Genre

Rating

Spoiler Level

Broken Pieces: Chapter 4 - images of insanity

by linay

Pain, confusion and sadness.

I feel them all.

Nightmares haunt me.

Blood coats me and covers my mind with its stain.

Kenshin leapt from his seat at the sound of the blood-curdling scream, his mind racing and his hand reaching for his hip, where his sword usually hung. Finding no hilt to grasp and discovering himself wrapped loosely in a sleeping robe, Kenshin relaxed from his fighting stance.

The apartment was still pitch black and Kenshin deduced that it must be three or four o’clock in the morning. He looked around, wondering if the scream had just been part of his dream.

But then another scream erupted, splintering the silence.

This time, it was clear who was screaming. Kenshin walked over to his closed bedroom door and placed his ear to the frame. Listening closely, he heard erratic breathing.

Had she hurt herself?

Or was she, like him, plagued by nightmares?

Kenshin heard a sudden creak in the mattress, signalling that she had probably sat up quickly from the bed. He concluded that the girl had screamed in her sleep. Another loud creak. She had left the bed. Kenshin wondered what the girl could possibly be up to.

Then he heard it. The soft sniffles and choking breaths. The girl was crying.

Crying meant that she was breathing.

Breathing meant that she was alive.

Alive meant that he really didn’t have to open the door to investigate.

Just as he turned away from the door, a choked wail reached his sensitive ears. Kenshin sighed, his shoulders sagging in resignation. He sank to the floor and sat, cross-legged with his back to the door. Letting his scarlet hair fall forward over his shoulders, he bowed his head slightly and closed his eyes. Rationalizing that his position near the door would allow him to make sure the girl didn’t hurt herself, he prepared to stay. He wouldn’t be able to sleep anyway, with all her sniffling and choking.

Kenshin snorted to himself. Only a few hours ago he had been trying to kill her on his employer’s orders. Now he was sitting outside her room in order to make sure she didn’t kill herself. His life was a pot of ironic mishaps.

He knew she would be a problem.

Kaoru was huddled on the floor in a corner of the room, her knees tucked under her chin and her arms wrapped around herself. She fought to control her breathing and the tears that were streaming unchecked. But the nightmare had been so vivid.

Kaoru pressed into herself, struggling to push down the flood of memories.

The hordes of bodies. The feeling of being crushed and lost in the mass of racing bodies. The terrifying sounds that the horrible creatures made.

The experiment with the rats had only been a few days ago and the images were still plaguing Kaoru’s dreams. After all the observations had been recorded, Kaoru had spent hours huddled in a corner of her room, her hands over her ears and her eyes shut tightly. Aoshi had spent an hour searching for her on the compound. When he had finally found her, she was still curled up in the corner. It had taken another hour to coax her from her hiding place. And even when Aoshi had helped Kaoru to stand, her eyes had darted about nervously and she twitched with anxiety. Finally, Megumi had to pump her full of sedatives - enough to keep her comatose for a day.

The next day, Kaoru had arrived for the post-experiment interviews with her usual peppy and cheerful attitude. But Megumi had still noticed the jumpiness in her actions. The observation had been duly noted and Megumi’s supervisors had been very interested with that fact. Kaoru’s initial reaction to the experiment did not simply disappear. In fact, she remained jumpy for a while before returning to her normal self.

But Megumi had outright refused to repeat the experiment. She had argued long and hard with her supervisor, claiming that Kaoru needed time to recuperate. After a long and bitter discussion, the supervisor had finally relented and allowed Kaoru a day of schooling and then simple interviews and tests instead of a repeat of the rat experiment.

Both Aoshi and Megumi had been relieved. Kaoru had acted cheerfully oblivious.

But her anxiety had shown through.

Now, wrapped in her own arms in the darkness of an unfamiliar room, Kaoru was having trouble keeping herself from hyperventilating. The fear left over from her nightmare was sending her senses into overdrive. She fought with herself, struggling to push back the barrage of images and memories.

In her state of heightened sensitivity, she heard the slight rustle of fabric against the wooden door of the bedroom. Her head snapped up and she stared at the door fearfully. Something was outside the door.

Kaoru fought for rationality.

Then she remembered. Outside that door was the only other occupant of the apartment. It was her redheaded attacker. Her heart leaped in fear.

