Escape
By Bri-C123
Chapter 12
Waiting is always the hardest part. Kenshin lost sight of Kaoru a while ago. He growled low in his throat at the memory. The small thread that still connects them clearly showed her anger, her defeat, her distress. It took everything in him not to leap in right there. Oh, but he wanted to. A growl from Aoshi reminded him that he needed to make sure she would be safe before he can barge in.
Her well-being is his first priority. After that, after having her safe in his arms again, then he will destroy everyone who dared to try and take what was his. He could feel the familiar ki of his once opponent. The man he thought dead. He is the one who dares to touch her. Who dares to hit her. Even with his limited connection, he could still feel each blow, and can only imagine what she is going through.
Night soon fell and he found himself tensing, ready for action. He can already feel the ki's of most wolves fall into the content peace of sleep. He looks to the shadows, sensing his beta there. He holds up one hand. "Five minutes" he mouths. Five minutes, then they move.
Five minutes is enough time to kill someone, but he dares not stay on that train of thought. He definitely will take his mate back alive. He will save her.
Kaoru lost all sense of time while she was chained to the wall. It was just like before, when she would retreat to the recesses of her mind. She mostly remembered. The happiest times were when she was still with her parents. But those times ended so brutally. She could still feel their blood on her, long after she washed herself in a waterfall.
Enishi finally left and Kaoru let herself gasp in a breath. He was definitely mad at her. She could hardly feel her arms. There was no strength left in her to pull herself up. Her wrists burned from the constant contact with the silver chains. Now she had to wait until someone remembers to come and release her. Another waiting game.
The door creaks open but she doesn't have the strength to look up. It doesn't matter who it is. They would release her and she would go back to the cell. That's how it always it. Perhaps she'll forever be trapped in this prison, unable to escape. Perhaps this is her fate.
The small pack follows their alpha as he finds his way to his mate. There is no one on guard. They are too confident. He creaks open a door and sneaks his way in. He breaths in, and his eyes glow in anger. He smells his mate, blood, and magic. He bares his teeth and swings his head around to find his mate chained against a wall. He is in front of her in a flash, a low whine at the back of his throat. She doesn't respond. He steps closer, but still she doesn't move.
It takes a lot for him to push his wolf back. He reaches out to touch Kaoru. She is cold. "Kaoru" he whispers her name. "Kaoru, love."
Silence.
He moves to grab the chains, but is stopped by Aoshi. "Wait, alpha." He stares hard at the chains. "They are silver."
And Kenshin nearly loses control. He can feel his teeth elongate and his nails turn into hard claws. A snarl starts in the back of his throat.
Sano steps forward. "Calm down, alpha. We need to take your mate out. We cannot do that if you bring attention."
It was hard to hold himself back, so Kenshin stepped back and closed his eyes. He motioned for Aoshi to take her down. He couldn't watch. If he watches, he knows he will tear Aoshi into pieces.
The chains clang together lightly, making Kenshin clench his teeth. When he opens his eyes, Aoshi has backed away and Kaoru was on the floor. The alpha moved to his mate. "Kaoru… Kaoru…" He brings her close and buries his nose between her shoulder and neck. His scent is gone from her. She smells like so many other wolves. He wants to clean her and rub his scent all over her, show her that she is his and she can never leave him again.
"Kenshin, we need to go."
With a snarl, he turns around and growls at his beta, who puts his hands up in surrender. It is hard to hold back the anger of his wolf. "We leave now" he says with a low growl. "We leave and let her rest." He hoists his mate up into his arms and they move to leave.
"Well, I thought I smelled something bad in here."
His hair had turned white since the last time Kenshin had seen him. He wears colored spectacles, that hide his eyes. "Look what the little bitch brought with her."
Kaoru stirs in Kenshin's arms. She flinches, as if hearing Enishi's voice automatically makes her prepare herself for the worst. She opens her eyes. "Enishi…"
"Kaoru" Kenshin calls. "My love, are you okay?"
She blinks her eyes slowly, not believing what she is seeing. "Ken…shin."
"Kaoru…"
"Kaoru" Enishi growls. She flinches at his tone.
"Kenshin… let me down."
His hold on her tightens. "No."
"Kenshin. Put. Me. Down."
