STANDARD DISCLAIMERS APPLY
Author's Notes: Lemony goodness ahead.
Kotetsu to Kosui (Steel and Perfume)
Chapter Nine
The sun was nearly gone when they decided to set camp near a small river. Sanosuke was busy keeping the fire burning while Kenshin went to hunt for dinner. Kaoru was left alone to tend to the tents Sanosuke brought. She was having trouble since each of the two tents was about her size, even bigger. She cursed viciously and heard Sano laugh. He put the last piece of wood in the flames and left to assist the girl.
"So, Jou-chan, what brings you in this part of the world?"
Kaoru snorted. Jou-chan? She did not look at him when she spoke.
"As if you didn't know already."
Sanosuke laughed again. He was getting more irritating every minute, Kaoru thought. During the past hours they had been together, she had caught him sneaking mischievous glances her way and even heard him saying something about her to Kenshin. She did not hear it wholly though but whatever it was, she was positive that it wasn't entirely proper, since Kenshin drew his sword and pressed it against his neck.
She saw him take a fishbone from his pocket and insert it in his mouth. Then he grinned at her.
"You do realize that there are only two tents right Jou-chan?"
Her eye twitched. "Yes, I'm not dumb; what are you going at?"
Sano shrugged. "Nothing really, here let me help you with that."
He grabbed the second tent and began fondling with it while trying to continue talking to Kaoru.
"Hmm…let's see. Two tents. Three people. Two will have to share a tent; and the way I see it I think you will have to choose between me and Kenshin, Jou-chan."
Kaoru's eyes lit with mischievousness. Two can play this game. She knotted the last rope and brushed invisible dust from the now upright tent. She then smiled alluringly and walked nearer the tall man.
"I wonder…what do I get if I choose you?"
Sano gulped. Something was amiss here. The little miss wasn't supposed to flirt with him. Kaoru saw the sweat drops forming on his forehead as she drew nearer…a small smile curled her lips.
Sanosuke backed away slowly, both hands shielding him from the advances of the girl.
"Ah. Hehe. I was just kidding Kaoru, come on stop it! You're creeping me out! Oh my God. Fox where are you when I need you?" In his mind, he could imagine his fiancé's face mocking him.
"Aww, come one Sano, I think by now you know that all I want is…"
Kaoru was coming closer, her eyes almost predatory, while inside she was laughing at his reaction. Not so tough now are you?
She must be crazy, Sano thought. What if Kenshin suddenly comes back? I'm a dead man for sure. She practically has Kenshin's mark on her whole body. She can't want me. Kaoru's lips were closing in on him. In his mind's eye, she was moving ever so slowly.
"Kenshin."
Whew, was that a relief. The worlds stopped for a moment to give him time to breathe. He was not prepared when she suddenly materialized a bokken out of nowhere and started pounding him.
"So stop taunting me already!"
"Ouch! Ouch Jou-chan stop it!"
Sano raised both his hands as a sign of surrender and a second later, the red-faced girl stopped, her breathing uneven.
"You're scary Kaoru. Whatever did Kenshin find in you?"
Kaoru raised her eyebrow in warning and Sano saw her face turn red again.
"Sanosuke! Come back here!"
That was his cue to run, run very fast.
…
Kenshin was about to return to camp when he heard Sano mention Megumi. Now why would he do that? Then he saw Kaoru advancing over Sanosuke. Rage was slowly building within him as Kaoru stepped closer and closer to Sanosuke. Her eyes were predatory but Sano didn't seem to enjoy it at all.
Her voice was almost a whisper when she said, "Aww, come one Sano, I think by now you know that all I want is…"
He clenched his fists, conscious of the rabbits wriggling in his other hand. Then her lips moved slowly, close to Sano's own.
"I think by now you know that all I want is Kenshin."
Indescribable shivers ran all over his body when he heard her confession. He did not stay longer to see the bashing that his friend received from the Racoon-girl.
…
The three sat together around the fire, silently eating the game that Kenshin brought in earlier. Sanosuke was not so proudly sporting three lumps on his head and his spiked hair was doing nothing to cover up the bulges.
