The Break Down

Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin doesn't belong to me.

"blah" talking.

'blah' mind talking.

'blah' thoughts.

Blah visions.

Chapter Five.

When they got back to Battousai's apartment Kaoru went straight to the room she had woken up in early that day and closed the door without speaking to the amber-eyed man that watched her. Climbing onto the bed she curled herself into a ball and tried to deal with the dozens of emotions running through her brain. That man, Soujiro's memories had been especially hard to allow into her consciousness. The emotions that had come with them were unbridled and powerful. Pain. Anger. The moment his memories entered her mind these feelings coursed through her as if they were her own, as if she had been the one who lost, who was left behind. They had yet to leave her.

She had no idea how long she had lain in that position, his memories repeatedly flashing before her eyes as she tried to grasp some semblance of control over them, but she knew it was at least a few hours. It had been years since she had seen memories as bad as his, apart from her own. She had forgotten how much damage they could do. In the back of her mind she was vaguely aware of the door opening and hearing footsteps come a few feet into the room.

"Get up." Battousai's cold voice entered her awareness, but she chose to ignore it hoping he would go away. A few moments passed and suddenly rough hands grabbed her shoulders, pushing her onto her back. Battousai's face came into view as he leaned over her on the bed.

"I said, get up! Stop wallowing, you're acting weak." He said calmly before letting her go and stepping back a few feet. Kaoru stared at the space where his head had been only before moments before as the words he had said sunk in. When realization of his words hit her a new feeling entered her heart. Hatred. This time, the emotion was all hers. She sat up and glared at him.

"You have no idea how hard this is for me. How DARE you call me weak." Kaoru growled, her voice low and dangerous. "You have never had to bear other people's emotions on top of your own!"

"That's just it. They are his emotions. Not yours." Battousai said calmly.

"But I feel them as if they were my own!" She growled, almost screaming. Then a calm look took over her face and she mentally reached for the cord that bound her mind to his and used it to paralyze him, freezing him to the spot. Pretty much the only things he could move were his eyes and mouth.

"Release me this instant." He snarled, a very annoyed look in his eye. She gave a soft smile and stood up, stretching the kinks out before languidly walking over to him.

"Aww, poor Battousai doesn't like this?" She purred, running her hand up his chest over his shirt. She brought her face close to his neck, casting her hot breath over his pulse point before licking it gently. She slowly brought her lips up so they were level with his, which also forced her on tip-toe since he was so much taller. Her breath mingled with his and she gently nudge his lips with hers, touching so lightly it couldn't have even been called a kiss. Her eyes watched his widen, but only a fraction. "I'm not going to lie. You have a very…delicious body that I would just love to take advantage of."

Battousai smirked. "If you're so keen to take advantage of me then why do I detect the faintest trace of…fear in your ki?"

Kaoru's eyes widened for a second before narrowing in anger. Using the connection between them she shoved every last horrible feeling she had gotten from Soujiro into his brain, before physically shoving him into the wall and fleeing into the bathroom, locking the door behind her. Walking to the sink she turned the tap on, splashing cold water on her face. When she was done she looking into the mirror, only to see a scared little girl staring back at her.

"What the hell are you thinking?!" She said to her reflection, angry at herself for being so see-through. "You're supposed to be stronger then this!"

Her right fist connected with the mirror and it shattered.

Five minutes later she walked out of the bathroom only to be shoved up against a wall the second she was past the door.

"You will never do that to me again, you hear?" Battousai snarled, his hand holding her to the wall by her throat. Kaoru didn't flinch, merely looked into his furious eyes.

"Crystal." She replied, her voice calm and void of emotion. Battousai's face was dangerously close to her own as his eyes roamed from her eyes to her lips. In less then a second his lips were forced upon hers in a brutal kiss that lasted only a second before he stalked away, claiming to be getting a doctor for her bloody hand. She didn't flinch as the front door slammed shut.

"Bastard."

Battousai came back an hour later, followed by a mysterious woman who strangely reminded Kaoru of a fox. Kaoru realized this was the doctor he had been talking about.

"I am Megumi Takani, doctor employed by Katsura." The woman held her hand out.

"Kaoru." Kaoru looked at the hand that was offered, but didn't take it. An annoyed look flitted across Megumi's face as she took her hand back.

"Well, let's have a look at your hand, shall we? Follow me into the bathroom, Battousai, you stay here." Megumi walked into a different bathroom, one that was connected to the living room and smaller then the bathroom that was in the bedroom. Opening a bag she had with her she took out the tools and began cleaning Kaoru's bloody hand. Kaoru glared at the older woman. The cleaning solution stung and the woman was anything, but gentle.

"Three of these cuts need stitches." Megumi said when she was done cleaning, going to her bad to get a medical needle and thread. Grabbing Kaoru's hand she pinched the biggest wound closed and stabbed the needle through it.

"Ow, stupid bitch! That fucking hurts!" Kaoru yelled, pulling her hand away. Megumi stepped forward and slapped her, hard, before grabbed the front of Kaoru's shirt, pulling her close.

"You better get this straight, raccoon-girl. You are not a guest here. Don't even think about taking any pleasure from staying here. The only reason I'm here is because Battousai asked it of me. You could rot, for all I care." Megumi hissed before grabbing Kaoru's injured hand and resumed stitching it. A look of realization dawned on Kaoru's face

. "You like him." She stated. Megumi said nothing, just continued her task. When she was done stitching it she put some ointment on it and wrapped her hand in a bandage. As they were walking out, Kaoru brushing up into Megumi's personal space.

"Don't worry. There is no way I could fuck a pompous bastard like him anyway. He's safe from me." Kaoru hissed, before walking into the bedroom and slamming the door behind her. Both Megumi and Battousai, who had been sitting on the couch, heard the telltale click of the door being locked. Megumi sighed and looked at him.

"If there is anything else you need, please don't hesitate to ask." She told him in a soft voice. She waited for a response, but all she got was a nod as he was still focused on the bedroom door. She let herself out.

End Chapter.

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