Glossary: Koishii=Dear/Darling, Masaka=Never, Saiai=Beloved, Amon=Lover, Mesu Tora=Female Tiger, Kodora=Small Tiger, Aijou=Beloved Daughter, Kuso=Shit!, Gomen nasi= I'm sorry, Koibito=Sweetheart,

Chapter Twenty-one

Being Born Again

Her ki reached out to him and it touched his heart sending the emotion filled muscle thundering almost uncontrollably through his chest cavity as the essence of her soul mingled with his. Mists of the deepest blues and richest golds swirled around him and he could feel his arms as they lifted and reached out for her finding the lithe petite willow of her body where it lay curled up next to his side.

They were not supposed to be sharing the same room let alone the same bed, but there were so many people in the house now since Uncle Sano had arrived with his family that many of the children were sharing futon's with up to two or three of their 'cousins', and it had seemed a small concession on the parent's part to allow 'them' to sleep together as long as certain 'rules' were adhered to. They were to sleep with ALL of their clothes on, with her beneath the main layer of covers and him above with his own blankets, and NO physical contact was to transpire between them during the dark hours of the night. At least that was what the 'rules' said they were to do, or NOT do to. But it was difficult to lay next to one's life-mate and not 'touch' her, let alone not 'hold' her, and after three nights of pure torture with her lying so close beside him, Kenji had finally reached the end of his patience... and his control.

"Kenji...?" Quii's sleepy voice reached his ears as he carefully pulled her warm limp form over to lay across his chest. "What are you doing, Koishii?" She rubbed the cool tip of her nose against the underside of his chin as her hand lifted to caress his face. "You're supposed to be sleeping."

"Hai, Saiai-Quii. But how can I sleep with you here so close to me?" He turned and nuzzled against the warm softness of her palm. "Your scent and the feel of you next to me is driving me insane... I want to hold you, Quii. I want to hold you so damn much... I... Kuso!" The foul curse tumbled off his lips as he buried them in her hand his tongue snaking out to tickle the sensitive flesh. "I want to kiss you... can I kiss you, Quii?" She shivered and caught her breath when his tongue made contact with her skin and passionate heat pooled in her belly even as she leaned into him.

"Hai, Koishii." She whispered in a hushed and husky tone that told him how much his touch truly effected her. "You can kiss me as much and as often as you like... you should know that by now." Heated aqua-green eyes with a brilliant gold circle growing around the black pupil opened to gaze hungrily at her and Kenji growled softly as he shifted his frame so his could burrow against the hollow of her throat.

"If I did that, my beautiful Mesu Tora, I fear I would have bedded you long ago and your Father would most assuredly castrated me by now." Quii giggled beneath his feathery lips as he rubbed them against her soft skin, and then wriggled to get closer to him. "As it is, Saiai... if he catches us now, he will surely send me outside to sleep with 'The Bane' than allow me any nearer his precious virginal Aijou." This time Quii did not laugh, but instead pushed him away and glared murderously into his aroused gazed.

"That isn't funny, Kenji." She snarled at him through clenched teeth. "Sleeping with 'The Bane'?" A well placed hand smacked him up side his head and made him cringe in pain. "Don't ever joke about anything like that again... I'm scared enough about you getting killed as it is without you making stupid jokes about it... don't do it again."

"I was just kidding, Quii... truly. I didn't mean anything by it." Kenji looked somewhat shamefaced as he met the pained look in his mates eyes. "I did not mean to upset you, Koibito... that I did not." Gently he leaned into her and brushed the tenderness of his mouth over her tight lips and then softly rubbed his nose against hers. "Gomen nasi, Saiai. I will not tease you like that again." He watched as her face softened and then her arms reached out for him pulling him close to her.

