Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin or any of its characters. I am just a fan girl with a wild imagination.
***Kaoru's POV***
Kaoru screamed as she watched the doorway close behind her and Kenshin.
He carried her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
They were surrounded by a tunnel of blue and white lights with no foreseeable end.
Kaoru looked down and screamed harder, there was no ground beneath her feet, and yet Kenshin seemed to be walking just fine.
Just then, Kaoru's voice box closed up, like it had the other night. She knew it had to be Kenshin. She began to pound her fists against his back as she hyperventilated.
That fucking bastard! How can be so calm about this?!
"I'm sorry Miss Kaoru," Kenshin called back to her. "I can't concentrate when you're screaming so loudly. We will be there soon I promise."
His words sounded so far away that they were almost drowned out by the rush of sounds in the tunnel.
Kaoru tried to focus one sound in the tunnel to calm herself, but it was impossible. It was like a sea of disembodied voices, each trying to talk over each other, combined with the air pressure of an airplane cabin.
At moment's notice, the lights and sounds ended, and Kaoru found herself face to face with the large demon head of the Namba Yasaka Shrine. Its giant grey demon head and big jeweled eyes loomed over her, putting her even more on edge.
Kaoru struggled to catch her breath and looked around her to see that Kenshin was gone, and in his place sat Kenzo again with his tail wagging softly. The sword was on the ground by his side.
It was now the middle of the day, and they were surrounded by a few tourists who had come to see the magnificence of the shrine. No one seemed to notice their sudden appearance or act any more or less surprised that they were there.
Kaoru felt off balance, her ears were ringing, and the world around her seemed to be spinning. Kaoru brushed her hand against her forehead and when she pulled it away, she saw it was covered in sweat. Her hand began to shake as she tried to pull herself together.
Kaoru noticed churning in her stomach, and her esophagus begin to clench.
"Oh fuck.." She stuttered, "I-I.." Kaoru dry heaved and covered her mouth.
She looked around frantically for somewhere to be sick.
Kenzo tilted his head and stared at her, sensing that something was wrong.
Kaoru managed to stumble over to a trash can and throw up over the side of the lid. She emptied her stomach of everything she ate that day.
***Kenshin's Pov***
Kenshin watched Kaoru's face change, and her symptoms of distress as she stumbled over to the trashcan.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
There was no way she was going to be able to walk back to his hideout the way she was now. He was going to have to think of something else, and fast.
He had made the mistake of thinking that a simple human girl would be okay after her first trip through a portal. How stupid he was to forget how a lack of magical powers, or demonic energy could create obstacles when traveling through time and space. Human bodies weren't made for this, and as a result vertigo and illness were common side effects.
He really hadn't hung out with humans in a long time.
Kenshin looked over to the far right of the shrine entrance and saw a bathroom that a monk went into. He would have to move quickly.
***Kaoru's POV**
Kaoru felt her head bobbling up and down and her knees raised as if she was being carried. Kaoru's eyes fluttered open for a second to see herself pressed against a hard chest covered in red robes.
I must have passed out.
Kaoru leaned into the hard chest carrying her and inhaled.
It smells like Kenshin
Kaoru's body felt like mush, she was too fucked up to comment on Kenshin's new attire.
She prayed this would all be over soon.
**Kenshin's Pov***
Finally arriving at their destination, Kenshin uttered the spell to open the secret entrance to his home. He stepped through holding a queasy Kaoru in his arms.
The spell reflected a fake scenery façade to the outside world. It the outsider that looked like nothing more than a wall of trees. Kenshin had created this spell years ago to when he was thinking of ways to establish a safe haven. Only demons who knew his spell could enter, making it the perfect hiding place for his lair.
Kenshin paused in the entry way looking down at Kaoru. He couldn't believe the feat he had just managed to pull off. He had gone into the bathroom of the Namba Yasaka Shrine, knocked out a monk employed there, and stolen his face so to speak.
More like replicated his face, and permanently borrowed his clothes so he could pick Kaoru up and carry her home. He almost felt bad for the fact that the monk would wake up confused, and naked. That thought brought a smile to the corner of his lips.
No one had tried to stop him or asked him if the girl in his arms was okay. They put their blind faith in the fact that he was a monk and that modern monks had a reputation for only doing good for humankind.
Kenshin made his way over to the living room and placed Kaoru on his L-shaped sectional couch. He set her down gently and stared at her incoherent face. He could see that there were still beads of sweat on her brow, and she looked ashen.
