A/N: The last portion of this chapter is borderline M (the wedding night). Also, I've written Enishi as having dark eyes in this story - onyx as opposed to turquoise. The cover art tends to give him blue eyes on the manga, but it makes more sense for him to have dark eyes given how dark Tomoe's eyes are. So, that's my stance for this story!
Part X:
"I can't believe it! We're both getting married!" Misao squealed, her emerald eyes flashed with excitement. She grabbed Kaoru's hands and jumped up and down. "We'll have the same anniversary! Oh my gosh! We have to do joint trips together every year!"
Kaoru laughed and smiled with Misao. "I was worried you might not want to share your wedding day. Aoshi said that you were happy with the idea, but I didn't want to be a bother…."
"Are you kidding?" Misao gasped. "It was my idea!" She angled Kaoru's hand so that she could gaze at the engagement ring. "Wow, he didn't spare any expense." She looked up with her eyes narrowed. "This isn't from blood money is it? You know, he was in the mafia…"
Kaoru bit down on her bottom lip. She had no idea where Enishi's money came from. Was she taking advantage of other people's misfortune?
Misao released Kaoru's hand and laid her palms on either side of Kaoru's face. "I was kidding. I'm sure it isn't from blood money."
"I was concerned, given how much you look up to Kenshin, that this would be inappropriate," Kaoru whispered.
"No, none of that," Misao said, straightening and brushing her thumb over Kaoru's cheeks. "Megumi will be pissed if you're all red and blotchy before she puts on our makeup. And while I respect Kenshin, usually, I cannot see you wasting away your life miserable for him."
Kaoru felt the familiar guilt of her having given up on the first love of her life. Maybe she should have waited a little longer. After all, three years wasn't too long a time.
"You have a baby and couldn't go follow after him, Kaoru. You shouldn't have to. Enishi and Aoshi have both tracked Himura down, but he's refused to come back." Misao held her left hand alongside Kaoru's. Misao's emerald ring complimented Kaoru's diamond and sapphire ring. "Let's not even think about him." She hugged Kaoru. "I love you, Kaoru and I couldn't be happier sharing a special day with you!"
Kaoru laughed, feeling giddy thanks to her own excitement mixed with Misao's enthusiasm. "I think Enishi's money is from the inheritance from his adopted parents. He invested it."
"Of course he did," Misao said, nodding her head.
The door opened and Megumi entered with a huge smile on her face. "Before you start to worry, Kenji is in good hands with Masukame and Omine," she said. Three clothes bags were draped over her arm. She laid them out over the couch in the room. "I have our dresses."
"This is so exciting!" Misao squealed again. She rushed over to the clothes bags and revealed the dresses. Misao's kimono was white, green, and gold. Kaoru's kimono was white, dark blue, and silver. Megumi had a more simple, yet still elegant lilac and pink kimono.
"I can't believe neither of you chose the traditional red," Megumi scowled.
Misao's nose scrunched up. "Red makes me think of blood. Not a good color considering we're marrying men with such violent pasts."
"Good point," Megumi said.
After they were all dressed, they inspected themselves and each other in their silk kimonos. While Misao primped in front of the mirror for a few extra minutes, Kaoru leaned close to Megumi. "I'm sure you'll impress Sano," she whispered in the doctor's ear.
Megumi's eye began to twitch at the name of the rooster-headed idiot. "I'm not trying to impress that moron. Any man who keeps using his fist when it is broken in a fight is not worth impressing."
Megumi ignored the bitterness she felt at having learned of Sanosuke's involvement with a woman named Sayo months earlier. It had not been Sano that told her of this, nor Kaoru, but Kenshin. He had come to visit Megumi in Aizo for treatment of some rather severe injuries. She'd tried unsuccessfully to convince him to return to his family.
At first, Megumi had been devastated by the news, but now, she accepted it as fate. She may have been attracted to the idiot, but Sano was after all an idiot that never listened to any of her medical advice. He went so far as to contradict that advice and yet expected her to always be there to fix his injuries.
"What? Don't say things like that. Of course you're wanting to impress him," Kaoru argued. She smiled sweetly and Megumi hated to tarnish Kaoru's image of her brotherly figure.