But he was human.

Human.

Kaoru wiped away her tears with the back of her hand and rose to her feet unsteadily. Concentrating on the faint glimmer of light coming from the crack under the door, she swayed forward.

At least he was human; she rationalized, trying not to remember the staring eyes of the people he had killed.

With great difficulty, Kaoru made it to the door and reached out a trembling hand to touch the wood surface with her fingertips. Breathing shallowly, she sank to her knees before the door, letting her fingertips trail along the wood. She pressed her forehead against the door and listened.

Breathing. Slow, even breathing.

Kaoru inhaled slowly and then exhaled, trying to match her breathing to the sound of his breathing. Gradually, her chest stopped heaving uncontrollably and she was able to breathe at a normal pace. Kaoru turned her back to the door awkwardly and sat, leaning against the hard wood. She concentrated on exhaling and inhaling. Slowly, her mind calmed and she leaned her head back and drifted into a light sleep.

From without, Kenshin wondered what the girl could possibly be doing. He heard her take faltering steps towards the door. Her erratic breathing patterns had agitated him and he had been almost relieved when he heard her rest against the door between them and doze off.

So, at four fifty three in the morning, Kenshin and Kaoru fell asleep back-to-back, separated only by the wood of a bedroom door.

Megumi stood in the doorway of the hospital room, silently observing her patient. She sighed, flipping her long, black hair over one shoulder.

Aoshi had been carted into the room, bleeding profusely from a gash in his thigh. The gash was deep and the weapon had barely missed severing tendons. Even so, it would be a while before Aoshi would regain the ability to walk. Megumi, like the coroners, had been very confused by the wounds. Bullets could not possibly have made the slash. From the looks of it, a long sharp blade had been the weapon used. The only weapon that matched Aoshi’s injuries was a sword.

Megumi furrowed her brow at the mere thought.

She did not doubt that a sword had made the wounds. But she only knew of one man that could have used a sword against Aoshi in such a way. There was only one man.

Battousai.

The nickname caused a feeling of dread to settle in the pit of her stomach. Battousai was a dangerous man, known only through rumours in the underground of Kyoto. Megumi, despite her impeccable service record, was very well acquainted with the seedier dealings of Kyoto criminals.

Her present employer had recruited her right before her sentencing in court. He had offered her a deal: work on a secret project and be exonerated. Since prison did not appeal to Megumi, she had accepted.

But now, if Battousai was involved, it meant that someone very powerful was after Kaoru-chan. And the thought frightened Megumi.

She walked over to the bed where Aoshi was still unconscious and placed a hand on his burning forehead. Drawing in a deep breath, Megumi willed him to wake up soon and bring their Kaoru back.

When sunrays began to stream heat into the bedroom, Kaoru awoke from a very uncomfortable sleeping position. She uncurled herself from her spot beside the door and tried to brush away her dried tears.

“You are awake?”

Kaoru jumped at the sound of the voice vibrating through the door. Then she promptly recalled why she had been curled up by the door. She shivered involuntarily.

“Yes,” she answered meekly.

Kenshin was sitting cross-legged, leaning against the door. He pulled himself up slowly and began to fiddle with the key to unlock the door.

Kaoru heard him about to unlock the door and scrambled to her feet - in time to realize that she was only wearing a t-shirt. As Kenshin was turning the doorknob, Kaoru suddenly pulled at it with all her might.

“No!”

Kenshin froze. “What?”

“I’m,” Kaoru began to stammer, a blush rising, “I’m not…I’m not yet-”

She heard a loud sigh come from the other room. “You’ve been through my wardrobe already, haven’t you?”

Kaoru nodded. Then remembered one cannot usually hear nods. “Uh,” she said, somewhat embarrassed, “Yes?”

“So,” came the reply, “Just get a pair of pants or something.”

“Yours?” she exclaimed incredulously.

“You don’t have to if you’d rather wear your school uniform.”

Kenshin left the door unlocked and padded back towards the kitchenette. He had actually been awake since the first ray of sunlight and had already cooked up a small breakfast. Needless to say, the assassin felt very odd - what with providing a meal for his former target and all. It confused him to no end. He felt like a babysitter and a prison warden all at once.

