Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Happiness In Slavery ❯ chapter 12 ( Chapter 12 )

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

Date started: May 31, 2006

Yay for summer break and work. I had the day off today, and so, I am taking the time to sit down and start this chapter. As promised, I am making it long. So, I hope you guys enjoy it! I give you Chapter 12 of Happiness in Slavery.

Happiness In Slavery

Rating: Older Teens

Chapter 12

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.

"Come on little girl." The voice sneered out, "The emperor wishes to see your newest accomplishments."

"NO! Leave me alone. I won't serve that sleaze any longer."

"Well, then I'll just have to hurt you." Kenshin and Kaoru looked at the woman, and then at the gate. The man drew his katana, and Kaoru brought out a dagger. She would do what was necessary to defend the girl, but she had no wish to kill. The Battousai could take care of that, for now.

Kaoru hissed at the woman panting before them, "What is it that they are after you for?"

Hesitantly, the other replied, "The, the emperor forces me, against my will to- to..." But the lady could not finish her reply, as she hung her head in what seemed like shame, "I shall not put up with it any more." Despite the fact that they did not know everything, Kaoru figured it was reasonable. The Battousai called out in his strong voice, "Leave the woman and you shall not be harmed."

There was silence, and then an answer, "I shall not betray my emperor! Let him reign always!" The red head chuckled under his breath, and then said, "Fine. Death it is that you choose." He opened the gate, and stood before the imperial soldier, "I give you one more chance."

Upon seeing the Hitokiri, whom the guard immediately recognized, he hesitated slightly. Kaoru stood next to him, preparing to shut the gate should the need call for it. However, the imperial remained adamant to his words, and drew his sword, "Let me through. I have been ordered to bring this woman in."

"Ha! For what? Running from what she fears?" The guard made a slash at Battousai with his sword, but it did not take more than five seconds for him to respond, and for the guard to be on the ground, blood pouring from the gash that ran along his throat. Kaoru quickly covered the cowering girl's face, so that the woman could not see. Battousai leaned down, and said, "Take care of her for a few moments. I'll take care of the body." He picked up the dead man and then headed off in the direction of what Kaoru knew was the river.

Shutting the gate to the garden, Kaoru sheathed her dagger, and then looked her current charge in the face, "You have no need to fear me. I shall not harm you." The other looked at Kaoru with large brown eyes, studying her for a moment. The female assassin returned the stare, and continued, "Why don't you start by telling me your name? Mine, is Kaoru."

Upon receiving a name, the frightened one seemed to loosen up a bit, and softly replied, "Megumi."

"Now, why was that guard chasing you?" Kaoru inquired, and added, "Aside from the obvious running."

Leading Megumi to the large rock to sit, the newcomer hesitantly stated, "For refusing the emperor what he asked for." Pondering a second, Megumi added on as if to make her feel more secure, "I am not a whore! I just..." Sitting next to her, Kaoru rubbed her back, "Look, I understand if you don't want to talk about it... we all have those topics that are better left unheard until a better day. However, you are safe now. If you wish it, you may stay with me for now. My home is not far from here." She heard some rustling, and saw Megumi tense, "It sounds like Kenshin is back, shall we?" The brunette nodded her head, and meekly stood, as Kaoru led her to the gate and opened it.

Megumi looked about as she entered the main building of the dojo. The red head had gone off, and now the woman followed Kaoru as she was lead to a room. She observed the smaller woman and noticed that while delicate in many ways, the way she wore her hair, and the callouses on her hands gave away that she was not simple. Kaoru opened a door, and gestured for Megumi to enter, "Don't worry. I am only introducing you to Hiko."

Brown eyes wavered, and then nodded. Entering the dim room, Megumi saw the large man sitting on a small futon. The female assassin started, "Hiko-san, this is Megumi-san. She will be under my protection for the next few days. I just thought I'd let you know."

Hiko leaned to one side and observed the brunette, "Why is she in need of protection?"

"Well-" Kaoru started, but then Megumi cut her off, "I am in need of refuge, that is all."

"If you are concerned about us turning you into the Emperor, you need have no fear of that. We ourselves have our reasons for not wanting anything to do with him." Hiko stated.

"How did you?"

"Intuition." The man smiled. At that moment, the Hitokiri entered. He held the hilt of his sword in one hand, and walked over to Hiko, and whispered something into his ear. The other nodded, and then the assassin left. Kaoru looked at him questioningly, but it passed, "Kaoru, show Megumi-san around and find her a place to sleep. Tomorrow, we'll discuss what will happen next." Nodding, the girl led Megumi out of the room, and then showed her the rest of the dojo.

The next day, Nijyoujyou Castle.

The next day, Nijyoujyou Castle (Nijo Castle)

The emperor impatiently waited for the return of the woman. The girl had complained about how she did not want to do what she did, but the ruler had not expected her flight. Standing up, he walked over to one of the open walkways, and gazed at a garden, 'What is taking so long? I need to get that opium prepared!' Despite the fact that he was the emperor, and easily could make the drug legal, it would give him a bad image. The man did not want to risk any form of revolt, so he chose to make himself seem like the good and righteous king that one's people would expect.

His guard had not returned from the day before, and so, more had been sent out. Someone cleared his throat, and the emperor turned around to see a guard, "Well? Did you get her back?"

