Chapter 6: the tanuki musume

Kenshin avoided Kaoru as politely as possible over the next few days. Now that everyone else's lust for him had been (he hoped) abated, Kaoru's desire seemed almost unbearably strong. Whenever he felt it pouring over him like hot rain, he was filled with mixed feelings of guilt and determination. He knew what he had to do, but he was still in process of working up the courage to do it.

He found himself mulling over everything that happened to him since the fateful day that Saitou had interrupted his favorite chore. He had struggled against Saitou. No matter what you've done, your heart is still pure, Saitou had told him. Then Megumi had drugged him, and confronted him about Kaoru: That little girl? Be serious. It's obvious you've never touched her. And then Hiko correctly figured out why he ran away from Tokyo: it horrifies you that you might enjoy doing it with this girl. When Hiko had decided to 'straighten him out', he'd known it was pointless to try and resist. You've always had a soul like a great clean sponge to soak up and clean away the evils of the world, Hiko had said. And then there was Yumi. She seemed to want him just for the hell of it. You're 'legendary', remember? I've been lusting after you since the first moment I heard about you. He had cooperated, but only because her life was on the line.

Then there was the incident with Sanosuke, which gave him the most to think about. That time, Kenshin himself had initiated everything. True, it was for Sano's sake, but not because his life was in danger or anything like that. Sano hadn't held him down. And it was Sano who finally came up with the solution to his problem: he had to go one step further than simply allowing others to satisfy their lust. He had to satisfy his own lust. Which meant, of course, that he'd have to conjure up some lust. It was surprisingly difficult. He tried his best to look at Kaoru like some kind of sexual object, but even when she was screaming at Yahiko and hitting him over the head with a broom, all he saw in her was a beautiful innocent child that he only desired to protect.

He reasoned with himself that perhaps it was understandable. He'd had a broken heart since he was 8 years old, after all. It was briefly healed when he was 15, but it was ripped wide open again all too quickly. His heart was simply too sad to be able to lust after something. He did want to stay alive, at least, so he could protect everyone's (and particularly Kaoru-dono's) happiness. She was beautiful. She was even sexy, and she managed to turn him on now and then, usually completely by accident. She'd turn her head a certain way, or her hair and her ribbon would catch the light, or she'd bite her lip just so and he'd feel a wistful tug of attraction. The more he thought about it, the more he realized that he wouldn't mind at all if she showed up in his room one night and pounced on him. But when he thought about it the other way around, with him showing up in her room, throwing her down and ravaging her, he imagined fear in her eyes, and it stopped him cold. He couldn't do it. He didn't want to.

X

About a week later, Sanosuke stopped by and confronted him. "All right, Kenshin," he muttered conspiratorially. "I've got the perfect excuse to get Yahiko out of the house, so tonight's the night you're going to put yourself out of your misery."

"Oroo," Kenshin protested.

"Snap out of it!" Sano scolded. "You need to take this seriously. You want her, you need her, and tonight she'll be yours."

"Orooo," Kenshin repeated helplessly.

Sano sighed. "Look, we've been through this. You need to tie her up, tear her clothes off with your teeth, and go at it until you both pass out. Got it?"

"Sano?" Kaoru called. They both turned red. Sano looked her over appreciatively from head to toe as she walked toward them across the yard. She was more beautiful than ever, wearing her purple kimono and matching ribbon. Sano had always thought she was pretty, but lately, she was a blossom absolutely begging to be picked. Damn…Sano was almost tempted to fall in love with her. Sano sensed Kenshin's growing paralysis as Kaoru approached.

"I'm serious this time," Sano muttered out of the corner of his mouth, elbowing Kenshin for emphasis. "It'll either be you or me."

"What are you mumbling?" Kaoru asked, coming to a stop. She noticed the color in both of their faces and was sure that she'd caught them up to no good as usual.

"Oh, it's nothing, Jou-chan," Sano exclaimed. "I was actually wondering if I could borrow Yahiko. Tae-san threw some thug out of the Akabeko yesterday and I hear he's rustled up some buddies to cause trouble. I thought me an' Yahiko could probably take care of it." He grinned casually, showing off all his rugged badass-ness.

