Chapter Ten: Then Claim Me
*There was a tense moment that flashed between the two men. Kenshin stared hard at the boy who wished to believe he was a man, and Jensai coldly smirked at the old man who thought he was strong enough to defeat him. Both men said nothing, however. Then Kaoru stepped forward.
"Enough. Kenshin, he can't hurt us. He has no power here. Come and help me start a fire for dinner." Sano stood at her words, nodding. Yahiko too, backed off.
"Yeah, come on Kenshin, they can't do anything. I'm hungry." He added. It took Kenshin a moment longer, and then he too stood from his readied stance.
"Miss Kaoru, Yahiko, you are right, that you are. Come, let's start that fire." Kaoru smiled and hugged Namida to her chest.
"Stop!" Jensai growled. "You think you can just walk away from me and my soldiers? Kaoru, little Kaoru, you don't seem to quite grasp everything yet. You cannot escape me. You cannot ignore me. You are mine!" He screamed hoarsely. Kaoru paused. Slowly she turned back around and started towards Jensai. Yahiko went to hit the man, but Kenshin laid a hand upon his shoulder.
"Wait." He commanded the younger boy. Kaoru now stood mere inches from Jensai, and turned her head up so she could look him in the eye.
"I am no one's, least of all yours. And if I was to be someone's… I would be Kenshin's—or did you never hear that the Battousai had a woman?" She smirked. Then she turned around and began to walk back towards the house. Sanosuke began laughing in the dismal fog, and Yahiko grinned.
"Way to tell him Kaoru!" He cheered. Kenshin, slightly shocked by her words, still managed a smile. She was his; she knew it.
"No…" Jensai stood, glowering with rage. His face became a blackened purple, and he began to shake. As his hand drew his sword, he began to laugh mechanically. His soldiers, taking their cues from him, drew theirs as well. "No! Don't you see Kaoru? You're my bitch! You've always been mine! Since we were children you've loved me, and you always will!"
"I advise you to drop your sword, all of you, that I do." Kenshin told them, watching as Kaoru continued to walk back. She hadn't even turned around at Jensai's claim.
"And you, pretty boy! Or should I say old man? You've corrupted my Kaoru! You've touched her; you've had her! I cannot allow you to live knowing that you had my whore before I!" With that, Jensai finally charged. Yet he did not charge at Kenshin… "But first, I cannot let Kaoru speak to me that way. You will be taught a lesson woman!"
As he charged, his men did as well. They yelled and waved their swords. Yahiko and Sano caught each other's eyes, and knew what they had to do. They yelled and charged as well; bokken and fists joined the fight.
Just as Kaoru turned around to see Jensai, his sword came down upon her. She let out a startled cry and hunched over, trying to protect the small child she held within her arms. The cool drops of water were ignored, and the innocent cries that Namida had begun to sob fell to deaf ears. The sword instantly crashed down, and the metallic clang it made connecting with Kenshin's reversed blade sword resounded throughout the courtyard.
As Kaoru looked up to see Kenshin, her breath caught. His eyes had become a dual color, purple tops and golden eyes. The Battousai and Kenshin were both there, both protecting her and saving her. She had always known they were one person, but it was such a difference seeing than only knowing. His face was taught, lips drawn into a thin frown.
"If you harm her, you will pay. No one harms what is mine." He whispered violently to Jensai.
"Will I?" Jensai laughed. "And who will make me? I am a manslayer of the new government, no one can stop me!"
"You are no manslayer." Kenshin growled, their swords clashed again, farther away from Kaoru this time. Again and again they struck. Kenshin was not at his full speed, he was allowing Jensai to take strike after strike and blocking it perfectly. Jensai built up his anger and began to strike more ferociously, viciously slashing across and down, jabbing in and withdrawing quickly. But Kaoru's trained eye could see he was tiring. Kenshin had done this on purpose.
"I am a manslayer! I am the ultimate swordsman!" Jensai huffed. Kenshin narrowed his eyes.
