Dark
Chapter Fifteen
A/N: I actually don't have a lot to say in this one.. Kenshin is off getting ready for the next fic(s), and Sano is off drinking Sake. Soujiro moved in because he read what I wrote about Shishio and decided that he didn't like Shishio anymore.
So now I have three boarders.
And my mom doesn't know about any of them.
My life sucks.
Soujiro: Just smile. They'll never suspect anything.
Dove: But.. ah.. I don't care if they know.
Soujiro: o.o Oh.
Dove: Watashi wa Dove Desu!
Soujiro: Hullo, Dove.
Dove: I'm so happy. I know some Japanese! I just said 'I'm Dove' in a nutshell! HEEHEE!
Soujiro: *Mumble* And they think that I'M insane..
Kenshin stared down at the unconcious girl in his arms. She was covered in sticky blood. Mostly, blood didn't bother him. But her blood made him sick to his stomach. He didn't like the feeling.
She was very badly cut. However, she would heal. He saw tears running down her face. They mixed with the blood and made her look as though she was crying blood. He felt pure rage. His eyes were tinged with red, giving him a seriously blood-thirsty look.
If he couldn't kill Shishio right then, he would kill Koshijirou. The thought of Kaoru's dissaproving face didn't stop the thought at all. He was mad. Furious. In fact, words couldn't describe exactly how angry he was.
He picked her up gingerly, as though afraid of hurting her even though she was unconcious.
Completely ignoring the fact that her blood was rapidly covering him, he walked out of the house.
**
Kaoru's eyes opened very slightly. Battousai had picked her up. He was walking.
Pain was causing her an inability of speech and movement. She couldn't breath very well, either.
Her face stung more than everything. The gashes were so deep.. she already knew that she wouldn't heal properly. At least Battousai wasn't the only one with a scar on his face.
And she had six.
She saw Battousai take a phone out of his pocket and say a few words. She couldn't understand them. And then she felt her world fall away again.
**
"I have Kaoru. She needs medical attention. Send Megumi. I'm going back in. She'll be in my car." And he hung up. He felt her muscles tense for a few moments, but as he finished speaking she went limp again.
He placed her gingerly in the back of his car, stretching her out. And then he went back in.
Good thing he had his swords.
**
In no time, Battousai found Koshijirou. The man was lounging in a comfortable room, sipping a glass of scotch, and laughing with two others.
"Yeah, Shishio should be done in a few minutes. She'll still be alive, I made sure of that." He was saying with a barking laugh.
One of the younger men looked nervous, and somewhat freaked out.
"But.. Mr. Koshijirou, how could you do such a thing to a girl like her? She's so small and delicate.. I don't get it. Isn't she your daughter?"
Battousai was intrested now. So he stayed in the shadows to listen.
"Well, Soujiro, you see you're wrong there." His interest was really Piqued at this point. "She is not my daughter. I adopted her."
Soujiro stared at him and opened his mouth to ask another question.
"She was the daughter of some very rich and powerful people. They died, and she was put up for adoption. A very nice sum of about 659 million dollars, along with a large amount of land with a huge and very expensive house on it, is coming to her when she is 21. However, if she is to go insane or in any other way be unable to take care of this trust.. it goes to me as her adoptive father."
"So.. she didn't kill her mother being born?"
"Nope."
"So the only reason that you took her in was to take the money?"
"Yep."
"Why don't you just kill her?"
"Apparently her parents were quite paranoid. They made it so that if she died of accident or murder before she recieved her inheritence or within four years of getting it, it all went to charity."
"So that's why you did what you did."
"Yes. But instead of committing suicide - which would have made everything so much easier, she-"
"Did lose her mind, however it wasn't the way you wanted." Battousai had heard more than enough. He walked out of the shadows in all of his furious glory. His burning eyes made every man in that room feel somewhat dizzy. And a lot terrified.
Soujiro looked surprised, but the look was fleeting and then his face went passive and a smile stretched across it.
"She created other 'hers'. She made multiple personalities to put up with your abuse. How on earth could you do such a thing? When Megumi went about the transfusion that saved Kaoru's life, she found evidence of old broken bones and a few faded scars. Beating up on a child is probably the most disgusting thing you could do."
