Author's note: to all those patiently waiting readers this is the next chapter I hope you all like. - Rei


Summery: There is no other way to put this. Everything has shot straight to hell. All the lies are revealed and every truth comes to the surface. What will happen after that, only you know.


It was late into the night and Kaoru sat watching over her recovering student. Pain and fatigue gnawed at her poor mind but the kendo instructor refused to give into the call of sleep, at least not until Aoshi retuned. All the Kenshingumi were injured one way or another. And Kaoru wouldn't feel at ease until all of her 'family' was safe. She didn't even bother looking up when she heard muted footsteps through the door.

"You need to rest Kaoru"

The shinai held back an unconscious shiver of arousal at the sound of her secret beloved's voice. This was not the time or the place to be dominated by overactive hormones.

"So should you" she retorted, trying to sound like she would argue tooth and nail

This only made the former hitokiri laugh. All spirit and fire that was his Kaoru. Wrapping his arms around her petite waist Kenshin effortlessly pulled Kaoru into his lap. Kaoru didn't bother to fight she was too tired both physically and emotionally. The kenjitsu teacher buried her cheek into the crock of the former manslayer's neck and breathed in his scent. He smelled of pinewood and earth mixed in exotic fruits.

The feel of his bare skin against hers own was tantalizing in the sense of pure comfort and the steady beat of his heart threatened to lull Kaoru to sleep. She fought the drowsiness, Aoshi wasn't back yet and Kaoru was in no hurry to have nightmares. Not to mention she was still uncomfortable with the idea of the Battousai left to his own devices.

"You have a lot of explaining to do Kaoru"

"The Rurouni is taking a nap now Kaoru"

"Why are you here Battousai" she asked softly

The manslayer's arms tightened around Kaoru's waist a purely possessive gesture. He closed his honeyed orbs not at all surprised by his beloved's question.

"They hurt you" he replied simply

The kenjitsu instructor burrowed deeper into his embrace careful to avoid her injured thigh.

"That doesn't explain anything Kenshin"

He chuckled, "then let me show you"

Kenshin moved so quickly Kaoru was unable to counter him. Taking hold of her long raven locks and wrapping the black mass around his fist, Kenshin tilted Kaoru's head back. Surprised sapphire depths met sinful molten gold. Unconsciously the kendo instructor's hands came up to grip Kenshin's shoulders as she unwillingly arched into the former hitokiri's embrace in order to relieve the slight pressure on her scalp.

Then he did the unimaginable Kenshin kissed her. But it wasn't just a simple touch of the lips it was a soul smoldering life-altering meeting between two souls that became as one. The former assassin poured all that he was into that one kiss, the good and the bad.

Had she been standing Kaoru would collapsed with the intensity of which Kenshin used to make love to her mouth. Kaoru could do nothing save to cling to her flame haired deity and become consumed by him until they were both gasping for air once it ended.

"This is why koishii, there will be no more lies, no more secrets, and no more masks between us," Kenshin panted

Dazed, Kaoru could say nothing in reply. Kenshin took advantage of Kaoru's state and picked her up bridle style and using his god like speed raced to the spare room given to him. In her mind Kaoru was screaming into the silence. Screaming for Kenshin to stop, nothing good could ever come of a romance between them. They would just keep on hurting each other.

And beyond all these things the shinkan was absolutely terrified of knowing the wanderer's love only to lose him. Yet she said nothing even as the former assassin tucked her into his futon and lay behind her with his lightly muscled arms firmly around her waist and his face nuzzling the nape of her neck.

They lay there saying nothing, Kenshin took comfort of Kaoru merely being there safe and Kaoru unwillingly relaxed listened to Kenshin's breathing. Eventually they both fell asleep barely hearing Aoshi enter into the clinic in which they now slept.


The Okashira was tired dirty and bloody from his appointed task but he dared not to disturb any of the former Kamiya dojo residence.

Aoshi immediately looked for the room where he knew Misao resided in. He found it easily enough, it was the room closest to the front door just like he taught her years ago. Sliding the shoji open Aoshi was treated to the sight of his former ward fully awake and waiting for him.

Aoshi couldn't stop the smile that made its way to his face if he tried. Misao half lay spread across a large futon with her hair unbraided and her body scantly clad in a thin yukata. A saucy smile was firmly implanted onto her petal pink lips while her blue green eyes with an infinite amount of love and more than a healthy dose of lust. The Okashira was still in awe at how this girl, no woman could actually love someone like him after all the trouble he put her through.

Shrugging out of his soiled clothes Aoshi joined his lover in the futon, kissing her passionately. No words were exchanged between them that night. None were needed.