He picked the phone up and dialled. “Takasugi-san?” he began, “This is Himura. The job needs clothes and I don’t have any for her.”

An angry reply buzzed in his ear.

“No, I don’t think it’s too early to call, sir,” Himura replied politely and then paused, listening. “Yes, sir. Tonight.”

He replaced the phone and turned to the stovetop. Picking up a ladle, he began spooning miso soup into two small bowls.

A few moments later, Kaoru emerged quietly from the room wearing the black t-shirt she had borrowed the night before and a pair of draw string jogging pants - the only thing she could find that would fit her. With a tiny smirk, she reckoned that her assailant would find the mess she had left in tearing through his wardrobe.

Kenshin looked up at her as she entered the living area. “Good morning,” he greeted her civilly, though without a smile.

Kaoru raised an eyebrow at him and the ladle. She wondered how he could transform from ultimate assassin to housewife in the blink of an eye. “Good morning,” she replied tentatively.

“Breakfast is almost ready,” Kenshin said politely, though in a cold, deadpan voice.

Kaoru nodded and found something to stare at. She, also, felt out of place. Wearing a killer’s clothes and being served breakfast by a killer was something she had not ever anticipated. Walking up to the mantle piece, she stared up at the swords.

They were, in short, ancient.

But there was something beautiful about the deadly weapons, she noted to herself. She reached out a hesitant finger and ran it along the sheath of the smaller sword. Suddenly, she had an urge to grasp it and hold it in her hands.

Kenshin turned to ask if she would like an egg, ladle still in hand, just as she reached out to grab the sword.

“Don’t!” his voice boomed loudly from across the room.

Kaoru, startled, turned to stare, her hand frozen in place. Kenshin was staring at her with ferocious intensity.

“Don’t touch it,” he commanded angrily.

Kaoru drew her hand back suddenly, staring at him. The passion in his golden eyes overwhelmed her. What would make him so protective over his disgusting swords? At the moment, she didn’t wish to find out.

Kenshin watched her slowly retract her hand from touching the sword breathed a sigh of relief inwardly. He turned back to the pot of soup, completely forgetting about the egg. He stirred the pot with the ladle a few times, waiting for his boiling emotions to cool. No one was ever permitted to touch his swords. No one. Not ever.

Those swords were his burden alone.

When Kenshin turned back around with the two bowls in hand, his face once again emotionless, he found Kaoru still frozen in place. He walked around the bar and deposited the bowls beside the other food on the small dinette table.

Then he stood and waited.

And Kaoru remained frozen and stared.

Kenshin counted to ten in his mind, wondering how he would get the girl to eat. Finally shrugging, he sat and began eating himself. She could eat after he had left for all he cared, as long as she ate. Kenshin ate slowly and with dignity, chewing each morsel completely before swallowing.

Kaoru watched her attacker eat, slowly relaxing from her frozen stance. She knew instinctively that the other setting of food was for her, but she refused to join him in eating. So, without any other course of action in sight, she watched him slowly eat his meal. Kaoru was amazed at the refined and meticulous manner in which the killer ate. She was also amazed by the fact that the man ate without a hint of emotion, pleasure or distaste evident on his facial features. He simply ate - as if it were a necessary evil of life.

When the last bit of food had been eaten, Kenshin rose and brought his dishes to the sink. He walked around the room, pausing to look at Kaoru who was still standing before the fireplace.

“Eat,” he said simply.

Then Kenshin walked down the hallway to the bathroom. Kaoru, for the second time, heard the bathroom door lock.

Inhaling deeply, Kaoru strode towards the dinette and stared down at the setting of food. A bowl of miso soup, a small bowl of rice and a plate of omelette were neatly arranged on the table. Kaoru thought of disdaining the food offered by such a ruthless killer, but her stomach growled loudly in protest. Sighing, Kaoru pulled out the simple wooden chair and sat, gingerly picking up the chopsticks. She began to eat, chewing the food slowly. Surprised by how good it tasted, her face lit up slightly - having not eaten since the previous afternoon.

Kenshin let the burning water flow over him while he stretched out the kinks in his tight muscles. He finished up a quick shower and left the bathroom, still wrapped in his sleeping robe with his hair damp once again. He walked out into the living area and threw a glance at the girl. Her back was to him but he saw her stiffen and her hand freeze mid-bite as she sensed his emergence. Ignoring this, he entered his bedroom and closed the door. Kenshin flung his robe across the bed and turned to search through his wardrobe for clothes.

