I have to say that I'm quite happy with myself for remaining on schedule for both stories. I've managed to pump out 38 pages in the past month and it doesn't look like I'll be stopping any time soon. AND I've still managed to maintain a social life. WOO!
I feel the need to include a disclaimer before this chapter. This one alludes to the OVA, so if you have not seen it and don't want me to spoil it, don't read about the dream. I will have to refer back to it at some points, so I apologize if I give anything away. That said, I did not follow the OVA or the manga or the anime to the letter. For the most part, all of us here have seen/read any official material relating to Kenshin so I feel no need, nor do I have the desire to replicate everything. I'm doing this for my own creativity. I'd also like to point out that the age discrepancies are intentional. There simply is no way around it; in the anime Kaoru was around seven years old at the end of the war and that just doesn't work for this story. Please excuse my tweaks! Also, there is a bit of blood and gore relating to a fight scene in the dream. Sorry if that bothers you, though I imagine you wouldn't still be reading this if it would get under your skin.
That's all I've got. Happy reading and have an awesome weekend!
Content.
If Kaoru were asked to choose a single word to describe how she felt at that moment, the word would be 'content'.
Never would she have thought that she would find herself kneeling at a table across from an assassin. Not even in her wildest dreams would she have imagined that they would be sharing a meal- in a public place, and an expensive one, at that- as if they courting.
Yet, there they were, Kenshin sipping lightly at his sake between the pauses in conversation and Kaoru glancing up at him briefly when she thought he was not looking. It looked like a peaceful meal between a fresh couple, and much to Kaoru's surprise, it had been a peaceful meal.
They actually spoke of things other than a certain charm or of dreams or of magic.
Kaoru talked about how as children, she and her brother used to tickle each other mercilessly until tears poured from their eyes. She told Kenshin that when she had more students, she was going to save money to go visit the Hakkōda Mountains. It had been a dream of hers to do so since she was very young, and her eyes sparkled in determination as she vowed to see it before the end of her days.
Much to her surprise, Kenshin had actually answered questions she asked of him, as well. She learned that he secretly loved ink paintings and that his favorite season was spring because the earth was graced with new beginnings. He even proceeded to carry the conversation at some points, asking questions and listening intently to every syllable her lips formed in response.
So, yes. Kaoru could say that she was very content. It was the first day they had ever endured without screaming at each other or allowing their wild emotions to breed anger, and for that wonderful victory they were both grateful. Perhaps peace between them was attainable, after all.
"You cannot be serious!" Kaoru all but squealed in jealousy, though the smile that graced her features made Kenshin's grow even wider. "You actually met the man who wrote my favorite poem?"
"He's fairly old now, but he was in great health the last time I saw him."
"The height of his career was nearly two decades ago," Kaoru remarked, but then paused and her eyes narrowed. "Wait. How could you have recognized him ten years ago? How old are you?"
"Twenty-four."
"Really?" Kaoru said a bit loudly and quickly clamped a hand over her mouth. "Really?" she repeated in a quieter tone, scrutinizing him for the hundredth time. "You look like you're nineteen!"
A chuckle rumbled from within his chest and he smiled at her. "Is that displeasing to you?" he teased. "There are only- what? Three years between us?"
"Two," Kaoru corrected automatically.
"So you have a stronger reaction when you find out that I am two years older than you as opposed to when you thought I was three years younger?" He made it a point to lean a bit closer to her. "Is there something you would like to let me know? Perhaps that you like younger men?"
Kaoru scrunched up her nose in disgust. "Don't be ridiculous. It's just surprising that you look so much younger." Especially considering his dark, blood-stained life, though she did not voice that opinion.
Then their ages really sunk in. Kaoru was already twenty-two, which was well past the age most women wed. Still being unmarried at such an old age was often mistaken by society as an indication that something was wrong with the woman. Not to mention, it was quite undesirable by men who could easily find much younger brides.
For a male to be in his twenties before getting married was far more common, but it still made Kaoru wonder. She knew that Kenshin wouldn't have had time or likely the desire during his long time with the Choshu to find and wed a woman, but surely he had some kind of interactions…
A dark blush fluttered across Kaoru's cheeks before could finish the thought, and she panicked when she locked eyes with the man sitting across the table. He looked amused and she predicted his question before opened his mouth. The woman deftly reached for her cup of water and took a large, unbecoming gulp to allow herself a few extra frantic seconds to devise a feasible response.
"Please enlighten me," Kenshin grinned at her nervous discomfort.
"I, uh…" she stammered, already forgetting whatever silly excuse she had crafted and trying to come up with something else-
"The truth," he reminded patiently.
"No, no. It's nothing-" she assured, but stopped herself at his distrustful look. "Fine," she huffed, cheeks getting rosier and rosier by the second. She stared at her lap, twirling her fingers around an imaginary string to save herself from his stare. "It's just that it's… difficult to believe that you're still a-" Oh, for Kami's sake, Kaoru, what's wrong with you?! "That you're unmarried," she amended and chanced a look at him. Kaoru noted in alarm that his playful smirk had vanished. "No, no, no!" She spluttered. "I didn't mean it that way! I wasn't implying that the two of us…" she trailed off, knowing the likelihood of them eventually marrying was high, though not yet ready to actually admit that it could become a reality. "I mean that men your age are typically wed and-"
She never finished her thought because it was replaced by an unexpected squeak that ripped itself out of her throat. Lightning had flashed through the sky, bright enough to illuminate the restaurant through the paper screens and was immediately followed with a thundering crash. Kaoru was not the only one who had been startled, and after she and the three other women who had voiced their surprise finally calmed themselves, they exchanged abashed smiles.
