Hey guys! Wuzz up? I finally decided to post my own story on this site instead of just reading everyone else's. I actually have been in the process of making this story for at least a year. I never paid much attention to it, because it was just something to take away my boredom. Tell me if you like it or if you don't. Your suggestions mean a lot to me and I'd love to hear them (that includes flames too). Oh! And before I forget…
Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin. sob
Now, on with the show!
Too Little, Too Late
Japan, 11th year of the Meji Era
Chapter OneKaoru woke up to the bright sun in her face. The birds merry chirping caused a smile to grace her lips.
'They're singing for me. What a nice thing of them to do this morning and a great way to start off the day!'
Kaoru listened to the other sounds coming for outside her room; a game she was taught by her father, and often played as a little girl. There was a soft snoring she heard, most likely from Yahiko's room. Then there was a soft whistle when the wind blew against her shoji. Kaoru closed her eyes to focus. She heard the leaves rustle from the wind blowing against the trees. A picture formed in her mind of what they might look like. She smiled at the peaceful image that was given to her. The soft breeze caused the trees to wave at her. Kaoru giggled softly at the childish thought. Then a thoughtful frown crossed her features. There was a crackling sound that took the place of the prior one. It sounded like sticks breaking, but it was happening to quickly for it to be someone stepping on them. A small picture of fire appeared in her mind. The kindling was snapping at the intensity of the heat. Kaoru smiled, proud that she was able to figure it out. But then there was a different noise. It was very odd in her opinion, and it confused her. It made a swish slop slurp
Kaoru lay in bed, pondering on what the noises were coming from.
Swish scrape slop slurp slop swish scrape slop slurp slop… 'Argh! That's it! I give up! What is that sound!'
Kaoru jumped out of bed and ran to her shoji leading outside, not bothering to straighten her futon or her yukata. She opened the shoji and looked around the yard to find out what could possibly be making that sound. Her eyes suddenly caught sight of what, or rather who, was making that peculiar noise. It was Kenshin. He was doing the laundry and the sloshing noise was the water rubbing against the clothes and scraping against the washboard. Kaoru looked at the bathhouse and found a fire going, preparing a bath; most likely for her. Kaoru turned her attention back to Kenshin and smiled. He had always known what she needed and what was best for her despite the fact they had only known each other a little over a year.
Kenshin looked up from his chores and gazed at Kaoru. She was the vision of beauty as she stood in her doorway; the most obvious sign of sleep was her usually tied up hair left to cascade down her body close to her waist and her ruffled yukata, showing off the womanly curves of her body. Kenshin had long since knew Kaoru was about to wake up. He felt her ki spread out among the dojo property, taking in her surroundings unconsciously; a warrior's trait Kenshin had picked up as a child. Then their eyes met. The longing and caring look she gave him accompanied by a warm smile just gave him goose bumps all over his body. Most times he was amazed at his will power, as he so many times fantasized just holding her in his arms like he had when he said good-bye to her in the darkness of night and green hue of the fireflies. On that depressing night, she had felt so warm and her every curve just seemed to fit perfectly against his own. He almost didn't leave for Kyoto because of that one, real moment with her. Kenshin felt himself becoming fidgety just thinking about it, but he dare not break their eye contact.
Karou blushed furiously at the desire she thought she saw in Kenshin's eyes. Kaoru felt his eyes rove over her body in the most discrete of ways, but felt his eyes linger over her chest. Kaoru slowly looked down at her body and shrieked. Her yukata was gaping open in the front, showing off her upper curves and leaving very little left to imagination to finish the picture. Karou covered herself quickly and looked back up at a very amused rurouni.
'He's laughing at me.' Kaoru frowned, which only seemed to widen his smile.
"Well, good morning Miss Kaoru." A mocking tone apparent in his voice
Her frowned deepened. His laugh now became audible.
"How was your sleep?" He asked innocently.
"Hmph." Was all Karou would reply.
"I hope it was…restful..that I do."
