A little bit of fluff to offset the angst.

Setting: a few days after marriage.


Kenshin hummed softly as he made breakfast, the rice resting and the soup bubbling away. The vegetables he'd brined should be nicely pickled and ready today. He pulled dishes from the shelf, including a nice new set that Kaoru had recently bought. They really were pretty, and a few nice memories with them would be pleasant. He smiled, feeling Kaoru coming down the hall and approaching the kitchen. They only had three more days until the normal, happy chaos of lessons and visitors resumed, and Kenshin had every intention of enjoying each minute of time alone with his bride. He was ladling out some soup to cool when slim, strong arms curled around his chest and sweet curves pressed warmly against his back. He paused and leaned back slightly, enjoying the feel of his wife.

Kaoru squeezed him lightly. "Breakfast smells good. Do you want to eat at the dining table or in bed?" He suppressed the urge to groan at the sleepy, husky tone to her voice.

Kenshin hesitated; he'd rather horrifically neglected his chores since the wedding. "Perhaps breakfast in the dining room and dinner in bed?"

"Mmm... breakfast in the dining room and lunch in bed?" She countered.

"Aa, Kaoru." With motivation like that, he could accomplish a fair amount of work in just a few hours.

"I'll help with chores today." Another light squeeze and she released him, stepping away. "And I'll start by helping carry breakfast to the table."

He turned his head to smile for her, and froze, a bowl of pickles held mid-air. Kaoru was wearing his kimono, belted very casually, and the worn, soft cloth gaped in the front. His fingers twitched. Then he blindly shoved the pickles onto the counter and pulled her into his arms, burying his face in her collar. She smelled like heaven: flowers and him; his scent lingering her skin and on his clothes, and something hot and possessive slithered down his spine.

"Kenshin?"

"Breakfast can wait, that it can." And her happy laughter had always sounded like music to him.