Chapter Thirty-Two

Hot steam from the bathwater flushed Kaoru's cheeks and weighed down the breath entering her lungs. The tightness in her legs and arms had finally softened from training, but still ached with a reminder that she had worked herself too hard. It was a welcome sensation, though. One that displaced the burn of loneliness, no matter how temporary or fleeting. Both dripping arms crossed on the lip of the tub, and she rested her chin on one forearm wearily. She had lingered longer than necessary in the bath, and her skin had wrinkled unattractively.

For the last four days, a desire within her had begged to be left to her own thoughts. She wanted and dreaded thinking too much, because she still just did not understand what a human was or why they were so… undesirable. When Tomoe had announced they would be leaving to run a quick errand, she had assured them readily that she would be fine. Now that she was alone, though, she dreaded the emptiness of the lab. It hurt, knowing no one was there.

Even the charm had to be left in the outer room of the bath now. Two days before, the salamander had attempted to climb into the tub with her, and she had panicked the moment his foot had touched the water and filled the room with steam. Kenshin had warned her not to submerge the charm, and thinking about what horrible end might happen to the only piece of him she had left had nearly killed her. Thankfully she had scooped the heavy salamander up in time, but was quickly chagrined by the happy way he had snuffled her hair. As if being held had been his end goal. Though the salamander was not pleased about it, she refused to keep the charm in the same room while she bathed going forward.

Another ache constricted her throat, and the nerves in her stomach rolled anxiously. She missed Kenshin, more than when he had gone away to the mountains, but she didn't know what to do. Tomoe had said to give him some time, but waiting was so much harder than acting. Perhaps Tomoe had the strength it took to wait, but Kaoru wasn't so sure about herself. She didn't want to wait anymore. She wanted to act. She wanted to see him. Something inside of her argued that she needed to fight. If he was important to her, if she didn't want to lose him, then she needed to fight with everything she had.

Nothing else came close to how important Kenshin was to her.

Shifting her chin to one side, she stared sightlessly across the cream-colored surface along the edge. It had never occurred to her before, for reasons she still wasn't sure of, but there were no locks keeping her in at the lab. The only locks on the doors were to keep others out. Could she, perhaps, simply walk out? Would anyone stop her? She knew the way to Kenshin's apartment. It was close enough that she wouldn't even need to take a bus or train. She would even be safe with the charm he had given her. All she would really need to worry about was what to do when she arrived.

W-what would I do…?

Burying her face between the folds of her arms, the constriction of her throat spread to her heart, and the flop of her stomach spoke of nausea.

He wouldn't even look at me when he left. What if… he never looks at me again?

Stinging pain stabbed like daggers into the backs of her eyes, and her arms tightened around her ears.

I couldn't bear it. If he hates me because of something I can't control… what could I even do?

The soft creak of a floorboard alerted her to the presence of someone inside the outer room of the bath, and Kaoru quickly wiped her face and hid her sniffles. Tomoe was back sooner than she had said she would be. Emerging from the tub in a rush of water, Kaoru stepped onto the wet floor and grabbed for the towel to dry off. With it wrapped securely around her body, she opened the door as her mouth fought for a smile. She expected to find the coal demon, but was instead met by an empty room.

A frown creased the skin between her brows and tightened the lines at her eyes. Reaching for her clothes so that she could dress quickly, she was alarmed to find the charm was missing. Without a doubt, she knew that Tomoe would not have taken it without telling her first. The vixen: that was another story. With her hair still tied up and wet, Kaoru jerked open the door and marched into the rec room.

Only because she was expecting a showdown with Megumi, did she react so quickly. Well-toned muscles ducked the hand that reached for her, but she had to grab the back of the couch for support when she found Iizuka grinning at her instead of the fox. Fear, disgust, and anger soured the back of her throat, but he started laughing in the face of the glare she aimed at him.

"You're quicker than I expected." The words were so genial. "I suppose I got some time. Should we play for a while?"

At the opposite end of the couch, Kaoru jumped as the ogre dodged eagerly back and forth like a child playing tag. Fighting her breathing to stay calm, sapphire eyes flickered to the corner next to her desk. Iizuka misunderstood her searching gaze.

