Black Devotion
Violet Goddess

lookie lookie i got chapter 2 out in only a week. any of you who know my usual timeline for updating are probably shocked. well i have someone at home who is on my butt to finish each chapter so i should actually finish this one on a pretty good timeline. well enjoy people and look a lemoniness here. yes there will be some citrusness here for all you folk who have been asking me. enjoy my lovely readers and leave a few comments in the box. :)

email: bright_eyes_844@yahoo.com (i try to answer every email and i usually put those who email me on a mailing update list.)

Chapter 2


The night was dark, the moon, finicky at this late hour, was hiding behind clouds that seemed to roil in anxiety. It was a night no sane traveler would be out and yet he trudged on, ignoring the shifting shadows and the hungry eyes that stared after him as he walked down that long, lonely road. Every muscle in Kaoru’s body was screaming, protesting at the unrelenting pace set by the man she had learned was the Battousai. He had watched her reaction carefully when he had told her his name, though wether he was looking for recognition or fear or perhaps both she couldn’t say. It had been nearly two days since he had so casually walked up to her home and told her he was taking her brother to his death and they had not stopped once, the days melding together in endless walking beneath the pale sky of late summer.

But though her legs felt weak and her stomach was knotted together from hunger, she was a Kamyia and she would fall by the wayside of this god forsaken road before she complained or asked for mercy from the bastard pushing her. Had she thought him handsome in the beginning? Had she ever thought that hatched scar across his face made him look daring? More the fool she, for he was nothing more than a heartless bastard. She knew he was pushing her harder than he had pushed Yahiko and she knew he was doing on purpose, he wanted her to quit, to break her. It would give him the edge in this game, but she would be damned if she would let him beat her. Glaring once more at the back walking without a hint of fatigue in front of her, Kaoru readjusted her bag and continued on.

Battousai listened to the night sounds that swam around him. It was well past midnight, well past the time he should have stopped. He had been running them for two days straight now and she had yet to ask for mercy. In a way he admired her determination, few men could have withstood the grueling pace he was setting and yet this girl had uttered not a word in protest.

A quick glance over his shoulder showed her lithe figure bent from the pack she had insisted on taking with her. Though he couldn’t see her face he well knew the gaunt features he would see, the pale skin stretched taut in exhaustion from the miles they had crossed. An annoying sense of chivalry was nagging him to concede to the girl, to pull that bag from her shoulders and let her rest. It was a persistent thought that had plagued him since the beginning and yet he ignored it, she must bow to him, know she was under his control.

A small, shrill scream had his swords out before he had even registered the movement and he was running towards his reluctant prisoner. She lay on her side, her hair in disarray and her kimono askew. It was an amusing sight to see her fruitless search for the loose sandal that had tripped her and then summarily disappeared into the shadows surrounding her. Angry mumbles came from her slumped form as she reached underneath a small bush in hopes of locating her wayward shoe.

“Stupid thing, knew I should have thrown it out. Hope the damn thing gets eaten.” Battousai couldn’t help the small smile that crept across his lips at her muttered curses.

“Need some help?” Kaoru jumped at the question whispered next to her ear. His breath feathered across her skin and she blushed at the sudden intimacy. Jerking back she nearly fell into a sea of branches and leaves only to find two strong arms holding her steady as they held her tight against a hard chest.

Battousai was slightly surprised to find how small she was. She looked so sturdy, so strong as she faced him day after day and yet he could span the slender arc of her neck with a single hand. It was a sobering thought for he now realized that no matter how indestructible she acted she was still just a woman, frail and weak. But though this revelation made him realize the ass he had been in trying to break her like he would any arrogant soldier it also drove home the fact that she was indeed a woman, a beautiful woman actually. Of all the people he’d conquered, whether by sword or seduction, he’d always seen through their superficial facades. Past the vacant smiles and meaningless boasts of honor to their treacherous and greedy selves. This girl who wrapped herself in courage and lay herself open and vulnerable, gods how she stood in stark contrast to him.

His nature was dark and distrustful, to doubt every word spoken to him and every promise made. It had kept him alive through every hardship and trial that had assaulted him. Through assassins and war, through travels that took him to every part of Japan. He was a hard man, it was something he had accepted long ago but now as he stood holding Kaoru he felt at odds with himself for one of the first times. She was offering him something unknowingly, something that tore at his control....acceptance. Because though he saw fear in her eyes when she looked at him, never had she cowered away from him or wavered under his steel grip. She may fear him but she didn’t fear his actions towards her.

