I promise I don't mean to make my reprieves this long but I feel blessed to still be writing in 2020, and having readers who even are interested in reading. I hope y'all will enjoy what I've been working on the last few months!
Clarifications on text is as follows:
"Conversations"
'Thoughts'
Emphasized Text/"Emphasized Spoken Words"
Disclaimer: Still the same disclaimer as the first chapter!
Coming Home To You
Chapter 8: The Picture
"I have a favor to ask you."
She frowned lightly at his eyes avoiding hers, choosing instead to survey the gate surrounding the dojo. 'What could be so hard for him to say, even after all of this?' Birds chirped noisily somewhere beyond the engawa. Distracting. She steeled herself, wordlessly promising not to get in the way of his progress.
"Never be afraid to ask me for a favour, Kenshin." Kaoru turned towards Kenshin expectantly. The sleeves of her gi rustled as she waited for his next words.
Kenshin kept his view out over the yard; she noted the slight flush in his cheeks. 'I don't think I've ever seen Kenshin so genuinely nervous… no. Flustered. What could he be thinking that could turn his cheeks pink?' In her heart, she couldn't help but hope it meant that he wanted to open up to her more. She shifted slightly, turning towards him to show he had her attention.
"I mentioned I hadn't been sleeping well since Kyoto. I was hoping… well, I-" He cut himself off, nostrils flaring as he struggled for the right words, before chuckling. She squeezed his hand gently. His expression softened, eyes glued to their overlapping hands. "I know this isn't exactly proper of me to ask but… would you share a room with me? Like in Kyoto?"
The chirping birds could have been struck by lightning and fallen dead at their feet, and she wouldn't have noticed. 'That was not at all what I was expecting him to ask.'
At her wide eyes, he continued, doing everything he could to keep his voice even. "It's the peace you bring. And-" His shoulders drooped as he resigned himself to his next words. "And I can't keep pretending that I've got it all put together."
He smiled his kind rurouni smile, rubbing the back of his head gently. The thought that he was about to close off, entered her train of thought. But then his eyelashes rebounded off his cheeks revealing amethyst lit with golden specs of fire.
"It feels like I'm lying to you when I pretend to be okay all of the time. Now more than ever." He couldn't help as the corners of his cheeks pulled even more, allowing his teeth to shine through into a breathtakingly honest smile. Hiko's words reverberated through his mind. "And that wouldn't be me building with you, would it?" Kaoru swallowed, aware of how lovely the man in front of her truly was to her. 'This smile.'
"I, err-" she flushed and looked away from him. Flustered at how such a simple gesture like a smile could overwhelm her so much that she lost her train of thought. "Ask me again?"
Puzzled, Kenshin blinked at her before the skin near his eyes crinkled as he held back a laugh at how flustered she was. 'Cute'
The blush reached her ears this time and as she shot him a half-hearted glare from the corner of her eyes. "Baka…" Despite her reaction, she tightened her grasp on his hand, coming back to the situation. "Of course I'll share with you. It just caught me off guard is all."
He rested his head on hers once more, the blue hairs blocking his vision shimmered in light of the sunset. "Off guard but not unwanted, ne?"
She cursed her sudden lack of courage. If she felt braver in that moment, she would have pressed her lips to his cheek softly to reassure him. Instead she curled deeper into his side, letting her eyes slip closed as she inhaled his familiar scent. 'When does he keep slipping away to do laundry?' Chuckling internally at her thoughts, she finally responded to him.
"No. Not unwanted at all."
A short time later after wrapping up training and dinners and bathing found the two in Kenshin's room, preparing to sleep.
She fought the instinct to fan herself with her sleeping yukata. 'Don't overheat now, Kaoru, you've done this before. It's just, Kenshin.' She nodded to herself before letting the items in her hand fall to the ground softly. Her hands were clutching the blanket as she spoke to disrupt the quiet tension in the room.
"Right. So we just put them down, and then we're officially sharing this room." Her shoulders instantly relaxed as the redhead nodded back.
"Of course… and if it doesn't work, we can just go back to the way we were sleeping before." Kenshin smiled a small smile that he hoped didn't betray his own thoughts.
