A/N: Since there seems to be some potential for the story to develop further, I'm going to keep writing and see where this takes me
A/N: Since there seems to be some potential for the story to develop further, I'm going to keep writing and see where this takes me. Wish me luck!
Oh, and since I forgot in the first chapter: ALL STANDARD DISCLAIMERS APPLY.
Kaoru cowered behind Aoshi as she was led deeper and deeper into the base. It seems the war had caused some major changes in the city's architectural designing, as everything was starting to be built underground. No matter, it was safe from the bombing, so it should be alright.
It was then that Kaoru realized something. Why was the leader of the Resistance sitting here, so faraway from the actual fighting? Shouldn't he be leading his troops or directing the battle? Kaoru supposed that there was a good reason to all this that she was not missing. Another sharp tug of Aoshi's hand brought her mind back to the enigma in front of her. The man was still dragging her quickly through the tunnels.
How strange that someone who seemed so normal was turning out to be her worst enemy. He was definitely someone she didn't want to mess with. In a way, the black hair and blue eyes combination was similar to her own, but his eyes seemed older and wearier. Sighing in relief when Aoshi (she had stopped thinking of him as 'taxi man') released her hand, pushing her into a small room.
"Wait here," he ordered gruffly. "Someone will come fetch you for an audience. And don't even try to escape-the tunnels extend farther that you would believe and it's so easy to get lost".
Glaring back at her captor, Kaoru sat on her bed in a seeming show of submission. But she couldn't resist calling back to him, "Hey, my groceries are still inside the trunk of your taxi. They'll go bad soon if you don't throw them away".
The stoic man blinked at her and smirked, closing the door as he left. Kaoru lay down on the bed and feigned sleep. Actually, she was considering all the different scenarios in her head. The foremost plan was escape, but she knew Aoshi wasn't lying about the tunnels. Plan B was just as implausible. She could plead her case to the Battousai, but he didn't strike her as the sympathetic type. Helpless in her situation, Kaoru was forced to go with Plan B, hoping that all the rumours weren't true.
The door was thrown open as an energetic girl flew into the room. She was holding a tray of food, but seemed to not have dropped anything. "I'm here to greet the new prisoner," she screamed. Kaoru, who had jumped up when the door opened, decided that this new girl could be of some use. After all, she had to know her way around the base, right?
The girl, who introduced herself as Makimachi Misao, did not seem to care about Kaoru at all. Though she was supposed to be guarding the prisoner, Misao used this valuable time to daydream. Smiling slightly at the younger girl, Kaoru was reminded of herself, a few years before this godforsaken had taken her innocence away from her.
Misao jumped up as soon as Kaoru had finished her tasteless lunch. Smiling widely, she pulled an unresisting Kaoru with her. This time, Kaoru tried to memorize the path back to her room, so that she wouldn't be completely lost. Within a minute, they were standing in front of two large steel doors, waiting. Kaoru did not want to seem impatient, but Misao began fidgeting and blushing as she looked down another hallway. Soon enough, Aoshi arrived, expressionless as always.
Misao squealed and launched herself at Aoshi's midriff. When she noticed Kaoru staring, she clutched even harder at Aoshi, missing his pained wince as she dug into his wound. Hoping that she wouldn't be executed for this, Kaoru decided to help him out. "Misao, I think Aoshi is wounded. Maybe hugging him would cause the wound to reopen…" Kaoru smiled as Misao began fussing over him.
"Misao, I'm fine, now go back to the kitchen," commanded Aoshi, clearly put –out that she was being so annoying. He looked so irritated, which probably meant bad things to come. Kaoru prayed to any Gods that were listening for her safety. She didn't want to think about what would happen to her if they decided she was a threat.
Aoshi pushed through the steel doors, and pulled her inside the room. The room was clearly lived in, with papers and clothing spread everywhere. A red-haired man stepped out from another room, still holding his toothbrush. He glanced at Kaoru and Aoshi, and disappeared again. The sound of running water stopped, and he stepped out once more.
Kaoru didn't know what to think. Who was this handsome man? She knew there was something wrong with his appearance, but she couldn't pinpoint it. As the mystery man stopped in front of her, she knew who he was. Hair like flames, eyes like amber and his distinctive cross-shaped scar. Knowing that this was the Hitokiri Battousai, she took a few steps back.
