AN: Thank you to all my readers and especially reviewers, it's wonderful to interact with the community! I got some good constructive feedback about Kenshin's dual personality, and wanted to clarify that I didn't actually mean to write the Battousai side of him as being a separate person, but rather a part of him that he tries to lock deeply inside. I guess it didn't come out quite right in the first chapter, so I made a few tweaks. Perhaps it'll also be more apparent down the line. Onwards, then!
Chapter 2 - Heart to Heart
Strands of red and black splayed intertwined on white cotton sheets, soft snores floating about the air. The steady rising and falling of covers signaled a dreamless contented slumber. It had been five hours since the fatigued couple stumbled back into their chambers, and by now the sun was high in the sky.
Kaoru bolted upright, alarm bells ringing in her head. "Shimatta, I had promised to teach the Norimatsu boys today!" She promptly sprang out of bed. Their livelihood still depended on the meager income she brought in as a kenjutsu instructor, and considering the exceptional generosity of the Norimatsu family it would have been downright criminal to pass up on this chance. "Kenshin, I'm sorry, but I have to go now!"
The handsome redhead beside her stirred and rubbed his sleepy eyes, but he was alert mere seconds later. A faint scent of bamboo still lingered in his hair. "Kaoru, this one is sorry to have made you late for your lesson. Please let this one prepare some food before you go."
"Thank you, Kenshin, and it's okay, I don't have to get there till past noon." Her sleeping yukata was already coming off in favor of a set of distinctively well-worn white training gi and dark blue hakama.
Politely refraining from staring, the swordsman exited through the shoji doors of their bedroom and made his way to the kitchen as his wife finished changing and grooming herself. Inwardly, he sighed because an impending conversation still had to be had regarding last night's incident. It would have to wait until evening, then.
Cooking rice would have taken an hour longer he had available, so Kenshin was left with little choice but to serve his wife some pickled vegetables and eggs. He frowned, worried that it wouldn't be nearly enough to sustain his beloved throughout the day's workouts. Kaoru strode into the dining area and kissed his cheek before eating hurriedly, not minding the meal's meagerness in the least bit. Then she was off, a large bag of training gear slung over one shoulder, bokken in hand. "I will be back before dinner!" she called out cheerfully with a wave.
Watching the woman he married cross the dojo gate, Kenshin couldn't help but smile in wonder and amazement at how her light never seemed to dim in the face of his shadow.
The day passed like any other, with the former rurouni impeccably attending to his househusbandly duties. The floors gleamed with mirror-like polish, laundry scrubbed and neatly folded away, a crackling fire lit under the bath house, and a humble yet scrumptious dinner of rice, miso soup, grilled fish, and vegetables set freshly steaming on the table. He had made sure to prepare an extra large portion for his lady tonight, and perked up when he sensed her approaching.
"Tadaima, Kenshin!" Kaoru called out from the gate. The sunset bathed their grounds in a wash of ocher, casting an even rosier glow on her fetchingly smooth, flushed cheeks. His eyes warmed at her sight.
"Welcome home, Kaoru, did you have a nice day?" He sauntered over to meet her halfway and captured her in a hug. It was nice, being able to indulge in her tender touch each day. Even while covered in sweat-drenched fabric a sweet scent wafted from her that made his head feel light.
"Mmmhmm, the boys are improving rapidly, and I think it would be exciting to have them spar with Yahiko soon," Kaoru quipped in slightly muffled fashion from his shoulder. She pulled away from the embrace to look at him. Her heart beat with gladness at coming home to rest in the soft gaze of her husband's amethyst eyes. The shihandai tilted her head up and planted a kiss on his nose.
"I'll get cleaned up and then let's eat!" she announced cheerily, before scurrying away to the bath house, leaving an imprint of her firm curves still on his body. Kenshin chuckled to himself. He certainly would have joined her, but knew that if he did so their food would be left unpalatably cold by the time they were finished.
Sounds of light banter and occasional laughter emanated from the Kamiya dojo dining room. The Himuras sat across from each other jointly partaking in the evening meal, chattering about Kaoru's students and the potential of increasing the enrollment list, especially now that her reputation as an excellent kenjutsu teacher was growing.
Since their return from Enishi's island, talk of alluring mysteries surrounding the dojo had only intensified, which the townspeople knew had survived a vicious onslaught recently, and more shockingly, how its young female assistant master had supposedly come back from the dead. Kenshin himself had once again overheard such delicious gossip concerning their state of affairs while at the markets today.
Fortunately, public opinion on them seemed to rest somewhere between curious intrigue and admiration, and as per standard social custom, nobody dared to ask directly about the details. The side-effect of all this attention was that scores of young men, and a few young women, were becoming more interested in learning the Kamiya Kasshin style.
