Well, here you all go! Another chapter of Twisted, and hopefully I didn't make you guys wait to long this time! Quite a bit of plot devolpment this chapter. Hope you enjoy.
Ravyn
Warning: A little bit of salt, and little bit of lime.
Kaoru awoke with the knowledge that it was early. She supposed the fact that she had gone to bed much sooner than normal accounted for the fact that she was up before the early rays of the rising sun. Kaoru sat up and hugged herself, her chin digging into her knees as she contemplated exactly how she was going to handle this morning.
He wasn't going to have anything to do with it.
Kaoru chewed on her bottom lip in a nervous fashion, her fingers tapping against her calf. This wasn't planning against the Rurouni, and even that took great planning. Kaoru took a deep breath and decided to believe him when he said that he and the Rurouni were no longer the same. It was as good an explanation for her needs as the rest.
How much of him had remained the Rurouni?
Kaoru smiled as she heard the sounds of Yahiko stumbling out of bed, his swearing amusing to someone who determinedly managed to fill the roles of sister and mother…Kaoru pushed the blanket aside and decided on her best course of action as she dressed in her practice clothing.
Alright…if he wasn't the Rurouni, then he was correct; she couldn't act like he was. Kaoru tied her hair up and nodded to herself. This weeping, emotionally destroyed woman was not who she wanted to be. She didn't need Kenshin, whichever Kenshin he was, to destroy her or fix her.
Kaoru nodded her head again. This…this was no more difficult than dealing with a crazed psychopath…a situation she had dealt with more than once in her short life. First the men of her father's crowd, then Jineh, then Saitoh, and the list just got longer…but perhaps the worst was Enishi.
Kaoru wondered if perhaps her time on that island hadn't been part of the slow crumbling of her emotional stability. Oh…Enishi had done nothing to hurt her, but her own mind had turned everything against her, especially when Kenshin hadn't come for her.
Devotion to Tomoe had all but ruined Enishi's life…and Kaoru had seen the same lingering emotion in Kenshin's eyes. Kaoru closed her eyes in thought. Perhaps that was her problem…the lingering doubt that a cloud of plum blossoms was going to come and sweep him away again. This part of Kenshin would have been even closer to Tomoe than her Rurouni would have…
Kaoru wondered if the dark, twisting swell of emotion was part of her now.
Standing she slipped on her tabi and then opened the door.
Time to face the sunshine.
Kenshin noticed the change as soon as she walked in the door. It was in the way she held her head, the straight line of her shoulders and spine. She didn't flinch away from his eyes, even though he knew they were the color of gold. She didn't hesitate to serve the food into portions, nor did she flinch away from his conversation.
So, his little Thistle had decided to step up the next part of the game. His mouth curled up in one corner, delight racing in his veins. His Kaoru had finally begun her own downfall.
Lovely.
Kenshin waited until breakfast was over, and Kaoru was rising from her seat with her dishes, before he decided to broach last night's exploration. "Yahiko and I went and had a word with Saitoh last night." Kenshin commented just before he swallowed the last of his tea.
Kaoru paused and then settled herself back down. "What?"
Yahiko nodded. "We let that wolf know what was up!"
Kaoru turned and stared at Kenshin incredulously, and Kenshin thought with no small amount of pleasure that it was the most unguarded expression she had given him since he got back. "You threatened him?"
Kenshin poured himself a half cup of tea, and blew softly on the steaming liquid. "I reminded him of his priorities. He is not the only one who has something worth keeping safe. He is a wolf in almost all his aspects, and his wife is also important to him. He won't be bothering you again."
Kaoru stared at him. "You…threa….you…"
Yahiko rolled his eyes. "We would have taken you too, but you looked really tired."
Kenshin agreed. "The wolf would have been insulted by your presence. I can chastise him, but I would prefer not to cross blades with him on a whim." He leveled Kaoru with an interestingly intense gaze that made the hairs on the back of her neck raise in warning. "Saitoh said someone had attacked Tokio as well. Are you sure you haven't had any strange visitors?"
