Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ The Color of Blood ❯ Comforting Arms ( Chapter 9 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: Saiyazon 
Takara is overcome with emotions bottled up from her past. How will Sano help her? Warning: Slight romance, possibly lime.
Anime/Manga: Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Action / Romance / Angst | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 02.15.2005 | Pages: 1 | Words: 1.6K | Visits: 143 | Status: Completed
Takara is overcome with emotions bottled up from her past. How will Sano help her? Warning: Slight romance, possibly lime.
Anime/Manga: Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Action / Romance / Angst | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 02.15.2005 | Pages: 1 | Words: 1.6K | Visits: 143 | Status: Completed
Chapter 9 Comforting arms
Sano walked casually down the street towards his pad. He stopped for a moment and glanced at the stars. ‘I wonder what will happen with Takara?’ He wondered silently. He found himself still attracted to her even though she was the justice manslayer, Katana.
At the same time…Takara ran down the moonlit path, emerald green hair swinging furiously in its ponytail. Her countenance was cold, but her mind and heart were overflowing with emotions. She had to force herself to think of nothing, but the road in front of her. Suddenly she ran full on into a large obstacle in the street. It was solid, but warm. She stumbled back when she was caught by two strong arms. “Whoa there!”
Takara looked up to see two caring brown eyes staring down at her. For a moment she did not react too stunned to speak. “Takara?” A distance familiar voice began to focus and register in her mind until she recognized her obstacle as none other than Sano.
“Where are you off to so late?” He asked in his same casual tone. She wrestled from his arms and stumbled forward. “Hey!” He called grabbing her shoulder to support her. Again she spun around, snapping from his grip.
“Leave me alone!” She growled turning to leave.
“Look…I’m just trying to help.” He responded.
She flew around and began shaking her bow in his face. “Well I don’t need it! I don’t need help from you or my brother, or anybody!” She shouted. She looked unsteady to Sano, her anger throwing her off balance. “I don’t need anybody!” She repeated. With that she sank to the ground. Her emotions had caught up to her for the first time in years and it was a painful breakdown. She could no longer keep up her angry façade; instead she crumbled; tears streaming down her cheeks to the ground at Sano’s feet.
She was sobbing uncontrollably. Sano had never seen her cry and it broke his heart to see her in such a state. He knelt down beside her and put his arm around her trembling shoulders. “What’s wrong?” He asked not knowing of her horrible past, just wanting to help her.
She tried to dry her tears and quell her sobs. She looked up into Sano’s face. Eyes wet, cheeks stained with salty tears and a breaking voice. “Shinta….and I….had a….fight.” She said simply.
Sano looked thoughtfully at her and Takara found comfort in his gaze. “I’m sorry you and Kenshin are on the rocks, but I’m sure it will be ok.” She shook her head in response. Sano thought for a moment and then smiled his charming smile at her. “How about you stay at my place for the night? We can patch things up tomorrow.”
Takara nodded still sniffling. She allowed Sano to help her up and with his arm around her they walked the rest of the way to his house. “Home sweet home.” Sano said as he slid open the door. Takara looked around. It was a small house with only two rooms. Sano lit the lantern to reveal the one they were currently standing in had only the lantern, two cushions, a small cupboard, and a low table. “It’s not much, but it’s my own place.” Silence elapsed on the room for a few moments before Sano spoke again. “You hungry?”
Takara removed her weapons and placed them in a corner. “No, I just need to rest.” She turned to look at him. They stood silently taking each other in. Sano could see her fragility and volatile nature in her eyes, yet at the same time a dullness that could only be the result of a troubled past. Physically she was a warrior, mentally she was a damsel in distress and he was just the knight to do the rescuing.
Takara was silently considering him as to whether or not she could forgive him or if she should remain suspicious. Her eyes drooped and her suspicions waned as fatigue over took her.
Sano gracefully crossed the room and slid another door open. “You can sleep in here.” He motioned inside to a futon and a heavy blanket.
Takara smiled sleepily at him. “Thank you.” She shuffled inside and looked around. “Where will you sleep?” She asked innocently.
Sano smiled lazily at her. “It’s no problem I can sleep out here on the cushions.”
“I hate to inconvenience you.”
“It’s no trouble.” Sano nodded to her and whispered. “Good night.” As he slid the door shut. Takara crawled under the blanket and fell into a thick fog of sleep that was anything but peaceful.
Halfway through the night Sano was awoken by the sound of Takara crying out. He threw the door open to find her tossing and turning. “Kazuki!” She cried out seemingly in vain. Sano ran to her side and shook her. “Hey wake up! Wake up!” He whispered to her. Suddenly she shot up in bed. She scanned the room like a wild animal.
Sano gripped her arms as she flinched and shivered like a rabbit. “Hey, hey, it was only a nightmare!” He said soothingly. Takara stared up into his face and shook her head softly.
