Here is the next chapter of Twisted and a long awaited moment. I tried to give you guys as much of the lemon as possible without cutting on FFN's rules, so as always, Guilty Pleasures will have it up. I have already emailed it to the wonderful Leilani who runs it. She is such a sweetheart. I would guess there are only going to be a handful more chapters. I have no idea how many that means, but my guess is around five or six depending on several things.
Enjoy.
Ravyn
Warning: This chapter is R for a reason. I MEAN A IMPORTANT REASON. So if you don't like smut or lemon-ish things, please avoid the section of this chapter that has it.
Note: Thank you to both Pia Bartolini and Jane Drew for the help with this chapter. They are both stellar and because of there work this chapter is both smooth and beta-ed to its best format!
"Do you think Aoshi-sama will ever notice me?" Misao asked quietly from where she was watching the moon rise in the open shoji door that led to her section of the deck. "I mean, I'm going to be twenty in a few months and I don't think he has noticed me yet."
Kaoru stopped from where she had been brushing out her hair and went and settled down next to her. The women kept their voices low in respect for those sleeping beyond the walls and Kaoru put her hand on her friend's shoulder. "Why the sudden urge to be all self-doubtful?" Kaoru questioned gently.
Misao turned pursed lips to her friend and played with the end of her braid. "Well…my boobs are still practically flat, I am still not very lady-like, and I can't tell him about what I have done in my past yet."
Kaoru was silent for a moment. "Alright. Let's say you were a fuller-figured woman: you would have to put on a good twenty-pounds, and with your size that might cause problems. Plus, you wouldn't be able to scurry up roof-tops and for sure you wouldn't have been able to chase Aoshi as a boy across Japan. Then what would you have to offer the Oniwabanshu besides a wonderful figure to bring in diners?"
Misao stared at her for a long moment. "I haven't thought about it that way."
Kaoru smiled at her. "Has your Aoshi-sama shown any interest in the type of woman you wish to be? I can't see him bringing home some trophy to hang on his arm and flutter her lashes at him. At the very least he will want a partner. It's the same with…" she paused.
"Kenshin." Misao said softly. "Which is why the Rurouni is still hurting you, isn't it?"
Kaoru blinked and shrugged. "There are lots of things, Misao. If you want, sometime we will talk about it." She glanced at the door and rolled her eyes.
Translation: around here someone was always listening.
Misao nodded and stood up and yawned. "Let's get some sleep shall we? You never know what is going to happen around this place and one must have the full amount of sleep in order to maintain proper chaos handling capability."
Kaoru grinned in agreement. As she crawled into her futon and Misao crawled into hers, there was silence for a moment. "I think I want a baby." She quietly whispered to Kaoru. Kaoru's eyes went wide with surprise but Misao kept going, since her back was to her. "I want something with Aoshi's eyes. I really liked Tokio's kids."
Kaoru pressed her palm to her flat stomach and mentally agreed, closing her eyes.
Kenshin sat on his futon, his expression distant as he felt the way the house settled. For a while Misao and Kaoru had whispered back and forth, but he had made no point to listen to their soft confidential whispers. Kaoru would tell him everything when the time came. He smiled in the dark, a flash of teeth in the moonlight, and braced his chin on his hand. His elbows were propped up on his thighs and he contemplated the happenings of the past few days.
Misao always brought a series of surprises with her. He had always known that she had dragged Kaoru both in and out of trouble when he wasn't looking. His past self had worried but the Battousai was quite aware of Kaoru's ability to turn the tables and drag the female Okashira into trouble as well. He had caught the half-whispers of stories that the Rurouni had missed in his sedated haze. His grin widened and he was almost thankful that Kaoru couldn't see it.
It had surprised him how much he wanted her, trapped inside the Rurouni, one who had never felt the need to leave except when the dojo was in danger. He would have liked to have thought that he had noticed her first, but the Rurouni had been the first to pick out her bright spark. It wasn't until she called out for him and glared at him with eyes deep and alight with innocence that he had felt the urge to reach out and see if her skin was as soft as it looked. He had been almost content to sit back in the drag of the Rurouni's logic as he went through life, but her temper and vibrancy had jerked him out of his wasting status every time she let it out. Each time she hit him with a bokken, each punch she threw at the Rurouni, every night that he heard her crying in her room.
Settling onto his back he stared at the black ceiling and began to plot the last of her downfall. He wasn't all that patient and his need for her was going to cause him to snap soon. Every time she bristled and fumed at something he did or said he had the urge to drag her into his arms and teach her how to put that temper to the best possible use. Closing his eyes, he hoped he would manage to hold out until she was ready, but his restraint was already failing.
