Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Happiness In Slavery ❯ chapter 9 ( Chapter 9 )

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

Date Started: January 7, 2006

OH MY GOD. FLUFF! People always write about how SHE smells so wonderful, SHE tastes so sweet. Bahaha! Not me!

YAY. Time for the viewing with the emperor, and other interesting things... there will be some OOC! Oh dear, I must really concentrate on school. I am a junior after all... and I need to concentrate on grades, and the ever dreaded SAT in April. In addition... I have become very distracted by art. I found a great liking for painting. Don't let that decieve you or anything, I will always have my passion for writing. Here is the proof. Enjoy a very fun chapter.

Happiness In Slavery

Rating: Older Teens

Chapter 9

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.

“Is that so, Emperor? I have never stepped foot in Kyoto before today. Not since I was a very small child.” This was true, in its own way. It would not be smart to lie to him while she had no weapon on her. The Emperor was sharp. And if that little flashback that she had been treated to moments earlier had indeed happened, he was seeing her mother in his mind, and possibly the little Kaoru all grown up.

Things could go very wrong… very wrong. She had to be careful of what she said if she treasured her life.

The emperor continued to circle around the very straight form of Himitsu. He spoke softly to her, "I once met a woman when I needed some help, who had a child. The child was afraid of me. As though I were a demon." The man looked down upon her, "What would you say to that?" He walked away from the young woman, and then knelt down on a small futon comfortably. He gestured for Himitsu to do the same, and she of course, complied. Her dark blue eyes were searching the Emperor's face, trying hard not to show any real emotion in them.

Her voice came fluttering from her soft lips, "I think, that any child has a right to be frightened. Once grown up, the fear will be realized as foolishness." She added as an afterthough, "In my own opinion, Emperor." She lowered her face back down after addressing him, awaiting his next inquiry. The emperor seemed to take that thought into consideration. Then, he asked her another question, "Do you think, that perhaps, fear is a wonderful spur for revenge?" The question stirred greatly within, but she let it pass. Collecting herself, she again brought her eyes up to face him, "I don't know, most Gracious One. I would think that anger would be the thing to spur it."

He leaned back a little, and brought a hand up to his chin, "Indeed. Indeed it is." He again stood, and walked close to her, until he was barely inches away from her, "Stand up." A moment's pause, and the Himitsu obliged. She was several inches shorter than him. The emperor reached a hand out and brought the pale face up to meet his gaze, "You, my dearest, are quite smart. What was your name again?" Forgetting her place, Himitsu sharply, but softly, replied back, "I didn't give it to you, dear Emperor." The grip tightened on her jaw, and the blue eyes searched the slightly angered darker ones. The woman was not afraid of the emperor, but she realized her mistake. 'Shit. Shouldn't have done that.'

As if she had forgotten her own ability, it seemed to dawn on her that she could read the mind of the emperor. She inwardly smirked, and immediately, "Forgive me Emperor!" She tried to lower her head, but couldn't due to his hold on her jaw, "I forgot my place. It was not my right to speak to you in such a way." He released his grip on her face, and merely smiled, "Do not worry. You are still young, and not used to being in such places as these." The raven haired girl acted as though relieved, and bowed low in the form of respect. Meanwhile, she was listening to the thoughts, silently.

'She has indeed grown up. It must be her. There are not many in Japan with blue eyes. And this one looks just like her mother. This is the one, Kamiya Kaoru.' He was smiling at her lowered form, "Do not bow any longer. Do, sit down again." The one he knew as Kaoru relented, tucking her legs underneath her. 'I just need to figure out why she is here. Why is she with the Chosu clan?' Himitsu listened intently. She had heard quite enough, but she needed to listen more, and as they sat in silence a few more moments, the thoughts continued, 'The guards were killed. No doubt about it. And I want to know why. My son is obviously with the group. I wouldn't be surprised if he were acquainted with the Kamiya slut.' Himitsu definately heard enough. She did not like the mentioning of her real name; being called a slut. And the mentioning of his son. Who amongst her group could be his damned son?

Himitsu feined sick, "Pardon my speaking, Emperor, but I do not feel very well." The emperor eyed her, watching her carefully. She seemed genuine in her words, but then again, she could not as well. The man rose up again, and walked towards her. He reached down, and helped her to stand up. Himitsu squirmed on the inside, revolted by his touch, "Thank you, most highest. I am sorry." He led her towards the door that was shut, "It is fine. You are a wonderful young woman. Beautiful, smart, desireable."

