Today's just my day for updates isn't it ;;

Yay this is a shorter chapter than usual but we get some secrets revealed.

As before this is a Rated M fic so you are warned lalala and all that stuff.

Enjoy!

Shiin

000

Demon hummed under his breath as he left the apartment. Barely a second after
he had cleared it wards slammed down effectively blocking him from returning.
He snorted softly as he eyed the faintly shimmering walls.

'Well someone obviously doesn't want to be disturbed.' He gave the walls a
mental tap and they rippled. He could get back in if he wanted to. Demon
pondered the consequences of returning and decided not to. He had no wish to become a
kitty-throw rug.

'Which probably means I'll have to find somewhere else to sleep tonight.' He
made disgusted face. 'Yuck sleeping on the streets like a stray! Hmm… Megumi
doesn't live all that far from Kaoru come to think of it…'

His plan made he cast one more look back at the wards and then padded away.

Kenshin hummed under his breath and she chopped up some salad. 'Lettuce…
tomato… bleu cheese… Italian dressing… tortilla chips, and corn.' He tossed in
everything but the dressing and tortilla chips and covered the bowl with a
cloth.

The bruschetta was about ready also. He pulled the small toasted squares of
bread from the oven and placed them in a neat circle ringing the tomatoes,
olive oil and parmesan cheese mixture.

"Kenshin?" Kaoru murmured softly poking her head into the kitchenette. "Why
are you making a four course meal?"

"Just trying out some new recipes," he answered cheerfully.

"Uh-huh," Kaoru replied sounding unconvinced. She gave the air a sniff. "Are
those sugar cookies I smell?"

"Yep," Kenshin walked over to small grill that he had found shoved unopened
in the back of one of the cabinets and turned the yakitori to keep them from
burning.

Kaoru shook her head and backed carefully out of the kitchen. "I'm leaving
before I give it bad food karma."

Kenshin suppressed a smile as he watched her scurry away looking a bit
flustered.

Kaoru locked herself in her library and sat down on the overstuffed leather chair. And tucked her knees under her chin, wrapping her arms around her legs.

'This is some weird cosmic joke right? I can barely boil water without burning it and my boyfriend – yes I said boyfriend shut up! – is a gourmet cook! What did I do in a past life? Run over two cartloads of nuns?'

She sighed. 'Demon is AWOL. Kenshin is cooking… and plotting something. No one makes sugar cookies without a reason unless it's the holidays and they're six months away. So yeah… plotting… definitely plotting… but sneakily.'

'So what I am going to do?' She asked herself. Hole up in the library sounded like a good idea. Read something… No she decided. With her luck she'd grab a romance novel by mistake…

Kaoru grumbled softly under her breath.

'I like Kenshin right?' Yes right. Like him. Like him a lot. Her hormones chimed in.

'So why am I running like a startled rabbit?'

Her mind quickly came up with several reasons the least of which included a certain ex-boyfriend that had a price on his head should he ever come back to Japan.

"Kenshin. Is. Not. Shoutarou." She gritted her teeth.

'Yeah…' her mind interjected. 'Hopefully he won't break your heart, rob your bank account and do other things that took therapy to get over.'

"Kaoru?" Kenshin's knock on the door jerked Kaoru out of her thoughts.

"Hmm what?" She asked.

"Dinner is ready."

Kaoru briefly thought of saying that she wasn't hungry and hiding in the library for the rest of the night but Kenshin probably wouldn't take that for an answer. Heck he'd probably spoon feed her to get her to eat. If he attempted to he'd be losing a couple of fingers.

"Coming!" She called back.

She got off and gave the leather chair one last longing look before squaring her shoulders and leaving the library.

Kenshin was waiting for her and grinned when she appeared.

"Dinner is ready."

Kaoru gave the air a sniff. "Smells good. What did you make?"

"You'll see."

'If I see any aphrodisiacs I'm out of here faster than a bat out of hell.'

Luckily she didn't see any oysters or peaches or bananas.

She did however find a salad, tomato soup and bread rolls, yakitori, udon and sugar cookies.

She sat down and eyed the bowl of tomato soup warily. She spooned a bit into her mouth and found that it tasted good. Of course Kenshin made it – how could it not be good?

