Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Happiness In Slavery ❯ chapter 4 ( Chapter 4 )

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

Date started: August 18, 2005 10:33 PM JST

Ok, now that I have chapter 11 of BK out, I am happy to start chapter 4 of HIS! Woot! I think the next two chapters or so will concentrate more on Battousai, because, it is true, we do know quite a bit about Kaoru right now.

I am going to Kyoto next week, so this chapter MIGHT be a little delayed unless I finish it before I go. Oh, and I am working out a soundtrack for this little story. I have two songs down, and some more to go. Yay. Anyway, I am keeping this AN short, so until the one at the end, enjoy the little battle and maybe something more? Hotaru.

Happiness in Slavery

Rating: Older Teens

Chapter 3

Standard Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin or any of its characters in shape or form. I do own this plot and any changes I make to characters, as long as its legal, and this includes Himitsu damnit! You steal you die.

End of chapter 3

Internally, Battousai was battling over whether he should or shouldn't. He wanted to badly, because she was annoying the hell out of him, and he would rather see her fight than listen to her speak. But then, he had said he didn't like women fighting, and sparring with her would only help her continue with swordplay. However, the way she was looking at him, beckoning to him, he wouldn't dare let a woman defeat him. He thought back to when him and the boss were talking the night before. She had beat the master, yet then he himself had won. The way the larger man had looked at him gave the assassin the dreaded sensation that the girl had LET him win. No, he wanted to know how she fought for real. His pride won, “Dare accepted.” The amber eyes narrowed, and he stood in front of her, as she did him.

Word quickly spread throughout the encampment that Battousai was going to spar with the mysterious woman, whose name no one knew. It was told that she had challenged him. Barely five minutes passed before the dojo was filled with people, as well as some peering in through the windows when there was no more room along the edge of the sparring arena. The two assassins stood in front of each other, maybe five feet apart. Battousai was not a large man, but even he looked big compared to the petite frame of the girl. Whispers went about, people were making bets.

I've heard she's the ghost assassin that kills ruthlessly without a clue as to whom did it.

Naa… not possible. That is a WOMAN. No woman could be a ghost assassin.

But don't you get it! No one would expect a woman to do the job, so it's perfect!

Other people argued that the Hitokiri could never be defeated. No one matched his skill. It seemed as though the entire room was divided over who would win, half and half. Finally, after maybe ten more minutes, the room silenced, as the two in the middle bowed formally, acknowledging that their spar would begin, and they then went into their own defensive stances, never taking their eyes off each other.

`Is it possible that she could defeat me?' The thought ran through Battousai's mind. He was still unsure of this small one's true power and skill. She was already able to read minds. The man was fortunate enough to have known how to block her out, but that was just pure luck, and then the words of his master went through his head, `NEVER, underestimate your opponent. No matter how strong you are, and weak the other is.' Taking that into account, he coldly stared, gold meeting darkness.

It was like before, the first fight. They were seeing who would break, who would make the first move. Himitsu stood motionless, moving not a muscle. Her long hair was again tied back in its high ponytail. Indeed, she would look like a man if one didn't know the person was a woman, or got a closer look at her face. She hid her femininity so well, but then again, she had done this for several years. The bokken rested in her left hand lightly, and her right hand gripping it. She looked leisurely, almost like a cat. Those dark eyes, dark as night, were filled with her coy mockery. And, for the first time in his career, Hitokiri Battousai made the first move, “HAA!”

His moves were swift, he wanted to make this little fight as quick as the first, but, she blocked, moving as fast as him, and with one hand at that. Her left hand was by her side, it seemed as though it took no effort holding back the opponent. Then, her eyes hardened, and she jumped up. The red head hadn't expected that. Landing behind him, she made a stabbing motion, as though she were going to get him in the lower back, but when he turned around to block, she had already changed her move and aimed for his upper chest, successfully hitting him. The `audience' let out small murmurs. Never before had the assassin been hit in a spar, aside from his master. Injured in a real battle, yes, the scars proved that, but in a spar, never.

“Very good.”

She looked up at him dangerously, “Do you always say that to your opponent!” She removed the bokken from its target and quickly jumped back. Then, as quickly as she jumped back, she was in the air again, and heading straight for him. Battousai did all he could to avoid her attack, he brought his sword forward and held it over his head to protect him from the blow. He had it up just in time. A split second later and he would have been done, most likely knocked out cold.

When the weapons met, he felt a shock run through into his hands and through his arms, and into his chest, finally resting in his stomach. The man had never felt anything like it in his life. He just froze up as a response, and barely held onto his bokken. He felt like his entire body was on fire, but at the same time, as though it were ice. The female assassin smiled sweetly, and removed her weapon from his and made a final move, jabbing at his stomach, and then, the Hitokiri Battousai dropped his sword, and knelt to the ground tightly gripping his shoulders with his hands, “What's happening to me?” The next thing he saw was black.