"Looking for something?" Standing up straight, he pulled a wire mesh bag from his pocket. "Sorry, pet, I had to take care of that pesky charm of yours." In dark, black lettering, a single, detailed seal burned itself across the mesh. "Oh, don't worry, I'm not strong enough to harm it. Of course, it'll never be able to escape, either."

His laughter was more sinister this time, and anger welled up the back of her sealed throat. How dare he take what was not his to even touch? Darting off towards the corner as fast as she could, she heard him follow close behind. A desperate dive over the desk attempted to escape him, but she pulled up short as the ogre's empty hand latched around her ankle. The hard edge of the laminate dug into the bottom of her ribs, and temporarily squeezed the air out of her. Wheezing and sore, she swiped up the wooden sword that had fallen discreetly on the floor and twisted to slam its solid weight into the ogre's jaw.

"What the fuck?!"

Staggered, he dropped the mesh bag, and Kaoru tumbled backwards over the edge of the desk. Rolling into a crouch, she took a moment to allow her equilibrium to steady, and then made a grab for where the mesh bag had slid up under the now knocked over chair.

"You bitch!" A hard kick from the ogre's foot slammed the chair and the desk into the far wall, and the mesh bag went flying. Papers and pencils scattered and littered the floor like landmines. Rising slowly to her feet, Kaoru squared off properly as the ogre kicked and cursed his own way into a standing position. A dark blotch of reddish-purple was already swelling up on the side of his face, and blood filled the white of his right eye. Nervous energy caused Kaoru to grip the handle of her wooden sword much too tight, and her breathing heaved from her chest as she scooted her way towards where the mesh bag had landed.

One large, green hand touched the lump developing on his cheek, and Iizuka scowled. "You're making this not fun, Kaoru. I wanted our time alone to be special."

He made an amateur move for her, and at the same time that his foot slipped on a loose pencil, Kaoru reacted. The tip of her wooden sword caught him at the wrist, the opposite elbow, and then the knee. The quick movements and sharp pain backed him off momentarily, but Kaoru could tell that it was more out of hesitance than true pain. The ogre may have been small, or so she had heard others say, but he was still much larger than her. A second assault resulted in the same reaction, but his hesitance was much less. Her best bet would be to focus her attention on a single joint, instead of multiple.

Larger opponents place more stress on their knees.

She wasn't sure where the knowledge came from, but it was sound. Two hits had already landed on his left knee. That would be where she focused her hardest strikes.

"Why are you trying so hard? You know they don't really care about you, right? They just feel sorry for you." Both of his hands were held out defensively, and he had cornered her in the section furthest from the doors. "We wiped out the humans for a reason. They were a plague. Once everyone learns what you are, they'll never let you live anyway."

He walked directly into her next strike, and caught the wooden sword against him with meaty fingers. In futile desperation, Kaoru jerked and pulled against his easy strength. One hard yank dislodged her grip, and the wooden sword was cracked in two pieces and then tossed carelessly behind him. Unbalanced by his theft of the weapon, Kaoru fell and landed roughly on her backside. Between the stretch of her legs, the mesh bag lay innocently within reach. Snatching it up before the ogre could advance, she stretched and pulled against the knotted opening in an attempt to free the blood-scaled salamander. Iizuka stopped and watched her futile attempts in amusement.

"Did you really think that would work? Do you know how powerful you'd have to be to break that seal with your bare hands? I doubt the emperor could do it without some preparation, and he's a dragon!"

Roaring laughter filled the room at her expense, and her bottom lip trembled to see that he was right. The harder she tried to stretch the tie, the tighter it knotted together. Hugging the bag to her chest instead, she turned her glare up at the ogre and slowly shifted herself so that her feet were under her.

"What's this? Do you see me now? Is this what it takes to get your attention?"

The palm of one large, green hand abruptly slammed into the side of her face. Pain exploded in her mouth and below her eye, and the force of the blow smashed her flat into the floor. The mesh bag slid from her grasp. If she could have made a sound, it would have been a groan, but the release of pressure caught in her throat translated into a soft, strained rush of air. For a moment, her eyes wouldn't focus, but as the double vision melded back together into one, she watched his foot kick the mesh bag up under the couch. He then fisted a forceful hand into the damp hair gathered at the back of her head. At the same time, her hand wrapped unseen around the broken hilt of her wooden sword.

