Brutal Passions
BY: Demon Tsunami
A/N: A whore house, a (always) hot Battousai, and Kaoru in a dress…What more does one really need to say? ^-^
WARNING: This author suffers from severe 'gutter brain', and is frequently seen laughing maniacally to no one while writing pure pointless smut. If graphic sexual situations and detailed violence bothers you in any way, suck a dead man's toe, and get out of my story.
CHAPTER THREE: Decent into Sin
The pitfalls of hope
Trip me into despair
Teach me to love
I've forgotten how to care
"She's authentic without meter or rhyme. A random design of a flower, She is Rose, No one really knows… Everybody wants to save her from herself. They really want to save themselves" –NOFX 'Decom-poseur'
Ethereal, that's how one might describe the enthralling beauty of Madame Rose of the small island's most notorious house of ill repute, the Fluer Lascivité. With hair like an inky water fall of shimmering black, and eyes sharp and made cunning with years of serving the most desperate low end society to the most self indulgent high society, she invoked a presence of unaffected cool. Achieving a property of her own, in a age where woman were more commonly property themselves, all the while managing to survive police and dangerous men alike; proved the Madame was clearly a force to be reckoned with.
Dressed in an exotic and lavish kimono of splendid gold and obsidian, her cutting gaze measured the bashful Sano's with her own disapproving stare.
"Sagara?" The woman raised a delicate eyebrow, lips pursing as she held the wooden door ajar. "Come to pay your debt?" The severe look in her eye showed her familiarity with the spiky haired man, while clearly distancing their relationship as professional.
"Hey Megumi," he smiled a cheek splitting grin at her obvious distaste for his knack of using her personal name, and not the professional one she preferred. "May I come in?" He asked impudently, trying to stare into the dimly lit room beyond.
"You have always been a social faux pas," she sighed, giving him a narrow look from the bottom of her eyes, "If you must, you must. I take it your friend Himura will be along shortly."
Sanosuke shrugged, following the graceful woman's glide into the luxurious interior, a room adorned with ruby silk and some of the softest looking cushions in all manners of shape and variation splayed the gleaming mahogany furniture. It was a polished room, intended to be sensually appeasing, and it certainly looked like a room of debauchery and sinful temptations. Warily Kaoru trailed Sano, feeling safer in her grimy breeches and tunic then she had all day.
"Well, Sano, it isn't a pleasant surprise," Magumi turned, her painted face looking like that of a doll's, perfect and elegant. "I should think your last stay would've convinced you to perhaps avoid here a bit longer, unless you have the sum you so exuberantly scampered out of paying."
Sano looked dutifully abashed, rubbing his hair with a boyish guilt, "I was going to pay ya, I swear Megumi, we just had to leave in a hurry, that's all." He opened his small purse, displaying their convincing lack of funds. If possible, the Madame's face grew more impassive.
"No money, no girls, and Sano, Kenshin managed to pay his bill, police or not," She added dryly, gesturing them back towards the door.
"No, please," Kaoru spoke, removing the cap that was too large and hung over her features, obscuring them in shadow. Her blue eyes were pleading, wide with fear that they'd come so far only to learn nothing.
"Hmm, beneath all that mud was a girl," Megumi smiled, but it was not a sweet smile, "A filthy girl dressed as a boy, now," she turned an accusing glare to the man, "why does this sound like another questionable situation you intend to drag me into?"
"Long story," he admitted.
"Such is always the case with you two," she sighed, "Do not bring more trouble on my head, rooster, I am warning you."
"Yes, ma'am," he responded cheekily, at the look she gave him he quickly amended, "She's under prosecution from an abusive fiancé, her brother had been lost, and we only need a place to stay." He implored, giving her a taste of his most pitiful puppy eyes.
"I have heard 'only' from your mouth one time too many in the past," she chided, her stare took in the girl, "Her plight is unfortunate, but husbands (future or otherwise) are known for hitting, and woman are known for running. It is not my concern, and I will not risk my welfare on another miserable wretch. I have my fair share of them upstairs."
"We can find lodgings elsewhere," Kaoru ignored the affronted look Sano shot her and continued on, looking to the Madame earnestly. "I only want to find my brother, please, if you know anything of the slave traders…" Sano cut her off with a sharp look, so different then his usual sunny disposition.
"I see," Megumi did see, her past began clawing at her memory. The girl's brother was lost for good; Sanosuke was a fool for misleading her otherwise.
Even if they found the boy, which was exceedingly doubtful, they would never manage to retrieve him. The new traders coming in were foreigners; they ran in human flesh with merciless greed, uncaring of anyone's misfortune, and responding with a deadly force that had even the police skirting them. Not to mention the rumors that these men were being funded by wealthy elitists, making them untouchable in the grand scheme of things. It was a foolish waste of time to search so avidly in vain.
"Very well, I have no news of the traders, they don't frequent my brothel," she thanked the powers that be for this in her thoughts. "However, while you have more than stretched the debt I owe you, I will allow you my generosity once more, but Sanosuke, if you cause problems for me, I swear to you, I will relieve you of the tool that makes you a man. A sorry excuse for one, might I add."
"Thanks Magumi, you're a doll," He replied with a saucy wink. Kaoru could see the woman's mental eye roll, even if she was too reserved to actually follow through with the motion. Turning her stare to the scrap of salt sprayed cotton and dirt, the woman's lips curled in disgust.
"A bath, perhaps?" She suggested; her expression grew speculative as the girl nodded gratefully, "At dusk you must retire, unless you wish to earn coin tossing sheets?"
She smirked at the girl's horrified look, "I thought as much. In the mean time, I would ask you not to cross dress; it will only bring attention to yourself while you remain here. I am sure I have something suitable around," she turned her head slightly, "and Sanosuke, you will pay for the bath and clothes. Whether it's in labor or money is your choice." She folded her arms, looking severe and aloof, her hair was pinned by glittering gold clips, face painted white with rogue, she looked perfect and still in her haughty regard.
Sano turned sullen in demeanor, but nodded. Smiling, she gestured for the girl to follow her, briskly ordering Sano to stay out of trouble and away from her girls. The charming ruffian had a bad habit of tricking the woman here into the bed in exchange for smiles and winks, and sadly, such things did not pay the bills. She was aghast at his abilities, though she'd never admit it, these women cooed over him in ways that were not usual for their kind. They didn't want the man's money; they in fact, seemed to enjoy the infuriating man's company.
