And here we go again!
Okay! One of these days my Muses are going to let me do what I want, and when they do, who knows what will happen. A little lime in this chapter, a little more territorial Aoshi, and a little bit more explanation. I hope that one day I will be DONE with the explanations of history and so on....
Once again a THANK YOU to those who are reviewing, because you guys are the best, and here is a few answers to some of the comments!
Violet Goddess: I know! I am so sorry about the mistakes that I don't catch! A big thank you to all my readers, I am going to go back one of these days and go back over and fix what I have missed, but until then thank you for the patience. Beta reading your own story is hard.
Kitsunehime: I have never heard of the Black Jewel Trilogy. Glad you like the story however.
Icegal: Kaoru and Kenshin...connection....I promise you will see. To say anything would really just give it away!
To all those who believe I am an evil creature who lives to torment by cliff hangers....your right. However I did not leave you with one this time. Okay maybe a SMALL one with Misao and Aoshi, but besides that nope!
And a thank you to all of those who like my werewolf, vampire world, because its harder than it looks!
Remember I do not own Kenshin or RK....I really wish I did though!
Ravyn
A big thanks to Chris who has managed to review every chapter. I am sure there are more but he just kinda sticks out...
Kenshin protectively wrapped his arms Kaoru's shaking figure and stood easily his burden cradled in his arms.
"Aoshi, take Misao and Rei to the safe house. I will take Kaoru down stairs to Yahiko and Tsubame rooms and have them stay here to keep an eye on the place."
"That will not be necessary Battousai. " A sultry voice said surely from the living area.
Kenshin spun, his eyes flashing amber and met a site that caused his eyes to darken to violet in surprise.
In front of him stood the figure of Yumi, a woman he thought he would never see again. The shuddering frame of Kaoru increased with Yumi's presence.
"Ah so the girl remembers me." Yumi flashed a humorless smile. "I have come to warn you, Battousai, that Shishio-sama's mistakes will not be repeated in this life time." Her smile was humorless and harsh. "This time you will be destroyed and there is nothing you can do about it."
Kenshin growled at her. "Yumi-dono, you walk a tight rope. Shishio is not yet of this world and I will not let him enter it."
Yumi laughed. "As did his abilities depend on time, so does his time in this world depend on those same abilities. Consider this while you hold that woman close, because your time is limited."
Misao gave a startled squeak as Yumi simply faded. "I didn't believe in ghosts." Misao muttered. "Now I do."
"That was no ghost." Aoshi said softly his eyes narrowed to slits, "She had Ki energy and most Ghosts are simple apparitions that have no contact with the world but simply hover between."
Misao gave him a harsh look. "You sound like you have dealt with them before."
Aoshi simply blinked at her and turned to Rei. "Are you ready to go to a new place? There is a inside pool."
Kenshin turned at looked over at Aoshi and nodded as he walked out of the room.
Rei's eyes widened to huge proportions. Actually Misao and Rei both had similar expressions, both with eyes wide with surprise. Misao at Aoshi's sudden change of topic, Rei's because she had never heard of an inside pool. "Pool? You will teach Rei how to swim?" Her wide green eyes where full of hopeful surprise. She swung around to give Misao a hopeful glance.
Misao opened her mouth to argue but Rei had wrapped her arms around her neck. "Teach me to swim Mi!"
Misao groaned in a combination of disgust and acceptance.
Aoshi turned to look at the moon and hid a smile. "So it's settled then."
Kaoru took a deep shuddering breath as reality slowly began to edge back into her conscience.
Kaoru stepped in front of Suzume and Ayame as a red haired woman with a face that would be gorgeous if it wasn't for the cold glint in her eyes.
"Its alright Kaoru." Kenshin mummered into her fragrant hair as she attempted to stop her shuddering. "I've got you."
"May I help you?" Kaoru questioned easily her eyes narrowed slightly in suspicion.
"Its such a shame there going to loose someone so important to them so early in life."
Kaoru took a deep breath and attempted to force the images and voices from her head.
"What are you talking about" Kaoru asked, her voice edgy.