Whispers permeated the room. Himitsu stood over the unconscious man, scrutinizing his still form that lay upon the wooden floor, `I expected it to be harder…' This fight was far to easy. Maybe she should have waited to send the final strike. It confused her, cause she was sure that he had been more skilled, stronger. He had wounded her chest the night before, `But I didn't do what I did to him now…' Crouching down, she studied him harder. He seemed to be coming to, as he made a slight movement.

The hard golden eyes opened quickly. The first thing the Battousai saw were the deep blue eyes of the one who had knocked him out. Sitting up in a flash, he stood up and saw the people in the room, as if they had not been there before. He felt dizzy from standing up so quickly, something that had not happened in many years. Looking at the woman staring with a smug look on her face, he narrowed his eyes, looking as though he wanted to harm her. Instead, he let out a scream of annoyance, and stormed out of the dojo, everyone moving away from him as quickly as possible, not wanting to be victim of his wrath. When he left, all of the people turned around, expecting to see Himitsu still standing in the room, but instead, she had disappeared.

“This is NOT HAPPENING!” Battousai yelled out to the forest. That is where he had gone after leaving. He didn't think he had ever been so pissed off before, “Has the bitch no heart!” The assassin knew yelling wasn't going to get him anywhere, it never had. However, it seemed to make him feel a little better, “How dare she humiliate me so!” A hard fist punched a tree trunk, causing the entire plant to shake. When he removed his fist from the trunk, it was bleeding.

“Do you always yell this much when you are proved wrong?”

`NOT now damnit, not now!' Looking up, he met the face of the voice staring down from the treetops, Himitsu, “What the hell are you doing here?”

“What does it look like?” She casually said, her face looked baffled, and then she gracefully jumped from the branch she stood on and landed next to the man unharmed, “I am merely enjoying your ranting and self inflicted pain.”

The woman just had to make it worse, “You know nothing of self inflicted pain. You know nothing of what I go through, so can it, bitch.” The harsh words the red head were using seemed to take no affect on her, and she simply shrugged her shoulders.

“Suit yourself dog.” And with that she turned around and walked away down the dirt path, saying not another word. Her lack of words pissed him off even more. However, he refused to yell anymore. The girl had settled that problem. Battousai looked about, his gold eyes staring up into the bright blue sky. A sudden calm seemed to come over him.

An hour or so passed, and he had wandered deep into the forest. The assassin was now sitting at the foot of a tree, next to a bubbling spring. The sound of the gentle water flowing was soothing, and made him relax, something he was in great need of. Soon, he was asleep, his head bent forward, a knee brought up to his chest, the other outstretched in front of him.

A young boy of about five stood behind his mother, clutching her kimono tightly. In front of her, a huge man stood. It was night, at the edge of the forest, and they were quietly conversing, and the red headed child could tell something was wrong, by how fast they were speaking, and by the worry in his mother's voice.

“Please, Hiko-sama, please take my child! Train him, I'll pay you. Make sure that he can not harm my child!” Her big, hazel eyes were filled with tears that didn't fall.

The man gripped her shoulders, as he studied her pale face, that was filled with genuine fear for the one she cared for the most in the world. Her red hair fell into her face as she fell to her knees, and begged, “I beg of you!”

Crouching down next to her, Hiko said, “I will take care of your son. He will be well protected by me and my men. He should go by another name.” The woman looked up, the tears finally falling, “Thank you Hiko-sama! Thank you! I will die a happy woman…” With that she turned to the child.

“My son…” She ran her hands through the boy's hair that was almost exactly the same shade as her, “I love you, and always will. No matter what happens, know that you will always be in my heart. Now, go with this man, Hiko-sama. He will take care of you now. When you are old enough, he will tell you what is going on.” She paused, and then brought her child into her arms, “Farewell… Kenshin.” Then, she pushed him forward, and the child now renamed Kenshin, looked up at the man so huge, and then looked back at his mother, who was now standing, and then said, “I love you mother!” And then he ran, quickly followed by Hiko, who gave one last look at the woman who was now walking back towards an enormous, well lit building.

The man awoke with a start, at the sound of footsteps. Silently, he peeked his head around the tree, and looked through the bushes onto the path. There were several people walking on the road, villagers. Nothing more. Letting out a slight sigh of relief, Battousai looked back at the stream. It was as cheerful as ever, the noon sun reflecting off the clear water. He imagined it was freezing. If it were summer, the assassin would be glad to go in, but it was the middle of autumn, and he had no time anyway.

His mother. It had been so long since he had seen her so clearly in his dreams. Normally, he saw a blurred image, only her hair standing out. This time was different, and he wondered why. Maybe it was due to the woman living at the dojo now. Why would a cold, selfish, know-it-all cause the assassin to see a clear image of his mother though?