It caused her endless chagrin, and she would undoubtedly be severely upset if she ever learned that the wily sailor did it to irritate her purposely. He had, and would always be, completely infatuated with the Madame, had been ever since he'd found her years ago, but she had repeatedly informed him that her desires for the opposite sex were mute, a curious affliction for a woman who owned a brothel. Her story betrayed the truth of it, and unbeknownst to the scallywag, she only had respect for two men, the honorable Himura, and the man in question, Sano himself.
Though she'd never been so fool hardy as to reveal her opinion to anyone, especially the spiky haired nuisance.
-*-
The sun slanted in curious ways through the wooden roofing of the shoddy stable, burning through the weather cracks and spilling onto the mucked hay floor. Had the man not been actively trying to hide his presence, he would have never left his pure bred steed in such dismal conditions. However, his current business affair required absolute discretion. The arrogant man remained blissfully unaware he was unsuccessful in hiding his location; that there was in fact another man already there, awaiting with lethal patience for him to step onto the imagined 'x' and mark his doom.
A man who knew no mercy, a hunter who trailed the large man's steps beneath him like a leopard might eye its' prey, waiting with sharp golden eyes for his moment to pounce and deliver the death blow.
This second man was dressed in traditional travel garb, a straw hat concealing his amber eyes as he watched the pompous and vile man beneath go about the hassle of securing his mount. It was clear the noble had no experience tending his own horse, and he fumbled through it with irritating slowness, repeatedly skirting the space Battousai intended to trap him within, as if he instinctively sensed that it was tainted with danger.
Finally, his waiting was rewarded, and the girthy merchant was ambling indecisively in the exact position he required. With a cutting smirk the assassin dropped, like a leaf in the wind, a soundless decent of imminent death. None the wiser, the wealthy man continued to press himself from foot to foot, seemingly oblivious, his fat expression focused with a strange sort of fascination.
As Kenshin drew steel, the man belatedly spun, fear radiating from him, consuming his beady eyes. His glance flickered back to what he'd been studying so intently, and with a frown Battousai noticed a young boy, shorn midnight hair blowing in the breeze as he regarded the trembling noble within the stables.
Katsura had been clear, no witnesses.
With an effortless slice his metal gouged the swelling flesh of the man's belly, causing him to cry out horridly. The boy watched, expressionless, as Battousai gutted his master. With an assured stride the lithe red head bent over his prey.
"We are Ishin Shishi, know our name, it is your death sentence," as the man garbled, spitting blood, his eyes rolling in agony, Kenshin continued unaffected. "You have taken our people, sold human flesh on our seas, for that, you will die, so that your kind understands. We will not tolerate foreign contamination here, you slave trade will fall, if we must cut you down one by one."
"P-please…n-no…" the man was bawling, fat tears dribbling down his flabby features. Battousai sneered in disgust, eyeing the seeping red and black from the man's middle with an expert eye.
"Too easy," he commented, swiping the man's head clean from his shoulders. It rolled in a thunking progress, to lay still and motionless, glassy eyes still frozen wide in the shock the man felt at seeing his own demise racing towards him.
Battousai turned to rid himself of the slave boy; it was a necessary evil, Katsura wish to strike these men down quickly and fiercely, but to do so he must remain completely distanced from the matter. If they were ever to discover such a powerful politician had a hand in these assassinations, his career would be ruined. Too many powerful men had opposed taking action against these foreign abominations, they cared not for the people they were supposed to protect, and only for the coin these criminals lined their purses with.
Himura was hardly a known associate of Katsura by any means, but neither he nor Katsura wished to take any risks in this matter. Because of that, all who witnessed must be eradicated. Any sightings of himself would not be difficult to trace backwards, few men had his coloring or skill with a blade. If it was ever linked to Katsura, the repercussions would be disastrous. The man risked everything for a better Japan, and Kenshin would not fail the trust he'd given him. In his mind, duty was all that remained.
"Boy?" he called gruffly, not spotting the youth beyond the stable's entrance. With a growl of impatience he darted outward, careful not to be spotted by any lingering traders. It was almost dusk, and most were elsewhere occupied, but a few men still gathered in front of a tavern across the dusty road.
No sign of the child, he seemed to have vanished into thin air.
Disgusted at his own negligence, Kenshin only gave up after an hour of tracing multiple sets of small footprints to no avail. Hopefully he had been too obscured by his wide brim hat and plain clothing for the boy to have glimpsed anything useful. Now, much to his dismay, he would be forced to port for a few days to be certain no rumors arose. Was there no end to his ill luck of late?
-*-
The boy ran.
Panting. Burning. Cold, so cold.
If he had a name, he had forgotten it. Sometimes, in the winking hours of twilight, when his exhausted body refused sleep, fearing the looks his master gave him, the stories from the other boys ringing in his ears, he almost remembered a face. Blue eyes, black hair, perhaps she was his mother, his ears yearned for sweet words, his flesh for the feel of anything but the lash, and so he would pretend she was there, whispering to him that it would be alright.
If only…
He tripped, stumbling, his knee dribbling red stains onto the dusty ground and down his bruised and filthy legs. His chest burned, his palms stung, but he rose quickly, running as if the devil were on his heels. Perhaps, in fact, he was.
That man, if he was a man, had feared nothing, he'd taken down the master with one clean slice. Ending the tormenter of his existence so effortlessly, making all his pain all so…meaningless…weak. If he survived past this night, he vowed to know that feeling, that power, to be able to take a life, to right wrongs, to save himself.
Oh how he'd dreamed of that very fate for his horrid master for so long, he almost could not believe it had actually occurred. It left him shaken with relief, stunned. Yet, when those odd copper eyes had met his own, he'd clearly seen his own death in those metallic orbs. It had shaken him, left him cold.
So he ran. He ran until his feet blistered, his chest burned like a candle flame, he ran until he fell and could no longer lift himself. He ran to the edge of sanity, and stopped, dropping limply, his body so dehydrated and malnourished that it simply gave way to exhaustion.
As destiny would unfortunately have it, in the end, no matter how far he ran, it wasn't far enough…
-*-*-*-
Bliss.
Pure utter bliss.
Kaoru sunk into the steamy water with a dreamy sigh, letting her bruised and battered limbs submerge in the hot water was like the sweetest taste of heaven. Her aches and cuts were soothed with the warm liquid and soft floral scented soap, which she applied to herself generously, leaving not a fleck of dust, a sniff of salt or fish. She hadn't felt this good in too long, and she closed her eyes, allowing the water to lap at her and rock her into a hazy almost sleep.
