The Ties of Love
Hey people. I'm glad you like it so far. It gets more interesting as the story plot go along. A word of warning: THIS STORY WILL BE RATED R BECAUSE OF CERTAIN CHAPTERS. I hope this does not make you stop reading this story.
Chapter 3: Learning New Things
Tomoe continued to hold Kenshin close to her. She looked up at him wondering what he was thinking. His eyes were closed and he took a deep shuddering breath. The scent of White Plums drifted to him as he held her. She was the one person he let close to him and that closeness confused him. He didn't know what to think or say around her when she was this close. He did not care. As long as the cold chill that came over him when he killed left him he did not have to worry about her. She was the one who made the chill disappear, she was the one who actually came to him and comforted him as if it didn't matter that he was a hitokiri. He smiled a genuine smile for the first time since he had become a hitokiri.
"Tomoe, you should go to bed now. It has been a long day. I am certain that you are tired. I must get some sleep as well. I am sorely tired and in need of rest."
"Hai, Himura-san. Rest well."
"Good night, Tomoe-san."
They walked up the stairs and into his room. He sat by the window and she slid into the futon. Kenshin watched as she fell asleep swiftly. He sighed softly wondering how he would get through the war without going insane. He sighed again before falling into a fitful sleep.
The blood ran like rivers in the nightmare. Peoples' screams penetrated his ears and left him sobbing like a child. Faces of people that he had killed drifted before him and accused him. He wanted to run, to hide, and to leave this place of haunting horror. "Kami-sama! Please make this stop! I don't want to see these faces anymore! Why won't they leave me alone?! Make it all stop!" he cried in his sleep.
Suddenly three women appeared in front of him.
"Sakura-san, Suzumi-san, Akane-san? Are you really here? Why?"
"Shinta we heard your cries. We had to answer them. We don't want you to give up hope. Wake up and go to Tomoe. She is frightened and can not wake you herself. You must help her. Wake up Kenshin, Heart of the Sword, our brave Shinta. She needs you now more than ever. She is lost and needs guidance and you need protection from insanity. She will be there to make it fade and you will be there to help her find the way. We want you to be happy. Remember what we said. Shinta you must live for us and all the people who died. You will be the one who helps those in need with your power and kind heart. We care about you Shinta. You can rest easy now and go to Tomoe. Go…Kenshin. Find the way Heart of the Sword and help her on the journey that makes your paths cross. Sayonara dear one. We will always be there…"
"Himura! Himura! Please wake up! What is wrong with him?" Tomoe was close to panicking when he finally stirred.
"To…mo…e?"
"Himura-san! You're all right! I was so worried. At first you were thrashing about and crying out in your sleep and then you suddenly went still. I was so afraid that you were…you were…" Tomoe did not finish the sentence because Kenshin sat up and held her close to his chest.
"Ssshhh. I'm fine now. Arigato again. You have helped me twice now. If not for you I don't know if I would have woken up." He continued to hold her. He stroked her back in soft soothing strokes.
He rested his head against her shoulder. He fell asleep like that, with Tomoe lying in his lap, her head on his chest. She fell asleep like that and in her sleep she clung to him like a child. She awoke during the night to find herself still in his arms. She slid from his grasp and laid down on the futon. She looked at the ceiling and smiled. Maybe she could actually be happy with the new life she led. She also needed to analyze her growing feelings that she had for Kenshin. A deep sigh came from the other side of the room as Kenshin rolled over onto his side. She turned her head to look at him. His deep red hair shimmered in the moonlight that came through the window. The scar on his face was covered at the moment hiding it from her gaze. She smiled again and then stood up and pulled a blanket over his sleeping form. She lay back down and soon fell asleep.
Kenshin awoke to the sunlight streaming into the room. Tomoe was already gone. He stood up and stretched. He walked out of his room and down the stairs to find out what she was doing so early in the morning. He was normally not up at this time of morning but he could not sleep anymore. He reached the kitchen and walked in. Tomoe stood chopping vegetables beside one of the maids. "Tomoe-san? What are you doing?"
"Cooking. Why do you ask?"
"No reason. Can…I help?"
The maid looked at Kenshin. "Why of course you can Himura-chan!" She said kindly, "We would be happy to have you helping us again in here. It has been dull without your charming wit."