Kaoru woke up with a yawn and sleepily rubbed at her eyes. The extra futon they had tossed into her room had been packed up and removed and Kaoru felt a rock sink into her stomach at the thought. It was always Misao's way of warning her that she was leaving. Kaoru thought about what day it was and she frowned. They shouldn't be leaving just yet. Misao had made noises about Friday and today was only Wednesday.
Rolling out of bed, she yanked on the first piece of clothing she could find and tied a plum obi over a blue kimono with small plum flowers across the pattern. It was relatively new, but nothing so fancy that she would worry about harming it. Shaking her braid out she quickly tied it into a tail and went out to find out where everyone was.
Kenshin was just putting the finishing touches on breakfast and Aoshi was discussing something with him and he kept nodding to show he was still listening. Misao was giving Yahiko firm orders, and Kaoru caught the word "kimono" more than once and sighed. She was definitely giving her young charge a threat if he didn't make sure she picked it up. Rolling her eyes at her friend she firmly ignored Kenshin, who was letting his amber eyes linger over her in a way that was less than polite.
"I take it you're leaving?" Kaoru asked as she took her normal seat and softly thanked Kenshin for breakfast.
Misao nodded around a mouthful of rice and swallowed. "We got a message from Okina and apparently someone attempted to attack last night. We don't know if the instances are related but we need to get back." There was a note in her voice that promised that Kaoru could expect a note via Tae in the near future. Kaoru chewed and gave a slight nod that said she understood completely.
Breakfast was rushed and soon she was waving her friend off as they disappeared into a carriage that Aoshi had suddenly managed to procure, probably through the Oniwabanshu faction in Tokyo, and then she was alone in the dojo with only Yahiko as a buffer between her and Kenshin. She was suddenly feeling apprehensive when she felt Kenshin come and stand next to her. She suddenly knew, without knowing how, that she was going to have to be on her best behavior, because Kenshin wasn't the only one watching her. Aoshi was lending Kenshin his ears. Either that or she was growing paranoid.
"When are you teaching today?" Kenshin asked as he admired her in the kimono. Kaoru made a face at him and went back inside the dojo to start cleaning up.
"Not until after lunch. I am really behind on some of the chores and my morning classes today are canceled - Yahiko has earned a day off." Kaoru easily replied as she picked up dishes. "I planned on sweeping off the back porch and clearing out some of my room."
"I will make sure the bathhouse is swept out today, then." Kenshin offered. Kaoru nodded with a thoughtful look on her face.
"This weekend I want to air out the futons, if you think you and Yahiko will be around to help me haul and beat them." Kaoru quietly requested. Kenshin agreed and the morning disappeared into a series of chores.
Kaoru trudged along the well-worn path to one of the dojos she taught at with a bit of trepidation to her step. She had left Yahiko in the same environment with order to clean the dojo floors. Misao's expression had been worth the playful order but the girl needed something to do to keep her from plotting. If she thought Kaoru had missed the expression on her face every time she and Kenshin were in the same room together…rolling her eyes in exasperation she continued on her walk. Grinning to herself she watched as the familiar path lead her into town. She loved teaching across town for the simple reason…
"Kaoru-san!" Eiji's voice called out cheerfully as he approached and took her gear out of her arms. "Tokio-san says hello and that she hopes you will be able to have tea with her Thursday."
Kaoru ruffled the boy's hair affectionately. He couldn't have been more than a year or so younger than Yahiko but lapped up the affection she gave out freely. Once he had learned that she had to pass by his home to make it to the dojo she taught at on this end of town he always appeared in time to help carry her load of gear and pester her for information on sword fighting. Eiji was being taught by Saitoh but always seemed to get several questions on defense or other opponent's techniques in before they got to the dojo walls.
"I have heard many things from Saitoh-san." Eiji began. Their conversations generally started out with his questions or direct statements, and Kaoru enjoyed it immensely. "He says that there were several murders in the police force the night before last."
Kaoru frowned thoughtfully as she thought about what he said. "Did he say what he thought caused them?"
Eiji shrugged his shoulders. "He wouldn't say anything more than that, since it took him out of bed that night and Tokio-san was very unhappy with him. It's very hard to sneak up or to spy on him." His words were chagrined and Kaoru bit down a laugh.
"I am sure it is. Thank you for the information." Kaoru said with a smile as they continued at an easy pace on the worn dirt path. "I heard that you helped hide Tokio when they attacked the house."
Eiji nodded, a serious expression crossing his face. "Yes. Saitoh-san had me help Tokio and the children while he dealt with the intruder." There was a great deal of hesitation on his face. "I heard that you got attacked as well."
