a/n: This one is by far, my favorite of the drabbles I've created. It's based a dream I had and it just fit so perfectly... So here it is! Read it through and lemme know what you think! As always, reviews are cherished and appreciated. Not to mention motivating.

Disclaimer: I don't own RK.

Defying Duty

She was going to scream if she didn't find him. That much she was sure of. She just couldn't do it anymore. She didn't dare think of what her mother's opinion on the matter might be. As it was, she was fairly certain her mother would do something horrible to her if she found out exactly why she had left her own engagement dinner.

The thought caused her to shudder and give a sniffle. She had been crying on and off for the last two days and as she thought about her goal her tears flowed faster. She had to find him. He was usually floating around somewhere near the gardens...

That was when she heard it. Someone was playing the piano. She almost laughed. Of course! The only thing he loved more than the gardens was the vast music room where everything echoed, making it sound that much more beautiful.

Her pace increased as she grew closer to the door until she was practically running. She burst through the door to find him seated at the piano, just like she'd thought he would be. A sob of pure relief escaped her and he turned his head.

"Kaoru?"

She couldn't answer. Instead she forced herself to walk a sedate pace over to the bench and sit down next to him before she threw her arms around him and buried her face in his chest. She couldn't talk; not when her tears were choking her.

After a few seconds, his arms came around her and he mumbled soothing things as his hands slowly started rubbing up and down her back. He pressed a soft kiss to her hair line as she began to calm down. Even though her sobs were dying down, her fingers remained tightly entangled in the material of his shirt.

"Kaoru?" he asked again.

She shook her head against his chest and held him tighter.

"Kao-chan!" They both turned to look at the perky voice that had intruded.

"Misao," Kaoru managed. "Can you-"

"Need a minute?" she asked understandingly, smiling sadly.

"Yes."

"I'll stall for you," she promised with a wink as she bounced out of the room saying, "She's not in the music room!"

Kaoru sighed and pulled herself away from him with great effort. "Kenshin-"

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to," he assured, reluctantly releasing her.

"I want to, though," she returned, standing up.

He followed suit, staring at her the entire time. She gave him a weak smile before turning into him again. She needed to lean on him, on his strength, if she was going to tell him.

He shook his head with a small smile and gathered her into his arms for the second time as she laid her cheek against his shoulder.

"I can't," she whispered desperately, clinging to him. "I just can't."

"You can't what?" he asked softly, his arms tightening around her in response.

"I can't do it," she tried to elaborate. "I can't marry, Enishi."

"Kaoru-" He started to pull away, but she wouldn't let him.

"Kenshin, I can't do it! I don't love him-"

"And what would Her Highness have to say about that?"

"I don't care," she muttered, lifting her head off his shoulder to meet his questioning eyes. "I can't keep lying to myself the way I have been."

"Kaoru, what are you trying to say? You're talking in half formed sentences that make no sense on their own," he informed her.

"Kenshin, there's only one man I'm interested in marrying," she told him, her arms moving up to twine around his neck.

He sighed and started to shake his head, "Your mother-"

"I don't care! Kenshin, don't you see? I-"

"Kaoru, please think for a moment," he pleaded. "What would your mother, Her Highness," he emphasized, "have to say if she found out you were stealing moments with a common escort like me?"

"I told you, I don't care," she reaffirmed, tilting her head into that stubborn pose he knew only too well. She wore it every time she walked into a ball room, expecting a fight. "Don't you see?" she started to say, pushing him back with gentle hands until his back hit the wall. "You're the only one I want."

And with that her lips covered his. The inexperience in the way she pressed her lips to his was evident, but he didn't care. His arms steeled around her waist, pressing her closer to him so that they were flush against each other. Her fingers had moved up from his neck to tangle in his hair, holding him so that he couldn't escape; not that he'd want to.

Her shy tongue slid out to touch his lips, trying to find a way to increase this experience, make it better. He smiled knowingly and opened his mouth for her exploration. At first, she was unsure how to proceed, but he was patient and her tongue eased its way into his mouth and brushed against his tongue. It only took her a second to decide that she rather liked this and began to improvise without worrying that she was doing something wrong.

His hands were gripping her hips tightly in an effort not to lose control. This was her first kiss and if she wanted to hold the reins, he was going to let her; even if it killed him. So he followed her movements. It was all he could do until she drew his tongue into her mouth before she sucked on it experimentally. His mind flashed briefly white and he knew he had to end it.

He carefully pulled away, panting. She was in much the same condition, but she was still trying to tug his face back to hers. He laughed and shook his head, choosing to hug her instead.

"Not today, little one," he said. "You tempt me so."

"Mmm," she responded, pressing a gentle kiss to the skin of his neck. "Kenshin?"

"Yes?"

"I love you," she murmured, holding him tightly.

He smiled and said the words back, easing her head up so he could look at her.

And then he kissed her.

Owari

a/n: I'm undecided if I'm going to make it into a full fic. I just might. Anyhoo, leave a comment, please, telling me what you think. If you have an opinion as to making it a full blown fic with background and all that fancy stuff that's associated with a plot, express it via review! Thanks!