'Or you could still stay.' He knew in his heart he wouldn't mind if she stayed. Kenshsin cleared his throat, gesturing to the space to their right.
"So. If you want to set up your futon there, then I was thinking I could put mine here."
Kaoru's face twisted, glancing at Kenshin's futon and the one she was holding in her hand.
"Oh… okay." The words were accompanied by a lack of movement on her part.
Kenshin paused, taking a moment to eye her in her uncertainty. "What's wrong, Kaoru-d… Kaoru?" Her hands waved hurriedly in front of her person.
"I just- it's silly but…" 'Yosh, get the thought out Kaoru!' "Well you said like Kyoto so I kinda thought we were sharing…" Her mouth twitched, and she looked away from him then down at the fabric fingers twisted in the frayed edges of the large old blanket.
He paused. "Oh." The surprise was palpable. Both noted how quiet the room felt.
"The intimacy was nice. N-n-not weird or anything like that. Just… being close to you… being held by you… it was really nice… comforting even." Kaoru wanted to squeeze her eyes shut. 'Is he just going to let me ramble here?'
Kenshin was having a deliberation of his own. 'It's not something I don't want and I suppose if she's open to it too.' He shrugged good naturedly. "Sure."
Her ponytail whipped through the air settling gently around the crook of her neck. "Really? Thank you!" She paused, taking in his expression once more. "And you're okay with it?"
The bluenette continued even as he nodded. "Are you sure? I want to respect your boundaries. But I'm already a girl who practices kendo and invited strangers to live with her over the course of the last year. I'm okay if things don't seem traditional so if it's about that I… you don't have to worry about it really.."
He grasped her fumbling hands within his free one, squeezing them reassuringly. "Maa maa, I don't want you to feel so uneasy to ask me something like this. This isn't just my relationship. You have as much say as I do, Kaoru."
Her heartbeat accelerated. 'He called it a relationship! EEEEE.'
She knew he said more words, but in her excitement she couldn't catch them all. 'Something about checking something before sleep?' She smoothed out the larger blanket, beaming not just at the futon for two people, but Kenshin's smile as she sat curled in his arms on the engawa earlier. 'He seemed so at peace. And his smile was just… wow.' She grabbed the pillow near her, bringing it to her chest as she sighed.
'But I've never seen him smile like that…' Her heart leapt at the thought of uncovering different demeanors of Kenshin only reserved for her. She squealed into the pillow.
Unfortunately, this stopped her from hearing the footsteps Kenshin intentionally made louder to keep her aware of his presence. With a cocked brow, Kenshin glanced between her and the pillow. "Oro?"
Kaoru threw the pillow to the side, blanching in humiliation at being caught. The bluenette scratched her cheek cutely, face flushed as she smiled tensely. 'She looks guilty,' Kenshin mused as she clambered underneath the futon's blanket.
"Don't worry about it, Kenshin. Just… killing a bug! Yup! A bug. That's all. A liiiitle buggy-bug. Right over there. Mhmm..." She trailed off, inwardly drenched in embarrassment.
He sweatdropped at her antics, blowing out the candle he was holding before setting it near the closed shoji door.
"If you insist, Kaoru…" With careful ease, he slipped into his futon next to her. The redhead was exhausted. With a yawn, he muttered sleepily to the silly woman next to him.
"Won't you need that pillow, Kaoru?" She froze staring at the ceiling above her. 'Kuso…'
"I-err." He chuckled, letting his eyes close as he heard her scramble to grab the item.
"I hope the bug isn't too smushed into your pillow then?"
She huffed rolling onto her side, smiling despite herself as his laughter floated through the room.
"Good night, Kaoru. Sleep well."
A hand was pressed to her mouth before she even spoke so coquettishly. "Ooohoho! What do we have here?"
"Eeeeep!" Kaoru hid underneath the blanket, shielding both herself and Kenshin from their friend's gaze. A familiar "oro" sprouted from underneath the blanket as Kaoru's body curled into his tightly waking him abruptly from a rather peaceful sleep. The medic's laughter grew.