"You truly believe that?" He asked. Without waiting for an answer, he suddenly sped his pace up. It became nauseating to watch as he blocked strike after strike and then went on the offensive, landing blow after blow onto Jensai's sword. Finally, after one particularly hard strike, Jensai's sword clanked and then shattered into two. What was left of the katana he simply stared at.
"No!" Forgetting about Kenshin, he ran for Kaoru, broken sword still in hand. Screaming in rage, he lifted his hand to stab her. But Kaoru stood to her full height and held Namida close to herself. Just as his hand came down, Kenshin grabbed his wrist. The broken weapon slipped to the ground and clattered away.
"A true manslayer," Kaoru spoke quietly, "Wishes he were not one."
"And a true manslayer does not hurt women and children." Kenshin added.
"Got him Kenshin?" Sano asked. He and Yahiko had finished with Jensai's men moments earlier and stopped to watch their friend in his fight.
"Got him Sano." Jensai, whose wrist was still in Kenshin's hand, dropped to his knees, sobbing.
"Please don't hurt me!" He begged. Kenshin and Kaoru both stared at the man, disgusted. Both knew that certainly no real manslayer would cry at defeat—he would be dead.
"Sano, will you take him and his men to Saitou?" Sano began to object, but then smirked.
"Fine. But you owe me Kenshin. Dinner at the Akebeko tomorrow night will be just fine, thanks." Kenshin smiled lightly at his friend.
"As you wish."
"I'll come." Yahiko volunteered proudly. He and Sano prodded the policemen to waken and get to their feet, and Sano took hold of Jensai's arm. Dragging Jensai and prodding the others, they made their way out the gate and towards town.
"So Jensai learned his lesson." Kaoru stated quietly.
"He did. And he's in for another one. Saitou promised to punish him for taxing you falsely." Kenshin told her. Kaoru blushed.
"You asked Saitou to punish him?"
"No. I asked Saitou if it was legal to tax you and the dojo. When I explained the situation, he volunteered to punish him. Apparently Saitou did not like Jensai Tomogei very much to begin with, that he did not." Kenshin told her gently. Kaoru giggled slightly.
"I can imagine Saitou volunteering." They stood for a moment quietly, and then Kaoru gasped. "What was I thinking? Kenshin, get inside and out of the rain! You just recovered, do you want to get sick again?" She cried. Kenshin smiled.
"Of course not Miss Kaoru. But I should think you need to come in more than I, after all, you and Namida have not yet been sick, you are more susceptible than I am." Laughing, Kaoru led Kenshin inside. Quickly she changed her kimono and Namida's diapers and blanket, so that the baby would be dry and warm. Then she joined Kenshin, who was building a fire in the kitchen for the fish.
"I'm starved." She confided in him as she sat to watch him. For Namida she had pulled a bowl of milk out of her ice chest and was making an effort to feed the baby.
"For someone who has been stinting herself for a week, you should be." Kenshin told her.
"How did you know?" She gasped. "I didn't say a word to Sanosuke either…"
"Miss Kaoru, I know you better than you may think. And I wish you wouldn't starve yourself, even if you're trying to save money. It isn't healthy." Kenshin frowned at her, but lightly smiled after a moment. How could he be upset with Kaoru? She had only tried to earn enough money to pay taxes so that they could all continue to live together under the dojo's roof. "Miss Kaoru, I wish to speak to you about something." He finally said.
"Okay, go ahead Kenshin." Kaoru told him as she concentrated on Namida.
"You should never have had to work outside the dojo. Giving lessons outside is fine, but you should never have had to worry about having enough money to pay taxes."
"It doesn't matter anymore Kenshin, we don't need to pay any taxes, remember?" She told him.
"Kaoru, there is still a need for funds. Food, clothing, supplies for the dojo… and I know that you like to be able to treat us sometimes." Kaoru flushed as Kenshin spoke. How did he know so much? "You've earned quite a bit of money from working this week alone, but it will not last forever. Kaoru, I feel as though it should be my responsibility from now on to see that you have everything you need. I don't want you to ever worry about money again." Kaoru's eyes shot up and held Kenshin's gaze firmly.
"What? Kenshin, why would you say that?" She demanded.