Kaoru sighed and pursed her mouth as she attempted to explain things. "I don't think this…person is as bad as Shishio, Eiji. However, if you ever think for some reason that Tokio, you, and the littlest one are in danger when Saitoh is not home, come to the dojo. Yahiko and I can take care of ourselves and…Kenshin is there." Something lurched in her stomach at that reassurance that he was there, and she refused to think on it. She was struggling enough with attempting to figure out how to go about her other plan, much less discovering why such reassurances to the boy bothered her.
Eiji's little face brightened. "I did not know Himura-san was back. Saitoh-san normally is growling over his soba when he is about, and he has not done so in many months and I heard rumors that he had left. I take it came back for you, then? Tokio-san was sure he would."
Kaoru simply agreed with him, attempting to keep from showing how much those words affected her. Shaking off her melancholy, she ruffled Eiji's hair. "See? With Kenshin around, your family can be safe."
Eiji grinned. "I think I am more scared of your temper. He would attack too fast for me to see but I always know what is coming with you!" Kaoru swatted at his bangs but he ducked and laughed like the little boy he was. "I almost forgot, Kaoru-san! There was another death the newspaper didn't post! Saitoh-san didn't go into detail about it with Tokio-san because he doesn't think it was related to the case but I thought you might want to know! There was an old woman found dead in the sakura groves not far from your dojo. They said she couldn't have been there long, and it looked to be an act of a mugger. They said she was probably a gypsy!"
Kaoru blinked as the image of a old woman floated in front of her eyes. "Oh….really?" her voice was faint. "Well…that's horrible. I think I might have seen her once or twice. Now that your weekly report is finished, do you have questions for me?"
Eiji's eyes lit up the exact same way Yahiko's did when asking or learning a new move, and Kaoru didn't doubt for a second that hers were still the same as well. Kaoru walked in companionable chatter as she and Eiji debated defense techniques. Eiji argued heatedly against some of her ideas, but agreed with others. Kaoru enjoyed the little debates on logic, and she could easily pick out one or two of Saitoh's general principles. Her lips twitched as she attempted to keep from laughing, not wanted to hurt the boy's pride, and she was in the process of thanking him for his help as they reached the dojo gate when the coppery scent of blood reached her nose.
She stiffened and turned. There was a single blood smear on the gate and there were the sounds of faint moans coming from inside. Something tightened in disbelief and she quickly calculated who was closer and turned to Eiji. "Go get your father." Giving him a push, she shoved the door open and walked inside, her eyes scanning for whatever had left the mark. She was suddenly almost thankful for her violent past because the place was covered in blood and more than half of her students were on the ground. Some were attempting to crawl away and several others weren't moving. Then she saw the slumped form of Kyosuke, who was the Master at this Dojo. There was a single line of blood running down his temple. It looked like he had been hit first, and then the boys had been left to deal with the intruder.
Kaoru turned and licked her lips when she heard the cackle and turned to see a man holding his sword. Her blood ran cold when she recognized the uniform clinging in torn shreds to his body. He was, or had been, a police officer. He was by no means in good shape. The tunic of his right shoulder was dark red with aged blood and still spreading. The right side of his face had a large bruise, there was a cut running along his jaw, and the way he was curled slightly around his midsection said that he had bruised or cracked ribs. Regardless, there wasn't a whole lot of sanity in his face; and she had seen enough killers in her life to know when they had been pushed over the edge.
Kaoru slid into a defensive stance. He was already hurt, and even though he had live steel, she doubted he had the skill of Kamatari. Taking a deep breath she set back and waited for him to attack. There was no way she was leaving them here and running off to safety. She would never forgive herself.
"You will pay for what you caused me, bitch! If you had kept the child with you I might have made your death a little less painful. But now, I shall enjoy killing you!" There was an edge to his voice that she most closely associated with Jineh and she ignored his words. If she had any hope of saving any of the injured she had to put him out of his misery and she had to do it now.
Kaoru had to give him credit. He moved a lot faster than his injury should have permitted. Her teeth jarred together with the force of his attack as she deflected it, and she was thankful that she had gotten better at deflecting most of the power out of a enemy's strike. There were shattered bokkens all over the yard from where the boys had been fighting and she had to doge those as well as his thrusting attacks. She recognized a little bit of something that reminded her of Saitoh's sword style and more than once she had to turn a dive into a roll. Sticky blood along with grass and leaves splashed in colors across her shoulders and back as she fought. She had managed to land a hit into his broken ribs and he had howled like a man stabbed but hadn't slowed much beyond that. However, his attacks were getting sloppy, and she was wondering if perhaps a rib hadn't pierced his lung.
