Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin is the creation of Nobuhiro Watsuki, with the manga and anime rights belonging to Jump Comics and Sony Entertainment, respectively. FF is non-profit, meant for entertainment only.



Chapter Seven

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"Don't worry Himura the information will be available to you when we meet next." That's what Yamagata had said.

That had been about half an hour ago. He was now on his way back to the hotel. But first he needed to make a quick purchase.

Kenshin walked in to find her brushing her hair. He hadn't let her pack very much telling her he'd buy her things when they got here.

"You're back." She said giving him a dazzling smile.

He nodded; "I wanted you to buy some things before dinner."

"All right well I'm ready." She said putting her hair back up.

They left the inn, her talking all the way. Kenshin just content with her company.

"So exactly what are we going to buy?" She asked him as they continued to walk.

"I want you to buy some things for tonight. We're going to be here several days. We can do the rest of your shopping tomorrow." He guided her to a store were she could buy them what they needed.

"Kenshin how much do you want to spend?" She asked eyeing a very pretty yukata for her turned slightly and saw the matching one for him.

"Spend what you want, on what you think we need." He eyed the outside through the large glass window of the store. He'd been here already and word was bound to be out that the Hitokiri Battoussai was back. Certain people were going to start sniffing around soon.

"Do you think I need a new hair brush set?"

He turned his attention to her; he gave her a coy smile. "Koishii," He drawled. "You can buy what ever you like."

She turned beat red; some women had turned to stare at them. She grabbed a couple of more items and took them to the counter. The girl at the counter wrapped them up in brown paper and handed them to Kenshin who paid her for them.

They walked slowly towards the restaurant, stopping briefly to buy her a book.

They got to the restaurant and Kenshin ordered for them. Kaoru seemed a little nervous.

"Kenshin, I've wanted to ask you this since the first day you slept with me?" She turned beat red. "Not sleep with me, you know sleep. You know what I mean." She turned even redder.

"What's your question koishii?"

"Am I different than your Kaoru?"

"Koishii?"

She grabbed his hand so she could continue. "I know how you treat me and I feel like I don't do enough to show you how I feel. So, I just wanted to tell you that even though I don't remember you and might never remember how I was. I love you." She felt so stupid; she couldn't look at him. She was so nervous she had just started to ramble.

He smiled at her and brought something out of his Gi. "Koishii do you know what this is?" He showed her the small object in his hand.

She gasped, "does this mean what I think it means."

"Aa, so you do remember what it means meaning."

"Yes, Tae told me about this western tradition, I can't remember when exactly but I do."

He slipped the small ring on to her finger on her left hand. She admired it for a moment before tackling him to the floor. He should have expected that. "Is that a yes?"

"Yes," she breathed.

"Koishii, I don't mind you laying on me but this is not the place." He was grinning.

Kaoru felt herself flush all the way to the roots of her hair. "Hentai."

"You like to provoke me." He said smoothly.

She had moved away from him but not too far. "I do not." Kaoru had decided she was going to remain this color the rest of her life.

"When do you want to get married?" He asked her, starting to eat his meal.

Kaoru for her part was still beat red. "Umm, any time is fine I guess as long as we have a small reception back at the dojo."

His smiled turned cunning. It was an answer he had only hoped for. "Are you willing to do it tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow?" That meant that afterwards they have to............ The flush came back worse than ever.

"I thought we were going to go shopping tomorrow?"

She was deflecting the question, he noticed.

"I have something to do tomorrow night anyways but I'll be all yours after that. How about we do it the day after then?"

Kaoru didn't look up. It was going to happen anyways right. She was going to marry him no matter what; it would eventually happen so why avoid it. "The day after is fine. It'll give me time to find a nice kimono." She smiled brightly; she was happy and would do whatever it took to make Kenshin happy too.

They continued to eat the rest of the meal in silence. He openly gazed at his blushing bride to be through the rest of the meal. While she avoided all eye contact.