"Sounds great!" Yahiko said, stepping out of the dojo and propping his shinai on his shoulder. As predicted, he'd jumped at the chance to get out of the dojo and see some action.

"When will you be back?" Kaoru asked, a little worried.

Sano shrugged with handsome carelessness. "Oh, you know, maybe tomorrow morning, maybe in a week or so… depends on how long it takes him to do what needs to be done."

"The thug, or Yahiko?" Kaoru asked, confused.

"or someone," Sano said nonchalantly, turning and strolling away with his hands in his pockets. "Let's go, Yahiko."

"Right!" the boy jumped down and ran after him.

"Well, take care!" Kaoru called. "If you ruin my star pupil, I'll never forgive you!"

"Don't worry!" Sano called back, waving. Then he and Yahiko were gone.

Kenshin looked at her fearfully. They were alone. What should he do? Jump on her? Right here in the yard? Get that purple kimono covered in dust? He stood rooted to the spot.

"Something wrong?" Kaoru asked, frowning as she noticed his horrified expression.

"oh- no, nothing at all," Kenshin stuttered. "Kaoru-dono… shall we eat dinner?"

"Sure," Kaoru replied.

As they ate and talked about mundane things, Kaoru couldn't help but notice that he seemed to be looking at her more than usual. Or maybe just differently than usual. Every time she glanced his way she caught those violet eyes focused on her, and she felt her face turn red. It began to make her angry. She wanted him, she needed him, she longed for him… and she couldn't have him! Damn him! Finally she threw a bowl at him, not caring that he ducked and it shattered against the wall.

"Oro?" Kenshin uttered, his eyes bugging out.

"Stop STARING at me!" she commanded loudly.

"Why de gozaru ka?" he asked innocently. Oh, he was too good at that.

"Because! It's starting to freak me out!" she declared, her nose in the air. "Look at your food, not at me."

"Ano…" Kenshin weakly held up his empty dish.

"Whatever!" Kaoru barked. "If you're done, you can do the dishes! Goodnight!"

Kenshin's eyes closed into happy semi-circles. "You're in a bad mood de gozaru," he said kindly.

"And you're only making it worse!"

Kenshin sweatdropped. "Sou de gozaru," he muttered. Then he spoke up. "I'm sorry for staring at you," he said, and immediately felt Kaoru soften towards him, which lent him the courage he needed to continue. "But I was just realizing that you're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen, that you are."

Kaoru blinked several times. Was she dreaming this?

"It took you until now to realize that?" she said, deciding to be sarcastic and treat the situation like a joke.

"I never let myself realize it before. But now, I can't help it."

She locked eyes with him. A thrill swept over her. He was serious!

"I told myself I wouldn't do this, because you're still only 17 and I'm twelve years older than you-"

"I don't care about that," Kaoru said. "I love you!"

"I love you too, Kaoru-dono," he said. There was enough time to blink once, and then she tackled him.

Well, that was easy, Kenshin thought happily as he found himself pinned beneath her, his lips connected magically to hers. Deliberately he pushed himself into a sitting position, and then pushed her down to the floor, still kissing her. Once he had her on her back he scooped her up into his arms and carried her down the hall to his room. He was overwhelmed by how excited and enthusiastic she was, and he didn't even notice that she ripped three seams in his beloved old gi as she was hastily tearing it off of him. Soon they were cuddled together amidst rumpled blankets and discarded clothes. Kenshin caught his breath and stared wide-eyed at Kaoru's shadowy form, slender and soft and completely naked next to him.

"Kenshin," she whispered, her eyes deep and shimmering. "What are you doing?"

Kenshin brushed the hair from the side of her face lovingly.

"I… I'm savoring the moment de gozaru," he confessed a little awkwardly.

