Control

Hello all! I know that people are reading this and I hate to ask, but would you please leave a review? I really need some feedback on this story. I’d like to know if you understand the plot, if I’ve left any holes that are confusing you. Even if it’s just you like it and keep going, that would be great. I’m feeling really insecure about this story at the moment and some feedback would be really helpful.

Thanks all!

I don’t own, I borrow.

Control
Chapter 5

“Excellent work Battousai,” called the man wearing the mask. “I knew you had mastered the sword, but apparently that’s not the only sword you worked with.”

“Battousai?” Miyori’s confused voice asked. Kenshin closed his eyes. Opening them he stared at Miyori and nodded his head. Her eyes widened. Kenshin slipped his member out of her opening. Reaching down, Kenshin caught the edges of Miyori’s kimono. Lowering her until her feet touched the ground, Kenshin pulled the kimono tight around Miyori. Wrapping his gi, he tied the knot and pulled up his hakama. Turning, Kenshin faced the two men.

“Why are you holding us here?” Kenshin asked.

The masked man waved his companion away. Turning his attention back to his captives, Kenshin could feel his smile. “Because Battousai I want something only you can provide me with,” he said.

“What? I’m in no mood for games,” Kenshin said. His thoughts were contemplating the man’s voice. ‘I know that voice. Where have I heard it? Obviously this man is concerned that I would know him, why else would he wear a mask?’

“You’ll find out in time,” the masked man said.

“I can understand what you may want from me, but why the darts? Why are you holding Miss Miyori and forcing these things between us?” Kenshin ground out, his eyes flashing amber.

“Ah, ah…Battousai. A wise man never reveals all his cards. You’ll find out soon enough. In the meantime, enjoy her. She’s not a raving beauty, but she was pure until you came along. If you’ll excuse me, I have other things to see to,” the man said, closing the screen.

“Come back here you coward!” Kenshin screamed, his anger surfacing.

Behind Kenshin, Miyori had sunk to the floor, trying to comprehend the information she’d just learned. ‘Kenshin is Battousai! That monster of the revolution is this man. How could I have trusted him? Maybe he meant to rape me. What if the darts aren’t affecting him at all and he’s just pretending?’

Kenshin breathed deeply forcing himself to calm down. Turning, he felt as though he’d been hit when Miyori shrunk from his gaze. Kenshin lowered his head. He realized that in all the things he’d shared with Miyori, he’d never mentioned that he had been Battousai. Dropping to his knees, Kenshin mustered his courage.

“Miss Miyori, this unworthy one is sorry he never told you. In all of my concern for Miss Kaoru and the things that I’d done to you, I honestly didn’t even think about my past,” Kenshin said, hiding behind his bangs.

Miyori had curled in on herself. Listening to Kenshin’s words, she still couldn’t get herself to relax.

Kenshin waited and realized that Miyori was still scared. Muttering an apology, Kenshin rose and crossed to the corner on the other side of the fireplace. Leaning against the wall, Kenshin pulled his knees up and closed his eyes. He was tired and upset by Miyori’s reaction. Slowly he fell into a fitful sleep.

*********

Far to the north, Kaoru was nearing the end of her rough journey through the mountains to Matsue. The trip had taken her two days of walking almost entirely uphill from the village. She was exhausted and the thin air of the mountains was making her feel light headed. Her meager earnings had bought her a thick coat and a few provisions for the trip. She hoped she had enough for a telegraph to Tokyo and for a stay in an inn. From there she’d have to wait for her friends to come get her.

Entering the outskirts of the town, Kaoru darted out of the way of a carriage carrying a full load of copper ore from one of the nearby mines. Ignoring the lewd comments made by the driver, Kaoru made her way to the first restaurant she saw. There she inquired after a telegraph office. Obtaining directions, Kaoru made her way quickly to the office.

Opening the door to the small office, she was overwhelmed by the heat from a small potbellied stove in the corner. Opening her jacket, she tried to get more comfortable. There was a man before her already sending a telegraph with the operator. After a few minutes, the man finished, paid for the service and left the small office. Kaoru approached the counter.

“Hello sir,” she said, “I’d like to send a telegraph to Tokyo please.”

The man regarded her with a small smile. “To where in Tokyo, ma’am?” he asked.

“The Kamiya dojo,” Karou replied.

The man behind the counter seemed to perk up slightly. “And what is the message?” he asked.

