Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin
*
I stared at the back of the man who walked a few paces ahead of me. His back was all I had seen since our last talk. He had refused to converse with me, ending all conversations I attempted to bring up but he would just present pure ignorance.
At first I had settled gladly to the silence, letting it hug me and comfort me slightly. But after a while it had begun to consume me, and greatly unsettled my mind.
More than once I had been scolded for talking to myself, but it had been more mumbles than talking.
I picked at my mud clogged claws, and ran my fingers through my still greasy hair. Lord I craved nothing more than a hot bath right now.
I vowed to myself that if we ever crossed the path of a welcoming village I would run for it. If he didn't kill me with his hands, he was doing it with his silence.
I hadn't realised he had stopped until I ran slap into his wall of a back, I stepped back dazed.
"Over there" he pointed and my eyes wandered in the darkness. I frowned.
"Were?" I huffed, my eyes catching sight of nothing.
"Follow" he grumbled and I dug my nails into the palm of my hands and kept my lips tightly shut, I would not rise to his ignorance.
I wondered where the gentle man I had previously spoke with, when I had confided of my beliefs, told him the stories of Raza and Nila he had suddenly become so hostile. His attitude grew bitter and I replayed the whole scene in my mind, wondering what I had let slip that may have offended him so.
But I found nothing.
This brought me back to why I was here in the first place, this man had informed me I was to become his bride, his wife, his life mate and all because I had picked a flower or in his words 'chosen' him. Yet I wanted nothing to do with him when he strode so arrogantly.
A flutter of noise alerted me to the path we were headed and my whole body grew tense when I saw the flicker of light float in the dark. Manipulated fire was dancing ahead in the darkness and my eyes grew wide at the sight, I wanted to see who was manipulating the fire.
I looked to Kenshin to find him just as aloof as he had been these past few walks. My eyes stretched back the fire dancing in the dark.
Kenshin's stride became more progressed, his pace quickened but mine slowed. I was afraid of what I was walking into, blinded by the dark I had no knowledge of what lay ahead of me. Kenshin`s figure was becoming faint but his blood red hair could not be missed.
He stopped his frantic pace, but kept his back to me.
"Kaoru, why do you stop?" his voice was gruff.
I stayed quiet for a moment, my eyes flickering back to the unknown ahead of me.
"What is out there?" I asked my voice light and feminine compared to his.
"Nothing of a threat, I assure you" his voice a serious tone.
I took a hesitant step forward until I found my pace and slowly made my way to his side, he didn't continue until I was level with his body. He turned his head towards mine and my eyes widened at the sight.
"Kaoru" he struggled, his scar was glowing.
I looked towards the still flickering lights and then back to his face.
"Why are we here?" I demanded.
Why did he look so afraid?
"I must protect you" he closed his eyes as though to push himself to concentrate, he moved forward.
"From what?" I asked following close to him.
"Everything" He muttered a whisper.
"What does that have to do with here?" I wrapped my arms around myself as we closed in on the light.
"You will see" were his last words as we entered the light of the fire.
A small camp was set up, with scruffy dark skinned creatures. Their skin tattooed with symbols I did not recognise, they spoke a language I also wasn't familiar with. One thing I knew for sure was they were weak, but still I kept very close to Kenshin, retreating my frame to the shadows of his large back.
I could see as we entered their home they grew wary of Kenshin, his presence caused disturbance and even the fire flickering dangerously. A few of the dark skinned creatures retreated to their homes which were shaped in domes. An elder approached us, a large staff in her wrinkly hands.
"Justifier of evil I welcome you to our pure haven" the elder of the race grinned and I raised an eyebrow at her rotten teeth.
"You know why I come?" he smirked, his self-assured attitude kicking back to life.
"Of course, It has been long expected" she cackled and I was reminded of that of the elders of my village.
"Kaoru" the wise ancient grinned at me and I sunk back behind Kenshin, my hands finding his robe I gripped it.
"She is most certainly not like Tomoe" the senior chuckled but Kenshin growled.
"You will banish those thoughts" he hissed.
Even with his body shielding me from any horror, I wanted to run.
"Let me see the flower" the forbearer asked out and I peered out from behind Kenshin, the flower still beat close to my heart.
"Kaoru" Kenshin let his eyes drop to mine and I gasped at the sheer glow of amber, where had her soft lavender eyes gone?
"Present the flower" he ordered.
