A/N: Set directly after the events of Season 1, episode 9.
Selfless
She had never felt so much at once before, emotions swirling around inside her like a terrible cyclone; fear, anger, protectiveness, love. Kasuga held Kenshin in her arms and watched as his eyelids fluttered and he struggled to come back to consciousness. The rain fell in cold, relentless sheets, soaking them both, disguising the tears that rolled down her cheeks. She shivered. Tightening her grip, Kasuga tried to force some of her body's warmth into Kenshin's. He needed it now far more than she did.
It was she who was supposed to protect her lord. That was her duty. No, it was far more than duty for the young ninja. It was her privilege. It was her honour. Kenshin, once simply a name to her, an assignment, was now her world. And she would do anything, sacrifice anything to keep him alive.
And her effort had been valiant, but Kenshin's own affections and his own selflessness had superseded hers, and he had pushed Kasuga, his Beautiful Blade, out of harm's way. So her lord had taken the bullets that should have pierced her flesh, three of them, and lay near death's door.
Leaning down, her long blonde hair brushing against his face, Kasuga pleaded with the man.
"Wake up," she begged. "I don't know what to do."
Blood stained the blue and white of his armor, standing out dramatically against the colours of ice, warm against cold. Kasuga released her grip on Kenshin, placing his head in her lap, and scrubbed viciously at the offending patches that continued to grow.
"She'll pay," the buxom ninja vowed. "Nohime will pay with her own blood. I will see to it."
"Always so protective," the God of War spluttered, opening his eyes and staring into Kasuga's pretty yellow ones. "You are my Beautiful Blade. But you must not think of vengeance now." Feebly he raised a hand and stroked the young woman's cheek. Her face felt as though it was on fire. Her whole body did.
"But…" she began, ready to protest his words.
Kenshin shook his head and groaned. "I will live. I promise you that. You must live too. I need you, Kasuga."
"You, you need me?" She tried not to place too much meaning on his words. Perhaps he simply meant that he needed her considerable skills as a ninja. She was his scout, his source of information; that was all, wasn't it? Yes, he liked her. Kasuga would admit that. But something in his tone spoke of more than mere affection. His tone spoke of love. It was too wonderful to believe.
"Yes." Kenshin winced and swallowed down the scream he wanted to release. The pain was tremendous. "I need you much more than you think. Should something happen to you…" The fallen warrior couldn't contemplate the horror and left his words hanging.
"I won't leave you, ever." Kasuga wanted desperately to brush her lips against his but resisted. She would let him make that kind of gesture first. She would be patient. Her love was powerful but her lord was worth the wait.
"You can help me inside." Kenshin struggled to sit up and flashed her a sweet smile. Kasuga beamed in reply.
Together, the God of War leaning heavily on his Beautiful Blade, they made it to shelter. Not long after the rain stopped and the sun shone.