If you missed part one "Crossing Innocence" with Misao
and Aoshi, please visit the website at: http://www.mindspring.com/~kyoko/creators/fanfiction.htm
I was inspired once again to write the
fabulous love stories of the couples of Rurouni Kenshin. This time, the
plot revolves around Kaoru and Kenshin, the two main characters. This
is sure to be funny and highly romantic at that. Remember that this is
a LEMON fan fiction story, so some graphic sexual scenes will be involved.
Your discretion is advised.
Disclaimers: This story (and others) are the sole creation of Kyoko
Takara, aka Christine Joseph. The characters are the sole creation and
trademark of Nobuhiro Watsuki-sensei and Jump, and some others I don't
care to mention at this time. Copyright 1998, blah blah, etc, etc. You
know the deal. . . This isn't even worth suing over.
© copyright 1998 Rurouni Kenshin; Characters are
copyrights of Nobuhiro Watsuki, Jump Comics, et. al.
© copyright 1998 Kyoko Takara; Original Story is copyright of aforementioned
name.
On with the story. . . .! ^_^
Kaoru laid in bed,
quietly contemplating what she would do for the day. Her students had unceremoniously
canceled on her, leaving her with not a thing to do. The sun was rising
quickly in the sky. It had to be nearly nine o'clock already. By now, Kenshin
had already served breakfast, and the Dojo was in full swing. She wasn't
needed just yet. Kenshin. . .
That was a situation that was getting nowhere fast. She honestly didn't
know what to do anymore. Megumi had come up with some harebrained schemes
to get Kenshin to notice Kaoru and take that step forward in their relationship.
It wasn't Kaoru that was holding back, it was him! Why, no one knew. However,
Kaoru's mind was in a quagmire, unable to think of any other way to convince
Kenshin to marry her. She wrinkled her nose. She shouldn't HAVE to resort
to such schemes to make him notice her.
"Kenshin. . . .you idiot. . . ." she muttered, sitting up
from her flat bed. It was time to get up. She rolled away her things, then,
carrying a pretty kimono with her to her bath, she exited her room.
Something good was cooking in the kitchen, she thought. Something nice
and sweet. She could almost taste it!
"Oooh! That smells good!" she smiled, thinking what a wonderful
snack that would make, whatever it was, after she got out of her bath.
It was strange that she hadn't run into anyone on her way to the bathing
room. It was also strange that Yahiko wasn't cleaning. No, wait, she thought.
Today, he was supposed to go to the Akabeko to help Tsubame and Tae out
with some stuff. That left. . .Kenshin. . . .and her. . .. ALONE?!
"Mou!" she stamped her foot. How many opportunities like this
had passed them both by before? It was extremely frustrating for Kaoru.
"I always get chances like this, and NOTHING ever comes of it. . ."
She sighed. She was tired, confused, frustrated. . .all of the above
and more. After cleaning herself and rinsing, she slipped into the warm
water of the tub.
"Ahhh. . ." she moaned with pleasure. Kenshin really knew
how to take care of her. Closing her eyes, she remember the last time an
opportunity like this arose. . . .
<FLASHBACK>
Autumn leaves were falling outside the Dojo grounds. Everyone seemed
to want to take the outdoor route that day, leaving Kenshin and Kaoru alone
at the Dojo. Kenshin was consumed with his household chores, while Kaoru
found herself spending the day sitting by the nearby stream, humming some
tune she had in her head from the previous night. She found herself looking
back across the open stretch of land at Kenshin, his mind diligently concentrated
on his work. Couldn't he take a break?
"KENSHIN. . .!" Kaoru called out to Kenshin, causing him to
turn to her direction. The moment he looked up at her, a blush came across
Kaoru's face. The way he looked at her sometimes made her think some very
naughty things.
He put down the sheet he was hanging up on the clothesline to walk over
to her. He wore his normal attire of seasoned red and white hakama. There
was a little stain on the sleeve, probably from cooking that morning. Moments
later, he stood in front of her.