She had to be proud of her students because they had managed to do so much damage. The man was clearly staggering from a head wound as well as busted ribs, and his attacks were quickly fading. She hated to do it, but when he gave her the opening she aimed for behind the temple and sent him to the floor. Kaoru sat down for a moment, her breathing ragged as she looked at the curious dark stains on the ground before she went to start helping the students. Two or three had managed to get away with only minor cuts and had gone into the dojo to fetch bandages. One had taken a sword thrust to the side and was bleeding badly. Kyosuke hadn't stirred and Kaoru was starting to worry. She feared one of the boys had damaged his eye but the cut had managed to instead clip a brow. There were numerous other injuries and all she could do was bandage them until the doctor came or someone managed to send for Dr. Gensai.
By the time Saitoh got there she was covered in blood that was not her own. Sitting back once Saitoh got there with several police officers and a pale Eiji, Kaoru let them take over; they had more experience with trauma wounds and Saitoh had brought the police doctor. Kaoru sat on her heels and stared at her bloodied hands and clothing. She recognized the smell of smoke and didn't bother to look up. "I guess you want me to go and give a statement?" Kaoru asked quietly.
Saitoh gave her a long look and nodded. He blew out his cigarette smoke. " I have questions that need to be answered. I will attempt to get you home before your pet watchdog goes berserk."
'By that he means Kenshin coming looking for me and possibly killing people in the process.' Kaoru thought wearily. She trudged after him with a tired expression and Eiji nodded at her and slipped away. Kaoru knew he was going to go and tell his mother what happened and orchestrate an excuse for why he was in the area. Besides her having been walking by; she brought bloody fingers to her temples and rubbed. She could practically feel the headache building.
The walk to the police station was perhaps the longest she had ever had in her life. Which was why it surprised her when he ignored it and kept walking. They reached the entrance of the Akebeko and turned around and moved into the back entrance, where a startled Tsubame let them in. She put them in a small table behind the kitchen that Kaoru hadn't even been aware existed, even after her dozen or so dishwashing ventures. There was hot tea and then Saitoh was watching her with those eyes.
"I would have dragged your happy tanuki-ass down to the station, but there are too many ears there. I need to know what you know about that man who attacked you." There wasn't a threat in his voice, yet, but Kaoru knew from history that he didn't need it to make her sweat. However, there was a general lack of hostility in his voice, more of the mocking voice that belayed the serious look in his eyes. "There is less of a chance we will be heard here. How did you know Shiro?"
Kaoru frowned at him, her expression showing her confusion. "As far as I know, I have never seen him before."
Saitoh raised a brow. "You're telling me he attacked the dojo where you were working and you have never seen him before?" Kaoru scowled at him. Did he have to say "working" like that? As if it was such a horrible, nasty thing that shouldn't be repeated? She felt like taking her shinai to his ears and beating him.
"That's right." Kaoru gritted out, her hands tightening on the tea cup.
He raised a mocking brow but didn't say anything; instead he just watched her and sipped his own tea easily. "If you didn't notice,"-- the tone in his voice suggested that he really hadn't expected her to--"He used to be on my force. Some of his ahou friends have been taken out of commission. Shiro was claiming that you were the cause of his hatred."
Kaoru felt something cold settle into the pit of her stomach. Her headache raged in her brain and she glared at him. "Are you suggesting that I had something to do with it, directly or indirectly? I didn't send Kenshin after them if that is what you are hinting at either!" Her voice lowered in pitch and she set her cup down. "If you don't have anything else to ask me, something meaningful and not two-sided, then I will be taking my leave."
He sipped his tea and watched her, unaffected by her outburst. "Why was Eiji the one to come running to my office?"
Kaoru glared at him. "He happened to be walking by and I recognized him. He ran into Misao the other day and recognized her and I sent him for you. Next time I will happily take care of the problem and then come in." She stood up. "If that is all?"
Saitoh waved a hand, digging into his pocket for a cigarette. "You're dismissed."
Kaoru considered snarling at him, but refrained and left. She thought about going home and taking a bath to clean herself of her bloodied hands and figure, but decided against it. She had someone to talk to first.
Kenshin continued the movements, his arms and chest burning with the force of his thrusts, his calves aching from the demand he had made of them that day. His hair clung to his throat and bare shoulders wetly and he shook his sweat-dampened bangs out of his eyes with a snarl. Standing there in the dojo, with the echoes of her Chi and the faint scent of jasmine and sweat, his lungs breathed in the air gratefully. Yahiko was finishing up the last of the laundry and chores and he had already put the Miso on to slowly simmer so it would be ready for dinner. All that was left for him to cook was the rice and whatever vegetable or fish Kaoru brought home with her. On days she worked at that particular dojo, she would swing by the market and get the tofu, vegetables, and whatever else she wanted. He had been 'slipping' money into the bag she kept most of their yen in and he wondered how long until she noticed it.
