Authorâ??s note: I do not own RK so pls. donâ??t sue me, this is just for fun.
FLAMES OF PASSION
***CHAPTER 1***
â??No! No! Let go of me! I beg you!â??
Kaoruâ??s scream of terror was abruptly muffled as the bigger of her two attackers clamped a grimy hand across her mouth. She struggled frantically as they dragged her across the road into the forest.
â??Hold still, you bitch!â?? ordered the second man, his eyes glittering cruelly in the gathering darkness. â??Now, letâ??s see what pretty little treasures you have to offer me.â??
Kaoruâ??s heart pounded with fear as she felt his rough hands wrenched aside her cloak and finger the soft white skin of her unadorned throat. She winced with pain as he seized her wrist, bruising them in his feverish search for valuable rings and bracelets.
â??Nothing!â?? he spat, flinging her hands down in disgust. â??Iâ??ll be lucky if I can find so much as a silver pin on the girl.â??
Kaoru sent up a prayer of thanks to all the gods that all the Kamiya family plate and jewelry was at this very moment being cleaned, ready for the arrival tomorrow of her brother Aoshi and his bride of three months.
She squirmed violently as the big rouge whirled her round to face him. Although she could not see his expression in the gloom of the night, she could sense his fury and frustration.
Frightened though she was, Kaoru remained a girl of great courage and spirit. Tossing back her raven haired, she said boldly:
â??Release me this instant, you bastard! As you see, I have no money or jewels on me right now. And I assure you, when my father, Saitou Kamiya, a high-ranking politician, comes to hear this----â??
â??Shut up!â?? shouted her attacker, gripping her tightly by the shoulders.
He went on, his voice laced with malice, â??Iâ??m not partial to having my time wasted. As you have no jewels to offer me, Iâ??m thinking of stealing something far more valuable instead!â??
He pulled Kaoru toward him, plunging his calloused hands inside her cloak. Already, she could feel his hot, sour breath on her face. Frantic, she tried to jerk away, but he retained a firm grip on her kimono, ripping it in the process as he flung her roughly to the ground.
The other man laughed coarsely. â??Go on. Give the bitch what she deserves. Then Iâ??ll have my turn!â??
The man knelt over her, his breath coming in short, rapid pants as he fumbled with her obi. Kaoru gathered up all her courage and strength. Wildly lashing out with her wooden sandals, she kicked him hard on the shin while screaming at the top of her lungs, â??Help! Help!â?? Her desperate cry died away in the still evening air. There was no one, it seemed, in this eerie forest to hear or care about the plight of Kaoru Kamiya.
Thoroughly maddened by Kaoruâ??s kick, the man muttered grimly to his companion, â??Hold her down, Iâ??m going to tame this wildcatâ?|and at the same time teach her a lesson sheâ??ll never forget.â??
Kaoru opened her mouth to scream again, but a hand was pressed roughly across her lips. Tears of despair stung her eyes as she was pinned to the ground and hands began to tear at her kimono. She was trapped! There was no escape now from a fate worse than death.
But, as if by a miracle, a shadow fell upon them and a cold voice ordered the men to release her. Cursing, the two men released Kaoru and rushed at the intruder. The man wasted no time. He drew his sword and smashed it into the face of one of Kaoruâ??s attacker.
A high-pitched screech of pain followed as the blood from his broken nose streamed down the manâ??s chin. Kaoruâ??s rescuer paid him no heed. He executed a lightning attack on the other man and knocked him unconscious.
The mysterious stranger raised his sword again, but Kaoruâ??s attackers were in no mind to wait for more punishment. Helping his fallen comrade, the other man stumbled off the forest muttering a stream of vicious oaths, to disappear into the night.
Kaoru scrambled to her feet, holding her cloak tightly around her to hide her torn kimono. She felt shaken, but unafraid in the presence of her gallant rescuer.
He laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. â??I heard you cry out. Are you hurt? His deep, cultured voice sounded strangely muffled.