Stirring only when the water was too cool for comfort, she pulled her water wrinkled self from the wooden tub with much hefting. Her limbs felt like wood, cumbersome and lethargic with their brief taste of rest. She wrung out her shorn tresses, fingering their unnaturally shortened length with a wistful frown; she missed her long beautiful hair. Seeing the Madame Rose had made her want to be pretty, to feel clean and desirable, she'd been nothing but a filthy boy for weeks, and she yearned to be a delicate girl, if only for the night.
"Are you quite finished?" A smoky woman's voice demanded, muffled through the door. That would be Lilly, the woman Madame Rose had ordered to assist her, and lend her suitable clothing. She was a hard woman, with frizzy chick yellow hair and watery blue eyes lined with too much age for her youthful build.
"Yes," Kaoru called, wrapping a drying cloth around her. Lilly entered looking cross, her face already painted with rogue and ink, her dress a stunning cut of sapphire silk and velvet lace in a style decidedly western. The girl's coloring was also foreign, and it complimented the beautiful clothes well.
"Well then, let's get on with it," Lilly was stockier in frame then the girl before her, sturdier by build, but their sizes were similar enough that she was able to toss a selection of dresses onto the cot mattress.
Kaoru paused in awe at the vivid beauty of the fabrics, reverently touching the cool silk in admiration, "One of these?" at the other girl's scowling nod she smiled brightly, "Oh, they are so lovely!"
"Yes, yes, lovely," the other girl rolled her eyes, "Put one on you twit." Kaoru stiffened, and then dismissed the obvious taunt with a sniff. She turned her focus to the dresses, holding a pale pink gown to herself in inspection.
"I really do appreciate it," she murmured to the girl, hoping to soothe some of her hostility. Lilly's eyebrows rose, a smirk gracing her crimson painted lips, but made no comment.
"It's not your color," the blonde commented moments later, moving to stand behind the Japanese girl who was currently holding a green dress to herself in speculation. Lilly sighed, eyeing the girl's obvious good breeding and innocence with borderline contempt, and returned to her wardrobe.
"This will look stunning on you," she admitted begrudgingly, holding out a simple navy silk kimono for the girl's inspection. It had a vibrant red floral print on it, and tied with a heavy silken belt, it was simple but beautiful, much like the unassuming girl herself.
"Oh, it's gorgeous," she whispered, her blue eyes shown with gratitude, "Thank you." Lilly nodded stiffly, uncomfortable under such freely given praise. She handed the garment to Kaoru, fetching bindings for her chest and assisting her into both.
Kaoru stared at herself in a slightly distorted looking glass, seeing her pale features surrounded by chunky black spikes of wet hair, and the decadent dress that hugged her slim frame as if it were made for her in undisguised awe. She looked a bit like the girl she'd been months before, and it stunned her to see such a reflection after catching only glimpses of herself as grime covered boy for too long. Lilly smirked at how easily pleased the girl was, coming up behind her to touch the cropped strands of onyx hair calculatingly.
"I could do something with this, I think," She tilted her head, "Perhaps a bit of rogue for those pale cheeks as well." Kaoru accepted her generous offer, allowing the older girl to sit her down and cluck over her too short hair style. Lilly set about pinning up the locks; deftly arranging them in an assortment of bobby pins while allowing wisps of black to trail down into the girl's face at artistic places before securing it all with a few small silver combs.
Nodding in satisfaction, she smeared a small amount of rogue to the girl's slender cheek bones and lips, backing away to see the effect. "It's not my best work, but it'll do," she informed her with a wry grin.
"Thank you," Kaoru couldn't help herself; she clasped the woman in a brief impromptu hug, startling her. Lilly frowned, straightening her dress, and holding the girl at arm's length.
"Now, that's not necessary," she muttered gruffly, but secretly she allowed herself a brief moment of affection for the kind youth. The girl truly was as the Madame of Fluer Lascivité said, a rare person of true innocence; she could see now why the mistress had been taken with her. The girl almost made herself impossible to hate.
"We best be to the kitchens if we want any supper," She ordered, sashaying out primly with Kaoru timidly following. She lead them through the hall, to the small servant's stairwell, left over from when this truly used to be a grand estate and not a house of ill repute. It was a narrow, hassling journey, but they made it with little issue, reappearing in the brightly lit kitchen moments later.
Kaoru gasped, sucking in a breath in shock as she took in the two people conversating before the kitchen's hearth. The first was Madame Rose, looking decadent and so beautiful that Kaoru no longer could manage to feel as pretty as she had upstairs. It'd been easier to view herself as drastically improved without an unfairly attractive woman to compare herself to. The second was Aoshi Shinomori, still dressed in an immaculate white dress suite, his eyes two frozen lakes as they met hers in subtle acknowledgement.
"Don't worry," Lilly whispered, misinterpreting the girl's shocked dismay, "He's a friend of the Madame's, and he never comes here looking for the women."
"Too our great misfortune," An attractive brunette chimed in with a giggle. The women who loitered seemed more intent on eyeing the attractive first mate than actually finishing their meals, sneaking him heated glances through thick lashes as they tittered.
Kaoru busied herself with obtaining a bowl of soup and piece of bread, carefully avoiding looking at the imposing first mate.
"Lady Kamiya," The women's collective shock was apparent as he strode from the Madame to take the young girl's hand and plant a gentle kiss on it. "You are much improved." His expressionless face did not reveal if he indeed believed so, but Kaoru blushed at the compliment anyway.
"You are too kind, Aoshi-sama," she replied demurely. He did smile then, if only slightly, pleased that her dressing as a woman seemed to gift her with a woman's docile nature. She was quite radiant, though too young and naïve for his tastes. Megumi was as predictably generous as always, he noted a bit smugly.
"Madame Rose," He turned to the proprietress, his cutting blue stare meeting the woman's cool one. "I would ask a favor of you."
Megumi contemplated this for a moment, intrigued. Himura's stoic first mate had never asked her for anything, and it was with a new found curiosity that she eyed the waifish Japanese girl. Could she have managed to steal the impassive man's attention? If so, there was more to this girl then met the eye, that was for certain.
"Yes?" She enquired; well aware her girls were hanging on every word.
"It is a private matter," he turned, giving Kaoru a courtly bow (much to the fawning envy of the other women present) and proceeded to lead Megumi to a more private location.
Kaoru sighed, seating herself daintily and clearing her mind of apprehensive thoughts. Madame Rose had insisted she remain hidden from the cliental, not even Aoshi should be able to sway her opinion. She ignored her growing unease in favor of spooning the hot broth into her mouth, swallowing the steamy soup in ecstasy. Anything not flavored with salt was a much needed change to her pallet, and she devoured her portion with gusto, enjoying the feeling of a full belly.