"Oh? Well, that makes things look even more suspicious, tanuki." The bluenette could have groaned.
The younger woman tossed the blanket off both her and Kenshin. "What do you want, Megumi? She folded her arms, head whipped away from the older woman. 'What's she even doing here so early?'
Megumi must have been a mind reader in a past life. "Well, I came to check on my patient in his room only to find him otherwise preoccupied. For the second time in the past month no less." She tilted her head, shifting her gaze to the redhead playfully. "I didn't think I had to tell you that extra-curricular activities wouldn't be helpful for your healing either."
While uncomfortable herself, Kaoru had never seen the red-haired man's face heat up so completely. 'And so quickly.' Despite his embarrassment, his voice remained calm as he brought a hand to his face. "I didn't- we wouldn't- Megumi-dono, it's not like that I-" He began to push to a seated position; panic flashed on both their faces.
"Wait a second-"
"Ken-san, don't do that-"
By the time Megumi rushed to his other side, Kaoru had already helped the man lower back to the ground gently. The doctor's eyes widened imperceptibly at the care in her hands as her fingers gingerly slipped away from the man's torso as he rested.
Shaking her head, the older woman flicked the man's bangs in annoyance. "Just because you hang out with Sanosuke doesn't mean you have to act like him. Stop straining yourself."
Kenshin smiled ruefully, breath just slightly heavier than usual. 'He usually hides his pain so well. He has to be exhausted.'
"Anyways, whatever your sleeping arrangements are, they can't interfere with your healing so-"
"I can't sleep well without her." Megumi and Kaoru glanced at him, the former in surprise, the latter in awe. Kenshin's expression was sheepish but his eyes held resolve. "Tonight was the first good sleep I've gotten since we returned. I need her here."
'He wants her to stay. I assumed it was Kaoru's idea...' She stared at the man in disbelief, taking in how comfortable he seemed next to the swordswoman. 'I haven't seen him this relaxed since he realized Kaoru was alive. He cares for her so much.' Slowly, the doctor's hand went slack.
"F-fine." She turned to Kaoru, pointing a finger in her face with authority. "But if there's one wrong move in her sleep that disrupts your wounds, as your doctor, this cannot be a thing."
Traces of red lingering on her face, Kaoru pouted, looking to her left then away from the two. "Worry about yourself." She muttered under her breath. 'Always telling me what to do… like I'm gonna hurt Kenshin.'
Kenshin laughed uneasily, wishing he could use his injured hand to reach out to Kaoru. 'I don't think Megumi-dono would appreciate me using the arm I'm supposed to be resting so blatantly in front of her…'
"Now that that's settled, Ken-san…" the sing-song pitch made Kaoru whip her head around, eyes narrowed. She could almost see the fox ears popping out of the older woman's head. "Let me take that gi off to check your… wounds."
"ORO!?"
Before Kenshin could react, Kaoru's eye twitched, pushing her yukata sleeve up her left arm angrily. "He's a grown man. He can do it himself, you fox!"
Giggling filled the room as Kenshin sighed at his place in between the two women. 'The dojo sure is lively again.' From underneath his bangs, a smile tugged at his lips.
'I can't believe Megumi kicked me out of there.'
The shihondai huffed as she made her way toward the engawa spitting curses at the doctor. Her feet scuffed the floor as she dragged them heavily.
"Doctor-patient confidentiality, my ass. I've seen that man naked for crying out loud."
"Oh? Well, do tell, Jou-chan."
The woman in question remained unmoving, facing forward and frozen on her path. Her eyes hidden underneath her bangs.
"Oi Sanosuke, Kaoru-san would tell me if something happened. We're basically sisters!"
An inhale. An exhale. 'Ten, nine, eight, seven, si-'
"Although… it looks like she's not even breathing... You know being still doesn't make you invisible, right Kaoru-nee?" Misao waved a hand in front of the older woman's blank gaze for good measure.
Mentally, Kaoru slapped her own forehead, ending her attempt at a cool down. 'I am an idiot.'