Her eyes roamed back to the man across from her, only to find that he was no longer there, but was suddenly standing beside her, his right hand extended toward her to help her up. "We have to go," he said urgently, a strange look in his eyes.
Kaoru took his hand and had just enough time to ensure that he had left ample money on the table before he pulled her to the door. "We won't make it back before the storm hits."
"Yes, we will," Kenshin refuted and once the door was shut behind them, he scooped her up without warning and ran as quickly as he could.
The restaurant was not terribly far from the Kamiya residence, but Kaoru was still shocked that he had traversed the distance so quickly. Only a few droplets had gotten caught on their skin and clothing and the downpour was unleashed within two minutes of them ducking underneath the roof.
"That was close," Kaoru breathed. "Thank you- for dinner and for keeping us dry."
"Of course," he replied, though the jovial lilt had been replaced with a dull tone.
"What's wrong?"
"It's late, dragonfly. I should go-"
"Stay here for the night," she demanded before he could suggest going back out into the rain. "This storm won't lift any time soon. Here, I'll show you to one of the guest rooms."
The walk around the outer patio was silent aside from the gusty rain, which was fine; Kaoru doubted they would be able to hear each other over the howling wind, anyway. They kept as close to the inside of the porch as possible, as the outer edges of the wood already soaked with slick water.
Kaoru slid open a door of one of the outer rooms and ushered him inside. "This room was one of my favorites when I was a child. It has the best view of the blossom tree over there," she pointed out into the yard but it was too dark to see past the porch. She closed the screen and fumbled around one of the drawers for a moment before finding her target and lighting a few of the lanterns within the room. "I guess we might as well retire for the night." With a lantern in her hand, she regarded Kenshin, who had fallen strangely silent.
He finally met her eyes and offered a slight bow. "Thank you allowing me to stay tonight."
Kaoru was about to mention that she had offered for him to stay for more than just one night, but refrained from doing so. He would not have forgotten her offer so easily and she was sure he would take her up on it in time. Settling on wishing him comfortable sleep, she made her way to her own room, closing the door tightly behind herself.
What was that all about? They had actually been- dare she say it- cheerful during dinner. A thunderstorm couldn't have put him in such a somber mood, could it? Did she do something wrong? Or maybe it was something she said…
As she prepared herself for bed, she replayed the last bit of the evening's conversation. She had nearly claimed that he couldn't possibly be a virgin- thank all the gods that ever existed that she had enough sense to redirect her words at the last second. Even if he did know what she had almost said, it wouldn't have upset him that much, if at all. Honestly, the man was far too carnal to have never been with a woman. He certainly wasn't married, so perhaps he frequented brothels over the years? Was he upset because he had been banned from certain brothels for scaring the women?
She ran over many scenarios but nothing seemed logical. Not many ideas she came up with fit his personality and when they did, it was so trivial that she couldn't believe it would upset him enough to cut the evening short.
Mind set, Kaoru wrapped herself inside a futon-blanket cocoon and allowed herself to drift off to sleep. If Kenshin wouldn't tell her, his soul would.
Sleep finally claimed her and the next thing she knew, she was standing before a lilac-eyed man who seemed as if he had been waiting for her. Kaoru found herself within a warm embrace before she could exhale and tentatively her arms encircled around the man. Nearly two months had passed since she had begun to return his soul's hugs, and she had realized that the more she began to trust his soul, the less she disliked the waking Kenshin. She had even begun to grudgingly admit that she enjoyed the embraces he showered her with and the mind-numbing warmth and comfort they provided.
Kaoru closed her eyes and melted into his soul's body. "Can I ask you a question?" she murmured after a while. Knowing that he could not speak, she continued. "Why did you get upset during dinner?"
A sudden ripple in the air and a light breeze that lifted her locks signaled a change in scenery and had Kaoru holding her breath. There were many brothels in the city and around the country. She could open her eyes and see any number of them in response to her query.
Reluctantly, she released Kenshin's soul and when she looked up, the air held in her lungs rushed out.
Before her was a small house at the edge of a dusty farming village. A narrow dirt road wound up to the front door, and a large tree bowed over the roof, providing shade from the hot sun. A few paces from the tree was a large, flat stump, upon which a young man was chopping firewood. Over and over he raised the handle and brought the blade down on each piece of lumber, leaving a perfectly clean slice every time. He brushed crimson bangs from his eyes every so often, and though his weary stance and sweat-slicked skin indicated that he had been at it for hours, he refused to take a break.
Kaoru watched him for several long moments, attempting to determine how old this Kenshin was. Fifteen? Sixteen? The Kenshin she knew looked very young, but the man chopping wood before her was still on the horizon of adulthood. She was so entranced by him, in fact, that she nearly shrieked in surprise when she saw a very young woman standing half way between him and the house. Kaoru hadn't even seen her emerge from the house.
