::coughlemoncough::


Chapter 15


Reflection


Kaoru growled as Kenshin wrapped the bandage around her arm. The gash Saitou left her would have been nothing more than superficial, but compounded with the injury she suffered from her fight with Kenshin, it was quite serious. Kenshin worked quietly under the flickering light of the campfire to mend his love. His face was expressionless. While it seemed he was concentrating on his task, he was really lost in his own world. Lost in his thoughts, in his memories. To his great surprise, Kaoru was more powerful than he could have ever imagined her to be. He knew she had the potential, when her swordsman's spirit broke the paralyzing spell of Jenei. But, he always thought it was her purity, her true love of the sword and the desire to protect without killing that gave her such an incredible aura.


"You know we will have to kill Yahiko, right," Kaoru said, as if she we just expounding on his thoughts. Kenshin shook his head and tied the bandage.


"No, I do not know that to be true. He may come around. You did," he said standing up and brushing the dirt off of his body. He had dug graves for the victims of the assault and buried them not far from the inn. He did not know if family would come looking for them, but at least they would be properly buried if so.


"I just spanked his master like a naughty child. He has motive on top of motive. Once he discovers the totality of my situation, he will want to kill both of us. You for leaving, me for ruining his reason to seek revenge. That is how is mind will work," Kaoru said, putting her bloodstained shirt back on. She moved her arm back and forth, testing it a bit. It would be sore for a while, but it would have to do.


Kenshin sighed and walked away from Kaoru. He could not deal with this right now. He couldn't deal with her coldness. He couldn't deal with the fact that all of those around him, those that he loved because of their love for peace and respect for life...turned into a mirror image of his former self. Was this part of his curse? Was this his punishment? To watch the lives of everyone he ever loved be mangled into a wreck devoid of emotion and meaning? Was this the curse he had inflicted onto Kaoru and Yahiko?


"Where are you going," Kaoru said, placing her sword back on her hip.


"Back to my inn. Still have cleaning to do," Kenshin replied without looking back. Kaoru walked briskly behind him and grabbed him by the arm. He stopped and turned to her and Kaoru was shocked. His eyes were sharp and narrow...cool and void.


"Kenshin..." Kaoru whispered. Kenshin slowly removed her hand and glared at her with eyes full of contempt, then turned around and walked away. Kaoru could not move. He had never looked at her like that before.


Never.


Those eyes were reserved for enemies, for his foes. That was the look that meant is tolerance was low and the Battousai was soon to follow. It was the look used when those he loved were threatened and he had to protect them.


Kaoru watched his figure disappear into the trees and she started to follow him. He was moving swiftly, like a ghost or shadow. Perhaps he was trying to shake her, but she knew his destination. Why was he doing this? Why was he behaving like this? Kaoru did not know the answer, so she decided to leave him be when she reached the in. Kaoru arrived shortly after Kenshin, and he was already dressed down, scrubbing the floor. The water was already tinted red. She just got down on her knees and joined him until they were done.


They cleaned until the first light of dawn appeared above, reducing the brilliant twinkle of the stars above. Kaoru looked out of the second floor window and was taken back to Tokyo and her dojo. Kenshin had only been there a short while, but had not hesitated to pull his weight. She was amazed at how someone who was once a merciless killer prided himself in cleanliness. She then discovered that trait was a direct derivative from his past life, a positive after-effect. A means of making things right...and she admires him more.


Kaoru's face grew flush as the feeling she had felt long ago resurfaced. She put a hand on her warm cheek and smiled. Her calloused fingers glided along her chin and she inhaled deeply, pouring herself into the forgotten memory. She did not want to let it go...


But, she forced herself to open her eyes and peer into the dimly lit room. As much as she wanted o return to the past, she could not. As much as she wanted to forget who she had become, forget Kenshin had left, forget Megumi, Sanosuke and Kenji had died...she would never. They would always be in her memories, in her heart. They would never disappear.


"I cannot stay here. I'm only fooling myself," Kaoru whispered, rubbing her injured arm. She turned about and was startled by Kenshin. He was standing in the doorway, watching her.


