Mama Himura

Chapter 8

The next day Kaoru was out back going through her practice routine. Yahiko had finished earlier and had gone to see Tsubame so she decided to put in a little extra training since she didn't have anything else to do. After about an hour or so she finally decided to call it a day and went into the dojo to put away her bokken. She let out a sigh and wiped some sweat from her brow then out of nowhere she felt strong hands grab her hips, causing her to let out a startled cry as she tried to pull away. A deep chuckle came from her attacker and she spun around to face him, "Kenshin, you creep! What're you doing!"

He smiled at her, "Sneaking up on you."

"I noticed that, any particular reason why you were trying to scare me to death?"

"Well… I was hoping that I could get you angry then we could… kiss and make up."

Kenshin leaned down and kissed her lightly, getting a giggle from the young kendo master, "Ok now that you've made up what else are you up to, Mr. Himura?"

"Can't I spend time with you without having a particular reason?"

"No."

Kaoru leaned forward and rested her head against his shoulder, sighing happily when he wrapped his arms around her. After a moment or so she felt his lips against her neck, sending a jolt of electricity down her spine as he did so, "Stop Kenshin."

"Why?"

"Because the others will come in and see us then we'll never live it down."

"No they won't, we're the only ones here, that we are."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"The others are off in town, we have the dojo to ourselves for a couple of hours, that we do."

"What about Mama Himura and Hiko?"

"They… are off getting ingredients for dinner, that they are."

"Oh no!" Kaoru pulled back and couldn't help but smile up at her amused rurouni, "Kenshin… you didn't send them off together, did you?"

Kenshin grinned, "Maybe."

"Oh no… they're going to destroy half of Tokyo by the time they get back."

"Yes, but Saito can handle them, that he can, that's his job after all."

Kaoru laughed and gently hit his arm, "How could you?"

"I wanted to spend some time with you and now I have you all to myself, that I do."

Kenshin leaned down to kiss her but she turned away and smiled, "What if I don't want to spend time with you?"

"I think you do."

"No I don't, so just go away and leave me alone."

Kenshin looked into her eyes and saw that she was just playing and he couldn't help but smile at her, "I don't think so…"

He pulled her to him and pressed his mouth to hers, not noticing the evil sparkle that came into Kaoru's eyes as she let him. She waited until she knew Kenshin was absorbed into the kiss then she stomped his foot, giggling as she ran off down the hall. Kenshin was in shock for a moment but he quickly recovered and took off after her, easily catching up to her as she entered her room.

Kaoru squealed as Kenshin grabbed her about the waist, trying with half-hearted struggles to get away from the much stronger red head, "Let me go, Kenshin."

"Not a chance."

Before Kaoru could do anything he gently pinned her against the wall, holding her small wrists in his rough hands as she laughed, "You can't do this to me, Kenshin."

"And why not, Kaoru?"

Kaoru looked down at the ground and continued to giggle, "Because this is called holding someone against their will."

"Oh I believe that you're more than willing."

Kaoru looked up and let out a small gasp when she met bright gold eyes but his gentle tone and soft smile made her relax as she continued to tease him, "Well for your information I'm not willing, so let me go."

"No, you're stuck with me, Kaoru."

Kaoru didn't have time to react as Kenshin closed the small gap between them and pressed his lips to hers for a passionate kiss. Moments later her struggles stopped altogether and Kenshin pulled away, his eyes once again a soft violet as he rubbed his nose against hers, "I'm sorry, Kaoru."

"For what?"

"For being rough with you."

"You weren't rough at all, Kenshin, I enjoyed it, actually."

"I'm glad, I was worried that I'd hurt you, that I was."

"No, I'm fine."

Kaoru kissed his scar and rested her head against the nape of his neck, sighing against him as he started rubbing her back, his voice soft against her ear, "I love you…"

Kaoru was stunned by that statement, in fact, she wasn't certain if she'd actually heard him correctly or not. She pulled back to look up at him, her confusion showing deep within her blue eyes, "What did you say, Kenshin?"