Kenshin sat down next to her and Kaoru resisted the urge to scoot away. Was it too late to make a split for Misao's house?

Judging by the way Kenshin was watching her – yes it was too late. Way, way, way too late…

"How is it?" Kenshin asked.

"Good," Kaoru said swallowing the soup. She grabbed a piece of toasted bread and piled bruschetta on it and took a bite. Eyeing Kenshin she noticed he had no food in front of him and didn't appear to be showing any interest in the food.

'Okay… I'll eat – quickly! And then barricade myself in the library.' She decided.

"You are done?" Kenshin gestured toward the soup bowl and Kaoru nodded.

Kenshin picked up the soup bowl and replaced it with a salad bowl.

Kaoru glared at the poor leaves of lettuce. So that was his plan… stuffing her to the gills until she couldn't move or run. She picked at the salad but managed to eat about half of it. Seeing she was done Kenshin took the salad bowl away and deposited a plate of yakitori in front of her.

"Aren't you going to eat?" She asked.

Kenshin's eyes gleamed, "I'll eat later."

Kaoru's eyes began to flicker around looking for possible escape routes. The door? Too far away. The window? Might be a bit snug? The trap door ? And do what sprout wings ala Kenshin and fly away? He could fly too.

Yep Kaoru was well and truly trapped.

She managed a bite or two of the yakitori and gave Kenshin a pointed look. He merely smiled at her and took away the plate putting in its stead a plat heaped with sugar cookies.

Fresh out of the oven sugar cookies.

Kaoru felt her resolve weakening.

She glared at him but took one of the cookies and bit into it.

And of course the damn cookie tasted heavenly.

'That's it.' Kaoru decided. 'I'm not touching anything he makes me from now on unless it's singed around the edges and giving off smoke.' Either that or go back to her takeout-only diet.

"Hold still you have a crumb." Kenshin gently brushed it away.

Kaoru fought the urge to bite his fingers. She knew what he was doing and Kaoru she wasn't going to just let herself be seduced.

But the cookies were really good….

'At least they're not chocolate chip.' She thought optimistically. She wouldn't have stood a chance against chocolate chip.

"I'm going to make hot chocolate," Kenshin said getting up. "Would you like some?"

"Yes…" Kaoru said a bit reluctantly. 'No! No hot chocolate! No chocolate period! Chocolate's an aphrodisiac!'

But was that hot chocolate homemade? It certainly smelled homemade. Kaoru
brushed away the thought of hot chocolate in the middle of summer.

"You made this yourself didn't you?" Kaoru glanced at the mug of hot chocolate he set in front of her.

"Yes. Melted chocolate pieces, milk, sugar and vanilla extract." Kenshin said.

Kaoru briefly entertained the idea of dumping the chocolate on his head and locking herself in her room… but that would be a waste of good chocolate.

So she sipped her drink and sulked.

Kenshin smiled serenely and drank his and Kaoru did her best not to notice the way his throat moved when he swallowed.

Oh hells… if he didn't end up pouncing her she'd probably end up pouncing him first.

"Are you done?" He set his mug on the table and nodded his head at Kaoru's own mug.

"Yes," Kaoru murmured softly.

"Good," the gleam in his eyes was the only warning Kaoru had before she was suddenly picked up.

"Kenshin!" She screeched. "What are you doing?"

"Taking you to the bedroom," he replied ducking her fist.

She sputtered at him, "put me down NOW!"

"The only place I'll be putting you down on is the bed." He replied.

Kaoru cursed at him in every language she knew to which he only arched an eyebrow.

He cut off her tirade which had spiraled into a rant about stupid men (in Spanish) mixed with where he could shove himself (in French) and what she'd do to him if she got her hands on a bokken (in German), by capturing her mouth with his.

Kaoru snarl was cut off abruptly as she was thoroughly kissed. He tasted of chocolate and sugar and Kaoru found herself melting against him her resistance falling away. Kenshin purred against her mouth and she whimpered in reply.

Not breaking the kiss Kenshin maneuvered them through the hallway and into the bedroom. Giving the door a mental shove and lock for good measure. Kaoru was clinging to him her hands tangled in his hair and he lowered he gently down on the bed.