"Why do you think you are fooling yourself," Kenshin asked, his eyes still as cool as earlier. Kaoru shook her head and began to walk past him, but Kenshin extended his arm in her path, blocking her way. They were cheek to cheek, but Kenshin did not turn to look at her. He only waited for her to respond.


"You are fooling yourself to if you think we can be together. We are the same, yet different. I'm not longer who you feel in love with. While parts of her still exist in me, I will never be her again. To stay with me, just to be disappointed with who I am, is just asking for heartache. I've been there. You've been there. Let's not pretend, Kenshin," Kaoru said, pushing his arm down and walking past him. He stood still for a moment, taking in her words. She was correct from one standpoint. The reason he doesn't want to let her go is because he knows the old Kaoru is in there somewhere and it pains him to see her in the light of a killer.


It makes his fragile heart sink deeper into the abyss. He left her wishing to make things right. Just knowing the old Kaoru is just buried beneath the new was the only thing keeping him from going insane after he learned of her misfortune.


"Kaoru-dono," he mouthed, lips moving, but no words coming out. He turned around, wiping a tear from his eye when he noticed Kaoru was still there, at the bottom of the steps. She couldn't go any further. Something was making her stay. She didn't know what or why, but she couldn't more, couldn't breath. She could feel eyes on her, but she couldn't respond. She felt hot lips against her neck, and her eyes closed. She felt fingers glide across her collarbone, and she moaned. She felt soft lips against hers, and she shivered.


"No...Kenshin," Kaoru muttered as her lover turned her around and began to plant soft kisses on her ear. Her body melted under his touch and her pleas turned into deep, pleasure filled breaths. Her hands began to search Kenshin's lean, but strong body. She tilted her head back, allowing him to divulge even further. His fingers trailed down her spine to the small of her back. He worked his hands into her pants and slid them down her thighs. Kenshin slowly worked his way back up her body, grabbing hold of her buttocks as his lips reached her navel. He squeezed her cheeks firmly, making a little squeal exit from her lips. Kaoru puts her hands his Kenshin's hair and begins to play with the area right behind his ear. He moans and stands up, pushing Kaoru against the wall. He wedged his leg between hers, forcing her legs open. Kaoru fumbled with his pants as the kissed feverishly, trapped in the heat of the moment. Once his pants were at his ankles, Kenshin entered his love and they both gasped at the sensation.


There was no feeling equal to that of their bodies joining as one. For some reason, the moment of penetration was almost as intense as the moment of climax, and both simmered in the feeling. Kaoru wrapped her leg around Kenshin's and began to roll her hips. He followed her like, filling her with himself over and over again. He pressed his hands against the wall and leaned down to give Kaoru the softest kiss she had ever felt. Softer than the night he first made love to her and the thunder was rolling in the background. A cold chill ran down her body. She knew he loved her. She knew she loved him. There was no escaping their fate, she thought as Kenshin picked her up and laid her down on the floor and entwined his fingers with hers. Kaoru arched her back and wrapped her legs around his waist. Tears rolled down her check as she felt the pressure build within her. With a bit of force, Kaoru rolled Kenshin onto his back and straddled his body. She leaned over him and nuzzled her cheek against his as they continued to move in unison.


"Promise me, Rurouni... that you will always stay," she whispered through her tears, as if reliving the past. Kenshin held her tight and kissed her all over her face as if he would never do so again. Tears also ran down his face as his heart sunk lower into his chest. He would not let her go. Never again. His heart beats for her. His lungs breath for her. His soul exists for her. No more broken promises. No more broken hearts.


"I will," he groan as he felt his climax being reach. He took her lips with his own and kissed her as he planted his seed within her. Kaoru threw her head back in all of the emotion, which made her own zenith all the more powerful. Her body shook of a few moments as Kenshin grazed his hand up and down her naked back. She slowly began to relax and rested her head against his chest. Her lids grew heavy as Kenshin looked up at the ceiling. His words were six years too late. He should have said them the night he left...and stayed with Kaoru. But, that was the past. He was here now. He would protect her, even if it seemed she didn't need anyone to protect her.


"Kaoru," he whispered as he kissed her forehead softly and fell asleep.