"Is everything okay, Kaoru-dono?" he asked, genuine concern
in his voice.
"Yeah, I'm okay. . .I was just thinking. .. why don't you take
a break over here with me. . .?" Kaoru hesitantly asked.
Thinking it over ever so briefly, Kenshin smiled graciously.
"That sounds good to me," he agreed, sitting near a blossoming
sakura tree. The two leaned against the tree, until Kenshin started to
speak again. "It's a nice day, isn't it?"
"Yeah. .. it's nice to relax a little, for a change, you know?"
she turned right, looking at the visage of Kenshin.
He's so handsome . . . doesn't he realize this?, Kaoru asked herself.
He nodded slightly, giving Kaoru a more in depth view of his face. She
often wondered what Kenshin really saw her as. A little sister or a woman?
That's what it came down to. . .
"Kenshin. . ." she started timidly, turning away. Kenshin's
face turned to look at Kaoru.
What could be going through her head?, Kenshin wondered. Whenever her
voice got all wispy like that, she was thinking something serious.
"How do you feel about me, Kenshin?" she pressed her fingers
into the dark soil around the tree, looking for something cool to soothe
her rising heat due to nervousness.
"Oro?" he turned to look at Kaoru, noting how nervous she
was. She was biting her lip, digging her fingers into the soil and other
things that gave her away.
"Don't "ORO" me, Kenshin. . .I'm serious. .." she
shook her head, turning away, unable to look at Kenshin any longer. Something
inside her just wanted to pull him close and hug him, kiss him. . . but
that was too forward for a girl like herself. She just couldn't bring herself
to do it.
Kaoru heard Kenshin's audible sigh. He laid his head back against the
trunk of the tree, obviously thinking. Something told her this not something
new weighing on his mind. She was almost sorry she even brought it up.
Almost, but not quite.
"Kaoru-dono, you know how I feel about you," he lightly pulled
the fingers of her right hand from inside the ground and into the comforting
warmth of his hand. "You've done so much for me, there's no possible
way I could repay you. I think we've grown quite close since we've first
met."
Shaking her head, Kaoru almost wanted to laugh. He completely avoided
the question. He didn't even really answer what I asked!
"Kenshin. . .:" she turned to look at him, gathering courage
to say what was on her mind. "That's not what I mean. I mean. . ..
do you love me?"
"L-love. .?" Kenshin stumbled on the word.
Did he love her? In a way he did, openly admitting that fact. He knew
she was talking about romantic love, intimate love. That was something
he wasn't sure about. She'd certainly been hinting it for a long time how
much she was interested in him. Kenshin just didn't know how to deal with
it. Unfortunately, all the fights in the world couldn't have prepared him
for this situation. The thing that bothered him immensely was the difference
in their ages. Thirteen years was a lot of time, when one thought about
it.
"I don't know. . .." he answered truthfully. The last thing
he wanted to do was lead her on, make her think something that wasn't true.
He valued his friendship with Kaoru above all things, so intimate relationships
would have to be based on that and that alone.
Her heart fell at the news. Turning her head aside, unable to look at
Kenshin any longer, she tried to calm her heavily beating heart.
"Is that so. . .?" she asked rhetorically. He didn't love
her. . . .
"Kaoru-dono. ."
"NO, Kenshin! Don't say another word. . ." she stood, looking
out toward the home she loved so much. "Not another word. . ."
She began to run toward the Dojo, refusing to let Kenshin see her cry.
She had cried enough over Kenshin and over the whole issue. It was a truth
that she had to start accepting, the sooner the better. Kaoru just simply
couldn't keep tormenting herself over someone she just couldn't have. Throwing
herself into the Dojo, she found herself sitting in the far corner of the
room, letting the tears flow down her cheeks onto her clothes.
"Kenshin. . ."
The sound of a sliding door didn't raise Kaoru's head. In walked Kenshin,
sakaba in hand. He put it down near the door, relieving himself from its
welcome heaviness. He examined Kaoru from afar. She really was hurt by
his answer. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt her. Kenshin knew that
much.
