A/n Well this was a long time coming. Life and all, you know how it is. But I forced myself to sit and get this one done today. I beg forgiveness for making you wait so long. I fear things will not be settling down much until winter. But I'll be working on getting the chapters out regardless.
On to the story!

Chapter 17

Kaoru woke to find herself curled alone in bed. Her first feeling was that of alarm. Where was Kenshin? Did something happen? She bolted upright in bed only to find her Lord Husband asleep sitting against their door with his sword resting against his shoulder. It was much like how she woke to find him sleeping in that rowan grove. It seemed so long ago now. The soft light filtering in through the window told her that it was still early morning. How long had she slept? It was not yet nightfall when she settled down on the bed to rest. Only for a moment, she told herself and here she was, in her nightgown and morning was here. How odd. It wasn't like her.

Kaoru sighed, running a hand through her hair and then down her face to rub the sleep away. Traveling must be harder on her than she thought it would be. No matter. For the first night in months, perhaps even the first night in a whole year, she felt rested and full of energy. She could feel the powers of the ocean pulsing around her with every breath.

"Looks like you've slept well, that you do."

Kaoru glanced over the edge of the bed to find her husband with his head leaning against the door watching her. "With this comfy bed right here why in the world are you sleeping against the door?" Kaoru asked as she climbed out of bed. "Are you worried about an attack in the night?" She mused as she dug around in the wardrobe. She could understand...the treaty was still very young and Kenshin almost ruined it. But could there be an assassination of an assassin? She was sure it would be possible. That would have to be one hell of an assassin. She glanced over at Kenshin, realizing that she didn't really know just how skilled he was. Was he good? The best? Or just so-so? He had seen many battles and men told tales about his feats so perhaps he was better than most.

"That bed is too damn soft. I couldn't get comfortable." He muttered., eyes sliding shut.

Kaoru raised an eyebrow. "But sitting against the door is?"

"I've slept like this for many years, that I have." Was all he mumbled.

A knock sounded at the door and her husband cussed and climbed to his feet to rip the door open. Kaoru watched as her handmaidens ignored his flashing amber eyes and the sword in his hand and silently glided over to her.

They were used to him now. Good, Kaoru thought. He couldn't intimidate them anymore. She smiled to herself.

"My Lady we were instructed to dress you in this." One of her maids said, holding out a sheer, gauzy robe that looked like it was supposed to be a curtain. It was shades of lilac and blue with various sea creatures embroidered into it. Kaoru let the girls strip her of her nightgown and put the robe on. It was clear to anyone that the robe was sheer enough to be completely see through. It was tied shut with a satin ribbon but that did nothing to hide her naked body.

Flushing, Kaoru turned to her handmaidens. "I'm to go out just in this?" She asked, crossing her arms across her breasts.

"The King gave the order. You're to go swim today, you won't need clothes." Her maiden said matter-of-factly. As if Kaoru was a small child that didn't understand.

Kaoru understood, she just didn't know if Kenshin would understand. Slowly she turned to face him and forced her arms to drop to her sides. "Are you alright with this, Lord Husband?" He still looked groggy from being jolted awake, but Kaoru was not fooled. She could feel his ki flaring, His power rolled off of him. The twitch in his eyebrow and the way he clutched his sword with one hand gave away his feelings. He was not happy. But the fire in his eyes burned down to glowing embers and he gave her tiny smile and nod.

"You do what you have to do. This is not my home, this is your home, that it is."

Kaoru bowed to him in gratitude.

… . . ..

Try as he might to understand, it was hard for Kenshin to let Kaoru out in public dressed the way she was. The robe did nothing to hide her from sight, only to add color and decoration to her pale skin. Her lean thighs, rounded bottom, flat belly and ample breasts were on display for all to see. But, the only ones who seemed stunned was Jun and himself. Every Water fae seemed indifferent. Sano only seemed surprised because of Kenshin. Earth fae were fond of going without clothing and seeing a naked woman was somewhat normal for the man. But he was surprised that Kenshin had allowed it.