The woman smiled. "Say good bye to those you love, Kamiya Kaoru." With that the lady turned and walked away.
Kaoru finally got her breathing under control and realized two very important things about her current situation.
She had just had a 'moment', as she and Misao had started to call their dreams and fast visions, and it had involved someone who had looked not only just like her but also had the same name.
It had involved the same woman who had just appeared and disappeared in a span of fifteen minuets in her room, leaving her with a spinning head and trembling muscles.
The second thing that registered was the strong arms and soothing voice that was slowly managing to get it through her head that she was safe. Safe from what, Kaoru had no idea, but it was the first time since her father's death that the muscles in the back of her neck had actually relaxed.
"What happened?" Kenshin questioned softly, his hands moving through her hair.
"I don't know." Kaoru mummered, her fingers picking at the collar of his shirt, her eyes looking at some distant point in the room.
"Tell me." Kenshin was delicately attempting to coax the truth from her as he slowly placed the pieces together in his head.
Kaoru felt the words slip from her mouth, Misao and her growing up through high school, her father's death, the strange dreams. She did manage to keep the dreams about what she could only assume was him out of there conversation, and somehow she felt the weight that had been on her shoulders for years lighten.
Kenshin pulled back and cupped her face in his hands and traced her cheekbone with his thumb as he pulled her words together. No matter how much he wished to take her back to his place and bind her to him, to change her frame to something much stronger, Kaoru had never been the type of woman to pressure into something. She had to be wooed, coaxed until you had convinced her about the truth of your words.
Aoshi and Misao walked in about that time, Rei cradled in Aoshi's arms and Kenshin hid a smile at that. There was something about the child that was so Misao like that it was no surprise that Aoshi had taken to her.
"We are apparently leaving," Misao informed Kaoru, her expression and voice dark with exasperation. "Make sure you keep your cell phone on and I will call you in a few."
Aoshi gentle grasped Misao by the arm and led her out of the room. Stopping as he reached the hall he turned his head. "I will send Yahiko up."
Kenshin nodded and turned back to the blushing Kaoru. Breathing in deeply to attempt to pull in some self-control and concentrated on her eyes, keeping his gaze far from her lips as possible. "Kaoru do you believe in rebirth?"
Kaoru wrinkled her forehead and blinked at him. "Kenshin?"
"All of those dreams and vision you have been having have been a direct response to your contact with Misao and myself." Kenshin said gently. "Every time someone from your past comes into your life your due to have a flashback."
Kaoru looked at him for a long moment. "Are you saying that I lived in the past, died, and was reborn?"
Kenshin quirked his brow slightly and grinned. "That is one way of saying it."
Kaoru didn't know whether or not to believe him. "Did you know that you're insane?"
Kenshin chuckled then, his hands still holding her face. "I could give you back your life memories," But I don't think you could handle it," but its not necessary right now."
Kaoru blinked at him repeatedly. "Excuse me?"
Kenshin mentally cringed. " I don't think that was the right way to phrase that."
Kaoru reached up and removed his hands. "You think?"
Kenshin mentally groaned. "Kaoru..."
"Himura Kenshin, I am very much tired of you high handedness!" Kaoru snapped the temper she had been keeping a tight hold on for the last twenty-four hours finally breaking.
"High handedness?" Kenshin questioned his face innocent.
"From the very first time I met you have been completely high handed!" Kaoru growled at him. "And the entire time I have known you all I here is how I am yours and another load of crock and...." Kaoru sucked in a deep breath and Kenshin watched in amusement as she visible calmed herself. "Get out."
Kenshin blinked at her, "Excuse me?"
"You heard me. I am sick and tired of being treated like a child, and I am sick and tired of having to deal with you. Get. Out. Now."
"Kaoru, of all the things I think of you, a child is not one of them." Kenshin whispered, his voice lowering in octaves, his eye darkening to violet tinged amber.
Kaoru groaned. "Can't you just leave?"
Kenshin watched her lashes slide onto her cheeks, her face flushed with anger, her hair a thick mass around her shoulders, and suddenly it wasn't about comforting her anymore. It was about him making her realize that he was staying.