Kaoru couldn't help but smile now. Whenever Kenshin said, "that I do" her heart melted. He could be so cute sometimes… and so dense at others.
"It was fine, thank you." She said curtly, but couldn't hide her smile.
Kaoru walked over and kneeled down next to the basin and tried to start a conversation.
"So…how long have you been up?"
'That was dumb Kaoru. Try not to bore him to death.'
"Uh, a couple of hours."
Kenshin looked back at the washbasin focusing more at the work at hand.
'Think fast Kaoru he's losing interest.'
"A couple of hours, what were you doing all that time?"
"Hmm."
Kenshin looked up from the tub and thought for a second.
"Well let's see. Nothing really. I made breakfast and cleaned up a little. Which reminds me, you should take a bath now so that you can hurry and eat that you should."
Kaoru frowned. She wasn't going to teach at another dojo today, and Yahiko would be at the Akabeko all day. So why was Kenshin rushing her?
"Hurry? Why do I need to hurry?"
Kenshin smiled sheepishly.
"Well, I notice that you have been working so hard…"
"Yes. Go on."
"... and you've been using all of your hard earned money to feed all of us without putting your own needs first..."
"Continue."'What is he trying to say?'
"Plus you never take a break and you…"
"Just spit it out already Kenshin!" Kaoru nearly yelled, her patience long since running thin.
Kenshin sighed.
"Well what sessha is trying to say is, I have some money of my own and I would like to take you out into town. Maybe to buy some new kimonos or hair ribbons. Then get lunch just for us since Yahiko will be at the Akabeko all day."
Kaoru just stared at him. Her stare made Kenshin panic.
"W-W-Well, what sessha means is, well, y-you can buy whatever you want, really.
Kaoru didn't even move. 'Is he asking me out? He actually wants to go out with me? I can't believe it! IN YOUR FACE MEGUMI!'
Kenshin sighed heavy-heartedly.
"Sessha really is sorry Miss Kaoru, that I am. I know that you don't like it when we fret over you, or pamper you, but I didn't expect for you to become angry. Please talk to me. I'm so sorry, that I am."
Kaoru snapped out of her trance. She just couldn't mess this up!
"No, no Kenshin! You baka, of course I want to go out with you."
Kaoru blushed at the depth of her words. They were really going to go out!
"H-How could you think I would be mad at you! Mou Kenshin, you're so dense."
She concluded her rant with a shake of her head and crossed her arms while standing up, the blush still evident on her cheeks. Kenshin ignored all of the name calling, and the hint of anger in her voice as the relief washed over him. He smiled widely and, to his and her surprise, hugged her.
"K-K-Ken….shin?"
"Really? Great! Sessha promises, we'll have a good time and…."
Kenshin stopped when he felt how stiff her body was in his arms. He pulled back slightly so he could see her face and his scarred cheek brushed against her face. Kaoru couldn't help but shiver at the contact. When their eyes met, time stopped and the earth became mute. Both Kenshin and Kaoru were a beet red, but neither moved from the other's embrace.
Kenshin couldn't stand just holding the most beautiful girl in all of Japan, and not do something. His face moved closer to hers, never breaking their eye contact, until their noses touched. His eyes silently asked her for some sign of permission, something to tell him that it was okay to…
Every time Kenshin got closer to her, Kaoru felt her face grow hot and she knew that her face was as red as Kenshin's hair by the time there noses touched. He rubbed his nose against her own in the most intimate manner, causing a gasp to erupt from Kaoru and in turn making Kenshin's hold on her tighten. But still their eye contact held strong, for fear of ruining the moment was keeping them from doing otherwise.
'Kami-sama, my heart is beating so hard. I never thought he would ever hold me like this. Is he going to kiss me? Please don't play with me like this Kenshin, it's pure torture…' Kaoru's thoughts pleaded that this wasn't all just a dream. She unconsciously licked her lips and stared at Kenshin's. The tightened grasp of his hug around her waist caused her to refocus on his eyes instead of his thick lips.