She hadn’t flinched when he reached out to her, didn’t tremble now as he held her in his arms. Her hair tumbled down her back, brushing his arm like raw silk. He dove his hand into that mass of midnight tresses, twisting it around his fist to draw her head back. Her neck, so slender and perfect, arched back as her eyes meet his. She didn’t draw back at the heat he knew was in his expression, or maybe she didn’t know what it meant, didn’t know the sign of desire when they were there for all to see.

He wondered how innocent she was. Had others taken her to bed? She was 19 years old, well past the age most girls married and yet there she stood with no husband at her side and faced him. But though no village boy had married her didn’t mean no boy had taken her. His grip tightened at the thought, fury welling up at the thought of her in another’s bed. Maybe it was the fact that in his mind she epitomized the simple life, the pure virginal girl who didn’t lie or cheat. But in truth it was likely she had been in others beds and so why hold himself back?

A grim smile spread across his face as he pulled her closer, his eyes seemed molten gold as they roamed her face only to come back again and again to her lips. Kaoru didn’t know what had changed but suddenly the air seemed almost charged as Battousai’s body tensed as if he was restraining himself. They were so close now, his body heating hers as his scent filled her senses. He smelled of dirt and travel, of musk and that something that was entirely him. It was a heady feeling to be held like this, his mouth mere inches above hers, her entire body pressed tightly against the length of his. She knew she should be embarrassed, that any moral girl would push him away in outrage but Kaoru couldn’t seem to dredge up the will to mutter even the weakest of protests.

With a sardonic twist to his mouth he closed the last few inches separating them. His mouth crushed hers in a punishing kiss that was merciless in its assault. And yet even now it was gentling, coaxing instead of demanding. He nibbled her lips and ran his tongue alone the line of her mouth, silently asking for entrance and when she opened for him he took her mouth as if he couldn’t get enough. She was so sweet, so incredibly sweet was the only thought raging through his mind as he deepened the kiss, pulling her closer.

A small moan escaped her as she felt the evidence of his arousal and it was this and the large hand that was suddenly inside her kimono, caressing her breast that brought her back to reality. Here she was letting this man do whatever he wanted with her body. Dear gods she had been acting no better than a whore! With a muffled sob she tore away, clutching her kimono together where it gaped so wantonly in the front and she stared at him. His breaths were ragged gasps as he stared at her, his eyes intense and dark as he seemed to fight to regain control of himself.

Battousai stared at the woman who had so throughly made him lose control. She stood only a few feet away now, her eyes wide in confusion as she held the edge of her robes together to hide her breasts. And what perfect breasts they were, fitting his hand perfectly and yet he had never meant to touch them. He had only thought to kiss her, to taste what had always been denied him but when she had not resisted he had drowned in the sensual feel of her against him. Every curve had pressed against him, making him burn to be inside her, to drag her down to the hard earth and take her. Even now he was throbbing with unspent passion and yet he would not take her.

This was dangerous and he knew it. She could get under his defenses too easily, too easily trap him in this haze of desire. She was his prisoner and yet he wanted her, now more than ever after that one tantalizing taste. Even now, watching her draw one shaking hand up to her lips to caress them was almost more than he could take. This trip had suddenly taken an interesting turn.

Kaoru’s lips still throbbed from his assault and as she ran her fingers across them she knew he watched her and yet she could not meet his gaze. Did he think her wanton now? Did he think her a whore? Anger surged through her at the thought, well she would damn well let him know she was no whore! She could not let him take such liberties again, could not let him touch her again because if he touched her, she truly didn’t know if she would have the will to stop him. Gods what had she gotten herself into?

* * *

The morning was bright and cheerful but it did little to brighten Kaoru’s dark mood. Battousai had finally called a halt last night, after their little incident, building a fire and even providing fresh game for dinner, little though she’d enjoyed it. She’d been so tired she’d practically fallen asleep on her feet in front of the fire and only made it to her bedroll by sheer force of will. She had placed the simple blanket on the opposite side of the fire from Battousai and though he had offered no protest he had watched her every movement with a kind of brooding curiosity. It was disconcerting to have someone’s so complete attention but eventually even his dark presence couldn’t fight off her exhaustion and she slept.

And now the morning was here, all to soon for her sore body. Her muscles felt stiff and aching as she moved about their camp site, putting away her gear and packing what little food they had left. Her movements were jerky and sluggish as she shifted between wanting more sleep and wondering where Battousai had gone. He had woken her at dawn and told her to take down their camp and then left. It was now mid morning and still he had not returned.