Kaoru shook her raven hair. â??Iâ??m fine. But if you had not arrivedâ?|I dread to think what would have happened. How can I ever thank you?â??
â??You should not venture out after dark by yourself,â?? he admonished her gravely.
â??I know,â?? replied Kaoru, biting her lip. â??I had taken some medicine to one of our neighborsâ?|she had just delivered her sixth child. Iâ??m afraid I mistook the time.â??
And Papa would be furious with her when she reached home! How many times had he told her never to walk alone after dusk. The countryside was teeming with desperate rouges. Penniless, unscrupulous men who terrorized travelers and would stop at nothing if they glimpsed so much as the flash of gold beneath a ladyâ??s cloak.
However, reflected Kaoru, now beginning to recover from her ordeal, this time I have been fortunate. Thanks to my noble rescuer. His hand still rested lightly on her shoulder. Although she had no idea as to who he could be, she felt reassured by his presence.
For a brief moment, the moon appeared from the cloudâ??s illuminating the strangerâ??s face. Kaoruâ??s sense of relief turned instantly to horror. The man has a cross shaped scar on his face!
Kaoru shrank back against the tree. She felt the icy hand of fear that gripped her as she stared at the man. Red hair with a hideous scar that marred an otherwise beautiful face. So he was not a gentleman, after all. He could very well be a rouge himself. And she was at his mercy. This man looks more dangerous than her previous two attackers.
â??Where do you live?â?? he enquired.
Now Kaoru had seen his scar, she understood why her attackers fled as if a demon were chasing them.
She thought quickly, aware that only a cool head and quick wits would save her now. She dared not admit that she lived at the Kamiya mansion, under the roof of her father, Saitou Kamiya. She had no intention of endangering her family. He was intelligent, dashing and obviously completely fearless. She knows kendo, but she doubt that it would work on this man.
With an effort of will, Kaoru kept her voice steady. â??The house at the end of the road,â?? she said, indicating the twinkling lights of the residence owned by the burly local physician, Doctor Genzai.
â??Then, let me escort you home!â?? declared the man. Before she could protest, he picked her up and tell her to led the way. Perhaps he has an intention of holding her hostage.
Kaoru paled at the thought. Papa would never, ever forgive her.
And yet, with the soft evening air blowing through her hair, Kaoru realized to her astonishment that she no longer felt afraid. Why, she could not tell. She was in a most perilous situation, yet she could not stem the amazing sense of elation that was sweeping over her.
Whatever is the matter with me, she wondered, her lovely sapphire- colored eyes sparkling with excitement. Iâ??m being carried through the night in the arms of a strangerâ?| the most dreadful things could be about to happenâ?|and yet, somehow, I feel so safe with this man. I trust him.
Her sense of security increased as he put her down. â??You see, you had no reason to feel afraid,â?? he murmured. â??I have brought you safely home.â??
She tried to etch some memory of his face on her mind, trying to see in the darkness.
â??Who are you?â?? she whispered.
He laughed. â??You could call me a man of the night. And a friend,â?? he said.
She stared at him for the last time. â??Thank you for rescuing me. I am most gratefulâ?|whoever you are.â??
There was a smile in his voice as he replied, â??It is more intriguing for us to remain strangers to one another. To me you will always be the beautiful raven-haired girl I was able to rescue from distress. And you must simply remember me as the man from the nightâ?|and your friend.â??
With that he briefly touch her check. She closed her eyes, fearful that she would swoon. She was trembling from top to toe. When at last she regained her composure and opened her eyes, the man had gone. Her adventure was over.
***
â??Kaoru! Wherever have you been?â?? Kaoruâ??s brother Soujirou came dashing to greet her as she slipped into the mansion by the garden door.
Kaoru hugged her cloak tightly round her to conceal her torn kimono and said evasively, â??Oh, dear. Has Papa been looking for me?â??