His mouth curved. If the Rurouni had been around, he would have been horrified to know that he had gone back and done what he had. Shrugging as he sheathed his katana and stretched his shoulders, he thought about his careful horde of both gold and yen notes. He had a family to support and he could care less how he got the money as long as he had it. Once things settled down with Kaoru here, he planned on finding a steady income so she wouldn't have to work once they started a family.
He closed his eyes and let his senses scan the dojo again. He had been uneasy since the moment she had left the dojo and he couldn't shake it. It was eating at his stomach lining and he had decided to practice to see if he could distract himself. It hadn't worked and he had worked himself into a fine sheen of sweat. Tossing his bangs of his eyes he went to get a drink of water while thinking of what could be keeping Kaoru. Yahiko seemed to be thinking the same thing, because his eyes kept darting to the dojo gate from where he was sweeping the front steps. Generally Kaoru reserved that right for herself, but she wasn't back yet and if she had stayed late teaching she wouldn't want to sweep anything. She would just want a hot bath, dinner, and her bed. It was getting dark and he was worried about her.
Shaking off his sudden anxiety Yahiko watched as Kenshin went and stacked the logs under the furnace so he could light them when she was ready for them, and he went to gather the laundry and check on the soup. He didn't dare do much to it but he could make sure it wasn't burning or boiling over.
Kaoru watched as the stream lazily moved down its path. Her hands were clamped together as she thought about what Eiji had told her. An old woman, possibly gypsy, had been found dead out here. She had sat on the log until the air had started to chill and still didn't know what to say. She wasn't so sure why it was important that she say anything at all, but something told her that the old woman she had met that once had done something important and it had possibly cost her in the long run.
Sighing she stood up and made her way home. She had washed her hands clean in the stream, and hopefully it was dark enough that Kenshin wouldn't notice the blood stains. 'Bloodstains on white fabric…don't kid yourself, Kamiya! Not only will he notice, but you will probably be in a load of trouble as well.' She shook her head and made for the gate that was looming in front of her. Stopping halfway there she swore under her breath. She had forgotten to grab the goods Kenshin had requested for dinner! Fingering her aching temples she felt tears prickle on the back of her lids. This was not her day!
Slumping slightly she headed into the dojo, the scent of the fire Kenshin was building filling her senses. Sighing in relief, she moved towards the bathhouse. Hopefully she still had a clean yukata in there and she wouldn't have to let Kenshin see her state of dress. But she would have to apologize…"I am so sorry!" Kaoru whispered as she leaned into the shadows of the bathhouse so that she could see where Kenshin was adding wood to the cheerfully flickering flames. "I forgot to grab dinner and I am late…" Even while she was talking she was opening the door and slipping inside the bathhouse in an attempt to avoid his eyes. She heard her name echoing into the room but she shut the door and stood still for a moment before heading into the bathing chamber. He always had extra rinsing water for her and she was thankful as she began to pull at the twisted, bloody knot at her waist so she could strip, her fingers shaking for a moment as she realized exactly how much blood she had on her.
Kenshin had turned with narrowed eyes when she sounded so lost but was completely unprepared for the way Kaoru all but raced into the bathhouse. That was when he caught what had been hovering at the edge of his senses since she entered the yard. Blood. Clenching his jaw, he dusted his hands off and opened the door to go in after her. "Kaoru, my apologies…" He stopped mid sentence and stared at her. She stared right back, wide-eyed and startled.
She had already tugged half of her gi off one shoulder so that it had fallen to her waist and her fingers were tugging on the other. Her pants were only loosely clinging to her waist and had slipped down so that if she shifted her hips at all they would fall to the floor. It was the large, red stain that the lanterns showed on her left shoulder, the dark red of the front of her breast bindings, and the splotches of blood at her temples that had him stock still and furious.
"Kenshin…" Kaoru tried, her voice wavering slightly in uncertainty but he was having none of it. He crossed the distance between them in seconds. His hands grasped along one bare shoulder and the other clothed in bloody gi. His face was so close that his breath was ghosting across her lips and she could feel the heat of his skin against her own.
"Why is there so much blood?" Kenshin quietly asked, fury lining his voice. Kaoru stared at him for long moments.
"It's not mine!" She blurted out in an attempt to placate him but that just made his eyes flare brighter. "I mean…it's not the man who…it's the boys I…damnit, Kenshin, you're not helping!" Kaoru snarled that last bit at him and he gave her a long, lazy look from under his lashes. He was still furious, she could tell, but apparently the knowledge that she wasn't bleeding to death beneath his nose seemed to have calmed him down.
"Help?" Kenshin drawled his voice lowering until it was almost a purr against her skin. "You want my help?" Kaoru suddenly wondered if she had somehow infuriated him even more and was about to respond scathingly, when he jerked the rest of her gi off her shoulders and left her only in her breast bindings and pants.