"I don't want you to die, Kenji. I have nightmares about it all the time... I don't want to grow old alone without you." The shudder of her body against his this time had nothing to do with passion and everything to do with trepidation and fear of the future. "I want us to have children and grandchildren... I want to watch the sakura blossoms fall with you every year, and I want to... I want to..." Her voice trailed off into silence as her arms tightened painfully around his neck and Kenji sensed something very important within her that she wanted to say, but did not quite know how.

"You want to 'what'? Quii? Tell me?" He leaned away loosening her hold on him and gazed longingly down into the brightness of her glowing topaz eyes. "What do you want to do?" For a moment he thought she might not reply, but then she gathered a shuddering breath and met his gaze steadily.

"I want to learn how to make-love, Kenji... with you. I want to learn how to be a woman and do the things women do for their men when they make love... and I want to do them for you." Soft pink lips were suddenly hovering very close to his and Kenji sucked in his breath. "Kiss me, Kenji-Amon... I know we can't make love now, but you can still kiss me."

"Quii..." Her name whispered across his lips like a caress and his hand rose to tangle itself in the long satin of her chestnut hair. "I love you, Quii. There will never be enough days left in the life of this world to tell you or show you how much." And then he was pressing their mouths together reveling in the feel of her silky smoothness against him. Her lips parted easily beneath the insistent pressure of his and he quickly deepened the intensity of the kiss.

'Mine.' He thought, as the sweetness that was her filled his taste and began making his head swim with desire for her. 'My Beloved... My Mate... My... Life... Quii...' His hands spread out across her back and Kenji pressed her flush against his chest wanting to feel as much of her body against him as was possible despite the hindrance of all the different blankets, and as the soft rounded curves of her youthful breasts crushed down into him she mewled a soft passionate noise into his mouth.

"Ken-ji..." And he knew at that moment what it truly meant to 'want' and to 'hunger for'. The burning desire that swelled up within him nearly devoured his restraint and it took all of his young will power not to sweep the blankets away and roll her willing body beneath him. As it was, his traitorous hand had suddenly grown a mind of its own and it was trailing a sensuous path down along her side glorying in the feel of her soft breast as it passed over the side of that precious mound. A trembling quake of desire passed through her at the feel of his touch and Kenji knew she felt the hunger just a powerfully as he did.

"Quii, my sweet beautiful Quii..." Once more he took her trembling lips with his only this time as her jaw slackened, Kenji allowed the end of his tongue to tentatively enter the moist cavern and touch the tip of hers. He swallowed the shuddering moan of pleasure that wrung itself from her chest and gathered her even closer in his arms when he felt her hands dig deeply into the heavy mane of his hair. "I... want you..." His voice was hoarse with hunger. "If we do not stop, I will pick you up and find a dark quiet place where I can ravish you..." Despite their obvious passionate predicament, Quii giggled and burrowed beneath his chin again.

"Would that really be so bad... Kenji?" A low rumbling of laughter filled her ear as he tucked her in closer to him.

"I don't think it would be... but your FATHER might be a bit upset should I deflower you before we are rightfully wed, hmmm?" Another giggle bubbled up from the girl nestled in his arms and Kenji felt her hands stroking his long hair.

"Otou doesn't need to know everything, Koibito." Kenji gasp in mock horror at the brazenness of her statement.

"Saitou Quii!" He admonished with a huge grin on his face. "Your tempting the patience and control of a pitiful human male who is already wanting you to the point of extreme discomfort... don't press OUR luck or I'll make good on my threat."

"Would you, Kenji?" She raised up and looked with luminous pools of golden desire as she trailed her hand across the flesh of his chest that was exposed by the open 'V' of his gi. "Would you really make-love to me... now... tonight? I mean... do you really want to or are you just teasing me again?" Kenji's Aqua-green eyes turned suddenly serious and gazed up into the elfin beauty of her petite features, and swallowing hard against the lump that was forming in his throat he wondered how she could ask him such a question? How could she even think...