"Kaoru-dono. . ." he started, but heard her wince at the "dono"
he usually added to her name. It was just a polite way of calling her,
but it was something more. It showed aloofness, non-attachment from someone
close to you. That was how Kaoru saw it. Nevertheless, he continued, slowly
approaching her. "I'm sorry I hurt your feelings, but I feel that
I must be true with you. That's how it's always been with us. I don't want
to lie to you."
Kaoru looked up, noting quickly Kenshin was getting closer to her position.
Now would be a good time to move, she thought, but her body refused to
move. What. . .? Why won't I move? Before she knew it, Kenshin was kneeling
before her, his face not even a foot from hers. He grasped her hand, rubbing
it lightly between his two.
"I just wanted you to know where I stand, Kaoru." No "dono"?
What was going on?
"What do you mean?" she asked hesitantly, her voice unsteady.
"I care about you too much to do harm to you, to make you unhappy.
You've brought so much happiness to my life again. I'm sure you know this
already," he said, pausing slightly before continuing. "It's
just difficult to breach that one gap, that one of love. I'm afraid, Kaoru-dono."
Although lapsing back to "dono", Kaoru couldn't help but wonder
at his fear. She knew, though. The loss of his first wife Tomoe, the constant
threats in his life as the former Hitokiri Battousai; there was so much
for him to keep himself concerned with, so much to guard against.
"Kenshin. . ." Kaoru boldly reached out to caress his cheek,
"don't you realize when enough is enough? It's time for you to let
yourself love again. You can't be afraid forever."
He nodded, closing his eyes. The scent of her was amazing, he thought
as he brought her hand close to his lips. His eyes flew open, finding Kaoru's
eyes mesmerized at Kenshin's face. He looked so serene, so happy in that
moment. It was something worthy of eternal framing. In that moment, Kenshin
made a decision.
"You're right, Kaoru. . ." He really was struggling with the
omission of the "dono", she thought. Whatever. .. "You are
absolutely right. . ."
Kenshin's gentle fingertips wiped away the remainder of the tears on
Kaoru's face. He held her face with both hands, merely looking for a short
time, then closing in on her lips.
"Kenshin. . " she whispered, her eyes widening at what he
was about to do. He's going to --
"I'm BACK~~!!" shouted the voice they recognized as Yahiko.
They both cursed silently at Yahiko's timing. "Yo, KENSHIN! Where
are you?"
"Kaoru. ." Kenshin stood, holding a hand out to her. Accepting
it, she stood near him about to say something until Yahiko entered the
room.
"There you are! I was looking for you! Let me tell you about what
happened today. .. ." he started, laughing greatly at whatever trouble
he had gotten himself into that day. "I'll tell you too, ugly."
"WHAT?!" Kaoru's eyes looked daggers. Before flying after
Yahiko, Kaoru shared a silent moment with Kenshin. It was a promise of
next time. . . .definitely next time. . . .
<FLASHBACK OVER --long wasn't it?!>
The most amazing part of it all was that since that day, Kaoru had been
on the go, working with different students, and Kenshin was helping out
the police with some investigation. Now that things had calmed down, perhaps
Kaoru and Kenshin could finally explore that new territory.
She felt herself pruning and knew it was time to get out of the refreshing
bath water. The day was moving along, and so was her opportunities with
Kenshin! Quickly drying and dressing, Kaoru left the bath room, setting
out to find Kenshin. No doubt by now he'd be working on the laundry. Sure
enough he was outside, hand to washboard, cleaning clothes.
"Kenshin. .." she smiled, waving slightly. The look on Kenshin's
face gave him away totally. Love was in his face, she realized.
"Finally. ." he muttered. "I was wondering if you were
going to bathe all day long! Good morning, Kaoru," he said, walking
close to her until he was directly in front.