Finally being able to see her clearly after many years, he realized how beautiful she had been, how much he did take after her. If it weren't for his Asian features, he would no doubt be considered all foreign, with his odd pale skin, the blood red hair and the golden eyes. His father had hurt her, made him what he was because of it. Battousai blamed his father for everything, after what Hiko had told him, and from the few memories he had of his father, he believed every word.

“BITCH!” -SLAP -

The little boy looked around the doorway, and saw his mother on the floor, her hand caressing her face.

“It's all your fault! You brought the damn boy into the world! You gave birth to the little half breed! YOU have caused disgrace to the imperial family!” This time, the man of average height, clothed in rich garments, kicked her in the stomach. The woman did not cry out.

Instead, she simply said, “You must remember, my lord, that you fathered him. At one time, you loved me. Until I became pregnant. When you found out about YOUR son, you wanted nothing better than to have him killed! It can't be the fact that he is half oriental alone! There is something else! What are you hiding from me?” Her light eyes burned with fire.

“You forget your place.” Again, the man slapped her.

The pain his mother endured, all for his sake. The assassin still wasn't sure as to why his father wanted him killed so badly. All he could think was that he wanted to kill his father. Apparently, soon after Battousai was taken in by Hiko, his mother was found dead, her wrists slit, blood in pools around her tiny, dead body. She had soon killed herself, finally feeling that she could rest with her only son, an illegitimate heir, safe. His father, was furious with the fact that the boy was nowhere to be found.

Now, many years later, nearly fifteen, the middle aged emperor was still searching. Searching, for his half Asian son, and still, his attempts were futile, even after so many people claimed to see him. The reason for wanting him dead, however, still remained a secret, and the red head wanted to know, what had caused the hurt to his mother, the mental and physical suffering of himself.

Looking at the position of the sun, he figured it was time he go back. People would wonder where he was, especially Hiko, who probably wanted to talk to him. “Damnit… back to the crazy woman.” He quietly cursed. Silently, he made his way back along the earthen path. Everything seemed peaceful.

-SNAP-

The red head froze. He searched for any life forms in the area. The man did not stop, because he didn't want anyone or anything to know he had heard them. Out of the side of his eye, he saw a small troop of men walking through the woods. They were walking along a different path that wasn't far from the one he was on. The clothes they were, signified imperial guards, `SHIT!' Immediately, he leaped up into the trees, and then let down his mind block against Himitsu's skill. All he could think to do was to listen and watch.

Not much later, the guards finally reached where the assassin had been walking.

“Hahaha! So you think it'll be difficult?” One asked.

Another replied, “Are you serious? It's just a bunch of men who follow one or two. They are most likely trainees and don't have much skill.”

“Well, whoever these guys are, we better be quick about it. We don't want to create a large commotion. I mean, the Kamiya Dojo was reputable back five years ago, so anything happening there would be something the public would want to know about.”

Soon, the group of about ten guards were gone, and on their way to their destination. Battousai knew he couldn't get there before the guards did without getting noticed, so he did the only thing he thought he could do, try to speak to Himitsu through the mind.

`Bitch, alert everyone, there are a bunch of imperial guards headed your way. They plan on probably killing everyone.'

He didn't know if it would work, but he had tried. The assassin began trailing the guards, that way he would be there when needed. He didn't dare try to pass them up, for fear of being noticed in the trees. It wouldn't do good for them to see a red head around these parts.

`Imperial guards huh?'

For once, he was glad for the girl to be around. However, immediately after her voice entered her head, he blocked her again, and continued trailing behind, hoping that everyone would be ready in time. It was true, many of the men, though loyal and would die for their cause, were not very good swordsmen. He was glad he had his katana with him, he would need it.

REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW REVIEW……. Please?

Yay! Chapter four is done! First off, Kyoto was amazing, it truly was. Now I have an idea of what the city is like. Sorry if the fight doesn't meet to your standards, or if you think it stupid. I do not know that much about moves in kendo, so… ya. I decided I needed to make this a little AU, because there is no imperial family in the real story, etc. I need to have an imperial family ruling however, for things to go the way they need to go. So, why the hell does the emperor want his son found and killed so badly, after so many years? What importance did his mother have? And yes, so Battousai has a sad past as well. BUT the sad past for both Kaoru and Battousai are necessary, or nothing can happen the way I want it. Do you like how the two argue so much? I plan for the fluff stuff later. Don't worry, you will get it eventually… I am just not how soon as to when you will get it… depends on the flow of the story. And why doesn't he just kill the guards now, rather than waiting for them to get to the Kamiya Dojo? Hmm… maybe I'll tell you next chapter. Anyway, again, please review, I get so many hits, but so few reviews… SIGH

Hotaru

Date finished: August 25, 2005 10:09 PM JST