"Hai. Quii-Amon. I would make-love to you. Tonight and every night there after... if you let me." Gently his hands cupped her face and he sat up lifting them both into an upright position. "I love you, more than anything else in this world, and that is something I would never tease you about. Masaka, Saiai. I would never make jokes about loving you."

"My Kodora," Her voice was a soft puff of warm air on his face as she lifted her eyes and met his steady gaze. "I want so much to be with you, Kenji... I want to feel your hands on my body, and I want to know what everything else feels like too..."

"Quii," His voice was a cracked croaking of its normal self as he looked into the yearning of her eyes. "What are you saying to me, Koibito? Are you saying what I think you're saying? Quii?" The hands cupping her face dropped to rest uncertainly on the rounding curves of her shoulders as his questioning eyes searched her face.

"Hai, Saiai-Kenji." Her voice dropped to a husky whisper as she leaned into his chest and brushed her soft lips against his astonished ones. "I want you to make-love to me."

"Now?" He squeaked in a very good but unknown imitation of his father.

"Hai." Her hands spread out across the heated flesh of his chest opening his gi even farther than it already was, and he trembled beneath her touch. "Now." Gently he gripped her wrists in his hands and stopped her caressing movements even as he reluctantly pulled away from her seeking mouth.

"Quii?" The moist heat of his breath fanned her chin as he closed his eyes and lowered his face in an effort to hold on to his wavering control. "We can't... I mean, we shouldn't... your father, my father..." One of her hands rose and covered his mouth stopping his jumbled tumble of words and bringing his troubled gaze back up to meet hers.

"Your Okaa was pregnant with you before she and your Otou were married, Kenji." She gently lifted the hand and stroked the length of his silky red hair where it fell over his shoulder. "And they shared the same futon for many months before that as well."

"I know that." His reply was slightly chocked as he leaned into her hand. "But that was then. He expects me to be honorable and wait until we are properly wed, and as for your father, he would kill me, Quii."

"No, he would not." The smile that curved her lips was infectious and Kenji could not stop the one that began tugging at the corner of his mouth. "He might be very angry with you, but he would not kill you." Soft laughter mingled between them and Quii gently rested her forehead against his and purposefully moved to straddle his lap making him gasp at the intimate position and contact. "Besides," She leaned into him and pressed her softness against his hard chest. "I'm tired of waiting."

"Q-quii..." Kenji's hands fell to rest on the curve of her hips bones as his heart began to race within his body once more, and his breathing quickened to an alarming pace. "I..."

"Hush," She whispered as she settled against him fully and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I want this, my beautiful, wonderful, Kodora." Her lips brushed against his once more and she felt a part of him stir against her inner thigh and she trembled with feelings that were new and exciting to her. "If you were to go and face 'The Bane', Kenji, and Kami forbid it that you should die... I would never know what it felt like to be held in your arms." The look that came to his iridescent eyes told her that was not a good enough reason to defy their parents wishes even though that had been his initial plan when he had first woke her up. Now faced with the actual physical deed cradled lovingly in his arms, he was feeling the pressures of honor and duty to what was right, and dishonoring his Mesu Tora was not part of what was right... yet, there was something in the back of his mind that was nagging at him. Something about being bonded and combining energies... combining ki's... what was it?

Then it came to him. All of it in a single rush of mind jarring information, and Kenji finally understood everything. Odd, it had been with him all along.

He was the 'Sword of Lightening and Fire', 'The Hand of Justice and Punishment'... He knew that, and once Kuumi had gotten Christian to wake up from his stupor he had been able to tell them of his 'visit' with 'The Pretty Lady' who was in fact the ghost of his own ancestor, Alyse de'Angeles. She had enlightened him as to his role in this game of wits and wills. He was 'The Sword of Ice and Winter' and 'The Fist of The Mother'. After everything this family had been through, no one had any difficulties believing his claim. That they did not. In fact, it made perfect sense to every one of them.

Together they were the Holy Gemini.

