Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Bloodline ❯ Bound By Blood ( Chapter 7 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: Angie-san 
Anime/Manga: Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Drama | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 07.07.2005 | Updated On: 06.05.2011 | Pages: 3 | Words: 5.2K | Visits: 736 | Status: Completed
Anime/Manga: Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Drama | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 07.07.2005 | Updated On: 06.05.2011 | Pages: 3 | Words: 5.2K | Visits: 736 | Status: Completed
Disclaimer - Sadly, I don't own Rurouni Kenshin. It is the sole property of Nobuhiro Watsuki and the many companies who have purchased the rights.
Chapter 7 - Bound By Blood
Kaoru sat stiffly at the low table, eyeing Shishio from beneath her bangs as she ate the rice and chicken that had been set before her. The raven haired woman who had grudgingly served her now knelt close at his side, attentive to the bandage-engulfed man’s needs.
Ignoring the glares the woman continued to send her way Kaoru tried to see some resemblance between herself and Shishio. Something that would prove the assertion he'd made in the room that housed the painting. The only thing she could see that would possibly link their lineage were the golden highlights peppering the locks of his hair that escaped the bandages wrapped around his head and face.
Unwilling to completely believe she was connected to this man in any way she turned her attention back to her food and tried to figure out why she'd been taken in the first place. The only reason she could see was that he must have a vendetta against Kenshin and hoped to draw him here by taking her. It wouldn’t be the first time after all.
Raising her eyes she glanced at him and saw the predatory look he was casting her way, suppressing a shiver she turned her gaze away again. “Why did you take me? Do you hope to draw Kenshin here for a fight?"
A grin slid across Shishio's lips as he gazed at her bowed head. “I must admit it was a pleasant surprise to find you are the Hitokiri Battousai's woman, but no...I wanted you. He has little, if anything, to do with us."
Her head had shot up at his implication. "I am not his woman!" she spat, trying to hide the wound that statement caused. Wishing her own words didn’t ring so true.
Seeing the pain she tried to hide, Shishio's eyes gleamed and he twisted the knife deeper. "Does he still mourn his long dead wife then, even when he has such beauty before him?"
Kaoru flinched, the words cutting deep into her heart. She fought the tears that tried to surface, not wanting him to see how much he'd hurt her. "What do you want with me then?" she asked, as her feelings tumbled within.
A low chuckle of amusement at her distress came from Shishio, still he let her change the subject. "That, my dear, I will tell you in due time but for now...is your room acceptable?"
Kaoru gave him an odd look, wondering why he would care if the lodging was acceptable or not, she was his prisoner after all. Trying to not let him see how off-balance he was making her she gave him a small nod and fixed her attention back on her meal. Picking at the meal she tried to puzzle out his motives, why she was here, what was the connection?
The face of the woman in the painting popped into her head suddenly, raising questions as to why they looked almost exactly alike. Did the box she had once belong to this mysterious woman, or was this just all coincidence? Inwardly she shook her head, there were too many similarities to be coincidence. Somehow these unanswered questions over the past few days had to be tied into this whole situation she was in. Determined to know she lifted her eyes and asked, "Who's Shishio Aiko?"
Shishio's lip curled in disdain. "She was the traitorous bitch who killed her husband and then herself after sending her daughter away to keep her and all her descendants from us." Leaning across the table he came to within inches of her face and smiled, "But she failed, sweet angel...you've been returned to where you belong."
Kaoru shivered and scooted back from the table eyeing him warily. "What do you mean 'where I belong'? I belong in Tokyo, at my father's dojo, not here with you!"
Shishio's smile widened, an unholy gleam of delight at her unease lit his eyes. He was enjoying the emotions of helplessness and fear he was causing, thriving off them in fact. She forgot her fear as anger began to smolder deep in her chest. Narrowing her eyes dangerously she glared hard at him, sick of the mind games he was playing, the innuendoes, the elusive hints. She grated a snarl between clenched teeth.
"You are home, my dear, the only home you will know for the rest of your life which will be a very long time indeed."
Kaoru's temper snapped. She was damn tired of the intimidation, fed up with the fear and to hell with every last one of them behind it! Anger flared into full blown rage. “What the hell do you want from me?!” she all but shouted as she threw herself across the table and slammed a fist square in the face. A satisfied part of her mind noted she managed to land it dead center.
Startled Shishio instinctively grabbed a hold of her arms and flung her into the wall, watching as she crashed heavily into the solid wood and crumpled to the floor. A sadistic grin crept across his lips as he rubbed his abused nose. Kami, she's a feisty one. This was going to be even more interesting than he'd originally thought.
Moving from his guard position at the door Razan walked over to where she was sprawled on the floor. Stunned and bruised Kaoru was attempting to rise when he leveled his katana at her throat and purred, "Didn't I warn you?"
Shying away from the blade Kaoru tried to scoot herself to the side and up off the floor. A gentle prick on her neck stopped her. Swinging her eyes up to meet his she shivered, the look he was giving her promised a slow and painful death if she tried anything. In fact he looked like he almost wished she would.
Fighting down the fear that sprang to the surface she instead allowed a small smile to cross her lips when she noticed the black eye that decorated his face. His eyes narrowed dangerously and she dropped the smile not wanting to push him further. She needed to get out of here alive after all.
Shishio rose from his place at the table and cast a glance their way before he sauntered towards the door, a small grin lifting the corner of his lips. "Bring her, it's time to begin."
Her tormentor reached down and grabbed Kaoru's arm, jerking her to her feet and dragged her out of the room. A knot of anxiety twisted painfully in her stomach as she was forcefully led down the hallway, Razan’s iron grip cutting off the circulation as they followed Shishio to some unknown destination.