He raised an eyebrow upon seeing the tangle of clothes spilled out on the floor and messed up in the wardrobe. Ignoring the mess, he pulled out a non-descript black sweater and jeans. Without turning to the large vanity mirror, he ran his fingers through his hair and pulled it up into a high ponytail. He deftly secured his long red hair with an elastic and then shook the tangles out of his long hair.

Kaoru finished her meal and stood, picking up her dishes. She padded hesitantly around the bar and to the kitchen. She deposited her dishes in the sink and began to run water over them. Picking up a soapy sponge that lay beside the sink, she casually began to scrub her dishes clean, running the warm water over them and depositing them in the dish rack to dry. Briefly, with the water running over her hands, she looked down at the killer’s dishes. Without much thought, she picked his up too and cleaned them. Rinsing her hands and wringing them out, she turned with a soft sigh.

She turned and was met with the intense stare of her captor. She matched his stare, dismissing the brief urge to explain herself to him. The man stared back.

Then he turned abrubtly and sat in the leather armchair that faced the fireplace. He placed his arms on the armrests and stared up for a moment at the swords. Dropping his head slightly and closing his eyes, he sat quietly. Kaoru remained rooted to her place behind the bar. After all, the situation was quite confusing. How was one to act around a man who had tried to kill her, but now was not trying to kill her but who would not let her leave?

“You don’t have to stay there all day,” the redhead said quietly from under the shadow of the swords.

Uncertainly, Kaoru came out from behind the bar and approached the armchair facing his. She eased herself into the leather seat, grimacing at the sounds the material made. She stared at the man who sat across from her.

He was a mystery to her. A cold, violent and deadly assassin one minute, ferociously passionate the next, and then finally calm, collected and sedate. But always, she thought, a sense of cold distance surrounded him.

Kaoru studied the killer in front of her curiously. His red hair was again tightly pulled up but his red bangs still fell over his face. His lips were set in a hard line and his features were stiff. From the tightness of his jaw and the stillness of his eyelids, Kaoru knew he was not sleeping. Even though his black knit sweater was loose, Kaoru could sense the tight, lean muscles that lay beneath. From the rigid position of his calloused fingers, she could see the extreme tension that strung his body together.

Kaoru sighed, certain of a long day spent in uncomfortable silence. She leaned back in her chosen seat underneath the swords and stared up at the ceiling.

“Takani-san,” a deep voice rumbled from the doorway.

Megumi looked up quickly from her seat beside Aoshi’s bed. Her boss stood in the doorway. She stood.

“Still asleep is he?” the tall, dark man asked, “When do you expect him to get up?”

Megumi shook her head slowly. “Not for another day or two,” she answered in a low voice, “And even then, he won’t be capable of fighting.”

The big man sighed. “Ah worthless boy,” he complained, “Getting his ass kicked so soon.”

Megumi frowned at her boss. “It was Battousai,” she defended.

“Well, that’s obvious,” the hulking figure beside her responded, “So what?”

Megumi gawked at him.

“What?” the man said with a twisted smirk, “No faith in our ninja here?”

“Battousai is a demon! It’s a miracle Aoshi is still in one piece. If Kaoru hadn’t hidden him-”

She was interrupted by a deep chuckle. “Ah,” he rumbled, “Our racoon did something interesting, now didn’t she?”

Megumi sighed. Obviously the conversation would go nowhere.

“In any case,” she reported, “Aoshi will be out of action for a week at least.”

Her boss ran his fingers through his chin length hair. “Stupid brat,” he commented dryly.

“Takasugi Shinsaku,” the secretary announced into the phone, “is on line one for you, sir.”

“Shinsaku?”

“Sir, Battousai has the project in his apartment.”

“And?”

“He wants clothes for her.”

“Bring clothes over then.”

“Sir?”

“Yes, Shinsaku?”

“Are you sure this is the best arrangement? We could just keep her in one of our safe houses.”

“There are reasons for this arrangement, Shinsaku.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Report to me on the project’s conditions tonight. And deliver orders to Himura when you make your visit.”

“Understood.”

“Shall we test it a bit tonight, then?”

