Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Forever Mine ❯ Aftermath ( Chapter 17 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Disclaimer - I don't own RK

Hi all. First off I want to say I'm so sorry for the lateness of this chapter. I didn't think it would be this hard to write this chapter but in the end it was. To be honest I'm still not completely happy with it but I hope you will still enjoy.


Chapter 17 - Aftermath

Megumi rinsed the blood from her hands and grabbed a cloth to wipe away the blood splatters sprinkled across the white porcelain sink. Finishing up, she grabbed the towel on the counter and wiped her hands dry as she made her way back out into the livingroom and her very strange patient. Settling down in the chair Misao had brought a short time ago, she let her eyes drift over the healing wounds of the man laid out on the sofa.

She hadn't even bothered to wrap the wounds, there was no need. The hole in his stomach was almost completely closed; the wound in his shoulder wasn't far behind in the healing, the skin slowly forming to close the wound. If she looked really close she could actually see the tissue and muscle repairing itself deep inside the wound itself. It was unnerving and yet oddly fascinating to watch. Shaking her head she leaned over and dabbed at the small stream of blood still leaking from the wound in his side. This was the only one that wasn't showing any true healing yet but she had a sneaking suspicion that it would now that the bullet had been removed.

Settling back she just eyed the redhead and shook her head again. It had taken a lot of fast talking to convince the ambulance attendants to leave him here in her care when she'd called to have Sano rushed to the hospital. In the end, it had been the gravity of Sano's wounds that had convinced them to leave without calling a second ambulance.

Swallowing back the tears instantly burning the backs of her eyes, she scowled. Leave it to Sano to get himself shot up before she could tell him she really did love him. Wiping away the lone tear that had managed to escape she sighed, and the worst thing about this whole mess was she had no idea what his condition was. Misao hadn't come back yet. For all she knew the damn roosterhead was dead. Biting her lip she fisted her hands tight in her lap. No, he wasn't, he couldn't be... because if he was...

She swallowed, suddenly sick. She couldn't lose him like this. Not like this.

Shaking herself, she pushed the thought out of her mind. He wasn't dead. There was no way he would die this easily. None. Loosening her clenched fists she sighed again and rubbed her temple, not even Yukishiro Enishi could kill him this easily.

At the thought of the yakuza boss she frowned, the one she should really be worrying about was Kaoru. If anyone was in danger, it was Kaoru. Who knew what Enishi would do to her, especially after she'd had the nerve to leave without his knowledge. Deep down she'd always felt that something wasn't quite right about that situation. What it was, she couldn't put her finger on. But she'd always felt as if that relationship should've never happened. Enishi may love Kaoru but it wasn't a healthy relationship. Not at all.

The sudden ringing of her cell phone snapped her out of her thoughts and she flipped it open to see who it was. Immediately recognizing the number, she quickly jabbed the talk button and answered, "Misao?"

Before the younger girl's name had fully left her lips Misao's voice chimed through the ear piece, "He's going to be ok, Megumi! The doctors said the bullets didn't hit anything vital. I swear, he's the luckiest rooster I've ever met!"

Megumi sigh softly and smiled; a small trail of tears slipping silently from her eyes as a great weight lifted from her shoulders. He was going to be ok...

Without missing a beat Misao continued as if she were talking to herself. "Maybe I should go rub his belly. I need some of that luck."

Megumi busted out laughing, the wave of relief making her giddy, "Misao!"

The young girl snickered, "He wouldn't like that would he... anyway, he's going to be ok. How's the other one?"

Megumi's mirth vanished as she shifted her eyes to her patient; the wound in his stomach was nothing but a pink scar now that was slowly fading away. Unnerved, she pushed out of the chair and wandered over to the window. "He's going to be fine", she answered evasively. "What do you know about this Himura Kenshin, Misao?"

"I don't know anything except he moved in next door to Kaoru a few days ago. By the looks of it Sano knows him, and I think Aoshi does too, but he won't say anything. Why, do you know something?"

Megumi shook her head, "No -"

A slight rustling behind her caught her attention and she swung around to see the redheaded man slowly sitting up. "Misao, I have to go. Thanks for letting me know about Sano." Without waiting for an answer she closed the phone and made her way back over to her patient, grabbing his shoulder she tried to push him back down. "Don't get up yet. The wound in your side isn't bound."

