Chapter 5

(Kaoru)

I was again having a training session with my father, a martial arts one. My Dad had always been protective of me, so even when I was young he had trained me in self defense. My foster family had kept that going, and I was a successful martial artist by the time I was 13.

I was dreaming, I knew, but I was enjoying it. It was almost like having my father back. I missed him dearly, and being without him so long throughout my life had led me to have these dreams, many in which I would either be training in martial arts, or in swordsmanship. Sometimes we would just sit together and meditate, and these dreams were both calming and comforting for me.

Things suddenly changed as I blinked. My father's familiar smiling face turned into a man I didn't know, and he attacked me ruthlessly. His face was twisted in anger, hair falling over his face. He let loose a sound not too different from a snarl, his fingers reaching for me. I dodged him, coming down and around as I defended myself against him.

I was now in a fight for survival, and I fought with a vengeance. Hands pushed at my shoulders. I pushed them away, my hand shooting out to press fingers against the man's windpipe. I pressed him into the floor, cutting off his air.

Sometime during this I must have forgotten that I was dreaming, because I began to threaten the stranger. "Who are you and what are you doing in my dojo?"

He could not answer; he was choking for air around the pressure of my fingers. I was about to relieve some of it, but something caught my eye. The man's eyes, they were violet. 'What…'

I blinked, and my vision cleared to show Kenshin beneath me on the floor, choking for air as his face grew paler. I let out a shriek, leaping away from him in fear and worry for his safety.

He instantly began to cough, a hand clutching at his throat. He watched me through watery violet eyes, fear in those depths.

After a little while he was able to breathe again, and he swallowed thickly. "Kaoru?"

"Oh Kenshin, I'm so sorry, I was dreaming, and you were suddenly just there…" It all came out in a rush, tears falling from my eyes.

I suddenly found Kenshin's arms encircling me, his hands petting my hair. "It's okay Kaoru. I…" I could hear his uncertainty as he tried to think of the words. "I know, its okay."

Even as I tried to swallow my shock I corrected him gently. "The word is 'understand' Kenshin."

"Under…" I looked up at him, watching as he struggled with the unfamiliar word. "Understand."

I smiled. "Good Kenshin." I put a hand under his chin, which he lifted obediently. I ran my fingers gently over a forming bruise over his windpipe, sadness filling me again. "Even so, I should not have done that."

"You were dreaming, it's okay," he said with a slight reassuring smile. "I…" He searched his memory. "Shouldn't! I shouldn't have woken you."

I sighed, leaning against his muscular chest. It was in that moment that I realized that the chest I was leaning against was very bare, as were my shoulders. 'Kuso! It's summer, I'm in my light sleeping wear!'

I squeaked, trying to jump away from Kenshin. "Let me go Kenshin, I'm not decent!"

His chuckle reverberated through my shoulder from his chest, and he tightened his grip on me. "Don't go Kaoru."

That stopped me dead. I looked up at him in shock, watching his laughing violet eyes. "N-nani?"

He smiled, his fingers brushing at my bangs, his eyes roving over my features. "Don't go Kaoru. I don't care. You're pretty."

My mind slammed to a halt. I could do nothing more than stare at him, my eyes wide. I opened my mouth, but nothing escaped my lips.

Kenshin smiled, his eyes shining. "Very pretty…" he murmured.

The next thing I knew his lips had covered mine, his eyes sliding closed. 'Oh Kami-sama, he's kissing me…' After a moment instinct kicked in and I closed my eyes, responding to him.

His questing tongue touched my lips and I sighed into his mouth, allowing him in. The kiss became exceedingly passionate as our tongues twined together, my hands snaking up Kenshin's bare chest to loop around his strong neck.

His muscular arms tightened around my waist, pressing my body full against him. I moaned into his lips, relaxing into his body.

It wasn't until he ground himself against my thigh that I snapped out of the daze that he had pulled me into. I leapt away from him, gasping for air. "No, we can't!"

He was panting; his pupils dilated and sweat dotting his forehead. He swallowed heavily. "Why?"

I wrapped my arms around myself. "I…I don't know if I'm ready for this Kenshin."

Kenshin's arousal died, and he sighed. "I understand Kaoru."

I touched his face with a smile. "This doesn't mean that I don't love you Kenshin. I just want to take it slow. Okay?"

He nodded. "Okay Kaoru."

I stood from my position on the floor, holding a hand out to him. "Let's go back to bed Kenshin."

He took the offered hand, pulling himself up. "Oyasumi Kaoru." He hugged me, and then kissed my forehead gently. I watched as he paused. "What are the words?"

I smiled. "I love you."

He smiled back. "I love you Kaoru."

I hugged him, kissing his lips quickly. "I love you too. Oyasumi."

As I shut my door behind him I couldn't help but pump a fist in the air. 'Score Kaoru!'