"Look Kaoru," Megumi hissed quietly. "There is nothing going on between Sanosuke and myself. There never was and there never will be. I'm just another woman in his long list of women. The only reason he ever sees me is because I am a doctor and because I can cook well." Megumi straightened her shoulders. "The only reason he's treated you so well is because he sees you as a sister - not a romantic interest."
"Now just a minute! You know that's not true!" Kaoru protested. "Sano cares about you very much. And-"
Megumi cut her off. "Not another word Kaoru. He and I are friends, nothing more. You mark my words when I leave he will not protest one bit. He hasn't protested before and he's not going to start now."
Kaoru frowned. "I just want you to be happy."
Megumi took Kaoru's hands and squeezed them in reassurance. "I'm seeing the two women I care about most in the world entering in marriage to men that love them more than life. Trust me, I am happy."
Kaoru hugged Megumi, ignoring how the movement crinkled their dresses. "I'm not about to give up on you finding a happy ending, Megumi."
"If I can track down my family, that's all I ask for," Megumi confessed. "I hope they're still out there - just waiting for me to find them."
"Maybe Enishi can help, he has resources," Kaoru suggested.
Megumi cringed and gently pushed Kaoru away from her. She tried to smooth out the wrinkles in the kimonos. "It might be best to leave Yukishiro's contacts out of this."
"The Oniwabanshu can help," Misao said, joining the conversation. "I bet Lord Aoshi would help. He needs a case to work on or he'll get bored again."
"I wouldn't want to bother him," Megumi protested. "Now, let's get you two married!"
OoO
It was too good to be true. Under the long sleeve of his dark blue tang suit with silver embroidery, he pinched his forearm. While certain nerves of his no longer sensed pain, by avoiding the intense martial art and mental exercises that allowed him to perfect his Nerves of Insanity - some sensation remained. Otherwise, the merest brush of his fingertips over Kaoru's skin wouldn't give him the thrill that he lived for on a daily basis.
Yahiko escorted Kaoru down the aisle while Aoshi escorted Misao. Kaoru came first, as this was really Misao and Soujiro's wedding and they were last minute additions. Misao would come moments later and everyone's eyes would then focus on her.
Everyone except Enishi. He couldn't take his onyx eyes off the blue-eyed beauty. She smiled at him shyly and it reminded him of the feeling he'd get when Tomoe smiled at him as a boy. Kaoru's smile was different. He felt possessive, eager, and a hot-blooded stirring deep within his loins as he met her gaze.
Enishi was obsessive by nature. And nothing obsessed him more than Kaoru Kamiya.
Shinomori had warned him about his run in with Himura at Tomoe's grave. There was a slight chance that he might show up for the wedding and object. All worries about his brother-in-law vanished when Enishi took Kaoru's hand. Most of the ceremony was a blur and he repeated the words the priest said hardly paying attention. His focus was solely on Kaoru.
"I swear to cherish you until the end of my days," Enishi vowed. "I will protect you physically, emotionally, and spiritually." His heart rate began to increase and he could feel the blood rushing in his ears drowning out the other sounds in the room. The world narrowed down to just him and Kaoru.
The priest gave permission for the two couples to kiss and Enishi sealed his lips against Kaoru's. He enjoyed the way her body relaxed into his and he took the opportunity to brush his lips against her ear. "And even should death part us, I will find you in the next life and the one after if need be," he promised.
OoO
It had been a beautiful ceremony. Megumi discretely wiped away tears before her immaculate makeup could be ruined. It touched her heart seeing Kaoru and Misao find love and take it. For too many years, Megumi had watched Kaoru suffer, but now she would know the pleasure of married life again.
Another tear slipped and Megumi hastily wiped it away. She didn't want to admit it, but she was also jealous of both of the women. Her dark eyes scanned the guests and she saw Sanosuke flirting with one of the women in Misao and Aoshi's clan.
"My beautiful Misao is married," Okina said, with an emotional waver in his voice. Aoshi stood beside him and they moved to flank Megumi.
Aoshi offered her a drink and she happily accepted it with a grateful nod of her head.
