A/N: I don't own anything but the fuzzy slippers in my closet, the cobwebs in my head, etc. Please note that this list does NOT include Kenshin and the characters from Kenshin. Because I don't own them, even though it would be just fine with me if I did. But I don't, so don't sue me.

* * * * *

Hours and hours and hours, a never-ending night of swords clashing together in their mad fascinating attraction. Both were weary, and Kenshin seemed to be at the wrong end of the tiring thread. He felt his skin as though he was being overstretched, and his control seemed to be crawling away.

Right at that crucial moment when the Hitokiri was about to burst freely out of his skin, Kenshin made a move at Tenma's weakened left side, breaking his ribs and sending him to his knees.

"Let me go home," Kenshin demanded, holding Tenma's hair, and threatening to break his neck. "By whatever cursed magic you have, let me go home, and you stay here!"

Tenma obeyed reluctantly, opening another tear in time. But if looks could kill, Kenshin would have been dead. Tenma looked half-spent, but over-crazy and brimming with hatred as the night of fighting was drawing to a close. The two breathless men stared at each other a while before Kenshin turned to walk coldly.

As Kenshin walked away, Tenma swung at him, but Kenshin turned and hit his hands, paralyzing them both as he'd had to do once before.

"Stop working your evil," he said coldly, and stepped through the tear without another backwards glance. Tenma just laid on the ground in his defeat. He'd brought the legendary Hitokiri to fight, to see if what the past held could defeat the future. He took a dagger from his shoe and stabbed himself. It would have been better to just not begin. He'd sold his soul to the devil for black magic, only to be defeated.

* * * *

Kenshin stepped into the night of his own Tokyo. It was crisp, cool, and clear, but the air couldn't heal him. He limped steadily back towards the dojo, hoping he could go to bed without waking anyone. He was a mess, after fighting for so long. He couldn't stand straight or walk properly because his ribs were bruised, and his arms were weak. But he walked with a determination, looking forward to changing back into his hakama and gi and falling asleep at home. Because home to him was wherever Kaoru was.

As he entered the dojo walls, he saw his clothes hanging with the rest of the laundry, and he could see Kaoru working so hard in his mind. He took a very quick, very cold bath and changed before heading to his own room. He looked into Yahiko's room first, and smiled at the stubborn expression on his face. Next he looked in Kaoru's room and almost fainted not to see her there. There was one more place to check, but what would she be doing there?

He opened the sliding door to his own room and just looked at her. For a short moment he thought he understood her, but maybe he didn't. She was sleeping in his bed, with his covers over her. The nasty part of himself thought that he'd like that more often, but the sweet part of him said it was all up to her. He didn't want to wake her, so he quietly laid down next to her and put his arms around her like they had been in the hotel room.

She stirred a little, and sighed. He watched as her eyes flickered shyly open and looked around her. Then they filled with tears as she saw him.

"Kenshin. . ." her hand went up to his cheek as she rolled over to face him. She touched his face, his hair, his neck, his chest, his arms as if to make sure that she wasn't dreaming.

"I told you I'd come home to you," he whispered, pulling her close to him. She ran her fingers through his hair and cried, burying her face in his chest. He sucked in air hard through his teeth as though something hurt, but said nothing. Kaoru sat up and looked at him concernedly, but he just smiled back, and didn't move. She opened the neck of his gi to reveal large, dark bruises all over his chest and sides.

"Kenshin. .. I. . ." He gave her a look to silence her.

"I'm home now, and I'll get better. Bruises don't last forever," he said and touched her face. She laid back down next to him and gently nestled up to him. She smiled at the smell of him, and just being there. He put his arms around her back and pulled her closer, kissing her forehead.

"Are you sure you're okay?" she asked quietly and concernedly, looking up at him again. The look on her face was a mixture of two that she had worn for him many times over. The look of being concerned, and the look of soft reassurance that he was home to her.

He kissed her quickly and smiled at her. "As long as I can sleep with you in my arms, nothing can be wrong."

She closed her eyes again and whispered, "I love you, Kenshin."

Right as he was falling into sleep in the comfort of the moment, he replied with a soft "I love you, too, Kaoru."

* * * * *

The next morning, Megumi and Sano had been out for a walk and were returning when they noticed Kenshin's clothes gone. They had the same thought and headed quietly for his room. As they opened the door they were shocked to see Kaoru and Kenshin entangled so closely together. Megumi looked sympathetically at the wounds. They weren't cuts, just bruises. Tenma had just been playing, and it had apparently almost taken Kenshin away from them for good. She was angry and sad at the same time, but just closed the door and let them sleep despite instincts that told her to do otherwise.

"So I guess it was a lot deeper," Megumi whispered as they began walking away.

"Things usually are," Sano said just as gently, touching Megumi's hand just slightly. "Let's go on another walk, give them their space."

Megumi smiled slightly at him and knew what he really meant. "You don't have to make excuses for me," she said as they walked away into the morning.