Black Devotion
Violet Goddess

You know I actually shocked myself here. I am publishing a new chapter only two weeks after I posted the last. I think this may be a record for me. I finished writing this last night at about oh 3 in the morning....hopefull you can't tell :)

this chapter was about 10 pages so no complaints about chapter length. my threat to move to tahiti still stands people....i love drinks with umbrellas in them, lets not forget.

The next chapter will almost definitely not be out this quickly. The readers of my other fanfics are threatening mutiny if I don't start working on them again.

also i'm toying with the idea of a sequel to this story. i would like people to tell me if you would read sano's story. possible and sano/megumi pairing. or perhaps someone else. give me some feedback on this people. sound interesting? and who would you like to see sano paired with? Not kaoru people....she's battousai's.

well i hope you enjoy this chapter and don't forget to leave some reviews in the box... you spoiled me last time so i suppose you're just going to have to top yourselves in review volume this time. :)

Chapter 5



“A bit melodramatic don’t you think, Battousai?” Kaoru stared in amazement as Sanosuke proceeded to banter with a man who looked quite capable and even eager to kill him.

“Sanosuke will you shut up!” Kaoru hissed when he opened his mouth to make yet another oh so witty and completely insane remark. Couldn’t he tell he was only inflaming Battousai even more? Kaoru swung her frightened gaze from Sano’s calm face to the man standing like some avenging angel over them.

Gods but he was magnificent. The thought swept through her softly and unexpectedly. Even as the seriousness of the situation plagued her tired and overwrought mind, Kaoru could not help but admire this man. Every muscle was pulled taut beneath the flowing cloth of his gi, his face a hard mask of violence but it was his eyes that drew her gaze and refused to relinquish it. She loved his eyes, had from the first moment she had seen him across a field of waving grass. Swallowed by the shadows of dusk his eyes had still stood out, glowing as if drawing the last rays of sunlight from a dying sun.

“Oh you’re just upset he found us in bed together.” Kaoru stared incredulously at Sano’s crooked grin and felt her sight go red.

“Why you ass, you pervert! I’m going to cut off your-”

“Are we back to that again?” He asked with a dramatic sigh. “And here I thought we had made so much progress.”

That did it. Kaoru forgot where they were, forgot that there was a murderous man standing over them with a gleaming sword. Yup she forgot everything but the need to grind Sanosuke’s smug face into the dirt floor. Launching herself at the wiry man Kaoru got her hands around his throat before he could even attempt a defense. Her position, albeit an unwanted one, in the circle of his muscular arms afforded her the perfect spot to launch an attack. She was in the midst of trying to strangle the life out of his burly neck when an annoyed cough intruded on her attack.

“Are you two almost done?” What a sight they must have made, Kaoru thought with a groan. Here she was, practically sprawled across Sanosuke’s bare chest, her small hands trying their hardest to squeeze Sano’s neck into pulp. Her face was red from anger and a snarl of rage contorted her once delicate feature. And Sanosuke? Well he was staring at her with that damn smile and looked as if he found her trying to murder him in his own bed, while Battousai stood above them the most amusing event of the entire day. It made her want to squeeze all the harder.

“You would have to have a hard neck, probably to support all that freakish hair.”

“Hey, missy, lets just leave the hair out of this shall we.” With one last hard thump to his chest, Kaoru hauled herself up, disheveled and out of sorts. Her hair was a mass of knots, tangling around her body, as her gi hung half on, half off her slender frame.

“Well no one will ever mistake you for a morning person.” Sano’s dry voice echoed dully, earning him a hard glare from Kaoru.

“Don’t you have to primp or something before you loyal followers can be allowed in your exalted presence.”

“Nah, some of us just look this good naturally.” Was the smug reply as he plopped back down into the pile of blankets.

“Why you -!” Kaoru sputtered angrily.

“Ahem.” The annoyed exclamation caught both Kaoru and Sano’s attention and their gazes swung as one to a less than happy Battousai. “Remember me?” There was a wealth of menace in that innocent question.

“Hey Battousai, how’s it going? How’s the mercenary business treating you these days?” Kaoru actually groaned as she listened to Sanosuke’s idiotic banner as he lounged indolently amid a pile of plush blankets. It was a miracle Battousai hadn’t killed them yet. In fact why hadn’t he made a move towards either of them? And Sanosuke acted as though -. Why those bastards!