Soon she became aware of the unnatural stillness surrounding her, and she gazed upward to find many sets of curious eyes upon her. The loose women of Fluer Lascivité were raptly gazing at her, completely unapologetic in their direct evaluations of her person. Flushing under such acute attentions, she turned to Lilly pleadingly, hoping that she wasn't also watching her with undisguised intensity.
"They are curious," the blonde explained with a smirk, her blue eyes studied her housemates, "They ask themselves, what does a man like that see in you?"
"Oh dear," Kaoru twisted her fingers, "You have it all wrong. Aoshi-sama is…Well, we are hardly acquainted in that respect. I merely owe him a favor." Lilly seemed to accept this, but many of the other girl's stood, most likely with intentions of gossiping about it before the first customers arrived. The hushed words they spoke brought an embarrassed blush to the still seated girl's features.
Where is Sano? Kaoru wondered meekly, unnerved by these glamorous and obviously wanton women.
Yet she was even more unsettled at the bargain she had promised the first mate. Memories of the captain were tainted with gnawing fear, and she admitted to herself, an undeniably consuming presence, though it was hardly in any way that a woman should wish to be consumed. He might be physically appealing, but Captain Battousai was hardly the type of man whose eye she'd wish to intentionally catch.
Don't be a fool, she chided herself, feeling silly, He'd hardly notice in any case, not with all these woman about. Many looked older, worn, but a scattered few were radiant beauties, almost as pretty as Madame Rose herself. She snorted in mirth at the idea of her stick figure frame catching any man's eye with so many buxom beauties around, women that were more than willing for a quick tumble. And she was worried the captain might single her out….What an absurd notion.
-*-
When the Captain of the Prix de Sang entered, people took notice. Dressed in monochrome black, with his sword at his hip, a large brim black hat casting his features into hard shadowed lines save for his almost luminescent amber eyes, he was an impressive sight to take in. He was not taller than most, nor larger, but as he moved people parted, leaping over themselves to clear the way.
Tonight his honey hued stare was lethal, brittle with his latest kill, tainted with the blood lust running hard beneath his impenetrable expression. He sat stiffly beside his first mate, acknowledging the somber man with a curt nod and snapping his fingers at the nearest wench. Immediately she turned, smiling at him becomingly, but he simply ordered a whiskey, something to dull his wits and allow him to unwind. Here, amongst his crew, in Megumi's brothel, he felt he could risk a moment of ease.
As he eyed the women sprawled about in inviting poses, he considered buying a night with one, releasing his aggression in a nonviolent act. With a dismissive snort he decided no wench here would be able to with-stain the sort of unspent attentions he had within him. Although they were nothing more than simple whores, Megumi was very strict about the clients overusing them; it cost her business when a girl was too spent to work the next night.
Which, he'd achieved plenty of times, to the Madame's chagrin.
He smirked like the devil himself, swallowing the fire burn of whiskey in appreciation. At his curt snap, another replaced the first, which he downed just as rapidly.
"Are you well?" Aoshi asked, bending closer so as to not be overheard. Chilling amber eyes met his, their reddish coloring betraying how close the monster lurked beneath the man. The taller man had seen his friend like this time enough to know the signs.
"Dandy," Battousai growled, downing another tumbler of liquor.
Apprehensive and not used to being such, Aoshi began second guessing his plans for the evening. However, one look at a Megumi, who fluttered her fan at him in signal, proved that it was well beyond his control at this point, and so he resigned himself to bearing witness to what would undoubtedly turn out to be quite a show, if the captain's mood was any indication.
Whether or not it would be the show Aoshi had intended, now that, was up for speculation.
Kaoru descended the grand stair case in hesitant nervous steps, her eyes screaming the distress she so valiantly tried to hide. She was about to fall into sin, quite literally, below lay a house of ill repute in full swing, with men and woman trading coin for pleasure. She was dressed as a harlot, going into a group of whores, with the intentions of being seen by a man who'd molested her. Verily, she felt exceedingly ill at the mere mention of her circumstance.
Damn that man, if she'd never agreed to Aoshi's request she wouldn't be here, forced into this, but at the time she'd thought it would have no consequences. Believing in her naïve mind that such coincidence was improbable, foolish to rely on, but Sanosuke's relationship with the Madame and the reference she'd made to the captain had brought all those fears to the forefront. Now, here she was, going forward on her word of honor, and cursing the stoic man for knowing too much.
Taking a deep breath of fortification she forced herself into an upright and regal stance, gliding down the red velvet covered steps with soft measured strides. She resolved to look at no one, notice nothing, to simply arrive amidst them, and hopefully, just as swiftly depart. Curse Sanosuke, and his love of anything foolish, if he were here instead of out doing god knows what, she knew this would have never occurred.
Madame Rose had been reluctant to agree to this to begin with; if only Kaoru had had someone opposed to the idea and openly defending her, it might've ended differently. Her own protests were sealed behind her promise to Aoshi-sama, left unvoiced. Furthermore she had a nagging suspicion that the blue eyed first mate had mislead the Madame into believing the nature of this spectacle was indeed far more than just a bet, if the woman's barely hidden insinuations regarding the stoic man were any indication of the fact. Damn the infuriating man.
Eyes focused on the dangling crystal chandelier, its beauty iridescent, throwing rainbows across the dim room; she completed her fretfully long descent. She turned to meet the Madame's stare with her own worried one.
"Hello there," a low whistle from behind stiffened her spine like a ram rod, a meaty hand gripped her shoulder, "Purtty little thing." She felt someone leaning in far too close to her, an appreciative inhale sounding in her ear. She smelled alcohol and cigar smoke, the very scent made her want to reflexively cringe away in disgust.
It was the Madame who spoke for her, eyeing the girl's reddened face with a smirk, "She's not for sale, as you can see, this one's nothing but skin and bones." The Madame informed the man in a conspiratory and sensual whisper, pretending disgust with Kaoru's supposedly "unsuitable" figure.
Her jewel-like eyes flickered up, winking one eye in an almost uncatchable gesture.
Suddenly a stunning brunette appeared, dressed in creamy white silk, "Sophia, though, she is gorgeous, a much better match I would think, for a refined man like you." The large ruddy faced man took in the buxom woman with a lip licking leer, ignoring the slight dark haired girl in favor of a more curvy purchase.
"I think," Megumi told the horrified Kaoru with a soft smile, "That it is time for good girls to be asleep; you've had your fun."
"F-fun?" Kaoru asked dazedly, she must have a different definition of the concept. Fun was not walking into a brothel and being solicited, nor was it navigating through more men and loose woman to make it to the exit, which shown like a golden oasis in her mind's eye. Every sense of proper upbringing in her was offended by each new glimpse she dared. The sooner she escaped; the better.
