Deep Sea

Disclaimer: Come on…ya'll know I don't own Kenshin by now, right?

Joh: See? Told you I would wrap this up! I told you so! -Laughs insanely-

And no, it's not over yet, I suppose I made it sound like that was the end. But there is still much more to go. Did you really think I would end it so happily? 'Fraid not my friends…'friad not…

Sorry, no time to answer my beautiful reviewers, but I do love you all!

Warnings: lime

0o0o0

Kenshin smiled into the kiss, drawing back slightly. "You…you love me?"

Kaoru flushed but didn't look away. She held his gaze steadily. "Yes." She said firmly, taking his hand and lacing her fingers through his.

"Then won't you-?"

"No." Kaoru cut him off with a sad shake of her head. "You don't understand…I love you but…" she trailed off, breaking eye contact for the first time.

"But what?" he gave her a pained look, running his hands through her hair.

"What do you think?" she demanded, annoyance laced through her words.

Kenshin sighed and let his hand drop. "I don't know what I'd do without you." He murmured.

"You'd keep on living. Life would go on."

Their eyes met. Blue gray clashing with a dark violet.

"Is that what you would do?"

"Yes."

Kenshin hid a frown. It frustrated him to no end, not being able to understand the sea-maiden. She said she loved him and yet…

It hurt. It hurt a lot.

She brushed her hand against his cheek, eyes soft. "I don't say that to be spiteful." She whispered.

He didn't answer, preferring to stare into her deep eyes.

The couple were joined again, kissing passionately.

Kaoru moaned softly as Kenshin's tongue slipped into her mouth. Her eyes fluttered at the sensation.

"Kenshin…I'm sorry." She whispered when they pulled back.

He mumbled a response, trailing a hand down her back with a sigh. As he pressed himself closer to her he could feel her heart racing, her body quivering.

"I love you…I love you so much." He whispered in her ear, pushing her down gently. Tracing her face with his fingers he climbed over her.

"Kenshin." She flushed but didn't attempt to push him away.

"I love you too."

Kenshin closed his eyes, pausing in the middle of his actions.

"Kenshin?"

The red-haired man sighed and rolled off of her, sitting on the edge of the bed.

"What's wrong?" Kaoru asked, sitting up and crawling over to him.

He turned to her with a sad look. "When…if…you choose to live with me…I want you to…" he trailed off with a shake of his head; getting to his feet.

He walked to the door, opening it and motioning for her to follow.

Confused, Kaoru got up and padded after him, into the dim hallway.

"What are you…?"

He held up a hand, silencing her. Without another word he turned and walked down the hall, turning his head every one in awhile to make sure she was following.

Near the end of the hall he stopped in front of a smooth glass door. He smiled at her and turned the silver handle, revealing a spacious and empty room.

The walls were painted an off white, making the room seem larger than it was in reality. A single window was fitted high into the walls, letting in a faint beam of dusty light. The only piece of furniture was a large chest, pressed against the center of the wall facing them.

Kenshin stepped into the room and leaned against the wall, watching Kaoru walk up to the chest and trail a hand across the smooth wood.

It was a beautiful simple chest, just as white as the walls and floors of the room it occupied.

A delicate design of vines was engraved across the sides and over the top.

"What is this?" Kaoru asked quietly, moving to open the silver lock. But it refused to open. A small frown crossed her lips as she turned to Kenshin. "I don't understand."

Another one of those small sad smiles was offered to her as he pushed himself off the wall and walked over to her.

"I want you to open this if you choose to live with me…" he pulled something out of his pocket and pressed it into her palm. "Forever."

"Forever." She repeated softly, opening her hand to gaze upon a small silver key with a simple vine design across its length. "Kenshin…I told you I can't…" A flash of annoyance flared up within her.

A finger was pressed against her parted lips. "Please…just think about it…please."

It must have been the pleading way he looked at her, the gentle touch of his finger, and the soft tone of his voice.

"Alright. I'll think about it." She smiled slightly and he pulled her into a kiss.

0o0 Three days later

Kaoru leaned back against the now annoyingly familiar glass door, sliding down to the floor. How many times had she stopped in front of the door, reaching for the handle but then pulling back?

It most has been often for she had memorized everything about that door, from the wavy glass to the smooth twisty handle.

She felt like kicking the door down, but she calmed herself wearily and refrained from doing so, preferring to lie down on the floor leaning against it.

Kenshin probably had no idea how much his words had haunted her.

I want you to open this if you choose to live with me…forever.

She shivered. That was a commitment. Forever. To be honest, she was terrified of a word like that.

Simply terrified.

She looked down into her lap, turning the small key about in her hands, examine the cool metal. What exactly was so significant about a chest? What could be in there?

Curiosity was burning inside of her, tearing at her heart and screaming at her to take a peek.

What was that thing humans were always saying?

Curiosity killed the cat.

Her hand closed over the key firmly as she stood up. Self-restraint was needed.

Kaoru bit her lip and touched the handle lightly before drawing back.

No….

Her hand gripped tighter around the key, so hard her knuckles shone white.

She wasn't thinking about this properly. This wasn't about fulfilling her curiosity, this was about her choice. Her choice of living on land forever.

It hadn't been so hard…living on land…and with Kenshin beside her…

But the sea was her home!

Her dark eyes flashed in frustration as the clear blue changed swiftly to a stormy gray. Silently, she chucked the key against the wall, watching it bounce off and skid across the floor and coming to a stop at her feet.

She was tempted to just leave it there and walk away…but instead she bent down and picked it up, holding it close to her breast.

I want you to open this if you choose to live with me…forever.

0o0o0o0

Joh: Sorry for the wait, I got writer's block. That was a mean place to leave off…but there you have it. Keep an eye out for the next installment of…Deep Sea!

-JoH