Reflected Moonlight ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter Nine: Nothing I Fear

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Kenshin woke his whole body covered in sweat. He had fallen asleep by Kaoru's side. He shook himself awake and wiped the sweat off his forehead. He looked down at Kaoru sleeping peacefully on the bedmat. He watched her sleep, her face contented. He smiled and brushed her cheek with his hand. Slowly he stood up and stretched. He felt his stomach rumble. It had been a long time since he had eaten anything. It would probably good if he went and got something for himself and Kaoru, if she was to wake.

Kaoru woke to find herself alone. Feebly she stood up and stumbled out of the door. She was still weak from her fever, but it had mostly disappeared. She made her way slowly into the kitchen, her head spinning. She needed to find Kenshin.

Kenshin looked up and saw Kaoru stumble into the room. He quickly dropped what he was doing and went to her side. "What are you doing up, Miss Kaoru? You shouldn't try to get up yet."

She smiled up at him wearily. "I didn't want to be alone anymore Kenshin." She said.

The expression on her face made his heart melt. He scooped her up in his arms and leaned down to plant a soft kiss on her lips. "You don't have to be Kaoru. I'll always be there for you."

He carried her back to her room and set her back down on the bed.

"I'll be right back Kaoru. I made some tea for you."

Kaoru watched him leave her heart glowing. She could still feel his warm lips on hers, she could still feel his arms wrapped around her body. It made her so happy. Tears formed in the corners of her eyes. She hoped the rest of her life would be like this.

Kenshin came back into the room, a tray in his arms. Carefully he set it down on the floor next to Kaoru and handed her a cup of tea. Gratefully Kaoru took a cup and sipped it down. The steam that rose from the cup warmed her face pleasantly. She sighed and sipped it again, enjoying the warm feeling spreading throughout her body.

Kenshin sat next to her sipping his own cup of tea watching her silently. He set his cup down on the tray and waited for her to finish hers. Then when she had done so he turned to her. He took her small hand in his and looked straight into her sapphire eyes.

She looked confused. "What is it now Kenshin?" She asked as he smiled warmly at her.

Kenshin couldn't stifle the overwhelming feelings in his heart anymore. He let out a long breath and summoned up the courage to ask her the question that had been burning in his heart for so long. "Kaoru......Will you marry me?"

Kaoru heart skipped a beat at those words. She leaned against him throwing her arms tightly around him. "Yes Kenshin. I will." She said hugging him fiercely.

Kenshin held her tightly against him, against his heart. She was finally his, forever. And he was hers. His smile faded a little as he remembered the battousai inside of him. He pulled a little ways away from her so that he could look her straight in the face.

"Are you sure Kaoru? Even knowing what could happen if I lost control again?"

Kaoru smiled up at him brushing his hair with her fingers. "I already told you once that I would risk it. As long as I have you.....I have nothing to fear."

Kenshin couldn't stand it any longer. He leaned closer and began to kiss her. Her skin slid against his callused hands as she fell backwards onto the bed. Her kimono slid gently off her slim body and onto the floor forgotten. His hands caressed up and down her bare flesh as he kissed her all over.

The heat between them grew immensely, and Kaoru could feel her body burn up under his gentle touch. She pulled him closer so that there was no longer anything separating them anymore.