She scowled as he continued to sit upright completely ignoring her advice. In one last effort to get him to lay back down she added, “You’re in no shape to move yet, please lay back down." When all he did was shake his head she finally gave up and settled into the chair in front of him. Stubborn man, he'd kill himself this way.

Kenshin bit back a groan and slowly swung his legs off the edge of the sofa, the wound in his side throbbing with his heartbeat. Clenching his teeth, he settled heavily against the sofa back and tried to ignore the waves of nausea swimming through his body. "How long have I been out?"

Megumi just stared at him for a few seconds before she answered, "I've been here for three hours. I don't know how long you were out before I got here. If it helps, it's only two in the afternoon."

Kenshin sighed softly and relaxed, then it hadn't been that long. Good. He couldn't leave Kaoru with Enishi for too long. He was positive Enishi had regained some, if not all of his memories during the earlier battle. Who knew what he would do when he fully remembered. Sickened by the thought, he tried to fight back the image of Kaoru pinned the wall that flashed before his eyes again. He'd failed... again. How the hell could he have failed again? After all these years waiting for her how could he let her go with Enishi?

Disgusted with himself, he shoved the unanswerable questions into the back of his mind. Right now was not the time to berate himself, what he needed to do was fix the mess he'd managed to create. He'd get her back, of that there was no question, but in order to do that he needed to finish the healing process. Settling a little further into the sofa he asked, "Has the bullet been removed from my side?"

Megumi gave him a questioning look, "Yes. I just finished a short time ago."

A small sigh escaped Kenshin's lips; well at least he wouldn't have to dig it out himself again. Taking a deep breath he closed his eyes and focused his energy on the wound in his side, willing the wound to close. All of a sudden his body filled with a scorching heat and he focused his attention on the wound, channeling the heat to a pinpoint in an effort to speed up the tissue regeneration. He was rewarded with the unmistakable sensation of tissue, muscle and skin forming to seal the wound.

Megumi watched wide-eyed as the bullet hole slowly closed, the flesh sewing itself back together until there was nothing but a small rivulet of dried blood to prove there ever was one. Without thinking she whispered, "Who are you?"

Kenshin slid his eyes open and chuckled at the horrified fascination painted on Megumi's face. Maybe he should have waited until she'd left the room. Watching someone heal themselves must be rather trying, especially for a doctor. Inwardly shrugging he smiled, nothing he could do about it now. The deed was already done. Sagging heavily into the sofa he glanced at the other wounds, or at least to where they had been. His smile widened slightly, didn't really matter anyway, she must have seen these healing.

Rolling his previously injured shoulder to loosen it up he shifted his attention back to Megumi and waited for the questions to come. No sense in trying to hide the truth anymore, besides he didn't have the energy to walk out of the apartment yet. That bit of speed healing would require at least an additional hour of recovery time but it was better than waiting several hours while the wound closed on its own. He didn't have that kind of time, not with Kaoru in Enishi's hands again.

When all she did was continue to stare at him he stifled a yawn and decided to avoid her earlier question for now. Settling further into the sofa he instead asked, "Sano?"

Megumi quirked an eyebrow and watched the now healthy redhead get comfortable. So he hoped to avoid her question, did he? Not going to happen. She'd get her answers if she had to sit here all day. "He's going to be ok. He's lucky I decided to come by to refill your supplies or he'd be dead by now."

When all he did was nod she tilted her head to the side and crossed her legs, twining her fingers together she rested them on her knee, "Now that you seem to be back to perfect health, are you going to tell me who you are?"

Kenshin smirked, this should be interesting. He'd have to do his best to make this as painless as possible. Taking a deep breath he opened his mouth to answer but stopped when she all of a sudden spoke up again, a slightly wild look flickering through her brown eyes.

"Wait! Maybe a better question would be what are you?"

Kenshin smiled. "I'm human just like you."

Megumi shook her head, the wild look flickering through her eyes again. "You are not just like me. I can't heal myself like that," she said waving her hand at the now repaired skin.