Pain scrunched her features as he lifted her up by the scalp, but he tortured her no further than to bring her to her knees. Pleased with her position, he squatted before her with a happy sneer.

"It really is too bad we never got to go to karaoke together. You might have liked me more, if you got to know me."

Blood filled her mouth, and she expelled it in one angry spit to the side. The tooth he had knocked loose skipped across the floor. It was a telling response to his claim. At the same time that his eyes moved to follow the rattling sound, she slammed the broken hilt into his left knee as hard as she could.

A howl of pain rewarded her efforts, and his hand released her hair. However, their positioning had saved him from suffering a much stronger attack. Scrambling to put distance between them, she knew she had failed the moment he latched onto the back of her shirt. Fabric tore easily under his strong grip, and she then found herself weightless before crashing into the wall. Already worn muscles were starting to quiver in weakness, and she tried to suck in air before his hand locked around the bottom part of her jaw. The heel of his hand strategically restricted her windpipe, and she clawed at him desperately for air.

Hopping on one leg, Iizuka cursed and clenched his fingers as he lost his temper.

"Fuck! You stupid bitch! Fuck!"

Suddenly, she was yanked away from the solid support of the wall, and then slammed once more back into its unforgiving surface. Emptiness darkened her eyes, her lashes fluttered, and her arms went limp. Fading in and out of consciousness, she thought of Kenshin and his claim that he would protect her.

That's not what I wanted… I just want him to look at me.

"Son of a whore! It's no wonder we killed off all the humans! You're worse than cockroaches!"

Grumbling issued from low in his throat, accompanied by heavy breathing. Finally, he looked at his watch.

"Playtime's over. Time for business. Those siblings could be back soon, and I don't generally like fighting anyone stronger than I am. Now, open your mouth for me real big."

The tips of his thick fingers pressed into the crevice where her jaw came together, and her mouth opened of its own volition. Trying to struggle, trying to fight, her eyes welled helplessly as she stared up into his unkind gaze.

I don't want you… to look at me. I don't want anyone to look at me… no one, but Kenshin.

As the thought formed in her mind, something strange and unexpected happened. The expression on his features morphed. Not with anger, or even his previous sadistic glee. Instead, it was contempt that overcame him, and his mouth twisted with as much confusion as it did with unwanted rejection.

"You're rejecting me? Me?! You filthy human! You should be begging me to want you! No one else does!"

Kaoru choked against the hand still holding her mouth open.

"I was willing to overlook it. I still wanted you, even if you are scrawny and unattractive. I can't even get hard looking at you, but I knew from the first moment we met… your meat's good and tender. Oh, don't worry, I only want your tongue. I mean, you do owe me a song."

The stench from his breath invaded her mouth, and she clenched her eyes shut. His scornful voice shifted to a taunt.

"I suppose even if you begged, I'm a business man first. My new client wants to study you, ya see, so I have to leave you mostly intact. They're letting me have a bite, though, as a reward for killing you. I've always wondered what human tastes like."

X

Kenshin woke up with a gasp and a horrible sensation of vertigo. Reflexively, his arms had pushed him upright, and the world around him spun sickeningly. When it finally steadied, he blinked at the main room of his apartment, and the towel stretched out in front of him.

That's right. I was trying to fix Kaoru's gift.

Aches from sleeping on the unforgiving floor throbbed in his shoulder, back, and hips. Another rush of air cooled his teeth, and his dazed violet irises darted to the clock.

I'm late.

His eyes closed against a pounding headache, and the smell of the glue filled his nostrils.

But… should I even go? Wouldn't it be dangerous to be alone with her? If I really did try to kill her…

Sitting up, one knee drew in towards his torso, and he rested his arm on it to brace his head in hand. Calloused fingers dug through his hair and found the rough patches of seared wounds and scabs along his scalp.

Did I really try to? I… I don't even know.

If I did, I owe her an explanation. At the very least, she deserves an apology. Not that an apology could ever make it right, or take it away.

Across the room, the television still played, and he leaned his head all the way into the crook of his arm. His eyes watched the actors move across the screen, but his tormented mind remained conflicted.

I want to see her, but my motives are selfish. I miss her. I miss her in this apartment that I got for her. I think… I wanted us to be here together.

