"Kenshin!" Tomoe's cries still echoed in his ears. "I love you; I love you so much it hurts!"
"I know," Kenshin had replied calmly and quiet coldly. "But I love someone else now Tomoe. I love Kaoru and she and I have a family now."
"Do with me what you will," Tomoe answered dejectedly. "I deserve it." Kenshin had told Tomoe her punishment and Saitou had no choice but to agree with him.
"Now," Kenshin thought with a sigh. "I can go home and things might finally return to normal." The dojo was in view, Kenshin was somewhat afraid to approach it. What would Kaoru think when he told her his punishment for Tomoe? She would surely be angry. Did she even know about this whole affair? Sano insisted that Megumi had lied to Kaoru, telling her the police needed him to track someone down. Nevertheless, Kenshin slowly entered the dojo, his feet scraping the whole way.
"I've finally told her what happened," Megumi greeted Kenshin ad the doorway.
"And?" Kenshin promoted, nervous of how Kaoru would react.
"Why don't you go see her?" Megumi pointed towards their room. "She's been very worried about you." Kenshin nodded and continued forward. He could hear Kaoru within, she was singing to Kenji, probably putting him to sleep. Kenshin silently slid the door open. He had been right; Kaoru laid Kenji down on his futon and tucked him in tightly before placing a gentle kiss on his forehead. She let out a low sigh and watched Kenji for a moment, his small chest rose and fell smoothly. Kaoru climbed to her feet and turned to leave the room. She didn't see Kenshin until she reached the door; her gaze was directed towards the floor. When she did finally look up she was nearly face to face with Kenshin.
"Kenshin?" Kaoru let out a small gasp and stood still for a moment. Kenshin braced himself for the worst; did she even know what had happened to Tomoe? The police made sure her punishment was executed as soon as Kenshin left. Kaoru finally gained her senses and threw herself forward, nearly knocking Kenshin over with her weight, latching her fingers within his gi.
"Kaoru-," Kenshin was cut off. Kaoru smothered her lips against his, robbing him of air but replacing it with something much better. Kenshin closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around Kaoru, bringing her as close as possible. When Kaoru finally broke the kiss to allow air to enter their lungs she rubbed her nose against his, kissed his cheek, forehead, and temple. Finally, she too threw her arms around Kenshin and hugged him close.
"Kenshin," Kaoru spoke as she nuzzled his neck. "What happened?"
"Let's just stay like this," Kenshin rested his head on top of hers, burying his face into her hair. "Just a little bit longer." Kenshin breathed her in; buried his entire being within her. Allowing her to sweep him away in everything she was.
"Kaoru," Kenshin pulled away and gripped Kaoru by her forearms.
"Kenshin," Kaoru offered him a large smile. "I'm so glad you're all right. When Megumi told me they were going to execute you I," Kaoru began to tremble and Kenshin wrapped her in his arms once again, clutching her close to him and trying desperately to stop her from shaking. He kissed her neck just once before pulling away.
"I'm alive," Kenshin offered a small smile to Kaoru. "Thanks to Tomoe."
"But Kenshin," Kaoru's face clouded. "I thought she was the cause for all this."
"Yes," Kenshin agreed. "I was horrified to learn that she was the cause for your illness. But,"
"No buts Kenshin!" Kaoru began to grow angry. "She would have killed me if the police hadn't had come. And you nearly died as well because of it! Don't you dare tell me you forgave her?"
"You of all people see the good within everyone," Kenshin smiled softly and began to lightly brush his fingers through her hair. "You saw it in me." Kaoru smiled and rubbed her cheek against his chest.
"You should know though," Kaoru said with gleaming eyes. "That I never did like Tomoe, at least, when she was here. I first thought that she was just trying to get her life back on track. But she never left, and I knew she wanted you. I believe she even wanted Kenji; he looks so much like you."
"I know," Kenshin admitted softly.
"What happened to her?" Kaoru asked, turning her head to look Kenshin in the eye.
"She is forever banned from Tokyo," Kenshin told her, carefully guarding his eyes against hers. "She is to find her brother and never return." A moment of silence followed this.
"That's it?" Kaoru asked with a raised eyebrow. "No time in prison, not even community service?"
"Well," Kenshin struggled for a moment. "No."
"I can't believe it," Kaoru sighed loudly. "Saitou actually went easy on someone. I'm surprised she didn't even face the death penalty."
