A Wolf's Embrace

‘thoughts’

“dialogue”

I don’t own Rurouni Kenshin, nor do I profit in any way from the writing of this story.

A Wolf’s Embrace
Chapter 1

As the sun rose over the edge of the roof of the Kamiya dojo, the occupants were busy preparing for a goodbye. Kaoru moved about the kitchen, a sense of detachment clinging to her. A pair of violet eyes appeared in the doorway.

“Do you need any help Kaoru-dono?” the eye’s owner said. Kaoru looked up and smiled wanly.

“No Kenshin, I’ve got everything under control,” she said, continuing to add spices to the dish cooking in front of her. Kenshin stared at the floor.

“Are you sure you’ll be alright? We could leave Yahiko with you,” Kenshin said, continuing to keep his eyes glued to the floor. Kaoru’s eyes flashed.

“I’ve lived by myself for far longer than you and Yahiko have been with me. I don’t need someone to stay with me. Besides Yahiko is looking forward to going with you. He needs some real world practice with the Kamiya Kasshin and from what Shura has shared with us, it sounds like he’ll have plenty of opportunity to use it,” Kaoru said.

“Hai,” Kenshin said, agreeing, “but that doesn’t change the fact that I’m concerned for your well-being.” Kaoru sighed at his words.

“I don’t need your pity Kenshin. Go, you’re needed,” Kaoru said flatly.

“It’s not pity, Kaoru-dono,” Kenshin began.

“Kenshin,” Kaoru said, interrupting, “it doesn’t matter. Just go and help those that need you.” Kaoru stirred the pot one final time. “Breakfast is ready. Would you go get the others?” she asked. Kenshin sighed and turned away to get the others.

Breakfast was a quiet affair with everyone wrapped up in their own thoughts. Kaoru had resigned herself to staying behind while her friends went off to assist the former pirate, Shura. There were a band of pirates who were terrorizing small fishing islands and Shura had come to the dojo, looking for Kenshin’s help. The dojo itself was struggling and Kaoru had only recently begun teaching classes at a new dojo across town. Money was tight and the income the new dojo offered her, she couldn’t refuse. They needed her and since she couldn’t give up the money, she’d resigned herself to remain home while her friends traveled with Shura.
As the group finished eating, the dojo gate opened. Shura entered the yard, a slight limp in her gait-the only reminder of the Kanryuu affair. Kenshin, Sano and Yahiko rose at her entrance.

“Bye Missy,” Sano said. “We’ll return soon.” Kaoru merely nodded.

“Bye Busu,” Yahiko said, running out to meet Shura. Kenshin lingered. Kaoru looked over at him.

“You need to go Kenshin,” Kaoru said. Kenshin looked up, his heart sinking at the look on Kaoru’s face.

“I’m sorry Kaoru-dono,” he said softly.

“Just go,” Kaoru said. Kenshin nodded and withdrew. Kaoru sat alone at the table, willing the tears not to fall. In the months since the attack on Shishio’s lair, she and Kenshin had drifted further and further apart. Kaoru had taken Megumi’s advice, making her feelings known to Kenshin, but Kenshin continued to hold her at arm’s length and never revealed his own feelings. Kaoru tried to keep the pain and uncertainty bottled up and tell herself that things would work out, but inside her heart broke a little more each day.

As Shura led the group out of the dojo yard, Kenshin gave one final look back to the lone figure in the dining room. Sano saw Kenshin’s gaze and stepped up to him. “You love the missy, why won’t you tell her?” Sano asked.

Kenshin shook his head and began to follow Shura. “Kaoru-dono deserves someone without blood staining their hands, Sano. I can’t offer her the love she deserves,” Kenshin said.

Sano clenched his fists. “You mean you won’t offer her the love she wants,” he growled under his breath, following Kenshin.

As they moved through the Tokyo streets, Kenshin almost felt as though he was being watched. He scanned the area, but saw nothing. As they approached the crossroads near the port, the attack came. Six men surrounded the group. Shura demanded to know what they wanted, but the men gave no answer. As one, they moved forward and struck. Two men ganged up on Kenshin and as he faced them, a third came in behind, holding a dagger. With a quick movement he grasped a handful of Kenshin’s hair and brought the dagger up. Flicking his wrist, the man sliced through a handful of Kenshin’s hair and sprung away. The group, seeing one depart, all withdrew.

“That’ll teach them,” Sano said, dusting his hands off.

“Do you think they were thieves?” Yahiko asked.

“Given this area of town, most likely,” Shura said.

Kenshin fingered the ragged ends of his hair. ‘Why would they take this one’s hair?’ Kenshin’s brow furrowed and he almost turned back. A light hand on his arm caught his attention.

“Kenshin, are you ready to depart?” Shura asked.

Kenshin looked over at the once-pirate and smiled. “Of course, Shura-dono,” he replied.

&&&&&&&&

Kaoru walked the dusty streets of Tokyo. With each step, a little more dust clung to her sweat-soaked body. Her bokken was strapped to her back. ‘The first thing when I get home will be to get a bath,’ she thought. As she reached out to unlatch the dojo gate, the air by her ear was displaced. Her eyes widening, she saw a dagger with something tied to it stuck in the gate near her hand. Spinning around, she searched for the culprit. There was no one there. Pulling the knife from the gate, she went inside, making sure to lock the door behind her. Placing her bokken down on the porch, she sat and opened the letter. Kaoru gasped as a handful of red hair fell into her lap. Returning her eyes to the letter, she read the contents aloud.

“We’ve taken the Battousai and his friends captive. If you want to see them again, meet us at the abandoned shrine past Shimozua before sundown. Come alone and tell no one,” Kaoru read. Fingering Kenshin’s hair, she looked up at the sky. Sundown wasn’t far off. Steeling herself, Kaoru rose and picked up her bokken. She knew it could be a trap, but if her friend’s lives were on the line, she had to go.