-*-
Battousai slammed down his empty glass, feeling decidedly more wretched despite the booze. A simpering black hair beauty sat at his side, refilling his glass and petting his chest when allowed. Perhaps he should give her the coin and be done with it, she was practically purring as she regarded him with liquid chocolate eyes. A quick tumble might ease the ache growing within him; make him feel more like a man, less like the sharp steel he carried. Cold and blood stained.
He was giving the notion serious contemplation when he noticed her; a slim little thing that was half turned from him, traveling at Megumi's side as the Madame expertly navigated the growing crowd of sailors and whores. Delicate, simple, dressed in a kimono of vibrant blues and flaring crimsons, her short black hair pinned to fall about her neck and face beguilingly. Her walk was soft, so different then the swinging sashays of the other woman, slight and obviously young, he briefly entertained rising and crushing her to him, to feel all that cool silk and softness immediately.
Somehow, just the glimpse of her tender frame encased in the such alluring clothing made his groin tighten in desire, a carnal reaction that hadn't been brought forth by just sighting a wench since he was an over enthusiastic boy. It appeared he'd located the woman he wished to purchase, if only the idiots surrounding him might disperse and warrant him a view of her face.
He stood, disgusted with the crowd for hindering him, and with a curt nod to his second, a path was immediately cleared before him.
"Madame Rose," his voice cut through the din and chatter, a cultured burr of menace and demand. The woman turned, painted face blank, to regard him with a polite stare. The woman who'd been previously entertaining him pouted prettily from behind, dismayed to lose his attention.
"Hai, Captain?" Megumi queried; her expression distracted but polite. She tugged the wrist of the girl who'd she'd been escorting, and with a startled flinch the girl obediently halted, but did not turn.
"Might I avail you of your burden?" His grin was cutting, appraising the young woman from behind.
She might run a pretty penny judging on her untried appearance, but it'd be worth the coin. More commonly he would choose a veteran of the Fluer Lascivité, a woman who wouldn't flinch at his roughness or fawn over him needlessly, but tonight was different; tonight he wanted something young and vibrant beneath him. A woman who would remind him what it was like to be flesh and bone, not a seasoned wench who'd tired of this putrid existence as he long had.
"My apologies Captain," her smile was fleeting, forced, "She is not mine to offer."
His eyebrows rose, a woman in Fluer Lascivité who was not willing to sell her body? He'd never seen the Madame take in such a thing. Perhaps it would only take charm then, and not money, he appeased himself in the way of arrogant men. A woman inside a brothel could hardly be untouched, and he'd met few who could resist him, it was simply a matter of the damn chit turning around so that he might indicate his interest.
"Oh?" he enquired, an eyebrow arching sardonically, "Might I glimpse such a tempting oddity?" He attempted to keep the menace from his tone, hoping the girl might turn. He stepped forward to move closer to the women, smirking to himself as a man almost upset a table in an effort to avoid being in his path.
"Captain, might I instead suggest a suitable lady for the evening?" Madame Rose counter-offered sweetly, clearly trying to dissuade him. He frowned.
"Nay, I will have a word from the girl, if only a goodbye," He teased with a devilish smirk, now only feet from the woman in question. If he but reached out his hand, she would be in his grasp. It irked him that she did not turn, seeming to purposefully not acknowledge him in any way.
The patroness' stare turned hard, calculating, it swept over his should to pin his watchful first mate with a warning glare that would freeze most men's spines. What was the man thinking, what did he hope to gain by drawing the captain's eye to this girl? She'd assumed at first that Aoshi wanted this little display for himself, and though it seemed out of character, she'd reluctantly agreed. Only to find it was Battousai, not Shinomori who seemed unable to take his eyes from the waifish child, a curious development to be sure, but she detested being toyed with, and should very much like to know what was going on in her brothel.
Kaoru trembled; she heard his voice, his voice, as in the voice of the second man to ever molest her. A man who'd been nothing but vile and demeaning towards her, who had neither respect nor any form of gentlemanly inclinations in his entire being. To hear him teasing, nice and polite to what he assumed was a whore, when he'd not spared her a moment of courtesy, boiled her blood in the worst way.
And his commands! What a vain arrogant man, to command her in such a way! As if she should turn and be instantly charmed by his roguish manner, even if she'd never met him she'd like to believe she wouldn't be so daft. She'd never let a man rule her again. Her father, her fiancé, they had proven the folly of relying on men to her all too well. The captain was no better then they, a dangerous cutthroat, an intimidating foreboding creature who clearly lacked any conscious.
"Oh you most certainly may have a word," she spun her spine ram rod straight as her blue eyes regarded him frigidly, "Have more than one. You are a detestable bastard; and you are not to address me, ever."
At the furious shock stealing over his imperious features she sniffed haughtily, and graced him with a cold smile.
"Good evening, captain."
Spinning pertly she stomped off, not awaiting Madame Rose, nor listening to the fearful whispers trailing her. She'd not missed the way even the proud mistress of this place treated the Captain with a respectful fear, he clearly was extremely used to people groveling and licking his boots. She would not be one of them. With more certainty then she felt, she navigated the meager feet to the door and flung it open, stealing inside the empty kitchen with a heavy sigh of relief.
Sparing a moment to catch her nerves, which skidding uneasily inside her abdomen, she leaned lightly against the heavy oak door. He was every inch she'd remembered him. In that brief glance she'd caught glimpse of his amber eyes, the cruel slashes adorning his cheek, his state of dress which was always an intimidating monochrome black. When she'd spoken to him so openly, he'd looked very much like a poked beast, something dangerous and untamed stared from within that man, she was certain of it.
Not wanting to be discovered lingering, in case Battousai attempted to follow, she made her way up the servant's stairwell and back towards the room Madame Rose had offered her. With a cringe at the strange noises coming from the adjacent rooms, she closed her door firmly, locking it. Inside a relative sanctuary she lay across the thin mattress provided for her, wrenching the combs from her hair and placing them on the small dilapidated wood dresser beside her. Quickly removing her bindings, she laid them beside her, glad to be free of them. Next she made short work of smearing off all traces of rogue from her skin, she'd learned her lesson looking the part of a harlot, and did not wish to repeat it.
For some reason her mind wandered to the mark on her upper arm, the brief moment in the brig passed through her memory.
…You are my mate…
What nonsense, had they truly expected her to believe it? It seemed to oddly resemble events of tonight, a ploy played out by Aoshi that ended with her once again fleeing the infamous Captain Battousai. She couldn't help but wonder if they'd done this before, and if less discerning women had truly fallen for such ridiculous claims.