"I warned you." Kenshin told her, her voice so low it was almost a growl and it rumbled through his chest.
Kaoru opened her eyes to glare at him. "Warned me about what?"
He leaned forward until they where nose to nose. The couch they where sitting on sunk under the combined weight. If he moved his head even a fraction of an inch there lips would touch. "I told you that if you ever decided that you wanted me out of your life that I would change your mind."
"And what does that have to do with anything?" Kaoru hissed. Her anger flashed through her eyes in bright bursts of emotion.
"You just told me to get out." Kenshin growled at her, his mannerism shifting to something much darker than it had been moments before.
Kaoru opened her mouth to comment but stiffened when his lips pressed against hers. This time there was nothing gentle about his kiss, it was all fire and heat. Kaoru felt her insides melt at the fire he was branding into her skin and lips.
And when he traced her bottom lip with his tongue all she could do was open her mouth in compliance and let him reek havoc on her senses. She absently noted his hands in her hair, his form pressing her against the soft cushions.
He pulled back and traced her jaw and face with feather light kisses as she attempted to catch her breath.
"When you can let me kiss you like that and not melt, when my touch does not give you butterflies, and when you no longer see me in your dreams, then, and only then Koishii, can you tell me you are not mine." Kenshin buried his face in her neck and breathed deeply the familiar scent of jasmine. Raising up he looked at her sapphire eyes.
"You're being awful presumptuous." Kaoru breathed.
Kenshin smiled, his eyes edged with amber, his smile edged with a possessiveness that called to her in some primal fashion.
"Am I?" There was a dark authority that demanded that she give in to him, even before she decided to resist.
Kaoru stared up at him, her breathing irregular, and her eyes dark pools of emotion. Kaoru opened her mouth to say something; anything to distract herself from the feelings his mouth had caused in her, that his words had fueled, when he kissed her again.
It was gentle this time, coaxing and soft. So at odds with the darker passions Kaoru could feel in his touch and Ki. Kaoru found her fingers itching to bury themselves in his hair, and by the time she had gained the control to stop them, they were knuckle deep in his thick red strands.
Just as he had pressed the length of himself against her to deepen the kiss once again the door opened with a bang.
"Kenshin is there a REASON..." Yahiko stopped and blinked at what he saw, Kenshin on top of Kaoru, Kaoru with swollen lips and a flushed face, Kenshin with a Ki that screamed much pain for him. "Why do I get the feeling that I interrupted something?"
Kenshin let out a low growl and Tsubame flushed. She had come in after Yahiko and taking in the flushed faces and conspicuous positions. "Yahiko and I just wanted to tell you that we have company coming. It's not company of the polite society either."
Kenshin extended his awareness and growled. He traced Kaoru's bottom lip with his forefinger. "You koishii, are such a distraction."
Kaoru glowered at him. But before she could once again comment he had her in his arms and moving towards the window. "Yahiko get to the safe house, Aoshi is there with Misao, and keep your eyes and ears open."
He turned then to face them. "Keep your eyes open. Shishio may not be here, but after tonight's little episode I have this feeling that his hold on this earth is growing, tentative, but there."
With that he dropped from the window onto the pavement underneath, much to Kaoru's surprise from the screams which went through the air.
Yahiko sighed. "You know, Tsubame, we are always left cleaning everything up."
Tsubame walked over and wrapped her arms around her mate's waist and sighed. "So we are. But the sooner we get out of here the sooner we get back to the safe house."
Yahiko grinned impishly at her. "I think we should go back to our place for some down time first," His smile widened at Tsubame's furious blush. "Once we get to the safe house, we won't get to spend a whole lot of time alone."
Tsubame just smiled sweetly, her face-tinged pink, but her dark eyes shinning.
~*~
Misao whimpered as she found herself on a train. Misao hated trains. When she was little her mother had taken her on one of those kiddy train rides that amusement parks have, and she had cried the entire time.
It could have had something to do with the horror stories the two twin neighbors had told her or it could have had something to do with the manner of her beloved parent's death. The only thing that she could think of that matched her fear of the shaky train tracks was Kaoru's fear of spiders.