A light chuckle whispered from between Kenshin's lips, "Trust me there really is very little difference between you and I." When all she did was quirk an eyebrow in disbelief, he sighed. It was obvious he wasn't get out of this as easily as he would have liked. Smiling, he waved his own hand over the healed wounds, "I was given a gift a long time ago that makes it possible for me to heal."

Megumi narrowed her eyes, "A gift? What kind of gift?"

Digging into his breast pocket Kenshin fished out the small bag filled with the life-giving red tinged powder. "This", he said lifting it so she could see.

Megumi eyed the small bag, "What is it?"

"My answer to eternal life," he answered evasively. Maybe she would think him insane and let the subject drop. When all she did was quirk an eyebrow expectantly he gave in. Might as well tell her it all, if she was anything like her predecessor she wouldn't quit until she had the answers she wanted.

Rolling the bag between his fingers Kenshin watched the sunlight play across the blood red powder tumbling in the bag, "Over a hundred years ago I made a terrible mistake. I failed to protect that which meant the most to me, and because of my bloody past, I believed I would never have the chance to see her again. That knowledge just about killed me, until an old man took pity on me and gave me this. He said it would grant me the life I would need to have that which was stolen from me."

Chuckling to himself, he shook his head at the memory. "I didn't truly believe him at the time. I thought him nothing but a senile old man, but he spoke the truth. So here I am, able to heal at will as long as there is nothing in the wound to hinder the healing."

Megumi just stared at him wide-eyed, "Are you telling me that you're over a hundred years old? And ... and that is some type of fountain of youth?"

Kenshin smiled and nodded. "I guess you could call it that."

Megumi just stared at him. That couldn't be true... could it? Scowling at herself, she eyed the redhead grinning before her. She couldn't deny the sincerity in his eyes or the truth of his healing earlier, but he still didn't answer her earlier question. Deciding to humor him, she waved her hand at the bag, "Ok... then... what is it?"

Kenshin shrugged and flipped it between his finger and thumb, "Several years ago I had it analyzed. All they could tell me was that its main ingredient was a rare red mushroom called -"

"Ganoderma Lucidum..." Megumi whispered, a slight tinge of awe lacing her voice. "The legendary mushroom believed to grant perpetual youth and longevity. But... it's never been found, at least not that I know of. It's just a legend, how could..." She trailed off and just stared at the small package in Kenshin's fingers.

Kenshin shrugged, "I have no idea, all I know is that it's right here and the portion I took has kept me alive for over a hundred years."

"The portion you took? You mean you only had to ingest that once?" Megumi asked confused. When he nodded she quirked an eyebrow, "Then why do you still have that?" she asked waving her hand at the bag again.

Kenshin shifted his attention back to the bag he'd held for what seemed like forever, "No reason..." he answered evasively. It wouldn't do to have anyone know the true reason. Not yet at least.

Megumi eyed him suspiciously and fought the urge to shake her head. She knew that wasn't the truth, but she could tell by the set of his jaw he wasn't going to tell her. Giving in, she instead asked, "But how is it that you can heal? As far as I know that mushroom has no properties that would allow healing like you just did."

Kenshin shrugged again and tucked the small bag back into his pocket. "The mushroom was the main ingredient, there was another type of powder mixed with it but the scientists were unable to identify it. It seems that powder was what needed to be mixed with -" Realizing what he was just about to say Kenshin stopped.

Megumi's eyes narrowed. "Mixed with what?" she prodded.

"Nothing", Kenshin said evasively, he'd already said enough. Shaking off the fatigue still weighing down his limbs he shoved off the sofa. "I have to go. Thank you very much for taking care of me." With that, he collected his sakabatou that was leaning against the end of the sofa and headed for the door.

"Wait! Before you go, what was it you failed to protect?" Megumi asked suddenly remembering his earlier answer.

Kenshin stopped steps away from the entryway and sighed. Glancing over his shoulder he met Megumi's curious gaze, "Kaoru."

Ignoring her stunned expression he slowly made his way out of the apartment and towards the elevator. He didn't have the time or the energy to be interrogated, what he needed to do right now was figure out how to get Kaoru back from Enishi. The sooner he got her away from him the better; he wouldn't take the risk... not this time.