Only Koshijirou seemed to recover properly.
"Oh, really? And what do you call what you do?"
"Murder." Battousai responded smoothly, emotionlessly. His golden orbs glared into Koshijirou's less fierce eyes. "However, I have never killed an enemy younger than eighteen. I have never killed a sleeping enemy. And I have never once struck a helpless child!"
He saw that Soujiro seemed to be agreeing with his every word. And the look of disgust on his face and in his eyes when he looked at Koshijirou was probably the only thing that saved him.
In a second, the man sitting next to Soujiro was dead, a gash across his chest. Battousai leveled his sword at Koshijirou, not even looking at Soujiro.
"Koshijirou Kamiya. I am here for your life." Kamiya stood, and moved with surprising speed. He snatched a Kodachi off of a rack on the mantle of the fireplace.
Did he honestly think that Battousai couldn't get through the defense of a Kodachi? Poor man.
But Battousai wanted to toy with him some.
He was not going to let him die quickly, after what he did to Kaoru.
He still couldn't figure out why it was that he was falling for her. And so, of course, the omnipresent voice added it's opinion on the matter.
'It's because she's so innocent. The completely unsheilded, ungaurded nature of her eyes intruiges you.' Stupid voice, always having a point. Battousai smirked evilly at Koshijirou and unshielded his eyes for a mere second before returning to him impassive gaze.
In that single second, Koshijirou knew that he was going to die. There was no way around it. The expression in Battousai's eyes had made that obvious.
There were many emotions in that one look. Hate, Rage, Pity, and Disgust. And blood lust.
Koshijirou shuddered and held the Kodachi up in shaking hands. Battousai was in his face before Koshijirou even knew what hit him. A diagonal cut appeared on his chest. The blade split in two. He stared with shock at the clattering blade and then up at Battousai. Why hadn't the shadow assassin killed him?
And with dawning horror he realized exactly why.
The cat-and-mouse game continued for over twenty minutes. Battousai barely noticed the passage of time, all of his energies were focused on Koshijirou.
Finally, he ended the game. He didn't feel that Koshijirou had been 'punished' enough for what he'd done to Kaoru.. but he was going to let a higher power decide now.
With a swish of the blade, it was over.
His eyes narrowed on Soujiro. The young man - Now Battousai realized to his mild surprise that Soujiro wasn't even a man, just a boy a little younger than Kaoru - looked positivly terrified. And within reason. But then the look changed in an impassive smile once again.
"You. You are coming with me." Soujiro stared at him. "Don't make me repeat myself, boy. Unless you want to end up as dead as your two comrades there, come on." The boy stood and followed Battousai out the door wordlessly.
**
Megumi Takani found Kaoru in Battousai's car as he'd promised. Her blood was everywhere - that was going to stain.
She had been severely cut. Luckily Battousai hadn't been stupid enough to mess with the wounds. She hoisted the girl out of the car, quickly and efficiently caring for her wounds.
Just as she was finishing up, Battousai came walking out of the building. Well, she wouldn't call it walking. Wait, yes, she would. He wasn't floating or anything. But he wasn't walking. Or was he? Perhaps 'storming' was a good description word.
A boy came up behind him, expressionless with a fake smile pasted on his face that did not reach his eyes at all. He just stood there, looking at Kaoru and then Megumi and then Battousai with his cold eyes.
"How is she?" Battousai asked in a tone that suggested he was expecting the worst. Megumi was more than relieved that her news was completely unlike what he'd been expecting.
"She's fine. Nothing did real permanent damage. And with my EXPERT care, she should only have a few scars. The ones on the face are to deep to repair with no scarring. And a couple on her arms. The ones on her right wrist, right here. He liked to make the deep ones in groups of three, I assume?"
((Okay, right here I want to admit it. I'm taking the scars off of Inuyasha. Y'know, Sesshomaru? Well, he has the 3-on-each-side markings on his face and then three stripes on his right wrist. I'm not sure if he has them on the other one. But she only has them on her right wrist. Yes, I know I'm a very sad person. Lol. I'm TOTALLY not creative. Not a'tall. I think. Okay, obviously I'm somewhat creative since I'm just about to hit 300 reviews..))