Kaoru kept up her smile and cheer throughout the discussion, nodding and waving her hands animatedly, but despite the twinkle in her eyes Kenshin could plainly see an undercurrent of worry. As the food disappeared from their plates their light conversation came to a natural close. He adjusted his grip on his cup of tea. A moment of awkward silence passed.
"So… Kenshin, are you alright?"
Kaoru was looking at him seriously now. His eyes met hers with sheepish tenderness.
"Hai, Kaoru," he said, scratching the back of his head. "This one apologizes about last night, and also, for once again failing to be forthcoming prior to this."
She shook her head and reached out to hold his hand, gently prompting him to continue.
"Truthfully, this one's mood can darken once in a while, that it can. Of course, you are not to blame for these occurrences. This one has felt only deep contentment by your side." He stroked her thumb tenderly. "The recent darkness has come from witnessing a series of ill-fated events on the streets. Innocent people continue to suffer under the thoughtless actions of a few, and while this one fully understands how naïve it sounds, this one wishes the world has changed more than that."
Kenshin lowered his head, obscuring his eyes with his bangs. Kaoru held both his hands now. "Kenshin… you know you're not responsible for saving the world," she reminded softly.
She had heard the news of attacks by thugs and ex-samurai, and considered these incidents to be an unfortunate fact of life. Inevitable tragedies have always ripped through the town at some point or another, being merely things to brace for and then release after passing. Even the police had no means of preventing them and were left only to pick up the pieces in the aftermath. Yet, a part of her knew that it was equally inevitable for her noble-hearted husband to be affected by these things. It was his true nature to care for others, after all.
A feeling of frustration welled up inside her, sparked from the injustice of his continued suffering on everyone else's behalf. "Mou, Kenshin, you've worked so hard and fought for so long. You can't keep piling these burdens on your shoulders!" She exclaimed, more forcefully than she really intended. "You have to let some things go!"
Kenshin met her pointed gaze and exhaled a drawn-out breath with a small smile. She was right of course.
"This one understands the truth of your words. Thank you for giving this one some much-needed reminding, Kaoru, and especially for your concern. You are truly kind, that you are." He gave her hands a squeeze.
"To clear the darkness within, this one will sometimes have to release his Ki in a secluded area. There is a bamboo forest that is off the beaten path by the river, and this one will go in the early mornings should the need arise. If you find this one gone when you wake up, please know that this one has not abandoned you," he looked at her intently to emphasize that particular point. He did not want her to feel left alone ever again.
"If you wish, you may go to find this one there, but please call out from the edge of the forest, and this one will come to meet you," he added, knowing the force of his Ki can be tremendous and harming her with it was the last of his wishes.
Kaoru nodded. "Alright, I understand. Please don't hesitate to do whatever you feel is best for your well-being." A flash of her memory replayed an instance of once finding him shrouded among the bamboo with the help of Tsubame's directions. At the time his true purpose was lost on her, and innocently she'd assumed that he was simply enjoying a quiet meditation in the forest. Her brow knotted imperceptibly. She should have asked earlier.
Rising slightly from her seated position, Kaoru reached over to touch his face. She brushed his auburn bangs aside and trailed her fingers down his cheek. Her voice grew tender, soft gaze resting on his.
"You know that I love you, Kenshin. I want you to be at peace."
At this, the battle-worn soldier's heart swelled, full of all the light that Kaoru bathes him in. He stared into the depths of affection stretching out from within her ocean blue eyes, a smile blooming on his face. If not for the table between them, he would have closed the gap between their lips. "Thank you, Kaoru. Truly."
Satisfied that her words have reached the core of his being, Kaoru sat back beaming. "Mou, you don't even need to thank me, Kenshin no baka!"
The ex-rurouni held up his hands and laughed at her jibe. In truth, he was relieved. He had somewhat expected her to object and press for further details, but at the same time it was so characteristically Kaoru to just accept his ways and move forward.
With the tension abated, they proceeded to put away their dishes and engaged in light banter afterwards, gossiping about Yahiko and his favorite shy little waitress.
It was only late at night while securely snuggled under the futon that Kenshin drew his precious wife close and kissed her gratefully.
"This one loves you too, Kaoru," he said, in reply to the sweet words she had uttered earlier. His lady pressed herself closer into him, resting her head in the space between his neck and shoulders. Though she knew her husband's love was as sure as the sun's rise every morning, Kaoru cherished the few times Kenshin verbalized his feelings, being occasions that never failed to set butterflies aflutter in her stomach. She briefly wondered if he could feel her face redden against his skin, but the thought became irrelevant once she responded back with a kiss. Kenshin deepened the press of their lips eagerly, one hand gently stroking down her back to the curves of her hips.
They indulged in the bliss of marital passion that evening, bodies rocking together in time with the rhythm of their hearts.
In the following month, when Kaoru awoke to empty sheets beside her, not a sliver of worry or trepidation crossed her mind. She didn't yet know that a shadowed corner would remain within her husband's heart.