She was beautiful, Kaoru decided instantly, though her solemn expression and stiff posture gave Kaoru the impression that a hard life had a large part in shaping her serious personality. The moment Kenshin looked up to meet her gaze, Kaoru saw the woman's eyes glimmer with an emotion Kaoru had difficulty identifying. Regardless, it was something positive, something that made the woman happy… and it made Kaoru's insides squirm uncomfortably.
She was the one, then. The one who his thoughts had drifted to during dinner. She was the woman Kenshin had shared his bed with.
He followed her inside the house and they disappeared behind the door flap.
No… it was not the woman he only shared his bed with.
This was the woman he had shared a house with, as well. A home.
A life.
Kaoru felt sick as she stared at the door. What happened to her? Why wasn't Kenshin with her now?
Immediately, the scenery around her swirled as if it was being sucked into a whirlpool, all the colors bleeding together until they ran dull and gray. Kaoru felt like her body was also being sucked into the vortex and her mind swam in dizziness until everything calmed down again and flattened out to form the next scene. Without really intending to, she had asked Kenshin's soul a question and it had answered without hesitation.
Reluctantly, Kaoru opened her eyes to behold the scene before her, and instantly regretted asking the question. The same young Kenshin was stumbling along snow-coated ground as if he was seconds from dropping to his knees in exhaustion. Blood soaked through his clothing and Kaoru could not tell how much of it was his own as it dripped down to taint the perfect snow beneath him. His eyes were bleary and he struggled to focus as a large, heavily-muscled man sprinted at him.
Kenshin struggled, barely managing to execute a lightning-quick lateral swing. The man evaded it easily enough and brought his fist up against Kenshin's chin with such force that it sent him sprawling backward. Kenshin caught himself and begun swinging wildly, desperately trying to slice just enough flesh to slow the man down. Kenshin was far too weary to defend all angles properly and the man flitted too close in a moment of hesitation, hitting Kenshin so hard that he was sent spiraling to the ground.
Again, his cat-like reflexes saved him from a vicious fall, but the man was on him once more, mercilessly throwing his fist into Kenshin's abdomen and then bringing all of his strength down on his spine.
"STOP!" Kaoru shrieked, tears springing to her eyes, unable to bear watching him being tormented so ruthlessly. She could hear his bones creaking and the sickening sound of knotted muscles rolling underneath flesh. Blood smeared deeper into his skin and snow clung to his clothing as he hit the ground, leaving him soaked to the core. "NO!" She could almost feel the pain herself and all she wanted to do was run between them and pry the man away from Kenshin. "PLEASE STOP!" she sobbed.
Any other man would have been rendered immobile, but Kenshin managed to duck out of the way of the man's next blow, only to be caught again in a barrage of unrelenting punches. With some unexpected bout of determination, Kenshin rolled away from the man, clutching the hilt of his sword as if it were the only thing keeping him alive. Kaoru stared at him, horror-struck, as he heaved each breath into his lungs and almost choked the air back out. His eyes were unfocused now and he looked as if he was relying on every sense other than his vision to dodge the next round of attacks.
Like a snake coiling in on itself, the young samurai crouched low and then ripped himself off the ground, releasing a blood-curdling shout of rage. Summoning all the energy he had left, Kenshin wrapped both hands around his hilt, fingers locking into place over the tight folds of frayed fabric, and ran at the attacker.
Without warning, Kaoru was struck with an overwhelming sense of queasiness and when she blinked, she realized that the woman from the previous memory had sprinted right through Kaoru, leaving her trembling as her skin slowly eased back into place. Yet, as uncomfortable as that was, Kaoru ignored it, her eyes darting back up to witness the young woman throw herself in front of the man, clutching onto the dagger he had brandished.
"NO!" Kaoru's scream echoed through the ghost-like trees, watching in horror as Kenshin's sword descended upon his foe. The blade hit the top of the man's shoulder first, but a sense of victory didn't even have time to grace Kenshin's consciousness before he felt the metal sink into more flesh that should not have been there. He blinked now, willing himself to see through the haze for the first time in several long moments, and his eyes widened in horror as blood from two different people splattered onto his face.
So stunned by what he had just done, only his reflexes allowed him to catch the woman who had fallen backwards onto him. Her shoulder and arm were sickeningly disconnected from the rest of her body, the sinews frayed apart and blood seeping out like an unbound stream.
His legs gave out and they sunk to the ground together, her head resting in his lap as he stared at her, mortified. Shakily, the woman reached up with the dagger she had stolen and pierced through Kenshin's left cheek, dragging the blade down across the other scar that was just freshly healed. He could have easily stopped her from forever scarring him, but what was a small flesh wound compared to how much his heart would suffer for his actions? How could he dare push her hand away when she was bleeding out and only had a few more breaths to draw before her last?
Kaoru's throat hurt for some reason and her knees and shoulder suddenly felt wet. Blinded by streaming tears, it took her several heartbeats to realize that she was shrieking and sobbing uncontrollably and had somehow ended up lying in the powdery snow. It was impossible to see through her tears, but she absently noticed a shadow fall across her eyes and felt arms pulling her into a warm chest.