"I guess so, when will she wake up?"
"Soon, I suppose."
"Good. Lets get going then. You, boy, in the car." Battousai laid Kaoru in the backseat again, after putitng his duster between the still-wet blood and her.
Soujiro obeyed, sitting uneasily in the passenger side seat.
"Here's some pain killers. Take 2 for pain. Only ever 4 hours." Battousai nodded and took the pills.
Megumi waved as they left, and then wandered off to answer another call.
**
"Why didn't you kill me while you had the chance?"
"I took a look at your eyes. I saw the expression and decided that you should live. After all, if that man next to you hadn't look so pleased I wouldn't have killed him." Soujiro nodded silently.
"What's your name?"
"What's yours."
"Soujiro Seta. You?"
"Hitokiri Battousai."
"A pleasure, Mr. Battousai. I assume that's Kaoru Kamiya?"
"Yes." Mumbled an absent voice. Battousai put every ounce of self-control he had into not spinning to see her. Instead he settled for glancing in the mirror. She was pale and looked sick, but she was up on one elbow. Megumi must have pumped her full of pain-killers.
"Kaoru?" He wanted to make sure. The apartment building came into sight.
"Hmm." She informed him tiredly.
He almost smiled. The corners of his mouth twitched.
They drove into the parking garage and he parked. Turning off the car, he got out. Soujiro obeyed the unspoken command, shutting his door almost as quietly as Battousai. The assassin reached into the back and helped Kaoru out.
She was a lot more trusting of him, and comfortable around him now. But she still held a healthy wariness of him. Good for her.
He took them both up to the apartment, and helped Kaoru onto the couch. He took his favorite seat, and Soujiro just stood looking lost until Battousai pointed to an empty chair.
The door burst open.
A/N: Augh.. Kuso. The plot has gone far, far away. I can't think of ANYTHING! Any of you nifty reviewers out there got any ideas for me? What would you like to see?
My friend has kinda forced me to write this, so: GO TO FICTIONPRESS.NET AND READ HER FANTASTIC STORY 'SWIFT' USER ID= SASSIE! *cough*
Anyhoo..
I forgot a really good story. I'm such a moron (Don't ANYONE comment on that.. ^_-) that I let one get by. 'DANCING PLUMS AND 8TH GRADE LITERATURE' is utterly fantastic. As well as 'A Stork for Sessha' and 'A Stork for Sanosuke'. All by 'Imbridium Iridium' (Sorry if I spelled that wrong. Sleeplessness is catching up with me over-time.) really great. Read them. ^-^
Kenshin: I'm proud of you. You addressed everything.
Dove: When did you get back? And why?
Kenshin: Soujiro called me and said there was an update on your lovelife.
Dove: Since when do you care -
Kenshin: C'mon Dove-chan! Just spill!!
Dove: *Shrug* It's no big deal! My boyfriend hugged me with no prompting! Whoooo.
Kenshin: Yeah, but he has the Sessha thing going on.
Kaoru's disembodied voice: So do you.
Kenshin: Yeah, but I get paid to. WAIT. Dove-chan, did you say that?
Dove: Nope!
Sanosuke: I like Sake. So, when are you and 'The Boyfriend' gonna kiss?
Dove: SHUT UP!
Sano: Make me!
Dove: *Twitch**Needs him intact for next story*
Sano: *Knows it*
Soujiro: *Watches with complete amusement as poor Dove-chan's love-life is told to the world*
Dove: I'm thinking of making a special filler chapter for when I hit 300 reviews. If anyone objects, please tell me. I'll be putting it up at the same time as an update, so if you want to skip it..
Anyhoo. If I do end up doing that, the first two fillers will officially be taken down, and I'll revamp them to change them into review celebrations. Going to the zoo for 100 reviews, random acts of insanity for 200 reviews, and Kami-know's-what for 300 reviews.
I NEED INPUT! I can't keep y'all happy if you won't tell me what you want!
In case anyone needs reminding, I own nothing. Although I have a couple of dollars to my name now. Soujiro-chan, read the review responses would you? I'm trying to write an Inuyasha fanfic, a different Kenshin fanfic, and this fanfic all at the same time.