"I told you, I feel it should be my responsibility. To make you happy, Kaoru." The raven-haired girl sat silently for a moment longer, then stood. Leaving Namida atop the counter, she walked over towards Kenshin.
"No Kenshin, no. This is my home, and thus my responsibility. You shouldn't feel responsible for anything like that here Kenshin. Besides, you do enough as it is. I know washing and cooking is woman's work, but you do it anyway for me… that's enough! I don't want you doing more than that…"
"And I don't want you doing more than what you love, which is teaching the Kamiya Kashinn Ryu." He told her firmly. She held his gaze, set fast in a stubborn no.
"Hello?" The both of them looked away when they heard voices from outside the dojo. Kaoru picked up Namida, and Kenshin narrowed his eyes. Grabbing his sword, they made their way to the entrance of the dojo and peered out the door. Before the gate they could make out a carriage pulled by horses, and two guards were standing in the rain calling to them.
"Hello, can we help you?" Kaoru called out.
"Are you Kamiya Kaoru, Assistant Master of the Kamiya Kashinn School of Martial arts?" They called back.
"I am!" Kaoru yelled. "Please, come in out of the rain." She offered the men. They grinned, and stepped up to stand under the porch.
"Master Kamiya, our Master and Mistress would have a word with you." One of the guards told her. She nodded.
"Would they come in?"
"They would." The guards nodded. Then they turned back out to the rain and grabbed umbrellas to hold over their master and mistress. The carriage doors opened, and out came Tangai Yoshiro and his wife Tangai Fafeiya. Kaoru gasped, and her eyes fell. Arms wrapped tightly around the baby she cradled in her arms, she sighed.
"Kaoru? Why is the Tangai family here to see you?" Kenshin asked confused. Kaoru looked up at him.
"Because I have been watching their daughter for them." She told him soberly. Kenshin's eyes widened, then fell to half lidded and knowing. The couple had reached the porch, and now they all stood in silence. Finally Kaoru managed a smile.
"Tangai Fafeiya, I believe your daughter has missed you greatly." Offering the tiny bundle to the woman under the umbrella, Kaoru instantly missed the familiar weight in her arms.
"My daughter!" Fafeiya cried out joyously. Hugging her child to her chest, she looked happily into her husband's eyes. "My dear, our daughter, Namida." The man smiled sweetly at his daughter as he took her into his arms for the first time.
Kenshin and Kaoru watched silently as the family was reunited for the first time in a week. Kenshin's eyes quickly flickered towards Kaoru, and he noticed instantly that she was hurting. She must have fallen in love with the child… As quietly as he could he side stepped closer to her and allowed his hand to grab hers and squeeze. Surprised, Kaoru looked up Kenshin, but when she saw he was only trying to comfort her, she smiled lightly and returned his squeeze.
"Thank you for watching our daughter." Yoshiro finally looked up. And then, as quickly as his smile had appeared, it dropped and his expression became one of shock.
"Hitokiri Battousai!" He whispered. Kenshin shifted uncomfortably. His red hair and cross shaped scar always gave him away. Yoshiro's wife gasped.
"Sir, you mean Himura Kenshin." Kaoru interjected. The man in front of her nodded.
"I had heard rumors you were staying in a dojo in Tokyo Himura, but I had not known it was the same one my wife had left my daughter in the care of." The man turned to his wife. "You could not have picked a better dojo my dear. Our daughter could never have been safer." Back to Kenshin, the man spoke again. "Thank you for protecting my daughter Himura."
"You are welcome Yoshiro, however it was not me who was responsible, but Kaoru, the Assistant Master at this school."
"Of course." He nodded. "Still carrying your sword Himura? When will you lay it to rest dear boy?"
"I fear I will never be able to truly put it aside." Kenshin told him seriously. "Yet I can now put it to a far better use than before." He smiled a sad smile. Kaoru squeezed his hand, this time she tried to comfort him. He squeezed back, but she noted he did not seem more relaxed.
"Kenshin." She whispered. "You wouldn't be the same man without the sword." Kenshin blinked, then truly smiled at her.
"That I would not Kaoru, that I would not." Kaoru smiled at him.
