by: Saku-Yume
Chapter Five: The Beginning of Us
Kaoru smiled at Ame . She'd given her one of her yukata to wear for the night. "Tomorrow we'll go shopping. We deserve it." Ame giggled. Kaoru hadn't heard her do so very often. It was nice. "It's not as glamorous as the things we wore for Kurokami…"
Ame rolled her eyes and smiled. "Thank the Gods! Those things heavy with so many things, including his hold on us."
Kaoru smiled contritely. It was still too new to think about in depth yet. "Well that's over now. Tomorrow I'll also go with you to find a teaching job. I know you can do it. You were always the best in our classes with literature and mathematics."
"Yeah, but you were always best in dance, music and… well everything!" Ame laughed.
Kaoru laughed and hugged her friend. Then she thought of all the other girls they'd left behind that night. "I wish I could help them all," she said quietly.
Ame pulled away and looked at her with a sad smile. "I know. I do too. But if there's one thing I did learn from Kurokami, it's that people innately do only what they truly wish to do. Even if they're manipulated into it. The girls can't leave unless they really want to, and I know how they feel. I still feel that way."
"How is that?" Kaoru asked.
"Like they aren't fit for anything else, Kay-chan. You get so used to being pampered and not having to do anything but be pretty, that you forget how to do anything else. Most girls who leave, leave with husbands just like Kurokami. Others stay with him for years, traveling as he moves from town to town, looking for new victims. You were lucky. You were never his kind, really, though. You were just very pretty. That's all. He didn't think about the fact that you had to grow up a long time ago. Most of us who came before were naïve little girls when our families paid for us to become ladies. You already had everything. It's just that nobody had realized it yet."
"I just didn't have what I wanted," Kaoru said.
Ame grinned. "But you do now. So why are you here in this room with me? Go on, girl. You went through a lot for this little guy. You deserve him."
Kaoru smiled, blushing. "I feel kinda weird. What do I say to him?"
Ame rolled her eyes. "I swear, you two are hopeless! I guess that's why you're so right for each other. Look, all you have to do is say what's in your heart. And never hold back. That's what got you in this mess. Now go! I need my beauty rest!" Ame giggled again.
Kaoru laughed. "Goodnight, Ame. And thank you."
Ame waved her hand. "It was nothing. Goodnight." She slid the shoji closed.
Kaoru took a deep breath before knocking on the frame of the shoji to Kenshin's room. Kenshin opened it and smiled at her. "Ohayo," he said.
"Can I come in?" she asked shyly.
"Sure," he said stepping aside. He slid the shoji closed. He'd hoped she'd come to see him. When they got home from Kurokami's she'd been busy helping Ame settle in and he didn't think she would come to him. Not that saving her warranted a late night interlude…he closed his eyes and opened them slowly to get rid of the mental pictures before them in his mind's eye. Professing his love might just have to be enough for one night.
Kaoru wrung her wrists in front of her yukata. She walked over to the window and gazed at the moon. "I feel I have to apologize to you, Kenshin."
Apologize???…"No, Kaoru, you don't have to - -"
"Please," she cut him off. She hung her head slightly, unable to face him. "Just let me say something."
"Okay, I'm sorry. Go ahead."
Kaoru sighed. Say what's in my heart… "I'm sorry for this past month. I wish I could erase it all. I know I hurt you at times but I didn't mean to and I want you to know that I did it all for you. At least it started that way. I just wanted you to love me. I figured I wasn't feminine enough before and I wanted to change. But when you and I stopped talking…" she sniffed. "Then Kurokami was there… and he made me feel… beautiful, perfect… but…" She wiped away her tears. "Anyway, I'm sorry."
He watched her in silence for a moment and softened. He slowly walked up to her and stopped when he was standing behind her. He loosely wrapped his arms around her shoulders and buried his head into the crook of her neck. "I should have told you how much I adored you ages ago, Kaoru. But I felt unworthy of your love. I didn't think it was possible for anyone as wonderful as you to love someone like me. And I always, always, thought you were beautiful. No matter what you do you'll be beautiful to me, Kaoru."
"Kenshin, I didn't think you felt…"
Oh if you only knew how I felt, he thought to himself…
Why don't you show her then, Himura? C'mon… give it a shot… his inner voice said persuasively.
"Kaoru, you don't know how you consume me. Everything about you. The way you smell, the way you smile, your voice, your eyes… your touch…" he hesitated before tentatively grazing the skin at her neck with his tongue. She gasped a sensuous tremor flowing through her. "Your taste," he ended, his voice thick with desire. The sudden ardor in his tone drove her crazy. She sighed raggedly and closed her eyes as Kenshin placed open-mouthed kisses on her neck. He gently turned her around and violet met blue with heated longing behind hooded eyelids. He passionately kissed the spot where her jaw met her neck. Kaoru felt woozy with pleasure. She reached around to unbind his blood red tresses and ran her fingers through them.