"Wait!"

Kenshin nearly groaned, looked like he wasn't going to get out of this at all. Coming to halt steps away from the elevator he waited for Megumi to catch up. Watching as she came around him and put herself between him and the elevator, he waited patiently for whatever she had to say.

"What do you mean 'Kaoru'? How exactly do you know Kaoru anyway? Ever since you showed up her life has gone from bad to worse."

Kenshin scowled, "That may be true but she doesn't belong with Enishi. I may have caused her a lot of trouble, but if she's left with Enishi her life will be destroyed. I won't let that happen." With that he side-stepped around her and jabbed the up button on the elevator. The elevator doors slid open and he made to step in but was pulled to a stop by a small hand on his shoulder.

"Wait -"

Sighing, he glanced over his shoulder, "Megumi-dono I have to go. I don't have -"

He stopped as Megumi's gripped tightened suddenly on his shoulder, and then he realized his mistake as her eyes all of a sudden widened; her sight no longer outward but turned inwards. Oh god, he'd done it.

Megumi just stared into his violet eyes as her name echoed through her head, the familiarity and tone pulling at something deep inside of her. And then the barrier holding back her previous life crumbled and she was all of a sudden assaulted by thousands images. Clutching her head she vaguely felt herself begin to crumble to the floor, the images pounding through her mind taking all of her attention. As if in some other world she felt arms wrap around her to keep her from crashing to the floor, and then everything disappeared as she watched stunned, images of a life long gone flashing before her eyes. Images of herself dressed in a kimono looking up into her mother's smiling eyes, a feeling of security flowing over her skin like a soft blanket. Too soon her mother faded to be replaced by those she barely knew, the pain in her heart almost to much to bear, a feeling of utter loneliness chasing all else away. Confused, she tried to shake the feeling and then it hit her. Her family was gone, many said dead but she didn't believe, no she didn't believe...

Shaken by the realization, she fought back the tears instantly burning her eyes and tried to gain control. But it wasn't to be as the images fast forwarded again and she found herself staring into the triumphant gaze of a tall, beady-eyed man, the greed swirling in his black eyes making her sick to her stomach. Flexing her fist she felt herself raise a blade, the tip aimed to pierce the man's chest, but before she could make contact the images fast forwarded again. She all of a sudden found it very hard to breath as she looked up into Sano's hard eyed glare, his warm blood dripping on her hand, ...do you want it all to be a waste!

Shocked and confused, she clutched her head even tighter and groaned as the images fast forwarded again. The image of this redheaded man laying battered and beaten on a futon in an old style room pulling at her heart. No sooner did the new image settle into her mind than it too vanished to be replaced by an image of Kaoru pinned to a wall, her blank eyes staring unseeing straight through her.

Sickened by the sight she clenched her teeth and fought to keep from vomiting. All of a sudden the face of the one who done the grisly deed flashed before her eyes, the ice in his turquoise glare chilling her to the bone. And then the truth hit her square in the chest as Kenshin's heart wrenching confession echoed through her mind again, the pain and self-hate evident in his voice. Unable to breathe she did her best to gain control again, but it wasn't to be as the images faded to be replaced by one of she and Sano sitting together on a darkened porch, her own voice whispering into her ears...

"What will Ken-san do now? Enishi is dead, and yet, so is Kaoru."

Sano sighed beside her and tucked her tight against his chest. "It's not over yet. Kenshin said he will watch and wait. Don't worry, I think we will see him again someday."

"Watch and wait? What do you mean?"

Sano's arms tightened around her even more. "It's a long story. One I will tell you someday, but right now we need to go to bed, little Sano needs his sleep."

A light chuckle escaped Megumi, "What if it's a little Megumi. What will you do then?"

Sano chuckled, "Not gonna happen."

A small smile tickled her lips as the image slowly faded away to be replaced by images of a life with the man she had loved in that life, and still did in this one. Feeling oddly refreshed she sighed and settled into the arms wrapped around her, letting the rest of a life she now knew flash before her eyes to settle quietly among the memories of this life. Slowly, the last image faded into nothingness and she once again found herself in the hallway of the apartment complex.