"Morning, Ken--" she started, but was interrupted by Kenshin's
abrupt kiss on her lips.
Her heart started beating double time. What was he doing? she wondered,
putting a finger to her lips.
"I-I. .. Ken. . .shin. . ." questions running through her
mind. His bluish-violet eyes sparkled brilliantly, making Kaoru wonder
what the heck was going on in his head. "Why did. . .you. ."
"Why did I kiss you, Kaoru?" he finished her question. Chuckling
softly at her inability to complete a coherent thought after what he had
done, he explained in a soft voice, what he was thinking. "Kaoru.
.remember the last time we were alone here? I was ready to kiss you then,
but. . ." he smiled wryly at the scene from those weeks past. "You
made me realize just how I really do care about you, and these past weeks
I've had time to consider it thoroughly. Kaoru. . ." he paused, holding
her by the shoulders, "I love you. . . .I . . .love. . .you. . ..
more than anything. . ."
He pulled free her favorite ribbon, letting her hair fall free. His
fingers ran through it gently, working out the tangles from below. She
was so beautiful, he thought, although she still looked confused.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Nothing--"
"But you look so confused! I thought that you'd be happy to hear
this. .." Kenshin said, now thinking that maybe he shouldn't have
been so bold with it. He just couldn't hold himself back when he saw her!
"Oro. . ." Kaoru said, using Kenshin's favorite phrase. "Kenshin.
. .did you really mean it when you --"
"Of course I did. Come, let's go inside. .."
Taking her hand, she followed him inside to his room. She didn't remember
the last time she was in his room. It was a long time ago, seeming like
ages really. Sliding the door closed, they knelt before each other.
"Kaoru. . . are you happy?"
"Happy?" she parroted. "Yes. ...yes I am. . ." she
said after giving it some thought. "But Kenshin, what are we doing
in your room?"
He simply smiled, reaching out to touch her lips with a fingertip.
"I want to show you how much I love you, Kaoru. . . . if you'll
let me."
Oh, goodness! All that planning that Megumi and she had done, was coming
true! Oh, oh, what did she say, now? Kaoru thought, trying desperately
to remember what Megumi had told her if this kind of situation was ever
to arise between her and Kenshin. She knew what to expect.
"Kenshin. . ." Kaoru's eyes again filled with tears, happy
that Kenshin shared her feelings of love finally. "I love you so much.
. .show me. . ."
He needed no further words to start his parade of loving. Although it
had been a long time for Kenshin since he had last engaged in any sexual
activity, his body was primed for it. He wanted to give all of himself
to Kaoru. For a long time, he held himself back from her, from everyone,
fearing that his past would hurt his relationships with them all. He got
close to them, but not as close as he COULD be. Things were different now.
Kenshin felt differently for the first time in 10 years. He felt love,
in love with and receiving love from Kaoru.
Kenshin was still an old-fashioned type of guy, and deep down inside,
he wanted to do right by Kaoru by taking her hand in marriage. Something
inside him told him to do this, though. Something told him to make love
to Kaoru, right now, right here, in the brightness of the day. Nothing
mattered but this moment. Mutually, the two stood, facing each other. They
both grew serious, realizing the gravity of what they were about to do.
Today would be the changing point in their lives. Nothing would be the
same. Nothing. But it certainly was for the better. . . .
"Kenshin. . ." Kaoru wrapped her arms around his waist, looking
for an intimate embrace with the man she loved so desperately. He returned
the embrace quickly, resting his head near her ear. Her scent permeated
his senses, driving him to close his eyes. No. . .he wanted to see everything.
He HAD to see everything.
Moments later, Kaoru felt Kenshin's lips playing with her ear, causing
her to giggle. He was tickling her. . .! How playful, she thought. His
lips trailed down to her neck, nuzzling softly at the sensitive skin near
the edge of her kimono. Kaoru let out a soft sigh, her body relaxing gradually
under the tender touch of Kenshin. "Ken. . .shin. . ." she moaned,
her eyes fluttering closed. His gentle, patient hands untied her kimono,
the folds of her clothing gaping open. The cool air crossing her bosom
caused Kaoru's eyes to open. Before she even saw Kenshin's head go down
to her breasts, she felt his lips reverently stroking her. The feeling
was overwhelming her senses, turning her knees into jelly.