'Just like her mother.'

The door was slid open and she was met by a guard, who pulled her from the Emperor's grip. She turned around, and bowed, and then the door was slid shut.

'Yes. Just like her mother...'

The ordeal with the Emperor was taking a great affect in her mind. Confusion and anger were roaming throughout her head. Her feigned sickness, suddenly was not fake. Himitsu's head ached loudly. She rose her hands to her temples. The girl felt Battousai approach her slowly, not sure what was going on with her. The guard was waiting for them a few feet ahead, "Are you alright lady?" Battousai's words were courteous, though she knew he could have cared less. Himitsu's dark eyes glared up at him, and she softly said, "I have a headache. That is all. Shall we go?" She started walking, and the red haired assassin followed close behind, his hand to her elbow again. A few steps, and then the dizziness began. Himitsu felt light-headed, and she suddenly could not see. Everything went black.

The golden eyes. The red hair. The small boy.

He stood in front of her, the young five year old. She, just a few years younger. She smiled, her eyes crinkling in the process, "Hello. I'm Kaoru. Who are you?" The boy continued to eye her warily. Kaoru had been left by her mother in the palace for the first time, and the child had happened upon the older when she had wandered around a corner. She remembered her mother telling the guards to keep an eye on her, and that she should not get in trouble. Then her mother had entered the inner chambers with the Emperor. And so, she was trying her hardest.

One of the guards had been watching their interactions closely. Kaoru said, "Those guards scare me..." The boy talked, at last, in a very soft voice, "But they will protect you. Don't fear them." He was a humble little boy. Innocently, the toddler asked, "Will you protect me?" The boy stared at her a moment, blinked, and then replied, "Yes. I will protect you. Forever." And then he reached a hand out to her, and she joined hers with his. The two walked off together, as their young, and unfortunately short, friendship had started.

Don't concentrate on your silly childhood!

"But, how can I not!"

The only important thing right now is that you get your revenge.

"NO! Revenge is not the way that things should be done! I should forgive and forget. I was a foolish child when I created you, and now I see how stupid it was."

How can you say that! They slaughtered your family!

"They did, they did indeed. However, that happened years ago, for a reason I was far to young to understand."

But you understand now! They should not have been killed for a little slip up!

"Don't you see! The government could not comprehend it. How can I hate them for something that they wouldn't understand? That only I could understand?"

You say your were a fool, but you still are.

"You shut up! I am sick of you ruling over me. I want out! Be gone, Himitsu!" A fire seemed to burn in the atmosphere.

You have a stronger will than you used to. Fine, I will leave... but only for a little while. You have made me very, VERY tired. I will be back, Kamiya Kaoru.

Deep blue eyes began to open. So much different from the dark, steely ones. Golden eyes watched from a corner in the room, as she began to regain consciousness. He studied the way she was awakening. She was taking her time. It was as though, the ghost assassin was actually enjoying the process of waking up, relishing in it. No assassin would take their time doing that. None that he had ever met. They had a tendency to get up immediately when consciousness had come. The red head stood up, and began to slowly make his way over to the futon.

Her breathing was calm. She loved the feeling of the futon underneath her body, the covers that kept her warm. Warmth. Something that she hadn't felt in ages. It had been cold and lonely where she had been sleeping before. But now, it was not that way. She closed her beautiful eyes again, and smiled. The girl was tempted to bring her arms out from underneath the covers and stretch, but then she heard a floorboard creak. Immediately, she shot up, her eyes wide open, as internal instinct kicked in.

It was only the Battousai. Only Battousai... It was funny, to her, that she could address him that way in her mind. She heard the man speak, "So the bitch finally decides to wake up." He stood next to her, as she continued to sit on the futon. The way he addressed her, on the other hand, she did not take a liking to, "I see that the little boy you were, has dissappeared." The Hitokiri's heart seemed as though it skipped a beat. He narrowed his eyes, and crouched low to look at the woman still sitting there, one knee on the ground. He studied her. Something was different. Very different, "And how would you know that, Himitsu?"