“You know each other!”

“It’s a small world ain’t it?” Sano replied, amused. Battousai looked from Kaoru’s angry face to Sanosuke’s smirking one and nearly groaned himself.

“We’re brother’s.” Sano cheerily supplied when Battousai only continued to grind his teeth.

“Half brothers.” At Kaoru’s confused expression Battousai took a deep breath, he hated explaining his family. It made him feel like the like some roadside attraction when people commented over his odd family life. And then there was always the pity. His hands clenched tightly at his sides, he hated pity.

“We share the same wandering, useless father. He had a certain ‘affinity’ for Japanese women.” A silent “ah” was Kaoru’s only reaction.

“I guess that explains the hair.”

“You and your obsession with my hair. Is it that irresistible?” Kaoru made a curious sound in her throat as she made to stalk over to Sano. “Did you just growl at me? Hmm that’s kind of sexy.”

“Ugh, Sanosuke, shut up.” Battousai was debating whether or not to gag his younger half brother. Sanosuke looked at life like some big joke. Usually Battousai ignored Sano’s annoying habit of baiting everyone in hearing distance but his sexual flirting with Kaoru was grating his nerves. He didn’t want Kaoru for himself, he assured himself, he just didn’t want her mooning over his half brother the entire rest of their journey. He almost believed it too.

“So now that you’ve got me here in your little cave, what the hell do you want?” Battousai’s voice was hard as he slipped his sword back into the scabbard hanging easily at his hip.

“What no ‘How are you Sanosuke?’ ‘How are the kids?’”

“You don’t have any children.”

“So? It still would have been nice to be asked.”

“Sanosuke.” Battousai’s patience was wearing dangerously thin as Sano knew he had better get on with this discussion before he found himself at the business end of one of Battousai’s swords.

“It’s business.” Sanosuke was suddenly dead serious, the easy grin gone from his face. Kaoru did a double take at the sudden transformation of the affable man that had been sitting easily across from her just a minute ago.

“You could have just sent a messenger, you didn’t have to involve the girl.” A grin lit up the younger man’s face.

“Now, where’s the fun in that?”

* * *

Kaoru kicked at the tiny pebbles beneath her idly, boredom and anger warring equally as she stared blankly toward the campfire where Sano and Battousai sat, talking quietly. Once Battousai had realized that his brother wanted to talk about “business” they had shooed Kaoru off and then gone to sit beside the fire, feeding dried wood absently as they talked. The camp still slept around them, bodies littering the ancient cave floor as well as the clearing she now sat in, waiting impatiently for the two fighters to finish.

It was a little galling to be made to sit here like a child but Kaoru had little choice in the matter. Battousai had stared at her several long moments, his eyes hard as they swept possessively down her body. “Stay this time. I mean it Kaoru.” She knew from his humorless words that he still blamed her for getting captured, even though Sano had already explained everything. Tomorrow was going to be an interesting day, she thought as she watched the first rays of dawn stretch across the sky. She hoped she lived through it.

* * *

“How long are you going to leave her there?” Sanosuke’s asked with a wayward glance back at Kaoru. She looked like a sullen child, kicking the ground absently as she stared about her. She was obviously bored and none too happy about being excluded from their meeting. That couldn’t have been helped though. It helped no one to have a distressed and hot tempered young woman know their plans, least of all Kaoru.

“It’s not my responsibility to keep the girl entertained, Sano.”

“You aren’t still upset with her, are you? I already told you she didn’t come willingly.” Battousai merely continued to stare into the flickering campfire. Sanosuke felt like hitting the older man with a rock. How was he supposed to get Battousai to admit his feelings about Kaoru if he couldn’t even get him to talk about her? He needed a reaction from his stoic older brother, he decided. “She was unconscious at the time after all.” Yup, that sure as hell got a reaction.

“Mind explaining that little remark, Sano?” Battousai had fairly growled the question, his face taut with anger. There was that protective menace Sanosuke had been trying to find. Now how far could he prod Battousai without being made intimately aware of the sharpness of either of the wicked blades hanging so easily at his hip? This could be fun.

“Well one of my men decided that he didn’t want to deal with a screaming woman, especially since we had to drag her halfway up a mountain.” He watch Battousai’s jaw tighten and barely suppressed a smile. “So he snuck up behind her and butted his sword handle against the back of her head.”