"Kenshin!" Kaoru snapped at him, stepping back and almost tripping over the hem of her dangerously low pants. "What are you doing?" She shrieked in protest as he caught and steadied her. Her eyes widened even more when he kissed the ridge of her ear and then bit down lightly. She gasped and shivered, intent on holding her pants up. "Kenshin!"
An amused chuckle as his hands lowered from her elbows to grasp at her hands and to tease her fingers loose. She bit her lip and looked up at him in concern. "You said, Koi, that you wanted my help." His mouth pressed into hers hotly and she whimpered in the back of her throat as her knees wavered and her hands released her pants to allow his fingers to tug at them, leaving her bare from the waist down. He smiled against her mouth and she could feel the way his body hummed with satisfaction. "You're covered in blood. I thought I might help you wash it off." There were dark undertones in his voice that promised they weren't through with that conversation and then her back was flat against the wall as he nibbled on her jaw and slid his palms up her sides to tug at her breast bindings. "In order for that to happen," he informed her, his breath warm against the damp skin of her jawline. "You're going to have to be naked in my arms."
Kaoru opened her mouth to argue with him but his fingers suddenly met the bare skin of her chest and she found she couldn't make any noise at all. His thumbs brushed against the pink tips of her breasts and the air was sucked out of her lungs and all she could emit was a squeak. He nipped at her chin and caught her mouth with his as his clever fingers continued to taunt her. "I thought you would like that," he breathed against her mouth before he let her go, letting the wall support her naked body as he moved to the rinsing water and soap. Kaoru stared at him with wide eyes as she sucked in air and watched as he stripped off his gi and bared the thick muscles of his back before soaping a dripping rag and turning to her with a predatory gleam in his eyes.
Standing, he reached for her body and pulled her stunned form into his side, balancing her before having her stand alone. Then he smoothed the cloth down the heavy fall of her breasts, down the smooth column of her throat, the graceful fall of her shoulders and arms. He would stop and wipe away each stain as he lowered himself down her body, leaving dripping suds in its path before he smoothed it down the line of her belly and inner thighs. She watched as one hand dipped into the warm water and then slid between her thighs…
Kaoru pitched partway forward and hung onto his shoulders as he laughed against the skin of her stomach and did it again. Her nails bit into his shoulder and he placed several open-mouth kisses against the skin closest to his mouth. "I wonder…" he all but purred as he dragged his thumb against something that made her body quake. She wanted to ask him what he wondered. She was having the hardest time holding herself up as it was and his smiled against her skin. "Let's get you clean." Then Kenshin was holding her hips as he easily rose and she stared at him with glossy eyes as he nipped at her bottom lip. "I'm not finished yet." He assured her. "I haven't bent you over backwards and had you screaming."
Kaoru gulped as he carefully poured water over her skin and washed away the soap. The rest of the bucked was upended over her thick hair. The water cascaded over sensitive skin and she shivered. Parts of her were throbbing for his attention but he seemed content to work soap into her bangs and hair, his blunt nails scratching against her scalp. Once he was sure that her hair was clean he used the other bucket of warm water to rinse it free. When she was clean, he gave a little sigh. "Finally."
Kaoru all but jumped out of her skin when she found herself pushed against the wall, his naked chest pressing into her own, one of her legs tossed over his hip as he sucked gently against her collarbone. The hand that wasn't holding onto her leg was smoothing up her wet, slick skin and tracing feather patterns across her belly and breasts. Taunting her with his almost touch. Once he had her where he wanted her, Kaoru's softness brushed his hard arousal. She gasped in surprise; he gave her a lazy-lidded look that had her breath coming in harsh gasps.
His lips skimmed her ear just before his tongue snaked out to trace the edge, then his teeth grazed it again. Kaoru arched against him and he gave another one of those dark, masculine chuckles that had her shivering in unnamed need. "Tell me, Thistle, do you like this? Being pressed up against a wall at my mercy and completely vulnerable?" As he spoke he touched her core delicately and she tightened her leg around his waist, whimpering. "Do you want that? Do you want me buried deep inside you, completing you as only I can? Tell me, have you thought about what it would be like to be flat on your back and completely under my will?" He dropped kisses along her pulse point. "Tell me."
Kaoru stared at him in disbelief as he watched her, a covetous expression on his face, and her lips parted as she attempt to articulate something, anything, to return those wicked digits to where he had removed them. "If you want something, Koishii, you can tell me." He nipped at her eat lobe again, shooting sparks down to the part of her that was a painful ache, and she groaned. "I want to hear it."
"I…" she managed, her voice strangled.