“Yes, Katsura-san.”

It was nearing nine o’clock in the evening when a sharp knock interrupted the silence of Kenshin’s apartment.

Slowly, Kenshin rose from his seat and walked across the room to the entrance. Kaoru shook the half-sleep from her eyes and brushed her eyes with the back of her hand. Kenshin opened the door and a tall, lanky man sauntered in. The man had short scraggly hair and a generous portion of stubble on his chin. Obviously a man who stayed up late.

“So,” Takasugi drawled pleasantly, eyeing Kaoru, “This is the girl you brought home last night?”

Kaoru steamed red and Kenshin began to protest.

Takasugi guffawed and stepped towards Kaoru, holding out a plastic shopping bag. He stood above her sitting form and tapped her lightly on the head with the bottom of the pink bag. Kaoru backed away from him, eyes wary and hostile. Takasugi simply chuckled.

“Don’t be so cold, little Miss,” he chortled, “I’m the guy who saved your cute butt. Yep, you owe your life to me.”

Kaoru glared at him angrily. “Don’t talk to me so familiarly,” she hissed.

The man dropped the pink plastic bag into her lap with a laugh. Then he crashed backwards into the large leather sofa.

“Quite a feisty one, isn’t she?” he said with a smirk, “Enjoying yourself, Himura-kun?”

Kenshin raised an eyebrow impassively.

Kaoru, meanwhile, began to pull out some of the clothes. A tiny pink tank top, a denim short skirt, a black tube top. She stared into the bag incredulously.

“I can’t wear these!”

Takasugi laughed. “Well, there’s the rub. Those are the clothes you’re getting, my dear. Wear them well - unless you want to go around in your school uniform. Of course,” Takasugi said, his finger scratching his stubbly chin thoughtfully, “That wouldn’t be so bad either.” He guffawed loudly and then said, “C’mon, those are my little sister’s clothes!”

Kaoru looked up at the man from her rummaging and glared at him. “Is your sister a slut?”

Takasugi placed a finger to his chin and stared up at her with a grin. “Actually, yes. She is.”

Kaoru grabbed the bag and stood up, throwing Takasugi a dirty look. She marched off to the bathroom and slammed the door behind her.

“As I said,” Takasugi commented, a serious tone entering his voice, “Quite the feisty one.” He turned to Kenshin who was making his way back to the armchair. “How are you fairing with her in your apartment?”

“Take her to a safe house,” came Kenshin’s frosty reply.

“Katsura-san wants her here.”

Kenshin sighed. “As he wishes.”

“Anyway,” Takasugi continued, drawing a small black envelope from his back pocket and tossing it to Kenshin, “This is for you. Take care of it tonight.”

Kenshin caught the envelope deftly and tucked it into his pocket. “Another assignment so soon?”

Takasugi shrugged.

“But what will I do with her?”

“Just lock her up here. The building managers will make sure she doesn’t leave.”

“Fine.”

“Oh,” Takasugi remarked casually, “I invited some of our colleagues over for drinks. They should be breaking your door down any minute.”

“Fine.”

Kaoru turned the knobs of the faucet, stopping the flow of steaming water that filled the wide bathtub. After locking herself into the bathroom angrily, Kaoru had wondered at the size of the bathroom. It was nearly as big as the kitchen. There was a separate shower and a huge bathtub and a basin of a sink and a separate room with the toilet. Many thick towels hung from many towel racks around the spacious and lavishly tiled bathroom. Kaoru shrugged; all the better for her bath.

She slowly undressed, letting the killer’s clothes fall to the tiled floor. She pulled a pale pink, silk bathrobe from the plastic bag and hung it from a peg near the tub. Gently, she began into ease herself into the wonderfully hot water. Sinking up to her chin, she let her muscles loosen and let her breathing slow. Kaoru languorously lifted her dripping limbs one at a time, relishing the feel of the soothing liquid streaming across her naked skin.

Just as Takasugi had predicted, men began to arrive at Kenshin’s apartment. Each time a new, raucous man would arrive, Kenshin would open the door politely, let them in, and lock the door again. Just as Kaoru was beginning to fall asleep in the bath, close to ten men filled the apartment.