Kenshin chuckled and kissed her cheek lightly, "I said that I love you, Kaoru."

"Oh Kenshin… you don't know how long I've waited to hear you say those words to me."

"I'm sorry to make you wait, that I am, but… I was just… waiting for the right time to tell you is all."

"It was worth the wait, I love you too, Kenshin."

"Hey Kaoru… may I ask you something?"

"Of course, what is it?"

"Well… I… I know that I'm not perfect by any means and I also know that I don't deserve you, that I don't, but… you make me so happy and I know that I don't show you the love and affection that you deserve but I truly do care for you, Kaoru, that I most certainly do. When you're near me I feel as though I can do anything and I feel that I can be a normal person with you…"

Kaoru interrupted him, "You are a normal person, Kenshin."

"To you, yes, and I love you for that and I try my best to be that man for you."

"You don't have to try, but what were you trying to ask me, Kenshin?"

Kenshin was silent for a moment then he smiled down at her and ran his knuckles over her cheek gently, "I love you so much, Kaoru, and I want to always be with you, that I do and I was wondering if you'd… become my wife?"

Kaoru's eyes shone with hope and she was afraid to ask but she knew that she had to, "Kenshin… are you… asking me to marry you?"

"Yes I am, so… what do you say, will you become Mrs. Himura?"

Tears of joy fell from her eyes and she hugged him tightly in an almost painful grip, "Yes! I thought you'd never ask! I'm so happy, Kenshin!"

"So am I, love… so am I."

He lifted her face up to meet his gaze and he kissed her deeply and lovingly, their hearts becoming one as they made a silent promise to one another. Kaoru put her arms around his neck and stood on her toes to reach him better and Kenshin slinked his arms around her waist, pulling her even closer to him.

Eventually they somehow ended up away from the wall and onto the futon with Kaoru lying on her back and Kenshin resting on top of her. After several long kisses Kenshin had to pause and catch his breath, looking down at her with dark, desire filled eyes, "Are you alright?"

"Yes… why?"

"If I'm pushing you too far I can stop…"

"No, I'm alright… don't stop…"

Kaoru pulled him down and kissed him again then his hand came up to stroke her face softly. Seconds later his hands seemed to take on a mind of their own and they moved down to her gi and loosened the knots with ease. His hand then moved back up to her neck and traced her pulse with calloused fingertips before his long fingers slipped into the collar of her gi, gently pushing the worn fabric off her shoulder and down her arm. Kaoru sighed into his mouth and moved her own hands to his gi, pushing it off his slim shoulders and down his arms to let it gather at his waist.

Kenshin's lips left hers and traveled down to her neck, kissing the tender flesh there. Once Kaoru arched into him he flicked his tongue out to taste her pulse before biting down gently. She let out a small cry of surprise and Kenshin pulled away to look down at her, "Did I hurt you, love?"

"No, I'm alright…"

He smiled lovingly at her, his voice tender, "Anytime you want me to stop just tell me, ok?"

"I will."

He let his lips meet hers again then his hands returned to their earlier task of exploring her shoulders and arms then one sword toughened hand moved to her waist to start tugging at the bandages she wore as an undergarment when…

"Kaoru! Are ya alright I heard… ya… shout… oh my! Shinta!"

Kenshin and Kaoru quickly parted and flushed brightly, his eyes flashing briefly as he glared at the amused woman in the doorway, "Mother! Don't you ever knock!"

"Not when I think one of my loved ones are in trouble, I don't. But I'm sorry, that I am, I didn't mean ta interrupt anything, that I didn't."

"Oh… you… you didn't interrupt anything, Mama Himura… Kenshin and I were just…"

Before Kaoru could explain further Hiko came up beside of Tokisha and his mouth dropped open in playful disgust, "Kenshin Himura!"

"What?"

"You should be ashamed of yourself!"

Kenshin arched an eyebrow at him, "Why?"

"How could you… coming in here when no one's around and molesting this poor girl!"