A small voice said that this was the perfect opportunity to escape. He wasn’t there to guard her and all she had to do was follow the same road he had been driving her down for the past three days. It was so simple though she knew she couldn’t go home, he would find her there. No she would go to Yahiko. She had sent him off to her friend Tae. She owned a small restaurant in town and had helped Kaoru in the past, had helped her keep going through the long months after her father’s death. He would take Yahiko in, she knew, without a second thought. It had nearly ripped her heart in two to send her brother off to seek mercy, even from friends, while she left him.

You could go back to him now, the little voice continued, save him. But even as the notion formed Battousai’s words rang loud in warning. ‘Don’t try to run Kaoru. I’ll only track you down. You’re mine now and I keep what’s mine.’ She knew without a doubt he had meant every word, he would track her down and then there would be hell to pay. And yet.... could she let him beat her so easily? Could a few threats break her so easily? No! She was a Kamyia and she would escape this man.

* * *

Stalking low through the foliage Battousai listened to the sounds around him. Intermingled with the forest sounds one would expect were the nicker of horses and the rumbling of men’s voices. He had been hunting these men for close to a week, though his progress had been considerably slowed by first the boy and now his sister but he had found them nonetheless. Men groomed horses and repaired armor in the small camp, their manor relaxed but for the wary eye they kept on their surroundings. These men were no fools, they had chosen the highest ground that still offered cover and Battousai had had to skirt several sentries even at this late morning hour.

For a moment he wondered if Kaoru was still waiting for him but then pushed the thought aside. Of course she would still be waiting for him, she had courage but she wasn’t stupid she wouldn’t try to make her way home through the terrain they had covered. True they had stayed on one main road but they had skirted several battlefields and crossed several warring lord’s lands, mostly at night. No, she would wait for him and with that he returned to the task of sneaking into the camp.

* * *

“See that the men are made ready, we leave in two hours.” He waved the soldier away, his mind already turned to other things.

“Hello Himura, nice to see you again.” Turning around Hoshi came face to face with one of the few men who commanded his respect. He was a man who did what was necessary for victory, a philosophy that Hoshi himself held to. Damn the means as long the ends are met. Though Battousai had made no sound entering and no alarm had been sounded Hoshi had known the moment he was near his camp, the man simply had to much power surrounding him.

“Glad to see you are well Lord Hoshi.” Battousai replied as he bowed his head. Hoshi only smiled, the man only showed the barest forms of respect to those who commanded it so easily from everyone else. It was one of the things that hd first drawn Hoshi to him.

“You are moving out?” He asked with one eyebrow quirked in question as he listened to the sound of gear being loaded and animals herded.

“Yes, I have a few matters to see to on my Western border. It seems one of my vassals has decided that he fancies himself lord, I shall have to disabuse him of that notion.” A cruel smile slid across his face but Battousai merely shrugged. He was used to his lord’s distaste of usurpers. Hoshi liked power and guarded it like a jealous lover but Battousai had to admit he had earned all the influence he had....one way or another. It was that fact that had first led Battousai to agree to Hoshi’s offer at employment. And now here he stood, three years later as Hoshi stood on the verge of completing his empire and controlling nearly the entire Eastern section of Japan. He was a dangerous man and all knew it.

“And how were your travels Himura? See anything interesting?” Hoshi’s calm attitude didn’t fool Battousai, nor his lord’s smooth movements as he poured wine from a simple pitcher on his table.

“I was in the South and passed through Aki’s lands. His loses were substantial in his battle with both you and his neighbor to the North. He will accept your protection if you offer it.” Battousai watched his lord swirl his wine thoughtfully as he sat down and propped his feet up on the battered table.

“I could crush him as easily as offer protection and then eliminate the future threat of rebellion.” Battousai recognized his lord’s words for the test they were, Hoshi was offering this land to him should he want it. The thought held no appeal, he wanted no household or dependents.

“But you would waste men you need on your Western border.”

“True.” And with that the subject was closed and Hoshi knew that Battousai was only his man as long a he chose and that neither the promise of money nor land would hold him.

“There is another matter to discuss.” Hoshi merely stared at Battousai over his raised cup to prompt him to continue. “When I passed through Aki’s land there was a thief who was caught pillaging bodies.”

“Well that’s what Aki’s men get for leaving their dead out.”

“He was pillaging your men’s bodies.” Hoshi’s cup came crashing down at that, wine spilling across the wood and onto the trampled floor.

“Where is he?” The question was spoken quietly, ominously. He knew Battousai would not leave such a man behind.

As Battousai opened his mouth to reply the flap to the tent flew out and a tangle of dark green cloth and black hair was thrown down at their feet.

“Here’s your thief Hoshi.”

* * *
muhahaha a cliffhanger! leave me a review so i know what you think. thanks!

Tbc…