She stiffened slightly, when he had called her that name. The young one brought her clear blue eyes to meet his harsh gold ones, "It is not Himitsu that you speak to. I have shut her away for a little while." The two stared at each other intensely for a few minutes, and then it seemed to dawn on the red head, "Kamiya Kaoru!" She merely nodded, and then he sat all the way down, and crossed his legs in front of him. He seemed to be thinking, "How would you know what I was like as a child?" He seemed highly suspicious. He had been talking to Himitsu before, and now here he was, talking with a completely different personality. Although, it seemed as though this Kaoru remembered everything that had been happening in the years that Himitsu was present.

Her eyes softened, "That, is something you don't remember. Something that I had forgotten, but recently been shown." Again, he narrowed his tawny eyes, as if waiting for an explanation. Kaoru simply shook her head, "You could not comprehend it even if I told you. You are far to cold now." She seemed thoughtful, he seemed offended, "I don't know how long it will be until Himitsu gets rested up enough to fight and come back. It seems as though I have tired her out recently. And annoyed her as well." Kaoru noticed that Battousai was simply staring at her, dumbfounded, "When one creates another to protect oneself, things can get quite complicated."

The red head couldn't see how this girl was able to talk so calmly and freely in front of him, about this. And who was she to say that he was unable to comprehend something from when HE was a child. The woman sighed, and finally stood up, walking to the window. She opened up the shutters, and stared out. While her hair was no longer done up in its fancy style, her kimono slightly rumpled from sleep, he could not deny how beautiful she looked in the moonlight. The assassin berated himself, 'Don't even think about it! The bitch is not attractive in any way!' She stood in the same manner that Himitsu had stood before their mission in the castle, and then turned her head, "You know, it is strange, to be able to move in my own body for longer than five seconds."

"Stop it," He told her, "What is it with you? You just talking to me so openly?" In truth, Battousai was a little freaked out by this new one. She seemed to know quite a lot about him, that he could not remember. Again, she shook her head, "You won't be able to understand anything I tell you, or anything I do, until you free yourself from the bonds of slavery to the Hitokiri Battousai, and become the one that you are supposed to be." That struck a very tight string, he stood up, and in a flash was gripping her tightly by the shoulders. He knew that he was hurting her by the slight wince in her eyes, but he did not release his grip, "What would you know?" Kaoru stared up at him, and said, "Look who's talking. I finally decided to fight back, after I realized how stupid and foolish it was to hide behind another, the one Himitsu."

He glared at her fiercely, but no matter how much anger and hatred he sent out at her through that gaze, it did not faze her own. Finally, he released her, and dropped his calloused hands to his sides, "All this talk is annoying." He turned around, not wanting to see her anymore, "Go to sleep." Kaoru replied quickly, "Ha. I won't take orders from you. Just because Himitsu is gone, it doesn't mean that I forgot everything I know, and that you can tell me what to do." The girl noticed him clenching his fists, "Why don't you sleep. It looks to me like you need it more than I do."

"Who's giving orders now?" He lashed back, as he turned around to face her.

She smirked slightly, "How about we both shut up, and do what we want?"

Battousai opened his mouth, about to respond, but instead was met by something completely unexpected. Kaoru had quickly brought her hands up to his face, and pulled his head down to meet her lips. Her pink lips touched his gently, as she kept her grip on him, preventing his escape. Her eyes were closed as she lifted her lips once, and then placed them back on his again. His eyes were open wide, shock spread all over them. She parted her lips slightly, and ran the very tip of her tongue across his bottom lip slowly. She felt him relaxing, and took this as a good thing. Kaoru felt his warm breath upon her as he finally opened his own lips, and she moved her hands to the back of his head, her fingers tangled in his hair, and deepened the kiss. She allowed herself to relish in his taste. She couldn't place it, but she knew it was his own. His hands went around her waist, and he took it upon himself to take control. The raven haired girl enjoyed his touch. She knew she was kissing him for his own good. He needed this. And while this was completely for him, she was also wanting it. The warmth that came from him soothed her, rather than irritating her. His scent seemed to overtake her senses. His taste overwhelmed her, in no way she had felt before.

And then, Kaoru pulled back slowly, allowing the kiss to end. She opened her eyes to see his own closed, calmly. Her slender hands left the back of his head, and her finger tips ran accross his cheeks, and then no longer touched him. The assassin still stood there, his arms around her. And then he seemed to notice what had just happened. It all seemed to finally register in his mind. His relaxation disappeared, and was replaced with his tight muscles. The amber eyes opened up, quite angry. But he did not say a word. He quickly walked away, grabbed his swords, and left the room. Kaoru stood where he had left her, a small smile on her face, "He is still that little boy. He has only forgotten, and done exactly what I myself had done..."