â??No,â?? grinned Soujirou. â??Papa retreated to the library. Poor Mama is fussing over the preparations for Aoshiâ??s visit that Papa declared one would have imagined it was the Emperor himself who was coming, instead of her very own son. So heâ??s escaped to the library to drink his sake in peace.â??
Kaoru smiled. â??No doubt Mama has been asking for me?â??
â??She wishes to discuss the menu with you,â?? said Soujirou, â??and whether Aoshiâ??s wife will regard the curtains in her dressing room as too old-fashioned for words. Everything, of course, has to be quite perfect.â??
Kaoru gave Soujirou a sympathetic glance. At eighteen, Soujirou was a year older than herself. She knew he was not looking forward to Aoshiâ??s visit. He was only too well aware that one of the topics under discussion between Aoshi and her father would be the thorny topic of Soujirouâ??s future.
Soujirou was the kind of person, Kaoru mused, who loved to be the first to do everything. She remembered that as a child, although he was older than herself, he had been determined to learn to ride before her. He had been the youngest boy ever to ride with the county huntâ?|her father owning a large number of horses.
She knew that Soujirou wanted to join the war in the West. Her father, however had other plans for his younger son. He desired that Soujirou should stay in Tokyo and learn to manage the vast Kamiya estate. To this end, Saitou Kamiya would doubtless have an ally in his heir, for Aoshi was a dutiful son who always made a point of agreeing with everything his father said.
Kaoru noticed the despondent droop of Soujrouâ??s shoulders as they walked up the broad main staircase of the mansion. She felt sorry for her brother, for she knew that, like herself, he craved excitement and adventure. He would find it dull beyond words to incarcerate himself at the mansion when there was a war waiting to be fought.
At the same time, she knew she would feel hopelessly bereft if Soujirou left home. They had always been closed, and had shared many childhood escapades.
â??Pausing outside her bedroom, Kaoru touched her brother on the arm. â??Donâ??t worry too much about Aoshiâ??s visit,â?? she advised. â??It may be that his marriage to Misao will have given him a broader outlook on life. He may now be prepared to lend his support to the idea of you joining the Army.â??
A grin suddenly illuminated Soujirouâ??s boyish face. â??Well, Iâ??ll certainly give him something to stare at when he arrives tomorrow. Are the you-know-whatâ??s ready, sister?â??
â??Iâ??ll finish them off tonight,â?? whispered Kaoru conspiratorially. â??But are you sure you know what you are doing, Sou? Papa will be furious when he sets eyes on you tomorrow.â??
Soujirou shrugged. â??I must take my chances on that. I cannot pass up the opportunity to be first with a new fashion, sister. You know my nature.â??
â??Only too well,â?? Kaoru said laughing. â??Now go, I must tidy myself, and go and calm Mama.â??
When she had changed her kimono and arranged her ponytail, Kaoru hurried down to the elegant main drawing room. She found her mother sitting on a sofa by the fire. The polished surface of the kidney-shaped table beside her was piled high with menus, scrawled in Yumi Komagata Kamiyaâ??s extravagant hand.
â??Oh, there you are Kaoru,â?? exclaimed her mother, looking thoroughly harassed. â??Now tell me. Do you think Aoshi will regard tempura and beef misono as far too common? Should I ask cook to prepare a more unusual, more exotic dish instead?â??
Kaoru drew up a velvet stool and said soothingly, â??Iâ??m convinced the tempura and beef misono will do very well, Mama. Besides, as a bridegroom of only three months, I have no doubt that my brother will be too occupied admiring his lovely wife Misao than bothering to criticize your dishes.â??
Yumi signed. â?? But you mind how fussy Aoshi is about everything, dear! He is cast in just the same mold as your father. Oh!â?? She clapped a ringed hand to her head. â??I forgot to tell Cook about the tea!â??
â??What about it?â?? asked Kaoru.
â??Your father complained that the breakfast tea tasted musty. He insists that Cook has been mixing in dried blackberry leaves and stealing the real tea for herself.â??