Kaoru rushed through the streets, arriving at the foot of the shrine stairs just as the sun began to melt into the horizon. Kaoru took the stairs two at a time, rushing to the top. Standing at the shrine entrance, she looked around. It appeared to be empty.

“I’m here as you asked,” Kaoru called out. “Where are my friends?”

The only response was the slight rustle of the breeze in the trees. Kaoru stood still for a few moments, waiting. Keeping her senses on edge, she started forward toward the shrine itself. As her left foot came down on the stone flooring two feet in, the stone crumbled. Kaoru tried to adjust her balance, but was too late. As she started to fall, she saw four men come running out of the shrine. Kaoru threw her left hand out to try and catch herself. Gripping her bokken with her right hand, Kaoru prepared to defend herself.

As the four men moved in, Kaoru discovered her left foot was caught and wouldn’t come free. Her balance was thrown off and Kaoru realized she would most likely lose. Thinking quickly, Kaoru made plans to do as much damage to her attackers as possible. The first man moved into striking range. Kaoru aimed for the side of his knee with her bokken. Her assailant grinned and dropped his sheathed sword at his knee. Kaoru’s bokken clacked against it. Before Kaoru could counter, her assailant threw his sheathed sword into her stomach. Kaoru coughed at the impact as pain blossomed in her middle. Kaoru saw her second assailant coming in and aiming for the same spot she’d just been hit in. Quickly throwing up her bokken, Kaoru intercepted the blow. However she missed the third attacker coming in from behind. The pain billowed in the back of her head as blackness took over her sight.

Kaoru became aware of sounds around her before she regained her sight. Listening carefully, Kaoru determined she was indoors. Her attackers were still nearby and from the sounds of it, gambling with dice. Kaoru tried to move slightly, but the movement attracted attention.

“She’s coming around,” a gruff voice said.

Kaoru blinked, trying to regain her sight. She saw some shadowy figures moving toward her. Suddenly she felt hands on her arms and legs. Struggling, she shouted, “Let go of me!”

A voice chuckled. “My sweet, you are in no position to make demands. Hold her tight boys,” the man instructed.

Kaoru felt the grip on tighten on her arms as well as on her legs. As her vision became clearer she was the faces of the men holding her. One man held her arms while the other two held each of her legs. The man who’d spoken stood above her. He had a scar running from above his left eye to his chin. Smiling, he nodded to the men holding Kaoru’s legs. They pulled her legs apart. Kaoru began to struggle. The man with the scar knelt between Kaoru’s legs. Leaning over her, he pulled a dagger from the sheath at his waist and placed it next to her cheek.

“You’d do well to stop squirming my dear,” the man said. Kaoru’s eyes widened. The man leaned over and captured her lips in a bruising kiss. Kaoru thought quickly and bit down on the man’s lower lip. He released her lips, howling. Bringing his hand up, he back-handed her. Kaoru felt the bruise form.

“You bitch,” the man screamed. “I’m going to enjoy this,” he shouted as he brought his dagger up. Kaoru felt the cold metal on her throat. She stopped moving. The scarred man slowly drew the dagger down. Kaoru felt the cool blade traverse her chest. As it slid between her breasts, she felt the bindings she used slice open and slide down her ribs. The gi she was wearing fell away as the dagger continued on its downward path.

The scarred man’s eyes drunk in the sight of the pale, creamy flesh that was revealed. Kaoru shook her head as she felt the dagger drop below her navel and she began to shake as she felt the cold metal begin to slide into the thatch of hair at her thighs. She went still as she felt the dagger trace the top of the slit at the apex of her thighs.

Kaoru began to chant, “no,” over and over as the dagger continued its downward path and she was left naked. The scarred man let his eyes roam her firm flesh. He reached out and squeezed a plump breast. His thumb stroked the turgid peak, his face breaking into a sly grin at the involuntary flush on Kaoru’s face. Leaning over he took the neglected peak into his mouth. Laving it with his tongue, he continued to suckle it, even as Kaoru resumed her struggling. Kaoru fought as hard as she could, but the men holding her had grips of iron. The scarred man released his grip on her breast and reached down to the ties of his hakama.

Kaoru saw what he was doing and began to scream, “No!” The scarred man made quick work of the knot and gripped his erection. Guiding it to Kaoru’s heat, he groaned at the sensation. As he began to push inside, Kaoru felt herself leave her body and watch from above. As he moved centimeter by centimeter deeper and Kaoru’s body stretched to accommodate him, Kaoru’s voice took on a more hollow tone. Reaching her barrier, he grinned around her nipple. Drawing back, he prepared to ram through.

The next moments occurred in slow motion for Kaoru. Before the scarred man could plunge in, the door disintegrated. A line appeared on the man’s body from his left shoulder and ran down to his right hip. As Kaoru felt warm, red liquid cover her, the scarred man fell away from her. Each of the men holding her legs fell away. Kaoru heard someone begging for their life in the distance. Kaoru realized the liquid was blood. As she fell into the waiting darkness, a pair of burning gold eyes met her own.

&&&&&&&&&
Japanese Words Used:

-dono : Suffix indicating respect. English equivalent would be Miss or Mister
Dojo : Martial Arts School
Busu : Ugly
Bokken : Wooden sword
Gi : Shirt
Hakama : Pants

Here’s the first chapter. I saw a challenge for Saitou x Kaoru and decided to try it. We’ll see how this goes. The translations above are rough, but they’ll give you an idea.

I’d love some feedback on this story as it progresses. This is a pairing that’s difficult to get together without it being forced and I’m trying to keep them in character. Suggestions and criticism are welcomed!!