Sano was impressed with his friend. He was also impressed with the courage the girl had to walk around in such. She was not raised to be free with her body and even Sano could see the internal struggle in her eyes and body language as she emerged from their room. Sano wanted to remark on hiding a goddess-like body but held his tongue. He knew when to pick his battles and this was not the time.

The hallways were lit in soft early morning light and the castle was for the most part quiet with sleeping guests. Only a few other emerged from their warm beds at such an hour. The King and Queen for one, along with a handful of others with plans on swimming. There were three other females in the sheer robes and two males who wore a sheer sash around their hips. Seeing others dressed in the same clothing gave Kaoru the courage to continue. Kaoru held her head high, she was Kenshin's wife after all and she swore she would make him proud of her. She padded barefoot along with the others with the constant heat that was Kenshin's ki pulsing from behind her. It acted like a warn reassuring hand pressing her forward.

These were her people. She loved them and felt their love in return. The sea called to them, the soft voice that lulled Kaoru into wanting to close her eyes and sleep. But they continued their procession out of the castle. A quick sniff told Kaoru that the bakers were already hard at work. She could smell the fresh bread in the air.

Once outside she had to force herself to relax. The morning air was cool but the call of the sea was far too much now. She wanted to touch that water, to slide her body into the welcoming arms of her home. The place of birth for her people. Quickly the four females and two males were loaded into a carriage and taken down a path behind the castle that slowly snaked its way down to a sandy beach. Kaoru turned to watch as Kenshin and Sano along with her guards, clambered into a second carriage and followed after them. Seemed she had the most people following. As the other three females seemed only to have one or two coming with them and the males seemed to be alone. No one talked. It was silent all around. The clop pf horse hooves on cobblestone and ringing chains filled the silence. The six of them had their eyes turned to the vast blue that reached out. The rising sun set the clouds on fire and cast a golden hue upon everything.

Kaoru felt peace settle in her heart. This was right, this was perfect.

… . . …

Kenshin didn't like this. He didn't like this in any way. The boat was small and the bottom of it was flat and somehow, they had inserted a piece of glass into the bottom of it. The boat rocked gently in the waves and the King swore it was water tight and safe and besides, a second normal boat would be following just in case, just for his safety because he and his guard were the only fire in the whole group. Kenshin appreciated this but still, he had to fight his nature to climb into what was certainly a death trap. He lingered on the white sands of the beach as everyone else gladly climbed in.

"Sanosuke, how thick do you think this glass is?" Kenshin asked from the corner of his mouth when no one was looking at him.

Sano chuffed. "Do I look like Aoshi? I don't have a damn clue man but get your ass in." He ended rather forcefully as he all but shoved the Fire Lord into the boat.

"Damn it." Kenshin hissed as his feet slipped on the smooth glass and he scrambled for a grip on the wooden vessel.

"Shh." Sano snapped. "Man, you're in a mood? I didn't think ya got cranky without breakfast."

Kenshin nearly snapped his teeth back at the Earth fae. "I'm sorry, I just don't like getting up early in the morning to die by drowning." He muttered. His eyes flickered over to where Kaoru was standing with the group of others. She looked equal parts nervous and excited. Her hair was down in a black curtain that covered her back from view.

"Ya ain't going to drown you, big baby," Sano muttered as he too climbed in and instantly felt the bottom of his stomach drop out. His head started to spin and he felt like he was going to slide off the edge of the boat. "Fuckin' boats." He gripped the side of the boat as if his life depended on it and he closed his eyes as they drifted away from shore.

Kenshin smirked. Look who was being the baby now? He didn't envy Sano. Being off land must be a far worse feeling for him than it would be for Kenshin. Still, Sanosuke was right. He was going to do nothing but embarrass himself in front of the Water King, and that was the very last thing he wanted to do. His Fire nature told him he had to show the man he was tough, strong and unfazed by being surrounded by water.

