Kassie: What excuses dare I have to offer you? Is anyone still reading this? I doubt it. It's my own fault for not updating faster. But then again it is hard when one has not a computer. Oh well.

I don't own Rurouni Kenshin.

-

Kenshin couldn't explain it. But as of late he felt so sluggish it was troublesome to him. He gently shook his head and thought, 'Oro I'm getting older that I am…'

'All the more reason we should hurry our asses up and marry Kaoru before our junk stops working for us…'

'I did not need to hear that. That I did not.'

'I don't care. I want to screw her before I can't even get it up!'

'ORO! Enough! And we will not "screw" her we will make passionate love to her!" Kenshin heard his darker side laugh at him as Battousai told his lighter half.

'Screw, make love to. It's all the same. Our part is still going into her part…personally I like the vigorous way of love making…I mean…just keep going and going now THAT'S a good old way to pleasure a woman…'

'Also a good way to run out of energy and not satisfy her for the rest of the night…'

'…' Kenshin grinned as that shut up his other side momentarily. He felt a little victory dance was needed. He quickly looked around to make sure no one was watching as he grinned and started to jump around and shaking his little booty while waving his hands crying out,

"Woo-hoo!"

"Ahem."

If Kenshin were to ever pee his pants again. It had to be then. He paused in his motions and slowly turned around to see the love of his life staring at him in the middle of the doorway.

"…Ah…ah…Oro.."

"Right. You ARE insane…"

"Oro…" Kaoru giggled and gently patted his head.

"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone…"

"You better not." Kaoru then shot him a glare.

"Ex-CUSE me?"

"Oro! Nothing!" he quickly went back to chopping away. He wanted to avoid Kaoru's evil eye. Kaoru hmphed and said,

"Thought so…" Kenshin kept chopping as he went along with his task of making breakfast. Kaoru stared at his back as his hair seemed to glow gently as it bathed in the sunlight. She felt her cheeks turn red.

He looked so…handsome like that. His head would gently move back and forth as his shoulders moved to chop the vegetable into pieces. Kaoru could only see the side of his face but from what she saw it looked so relax to be doing a simple task such as this. His violet eyes were focused and happy as he briefly closed them and smiled as he hummed a song in his throat. Kaoru couldn't help but smile as he emitted such a happy, and joyful aura. She was sometimes amazed about how much at peace he could be. Then again, as she thought about it. How could have he not have been at peace like this? He wasn't hurt anybody. He was just making a meal for his family, friends, and one annoying house guest that needed to be dealt with one way or another.

At the thought of Aoi Kaoru's heart hurt. She felt so worried over it. She quietly moved her way out of the kitchen and sat down at their small table. She sat formally with her legs tucked under her. She stared down at the table, her reflection on the cleaned polished wood stared up at her. She was shocked to see how sorrowful her eyes looked. Did she really feel that way?

Well, she did have her reasons to.

When she was younger the man she had run to, had signed her off like she was a piece of property to a jerk family. One that put everyone under them; as if they were the royal family. How could her father had done that to her? It was hurtful. When she was younger Kaoru would always cling to him. Especially after her mother had went into the next world, leaving the two of them behind. It was only them for so long. Sure, he was strict to her, she was his only heir she needed to learn all he had to teach before he too would leave this world.

She was given the burden to carry on the Kamiya legacy. Who was she to say she would not? After her father had given her so much. He raised her as properly as a man could raise a young girl. He taught her to be tough as a man in the dojo. If not even tougher…when she was only ten years old she was making men ten years her senior cry from a bruising of the hand!

It wasn't fun to point and laugh, Kaoru knew, but even now the simple thought of men ten years older than her, and surely much stronger, crying because she managed to land a blow on their 'delicate' hands. Kaoru shook her head at the thoughts. She shouldn't drift like that. Not when she wanted to think of her father. Even though it was purely for self-pity. She needed it right now more than ever.

He had signed her away. Like a piece of land.

Why? To simply preserve the Kamiya Kasshin-Ryu. He didn't care about her. He just saw her as an asset that he could use for his advantage when she came of age.

Kaoru had now come at that age.

She could do as her father had given away for her to do. Even if she didn't want to do it. Not only that. Kaoru didn't think she could do it either.

Her heart ached and Kaoru clutched at it. She looked at Kenshin still happily working on the morning's meal. Oh god…she couldn't do that to him. Not after…everything that happened. Her face started to burn as the memories came flooding back. Her stomach tighten as she could feel his hot breath on her once more. His tongue inviting her to follow along. Oh…his hands, touching her that way. It made her lower stomach burn in a way a maiden couldn't possibly say. But oh how she WANTED to.

She wanted to say everything she wanted him to do for her.

Of course she'd give back to him as well.

In any way she could.