With a derisive snort she decided she cared not. She should not be focusing on such things, not when her brother was lost and her own future undecided. Certainly there were bigger issues in her life then irate pirates and their peculiar first mates. With Madame Rose's lack of information she was beginning to despair of all news, but she wouldn't give up.
First thing tomorrow she'd dress as a boy and go down to market, see if there was anything to be gained in the local gossip. Most paid little mind to a scrawny lad, and those who did took little more notice than a dismissive glance, it was the perfect disguise.
Her mind filled with questions and plots, she did not so much fall asleep, as have it sneak upon her and catch her within it. Before she realized it she was dozing peacefully, still dressed and laying across the futon.
-*-
Megumi bit her lip, an uncharacteristic show of unease as she watched the young woman tromp from the room in a state of distress. Obviously, the captain and she had a history, and also quite apparent was the fact that it was not an amiable one. The look she had given the captain, never had Megumi seen anyone take such a tone and manner with Battousai, they wouldn't dare.
Yet she had, pretty as you please, with that cold smile that was a ghostly reminder of one Megumi had once given to a much different man. Kenshin most likely didn't deserve the contempt the girl displayed, or so she would like to believe. She was rather fond of the captain, had always been. But one look at the cutting slits of tiger gold pinning the slammed door, told her perhaps she shouldn't be so hasty in judging this matter.
She had never seen the captain so livid, though his temper was legendary; it wasn't like him to become riled over a woman. She'd never seen him take but fleeting interest in the fairer sex, and it had always had to do with bedding them, it was never like this. He stood in rigid posture, eyes burning holes in her door, and then with a sneering nod towards her, he returned to his table, his mood vile and full of unspent rage.
The Madame of Fluer Lascivité made a point of watching the sullen man as he progressively drank himself deeper and deeper into melancholy. He responded in biting one word answers to most people, surly and not wanting of company. Not one of her girls could rouse his interest, or uplift the dark atmosphere surrounding his table. After a few hours even Aoshi left, exchanging a few heated whispers with the murderous looking red head.
-*-MEANWHILE-*-
As far as Battousai himself went, he knew not quite what vexed him. The attitude of that icy bitch had certainly worsened his mood, but in truth it had not been light to begin with. It was more than her nasty remarks, though they had stung his pride, he had no trouble putting the hot tempered harlot from his mind. Woman meant little to him, it was his unfinished mission that irked him, he expected perfection from those he worked with, and nothing less from himself. It was humbling to have been thwarted by a mere slave boy. The chit had merely added insult to injury.
Of course, as the night lengthened he became increasingly aware of his mind's want for wandering to the chilly eyes and tempting curves of the female hellion. They seemed familiar, and when he placed the match he felt foolish for not connecting the incidents immediately. Only one other woman presumed to speak to him in such a fashion, though it appeared a dress had done a great deal of improvement to the surly cabin wench.
His hand fisted around his glass.
"Perhaps you should retire," Aoshi had spent most of the night at his side, in contemplative silence of what he'd witnessed.
His captain's foul mood was contagious, although the men seemed plenty distracted by booze and women; he himself felt his own temperament worsen with each passing hour he spent next to the troubled man.
"Are you presuming to tell me what I should do?" Battousai demanded darkly, staring into the bottom of his glass like it might have the answer. His feral gaze rose to meet his friend's with undue hostility.
"Nay, Captain," Aoshi bit out, "You just seem in need of rest."
"I rarely need rest," the red head pointed out with a scowl, "And as of now, I simply wish to drink in peace." He raised his glass, indicating need of a refill. Aoshi covered the raised glass with his hand, a rare show of defiance.
"You will remove your hand," Kenshin hissed dangerously, "I am in no mood."
"Very well, drink yourself into a stupor," Aoshi removed his hand at the obvious amount of brimming violence in the man, "I will leave you to your moping, but I simply do not see the point of putting so much emphasis on one mouthy girl."
Battousai laughed, an odd sound for the man, but it was a brittle, hateful noise that slipped past his lips, lacking any good humor, "This is not over some daft wench." He pointed out dryly, nodding to the woman who refilled his cup and slamming it down.
"Oh?" Aoshi enquired, seemingly mocking in the innocence of that single utterance. It riled the captain, whose mind was now a spiraling image of a taunting maiden, her curt dismissal like a red poker to his greatly worsening mood.
"Very well," the tall man stood, eyeing his leader with a fair amount of vexation. "Drink yourself to oblivion; it is not my stomach or head that will suffer. And if you truly are so unaffected by the girl, perhaps I will indulge myself, we shared a tender moment the other night." He let the insinuation travel through his usually monotone voice. When Battousai's turbulent and whiskey soaked gaze met his first mate's the man shuddered, seeing suddenly that perhaps now was not the time to provoke the man.
"What do I care of your bed mates?" He demanded nastily, but his second in command could hear the untruth of it in his voice. For reasons Himura refused to pursue, the idea of that chit beneath his long time friend was enough to make him unreasonably angry. That she might prefer the taller less hostile man over himself ran his mind rawer then any of her taunts.
"Captain," Aioshi spoke in farewell, reluctantly taking his leave. He saw something brewing in the captain's grim stare, something he'd care not to analyze.
-*-
We shared a tender moment, the words of his first mate burned his alcohol soaked mind, riling him unnaturally in his intoxicated state.
He slipped in silently as a ghost, relocking her chamber's door behind him.
Unnervingly hostile copper eyes regarded her unassuming form; in sleep she appeared docile, peaceful. To see her door had been locked had given him some measure of comfort, and to find her so at ease, without any other in her bed, did somewhat soothe the raging beast within him. Though it was far from tamed, and too close to the surface for comfort.
Alcohol had always made him more prone to rash actions; the infrequent times when he'd consumed more then he could tolerate had ended very badly for him. Rarely did he become intoxicated, but once he was, there was little to be done. For the meantime he would be the worst of himself, which was just fine, seeing as this wench thought little better of him in any case.
As he slipped through her bed chambers without a sound, he doubted himself for only an instant. She looked so young, the rogue on her features had been removed, and she was pale and completely defenseless so deep in slumber. Onyx hair sweeping her porcelain skin, lips like pink petals, her pale complexion aglow in the soft moonlight. Shaking himself mentally, he knelt beside her futon, stilling to a rigid pose as she mumbled and shifted in her sleep.