A figure lunged from the water and latched on tot he side of the boat near Kenshin and took a swipe at him. Only Kenshin's intense training allowed him to leap out of the way of large, raking claws. But the rocking of the boat caused him to bump into Sano, tripping over his long legs and falling against him. The two men looked over at the intruder as they scrambled and stood upright, painfully aware that every single eye had turned in their direction.

The figure was what Kenshin could only imagine being a half-drowned woman. Her hair was wet and tangled with seaweed. It was matted into thick locks that hung about a long, boney face covered in pale, rubbery white skin. Black watery eyes glared hatred at him as cracked lips split to show fish hook teeth. The mouth kept splitting until it was ear to ear and the teeth jutted out, as if suddenly too large for the mouth to contain them. The creature pulled itself up into the boat until it sat on the side. The rubbery skin continued down a feminine body until scales took over about midway. Kenshin couldn't see but he was sure there was a tail. That, with the bloody slits on both sides of her throat and deadly boney spikes and fins jutting from her back, arms and sides made it very obvious this was a mermaid. A true mermaid. And judging by the hissing and spitting, she was not happy. Kenshin went for his sword.

Nernus pressed forward as if approaching a dangerous animal. He spoke a language that Kenshin had never heard and frankly sounded like a person drowning. The wet, black eyes glared at Kenshin as she gestured at him as she spoke. A large necklace of shells hanging over her breasts rattled as she moved. Kenshin kept his hand on his sword in case the wet creature dragged herself over the edge of the boat and came after him. He shot Sano a glanced that showed the Earth fae was just as bemused as he was.

"Kaoru!" Nernus called. Kenshin stiffened as the group of onlookers parted to allow his wife to hurry to his side. The Queen had her arm linked in hers and was whispering feverishly in her ear. Kaoru looked amazed when she laid eyes on the mermaid and rushed forward, almost tearing away from the Queen.

"Kaoru," Nernus said, drawing the girl closer and taking her hand. "This is Moira," he indicated to the mermaid. Moira looked Kaoru over with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. Her hand jutted out and took Kaoru by the arm. Kenshin shifted on his feet but even that slight movement drew the mermaid's attention and he froze.

"Kaoru." The mermaid's voice was pure and lovely despite coming from such a hag. "This one tells me that that abomination over there," she turned her eyes to Kenshin. "is yours. Is this true?"

Kaoru looked far too awed to be afraid. She nodded and smiled at the mermaid. "He is mine. Given to me when I was a child."

The mermaid seemed taken aback by this. "Why, little one? Why would you want such a ...thing…?"

Kaoru, still smiling, only tipped her head to the side. "I wasn't given a choice. We were forced together to bring our people together for peace. But he is kind and gentle yet strong. Even now, being on a boat terrifies him." Kaoru then turned those sparkling eyes in his direction. "And yet here he is, to be with me. To keep me safe, to watch me slip into the sea for the first time."

She spoke so gently and lovingly to the mermaid about him that Kenshin found himself losing focus on his stance. His arms relaxed slightly, his eyes left his target to drift over to his wife.

"Please don't see his presence here as a threat. He only wishes to support me. Besides, all you would have to do is tip the boat over to kill him."

Sano chuffed behind him.

The mermaid turned to Kenshin. "I agree. Foolish of him to come out into the water to fight. He is no threat." And with that, the pale rubbery skin melted away to golden tan. Ratty hair unsnarled into to silky dark locks. Her face morphed into that of a beauty that put the Queen to shame. Her breasts perked up with rosy nipples and even her fins shed their dark color to bursts of red and yellow. Suddenly she was a lovely thing that both Kenshin and Sano felt drawn to. But the two men knew better. The terrible gift of the mermaid was to draw men to their death. Even as pure and lovely as she looked, Kenshin knew she could grab him and pull him over the side to stuff him into a nook somewhere in the deep for her to return to only to eat him a bit at a time.

