A/N: Here's that chapter that some of you are anxious to read. Note: There will be intimate scenes below so if you are uncomfortable with this, please wait until next week for my next update. Respect the rating of this story and please do proceed with caution. Reader discretion is advised. But besides that, I want to thank all of those who seem to like my story! Thank you very much for this support.

Previously on Reaching True Feelings: The bell rang and both teenagers nodded at each other, saying goodbye. Soon after, they both went their separate ways, in two different directions. Even so, Youko turned around and watched her go. The sound of her shoes echoed brilliantly in the crowded halls and her skirt swayed as she moved oh so elegantly. It seemed to Youko…that Valentine's Day was not a day of acknowledgment but a day of rejection. The only problem was that he learned that too little too late… ---

"It broke my heart. To see my friend walk away from me. Yes…it happened a few hours ago and it still continues to hurt me…" Kaoru whispered. "He told me something. And I didn't give him the chance to explain. I wish that I could have. Only then, my conscience would have been clear…and I would be able to move on with my life." She looked down at the fireplace that she had grown so accustomed to…Kenshin's hands skillfully massaging her shoulders as she stared out into space. "If only you knew. If only."

"You could always tell me anything."

"But that's just it. You see…it's different somehow. Compared to Youko, you seem like such a flawless man. The way that he looked when I left him standing there at the end of period one…the way that he just stood there while I lengthened the gap between us really took its toll on me. I can't even imagine how Youko must have felt…" Kaoru twiddled her thumbs and sighed heavily. "He must have felt crushed…"

"Please, Kaoru…tell me what happened…you make it seem so difficult and I want to be here for you…so that I can comfort you. I like comforting you. It makes me happier to see you smile…rather than frown like you are doing now…" He kissed the shell of her ear. Sitting behind her, he brushed a few loose strands of raven colored hair behind her ears. "If possible, I'd want to make everything right again. And I want to know…why you think I'm so flawless…"

"You seem that way to me. I don't know why… You are such a selfless man…with such decent morals and goals. Kenshin…compared to Youko, you're so perfect. But even so, I think that you have had your troubles in the past. And that's why…that's why you were able to learn from them and try to be the best you could possibly be…making yourself seem so perfect." Kenshin continued with the massaging. "I don't know what I'm saying now…it all seems like pointless drivel, now doesn't it?" Kaoru let out a little chuckle and took Kenshin's left hand in her own milky white grasp. "Who knows. I mean…you seem that way to me, but I don't want to force you to tell me all about yourself."

"If you want me to, I could. But really, Kaoru…tell me what happened." He said gently.

"Well…as you know, it is Valentine's Day…" Kenshin responded quickly by pressing his fleshy lips up against her own. "And…" Kaoru said, pressing her palms up against his chest, trying to back away. "And well, I knew that Youko was acting different from the very beginning. For one thing, he wouldn't really tell me what was bothering him. Usually, he would just come right out and say it. There would be no secrets kept at all. I mean…Youko's just the type that'll just say whatever comes to mind. He's not the caring sort." Kaoru looked away, her cyan pools drifted towards the dancing flames again. "He came to me, and told me that he needed to tell me something important and so I waited for him to say whatever it was that he needed to say. But the funny thing was that he couldn't get it off of his chest. It was almost as if he was scared to do so…"

"And was he?"

"I imagined that he was…even before he told me what was bothering him. And yet, he continued to fight with himself. He was struggling on the inside…probably trying to make up his mind about telling me or not but I guess he thought about it and so…" Her eyes closed gradually and her hands were now folded. She then resembled a frail china doll…one who would perch on a high shelf, looking so still and lifeless in such a perfect way. She was scarcely breathing and not a hair on her head was out of place. "Youko…he…told me that he loved me, Kenshin. He said that he did. And this was in front of most of the student body…"

"I had a feeling that he did. I remember the amusement park trip that we went on earlier in the year and I saw him kiss you. Kaoru, he really does like you. And it makes me feel horrible that you can't return these feelings of his."

"I know Kenshin…but there is nothing that I can do…I really didn't expect him to say that to me…in front of everyone no less! I didn't think that he really thought of me in that way. Sure he took me to the dance, sure he's been hanging out with me more than I would have ever imagined." She let out a heavy sigh and tilted her head until her eyes were transfixed on Kenshin's carpet. "I love Youko as a friend. And that's such amazing progress. But…I have you and that's that. It--" The sudden gurgling ring of Kenshin's telephone made her jump in surprise and lose her train of thought.

