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Chapter 2: Why Can't Dreams Be Real Too?

Kaoru awoke the next morning in sad spirits. "I've had so many opportunities to tell him my feelings the past few weeks. I'm just too much of a chicken to do it. I have to make myself do it, this week. I'll just have to get him alone and tell him that I love him." When she stood she noticed how damp the floor next to her futon was. "Hmm…" she wondered as she got dressed in her usual training outfit before heading to breakfast. Little did she know that a certain rooster-head had been listening on the other side of the door.

"Good-morning Kaoru-dono," the red-haired rurouni said cheerily as she entered the kitchen. "Breakfast is almost done, that it is. Would you like some tea while you wait?"

"I'm fine Kenshin, I can wait." She sat down to watch him as he worked. "I could tell him now. Nobody else is awake yet. Yahiko is sleeping in and Sano's not here yet. Oh, why can't I just say 'Kenshin, I love you.' and be done with it. Why does this have to be so hard. Okay, here goes nothing." "Kenshin, I want to talk to you, seriously."

"Hai, Kaoru-dono, what is it?"

"Kenshin, I l—"

"Good-morning everybody," Sano said loudly as he sauntered into the room. "Kenshin, have you got any plans for today? There's something that I'd really like to talk to you about."

"Sano, you know that this one has chores that must be done before anything else."

"Well this is important! Can't your chores wait a little while? It's about K—"

"Sanosuke, would you shut up for two seconds?" Kaoru yelled across the room.

"Sorry, Jou-Chan. I didn't see you over there," he smiled and rubbed the back of his head. "That was close."

"Well, since you just barged onto my property and interrupted a very important conversation, and since you are constantly free-loading off me, why don't you help Kenshin with his chores for once? It might do you both some good. Then you would have more time to talk about whatever is soooo important."

"That sounds good to this one, that it does," said Kenshin passively.

"Hey! Don't I get a say in this?" Sano spluttered.

"Give one reason why you should and maybe I'll reconsider," she said menacingly.

Later that day while Kaoru and Yahiko trained inside the dojo, Kenshin and Sano did the laundry. "What did you want to talk about this morning?" Kenshin asked, up to his elbows in soap suds.

"How have things been going between you and Jou-Chan lately?"

"What makes you ask such a question?" he asked rather sharply.

"Just curious. I've been observing you two for a while and I've heard and seen things that just make me wonder what's going on? That's all."

"Sano, this one knows you too well to know that that is not all. If you would not mind, would you come into town with this one later? There are some things that need to be discussed."

"Sure."

"Can you hear what they're saying?"

"No I can't. Why do we have to spy on Kenshin anyway? It's usually me and Sano spying on you, Kaoru. This just feels wrong." Yahiko stated confusedly.

"Yahiko, hush. As my student, you should do as I say. Besides, there's nothing wrong with what we're doing is there? We are simply watching to of our friends do the laundry. Nothing more," she said as she smiled innocently at her apprentice. "Why can't they just talk a little louder?" "Why can't Sano just leave? He makes me nervous at times like these."

"Well ugly, if you want to know so badly, why don't you just go and ask them yourself," he smirked.

Kaoru looked at Yahiko full of rage and growled, "Why go myself when I can send you for me?" With that she threw him out the door and hollered "And don't come back in here if you don't have what I sent you for! And don't run off either or you can feed yourself tonight!" Then as an afterthought, she added, "Sano, if Yahiko doesn't eat tonight, then you don't either! Got it?" She turned on her heel and stormed into the dojo. The others waited to hear her practicing before speaking.

All Kenshin had to say was: "Oro?"

"That ugly girl wants to know when your leaving? She says she's nervous about something." He thought for a moment. "Oh, and she also wants to know what the two of you were talking about?"

"We were just planning on going shopping later, you brat," Sano said.

"Who're you calling a brat you free-loader?" he retorted.

Inside the dojo, Kaoru sighed. "I love that man. I don't know if I'd be able to live if he rejected me." Another sigh. "There's just got to be a way that I can get him alone. Alone with the man I love." She began to giggle as her vivid imagination took over. "I wonder if he's as talented in bed as he is with his sword. He's good at everything else, why should that aspect be different? But, then why has he not returned my feelings? Duh, because you haven't shown them to him! I wonder if Yahiko wouldn't mind helping things out a bit? Hmm…"

When Kaoru heard to shoji door slide open, she thought it was Yahiko. "So did you find—." She stopped when she saw the man who had occupied her thoughts in the previous minutes standing before her. "Oh, Kenshin. It's you. You startled me, I thought it was Yahiko." She smiled as innocently as she could as he walked towards her.