Kaoru frowned and looked at Yahiko questioningly. "I haven't forgotten anyone, have I?"
Yahiko looked upwards, his lips pursing in thought. "Well…there was that one day we were visiting another dojo and we came back to fresh tracks around the gate. Someone said a politician had been by, remember? We thought he was looking for Kenshin?"
Kaoru frowned. "Not really."
Yahiko nodded. Turning, he looked at Kenshin with curiosity. "It wasn't one of your normal visitors, if you catch my drift. I remember, because I was helping one of the neighbors with the leaves in their yard, and she mentioned that the carriage was very new. She described it for me, but she didn't get a look at the man. It didn't sound like any coat of arms I can remember."
Kenshin narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. "Can you describe it to me?"
Yahiko did his best, but was unsure of most the details.
"It's alright, Yahiko. I am sure one of my contacts will know who it is. At the very least, Saitoh will. He keeps an eye on the government that beat him, like a wounded wolf watching his enemy," There was a note of distaste in Kenshin's voice at the idea of speaking to Saitoh, but Kaoru and Yahiko knew how he had rattled the Rurouni.
Kaoru sat in silence for several long moments, her brows drawn in thought, something about the carriage Yahiko had described tugging at her memory. Shaking it off, she gathered her dishes and headed into the kitchen.
"Yahiko…you better hurry up and finish! It's almost time for class!"
Yahiko shoveled the remainder of his food into his mouth and followed Kaoru out to the dojo, where a few voices soon joined them.
Kenshin frowned at his rapidly-cooling tea, his eyes narrowing with each passing thought. The idea that one of the higher-ups of their government was coming after his family lit something rather wild in his blood. The fact that he was going to have to remind someone why he spear-headed their troops with assassinations was not something he relished, but he would do it.
He honestly hoped they wouldn't force him to play that hand.
He had better things to do. Like seduce his little Shihondai.
"Okashira." Shiro's voice meekly asked from outside the door. It was amazing, sometimes, how his ninjas could use his rank as both question or statement. He didn't even want to think about how a certain braided female used it.
As usual, they took his silence as permission. Which was fine. If he didn't want them to come in, then the shoji screen door would have been shut completely. Aoshi paused as he caught the expression on Shiro's face, and mentally wondered what Misao had done this time.
"It's Misao-chan, Okashira." Shiro admitted. "She didn't show up for her turn at the tables." There was a slight twitching to the corner of Shiro's eyes.
Aoshi raised a brow, waiting.
"One of our train contacts said she was spotted getting onto the train." As always, Shiro edited. He had decided that the fact that Misao had both waved and stuck her tongue out at the secret contact did not bode well for the contact. They kept those contacts secret, because Misao wasn't supposed to know who was watching the trains, simply on the grounds that she would slip by if she knew where to look.
Apparently she already knew.
Aoshi slowly began to gather his papers, filing them according to the importance of the information. "Shiro, while I am gone, take care of the paperwork. Otherwise, Jiya is in charge."
Shiro watched him pick up his kodachi and leave the room, his movements unhurried.
Shiro noted the time, realizing that his Okashira might catch the last train, if he was lucky.
Looking at the files, he glared. This was worse than dish duty.
Yahiko didn't know what to expect when he woke up that morning and helped Kenshin prepare breakfast, but the Kaoru that he found waiting them that morning was very different from the Kaoru he had been expecting. She hadn't flinched, paused, or even bothered to do more than frown at him. Apparently, she was getting over her anger.
In fact, she had acted just like he was Kenshin…before she realized that he was leaving, before Tomoe, before Enishi…something along the lines of after the Shishio incident…
It had weirded him out.
Kenshin on the other hand, had gotten one good look at her eyes, and a slow, dangerous smile had began in his eyes and blossomed at his mouth. Yahiko had dropped his chopsticks, but Kaoru had ignored it all.