Kenshin's soul.
How could he possibly be the one to offer her comfort when all she had done was witness the events belatedly? Kenshin had lived through it! It was wrong to seek comfort from him of all people and she fought his grasp, floundering like a fish suddenly snatched out of water.
The whirl of her surroundings was familiar enough now for Kaoru to realize that he had again changed the memory. No. She couldn't take any more. Whatever she had inadvertently asked him to show her, she didn't want it. All she wanted was to go back to the field where they always met at the beginning of every dream. All she wanted was to weep for the man who was currently sleeping in her guest room and for the soul who wanted to comfort her when it should have been the other way around. All she wanted was for him to forget such a heart-shattering memory and never have to endure anything a fraction as wicked.
But in the same breath, how could she want him to forget someone who was once dear to him? That woman had cherished him enough to risk her life and ultimately sacrifice it to save him. She had likely shaped such a significant amount of who Kenshin was today that to forsake her memory would be a terribly dishonorable crime.
No. She did not want him to forget the woman. He needed to remember her to carry her memory as some small form of gratitude for saving his life. No matter how painful the scars of the past might be, she could never wish anyone to forget the dead.
Kaoru felt grass beneath her arms and she paused long enough to open her eyes. The grassy, flower-laden meadow was exactly where Kenshin's soul had taken her back to, just as she had wanted. He sat immediately before her as if he understood that she could not possibly bear to have him comfort her, but his close proximity was enough to show that he wanted to ease her pain. A breath of relief half-escaped but was cut off as reality sunk in.
Kenshin had killed the woman he had held dear enough to share a life with. Of all the cruel, most wicked fates someone could endure, Kenshin's would rank most miserable. Not only had the man sacrificed his life to protect the innocent and to build a brighter future, but had unintentionally destroyed the only sliver of happiness he had found in years of anguish and self-loathing.
She had to do somethingand she wracked her mind to think of what would make him happier. Not that he was a miserable wreck because of the whole incident; he had clearly come to terms with what he had done. But ghosts of the past can still haunt even years later. That woman's ghost had haunted him that night and Kaoru needed to find a way to cheer him back up. After living a life of sacrifices, Kaoru would ensure that he had something positive to live for. Filled with a new sense of determination to seriously try to accept Kenshin for all that he was, Kaoru willed herself to wake. He said he was willing to make an effort to make her happier and she'd be damned if she did not do the same for him.
When Kaoru woke, her eyelids were nearly caked shut with dried tears, and she could feel streaks of tight skin on her cheeks- evidence that many of those tears had streamed across her face during the night. She carefully wiped at her eyes and stared blearily at the closed door. Through the thin paper she was able to see the beginnings of a red sunrise.
It took several long minutes of mental goading for Kaoru to ease herself out of bed, and when she did, she stumbled straight to a low basin in the corner of her room. She knelt before it, washing her face free of tear trails and then dried herself off. Taking a deep breath to steel her resolve, Kaoru stood and began to dress herself for the day.
Preparing breakfast was more of a chore than usual. The young woman frequently lost herself in the monotony of cooking, but every time she had to reach for a different ingredient, she was snapped out of her daze and forced to admit that what she had witnessed had actually transpired years ago.
She hoped that Kenshin would sleep in for another hour because she needed time to collect her thoughts. Breaking down into a sobbing mess at first sight of him was not an option so she had to prepare herself now, and the more time she had, the better.
Working quickly, she finished the meal, leaving two food-laden plates on the table. With another plate in hand and a couple of rice balls tucked neatly into a small kerchief, Kaoru silently tread to Kenshin's door and noiselessly placed the plate on the porch before scurrying off to the front gate.
Time was what she needed, so she headed off to the market. Yahiko and Kenshin had helped her replenish their stores the day before so they didn't need anything new today. She could pretend to browse the daily items, but that seemed like it would be more effort than it was worth. Resolved to meander around the stalls for a while before returning home, Kaoru was surprised when she found herself standing at the end of a familiar street that was definitely not where she had intended to go. She looked at the wooden kitchenware sign and inhaled deeply.
This needed to be done, anyway. She might as well make her trip worthwhile at this point.
Kaoru walked to the door and let herself inside. A couple was looking intently at a box that Seikuu was holding in front of them, and they listened attentively as he explained the long processes he underwent to create the cookware in question. Seikuu looked up briefly at Kaoru as she entered and smiled briefly at her before returning his gaze to the couple.
Kaoru busied herself with pretending to peruse the various sets of utensils until the couple purchased the box and left the store.
"What a lovely surprise to see you, Kaoru," Seikuu finally said, walking over to her.
As he neared, Kaoru had a chance to really examine his face. "Good morning, Seikuu. How are you? You look exhausted!"
He smiled wearily at her and his eyes darkened. "Come, I will prepare some tea." Seikuu led her to his kitchen, where Kaoru took a seat at her favorite side of the low table and she eyed him carefully.
"What have you been doing?" she asked after a lengthened silence. "Have you had many special orders?"
