Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ The Findings of Earth ❯ A Moment Passing ( Chapter 13 )

A/N: Here is the next chapter, it's kind of short, sorry and I'm sorry it took so long but my friend brought me the new Harry Potter book (that you can't get here in Colombia) and that made this chapter be a week late, sorry again.

I want this dedicate this chapter to JP my new beta-reader (thanks a lot for everything!!!!) who corrected the chapter and pressured me to get it out sooner.

The Findings of Earth

Chapter XIII

A Moment Passing

Kenshin was hanging limply from the chains in the middle of the room. His eyes were closed and his breathing was forced. He was trying to regulate it but fresh waves of pain attacked him with every breath he took. He was tired, he felt like all of his energy had abandoned his body but he forced himself to stand again, his wrists couldn't take the pressure anymore. After gathering all of his strength he slowly planted his feet firmly on the ground and balanced himself. He breathed a sigh of relief after the horrible pain in his wrist faded a little. He was worried. He didn't understood what had happened a few minutes ago when the first boss had entered the room with Kaoru. Something was very wrong, he knew that and he needed to help. Kaoru was his life and he couldn't let anything happen to her. He tried to think of other things, to get his mind to concentrate on something other than the pain. Physical pain was bearable; it wasn't new to him and not only in this life. He had been remembering things from before, just moments in time without a specific order. He knew who he was in the past. He had been a killer before, he had tried to pay for his sins, he had found her and she had given him all the happiness he could ever hope for. But he had remembered something else as he was thrown in the solitary cell something that didn't belong to the land of the living. She had been there with him every step of the way and now it was up to him, to them to make it through another life together again. Kaoru was locked in a cell and he was going to get her out no matter what. He would use all of his strength to fight for her, even if sometimes that strength scared even him. That barely controlled cold anger he felt whenever she was in danger and the need to protect her. It was a bolt of deadly energy that ran through his system and he knew he had the power and that the fate of the men in front of him would be decided by him. His thoughts were running wild, he didn't want to become that cold person, the feelings he had when he transformed into him were overwhelming, he didn't want to feel like that again but then… maybe there was no other option, if the alternative was jeopardizing Kaoru's safety he would gladly give up his sanity and his soul.

"Kenshin your path was and always will be the one of a warrior but your destiny is to be with your soul mate. In your next life you will also be a warrior but the choices you made are the ones that would make your next life different from the last."

The words spoken by a soft voice reached his mind but there was no other sound. It took him a couple of moments to realize that it was a memory. He had heard them before in the limbo just before being reborn. He was a warrior and it was his path. The words were a revelation. His mind, or more accurately his soul had kept that information until he was ready to hear it and understand it, and he understood. He was Kenshin and he had to fight as him and not Battousai. He had the strength to do it and a soul mate to help him through it.

* * *

Kaoru had her eyes closed and was trying with all of her strength to fall asleep. No matter how hard she tried she just couldn't let her mind rest. The events of the day had been a lot and she just couldn't make herself forget them and go on a trip to dream land. It just wasn't right; she couldn't stop thinking of Kenshin and how she had seen him. He looked so vulnerable, tied up and beaten. She felt a lone tear fall from her closed eyes. She would have given anything just to hold Kenshin close and make him feel better. She had her memories back, she remembered so much from her past life and she knew in her heart that even though Kenshin was the strongest person she knew, he was just a human being, no matter how amazing he seemed to be. She knew Kenshin better than anyone could ever know another because she had a direct look at his soul and it was his soul she was going to save. There was this soft unknown but familiar voice in her head that spoke the same words over and over again. This voice wasn't speaking to her and although she heard no reply she knew that the words were directed at Kenshin.

"There is only one way your soul would ever be allowed to enter heaven. Kaoru's soul is linked to you. You got out of hell because you were together and that is the only way you'll ever get to heaven"

Heaven seemed such a strange concept. Heaven, a place where you go when you had been good, where you could hopefully be surrounded by the souls of those you would learned to love and maybe live with, as the stories told, happily ever after. As far as she could remember in her foggy memories heaven was just a fairy tale. For her it only brought back a sense of loneliness that was far greater that any other feeling she could have. Some thing was missing in her heaven and she wasn't going to let that piece of her heart leave her. But even if her thoughts of that place were as hollow as they could be, she felt it was her duty to go back there and complete her destiny, this time with the missing part of her soul by her side.