The walk to the inn was odd. Kenshin walked in silence, looking around almost like he expected something. Kaoru walked in silence enjoying the cool air, stealing glances at her fiancé. He stirred something in her she just didn't quite understand.

They got to their room and Kenshin set the packages down. She took something out of her bag and went to change behind a small screen. The bits of light in the room shed a small glow. He could see the shadow of her body through the screen. Just the sight of her shadow made his blood burn. The love he held for her was intense. Sometimes it was hard to control him self around her. Her actions were innocent; not meant to cause the reaction they stirred in him. He knew that he'd scare her if he didn't keep a clamp on his animalistic nature. The nature of the hitokiri, he had used in the old days to find his prey.

She came from behind the screen and took a seat on the futon. She started brushing her hair again. She noticed he was still by the door. "Kenshin aren't you going to change."

He nodded and changed into something similar to what he usually wore. She had thought it was strange that he never changed in to a yukata himself when going to bed. She had asked him why last week and he had said, "I need to be ready." But didn't elaborate for what. She put her hair in a loose braid and got under the covers. Closed her eyes and waited for Kenshin to come to bed. Ever since the Megumi thing he had started sleeping with her. At first she had tried to protest but there wasn't much she could say to deter him. Besides she like it, though she wouldn't admit it out loud, he was very smug when it came to her. She was very sleepy and was just barely aware of Kenshin when he got in.

He moved her hair to the side and kissed her neck. "Mmmm, Kenshin." She murmured. She was falling asleep. He kissed her again and held her close to him. It was something he had started doing when he started sleeping with her. After the scare he had, he felt he had needed to stay close to her. Being by her bedside as she had slept, the watching. It hadn't been enough. He needed to feel her. Now it felt like that wasn't enough either, he felt he needed to touch her, to taste her. Maybe then he'd be satisfied.

He let go of her for a second, assuring himself of the whereabouts of his katana. He smelled her one last time before spooning himself against her and falling asleep.

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"Kenshin you are not coming in with me." Kaoru had her hands on her hips. She was pissed.

"Then you will not bathe." Kenshin had his arms crossed over his chest.

"What. Just who the hell do you think you are? You can't dictate whether I can or cannot bathe, DAMN IT." She started to seem more like the old Kaoru this way.

"I will not let someone walk in on you while you bathe. They might see you and then I will be forced to cut their eyes out." His eyes took a gleam but she didn't care. They weren't married yet and there was no way she was going to let him see her naked yet.

"No."

"Then you will not go." He was not about to let her go alone.

"Look can't we compromise. You'll stand outside while I bathe." She made her eyes pleading hoping he'd take the bait.

Kenshin was very reluctant, but finally agreed. "Let it be noted that I do not approve but will nevertheless do as you ask." She hugged him before grabbing her things and making her way to the bathhouse. This would teach her to wake up before him. He of course was already for the day ahead.

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They had finally made it out of the inn without further incidents. They were going to have breakfast at some little place Kenshin said he remembered from their last visit.

Breakfast was quiet. She was busy with her inner thought and Kenshin well he was always quiet during meals. She had noticed he was protective of her and wondered if he was the jealous type. He seemed to have a temper so that probably wouldn't be good thing. I mean he still carried swords and she'd been told how great a fighter he was.

"Koishii are you ready?"

"Hmm." She hadn't noticed they were done eating.

"Were do you want to start?" He asked once they were already outside.

"I've never been here before, so I don't know." She said turning to him.

"Koishii, I want you to get new clothes and whatever else you'd like. It's one of the reasons I wanted you to come." He gave her a lope sided grin.

"Do I want to know what the other reasons were?" She was sorry she said it the moment the words came out of her mouth.

Kenshin straighten his posture and his gaze became heated. " Koishii, I'll be showing you the rest of my reasons tomorrow."

She blushed a deep scarlet red.

"Unless you want a preview today, we can do your shopping at a later time." His grin had turned seductive and it was too much to handle.