The last time they had been together in that apartment, he had never felt more at home. Contact, real physical and emotional contact with another being, was not something he had realized he needed. Not until Kaoru. That full day spent together, trapped inside that apartment while the storm unleashed torrents of rain and wind outside, had been so welcome. So wonderful. Even if they had done little. Even while just watching random shows on his television.

Red lashes blinked, and his brows creased as the movie currently playing sparked a memory.

I think Kaoru watched this movie that day.

Kenshin didn't remember what the movie was about. Truthfully, he had found it boring. But Kaoru had enjoyed it, and he had enjoyed her enjoyment.

I see. The main character uses sign language. Maybe that's why she liked it?

A sigh heaved from his chest. Standing to reach for the remote, he meant to turn the distraction off. After all, he had much more important matters to contemplate. With remote in hand, however, he froze in place as the main actor formed four familiar and yet still unknown signs to her male counterpart. Four signs Kaoru had mimicked and he had struggled to understand. Along the bottom of the screen, the subtitles translated her confession clearly.

"I've fallen in love with you."

In that one beautiful second, the walls of the labyrinth in his mind revealed an opening, and he glimpsed what waited for him at the center.

The apartment was empty before he could think to change his clothes.

Every light he had to wait at, every other occupant that got in his way, anything that forced him to slow down, heightened his impatience.

Of course she expected you to know what she said! She thought you were watching the movie with her! You idiot!

The receptionist in the lobby barely had time to bow in greeting before he was on the elevator, and the ride up to Kaoru's floor took too long. By the time he arrived at the door to her host lab, he was breathing heavily from excitement, adrenaline, and exertion. For three seconds he bent at the knees to catch his breath, and nervously kneaded his hands as he thought of how their conversation should start. A second later, and a crash from within tore away the anxious moment to replace it with suspicious trepidation.

Kaoru's supposed to be alone.

The door yanked open at the same time his access badge beeped, and he rushed through the smaller lab at the entrance. His movements were unconsciously swift and silent, as the komainu had trained him to be. Once inside the main room, his ears heard something so vile he reacted on pure instinct.

"They're letting me have a bite, though, as a reward for killing you. I've always wondered what human tastes like."

A scream broke from the ogre's mouth. The kind of scream only a burning animal would release. The hand he had placed on Iizuka's shoulder instantly melted into his flesh, but a shove strategically removed him from reach. Kaoru's limp body buckled without support and tipped forward, but Kenshin caught her easily against him with his unheated left arm. She was breathing, but it was strained and ragged. Her shirt was torn at the back, and there was very little strength left in her body.

Blue-violet eyes of pure rage turned upon the ogre still screaming on the floor.

His father had told him once, that violet-colored flames were closest to the hottest visible flame in the world. Kenshin had complained about his eyes just before then, because he had wanted his eyes to be red like his father's. Red, however, was a cooler temperature than violet, and as a fire demon, his father was proud that his son had been born with a burning-hot nature. It meant he would one day be powerful.

"What are you doing?!" For some reason, Iizuka imagined his actions to be irreproachable, and his voice screeched with shock and pain. Kenshin's hand fisted. A maelstrom was building within his heart, of power so pure and intense it would destroy the city if unleashed. His mind, however, was clear. Clearer than it had ever been.

"Who sent you?" As if the words were spoken in tandem with another, the question boomed and echoed inside the small space. Two voices, one deep and dark like a rumbling volcano, the other fierce and strong like the sun, shouted down upon the ogre in demand.

Cowering, Iizuka cradled his right arm into his chest, but scooted himself as far away as he could. "W-what are you talking about?"

"Your footing is tenuous at best, ogre. You would be wise to answer my question before I lose my temper." Clear flames distorted the air, and the thunderous voices continued their threatening onslaught. The light inside the lab was becoming so bright, the ogre had to squint to keep track of the fire demon's location.

"N-no one sent me. It's just a misunderstanding. I thought her abandoned, and was going to take her in." Iizuka had worked his way up the wall and had regained his feet. His left knee was still unable to take his full weight, however, and so he leaned it all towards the right.

His claims were obvious lies masked in partial-truths, and his refusal to give up his benefactor was nearly admirable. Unfortunately, Kenshin's patience had already worn thin.