Moira turned her now crystal blue eyes to him and gave him a slightly amused look before shrugging her shoulder at him. She reached out and caressed Kaoru's cheek with the back of her hand before slipping back into the water. The group turned to watch through the glass bottom. The mermaid paused just long enough for them to get a good look at the warm, fiery colors of her tail before giving it a flick and vanishing.

… . . …

Kaoru's heart refused to calm as everyone returned to what they had been doing before the mermaid showed herself. She felt unsteady on the boat for the first time as she made her way to Kenshin's side. His hand was off his sword hilt but it was still resting at the top. He looked relaxed, but Kaoru knew from the tick in his eyebrow that he was far from dropping his guard. She swayed with the boat as she reached him.

"Are you alright?" She didn't know what else to say. What do you say when a creature of your element attacked? She couldn't be mad, mermaids were semi gods, powerful, tangible spirits.

Sano looked partly amused, partly on guard. Kenshin's eyes were narrow, hard, his mouth pressed into a firm line.

"I'm fine." He grunted. "Never would have thought they would be reckless enough to come at me like that."

Kaoru was stunned. "Why wouldn't they, they are not afraid of you or your people, they do not have a peace treaty with you. As far as they are concerned, you are still the enemy. They do not play by our rules."

"Seems I should thank you for defusing the situation, that I do." He said. "I understand the situation now and you spoke so well."

Kaoru shook her head. She didn't really do anything, just spoke the truth. She couldn't lie to a mermaid, that was crazy. They would know instantly and they would lose all trust. The boat would have been swarmed with mermaids. Kenshin would have been killed.

Well, she didn't know if that was what would have happened. She just didn't want to take chances.

Slipping into old habits Kaoru covered her near nakedness by crossing her arms over her chest as she thought. Kenshin reached out and placed a hand on her arm.

"I thank you anyways, Lady Wife."

…. . . ….

They did not go very far out to sea. They could still see the main land in the distance and the island castle still loomed over them when they stopped. No anchor was needed, the King simply made the water around the boat still and flat as a pond. Kaoru felt as though her heart would burst from her chest at any moment. To think she was about to take her true form for the first time. It had been something she had dreamed of for as long as she could remember. From the first time, she saw the images on her mother's tapestries and the many paintings. She had wondered what it would be like to swim in the sea, to have fins!

Eager she nearly forgot her Lord Husband as she made her way to the edge of the boat with the handful of others and tossed her sheer cover away. Nernus gave a nod at the two men in the front dove in. Kaoru didn't wait. She wasn't afraid, or concerned about how people would think of her. She was with her own people now. She didn't need a show for the Fires. Kaoru jumped off the side of the boat and hit the warm water with a splash. At once power surged into her and she forced her eyes open to see the world her people had been born from. Mermaids of all sizes and colors zipped among the newcomers. Bubbles danced in their wake.

Moira slipped silently beside her. Her long hair flared out wildly around her head. Kaoru was sure her hair was doing the same.

"You think too much."

Kaoru turned in Moira's direction. Her mouth open in a shocked O. Was that voice in her mind?

Moira winced slightly and reached out to take Kaoru by the head. Her two hands rested on each side of her head. She leaned in and pressed her forehead to Kaoru's forehead. "Yes, I'm speaking in your mind. It's how we talk. You're thinking too loud, Young One. Let your inner thoughts be just whispers in your mind."

Kaoru felt the burn in her lungs start to ebb away as her body absorbed what she needed from the water. Slowly she nodded her head, tying not to think of anything. But of course a hundred things sprang to the front of her mind, but she tried to rise above them, like the foam on a wave. It must have worked because the mermaid smiled.

"Now just let the sea take you in her arms."

And with that, the mermaid slipped away.

Kaoru nodded, even though there was no one around to see her. Unsure, she closed her eyes and opened her mind. The sea was warm, the current was a gentle tug and her hair caressed her body as it was pulled to and fro.