Then during the lessons that day, she had been almost patient, absently correcting him, and only smacking him on the head once. He really couldn't understand that. In fact as the afternoon went on, he was feeling slightly out of place. There was something weird going on behind Kaoru's eyes.
The day had been the weirdest Yahiko had ever had in the dojo. Kaoru had been cool, efficient, and dangerously sweet and Kenshin had worn a smile all day, his teeth gleaming like a predator watching its prey dance closer to its waiting claws.
Kaoru didn't have a chance to win against this Kenshin…
Perhaps that was the point.
Kenshin the Battousai was simply smiling, a lingering tension in his eyes melting into something far more dangerous; and if he saw it, then Kaoru did as well.
Had it only been last night that Yahiko had heard Kenshin tell her not to judge him as the Rurouni? Honestly, she had been given every possible warning! Yahiko felt the rest of his resentment for the Rurouni slip into the place it should, away from this man.
Kamiya Kaoru was soon going to hit a roadblock, and Yahiko was indeed looking forward to it. How Kenshin handled the situation with Kaoru was going to be the proof that he needed to cast his judgment.
However, things were about to only get measureably worse.
"Hello!" A voice Yahiko heard only in his nightmares called out, in a sing-song fashion that was as much a warning as anything. Yahiko turned to see Misao enter the dojo, in an outfit that could only be considered…filthy.
Her hakama had once been white, but was now a pale tan with several patches. Her dark brown gi was also filthy, and the hat she held in her hand appeared to have covered her hair and eyes. Apparently she was sneaking around again.
Yahiko shuddered with the memory of what exactly she could do on her own turf. Misao and Kaoru would disappear for hours, coming back dirty and bruised, with big smiles. The next time everyone went to the market there were large smiles greeting them.
Not long after that, he had come across Kaoru lecturing a man at least three times her size, holding him up by his collar, and Misao sitting on his twin, cleaning her nails with her Kunai as she offered the same lecture on how to treat a lady.
He had never told Kenshin. Never planned on telling Kenshin. Feared Kenshin's reaction. Their secret, as long as they chose to keep it, was safe with him. Otherwise, he was going to get pounded by one of them. Kaoru, Misao, or Kenshin; one would have his head…
Kaoru stepped around him and walked over to the girl, hugging her tightly. "Misao! I thought you had Oniwabanshu business for the next six months?" Her words were curious, and Yahiko wracked his brain to remember when they had communicated.
Misao rolled her eyes. "Nah. You're more important, and I know something is up! Aoshi has had this frown on his face for months now and keeps looking towards Tokyo as if I wouldn't notice it!" Her words were as pitched as high as always and held that element of Misao.
Kaoru opened her mouth to reply, a genuine smile on her face, when Misao stiffened, her face tightening, her eyes losing all their smile. "What is he doing here?"
Kaoru turned her head and met Kenshin's amused eyes. "That's…a long story."
Misao turned and looked Kaoru straight in the eyes. "Do you want me to kill him?"
Kaoru spluttered at that, and Yahiko ducked his head to keep from laughing out loud. No need to draw attention to himself. Besides, Misao was practically frothing at the mouth.
Kaoru grabbed her friend's hand and dragged her out of the dojo. "Listen… never mind…Yahiko, five hundred swings." Then they were around the edges of the dojo and out of view, but it was several minutes before Misao's voice was out of the range of sound.
The lingering "I only need twelve kunai…really!" echoed down the street and Yahiko swore he saw Kenshin smirk.
Taking a deep breath- he was going to need the air- he began counting. He was going to need all the practice he could get.
Kenshin paused in his sword work, relishing the feel of sweat dripping down his shoulder blades and the feeling of his muscles humming with the power of his sword dance. The fire in his blood pulsed in his ears, and he closed his eyes to find the center he had taught himself to operate out of. His control was necessary, and he would never disgrace his sword art as he had as a child.