The wanting in her eyes drove Kenshin crazy, and his head moved even closer until their lips were mere millimeters apart. Kaoru closed her eyes is silent begging and he hungrily replied. When their lips touched, Kaoru felt her world spin and her knees weaken. Kenshin's firm by gentle hold kept her in place and held her up.
'He always has, hasn't he? Kenshin would never let me fall…'
"Kenshin" she sighed his name airily and wrapped her arms around his neck.
Never in his life had Kenshin ever felt so loved. Tomoe was his very first love, and was able to make him feel like he was on top of the world when he held her, but this was different. He couldn't necessarily describe it, but the feelings he had right now were phenomenal. When she said his name so faintly, he felt every nerve in his body cry out for her. Her lips were softer than the finest silks and didn't even compare to his daydreams. Never in his life did he expect that he would actually have her and that she would give in so willingly. Their lips moved slowly at an agonizing pace to him, but it was her first kiss and he would teach her the right rhythm. He didn't want anything to ruin their kiss.
"KENSHIN! KENSHIN DAMNIT, WHERE ARE YOU?"
Sano's voice resonated throughout the dojo and startled them both out of their trance. Kenshin and Kaoru jumped far apart, hearts beating frantically and breathless despite the fact the kiss was slow and not demanding at all. For some reason they were scared to be seen together.
'Why did I jump away like that? Kenshin, I don't regret it, please don't think I don't want to be seen with you. I just don't think we should let anyone know yet until I know this is real first.' Kaoru's eyes begged for forgiveness and full of apologies. Kenshin merely smiled in simple understanding and acceptance. He wasn't ready for them to know either.
"Hey Kenshin, there you are! Why didn't you answer when I called you? Oh hey Jou-chan."
Sano addressed them both and remained oblivious of their uneasy breathing and rouge red blush they wore on their cheeks. Their eyes never left one another's and Sano scratched his head in confusion. Sano looked back and forth at them both and remained clueless.
"You know Kenshin, no matter how much you stare at her, she ain't gunna get any prettier. You're wasting your time."
Sano smiled at his own joke and watched for Kaoru's reaction. Kaoru snapped her head towards Sano and fisted her knuckles to her side, steam coming out of her ears and cheeks flushed with anger. She raised her fist and was about to connect it to Sano's jaw when Kenshin intervened.
"Maa, Maa you two should be much nicer to each other that you should. Kaoru-dono he didn't mean it that he didn't, and I'm sure he is sorry for it."
Kenshin waved his hands defensively in front of him as he stood in front of Sano. Behind him Sano made faces and stuck his tongue out at her triumphantly. Kaoru was shaking with anger now. How dare he insult her like that! Kenshin was even defending him!
'Oooh! Those two are so DEAD!'
"Argh! Mou!" Kaoru stomped off towards the bathhouse angrily.
"Ha ha, thanks for saving my tail Kenshin. She only backs off if you're around. She would have killed me otherwise!"
Sano laughed.
"You really shouldn't pick on Miss Kaoru like that, that you shouldn't. It's not very nice." Kenshin reprimanded lightly.
"Aww, she knows I was just joking with her." Sano looked back at her retreating figure and smiled. She's so cute when she's angry….
"Oh yeah Kenshin," he said remembering why he had come over in the first place.
"Katsu and the guys are gunna be gamblin' again and we wanted to know if you would join us."
Kaoru was just about to enter the bathhouse when she heard Sano. She turned her head slightly to look at Kenshin. Would he stand her up?
Kenshin looked over at Kaoru and could tell she heard what Sano had just asked. Then he saw the worry in her eyes. 'She afraid I might change my mind.' Kenshin looked back at Sano and smiled.
"I'm sorry Sano, I have plans already. Maybe next time."
Lips as soft as rose petals, souls battered and worn. One stolen kiss unites broken hearts. Love, in it's ever changing, always confusing and never predictable state has swallowed them in sweet promises, but will it all last forever?
How'd you all like it so far? Tell me everything you think about it. Even if you hated it and wish I never started the story, I still want to know. I'll post the next chapter as soon as possible. Sayonara!
