Sorry it's a little late.
Disclaimer: I own everything that I have paid for, as well as a few things that are free… but I can't own something that already belongs to someone else.
Chapter 21: Heart of Sword
These were the best of mornings, Kaoru decided as she snuggled closer into the warmth next to her. Waking up in such comfort was truly breathtaking, but Kaoru could not explain why this time she felt so wonderfully sensual. Humming happily, she curled her fingers loosely into something sinfully silky and tightened her leg around whatever was warm and hard and laying beside her. Amusement filled her ears and her eyebrows twitched on a frown, remembering vaguely that she had been upset when she fell asleep.
"Surely my little bluebird would never voluntarily strip herself of her feathers." Suddenly aware of the arm wrapped around her waist, Kaoru's eyes fluttered open with a jolt, flushing as his hand smoothed playfully over her naked backside. Every muscle tensed, she tilted her head up from his chest to stare into the one golden eye angled in her direction.
"I…" Swallowing as her voice squeaked, Kaoru wiggled half-heartedly backwards, giving up easily when his arm tightened. "You were going to freeze to death, Himura-san. There was no other way…" Trailing off she watched his golden iris soften.
"Always worried, little bird." His voice was soft, alerting her that he was not completely well yet. Glancing over to the fire, she noticed that it was barely flickering, but not completely out. It was not truly morning yet, and probably a few hours from.
"This time it could not be helped." Answering him just as softly, she closed her eyes, snuggling her nose into his collarbone, indefinably relieved that he was ok.
"You should be careful… it could be mistaken…" He was struggling, and Kaoru's smile was tremulous as she recognized his teasing statement.
"It does not matter. Affection is not wrong to feel." His own muscles stiffened, his free hand wrapping firmly around her elbow and pressing her arm over his chest so that she felt how strong his heartbeat now was; steady, yet slightly quickened. "I'm sorry if it offends you that I do. I know how little you wish for such a thing from me. But I promise not to mention it again. I don't want you to be angry. You need plenty of peaceful rest, and that won't happen if we argue."
Briefly his chest pushed against her as he breathed in, his grip loosening. "There is nothing to argue about." There was a pause and her heart went into her throat as he cuddled her closer against him. "I'm too tired to disagree." Swallowing the lump back down, she distractedly readjusted the edges of the blanket, blocking off any route for cold air to make contact with skin.
"Good." Lips trembling as she made the statement, Kaoru relaxed back against him. Baka! It's not like a demon's going to profess his undying love for you. You are just a possession. Albeit a favored one, you will still be seen as nothing but… Nodding her head in agreement, she sighed and smiled when his head leaned into hers. We share so many intimate moments anyway, so I will not complain or ask for more. I can be content with the rest of my life if he is this warm with me… even if he does keep secrets. Frowning, she remembered an earlier question she had wished to ask him, and as the thought reappeared it disrupted her contentment.
"Are you asleep?" Whispering quietly incase he was already gone to the world of dreams, Kaoru smiled tenderly when he stirred, his reply drowsy.
"No."
"May I ask you a question?"
"You have just asked me two, little bird."
Pursing her lips, she heard his strained chuckle and felt contrite at the pressure it was no doubt placing on his ribs. "I'm sorry, I should just let you sleep."
"I am curious now, so I will not rest until you ask."
Sighing at how exasperating he could be, she played with the red hair draped across his shoulder, realizing vaguely that it had been wrapped around her fingers when she woke. "I wanted to know… your real name, Himura-san."
"What makes you think Himura is not my real name?"
"Himura is a surname, and only identifies you as belonging to that family. You said you were known as Himura Battosai, but Battosai is only a title and not really a name at all. I want to know what your name is, not your family's, and definitely not what other people name you because of your skill with a sword."
There was a long pause and Kaoru tilted her head to look to him again. His amber eyes were on the ceiling of the cavern, watching the smoke roll along the rock before disappearing around the bend to the entrance. "I haven't shared my name with another in over twelve years."
Pursing her lips Kaoru dropped her chin. "I was afraid you would say something like that."
"Oh?" The tone of his voice was curious and she took a breath to explain her theory.
