Disclaimer: Ruro Ken is not mine, but everyone who likes the series including myself wants to.

Note: This fic will go through the Kyoto arc, but I'm not certain about going any further than that. The rating will be going up in the next few chapters. FLUFF . . . yaay.

Night's End

In the Oyami Inn, Katsu and Yanagi were resting in their usual private room, bandages and dirty water lay in a small bowl. The slash that he had received from Battosai wasn't deep, but the physical stress that went along with the technique that he had unleashed had made it worse.

"You're horrible you know that?" Yanagi chided, cleaning the now infected wound. Her patient winced, but remained silent. She had just about finished, the infection had only begun to settle in, but it was still painful.

Throwing away the blood and pus infected cloth; she took another clean one beside her and began to finish cleaning the last part. A hiss escaped his lips as hot water made contact with raw flesh. A needle's pointed end against his skin brought his eyes back into focus.

She began weaving the needle in and out of his skin, a small sterile thread followed faithfully, closing his opened wound. He flinched every now and then, the thread sliding through his skin made him nauseous.

Stitching . . . one of the new western medical practices that they had discovered after helping a family from Aizu, had proven to increase recovery speed dramatically faster than just letting the flesh mend alone. They both had learned it after seeing its value, as it had saved them both on several occasions. Now was no exception.

The slashed flesh and skin was glaring bright red. A small trickle of clear liquid seeped out of the freshly closed wound.

"I'm sorry Yana-chan." The younger swordmaster blushed. "AHH!" Katsu winced when a towel soaked in hot water was placed over the stitching. Gritting his teeth, his body began to relax as it became accustomed to the heat. It would draw out what pus and other grit and grime was left in the wound.

"Sorry about that Katsumori-san." He frowned at her tone. She only used his full name in public or when she was feeling guilty.

Lifting his hand to her face, he stroked her cheek lightly. A slight, quick intact of breath followed a deep blush in the girl. Cupping her face with his hand, he chuckled to himself. His hand moved behind her neck and pulled her gently downward till her lips met his.

They stayed in a chaste kiss for several silent moments before parting. Katsu laughed at her pouting face.

"Wha . . . what's so f-funny?" she swatted him once, playfully chiding him. She knew full well why he was laughing at her. It drove her nuts when he broke a kiss without going further. He was teasing her, and she was going right along with it.

"Oh, nothing much other than that pouting puppy face of yours. Is a small love peck not enough?" She glared at him like he was some strange foreigner and nodded vigorously; daring him not to continue.

"You're so demanding! To want such rough, hard, strenuous attentions from a wounded man." He struggled to keep a straight, dour face as her face became redder at the implied intimacy. Continuing on he added, "If we do continue into the night, why . . . my wound could reopen and I could very well bleed to . . ."

He was cut off by her lips claiming his. It was his turn to feel embarrassed. Normally he initiated their lovemaking, but he had pushed her too far tonight. It had been too long since their last private time and she was impatient.

Yanagi had subtly positioned herself above her lover, sitting square on his chest, above his wound. Her socked feet rested on both sides of his abdomen. She leaned over and nuzzled his nose with hers. He ran his hands down her back, deftly feeling the small ridges down the middle of her back through the kimono. She shivered and arched her back at the ticklish sensation.

She let the top of her kimono slide past her shoulders, resting just low enough for him to see her collarbones. Her face was red, and he was becoming frustrated with her methods tonight. Honey yellow eyes met red wine ones; a devious grin played across her lips. He groaned once he realized what she had planned.

Damn you woman . . . I'm wounded. Meaning I can't be dominate tonight. Crap! She's going to be in control the whole time.

Seeing his realization and defeated look, her grin turned feral, her teeth shined as she smiled with a sinister lust.

Kami, she didn't just give me that look . . . this is going to be a LONG night . . .

Yanagi pulled the string from her hair, letting it all fall down as she kissed him again, only far more demanding. She would enjoy this greatly. She never noticed the clenched fist Katsu held in frustration as she proceeded to have her fun. He'd have his revenge later . . . after his wound healed.

The sounds of a very frustrated male and an empowered woman in ecstasy woke half their floor's occupant's, who just shrugged and went back to sleep.

It WAS spring . . .

An exhausting, but wondrous (or tortuous for Katsu) hour later . . .

Yanagi lay draped across Katsu, staying clear of his chest wound. She was still cooling down, and her lover wasn't thrilled about his lack of power. A thin sheen of sweat covered both of them, making skin shine in the moonlight.