"I'll be right back…" Kenshin said as he rose from the sofa and walked down to reach for the telephone. Kaoru watched his movements as she stayed still on the luxurious piece of furniture. She always liked staying with Kenshin. That was already obvious. Enough about my problems…Kenshin is here for me and he always has been. He's listened to me whine and complain for long enough. It's time that I focus on the seriousness of our relationship. I wish that I could be with him for real now. I've dreamed of that moment. The moment in which we would finally become one. Sure I've told him about it before but I want to…I do… Kaoru waited anxiously for him to get off of the telephone so that she could tell him that she had thought about…intimacy and was finally ready to give it a try.

Kenshin finally hung up the telephone and walked back to where Kaoru waited for him. "That was a very old friend on the phone…Aritomo Yuu. He called to ask me if I wanted to go to a party of his to commemorate his 28th birthday tomorrow." Kaoru nodded. "Yeah, and I said that I would definitely go. It's nice that I got a call from someone whom I haven't spoken into in such a long time. And who knows, maybe I'll end up seeing some of my old high school friends there." He laughed while Kaoru smiled at him. "Well, now that that's over, what can I do to make you comfortable tonight?"

"Kenshin…I've been thinking…" He looked at her with a beautiful and mellow smile on his face and waited for her to continue. "I want to do this..." Kaoru said as she took his hands and looked down at them. She squeezed them hard and pulled his body closer to hers. Not so long after, her lips were pressed passionately against his own, Kenshin having no time to react at all. "I told you how much you mean to me and I want to show it to you now. I want to do it because you're it for me. You really are," Kaoru breathed as she looked down at his jeans. He nodded, now understanding what she was asking of him. "I know that it does seem so sudden but it's so romantic. It's Valentine's Day. I want to show--" Her eyes went wide, her heart pounded. He was already on top of her. Kaoru moaned.

"I know what you mean, Kaoru-koishii…" He said in a suave way as he caressed her face with his two index fingers. "I really do…" He stood up and took her into his arms so that they may feel much more comfortable in his own bed. "If this is what you want…then I will give it to you freely, no questions asked." His eyes looked much more narrow than usual. It looked as if he was tired but that couldn't be farther from the truth. He wanted Kaoru more than he wanted anything. And if she was giving herself to him so willingly, he was ready for her. "I love you…" He whispered into her ear as he carried her upstairs into his own room…

She was sprawled out on his quilt, her hair now undone, flowing across his mattress like scattered tributaries. "Come…" She whispered. And then that was it. Lips entwined. Bodies glistened as they began to sweat. It felt so different for Kaoru. They had had their share of intimacy before but she had never imagined that they would become one. "…Ken…sh…shin…" Kaoru said in a choppy fashion as Kenshin's moist yet and supple lips continued to brush up against her collarbone and neck. And to refrain Kaoru from speaking, Kenshin jammed his tongue into her mouth. All that seemed present now were her moans. While his mouth was occupied, he slid his hands down her figure. "Aaah…you're so…"

"So what?" Kenshin replied with a mischievous grin. "Just sit back…that's all you have to do. Let me show you what a good time feels like…" She nodded and trusted him. She believed that he was right and that there was no way that he would lead her into something that she would regret later on. "Just remember this…I'll stop if you can't take it anymore." Kaoru shook her head. This gesture allowed Kenshin to continue. Instantly, he got back into the rhythm of things, unbuttoning Kaoru's blouse. The sight of what was under the cloth made his heart skip a beat. "Ohh…" He muttered and once his eyes landed on her chest, he grinned. "Are you cold?" His eyes twinkled once he saw tiny goosebumps on her breasts and had hoped that he could later do his level best to warm her. "Here…let's get under." Undressing his bed, both he and Kaoru went under the covers, Kenshin placing his hands on her and feverishly rubbing her up and down.

His shirt was off in a matter of seconds. He was very well toned and it was even more obvious to Kaoru now seeing that his common oxford shirt was no longer clothing him. And the skin on skin contact that they were sharing caused Kaoru to let out a satisfied scream. "Shh…" Kenshin said as he let himself collapse on top of her, fingering her short skirt and blindly feeling around for her zipper. Reaching for it, he pulled…the cloth falling down, off of his bed. Along with her skirt came her undergarments that Kenshin ripped off as if he could no longer wait for anything. He felt her whole body stiffen under him as he thrust two fingers into her sacred center. But that wasn't enough. He looked down into her cyan colored eyes, hungry for more. Kenshin instantaneously thrust downward at Kaoru, his jeans still on. Kaoru shook her head and yanked the fly of his pants towards her so that she would be able to pull down his zipper. "You're so vigorous…" Kenshin said in a husky tone of voice as he squirmed over Kaoru, his jeans also falling off of his bed.