She opened her eyes. A wide smile on her. Her two friends winced at the inauthenticity apparent in the gesture. At least the two's thoughts were synced: 'Oh no. Oh no no no no no.'
She reached just inside the room, grabbing a bucket, mop, and broom and holding them out to the two. "I'm so glad you two are here. I've been gone for a while and we all have free time I see, so we should get some cleaning in, ne?" Her head tilted to the side as she finished, somehow making both Sano and Misao feel even more unsafe than her monotonous tone did.
"Cleaning!? But what does that have to do with story time, Kaoru-san?" Misao's cheeks puffed out adorably with her rebuttal, almost causing Kaoru to smile at her antics.
"If you two have time to gossip about me and Kenshin-"
"I wouldn't call it gossiping really!" The man replied nervously, digging in his ear almost nonchalantly. Misao saw an out when she was given one and continued head-bobbing in agreement.
"Yup, yup! Just two friends stopping for a quick chat-"
"Then you two must have even a little time to help this poor girl clean, correct?" The bluenette shook the items in her hand, emphasizing her statement.
"What about Aoshi? Why doesn't he have to help?"
Kaoru's eyes widened before lifting her gaze. She scanned the room, only to find said man sitting in the doorway leading to the engawa. Her teeth grit, unwilling to admit she hadn't even noticed him. 'His control over his presence is truly amazing.'
The taller man's eyes cracked open revealing ice beneath, before meeting her own blankly. After a shared look, the older woman threw a deadpanned look in Sano's direction. She pointed at the former Oniwabanshu leader stiffly.
"You expect me to believe that this man-" her finger darted further in Aoshi's direction- "Shinomori Aoshi, was gossiping? About my relationship with Kenshin?"
Three seconds passed.
Five seconds.
Ten.
Aoshi slurped his tea loudly.
"Well, shit. I tried." Sano's shoulders slumped, snatching the bucket from Kaoru's hands as he passed her. The corner of Aoshi's mouth pulled at the resignation in the teen's voice. The smile of victory Kaoru sported was much more short-lived.
"But Kaoru said relationship!" The last word spoken in a sing-song voice. "That means there's something to share! I'll gladly clean, but you've gotta spill it, oneechan!"
This time, Kaoru actually did slap her forehead. A motion bathed in self-pity. Turning on her foot, an energetic weasel and a hopeless rooster followed after her.
"Don't walk away when I'm talking to you, Kaoru-nee-sama! I want answers!"
"Oh, and where were you three?" Aoshi, Megumi, Kenshin and Yahiko were lounging next to the kitchen eying the approaching trio, two of which looked worse for wear.
"Cleaning." Sano dropped a bucket, mop, and himself on the floor. "It was terrible."
"Yeah! Kaoru made us scrub and dust down all of the rooms in the house- which was the worst. AND didn't spill any details at all which was also the worst."
"Oro? Details about what?" Kenshin eyed the trio curiously.
Kaoru kicked the smaller woman, reaching up to scratch the side of her face sheepishly. "Oh nothing, nothing at all. Right, Misao? Right, Sano?"
The latter lifted his hands in surrender. "Oh no, I'm not saying anything else. The things I said last time got me put on cleaning duty. I'm good."
Yahiko cocked an eyebrow at the three in front of him, before shutting his eyes in irritation. "All three of you are weird."
Misao jumped to her feet, hunched over, and fist clenched in front of her chest. "I'm weird? I was the one responsible for cleaning your room, and it was pig sty in there! You even had things from after Jinchuu which I thought was extra weird. Didn't we toss all that stuff already?" Yahiko's hand twitched.
"Wait, what are you even talking ab-" the boy took a step back. He fled from the room, only to return a look of concern etched deeply into his features. His eyes fixated on Misao as he stormed over to her and grabbed the front of her shirt, bringing her down to his height as she squawked at the unexpected tugging.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Yahiko!" Yahiko's gravely voice cut through Sano's booming one easily.
"Where's the picture?" Misao blinked.
"What?"
"It was in a little frame in my room. Where did it go?" Misao's face scrunched up at the response.
