Chapter 6

Note: This chapter has some slight yaoi (ecchi) themes and if it were rated, would probably be about a PG-14. Younger readers may want to proceed with caution or skip the chapter entirely. Consider yourself warned.

Yuugure smiled to himself as he left Kaoru’s room. Already she had forgotten her old friends- the ones who would now be her enemies. Surely they would come looking for her. Hitokiri battousai would not leave his lover in the hands of an old enemy, especially if he thought Night might take an interest in her. That, of course, was entirely possible, considering how beautiful the girl was. Yuugure thought of Kaoru- her slender frame and long, silky black hair pulled back with a ribbon into a stunning ponytail. Immediately, the first Star shook her image from his thoughts. No, he could not grow to like her, even as a friend, for she belonged entirely to Night, and not to one of his lowly Stars. Sighing, he walked down the hall toward Night’s chambers to inform his superior of the arrival of the fifth Star. He stopped at a large, shimmering black door and knocked hesitantly before entering.

“Ahhhh.... Yuugure my friend, you better have a good reason for disturbing me...”

Yuugure looked up to see Hebi’s cunning, cold face from behind Night’s large frame. Although he could not see the rest of her body, it was obvious she was wearing next to nothing. Even Night was more modestly dressed, but not by much. The two were in a very intimate embrace, and Yuugure lowered his eyes immediately, quite embarrassed.

“Sumimasen, Night-sama, demo...the girl..the one you were waiting for...she’s here now.”

Yuugure felt Hebi’s angry eyes glaring at him even though his head was still bowed as he waited for Night’s acknowledgement of having heard his news.

“Ahhh yes. The beauty of kenjutsu from the Kamiya Kasshin school.... Very well, I will arrange to meet her tomorrow. Was there any interference from battousai?”

“No, sir. Actually, she ran off on her own. I found her quite a ways from the school.”

“Good...so the curse of the Phoenix-Dragon knives is working....soon, she will turn against hitokiri battousai...It will be rather amusing, watching her kill her former lover.... And if battousai does decide to come searching for her, our ninjas...and their pets will be waiting.”

Hebi raised her eyebrows in surprise, but said nothing.

“...and perhaps I’ll have a little fun with her too...just to annoy battousai. She is quite beautiful, isn’t she? and spirited? It makes a man wonder what else she has under those flowered kimonos of hers..”

Night laughed to himself at this, and Hebi frowned angrily, but her expression immediately became that of pleasure when Night turned back toward her and began kissing her passionately, once more.

“Yuugure..you may leave.”

Yuugure nodded and walked out of the room, closing the door to Hebi’s soft moans and Night’s insane laughter. He clenched his fists in anger at Night’s statements. Night already had a lover, and could have all the mistresses and wives in Japan if he wanted, but no, he chose to hurt some innocent teacher at an insignificant dojo on the other side of town... a girl who was so naive and unsuspecting she might as well have been a child! Night was playing with a child when all his sex needs could be fulfilled by the sensuous Hebi. Was she not good enough for him now? Were their nightly games so uninteresting for him that he thought it better to play with a 17 year old child?!?! Yuugure banged his fists on the wall and cursed himself for bringing Kaoru here. He had never thought that he’d feel so responsible for her well-being, but he felt it impossible to imagine her fragile body crushed by Night and his all-seeing hands, torn by his seeking fingers. Yuugure shuddered at the grotesque mental image and swore he’d protect Kaoru from Night, even if it meant his death.

**********

Kenshin, Sanosuke, and Yahiko stopped as they reached the first street leading into Demon City. Kenshin growled under his breath as he felt an evil presence applying a dark pressure onto the trio, suffocating them with its power. He knew danger was everywhere in this “city”. After all, it was Night’s playground. Anything Night wanted here would be done. Knowing Yoru, he would have stationed henchmen...most likely ninjas, to watch the entire city and kill all trespassers. The trio would have to be careful. Kenshin looked up at Sano and Yahiko, opening his mouth to warn them to remain silent, but they both nodded in grave understanding. Slowly, they began walking again, always aware and suspicious of their surroundings.