"Kaoru…"
"Just do it!" He unwillingly sets her on her feet again. "Enishi, they have nothing to do with this."
"Ah, Kaoru, such a conceited girl. My fight with them has nothing to do with you. Isnt' that right, Battousai?"
"Enishi, I must say you have changed quite a bit." Kenshin's voice is hard and sarcastic. "I do believe the last time I saw you was when I buried you."
"Well, I must say that these things have a way of coming back to haunt you, right? With that bloody past and all."
"I've been atoning for those sins, Enishi. If only you had understood that the first time."
"You killed my sister!" Enishi growls. Kaoru flinches at his tone and involuntarily steps back. "You took her away from me!"
"It was an accident, and you know it!"
"No! You took her from me." He looks at Kaoru. "She is your mate now, right? You think you can just throw my sister away and have a new mate?! No, I will take her from you this time. This time, you will be the one to lose her." Kenshin steps protectively in front of Kaoru. Enishi laughs. "You can't protect her from me! I've already broken her for you. A broken toy!" His smile widens, showing teeth. "Kaoru! Come."
With a whimper, she steps towards Enishi. Kenshin puts out his hand, stopping her. "Kaoru, don't listen to him! He is trying to manipulate you." She holds onto his arm, trembling.
"But…"
"Kaoru, stay with me." Kenshin begs.
"Kaoru, remember our bargain."
She feels torn. Two responsibilities are warring inside her. "I…"
"Enough of games, Enishi." The new voice comes from behind him. "I told you that I don't want any intruders or distractions. Kaoru is due for dinner." Kaoru's nails dig into Kenshin's arm. "I don't care who they are, just kill them!"
Megumi shrinks behind Sano, who stands taller, and growls. "Kanryuu."
"I don't believe we've met before, but I'm glad my name seems to be well known. What did you come here for? I can't give you Kaoru, but I can give you money. How much do you want?" The thin man steps besides Enishi. "I'm good at making business deals. How about this, I let you go free and with the money. In return, you leave my girl, and never come here again."
"Your girl?! She is MINE." Kenshin growls and starts to shift forms.
"Kenshin, you mustn't!" She clings desperately to his arm. "Don't shift here!"
"Good! Good, you remember the rules then, Kaoru-chan." She glares at Kanryuu. "Now, now, what did I say about getting compliments."
Enishi glances at her, and she clenches her teeth before answering. "Thank you, Kanryuu-sama" her voice high.
"Tsk, still need to get rid of that sarcasm, but no matter, I can do it again." He pulls out a cigar, and one of the men behind him lights it for him. "Anyway, your friends still haven't answered me. How much do they think you are worth?"
"She is coming with us. She is mine." Kenshin grabs Kaoru's arm and brings her close to him. "I won't let you take her."
"Kenshin…."
"You, as a human, may not understand, but this woman, is mine. No one can fully love her, or protect her, like I can. That is what it means to have a mate." He glares at Kanryuu, who shrinks a little. "You will not be able to take her from me."
"Ah, but you are the one who took her from me. You see, I had her first."
"She is mine!"
Kenshin starts towards them, but Kaoru holds him back. "Please Kenshin, you mustn't."
"Listen to the girl, Battousai. Besides, I'm sure you don't want to end up with filth like her as a mate." Enishi sneers. "Although, I must say, it makes sense, a murderer with a murderer."
It all seemed to happen in a blur. Kenshin leaped towards Enishi as Kanryuu backed away. The rest of Kenshin's pack followed his lead. Megumi and Sano head to the side, keeping a wall to their back. Aoshi and Misao leap towards the shadows of the room, attacking with speed no one could see. Kaoru stood, still at war within herself. Does she help Kenshin, the mate she doesn't know, or does she return to Kanryuu, who blackmails her into captivity?
Which part of her heart will she follow?
Minna, Gomen nasai! My laptop had a lot of problems this summer and I finally managed to get all my documents back. Be prepared for an onslaught of updates (aka a chapter update for each story) as soon as I'm done editing what I can.
Honestly, things have been kinda tough. But I want to thank everyone who followed, favorited, and reviewed my stories. It really is a great motivation and I'm thankful that people still find my stories enjoyable enough to want more.
Arigato gozaimasu.