“Is that so?” It was no more than a whisper. Sano watched as dark, amber eyes began to scan the camp sharply.

“She went out like a light.” Sano chirped. Enjoying pushing Battousai, hoping he would come to realize just how possessive of that small, blue-eyed woman he really was.

“Oh and which one of your men came up with this brilliant idea?” The question was carefully casual, but Sano wasn’t fooled for a minute.

“Now why would you want to know something as mundane as that?” Sanosuke asked innocently.

“You know damn well why.”

“Now, Battousai, I’m not going to let you kill one of my men. What kind of merciless, rebel leader would I be then?” Sanosuke’s cheeky little reply only earned him a scowl from Battousai.

“The kind that would still have all his appendages.” Battousai spoke with a meaningful glare at a certain appendage Sano happened to be throughly attached to.

“Hey let’s keep it above the belt Battousai.” Ignoring Battousai’s angry mutters, Sano continued. “So let’s just move on. Are you going to help us?”

“No.”

“Damn it. Why the hell not?” Battousai merely raised one russet eyebrow in surprise. He hadn’t known that Sanosuke’s voice got so high pitched when he was frustrated. He sounded almost whiny.

“You damn well know why Sano, so spare me your dramatic pleas.” Sanosuke looked as though some of wind had been taken out of his sails but no less determined.

“You’re allegiance to Hoshi is based on money. It’s not as if you pledged to the man!” Battousai merely stared at him as if Sano was a dim-witted child.

“My loyalties do not waiver. When they are given, they are given completely. It’s a matter -”

“- of honor. I know.” Sanosuke had heard this speech before. It made him want to grind his teeth in sheer frustration. Though he understood, and even respected Battousai’s overbearing sense of honor, it made things difficult sometimes.

“I’m glad you understand.”

“I understand but -”

“Good, then everything’s settled. Kaoru and I will being leaving now.” Battousai spoke as he rose, his clothes falling gracefully about his lithe frame.

“You could just leave her here you know.” Sanosuke’s eyes twinkled with mischief, but all Battousai could see was Kaoru in the arms of his younger half-brother.

“No.” Battousai’s voice was cold as he ground out the single word. Sanosuke held his tongue. He knew his brother was still boiling with jealousy over the state he’d found Sano and Kaoru. Sanosuke hadn’t bothered to explain the situation either, opting instead to let his brother stew a little. He hoped that Battousai would eventually realize why exactly it was he was so jealous. It was a slim hope but hope nonetheless.

* * *

Kaoru coughed despairingly against the dust that was slowly filling her mouth. These late summer months had been dry and the hot winds were kicking up endless streams of dust. Kaoru felt as though she had rolled through a sandpit as dirt had worked its way between every bit of clothing and through every strand of hair. Damn it, she didn’t even have enough energy left to curse her captor!

The sun was already fading from the sky, a strangely ordinary end to a tumultuous day. Kaoru had been sitting quietly, albeit perhaps sulking a little, when Battousai had suddenly and unceremoniously announced they were leaving immediately. Kaoru had been completely caught off guard. Hell, she didn’t even know where they were going. Battousai had refused to speak to her, except to bark out terse orders. She’d said a short but companionable goodbye to Sano. He was likeable enough even if he was a could be a pervert.

Battousai was walking in front of her, as usual! She fumed. She had tried to start up conversation a few times, hoping she might be able to wheedle out what he and Sano had discussed but her attempts were quickly shot down with withering glares. Even now he was stomping down the road, seemingly oblivious to everything around him, but still willing to throw heated glances behind him every few minutes. It was as if he was afraid she would suddenly sprint off into the surrounding woods. It would be just like him too; holding her responsible for something she had had no control over.

“Damn it. I told you, I didn’t try to run away again. Sano kidnaped me!”

“I know.” The impatient reply was his only response.

“Then what the hell is the matter with you?!” Exasperated, tired and hungry, Kaoru had reached her wit’s end. She was still fuming about how frustrating Battousai could be when she rammed straight into his back. He had stopped at her question but she had been so caught up in the troubles that had been falling on her lately she’d hadn’t even noticed.