"Well, having a title at all usually means you do not wish for others to know your identity. The name Himura is not unheard of, but it would be nearly impossible for anyone to figure out who you are with only a surname. Battosai suggests skill and will intimidate, as well as single you out without involving any of the people that were ever connected to you before. Or after, I guess, when you decide to leave the title behind." Yawning, Kaoru closed her eyes. "Will you promise to tell me someday, though? Before I die?"
"It's Kenshin." Nearly eager his voice whispered into her ear, his hand slipping up her back to wrap around her neck. Surprised, Kaoru lifted herself up onto an elbow to look down at him. "My name is Kenshin."
"Kenshin…" Trying out the sound on her tongue, she smiled when he purred, her eyes amused. "Even it suggests your talent with a sword."
"I suppose. My master gave it to me. I do not remember if I had a name before."
"You have a master then?" He nodded minimally, a dark frown pulling at his features, and she looked down to his chest, dropping the matter as quickly as it had arisen. "I like the name Kenshin. Is it alright if I call you by it?" Amber eyes moved to her, watching with interest as color spread up her cheeks. "When we are alone, of course." Addressing another so informally was nearly as intimate as their current situation of skin on skin. He had no troubles using her given name so casually. He even had an endearment of sorts that he applied when he spoke to or about her most of the time. But he owned her, she was a mere slave in comparison.
"Say it again." Confused, the color on her cheeks deepened. "My name, Kaoru. Say it again." Ducking his intent gaze, Kaoru stared at his lips instead, darting her eyes almost shyly to his as she obliged in a whisper.
"Hmm. I do not mind. I have not heard my name in many years. I will like hearing it spoken from your lips." The hand around her neck tightened and she suddenly felt uncomfortable, a cold chill creeping under the blanket and rippling her skin. Glad of a chance to change the subject, Kaoru twisted where she was to look for the small pile of wood.
"The fire is dying… Kenshin. You need to stay warm." Sitting up to reach the stack against the wall near their feet, she stiffened when his hand spread over the naked skin of her back. Shrugging it off with difficulty, reminding herself that he was injured, she drug three pieces of wood to an area of easier reach. Lifting one, she turned and had to brace her weight on a knee between his legs to stretch across his figure before she could drop it on the fire. His hand followed the movement, running softly over her shoulder and down her arm, his eyes dark behind a red curtain of lashes. As she sat back up, his hand returned to her back, twining through her hair briefly then lowering to the curve of her hip.
The second piece of wood was deposited with his hand smoothing up her stomach, teasing the section between her breasts before finding her neck. A deep stain of red was burning her cheeks by this time and she bit her lip, refusing to look him in the eye. It was all well and good knowing that he was injured and nothing too physical could be done, but he did not seem to catch onto this barrier as promptly. Nothing was stopping him from reminding her what his touch had felt like in a dark room, with only the certainty of his body keeping her on her feet.
Finally free of the last piece of wood, the fire snapping and crackling with new life, she sucked in a breath as his hand curled around her back, leaving its current area of focus cold and yearning. His other hand caught her outstretched wrist, snuggling her nearly on top of the uninjured half of his body, his lips next to her ear. "Are you trying to torture me, little bird?" The blanket was half-caught between their bodies, covering only her backside as her limbs tangled with his. She felt no chill, however, and knew it was only because of this new yearning he had uncovered in her blood.
"I… I was only…"
"Only giving me a full understanding of what is under your feathers, bluebird." As breathless as he was becoming, Kaoru could not be sure of the true origin. Nor could she find strength to care as the hand on her back skimmed lower to press her hips into his. Biting back a groan of longing, she remembered distantly the two others that slept merely around the bend.
"Himura-san… Kenshin… we can't…"
"No?" Clever fingers pulled at the ribbon still holding back her hair, spilling the silky length down her back and over her shoulders where he could play with the strands. Twisting a larger portion around his palm, he pulled her to him, his lips brushing hers in a tease. "You are quite sure?"
"Hai… I'm… pretty sure." Talking around the caress of his mouth, Kaoru shook her head when he laughed.
"But not quite?" Still taunting her, the hand at her hip slid to her shoulder to hold her closer. Struggling gamely, she pushed herself to her elbows.
"No I'm quite sure." Clearing her throat she reaffirmed her stance, pursing her lips when he grinned. "Do you know what kind of hell I went through to put you back together again? You are going to be on a very short leash from now on."
