The blankets were bunched under Kaoru on one side of the futon. The summer air had felt suffocating, but without the coverings she was a little chilly. So she was curled around them. Perhaps it was a good thing Kenshin hadn't come home tonight, it was too hot to be sharing bed with anyone right now. By the second day of his trip, a messenger had come saying that Megumi would need Kenshin's help for longer than previously thought. And was that alright with Ms. Kaoru? Kaoru had sent the boy back saying that Kenshin should stay as long as he was needed. Now it was going on a week since her husband had left. So much had changed in that one week. Kaoru hoped that he would be back tomorrow; she thought she might burst if she had to wait one more night to tell him.

Familiar, tabi softened footsteps sounded outside her door. She waited, knowing what would come next.

Any time Kenshin was away until late in the night, her husband would slide the shoji to their room open to check on her before going to sleep in his old room. She knew he slept there because he didn't want to wake her, she'd never told him that she often lay awake in bed until he would come home. Kaoru would wait for a few moments before getting up and following him to quietly slip beneath the covers next to him.

"Did I wake you?" he would ask. To which she would say no, she'd just dreamed that he was home. And then she would give a smile and kiss, and sometimes something more if he wasn't already half asleep.

Determined not alert him to the fact that she'd been waiting, however unconsciously, Kaoru listened as her shoji slid open. There was the dull thunk of him placing the sword in its place against the wall. This was different. His hakama and gi rustled to floor as he dressed for bed. Kneeling next to her, he brushed the hair from her face and placed a kiss on her cheek before laying down next to her. She listened as his breathing slowed somewhat. With an exasperated sigh, she turned to look at him. Shifting, she took his hand in hers, he was trembling. Surprised eyes opened. She waited for that question and the apology. Neither came. Instead, his other arm grabbed her around the waist without warning, pulling her as tight to him as he could without hurting her—he melded to her. Kaoru felt his nose touching her scalp as he breathed her in. Despite the heat, she found comfort in having him pressed tightly behind, holding her as though she could fly away. They'd missed each other equally.

"Kenshin? Are you alright?" she asked, covering his hands with her own.

"Now."

"The dream?" She'd woken many nights to find him sitting outside their room watching the sky. He'd told her the worst times were when he dreamt about all that had happened with Enishi. And about her getting shot for him, a fear that had never been realized in life surfaced again and again in his dreams.

"Every night," he murmured. "I'm sorry I was away for so long. You must've thought I wasn't coming back."

"Why would I?"

"What you said, I know you're afraid that I might start wandering again like I did when I went to Kyoto. I notice things." Kaoru turned her body to face her husband, letting as little space part them as possible.

"If you could see you eyes right now, Kenshin," she whispered. "I notice things too. Your eyes look like you were drowning and I saved you. It's like you are suddenly able to breathe again. You get that look any time you're away from more than a few hours. I know you'll be back. And you told me, that is all I need to know you'll return. And Kenshin," she began as an afterthought, pulling away from him.

"Hm?"

"I can't breathe without you either," she said gently.

"Kaoru," he breathed. The last week flew away as she looked in his eyes. Kenshin pulled her close again, holding her like she was a glass figurine, tucking her head securely under his chin. His breathing began to slow. Her thoughts came back down to where they were, she'd forgotten.

"Kenshin, are you awake?" There was a gentle assent. He was already mostly gone. She sighed, if she told him now he'd get excited and then stay up all night thinking about it. What he needed most now was sleep, she did as well. It would have to wait until morning.

"Was there something else," he mumbled groggily.

"Not really," she replied not moving. Then without thinking, she added one more thing. "You know, I'm not letting you leave me behind again. If you do ever need to return to being a rurouni we're coming with you." She bit her lip, she should have said I. What was she thinking? Lack of sleep was making her tongue loose.

"We?" Kaoru looked up at him, the eyes that looked at her were still mostly asleep. She wasn't sure he even knew what he was asking.

"It's nothing," she replied, pecking him on the lips. "Don't think too hard about it, I'll explain in the morning," she said cuddling closer. Kenshin nodded sleepily, returning back to his descent into sleep. Wrapping an arm around him, Kaoru too, fell asleep.

Whee! Oh I've gotten some awesome reviews from this. All you people are SO great. It's so nice to have smart fans. Although, we already know what happens so... Yes, I'm a happy ending kind of girl. Things should be moving, thought provoking and end happily for the protangonist.

I hope this chapter answers your question, Scarred Sword. I'm guessing at the timeline here. But the manga took place during the year of 1878. And Kenji appears to be about 3 five years later (1883), so I'm assuming they didn't wait too long to get married. So we're gonna say that this is a few months into their marriage.

Please R&R, I'm loving your feedback!