Kaoru held her burning cheeks as she squeezed her legs tightly shut. It was great she went from being upset at her deceased father to yearning for the touch from the man of her dreams.

Now that was just down right CREEPY.

Kaoru couldn't even keep herself from shivering. Somehow she broke some moral in the world and she felt sick to her stomach. Truly, that was…just ew. She kept shivering for awhile until she looked back down at her reflection. She could feel her inner-self start arguing with her.

She was Kamiya Kaoru.

Kamiya then Kaoru.

It was never Kaoru Kamiya.

It was Kamiya Kaoru.

Her family was first. Then herself.

Never herself, then family.

She was, from the day she was born a Kamiya. She came second. That meant her needs came after the needs of her family.

No matter what they be.

If a certain family member needed to pay back a debt, then it would be paid back for the family. Because that is what family do for each other. They look out and take care of one another. So…no matter what it was. For the family, she'd have to do it.

As she carried on the dojo's name proudly.

She'd…

She'd…

Kaoru's bottom lip began to tremble horribly as her eyes quickly filled up with fresh tears. She found it hard to breathe as her chest heaved. One of her hands went up to her mouth to keep her from crying out from the sudden pain she felt in her chest. Her vision started to get blurry as her body trembled. She couldn't believe herself. She wanted to so bad break her own vows on forever honoring her family just to be with the man she loved. What kind of person was she?

She was so selfish.

It was inexcusable.

Once a promise is made, it should always be upheld. No matter what.

But…that would mean breaking her heart, and Kenshin's.

She couldn't do that to him. He already had his heartbroken before. She couldn't be the one to do it to him again…she just couldn't.

Her tears started to run down her face and land on the table creating a soft sound. She stared as her reflection had small ponds forming on her circular face. Tears kept rolling off her thick black leashes as she didn't know how to stop them. It hurt to cry, the salt burnt her eyes and each tear she shed she thought it was a small piece of her heart falling away from her. She kept her hand tightly clamped on her mouth in fear someone, like Kenshin, would hear her crying like a child. She could feel herself start pulling her face but she didn't cry. She wanted to cry, she deserved to cry. Her own father sold her off. Didn't he care for her just a tad bit to know that she would some day fall in love?

"Oh…father…why?" She whispered to the air as she felt herself curl into a ball.

"…Kaoru-dono what's wrong?" At the sound of his voice Kaoru jumped out of her position and slowly turned to stare at Kenshin with her red face and silver tears running down it. Kenshin stood there stunned at the sight of her like this with a tray of hot food in his hands. He quickly put the food on the table and dropped to his knees staring at her. He reached out and put his calloused hands onto her kimono covered shoulders.

"…Kaoru…tell me what what's wrong?" He told her softly as he gently pulled her into his chest. It took awhile before Kaoru fully leaned into his warmth and gripped onto his gi with her trembling hands.

"…Kenshin! I…I don't know what to do!" Kenshin stared down at her as he wrapped one arm around her and pulled her closer to him and stroked her silkily ponytail.

"Shh…tell me what you mean Kaoru…what don't you understand?" She couldn't control herself as she kept sobbing into his chest as she gave him his answer between gasps of air.

"…I…(gasp) can't…(hic)…betray my family!" She leaned into him, seemingly trying to see if perhaps his chest held a hole that she could fall into and forever be a part of him and hide from her problems. Kenshin looked down at her sadly, seeing his love in an inner turmoil like this was tearing him up inside.

"Kaoru…", he whispered softly in her ear. Kaoru started to be reduced to sniffles now as she leaned into him still and was silent. He held her close and rocked her as he wanted her to finish. That one sentence did say a lot about what was on her mind, but it didn't say it all. He knew at least that much. After awhile of finding herself in this comfortable silence Kenshin had given her, she let out hoarse whisper of,

"…I can't hurt you…I feel trapped between my family and myself Kenshin…I want to…so bad hold up my father's name. Then in the other hand I hold what I REALLY want! I want to be with you Kenshin not him! You! You!" She started to cry again. This time Kenshin stared down at her for awhile before he grabbed her chin and forced to her to stare up at him. He didn't have hard eyes like his grip would have implied. He still had his soft ever so deep violet ones.

"Kaoru…I'm sure…your father would want your happiness. Didn't I tell you this before?" Kaoru stared at him as her mind wandered back to when they first met. In the dojo after he had defeated them. The memory of her first meeting Kenshin made her feel a bit warmer. She looked at him and nodded softly,

"Hai…I remember you did say that." Kenshin smiled at her and asked her gently,

"Then what has changed?" Kaoru looked down and whispered,

"…I don't know it's just…he…he signed me away…ME! His own daughter! How can a person do that?!" Kenshin looked at her and thought about it. It wasn't uncommon for men to sign off their daughters in the hopes that their grandsons would carry on their sword style, allowing it to live forever. But it was painful to give away their children to a new family where they would take their family name and leave their birth family behind. That is why most fathers preferred sons for sons were never leave them and they would carry on the family name.