"No, my lord." He seemed edgy, "We did find one thing, however." The king waited for the guard to continue, and finally, when he did, "The body of the guard you sent after her yesterday, well, was found dead in the river."

He saw red as he pictured another of his lost men, "How was he killed!"

"A slash to the throat. It could be anyone."

"No. It is Battousai. He is the only one who would kill an Imperial without real reason. Megumi-san is with them."

The guard asked, "What is to be done, my lord?"

Staring at the lesser man, he replied, "I want that woman back! Without her, I can't accomplish anything. Get me that brat son of mine, along with the Kamiya slut as well. The man who accomplishes what I request will be rewarded. Now get out of my sight."

A ninja sat in a tree, listening to the conversation of the king and guard. Upon hearing the information about Megumi, the figure leapt from on tree to another, and finally over the castle wall, and onto the busy streets of Kyoto. In a flash, a short kimono was donned, and the mask was pulled, revealing a young girl with bright green eyes, and lush black hair braided back. As she walked she searched the signs until she found the one she was looking for.

Entering the tea house, she immediately spotted whom she was looking for, and joined two men. The Hitokiri Battousai looked up from under his straw hat, and the tall one beside him acknoweldged her with icy blue eyes, "Misao, what did you learn?"

"Well, Aoshi-sama," She appeared to be thinking, "I know that the guy is up to something, and whatever it is, it's bad stuff," Misao spoke softly, knowing that others could possibly hear if she were louder than her usual self, "Unfortunately for us, the man is smart, and never out-right says what he has planned. He believes Megumi-san is with you, Battousai, and Kamiya-san. I'd get yourself and the other two away from the Kamiya Dojo, and to a better place, if you don't want to loose any men."

"So you have no idea what Megumi-san has to do with any of this?" Battousai asked.

The girl shook her head left and right, "No. Just that she is a part of the 'evil' plan, as are you and Kamiya-san."

Sighing, the red head sat back, and then said, "Well, I guess I'd better find a place for the three of us to relocate..."

Aoshi looked and finally spoke again, "Battousai, there is a safe house not far from the city limits. Usually, it is reserved for my clan, but I shall allow you three to stay there as long as necessary... for the sake your lives, and for the future of our country."

The assassin glanced at the ninja beside him, and nodded, "Thank you, Aoshi. You have always come to my aid in a time of need. I do have a question... why are you suddenly involved in all of this. I know that the ninja don't involve themselves in matters that don't directly affect them."

Raising an eyebrow, Aoshi bluntly said, "You will find out eventually. I don't want make things more difficult."

"You and your secrets." Battousai coolly stated. Taking a last sip of his drink, the red head put the cup back on the table, and stood, "Well, I will go take necessary measures to prepare myself and the other two for the move. At sundown, I will meet you at any location of your choice."

The two ninja stood as well, and the man replied, "I will come to you at the dojo. Be ready, and hope nothing unexpected happens between now and then."

Kaoru had allowed Megumi to sleep with her in her room the night before, and now as the two were walking about, Kaoru asked, "What would you say to going into town to get some stuff? I noticed the food is getting on the low side." The other hesitated momentarily, and then the female assassin reassured her, "Don't worry. I won't let anything happen to you. I'll take my katana with me if it makes you feel better. I just think we should do something aside from being here."

After a few more moments of persuading Megumi, the two girl exited the dojo, and walked side by side. At the outer most edges of the city, they were confronted by several guards, "Halt. By order of the emperor, you two are to be escorted to the palace, and remain there until further notice." Glancing out of the corner of her eye, Kaoru saw Megumi pale drastically. She reached her hand over to her blade, and clicked it out of the sheath an inch, "And if we don't come, what will you do?"

"You will be taken under arrest."

The girl's eyes narrowed, as she stepped in front of Megumi, blade drawn, "We will neither go with you, or be arrested. I do not answer to that ass of an emperor who had my family killed." He eyes darkened momentarily, and then flashed back to sapphire blue.

The guards drew their own blades, and circled the two women. One of them laughed, "Woman, you realize you are challenging imperial guards?"

"Yes. I do."

Megumi stood behind Kaoru, gripping one loose sleeve tightly, "Kaoru.. maybe we should just go with them..."

"Are you kidding me? Just let them drag us there? No. I'll die before I go there." The girl's eyes darkened again, and remained that way, "I said move, you illiterate scum, or I'll kill you."

DUN DUN DUN! REVIEW GUYS AND SOON ANOTHER CHAPTER WILL COME.

Yay. I left a cliffhanger. Now, I have the plot moving again. The king has the three involved. They are moving elsewhere, and now, what is up with Kaoru? Has the inevitable happened for her? Can she fight it? And what is this plan that the emperor has? Well, hopefully in the next chapter, you guys will get to find out what his plan is. I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

Sorry, it took me about a month to write this... I love and hate work all at the same time. However, I work with such cool people I can't imagine not working there right now. I'll be sad when the last day comes, and they close for the year. My host sisters from when I lived in Japan are going to visit me in August! I am so happy about it. I plan on showing them around and taking them places. Yay. Until next chapter guys!

Hotaru

Date finished: June 29, 2006