Some of the men were big and burly; others were thin and snake-like; still others were tall and medium-built. Some men lounged at the bar, sipping or chugging Kenshin’s liquor. The others were sprawled in various positions on the leather sofas, laughing and joking loudly. Kenshin sat silently listening in his armchair, his face betraying no emotion.

Kaoru, on the other hand, had been jolted from her doze by the boisterous noise-makers. Irritated, she pushed herself up and sat in the gradually cooling water. Tendrils of her black hair clung to her back and her breasts. She splashed water on her face and decided that her short respite from reality was over. The water swished around her nude legs as she stood and stepped delicately from the tub.

Forgetting to pull the plug from the tub, she wrapped the silky, pink bathrobe around herself and secured it tightly at her waist. She advanced to the floor length mirrors on one wall and stared at herself. She pulled at the tie in her long hair and let her hair fall loose. Her hair fell down to the middle of her back, black and thick. She combed at her bangs, straightening them, and wished for a brush.

Kaoru picked up the pink plastic bag that held the indecent clothes and unlocked the door. She pushed the door open a crack and the noise from the rowdy men greeted her. Steeling herself, she walked out and padded down the hallway.

Cat calls and whistles erupted from the men suddenly. Takasugi and Kenshin turned to see the girl emerge from the dark hallway, her black hair streaming down her back and her body barely concealed by a thin, pink bathrobe. She stood, feet apart and chin lifted, and stared at each of the men defiantly. Kenshin stopped himself from sighing. That same defiance quickly earned her a round of loud hooting and lewd shouts from his colleagues. The girl headed for the bedroom and slammed the door behind her.

“Himura! What’s with the chick?”

“You finally indulging in some manly pleasures?”

“A high school looker on top of it all!”

Kenshin shot the men dark stares and they instinctively stepped back slightly.

“Not particularly wise to tease Battousai about something sensitive,” Takasugi chuckled.

“Yes,” A muscled man with black hair tied up much like Kenshin’s commented, “But she’s quite the treat, isn’t she?”

Kenshin resisted the urge to roll his eyes and instead glared at the man. “She’s not my whore.”

“Whose is she then?”

“Genji-san,” Kenshin said icily, “Can’t you ever be serious?”

The man called Genji laughed, rubbing his muscular arms and pushing up the sleeves of his tight white t-shirt even more. “Can’t you appreciate a beautiful woman, Himura-kun?”

Kenshin arched a dark eyebrow. “You mean teenager?”

“All the better,” Genji drawled, a malicious glint entering his eyes, “It’s much more fun when they’re young and tender.”

Kenshin turned away, letting a bit of his disgust show on his finely chiseled features. Genji only laughed, slapping his blue-jeaned thighs. Takasugi watched the interaction with a slight grin on his face. The two did the same job for their employer and yet they were totally different. Genji was unrestrained, often using his strength to take whatever pleased him. Kenshin was cool and always distant. The interaction between them had been so easy to predict.

“Well,” Genji laughed as he stood, “I need a drink.”

Kenshin did not even acknowledge him. Instead he turned to Takasugi. “Why did you invite him?”

Takasugi shrugged and grinned.

Kaoru had found a brush. She sat on the bed and slowly brushed though her hair, trying to ignore the noise outside. Setting the brush down, she rolled her head around and shrugged her shoulders a few times, trying to ease the tension that had built up so quickly in her muscles.

Suddenly she jumped up and stared.

The door swung open silently and a tall figure stepped into the room quickly, shutting the door behind him. Kaoru stood on guard, suddenly very nervous.

“Hello,” the stranger greeted her gently, “How are you?”

Kaoru stared daggers at the man, quickly sizing him up.

“I’m Genji,” the man said sweetly, taking a step forward, “And you are?”

Kaoru remained silent, searching the room mentally for a weapon. Genji was a tall, muscular man wearing a tight white t-shirt and blue jeans. His long black hair was in a high ponytail. She continued to glare at the man, backing up slightly when he took another step towards her.

“So,” Genji growled, the sweet tone dropping from his deep voice, “You’re not going to be easy are you?” Then he grinned, sending a chill down Kaoru’s spine. “More fun for me, then.”

Not a moment too soon, Kaoru ducked out of the way as Genji lunged at her. She ran, putting the bed between them.

“My sweet,” Genji coaxed with false sweetness, “Don’t play hard to get.”

