A/n Hi everyone! Thanks for all the great reviews. This chapter isn't much; it's mostly just to help transition the first part of the story to the next part. I guess I could have made this and last chapter one large chapter, but figured this way would be best. I think. Anyways, It's late and I'll let you get right to the story!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.


It seemed Kenshin must have picked her up and carried her, for Kaoru came to her senses sitting on his lap. He was leaning against the trunk of an old tree.

"Mmm." She rubbed her head shamelessly against his shoulder, reveling in the scent of him, the musk of their lovemaking, the aroma of crushed herbs where his steps had torn them.

"What is this nonsense about Tomoe?"

Kaoru had never felt any link of sensibility with her geisha Mother, but in that moment she found herself rolling her eyes in exactly the same way her Mother did when confronted by one of the male's more obvious masculine statements. The mood shattered; she scrambled off his legs and tugged her Kimono in place before she half kneeled half sat with a plop on the goat-cropped grass. "Nonsense? You flirt with her and then you make love to me and wonder why I question it?"

"I was not flirting." Kenshin narrowed his eyes and stared at her. "We were merely talking, that we were."

Kaoru snorted. "She wanders up, swinging those hips, pouting those lips, patting her hair and stand there gazing at you as if you are the most wonderful thing in creation, and you had your tongue hanging out."

"My tongue was not hanging out." He retorted with dignity, ruining the effect by laughing. "You're jealous."

Kenshin obviously considered that flattering. Despite the quivering ribbons of desire that still teased her body. Kaoru glared at him. Oh, but he was beautiful. Her treacherous heart sighed. Like a big, lean, elegant hunting cat coiled there in the shade, waiting to erupt into lethal action. "I have no right being jealous. I'm just a slave" she stated flatly. "But I have a right to resent it when you flirt with a woman under my nose and then saunter after me to take what you want because you cannot decently have it with her." Until she had said it, she didn't realize that was what she had been thinking. Now her stomach cramped with distaste. Who had he been seeing in his mind as he thrust himself into her? From behind she was sure she and Tomoe looked alike.

Kenshin moved so fast she did not have time to recoil or to be afraid. One moment he had been lounging against the tree trunk, the next he was on one knee before her, his hands clasping her shoulder.

"You are not, you have never been, just a slave." he said flatly, the very lack of emotion in his voice helped prove his words to be true. "And I would never use you like that, to state my lust for another woman. That demeans us both." A slash of angry color showed on his cheekbones as she nodded agreement with his words. "You truly believe I would treat you like that?"

"How should I know?" Kaoru asked, staring into the hard violet eyes. "I have never really been with a man as long as you; I have never been a slave. How should I know what to believe, what to expect from you, Kenshin?"

"Do you not know me?" His questioning look was as puzzled as hers had been as he sank back to sit on his heels, his hands still cupping her shoulder. "You see me every day; do you not know me at all?"

I see him every day, I see him leading, fighting, laughing. I see him heaving water and sharpening his sword. I see him teaching Yahiko and watching over Megumi when her man is not there. I see him playing with small children and disciplining unruly warriors. And what is see is what he is: a brave, honorable, tireless man carrying the burden of his own destiny and that of his kin. His public face is his private face as well. Kaoru realized several minutes had passes as they sat there, frozen like statues. "You are not a civilized man." She said slowly, then shook her head to silence him as he opened his mouth to agree with the obvious. "Do you understand how those men are expected to behave?"

"Like any man of honor"

"They are expected to show a public face, a face of civic responsibility and virtue. Whatever they are in the privacy of their own homes, once they are on the public stage of the street or their business or at a geisha hosted party, then they are different. That face is all important in delivering their civic duty, and that duty is to the city, to Japan."

She was working it out as she went along. It was never something you spoke of, although doubtless fathers spelled it out to their sons. It was simply the way things were. "it doesn't matter what a man is behind his closed doors-he can beat his wife, have sex with his slaves, create elaborate schemes to make himself rich at the expense of his neighbors-so long as his public face is correct. And it is the same with the Empire. The public face is what matters, what goes one behind the scenes-"She shrugged. "The ends justify the means, I suppose." Echoing the words of her Mother.

"But for you and your people, I do not think there is that separation-you are the same at your own hearth and in the leader's Council, making love or making war." Kaoru out up her hands and caught his, pulling them down so she could cradle them in her lap. "I am only just realizing that, forgive me."