Which she would allow as a reason as to why she was clinging to Aoshi-sama's arm with a white knuckled grip some part of her acknowledged was painful. Her blue-green eyes where wide and startled.
"Mi, are you okay?" Rei questioned as she bent over from the safety of Aoshi's other arm. "Rei is worried about Mi."
Misao forced herself not to show any terminal fear, and forced a strained smile. "I am alright."
Rei leaned back and then began to whisper in Aoshi's ear. Aoshi slide his blue eyes to Misao, much to Misao's horror, and nodded to the little girl. Rei nodded her head and settled back down as they boarded the train.
Aoshi had somehow managed to get them first class tickets (Misao had not asked how or why) and he lead them to a compartment that they would be in the for the next few hours. Sitting down on one of the compartment benches Aoshi looked at the little girl who sat next to him and both turned to look at Misao.
She sat across from them with her eyes scrunched shut and her hands clutching the single armrest next to her tightly. Aoshi was afraid if he touched her then she would shoot out of her skin, screaming loud enough to break several sets of eardrums.
If he thought that she looked tense when they where standing still, it had nothing on the white ash of her complexion when the train started moving. Aoshi set Rei down and made sure the little girl was okay, her smiling face pressed against the window let him to believe that she would be fine, and set next to Misao.
"Misao?" Aoshi questioned gently, and only after she turned her head slightly, never opening her eyes, did he place a solid arm around her shoulders.
Misao was terrified.
Her mother had died on a train. Her father had been a mechanic for one and been caught in an explosion when one of the engines had malfunctioned and a rookie mechanic had crossed some high voltage with ready voltage.
When the train lurched to the side, something all trains where prone to do, Misao groaned and tightened her grip on the chair.
Aoshi reached over and began to pry her fingers away from the upholstery and pulled her into his side, and gentle cradled her fisted hands in his much larger ones.
"Misao." Aoshi coaxed gently, attempting to help the woman out. If he had known she was so terrified of trains he would have attempted to find another means of transportation that would have gotten them to Kyoto just as quickly.
The train lurched again, in the natural course of trains, and Aoshi found Misao buried into his shoulder, her lithe form pressed against his side, her fingers wrapped so tightly in his shirt he thought for an instant that she would rip it.
Sliding a hand under her knees he shifted the terrified woman to his lap and began rocking her in a back and forward motion, opposite to the side way lurching of the train.
"I am sorry." Her words were shaky and terrified.
Aoshi said nothing, his hands moving up and down her back in a soothing motion.
"My parents where killed either in or by trains." Misao whispered her voice almost lost in the noise of the train. "I have never liked them, even before their deaths I hated trains. I think it had something to do with some sort of childhood prank."
Aoshi sighed softly into her hair. "Its alright Misao." His words where gently. "I promise that your going to be just fine, I won't let anything happen to you."
Misao raised her wide eyes and starred at him with something that was almost a since of wonder. "I haven't had anyone say that to me since I was a little girl."
Aoshi smiled, a softening of his expression that was unexpected, and traced her jaw line with his forefinger. "Someone once told me Misao, that they would always be waiting for me to come back. I never got to tell that person how much I cared for them, or give them the protection and love that they deserved. I don't ever plan to make that same mistake again."
Misao looked up at him with eyes that held a green tint of confusion. "That person must have been very special."
You have no idea, Misao. No idea.
Aoshi watched as the landscaping turned to the more mountainous terrain and snarled to himself as he felt the approaching of darker Ki. They where going to attack the train to get at the child. It was morning and he could feel the Blood Ki pounding.
Idiots.
Reaching into his pocket he grabbed the cell phone that he always kept there. Punching in the numbers that would contact him with the proper authorities sighed when it picked up.
"Okashira?"
"Were about thirty minutes by train from the drop off. Unfortunately I have company in the form of some very agitated pack members." Aoshi's voice was dark with irritation. It more than a few hyped up mutts on Blood Ki to tick him off.
"They're going to be running on the Amulet things you told us about?" The woman's voice questioned.