"The one of Kaoru? I tossed it. I told ya."
Yahiko's eyes widened perceptibly, unnoticed by Misao as she continued. "I mean, yeah, it's kinda weird to keep behind objects from a funeral shrine if the person isn't dead. Feels like bad luck or something." She shivered. "Like I said, I thought the two of us got rid of everything already so I didn't think you'd mind…"
"Yahiko?" Kaoru paused, eyebrows furrowing and unable to read him.
In the peak of the silence, Yahiko tackled Misao fully to the ground.
Chaos exploded. All of the Kenshin-gumi shifted, the most reactive being Karou and Sano jumping forward attempting to wrench Yahiko off the younger girl. Megumi grabbed the back of Kenshin's gi, pulling him away from the dog pile. "Kenshin, your wounds!" Misao gasped in relief when Kaoru darted from near Kenshin to catch the boy's arm and pulled.
"Hey, hey! Hey!" She held his arm as he thrashed in her grip. 'It's like he doesn't even see me…' She paused as she thought of Kenshin's battle with Saito. The deadly intent and the inability to reach her loved one because of it.
"YAHIKO!" She didn't hear her voice crack. "What are you doing?" She noticed his tears then.
"That picture was all I had left of you!"
Everything went silent.
His shoulders heaved as he fought for air, eyes wild. Clarity failed to break through his apparent anger.
"When they put you in the ground- buried you- it was all I had left of you. Kenshin was stuck, Sano was leaving, Megumi was preparing to go too. No Oniwaban was here yet. Everyone in this town looked at me with the saddest eyes. 'There goes that boy, orphaned again.'" He sneered despite the way he wiped the snot and tears from his face with his sleeve.
"Everyone was leaving me, and you were gone, Kaoru!" He sobbed. Painfully. Eyes fierce as he bore his heart to her. He could see no one else. Her heart broke, grip on his wrist loosening. "Yahiko, I-"
"Don't you dare pity me." His teeth grit and he hesitated, finally noticing the sad eyes on him in the room now. Filled with sorrow, regret, shame.
"I know we rescued you. We found you. You're... alive." The word stretched across his tongue awkwardly. As if it wasn't true. As if it didn't belong there. As if he should have never had to clarify to anyone why it could possibly be untrue in the first place. Kenshin's jaw clenched.
"But when we went into Jinchuu, we promised each other that we'd be alright. That we'd all make it through this. But then you died. The one who welcomed us here into this home, with your sword style, and the cleaning, and your nasty ass cooking that we bonded over, and you fucking died! We weren't strong enough or fast enough or-" he took a painful inhale, shoulders shuddering with the effort.
"It wasn't enough!" Yahiko barely choked the words out.
"I wasn't enough." He sounded so small. "And- and I didn't even get to see your body... So I kept that picture. That picture was all I had left of my family, Kaoru." His voice cracked then.
"And she threw it away."
Misao, who had remained quiet, gasped as she felt her eyes burn. 'I didn't realize- why didn't I even think to ask?' Her head whipped to the side, unwilling for anyone else to see the water pooling at her inner convictions. Aoshi's hand twitched.
"She threw it away, and I-"
Kaoru's arms surged forward around the boy, forcing his head into her shoulder almost painfully. His eyes widened in shock, not so much at the embrace but at the woman sobbing in his arms.
"I'm so sorry, Yahiko. I didn't mean to leave you lonely. I didn't mean to leave. I wasn't strong enough either. I-" Words couldn't form anymore as she continued to heave in his arms. For the first time, Kaoru felt like she understood her student immediately. "Oh, Yahiko." Wide-eyes closed clamped shut in an effort to contain his emotion. The young boy's hands- though wavering- slowly enclosed around Kaoru as he finally released what he was holding. Crying in her arms too.
"Kuso…" the curse came quietly, and unnoticed by master and apprentice. Sano's nails had tightened into fists, blood slowly peering through the bandages. "Kuso, kuso, kuso…"
Megumi's hand pressed to her mouth, holding back her nausea and self-disgust. Kenshin's free hand was tucked into his gi sleeve. His head bowed; bangs covering his eyes. Tears streamed down his face and neck, staining his gi, and spilling onto the floor. All three of them were crying. Eyes slammed shut. Tears pouring down their faces in silence.