Morning came all too soon in Kaoru Kamiya's opinion. Though her physical fatigue had faded into a dull ache the mental scaring had only reopened upon her awakening. She was all too aware that the destruction of her childhood home was only the beginning of her trouble. There was still Kenshin and the others to consider.

'No way in hell they're gonna let this go' she thought miserably

Suddenly the arm around her waist tightened and she felt the soft wafting breath near her ear come closer. Kaoru fought the urge to move. Perhaps she could get away with pretending to still be asleep.

"No more lies Kaoru"

'Or not' she sighed

Kenshin smiled against her neck, " Good morning koishii"

'No, not really', "Don't call me that"

The earlier amusement that rolled off of the former hitokiri was gone. In its place was a possessiveness that the Battousai was all too aware of. He shifted his position so that he was laying on top his spitfire. Kaoru of course tried to fight him; she could not look at him in the eyes without faltering.

There was too much in between them, both good and bad. Yet she could do nothing but turn her head away from him. Her legs were entangled with his and her arms were trapped in between their chests.

"Why do you continue to hide from me, why do you fear me so"? He breathed

Kaoru continued to stare off into the nothingness, praying that Kenshin would stop. The hurt in his tone was not beyond Kaoru. But she didn't want to have these feelings for Kenshin, it hurt too much as it was.

"Kaoru look at me"

Said kendo instructor grinded her teeth fighting every impulse to give into the plea that was so clearly stated in Kenshin's voice. However her wanderer was more than clever enough to do the one thing that would bring her to her knees, he begged.

"Please Kaoru, haven't you suffered enough, haven't we suffered enough"

Kaoru couldn't prevent the tears that stung her eyes from falling as she finally regarded the red head with navy eyes.

"Don't you get it Kenshin, you've taken over me, every move, every word, every, touch is imprinted onto my memory. I can't do this not now, not ever those bastards in the family will do everything in their power to either reclaim or kill me"

She managed to push him off of her only to find herself straddling the former manslayer as he told a firm hold on her thighs.

Kenshin glared up at the kenjitsu instructor, "You think I can't protect myself"

"Without killing, no Kenshin you can't, if yesterday was any indication" she retorted

Kenshin squeezed Kaoru's thigh in a warning manner.

" Place nice,I made my decision when I took that man's life yesterday"

"And your path to redemption"?

Abruptly Kenshin sat up and kissed Kaoru. Unlike last time the desperation was gone while the hunger remained. At first it was only a gentle touch of lips. It was as if they were testing each other, learning one another. Then while using one hand to balance the upper half of his body Kenshin shamelessly groped at Kaoru's rear end. Unconsciously Kaoru responded her hands buried in his fiery locks. Stroking his tongue against Kaoru's closed lips silently asking for entrance. The shinai complied.

'She taste like cherries' he noted

Delving deeper the former hitokiri tasted every aspect of Kaoru's sweet mouth taking in the feeling of her tongue moving almost hesitantly against her own. Only when Kaoru completely gave into her passions did Kenshin lightened the intensity of the kiss before reluctantly breaking away. Kenshin did not remove his hand from Kaoru's rear end though as he stared into her dazed night sky orbs.

"I have found it all along"

Snapping out of her stupor Kaoru did the only thing she could think to do, she argued.

"What will happen to Ayame and Suzume, Gensai sensei is most likely dead"

A mischievous glint entered the now violet orbs, so she wasn't challenging his claim over her anymore, 'perfect'.

"They are a part of our family now might as well raise them as our own"

"Sano, Megumi, and Yahiko"?

"Its time to tell the truth Kaoru, I deserve to know, they deserve to know"

"They'll never stop hunting us"

Kenshin smirked, "my enemies or yours"?

'Touché', "Both and lets not forget the government, when the shit hits the fan and lover, it will, we won't be able to hold them off forever"

Kenshin's smirk turned into a true smile, " you called me lover"

"Damn it Kenshin, listen to me"! Kaoru hissed

Said former assassin merely chuckled at the flustered look on his soon to be life partner's face. Dangerous she might be but Kaoru Kamiya would never truly hurt the ones she loved if she could help it.

"I am listening koishii and you are running out of bad excuses to why this won't work"

Kaoru sighed, "Am I that obvious"?

"Hardly, I just know what to look for"

"This is going to be impossible"

Kissing the shinkan's nose Kenshin smiled, "no, it merely be difficult and what fun would there be if it was easy"?

Kaoru nearly chocked at the sincerity in the former hitokiri's voice.

"Your insane" she said without thought.

"I love you too Kaoru" he retorted with a smile.

He wasn't disappointed with Kaoru's answering glare.