"I-I wanted her for myself."

"You wanted nothing! I do not share what is mine!"

The cracks in his human façade were widening, and his true form underneath burned in terrible fury. Like true flames, the shorter fringe of hair around his face rose up to crackle and snap with power, but the arm still cradling Kaoru against him remained cool and gentle at her back. Her breathing was finally beginning to ease, and her lashes fluttered with consciousness.

"S-she's just a human. They told me you hated humans."

Flickering violet eyes narrowed.

"You speak as if you know, and think it will absolve you from what you have done. I advise you to leave now, Iizuka, before there is nothing left of you to question later." The dual-voices were melding slowly into one.

"Why do you even care? You've already tried to kill her."

A single turn of his hand was all it took to call the Kagu-tsuchi now, and the sword was released from its slumber inside Kenshin's core scarcely a moment before he brought his arm down upon the ogre's head. Stopping just short, the deadly blade barely pressed into Iizuka's forehead and nose, and left behind a line of blood that burned up instantly. The voices had fully harmonized into an earth-shaking baritone when he forced out his final warning.

"Leave… or be ash."

Gentle hands wrapped around his extended elbow, and the sudden contact startled Kenshin from his rage. In the confusion, Iizuka scrambled for the door, but Kenshin had eyes only for the young woman staying his strike. With Iizuka gone, she swayed, and her hands released him. As quickly as it had appeared, the sword vanished to return to its resting place, and Kenshin scooped Kaoru up into his arms to settle on the couch.

Blood trickled from her mouth, and bruising was already starting to form along her jaw. Her eyes, however, stayed downcast and her entire body slumped wearily. A hard swallow fought back the return of trepidation, and Kenshin dug out his phone to take care of Iizuka first before anything else. Then… then they would talk.

X

Tomoe answered her phone on the second ring, and paused on the concrete steps up to the lab.

"Himura-san…" He cut her off quickly, and she frowned. Next to her, Enishi shoved his hands into his pockets and scowled.

"We're at the entrance." Something in Kenshin's voice was frightening, and as he provided a brief explanation of what he had found upon entering the lab, her gentle features hardened like coal.

"Yes, I see him." Pulling the phone away from her mouth, Tomoe pointed at the green-skinned ogre groaning and limping as he pushed through the large glass doors.

"Enishi. Bring him." Emerald eyes spared her a surprised glance.

"In whatever way you wish, as long as he's alive."

"Yes, Ma'am." Her little brother jogged up the stairs with a satisfied grin, and Tomoe returned to the phone call. Cool and calm, as a lady should be, she ignored the aggressive shouts and rumble of the ground as Enishi slammed the ogre into the concrete.

"And Kaoru? Yes… that can wait. You did well, Himura-san. Leave Iizuka to us. You should focus on Kaoru now. I'll give you some time before I come in to check on her."

The call was ended, and Tomoe immediately dialed Megumi. The fox, however, was quite pleased to hear what she had to say.

"So, he finally made his move. Good. Now that the rat is out of the way, we can proceed as planned."

X

A/N: Another fun chapter to write! In a much different way than the last one. It was a little tough at the start, but I've been wanting to write Kenshin's reaction to Iizuka for a while. We all know he's… well, a badass. What I really wanted to showcase is how much control he has gained, despite his worry that he has none. (And over such power!) Even after walking in to find what he found, he knew capturing Iizuka was what needed to be done, because that was the best option to keep Kaoru safe. I also really wanted Enishi to get in a few licks, because he kind of deserved to get to. Getting to allow Kaoru to showcase her own ability to fight was also fun, but I had to dial it back a little for her, which was strangely enough, the hardest part. She's still a half-asleep princess, operating as she is without most of her memories. She got a couple good hits in on him, though, that he certainly wasn't expecting. Working in her unconscious desire not to kill anyone was a bonus! Even for one as slimy and disgusting as Iizuka. The little detail with the sign language fit in so perfectly as well! Ah, I'm just so happy right now. Please forgive this fangirl. I love these characters to pieces. Thank you so much for the continued excitement for my story! I will continue to return the love in written form! Coming up… a very personal discussion about loss, pain, and love. See you soon!