Several weeks had passed, and Kenshin had been left to the care of Kaede and her two pupils. Rin and Kagome had fussed over her, but her recovery had been swift. The battle she had waged was fierce, and the effects were taken on her body. She could feel that certain techniques of the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu were harder to reach than before. The effort to find them was painful. But she would be allotted time to rest. For that, she was thankful.
It was a particularly cool night, the full moon had risen overhead. Everything was white washed and solemn. Kenshin had been in the hut with the other women while they spoke and gave lessons. Kenshin just liked to listen to them talk, it was oddly peaceful. She observed that Kagome, while being naturally intelligent, was not as quick on the uptake as Rin. It was amusing. And Kaede had the patience of a saint when the two burst into giggles about something silly.
The door to the hut opened, and Jaken ambled in. "Lady Kagome, Lady Rin, annoying old Geezer." Jaken said, before turning to Kenshin. "Battousai. Lord Sesshoumaru requests your presence nearby. At the pond to the east." Jaken said, and then was promptly assaulted by Rin and Kagome for insulting Kaede. Kenshin smiled and left the hut. Kenshin had taken to wearing the red kimono that Sesshoumaru had gifted her. It fit her well, and the red fabric genuinely felt nice compared to the rougher garb she had. But she went east as told, and after a few minutes walk, she found Sesshoumaru at the edge of a great field. Kenshin's breath caught. He was watching the moon, the wind catching his silver hair and throwing it all about. The various colors of moonlight reflecting off those silver strands. The way his eyes seemed to glow in the night. Kenshin could not help but remark at his beauty.
"Kenshin," Sesshoumaru said.
"Lord Sesshoumaru." Kenshin replied.
"What became of Sojiro the Tenken?" Sesshoumaru asked, his voice flat.
Kenshin looked a bit flustered. He asked her here, just to talk about Sojiro?
"He went north, milord. To train with the taijiya in order to repent for the many lives he took." Kenshin replied quietly.
"Ridiculous." Sesshoumaru remarked, still not facing her. "That attack you used to defeat Shishio. What was that?"
Kenshin blinked. "It was something this one came up with on the spot, that it was. Shishio would block and raise his sword for a downward strike. It was very repetitive. This one needed to change her timing so as to not allow him a solid block. It was… hard to do, that it was."
Sesshoumaru turned towards her, extending his left hand. Kenshin took it without thinking. Her hands were small against his. Her fingers were hard and calloused, and his, despite belonging to that of a warrior, were still soft. And warm. Very warm.
"Your strength was impressive, Kenshin." He pulled her close until she was pressed up against him. "I, Sesshoumaru, did not expect you to defeat Shishio as soundly as you did." He said.
Kenshin's heart was thundering in her chest, and her face went red.
"I will not push you. I will wait, if you require time. I have nothing but time. I admire your strength, Kenshin Himura. I will protect you."
Kenshin's violet eyes welled with tears. But they were not of pain, or of sadness. Rather, but joy. In his arms, she felt safe. She felt the head rating off of him, she could read in those golden eyes that he was serious.
"Lord Sesshoumaru… this one is not…"
"Enough," Sesshoumaru cut her off. His voice was softer than normal. "I do not wish to hear self-deprecation from you, Kenshin. I, Lord Sesshoumaru, have chosen you."
Kenshin's eyes shot wide, and she stretched up on the tips of her toes to kiss him. They held each other in this embrace, and Sesshoumaru's fingers began to tug away at the layers of Kenshin's clothing. After a moment, Sesshoumaru had removed the top of her kimono. Her breasts weren't very large, but every time those strong fingers of Sesshoumaru touched them, she let out a gasp. Kenshin's hands explored his torso, and Sesshoumaru's mouth began to hungrily kiss and suckle her pale skin. Leaving marks upon her neck, and moving down to keep kissing her most sensitive places. It didn't take them long to become intertwined with one another. Sesshoumaru had entered her, and the two were solidifying their bond with one another.
Kenshin moaned and writhed, and Sesshoumaru's very attentive hands kept feeling her, touching her, exploring her. His mouth tasted her as if he could never get enough. He drank in the sight of her below him, of her naked body, like he was a drowning man drinking the ocean. They moved in perfect synchronization, their bodies telling the story of their connection that words never could. Their souls were reaching for each other, and after a long time, Sesshoumaru's held tilted up and a loud howl escaped his lips. Kenshin's own lips parted, but her moan was lost amidst his howl.
The two had reached Nirvana, tangled in each other's arms.
Sometime later…
Kenshin lay under Sesshoumaru's arm, her body covered by his mokomoko. She had found it made a perfect blanket. The two of them lay there, basking in the moonlight and feeling so utterly full of love. She rested his head against his chest, listening to his heart beat. He seemed so calm, despite everything that just happened. Kenshin was happy. For the first time since Tomoe, Kenshin felt happy. She could tell, despite how aloof Sesshoumaru was, that he was happy too.
"Lord Sesshoumaru?"
He said nothing.
"This one wishes to… thank you. You saved this one from a fate worse than death. You saved me from death, actually." she commented. She could still remember the feel of Bakusaiga slicing her wide open. She reached over, taking his hand and gently placing it between her breasts. Right where Bakusaiga's cold steel once created a grievous wound. "Your sword touched this one's heart, that it did." she said, and snuggled closer.
"Don't say such foolish things, Kenshin." he said flatly.
Kenshin smiled against him.
"This one loves you, Lord Sesshoumaru."
… … …
"I, Sesshoumaru, love you too."
That spellbound night had forever shaped the lives of the Lord and the Battousai. Their love blossomed, and a child was brought into the world. A hanyo with the red hair of his mother, but silver ears poking out from the top of his head. A small bubbly boy with a bit of a doofy personality– Kenji. Together, the two would live in relative peace alongside their friends. They married under a starry crescent moon. Some time later, Kenshin would welcome a sister-wive to the fold. Much like his father, Sesshoumaru married twice. Rin. It did not take long after, but soon Rin gave birth to twins. Setsuna and Towa. Kenshin gave birth a few years prior, a sister to Kenji. A little girl named Hiko.
All of eternity can exist within a moment.
Yet, another great evil lurked in the east. A scorned woman, rising from the ashes of her love to take vengeance upon those who wronged her. Will Kenshin be able to save her family, or will it fall like everyone else she loved? She looked towards eternity, waiting for the day that may never come. But for now…
The Hitokiri Battosai… had someone to protect.
Lord and the Battousai
END
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