"Now it's your turn, Aoshi. You need to find a good woman so that my own bones can stop worrying," Okina said, glowering at Aoshi. He turned his lecherous gaze towards Megumi. "Now you're a good woman. Tall and elegant - just like Aoshi!"
"I think Misao is trying to get your attention," Aoshi said, distracting the old man.
"Really?" Okina's eyes lit up. "I better go give Soujiro another lecture about how he should treat my girl."
"My apologies," Aoshi said quietly after Okina left. "He doesn't have much of a filter once he had a few cups of sake."
Megumi glanced up at him with a haughty expression and her hands on her hips. "Are you trying to imply that I'm not tall and elegant?"
"Of course not," Aoshi sputtered. He cleared his throat. "Your dress is quite pretty. The silk looks high quality. Is it from here?"
Megumi shook her head. "Aizu's neighboring city is Yokohama - which has the finest silks in all of Japan."
"Ah." Aoshi sipped from his glass and they stood side by side in companionable silence.
"It was a pretty ceremony," Megumi said after a while.
"Hm."
Megumi resisted the urge to scold him for his lack of verbal response. Usually, the only times in the past when he'd spoken at length with her were in regards to investigating a murder, threatening bodily harm to track down a friend to commit murder, or to offer her a short sword so that she might kill herself if things went south. Perhaps, she should be grateful for the limited conversation.
"Did you find your mother or brothers?"
Megumi stared up at Aoshi in surprise, his aquamarine eyes were dark with concern. "No," she said quietly, closing her eyes and letting a wave of self-pity abate. "It doesn't mean they are dead. I just haven't found them."
"Will you continue your search?" Aoshi asked. "Or will you return to Tokyo?"
Megumi shrugged. "My clinic in Aizo is rather busy. There isn't any real reason to return to Tokyo. With Kaoru marrying Enishi, she won't actually be in Tokyo anymore. The memories in Tokyo are too many." Memories under Kanryu's employment came to mind. It was funny that Aoshi was her one time ally in a hell of a situation, then her enemy, and now he was offering her consolment. She chuckled at the irony.
Aoshi's hand fell gently upon her shoulder. "You could stay in Kyoto. There is room for you here."
"Thank you, but no," Megumi declined, staring at his hand. "I need to know what happened to my family, even if it is just to find a few graves."
"Then I will accompany you," Aoshi offered.
"Why?"
"I am a ninja. If there are any clues as to the whereabouts of your family, I will find them." He looked over at Misao where she danced with Soujiro. "Misao doesn't need me anymore. The Aoiya is well managed. Allow me to help you, old friend." He squeezed her shoulder with just a little pressure.
"Very well," Megumi agreed with a demure nod.
OoO
Aoshi stood alone while Misao, Kaoru, and Megumi were engaged in some animated conversation on the other side of the room. He was content to watch the scenery and not actively take part. Observation was preferable to participation on most days for the ninja.
"Women," Sano complained as he saddled up beside Aoshi. He reached into his pocket to pull out an old fishbone. He stuck it between his teeth and leaned against the support column next to Aoshi. "Seriously, there's no figuring them out."
"Perhaps you spend too much time abusing their goodwill to notice their virtues," Aoshi pointed out. It was obvious that some men figured out women. Soujirio and Enishi marrying the women that they loved was proof of that.
"That was a rather long sentence to come out of your mouth," Sano commented with a frown.
"Hn." Aoshi wouldn't waste words on someone too ignorant to listen to his wisdom.
"I have no idea why that little weasel likes you so much. I've felt more warmth from a cube of ice." Sano spit out his fish bone.
"If you are referring to Misao, she feels affection for me because I helped raise her and teach her the ways of ninjitsu. It is something akin to how you felt towards Captain Sagara." Aoshi's eyes grew dark. "Ice can burn flesh sometimes more severely than flames."
"How do you know Captain Sagara?"
"I was there during the war," Aoshi answered. "I remember."
"I bet you the fox is just green with envy with those two getting married. I never would have thought Missy and Kenshin wouldn't have lasted," Sano said.