Breaking the kiss he feathered softer ones against her jaw and neck. Kaoru eyes closed and she melted as Kenshin cupped the base of her skull and massaged gently. He pulled the ribbon from her hair and her hair flowed silken and loose across the sheets.

His hands slid forward to frame her face and he placed a gentle kiss against her lips. Kaoru opened her eyes and for a second they just stared at one another. Kaoru sighed softly and wrapped her arms around his waist. Kenshin let go of her face and she tucked her head underneath his chin. They let out the breaths they'd both been holding.

"Are you ok?" He asked softly.

"Mmm…" Kaoru murmured. "I just want to be held for a little bit."

Kenshin's arms tightened about her in a gentle hug and he laid a brief kiss on her forehead.

Kaoru sighed again and tilted her head back to look up at him, he smiled back at her and laid a kiss on her forehead once more, trailing his lips against the curves of her face and lips.

Kaoru purred softly as he kissed her. Kenshin nipped her bottom lip softly and she opened her mouth his tongue twining with hers. She tangled her hands in his hair and writhed against him.

Her fingers reached for the hem of his shirt and Kenshin obligingly peeled it off. Purring softly she rolled him so that he was underneath her. Never breaking the kiss she trailed her fingers along his sides and across his chest following the sweep and ripple of muscle. Pulling her mouth away she nipped at his neck and shoulder.

Suddenly she became aware that Kenshin had stilled beneath her. A faint tremor was going through him that had nothing to do with arousal. Faintly she could a soft strangled snarl.

"Kenshin?" Kaoru asked raising her eyes.

Kenshin's golden eyes were wide his pupil a mere pinprick. He was shuddering beneath her and Kaoru felt a stab of fear.

"Kenshin?" She asked again softly. Gently she placed her palm against the side of his face. Kenshin's snarled louder eyes widening almost impossibly. Suddenly Kaoru found herself pinned beneath him his hands around her throat.

Images ripped through her mind. Memories so strong he was transiting them mentally through touch.

Kenshin knelt, head bowed in the center of a tent whose sides rippled and billowed in response to the wind outside that she could hear blowing in a soft whistle. His wings were held tightly against his back and his golden eyes were lowered.

A woman stood in front of him.

Kaoru felt an instant stab of dislike toward her. If the pendant that she wore around her neck – which was the same one currently around Kaoru's neck – was any indication she was bonded to Kenshin.

Strike one.

The way she was eyeing him had Kaoru's skin crawling.

Strike two.

And Kenshin's beaten submissive air made her want to break something.

Strike three.

You're out bitch.

Yes, Kaoru did not like her at all.

She stalked toward Kenshin and grabbed his chin forcing him to look at her. Kaoru flinched at the hollow look in his golden eyes.

The woman smiled at him and brushed his bangs out of his eyes with a tender air that made Kaoru feel sick. Kenshin closed his eyes and Kaoru saw a muscle jump in his jaw.

"On your back," she ordered.

Kenshin lowered his head and laid back, trapping his wings beneath himself. Kaoru understood now why he had freaked out on her. He was defenseless here, unable to get away should he need to.

And the bitch knew it and made him do it regardless.

She smiled at him and stroked his cheek. "You're mine. Do you know how long I've wanted you? Watching that whore Shura parade you around? Well she's dead now and you're mine." She touched the pendant around her neck and in the dim light it glowed slightly.

She lowered herself against him, pressing her lips to his, kissing him. Kenshin remained stiff and unresponsive and after a moment she pulled away eyes narrowed.

"Fine then," the look on her face was not pleasant to see.

She got off him her face dark.

"Get up," she hissed.

Kenshin rose to his feet, head still lowered.

She hissed at him and backhanded him viciously.

Kenshin's expression didn't change which only seemed to infuriate her more.

"Follow me," she commanded.

Wordlessly Kenshin did so.

They walked out of the tent and to a square. Kaoru felt her stomach turn. In the center of the square were two large wooden posts.

People began to gather at their appearance. The Bitch nodded at someone and gestured toward Kenshin.