Their hair blended together, creating a weave of red and black stripes like ink and wine. The smells of love were permeated their room; laced with the deep scent of incense which she had lit during their lovemaking.

It was her favorite setting; to be surrounded by incense and candles while in the heat of ecstasy. Katsumori enjoyed it too, but tonight's romance had him at a disadvantage, which slightly irked him.

He knew how much she enjoyed the setting and let it slide; keeping personal opinions to himself. They just didn't get many opportunities like this in Kyoto. At least, not while the Bakamatsu was constantly spilling blood by night and spying by day.

Yanagi's breathing began to calm, returning to her normal pace. His breathing had steadied ten minutes ago, but she hadn't quite leveled off. The girl snuggled closer to Katsu, seeking warmth despite the futon's blankets.

"Katsu?" her voice finally broke the silence of the moment.

He looked at her questioningly. There was no guessing what she had running through her mind. He had an idea, but she never ceased to continue to surprise him. He nodded once, beckoning her to continue with her question.

"When do you think it will stop raining blood in Kyoto? I mean, the Bakamatsu has been dragging on for far too long now. You'd think that those idiots would have come up with some better sounding logics than what has been waging on for so many years."

Shaking his head sadly, he only shrugged. She knew the answer already. They'd been over this too many times to count in the past.

"No."

A quiet pitter patter of footsteps approached the shogi. The silhouette of a young woman came into view. Yanagi wrapped herself in a spare blanket and walked over to the door.

Peering out of the small crack she made in the door, her eyes met with deep brown ones. A blush came over the other girl's face once she saw the state of undress Yanagi was in.

Why was it she always had the luck to need something of the couple whenever they were making love?

"What do you need Minoru?" the younger woman stuttered.

"I, I, I needed you or Katsumori-san to get us some salt from the markets later in the day. The land lady just told me and I know that the two of you stay up late and wake later in the daytime. You're the only ones up at this hour that are actually dependable around here."

Katsu could be heard somewhere in the room snickering. He knew the owner of the inn they now frequented on a personal level. The two men were close friends in childhood and had stayed in contact after seeking out their individual fortunes.

The fact that they met again during the Bakamatsu under friendly terms was relieving.

Homaru Ryo was the only man in Kyoto with an establishment not tainted by the blood of Ishin or Shogunate. His inn served as a neutral ground for politicians from both sides. On the rare occasion, members from either side would be eating in the same room, swords left in a storage room just behind the counter.

He wasn't a fighter by any means. His small build and pale composition weren't ideal for the swordsman. The weapon everyone feared about him was the unknown amount of contacts and behind the scenes power he wielded.

Many numerous people still owed him favors, which he kept written down to use later. Katsu had joked with him about it being blackmailing, and found shortly there after that it was exactly that.

"That is precisely what it is Katsu-san. If I where to release some of the stuff they talk about in their private meetings, they'd be killed on the spot. It's because they know that I have something on everyone though that no one acts contrary to my house rules. Least some news spread . . ."

That was what Ryo had said that night. After seeing some of the things he had written during dinner, Katsu and Yanagi feared his political power and prowess. He was dangerous, and Katsu had no trouble stating that he was weaker than Ryo. He was a fighter, not a politician.

Yanagi grinned at the girl.

"Alright Minoru. Tell Ryo-san that we'll get it later in the afternoon. Thank you."

She bowed and closed the door as the red curtain haired woman padded back to her lover's side. Laying her head back on his shoulder, she chuckled.

"What's that all about?" Never in one night did she laugh that much. It had peaked Katsu's curiosity.

"She's so cute and innocent. Yet she always shows up after . . . well . . . you know." She nuzzled the crook in his neck as emphasis; then kissed him fully on the lips. He gave a stifled laugh, fully understanding her meaning.

"Well, if we really are going to get that salt, we need to get our rest. Oyasumi-nasai."

"Oyasumi-nasai . . . Katsu?"

"Hmn?"

"I love you."

A small smile crossed his face as he kissed her on her forehead.

"I love you too Yanagi. Sleep well."

WOO! Took FOREVER! College is too distracting alongside work. Need ROOT BEER!

Oyasumi-nasai Good Night

This was meant to be a peek into the personal lives of Katsumori and Yanagi in order to give contrast to their cold, combative natures in the rest of the story. Even the strongest warriors have soft hearts for those they love. Time to get to work! AC fic Deadly Research chpt. 5x is almost complete. Once that one and chpt. 6 in AC: Deadly Research is done, I'll do another one in this fic.

Thanks! R&R!