Kenshin nodded a bit to himself to confirm this.

"Oro…"

"Kenshin?"

"Oro?" Kaoru then gently flicked his forehead,

"You dazed off again…you haven't been well lately have you?" Kenshin looked at her and smiled.

"No, I've been fine it's just…with everything going on lately…this one is just tired." He then grabbed her hands together in his own and gently squeezed them, "Kaoru…I want to be with you. Now and forever…" He kissed her hands gently as he whispered, "It's selfish of me…to want you to keep you to myself…"

"NO IT'S NOT!" Battousai mentally barked at Kenshin. Kenshin twitched in front of Kaoru but managed to keep his smile up. Kaoru looked at him with her pleading eyes, begging him to continue as it seemed whatever he had to say; she needed to hear it the most.

"I…don't want you to go to Aoi-san. I don't. If you chose it…I can't stop it. But I won't let you go by force. He has already waged his claim on you in a sword's fight. I'll fight for you Kaoru. I'll fight for our love…" He whispered as he began to lean his face in gently. Their foreheads gently touched as they leaned against one another. Sapphire eyes met with his deep violet ones as they both shined. A silent promise was held in those eyes, only the two of them were know, it would never be shared with the world. Soon those promising eyes closed as Kenshin began to lean in a bit more. Kaoru blushed heavily but closed her eyes as well as her red cheeks burn. Slowly, their lips met, like heaven and earth. Or perhaps heaven and hell. Kenshin pulled her closer as he gently dipped her head back. Their lips made soft smacking as it was a soft kiss. One that was long and soft.

Kaoru could feel herself start to become warmer with it. It felt so nice, relaxing even. The way his hand had started to stroke the side of her face to calm her down while sending shivers down her spine. He made no advancement to deepen the kiss; instead he kept it in a soft level, not wanting to scare her.

So, it was HER who took the role of deepening the kiss.

Her body shook with nerves as she was scared she'd screw up or something. She then held him closer to her, her fingers now entangled in his burning red hair. She slowly parted her lips and carefully licked Kenshin's lips gently. Asking for permission.

Kenshin was rather shocked as he parted his lips and allowed her tongue to be welcomed.

Battousai was overjoyed.

'YES! She's warming up to us…soon…soon…we'll be putting that little tongue to work!'

Kenshin didn't have time to listen to his other half. He was busy being wowed by this visitor in his mouth. Kaoru's tongue was licking everything it could as it explored the warm cavern of his mouth. He felt the shivers go up his spine then drop to his stomach when her inexperienced tongue ran over his resting one. He took it as an invitation to play. His tongue gently stroked hers back, still not wanting to frighten her by pushing it too far.

Kaoru then suddenly withdrew herself as she took as much breath as she possibly could get. She licked her lips as she gasped. Kenshin watched her, and didn't even notice that he himself was heaving as well. As his eyes stared at her, her face began to burn. She quickly reached up and put her hands on her cheeks as she looked down. Kenshin looked at her gently as he then chuckled at her child like response.

"Oro…Kaoru-dono…" He reached out and stroked her soft raven colored bangs.

"It's okay." Kaoru blushed a bit and nodded gently as she whispered,

"Hai…I…I suppose you're right." Kenshin then grinned and gave her a tight hug.

"Yes I know I am." Kaoru blinked and looked up at him with an odd look.

"Mou Kenshin…" Kenshin just chuckled nad held her closer. Kaoru then just giggled and leaned against him. Content in feeling his warmth. Karou could his eyes and leaned his head against hers as Kaoru kept leaning herself more and more into his warmth.

"A-HEM." They sudden pulled apart when Aoshi and Misao stood in the door way staring at them. Misao with an all knowing smirk placed across her face. While Aoshi just stood there staring at them with his usual apathelic look.

"…Oro…good morning…"

"…"

"…"

"AHAHAHAHAHA Go Himura!" Kenshin turned scarlet at the sound of Misao's cheering, and Aoshi and Kaoru's silence.

"…Oro…please sit down and eat breakfeast…" Misao grinned and said,

"Don't mind if we do!"

-

Kassie: I have better end it here. I'm sorry that I was a day late on updating but I went home sooner than I thought. To be honest I'm at a cross road in my life. I no longer wish to continue going to school but I'd rather work as much as I can and get my dilopoma I'm trying to go a continuation school to get my dilophma as some of my friends are doing.

I'll try to update as now I feel as if I'm back on track for this story once more!

Please R&R and tell me what you think!