"Well Himura, it looks as though the other rumor is true as well. So you are settling down with a wife." Kenshin and Kaoru both blushed, but it seemed that Yoshiro did not notice. Turning to Kaoru, he sighed. "Kenshin's a good man, and for him to have chosen you, you must be a good woman. Take good care of him." He smiled. Kaoru could only blush.
"Thank you again, Kamiya Kaoru, for watching over my daughter. Is there anything I can do to repay you for all that you have done?" Fafeiya asked.
"No, no need. It was my pleasure and honor, Miss Tangai." She bowed slightly.
"Sure there must be something?"
"No." Kaoru shook her head assuredly.
"Then allow my husband and I to at least make a donation to your dojo. Ten thousand Yen for the Kamiya Kashinn dojo."
"An excellent idea my dear." Yoshiro nodded. Kaoru was speechless.
"Thank you for the honor you do this dojo, Yoshi." Kenshin bowed deeply in Kaoru's place. "We are grateful indeed."
"No, thank you for caring for my daughter, Ken. Besides, I owe you a good deal more; I owe you my life. I would not have live through the revolution without your skills." Kenshin smiled lightly, and bowed again.
"Well, we must be going." Fafeiya told them. Then she and her husband walked out into the rain, boarded their carriage, and drove off into the gloomy night. Kenshin and Kaoru stood silently on the steps of the dojo, soaking in the events that had occurred.
"Kenshin, did she really say what I think she said?" Kaoru breathed.
"She did." He nodded.
"It looks like neither of us will ever have to worry about whose responsibility it is to bring in funds after all." She smirked slightly. Kenshin, too, grinned.
"I am glad, Kaoru, that you will never have to work as you did this week ever again."
"Still, I'll miss having Namida. I grew so fond of her…" Kaoru's eyes darkened, and Kenshin panicked. All he ever wished was for her to be happy. "Kenshin." Kaoru breathed in deeply and looked back up. Then she began again. "You haven't called me Miss Kaoru in a short while." He started to apologize, but she stopped him. "I like it."
"But it is improper, that it is."
"Tell me something Kenshin." The wanderer looked at Kaoru with question in his eyes, and was astounded by her beauty. Long raven hair tied up revealed her porcelain face, her gentle night-colored eyes gazing deeply into his, her pink lips smiling ever so slightly at him… nothing would ever still his heart quite so much as she did when she looked at him in that way.
"I will tell you anything Kaoru." He vowed quietly.
"Why is it that everyone seems to call me your woman? Am I not my own woman?" She asked interestedly, eyes innocently blinking. Kenshin was caught off guard. He wished he could take her into his arms and hold her tightly, proclaiming that she was wrong, that she was his woman; she was his.
" I do not know, that I do not. Perhaps," He licked his lips, "perhaps they see something that we do not?"
"Do they see that you live with me, help me with my chores and shopping?" She asked carefully.
"Perhaps they see that I walk into town with you, protect you from those who wish to do you harm, and am always by your side."
"But I am not your woman."
"You are not." Not yet—his mind screamed at him.
"Still, they all say I am."
"Who is 'they'?" Kenshin was becoming frustrated.
"Why, everyone. You heard Shishio and Enishi, and of course Sano, Megumi, and Yahiko, and yourself, Saitou, and now even Tangai Yoshiro seem to all think so."
"Myself…" Kenshin whispered. That was right, he did say so during his fight! Feeling like an idiot, he blinked. "Miss Kaoru, I understand that I have offended you, and I am sorry…"
"Stop it Kenshin!" She cried out. "Don't you understand?" Kaoru whispered. "You said it. You said I was yours. You said no one harms what is yours, and you were speaking about me. So then, Kenshin, is it true? Am I yours?" She ended barely in a whisper.
"What if you are?" Kenshin growled, tired of playing games. He could hardly contain himself around her, and she was pushing him over the edge.
"Then you had better claim me Kenshin, because I cannot wait much longer." She told him pointedly, her eyes sparkling as they caught his. It was all Kenshin needed to hear.