It was like being back in the womb. Curled up in water, warm and safe and loved. The sea, after all, was the Womb of All Life. She felt as if she were home, in the Mother Goddess of the Sea.

She could feel the scales as they appeared, like goosebumps washing across her skin. Her body went limp and her legs relaxed. Slowly Kaoru opened her eyes and looked down to watch as the scales knitted themselves together, drawing her legs together. She felt her bones and muscles shifting. It wasn't painful, but strange and she couldn't help her heart racing as she watched her feet melt together and her skin cover over in scales.

Fins sprouted out of her tail. Delicate and transparent with just a touch of purple. They were longer than her body and wider than her arm span. A second set of fins sprouted along her sides and those on the back of her forearms were tougher, thicker fins with deep blues and purples. They were stretched like sails across a series of boney spines which, when Kaoru touched them, turned out to be very sharp.

A soft voice drifted past hear ears. It was very soft in the constant churn of the water around her, yet powerful. Warmth seeped into her body, like golden light touching every part of her. Every fingertip, every strand of hair seemed to be vibrating with the power of the voice.

Of Mother.

… . . …

Even though the glass seemed untrustworthy to him, Kenshin couldn't help but be drawn to it as Kaoru drifted in sight. He found himself inching closer and closer to the glass bottom of the boat until he was nearly on top of it. She spotted him through the glass and waved at him, letting her whole body slowly drift into sight. And by the Gods and Goddesses, she was a sight. A shimmering iridescent dance of blues and purples. Kenshin found his eyes locked onto her. He scanned every shimmering scale, each inch of fin and found her to be perfect and beautiful.

"Holy, shit." Sano breathed from somewhere behind him, but the red-head refused to look away.

He set a hand on the cool glass and watched in fascination as just a tiny twitch of her tail caused her lavender fins to open and billow like sails in the wind. She moved up to the glass and set her hand over his. Around her, the others were in sight, but none seemed as lovely and as delicate as Kaoru. The King slowly slid up beside Kenshin as Kaoru gave him a wave and turned to deeper water. Kenshin stood up straight to find the King was watching him.

"Kaoru is a fine figure of royalty, is she not?" He asked.

"Yes, your Grace." Kenshin turned his eyes back to the glass where he watched the last sight of her massive fins vanish to where the glass couldn't reach.

"Her royal lines are thin, her father only being an elder cousin of mine." King Nernus stated thoughtfully. "But as I can see it now, Kaoru has inherited quite a lot." He gave Kenshin a worried look under his bushy brows. "I fear children may be too difficult to create."

Kenshin didn't know what to say to this. He glanced over at Sano who stood watching before turning back to the King. He tried to keep his face as flat as he could. "Your Grace, are you worried about the state of the treaty?"

The royal looked out into deeper ocean where dolphins and merpeople jumped, sending a shower of glittering drops of seawater everywhere. Joyful voices surrounded them but Kenshin felt the sudden instability of the situation. He didn't much like the feel of it out in the sea with nothing but a boat of wood and glass keeping him away from certain death.

"I am. Oh, but not from the possibility of no children, mind you." The King made sure to say. "We're are not so obsessed with lineage as some fae. Not meaning any insult." He added quickly, inclining his head toward Kenshin. "If children refuse to arrive we see no reason to deny any adopted children."

Shock glued Kenshin's tongue to the roof of his mouth. His King would never, ever accept an adopted child over one born into the name. The child would at least have to be a full blooded Fire fae in order for his King to even think about accepting the idea. Now that he thought about it the more Kenshin realized that it was a stupid, unfair thought process. He glanced out at the water in time to see Kaoru surface along side a dolphin. The pair cut silently through the water. His wife's eyes were bright with wonder and bluer than the sea around them. Kenshin didn't have to imagine the pain that would be in those eyes if they were to go without a child. She seemed so determined to do her duty. But Kenshin knew she would want a child even if she didn't have to give him an heir. To say an adopted child would not be recognized as their real child was cruel and unfair. He suddenly felt ashamed of his Fire kin.