His hands lay still within her clasp. "No, forgive me. I think we should start again. That we do. I thought your people treacherous, yet they are acting within their own concept of honor. You thought me two-faced, capable of taking and using you on a whim."

"For a civilized person to criticize another person for taking and keeping slaves would be a hypocrisy." She said. "I though you took what you wanted, when you wanted, because you were strong enough to do it, to gratify your desires. And I expected you to treat me no better, and perhaps, no worse than your horse, because I do not expect my monetary values is as much. Although…" She risked a small smile. "…it's a very ugly horse."

"Very." He agreed, an answering smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"Now, I do not know what I am to you. You must marry and do so for advantage. Tomoe is an obvious choice; Megumi has explained it to me. You must forgive me, though, if I do not want her for a mistress."

"And that is why you would object to me marrying her? She would become your mistress?"

"I have come to enjoy the way we live now." Kaoru said slowly. "I am a slave and yet this seems like freedom. I like the people in my life now, I feel well and fit. I am involved in something momentous. But this is not forever. Sooner or later your people will settle in their new land and build villages and start farms and there what will I be? I will tell you-I will be at Tomoe's beck and call, no better than that poor child who was killed when you saved me. You must excuse me if that prospect fills me with dread."

"That will never happen."

"Why? Because you will never marry? I do not think so. Because you will let me go?" She paused as he shook his head. "No, you won't release what you have captured."

Kenshin's gaze was lowered, apparently studying his strong scared hands captured in the fragile cage of her fingers. "The world is changing, that it is. I do not know what the future holds, what I must do for the best. All I know now is that my king leads me, and all my kin, across the sea to China. He wants to make a new start, a new city with honor. I want that too, I want for my children the good things of this Empire and the good things of their heritage." Battousai paused.

"I do not now whether this is the best way to achieve that. I say to you, and only to you, that I argued against this course, that I did. I wanted us to stay in Japan, find a land with wide rivers and good pastures, where the seasons are gentle, not harsh. But I was overruled and so I will obey my King."

The big hands twisted in her, the long fingers slid between her own and Kaoru found herself looking down, not at a capture, but a joining. "When we get to were we are going, then I must do what I must, whatever that is. Until then, I will not marry, you have my word upon it, that you do." Kaoru's blue eyes flew up to meet his and Kenshin smiled. "Trust me."

"I trust you." Kaoru hesitated, then whispered. "And if there is a child?"

"Megumi has already whipped me for carelessness and I try to heed her." He looked towards the bridge with a grimace. "I'm being careful, but if there is, I don't want you to worry that I wouldn't acknowledge it."

Kenshin got to his feet, their hands still clasped, pulling her with him "Never fear…" The sound of a horn, a long drawn out note, echoed round the valley. "We are moving. Come."

Come. Follow me, no walk with me. Kenshin kept hold of her hand as they went together back up the track and towards the well-head and the sound of hundreds of people and animals beginning to move. How long would this closeness last? Kaoru gave his hand a squeeze as they reached the last turn in the track and then pulled free, running on ahead to help Yahiko, Saitou at her heels.

… . . …

They reached Osaka at last, with no fighting along the way, and no resistance as they entered the port city through it's opened gates. Either word had not reached the people of the vast army bearing down upon it, or, more likely, as Kenshin observed, the local population had decided that an easy surrender was better than to undergo the fate of the last cities they had plundered, including Kaoru's.

It seemed strange to Kaoru to be within the walls of a town again, and a civilized one at that. She should have felt at home, passing familiar-seeming blocks of houses, temples, and even a geisha house here and there. There were little markets on the street corners, the stalls empty as the owners had snatched up their wares and fled to hide before the torrent of Samurai savages reached them. There were public fountains, statues, and meticulously kept gardens but she found herself staring wide-eyed at them just as Megumi was.

They moved through the town like a tidal wave, sweeping aside the inhabitants as they passed. Then they were heading through, out the sea gates to the harbor and staring out into the vast sea. The prospect of the sea voyage was real now to everyone and there were wails of horror as well as excited babbling rising above the lowing of the oxen, unsettled by the salty sea breezes. Yahiko came running back, weaving through the mass of wagons and flocks of livestock.

"We're turning south," he called to each driver as he passed. "Out of the city, down to the plain beyond. There is water, pasture, room to camp."

"Where's Kenshin?" Kaoru leaned out and caught his arm as Yahiko reined in beside her wagon.