"You're mine." His voice darkly spat before he grabbed her shoulders. Holding her tightly, he looked into her eyes. "You are mine." Before she could say anything, he captured her lips in a desperate kiss. Letting his eyes shut, he allowed his instincts to take over. His lips covered her sweet, soft mouth and began to nudge her, begging her to return the love her felt so deeply for her. When her lips gave in and began to respond, he teased her gently, running his tongue along her lower lip, begging for entrance. She accepted, and he explored every inch of her delicate mouth. Their tongues intertwined, mingling and dancing in a passionate exchange.
As soon as Kenshin had claimed her, Kaoru knew she was going to be assailed. Pleased that she could finally open the floodgate of love that she had been hiding from him for so long, Kaoru leaned in and eagerly participated in the violence that had asserted her. Kenshin's mouth, soft and exploratory, taught her quickly. She found herself returning the rough pressure he gave her, and then shivering as his tongue sought entrance. The moment she allowed it, Kaoru believed her knees would give out under the ministrations of Kenshin's frenzied attack. Moaning, she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her hands in his hair, softly dragging her nails down his scalp. His arms, around her waist, tightened and pulled her closer to him, as if he needed their bodies to be one.
Finally Kenshin let Kaoru go, pulling away from her sensual lips. Their moment of pure bliss and passion had left him more aroused than any he could previously remember. She was his, his woman, his love.
"Kenshin." Kaoru moaned. Her hands were still running through his soft hair, and her eyes were still closed. She felt lethargic and weak. Leaning in to hug him, she laid her head upon his shoulder. If she collapsed, she knew he would catch her.
"Kaoru." He answered her, knowing she was on the brink of falling. Her soft hands running through his hair left him in a state of heightened awareness, and her scent over loaded the rest of his senses. Finally she pulled away from him and looked him in the eye.
"I have something to tell you Kenshin. I've wanted to say it for a long time, but I've been too afraid to admit it… I thought I might lose you if you found out and didn't feel the same… I love you."
"Kaoru." Kenshin cupped her cheek softly and rubbed his thumb over her soft lips. "I have felt the very same fear. I love you." He confessed. Kaoru smiled at him, and he back at her. Her hand came up from his neck and she placed it upon his cheek, covering his scar.
"I hope I can heal your heart Kenshin. I hope that I am everything you want me to be."
"Kaoru." He sighed softly. "You already have healed my heart. You are my heart." She smiled at him gently.
"Does this mean that you two are getting married?" Yahiko called from the bushes. Then he cried out in pain, and Sano's deeper voice could be heard yelling. Kaoru and Kenshin, blushing thoroughly, laughed at their friends.
"Yahiko, why did you have to ruin their moment? I've been trying to get that to happen for two years now!" Sano screamed.
"Rooster head!" Yahiko began to jump atop Sano.
"Little Yahiko!" Sano teased back. "Hey, no, not the hair!"
"Well Kaoru?" Kenshin whispered to her, ignoring Sano and Yahiko.
"Well what Kenshin?" She asked confused. He took a deep breath.
"Will you marry me? I love you, and maybe… maybe we could have our own daughter?" His voice ended in a low whisper, and his head was bent down, to avoid eye contact.
"Kenshin." Kaoru's heart stopped. Never had her wanderer looked so handsome to her. His red hair framing his gorgeous eyes, eyes that shone just for her. His lips, so soft, she knew from experience, pulled into his real smile, just for her. And his offer, marriage and a family, just for her. "Kenshin, yes." She smiled, and Kenshin looked up to see his angel smiling back at him.
Carefully he brought his lips back towards hers, and captured her mouth again. Momentarily he broke the kiss, and managed to speak: "And Kaoru, just because you're my woman doesn't mean you aren't still your own. You can still be free… it's why I love you." Kaoru, blissfully ecstatic about Kenshin's charming proclamation, smiled and laughed. Then she pulled him in to finish what they had begun. *
The end.
~~~I hope you've enjoyed this fic, I worked hard and long to make sure the characters stayed true to who they were and give them life. Please review and rate me, 1-10, 1-worst, and 10-best. I would appreciate any comments made! Thank you for making the writing of this fic worthwhile. Much love, Vixen~~~ Rix13rix@aol.com