"Yes." Aoshi's voice was growing in annoyance.
"Were on it."
Aoshi quickly disconnected and dialed another number. Breathing met the answer to this call. " Battousai, don't bring Kaoru along the tracks, its getting risky."
"Hai."
Aoshi flipped the phone off and felt the distance between his precious cargo and the wolves. He narrowed his gaze as he looked at the now slumbering Misao and Rei.
Come if you dare.
~*~
Megumi sighed as she watched Sano walk back to the vehicle of his choice. Which meant that they where drawing far to much attention to themselves than they needed to be.
Which meant she might have to use the semiautomatic weapon loaded in her lap. The silver tipped bullets where rather expensive and dangerous to all those who wished to attempt to threaten either her life or those around her.
Most would consider her doctors training as a hang-up for killing, but after the years of treating those who had been mangled by the forces that she and the other fought against, taking a few slime bags really did not hamper her in any way.
"Well Fox, seems like we have a bit of a problem." Sano commented as he reentered the car.
Megumi sighed. "Rooster brains, we always have problems."
Sano flashed her a smile as he kicked the car into gear and shifted forward. "True. You heard from Yahiko on what went down tonight with that red-haired witch?"
Megumi sighed as leaned back. "Yes. But it was Tsubame, which means I probably got more details than you did." Her voice was lazy and amused.
Sano sighed. "True. Anyway I talked to one of my contacts and it seems that Kenshin's hunch about Shishio being able to stalk about was right."
Megumi flinched, both from his words, and from the sharp turn that he made. "How so?"
Sano made a series of complicated turns, making sure they where not being followed, long before he answered. Megumi watched in something akin to fascination at the clenched muscles in his jaw.
"One of my contacts told me that he had heard of a demon wrapped in bandages stalking the night. But apparently he has a time limit of some sort stuck on him."
Megumi blinked. "Time limit?"
Sano nodded his head darkly. "Unfortunately he couldn't tell me anything else. Anyway, were under orders to get to the safe house."
Megumi sighed and raised a hand to cover her eyes. "Great. I really wanted to see Hiko again. The man becomes even more insufferable with age."
Sano just smirked and continued to drive.
~*~
Kaoru sipped the hot tea that Tae brought her, after Kenshin had carried her into the Akebeko, much to her embarrassment, and softly told her that he would be back in twenty minuets and to feel free to order something.
All of this happened after an easy drop from several stories, her screaming in his ear, his amused silence, her angry silence, and Tae's startled face at Kaoru's appearance.
Being in a tank top in boxer shorts with no shoes and a single ace bandage was not her normal appearance for this time of the morning. Her watch read 5:30, Tae was getting the early morning baking done, and Kaoru found herself almost relieved no one would see her. Tae had been most helpful, but how Kenshin had known that the woman would let them in was a bit of a mystery to Kaoru.
"Is your Tea still nice and hot?" Tae questioned easily as she placed a plate of pastries in front of the girl and Kaoru nodded gratefully. Running off a few hours of sleep for the last twenty-four hours was starting to catch up and Kaoru found herself exhausted.
"I was actually quite surprised to see Kenshin bring you in so early. I had no idea you two where aquatinted, much less that he was intent on making you his mate." Tae said, her tone thoughtful, "This rather neutralizes that problem you and I talked about the other night."
"Tae-san," Kaoru said softly, her expression confused, "You called him Kenshin. Not the Battousai."
Tae smiled and poured herself a cup a tea. "That is because Kenshin and I go way back, Kaoru-san. We met when I was a teenager, quite some time ago." She motioned to her graying temples with a smile. " Every since he rescued me from some hungry Vampires I have found myself thrown into some rather interesting situations. I haven't heard from in him in years, but it's because of him and his friends that I was able to open this restaurant and help those who have needed it. It is also because of them that I am able to give you and Misao so much information, you would be surprised what I have picked up since this place has become known as a safe house for those who wish quite."
Kaoru sighed. " Then you might want to explain what the hell you mean by saying that he wished to mate me." Her dark eyes where sparkling with what could only be irritation. " I am getting really tired of every person I meet saying that!"