“Why did you stop?” Kaoru’s voice was hesitant, shy almost. It wasn’t because she was embarrassed to ask, it was because of the stony look on his face. He was simply staring at her, amber eyes blazing as his red hair ruffled gently in the hot breeze. A shadow seemed to pass across his face as the air charged with something Kaoru didn’t understand.

“What’s wrong with me?” Uh-oh. It was never a good sign when Battousai’s voice turned quiet like that. Where most men might yell or hit when they were angry, Kaoru had learned quickly that Battousai never raised his voice. He didn’t have to. One slashing look from those eyes, one warning in that soft tone was enough to stop even the most battle hardened warrior dead in their tracks. This was a man who meant what he said.

Kaoru backed up, uneasy at the strange look blazing in Battousai’s eyes. She darted a quick look behind her, wary of being caught against any trees. She sure as hell wasn’t making that mistake again. It never occurred to her that Battousai wouldn’t need a tree or anything but his body to compromise her.

“Well, my little Kaoru, I’ll tell you what’s wrong with me.” He continued to silently stalk her, matching each of her stumbling backward steps with a sure pursuit of his own. “I keep seeing you in bed with my brother. You in HIS bed. In HIS arms.” He grabbed her arm then, pulling her trembling body against his. He was hot she noticed, burning her skin even through their clothing.

“It was for my protection.” The words tumbled out. Kaoru could barely think for being this close to him. She was dizzy with the scent of him, the feel of being in his arms. Funny how being in Sano’s arms had never affected her like this, she felt about him as she might about Yahiko. But Battousai, there was nothing brotherly about the way she was currently lusting after him.

“I don’t care. I told you before, you’re mine Kaoru.” He smiled sharply at her gasp. “That means no crawling into bed with other men.”

“I would never-!”

“Shut up, little Kaoru.” He leaned closer then, some of the anger draining out of him as he let himself drown in the sheer pleasure of holding her. Her soft curves were pressed tightly against him, her body melting into his. It was the ultimate forbidden pleasure. She was the woman he was never meant to have. The virtuous woman that his bloodstained hands were never meant to touch. But here she was, and even though he should let her go, he wouldn’t. He couldn’t. He needed her too much, wanted her more than his very breath at this moment.

“Don’t tell me to shut up you jerk. I ought to -” Battousai’s expert mouth stopped her angry threats. He was surprising gentle for all the lust that was welling up within him, the uneasy desire. He was wooing her, he realized. Brushing his lips across hers slowly, tracing them with his tongue. Gently he bit at her lips, delighting in the shocked gasps. His eyes opened, loving her flushed face, taut with passion.

“Open your mouth, little Kaoru. I won’t hurt you.” His breath mingled with hers, feathering across her lips softly. It was pure seduction and they both knew it. But they were both to lost in the pleasure of each other to either stop of care. Kaoru’s trembling lips opened and the world faded around her. She heard Battousai groan harshly and then take her mouth with a kind of unbridled passion.

Vaguely she wondered why she wasn’t scared. Where was her fear? Her anger at being taken advantage of? Her virginal outrage? But nothing seemed to matter but the wonderful feeling of Battousai’s mouth on hers. Belatedly Kaoru realized she had snaked her slender arms around Battousai’s neck, pulling him against her desperately. She needed to touch him, to feel his body against hers.

She pushed her body shameless against his. Her breasts crushed against his chest, her thighs sliding against his. An ache welled within her, strange and new and yet her body seemed to embrace it. She felt Battousai’s arms slid against her back, lifting her against him, moving her body sensuously against him. Instinctively she began to move against him, trying to give her body whatever it was it wanted. Kaoru heard Battousai’s breath catch and then tortured moan rip past her. It was that that suddenly brought her to her senses. What was she doing?!

Battousai buried his face in Kaoru’s neck, breathing raggedly as he tried to get his body under control. He still held Kaoru but now she was still, tense, as if she realized that the slightest move would snap his control. Part of him was still screaming at him to take her. To push her to the dusty ground and claim her and ease the this torment. Gods how he wanted her!

“W-why did you stop?” Her voice was hesitant and tentative. His breathing seemed almost normal now and the tremor had gone out of his arms.