"Tell me what you want."
"I…want…you." She managed. He gave a noise of encouragement but refused to move his fingers.
"Were do you want me?" He dropped kisses along her jaw-line and down her throat, lingering on a spot that made her sob low in her throat and buck against him. Kaoru dug her nails into his shoulder and whimpered. "Kaoru." He made her name an endearment with the way he drawled it out and in a corner of her mind she wondered at how unfair it was that he could do that to her with his voice.
Her response was so low he almost didn't catch it. Smiling he kissed his way up to her temple to catch the sweat with this tongue, but didn't move. She gave another whimpering sob and said it again.
"Inside me," Kaoru managed to moan. "I want you moving inside me." Kaoru whimpered when he gave into pleas and gave her what she asked for. Her body writhed against his. "So close….just reach a little harder." He crooned. "Just…there…" Kaoru stiffened in his arms, a scream tearing from her throat as her world went up in lights and she sobbed in relief as she shook in his arms. "There you go." He allowed her leg to slide down his body and he scooped her up and carefully set her in the water. Kaoru hung onto the rim and panted as her body remained supersensitive after his assault.
She turned in surprise when his body settled next to hers and he pulled her into his arms to rest. "You did wonderfully." He assured her in a delighted tone. Kaoru settled her check against his neck and breathed in the scent of him. He smelled like the fire from earlier and the faintest touch of sweat. "However," he purred against her in a husky voice. "I haven't fulfilled your wishes yet."
Kaoru gasped when she suddenly found herself pressed against the back of the tub, the warm water soothing as it crashed around her. Her legs had somehow managed to wrap around his waist and his chest had her pinned to the wall of the tub. "I need you." He informed her as he dropped kisses along her jaw line, lingering at her mouth. "Let me inside you." He nuzzled her neck. "Let me take you." One of his hands slipped down to brace her spin and she sucked in a breath at the knowledge that he had her vulnerable again. She found herself nodding eagerly and he gave her a look that heated her already raging blood-stream.
The tip of him brushed against her entrance and she hissed between her teeth. He caught her eyes with his. "This will hurt at first, but I promise I will make it feel very, very good."
It did hurt. Kaoru closed her eyes at the stretching, painful sensation as he filled her and gasped between pale lips. His mouth covered hers, his tongue coaxing her to relax and to trust him and eventually their chests were flush, the pain starting to fade. She was thankful for the hand cradling her back and neck as her body lost control, with him moving inside her. Kaoru thought she heard Kenshin grind out her name, a second heat rush streaming into her body. He collapsed into her, panting and exhausted. Kaoru allowed him to rearrange her body against his, content to let them stay that way until the water began to turn cold.
"We need to get some food in you." Kenshin breathed against her neck as he pulled them out of the water. "Then you're going to tell me why you were covered in blood." He informed her, picking Kaoru up and setting her onto the floor before grasping the rough towel and drying her off. She let him wrap her up and then set about wringing out her hair while he tied a towel around his waist and headed for the changing room. Handing her a yukata, he belted his own loosely around his waist, allowing the front to show more chest than was strictly polite.
Kaoru flushed at the idea of not binding her breasts and cast him a shy glance. "Yahiko?" She asked quietly.
"Went to get the rest of the groceries and hasn't come back yet. He had mentioned something about stopping at the Akebeko to see how things were there, and he probably got roped into working. He will probably spend the night there but I will cover the miso and leave it out for him. I have enough vegetables and rice to make something to go with the miso, and he knew that." He assured her, watching her from dripping bangs. Kaoru nodded and wasn't overly surprised when he dropped an arm around her shoulders and walked with her into the dojo, refusing to diminish contact. He settled her on the cushions as he went to grill the vegetables and set out the miso. Kaoru watched him work; her body humming pleasantly with the ministrations those same hands had given her only a little while before.
It was there, watching Kenshin chop vegetables and occasionally stir the simmering miso, her body sated, that she realized something. She was falling back in love with him. She was glad the room was dimly lit because her face drained of all color. Her hands fisted into the yukata she was wearing and she stared at him. She was falling in love with him. The way he had growled as she writhed against him, the way he was right behind her with what she needed, the amused quirk to his mouth when she gave into her temper. Blinking rapidly she felt her composure start to crack and she looked away, watching inside the fire that burned under the miso. She had been a fool. She had thought that she could take what he offered, and then let her abused heart keep her secret and survive without it. Now that he had taken away her capability to feel herself past his scent, his touch, his voice…she wasn't going to be able to do this.