Definity still sick.
He sighed and bowed his head. Feelings of guilt washed over him once again. They seemed to be becoming a regular occurrence in his relationship with Kaoru.
I've put her through a lot today. I owe her the same kindness she has shown me these past few months.
Kenshin walked away to his room to change out of his robes and set his sword down, before heading to the kitchen. He grabbed a jug of water, a towel, and an empty glass and headed back to the couch. He would watch over Kaoru until she felt well enough to engage.
****Kaoru's POV****
Floating.
Kaoru felt like she was on floating on a cloud. She was lying on something very comfortable. Slowly opening her eyes, Kaoru saw She was in a room, lying on someone's gray sectional couch.
Where am I?
Looking around she saw a low hanging light, tatami mats on the floors, and a center table next to the couch. The home appeared to be a minimalist style with traditional Japanese floors and walls.
Kaoru realizing how parched she was and sat up. Turning towards the center table, and she poured herself a glass of water and promptly downed it. As she reached to pour herself another glass, her favorite red head entered the room.
"Ah, Miss Kaoru, how are you feeling?" Kenshin approached and sat down on the couch next to her. He was wearing his signature outfit again.
"Kenshin, where are we? Kaoru scooted closer to him, glass in hand.
"This is my home, Miss Kaoru. Would you like some water?" He smiled at her while gesturing towards the glass of water in her hand.
Kaoru felt her heart beating faster in her chest. Her face grew hot.
I am alone with Kenshin, in his home. HIS HOME.
Kenshin observed Kaoru go back into her head and her face flush. He thought it was cute.
"Miss Kaoru? Are you still under the weather?" He tried again gently.
Kaoru snapped back to the present and sat up straighter.
"Oh, um yes, I am not feeling nauseous anymore." Kaoru stared in his eyes, his beautiful violet eyes..
"Thank goodness, I was worried about you Miss Kaoru. I owe you an apology for today. I didn't realize that the tunnel would make you ill, I am sorry."
As Kaoru listened to him talk and started to remember the events of the day. Kaoru noticed her thoughts and feelings from earlier coming back. A lump formed in her throat, and she felt her chest constrict in anxiety. The tunnel, the demon sword smith, Kenshin was a killer?
"Miss Kaoru, I would like to make it up to you that I would." Kenshin continued on not catching the sudden shift in her emotional state.
"Kenshin! That tunnel! What was that?! How did we get here? Demons have houses?!"
Kaoru didn't care that she was cutting him off. She needed to know NOW.
No more waiting. I want answers.
Kenshin held up his hands in a defensive posture and tried to gauge the direction that this conversation was taking. He was smiling awkwardly at her now.
"Oro? Miss Kaoru, let me explain, I know it has been a trying day for you-."
Kaoru responded with anger to his tone. She would not be pacified this time. Her voice raised in volume with her next string of questions.
"Are you really a bloody murderer?! What did Lord Shakku mean when he said that to you? Why are there so many kinds of demons?! Do they all look like that? Do you have a scary form like that?!"
When he didn't respond fast enough Kaoru shoved at Kenshin's chest, shouting accusations at him. He continued to hold his hands up in self-defense, the same stupid face as before.
"Why did you think it would be okay to tell me all of this after the fact!? I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN ALL THIS SOONER; IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE TO BE PREPARED?!"
Kaoru stood up and reared over him, putting her hands on her hips. She was in full. Hot. Headed. Kaoru. Mode.
Kenshin was facing a personal struggle of his own. His calm exterior did little to notify the observer of this though. His demon recognized the challenge in Kaoru's body language, and it did not like to be bested by anyone.
This woman needs to be put in her place.
Be kind to her, she has had a long day!
If you won't stop her I will!
I am not using my magic on her again, it will lead to further upset.
FINE. Then allow me.
The battousai stood up and matched up against Kaoru. Amber eyes connected with her gaze, and strong arms enclosed her around her, pulling her hips forward to press against his. The tension in the room grew thicker, pulsing, as if it was fueled by electricity.
Kaoru paused her tangent, feeling a sense of uneasiness at the battousai's return
Oh no, it's him. Him again, t-the blood thirsty DEMON?!
"That's enough Little blue bird, it's time for me to do the talking, and you do to the listening. Don't make me silence you, you won't like it."
Oh hell! This shit again?! He was back to belittling her and mocking her. Kaoru's fear instantly subsided.
