Author's notes:
Since people have been complaining about the confuzzlement the dates at the beginning of each paragraph bring, I'm getting rid of it. No worries I'll make the setting clear so you won't miss a thing.

STANDARD DISCLAIMERS APPLY

KOTETSU TO KOSUI (STEEL AND PERFUME)
Chapter Eight

It was a strange feeling; having someone to rely on you so completely.

With her head nestled on his shoulders Kenshin could do nothing but think. But the raven haired girl beside him was unknowingly prohibiting him to. It had been merely months since she came and now he couldn't explain the fondness he felt for the girl. She intrigued him, humored him and aroused him. Since the incident he could not stop thinking of how soft her lips were and how pliant she was when he took control over the situation.

He said nothing during their walk home since he didn't think there was anything to discuss. But at this point in his pondering, he was sure about one thing. He was already attached to the girl. He inwardly cursed himself. This was the feeling he so avoided since his last disappointment. He did not want any more burdens and he simply wanted to live a normal and peaceful life in the countryside.

He allowed himself to smell her hair. It smelled heavenly. Feeling bolder, he kissed her forehead and then her cheeks and came to his senses when she stirred in her sleep. He looked at her face again. Her sleeping face was far more different from the Kaoru he dealt with everyday. She was happy. He knew it. But at the same time troubled with the mystery that is her assailant.

She moved again, and this time cuddled closer to him. In their current position he would surely suffer back pains in the morning; so he brought his hands under her and carried her into the bedroom. Without any effort he slowly lay her down on the set futon and found it difficult to leave her side. She was a sight to look at. Unable to control himself once more, he cleared her forehead of her bangs and gently touched her cheeks. The sensation of her soft skin brought back memories he had rather kept locked.

But being with her somehow elevated the pain that he felt. She was crazy to accept his offer.

The futon looked comfortable that night since he had been sleeping, in sitting position, on the floor since she came. The problem lay in the fact that he only had one futon. He did not understand the reasoning his mind came up with why he did not buy another one. He thought she would not stay long enough and he did not want anything wasted.

He did not want to frighten her in the morning with the sight of him beside her so he tried to talk to her sleeping form. He shook her gently at first but when she did not respond he inched closer to her ear and whispered.

"Kaoru."

He tried his best not to suckle the flesh closest to him.

"Kaoru, can I sleep beside you?"

"Kaoru?"

This was ridiculous. He was asking her permission to use his own futon. He forgot all decencies and decided to just slip in beside her. After all, she was his; his mistress. From his new position her scent was stronger and it wasn't at all unwelcome. He turned his back from her to keep himself from remembering but she unexpectedly turned on her side and pushed her body closer to him.

Kenshin felt his heart beat louder and the intensity of it dulled his hearing. His head spun at a very fast rate he was afraid he could not control himself any longer. But before he could enact his thoughts Kaoru's voice registered.

"Kenshin, what are you doing here?"

Her voice was still heavy with sleep. And the words she spoke were slurred.

"Can I stay with you tonight?"

He did not allow himself to think when he answered her question instantly. Her reply was a soft chuckle and a kiss on his nape.

"Well, it is your futon after all. No one's stopping you. Now sleep, 'cause I'm sleepy."

He smiled at her reaction. This was Kaoru talking half-awake. He rolled on his back and allowed Kaoru to drape her arms around his chest. He instinctively held her hand and instantly felt sleepy again.

…

Early the next morning, there was a soft tapping on the door. So soft that it was almost negligible. He pried Kaoru's hands away from his body and stood, knowing full well who the intruder was. Before he exited the room, he glanced briefly at the sleeping girl below him.

He was getting rusty. He didn't feel anything for her, he was just missing the feel of a woman and sooner or later he would get the reward he deserved from her. The sooner the better.

He composed himself and unlocked the shoji. There in the entrance was Sanosuke Sagara, grinning from ear to ear with an ancient fishbone in his mouth.

At Kenshin's scrutinizing gaze, Sanosuke's expression changed.

"No time for pleasantries Kenshin? Get your packs ready."

"How many minutes do we have?"

Sano looked at his watch and started to count, rather loudly.

"One hour and fifteen minutes. No, make that fourteen."

Kenshin swiftly went past the taller man and went to the direction of the bedroom with Sanosuke in toll. His hand was instinctively on the hilt of his katana.

Kenshin entered the room and left the shoji door open. Sano raised his eyebrows as he saw Kenshin kneel beside Kaoru and spoke, "Kaoru, wake up."

The aforementioned girl slowly opened her eyes and smiled at Kenshin.

"What's wrong Kenshin?"

Kenshin put his hand behind her back as he helped her into a sitting position.

"We have to leave now. The lighter you pack the better."