This man was one of the more feared Battousais. He was said to attack only at night, silently stalking his prey from the shadows. With one strike, his sword would fell hundreds of men. Kaoru felt all her chances of mercy slipping through her fingers.
"Kenshin," Aoshi sighed. "This is her. Her name is Kamiya Kaoru." Bowing deeply, Aoshi left without a word.
"Kenshin?" Kaoru gasped as he edged closer.
"Himura Kenshin," said Battousai, obviously uncomfortable by her fear.
Schooling her features into one of impassivity, Kaoru took another look at her captor. He seemed weary, as he would rather be anywhere but here. Though he was famed to be evil and ruthless, she guessed that he was probably as human as anyone else. She stopped edging backwards and drew herself up to her full height.
"My name is Kamiya Kaoru. I am nineteen years old. I am but a maid, and I have done nothing wrong. Please let me go!" Kaoru noted that her voice seemed calm and controlled, but her heart was pounding in her chest. Since she wasn't going to live through this, she might as well die with some dignity.
Kenshin inspected her uniform closely. "Are you sure you're just a maid?" He looked like he was considering something important.
"Yes, I'm sure. I'm just a maid for the Yukishiro household. You can ask around the city." Kaoru thought that she might be closer to a breakthrough here. But Kenshin tensed suddenly at the mention of the Yukishiro name.
"Kaoru," he began slowly, in a bargaining tone. "Yukishiro is my sworn enemy. He is one of the Loyalists, and I am one of the leaders to the Resistance. Yes, he is powerful, but all his money is from ill-gotten means. He is a coward, always hiding behind his money and killing off thousands so that he can profit from this stupid war. In short, he is everything I hate and want to destroy about this government; the epitome of cruelty and corruption."
Kaoru looked down. Even though it seemed silly, she felt a bit ashamed that her employer was so horrible. But she didn't have a choice- if she didn't work for Enishi, she would have died on the streets a long time ago. There was simply no place for people without purpose-they were recruited into the war and sent directly to the front lines. Shuddering at the thought, she brought her attention back to Kenshin, who was pacing the room.
"Kaoru. Within all reasonable logic, there isn't a good reason why I would just let you go back to Enishi. For all I know, you could be a clever spy for him…I don't know. All I know is that your father was a good man. So, for an old friend, I'm willing to make an exception this time. I'm willing to let you go back safely back to your home."
At this, Kaoru gasped with surprise. She was eager to get back to safety and she was extremely happy that she wasn't going to die. She could kiss someone right now. Smiling brightly at Kenshin, Kaoru turned on her heel and began to march out of his lair.
"Unfortunately, there's a catch. You see, we're still not sure of your loyalties, no matter your heritage. So, I'm asking that you do something for us. We're going to use you as a spy. As long as you do what we ask, you won't be killed. Sound fair?" Kenshin sounded menacing, his soft voice taking on a steely edge.
Kaoru was desperate once more. "I'm just a maid, I can't do anything. But if it satisfies you, I'll try my best to do anything you ask. Just let me go." She didn't want to cry in front of this man, mostly because she didn't want him to think she was weak and foolish. If only she was pretty like Tomoe; she could try and flirt her way out of this situation. Screaming inside, she anxiously waited for Kenshin's decision.
"Fine. We'll be in touch soon." Kenshin left without another word.
Kaoru almost collapsed from relief. She could leave now, and pretend none of this ever happened. But a small voice inside her told her that she had just promised Kenshin to be a spy. Oh well, there wasn't much use in overthinking the situation now. What was done was done, and she could deal with the consequences when they came.
Stretching to relieve her tense muscles, she stepped outside to find Aoshi waiting outside. They walked silently through the hallways, as silent as mice. She didn't want any conversation with the man who had brought this on her. But once they were inside the taxi, she couldn't resist.
"What happened to my groceries?" Kaoru blurted out the first thing that came to mind, and then blushed. She was so silly. Her life was no longer in danger and she could only think of her groceries. Because Kaoru had her head in her hands, she missed Aoshi's smirk.
"Actually, I sent a messenger with them to the Yukishiro household. So you won't get beaten for being late…" At this point, there wasn't much for Kaoru to do except feel grateful to whatever deity was watching over her.
A/N: So, my first review by LimeGrass has inspired me to continue with this story. There are a few ideas I'm working with, so please support my in my endeavour. Meaning…please review. Thank you!