Soujiro: Sure, Dove-chan! ^_^
Dove: ^-^ Thanks!
Soujiro: Yep. Now.. *Reads off of new dry-erase board where all review responses are now kept.* (Dove-chan caught Sano stealing the paper. It got ugly. Said paper was used to mop up the blood.)
LadyChrisA - Lol! *Watches Shishio back away slowly*
I'm Disappointed - Thank you for pointing that out. Yes, I have no problems admitting that my story was inspired by Linay-sama's work. However, I made an effort to change it a lot. As you'll notice, after the first chapter I deviated greatly. I don't recall Kaoru being normal, without those powers. Or Sano being in the story at all. Or Shishio. And as for your last comment, I really don't appreciate it. I don't think that it was called for. Thank you!
((^ My first kinda flame! I am TOTALLY an author now! ^_-))
Koniko-chan - Oooh.. *Afraid*
Thundersister - Hey, that's okay. I don't mind. I don't plan on making this a lemon, I'm sorry.
Saiya Winters - Oh, well. You're welcome. ^-^
XP-DarkAngel - *Nods meekly*
Kyia Star - Lol!!
RK-128 - Don't worry. I'm planning on a huge climatic (Is that a word? I hope it means what I want it to mean.. or does it mean weather? Lol) battle. MWAHAHAHA.
CrazyKitsuneFireGirl - Woah. You snuck on to read my story? *Honored* ^-^
Daine - Thanks, me to. Yes, Shishio is evil. Shishio is always evil. Shishio is gonna get whooped. ^_-
Ferai - Lol! Okay, thanks! I hate Tomoe with a passion as well. Big whoop, she completed his scar and made him be a Rurouni and basically set the basis for the whole show. Blah-blah. ^_-
Jurie - *Growl* *Drags you out to make you write the next chapter* Well then. That's cool. ^-^ Same thing happened to me, so hey!
AzNfRiSbEeDrAgOn - *Sarcastic* Good to know my reviewers care about ME so much! j/k
Kurokumo - *Blink* Ooookkkaayy...
LadyChrisA - *Laughs*
Jannie135 - Well, I read and reviewed. Thanks for your review!
Boomerang-chan - Lol. Well, Shishio was cutting her basically because he felt like it. (Isn't THAT a nice reason..) Thanks for the Jell-o! ^-^ I bascialy wrote the car part 'cause that's what ~I~ did the other day. Lol.
LunaAngel - No! The scars have purpose! *Hoping*
Conscience Fairy - Yeah.. I usually do that. I know what you mean.
Ace - Lol!!! Okay. Re-sheathed. I will NEVER remember that. Lol. Don't worry. I'm hoping that the theme will lighten up some. I mean, the story just twisted out of my grasp and started getting Angsty!! *Tackles the story* Get back here.. Oh, and you're welcome.
Mystic Gohan - Bah. They'll never finish dubbing it. Lol. I'm planning on doing the same thing as you.
Dragongurl913 - Thanks!
Fire - Lol. Well, I've set my room up so that I can literally lay on my bed and type at the same time. VERY bad..
l3al3yanime - Note the tears in this chapter.. thanks for pointing that out! I completely missed it!
Glory230 - Thanks
Sayo - Lol! Okay
Baka-Ryu - Rock on. ^-^ now YOU are making ME blush! *Grumble* Oh, and I beta-read the newest chapter on Sky Dweller. *Very proud*
Golden Dove - Lol!! Okay, as you wish.
Dragon_Master27 - Um. Okay! ^-^ I'm glad someone likes the tribulations.. ^-^
Angel - *Bows* As you wish..
evillaughingtalkingwall - Lol. Why don't you just write your entire past down on Notepad, that way you've told someone who can never tell another. ^-^ 'Dove-sama'? Wow. Now I'm really impressed with this story. Lol.
Angie - Yep. That's why I write cliff-hangers! | Kenshin: I thought it was because you WANTED them to hunt you down.. | Dove: *Growl*
Tani-chan - *Giggle* Oh my! I do hope you're okay. Here, have some tylenol! Always works! ^-^ (Can you all tell what the wonder-drug at my house is? LOL!!)
Okay, I have to go wreak havoc at CDI again. Seeya all! (And review!!)