A pregnant pause enveloped the room. "You could say that," he finally responded, then turned to her once the water was sitting over a flame. "More importantly, how have you been?"
"Oh, you know. The usual. It's been busy at the inn over the past few weeks. It's not unmanageable, but it sets our cleaning schedules behind a bit and we end up working later than we're used to."
"I see. Well, I'm grateful that you have the business. I'm sure they keep you on your toes," he smiled softly and it bothered Kaoru. It wasn't a smile that was caused by something she said or even a smile related to the conversation. It was an endearing smile, yet somehow distant and withdrawn. It looked almost like a beggar standing before a restaurant window who smiled only at the fantasy of eating a warm meal.
What troubled Kaoru more was that they were speaking so casually about the least significant of subjects when both their minds were focused on something entirely different. It was about as pointless as talking about the weather, and it really bothered Kaoru because at one point in their relationship they had automatically launched into fun and engaging conversations. They were once better than this. Stronger.
"How have you really been?" Kaoru asked again, the cheerful pitch replaced with a somber tone.
Seikuu returned his attentions to the tea and finally sat across from Kaoru as they each blew lightly at the cups in their hands. "I've been as well as can be expected. I understand the situation, and while I cannot say that I am fond of the idea, it seems that it cannot be helped."
"Seikuu, I'm really sorry," Kaoru said. "If I could change all of this, I would. If that stupid charm had never existed-"
"You are no longer afraid of him," Seikuu interrupted. It was an observation, a solid point, and it rendered Kaoru speechless for a moment.
"What do you mean?"
"When you first explained everything to me, there was a hollow, frightened look in your eyes. You were fighting him with every ounce of your being. Yet, every time I've seen you over the past couple of months, you've seemed less and less like a caged animal. That lovely spark that was in your eyes when I first met you has finally sprung back to life." His tone was low, holding a hint of tart sadness, and he fingered the rim of his cup absently.
Kaoru opened her mouth to barrel into some kind of explanation, but Seikuu continued before she had a chance to interject. "I'm not suggesting that you are fond of the man, but I'm certain that you've seen a change in him and you're beginning to truly accept the situation. Perhaps you're even beginning to accept him, and I do not begrudge you for that, Kaoru," he said forcefully, again successfully keeping her from interrupting. "None of this is your fault, and I cannot even blame him because all he did to get involved in all of this was try to respect a dying man's final wish. It really is no one's fault. It's like how birds migrate every year, leaving their homes behind merely because it's in their blood to do so. They have no choice in the matter, and unfortunately, neither do we. It's not easy for me to accept this, Kaoru, but I understand that we can no longer be together. Happiness will evade all three of us unless you and I cut loose what we've had."
"Seikuu," she breathed, and paused only to swallow the lump in her throat and to quell the wavering in her tone. "I-"
A ruffle of the cloth hanging over the front door of the shop cut her off and their heads swiveled to the adjacent room. They could not see beyond the kitchen wall and they did not hear footsteps, but Kaoru's lungs plummeted to her navel. She felt the unmistakable pressure of familiar ki and she stared wide-eyed at the door between the rooms. He must have followed her to the shop somehow. Oh, Kami! If only she had been more careful, more attentive-
Seikuu stood dutifully and Kaoru all but flew off the ground, whispering desperately for him to stay where he was. The man only smiled at her once more- the same beggar-like smile- and told her that everything was going to be alright.
Everything.
Kaoru knew at that moment that Seikuu was entirely aware of who had entered and she cursed herself repeatedly for leading Kenshin here. If the samurai hadn't known before, it was irrefutable now; his soulmate was alone in a private room with another man. There was only one way Kenshin could react and his consuming jealousy would end Seikuu's life before he even knew what had happened.
Seikuu disappeared behind the curtain as he entered the shop. "Ah," she heard him say, and her heart throbbed sickeningly against her ribs. "Mr. Himura."
"KENSHIN, STOP!" she shrieked, blinding panic surging through her veins as she sprinted to the doorway, clutching onto the threshold as she rounded the corner.
Before her was a different scene entirely. Kenshin was standing in the middle of the shop, his arms folded neatly in the folds of his sleeves. He had the deceptive look of patience and his eyes moved from Seikuu to Kaoru.
"Here we are," Seikuu said, a fake sense of cheer bleeding into his tone, and both Kenshin and Kaoru whipped their eyes back to him as he placed a long, narrow box on the counter. "It took many long nights. I daresay that it is my finest work, yet." He lifted the lid carefully to reveal a long, sharp blade attached to a beautiful hilt. Beside them rested a perfectly polished scabbard that almost glinted in that light that snuck inside from the street.
Kenshin moved closer and reached into the box, delicately removing the sword to inspect it. First, his eyes ran over the blade slowly and when he caught no flaws, he flipped it around gently and repeated his ministrations with the hilt. Then, he tested the balance and was once again satisfied. "Perfect," he said, picking up the scabbard and sheathing the sword before placing it in the sash at his waist. Then, he reached into his pocket and removed a sack that clinked merrily as he placed it on the counter and bowed so low that his back was horizontal. "I hope this will be enough to cover your painstaking efforts."