His lips finally met hers and all the emotions they'd held in check were loosed there. Kaoru moaned into his mouth and Kenshin explored hers with his tongue. His hands moved to gently caress her neck and found their way to the inside of the collar of her yukata. He continued the caress across her shoulders and stopped halfway to her elbows. He looked down at her semi-exposed globes of flesh and felt the baser part of his being stirring. Battousai wanted to growl and attack them greedily. Rurouni wanted to admire her forever. Kenshin found a happy medium. He placed a sweet kiss on the flesh between them. Kaoru purred. He longed to elicit another such reaction from her but they needed to get comfortable first. He carried her over to his futon and laid her down gently, joining her on her side.
He looked at her for a moment taking her in. She looked so innocent lying there, but she exuded a distinct yearning that he could not ignore. Her eyes pleaded for him to touch her… to kiss her…
"I'm going to show you what true love is, Kaoru. A love that gives without first taking, a love that is yielding and open. I want to give you all of me."
Kaoru was beyond words. She looked directly at him and slowly removed her yukata. The she reached up to unbind her hair. The intricate style spilled around her head in an abundance of loose ebon curls and sakura petals. Kenshin watched her mesmerized. She blushed at his attentions and brought her arms over her chest, turning away. Kenshin took her wrists in one hand and supported her back with the other, pulling her up gently to face him. He feigned a few kisses making her giggle lightly before catching her bottom lip in a light nip. He bit down delicately drawing a gasp from her and then began to suck on it. She moaned this time.
Kaoru mirrored his earlier actions by timidly slipping her hands into the collar of his yukata. She marveled at the taut muscles beneath his strong, battle-worn skin. She slid the garment down to his waist, exposing his arms and chest. She pulled away to observe him. A deep, shuddering breath escaped her lips as her hands roamed over his sculpted chest and stomach.
Kenshin cherished the way her diffident hands explored him; her touch left a burning trail behind it. He guided her back up into a kiss and wrapped his arms around her, stroking her back. He let his hand roam to the underside of her breast and encompassed it slowly with deft fingers. She cried out. He ran the nipple between his index and middle finger and felt it harden to his touch. Kaoru curled her fingers on his chest, scraping his flesh. He gritted his teeth. Her small reaction sent shockwaves coursing through him. Involuntarily he squeezed her breast lightly, making her call out again.
He opened his eyes to see her biting her lower lip casually, her own eyes still closed. She was straddling him and leaning back. She was even more beautiful to him this way. He placed his other hand on her deprived breast and applied light pressure to them both, then slowly drew his fingers together to encompass her nipples.
"Oh, Kenshin," she moaned, her words heavy and broken. She wrapped her arms around his neck for support and pushed her chest closer to him, silently begging for more.
He bowed forward and drew one taut peak into his mouth. She gasped and moaned louder when swirled his tongue around it. He felt her nails dig into his shoulders and couldn't hide an impish smile. He held the hardened bit between his teeth and pulled gently, then let go. He repeated the action, alternating between breasts until she writhed in his arms.
He leaned her forward to lie her down and sat up on his knees. He removed the rest of his yukata. Kaoru reddened at the sight of his impassioned manhood. When she turned away, he stalked over her with the stealth of a jungle cat. He tossed his head next to hers making her look at him. "Don't be ashamed, Kaoru. That's just what you do to me." He smiled naughtily again, letting Battousai into the game for a while. "And if I'm not mistaken," he let his hand roam slowly down her torso, her thigh and back up between her legs. She gasped again when his fingertips barely stroked her petals. "I've done something to you as well." He gave her one long, slow stroke with his middle finger and she moaned loud and just as long. She began to tremble the more he did it. Her moans grew louder and she tossed her head back as she closed her eyes. He licked his lips and before kissing her exposed neck. He nipped her gently and slowly pushed a finger into her warm and wet depths.
Kaoru cried out loud, not caring that Ame was just down the hall. Her world was at her center right now and Kenshin was very expertly manipulating it. She wanted to pull him up to kiss her but couldn't because he had her wrists pinned with his other hand above her head. It left her feeling totally exposed and vulnerable, but very excited.
When he finally did meet her in a kiss, she began to feel the knot in her stomach tighten. Her hips moved against his nimble digits without her control and soon she felt herself go rigid and everything in her vision flashed white. It took her a few moments to return to reality, and when she did, she felt him on top of her and between her legs. He'd let go of her wrists and held her head gently in his hands while he kissed her slowly.
"Kenshin… that was…" she panted. She was surprised at how exhausted she'd become with such seemingly little effort.
"Only the beginning," he whispered softly to her. She shivered not knowing if it was his warm breath at her ear or the bass in his voice that made her react in such a way. He kissed her neck and trailed kisses down her body until he was right above her center again. Kaoru burned in anticipation of his kisses in places she'd never dared to dream they'd be.