Coming to a door Shishio slid it open with ease and stepped outside onto a porch, disappearing around the corner. Surprised they were going outside Kaoru immediately readied herself for another escape attempt and stepped out the door. Instantly her heart plunged to her feet, all thoughts of escape flying out of her head when her eyes came to rest on the sheer cliff that outlined the entire garden they were in. The rock face went for as far as the eye could see in both directions, wrapping around the entire mansion. An impassable natural barrier from any attack that would be leveled from this side. Kaoru wilted and dropped her head to hide the tears that sprang to her eyes and finally accepted that there truly was nowhere to run.
A tug on her arm pulled her from her misery and she was led out into a well tended lawn towards a small stone building. The structure was nestled among a grove of sakura trees she hadn't noticed when they'd first come out onto the porch. Within moments they reached the open door and she was shoved roughly into the room, forcing her trip over the threshold and fall to her knees. She winced as she steadied herself, shifting to ease the scrapping she had received from the rough stone floor.
Glancing up to see just what the place was she blinked several times trying to adjust her eyes to the dim interior. Finally bringing them into focus she slowly got to her feet, grimacing as pain shot out from her bloodied knees and scanned the room. It was a solid stone room with no windows, the only light illuminating the interior was cast by the flickering candles that lined the walls and sunlight through the door. There was nothing in the room except a small table that held an assortment of daggers and other sharp implements, glinting menacingly in the subdued light. She quickly slid her gaze to Shishio, who stood in the middle of the room. Her eyes widened in dread as they came to rest on the manacles attached to the wall behind him.
Panic rose in a rush, threatening to choke her. With strength born of desperation Kaoru spun around and sprinted for the door, slamming her shoulder into her tormentor's chest pushing as hard as she could. Praying and hoping she could knock him over and escape. She heard a chuckle above her head before he grabbed her around the throat and flung her across the room. A cry was forced from her lips as she crashed hard into the stone wall beside the small table.
Dazed from the impact Kaoru rose up slowly, her body screaming from the abuse and shook her head to clear the pain. Her body throbbed from the impact, but her panic overrode her mind, demanding to flee, to get far away as possible at any cost. Grabbing one of the knives she swung around and faced Shishio. Her heart pounding so hard she was sure it was going to drive her into unconsciousness, the darkness already teasing the edges of her senses.
Shishio simply smiled and slowly moved towards her, driving her up against the wall again before he reached out to retrieve the dagger, sure she wouldn't actually use it.
But Kaoru immediately proved him wrong and slashed at his outstretched hand; cutting a jagged swath across his fingers. A satisfied grin stretched her lips, an almost feral sneer, as blood welled up and splashed to the floor. Shishio snarled and with flicker of movement had her wrist locked in a bone crushing grip.
Kaoru gasped as her fingers went numb, allowing the blade to clatter noisily to the floor. Stifling a further cry of pain she lifted her gaze from the hand threatening to turn her bones to dust and froze, the pain nearly forgotten as horror suddenly filled her. Shishio's eyes had gone from black to blood red, the malevolent power in them holding her as if she was prey in the hunter’s sight.
And then much to her further horror he lowered his face until she could feel his hot breath on her skin, the reddish eyes burning into her with a hellish intensity. "We can avoid this, my dear, if you will simply drop your barrier and allow me to take what should have been mine." He murmured, his voice clearly stating he was through playing games. Time had run out.
Kaoru could only stare at him as the promise she'd made to her mother slammed into her mind. Never bring down the barrier I just taught you for anyone...ever. Promise me, Kaoru, you will always keep it in place...promise me! Tremors started to shake her body as her mother's voice continued to spiral, jumbled emotions, thoughts and memories battering her at every turn. Dragging her eyes from his she fixed them on the wall over his shoulder, cringing when they landed once again on the iron bands. "I... I... I can't." she whispered brokenly.
Shishio leaned in further, his nose almost brushing her smooth cheek, and grinned. "I was hoping you would say that." Yanking her trembling form to the back wall he quickly clamped her wrists in the manacles before she could attempt another escape. A brief motion bade Razan to leave them, the door closing soundly behind him.
Fighting against the shackles binding her to the wall, a cold sweat broke out all over Kaoru's body. Her imagination dragging up all sorts of horrors he could do with the knives arrayed on the table. Tears spilled from her eyes making wet paths down her cheeks as she realized this was it, she was going to die now for a reason she didn't even know. With one last violent tug on the chains she quit fighting and hung her head, waiting for the bite of the blade. Hoping he wouldn't take too long in killing her. Kenshin's smiling face flashed before her eyes causing her tears to come faster, her heart shattering to pieces now that she knew she would never get to see him again.
Once they were alone Shishio turned back to his prize and grinned at the pathetic picture she made. Her face was covered by her mass of thick hair, but the tears were still visible as they dripped from her chin to stain her clothing. Reaching out he gently placed a finger under her chin lifting her face to meet his. "Are you sure you don't want to just give me what I desire?"
"What is it you want from me?" Kaoru whispered, desperately needing to know what she was going to die for.
He leaned in and placed a soft kiss on her lips, grinning as he felt her recoil at the touch. "Your blood, my dear...the angel blood that lies hidden behind the barrier in your mind."
Kaoru started at the statement and gave him a quizzical look. "Angel blood?"
Nodding and with a paradoxical gentleness he wiped the dampness from her cheeks. "The legacy Aiko left in your blood, carried down through the generations by the women of our family. With it I will finally be able to destroy the ones who thought they could kill me."
Kaoru stared at him trying to digest what he'd just said. She'd always wondered why her mother had taught her the barrier, had made her promise to keep the glow hidden. Then suddenly it hit her, he wasn't going to kill her but try to bring down the barrier! He needed it down in order to take whatever it was he wanted. At the realization of what he was going to do a voice surfaced in the back of her mind screaming that she had to keep him from getting what he wanted or she would be lost forever. Setting alight an almost instinctive need to thwart his plans. 'How can I stop him?!' she growled to the voice in her head, when no answer came she stomped down her fear and narrowed her eyes dangerously.