Kaoru had been frozen, mortified by what she was witnessing, but their casual dialogue finally snapped her out of her trance. "You don't forge swords!" It was the least important thing she could have said, but it was the first of many thoughts that fought to be voiced first. They turned to her at her sudden outburst. Kaoru was not sure if she was more upset that they had spoken to each other behind her back, angry that neither of them mentioned this arrangement, or relieved that Seikuu wasn't lying in a pool of his own blood.
She locked eyes on Kenshin. "Why would you come to Seikuu when there are so many other blacksmiths who would willingly make a sword for you? Did you force him to do this?"
It was Seikuu who responded. "My father was the one who forged Mr. Himura's sword years ago. According to Mr. Himura, only my father's techniques could produce something sound enough for him to use comfortably. When he heard rumors that Arai Shaku's son lives here, he sought me out and implored me to forge a new sword for him."
What were the odds that out of all the smiths in the world, Seikuu's father was the one who forged the weapon of the near-legendary assassin? Kaoru's mind reeled with this information, but she cleared her thoughts quickly enough. "But you don't make swords. You said you did not believe in creating weapons that would kill people. You didn't have to agree to this… you shouldn't have-"
"Please, Kaoru," it was Kenshin this time, "do not be angry with him. I asked him to do this for me but made it very clear that he had the opportunity to say no." Kaoru narrowed her eyes at him, noting for the first time just how slumped his posture was and how troubled his eyes were. It was not the stance of a man who had threatened Seikuu, but one who had begged him for his help. It was not Kenshin who had shown mercy by sparing Seikuu's life, but Seikuu who had agreed to help a man he knew was stealing her away from him.
"I did it under two conditions," Seikuu explained, and then swiveled his head to the samurai, meaningfully directing the next words at him. "He has promised to never kill again."
Kaoru was stunned into silence and she leaned back against the door frame for support. Her eyes moved between the two and then to the sword at Kenshin's hip.
"What he says is true," Kenshin admitted. "See for yourself." He pulled the blade out of the scabbard again and stepped close enough to show her.
"It's... backwards?"
"This sakabatō cannot kill anyone."
"The second condition," Seikuu said pointedly, "was that he would give you his old sword to dispose of in whatever way you see fit."
"R-really?" Kenshin nodded solemnly, bright amber flashing through his eyes before fading back to the swirl of wheat and lilac, leaving Kaoru with the impression that perhaps Kenshin had wanted to tell her in his own time. It was understandable; the sword had saved his life countless times since his fingers first wrapped around the bound hilt, and it was what he clutched onto most dearly for the past decade. To even consider giving what had essentially become a part of himself to another was a sign of vulnerability, and the scarlet-haired assassin was not one to put emphasis on any imperfections he may have carried.
It shocked Kaoru to think that the man before her was willing to allow her to determine the fate of his lifeline. Of course, she instinctively wanted to toss the blood-crusted sword into Seikuu's forge and watch it melt away forever. A promise to never use it again would render it useless, and therefore unnecessary to keep. There would be no good reason for him not to part with it.
Yet, as she peered into his eyes, she realized that she could not bear to destroy something so precious to him, even if it was responsible for so much death. "We can decide later," she finally said, and almost missed the shock that darted across his expression. Oh, yes. He heard her clearly.
Seikuu stepped closer and bowed his head to Kaoru. When he looked back up, they locked eyes and he offered a small smile. "Take care of yourself, Kaoru. I wish you the deepest happiness."
She shouldn't have been so taken aback. Swallowing a wave of melancholy, Kaoru also bowed her head. "Thank you, Seikuu."
And just like that, their several month relationship was lost forever.
It wasn't until they were nearly to the gates of the Kamiya residence that the silence between them was broken. Kaoru chanced a sideways look at the man keeping step beside her. "You knew before you went to Seikuu that he and I were courting, didn't you?"
"Of course," he replied easily, "though I originally had no plans to mention any connections to you. My sole intent was to see if he would make me this sakabatō."
"How did I get brought into it, then? He said he only created that sword," she eyed the scabbard at his waist, "under two conditions, one of which directly relates to me."
His gaze returned to the road. "At first he refused to even consider helping me and told me to leave. It was not until I was a short distance down the street that he came running after me. He said he had never heard such a bizarre request and wondered why I would promise to never kill, yet still request a new sword. I told him that making that oath was the only way I could ensure the happiness of someone dear to me." Kaoru felt her pulse quicken. "He asked me if that person was a woman I would be with for eternity, and when I said yes, he told me he would concede."
Kaoru imagined how the scene would have played out and wondered just how uncomfortable they had been. "I had no idea you would do all of this for me. Thank you," she said quietly as she opened the gate that encased her yard and then closed it again once they had stepped inside. Internally chastising herself, she led him along the stone walkway to the house. He had changed his entire philosophy on life and all she could think to say was 'thank you'?
"Sacrifices are necessary in life. You once said that you could never love a man who kills others so I chose to change myself accordingly."
She nearly choked as she inhaled. Acceptance was one thing. Respect was another. The beginnings of both were already developing solid foundations, and Kaoru was confident that she could learn to be happy with him in the future. She could muster the strength and courage to have him live with her and in time, the thought of spending her life with him would not seem so daunting.