* * *

Morning came in the safe house and by then Kaoru had managed to silently cry herself to sleep. She opened her eyes when she heard the loud sound of the door being opened. For a few seconds she was confused and her brain worked hard to figure out where she was. The memories came to her soon enough and she quickly got to her feet. She passed her hand through her hair and tried to rearrange the pony tail she wore as best as she could.

The first boss was standing at the door in a confident stance and a happy smile on his face. Kaoru stood silently waiting for him to approach.

"Today is the day" He said as one of his men unlocked the door of her cell. "I can see that we are not in a talking mood, that's ok, I guess you are just 'sad' because we are going to part soon."

Kaoru gave the man the best glare she could do before saying:

"You really don't think I'm naïve enough to believe that you are going to let me go. Please don't insult me."

"Oh no my dear girl, I can assure you I'm not lying when I say I won't be seeing your pretty face much longer." He walked to her and took her chin in his hand so she was forced to look him in the eyes. Kaoru didn't say a word but the fire in her eyes showed how much she truly despised the man in front of her.

"Such a fierce girl," He said as he released her "since you demanded in such a nice way I'll tell you the truth. I sold you."

Kaoru's eyes widened with his words and for a couple of moments she wondered if she had heard correctly.

"What do you mean by sold? I'm not a property to be sold!"

"That is where you are mistaken little girl. I own you, or used to own you, just like I used to own Kenshin. But don't look so sad, look at the bright side; at least you'll both be slaves to the same master." And with those words he exited the cell.

Slave. The word remained imprinted in her mind and she couldn't think about anything else. Slave. That was what she had become? In those new and modern times they were turning her into a slave! She just followed the first boss silently as her mind refused to accept the idea that her fate was sealed and that she should give up. She refused to give up, it was her life and she was not going to let anyone rule it for her.

She was brought to a room in one of the upper levels. It was a nice place, nicer that anything she had seen in the safe house, but considering she had been locked in a cell that wasn't much to say. The room had a really nice green rug in the middle that covered part of the wooden floor. A beautiful desk stood in the back and behind it was a big leather chair. The first boss walked in and sat behind the desk.

"Bring Kenshin!" He said to one of the men "And restrain him properly."

Otto left the room wordlessly and Kaoru could see him gathering another three men before heading downstairs.

Kaoru stood in silence with her eyes glued to the door. She ignored the rest of the room and just waited for Kenshin to walk through the door. She didn't have to wait long.

Kenshin was pushed harshly into the room and he had to use all of his strength to keep his balance. Kaoru gasped at the sight of him. He was covered in dry blood and bruises. Some of his hair had come away from his ponytail and fell freely over his face. His lips were broken and swollen and his distinctive scar was covered in blood. His hands were cuffed behind his back, a chain was attached to them and one of the men held it like a leash. His feet were also shackled to each other by a chain that allowed enough room to walk but not to run.

Kenshin allowed his eyes to inspect the room for a moment and his eyes found his sword resting on top of the desk. He moved his eyes quickly and met Kaoru's after that. She wasn't harmed or scared but she was worried for him. Those blue depths also showed her faith in him and that she knew he would get them out of there.

Kaoru knew Kenshin was hurt, anyone could see that, but she also saw in his eyes that he was ready for anything and that his mind was already thinking of a way to escape. For a single moment his eyes left hers and she followed them to his sword. She hadn't noticed it before. Her eyes met Kenshin's eyes again and immediately understood.

"Well now that we are all here," said the first boss from his seat behind the desk "I can explain the itinerary of the day. The first stop is the bank. I will personally escort Miss Kaoru inside the bank where she will identify herself and use this key to open the safe box we need."

"Where did you get that?" asked Kaoru looking at the small silver key in the first boss' hand.

"After some… how do we put it?... persuasion techniques, your father kindly told us where to find this key. Now if there are no more questions… Miss Kaoru will retrieve our object and behave properly inside the bank. Any misconduct will have its repercussions" He stopped and glanced meaningfully at Kenshin before he continued. "Once we have everything we need we will deliver you both to your new home and then you won't be my responsibility any longer." Kenshin thought about those words for a moment. A new home, where could that be, he thought the first boss would never let him leave, not even to go to another prison. The voice of the first boss stopped his thoughts. "Kenshin I have to remind you to keep your impulses under control and do not try any more stunts. It would be most unfortunate to punish that beautiful girl for such a meaningless attempt. Now if we are ready…"

"Actually" said Kaoru "Since you are selling us to someone, I want to suggest you let Kenshin keep his sword, it's no use to you."