Finishing the last, hard twist of his wrist, he picked up the gi he had dropped, sliding the cloth along the breadth of his shoulders. It clung to the sweat, sticking to the skin irritatingly. He would have preferred to tie the length of his hair high, but putting it into a samurai knot would only cause suspicion.
Walking to the dojo door, he watched Yahiko swear as he attempted to remove sweat stains. Narrowing his eyes, he let some of his Chi shimmer around the yard, testing the air for danger. When he felt nothing, he allowed his thoughts to drift to the amusing reaction of his Thistle.
She didn't know it, of course, but her reaction to Misao's offer to kill him had told him everything he might need to know. If he had been suffering from a confidence problem, then he would have been handed a nice pick-me-up.
He realized that most people would have looked at her act as a set back. It was a minor hitch in his plans, but he hadn't truly expected her to fall in love with him the first time he got her to melt into his arms.
Even if the delightful press of her curves into his body had been heady, he was realistic. Besides, Hiko had always said something worth fighting for was worth the pain. While he never completely agreed with Hiko on everything, he could understand the mixed-up wisdom of his words.
He was going to have to contend with the little Weasel-girl, though. The Rurouni had never discredited Misao's skills, even if her Oniwabanshu friends had. The girl had been on the road almost as long as he had, and he understood the skills it took to survive.
What exactly was she telling his Kaoru?
Shrugging into his gi, he turned thoughtful gaze to the streets of Tokyo. The little Itachi was a wild card. Had always been. He had once accused Aoshi of being the only one who could stop her tears. He also knew that she was the only one who could restore him to whatever Aoshi needed to be.
He actually was expecting to see the Okashira in the next few hours. He had already put another futon in Kaoru's room and another down in the spare room Dr. Gensai used for whenever Aoshi chose to appear.
Kenshin shrugged and headed to the kitchen. Kaoru and Misao would be expecting dinner, and even though they had probably grabbed a snack, if Aoshi showed up, they would be here soon enough.
He might want to cook some extra rice…
Misao frowned down at her teacup, her expression black. "Are you sure he is…I mean... If he leaves you again, I swear I will use every resource I have to tear every strand of red hair out of his head and then remove that bald head."
Kaoru snickered into her tea and then rolled her eyes. "He isn't…well, okay, it does seem like he wants to take things past where the Rurouni did, but Misao…I don't know if I can."
"Damn straight! Your emotional fortitude has been battered! He has gone and left the drawbridge for emotional agony!" Misao thumped the table. "If he thinks he can just walk…was he being romantic or simply overbearing."
Kaoru set her cup down and frowned. "Whose side are you on?"
"Yours!" Misao assured. "Oh…let's talk about this later. I want to…Kaoru?"
Kaoru was digging around for the sen she just knew she had put somewhere…the clanking of coins from Misao's own purse had her dragging her friend out of the building. "Kenshin said that Tokio- you know who that is?"
"Buddha." Misao commented.
"What?" Kaoru asked, skidding to a stop.
"Um…nothing. So go on!" Misao frantically encouraged.
Kaoru gave her a weird look but continued dragging her. "Anyway, he said that Tokio was also attached. When Kenshin told us Saitoh was married…I did some investigating. I wanted to know what would marry Saitoh. There." She nodded her head, and Misao turned, her mind mentally going over the fact that her friend would have a made a kick-ass ninja.
Misao stared. The woman was not exactly what she would consider beautiful, but there was something about her features that made you look twice. Her eyes were the same color as wet earth, and her hair was pulled into a proper knot on the top of her head.
It was the large, friendly smile on her face that shocked Misao. Her eyes were warm, and…she was pregnant.
"Let's go." Kaoru said, marching forward.
"Where are we going?" Misao demanded.
"Well…once I figured out who Tokio was, I got to know her and we became friends. Especially these last couple of months when…anyway, she is a darling. You will love her. I don't care what Saitoh wants us to believe, but she wears the pants in that family." Kaoru cheerfully stated as she dragged her best friend along. "Besides, she might know something about the attackers. I haven't talked to her in a while, since someone has kept me occupied."