"I'm sorry, Megumi. I didn't mean to do that."

Blinking several times to get her bearings, Megumi shook her head and pulled out of Kenshin's arms. "It's ok. Now I understand." In an effort to alleviate the dull throb pulsing dully in her head she rubbed her temple and met his concerned gaze, "He never did tell me, but now I see why you are here."

Confused, Kenshin quirked an eyebrow, "What do you mean he never told you? Who never told you what?"

Megumi just waved her hand and ignored the question. Pushing off the floor she straightened her blouse and smiled, "It doesn't matter. Its ok, I understand now. I understand why you are here, and I also understand why I never liked the idea of Kaoru with Enishi." Watching as he regained his feet she stepped up to him and poked him in the chest, "Why are you still here. Don't you have something to do?"

Kenshin smiled, now this was the Megumi he remembered. Nodding, he hit the up button on the elevator again, "That I do. Will you be alright?"

Megumi mirrored his smile, "Yes. Actually I'm grateful to you for this. I finally see why it is I can't get a certain roosterhead out of my head. Thought I was going insane there for a while."

Inclining his head in understanding, Kenshin back-stepped into the now open elevator. "Do me a favor, when you see Sano tell him not to worry. I'll get Kaoru back."

Megumi smiled and gave him a quick nod as the doors slid closed. Hitting the button for the tenth floor, Kenshin settled against the wall as a great weight settled on his shoulders. Now he had to figure out how he was going to get to Kaoru, that was going to be the biggest problem. He knew Enishi would lock her up tight... he could only hope that's all he'd do.

With a sigh he dropped his head drop back against the wall, he had no idea how Enishi would react to his past life. The only thing he could hope for was that Enishi would target him this time; he had no reason to target Kaoru. And maybe, if he was lucky, Enishi wouldn't hurt her simply because he loved her. As much as he didn't want to admit it, he'd seen the truth in Enishi's eyes; his old enemy really did love Kaoru.

The quiet hiss of the elevator doors sliding open broke through the sickening thoughts and he shoved them from his mind. It didn't matter; he wasn't going to give Kaoru up. Not after all the years he'd waited. Enishi didn't deserve her, he never would... in any lifetime.

Stepping from the elevator he slowly began making his way to his apartment, but stopped when he came up even with Kaoru's door. Eyeing the broken hinges he shook his head and nudged the door open. Wandering in to her private sanctuary, he swore as his eyes took in the disaster of her apartment. It looked like a typhoon had blown through, leaving nothing behind it but utter destruction. Scowling, he growled when his eyes lit on the broken remnants of her easel scattered around the wrecked livingroom. They really had gone all out in their search. Fighting down the fury slowly growing in his gut, he spun on his heel and headed to his own broken door. They would pay a very dear price for the mess they'd made of their lives. He'd cut through every last one of them get to her back. No one could stop him... no one. And pity the man who tried.

Gently pushing in his own broken door he stepped into his destroyed apartment, only to stop dead in his tracks just inside. Taking one more step into the trashed apartment he focused his attention on the all too familiar feeling whispering over his skin. He wasn't alone. Someone else was in his apartment.

Opening up all of his senses he tested the area in search of the intruder. Feeling nothing he took another step into the apartment and tried to figure out who it could be. It couldn't be one of Enishi's men; there was no way for his enemy to know he was still alive yet. Confused, he scanned the area again, he scowled at finding nothing amiss. Wrapping his hand around the hilt of his sakabatou he walked lightly to the door that led to the livingroom and scanned the seemingly empty room.

"Battousai"

Kenshin froze, his hand tightening even more on the hilt of his sakabatou. Following the direction the voice had come from, he nearly sighed when his eyes found the tall figure sitting in the chair in the corner until he realized just who it was... and the name he had used.

"I never thought what Sagara told me so long ago would be true. Quite obviously, it is." Aoshi said rising from the chair.

Not letting his guard down, Kenshin eyed the former Okashira. "What do you know about me?"

A small smirk tickled the corner of Aoshi's lips, "I know you are the former Hitokiri Battousai, shadow assassin for the Choshu Ishin Shishi. I also know you are here to claim the one Yukishiro stole from you so long ago."