So Kaoru turned around and started walking off in a huff, "Hentai"

She could hear Kenshin laughing behind her. She wanted to turn around and knock him into next month. "Off all the arrogant, no good for nothing." Her words stopped abruptly she had bumped into someone. "Sumimasen" She said as she bowed. A deep masculine voice answered her.

"It's all right."

She looked up to see an older man, even at his age Kaoru could make out he once had been very good looking.

Kaoru was taken out of the older mans grasp a bit forcefully. She was confused but then she saw Kenshin had caught up and his arm was around her waist.

"Is there a problem?" His voice had taken on a deeper quality, dangerous almost.

It made both the older man and Kaoru shiver but both for totally different reasons.

The older man stepped back; apologizing for not watching were he was going. Then continued on his way. Kenshin watched him until he disappeared in the sea of people now filing the streets of the market place.

Kaoru was drawn to him like a moth to aflame. Unable to control her actions she pressed herself against him and hid her face in the crook of his neck. She nuzzled him and that's when he broke eye contact with the mans' back. Her mouth had touched his neck in a gentle kiss but he wasn't sure if she'd done it on purpose. Or if it had just happened as she nuzzled him.

"Kaoru," he spoke but his tone was a bit lighter. Not so deep.

That seemed to break her out of the spell she'd fallen victim to. She stepped back without making eye contact and cleared her throat. "Yes well, we better hurry, you have to work tonight and I have things to buy."

She turned and started to walk away but he grabbed her by the hand. She still didn't turn though, so he walked around so he could look at her face. Her e face was flushed and she avoided eye contact. Why was she embarrassed?

Kaoru on the other hand was humiliated. She'd been so forward, unable to help herself. In the middle off the street. A busy street. Fine time for her attraction to take over. Just peachy.

He let her go choosing to drop the incident, for the moment. They continued walking down the market place till she found a nice little shop to step into. The rest of the day continued on as if nothing had happened. The only thing noticeable was Kenshin walking a bit closer than needed but neither said anything about it.

Kenshin put all the packages down in their room.

"How long are you going to be gone?" She said closing the door to their room.

"A few hours, I've asked that they bring you dinner here. I don't want you to step outside while I'm gone." He turned to look at her.

Kaoru's' sight was on the floor, she didn't want to cry in front of him. I mean he was only going to be gone a couple of hours. "We're not having dinner together?"

"No koishii," Kenshin said coming closer to her and grabbing hold of her hands. Her hands were cold.

"Promise me you won't leave the room." His voice was pleading so she looked into his eyes. She conceded and he wiped the tears that had formed at the corner of her eyes. "Don't wait up for me. I don't know when I'll be done. I have to go koishii."

She was afraid to let go, what if he didn't come back, "Kiss me before you go." He tried to make it chaste, but she wanted more. She pressed herself closer to him and opened her mouth. She licked his lip and Kenshin had no choice but to really kiss her. He had wanted to avoid doing this until later. He already had enough trouble controlling himself as it was. But she learned quickly and she kissed him with such fervor he was forced to push her back. They were both panting. His eyes showed his hunger and Kaoru could see the flecks of amber in his eyes.

"Koishii," His voice had become deep again and she felt the goose bumps it created.

Kenshin noted the reaction his voice had on her and decided it was best not to stare at her when making his exit. "Later koishii, I promise you." He left making his way out of the inn quickly. He wanted to get this job over with so that he could come back before she fell asleep.

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Ok, Originally this chapter was much longer but I split it in two. This Chapter was supposed to have ended on a graphic scene (Bat/Kar PG-13 bordering NC-17) but I wasn't sure how it would be received. I mean the story is mainly romance with a bit angst. But I was afraid to put up the mushy stuff, which is needed to get us through Yokohama, and eventually to Hong Kong. The chapter was to be mushy ending with a particular scene. I could have taken the scene out but then I was afraid some people would feel cheated. So now I don't know. Please send your vote. I will tally the votes and go along with the majority. If there are enough votes I will post up the original chapter otherwise I will make the amendments to the next.

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Thanks for reviewing