â??Nonsense!â?? Kaoru laughed. â??The tea tasted perfectly good to me at breakfast. You know Papa tends to have strange fancies. By tomorrow he will have forgotten about the tea, and be insisting instead that his rice wasnâ??t properly cooked.â??
Yumi murmured, â??Really, child, you must learn to have more respect for your father!â?? But there was a twinkle in her eyes which belied the severity of her tone.
â??I must confess, Kaoru,â?? said Yumi, lowering her voice, â??your father sometimes puts me out of my mind. He just desires to sit at home and see no one and go nowhere. I wouldnâ??t mind for myself, but I do worry about you.â??
â??But I am perfectly happy, Mama!â??
Yumi shook her head. â??But how are we ever to get you married, Kaoru? Stuck out here in the country, it is impossible for me to introduce you to any eligible young men. We have no near neighbors, apart from Doctor Genzai and the Widow Sekihara, and you know how difficult your father is about allowing us to visit Misao in Kyoto.â??
â??Now Mama,â?? Kaoru said, smiling, â??you have enough on your mind at present making all the arrangements for Aoshiâ??s visit without fretting about my marriage prospects as well.â??
A frown still creased her brow. â??But I am extremely concerned about you, my dear. After all, you are nearing your eighteenth year, and time is passing. Your father, you must admit, has been most lenient with you up to now. I confess I was most surprised when he allowed you to reject not one, but two highly eligible suitors for your hand.â??
Kaoruâ??s eyes widened as she exclaimed, â??Oh but, Mama, Baron Takeshi Shinagatta was no more than a drooling idiot, while Shuiichi Motoki was nearly fifty! I would rather die an old maid than marry either of them.â??
Her mother said mildly, â??Well, you were fortunate that your father indulged your girlish fancies over those two suitors. But I warn you that next time, he will most like to be more severe with you.â??
Kaoru laughed. â??But how is there to be a next time, when I am not allowed to meet any young men?â??
â??I donâ??t know,â?? confessed her mother, â??but I have an idea that your father has something in mind. I spoke to him only this morning about this question of your marriage, and he told me not to fuss, because he would arrange the matter.â??
Kaoru said lightly, â??In that case, I suggest we take heed of my fatherâ??s advice and trouble ourselves no more with the subject.â?? She fake a yawn. â??Now, dearest Mama, if you will excuse me, I would like to retire early tonight.â??
Yumi smiled. â??Of course, you must be tired by all the excitement of Aoshiâ??s visit. Good night, then, my dear.â??
Kaoru bent to kiss her. â?? I will say goodnight to Papa on my way upstairs,â?? she promised.
The library was one of Kaoruâ??s favorite rooms. She loved its air of peace, and the smell of leather-bound books, the beeswax polish on the mahogany tables, and the apple logs crackling in the huge fireplace.
She found her father sitting in front of the hearth, with his bare feet immersed in a bowl of steaming water. As she bent to kiss him on the forehead, Kaoru saw to her surprise that behind each ear he had placed what looked like roasted turnip pairings.
â??Good evening, Papa,â?? she murmured, long experience of her fatherâ??s eccentricities warning her to proceed with caution. â??Erâ?|are you soaking your tired feet in a mustard bath?â??
He glared up at her. â??Not mustard, minced onion,â?? he declared.
Kaoru nodded, totally nonplussed. She had never before heard of anyone desiring to sit with his feet in a bowl of watered bran, but then her father had ever been a man of unusual tastes. She said carefully, â??Papa, I do not wish to appear inquisitive, or stupid but why have you placed turnip pairings behind your ears?â??
Saitou heaved a great sigh. â??I should have thought it was obvious. I have a toothache.â??
Kaoru bit back a shout of laughter. â??Oh, yesâ?|of courseâ?|toothache,â?? she said faintly. â??How silly of me. Butâ?|erâ?|would you not find it more soothing if I fetched you some warmed oil of cloves for your tooth?â??