Kenshin looked down, "Gomen nasai. I did not realize that I was missed in here."
"Well of course you are! You did save my friend's and my life. You are very brave. Don't you agree Tomoe-san?"
"Hai. He saved me from some particularly nasty man. Onegai, we would like you to stay. Your presence would be welcomed to us."
"Really? You would allow me to stay?"
"Hai." Both women answered him.
Kenshin offered a small hesitant smile. He grabbed a knife and began to help chopping vegetables beside Tomoe. Okami came in and smiled. Maybe there was hope yet for the boy she held so dear. She walked to the counter and began cutting the fish for the morning meal. The finished shortly before everyone was up and then the women shooed him out of the kitchen. Kenshin went back to his room and sat down. He sat there until Tomoe came up.
"Himura-san, it is time to eat. Will you be going to the eating hall?"
"Hai. Arigato, Tomoe-san."
They walked down the stairs and Kenshin left her to go into the eating hall while she helped in the kitchen. Kenshin sat in a far corner of the room like he always did and watched everyone out of the corner of his eyes. After he had eaten he left and walked outside. He left the inn and walked to the woods in silence where he could train.
Tomoe watched him leave and she felt fear go down her spine in a cold shiver. She hoped he would be all right and that no enemy samurai found him.
(Several hours later)
Kenshin came back to the inn covered in sweat and dirt from his hours of training. He felt better now that he had released most of the pent up anger, frustration, and energy. He went to the bathhouse on washed off all of the dirt that was on him. When he was finished he went inside. He went to his room and fell asleep by the window.
Tomoe came into the room and saw him sleeping by the window. He was covered in sweat and he turned uneasily in his sleep shivering. Tomoe felt something tug at her heart and she walked to him. She had just placed her shawl around him when he woke. His eyes were wild as he attacked. He grabbed her arm and she could not help but think 'This is the end. I'm going to die.'
Suddenly he pushed her away and began to tremble uncontrollably. Despite the danger that she could be in she went to him and hugged him. The Battousai continued to shake like a leaf caught in the wind. She got up and turned to get him some sake.
"W-wait. Come back. Tomoe-san, gomen nasai, I did not mean to do that. Forgive me." He was turned away from her.
"Himura-san, there is nothing to forgive. You acted on pure instinct." Tomoe came back to him and hugged him again, "But if it helps…You are forgiven. Himura-san, you don't need to worry about me. I'm just fine. Can't you see that? You are a samurai, you must be prepared for anything." Tomoe continued to hold him and he finally relaxed enough to let his head lay on her shoulder and look up at her.
"Gomen for scaring you. I should have…"
"I know, I know. Try to rest now. I'm going to finish up the mending of these gis. Okay?"
"Hai. Arigato, Tomoe-san." He settled back down by the window.
'Poor thing.' She thought, 'He is in so much pain. I hope that one day he will not sleep like that all the time. He will get sick.' She put her shawl over him, shielding him from most of the cold wind. Smiling she sat down and began to mend the torn gis. She sighed softly and continued to mend the torn clothes.
Kenshin left later on another assignment and she stayed up because she was worried. She hoped he would come back safely. She turned when she heard the shoji slide open.
"Ohaiyo, Katsura-san. Did you wish to talk to me?"
"Hai, Tomoe-san. It is about Himura"
"Himura?"
"Hai. I wanted to tell you something about him."
"What is it that you need to me about Himura-san?" she asked in a worried voice.
"Himura needs a sheath. He is like a naked blade. Without a sheath the sword is dangerous but it is also very brittle. It can be broken easily if not taken care of. Himura is like a sword, he is very dangerous and his sanity rides on a very fine thread. That thread can be destroyed if not protected. I have a friend like him. His wife is always there for him and helps him keep his sanity despite everything that happens to him." Katsura said.
"A sheath?"
"Hai. To keep him safe and help him tokeep his sanity during these long hard months. I have noticed that since a friend of his left us he has been…how do I say this…slowly slipping into himself. I worry about him. He rarely says even one word to anyone and the men are afraid of aggravating him so he has no friends. You have been befriending him and I have noticed a small difference in him. He is not so wary and tense. He has been slowly coming out of himself since you came. Onegai understand that he is more than a hitokiri. He is a boy that is going to be a man soon. Can you at least try, Tomoe-san?"