Luckily, Kenshin anticipated her fall. He held her, gradually lowering
her to the softness of the unrolled futon. Before joining her, his eyes
grasped hers as he opened the folds of his top, allowing it to fall to
the floor. Kenshin smiled softly at Kaoru, finally lowering his body over
Kaoru's. By now, Kaoru's kimono had half-fallen off her body, leaving her
torso bare. If Kaoru was embarrassed at all, Kenshin couldn't tell. She
was so fixated on him, the way he was pleasuring her, that she seemed to
forget what he had done. Under normal circumstances. . . . These were certainly
anything but normal circumstances.
"Are you okay, Kaoru?" Kenshin asked, his chest light brushing
against the tips of her nipples. Kaoru's body lit up immediately. She began
to writhe beneath him, her body craving more contact. "Kaoru. . ."
"Kenshin. . .I. . ." her dry mouth tried to say, but psychically,
Kenshin lowered his mouth to hers, moisturizing those wondrous lips of
hers.
"Kaoru, let me see you. . ." he whispered on her lips. "I
want to see you in all your glory. . . ."
Knowing what he meant, she blinked, slightly shocked at Kenshin's forwardness.
She then realized how much she wanted to show herself to Kenshin. For the
longest time, she'd considered herself Kenshin's, even though he didn't
actually claim her. Now that he had, he was certainly entitled to this.
She WANTED to indulge him!
"Go ahead, Kenshin. Do it. . ." she said, raising her knees.
She watched Kenshin pull her kimono off torturously slow. Before she knew
it, she was completely naked. Kaoru knew she had to be blushing, she could
feel the heat lowering from her cheeks down to the rest of her body.
"Kaoru. . .. " Kenshin began, running a hand down the middle
of her body, through the valley of her breasts, across the gentle plain
of her stomach and to the foothills of her dark mound. He found himself
speechless. She was like a goddess. In that moment, Kenshin could feel
his body reacting powerfully to the sight before him.
"Nothing else to say, Kenshin?" Kaoru smiled, grabbing one
of his hands to rub his palm against her cheek.
Instead of answering her, Kenshin placed one of his hakama-clad legs
between hers. The friction of the cloth against her skin gave Kaoru a strange
sensation. Her body had a small glow of perspiration, making the torture
even worse. By now, she felt an unfamiliar wetness between her legs. All
the heat she felt was centered at that particular point. Maybe what Megumi
had said was true. . .
"I want. . . .to. . .. " Kaoru stammered, but couldn't finish
her sentence as Kenshin's lips rained kisses all over her bare body. Working
his way at her face down to her stomach, Kenshin heard her speak. As he
lifted his face to look up at her, his nose caught the distinct scent of
arousal. She was almost ready for him.
"What would you like. . .? Tell me. . ."
"To see you. . . ." she ran a fingertip across the cross scars
on his left cheek. "Please. . ."
"Kaoru. . .you don't have to ask. . ." Kenshin shook his head
slowly, raising himself to a standing position. Coming to an elevated position,
Kaoru sat up to remember this moment. Untying the belt on his hakama, it
flowed off of his body and onto the floor. Kaoru's gasp caught in throat
as she was "face-to-face" with the evidence of his arousal. Arousal
was certainly what Kenshin was experiencing, and that look on Kaoru's face
didn't help any. His keen sense of observation also told him how aroused
she was. He, once again, lowered his body to hers, this time fully between
her legs.
"Ahh. . . .Kenshin. . .!" she moaned loudly, the feeling of
Kenshin's tumescence resting between her warm, most folds, and particularly
against her pleasure center, was unbelievable. This kind of feeling couldn't
be possible!