Stunned, Kenshin just stared at the stoic, icy eyed man. But how? And then he knew... "You have your memories back?"

Aoshi simply nodded and turned his attention to the wall of weapons on the wall.

"But how did you remember? Everyone else has been triggered by me," he asked still completely confused.

Aoshi grinned and glanced at the former hitokiri, "Misao and her 'Aoshi-sama'. I've known about my past life for almost a year now."

Kenshin quirked an eyebrow, and then chuckled. Figures. "Does Misao remember?"

Aoshi shook his head, "No. And I'd like to keep it that way."

Nodding in understanding, Kenshin wandered further into the apartment to stand next to the tall man, "So, why are you here?"

Aoshi turned from the wall and glanced around the destroyed livingroom. "Looks like you've made an enemy," he noted quietly as he made his way back to the chair and took a seat.

Kenshin gave him a sardonic smile and settled on the sofa. Glancing around the livingroom he tried to ignore the sense of loss as his eyes fell on his collection. So much destruction for nothing. Many of them had been one of a kind, priceless pieces of art. Shaking his head he glanced to the wall and noticed the holes where a few of the pieces had been stolen, and yet the katana that had taken Enishi's life so long ago still rested in its place. Smirking, he settled back and sighed, "He didn't like the fact that Kaoru left him."

"Yukishiro never did like to let of any of his possessions go."

Kenshin nodded in agreement and eyed the dark haired man, "Why are you here Aoshi?"

Leaning forward Aoshi reached into his overcoat and withdrew a folded piece of paper. Tossing it on the table in front of Kenshin he sat back again, "I thought you might need that to get Kamiya-san back."

Curious, Kenshin picked it up and unfolded it. Scanning the contents his eyes widened when he realized what was written on the paper. Looking back up to Aoshi, he gave him a questioning look, "The blueprints to Enishi's building. But how? Why?"

"Tomorrow we go in to take down Yukishiro. She will be arrested with everyone else, if she's still there."

Kenshin's eyes narrowed, "Why would she be arrested? Who do you work for?"

A small smirk played across Aoshi's lips, "Criminal Investigation Bureau. Unknown to Enishi, some of his lower men are trading in illegal fire arms. Because of that we finally have the means to rip down his organization. And since she's Yukishiro's fiancée that makes her guilty by association."

Kenshin scowled at his easy answer, but saw the truth of his words. It was just as he'd feared; her life would be ruined by Enishi. There was no way he was going to let that happen. Refolding the precious piece of paper he met the ice blue eyes fixed on him. "I will have her out of there by the end of tonight."

Aoshi nodded and pushed out of the chair. "We go in at 7am. You have until then."

With that the former Okashira made his way out of the apartment. Watching the tall man vanish from sight Kenshin shifted his attention to the blueprints in his hand and smiled, with this he had the means to get to Kaoru. Everything he needed was here. Everything except...

With a sigh he glanced to the wall of weapons. Everything but the means to end this nightmare. He would try to win her back without killing Enishi, but he doubted it would be that easy, Enishi wasn't likely to give her up easily. Especially since he actually loved her in his own twisted way.

Scowling, he shoved the thought from his mind and wandered over to the wall of weapons. Gently lifting the katana from its resting place, he unsheathed it and ran his thumb gently down the blade to test it's edge. A small smile teased the corners of his lips at finding it razor sharp. After all these years it still held an edge, as if waiting for this day to come. Satisfied, he slipped it back into the sheath and set it back in place. It really was a sad shame the blade would have to drink Enishi's blood again but there was no other way around it.

Enishi should have simply left them alone. But he didn't, and now he would pay for that mistake... again.

oooooooooooooooooo

Kaoru rested her forehead against the cool glass and watched the sun fall from the sky, the red and orange hues painting the darkening dome reminding her of the bloody mess she'd left behind. Absently rubbing Raijin's soft coat, she closed her eyes. What hurt the most was she had no way of knowing if they had survived. Enishi had ordered that little weasel, Hei Shin, to remove all the phones and stand guard over her while he was gone. She couldn't even call Megumi to tell her about them.