Kaoru turned when he asked her opinion on something and the look he gave her curled her toes. She wouldn't be able to do it after what happened tonight. She would have to find something to keep this from repeating. If the look on his face had said anything, then he planned on making what had happened in the bathhouse a habit. If she did that her treacherous heart would seal the deal. There was no way she could lay with him enough to create a child and come out unscathed. She wasn't sure she was unscathed now. She blinked in surprise when he set hot tea in front of her, shooting an assessing look that had her breath stilling. She swore that he could see into her heart, knew her plans, and knew what he was doing to her.
"After dinner, we are going to talk." Kenshin told her quietly. "You're not going to teach in the morning; your body needs a chance to recover from earlier this evening. So you can't tell me that you need to go to bed." He filled the serving dishes and set out the bowls, then they were eating one of his better vegetarian dishes.
They ate in silence and once they had cleared most of the food Kenshin wrapped up what was savable and covered the rest of the miso in case Yahiko came home hungry that night. Then he motioned for her to lead the way and Kaoru was thankful for the lantern he had set in the hall to her room. She expected for him to follow her in but he set the lantern down and exited, giving her time to braid her waist-length hair and tie it off before he returned with a thicker blanket. "It's going to be cold tonight." He informed her as he tossed it over her form. Turning down the covers and settling himself into her blankets he held out on arm. Kaoru stared at him for a long moment before setting her comb down and crawling in with him. She wasn't ready to tip his suspicions that she was going to end this charade as soon as she could. Besides, she had always wanted to know what it was like to fall asleep in his arms.
There was no way it could be worse than the fact that they had had sex in her bathtub.
"Talk to me, Kaoru." Kenshin demanded as he threaded one hand into the hair at the base of her neck and his other hand rolled up and down her spine. "I need to know what happened today."
Kaoru blew on her bangs, the memory of what happened that afternoon driving away her sleepiness. "You're not going to let that go are you?"
"No." He drawled, voice echoing under he ear.
Kaoru sighed. "You can't overreact." She informed him firmly. "Or I won't ever tell you anything ever again." She felt his amusement but he agreed. In quiet, short sentences she describe what had happened (leaving out the part dealing with Eiji by giving him the same story as Saitoh, most of the conversation at the Akebeko, and her reactions) and then waited for his response.
"Saitoh has him in jail?" Kenshin finally asked, his voice the same even tone it had been before she described what had happened, but the hand buried in her hair had tightened fractionally.
"Yes. He said something about getting answers, and you can't go!" She informed him firmly, thumping his chest for emphasis. "I don't want you antagonizing him again!" His chest heaved with a sigh and he pulled the covers up to her chin.
"Go to sleep, Thistle." He ordered quietly. "I promise not to do anything tonight."
Kaoru huffed against him but he reached over and turned the lantern off and the room was incased in the darkness and all she could do was feel him under her cheek and hands; warm and alive and more than she could keep. She lay there in the darkness, wrapped up in him, and cherished the memory. It was the last thing she felt she could hold onto. There wasn't going to be a baby after this, there was no chance to keep him here if he decided to go, and she had to start preparing herself for the inevitable. Even if she was cradled in his arms safely now.
She fell asleep to the soft murmurs of his voice whispering beautiful nothings that burned her soul. If she was so wonderful, so beautiful and precious to him, then why was he going to leave?
Remember, Guilty Pleasures will be hoasting the more...detailed version of the lemon above. I don't know when she is going to put it up, probably today or tomorrow, she has already promised she would be watching for it to put up. I would love to email all of you and tell you when it is up, but that is just not possible. My apologies to all of those who have left such requests, but I would check regularly. Leilani is wonderful about getting things like this up. If you don't know how to access Gulty Pleasures, then all you have to do is click my homepage link. Leilani has graciously allowed me to link her in that manner.
Forgot to mention in the last chapter. Kaoru has her reasons for wanting to get pregnante, that does NOT mean I am encouraging that teenagers do the same. Unprotected sex is not something I suggest and having a child when you cannot support it and yourself is not healthy for either of you. On another note, single mothers are very brave people who I admire. I know several and I think there wonderful people. However, having a child to keep a man is not something I would suggest. Kaoru has already been figuring that having Kenshin's child is a going to be a bit more of a complication than she thought, and even though she has her reasons, motherhood is not easy. Please just keep this in mine.
Questions:
When is the Rurouni coming back? To that I say, you will see. I can't promise that some of you will like the way I bring him back (if I do) at all. This story is not about the Rurouni's happy ending. Keep that in mind.
When is Sano coming back? I would say he probably might be mentioned towards the end but won't make a concrete appearnce. He is off wandering...so let him wander.
Who are the mysterious people/bad guy? That would be telling wouldn't it? I hope this chapter gave a few more clues...
I think thats all the questions I have been getting the most. If I failed to answer something that needs to be cleared up, just make sure you leave an email and I will attempt to get back to you.