Kenji stood as the Holy Warrior of Truth and Honor while Christian stood beside him as the Holy Avenging Angel of the Innocents. Two sides of the same soul; one dark, one light. Together they would combine their powers and slaughter the evil that lived inside the horror that was 'The Bane'... but in order to do it there had to be two more elements to complete their attack.

A grounding point from where their power would be fused, combined as one, and augmented into the terrible force it needed to be, and a focal point. The place from where it would be wielded to destroy 'The Bane' and send the warped apparition of evil into the depths of Hell forever.

Kenji remembered all to well how often he had heard his parents speak of Quii's role in his life and how she was meant to be the enhancement tool for his great gift, but he had not realized at the time that it was she who was meant to be the one who would have the power to wrap he and his brother's awesome gifts together. 'I should have known... she is so strong. Her ki is so pure and clean. Only she would be able to touch us both and not be injured. Why did I never see it before?' And as the understand of this knowledge settled within his mind and his heart, Kenji knew what was nagging at the back of his mind.

'Bonded... bonding... fusion of souls and spirits... it makes the power stronger, purer, heavier.' His hands rose and cupped her beautiful face and he gazed deeply into molten pools of her beautiful eyes losing himself in the love and arousal he saw there. ' We must be 'bonded' completely for her to be my anchor... for her to be strong enough to wrap mine and Chri-stan's ki power's together, and we must be bonded for me to reach my full strength.' Tender lips leaned in and softly massaged the trembling mouth causing the girl to suck in her breath on a gasp of pleasure and surprise as she quickly returned the gentle pressure. 'We must be together... bonded... mated... our hearts, souls, spirits, and bodies must be one if we are to become what we are meant to be... oh Quii, my beautiful Quii. How much I love you. How much...'

Kenji stood with Quii's legs wrapped tightly around his waist and silently stepped over all of the sleeping bodies that littered the floor as he made his way toward the sho-jii. Quii had hastily grabbed a couple of the blankets in her trembling hands on their way up and she clutched them firmly in her hands now as the two of them slipped outside and disappeared into the dark. There was no need for them to freeze and catch a cold. Not when they would soon be covered with the dampness of their own sweat. She could not allow that. It would have been foolish not to take precautions and be prepared.

Inside of the small house in a room at the end of the hallway a man lay awake his dark violet eyes staring at the ceiling as he attempted to slow the rapid beating of his wild heart. 'It had finally come to pass. The boy had finally worked it all out in his head, and though there would be hell to pay when all was discovered there was naught to be done but try to explain.' One more deep breath and Kenshin rolled onto his side and reached out to pull his beloved back against the warmth of his body. He smiled gently as Kaoru murmured something unintelligible in her sleep but then snuggled back into him hugging his arm across her chest. 'Chri-stan is next... I think Kenji will probably tell him what he needs to know. He will not have to try and discover it on his own... Kami save them both.' He shuddered. 'Kami save us all.'

"Aishiteru, my Saiai-Kaoru." He whispered and nuzzled the back of her neck breathing in the scent of jasmine and soap. "I hope you are prepared for the morning and have a memory of life before Kenji was born... OUR life. He and Quii will need our understanding because it will be difficult to get it from Father Wolf I fear. Yes, that it will." And then he kissed her skin and closed his eyes willing sleep to claim him even as he tried to shut out the burning passion of his son's ki. 'Ahhhh, I remember,' He thought with a wicked smile curving his mouth. 'The first time I held this wild angel in my arms... I remember.' And with that tantalizing memory for a bed partner, Kenshin finally drifted off to sleep leaving his son and his mate to their very private affairs.

The hands that touched her flesh were gentle though the flesh was rough and peppered with callouses from years of sword play, but the rasping quality they had upon her skin was most pleasurable and Quii responded willingly to her chosen mate.