“Um…tell them that Kaoru is okay and is in Matsue and needs someone to come get her,” Karou said, thinking quickly.

The man regarded her for a moment. “Are you Kaoru Kamiya?” he asked tentatively.

Kaoru backed up a step, unsure how this man knew her name. Eyeing the door, she contemplated running.

“Forgive me, miss,” the man said. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I had been asked to keep an eye out for any word of Kaoru Kamiya or a Kenshin Himura.”

“Who asked you to keep an eye out for m…them?” Kaoru asked, still eying the door.

The man checked a doorway behind the counter and turned back to Kaoru. “My okashira,” he replied.

Kaoru’s eyes widened. “Are you with the Oniwaban group?” she asked excitedly.

The man nodded. “I’m their contact in this area,” he explained.

Kaoru smiled. “I wondered how they got their information,” she said. “I’m Kaoru Kamiya.”

The man smiled back. “I’m so glad to have found you. The word I received was that it was very urgent to pass along any information on you or this Kenshin Himura. Are you alright?”

Kaoru nodded. “I’m fine. Please, tell me. Have you heard any word about Kenshin?”

The man shook his head. “I’m sorry miss. I’ve heard nothing. Oh my! Where are my manners? My name is Akira.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” Kaoru said. “Will you be able to send the message to the dojo?”

Akira smiled. “Yes miss. I’ll send it right away. Oh and Miss Kaoru, if you wouldn’t be upset, I’d like to accompany you to Tokyo. From the message and your sudden appearance I’m guessing you’ve had some kind of trouble.”

Karou sighed. “Yes, Akira, there’s been some trouble. I would feel better knowing that an Oniwaban operative was with me. I just want to get home as quickly as I can.”

Akira sat down at a machine behind the counter. “Let me send this message and I’ll escort you to the inn Miss Karou. There’s a coach that comes through here in an hour and a half. It can bring us to Yokohama where we can catch the train to Tokyo. You can use that time to refresh yourself and get something to eat.”

Karou smiled a weary smile. “Thank you Akira. I appreciate your help.”

Akira sent the telegraph to Tokyo and within two hours he and Kaoru were on their way to Tokyo.

********

Yahiko was practicing in the dojo when a squeal rang out through the compound. Dropping his shinai, he ran outside to the point of the sound. Coming around the corner of the porch he saw Misao hugging a small boy by the gate with a piece of paper in her hands.

“Misao, what on earth are you doing?” Yahiko asked, looking at her strangely.

Misao let go of the boy to turn to Yahiko and the boy ran off. “Yahiko look!” Misao shouted, shoving the paper in his face and waving it.

“Argh! Stop waving it around and let me read,” Yahiko said trying to grab it.

“Never mind that! We found Kaoru! She’s on her way here. She turned up in Matsue and contacted one of our operatives. He’s bringing her here. They’ll be here tomorrow afternoon,” Misao shouted, still jumping up and down.

“Kaoru’s alright?” Yahiko asked, a smile forming on his face.

“According to this, yes!” Misao said.

“Where’s Kenshin?” Yahiko asked.

Misao stopped jumping and frowned. “It says she was alone and didn’t know where Kenshin was. However, maybe now, we can start to figure out what’s happening.”

“Yeah,” Yahiko said.

The gate opened again and Aoshi and Sano came walking in. “Aoshi-sama! You have to see this,” shouted Misao running to her leader.

Taking the paper from Misao, Aoshi scanned it. Sano tried to peek over his shoulder.

“Is it good news?” Sano asked.

“An Oniwaban operative found Kaoru and he’s bringing her here,” Yahiko said.
“They found the missy!” Sano said, brightening.

“Yes, it would appear she turned up in Matsue, alone and unharmed,” Aoshi said. “Our operative is bringing her here.”

“Yahoo!” Sano shouted, grabbing Yahiko’s shoulder and giving it a squeeze. “Maybe now we can start to figure out what happened to Kenshin and Kaoru,” Sano said.

“Yes, perhaps Kamiya can give us some more clues,” Aoshi said, walking into the house.

Sano, Misao and Yahiko ran after him, each bubbling with excitement at the news that their friend was returning.

*********

Back in the prison, Kenshin and Miyori had spent a tense night together. Neither had said much to the other. Miyori tossed and turned on the futon, unable to calm down. Thoughts of the things she’d shared with Kenshin ran through her mind, along with the realization of his true identity.