"Me, little bird? I was only doing as you asked." Dark eyebrows dropped in contriteness, midnight blue irises darting to the side, and she levered herself away under his suddenly slack grip.
"I know… it was very horrible of me to ask such a thing when I did not know the extent of the situation." Quiet and ashamed, she covered herself once more with the blanket and cuddled against his side, hiding her face in the fall of her hair. Almost hesitantly his arm wrapped back around her, fitting his hand comfortably at her hip.
"You should not worry too much. I am not angry with you."
"It doesn't matter, I am angry with myself." She sniffed quietly to hide her tears, her jaw trembling when she felt him draw slightly away in uncertainty. "I should have seen all the things that could have gone wrong. All the things that did go wrong. You were terribly wounded, Himura-san… you needed a doctor. But the town's people refused to care for you. They said they didn't treat your kind and I was so scared you were going to die." A sob finally wracked her body, convulsing her ribs hard enough to upset her cracked bone. Wincing over the pain and fighting for air through the tears, Kaoru curled her fist and brought it to her mouth. The emotional strain was too much, and after a horribly long day, Kaoru could not hold it in any longer.
It took several long seconds for his arms to enfold her once again, his touch light and unsure. He had no practice in comforting, and through her misery she acknowledged his effort and was grateful. This demon was full of so many surprises. Perfectly willing to be held, Kaoru nuzzled her face further into the crevice of his shoulder, encouraging and seeking warmth.
"You were… making these noises last night as well."
Frowning deeply, Kaoru stared at the dark spread of skin a bare space from her eyes, confused by what he was suggesting. Slowly his meaning came to her, widening her irises in shock as she could clearly see herself, balled underneath the covers of the futon in that small room at the inn. Crying for all she was worth as she imagined her demon elsewhere and happy, with a woman much more beautiful and receptive than she. Mouth working soundlessly as she was unable to find the right words to reply to his accusation, because it was truthful, Kaoru sniffed once and settled for an agreement.
"Hai."
"Why?"
"I…" Feeling as if she were being called out, Kaoru struggled to keep her reasons in the dark. For now, she did not want him to know. "I could not help it."
"Just as our first night together?"
"Something like that."
"You said it was because you were happy then…" A cautious finger slid between the strands of her hair and over her cheek, collecting moisture in the ridges of his skin. Lifting the digit above his head for scrutiny, she felt his chest rumble in disbelief. "I do not believe you are happy now."
"No, I am angry and upset…"
"But which emotion drove you to tears at the inn?" He was too curious, his voice soft from pain and exhaustion, but demanding that she satisfy his desire to know. Why he would care, why he would go through the trouble to ask, Kaoru did not know. All she could think of was her own desire not to let him guess her wayward thoughts of betrayal and the emotion she had felt that drove her to that misery.
"I… was upset then, as well. That… you continue to think I will run away from you, and… because of… how ungrateful I must be if I cannot even repay my debt to you, Himura-san." Biting her lip at the half-lie, Kaoru held her breath in hopes he would not read into her words too well. Because those thoughts had plagued her. Wondering if she was truly so undesirable. If he found her unsatisfactory and that was the true reason he had restrained himself from taking what belonged to him. If she had somehow pushed him away with her actions or words and denied him what she should have offered to him freely in the first place.
There was a long pause as the fire crackled and his breathing evened, the hand at her waist stroking absently over her bare skin. Leaving goose-bumps in the wake of his fingertips. Then he sighed and his arms were once again cuddling her close against him.
"I thought you were going to call me by my given name, little bird?"
Swallowing a shaky smile, Kaoru flattened her fist against his chest. "It will take some getting used to… Kenshin." My heart of sword.
A/N: Uhhh yeah... I'm not sure if there was something I was going to say, but here it is. Hope that everyone liked it. I won't be posting the next chapter in a week. It will probably be more like two. I'm going on vacation back home and I am not going to think about anything except seeing my family. Especially a little girl I've been missing. I never thought Id get so attached to my niece. Well, I probably did, but I didn't think it would be this hard being away from her. Ah well, see you all when I can, and I hope this will hold you over for awhile. Finally Kenshin has a name! We can quit calling him Himura and get on with our lives! lol Leave a review. Your comments are appreciated.