Battousai roamed the dark streets of Kyoto. So many different thoughts were going through his head. Why was Himitsu gone? Why was this confusing girl, Kaoru, now in control of herself again? Why was this calm, seemingly wise girl, so un-afraid of him? Who was she to say that he had changed from when he was a kid? Why had she... He stopped in the middle of a dark alley, dimly lit by tradition lamps. That was the thing that had confused him the most. Why had she kissed him. She had such a pure look on her face, as she had brought his lips to hers. It seemed as though she had known exactly what she was doing by kissing him. And, while he wasn't exactly sure of what was meant to be accomplished by that kiss, he knew it had been... He couldn't define it.

He heard a door slide open and shut, and the sound of footsteps were headed his way. Stepping to the side of the alley, he saw a drunken man with what looked like a whore, making their way to some unknown place. They stopped not to far from him, and began to ravish themselves in drunken kisses, filled with nothing more than lust. The red head looked away, and realized something. The kiss had not been filled with lust alone. Something in that kiss, in the way it had been so slow and warm, made it different. 'God damnit, fool, stop thinking about it!' But he couldn't stop thinking about it, no matter how hard he tried. That bitch had kissed him for a reason, and he wanted to know why. He finally went back into the middle of the alley, and strode back in the direction of the inn.

Back in the inn, he made his way quietly through the first floor, up the stairs, and finally, to the door of their room. He stood there, staring at the door, not sure of whether or not he really wanted to open it. Battousai had not been this confused in a long time. A very long time. Not since his mother had put him in the care of his master, Hiko. Finally, he had learned what it was that made him be taken away. But, that had made sence. This, was much more confusing.

He opened the door, only to find that Kaoru was still standing at the window, her eyes fixated on what he figured was the castle. The door was shut, and then before he could say a thing, she asked, "You want to know why I kissed you?" She turned around, her blue eyes visible in the moonlight, "Because you needed it. You needed something that held something other than a material value." The man was speechless. This girl seemed to read his every move. She chuckled lightly, and said, "Don't worry. I won't do that again. Not for a while at least, if that is another thing you are wondering." This time, Kaoru was the shocked one.

Battousai had dropped his weapons on the futon and then practically ran to her by the window, "You... you are barely yourself for an hour, and you already make me turn into a confused man." He stopped talking, and made his own initiative. He reached out for her, and brought her into a strong embrace, holding her small frame for several minutes, "I don't get it." And she said, "I don't expect you to." They stood there, in their embrace for a while. And then he finally pushed her away, "Go to sleep." Kaoru, feeling her duty for the day was accomplished, shrugged, and walked to the futon. She picked up his katana, and held them out to him.

His golden eyes rested on them, and then her pale hands that held them. He took them from her, and went to a corner of the room. Kamiya Kaoru lay down and covered herself with the warm blankets she had awoken to only a few hours before. Hitokiri Battousai sat, one knee brought up, his back against the wall. And the two simply stared, sleep not coming to either.

I GAVE YOU FLUFF! WHAT WILL YOU GIVE ME?

I understand that Kaoru is quite out of character. I made her a little wise person. Makes sense, in my opinion, because she has been quite observant in her sleep, and so, I, as a reader, would expect someone wise anyway. I wonder how long Kaoru will be around. Himitsu isn't gone yet. Not completely. I personally like how Kaoru is reading Battousai almost perfectly. And she ISN'T using her little mind tricks either. She can just tell. I think she sounds sad, but that is just me. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, because it took a lot of time for me to get the last two scenes put together. I love their kiss. Sorry, but I think this is the best fluff scene I have ever written. While it is a short fluff, it has a lot of feel to it, that keeps me thinking about it. These are basically my own opinions. I truthfully can't believe that I wrote that kiss. But I did. So I am happy. Kenshin is so confused now! Poor guy! He doesn't remember that it was her whom he was a friend with. I have them only two years apart, so please don't kill me. Also, note the promise he made. THAT IS THE KEY TO SOMETHING IN THE FUTURE. XDDDDDDD (big smile)

-Hotaru

Date finished: January 9, 2006