They wanted to turn away at the privacy of the moment between the two but couldn't. 'This was my fault too.' The shame weighed heavy on their shoulders; they had no right to relieve themselves of that when faced so clearly with the impact. Their heads hung low.
'This isn't the time to be feeling sorry for yourself, weasel!' A gentle hand on her shoulder pulled her from her thoughts. A quick glance upwards revealed Aoshi, gaze facing forward, eyes unmoving from master and apprentice. Nevertheless, he squeezed her shoulder softly in response. Misao grit her teeth. Mind set, she lifted a foot determined. Her gaze set on Yahiko, only to be held in place by the same hand now firmly grasping shoulder.
Aoshi's eyes closed slowly as he shook his head at her. "This is between Kamiya and the boy right now. This isn't the moment to rectify mistakes." He murmured. "It's an important moment for all of you. You know that."
Misao's hands trembled, fisted in anger at herself and her impulsivity. Her head shook from side to side before giving into her desire to be comforted. Before she could stop herself, she threw her arms around Aoshi's waist, crying soundless tears into his side. The taller man froze, arm lifted where she had burrowed herself underneath it. Her heaving shoulders rocked through his body, even as quietly as she lamented. A sigh escaped his lips. Her weeping deepened as his hand pressed gently against her back. An attempt to soothe her, even despite his words.
The dojo was silent save for the sound of barely contained sniffles and choked sobs. Surprisingly, it was Yahiko who broke the silence with a soft mutter.
"I didn't think I'd get attached to it, I don't even know why I kept it, I just-" He pulled away, glancing at Kaoru before his nose scrunched at his inability to articulate what he wanted to say.
She smiled at him, gaze full of love. He imagined his mother probably smiled at him like that a few times too. "Baka." She muttered, ruffling his hair affectionately. Wiping his eyes, he stared up at her in shock. "What do ya-"
His heart stopped as Kaoru placed her hands on his shoulders firmly. Once again assuring him that she was real with the touch. He was so wide-eyed he almost didn't hear her next words. "Why can't you just say you missed me?"
His face flushed. The brown boy pushed away at her, ruffling her kimono as he struggled to escape her grip. "Shut up, shut up! Th- that's not why!" She continued gently
"I worried about you too, Yahiko. And I'm so proud of you," she pulled away, eyes bright as she stared into his eyes. The brown boy paused, just as confused to find more water in his own eyes but also hers. He hiccupped suddenly as he fought to hold in the tears. 'Great hiccups now too.'
"Thank you for not giving up on all of us." The Kenshin-gumi watched closely with bated breath. Clinging to the forgiveness her tone offered. "It was a group effort to find me, I know, but you. You didn't stop believing in us despite your fears… In fact, I think that your hope was contagious for all of us. We really owe you." Her eyes crinkled as she smiled. Yahiko didn't even realize tears were falling freely until she brushed them away with the back of her hand as she stood.
She took in the final picture of him staring up at her. His usual gruffness barely covering the vulnerability on his tear-stricken face.
"I always get so anxious to see you in battle but you really push through everytime…" The kenjutsu princess wiped her cheeks on the cloth covering her shoulders. Her smile was nostalgic, but he got the feeling she wasn't seeing him as a little kid anymore. He tried to stand up taller, despite the lump in his throat. 'Does she see me still as a child?'
Yahiko wiped furiously at his face as more tears fell. More tears replaced them.
Kaoru hugged him one more time before pulling away. "I truly have nothing to worry about from my favorite star pupil. Though slow down or you'll surpass me before the trees bloom again, ne?" His eyes widened in a manner that a student finally recognized by their teacher could do. She pinched his left cheek cutely. "Let's go, Tokyo Samurai. Help me make dinner."
He pulled away in a hurry, rubbing at his cheek aggressively. "Hey, hey! That's my face you're tugging at, ugly!" The grin on his face though tore through his attitude. 'Tokyo Samurai, huh?' He wiped at his mouth, hiding the smile that broke out there.