Her inky bangs floated into her face, and with infinite tenderness he pushed them from her brow. In sleep she stirred at the feather light caress, a frown marring her lips as he neared. He grinned, feeling decidedly sinister staring at her in the dimness with undecided intentions. His only thought had been to make sure Aoshi had not paid her a visit, though he'd not thought far enough to decide what he would do about such a thing.
Supposedly she was betrothed to Sanosuke, or so the liar claimed, it seemed unlikely now, as her escort was nowhere to be found, and she herself was staying at a whore house. No self respecting man would leave his intended in such a place, he was certain. Gently he lifted her kimono's sleeve, pulling the silk upward until her 'birthmark' was revealed amongst her healing injuries, a perfect 'X'.
With a devious smirk, and almost trance like fascination he lowered his mouth and traced the mark with his tongue. Mesmerizing the mark that ironically matched his own; branding it with a hot caress. Her startled gasp alerted him to her awakening, but he easily pinned her groggily struggling form down flat against the futon, raising his head to meet her wide blue stare.
"What are you doing?" She hissed; looking like cornered prey as she vainly tried to scoot away from him. He didn't answer; instead he graced her with a wide, lazy grin. She stiffened, nose crinkling, "You smell of liquor."
"I am quite drunk," he informed her, only a slight slur marring his husky tone, "and in need of some company." She blinked, slowly, and seemed to mentally gather herself. His hands loosely encircled her wrists and kept them above her head, preventing her from fleeing, judging by her darted glances towards the door that was exactly her intention.
"Then find yourself company elsewhere," she informed him stiffly, trying to wrench free one wrist to no avail, his grip was iron clad. "I'm sure one of the women here would be more than happy to accommodate you."
His amber gaze smoldered as he watched her, his hands tightening around her wrists meaningfully, "I want your company," he pointed out stubbornly.
Her cerulean eyes slitted as she regarded him, her stomach doing odd sorts of flip flops as she watched the unnerving man before her eye her in such keen interest. He looked positively dangerous, reeking of booze, and eyeing her like a possession. I hate this man.
"I don't want yours," she snapped, "Let me go," she demanded, "get out, or I will scream." His thin lipped smile raised the hairs on the back of her neck; with honey colored eyes gleaming he caressed the side of her face, his stare holding her immobile.
"So fiery," he breathed into her hair, his other hand encircling her throat, "beautiful but defiant," he murmured, and her breath hitched as his calloused fingers traced the column of her jugular. He sat back, eyeing her smugly as she attempted to catch her breath. "Not as unaffected as she would like to appear, it would seem."
"I-I," she stopped, taking a shaky breath. What was wrong with her? Why was her pulse racing like that? Her breath coming in startled gasps? Maybe he's actually scaring you to death, a wry inner voice provided.
"Sh," he whispered, his thumb stroked her collar bone, sending her pulse sky rocketing once more. "Such a tender little innocent," he mused, griping her by the shoulders and staring down at her with an unreadable expression. In the dimness he looked forbidden and tempting, a fallen angel come to steal her soul. She froze, terror and something undeniably consuming rising in her at the look he gave, not even her ex-fiancée had stared at her like that, as if he wished to devour her.
"Tell me, do I scare you?" He questioned suddenly, tilting his head. A few blood red strands of hair fell into his face, not even the poor light could hide the beauty in his dangerous expressions.
"Are you mocking me?" She demanded, not sure what his game was, or what answer she should give such an obvious question. Of course he scared her; a person would have to be a complete fool not to be at least slightly afraid of him. He was so delicate looking she might forget occasionally that he was in fact a blood thirsty pirate, but his every action made sure she never became too thoughtlessly unguarded when he was around.
"Perhaps," he admitted with a smirk, his fingers caressed her silken shoulders as he held her immobile at arm's length, studying the delicate plains of her features, the soft moue of her lips. His grip tightened as a decidedly unwanted thought passed through his mind.
"Is Sagara truly your fiancée?" He demanded huskily, eyes turning almost yellow-red in withheld irritation. He felt it as a slight tremor of fear wracked her frame; frightened blue eyes regarded him in speculation as her tongue darted to wet her lips.
He groaned, hoping he wouldn't have to harm his friend over this woman, she enflamed him in a way he hadn't felt in quite some time. He hated to admit it, but he found her reluctance and defiance as enticing as it was irritating.
He wanted her.
In his less discerning state, muddled with booze, he cared not how it would affect him or her, he simply wanted. Having lived the past ten years as a pirate, he was more than accustomed to taking what he desired, if she belonged to another, he would remedy that shortly. Or perhaps ignore it altogether.
"Get out," she tried for firmness, but it came out more like a shaky request.
"No." At the look of affront she gave him he leaned in, grip tightening on her slender limbs to a painful vise. "Answer the question," he gritted, pinning her with a relentless probing stare. She pursed her lips, a petulant scowl crossing her fair features.
"Yes, he is my fiancé," She informed him with false bravado, "and I might add, he will not be pleased to see you in my bed chambers alone with me," her flashing blue stare dared him to disagree. A whimper escaped her lips as his grip turned bruising, his eyes flat and hard with anger.
"So he leaves you un-chaperoned in a whore house?" He demanded coldly, practically snarling at her.
"So far, the only threat to my person has been you," She pointed out with venom, "I hardly think a pirate captain should be so judgmental in any case, just the other night you were quite set on whoring me out to your crew, as I recall." She lifted an eyebrow, trying to calm the mad fluttering in her stomach as his expression darkened; his blood red bangs falling to eclipse his coppery stare.
His smirk was back as his head rose once more, freeing his eyes of the overshadowing bangs, it was a cunning look full of teasing, "Then why were you displaying yourself tonight?"
"I wasn't!" She protested adamantly.
"Oh?" his grin was cutting as he pulled her closer by her entrapped shoulders, "I think you're lying." He told her gravelly; up close she could see the glassy sheen of alcohol in his usually penetrating stare.
"You know nothing about me," she responded coolly, trying to retain some control of this rapidly deteriorating situation. He snarled, baring his perfect white teeth.
"Lucky for you, I'm a fast learner," he responded with taunting menace. His hand rose to reverently trace the curve of her face, eyes smoldering as he drew her head closer and closer to his daunting profile. She tried to resist, but one look at the cold reprieve in his facial expression caused her enough hesitance that the point was mute by the time she managed to ante up some courage.
His mouth pressed against hers in punishment, sloppier then his other forced kisses, his teeth almost drew blood as he attempted to press past her lips. She yelped and his tongue thrust inward, swallowing the sound as his body moved to loom over her. Her head cradled in his hand he held her to him, the kiss gradually becoming less painful as her resistance lessened.