Not giving her a chance to react, he dived across the bed and grabbed at her. Kaoru evaded his arms but he caught a hold of the edge of her bathrobe. She gritted her teeth and threw a vicious kick at his head, all the while trying to keep her robe closed. Genji rolled out of the way but lost his grip on her clothing.

“Little bitch,” he snarled angrily, “I’m not going to go easy on you now.”

With his face twisted into a wicked scowl, he sprang at her suddenly and pushed her into the wall, his big hands on her shoulders. Kaoru hit the wall hard and her head snapped backwards painfully. She attempted to knee him in the groin but he anticipated her move and pushed his body up against hers roughly, preventing her from doing anything but stomping on his feet - which, of course, she did with a vengeance.

Genji swore and planted one of his hands on her throat. He pushed at her neck harshly and she struggled angrily as he lowered his face to hers.

“Now,” he murmured cruelly, his breath hot on her face, “Don’t be impatient. You’ll get it - don’t worry.”

Kaoru felt bile rise in her throat even as she struggled to breath. His grip on her throat tightened painfully and spots began to dance before her eyes. Even so, she was painfully aware that his other hand had left her shoulder and had begun to snake between the folds of her robe.

Her mind screamed but her body could not overcome him. She felt desperation take control.

It had to be done.

There was no choice.

Kaoru struggled to lift her arm. Since Genji knew she could now put no real force in any sort of attack, he ignored her as she reached toward his face with her slender fingertips.

Kaoru inhaled deeply, preparing.

She had no choice.

He was going to…

Steeling herself, she shut her eyes tightly.

Sudden, piercing and wild screams interrupted all drinking, laughing, thinking. All eyes were on the bedroom door. Some chuckled knowingly, seeing that Genji had ‘disappeared’. The screams continued - gaining in intensity and volume.

Kenshin jumped to his feet and strode to the bedroom quickly. He flung the door open and Takasugi peered over his shoulder into the semi-darkness of the room.

What they saw surprised them.

Kaoru was crouched on the floor in the center of the room, howling bloody murder and tearing at her long hair. A wild, crazed look was glazed over her eyes.

Genji was plastered to the wall; he was slightly off-color and he had a hand to his head, as if in pain. He looked up at Kenshin and Takasugi.

“What the fuck?”

Kenshin stared at him coldly. Takasugi raised his eyebrows. Then all three turned to Kaoru.

“What the hell is with that girl?” Genji asked, annoyed bewilderment in his voice, “Make her shut the fuck up! I have a damn headache.”

Genji was ignored. Kenshin took a step toward Kaoru who had not stopped shrieking madly.

Kaoru rose to her feet but she remained doubled over, her eyes wild. She was pulling her hair crazily and tears began to streak down her face.

The blood. She felt the blood fill her, coat her, drown her. She heard the screams, the pleas, the pain. She brought her hands to her throat and then clutched at her chest, as if something were eating at her. She felt the devil inside of her. It clawed at her insides, taunting her with images of dying men, weeping girls. She shuddered at the sensations crawling under her skin - pain caused by her hands, fear at her presence and the blood. Oh the stench of blood was driving her insane!

Kenshin advanced slowly, as one would approach a cornered animal.

Kaoru looked up at him through wild, distraught eyes.

“Battousai,” she growled menacingly, “Stay away, Battousai.”

Kenshin stopped abruptly, surprise written on his face. How had she known? To his knowledge, she had never been acquainted with his nickname.

Kaoru glared at him, her eyes glazing over and rolling back into her head. She began to shriek again and tear at her hair violently. Kenshin did the only thing he could think of. He marched up to her as quickly as he could, drew back his hand and slapped her.

Kaoru’s hand went up to her burning cheek automatically and she shrunk back against the wall, away from him. The sharp sting of his calloused hand against her face shocked her into a fearful silence.

“Well that was interesting,” Takasugi commented, brushing at his chin with his fingers.

“I don’t think it’s quite over yet,” Kenshin replied, watching as Kaoru whimpered, tears still running down her face and eyes glazed and unseeing.

“Who the fuck is that girl, dammit?” Genji demanded angrily.

Kenshin and Takasugi both turned to stare at Genji. Kenshin frowned, confused.

“What the hell?”