Love was another thing entirely. That required unconditional trust. It would entail tearing down all walls around herself and demand that she bear her heart. All emotions would be put on display and she would have to allow him to know everything. Knowing her memories was one thing, but it was entirely different for her to welcome him into a fragile world of private emotions that no one else should have the opportunity to see. Love was a vulnerability and would give him the opportunity to reduce her entire being to ashes.
"Don't worry," he commented, as if reading her thoughts. "You will give all of yourself to me one day." His grin widened as she stumbled slightly. "I will take great pleasure in unravelling you, dragonfly."
The distinct feeling of blood rushing to her cheeks and innate stubbornness against the thought of him unravelling her made her puff out her cheeks in irritation. "You will do no such thing-" She cut herself off with her own surprised squeak as he unexpectedly pulled her into him and spun her so she was facing the sky. His right arm hooked underneath her shoulder blades and with the other hand he clutched onto her hip. Going from walking to being nearly horizontal in his arms in the blink of an eye and feeling his body press against hers made her lose her train of thought.
What was she saying? Something about… things… and…
Why did he smell so insanely delicious?
Her eyes trailed up the tail of red hair that had fallen directly into her line of sight. It really did look so much better pulled together at the nape of his neck rather than at the crown of his head. It gave the man more of a relaxed appearance, as opposed to-
The thoughts died when she caught sight of the cheekiest smirk she had ever seen, and she hastily wrenched herself away. Resentfully ignoring his silent gloating, she marched up the stairs of the porch, striving to put distance between them. A lot of distance.
Really, it had only been a matter of time before he allowed his passionate side to be rekindled. Kaoru had been well aware that a couple of months had not doused his fiery nature; he had merely suppressed it long enough for her to forgive him for leaving so abruptly. Now that he was confident that his advances would not immediately estrange her, he was back to testing her limits.
Even more advantageous to him was the fact that Seikuu was also out of the picture and there was officially nothing that stood between them aside from her own hesitation.
Besides, the whole sakabatō situation only added as a buffer against her temper. He was likely under the impression that his demonstration of how much he was willing to do for her would lower her defenses. Wasn't that what males in the wrong did? They got their wives something especially nice in order to get back on their good sides. Normal men got sweets or nice hair pins. Kenshin got a sakabatō.
How delightful…
By the time she realized that she had no idea where she was going, she was again ensnared by a pair of warm arms from behind. "You do realize that it is considered terribly rude to leave your guest without a word, hm?" he murmured in her ear. "I was rather hoping we could spend the day together. Unless you have previous engagements, of course."
Perfect! Just come up with a neat little excuse and he would leave for the day. It would only give her an escape for a few extra hours, but at the very least it would give her a chance to compose herself.
All of the chores were done. That had been her excuse the day before and he had promptly seen to it to help her with everything. It was the only way he had gotten her to go to dinner with him, after all. Going to the inn was not an option either, as it was not her day to work. They would only send her back home. Yahiko was with Tsubame and Sanosuke had barely been home since he'd met Megumi; none of them would be able to save her.
"Wonderful. Since you cannot come up with an excuse quick enough, it seems like we will be able to spend the entire day together."
It was with great resolve that Kaoru bit back a groan of frustration. "What would you like to do?" Exasperation was evident in her tone.
"I have a few ideas…" he whispered suggestively, his breath tickling her earlobe.
"Yes, I'm sure you do," she muttered, pulling herself out of his grasp. "Unfortunately, none of them are an option."
"Oh, I think they're fantastic options," he grinned, grabbing her wrist to keep her from scurrying too far. "I'm certain that I can even persuade you to engage in a couple of them." When she did not oblige to his gentle tugs on her arm, he shifted his weight and stepped toward her instead. Kaoru instinctively moved backward but thanks to a bit of devious maneuvering on his part, she quickly found herself flush against one of the large wooden beams that supported the house.
"We can go fishing," she blurted suddenly, and the words effectively kept him from leaning any closer. "For dinner," she continued at his amused look. "That way we won't have to go to the market again."
"There is plenty of food in this house for dinner. Yahiko and I helped you carry it back here yesterday, remember?" Before giving her any further opportunity to interject, he ducked his head down and brushed his lips against hers lightly, relishing the way she noticeably tried not to quiver.
Kaoru's breaths entered and escaped through her nose in shallow puffs as she slowly built up the courage to move her lips in return. A surge of tingles fled down her flesh as she focused on just how tenderly his kisses feathered against her. Inhaling as deeply as she could, she finally willed herself to return the ghosting motions.
She felt his breath hitch and felt triumphant for the smallest fraction of a second until it was replaced by alarm when his hands shot out and locked onto her biceps tightly. Fortunately, the beam at her back was strong enough to support her weight because her legs certainly were not cooperating the way they were supposed to.
How she would be able to survive kisses like this on a daily basis was absolutely, completely beyond her. She would have to learn how to not puddle around his feet whenever he had the urge to grab her. That was possible, right? She could train herself just like she trained with a bokken. All she had to do was brace herself and prepare a few mantras or breathing exercises. Then she would be immune to him!