"With Aoshi." Yahiko's excited expression turned to one of worry. "Aoshi is not well, they say he has pains in his chest."

"Poor man." She said, prodding the oxen with the goad to make them turn in the direction Yahiko indicated. "Will that delay us, if he is not well?" She hardly knew what she wanted, or what was best for all of them. To go, or not to go? But they would not stay here, trapped on the edge of the country until the troops of the Empire reached them. And she wanted Kenshin, here, now. How long he would be hers? She didn't know, but every second was precious, and the seconds were running out, as though there was a sand timer in her mind.

"Don't know." Yahiko circled his horse, craning to see who still hadn't heard the message. "He will be with us tonight," he said in afterthought.

… . . …

Kenshin rode into camp late, long after most people had retired to their lean-to tents or under the shelter of their wagons. The guards patrolled the perimeter, solitary souls sat by their dying fires. Yahiko was snoring, he could hear the familiar sound wafting on the hot, still air even before he saw the wagon. Saitou's tail began to wave. Yahiko had told him approximately where they were camped; the wolf had guided him home. Home. He had never realized that before-that was what this wagon and its tent were. He had given up calling anywhere home years ago, clinging instead to the vision of a village somewhere, shady gardens, lush fields. A vision that Aoshi's orders to go south had dashed to fragments. It had become an impossible dream and yet now one slender girl with sapphire eyes and the courage of a warrior had given him a home wherever she was.

A drift of savory smells assailed his nostrils as he slid off the back of his horse and stood, his forehead resting against the saddle for a long moment, too weary to un-harness the animal.

Kami, but he was tired. It seemed as though he had been traveling for his entire life, and in the wrong direction at that. The grey turned its head and butted him impatiently. Kenshin squared his shoulders and straightened up as a slim shadow slipped under his arm and took the reins.

"Go sit by the fire. There is food in the pot, and warm water by the hearth." She pushed him, a kitten pushing a mastiff, he thought with an exhausted flash of humor. "Move, you big lump, how can I get the saddle off with you leaning on it like that?"

"Yes Ma'am." He murmured, straightening up and walking towards the glow of the fire. He folded up when he got there, not onto a stool, but cross-legged on the ground, his back against a wheel. There was the water and a towel draped across a stool where he could reach it. There was the pot of stew, the bowl of rice, more bowls sitting ready for filling. He washed his hands, splashed his face and toweled himself dry, then just sat there, eyes closed, too bone weary to eat.

Somewhere in the other side of the wagon he could hear Kaoru talking to the horse. It was obviously not cooperating, he thought, listening to her scolding. Eventually he heard soft footsteps, knew exactly when she had seen him by the way they turned from a walk into a tiptoe. "I'm awake." He said, eyes still shut.

"Eat something then." She ordered, in much the same tone she had used with the horse. There was the scrape of a ladle in the big cooking pot, the splash of sake into a cup. Then, "Why did you call me that? Just now?"

"Ma'am? You're the lady of the household, that you are."

She gave an amused snort. "Of course, look at me, mistress of two ox wagons, two makeshift tents and a cooking pot."

Kenshin reached up a hand, judging from her whereabouts by sound and snagged her wrist. "Mistress of me." He tugged. "Come and sit down."

"I will when you open your eyes and eat. You need your strength." He did as he was told, smiling sleepily up into her vivid face, animated by concern and lit by the firelight.

"Very well." He picked up the spoon. "Now sit."

For once obedient, Kaoru curled up next to him and began to nibble on a bit of rice. "Yahiko says Aoshi is sick."

"Yes. Heart strain, I think made worse by a fever."

"Are you tired because you have to help and support him?"

"We all do, those in Council." He spooned up the stew and found he was hungry after all. "This is good, that it is."

"Of course." He hid his smile. Kaoru was taking pride in her cooking, which had become better by leaps and bounds in the weeks of trial and error; but she would deny it vehemently if challenged. She would say that if she didn't cook then they would have to rely on Yahiko and that was too grim to contemplate. "Not all of you bear the same strain," she persisted. "There are those who have most followers, you have most influence, most to do."

Aoshi's brother-in-law lacked his charisma and perhaps some of his wisdom, but there were times, like now, when Kenshin was so exhausted, weary enough to sleep on his feet, he seriously considered forming an understanding with the man, besides he seemed more likely to become the next King. Leader of their people.