"Well," Kenshin uncomfortably shuffled his feet. "Saitou didn't choose the punishment."
"Who did?" Kaoru held her body rigid, waiting for his answer.
"I did," Kenshin answered softly. Kaoru remained silent, holding herself like a statue.
"Kaoru," Kenshin reached for her and caught her arm in his hand.
"No!" Kaoru violently tore herself from his grip and began to back away from him.
"Please Kaoru," Kenshin tried to catch her arm again. "Don't you understand? I of all people need to offer forgiveness where it is sought, for I of all people seek above all else."
"What she did was horrible!" Kaoru dodged Kenshin once again, bumping her shoulder into the wall in the process. "How can you even speak of forgiveness when she would have destroyed everything you and I hold dear?"
"I have destroyed many thing people had held dear," Kenshin murmured softly.
"Your intent was not based on jealousy or desperation," Kaoru rubbed her shoulder as she spoke. "You fought for what you believed in at the moment, not to gain your own happiness." Kaoru swore slightly under her breath, her shoulder really hurt now.
"I'm not sure of what answer you seek from me," Kenshin bowed his head; his bangs hid his eyes from view. "Just tell this unworthy one of what you wish." Kaoru growled angrily and tore out into the courtyard.
"Kaoru!" Kenshin followed her, following her as a dog would his owner. "Where are you going?"
"I'm going to a walk," Kaoru continued walking. Kenshin continued to follow.
"Kenshin!" Kaoru stopped and clenched her fists angrily. "I want to go for a walk alone! That is what I wish of this unworthy one, to let me walk alone for once!" Kaoru stomped out of view, leaving Kenshin to stand alone in the courtyard, staring after his wife.
'She has a right to be angry,' Kenshin told himself softly in his head.
'Yes but she's your wife, she should understand why you needed to forgive Tomoe,' Kenshin argued with himself.
'Kaoru nearly died of this,' Kenshin reminded himself. 'I almost died because of this.'
'But she of all people understands how hard it is to acquire someone's forgiveness, when one desperately seeks it. She knows how it feels when this mercy is not granted for the one who needs it.'
'How does she know this?'
'She knows this through you,' Kenshin told himself. 'She experiences everything with you, all your pain, joy, love. Maybe that's why she is truly upset, because through out this whole ordeal you have guarded your feelings from her, so she is unable to feel what you're feeling now.'
'True,' Kenshin scolded himself. 'I've spent a lot of time connecting with her physically, but not emotional. That must be the hole that both she and I are feeling now.'
'Maybe it's time to go and explain the reason we gave Tomoe this punishment,'
'Agreed.'
Kenshin found Kaoru sitting on top of the hill that faced the river. The breeze filtered through her hair, causing her raven locks to flow in the wind like a river itself. Her face was sad; her eyes mirrored the emotions that played inside her heart. Her blue eyes shimmered, like two twin pools of sadness. She knew Kenshin was near her, he could tell. They were forever connected, she could sense him better than anyone else and he for her.
"Kaoru," Kenshin sat down next to her, painfully close but careful not to touch any part of her. "Let me explain why I gave Tomoe such a punishment." Kaoru grunted in response, he body shifting slightly.
"You see," Kenshin began, letting his emotions play in the open where Kaoru could easily read them.
"Wait Kenshin!" Kaoru turned to look at him, her eyes bottled up with unshed tears. She looked at him for a moment, studying him. Then she bowed her head and cried softly. "I'm so sorry." Kenshin was shocked by her reaction; this had not been what he had expected.
"Why are you sorry?" Kenshin immediately wrapped his wife into his arms, cradling her head against his chest. "You of all people needn't feel this way."
"But I do," Kaoru continued to cry softly. Neither sounds nor sobs escaped her lips. Only silent tears drizzled down her cheeks. "I should understand why you gave Tomoe your forgiveness, and I do now!"
"You do?" Kenshin began to rub Kaoru's back, trying to cease her tears.
"Yes," Kaoru kept her face hidden from his view. "You are constantly seeking atonement for what you have done, and forgiveness from those you have hurt. You know what it feels like to not receive their forgiveness, the pain that comes with the fact of knowing you've changed their lives and they are still mad. That is a feeling you wouldn't wish upon anyone, not even Tomoe."
"Kaoru-" Kenshin began.