"Come, Kaoru. . ." he urged, kissing her deeply. His kiss-swollen
lips released hers. "It's time. . .do you want to--" Kenshin
began, but was quickly stopped by Kaoru's fingertip.
"I know what's going to happen, Kenshin. I'm not afraid, if that's
what you think," she paused momentarily, trying to calm the pulsing
sensation between her legs long enough to get out a coherent thought. "Kenshin.
. .I love you so much. . . .make me yours. . ."
At those words of confirmation, he slowly eased his way inside Kaoru.
He experienced the atypically male joy of discovering the maidenhood of
your loved one. Between the two of them, there were enough raging emotions
to last two lifetimes. As he took a deep breath, Kenshin was surprised
when Kaoru thrust upward to him, sending him crashing through her barrier.
Her eyes shut closed, tears flowing down her face.
"Kaoru! Are you okay? Why--" Kenshin held himself as still
as possible, hoping desperately that her pain would go away., but Kaoru
surprised him when she began to giggle. "Kaoru. . !" Kenshin
gave her an "ORO" look, groaning softly. That giggling sent amazing
vibrations throughout Kenshin's body, his arousal responding by lengthening
a bit more.
"I'm fine, Kenshin. In fact, I'm great right now. . " her
bright smile warmed his heart. For a moment there, he was scared that her
wild action had hurt her. "Kenshin. . . .?"
"Kaoru. . .?" he wiped away the residue from her tears, kissing
them away.
No more words were necessary. Kenshin understood completely why Kaoru
had done what she did. She had no fear whatsoever, and she trusted Kenshin
so completely that Kaoru had no reason to believe that pain would come.
Kenshin's body began moving unconsciously, indulging in the sweet nectar
that was Kaoru Kamiya. Kaoru wrapped her arms around Kenshin, his warm
and glistening body gliding over hers. Oh, the torture!, Kaoru thought.
She felt like she was drunk, her head light and carefree, and her body
soaring high into the skies. But this was rock hard earth, and Kenshin
was the one that was the source of all the earthquakes from within.
"Kenshin! Ohhhh!!" Kaoru shouted uncontrollably, grabbing
wildly at Kenshin's bare back. She could feel her body tightening around
Kenshin, then the sudden blast of pleasure streaming throughout her entire
body. The pulsing from Kaoru stopped Kenshin in mid-stroke.
"Ohhhh. . ." he groaned, the sound resonating through the
room. "Just. . .once. . .more. . .." Kenshin muttered slowly,
pulling out of Kaoru fully, then filling her completely in one quick stroke.
"Kaoru!!!"
Kenshin's release took everything out of him. It was blinding experience;
for a few minutes, Kenshin laid passed out on Kaoru's lush body. He awoke,
still hard inside her body.
"Again?" Kaoru asked curiously, giggling.
"Hey! That giggling of yours is dangerous!" Kenshin smiled
at Kaoru with love in his eyes. "Kaoru. . " he said, his eyes
began to grow serious.
"Yes, Kenshin. . .?"
"I think we did this in the wrong order, but. . ." he began,
but before Kenshin could complete the sentence, Kaoru gave him a response.
"Yes, Kenshin. I'll marry you. . ."
"Good. . ." he happily replied, running his hand up and down
her back.
"I love you, Kenshin. . ."
"So do I, Kaoru. . . .so do I. . ."
The two dozed off, and for the remainder of the afternoon, they continued
to explore each other fully. Realizing the day was quickly disappearing,
they dressed, albeit slowly and teasing each other mercilessly, then started
preparing dinner.
"I guess this means I really do have to take those cooking lessons
from Tae-san now. . ." Kaoru smiled at Kenshin's expression when she
said that she'd cook something new. "I can't have my husband cooking
for me all the time, now. . ."
Just then, Yahiko, Megumi, and Sanosuke slammed open the door.
"TADAIMA!" Yahiko called out, slightly reminiscent of the
time in the Dojo.