"Wake up!" He jerked awake before the bowl could slip from his fingers. Determined, he finished the food, drained the sake and thought about getting to his feet and trudging round to the other side of the wagon where he and Yahiko were sleeping under a width of stretched canvas from the big tent.

"Kenshin, there is a bed right behind you." Kaoru nudged him.

"Yours." They had constructed her a lean-to with rather more privacy than their own.

"Oh, go on for goodness' sake. It's hardly as though we had not slept together in the same bed before."

But not very often, Kenshin realized. Just the once, in fact. Since the bridge they had found places in the countryside to make love, creeping away like young lovers to tryst and coming back quietly so as to not wake Yahiko.

Not that Yahiko would be in the slightest doubt what was going on-his cheeky grin was evidence of that. Still, the desire to preserve Kaoru's modesty and an innate instinct for privacy made him discreet. But now Yahiko was snoring, deep in the sort of adolescent slumber that would take a Hun attack to rouse him from. And it was not as though Kenshin was going to do anything but sleep.

Kaoru's bedding smelled of her, sweet, spicy, female. Kenshin stripped off his clothes and lay down, not bothering with a blanket in the warm night air, He breathed deeply-and realized he could not sleep. Something, something on top of all the responsibilities that he knew how to cope with, was keeping him awake.

"What is it? What's wrong?" Kaoru whispered, sliding into the tent. "Did I keep you awake clearing up?"

"No, and nothing is wrong." He lied. It was her, of course. The Lady of the household. Only, once they had landed in China, once they began to settle and establish real households, what would become on her? He needed to marry, to raise children, to take his place in their new society. A geisha mistress could have no place in that. She was already wary of Tomoe, the obvious candidate for a wife; he could not imagine the pair of them co-existing peacefully for one moment. She was right to worry about the very same subject that day on the bridge.

"Then what are you thinking about?" She had curled up against his naked flank, her bare skin of her arms and legs soft against his side.

Tomoe. Not the most tactful thing to reply, however honest. I must leave Kaoru here when we sail. Leave her with the most senior magistrate and sail away, out of her life. He let his hand drift down her shoulder, over the swell of the side of her breast to the sweet curve and dip of her waist and hip. He would leave nothing with her but a memory; he had been careful ever since the bridge to withdraw and not risk making her with child.

His head fell back on the pillow. It seemed he had made a decision, he was certain it was the right one, and he felt as though someone was twisting a red-hot knife in his guts. "Thinking about what to take on the voyage." He said eventually, as she kept her head tipped up interrogatively. He could feel her eyes on him.

"You think too much," she scolded, slipping down towards his feet. "You need to relax."

The sudden fall of her hair across his belly was anything but relaxing as she knelt by his hips and trailed kisses along his body, across his chest and stomach and when the moist heat of her mouth reached his manhood and she took him between her lips, Kenshin was so shocked he reared up on his elbows. "Kaoru!" She had never done such a thing before, that she had not. And he had never once though about asking her, and here she was, when he was utterly exhausted- or perhaps not; his body was responding with enthusiasm.

Kaoru freed him and raised her head. "Lie back; let me make love to you."

"But you-"

"This is what I want, let me be selfish."

"But Yahiko's just on the other side of he wagon, that he is." Suddenly feeling like a embarrassed youth.

"Then be quiet." She said with a provocative chuckle as she bent her head to trace along the hardness of him with her tongue.

With a moan of surrender, Kenshin dropped back, his hands fisted into the bedding as Kaoru explored with hands, lips, teeth and tongue in wanton abandon. It became a battle of wills to be silent under her onslaught. When he reached for her she slapped his hands away and went back to torturing him with a skill that seemed to grow with every stifled moan and aching shudder of his body.

And then, when he could stand it no more, and his body began to arch in ecstasy, she shrugged her simple kimono off her shoulders and mounted him, she bent across the length of his body and kissed him full on the mouth, swallowing his cry as her surging hips pushed him over the edge. Yet he still had enough presence of mind and control that he lifted Kaoru's hip away, freeing himself before his seed could plant itself in her body. As he stilled, she wrapped her arms around him and held him tightly and the last thin he knew as he skid into sleep was the touch of her lips on his temple.


A/n So we know part of Kenshin's secret…he wants to leave Kaoru behind. I wonder how this is going to work out. Seems like Kenshin is sure he's going to marry Tomoe. Like I said, this chapter wasn't much more than a little transition, the next chapter will be much better. Thanks for reading everyone! Reviews are much loved.