"I… I wasn't molesting her…"

Kaoru smiled evilly and tugged her gi closed, making her eyes appear big and shocked, "Yes he was, I was in here getting changed and he just came in and threw me on the ground."

Kenshin flushed even brighter, "WHAT! I did no such thing, Kaoru!"

"Yes you did… you're so mean to me…"

Kenshin looked at the others and they were giggling, knowing full well that Kaoru was lying but Tokisha couldn't help but play along, "Shame on ya, son, I hope you're plannin' ta marry her now, that I am."

"Well… I've already asked her…"

"Oh! I'm goin' ta be a mother-in-law! That's wonderful, that it is!"

Hiko laughed, "Yeah but it seems as though that your son couldn't wait until the honeymoon to complete the marriage."

Kenshin flushed deeper and hastily shrugged his gi back on, "I need to start dinner now, excuse me."

He made a quick exit out of the room and headed into the kitchen to do as he said, the bright red flush continuing to stain his cheeks even as he started cutting vegetables. A few minutes later her felt small but strong arms wrap around his waist as a familiar voice reached his ears, "I'm sorry, Kenshin, I couldn't help myself."

In the blink of an eye he turned around and caught her arms before switching their positions to where she was leaning against the counter with a playfully angry rurouni leaning against her, "Why do you do those things to me knowing that I'm going to get in trouble?"

"Because you're so cute when you're embarrassed, but I am sorry, do you forgive me, Kenshin?"

"I don't know… why should I?"

Kaoru put on her best sad face and nuzzled her nose under his chin, enjoying the small shiver she provoked from him by doing so, "Because you love me… and I truly am sorry, I'll make it up to you, I promise I will if you'll forgive me."

Kenshin couldn't help but chuckle as he kissed her head, "Of course I forgive you…"

"Kenshin! Come here a minute!" Hiko called from down the hall

Kenshin sighed and kissed Kaoru lightly, an evil gleam creeping into his violet eyes, "I forgive you but I will make you pay for it, that I promise you, my love."

Kaoru giggled as he left and she took up the task of trying to prepare dinner in his absence. Kenshin found Hiko at the end of the hall and groaned when he saw Hiko's infamous, obnoxious grin, "Don't start, Master, what do you want?"

"Did you really ask Kaoru to marry you?"

"Yes, why?"

"What did she say?"

"She… said yes, why do you ask?"

"Then I want to congratulate you, it's about time you grew a backbone. I thought we were going to have to ask her for you."

"Very funny, you're just…"

He paused in mid sentence when they heard a shrill scream come from the other side of the dojo. They quickly ran to the front but saw no one there, "Who screamed?" Hiko asked as he looked around

"I don't know…"

"Kenshin?"

Kaoru came around the corner and rested a hand on his shoulder, "Is everything ok, I heard a scream."

"It wasn't you?"

"No."

"Then it had to be my mother but… where is she?"

Suddenly a shuriken came out of nowhere and embedded itself into one of the support beams of the dojo. Kenshin took the note that was clinging to it and read it with angry eyes, "Damn it!"

"What is it?" Hiko asked

"That man from the other day took my mother and is holding her hostage so I'll fight him!"

"What're we going to do?" Kaoru asked

"We're not, you're going to stay here and Master is going to keep an eye on you while I go and get my mother back."

"You can't go by yourself you idiot, you'll get killed."

"So what? I lost my mother once and I won't do it again, just stay here and look after Kaoru for me and I'll be back shortly."

Before either Kaoru or Hiko could protest against the idea Kenshin was gone and out of the dojo, heading towards his destination, anger continuing to rise within him as he concentrated on how he was going to save his mother… and not kill his enemy for taking her during the process…

That's it, I'm done, I'm never writing again mhahahahaha! (evil laughter) But just for curiosity's sake… does anyone have a guess as to who the bad guy is? You'll never guess who it is but… you'll never find out either, because I've turned evil! (more evil laughter) Well, that's all from me, bye now:)