She locked lips with him again, her tongue grazing every single one of his teeth, while her hands reached down and lowered his boxers. He was naked, as was she. He thrust downward again but missed only because Kaoru rolled over and straddled him over his waist. She was now on top. He started to laugh as she sat him up and pressed herself against him, her chest pushing hard and heavy against his chest. The feeling intensified. Kenshin moved his fingers up and down her arms and all the way down to her navel area. She moaned. "Oh…Kenshin…" Kaoru grunted as he pinned her down again, his red locks tickling her neck. He did not let her speak again. He simply gave her another lash with his tongue, pecking her with his sweet lips. Her hands went behind his neck so that she could easily support herself while ravishing him. They both paused for a short while, eyes starting into each other and mirroring looks of determination, confidence, and lust. "Just now…you've made me feel…so good…" She murmured.

"Well I'm happy that I can make you feel that way…" He said in his lower register. The break was over. They had continued with their sexual interlude under the blankets. Sometimes, he couldn't even imagine that he was actually there…with Kaoru…making love to the woman in which he loved so dearly. I've waited…and waited for this to occur. And yet…and yet I feel as if I'm rushing things. I don't want her to think that I am forcing this on her because I'd never do that. Even though it's hard for me…not to go through with this, if she wants to hold off, I will do it for her. Kenshin stopped. He rolled onto his side and rested his head down on a single pillow. Kaoru was dumbfounded. Why would he just stop, especially when she said that it felt so good? She sat herself up again, holding the thin white sheet close against her chest. Kenshin stayed in his horizontal position and shut his eyes. "Would you want to…hold off, Kaoru? From our…lovemaking, I mean." He kept his eyes closed, hoping that she would wish to continue.

"You're not…having second thoughts about this. I won't let you have second thoughts about this, Kenshin. I've been meaning to do this and now that we've started, we'll finish it. I can't believe that we've come this far already but please…you can't leave me like this." Kaoru muttered. She moved closer to him, able to feel his heated flesh chafe against her own. "I'm ready…" He looked down and noticed something on her lower back that he didn't even notice when he removed her clothes before…it was a patch…

"Kaoru…" Kenshin whispered mutely as he felt a rush of uneasiness course through his veins. He looked down. His manhood was still erect. His desire for Kaoru was still there. But he was still very concerned about thieving Kaoru's sacred and innocent virginity. "I love you and if you really want me this much…if you really love me this much, then I…understand." Kaoru looked at Kenshin intently, eyes flashing. "If this is what you really want…I won't stop you from doing it. I won't deny the fact that I've been waiting for what seems like forever…to make love to you." She nodded, locking lips again. Kenshin moaned fiercely as he realized that in a few short moments, he would complete what he wanted to start for such a long while. "Kao…ru…" Those all too familiar digits of his were at work again.

He knew that Kaoru was now dead set on watching his every move. "Tell me…if I hurt you…" Kenshin began, his voice If I do, tell me to stop. I don't care how good it will feel." She nodded, understanding that it would hurt. And with that, the couple prepared to get into a comfortable position, while Kenshin felt his heart race. Her fingers wrapped around his neck again; their hips close together. "There's nothing for you to fear…don't worry…Kaoru…I would never let anything happen to you…" Looking down at the patch that she wore on her lower back, he knew that nothing could go wrong. "All right…" He muttered. Silence ensued. Heart beating through his ears, Kenshin began to breathe a bit heavier than he usually did. It was unusual. Most of the time, he seemed rather comfortable around Kaoru. But now…what he would decide on doing at that moment in time, would change both of their fates. Again, the deafening silence took its toll on the young man. There was but one thing to do. He thrust himself forward. Her walls contracted around his member and the only thing that rang in his ears now, were the screams of his lover.

"No…you can't stop…Kenshin," Kaoru said wearily. He just looked at her with sympathetic eyes, feeling as if they should take a break. "Kenshin…" Kaoru whimpered. And all he did was take her into his own arms and rock her back and forth, shutting his eyes all the while. He said nothing and did nothing more. All he could think about was the love that he felt for her. Being as strong and unwavering as it was, all he wanted to do was take it one step at a time, aware that it was such a critical moment.

"I love you…" He whispered hoarsely into her cream colored ear. She felt so warm and so cared about. With Kenshin's arms wrapped around her ever so gently, she smiled. She genuinely felt as happy as she could possibly be and that was simply because she was finally able to put her words into action. She was finally able to show Kenshin how much she cared. ---

A/N: Again, please respect the rating of this story. If you did like this chapter, I'm very glad. If you didn't, please don't ruin the chance for others to continue reading and enjoying this fanfiction. I have aforementioned that this story is to be 53 chapters so please understand of what I ask. And with that said, please review! Thank you!

Son Christine