Tender palms cupped her soft breasts as he burrowed into the curve of her throat, and Kenji felt her shudder uncontrollably against him when he molded the pliant flesh to his hands. "I love you, Quii." He whispered into the small shell of her ear and then tentatively traced the outside of its shape with the tip of his tongue causing another shudder to quake through her body. "I could never love anyone else but you... masaka, Quii. Masaka." His hands slid slowly around her sides and down along her naked back until they rested in the natural sway. She was still setting straddle his waist and gently caressed her hips and then moved his hands to her thighs wringing a whimpering cry from her as he went.

Her body was like fire against his, and he could feel the heat of her touching him as he slid his hands over her flesh in long slow caresses that made her tremble and cry his name. Her hands were on the naked flesh of his chest, his shoulders, his stomach, and his back caressing and tickling with the tips of her fingers even as her soft and slightly swollen lips pressed moist and tender kisses across his throat and face. "I love you too, Kenji." She whispered back as she pulled slightly away from him so she could see his face. "I would never want to be with anyone else but you. Masaka. Only you will ever touch me like this... no one else... no one."

"Quii..." Her name broke over his lips on a rushing surge of emotion and then he was cupping the back of her head and pulling her back into him for a kiss that left no doubts in her mind of how much he loved her... or wanted her. And as they broke away, his gentle yet strong hands lifted her up and slowly set her back down at last bringing their bodies together in the true lovers embrace.

"Owwwww!" She cried as pain splintered through her, and her hands dug deep into the flesh of his shoulders. "Ken-ji..." Burrowing against his neck, she tried to control her breathing and waited for the pain to go away.

"Hush," A tender hand stroked her back up and down and then her thighs. Long slow movements that calmed her and made her muscles relax so that she melted against his chest. "Just be still, Saiai. It will pass." His voice was the most gentle she had ever heard and Quii nuzzled up into his cheek. "The pain only lasts a moment, and then it will be gone."

"I know." Soft lips brushed over his and he pressed a tender kiss into them as they passed. "It just took me by surprise... that's all. It's going away already." And she leaned away to look into his beloved face finding it filled with love and tenderness and something else. Patience and kindness. He was not going to rush her to do anything. He would wait until she was ready before he did anything else. 'He really does love me. Oh Kenji!' "I love you." She kissed him and his hands rose to cup her shoulder blades applying gently pressure bringing her deeper into the kiss. The passion that had slipped beneath the surface of her emotions when the pain of her lost innocence had flared came billowing back in a rush and she moaned softly against his mouth as her hands fisted into his hair.

"Quii, sweet beautiful Quii." Kenji buried his face in her throat as his need to move within her overcame his need to keep her trust, and his hands fell to her hips one more. Setting a slow gentle pace he moved her and felt her body begin to respond. It was a slow languid coming together and he prolonged the joining as long as he could reveling in the sounds she made and looks that passed across her lovely face. But, in the end, his need and desire forced him to change their positions and laying her gently on her back he let the instincts of his own body carry them to their climax.

Exhausted he rolled to her side bringing her and a good portion of blanket with her covering them as he wrapped both arms snugly around her quivering body. A great burning sensation filled him and it was spreading throughout to his arms, legs, hands, and feet. He had felt something much like it once before when he had tapped into his powers, but this was much more powerful. This was like being filled not being consumed.

Kenji felt... bigger. The essence of what was 'him' felt 'more'. 'I was right.' He thought as the sensation continued to the point he felt as though he were floating above the earth somewhere within the Starscape once more, but when he opened his eyes he found himself still lying on the ground with his trembling mate held firmly in his arms.

"Do you feel 'it'?" He asked gently as he wiped the dark hair out of her flushed face. "Do you feel the 'power'?"

"Hai." Her voice quivered and she looked up at him with wide confused eyes. "You knew this would happen... didn't you?" The tone was half way accusing as she spoke. "Is that what finally changed your mind about making-love to me tonight?"