Tae smiled brightly. "Why Kaoru you act like it is a bad thing."
Kaoru blinked. "Tae-san, the entire time I have known him he had been completely high handed and refuses to leave me alone. Him and his friends have been ordering Misao and I around like they know us or something and they act like we need protection!"
Tae laughed then. "Oh Kaoru, I think perhaps I should explain some things to you."
Kaoru sat back and fought back the urge to pout. Childish behavior only got you childish reactions and Kaoru had not been a child for far longer than most.
"These are the times I wish your father had not left you so early child. You must understand that Kenshin is being much more understanding that most Vampires in his position would be. So far he has given you a choice and not rushed you into anything your not ready for, if the fact that your not mated is true."
Kaoru nodded slowly, agreeing with the fact that they where not mated, not that Kenshin was being understanding.
"You know how Vampires feel about their mates Kaoru, there is nothing more precious. Kenshin is so much stronger than the average Vampire Kaoru. He is their leader and because of that he is above reproach by their laws. If he wished to force you into something he could do it with no fear of repercussions. His people are predators, they are meant for the hunt. He is curbing those instincts; the ones the tell him to take you and to be damned for whatever the consequences are."
Kaoru was quite as she thought about that. Kenshin did have the air of someone who was holding back, his touch was firm but careful, almost as if he was afraid of scaring her. If she allowed herself to think about it, which she wasn't, even his kisses hinted at something darker, stronger, and much deeper than he allowed himself feel. It was almost as if he was letting her scratch the surface because he was afraid the depth of it would scare her.
And that alone terrified her, so maybe he was right.
"Vampires love with a passion and depth that we can not even begin to touch Kaoru."
Kaoru looked up then. "But Tae-san, that is it! I am not one of his kind...which means he means to change me." Kaoru chewed hard on her bottom lip. "I don't know if I can do that."
Tae sighed. "Kaoru, at this point it's not if he is going to change you, but when. He is holding back, but something is going to cause that restraint to snap. He can't hold it forever, and with the Blood Moon rising it becomes harder. If he does take you as his, change you, and bind you to him, I can tell you there is no man, Vampire or human, who could be better for you."
Kaoru lowered her eyes. "Its scares me."
Tae reached over and took her hand. "Of course it does. But Kaoru what scares you more, the fact that he feels so strongly or the fact that you find you could feel the same?"
Tae stood before Kaoru could answer. "Eat those pastries and I will bring more tea. Kenshin should be back soon."
Kaoru obediently did so; her face blank as she twisted the words that Tae had told her over and over in her mind. So lost in her thoughts that she completely missed the bell ringing to signify that the front door had opened.
But she did feel the brush of something across the vein in her wrist. Bringing her head up in alarm Kaoru say stars when her forehead connected to someone's chin.
"That wasn't very nice." A male voice rumbled in slight anger. Kaoru stared at the brown haired, brown eyes man and blinked attempting to clear her vision.
"And touching me wasn't called for either." Kaoru retorted.
"I suggest you two young men stay away from this one, "Tae's voice said firmly. "She already has someone."
Well, Kaoru thought dryly, at least it can be taken in several different ways.
"Doesn't matter. He isn't here is he." The man said softly, his eyes hungrily eyeing the vein in Kaoru's write. The marking point, where the male Vampire took the blood he wanted to claim her blood as his. It wasn't until he claimed her body as his did he mark the neck.
"There will be none of that here." Tae's voice was sharp. "Were closed."
The young man's friends moved to circle Tae and Kaoru realized with a growing sense of dread, that with her ankle injured that she would have no way of doing anything.
As it was she was completely surprised at how fast he could move, and could do nothing but yelp when she found herself thrown across a shoulder, the wind rushing out of her lungs. Suddenly Kenshin's way of carrying her around was much more appealing.
"We will just be taking this one with us Busu."
Kaoru felt panic begin to flare in her and was fixing to open her mouth to shriek with a voice so dark that it terrified her interrupted.
"And just what do you think you are doing?"