Sniffling back the tears suddenly burning her eyes, she curled up tight in the little alcove. It made her sick to her stomach to think either one of them had died, she couldn't lose them. Not like this. Life wouldn't be worth living without them.

Especially Kenshin.

Losing the battle against the tears, she let them fall quietly. Why did this have to happen? They had just found each other again, and this time he really wanted to be with her. Why did she have to lose him twice? It wasn't fair. Hadn't they been given a second chance?

The soft clicking of the lock being opened pulled her attention from the questions circling through her mind, and she glanced at the door leading into her bedroom. Wiping the wetness from her cheeks, she sniffled and scowled as Enishi stepped into her private sanctuary. It wasn't all that private though, considering it was still a part of his domain... just like she was. Sickened by the thought, she turned her attention back out the window and tried to ignore the steady tread heading towards her. Why couldn’t he just leave her alone?

"How is your leg, my dear?"

Kaoru ignored the question and continued to watch the sun fall from the sky. He goddamn well knew how her leg was, he was the one who had wrapped it just a short while ago after all. Remembering the tenderness with which he'd cleaned and rewrapped the wound she all of a sudden felt guilty for treating him like this. Steeling herself against the feeling she scowled, one nice deed didn't wash away all the blood he had shed this afternoon. Nothing would, not anymore. She would never forgive him for hurting Kenshin and Sano. Ever. He didn't deserve her forgiveness, for this life or the last.

Glancing at his reflection in the window, her scowl deepened as her eyes clashed with the turquoise gaze looking back at her through the hazy pane.

"Don't look so down, my dear. That scowl doesn't suit you."

Ignoring him, Kaoru turned her attention back out to the rapidly darkening sky. Maybe if she didn't rise to his bait he'd leave her the hell alone. She jumped when his hand gripped her chin and forced her to look at him. Flinching back from his icy gaze, she swallowed nervously.

"You have nothing to sulk about princess. It seems both of them managed to live somehow. Although, the only one in the hospital is Sagara." Releasing her, he shifted his attention out of the window, "What I don't understand is where Battousai went. His wounds were far worse than Sagara's, and yet he simply vanished. None of my men can find him."

Kaoru stared at him stunned as a sudden surge of hope rose to the surface, "They're alive?" she asked, not quite believing him. She could accept her fate if they were alive... she could endure anything if they were still alive.

Enishi scowled at the undisguised hope in her voice, meeting her hope-filled gaze he let the scowl fall away under a malicious grin, "For now..."

Kaoru narrowed her eyes at his tone, "Leave them alone, Enishi. You have no reason to go after them anymore. I'm here now."

Enishi's grin turned into a full blown smile. Resting his hand against the corner of the alcove, he met her glare, "It won't be me who will pick the fight this time, princess," he purred silkily. Leaning in, he forced her into the corner and added, "Do you really think Battousai is going to leave you here with me? I did kill you after all. I'm sure that fact is eating away at him."

Kaoru's heart sank to her stomach as the truth of what he said hit home. Sickened, she couldn't stop the shiver that raced down her spine as a humorless chuckle drifted into the quiet room.

"What must he be feeling with you here, out of his sight again? It must be tearing him apart."

Enishi grinned as he watched the hope fall from Kaoru's eyes. Trailing his finger down her cheek, he chuckled when she flinched away from his touch. "He will come, my dear. I'm sure of it. And this time I will kill him."

Kaoru cringed at the truth of his words, unable to think of anything to say she remained quiet. Kenshin would come, she knew he would. And Enishi would kill him this time, of that there was no question. And there was no way she could stop them, none. She couldn't run again, Enishi had threatened Hei Shin with a very painful death if he failed to keep her locked up this time. There was no way to stop this, not this time.

Straightening, Enishi shifted his gaze out into the darkening city, "I'm very much looking forward to this. He killed me last time to avenge you, and yet here we are. You and I engaged, and him left in the cold as I was so long ago when Tomoe chose him over me. It seems fate is smiling on me this time."