"OH EXCUSE ME! So you can just show up whenever you want and try to scare me? You have some fucking nerve and some explaining to doooo, ohhhh-"
Kaoru tipped forward and fell against his chest, her head was spinning. The dizziness and vertigo had returned. The battousai was unaffected, his posture remained solid, he didn't try to help steady her. His hands left her hips and fell to his sides.
What's the matter little blue bird? That measley human body of yours giving out again?
"S-stop it, I just want to know the truth god damn it." Kaoru tried to fight back but it was a losing battle. She leaned against him for support despite her pride. She was losing more energy every second.
"Say what, little blue bird, I'll humor you for five minutes, then you will rest, or I will force you to rest."
I hate his fucking tone. Fucking smug asshole.
Kaoru gritted her teeth as she leaned against his chest. She would have to play along with his game if she wanted to get anything from this interaction.
"O-okay." She ground out, panting against his chest as she fought to control the spins in her vision.
I won't give him the satisfaction of seeing me throw up again. I won't! I can't.
The battousai smiled above as her listened to her struggle. He was enjoying her moment of weakness; it stroked his ego. There was something so satisfying about a strong-willed woman submitting to his will.
Deciding to reward her for her cooperation; he used his arms on her upper back and shoulders to help her to sit back down. Kaoru was grateful for the assistance.
Once seated, she grunted as she shifted to find a comfortable spot that kept her somewhat elevated. Needing electrolytes, Kaoru willed herself to move. Kaoru's hand shook as she reached for the glass of water on the table.
The battousai grabbed the glass for her and handed to her. She glared at him in response but didn't protest his help.
He grinned back at her with glee as she sipped her water. Then he started the conversation.
"Where to start? Hmm." The battousai looked at Kaoru for clarification.
"T-The tunnel?" She offered carefully.
"Ah yes. The tunnel was a portal consisting of time and space that takes its traveler to a specific destination. This done by bending time, space, and distance between two locations to making the journey to significantly shorter."
"Can all demons do that?" Kaoru followed up.
"No, it cannot be done by all. Lord Shakku was once a demi-god before he became a demon. It takes a supreme level of power to be able to manipulate time."
"A demi-god? Like from Hinduism and the Vedic Scriptures?"
Kaoru tried to remember some of what she had learned from studying at the shrine over the years.
"Yes, but it extends beyond that. Many cultures have recognized demi-gods, deities, and demons."
I never thought the legends from the scriptures were real. I thought the majority of it was made up to scare people into submission.
"How many kinds of demons are there? Do they all have other forms?"
"Ha. Little bird, there are hundreds of demons and the majority of them have learned to take other forms, or disguises over the centuries. For survival of course." He smirked at her. Kaoru gulped.
The battousai noticed the scent of her fear was back in the room, it appealed to his predatory instinct.
"Has no one been able to recognize that demons walking among us for all these years?" Kaoru tensed, waiting for the answer.
"Humans only see what they want to see. It seems that the longer history has gone on, and the better demons have become at hiding themselves, they faded into legends. It takes a spiritual training, and awareness for a human to see beyond a disguise."
Kaoru mulled this over in her mind. Humans only see what they want to see. Is that why no one had noticed them come out of the tunnel? How blind had she been to demons her whole life?
"Where did you come from?"
"I will let my other side answer that question later. The five minutes is up." He countered.
Kaoru opened her mouth to ask another question but the battousai cut her off.
"You've exhausted yourself enough for one day. I didn't become a demon by choice. None the less, I don't dislike it." At the end of his sentence the battousai's eyes flashed red to emphasize his meaning.
Kaoru's blood chilled in her veins. He was terrifying. Handsome but...deadly.
Never breaking eye contact with her, the battousai lifted his right hand until it was in her face.
Kaoru started to panic. What is he doing?! Is he going to hurt me?!
"W-wait!" She tried to protest but he cut her off again.
"No more questions little blue bird. It's time you rest, and that is what you shall do."
Kaoru felt her body growing heavier, as if she was being pressed into the ground. By the time she realized what his intention was, it was too late. She was sound asleep.
The battousai chuckled above her.
"Sleep little blue bird. You'll need your energy to play with me again."
**** author's note***
Next chapter contains heavy sexual themes. Just warning ya.
As for Kenshin's Demonology, I am reading resources on Japanese yokai and trying to incorporate them into this story.
Why does Kaoru keep getting sick and falling asleep? Because she is with an energy draining demon. Humans don't have the capacity to keep up with them.