"I…I will do my best, Katsura-san."
"That is all I ask." Katsura said smiling.
They both heard Kenshin come in. Tomoe left and went to him, but what she saw frightened her. Kenshin sat against the wall staring blindly at the door, his amber eyes blank. "Himura-san? Himura-san?! HIMURA-SAN! Wake up! Onegai wake up!"
Tomoe's cries brought Katsura, Okami, Iizuka, and Katagi running into the kitchen.
"Tomoe-san! What is all the yelling…" Iizuka trailed off when he saw Kenshin, "Oi, what happen to Battousai?"
"I don't know. I just found him here." Tomoe was beginning to shake. She was holding Kenshin close to her.
Tomoe was shaking so hard that Kenshin awoke from his odd slumber. "Tomoe-san, Katsura-san, Okami-san, Iizuka-san, Katagi-san what is wrong. What are you all still doing up?"
Tomoe was so relieved that her fear turned to anger. "Why you little…!!"
Kenshin jumped up and hid behind Iizuka who started to laugh.
"YOU SCARE US ALL HALF TO DEATH AND YOU HAVE THE NERVE TO ASK US WHAT ARE WE STILL DOING UP!" All her lady-like composer disappeared and now that her anger had been vented she began to cry.
Kenshin was ashamed of himself. He didn't know what he had done but it had scared Tomoe badly. The others had inched out of the kitchen and left them alone when she had started to yell. Kenshin looked around for someone to help him but no one was there.
"Tomoe…" He forgot to put the honorific title on her name but he didn't care. He went to her and held her close to him. "Tomoe I am not certain about what I have done to scare you but I promise I will not do it again. Tomoe, onegai, stop crying. I'm so sorry, so onegai stop crying." Kenshin was beginning to panic.
Tomoe suddenly put her arms around his waist and hid her face against his chest. Kenshin brought her head up by placing one hand under her chin. He looked at her for a moment. She again hid her face against his chest. Kenshin felt her breath fanning over his skin and he realized that he was still a mess from his assignment.
"Tomoe I must wash now. Onegai get me a towel and a clean yukata."
Tomoe smiled as he gently pulled away. "Of course Himura…"
"Onegai, call me Kenshin. When we are alone together call me Kenshin."
"Of course Ken…shin."
When she came back he was in the bathing house. She left the yukata and towel inside the door and waited for him in the kitchen while she heated some food. 10 minutes later he came in still trying to dry his hair and in the clean yukata.
"Kenshin I heated some food for you."
"Arigato Tomoe."
Tomoe smiled and watched him eat. While he ate she mused over her feeling for the hitokiri. The hitokiri in question stood up startling her from her thoughts.
"Tomoe are you all right now?"
"Hai."
Kenshin felt at peace with her. He could trust her. He began to walk to his room quietly and Tomoe followed. When he reached the room he opened the door for her and then he sat by the window. Tomoe hugged him and he held her close to him, comfortable as she sat with him. He continued to hold her as she fell asleep and he fell asleep with her breath warm on his neck.
In the middle of the night he awoke to find Tomoe still in his arms. Kenshin smiled and reached for the blanket that was nearby. He then covered them both and settled under the blanket. Tomoe woke up he moved and she looked up at him. His eyes were closed and he looked so peaceful and happy. Tomoe snuggled farther under the blanket. She tried to go back to sleep but something kept bothering her. She looked at him and then as if drawn to him she leaned forward and kissed him. Kenshin's eyes snapped open. Tomoe pressed her-self closer to him, shocked that she had actually kissed him but not caring. Kenshin tightened his grip around her as he deepened the kiss as he felt passion coursing through his body. His mind went completely blank, all he could think about was Tomoe. The kiss seemed to last for an eternity. Finally he broke the kiss. Their breathing was harsh and he could barely think. Kenshin blushed but he did not pull away from her. Instead he held her all the tighter.
'I will not let this woman go. She has brought so much peace to me and has helped me come back from the brink of insanity. I can not let her go.' He thought as he slipped back into sleep.