Not fully understanding all that was happening, but determined to keep him from getting what he wanted anyway, Kaoru faced him with all she had left. "I would rather die than let you have what you want." She murmured venomously. “So just kill me and be done with it!”
A malicious grin crept across Shishio's features, his blood red eyes beginning to glow. "You won't die, my dear...you will break."
Reaching down he grasped one of the daggers and brought it up to her face. Kaoru flinched back but continued to glare at him, fighting the fear that tried to grow again. Slowly he brought the blade to her cheek and cut a shallow line lengthwise down her cheek, lifting the blade he made another cut intersecting the first to resemble the scar on Kenshin's face. Kaoru's tears began flowing again as the impact of what he'd just done hit her like a fist. "Why did you do that?"
Shishio grinned. "I just wanted you to have something to remember him by, you are mine now and if he comes to take you from me I will kill him."
Blinding rage fed by her sorrow spilled through Kaoru's veins and she lifted her leg to kick him in the stomach as hard as she possibly could. "I won't let you kill him," she said with a smirk as shishio doubled over in pain. "There's no way you could anyway."
In a flash, Shishio had right himself and grabbed her by the throat. Slamming her hard against the wall he came to within inches of her face. "When I am done nothing will be able to kill me. Not even the Hitokiri Battousai."
With that he let her go and brought the blade to her chest. Slicing open the thin yukata covering her, he laid the tip against her skin and drew a line over the tops of her breasts. Kaoru inhaled sharply then hissed in pain. A shiver of dread crawled up Kaoru's spine at the maliciously smile Shishio gave her before he purred, "I think we've had enough of the verbal sparring, now it's time to truly begin."
oooooooooooooooooo
Another candle guttered and died sending the room further into shadow, leaving only a scattered few to illuminate the dark interior and cast flickering light over Kaoru's unresponsive body. Unable to hold herself up anymore she hung listlessly from the iron bands, as blood continued seeping from the many cuts riddling her body. Staring at the pool of blood at her feet she vaguely wondered how she'd managed to stay alive so long. Her vision was beginning to fade from the heavy blood loss and her head throbbed from the iron grip she'd kept on the barrier reinforcing it every time it threatened to collapse.
She just wanted it to end, to slip away from the pain and sink into the darkness that teased the corner of her senses but she couldn't. If she let go of the barrier it would fall, giving him what he wanted. Determined to keep him from having it she hung on tenaciously, waiting for the blood loss to kill her. If that was the only way she could stop him, so be it.
Shishio stared at her bowed head impressed by her stubbornness to keep him away from the power she housed within. She was decorated from head to toe with shallow cuts he'd made over the hours they'd been in here, never once screaming but taking the torture with quiet determination, even biting through her lip to keep from letting him know how much pain she was in. He was starting to believe she truly would die before she'd let the barrier fall, keeping him away from the means to destroy all who had thought to dispose of him like useless trash.
A sudden surge of anger tore through his veins as he stared at her bowed head. He wasn't going to let her die and take away the one thing that would bring Japan to its knees. Grabbing a fist full of hair he yanked her head up and glared into her deadened eyes. "I wasn't going to do this but you've left me no choice...you will break, sweet angel."
Dropping her head he set down the blade in his hand and retrieved the dull dagger that rested on the table with splashes of blood already marring its shiny surface. The tip had been sharpened but the rest had been left dull and jagged to tear through the skin instead, sure to cause excruciating pain. Leveling the blade at her side he pressed the tip into her skin pushing slowly to prolong the agony hoping it would drive her to release her hold on the barrier.
Kaoru's body spasmed as the blade ripped through her flesh digging deeper and deeper into her side. Snapping her head up, her jaw unlocked from her teeth-gritting determination, as a scream ripped from her throat. The searing pain as Shishio sawed the blade back and forth across her body raced like fire along her nerves. Gasping she arched away but with red-eyed glee her tormentor followed, twisting the blade further.
“You have nothing, angel,” he whispered almost lovingly into her ear. “You are all alone.”
Another twist and the pain tripled, sending her over the edge and a scream that eclipsed the previous one tore from her throat. In that moment the barrier shattered into a thousand pieces, unleashing the power she'd so tenaciously held in check. The shards of the broken barrier viciously pierced her already battered mind, driving her perilously close to the edge and ripped down the shell she'd unknowingly constructed years ago to hide the confusion and fear of her mother's final moments. Amplified by the power released, her scream echoed out over the landscape and rolled down the mountain slamming into a train passing by, shocking all within the cars.
Shishio grinned with anticipation as Kaoru began to glow, getting brighter and brighter as the seconds ticked by. He was finally going to have the weapon that would bring down the government he despised. It was finally within his grasp! Feeling the stone floor begin to shake beneath his feet he reached out and twisted a nipple savagely, pulling her back from completely succumbing to the power. "Not yet, my dear, we'll test that later" he whispered into her ear.
Licking his lips he lowered his face and traced his tongue across one of the cuts on her shoulder. The thrum of power tingled across the appendage; malicious delight filled him at the sensation, the taste. Latching his mouth to the wound he greedily ingested the seeping blood, the dagger now forgotten on the floor as he gripped her with both hands with bruising intensity. Like a starved man he took into him the sweet power that would heal his badly scarred body. Heal and render him immortal, giving him his heart's desire...control over the woman in front of him.
The sharp pain that radiated out from her breast pulled Kaoru back from the edge and hurtled her into the memory of her mother's painful last moments, the feel of wet lips pressing against her shoulder only hazily registering in her mind.