"Mmmhmm, of course now help me out, Yahiko-chan." His teeth turned razor sharp as he fumed.
"Don't call me -chan!"
Megumi choked out a hollow laugh as she watched their backs. "We truly did so wrong by him." She looked at the two men next to her. "So caught up in ourselves." Megumi jumped at the sound of flesh splintering wood, turning to see Sano's elbow leaving an arm shaped hole in the dojo walls. "Sano-"
"Tch." He rolled his shoulder reflexively. "I'll fix it tomorrow." His voice grated like gravel. He turned swiftly on his heel heading into the storm outside. Megumi scrambled after him, clutching her medicine tote to her chest, "But wait, let me check your hand- And your elbow!"
"What was that sound?" The retreating sound of Megumi's voice was overshadowed by Kaoru's as the bluenette peaked back into the room, hand resting on the open shoji.
"Well the others..." Misao turned to the man she admired and believed in almost as much as Aoshi. "And Himura-san…"
The man in question lifted his gaze from the ground, catching Kaoru's eyes briefly before setting his sights on the ceiling. Amethyst eyes she'd seen so bright were blotched with red. Distress etched in his face, punctuated by the smile sealed shut as he bit his trembling lip. Her hand fell away from the door she was leaning on.
Kaoru approached the redhead wordlessly. Aoshi took that as a cue. With a small grunt, he straightened to his full height, releasing the younger girl. "Misao, let's assist Yahiko with dinner."
"But-" The man's attention was no longer on her, rather on the door. 'Already done with the matter. Apparently, it wasn't up for debate.' Casting one more glance at the couple, she sighed and dragged her feet towards the door. "Can we make a pit stop first, Aoshi-sama?" Her voice too trailed off as she walked further from two remaining in the room.
Kaoru stopped in front of him, feeling much more confident supporting him than she did the day before. "How long has it been since you've slept, Kenshin?"
A hard swallow. "Not since this morning." His gaze remained on the ceiling. His breath came out in unsteady shudders. She nodded slowly reaching towards him.
"You must be exhausted. Let's get you some rest before dinner." She paused as she studied his unmoving form. "Here. Hold my hand, Kenshin." The master swordsman bit his lip harder as tears welled in his eyes, and a silent sob forced his head to bow. His left arm outstretched towards her.
Encasing his hand in hers gently, she interlocked their fingers. Her thumb stroked the back of his hand while leading him towards their shared room.
She slid the shoji door open, pushing extra hard when it got stuck on its track. The bluenette shut it easily once Kenshin entered the room.
Kaoru released his hand and moved to set up their futon. The sound of Kenshin's hand slapping his leg as it falls bonelessly back to his person, ingrained in her heart. She winced as she smoothed out the blanket. Standing, she turned towards the redhead who hadn't moved from his position at the door. "Come rest, Kenshin." As he approached, the shihondai captured his face in her palms. She studied him, examining the tear trails he had yet to wipe away, the long bags under his eyes, and the scar that seemed deeper than ever. She sighed before lifting his head softly, forcing him to look her in the eyes.
"That was not your fault."
His head jerked, and he moved to pull her hands away. "Sessha should-" He nearly recoiled as she slapped his hand away, replacing her own to cradle his face once more.
"None of that sessha nonsense. I'm not budging. That was not your fault. You've spent the last ten years atoning. Enishi started Jinchuu, not you. Enishi kidnapped me, not you. The only thing you were supposed to do after Kyoto was come home and finish healing. That's it." She examined his eyes with care; his seemed so overwhelmed. "We can help Yahiko fix it though."
Kenshin blinked. Kaoru had never both motivated and scolded him so throughly at the same time. Huffing through his nose, the man almost shook his head at her, amused. He shuddered, a shaky exhale escaped.
"That we can." He whisped, setting his forehead on hers and enjoying the flush on her face as he did so. The way her eyes lit up seeing him laugh and connect with her. 'This forehead touch is becoming a beautiful thing for us.' A smile drew spread across his face at the thought.