I pulled the glowing beauty from my furs and jumped at the excited gasps that interrupted the silent night. All the dark skinned creatures were smiling and snickering excitedly.
"Are you both prepared?" the ancient asked us and I glanced up at Kenshin.
"We are" he answered for both of us, he took a step forward but I gripped his robe tugging so he turned to me.
"I don't understand" I pleaded with my eyes and was surprised to hear the sigh escape his perfect lips.
"We are ready" he turned away from me and let his strong voice convince the elder.
"Hand me the flower Kaoru" the forbearer asked holding out her hand but my grip tightened on that which I was most possessive of. When my actions confirmed my refusal Kenshin held out his hand to me.
"Give it to me" his words fluttered over me and my hand shot out automatically.
He had a power over me, and I knew with any request I would simply follow and obey.
"Let the sacrament begin!" she whispered and I felt the hairs rise on the back of my neck.
My eyes had been so preoccupied with the charge of bodies rushing around preparing something, something for me and Kenshin that I jumped when his skin tickled mine. His fingers gently caressed mine and I leaned closed to him when he curled his fingers around mine, enveloping our hands together.
"Do not be afraid" he whispered and I breathed in his intoxicating scent, his soft voice brought tears to my eyes.
"What are they preparing?" I sobbed turning the shaming sight of my pitiful tears away from the intimidating creatures.
"Our wedding" his voice tickled my ear and I shivered.
"I thought that had already been taken care of by picking the flower" I asked confused looking up into his once again violet eyes, I once again found peace in there soothing glow.
"No, that had only marked you as mine, we must now bind our feelings and bodies together" his lips hovered close to my ear and my fingers dug hard into his robe. I couldn't explain the affect his presence and words had on my vulnerable body, he had never spoke to me in such a way before.
"Do I have no say in the matter?" I bit out, not trusting my voice to give away the true feelings prickling my skin. I was being stubborn, but I was not used to being ordered around so easily.
"You lost all say in the matter when you chose to pick my flower, you didn't have to but you did. So we will end these childish arguments and finish what you started" his words were not harsh, he spoke once again with gentleness that calmed me.
I was fighting a losing battle.
Kenshin would most likely scoff at the word battle.
"What will take place?" I asked giving in; there was no reason to struggle against him anymore. Fate had chosen a path for me and there was no way I could turn back. I would have to accept what the gods offered.
"Do not think or try to reason with conflicting thoughts, just let things happen naturally" he wrapped his arms around me and I leaned into him.
There was still so much I didn't know about this man, and the unknown frightened me more than anything else.
"Do you accept me Kaoru?" he pulled me closer, crushing my body into his.
I thought his words over, thinking back to the past few days and how he had acted towards me.
"Why are you so desperate to have me as your wife?" I mumbled into his clothes.
"I cannot survive alone" his breath tickled my neck.
"You mean if we do not complete this ritual then you will die?" I asked pulling away slightly.
"Yes" his grip on me tightened.
"When I become your wife, will you stop treating me like your prisoner?" I let my body mould into his, enjoying the way we fit together.
"You have never been my prisoner Kaoru; I have merely been a guardian to you. If you could only have seen the predators lurking and waiting for you, I would not have needed to keep you by my side" he paused and pulled away from me cupping my face in the process "You would have begged for my presence"
I found no arrogance in his words, and his eyes remained the calm purple I preferred to the sharp amber.
"Everything is ready" the elder interrupted our moment and the panic rose in me once more.
"Please Kaoru do not be frightened, nothing will harm you" he implored and I turned to the ancient.
"When will this be over?" I asked feeling confidant wrapped up in Kenshin's embrace.
"When you decide" she smirked and I saw the others giggle to themselves.
"Then I am ready" I whispered wondering if I was lying to myself, trying to convince myself of something I was not at all prepared for.
Kenshin kept his body firmly pressed into mine as he led me into one of the dome dens.
*
With Tomoe
"Battousai will be at his weakest state when he gives himself to the female" I growled ripping the leather of my whip I held tight in my claws.
"He is confused, we must stop this at once before it can proceed" Enishi wanted his King back just as much as the army of troops did that were currently positioned behind him.
"Very soon" I smirked watching as they both entered the den. There had once been a time when he had pulled her into that very same den, and there they had consummated and confessed words of magic so powerful it bound mind and soul.
She would not allow him to even utter the words.