"Momma, you wanted to talk to me?"
Her mother gave her a wan smile before she nodded and answered in a quiet voice. "There's something I need to tell you before I'm no longer here to protect you, Kaoru," beginning to cough, her mother's small frame shook violently stopping her from continuing. When the convulsion subsided her mother whispered "We are special, Kaoru...our family has a secret that we must protect and never speak about to others." Wracking coughs overtook her mother again, the blood pooled at the corners of her mouth frightening the young girl.
Kaoru shook her head "Momma, you need to rest, you can tell me later."
Smiling slightly her mother shook her head. " There will be no later... you must learn to protect yourself from those who would take your freedom from you."
"Why momma?... Who would want to do that?"
Wiping the blood from the corners of her mouth her mother fought to sit up. Finally succeeding she grasped Kaoru's hands, "There are those in this world who will want the power that we hold within us and will use it to destroy all around them, to rule it. The Shishio family has hunted us for centuries angered by the loss of the blood they believed to be rightfully theirs. Our ancestor Aiko gave them her blood and paid dearly for the mistake...I don't want you to face the same fate."
Another attack seized her mother again causing her to gasp for air. The grip on Kaoru’s hands tightened painfully "Hide from them, Kaoru. They will bind you to them with unbreakable chains if they ever find you."
"How can they bind me?" Kaoru asked, fear pulsing madly through her veins. Watching her mother weaken even more tears began coursing down her cheeks, frightened by all that was happening.
"By breaking the barrier to release your power and consuming your blood where the power hides, if they do you will be bound to them forever."
Terrified out of her mind she freed her hands and grasped her mother's shoulders painfully. "What power, Momma?...What power do I have!"
Blood began to stream from her mother's mouth as she brokenly whispered, "Don't... let them... take...your blood." As the last word fell from her lips she collapsed forward and gasped desperately for air. Then, with one last strangled breath, her mother slipped from the world leaving Kaoru shaken and terrified, not fully comprehending everything she'd just been told. The desperation, fear and shock caused her to blindly build a barrier to hide all that threatened to swallow her. Even her memories.
Kaoru woke from the painful recollection, her eyes slowly refocusing on the room around her. Tears she didn't think she had anymore began streaming down her face as the memory cut open the old wound in her heart again. Kami she wished that it had remained buried.
Every inhalation was a ragged gasp as pain continued to tear at her from inside and out, and then Kaoru suddenly realized that the room was brighter than it had been before. Weakly glancing around her eyes came to rest on Shishio and she watched as he licked a stray drop of blood from his lips, his eyes intent and triumphant as he gazed at her. Horror began to filter through the agony of her body as she realized how he was now outlined by a bright golden glow. Appalled she watched the bandages that covered him fall away to reveal the newly healed skin beneath.
"Now you are forever mine, sweet angel, and I am all you have...nothing can tear us apart...ever. "
The consequences of what had just happened slammed into Kaoru's already overstressed mind and body, pushing her over the edge and she screamed, "NO!"
Eyes rolling up into her head Kaoru succumbed to the released power aching to protect her from further torment, unconsciously embracing the warmth and security it offered. The ground began to heave violently, buckling the floor and shaking the stone walls. Spider cracks flew across their smooth surface, the ceiling beginning to crack and fall, narrowly missing her chained form. The pieces extinguishing the last of the lit candles and splashing into the pool of blood still at her feet as the grating and crashing of stone filled the air.
Shocked, Shishio dove out from underneath a slab of falling stone and grabbed a hold of her, slamming his lips brutally against hers in a demanding painful kiss. Forcing her back into the world. No sooner had she come back to herself than he released her bruised lips and stared hard into her eyes. "Build a barrier now!" he ordered, pinning her against the wall with his body.
Completely drained from the mental battle that had taken every last bit of willpower she'd had, Kaoru sagged in his grip and let go of the power. Closing her eyes she forced her mind to build the barrier that would hold the power in check, knowing it didn't matter anymore. She was bound to this monster for the rest of her life. Nothing more than a slave, blood bonded for all eternity. A moment later she completed the barrier and gratefully fell into the darkness that had been beckoning her for so long, too tired to do anything but sleep, the memory of her mother's death following her into oblivion.
As the barrier formed the glow encircling them both faded, filling the room with darkness. Shishio felt his way over to the door and opened it to let in the last rays of sunlight, sidling back to Kaoru's limp figure a grin touched his lips. She was more powerful than he'd ever thought she would be, with her he would finally be able to bring the Meiji government to its knees. Unlocking her wrists he caught her before she hit the floor and cradled her against his chest then carried her from the room. Out in the dying light of the sunset he stopped in his tracks, shocked by what he saw. The wounds he'd inflicted on her had all healed, leaving only trails of dried blood to prove they were ever there.
Pleased she wouldn't be scarred for life he carried her into the mansion and laid her gently on the futon in her room, covering her with the soft blanket. She'd proven to be a worthy adversary and thoughts of her beyond being a tool for his revenge began tease at his mind. Grinning to himself he left her to sleep and made his way to the main audience hall, mulling over the new feelings blossoming in his chest. He could do whatever he wished with her, she was his after all.
ooooooooooooooooo
Kenshin's head snapped up as a soul-wrenching scream crashed into the train, reverberating around the car and echoing in the very air. Swinging his head around he expected to see fellow travelers mortally wounded nearby, but was only met by the same surprised looks that mirrored his own. A phantom pain shot through his side making him wince and looked down to see nothing amiss. Confused and uneasy he shifted his eyes to the window and watched thousands of birds take flight from the mountain they were passing. Spooked by something he couldn't see.