Misao paused. "So…you're friends with the Wolf of Mibu's wife?"
Kaoru flashed her a very dangerous smile. "Yes. I think Saitoh is going to, in the words of Sano, shit kittens once he finds out." Besides…she had her own bone to pick with him, and who better to have a word with him on his involvement with pedestrians than his wife?
Misao shuddered; she really had been spending too much time around the Battousai if she was adopting that smile. The sad part was…she was right. It was too good of an opportunity to pass up.
Ever.
"Excuse me, Fujita-dono?" Kaoru asked, bowing low and looking at her through her bangs. Misao stared at her. Damn…being around the Rurouni sure had helped her manners! The two women were going through some crazy necessities to keep Saitoh off their trail.
"Yes?" Tokio asked in confusion, accepting the bundle of noodles from the vendor and bowing her thanks before turning. "Can I help you?"
If Misao didn't know that Kaoru and Tokio were friends, she would have been completely fooled by the little act. Well, damn. Maybe she could still recruit Kaoru into the Oniwabanshu…perfect way to get her away from the Battousai…
"Fujita-dono, we would like to have a word with you, if that is acceptable. I am afraid that a complication has come up with the lessons you had planned for your sons." Kaoru stayed in her low bow, hiding her features.
"Oh dear…please, come with me. I live near here. Goro won't be back for several more hours, so you won't have to fear him." Tokio assured them. "We should be alone."
Misao and Kaoru followed her closely, Misao with a bit of stunned silence as Tokio navigated easily through the bodies. She was true to her word, and it didn't take long before they were all sitting in her house, sipping tea that was almost better than Kenshin's.
"Now, what can I help you two with?" Tokio asked. "It has been too long since you came by, Kaoru. I have worried about you."
"It's about those men who attacked you. We were wondering if you saw any face, or heard any names." Kaoru asked. "I don't know if Saitoh said anything, since I know he knows, but my dojo was attacked as well."
Tokio sighed. "He isn't the types to share information. In fact, what I do hear is mostly from his ranting while he eats dinner." She smiled and petted her stomach again. "You two ladies come by tomorrow, and I shall tell you what I can. Hajime will be getting off soon, and I don't want you to get into trouble with him."
Kaoru nodded her head. "We shall."
"Kaoru," Tokio said softly as she dug into her obi. "Here…I believe this will replace that kimono of yours my thoughtless husband ruined. He didn't say anything, but that tofu vendor was telling me about it. I shall have words with him tonight."
Kaoru started to protest but Misao lunged forward and accepted the money. "Thank, Fujita-dono!" Misao cheerfully chattered as she bowed low. "I shall make sure this is used properly."
Tokio smiled at her, and Misao was stunned at the regal look on her face. "You do that. Kaoru doesn't spend enough time taking care of herself. You must be Misao! I insist that you come with Kaoru tomorrow. My boys just love playmates."
Misao smiled and bowed, tugging a protesting Kaoru with her. "I shall!"
"Thanks for nothing, Tokio!" Kaoru wailed as she was protesting dragged out.
"Yes, thank you Fujita-dono!" Misao cheerfully replied.
"Call me Tokio. Anyway, when I was your age, I probably would have been doing something very similar. I think Hajime finally agreed to marry me for the sheer preservation of his sanity." Tokio replied, patting her large stomach happily.
Misao smiled a slow, dangerous grin. "So it does work."
"Very well, young Okashira." Tokio agreed as she saw them out. "Tomorrow you might be attacked by my boys, since they are spending the night with my mother. Tomorrow they will not be."
Both woman bowed again and fled back to the dojo.
"I think, besides the fact that she is…married to Saitoh she seems to be a nice woman." Misao managed, her mouth twitching. Her eyes had been lit like fireworks since Tokio's words about the reasons behind there marriage.