The little miss was still unaware of his presence and Sanosuke did not want to intrude on their private moment together but he couldn't help himself from noticing that her yukata was gaping a bit too much. It was a welcome sight.

Sano's thoughts were interrupted when he heard the stern voice of Kenshin call him out.

"Did you bring the exact supplies I told you?"

Sanosuke nodded and left. He did not miss the warning look Kenshin directed at him.

…

It was pre-dawn but Toshiro wasn't feeling as sleepy as the men walking beside his carriage. It was cold and misty, and the clutter of the wheels and the clicking of the hooves of the horses were irritating him.

He should be quiet. Battousai might hear. Battousai might see us.
The legendary Battousai was said to have killed a hundred men with one single blow.
And he only had thirty with him.
Battousai could hear from a hundred miles away.
Battousai could…
Battousai.

Toshiro shook his head. Battousai was human and he was Kenshin Himura. An orphan raised by a master of the Hiten Style. But he was still human. And this was a more modern era. He had weapons. He had ammunition and therefore he had the power and the control over the situation. Battousai is no match for his riffles and his cannons.

His mind was quickly re-directed to the source of his problems. Kaoru. She's the only one left in their family. A smile crossed his lips. The only one left, and his revenge would be complete. The revenge he had planned for so long against their family, at long last, would come into completion. All the humiliation, disgrace, and the anguish that the Kamiya family had bestowed unto him and his family will be settled.

He thanked them in a way, if not for the mistreatment his family suffered under the Kamiya household, he would not be in the position he was now. His anger drove him past his limits. His rage propelled him.

Toshiro reached for his bag and took the handgun he bought especially for Kaoru. She would die in his hands today and pay for all the troubles she caused him. He checked the map and looked out the door. Ten minutes more. Ten minutes more.

…

White silk skin, red full lips sliding across his own, sending pleasurable shivers down his spine.

Making love with Tomoe was like that. It was cold and dark. It was with her that he experienced for the first time how to please and be pleased by a woman. Her touch was light, and her skin was so white, he thought it illuminated in the dark. But it was always quick and forbidden.

Tomoe was to be married to a childhood friend; the arrangement was made even before her birth. Her fiancé, Akira Kiyasato, was a skilled swordsman, but his skills were far more inferior compared to Kenshin's.

It wasn't an act of rebellion, her being with Kenshin, since she liked Akira. She felt comfortable with Akira and he was always so gentle with her. She knew he loved her, this he confessed back when they were younger. She, in return, told him she was honored to become his wife. She liked Akira, so much she was looking forward to their marriage but she couldn't quite explain the attraction she felt towards other the young swordsman.

Kenshin came at the time when she was so frustrated over everything. Akira had just decided to become a body guard for the Shogunate. He was bent on proving to her that he was worthy of her love. As a result, Akira's family hated her for forcing him to make such a decision. They blamed her for not vocally appreciating Akira, thus making him believe she was thinking so lowly of him. Everyday, they reminded her of her fault, agonizing her, talking of how risky the job was for him. Didn't they know she was worried as well?

Since then, her only refuge the lake. She would go out on the excuse of drawing water from the lake. She would set off after lunch and return before sunset. It was during one of those days when she met Kenshin for the first time.

When he volunteered to assist her draw water, she was afraid at first, but his sincerity to help convinced her. He was young, but his words were calculated and his steps were confident.

…

Kenshin had underestimated them. They came just after they had mounted on their horses.

It was Kaoru's first time to ride on horseback.

A few shots were fired and several hands were cut as a result. It all happened in a blur to Kaoru. She could not do anything but bury her head in Kenshin's back as they tried to manipulate the situation. She shook everytime she heard a gun fire. Once she thought she heard Kenshin call her name amidst the battle. She just closed her eyes, silently praying for their safety – and the horse's.

Several minutes later, the gunshots ceased. Kaoru loosened her hold on Kenshin, afraid to fall if she completely let go. The terrain was rough and she wondered how the horses could bear to gallop as fast with such condition.

"Oh Kenshin, thank God we're okay."

She felt Kenshin's back muscles stiffen when she suddenly spoke.

"Kaoru, how are you feeling?"

She pressed her head against his back, wanting all of a sudden to feel him closer.

"I think I'm still trembling, but aside from that I'm okay."

"That's good."

Kaoru tried to move closer but ended up jerking her feet into Kenshin's. The unexpected movement caused him to wince on pain.

"Kenshin, are you wounded? We should stop and..."

When he answered his voice was steady and harsh.

"Don't look at it. We'll stop when we're at a safe distance."

Author's Notes:

Not much here and no individual thanks for now. Good K&K scenes to come in the next chapter, I promise!
Please leave a review.
Thanks!

Love lots,
LustrousJade.