own. You don't know that I would never do anything to harm others if I didn't have to." He reached out a hand to touch her cheek. "Least of all you. You are mine. My mate. There is nothing I won't do for you, and there is nothing I will do if you don't want me to. Do you not trust me?" He grabbed her hand and let the tingle of their soul touch each other. "Do you not trust this? This is what we are. We are meant to be like this. You cannot believe that I will let you go back to where you made me swear never to take you. I will not let you go Kaoru."
She didn't say anything. Her eyes were averted. He sighed and got up, pulling her with him. The walk was silent, as they went back to his cabin. He handed her his heart, believing in their bond. She was so skeptical. She didn't know if she should trust him. Is it okay for her to just leave? What would happen?
But she has a responsibility. She cannot go back on her word. She knew the dangers that can be caused if she were to leave behind everything. That pack wanted a living sample. They wanted her. But that didn't mean they won't use dead bodies.
There is never enough time, but can she make the most of just one night? She looked at Kenshin. This was the plan all along. To just leave when she could. She had prepared herself at the beginning. She will do what she must.
"Please Kaoru, tell me what is going on." He wasn't looking at her but she could feel the anguish inside him. "I need to know. I need to protect you."
"Soon" she whispered. "Soon everything will come to light. Trust in that."
They said nothing more as they continued to walk.
Wow, I really haven't updated in a while. I am so so sorry for all those who have been patiently waiting.
To:
Reignashii
Inu-love-kag
ZilverWolf
Hikari-hime 01
Kokoronagomu
Saphira113
Thank you so much for reviewing. I am sorry I cannot reply to everyone individually, but please know that I appreciate everything you all say. I'm glad you all like this story and are happily waiting for my newest chapters.
Thank you also, to all those who followed this story and favorited this story.
I look forward to seeing you all next time!
Love, Bri-C123