Chapter Fifteen
A/N: I actually don't have a lot to say in this one.. Kenshin is off getting ready for the next fic(s), and Sano is off drinking Sake. Soujiro moved in because he read what I wrote about Shishio and decided that he didn't like Shishio anymore.
So now I have three boarders.
And my mom doesn't know about any of them.
My life sucks.
Soujiro: Just smile. They'll never suspect anything.
Dove: But.. ah.. I don't care if they know.
Soujiro: o.o Oh.
Dove: Watashi wa Dove Desu!
Soujiro: Hullo, Dove.
Dove: I'm so happy. I know some Japanese! I just said 'I'm Dove' in a nutshell! HEEHEE!
Soujiro: *Mumble* And they think that I'M insane..
Kenshin stared down at the unconcious girl in his arms. She was covered in sticky blood. Mostly, blood didn't bother him. But her blood made him sick to his stomach. He didn't like the feeling.
She was very badly cut. However, she would heal. He saw tears running down her face. They mixed with the blood and made her look as though she was crying blood. He felt pure rage. His eyes were tinged with red, giving him a seriously blood-thirsty look.
If he couldn't kill Shishio right then, he would kill Koshijirou. The thought of Kaoru's dissaproving face didn't stop the thought at all. He was mad. Furious. In fact, words couldn't describe exactly how angry he was.
He picked her up gingerly, as though afraid of hurting her even though she was unconcious.
Completely ignoring the fact that her blood was rapidly covering him, he walked out of the house.
**
Kaoru's eyes opened very slightly. Battousai had picked her up. He was walking.
Pain was causing her an inability of speech and movement. She couldn't breath very well, either.
Her face stung more than everything. The gashes were so deep.. she already knew that she wouldn't heal properly. At least Battousai wasn't the only one with a scar on his face.
And she had six.
She saw Battousai take a phone out of his pocket and say a few words. She couldn't understand them. And then she felt her world fall away again.
**
"I have Kaoru. She needs medical attention. Send Megumi. I'm going back in. She'll be in my car." And he hung up. He felt her muscles tense for a few moments, but as he finished speaking she went limp again.
He placed her gingerly in the back of his car, stretching her out. And then he went back in.
Good thing he had his swords.
**
In no time, Battousai found Koshijirou. The man was lounging in a comfortable room, sipping a glass of scotch, and laughing with two others.
"Yeah, Shishio should be done in a few minutes. She'll still be alive, I made sure of that." He was saying with a barking laugh.
One of the younger men looked nervous, and somewhat freaked out.
"But.. Mr. Koshijirou, how could you do such a thing to a girl like her? She's so small and delicate.. I don't get it. Isn't she your daughter?"
Battousai was intrested now. So he stayed in the shadows to listen.
"Well, Soujiro, you see you're wrong there." His interest was really Piqued at this point. "She is not my daughter. I adopted her."
Soujiro stared at him and opened his mouth to ask another question.
"She was the daughter of some very rich and powerful people. They died, and she was put up for adoption. A very nice sum of about 659 million dollars, along with a large amount of land with a huge and very expensive house on it, is coming to her when she is 21. However, if she is to go insane or in any other way be unable to take care of this trust.. it goes to me as her adoptive father."
"So.. she didn't kill her mother being born?"
"Nope."
"So the only reason that you took her in was to take the money?"
"Yep."
"Why don't you just kill her?"
"Apparently her parents were quite paranoid. They made it so that if she died of accident or murder before she recieved her inheritence or within four years of getting it, it all went to charity."
"So that's why you did what you did."
"Yes. But instead of committing suicide - which would have made everything so much easier, she-"
"Did lose her mind, however it wasn't the way you wanted." Battousai had heard more than enough. He walked out of the shadows in all of his furious glory. His burning eyes made every man in that room feel somewhat dizzy. And a lot terrified.
Soujiro looked surprised, but the look was fleeting and then his face went passive and a smile stretched across it.
"She created other 'hers'. She made multiple personalities to put up with your abuse. How on earth could you do such a thing? When Megumi went about the transfusion that saved Kaoru's life, she found evidence of old broken bones and a few faded scars. Beating up on a child is probably the most disgusting thing you could do."