After about 5 minutes of walking, Yahiko and Sanosuke began to loosen up, but Kenshin remained tense and ready. Sure enough, a flash of silver sliced through the air straight at Yahiko’s head, and Kenshin tore out his sword and brought the hilt up to block the throwing knife. The deadly weapon fell to the ground with a soft thud. Yahiko stared at Kenshin’s sword, shuddering violently.

Seconds later, a dozen or so ninjas all dressed in black, circled the trio. Kenshin had his blade drawn as did Yahiko his shinai, and Sanosuke crouched in battle stance, ready to do justice to anyone who dared to challenge him. Swiftly, all the ninjas leaped at once, attacking the three fighters simultaneously with vicious blows and jabs. Sansuke let his fists fly as he beat down one ninja, then another, crushing one skull, and breaking another’s neck. Yahiko jabbed and hit with his shinai, working furiously at keeping off two attacking ninjas, his small size allowing him to slip between their swords as he jabbed, then retreated, and jabbed again. Kenshin worked his way through the remaining ninjas 3 at a time, moving with deadly swiftness and using his hitenmitsurugiryuu to bring them down quickly with the reverse blade.

In only ten minutes, the three were standing, beaming at their work. All around them ninjas were groaning in pain and begging for mercy, unable to move much or speak for long periods at a time. Kenshin’s smile immediately left his face as he picked up one ninja by the front of his hakama and glared at him with battousai eyes.

“Where are Yoru and Kaoru, baka yaro?!”

“I...I don’t know what you’re talking about? Who...who is Yoru??”

Kenshin pulled the ninja up higher and growled.

“Where is NIGHT?! Where is the girl???? Where is AKUMA INN?”

“A...Akuma Inn is about 10 miles deeper into Demon City....Yuugure...took her there yesterday... Night is there too. If Night releases the pets...you’ll never get there alive.”

Kenshin threw the man down and walked back toward the road, motioning Yahiko and Sanosuke to follow him. When they reached it, Kenshin looked back one last time and said,

“Arigatou....demo..sumimasen. We will get there alive. No matter what monsters Yoru sends to stop us, we will find Kaoru.”

With these words the trio started down the road again, determined to find their friend.

**********

Kaoru looked around the room Yuugure had taken her to and wondered at it’s exuberance. Never before had she seen such luxury and beauty. The walls were decorated lavishly with ancient paintings and writings, and the windows were adorned with black silk curtains. In the center of the room was a large, off-the-ground bed, something Kaoru had never seen before. After all, she’d slept on a mat on the ground her entire life, and to see something as grand as this was amazing. Off to one side of the room was a small closet. Curious, Kaoru tentatively walked over to it and gasped at the sight. There, in front of her, was a row of the most beautiful kimonos she had ever seen. Although they were all dark in color, their material and style was magnificent, and Kaoru couldn’t wait to try one on. Slowly, she reached out and fingered the smooth material of a dark indigo kimono covered with lighter indigo lilac designs. Carefully, she released it and looked through all the other kimonos, finally deciding that she liked the indigo one the best. Pulling it out of the closet, she laid it on a chair for tomorrow and looked at it admiringly.

After several minutes, a drowsiness came over her mind, and Kaoru longed to sleep. Carefully, she half undid her kimono to make sleeping more comfortable and removed the special throwing knives from the folds. A bright red gleam caught her eye, and Kaoru raised the knives up for a closer look. A pair of ruby red eyes shined back at her as she stared at the phoenix-hilted knife and she wondered at its brilliance. Shrugging, Kaoru put the knife along with its companion on the dresser and climbed up into the large, luxurious bed. It had been a long day, and she felt extremely tired. Kaoru turned over and closed her eyes, allowing sleep to sweep her into the land of dreams- the land of visions of a terrible, red-haired killer known as the hitokiri battousai who she desperately wished to kill...after all, he had caused so much misery.....

End of Chapter 6