Kaoru nodded her head, but was busy with other thoughts. How was she going to get herself out of the house tomorrow? Lie and say she was teaching kendo? Then she would be expected to come home with money…
"Shopping is necessary." Misao finished with a flare.
Kaoru stopped and stared. "What?"
"You need a new kimono, and shopping for one after we speak to Tokio will be a perfect way to get out of the dojo. You are going to use the money Tokio gave you if I have to get your measurements in your sleep and take them to the seamstress myself. This way at least you get a say in what color." Misao said firmly. "If you're going to win that yummy…" She paused as she caught Kaoru's eyes.
There were entering the dojo, and the men looked up at their approach. "I mean…that yummy tofu vender. He had the cutest eyes…Aoshi-sama?"
"Misao," Aoshi said, and Kaoru thought she saw something like…um…thawing? Fewer icicles in his expressions? Whatever it was, Kaoru thought it might translate into something like relief.
"Aoshi-sama! You don't trust me either?" Misao's expression went from happy to dangerous to flat-out depressed in the amount of time it took to breathe between each.
"A note next time," Aoshi informed her. "You could have been kidnapped."
Misao rolled her eyes. "I waved to the spy you have on the train, and the idea that I am so easily kidnapped is rather insulting." Her words were as pouty as her bottom lip and Kaoru grasped her hand and dragged her away.
Flashing a bright smile at the three men watching them she headed toward the kitchen. "Here Misao, you can help me with dinner. Kenshin has been working himself silly. Aoshi, have Kenshin get the guest room set up for you, Yahiko, pick your mouth back up and keep it shut."
Yahiko had the grace to wait until they were out of sight, and throwing range, before he groaned. "My stomach…"
Kenshin had discovered that Misao was an ally. It was in the way she was watching him, with beady little eyes. He had to keep a stern mask on his face all night, because the glances she kept tossing him; well, they had him very gleeful.
Kaoru's greatest ally was fixing to be recruited to the opposite team.
Aoshi's arrival put a bit of a damper on his plans, since Aoshi was watching Misao with the same intensity that she was watching him. Kenshin's advice was to get himself laid. Really. Misao seemed like she was more than capable of taking up her duty as half the team.
"I will help with dishes." Misao declared. "Kaoru, go and take your bath!"
The argument that broke out was loud, forceful, and ended with Kaoru losing. Perfect.
Once the kitchen had cleared out, and Aoshi and Yahiko went to get ready for their own beds, Kenshin waited for her to bring the subject up. She would not have volunteered for this unless she had a kunai to pick with him.
"I meant what I said earlier. If you hurt her again, I will kill you myself." Misao warned. "You won't see it coming. It may take me years, but I swear to you, I will dance on your grave."
Kenshin nodded his head. He wasn't going to argue with her, since the situation she threatened him with was never going to happen. "I want her, Misao."
Misao snorted. "You have eyes in your head. Of course you do. However, that wanting has not proved to do more than keep you here as long as you think it's safe. Loving you will never keep her safe, but neither will you're leaving keep her any safer." There was an angry tone in her voice that caused Kenshin to fight another smile.
Kaoru really did have the ability to inspire loyalty.
"I want her in my arms. I want her as my wife." Kenshin replied softly. "I will do whatever it takes, Itachi; do not think you can stand between me and my goal."
Misao raised a brow at him, determination in her eyes. "Think that if you want, Himura, but I am in no way easy to kill. Don't hurt her."
Kenshin went back to washing, handing her the slick dishes to dry.
"So…how exactly do you plan on getting her into bed with you?"
Kenshin started at that, his expression bemused. "I would think that is none of your business."
Misao finished drying the last of the dishes. "You know, no matter what they say, girls liked to be romanced. However, there also comes a time when a man has to buck up and use the balls he has been given. Don't be afraid she will break. She might try to claw your eyes out, but I believe that part of Kaoru needs to be swept off her feet…physically if necessary. You've got muscles, big boy…use them. However, give her time to say no, or she will cut them off." Misao patted his shoulder and waved. "Night, night!"