In the corner, Kenshin observed Miyori’s discomfort and he felt guilt raining down on himself. He’d truly forgotten, with everything else that had happened, to tell Miyori of his identity. Now he felt terrible for her reaction to his presence.

As dawn broke, Kenshin couldn’t take the silence any longer. Cooking a pot of soup, he ladled out two bowls. Walking over to the futon he noticed Miyori beginning to stir. Kneeling he placed the bowl on the ground by the futon and watched Miyori waken. When her eyes met his, he bowed and touched his face to the floor.

“This one is truly sorry Miss Miyori. I did not mean to keep my identity from you, that I did not,” Kenshin said.

Miyori stared at him for a moment, trying to figure out what to say. “Kenshin, were you really Battousai?” she asked.

“Hai,” he said. “This one did many terrible things during the Revolution. I took a vow never to kill again after a tragedy and now I live my life to atone for the sins I’ve committed,” Kenshin said, still bowing.

“Kenshin, please sit up,” Miyori said, turning her gaze toward the window. Kenshin sat up and watched as the girl tried to place her thoughts.

“Kenshin, do the darts truly affect your control of your….urges?” she asked shakily.

Dropping his gaze to his lap, Kenshin replied, “Yes Miss Miyori.”

Nodding her head, Miyori continued to look out the window. “Growing up my parents used to tell us to behave or else Battousai would come for us. I grew up with this image of a bloodthirsty monster who had no regard for human life. That first time you were hit with a dart…that’s…that’s what I imagined Battousai to be-a monster who took what he wanted with no regard for anyone else.”

Kenshin clenched his eyes shut at Miyori’s words. Pausing, Miyori continued, “But afterward, that next morning, the look on your face when you discovered what you’d done…that wasn’t the look of a monster. It was a look of a man who was pained by what he’d done. You truly felt sorrow and despair at your actions. I could see the pain you felt. I saw where the dart hit you and I felt anger-not at you, but at the cruelty of this situation. I felt anger at the man who’s pulling the strings, who’s done this to us.”

Miyori drew her eyes away from the window to stare at the rurouni before her with his head hung and eyes clenched shut in pain. Continuing, she tried to explain her feelings, “I don’t know what to make of this. I don’t know how to resolve what I know of you with who I grew up believing Battousai to be. I’m afraid that I’ve trusted you and you’ve not been honest, that you’re enjoying ravishing me.” Miyori began to lose her hold on her tears. “How can I trust you?” she asked.

Kenshin opened his eyes and looked into Miyori’s tear-stained ones. Taking a deep breath Kenshin responded to her comments. “Miss Miyori, this one has not enjoyed being forced to dishonor a young girl. I’ve caused you pain and hurt you deeply. It was never my intension to withhold my identity from you. I’m sorry for that. I don’t know what I can do to resolve your issues of trust. I wish I could take everything I’ve done away, but I can’t. All I can promise is to do everything I can to make things right after we are free from here.”

Miyori nodded her head and picked up the bowl of soup. Taking a sip, she tried to force herself to eat. Kenshin could sense she was still upset. Gently he reached out and pulled the bowl away from her. Miyori looked at him questioningly. Kenshin smiled softly.

“Miss Miyori,” he said, “please don’t force yourself to eat if you are still upset. This one will not be offended. Don’t hold your feelings inside. We are still stuck here together and I would hope we can be honest with one another.”

Miyori’s eyes watered at Kenshin’s words before she broke down in large sobs. Kenshin moved the bowls aside and wrapped his arms around her. Rocking her gently, he held her as she let go of the tears.

********

The next day dawned clear and bright in Tokyo. Yahiko had risen early and cleaned the dojo top to bottom. It was now lunchtime and any time Kaoru was expected. Sano and Aoshi had headed down to the train station to meet Kaoru and the operative bringing her. Sitting on the porch Yahiko tried to calm himself. He could hear Misao in the kitchen preparing a light lunch for everyone. Drawing circles in the dust with his foot, he started at the sound of the gate opening.

Jumping off the porch, Yahiko ran to the gate as Kaoru, Sano, Aoshi and another man entered the yard. Launching himself at Kaoru, Yahiko wrapped his arms around her in a huge hug. Pulling him tightly against herself, Kaoru said, “I’m home Yahiko, I’m home.”

*******

I think I’ll leave it there for now. I really hate getting into a story, writing it and then having to leave it. I wish I had more time. I’m not sure when I’ll be able to update this again. Hopefully you’ll see something this weekend, however I can guarantee nothing.