Megumi looked around at the house. Not a single thing had been done
that day. Unlike the other unobservant males, she noticed that the laundry
hadn't been done. What DID they do all day? They caught sight of Kenshin
and Kaoru preparing the evening meal in the kitchen.
"Kaoru! A word with you, please --" Megumi strolled into the
kitchen, grabbing Kaoru's hand and dragging her off to another room.
"MEGUMI!! What are you DOING?!" Kaoru asked.
Megumi gave her a good, close look. She had a certain glow in her face,
Megumi thought. Could it be. . .? "Kaoru, did you and Ken-san. . .?"
Megumi left the question unfinished. Something in her mind told her that
something important had finally transpired between Kenshin and Kaoru. She
wanted the confirmation from the horse's mouth, though.
Kaoru couldn't stop herself from blushing madly. It was strange how
so much had changed in a matter of hours, but it was certainly different
now. She nodded her head in confirmation.
"Megumi," Kaoru smiled softly at her friend, then embraced
her tightly. "Thank you for everything! Everything. . ."
Sighing softly, Megumi returned the caring gesture. Her work there was
done. . Here she was helping everyone else out, and she couldn't even get
her own situation straight, she thought. Well, someone deserved happiness,
and it certainly was Ken-san and Kaoru.
They returned to the table to begin the meal. Yahiko had taken a short
leave of absence into his room. For him to NOT be hungry was strange, but
he looked slightly preoccupied. Sanosuke glanced over at Megumi, wondering
what that little disappearing act from before was all about. Women, he
thought. As they started eating, Sanosuke began talking about his brief
gambling bout with some strange guys, but the conversation quickly turned
toward the activities in the Dojo that day.
"So, what'd you guys do here all alone today?" Sanosuke's
innocent question got several throat-clearing responses, however Megumi
looked directly at Kenshin, daring him to deny what she was about to say.
"Kenshin and Kaoru are finally together. ." Sanosuke's eyes
turned to Megumi, then to Kenshin and Kaoru. Quickly putting two and two
together, he jumped up from his seat, laughing uncontrollably.
"It's about damn time!" Sanosuke went around the table to
playfully punch Kenshin in the shoulder. "Congrats, man!"
"Sano. . ." Kenshin chuckled nervously at Sanosuke's comments.
The four of them spent the remainder of the meal chatting about how
much would change around the Dojo once Kaoru and Kenshin tied the knot.
Certainly the living arrangements would be different. . .Megumi noted how
much the two lovers were stealing gazes at each other. It was time for
them to make their exit.
"Come, Sanosuke!" she announced, standing up, grabbing Sanosuke's
ear at the same time.
"Ow, ow, OW!" Sanosuke's face cringed in pain . What was this
fox lady made of?!
"We're going to be on our way now, Ken-san, Kaoru. We'll see you
later, ok?" Megumi waved to the two before they could say a word,
dragging the semi-helpless Sanosuke behind him. He was spewing the expected
string of curses at the way Megumi was manhandling him. All they heard
next was, "You know you LIKE when I do that. . .", then the tell-tale
fox-like laughter.
Sweatdrops fell from Kenshin and Kaoru's heads at the sounds.
"They're crazy. . .funny how they haven't gotten together yet,"
Kaoru stood, walking toward the open screen door. The stars were out in
full view, their brilliant light shining down on the Dojo like a blessing.
She heard Kenshin's light footsteps walking in her direction, then his
arms wrapping around her waist.
"Give them time. . . ." Kenshin whispered in her ear. "Just
like I needed the time. . ."
"Yeah . ."
Cool night air flowed over them, but neither Kenshin nor Kaoru could
feel it. Nothing but the heat of their love radiated through their bodies,
minds and hearts. It was a heady prospect for them both.
"Kenshin. . ."
"Mm?" he asked silently, kissing the nape of her neck.
"Hold me close. . .." Kaoru whispered.
"Of course I will.
. .always. . . I promise. . ."