"Mou," Kaoru said, her eyes igniting. "Can't you savor it later!" she threw all her passion- and a little of her aggressiveness- into kissing him, pressing her body against his, running her hands over his skin, and when she brought up one of her knees and wrapped her leg around one of his legs, Kenshin suddenly found himself of top of her. Making a distressed 'nmh!' sound, he pulled his mouth away from hers.

"Kaoru," he panted. She gasped.

"Say that again," she said, tears forming in her eyes.

"Kaoru."

"What is it?" she asked, glad to let the tears fall. Finally… he'd dropped the stupid 'dono'. She giggled suddenly at the thought of being called 'Kaoru-dono' when she was naked in bed with him.

"I need you," he said, and she felt the muscles in his back tighten under her fingers. "But are you… are you afraid?" he asked breathlessly. If there was any fear or doubt in her at all, he swore he'd tear himself away.

Kaoru frowned. "I'm afraid I'll die of impatience if I have to wait another minute," she exclaimed. "I want you right now!" She was smiling. She had wanted him for so long, loved him for so long, and dreamed of this for so long…

Kenshin smiled too, and with a happy sigh he leaned down against her, nestling his chin between her neck and shoulder. She wrapped her arms around him, treasuring the feel of his warmth, his weight, his ribs and his muscles and the edge of the long diagonal scar across his back- every detail was precious to her, and she never wanted to let him out of her arms.

"Kaoru," he was saying. "I'm sorry to have kept you waiting…"

Kaoru couldn't keep the cute mischievous grin off her face. I'm sure you'll make it worth the wait, she thought excitedly.

…and he did.

X

Kaoru giggled, shaking Kenshin's hair out of her face. Then she swept enough of it away from his face so she could see his eyes, which blinked at her, warm, violet, but perhaps not quite as innocent as always. "Was that an 'oro' I just heard?" she asked, smiling.

"I still can't move de gozaru," Kenshin mumbled.

"Ara? Did I hurt you?" Kaoru asked, worried. Kenshin looked pitifully embarrassed.

"oh- no. But that's what I should be asking you."

Kaoru leaned forward and kissed the tip of his nose. "No need to worry," she said lightly. "I've never felt so happy."

"Me neither de gozaru. That was the best night of my life de gozaru," he murmured, closing his eyes.

She kissed him again, but when she drew back, it looked like he'd fallen asleep. She punched his shoulder playfully and his eyes popped open, but he looked a little disoriented.

"Hey," Kaoru said cheerfully. "It's morning, ne? Want to get up for breakfast?"

Kenshin moaned incoherently and then said: "Maybe in a day or two de gozaru…"

Kaoru sat up, feeling slightly alarmed. She stared down at him. "Are you sure you're ok?" she asked worriedly. "Maybe I should call Megumi-san."

"No, I'm fine de gozaru," he said.

"Are you always like this after having sex?" Kaoru asked, biting her lip.

"Gyaaa," Kenshin said, calling on his severely depleted reserve of super-human strength to haul himself up on one elbow. He gaped at Kaoru, dumbfounded. "Just how often do you think I have sex, anyway?" he asked, wide-eyed.

Kaoru blinked, and then blushed. "Well, it doesn't matter," she said almost apologetically. "But from now on, I guess, every night-"

"Every night de gozaru ka?" his voice was strained.

"-and every morning--?" she continued timidly. Kenshin's arm gave out and he collapsed onto the blankets.

"…help…" he gurgled, swirly-eyed.

"Oh! That reminds me. Hiko-san said that if you ever needed help with this sort of thing, I should let him know."

"That's really not necessary," Kenshin said, aghast.

"I bet he could give you some good advice though," Kaoru continued. "Maybe improve your stamina."

"wh- WHAT!" Kenshin had been pretty sure that they'd just set some kind of record.

Kaoru laughed and patted his shoulder. "I'm kidding!" she said. "Completely kidding! I can't believe you fell for it!" she sighed. "It just feels great to finally be able to tease you about sex! But I swear I'll leave you alone now so you can rest."

"Thank you," Kenshin mumbled. Kaoru watched him close his eyes.

"No," she said softly, smoothing his hair. "Thank you, Kenshin. Thank you so much."