â??You know I donâ??t believe in these newfangled remedies, daughter.â?? He let out a bellow of laughter. â??Haâ?|.ha! Do you get it, Kaoru? New fang-led! No, what was good enough for my father is good enough for me. He always cured his toothache with onion minced in water and turnip pairings.â??
â??If the tooth is very bad, Papa, you could always have it removed by a tooth-drawer.â??
â??A tooth-drawer?â?? snorted Saitou. â??Are you out of your mind? Do you imagine I would consort with such a common breed of men as tooth-drawers?â??
â??I had just thoughtâ?|to alleviate the pain,â?? murmured Kaoru, pouring out a fresh sake for her father.
â??Iâ??d rather endure the pain than go near one of these fellows,â?? asserted her father.
â??Why, I heard of one of who had his dead wife embalmed and then kept her in a glass case in his drawing room.â??
Kaoru realized that if she stayed in the library another moment she would dissolve into a fit of unseemly, hysterical giggles. Quickly, she said goodnight to her father, wished him better, and made her way up to her room.
Tucked underneath her pillow was a novel, Midnight Weddings by Sayuri Kobayashi, one of her favorite authors. Kaoru was a voracious reader of stories of adventure and romance, though she knew that if her father ever discovered her reading such novels, he would burn the books and confine her to her room with only bread and water for a week. Normally, Kaoru read for a while before blowing out her candle, but this night she had some important sewing to finish for her brother Soujirou.
She slipped into her yukata and took the candle across to the windowseat, there to complete her sewing. A wind had come up and blown the clouds from the sky, so the lawns below her window were silvered with moonlight.
Kaoru pondered on her conversation that evening with her mother. What had she meant, about her fatherâ??s arranging matters for her marriage? Whatâ??or rather, whomâ??had her father in mind? It was true that Papa had been uncommonly indulgent in allowing her to reject two suitors. In Papaâ??s terms , the two beaux had been highly suitable candidates for her hand. Indeed Kaoru could think of many girls who would have jumped at the opportunity of becoming Baroness Shinagatta or the wife of a rich merchant like Motoki.
But such a sensible, suitable marriage was not what Kaoru wanted. She sighed as she gazed out at the windswept trees of the Kamiya mansion.
â??What is the matter with me?â?? she whispered. â??Why am I possessed of such a restless spirit? I love my family dearly. But Papa is such a traditionalistâ?|Sometimes I feel like a butterfly trapped in a silken, loving net. What is itâ?|or who is it that I want?â??
As she spoke, a solitary cloud scudded across the moon. Kaoruâ??s heart seemed to miss a beat. Her blood raced as he remembered being carried in the arms of that beautiful stranger through the scented night, with his strong arms around her and a soft breeze blowing through her hair. Once again, she felt carried away on a tide of elation, conscious only of a heady sense of freedom and joy.
No man had ever stirred her like that before. â??Oh!â?? she breathed, her eyes luminous as she gazed out into the moonlight. â??Where are you now, my man of the nightâ?|my friend? Will you ever return to set my shackled spirit free again? Wherever you are, my mysterious stranger, my gallant rescuer, you must know that I am thinking of you.â??
Softly, she opened her window and blew out a kiss into the enchanted, silvery nightâ?|toward a man whose name she did not know but who, nevertheless, had captured her heart.
Ok, so itâ??s kind of long and rather mushy. Hope youâ??ll like it though. If youâ??re all wondering why on earth Saitou andYumi Komagata were Kaoruâ??s parents, and Soujirou and Aoshi were her brothers. Well, First of all, Aoshi and Kaoru have the same blue eyes. I was kind of looking for another boy with blue eyes but could not come up with anyone so I kind of settled with Soujirou. I made Yumi their mother bec. Sou and Yumi both have violet eyes. And as for Saitou, I was looking for someone stern and well rather eccentric. The characters of RK seemed different bec. I made them that way for the sole purpose of my story. Youâ??ll see. As for the cure for toothache I made them up to make Saitou look quite eccentric. Until then.
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