Kenshin stood there slightly dumbfounded. Well…he had never had it put quite that way before. He didn't think that Kaoru was quite ready for…what Misao was suggesting yet. However, that didn't mean that he couldn't work with it.
Baby steps.
Kaoru came out of the bathhouse and sighed in pleasure. The warm breeze teased at her damp hair and she leaned against the side of the bathhouse with a contented smile.
Dragging a hand through her bangs, she felt slightly guilty at leaving the towels for Kenshin to pick up; so, stepping onto the porch, she thought about going back in there and picking them up.
"Don't. I will get them later," His voice brushed over her ears, and Kaoru flushed at having spoken out loud.
Kaoru turned and glared at him. "How many times do I have to tell you not to sneak up on me?" He never made the noise that the Rurouni had made when walking around. He was content to move like a cat. Silent, balancing on the balls of his feet, always moving with a careless grace she would sell her eyes for.
"Really, Kenshin you have to stop! A girl has to have some privacy." Kaoru scolded him, pouting when he smiled.
"I give you the illusion of privacy." He soothed her, his eyes laughing.
Kaoru felt her eye twitch. He was teasing her. Kaoru rolled her eyes and swatted his shoulder, relaxing. This was still Kenshin, even if it was an amorous and slightly weird Kenshin. "Kenshin…you seem to be suffering from a head injury. If I told you I was only giving you the illusion of privacy, how would you feel?"
Kenshin moved close, grinning down at her suddenly startled face. "Hmm…hard question, Thistle. The idea of you in my personal space is rather tempting. You can give me an illusion, but I keep hoping that you will take it away."
He was suddenly very close. As in his breath was stirring her bangs close. As in his mouth was…Kaoru sighed into his lips as he leaned down and kissed her. Perhaps it was the bath, or the way his hands framed her face, but whatever it was, when his tongue slid along her bottom lip she parted her lips. Her hands rose to his forearms, and clutched as he skillfully kissed away whatever filling her knees had after the warm water was done with them.
It wasn't until she remembered that leaning against his chest, somehow clutching his shoulders instead of his arm, and the warm feeling of his arms, was not what she wanted that she pulled away and lowered her head. The only reasons she stayed in his arms was because if she tried to move away, she was going to fall flat on her ass.
"I can't." Kaoru desperately whispered. Her hands clutched at his sleeves, her fingers twisting tightly. She didn't expect his hands to cup her cheeks, or to pull her face back upwards.
If he kissed her again…
"Your trust needs some improvement, little Thistle. I have no intention of biting just yet. I will do whatever it takes to prove I am not going anywhere, regardless of who or what I have to go through to do it. I am warning you now, Thistle, that I will have you. What I get, I keep. Every weakness you show, I will exploit. I will have you, and I will keep you. I refuse to let you go." He brought her wrist to his mouth and kissed it softly. "If you need to run, Kaoru, do so. Just remember, when you round that final corner, I will be waiting for you."
He stepped back and brushed her bangs. "Go to bed."
Kaoru fled.
She lay down, aware that Misao was awake and curious, but Kaoru ignored her and watched as the shadows began to turn into the darkness of midnight. An idea... a bad one, perhaps, but an idea... was slowly sparking in her mind.
She couldn't keep him. Really, she couldn't. She had learned the hard way about her Rurouni and what he needed; open roads figured into that. However…that didn't mean she couldn't keep a part of him.
Closing her eyes, Kaoru decided that it was something she would keep to herself for a while, and that she would think it over later.
For now…she had to get some rest so she could pull off a great acting job. Really…perhaps she could convince Misao to let her use the money on Yahiko. The last thing she wanted was to parade around in a new kimono in front of Kenshin.
It might be taken as an invitation.
Blurb: If you guys want a great RK story, head over to Jane Drew's "Frozen Moonlight". Not only does the story kick ass, but the characterization does as well. I highly suggest you read it. Its on my favorit list so just click click.