A sudden, inexplicable fear gripped his chest, stealing his breath away. It felt like he'd just lost the most vital thing in his life. Watching the mountain disappear from view behind another he knew something had just occurred that would change his life forever. As his eyes turned back to the seat before him he fervently wished they'd reach Tokyo. Silently urging the train to move faster so he could wrap his arms around Kaoru and protect her from whatever it was that was coming.
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Chapter 7 - Bound By Blood
Kaoru sat stiffly at the low table, eyeing Shishio from beneath her bangs as she ate the rice and chicken that had been set before her. The raven haired woman who had grudgingly served her now knelt close at his side, attentive to the bandage-engulfed man’s needs.
Ignoring the glares the woman continued to send her way Kaoru tried to see some resemblance between herself and Shishio. Something that would prove the assertion he'd made in the room that housed the painting. The only thing she could see that would possibly link their lineage were the golden highlights peppering the locks of his hair that escaped the bandages wrapped around his head and face.
Unwilling to completely believe she was connected to this man in any way she turned her attention back to her food and tried to figure out why she'd been taken in the first place. The only reason she could see was that he must have a vendetta against Kenshin and hoped to draw him here by taking her. It wouldn’t be the first time after all.
Raising her eyes she glanced at him and saw the predatory look he was casting her way, suppressing a shiver she turned her gaze away again. “Why did you take me? Do you hope to draw Kenshin here for a fight?"
A grin slid across Shishio's lips as he gazed at her bowed head. “I must admit it was a pleasant surprise to find you are the Hitokiri Battousai's woman, but no...I wanted you. He has little, if anything, to do with us."
Her head had shot up at his implication. "I am not his woman!" she spat, trying to hide the wound that statement caused. Wishing her own words didn’t ring so true.
Seeing the pain she tried to hide, Shishio's eyes gleamed and he twisted the knife deeper. "Does he still mourn his long dead wife then, even when he has such beauty before him?"
Kaoru flinched, the words cutting deep into her heart. She fought the tears that tried to surface, not wanting him to see how much he'd hurt her. "What do you want with me then?" she asked, as her feelings tumbled within.
A low chuckle of amusement at her distress came from Shishio, still he let her change the subject. "That, my dear, I will tell you in due time but for now...is your room acceptable?"
Kaoru gave him an odd look, wondering why he would care if the lodging was acceptable or not, she was his prisoner after all. Trying to not let him see how off-balance he was making her she gave him a small nod and fixed her attention back on her meal. Picking at the meal she tried to puzzle out his motives, why she was here, what was the connection?
The face of the woman in the painting popped into her head suddenly, raising questions as to why they looked almost exactly alike. Did the box she had once belong to this mysterious woman, or was this just all coincidence? Inwardly she shook her head, there were too many similarities to be coincidence. Somehow these unanswered questions over the past few days had to be tied into this whole situation she was in. Determined to know she lifted her eyes and asked, "Who's Shishio Aiko?"
Shishio's lip curled in disdain. "She was the traitorous bitch who killed her husband and then herself after sending her daughter away to keep her and all her descendants from us." Leaning across the table he came to within inches of her face and smiled, "But she failed, sweet angel...you've been returned to where you belong."
Kaoru shivered and scooted back from the table eyeing him warily. "What do you mean 'where I belong'? I belong in Tokyo, at my father's dojo, not here with you!"
Shishio's smile widened, an unholy gleam of delight at her unease lit his eyes. He was enjoying the emotions of helplessness and fear he was causing, thriving off them in fact. She forgot her fear as anger began to smolder deep in her chest. Narrowing her eyes dangerously she glared hard at him, sick of the mind games he was playing, the innuendoes, the elusive hints. She grated a snarl between clenched teeth.
"You are home, my dear, the only home you will know for the rest of your life which will be a very long time indeed."
Kaoru's temper snapped. She was damn tired of the intimidation, fed up with the fear and to hell with every last one of them behind it! Anger flared into full blown rage. “What the hell do you want from me?!” she all but shouted as she threw herself across the table and slammed a fist square in the face. A satisfied part of her mind noted she managed to land it dead center.
Startled Shishio instinctively grabbed a hold of her arms and flung her into the wall, watching as she crashed heavily into the solid wood and crumpled to the floor. A sadistic grin crept across his lips as he rubbed his abused nose. Kami, she's a feisty one. This was going to be even more interesting than he'd originally thought.
Moving from his guard position at the door Razan walked over to where she was sprawled on the floor. Stunned and bruised Kaoru was attempting to rise when he leveled his katana at her throat and purred, "Didn't I warn you?"
Shying away from the blade Kaoru tried to scoot herself to the side and up off the floor. A gentle prick on her neck stopped her. Swinging her eyes up to meet his she shivered, the look he was giving her promised a slow and painful death if she tried anything. In fact he looked like he almost wished she would.
Fighting down the fear that sprang to the surface she instead allowed a small smile to cross her lips when she noticed the black eye that decorated his face. His eyes narrowed dangerously and she dropped the smile not wanting to push him further. She needed to get out of here alive after all.
Shishio rose from his place at the table and cast a glance their way before he sauntered towards the door, a small grin lifting the corner of his lips. "Bring her, it's time to begin."
Her tormentor reached down and grabbed Kaoru's arm, jerking her to her feet and dragged her out of the room. A knot of anxiety twisted painfully in her stomach as she was forcefully led down the hallway, Razan’s iron grip cutting off the circulation as they followed Shishio to some unknown destination.
Coming to a door Shishio slid it open with ease and stepped outside onto a porch, disappearing around the corner. Surprised they were going outside Kaoru immediately readied herself for another escape attempt and stepped out the door. Instantly her heart plunged to her feet, all thoughts of escape flying out of her head when her eyes came to rest on the sheer cliff that outlined the entire garden they were in. The rock face went for as far as the eye could see in both directions, wrapping around the entire mansion. An impassable natural barrier from any attack that would be leveled from this side. Kaoru wilted and dropped her head to hide the tears that sprang to her eyes and finally accepted that there truly was nowhere to run.
