I like to play music when I write. I tend to associate certain songs with certain things. I always think of Kenshin when I hear the song Hero by Enrique Inglesia. "I can be your hero, baby. I can kiss away the pain. I will stand by you forever…" You get the idea.

Once Upon A Dream

Night had fallen in the forest by the time Kenshin stopped for the night. All was quiet, except for the rustling of the leaves in the trees. Occasionally Kenshin could hear the sound of some nocturnal creature either hunting or being hunted. He settled back against the tree holding his sword against him. He was well versed in the art of zanshin. If there was even the slightest disturbance he would wake instantly, fully alert. A warrior always slept with one eye and one ear open. His survival depended on it.

His last thoughts before he drifted off to sleep were of his friends. Would he ever see them again? Kaoru's anguished cry still echoed in his ears. It was by far the hardest thing he had ever had to do. Kaoru would never know how close he had come to turning around and coming back to her. He had not even dared to look back, but forced himself to keep going. He felt like his heart had been ripped out of his chest and left him hollow and empty. He hoped that if they ever met again, she and the others would be able to forgive him, he thought as he fell asleep.

***

Kenshin was standing in the dojo. The only light was from the moon shining through the windows. How had he gotten here? As he looked around him in bewilderment, he saw Kaoru standing in front of one of the windows. She was wearing his favorite kimono, the one with the lavender flowers. She looked so beautiful that his heart melted at the sight of her.

As he watched, she came over to him, smiling. When she reached him, she put her arms around him and held him close. He returned her embrace and laid his head on her shoulder, absorbing her warmth and softness. Then he lifted his head and looked in her eyes as if searching for something. When he saw her love for him shining in her eyes, his face relaxed and he smiled back at her.

"Aisuru." he whispered and lowered his head to touch his lips to hers, gently at first, then as she responded to him, with more passion. Her hair was loose and buried his fingers in it, holding her head as he deepened the kiss, his other arm crushing her against him. She pulled the ribbon out of his hair and ran her fingers through it, matching him kiss for kiss. Coherent thought fled as his mouth moved over hers desperate to absorb the taste and feel of her. His heart was pounding so hard by now he thought it would burst from his chest. He never wanted this moment to end.

***

Kenshin woke with a start. It was almost sunrise. He lifted his hands and stared at them. The dream was so real his hands were trembling and his body still tingled with remembered warmth. He closed his eyes as pain and longing swept through him, threatening to overwhelm him. He took a deep breath, and, opening his eyes, rose to his feet. Tucking his sword in his belt, he continued on his way. The road to Kyoto was a long one.

***

Kaoru sat up suddenly in her sleep and gasped. She touched her fingers to her lips staring out in the darkness. Yahiko, who was sharing the ship's cabin with her, woke instantly. He saw her face and was instantly alert.

What is it, Kaoru?" he asked anxiously, looking about the cabin as if he expected an assassin to spring out at them any minute. "What's wrong?"

Kaoru slowly lowered her hand, still stunned.

"I just had the strangest dream. I-". She paused, then with a visible effort forced herself to appear calm, though inside her emotions were in chaos.

"Never mind, Yahiko. Sorry I woke you."

"That's ok. Sometimes I have bad dreams, too. 'Nite, Kaoru."

"Goodnight, Yahiko."

Kaoru lay back down. Her lips were still tingling with the remembered kiss. How could something that was just a dream be so real? Was it possible that she and Kenshin shared a bond so strong that it could reach across distance? She prayed that wherever Kenshin was he was safe. The road to Kyoto was a long one.

***

Zanshin is the samurai art of detecting the presence of an enemy. New mothers experience the same thing called mother's hearing. At the slightest noise from their baby they wake from a sound sleep.

Aisuru- beloved