Kaoru paled as a wild look settled into Enishi's eyes. The exact same look that had swam through his turquoise eyes all those years ago. Swallowing, she tried to find her voice but found she had none. She shrank back from him when he shifted his attention to her.

"I won't let him take you away from me again, nee-san."

Shocked, Kaoru just stared at him. Finally finding her voice, she whispered "I'm not Tomoe, Enishi."

The wild look slowly faded from Enishi's eyes and she watched him come back from wherever he had gone. She froze at the scowl that slid across his face. "What do you mean? I know you're not Tomoe."

Kaoru swallowed, "Y... you called me nee-san..."

Enishi narrowed his eyes and pinned her with an icy look, "No I didn't. I know you're not Tomoe." Leaning in to within inches of her face he added, "Don't fuck with me princess, you won't win." With that he spun on his heel and headed towards the door. Watching him go, she all of a sudden felt sick, any sense of security she'd felt before this completely melting away. Enishi was losing it. She had to get out of here and she had to do it now!

"I expect you in my room in ten minutes. It's time you realized this is your life."

Startled, Kaoru just watched as Enishi slipped quietly out of her room, the soft click of the door closing behind him echoing through the silent bedroom. Staring at the space he had just occupied, Kaoru swallowed back the bile burning the back of her throat. Good god, what had she been thinking when'd she'd left with him? This was worse than it had ever been before. Picking up Raijin, she set him on the floor and tucked her legs up to her chest. Resting her forehead on her knees, she fought back the all encompassing numbness threatening to swallow her whole. How could it have come to this? Why had it come to this? Why? What had she done to deserve his obsessed attention? For Christ's sake, he'd killed her in their last life! What did he want with her now!

Starting to lose control, she took several slow even breaths in an attempt to calm her frazzled nerves. She couldn't let him get the best of her. Not this time. If she did then she would wind up just as she had so long ago. She wasn't going to let that happen. She would do anything she had to do to get away from him. Anything. And yet...

I expect you in my room in ten minutes

A shiver whispered through her body as the demand bounced around her head. He wouldn't, would he? He wouldn't make her...?

Her skin crawled at the mere thought, until it all of a sudden hit her. No, he wouldn't. He may kill her, but he would never rape her. The one thing Enishi abhorred above all else was rape. He'd killed all the men who'd thought they could do that to the women who worked in his clubs himself. He would never do that to her.

And yet even though she knew he wouldn't, she still couldn't stop her skin from crawling. By what sick twist of fate did she find herself in this position? Sleeping with the man who had so coldly stolen her life so long ago. Sickened by the thought, she shivered again and did her best to get a hold of herself. Right now it didn't matter. Right now all she could do was make sure history didn't repeat itself. If sleeping with him meant she could avoid that, she would.

Steeling herself, she uncurled from the alcove; she wasn't going let him win. Not this time.

Hobbling over to the dressing table she pulled open the top drawer and withdrew a thick winter sleeping yukata. Shaking it out, she let a small smile play across her lips, at least with this there wouldn't be much skin contact. The less contact she had with him the better. Nodding to herself, she slipped out of the hakama and yukata and slipped into the heavier material, tying it tight. Running her fingers through her loose raven locks, she deftly braided the length into a tight rope.

Giving herself the once over, she let her eyes wander to the sapphire eyes staring back at her from the mirror. And yet even with all this between them, she still couldn't stand the thought of being that close to him. Scowling, she turned her back on the frightened eyes looking back at her. She had to find a way out of here. She didn't deserve this. And she wasn't going to rely on Kenshin. She had to do this herself. Enishi had been able to kill her because she hadn't fought the last time. She wasn't going to lose to him that easily this time.

Now all she had to do was find her way out before Kenshin came. She should have a few days at least, if not more before he came. She could find a way out by then, she was sure of it. With that last thought, she stood a little straighter and headed for the door. Now all she had to do was get through tonight and that was going to be the biggest trial of her life.

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I hope that wasn't too bad. I really did try my best.

As you can probabaly tell, this fic will be wrapping up with the next two chapters or so. I just want to give you a heads up and let you know that it may take me a little longer to get the next chapter out because I want it to be perfect, but I will try my best to get it up in a timely fashion. Promise.

Please review and let me know what you think