A tug on her arm pulled her from her misery and she was led out into a well tended lawn towards a small stone building. The structure was nestled among a grove of sakura trees she hadn't noticed when they'd first come out onto the porch. Within moments they reached the open door and she was shoved roughly into the room, forcing her trip over the threshold and fall to her knees. She winced as she steadied herself, shifting to ease the scrapping she had received from the rough stone floor.
Glancing up to see just what the place was she blinked several times trying to adjust her eyes to the dim interior. Finally bringing them into focus she slowly got to her feet, grimacing as pain shot out from her bloodied knees and scanned the room. It was a solid stone room with no windows, the only light illuminating the interior was cast by the flickering candles that lined the walls and sunlight through the door. There was nothing in the room except a small table that held an assortment of daggers and other sharp implements, glinting menacingly in the subdued light. She quickly slid her gaze to Shishio, who stood in the middle of the room. Her eyes widened in dread as they came to rest on the manacles attached to the wall behind him.
Panic rose in a rush, threatening to choke her. With strength born of desperation Kaoru spun around and sprinted for the door, slamming her shoulder into her tormentor's chest pushing as hard as she could. Praying and hoping she could knock him over and escape. She heard a chuckle above her head before he grabbed her around the throat and flung her across the room. A cry was forced from her lips as she crashed hard into the stone wall beside the small table.
Dazed from the impact Kaoru rose up slowly, her body screaming from the abuse and shook her head to clear the pain. Her body throbbed from the impact, but her panic overrode her mind, demanding to flee, to get far away as possible at any cost. Grabbing one of the knives she swung around and faced Shishio. Her heart pounding so hard she was sure it was going to drive her into unconsciousness, the darkness already teasing the edges of her senses.
Shishio simply smiled and slowly moved towards her, driving her up against the wall again before he reached out to retrieve the dagger, sure she wouldn't actually use it.
But Kaoru immediately proved him wrong and slashed at his outstretched hand; cutting a jagged swath across his fingers. A satisfied grin stretched her lips, an almost feral sneer, as blood welled up and splashed to the floor. Shishio snarled and with flicker of movement had her wrist locked in a bone crushing grip.
Kaoru gasped as her fingers went numb, allowing the blade to clatter noisily to the floor. Stifling a further cry of pain she lifted her gaze from the hand threatening to turn her bones to dust and froze, the pain nearly forgotten as horror suddenly filled her. Shishio's eyes had gone from black to blood red, the malevolent power in them holding her as if she was prey in the hunter’s sight.
And then much to her further horror he lowered his face until she could feel his hot breath on her skin, the reddish eyes burning into her with a hellish intensity. "We can avoid this, my dear, if you will simply drop your barrier and allow me to take what should have been mine." He murmured, his voice clearly stating he was through playing games. Time had run out.
Kaoru could only stare at him as the promise she'd made to her mother slammed into her mind. Never bring down the barrier I just taught you for anyone...ever. Promise me, Kaoru, you will always keep it in place...promise me! Tremors started to shake her body as her mother's voice continued to spiral, jumbled emotions, thoughts and memories battering her at every turn. Dragging her eyes from his she fixed them on the wall over his shoulder, cringing when they landed once again on the iron bands. "I... I... I can't." she whispered brokenly.
Shishio leaned in further, his nose almost brushing her smooth cheek, and grinned. "I was hoping you would say that." Yanking her trembling form to the back wall he quickly clamped her wrists in the manacles before she could attempt another escape. A brief motion bade Razan to leave them, the door closing soundly behind him.
Fighting against the shackles binding her to the wall, a cold sweat broke out all over Kaoru's body. Her imagination dragging up all sorts of horrors he could do with the knives arrayed on the table. Tears spilled from her eyes making wet paths down her cheeks as she realized this was it, she was going to die now for a reason she didn't even know. With one last violent tug on the chains she quit fighting and hung her head, waiting for the bite of the blade. Hoping he wouldn't take too long in killing her. Kenshin's smiling face flashed before her eyes causing her tears to come faster, her heart shattering to pieces now that she knew she would never get to see him again.
Once they were alone Shishio turned back to his prize and grinned at the pathetic picture she made. Her face was covered by her mass of thick hair, but the tears were still visible as they dripped from her chin to stain her clothing. Reaching out he gently placed a finger under her chin lifting her face to meet his. "Are you sure you don't want to just give me what I desire?"
"What is it you want from me?" Kaoru whispered, desperately needing to know what she was going to die for.
He leaned in and placed a soft kiss on her lips, grinning as he felt her recoil at the touch. "Your blood, my dear...the angel blood that lies hidden behind the barrier in your mind."
Kaoru started at the statement and gave him a quizzical look. "Angel blood?"
Nodding and with a paradoxical gentleness he wiped the dampness from her cheeks. "The legacy Aiko left in your blood, carried down through the generations by the women of our family. With it I will finally be able to destroy the ones who thought they could kill me."
Kaoru stared at him trying to digest what he'd just said. She'd always wondered why her mother had taught her the barrier, had made her promise to keep the glow hidden. Then suddenly it hit her, he wasn't going to kill her but try to bring down the barrier! He needed it down in order to take whatever it was he wanted. At the realization of what he was going to do a voice surfaced in the back of her mind screaming that she had to keep him from getting what he wanted or she would be lost forever. Setting alight an almost instinctive need to thwart his plans. 'How can I stop him?!' she growled to the voice in her head, when no answer came she stomped down her fear and narrowed her eyes dangerously.