"I shall repeat your own words to you little girl. You surely don't think I am that naive… please don't insult me."

"If you think that I'm looking out for you here you are mistaken." She said "I can only assume that this buyer wants Kenshin for his skills, so he will probably send him out on missions and I know he can perform better with his sword… I don't want to see him hurt. "

"And why would I care if he gets hurt?"

"I guess you wouldn't, and believe me that nothing would make me happier than seeing this buyer unleash his anger on you if Kenshin fails a mission, but the cost is much too high, Kenshin's well being is above everything."

The first boss rose from his chair and walked towards her. He stood just in front of her watching her silently.

"It would be unfortunate to displease my client" He said after a while "But that isn't enough motivation to let go off this sword. It's magnificent… but I'll be willing to do this for you if you do something for me."

Kaoru just met his eyes with a defiant look and refused to ask what he wanted. He saw this and smiled softly.

"I want a goodbye kiss."

Kenshin who had been silent and still throughout the whole conversation moved with impossible speed for someone restrained as he was. He stood between Kaoru and the first boss sending him a silent threat. The men moved to get him out of the way but the first boss stopped them with a simple movement of his hand.

"Oh Kenshin you are so possessive. Remember she is not yours… or mine… she has a new owner but until I deliver her I'll let the lady decide if she wants to take up my offer. You know I don't like to force anyone into anything."

That was it! Kenshin could feel the little control he had slipping fast. He was one second away from attacking the man in front of him without even thinking about the chains around his body. Then a soft touch on his shoulder took all the anger away and he was capable again to take control of his emotions. Kaoru's hand remained on his shoulder a moment longer and she gave him a gentle squeeze before she took it away. She then stepped from behind Kenshin and stood beside him looking at the first boss.

"I accept" She simply said and waited for him to make the first move.

The first boss smiled and approached her slowly, he closed his eyes as he pressed his lips on hers. Kaoru's eyes remained open and she tried to look at Kenshin and forget the rough lips on top of hers.

Kenshin could see her clear blue eyes shadowed with unsheathed tears and he closed his fists with so much force that his nails cut his skin. No matter how many things the first boss had done to him in his short life, the beatings, the starvation and the loneliness, nothing compared to what he was forced to see. This was torture.

It seemed forever before the first boss slowly moved away from Kaoru moaning in pleasure.

"Mmmmm that was fantastic" He said as he opened his eyes. "Your new owner will be pleased."

Kaoru's fingers brushed Kenshin's leg effectively stopping him from doing anything thoughtless.

"Now" Said the first boss after a moment "we are ready to go"

He walked to the desk and grabbed the sword before exiting the room. Otto grabbed Kaoru roughly by the arm and followed his boss. Kenshin was dragged behind her.

When they arrived at the garage a large black car was waiting for them with the doors and the trunk open.

"You are not putting him in the trunk again!" said Kaoru trying to help Kenshin in anyway she could.

"Well it would be really suspicious if we go around with a beaten, bloodied and shackled boy in plain view…..won't it?"

Before Kaoru could argue any more Kenshin stepped forward and slowly walked to the car trunk.

"It's ok Kaoru" He said speaking for the first time in the day. "Don't worry, I'm used to it."

And with that said he managed to get in the trunk without any help.

"See?" Said the first boss with a smug look on his face "He likes it"

The loud sound of the trunk closing interrupted anything Kaoru would like to say so she only sighed and silently prayed that Kenshin would be fine.

* * *

A/N: I hope you liked this chapter. I'm sorry I can't thank you personally for your reviews but fanfiction.net erased most of them, I don't know why but I read all of them in my mail. Thanks a lot to everyone!!!!

Special thanks to: Ginger1280, Tyriel1, Lil DragonLex, dark hope1, Jamfase, Adam Thomas, Chibi Fyrefly, Misao Mei Mei, artemismoon23, Moon Baby1, Evil Older Sister and Ruriko2 for putting me in your favorite author list! That meand the world to me, thanks!!!!