“No. It’s all real.” She whispered forlornly. Sano released her arms and as he did her sleeves fell back to reveal many tiny scars up and down the entire length of her arms. He stared at them in horror. She too looked down at them in a cold daze. “These scars are for every person I’ve ever killed.” She whispered. She looked up at him then back down again, “Death has become so familiar to me, I don’t even recognize the blood.” Her eyes snapped up to stare into his. “Now what do you think of me?” She asked coldly.
Sano looked down at her. Her emerald hair fell freely down her back; collecting on the floor. Her eyes shone with the ferociousness of a tiger. He couldn’t stop himself he reached out and touched her tan face with his callused hands. Her skin was rough from years of exposure to the harshness of the world, yet it felt so good. His lips quivered, yearning to kiss all her fears and pain away. He leaned down towards her mouth, his hot breath falling on her face; Takara fell under his spell. His lips descended upon her and moved against them softly. She kissed back. Their kiss shared all the tenderness neither of them had ever felt.
All too soon it seemed he stopped and he pulled back to look at her. Her expression had softened. She tilted her head up and leaned forward wanting another sweet kiss. She wanted to forget her past, all she wanted was to have him hold her and kiss her.
Sano wrapped an arm around her lower back and pulled her to him. Her arms went up to wrap around his shoulders. The second kiss was more passionate, hungrier than the first, yet still so full of tender sweetness. Sano became adventurous in the throws of passion and reached his hand down inside her gi.
She immediately pulled back. “No.” She whispered.
His eyes widened, afraid he had done something terribly wrong or worse something offending her. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have….”
Takara put a gentle finger to his lips. “No, I’m sorry Sano. It’s just that…” She stopped and stared at the floor, seemingly unable to go on. Sano gently clasped her hand urging her to finish. “You see everyone I loved died before my very eyes. I tried to save him, but I was too late.” She shook her head fighting tears. “They were too strong, so strong they tried to….they almost….” She squeezed his hand and looked up at him. “They almost raped me.” She choked out.
Sano was taken back by her words. He never knew how truly terrible her past had been. His was also a very difficult past, but he’d never imagined Takara had been through so much. He pulled her into a hug. “I’m sorry Takara.” He looked down into her eyes. “I would never hurt you, I swear.”
Takara was touched by his words. In his arms she felt whole for the first time in many years; like she truly belonged there. She returned the embrace and leaned her head against his strong, hard chest. They both relaxed. Takara looked up at Sano and pleaded with her eyes. “Stay with me.”
He nodded and lay down; Takara put her head on his chest and curled up in the circle of his arms. All was silent as they slowly drifted off to sleep in each other’s arms. Both of them feeling happier then they had in a long time.
Warm fuzzies all around!
Converting /tmp/phpQKrVsr to /dev/stdout
Sano walked casually down the street towards his pad. He stopped for a moment and glanced at the stars. ‘I wonder what will happen with Takara?’ He wondered silently. He found himself still attracted to her even though she was the justice manslayer, Katana.
At the same time…Takara ran down the moonlit path, emerald green hair swinging furiously in its ponytail. Her countenance was cold, but her mind and heart were overflowing with emotions. She had to force herself to think of nothing, but the road in front of her. Suddenly she ran full on into a large obstacle in the street. It was solid, but warm. She stumbled back when she was caught by two strong arms. “Whoa there!”
Takara looked up to see two caring brown eyes staring down at her. For a moment she did not react too stunned to speak. “Takara?” A distance familiar voice began to focus and register in her mind until she recognized her obstacle as none other than Sano.
“Where are you off to so late?” He asked in his same casual tone. She wrestled from his arms and stumbled forward. “Hey!” He called grabbing her shoulder to support her. Again she spun around, snapping from his grip.
“Leave me alone!” She growled turning to leave.
“Look…I’m just trying to help.” He responded.
She flew around and began shaking her bow in his face. “Well I don’t need it! I don’t need help from you or my brother, or anybody!” She shouted. She looked unsteady to Sano, her anger throwing her off balance. “I don’t need anybody!” She repeated. With that she sank to the ground. Her emotions had caught up to her for the first time in years and it was a painful breakdown. She could no longer keep up her angry façade; instead she crumbled; tears streaming down her cheeks to the ground at Sano’s feet.
She was sobbing uncontrollably. Sano had never seen her cry and it broke his heart to see her in such a state. He knelt down beside her and put his arm around her trembling shoulders. “What’s wrong?” He asked not knowing of her horrible past, just wanting to help her.
She tried to dry her tears and quell her sobs. She looked up into Sano’s face. Eyes wet, cheeks stained with salty tears and a breaking voice. “Shinta….and I….had a….fight.” She said simply.
Sano looked thoughtfully at her and Takara found comfort in his gaze. “I’m sorry you and Kenshin are on the rocks, but I’m sure it will be ok.” She shook her head in response. Sano thought for a moment and then smiled his charming smile at her. “How about you stay at my place for the night? We can patch things up tomorrow.”