She was trembling with fear, and the knowledge that even if she managed to scream no one might come. It brought to mind a similar circumstance, with a violent sadistic man, not unlike this Captain Battousai. Though, she admitted, the fair red headed captain would never scare her as much as her ex-fiancé. She whimpered when his hands trailed her back, torn between revulsion and this curious burning inside her.
"We're getting to know each other better already," Licking his lips, tasting her flavor there; he smiled at her obvious distress. His body swayed slightly as he regarded her, his mind numbly wondered what a true kiss, freely given, from this wench might be like. He touched her silken hair, shorn so short and yet somehow still feminine and beguiling.
The way she looked at him, like she very much believed he was going to hurt her, unsettled something with in him.
"Je ne vous veux dire aucun mal," he spoke as softly as he could manage, whispering that he meant her no harm, but in his muddled state he didn't realize it came out completely indiscernible to the girl in question. Who didn't understand a word of it, and could only stare blankly as the captain uttered an incoherent slew of French words.
He leaned forward, and she flinched, expecting him to begin his assault anew. Instead his entire frame slumped, his head plopping into her lap.
Aghast, she stared for a moment at the prone red head, his crimson locks spilling across her kimono as his weight settled. Ready to strike the brute for putting her through another entirely uncalled for and disturbingly intimate situation, she flinched and lowered her upraised hand as a low growl issued from his fallen form.
No, she stifled an almost hysterical giggle, not a growl, a snore. The infuriating Battousai, pirate captain, womanizer, and fiend, had fallen asleep on her lap.
Instantly by the looks of it.
Alcohol turns all men into churlish babies… Her tired mind supplied in dry humor.
"Come off it, get up," she poked him as she would Yahiko, a hard jab to his shoulder. He stirred, sleepily encircling her waist and cuddling her to him like a stuff toy. She stiffened, eyes narrowing suspiciously, but his face was slack, devoid of all it's usually nuances of arrogance and cruelty.
"If you're discovered here…" She began worriedly, and then sighed. The man cared nothing for her reputation sober and conscious; she doubted she'd be able to appeal to his absent sense of honor while he remained in a drunken coma.
Since traveling with Sano she'd learned much about the nuances of drinking, and how it affected a person's mind. If Battousai was anything like her friend, he would be dead to the world until morning. Only, her sense of propriety protested, by morning I will have spent the night in the same bed as him.
"WAKE UP!" She seethed, shaking the man. His pony tail bobbed, his body shuddered, but he remained stubbornly asleep, stirring to grip her harder. As if even unconscious he knew exactly how to try what remained of her nerves.
"Insufferable pig headed ignoramus!" She whispered with venom, afraid to shout and wake someone, and yet more afraid to allow this situation to progress. Who knew what he'd be like if he awoke here, next to her come morning. She shuddered at the thought.
After an hour of trying to wake the bastard, she blurrily admitted she was at a loss. Yelling into his ear, picking at him, poking him, even slapping that too pretty face of his didn't stir the man. It was hopeless. With a dejected sigh, and a dim recollection of her sense of appropriate behavior, she gave up, admitting defeat with a sullen scowl.
Only, when she went to remove him from around her, so that she might leave, his grip remained firm. Another fruitless ten minutes were spent trying to pry his unnaturally strong grip off. Frustrated, she slumped backwards, only to have the softly snoring Battousai inch upwards, snuggling her like a child's plush toy. He murmured in his sleep, cradling his head in the vee of her neck.
Now completely trapped and vulnerable, Kaoru puffed her bangs from her face in an exasperated huff, arms and body secured beneath the lithe captain's surprisingly heavy weight.
"I hate you," she whispered to the man, eyes heavy with exhaustion. He gave no response, his breathing deep and even in her ear. Without meaning to her own breathing set to the relaxed pace, her body feeling leaden, especially under a surplus two hundred pounds of slumbering pirate.
Slowly, sneakily, her body succumbed to rest, despite her mind's feeble protests that this shouldn't be occurring. Soon her mind flickered dully to the land of dreams, swallowing her gently in its jaws of peaceful oblivion. Within minutes sleep claimed her.
-*-
A/N: Don't hate me for the lack of Battousai steaminess here, I'm building up to it I swear. I hope you like this continuation, and I bashfully admit that I procrastinated with this chapter for a needlessly long time having mostly to do with my repeated editing and self criticism. Never fret, the next chapter will heat things up and I'll try to keep the posting dates closer together. AND NOW….
The time has come the walrus said to speak of many things…
kingdomfantasyanime453: LMAO, in response to your wishes for my villain (kick him where it hurts), may this suffice in the mean time: *Insert pointless one liner skit*
Battousai: *drop kicks face* You did whatto my Kaoru? *Strangles life from evil fiancé*
Although it'll be a while before you read about his real reaction, I believe my villain needs a good assaulting. It is my sincere belief you must fight fiction with fiction LOL, and I'm glad you like Kaoru, I made her a tad more aggressive because I can't stand to watch a heroine stand idly by and wait to be rescued. Glad you enjoyed, and I hope you like this addition.
Brukaoru: *smacks forehead* Ah, I did misspell Aoshi again *Sweat drops* and after all my ranting on how I fixed it, aren't I feeling sheepish? Thanks for the heads up. It will get better, but I already had chapters one through three completed as rough drafts by the time I realized I was spelling it wrong.
Jenniebennie: LOL, your review had me cracking up, apparently brutalizing the wicked fiancé is a common sentiment. I just have to record your exact wording for all to see, because it's priceless: He really needs to die painfully sodemized on the end of Battousai's sword. LMOA Tears gathered I laughed so hard, and my coworkers were very disturbed let me assure you.
AutumnsFall: Aoshi is a hard character to pin point, his motives for this little stunt will be better revealed in a following chapter, and I just have to give you massive props on forcing me to analyze him in this fiction and make his character more involved. Kudos, and thanks.
FreshToDeath: Firstly, I like your user name, secondly I had to giggle at the description of Battousai, *yum* is apt. Thirdly, yes there will be more side couples, Sano/Megumi and later on some fun Aoshi/Misao who has yet to make her début. Thanks for the kind review!
Tigresa89: Only a glimpse of hot n' steamy Battousai action this chapter, but stay tuned, next chapter I (to coin a vastly overused phrase) kick it up a notch.
Honorable Mention: half-breed-demon-fox; JMai; JazzQuirk; Miriel-F; xo-melodrama; lovette; Kao-Misao1728; Sunkissed Dreams; Maffy; miniwoo; osvark; Myma; cypris88; lazylogger!
*Impromptu GLOMPs to all* You reviewers are so happy-inducing!!