Chapter 21

(Kenshin)

I soon began to settle into my new life, and I was happy. I gained confidence, and I began to stretch my wings. I had lost muscles in my wings during the last year or so, and my wings couldn't support me anymore.

I usually got up very early, stretching my body and regaining muscle by exercising myself. After I did that I cooked breakfast for Yahiko, Kaoru-dono, and I.

Kaoru-dono. She was my most trusted friend, and she was so kind to me. She helped me with breakfast sometimes, and it was usually then I caught myself staring at her. She reminded me so much of my beloved Tomoe, and before I knew it I began to fall for her.

It wasn't until I saw her in a way I had never before that I realized this. It was early in the morning, just before I began my daily exercises. I was speechless.

She was just standing there, out in the sun. The rising light caught hidden highlights in her hair, shining bright in my vision. Her sapphire eyes sparkled, twinkling with joy.

I was again dazzled when she spun, her yukata twirling around her lean body. She started to turn, but I backed out of sight. I could breathe normally suddenly, and I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face.

It was nearly a month after I had 'woken up' that I finally believed myself ready to fly. The day I picked was sunny at first, but it would change. I leapt from the large cherry tree in the front yard, flapping my wings. I was rewarded when I rose higher in the air. My spirits lifted, and I let out a cry of joy, twirling in the air. I was finally back where I belonged, in the clear sky.

I flew for only a few more minutes when I spotted the rain clouds in the distance. I hovered for a moment, and then dropped into a dive. Flaring my wings I halted just before touching the ground, lightly landing on my feet.

I folded my wings against my back, going into the dojo. "Kaoru-dono!" I called, searching for her.

I found her in the kitchen. "Kenshin," she murmured with a smile. "It's nearly time for dinner. Do you want me to help you?"

I smiled back, nodding. "Hai, I would enjoy that."

We worked silently, and I heard a clap of thunder outside. Kaoru didn't react, so I knew it was still fairly far away. "Kaoru-dono, rain is coming. Is Yahiko inside?"

She looked at me. "Hai. How do you know that?"

I tapped my right ear. "I have better hearing than you, remember that. And I saw it while I was flying earlier."

Her sapphire eyes filled with wonder. "Flying? You flew today?"

I nodded with a smile. "First time since…" I paused. "Well, a long time."

She closed her eyes. "Oh, that must be wondrous! I wish I had wings…"

I chuckled. "They're not always a good thing Kaoru-dono. Sometimes I wish I didn't have them."

She reached forward, and then paused. "Could I touch them Kenshin?" I tilted my head in question and she blushed. "Well, I've always wanted too…"

I smiled, bringing my left wing away from my body and putting it within her reach. "I don't mind Kaoru-dono."

She petted my feathers, fingers running through them slowly. She smiled slightly. "They're so soft Kenshin…so beautiful…"

My mind was wrapped in a fog of contentment, and I hardly acknowledged what came from my mouth. My voice was distorted by my purring, and I immediately flushed when the words passed my lips.

(Kaoru)

"Not as beautiful as you…"

My cheeks burned, and I watched his face turn red, and the purring halted. His half-lidded eyes flew open and he gulped, his wing slowly drawing away from me.

"I…" he stuttered, his cheeks still flaming red, matching his hair perfectly. I was rooted to the spot as he turned and ran from the room, leaving me in shock. I could do nothing but stare in the direction he had gone, the flush still on my face.

'What did he mean by that?' I thought dazedly, moving to continue with the dinner we had started. 'Does he…'

Yahiko interrupted my thoughts by coming into the room. "Hey busu, is dinner ready yet?" He spotted that I was cooking. "Never mind, I don't want any."

I growled. "What's that supposed to mean!"

I didn't even realize that Yahiko had unknowingly pushed my self-argument to the back of my mind, where it wouldn't be brought forward again until that night.

Kenshin didn't come in for dinner that night, and I grew more worried when rain began to fall outside. I sat out on the porch in my yukata, enjoying the smell of the rain and the cool night air. There was no sign of him out there, and I stared quietly into the falling drops.

I stood after a moment, going out to stand in the rain. I loved the rain, it was so comforting to me, and I reveled in the feel of it sliding down my face. I raised my face to the sky, closing my eyes and letting the rain wash over me.

I opened my eyes again, and spotted Kenshin standing not far from me in the rain. His wings were outstretched, the crystal feathers glistening with water. His hair was unbound, flowing down his back like a crimson waterfall. His face was turned to the sky as well, the rain flowing down his cheeks like tears.

I took a step, and he whirled in the near pitch black darkness, eyes wide. He started when he saw me standing there, his wings relaxing slightly, though they still remained away from his back. "Kaoru-dono…"

I smiled slightly. "Did I interrupt you?" I asked softly.

He smiled back at me, shaking his head and stepping closer. "Iie." He looked down then, stopping a few feet away from me. "I…Gomen nasai Kaoru-dono… what I said earlier was unacceptable."

I cocked my head. "Why?"

He looked up at me in shock. "W-Why?"

I nodded. "It didn't bother me in the least. I thought it was very sweet in fact. Why would it be wrong?"

He looked away. "I just...thought that you would be angry with me."

I lifted his chin with gentle fingers. "Why would I ever be angry with you Kenshin? I have no reason to be. You are kind and sweet, and the cutest person I've ever met. I could never be mad at you. You mean too much to me."

A flush raced across his cheeks and he blinked in shock, mouth dropping open slightly. "K-Kaoru-dono…"

I grinned. "How many times do I have to tell you to drop the 'dono' Kenshin?" I moved closer to him, wrapping my arms around his slender waist and putting my face in the curve of his neck. His skin was warm, a change from the cool rain falling around us. 'It's now or never…' I thought. "You don't have to call me that. I love you Kenshin, you can call me whatever you want."

His breath caught, and he stiffened slightly in my hold. But he did not move away, and I knew his brain was working. After an instant the rain stopped falling on my head, and I looked up to see Kenshin's crystal wings arched over our head, shutting us out from the rain. His arms wrapped around me, drawing me close to his chest.

"Kaoru…" he breathed into my hair. "I think I love you too…"

I smiled against his skin, pressing a kiss there gently. His fingers beneath my chin drew my face upward, and his lips met mine softly. I transferred my arms to loop around his neck, and his wings change position to wrap around my body, drawing me even closer to him. The rain began to fall around my head again, and I smiled into his lips.

He pulled back to rest his forehead against mine, his eyes shining in the dark. "Aishiteru Kaoru…" he murmured.

I smiled. "Aishiteru mo Kenshin…" I snuggled closer to his body, reveling in the feel of his skin beneath my hands.

He began to walk back to the dojo, carrying me with him as he swept me up into his arms. "We should get some sleep Kaoru."

I nodded. He set me down on the porch, and then moved away a bit. I giggling as he shook his wings and his head, almost like a dog, spraying water around him. I was sprayed again, and he grinned through the veil of his red bangs. "Gomen."

I giggled, just shaking my head slightly. Together the two of us made our way into the dojo. I stopped in front of my room, turning to look at him. He kissed me lightly again, stepping away. "Oyasumi nasai Kaoru…" he murmured, turning away from me.

I smiled. "Oyasumi anata."

I saw his back stiffen, and then I heard the smile in his voice when he spoke next. "Aishiteru koishii…"

"Aishiteru mo…" I whispered as I saw him disappear around a corner. I walked into my room, kneeling by my futon. I smiled brightly, looking up to the ceiling. 'Arigatou Kami-sama!'

ROMANCE! -cheers- I loved writing that chapter... Please review for me!