Of course, it didn't help that she would be prone to fending him off at every waking moment because she would be the sole recipient of his attentions and he wouldn't be bothered with anyone else…
Kaoru froze, recalling the memory- the haunting reality- of Kenshin having accidentally killed the woman he had previously been with.
Without warning, Kenshin ripped himself away and spun so quickly that it took Kaoru an extra second to process his movements. In the time that it took to turn his back to her, he had drawn his sword and whipped it savagely through the air, a distinct clink of metal on metal echoing through the air.
Wide-eyed, Kaoru watched as he moved into a defensive stance, gripping the sakabatō securely. "Get inside," he growled, eyes locked on something in the distance.
No. Why should she run and cower from someone who had the audacity to attack on her property? She would not tuck tail and hide.
"GET INSIDE!"
Kaoru ignored him and followed his line of sight to someone perched high in the tree just outside the outer wall. The attacker threw a few weapons at them and they glinted menacingly as they flashed through the air. Kenshin deflected these, as well, sending them ricocheting to the ground. Without giving the person another chance to attack, he darted forward.
Her eyes flew to the ground to identify what had been thrown and her heart stopped beating altogether. "KENSHIN, STOP!" she screamed, terror flitting through her veins. "STOP! SHE'S MY FRIEND!"
He was already back on the ground, sword sheathed at his waist, gripping a writhing young woman's arms behind her back in a painful angle. "KAORU, RUN!" A pause. "The other way, you idiot!"
A familiar woman with her hair pulled into a neat bun appeared behind Kenshin suddenly and she held her discus to the back of his neck, silently promising to end his life if he didn't release Misao.
"Kenshin, let her go! She's my friend!" she repeated, skidding to a halt a dozen paces away, holding her hands out in an attempt to dilute the thick tension. It was comparable to calming a raging wolf that already had its teeth around a friend's neck. Any sudden movements could cause it to snap its jaws shut.
"LET ME GO!" Misao shouted, twisting her whole body to wrench herself out of his grasp. The lack of surprise in his expression indicated that her escape was less due to her own efforts and more to his grip loosening. She instantly drew several more kunai and stood poised, ready to hurtle them at his neck.
"Misao, stop! You, too, Omasu. Everyone… just put your weapons away!" The anger in her tone was far too evident and they reluctantly complied with her demand. "What in Kami's name is all of this about?"
"Well, seeing how the war just ended, I wanted to check on you guys to make sure you're all ok and I haven't seen you in a year and I missed you. Maybe if you would have written to let me know that you enjoy sucking the Battousai's face, I wouldn't have been so surprised just now and attacked him! Unless, of course, you were unwilling, in which case you wouldn't have tried to stop me and Omasu from killing him. First off," she ranted, her tone progressively increasing in pitch, "how can you not tell me that you're courting someone, Kaoru, let alone it being the Battousai!" She stabbed a finger in his direction. "Or is it that you've just taken up kissing everyone you meet?"
"MISAO!"
"Second," she continued forcefully, "how else is it supposed to look when the greatest assassin in Japan has you pinned up against the wall!"
"MISAO!" Kaoru hissed again, conscious that the woman was all but shouting and advertising everything to the neighboring streets.
"And third- WHY was the greatest assassin in Japan pinning you against the wall?"
Absolutely mortified, Kaoru's eyes whipped to Kenshin, who by then had determined that neither of their lives were in danger. A look of great amusement had replaced his previous fury and he seemed to be enjoying every second of Misao's interrogation. This was good because he was choosing to ignore the fact that sharp kunai had nearly impaled him just a few moments before, and it was bad because he was once again taking pleasure out of her discomfort. And it was not helping his ego to be called the 'greatest assassin in Japan'. Color rose to her cheeks and she turned her head back to Misao. "Would you stop saying that?!"
"Only if you tell me why the greatest a-"
"ALRIGHT, FINE! We are courting, I guess-" she paused at his self-satisfied smirk. "No, no. I mean we're… kind of exclusive to each other and-"
"And I moved in last night," Kenshin helped, if only to witness her cheeks turn a brilliant shade of purple.
Kaoru had to restrain herself from denying it. Technically he had stayed in her guest room and if he were to continue doing so, she supposed he would have officially taken her up on her offer. It's not like he had possessions he needed to transport from somewhere else. All he had was what he carried on him at all times. Of course, he would have waited for the absolute most embarrassing moment to announce this, and his sly grin at her only made her gape uncertainly for a few seconds. "When did you make this decision and when exactly were you going to let me know?" Her glare was deadly.
"I decided it would no longer be an issue once you and Seikuu had officially ended whatever it was you had."
"YOU WERE DATING SOMEONE ELSE, TOO?!" Misao screeched. "Don't you shake your head at me like that, Kamiya! How many people have you been seeing in the past year? How many were at the same time? So help you if you've slept with any of them-"
"Misao! Calm down for two seconds. Please." A heavy sigh escaped her and she ran a hand through her bangs in frustration. "This will take a while to explain… let's go inside and I'll prepare a pot of tea."
The three of them followed closely behind as she led them back to the porch. Kami, it was going to be a long night…