Only Koshijirou seemed to recover properly.
"Oh, really? And what do you call what you do?"
"Murder." Battousai responded smoothly, emotionlessly. His golden orbs glared into Koshijirou's less fierce eyes. "However, I have never killed an enemy younger than eighteen. I have never killed a sleeping enemy. And I have never once struck a helpless child!"
He saw that Soujiro seemed to be agreeing with his every word. And the look of disgust on his face and in his eyes when he looked at Koshijirou was probably the only thing that saved him.
In a second, the man sitting next to Soujiro was dead, a gash across his chest. Battousai leveled his sword at Koshijirou, not even looking at Soujiro.
"Koshijirou Kamiya. I am here for your life." Kamiya stood, and moved with surprising speed. He snatched a Kodachi off of a rack on the mantle of the fireplace.
Did he honestly think that Battousai couldn't get through the defense of a Kodachi? Poor man.
But Battousai wanted to toy with him some.
He was not going to let him die quickly, after what he did to Kaoru.
He still couldn't figure out why it was that he was falling for her. And so, of course, the omnipresent voice added it's opinion on the matter.
'It's because she's so innocent. The completely unsheilded, ungaurded nature of her eyes intruiges you.' Stupid voice, always having a point. Battousai smirked evilly at Koshijirou and unshielded his eyes for a mere second before returning to him impassive gaze.
In that single second, Koshijirou knew that he was going to die. There was no way around it. The expression in Battousai's eyes had made that obvious.
There were many emotions in that one look. Hate, Rage, Pity, and Disgust. And blood lust.
Koshijirou shuddered and held the Kodachi up in shaking hands. Battousai was in his face before Koshijirou even knew what hit him. A diagonal cut appeared on his chest. The blade split in two. He stared with shock at the clattering blade and then up at Battousai. Why hadn't the shadow assassin killed him?
And with dawning horror he realized exactly why.
The cat-and-mouse game continued for over twenty minutes. Battousai barely noticed the passage of time, all of his energies were focused on Koshijirou.
Finally, he ended the game. He didn't feel that Koshijirou had been 'punished' enough for what he'd done to Kaoru.. but he was going to let a higher power decide now.
With a swish of the blade, it was over.
His eyes narrowed on Soujiro. The young man - Now Battousai realized to his mild surprise that Soujiro wasn't even a man, just a boy a little younger than Kaoru - looked positivly terrified. And within reason. But then the look changed in an impassive smile once again.
"You. You are coming with me." Soujiro stared at him. "Don't make me repeat myself, boy. Unless you want to end up as dead as your two comrades there, come on." The boy stood and followed Battousai out the door wordlessly.
**
Megumi Takani found Kaoru in Battousai's car as he'd promised. Her blood was everywhere - that was going to stain.
She had been severely cut. Luckily Battousai hadn't been stupid enough to mess with the wounds. She hoisted the girl out of the car, quickly and efficiently caring for her wounds.
Just as she was finishing up, Battousai came walking out of the building. Well, she wouldn't call it walking. Wait, yes, she would. He wasn't floating or anything. But he wasn't walking. Or was he? Perhaps 'storming' was a good description word.
A boy came up behind him, expressionless with a fake smile pasted on his face that did not reach his eyes at all. He just stood there, looking at Kaoru and then Megumi and then Battousai with his cold eyes.
"How is she?" Battousai asked in a tone that suggested he was expecting the worst. Megumi was more than relieved that her news was completely unlike what he'd been expecting.
"She's fine. Nothing did real permanent damage. And with my EXPERT care, she should only have a few scars. The ones on the face are to deep to repair with no scarring. And a couple on her arms. The ones on her right wrist, right here. He liked to make the deep ones in groups of three, I assume?"
((Okay, right here I want to admit it. I'm taking the scars off of Inuyasha. Y'know, Sesshomaru? Well, he has the 3-on-each-side markings on his face and then three stripes on his right wrist. I'm not sure if he has them on the other one. But she only has them on her right wrist. Yes, I know I'm a very sad person. Lol. I'm TOTALLY not creative. Not a'tall. I think. Okay, obviously I'm somewhat creative since I'm just about to hit 300 reviews..))