"Hai. Please don't be mad." His voice was tender and his face full of love as he raised up to look down at her hurt expression. "I would make-love to you anyway, but while I was coming up with reasons not to, it suddenly occurred to me that I needed to."

"Needed to?" If Quii had not looked confused before, she certainly did now.

"Hai." He nodded and nuzzled her nose. "I realized that in order for us to be what we are supposed to be... we have to be bonded... completely bonded." Golden eyes widened and stared at his serious face and Kenji could see he had her full attention now with no questions asked. "You know how Otou is always saying you are the augmentation source for my 'gift'?"

"Hai."

"You are more than that, Quii. You are much, much more than that."

"What do you mean I am more?" Her smooth brow furrowed and the confusion returned.

"You are the 'fusion' point. It is you who will combine and wrap mine and Chri-stan's powers into one force. It is you who will create the weapon that will ultimately destroy 'The Bane'."

"ME?" He nodded into her shocked and horrified face and watched as she went pale. "But, I'm not that strong. Your ki's will kill me."

"Ne. Ne they will not. Your ki is more powerful than you realize, and it is pure. Pure and clean as the winter snow, Quii. You are the only one who can touch us both and not be injured." She looked as if she were going to explode, but she remained completely quiet as her mind tried to understand what he was saying. "You can feel the power now. Feel the new strength as it rushes through your blood. You are 'more' than you were before we made-love, and... and so am I."

"You... you are?"

"Hai. I feel... bigger inside. I feel 'more' like I could reach up and touch the stars from here if I wanted to."

"Kenji," Quii's voice filled with awe as she gazed into his eyes and face. "I didn't know."

"Neither did I, Koibito." He kissed her lips tenderly. "Neither did I."

Quickly they rose and found their clothing and dressed with as much speed as possible. There was no use wasting precious time talking when they should be getting back inside before someone noticed they were gone. There would be enough time and grief in the morning when they faced the parents and tried to explain their 'new' surge of ki power, and as far as both of them were concerned, it could wait until morning.

In a matter of moments they were back inside the house and back in their usual places on the futon. Quii under the blankets and Kenji above with his own and thinking no one was the wiser. Putting his arm around her, he cuddled her against the hollow of his shoulder and closed his eyes preparing to go to sleep as a warmth and relaxation he had never known crawled over him.

"Kenji?"

"Hmmm?"

"May I ask you something, Koishii?"

"Of course, Saiai."

"If I am the fusion point and you and Chri-stan are the source of the weapon, who is the wielder?" Kenji's aqua-blue eyes flew open as Quii's question stabbed into his warm relaxed brain and jarred him back to reality. 'Who is the wielder?' He thought in panic as his thoughts began to race. 'If we must all be connected by one binding tie or another, and Quii is the augmenter and the fusion who would be the focus and the wielder?' His mind searched frantically for a solution as he struggled to figure out the last piece of the puzzle, and then it came to him just as everything else had. In a blinding rush of already present knowledge.

'The augmenter is bound to me.' He reasoned. 'That means the wielder has to be bound to Chri-stan...' "Oh Kami-sama." He breathed in shocked disbelief and wonder as the identity of the last combatant showed herself in his mind. She would have to be strong. Stronger than any of them... stronger than 'The Bane'. She would have to have a mind that could with stand the power of the weapon and a strength of will that could bend it to her will. There was only one person alive who had that kind of power and strength. Only one person who had the heart and soul and mind that could contain such a massive amount of energy and not be harmed by it. Only one person...

"Kuumi..."

I didn't make an authors note at the beginning... I sort of forgot, but I'll stop and drop a few words here.

Thanks for all those who stop to read... and to the faithful few who drop me a review. I love you all... you are the best. God Bless. There are only a couple of chapters left and then we will be saying good-bye to these blessed characters and this long, long epic. Thanks for sticking it out with me. Much love. Kanzen ne Tsuki