Kenshin smiled back and said, "Kaoru-dono, why did you send Yahiko to talk to us? If you wanted to know, I'd have told you myself." She blushed and he continued. "Kaoru-dono, Sano and I were planning on going shopping this afternoon, that we were. That is if you don't mind?"

"Why would I mind Kenshin? I've got things that I need to do around here anyway. You haven't been out lately, go and have some fun. Just be back before dark, okay?"

"Certainly, Kaoru-dono. It would appear that your lesson is over for the day; the bath is already prepared for you. Would you like to take one now?"

"That'd be great! I'll got get my things," she said before she rushed outside.

"Take your time while the fire heats up," he called after her.

"Okay."

By the time she entered the bathhouse the water was steaming. "Wow!" "The water is perfect. Arigato Kenshin."

"No trouble, Kaoru-dono. I just sent Sano and Yahiko for some more tofu. There wasn't quite enough for lunch. Sessha has other things to attend to, that he does; he won't bother you any longer now."

Kaoru sunk down into the warm water to relax. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. It felt so good against her skin. But what she really wanted to feel against her skin was the skin of a certain rurouni.

"Now's my chance." She waited until she couldn't hear Kenshin's footsteps anymore and screamed.

"Kaoru." Kenshin rushed into the bathhouse with his sakabato drawn. He saw danger as soon as he entered, but it wasn't the type he had expected.

Kaoru was looking up at him smiling very enticingly. "K-K-Kaoru-dono!" he said shocked. "Sessha thought you were in some kind of trouble." "But it seems I'm the one who is about to be in trouble," he thought as he felt a familiar tightening in his lower region. He could see the object of his affection in her entirety. The perfection of her body made him ache inside, for he knew he couldn't have her. He covered his eyes and apologized. But, when he went to leave, he heard her rise out of the water.

He stood dead in his tracks as Kaoru slowly walked up behind him. He felt her wet arms close around his torso and her slim body press against his backside, soaking the material. She stood on tiptoe to reach his earlobe and began to gently nibble. "You're stiff as a board, Kenshin," she purred. "Why don't you relax a little? Are you afraid of me?"

He felt himself tighten in response to her voice. "Oh my…" She began to slide his gi off his shoulders. "Kaoru-dono—why are you doing this?" he asked breathlessly. She continued to undress him as his breath became more ragged. When she was finished she pressed her body to the back of his for the first time and began to gently kiss the back of his neck. When he could take no more of her torture he broke the embrace and turned to face his seductress.

When she saw the look on her love's face, tears began to form in her eyes. "Did I do something wrong, Kenshin?" Then as she lowered her head her eyes traveled down his toned body to a sight that encouraged her, "You are impressive, aren't you Kenshin?" He blushed and closed his eyes.

Big mistake.

As soon as she saw his eyes close she grabbed him in her hand, pressed herself against him, and began to kiss him. Kenshin was so startled that he lost his balance and fell backwards only to find that his beautiful woman was straddling him. "What the hell is going on here? I thought Kaoru would be mad at me for walking in on her in the bath, but her she is naked and on top of me! Oro!" "Kaoru, could you please explain what's going on."

She paused for a moment and dropped her head. "Is something wrong Kaoru? Did I say something to upset you?"

"You said Kaoru," she looked back up at him. "Not Kaoru-dono. Just Kaoru." He sighed and reached up to meet her lips with his.

Kenshin kissed his love as if his life depended upon it. He caressed her lips with his own, he gently nibbled on them. She began to make small noises of pleasure. He requested entry to her mouth with his tongue. When she granted it, it forced a low moan to emerge from his throat. His arms were wrapped around her slender body, pressing her to him. She could feel the hard swell of his manhood pressed against her stomach. He deepened the kiss, pouring all his emotions into it. She responded with her own passion.

When at last they broke for air, no words needed to be said. They had exchanged everything in that kiss. When Kaoru looked into his eyes she noticed that they had turned form violet to amber. He held her gaze and looked lovingly upon her. Kaoru got to her feet but never broke their eye contact. When she held her hand out, he responded by standing next to her. She took his hand and led him towards that bath. He gently lowered he into the still warm water. He was about to join her when a violent noise interrupted the two lovers.

"KEN-SHIN!"

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