Kaoru raised her eyes and met a sight that would forever be ingrained into her brain. Kenshin, watching them with eyes as bright as suns, his face a storm cloud of emotion, his fang protruding from his mouth.
Kami.
"Put her down or die."
Kaoru had never heard such authority in a voice before, and immediately her muscles attempted to comply with the command.
"And who do you think you are?" The young man questioned, turning, his form strung with rebellion.
"Someone you do not want to deal with." Kenshin said softly, his voice not needing volume to utterly reek with rage and authority.
The young man froze. Starring at him from behind dark red bangs was death itself.
Kaoru bit the inside of her cheek to keep from making a noise when her ankle was knocked against the side of the table.
"Apologize."
The young man, Kaoru had never caught his name and didn't have any desire to catch it either, practically whimpered out his plea for forgiveness and Kaoru found it easy to forgive him.
They practically bolted out of there after that. Of course Kenshin pulling his Katana free and counting to ten was probably a real good motive.
"Are you alright Kaoru?" Kenshin asked, his voice rough as he moved towards her and Tae.
Kaoru nodded, not quite trusting her voice. Her ankle had started throbbing again and she really just wanted to cut it off. Kenshin seemed to notice however, the man had a damn radar on her, and reached into the bag he had brought with him and tossed her the bottle of pain relievers.
"Tae-dono, I am sorry about this." Kenshin said softly to the woman. Tae shook her head and smiled. "Its nothing Kenshin."
Kenshin shook his head but made no move to argue. Reaching into his bag once again he tossed Kaoru a button down shirt that would cover her tank top.
"I apologize for forgetting to grab you anything before we left." Kenshin said softly. "When we get to Kyoto we will get you whatever you need."
Kaoru shrugged Kenshin's shirt on and immediately recognized the ginger sent. "Thank you."
Kenshin nodded his head and turned back to Tae. Reaching into his pants he pulled out his wallet and gave her some bills. "That should pay her meal."
Tae opened her mouth to protest but Kenshin leveled her with a look and her mouth closed with a click. Kenshin offered her a faint smile before reaching down and scooping a dropping Kaoru up.
"I can walk!" Kaoru protested, once again, and Kenshin had the faint notion that every time he carried her he was going to get an argument.
"Not now. I did locate you some crutches so once we get to Kyoto you can start using those to walk around, but until then I am not letting you do anything to hurt yourself."
Kaoru was going to argue but yawned instead. The last two days where once again attempting to catch up, and she registered in some part of her brain that she was resting her head against his shoulder and that she really should stay awake, but her eyes where already sliding shut.
"Are you sure you don't need anything before I go Tae-dono?" Kenshin asked softly, careful to keep his voice low so not to disturb the exhausted girl in his arms.
"Thank you Kenshin, but I have good workers who will be here soon to help me clean up. You just take good care of that girl."
Kenshin looked down at Kaoru and a flash of gold rolled through his violet eyes. "I will."
Tae nodded turned back around to start collecting the dishes. By the time she had turned back around they where gone.
Kaoru sighed as she curled her legs under her and watched the sunset begin to drop onto the horizon.
"Yahiko, do you think he will come back like he promised?"
Yahiko turned at looked at his teach with surprise. "What are you talking about Busu? He explained why he had to go and learn the technique from his master, in case this Shishio threat was real and he ever needed to fight him."
Kaoru sighed and laid her head on her knees. "Yes but what if he decides that it's too much of a risk and doesn't come back?"
Yahiko looked up at the rising stars. "He promised Busu. But if for some reason he decides not to come home, we will just have to go after him."
Kaoru turned at looked at Yahiko, and he was surprised at the almost childlike expression on her face. "You think so? I mean do you think we can find him?"
Yahiko blinked. "Don't you have a friend who lives there? Some girl name Misao who you met when she wandered through?"
Kaoru blinked. " I haven't thought of that..."
Yahiko snorted. "Of course not. Well I am sure she can help us, and if we have to go after him we will. Kenshin is ours."
Kaoru turned back to the stars and sat there for a long time. Eventually Yahiko got up and went to bed. "Ours." Kaoru whispered.
"Mine."
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