"I guess so, when will she wake up?"
"Soon, I suppose."
"Good. Lets get going then. You, boy, in the car." Battousai laid Kaoru in the backseat again, after putitng his duster between the still-wet blood and her.
Soujiro obeyed, sitting uneasily in the passenger side seat.
"Here's some pain killers. Take 2 for pain. Only ever 4 hours." Battousai nodded and took the pills.
Megumi waved as they left, and then wandered off to answer another call.
**
"Why didn't you kill me while you had the chance?"
"I took a look at your eyes. I saw the expression and decided that you should live. After all, if that man next to you hadn't look so pleased I wouldn't have killed him." Soujiro nodded silently.
"What's your name?"
"What's yours."
"Soujiro Seta. You?"
"Hitokiri Battousai."
"A pleasure, Mr. Battousai. I assume that's Kaoru Kamiya?"
"Yes." Mumbled an absent voice. Battousai put every ounce of self-control he had into not spinning to see her. Instead he settled for glancing in the mirror. She was pale and looked sick, but she was up on one elbow. Megumi must have pumped her full of pain-killers.
"Kaoru?" He wanted to make sure. The apartment building came into sight.
"Hmm." She informed him tiredly.
He almost smiled. The corners of his mouth twitched.
They drove into the parking garage and he parked. Turning off the car, he got out. Soujiro obeyed the unspoken command, shutting his door almost as quietly as Battousai. The assassin reached into the back and helped Kaoru out.
She was a lot more trusting of him, and comfortable around him now. But she still held a healthy wariness of him. Good for her.
He took them both up to the apartment, and helped Kaoru onto the couch. He took his favorite seat, and Soujiro just stood looking lost until Battousai pointed to an empty chair.
The door burst open.
A/N: Augh.. Kuso. The plot has gone far, far away. I can't think of ANYTHING! Any of you nifty reviewers out there got any ideas for me? What would you like to see?
My friend has kinda forced me to write this, so: GO TO FICTIONPRESS.NET AND READ HER FANTASTIC STORY 'SWIFT' USER ID= SASSIE! *cough*
Anyhoo..
I forgot a really good story. I'm such a moron (Don't ANYONE comment on that.. ^_-) that I let one get by. 'DANCING PLUMS AND 8TH GRADE LITERATURE' is utterly fantastic. As well as 'A Stork for Sessha' and 'A Stork for Sanosuke'. All by 'Imbridium Iridium' (Sorry if I spelled that wrong. Sleeplessness is catching up with me over-time.) really great. Read them. ^-^
Kenshin: I'm proud of you. You addressed everything.
Dove: When did you get back? And why?
Kenshin: Soujiro called me and said there was an update on your lovelife.
Dove: Since when do you care -
Kenshin: C'mon Dove-chan! Just spill!!
Dove: *Shrug* It's no big deal! My boyfriend hugged me with no prompting! Whoooo.
Kenshin: Yeah, but he has the Sessha thing going on.
Kaoru's disembodied voice: So do you.
Kenshin: Yeah, but I get paid to. WAIT. Dove-chan, did you say that?
Dove: Nope!
Sanosuke: I like Sake. So, when are you and 'The Boyfriend' gonna kiss?
Dove: SHUT UP!
Sano: Make me!
Dove: *Twitch**Needs him intact for next story*
Sano: *Knows it*
Soujiro: *Watches with complete amusement as poor Dove-chan's love-life is told to the world*
Dove: I'm thinking of making a special filler chapter for when I hit 300 reviews. If anyone objects, please tell me. I'll be putting it up at the same time as an update, so if you want to skip it..
Anyhoo. If I do end up doing that, the first two fillers will officially be taken down, and I'll revamp them to change them into review celebrations. Going to the zoo for 100 reviews, random acts of insanity for 200 reviews, and Kami-know's-what for 300 reviews.
I NEED INPUT! I can't keep y'all happy if you won't tell me what you want!
In case anyone needs reminding, I own nothing. Although I have a couple of dollars to my name now. Soujiro-chan, read the review responses would you? I'm trying to write an Inuyasha fanfic, a different Kenshin fanfic, and this fanfic all at the same time.
