Homecoming
by Komagata Yumi
Kenshin wearily closed the gate behind him and
turned to gaze appreciatively around the dojo yard. Home.
No longer rurouni, travel merely made him eager to return to this place,
these people. His errand had taken longer than he'd hoped, but not
longer than he'd truly expected. Only a week, but an interminably
long time to be away from here, from her.
It was late; past midnight and still several hours
before dawn. There was no one to welcome him, the house and out buildings
dark, everyone asleep. He sighed, wanting to be asleep as well, curled
up next to and around her. He shook his head at the thought.
Not the way I am now, dirty and travel stained. Bath first, then
bed.
Too tired to heat any water, he made do with what
was at hand, the chill in it mild thanks to the warm spring air.
Clean for the first time in two days, he made his way to their room.
The door slid open and shut with barely a sound, moonlight shining on her
sleeping form, guiding him as he entered.
Taut muscles relaxed at the sight of her, tension
he hadn't even been aware of gradually fading away. She was curled
into a painfully tight ball in the middle of their futon, her unhappiness
at sleeping alone clear. His mouth quirked in a slight smile when
he saw she was wrapped in one of his gi, remembering how she'd once said
it made her feel a little like he was holding her. She'd been adorable
then, and she was adorable now. And lonely, she definitely looked
lonely.
He slid under the covers next to her, gathering
her sleeping form in his arms. At his touch, she began to relax from
her uncomfortable fetal position; her head snuggling into the crook of
his neck and shoulder, her limbs tangling with his own. Still asleep,
she sighed his name in recognition. He whispered a wordless answer, and
then slumber rose to claim him as well.
Kaoru smiled softly as warm lips closed carefully
around her fingers, strong teeth nibbling teasingly at the tips in an effort
to wake her. One at a time he took them deep into his mouth, caressing
the captured digit with his tongue. Gentle suction tugged at each
just before he released it, stirring a trembling in her stomach.
Kenshin . . . Pressing a kiss into her palm, he switched
his attention to the other hand, repeating the process before shifting
to the curve of her neck. A low, encouraging sound escaped her as his mouth
slid slowly upwards, but curious as to what else he would do, she kept
her eyes closed, feigning sleep.
"Wake up," he breathed, biting gently on her earlobe.
She shivered slightly in response, but stubbornly refused to open her eyes.
His laughter was hushed, her pretense challenging him to provide an incentive,
a reason to relinquish dreams in exchange for reality. Dusting kisses across
her eyes, her parted lips, he accepted.
Strong hands came to rest briefly on her hips,
caressing the soft skin there before stroking lightly up the curve of her
waist to her breasts, cupping them in heat and sensation. She arched
her back, practically purring from the pleasure of his touch, her breath
catching as his thumbs brushed her nipples once, twice, readying her. A
moment later his mouth came to tease first one peak then the other with
fleeting kisses, and her hands tangled in the softness of his hair, guiding
his willing lips to caress where she needed them most.
His mouth playing tenderly over her breasts, his
warm hands slipped down over her flat belly, trailing fire as they danced
over her thighs. Kaoru held her breath as he stroked upwards along
the inner curves, exhaling in disappointment when his fingers retreated.
His low chuckle sounded again, sending vibrations trembling up her spine,
and in a daze she heard him whisper, "Wake up," a second time. She
bit her lip, afraid that opening her eyes would shatter the dream, waking
her to find he still hadn't returned. His hand began its journey
upwards again, and she arched in supplication -- aching, empty, needing
his touch. Mewling pleadingly when he withdrew after barely brushing her
warmth with his fingertips, she shook her head in response to his coaxing,
"Koishii . . . open your eyes." Her hands tightened on his back as
his slid upwards a third time, and he gave in, caressing her lingeringly,
his fingers slipping gently inside.
She moaned, the sound pushing her over the edge
of wakefulness, and raised heavy lids to find him smiling down at her.
She breathed his name a moment before he captured her mouth with his, kissing
her deeply, sweetly, possessively. Releasing her lips, his slid again to
her ear, and he whispered, "Tadaima," teasingly as he made them one.
Kenshin . . .
Clutching his shoulders, swamped by sensation,
she nevertheless attempted to respond in kind. "O . . ." she whispered,
as she gasped desperately for breath; "O . . ." as he moved smoothly within
her; and Okaeri . . . she thought as heaven swallowed her
whole.
Kaoru opened her eyes for the second time that
morning, content to find herself wrapped securely in his arms, her back
cuddled against his chest, his red hair spilling like flame across her
shoulder and breasts. Her toes curled at the memory of what he'd
done to her, not so long before, and she flushed pink. And I used
to think he was so polite! Not that I didn't enjoy it, demo . . .
She flushed a little brighter.
"Ohayou," he whispered, snuggling his head into
the curve of her shoulder.
"Ohayou, Kenshin." She smiled and then whispered
what he hadn't let her before. "Okaerinasai." Laughter was
evident in her voice.
"Arigatou," he responded, laughter apparent in
his as well, "I'm very glad to be back."
Well . . . I'm *still* almost
ashamed of this in comparison to my others, even now that it's been edited.
Maybe one more round of changes...
There is a story to go around this
. . . I just have to get the time to write it. The surrounding story will
explain where Kenshin went and why. It's actually going to have a plot!
(Unbelievable, but true).
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