Takara nodded still sniffling. She allowed Sano to help her up and with his arm around her they walked the rest of the way to his house. “Home sweet home.” Sano said as he slid open the door. Takara looked around. It was a small house with only two rooms. Sano lit the lantern to reveal the one they were currently standing in had only the lantern, two cushions, a small cupboard, and a low table. “It’s not much, but it’s my own place.” Silence elapsed on the room for a few moments before Sano spoke again. “You hungry?”
Takara removed her weapons and placed them in a corner. “No, I just need to rest.” She turned to look at him. They stood silently taking each other in. Sano could see her fragility and volatile nature in her eyes, yet at the same time a dullness that could only be the result of a troubled past. Physically she was a warrior, mentally she was a damsel in distress and he was just the knight to do the rescuing.
Takara was silently considering him as to whether or not she could forgive him or if she should remain suspicious. Her eyes drooped and her suspicions waned as fatigue over took her.
Sano gracefully crossed the room and slid another door open. “You can sleep in here.” He motioned inside to a futon and a heavy blanket.
Takara smiled sleepily at him. “Thank you.” She shuffled inside and looked around. “Where will you sleep?” She asked innocently.
Sano smiled lazily at her. “It’s no problem I can sleep out here on the cushions.”
“I hate to inconvenience you.”
“It’s no trouble.” Sano nodded to her and whispered. “Good night.” As he slid the door shut. Takara crawled under the blanket and fell into a thick fog of sleep that was anything but peaceful.
Halfway through the night Sano was awoken by the sound of Takara crying out. He threw the door open to find her tossing and turning. “Kazuki!” She cried out seemingly in vain. Sano ran to her side and shook her. “Hey wake up! Wake up!” He whispered to her. Suddenly she shot up in bed. She scanned the room like a wild animal.
Sano gripped her arms as she flinched and shivered like a rabbit. “Hey, hey, it was only a nightmare!” He said soothingly. Takara stared up into his face and shook her head softly.
“No. It’s all real.” She whispered forlornly. Sano released her arms and as he did her sleeves fell back to reveal many tiny scars up and down the entire length of her arms. He stared at them in horror. She too looked down at them in a cold daze. “These scars are for every person I’ve ever killed.” She whispered. She looked up at him then back down again, “Death has become so familiar to me, I don’t even recognize the blood.” Her eyes snapped up to stare into his. “Now what do you think of me?” She asked coldly.
Sano looked down at her. Her emerald hair fell freely down her back; collecting on the floor. Her eyes shone with the ferociousness of a tiger. He couldn’t stop himself he reached out and touched her tan face with his callused hands. Her skin was rough from years of exposure to the harshness of the world, yet it felt so good. His lips quivered, yearning to kiss all her fears and pain away. He leaned down towards her mouth, his hot breath falling on her face; Takara fell under his spell. His lips descended upon her and moved against them softly. She kissed back. Their kiss shared all the tenderness neither of them had ever felt.
All too soon it seemed he stopped and he pulled back to look at her. Her expression had softened. She tilted her head up and leaned forward wanting another sweet kiss. She wanted to forget her past, all she wanted was to have him hold her and kiss her.
Sano wrapped an arm around her lower back and pulled her to him. Her arms went up to wrap around his shoulders. The second kiss was more passionate, hungrier than the first, yet still so full of tender sweetness. Sano became adventurous in the throws of passion and reached his hand down inside her gi.
She immediately pulled back. “No.” She whispered.
His eyes widened, afraid he had done something terribly wrong or worse something offending her. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have….”
Takara put a gentle finger to his lips. “No, I’m sorry Sano. It’s just that…” She stopped and stared at the floor, seemingly unable to go on. Sano gently clasped her hand urging her to finish. “You see everyone I loved died before my very eyes. I tried to save him, but I was too late.” She shook her head fighting tears. “They were too strong, so strong they tried to….they almost….” She squeezed his hand and looked up at him. “They almost raped me.” She choked out.
Sano was taken back by her words. He never knew how truly terrible her past had been. His was also a very difficult past, but he’d never imagined Takara had been through so much. He pulled her into a hug. “I’m sorry Takara.” He looked down into her eyes. “I would never hurt you, I swear.”
Takara was touched by his words. In his arms she felt whole for the first time in many years; like she truly belonged there. She returned the embrace and leaned her head against his strong, hard chest. They both relaxed. Takara looked up at Sano and pleaded with her eyes. “Stay with me.”
He nodded and lay down; Takara put her head on his chest and curled up in the circle of his arms. All was silent as they slowly drifted off to sleep in each other’s arms. Both of them feeling happier then they had in a long time.
Warm fuzzies all around!
Converting /tmp/phpQKrVsr to /dev/stdout