Soujiro: Sure, Dove-chan! ^_^
Dove: ^-^ Thanks!
Soujiro: Yep. Now.. *Reads off of new dry-erase board where all review responses are now kept.* (Dove-chan caught Sano stealing the paper. It got ugly. Said paper was used to mop up the blood.)
LadyChrisA - Lol! *Watches Shishio back away slowly*
I'm Disappointed - Thank you for pointing that out. Yes, I have no problems admitting that my story was inspired by Linay-sama's work. However, I made an effort to change it a lot. As you'll notice, after the first chapter I deviated greatly. I don't recall Kaoru being normal, without those powers. Or Sano being in the story at all. Or Shishio. And as for your last comment, I really don't appreciate it. I don't think that it was called for. Thank you!
((^ My first kinda flame! I am TOTALLY an author now! ^_-))
Koniko-chan - Oooh.. *Afraid*
Thundersister - Hey, that's okay. I don't mind. I don't plan on making this a lemon, I'm sorry.
Saiya Winters - Oh, well. You're welcome. ^-^
XP-DarkAngel - *Nods meekly*
Kyia Star - Lol!!
RK-128 - Don't worry. I'm planning on a huge climatic (Is that a word? I hope it means what I want it to mean.. or does it mean weather? Lol) battle. MWAHAHAHA.
CrazyKitsuneFireGirl - Woah. You snuck on to read my story? *Honored* ^-^
Daine - Thanks, me to. Yes, Shishio is evil. Shishio is always evil. Shishio is gonna get whooped. ^_-
Ferai - Lol! Okay, thanks! I hate Tomoe with a passion as well. Big whoop, she completed his scar and made him be a Rurouni and basically set the basis for the whole show. Blah-blah. ^_-
Jurie - *Growl* *Drags you out to make you write the next chapter* Well then. That's cool. ^-^ Same thing happened to me, so hey!
AzNfRiSbEeDrAgOn - *Sarcastic* Good to know my reviewers care about ME so much! j/k
Kurokumo - *Blink* Ooookkkaayy...
LadyChrisA - *Laughs*
Jannie135 - Well, I read and reviewed. Thanks for your review!
Boomerang-chan - Lol. Well, Shishio was cutting her basically because he felt like it. (Isn't THAT a nice reason..) Thanks for the Jell-o! ^-^ I bascialy wrote the car part 'cause that's what ~I~ did the other day. Lol.
LunaAngel - No! The scars have purpose! *Hoping*
Conscience Fairy - Yeah.. I usually do that. I know what you mean.
Ace - Lol!!! Okay. Re-sheathed. I will NEVER remember that. Lol. Don't worry. I'm hoping that the theme will lighten up some. I mean, the story just twisted out of my grasp and started getting Angsty!! *Tackles the story* Get back here.. Oh, and you're welcome.
Mystic Gohan - Bah. They'll never finish dubbing it. Lol. I'm planning on doing the same thing as you.
Dragongurl913 - Thanks!
Fire - Lol. Well, I've set my room up so that I can literally lay on my bed and type at the same time. VERY bad..
l3al3yanime - Note the tears in this chapter.. thanks for pointing that out! I completely missed it!
Glory230 - Thanks
Sayo - Lol! Okay
Baka-Ryu - Rock on. ^-^ now YOU are making ME blush! *Grumble* Oh, and I beta-read the newest chapter on Sky Dweller. *Very proud*
Golden Dove - Lol!! Okay, as you wish.
Dragon_Master27 - Um. Okay! ^-^ I'm glad someone likes the tribulations.. ^-^
Angel - *Bows* As you wish..
evillaughingtalkingwall - Lol. Why don't you just write your entire past down on Notepad, that way you've told someone who can never tell another. ^-^ 'Dove-sama'? Wow. Now I'm really impressed with this story. Lol.
Angie - Yep. That's why I write cliff-hangers! | Kenshin: I thought it was because you WANTED them to hunt you down.. | Dove: *Growl*
Tani-chan - *Giggle* Oh my! I do hope you're okay. Here, have some tylenol! Always works! ^-^ (Can you all tell what the wonder-drug at my house is? LOL!!)
Okay, I have to go wreak havoc at CDI again. Seeya all! (And review!!)