Kaoru grinned at him when she saw him throw a rueful glance at her. After finishing her dinner, she stood and recovered some medicine and bandages in her pack. When she returned, she threw some bandages at Sano.
"Jou-chan, could you be gentler next time?"
Kaoru smiled and looked at him innocently.
"Sorry Sano, I didn't mean that."
She heard him grumble something about animals pretending to be humans but chose to ignore it.
"Sano-nii, where's Kenshin?"
"Since when did I become your big brother?"
Kaoru placed her hands on her waist. "Since I asked you that question. Where's Kenshin?"
"He's at your tent. He left after you got up."
She was quite far from him when she heard him say, "Jou-chan's gonna give some lovin' tonight!"
Kaoru blushed. Damn Sanosuke and his dirty mind. How can I face Kenshin with my face flushed like this? But her mind was plagued with other things. Memories of tongue locking and roaming hands suddenly flashed through her mind. Warmth filled her whole being while Kenshin filled her mind.
She took time to compose herself outside the tent before coming in. A lone candle was placed in the middle of the fairly accommodating tent. After she made sure that the entrance flap was secure, she sat next beside Kenshin on the far end of tent.
Silently, she lifted the lower part of his hakama, looked at the injury and put some liquid medicine on the cloth she bought. She smiled at him before swabbing the cloth to his red wound, feeling his lower thigh muscles contract in pain. After removing the dried blood around the wound, she dug into her pack and produced a small wooden thong and carefully removed the foreign object from his flesh. After cleaning the wound thoroughly again, Kaoru covered its entirety with a fresh cotton cloth.
Meanwhile, Kenshin kept still while Kaoru continued her ministrations. His mind was reeling from the feel of her body so close to him…he could almost taste her smell, her scent. He resisted the urge to pull her close to him and consume her.
He was just sexually attracted to her, nothing more. And why should he not be? She's young, attractive, sexy and smart. Any man would want her in bed. Any man would want to kiss those inviting lips, glide their hands on the skin of her slim waist, suckle on her creamy skin…
Kaoru was now knotting the bandage securely. She asked whether the bandage was too tight or not. After asking him twice, Kenshin gestured that it was fine.
"Kenshin, they were aiming at me right?" She said, placing her hand lightly on top of the wound.
Kenshin nodded afraid that if he spoke, uninvited words would spill from his mouth. He was surprised when Kaoru suddenly hugged him.
"You saved my life yet again. I am forever thankful, Kenshin."
The sound of her saying his name reminded him of her earlier bout with Sanosuke.
"I think by now you know that all I want is…"
"...KENSHIN."
"I want Kenshin."
"Kenshin…ohh."
"Kenshin."
"Kenshin?"
The said red head suddenly grabbed her by the shoulders and looked straight into her eyes. Shocked eyes met questioning orbs. Her eyes were the most beautiful shade of blue.
When she recovered, Kaoru continued speaking, her hands reached out to caress his cheek.
"I feel that it's my fault, always, when you are in danger…"
Kenshin's eyes turned a bright shade of amber then. His hand covered the one touching him. He looked at her directly in the eyes when he spoke.
"There are many ways to show your gratitude for my services my pet; I have only to teach you how."
Kaoru did not understand the full meaning of those words but a sudden jolt of pleasure seized her and caused her to shut her eyes from the sensation.
It's his eyes, they way they look at me, like he's about to devour me, oh God, Kenshin. Her mind reached sensory overload when she felt his hands cup her face and his nose nuzzling her own.
Kaoru whimpered. The next thing she felt was Kenshin's hungry mouth devouring her own.
"Sometimes there are things which cannot be taught, Kenshin, you make me feel a million things at once..." Kaoru hazily spoke when they stopped for air.
After she spoke, Kenshin gently pulled her closer to him, his mouth nibbled her ear before he said, "Yes, yes, I guess so… would you show me those million feelings tonight Kaoru?"
Author's Notes:
For the full version of this chapter, please click on the homepage link on my profile page. Sorry about the mishap, I'm 99.9 per centsure it'll work this time. Please take time to leave a review since it motivates me so.
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