“Because a moment more and I couldn’t have stopped. You could have been beneath me Kaoru. I would have taken you in the middle of this godforsaken road, virginal shyness or not.” His voice was muffled against the soft skin of her neck where he was pressing slow, teasing kisses. “Do my words shock you little virgin?” The danger was past but he didn’t want her to forget who she belonged to. Kaoru shouted in surprise at the small nip Battousai placed on her neck, but he merely smiled. The small red mark was plainly visible and would serve to warn others away for the moment.

Battousai frowned. Why had he done that? He knew he couldn’t bare the thought of another touching her. Hell, he’d almost killed Sano for that very reason. But WHY did he care if other’s touch her? He’d never been like this with other women. It never mattered how many came before him or how many after. They were something to occupy the moment, to use and then forget. But Kaoru was different and that was what worried him.

He pulled away from her then. He couldn’t stop the rush of male satisfaction and pride at her appearance. Her face was still flushed, her lips swollen and rosy from his kisses. Her hair looked disheveled from the fingers he hand run through it. She looked ravished, he thought smugly.

“Let’s go.” Kaoru stood there a few moments, still dazed from their encounter. Battousai didn’t even look affected she realized. She knew he had been though, she had felt his, his umm... her face blushed crimson at the remember contours of his body and the unmistakable signs of his desire for her. Perversely even though she was embarrassed about her affect on him, she was undeniably proud of it. It was an amazing feeling to know that she was able to arouse a man like Battousai, to know she had a kind of power over him. Such information could be advantageous later.

Was it war then? She opened her mouth to ask and realized Battousai was already some distance ahead of her. While she had been standing there, lost in day dreams, he had continued down the winding road ahead of them. She suddenly realized something as she raced after him.

“Wait, where exactly are we headed anyway?” He looked over his shoulder at her, a crooked grin spreading across his face.

“Why north, Kaoru.”

“North? What’s north?” He turned back, looking around him carelessly.

“Why the home of Lord Yoshiro. You didn’t think I forgot what happens when we arrive at his home did you?”

Kaoru paled at his words. He hadn’t forgotten what happened when they arrived there, and neither had she.

She’d become his mistress.

* * *

Heat blared down from the late summer sun in oppressive waves as he wound his way through the thick afternoon crowds. Hoshi sighed in annoyance that soon the months of warring would soon end. He could only continue his campaign until harvest and then the land would become locked in snow. A few, precious months was all that was left to him, he would use them well.

Turning his mind back to the present Hoshi scanned the signs of the local tea and geisha houses for the “Red Dragon.” It advertised itself as a tea house but whores and drinks were not an uncommon thing. It was a bit on the disreputable side, a place the law skirted. It was perfect for a meeting he wanted no witnesses to. Or at least no witnesses who would care. The room was murky with smoke, the smell of opium hanging heavy as Hoshi made his way towards the back.

He was meeting a man who served as his informant on the rebel forces. Aki was not a handsome man. In truth his gangly frame and thinning hair, hanging in greasy lanks, created an unsavory picture. But he was a man who’s loyalties could be bought and that was exactly the kind of man Hoshi needed at the moment. Aki sat across from the older man as people passed around them ignorantly.

They sat quietly in the small tea house outside Kobe, a place not overly exclusive in its customers nor a place anyone would ask questions. Eyeing Aki’s nervous movements about his seat, Hoshi smiled slowly. Reaching beneath his cloak, one he had made sure covered his face, he pulled out a sack heavy with gold. Tossing it carelessly onto the table he asked only one thing:

“What have you learned?” Aki’s eyes lit up with the fires of greed as he hastily grabbed the bag, stuffing it safely beneath his own robes.

“They were with the rebels only days ago.”

“I already knew that fool. Tell me something that convinces me of your continued usefulness.” Aki wasn’t fool enough to miss the cold threat of those words. Gulping nervously he eyed Hoshi warily.

“Battousai guarded the girl jealously. Made me wonder what was so special between those thighs of hers. He damn near killed Sano when he found them in bed together.”

“Really? Tell me more.” Hoshi smiled easily, leaning back he laughed softly. It seemed Hoshi had finally found Battousai’s one weakness at last.

*~*~*~*

Not a major cliffhanger. admit it, you kind of dissappointed, aren't you. don't worry there are more hated cliffhangers coming in the future.

Remeber to just take any spelling errors with a pinch of salt...i'm only human :)

so tell me what you thought! i love reviews!