Kenshin was lead toward the posts and Kaoru watched in growing horror as he was tied to them.

She gestured again and a burly heavy set man moved from the crowd holding a coiled leather whip in his hand.

He stood a few feet back from Kenshin feet braced and then let the whip fall across his back, cutting into his wings. Feathers fell to the ground and there was a flicker of pain across Kenshin's face but he made no sound.

Again and again the lash fell and still Kenshin was silent. Kaoru wished she could tear her eyes away but she seemed unable to do so. Kenshin's shoulders bled where the whip caught and tore skin and feathers littered the ground the black taking on a slightly red tinge as blood soaked into them.

Suddenly she found herself yanked out of his memories.

Kenshin's hands fell away from her neck and she sucked in a breath fighting a shudder that ripped through her. Her eyes burned with tears and she fought them viciously.

Kenshin was staring at her, his eyes wide but the pupils regaining their normal size. He was panting softly, body still shaking and closed his eyes when he saw her looking at him, turning his head away.

"Kenshin?" Kaoru murmured softly. She reached to touch him and he jerked his head back, eyes still closed.

"Kenshin," Kaoru said again. She gently laid her hand against the side of his face and felt her heart twist as he flinched.

"I'm sorry," his voice was hoarse. "I…I… I didn't mean it."

"Who was she?" Kaoru asked voice hushed.

"One of my former… bondeds" Kenshin's voice sounded hollow.

"Were they… were they all like that?" Kaoru felt a lump grow in her throat.

"No," Kenshin said softly. "Not all of them. She… she was the worst."

"What happened to her?" Kaoru asked softly.

Kenshin opened his eyes and they looked haunted. "I killed her."

"You killed her?" Kaoru could barely form the words.

"I didn't kill her but I may as well have." Kenshin closed his eyes.

"What happened?" Kaoru.

"There was an attack… I was fighting on the other side when I heard her cry out. I went to her – I had no other choice – there was a raider riding toward her." The lines on face deepened. "I could have moved faster. But I didn't."

"So that's why you were trapped in the pendant for fifteen hundred years." Kaoru said.

"Once my Bonded dies I am sent back to it. And then I am not released until another is found. I was in their so long I feared that the Kasshin had died out entirely – wiped out in the attack - and I would be stuck inside of it forever."

Kaoru scooted over to him and he stiffened but relaxed against her, burying his face against her neck. "I promised myself never again. I would never let something like that happen ever again. I would never be used like that again and I would never allow my Bonded to be in danger like that again."

"For what it's worth," Kaoru murmured. "I probably would have killed her and quite viciously at that. Hell I still want to hunt her down and kill her quite viciously in a manner that involves long drawn out torture and much pain for her."

Kenshin snorted very softly and Kaoru wrapped her arms around him determinedly ignoring the way he stiffened and waiting patiently for him to relax against her.

"Come on," she squeezed gently and then pulled away. "We're making tea. Tea is the cure for everything – or so I learned in my stay in Ireland. I swear they'd drink nothing but tea – and Guinness – given the chance. Wake up in the morning have tea, teatime have tea, feeling sick have tea, celebrating have tea…" Her voice trailed off as she noticed his lips twitching as he fought to suppress a smile. "…So anyway we're having tea."

She grabbed his hand and pulled him off the bed.

Once in the kitchen she set him down at the table – grabbed some sugar cookies and placed them in front of him with "sugar is good for you so eat,' and made tea.

Kenshin ducked his head and obediently grabbed a cookie and chewed on it while Kaoru darted around grabbing mugs and sugar and setting the kettle to boil. The tea made she sat down next to him, within reach, and grabbed herself a cookie.

Kenshin cupped his hands around the mug of tea letting the warmth seep into his bones and chase away the last of the bad memories.

"You have to drink it." Kaoru said, taking a sip of her own and sighing softly.

Kenshin dutifully raised the mug to his lips and swallowed. Finally he felt the last of the tension drain out of him and met her eyes and managed a slight smile.

Kaoru smiled in return and finished the last of her cookie. She was reaching for another one when Kenshin's voice stopped her.

"Kaoru what did your boyfriend do to you?"

Kaoru went still, "I don't want to talk about it."