"My Lady wife seems determined to give me a child. I do not doubt she will." Kenshin said carefully, looking away from the sight of his wife and back to the King. "If she does not I will not deny her an adopted child. I will raise and love the child as my own, that I will. If a child does come, I will not put them before the eldest, be they adopted or not."

King Nernus seemed surprised and content at this statement. He brushed his long white beard in thought. "You are not like most Fire Fae I've come in contact with." He mused out loud, repeating himself from the day before.

Kenshin only bowed his head at the statement before turning back to watch his wife play in the glittering sea. He was certain that his long time with the Air and Earth clans had changed his views somewhat. Kenshin could only hope that as the clans mingled so would their views. He was far more liberal than most Fire's and still, he felt like he was being oppressive.

He could only hope that one day they could all live in peace and until then, could learn to respect the views of each other.

… . . …

Kaoru sighed, her body worn out and weak. Yet she felt amazing. Her body hummed with a power she had never felt before. The sand was warm against her skin and the late afternoon sun glowed behind her closed eyelids. Her body still felt like it was bobbing in the waves and the sensation rocked her to deep sleep. She dreamed of things the mermaids had spoken of. Of islands of pink sand. Colorful fish. Strange naked palms with tuffs of fronds on the top that grew something called coco nuts. It was different than the sea that she knew here in the Kingdom, and yet it also felt like home. She knew this place and all its amazing things. She had the memories in her soul. And of course the constant voice of the Goddess, warm and motherly.

When her eyes fluttered open, the late afternoon sun had dipped down into the sea and the sky was golden orange and red with night's deep dark cloak creeping in. She then found her vision obstructed with red. Red hair. Kaoru blinked again and found her head pillowed on her husband's lap.

"Good evening Water female." He said, smiling down at her. His hand had been petting the shorter locks of hair that had stuck to her face.

Kaoru was content to remain that way for the rest of her life. But slowly real life returned to her. Even so, she took her time, stretching languid and slow. "Hello, Dear Husband." She murmured. She turned to hide her face in his hard stomach. She gave herself a long moment to enjoy the last bit of warmth from the sand before sighing and sitting up. The see-through gauzy robe had returned to her body. She didn't remember much after dragging her tired body out of the water and onto the beach. She turned and smiled at Kenshin and was startled to find Sano standing a few strides away. He flashed her a smile and then turned his back, pretending to be interested in the beach grass to give her a feeling of some privacy. But Kaoru didn't feel any sort of embarrassment. She was in full Water power and as such, felt free with her body like the Earth. Kenshin stood and offered her his hand. Kaoru took it and stood. "I'm sorry you spent the whole day out on the water. You didn't have to."

Kenshin shook his head with a smile. "It was difficult, but that was only my own fear holding me back, that it was. It was well worth all the discomfort in the world to see my beautiful wife." He reached out and took a lock of her hair. The salt water caused it to curl slightly at the end and he wrapped the curl around his finger and gazed at her face. "I've never seen you look more beautiful than I have right now, that I haven't. My lady Wife you are nearly glowing."

Kaoru's cheeks were sore from smiling the whole day, yet she smiled her biggest smile yet and pressed her hands to her face. Kenshin took her wrists and pulled her hands away. "None of that now. Don't hide away." He dropped her hands and took her face and kissed each eye and then her lips. "I love you. Lady Kaoru."

Kaoru already had tears in her eyes, but she allowed them to fall as she smiled and leaned into his touch. Her heart swelled at his words and she knew she had loved him for quite a while now. Perhaps it was only infatuation, but right now, at this moment…

"And I you, Lord Kenshin."

A/n Awwww I love 'em.
Kaoru's true form was so fun to write. There will be more of it, this isn't it. Kenshin was a brave man to go out in that boat. But I know he would have done anything for his Lady Wife.
Until next time! Thank you for reading and reviews are always loved.