Aoshi grit his teeth. Himura had ample opportunity to make things work with Kaoru. He noted the affection in Sano's tone as he referred to both Kaoru and Megumi. "Megumi is not green with envy," he said defensively.
"Oh?" Sano asked, scratching the back of his head and musing his hair more than usual. "Why would you say that?"
"Because Megumi has her own romantic interludes," Aoshi said mysteriously.
Sano's jaw dropped open and he stared at the trio of women again. "Megumi is seeing someone?"
Aoshi nodded, enjoying the story he was spinning. "It's quite serious," he explained. "They've known each other for many years and will be traveling abroad to find her family together."
"Who?" Sano demanded.
Aoshi met Sano's angry glare with a cool expression. "Me."
OoO
Enishi carried Kaoru over the threshold of the inn he'd reserved for their wedding night. The entire ceremony had been beautiful. When he watched his sister die, he never imagined that he'd one day experience such a happy union.
Kenji was staying under the watchful eye of Yahiko and Tsubame at the Aoiya. He'd secured a room at the most elegant inn in all of Kyoto, not only for him and Kaoru, but also as a gift for Misao and Soujiro.
"Everyone was there," Kaoru whispered. Her eyes were bright in joy as he laid her on the bed. "Even that free-loading Sanosuke!"
Enishi brushed back Kaoru's bangs. There could have been one more guest at the wedding. An unwelcome guest in his book, but the rurouni had made a positive impact in the lives of so many. They would have undoubtedly been overjoyed if Kenshin had come. Enishi was grateful with Aoshi's choice to not intervene and force a confrontation between Enishi and Kenshin. While Enishi didn't mind such a confrontation, he didn't want to put Kaoru in the middle. He wanted to protect her from harm in all forms. Such a meeting would most certainly be detrimental for his wife's health.
"We all love you," Enishi said. He shrugged out of his robes until he was dressed only in his underwear. He never grew accustomed to the fundoshi of Japan. He preferred the silken undergarments that were introduced to China from British traders.
Kaoru sat up and stared at him. She licked her lips absently and laid her hand over his shoulder and ran it down the length of his arm until she could entwine their fingers together. She tugged his hand to the obi of her kimono. He wasted no time in unwinding her obi and then the outer layer of her dress, until she was naked to his eyes - pale, smooth skin for him to examine every peak and valley.
He laid her back gently on the western style bed. "I'm never letting you go," Enishi said, kissing her neck and then moving down her chest and focusing on her breasts.
Kaoru arched her back and moaned as Enishi's strong hands began to explore her body. "I'll never let you go either," she promised.
OoO
There was at least another hour before sunrise, though Enishi was wide awake. How could he not be?
He held Kaoru's naked body close to his, her chest pressed against his. Her dark hair fanned around them. He glanced down at their joined hands. Her sapphire and diamond ring matched his simple white gold band well. Rings were more of a Western influence, but as he was discovering, Kaoru seemed to enjoy his Western tastes. The British brought many terrible things to China, particularly Opium, but they did bring other technologies that he appreciated.
Enishi sighed contentedly. For the first time in as long as he could remember, he had everything he ever wanted. Fear revisited him and he hugged Kaoru tighter.
Kaoru stirred in his arms. Her eyes blinked open and she stared up at him sleepily. "Are you okay?"
He read her lips, because the buzzing in his ear was loud with his rapid heart beat.
He forced down the irrational fear that this blissful union wouldn't last. Kenshin had no hold over her now. Kaoru was now his. "Never better, now that I have you."
Kaoru's hand drifted down his side until she wrapped around the part of him that rested half-masted near her thighs. His blood flow began to redirect and answer her attention.
"What are you doing, wife?" Enishi asked, a shiver running down his spine.
"I think you know, husband. But, if you need a refresher, let's just say that I did take the time to read a particular book from our library back home." She began to slide down his body until her mouth was inches from his waist.
Enishi grabbed her shoulders and pulled her back up. "I won't last long if you do that, my love. I have a better idea." He repositioned himself so that he could pleasure his wife with his mouth before joining her. He only had one more wish. He wanted to create a child with Kaoru and by the way their bodies joined together with such ease, he didn't think it would be too long before that possibility came to pass.