He failed to suppress the intrinsic need to inhale her scent. She was sweet with lavender and something distinctly woman, distinctly her. He licked her slowly from the bottom of her petals to the top and reveled in the ragged outcry of his name.
Kaoru tangled her fingers in his hair as he continued to lap her up like some exotic and delectable drink. She tried to hold in her cries of ecstasy between clenched teeth but failed with each luxurious lap. And when he lightly grazed her with his teeth, she lost all control and felt her release break over her again.
Kenshin drank her in and felt her go rigid and then limp again. With a final kiss filled with the promise to return again someday, he returned to kiss her lips gain. She responded with increasing urgency as she recovered from her orgasm. She found the strength to fold one arm around him in an embrace.
"Dear Gods, Kenshin…" she whispered. "That felt so amazing. I wish I could let you feel what you made me feel…"
"Shh, koiishi, let me do the loving tonight. I have years to make up for." He bit her lips again. He gathered her in his arms and pulled her into a straddling position over his seated figure. This time, however there was no yukata to restrict them. Her eyes flew open when she felt him beneath her. She looked at him, flushing again.
"Do you want me to stop, Kaoru?" he asked gently.
"No," came the quick answer, "don't stop, please."
Kenshin kissed her again and positioned himself for entrance. Kaoru raised instinctively and impaled herself onto him. He watched her face twist in shock of the pain, then melt into pleasure. He didn't move until she opened her eyes again. He smiled and kissed her gently. She kissed him back and he soothingly ran his hands over her back. Then he slowly began to move out of her and drove back in before he was out completely.
Kaoru cried out again and again with each stroke he made. She tried to move with him and found it more difficult than she thought. He leaned forward with her, laying her down again. Before resuming his task he spread her legs a little wider and pushed them forward just a bit. When he leaned forward she wrapped them around him. They moved together for a while before Kenshin began to feel his release coming. He pulled away from her mouth and drew her nipple into his mouth once again, almost instantly pushing her over the edge. She felt herself tighten over the part of him within her. She couldn't stop herself and continued to do so until she felt Kenshin stiffen above her, his liquid heat penetrate her soul.
And now she was beyond screams.
She woke to feel him planting light kisses all over her face. They were wrapped snuggly between his sheets.
"Kenshin," she whispered in the darkness.
"Hai, koiishi?"
She didn't know what to say. There were no words. She moved closer to him and hugged him to her. The sounds of his heartbeat mirrored her own. "I love you…"
Kenshin held her tight and kissed her forehead. "I love you too…"
They fell asleep in each other's arms.
* * * * *
Kaoru woke up the next morning alone. She dressed quickly and rushed to the kitchen. There she found Yahiko and Sano fighting over food, Megumi, Dr. Genzai, Ayame and Suzume eating and talking, and Ame at the sink next to Kenshin.
Ame turned around and smiled. "Good morning, sleepy-head. Too many lazy days at Kurokami's, eh?" She walked to the table and set down a bowl of food that Sano and Yahiko quickly devoured.
"This stuff is great, busu! This girl is a great cook!" Yahiko said, mouth overstuffed.
"Really, Jou-chan, can we keep her?" Sano said, eyeing the pretty new girl. Ame blushed. Megumi looked livid.
Kaoru smiled. "Only if she wants to stay."
"You're not getting rid of me that easily, Kay-chan. I'm staying anywhere that there are gorgeous men enjoying my cooking." Yahiko and Sano blushed, grinning.
Kaoru looked at Kenshin shyly. Instead of admiring Ame like the others he watched her, smiling mildly. She smiled and walked over to him.
"Good morning, Kenshin," she said softly.
"Good morning, Kaoru," he replied.
They didn't notice everyone watching them. Dr. Genzai smiled knowingly, Megumi reddened, eyes wide, Sano's mouth hung open as did Yahiko's. Ame smiled perceptively.
"Hey… Kenshin… did you just call her Kaoru? No… dono?" Yahiko spoke first.
"Yeah, I guess I did…" Kenshin said, taking her hand.
Ayame and Suzume got up and ran to them, cheering. "Does this mean you're in love now?!" they asked, childlike innocence beaming through.
"Yeah, I guess we are…" Kaoru said glowing.
Sano smiled devilishly and laughed. "So you finally hit that, eh, Kenshin? 'Bout time!" Ame gave him a shove and he stopped laughing. She walked over to the couple and pried Kaoru away.
"Come, Kay-chan. You have to eat and then resume your classes. Then we can go out and take care of our errands. There will be time for romance tonight…" then she whispered to her, "as if you didn't have enough last night."
Kaoru reddened and averted her eyes from Kenshin. "You heard?"
Ame grinned. "Don't worry. I was the only one here. It'll be our little secret."
Soon they all settled at the table to eat. Kenshin sat next to Kaoru and held her hand discreetly under the table. As everyone chatted she squeezed his hand and smiled at him. He smiled back and returned the gesture.
* * * *