"Let me continue!" Kaoru pleaded. "Also, you need to show by example to the world that you are willing to forgive those who have done wrong to you. This is another way for you to seek atonement, by forgiving Tomoe for what she has done to you." Kenshin smiled and cupped Kaoru's chin within his hand; forcing her to look at him.
"Kaoru," Kenshin held her face firmly in one hand while his other brushed her tears away. "You understand me better than anyone."
"I should hope so," Kaoru sniffed. "I'm your wife. Kenshin chuckled deep in his throat and kissed her forehead. Kaoru leaned in, allowing him to pull her closer, resting her entire body against his chest.
"Besides," Kaoru added. "I guess this means you'll rarely ever see Tomoe."
"Rarely?" Kenshin asked as buried his face into her cheek while his other hand ran up and down her neck slowly. "How about never?"
"Never?" Kaoru arched her head back, giving Kenshin more room to rub.
"I have no reason to leave Tokyo," Kenshin lowered his face to Kaoru's exposed neck, gently brushing his lips against her skin. "Everything I need is here, and she is not allowed to enter." Kenshin placed one firm kiss on Kaoru's neck before trailing much lighter kisses afterwards. His hand began to rub her shoulder, pulling her kimono lower and lower each time, slowly exposing her shoulder.
"Kenshin," Kaoru allowed him to lower her into the grassy hillside. "I love you."
"Kaoru," Kenshin lowered himself to her level, his body pressing hers into the soft grass. "You need to understand this, when I say I love you, I am barely scratching the surface of what I truly feel." Kenshin bumped his nose next to hers, his breath tickling her skin.
"Such simple words can never show how much I feel for you," Kenshin lower his head to her neck, kissing her collarbone once. "Actions can never show you how I truly feel. There is no possible way that I can show you how I feel. I can only spend all my days with you, showing you in every possible way." Kenshin raised his head back up to Kaoru's, aligning her lips with his.
"I am so attracted to you," Kenshin whispered against her lips. "That I constantly ache for you, every moment that I am not with you hurts and sometimes I must completely connect with you in order to quell this fire a little." Kenshin kissed her lips softly, taking her bottom lip between his teeth and brushing it lightly with his tongue. He tipped his head sideways; allowing his tongue to easily glide into her mouth like it was made specifically for that purpose.
"I will always need you," Kenshin sensuously kissed the side of Kaoru's mouth with an open mouthed kiss. "Physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Kaoru I will never get enough of you, all I can do is try." Kenshin took Kaoru completely into his arms and gave her bruising and demanding kiss.
"Kenshin," Kaoru moaned as he continued down her neck, where he found his favorite spot and began to give it intimate attention. "We should go back to the dojo,"
"How can you even think straight?" Kenshin asked as he unattached himself from her neck to gaze at her face lovingly.
"It's not easy," Kaoru admitted as she wriggled her arm into his gi. "But someone has to do it."
"True," Kenshin kissed her gently on the temple before scooping her up into his arms.
"Then we're off to the dojo," Kenshin declared. "To finish what we started here." As Kenshin carried Kaoru off, he too began to open Kaoru's kimono.
"No one's home besides Kenji," Kenshin explained as Kaoru protested. "And be happy I haven't ripped these clothes from your body."
"You're lucky I can't have kids," Kaoru kissed the underside of Kenshin's jaw.
"Or?" Kenshin lifted his head a bit, allowing more space for Kaoru's wandering mouth to explore.
"Or we'd be up to our ears in children," Kaoru replied as she made her way down his neck. "Would you go faster or I might get up and run there!" Kaoru buried her face in Kenshin's chest, her fists balled up in his clothes with frustration.
"What's the rush?" Kenshin asked as he made his way to the dojo slowly. "We have all our lives; also I need to come up with some new methods."
"I'm perfectly fine with your old ones," Kaoru said with a dark blush that splashed over her cheeks.
"But I know of several things we haven't done yet," Kenshin replied as he slid his hands down her back, playing with her bindings. "And I am willing to try them."
There, it's done. So sorry it took such a long time. But I was honestly scared to write this last chapter, I don't want to offend anybody. Some of you may not be happy with my ending, but I've had it planned this way before I even began writing this story and I tried to change it for you, but it wasn't sincere so I changed it back. It just doesn't seem to be very natural for Kenshin not to forgive Tomoe and I am truly sorry if you're disappointed or if you've wasted any time reading this. Thanks for sticking around to the end, even if you don't like it. Remember, it's the journey that matters, not the destination!