Not fully understanding all that was happening, but determined to keep him from getting what he wanted anyway, Kaoru faced him with all she had left. "I would rather die than let you have what you want." She murmured venomously. “So just kill me and be done with it!”
A malicious grin crept across Shishio's features, his blood red eyes beginning to glow. "You won't die, my dear...you will break."
Reaching down he grasped one of the daggers and brought it up to her face. Kaoru flinched back but continued to glare at him, fighting the fear that tried to grow again. Slowly he brought the blade to her cheek and cut a shallow line lengthwise down her cheek, lifting the blade he made another cut intersecting the first to resemble the scar on Kenshin's face. Kaoru's tears began flowing again as the impact of what he'd just done hit her like a fist. "Why did you do that?"
Shishio grinned. "I just wanted you to have something to remember him by, you are mine now and if he comes to take you from me I will kill him."
Blinding rage fed by her sorrow spilled through Kaoru's veins and she lifted her leg to kick him in the stomach as hard as she possibly could. "I won't let you kill him," she said with a smirk as shishio doubled over in pain. "There's no way you could anyway."
In a flash, Shishio had right himself and grabbed her by the throat. Slamming her hard against the wall he came to within inches of her face. "When I am done nothing will be able to kill me. Not even the Hitokiri Battousai."
With that he let her go and brought the blade to her chest. Slicing open the thin yukata covering her, he laid the tip against her skin and drew a line over the tops of her breasts. Kaoru inhaled sharply then hissed in pain. A shiver of dread crawled up Kaoru's spine at the maliciously smile Shishio gave her before he purred, "I think we've had enough of the verbal sparring, now it's time to truly begin."
oooooooooooooooooo
Another candle guttered and died sending the room further into shadow, leaving only a scattered few to illuminate the dark interior and cast flickering light over Kaoru's unresponsive body. Unable to hold herself up anymore she hung listlessly from the iron bands, as blood continued seeping from the many cuts riddling her body. Staring at the pool of blood at her feet she vaguely wondered how she'd managed to stay alive so long. Her vision was beginning to fade from the heavy blood loss and her head throbbed from the iron grip she'd kept on the barrier reinforcing it every time it threatened to collapse.
She just wanted it to end, to slip away from the pain and sink into the darkness that teased the corner of her senses but she couldn't. If she let go of the barrier it would fall, giving him what he wanted. Determined to keep him from having it she hung on tenaciously, waiting for the blood loss to kill her. If that was the only way she could stop him, so be it.
Shishio stared at her bowed head impressed by her stubbornness to keep him away from the power she housed within. She was decorated from head to toe with shallow cuts he'd made over the hours they'd been in here, never once screaming but taking the torture with quiet determination, even biting through her lip to keep from letting him know how much pain she was in. He was starting to believe she truly would die before she'd let the barrier fall, keeping him away from the means to destroy all who had thought to dispose of him like useless trash.
A sudden surge of anger tore through his veins as he stared at her bowed head. He wasn't going to let her die and take away the one thing that would bring Japan to its knees. Grabbing a fist full of hair he yanked her head up and glared into her deadened eyes. "I wasn't going to do this but you've left me no choice...you will break, sweet angel."
Dropping her head he set down the blade in his hand and retrieved the dull dagger that rested on the table with splashes of blood already marring its shiny surface. The tip had been sharpened but the rest had been left dull and jagged to tear through the skin instead, sure to cause excruciating pain. Leveling the blade at her side he pressed the tip into her skin pushing slowly to prolong the agony hoping it would drive her to release her hold on the barrier.
Kaoru's body spasmed as the blade ripped through her flesh digging deeper and deeper into her side. Snapping her head up, her jaw unlocked from her teeth-gritting determination, as a scream ripped from her throat. The searing pain as Shishio sawed the blade back and forth across her body raced like fire along her nerves. Gasping she arched away but with red-eyed glee her tormentor followed, twisting the blade further.
“You have nothing, angel,” he whispered almost lovingly into her ear. “You are all alone.”
Another twist and the pain tripled, sending her over the edge and a scream that eclipsed the previous one tore from her throat. In that moment the barrier shattered into a thousand pieces, unleashing the power she'd so tenaciously held in check. The shards of the broken barrier viciously pierced her already battered mind, driving her perilously close to the edge and ripped down the shell she'd unknowingly constructed years ago to hide the confusion and fear of her mother's final moments. Amplified by the power released, her scream echoed out over the landscape and rolled down the mountain slamming into a train passing by, shocking all within the cars.
Shishio grinned with anticipation as Kaoru began to glow, getting brighter and brighter as the seconds ticked by. He was finally going to have the weapon that would bring down the government he despised. It was finally within his grasp! Feeling the stone floor begin to shake beneath his feet he reached out and twisted a nipple savagely, pulling her back from completely succumbing to the power. "Not yet, my dear, we'll test that later" he whispered into her ear.
Licking his lips he lowered his face and traced his tongue across one of the cuts on her shoulder. The thrum of power tingled across the appendage; malicious delight filled him at the sensation, the taste. Latching his mouth to the wound he greedily ingested the seeping blood, the dagger now forgotten on the floor as he gripped her with both hands with bruising intensity. Like a starved man he took into him the sweet power that would heal his badly scarred body. Heal and render him immortal, giving him his heart's desire...control over the woman in front of him.
The sharp pain that radiated out from her breast pulled Kaoru back from the edge and hurtled her into the memory of her mother's painful last moments, the feel of wet lips pressing against her shoulder only hazily registering in her mind.
"Momma, you wanted to talk to me?"