"Kaoru," Kenshin said softly.

Kaoru flinched. "Please I don't want to talk about it." There was a note of begging in her voice.

Kenshin touched her hand and she jerked away. "It's in the past. It doesn't matter anymore."

"That's what I thought too," he said softly.

Kaoru closed her eyes.

"Kaoru please tell me. What was so bad that you had to leave Japan for a year to get over it? And write the kind of poems you did?"

"Misao showed you my poems?" Kaoru asked softly.

Kenshin nodded.

Kaoru pressed the heels of her hands against her eyes. "Shoutarou was my first serious boyfriend. I didn't date much. Kinda hard to date when all the boys you know are terrified of your godfather – Saitou."

Kenshin could just imagine.

"So anyway," Kaoru continued determinedly. "It was my junior – well first year but I'd taken so many AP and college classes during high school I had enough credits amassed to be a junior – and I met Shoutarou. At first he was nice really sweet and attentive and just an all around good guy." Her voice lowered. "That's the face he presented to everybody."

Kenshin clenched his jaw. "What did he do?"

"Stupid things at first… insult my cooking – you've noticed I never cook anything if I can help it?" At his nod she continued, "The first time he got mad at me, really mad at me he threw a pot at me. He missed and apologized saying he would never do it again. He never threw anything at me again but he just got worse."

She closed her eyes. "The first time he hit me I think I just stared at him. I'd never been hit before in my life – not counting practicing Kendo or martial arts – hit intentionally." She shook her head, "I don't know why I didn't just throw him out."

'You're such a failure as a woman you can't even cook!' Shoutarou's words still echoed in her mind.

Kenshin gripped the mug so tightly she was amazed it hadn't shattered.

Kaoru bit her lip, "he only hit me two more times after that – three strikes you're out. I kicked him out of our apartment and told him to get lost. Oh he did get lost – took my money and vanished from the country – last I heard he's in New Zealand."

She heard him move and then felt his arms wrap around her. She leaned against him. She had no more tears left for anything Shoutarou had ever done to her. Her only regret was not leaving him the first time he had done anything to her. But if he ever set foot back in Japan Kaoru was going to kill him.

"We're quite a pair aren't we?" She forced a laugh.

Kenshin kissed her forehead gently and Kaoru relaxed against him, just allowing him to hold her.

"How did you stay sane?" She asked softly.

"Hope," Kenshin answered.

Kaoru rested her head against his shoulder and hugged him gently.

"Come on," Kenshin said after a moment. "Let's get to bed."

Kaoru gave him a questioning look.

"Not unless you want to," he murmured.

"But what about you?"

Kenshin shook his head, "I am fine."

Kaoru gave him a narrow-eyed look. "Sure you are. Flashbacks and attempted strangulations are the sign of a happy, healthy Kenshin. Sure…"

Kenshin ducked his head, his eyes lowered.

Kaoru felt her heart twist, "idiot." She grumbled softly. "C'mere." She kissed his cheek gently. Threading her fingers through his, she squeezed his hand.

Kenshin raised his eyes to hers, his expression sheepish.

"Idiot," Kaoru repeated again.

"That I am," he replied.

"Yes but you're my idiot."

Kenshin's eyes flickered. "Possessive are we Kaoru?"

He was doing it again… "Possessive… Ah… Um... yes… very… yes very possessive… possessive… yep." She blinked and rearranged her thoughts. "Stop doing that or I'm going to make you call me Kaoru-dono!"

Kenshin laughed, the sound sending chills down her spine and drew her against him.

"It's only fair," Kaoru groused. "If I'm yours. You're mine."

Kenshin's eyebrow quirked, "all's fair in love and war?"

"Precisely," Kaoru agreed, she found herself yawning and smothered it with the back of her hand.

"Tired?" Kenshin asked softly.

"Mmm…" Kaoru murmured. "Stupid jet lag."

Kenshin chuckled softly and she squeaked as he suddenly picked her up. "Let's get you to bed then."

Kaoru yawned again.

Kenshin pressed a soft kiss against her forehead.

Kaoru was asleep even before he set her down on the bed and Kenshin curled up beside her; drifting off into a sleep that was void of dreams.