"Kaoru." He murmured softly. Tired.
She cracked her eyes open curiously. "Hmm?"
He looked in her eyes tenderly, grateful that the earlier self-doubt he saw as she too bore her heart to Yahiko was nowhere to be found. "You are more than strong enough."
She blinked, at first confused, when she recalled what she said earlier. She found herself blinking back tears; her chest warm with love for this man.
'I'm so hopelessly in love with you, Himura Kenshin.'
Her eyes stretched at the thought, emotion deepening as she scanned the man in front of her, then her own thoughts, wondering when my most important person became the code words for the feelings she felt deepest for this man. 'This wonderfully kind and thoughtful man.' She flushed deeply, mouth parted as she fought for breath. Her eyes seeing him yet unfocused all the same. As the air made its way back into her lungs, she peered at him bashfully. "Thank you, Kenshin."
He was unsure what revelation Kaoru experienced but the result left her cheeks sprinkled with pink, and her eyes a beautiful shade of almost midnight blue as she gazed up at him through her lashes adoringly. Deeper than adoration. She truly wiped away any trace of coherent thought he could hope to muster. "Ah."
He eyed her, intrigued, before letting go, settling into the futon with a practiced ease. 'Their futon.' His heart beat faster, as he recalled the quiet storm she'd become. Her anger had always been beautifully fierce and while his past had dragged them all through the most brutal of experiences, this woman next to him kept blossoming admirably everytime. The way she could carve out paths for her friends with her passion to protect them and soothe their hearts in the next. He couldn't help but indulge himself as his mind crafted a vision of her encouraging a child of their own, full faith in her growing maternal instincts. He reached out caressing her left cheek with the back of his hand. Her eyes positively glowed.
"You've been such a wonderful woman to us all, Kaoru."
As she flushed and sputtered in an effort to resist his compliment, he snorted unbecomingly, hushing her with a simple kiss pressed to her forehead. His left arm unfurled, pulling her into his chest. 'No matter how I hold her, she fits perfectly in my arms.' The thought sent warmth coursing through his being that he fought to ignore.
"Let me express my awe of you uncontested please," he whispered amusedly into her hair.
Her laughter was the only response, breath huffing against his chest with the action. Exhaling slowly, he held her even tighter.
A/N: I couldn't go into the new year without an update for this story and what an update it was. Had to keep it light with some KxK fluff from the jump. But you all must have figured out I love their love so much if you've stuck around this far with the story. I played around a lot with how their breath changed with each other in this chapter so that was fun.
Out of all the Kenshin-gumi, Yahiko's processing had to come first and it had to come from Kaoru especially when Kenshin, his usual supporter didn't- couldn't- support him initially when things with Kaoru were difficult to process. Watsuki paints him out to be an unabashed Kenshin follower and while I agree to a point, Yahiko is only 10/11. While the kid is understanding, I could imagine him holding a slight subconscious grudge against everyone for the possibility of what his life would return to if Kaoru never came back. I don't think he would say it out loud unless it unfurled in a situation like this.
We also see Kaoru becoming more matronly/confident in her comforting skills and finally having a connection with Yahiko she's missed through almost the entire series. She's almost never unabashedly believed in Yahiko the way Kenshin has. In a way, I imagine Yahiko would seek her approval if only because she is his teacher and we've never see it. She's even been poked fun of for the way she never believes in her student until someone reminds her to be. Having them relate together on this concept of being strong enough to survive in the world of this man who is so important in both of their lives, I imagine would be a perfect way for them to understand each other more fully.
Some more resolutions before things settle: My rough draft for this arc has around 18,000 words left which could lead to maybe 5-7 more chapters depending on how I squeeze things out. Thanks to everyone who has stayed along for the journey this far! Thoughts, things you'd like to see resolved that Watsuki did not, favorite moments, difficult moments, things this chapter reminds you of. All are welcome and helpful for me infusing those key details that make you the reader feel like you're transported into this fun world of RuroKen. Excited to read them and I hope you've enjoyed your holiday gift!