Her mother gave her a wan smile before she nodded and answered in a quiet voice. "There's something I need to tell you before I'm no longer here to protect you, Kaoru," beginning to cough, her mother's small frame shook violently stopping her from continuing. When the convulsion subsided her mother whispered "We are special, Kaoru...our family has a secret that we must protect and never speak about to others." Wracking coughs overtook her mother again, the blood pooled at the corners of her mouth frightening the young girl.
Kaoru shook her head "Momma, you need to rest, you can tell me later."
Smiling slightly her mother shook her head. " There will be no later... you must learn to protect yourself from those who would take your freedom from you."
"Why momma?... Who would want to do that?"
Wiping the blood from the corners of her mouth her mother fought to sit up. Finally succeeding she grasped Kaoru's hands, "There are those in this world who will want the power that we hold within us and will use it to destroy all around them, to rule it. The Shishio family has hunted us for centuries angered by the loss of the blood they believed to be rightfully theirs. Our ancestor Aiko gave them her blood and paid dearly for the mistake...I don't want you to face the same fate."
Another attack seized her mother again causing her to gasp for air. The grip on Kaoru’s hands tightened painfully "Hide from them, Kaoru. They will bind you to them with unbreakable chains if they ever find you."
"How can they bind me?" Kaoru asked, fear pulsing madly through her veins. Watching her mother weaken even more tears began coursing down her cheeks, frightened by all that was happening.
"By breaking the barrier to release your power and consuming your blood where the power hides, if they do you will be bound to them forever."
Terrified out of her mind she freed her hands and grasped her mother's shoulders painfully. "What power, Momma?...What power do I have!"
Blood began to stream from her mother's mouth as she brokenly whispered, "Don't... let them... take...your blood." As the last word fell from her lips she collapsed forward and gasped desperately for air. Then, with one last strangled breath, her mother slipped from the world leaving Kaoru shaken and terrified, not fully comprehending everything she'd just been told. The desperation, fear and shock caused her to blindly build a barrier to hide all that threatened to swallow her. Even her memories.
Kaoru woke from the painful recollection, her eyes slowly refocusing on the room around her. Tears she didn't think she had anymore began streaming down her face as the memory cut open the old wound in her heart again. Kami she wished that it had remained buried.
Every inhalation was a ragged gasp as pain continued to tear at her from inside and out, and then Kaoru suddenly realized that the room was brighter than it had been before. Weakly glancing around her eyes came to rest on Shishio and she watched as he licked a stray drop of blood from his lips, his eyes intent and triumphant as he gazed at her. Horror began to filter through the agony of her body as she realized how he was now outlined by a bright golden glow. Appalled she watched the bandages that covered him fall away to reveal the newly healed skin beneath.
"Now you are forever mine, sweet angel, and I am all you have...nothing can tear us apart...ever. "
The consequences of what had just happened slammed into Kaoru's already overstressed mind and body, pushing her over the edge and she screamed, "NO!"
Eyes rolling up into her head Kaoru succumbed to the released power aching to protect her from further torment, unconsciously embracing the warmth and security it offered. The ground began to heave violently, buckling the floor and shaking the stone walls. Spider cracks flew across their smooth surface, the ceiling beginning to crack and fall, narrowly missing her chained form. The pieces extinguishing the last of the lit candles and splashing into the pool of blood still at her feet as the grating and crashing of stone filled the air.
Shocked, Shishio dove out from underneath a slab of falling stone and grabbed a hold of her, slamming his lips brutally against hers in a demanding painful kiss. Forcing her back into the world. No sooner had she come back to herself than he released her bruised lips and stared hard into her eyes. "Build a barrier now!" he ordered, pinning her against the wall with his body.
Completely drained from the mental battle that had taken every last bit of willpower she'd had, Kaoru sagged in his grip and let go of the power. Closing her eyes she forced her mind to build the barrier that would hold the power in check, knowing it didn't matter anymore. She was bound to this monster for the rest of her life. Nothing more than a slave, blood bonded for all eternity. A moment later she completed the barrier and gratefully fell into the darkness that had been beckoning her for so long, too tired to do anything but sleep, the memory of her mother's death following her into oblivion.
As the barrier formed the glow encircling them both faded, filling the room with darkness. Shishio felt his way over to the door and opened it to let in the last rays of sunlight, sidling back to Kaoru's limp figure a grin touched his lips. She was more powerful than he'd ever thought she would be, with her he would finally be able to bring the Meiji government to its knees. Unlocking her wrists he caught her before she hit the floor and cradled her against his chest then carried her from the room. Out in the dying light of the sunset he stopped in his tracks, shocked by what he saw. The wounds he'd inflicted on her had all healed, leaving only trails of dried blood to prove they were ever there.
Pleased she wouldn't be scarred for life he carried her into the mansion and laid her gently on the futon in her room, covering her with the soft blanket. She'd proven to be a worthy adversary and thoughts of her beyond being a tool for his revenge began tease at his mind. Grinning to himself he left her to sleep and made his way to the main audience hall, mulling over the new feelings blossoming in his chest. He could do whatever he wished with her, she was his after all.
ooooooooooooooooo
Kenshin's head snapped up as a soul-wrenching scream crashed into the train, reverberating around the car and echoing in the very air. Swinging his head around he expected to see fellow travelers mortally wounded nearby, but was only met by the same surprised looks that mirrored his own. A phantom pain shot through his side making him wince and looked down to see nothing amiss. Confused and uneasy he shifted his eyes to the window and watched thousands of birds take flight from the mountain they were passing. Spooked by something he couldn't see.
A sudden, inexplicable fear gripped his chest, stealing his breath away. It felt like he'd just lost the most vital thing in his life. Watching the mountain disappear from view behind another he knew something had just occurred that would change his life forever. As his eyes turned back to the seat before him he fervently wished they'd reach Tokyo. Silently urging the train to move faster so he could wrap his arms around Kaoru and protect her from whatever it was that was coming.
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