Disclaimer: I don't own RK… wish I did though…

Chapter 7

The carriage bearing Kenshin and Kaoru arrived at the Himura country manor shortly after midnight. Kenshin was awake for an hour before they arrived and has been staring at his fiancée for quite some time. When the carriage stopped, his driver said, "My lord, we have arrived."

Kenshin slightly moved from his seat and the movement woke the sleeping Kaoru. Kaoru awoke to Kenshin's smell. "He smells heavenly." She thought. Kenshin smelled of ginger, soap and something distinctly dangerous. "He smells like lightning!" Kaoru added. Definitely male.

Kaoru looked up at the man holding her while she slept. What she saw took her breath away. Kenshin was looking down at her with a most tender expression in his face. "Tomoe." He whispered. Kaoru, for the life of her, could not speak at the husky tone of voice Kenshin used to say her name. She helplessly stared at the man who made her heart beat faster.

Kenshin was captivated by the young beauty he held in his arms. He watched a gamut of emotions play over her lovely face. Anticipation, wonder, joy and… desire. Completely helpless under the moment, Kenshin bent his head and kissed his fiancée. His kiss was both sweet and seductive. Kaoru let out a gasp as Kenshin's tongue traced the outline of her lips. Kenshin took the opportunity to slip his tongue inside her mouth and claimed her as his own. Kaoru moaned as emotions too strong for her to bear swept over her. Kenshin growled his satisfaction at the response he is getting from his betrothed. When Kaoru was slowly responding to his kiss by slowly moving her tongue over his own, Kenshin lost control. He clasped Kaoru's body closer to his and took control of the kiss. He felt the need to brand her. Announce to the world that this woman was his. Kaoru placed her hands above Kenshin's chest as she gave herself to the intensity of the kiss, most of all, she gave herself to the man.

Caught up in the throes of passion, Kenshin slid his hands up to cup Kaoru's breast. Despite the haze that enveloping her senses and the passion clouding her mind, Kaoru froze. Kenshin felt Kaoru freeze and he reluctantly lifted his lips away from hers and removed his hands away from her breast. "Kenshin, stop. We're not married yet." Kaoru shyly said. "I'm sorry my Tomoe. My passion seems to have taken away my judgment." Kenshin admitted. "I promise I wont try to seduce you until we get married. Unless you want me to." He added, a wicked smile on his lips. "Kenshin you pervert!" Kaoru exclaimed, a blush creeping over her ivory cheeks.

Kenshin ushered Kaoru over to her room in the manor. Before he left her, Kenshin said, "My home is your home now. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to call on the staff. Okay?" Kaoru nodded and said, "Goodnight Kenshin. Sweet dreams." Kenshin walked over to her, closed the distance that separated them and kissed her on the mouth. Kaoru had to cling on him for support at the force of the kiss she received. Then Kenshin abruptly tore his lips away from hers, moved his lips over to Kaoru's neck and breathed in her scent. "Jasmine." He whispered. Called by the scent before him, he opened his mouth and licked Kaoru's neck, to taste her, and know what her skin tastes like. After a darting lick, Kenshin stepped away from Kaoru and said, "Goodnight, my Tomoe. I will be seeing you in the morning." "And in my dreams." He said to himself. Then Kenshin went out the room to go to his own suite.

Kesnhin made a mistake in thinking that he would be able to sleep well that night.

Kaoru had a nightmare. She dreamt of the churning sea. Then she dreamt of a woman with black hair and black eyes smiling sadly at her. The woman said, "I'm sorry but I have to go. I hope you understand." "What am I supposed to understand? Tell me!" Kaoru screamed." "I'm really sorry." The mysterious woman turned around and started walking away from her. "Wait! You have to tell me what you meant! Please! Wait!" Kaoru pleaded. She ran toward the woman but the faster she ran, the more out of reach the woman became. "Wait!"

"Wait!" Kaoru screamed and sat up abruptly. Her heart was beating furiously against her chest. She was still trying to calm herself down when the door to her suite opened and Kenshin strolled in wearing dark blue pajama bottoms. "Tomoe! Are you all right? I heard you cry out in your sleep. Did you have a nightmare?" Kenshin asked. Kaoru didn't answer and continued to clutch her nightclothes in her hand.

"Tomoe?" Kenshin called out when he didn't get an answer. Hesitantly, he sat on Kaoru's bed and touched her on the shoulder. "I had a dream. More of a nightmare. I dreamt of a woman and in my dream she was telling me to tell someone that she is sorry. And when I tried to talk to her and ask who I needed say sorry to, she started walking away and even if I run after her, I can't seem to reach her." Karou said suddenly. "Who was that girl? What is my connection with her?" Kaoru asked. After a few moments, Kenshin answered, "I don't know the answer. I wish I could give you back your memories, but I can't do that. Only you have the power to make yourself remember. But you have to give consideration to the fact that you had a head injury. Most head injuries take a long time to recover." "As a precaution, don't try to rush your memories. Give it time to come to you willingly. Don't force it." He added.

Kaoru nodded, took a deep breath and gave Kenshin a small smile to thank him for keeping her company and soothing her fears. Kenshin tucked Kaoru in bed and gave her a light kiss on the forehead and said, "Sleep well, my Tomoe."

A/N: This is the new chapter for my fanfic... Hope you like it...

Comments:

Kean - Thanks for the review! Sorry about the line regarding the "shrill ring" inside the basket. Wrong choice of words on my part. Sorry bout that... And about the conversations being stilted... The way I see it... this story happened during the Regency London era.. during the time of Dukes and Princes.

royal blueKitsune- Thanks for the nice review! I'm glad you liked my story! Regarding your question, Kaoru is not Tomoe. Tomow will be appearing in the story on later chapters...

DrEaMiNgSoRa- I'm glad you liked my story... Keep on reading and reviewing!