The evening passed in a blur of laughter and goodwill; a jumble of half-remembered images all crowding into his mind's eye whenever Kenshin tried to recall the specifics of supper. It was possible that he had taken a bit much to drink, but Sano had brought sake and it would have been rude to refuse. For once, the drink had not seemed bitter and clouded, and if he were honest with himself Kenshin could admit that he had been a little too taken with the pink flush spreading across Kaoru's cheeks and the light in her eyes when she had caught his gaze to notice how much he had imbibed.

Even Yahiko's teasing jeers had not been enough to provoke Kaoru's infamous temper, she had laughed a little too loudly at some, gestures growing increasingly clumsy and expansive as the evening wore on. It was not the hysteria he had feared after some of the tales he had related this afternoon, but a genuine expression of joy in the company of friends. No. "Friends" was too pale a word, Kenshin reflected; after all they had shared these past years they were as good as family. And at last he had become a part of it.

Someday perhaps he would share his stories with another, a child with Kaoru's innocent eyes and his bright hair- determinedly he nipped that thought in the bud, recognizing it as a fancy brought on by drink.

"Kenshin." He turned to glance back and Kaoru jogged to catch up to him, leaning into his side until he relented and put an arm around her.

"Tell a story?" She murmured, and it sent a warm tingle of contentment through him. Just now though he didn't want to dwell in the past; the present was entirely too enjoyable.

"Perhaps tomorrow." He had expected her to pout, but felt her shift as she nodded understanding.

"Does Sano know anything of this? Megumi?" An unmistakable edge of jealousy there, quickly smothered.

Kenshin smiled softly, "No, Kaoru." He had meant to say more, but something about speaking her name here in the darkness of twilight with that unintentional warmth just seemed… sacred, somehow. It needed no further qualifications.

Kaoru had caught it too, he could feel her tense briefly with shock, then a quiet laugh broke the silence.

"You should tell them. Sano and Megumi, I mean." Her voice was considerably more subdued than a moment ago, hardly more than a breath on the breeze.

"I may."

She nodded again, glancing down at their feet now to match her pace to his. He couldn't resist watching her while her eyes were turned away. It was the drink, and the darkness and this new understanding they shared, but suddenly he wanted very much to turn her face back to his, tilt her chin up the slightest bit and-

"Hoi! Were you two just gonna leave me with that drunken lout? You're responsible for me, you know!"

Saved. By Yahiko. For once, Kenshin wished he had stayed behind. More so when he saw the sly grin spread across the boy's face.

"What are you talking about?"

"None of your business, Yahiko." Kaoru snapped, the whimsy of a moment ago evaporating.

Kenshin sighed deeply, a little annoyed and unwillingly amused all at once. It was not an uncommon state of affairs these days, and he was grateful for that too.

"You sure? You look a little cozy to me."

Kaoru stuck her tongue out tauntingly, in no hurry to pull away. Kenshin glared sharply at Yahiko over her head and Yahiko smiled back disarmingly, "All right. I know when I'm not wanted." The laugh that accompanied that statement was entirely too smug for Kenshin's liking, as Yahiko turned to go he spun and snagged the back of his shirt.

"It's too dark out, and we're responsible for you. Time to head home." Kenshin smirked at his dumbfounded expression.

"I'm gonna head back to Sano."

Kaoru joined in, grinning wickedly. "That 'drunken lout'? No. You're better off here."

Desperately Yahiko tried to twist away, but Kenshin caught him up and slung him over his shoulder casually. Kaoru tipped him a wink and Kenshin smiled fondly, adjusting the boy's weight.

"Fine. Can we stop ambling and just get home at least? Geez."

Kenshin couldn't quite stifle his laughter, laughed harder as Yahiko complained of being jostled and Kaoru began to chuckle. It was a strange night, but he recognized too that this would be a new story for another night, one that wouldn't leave a scar to remind him of it and didn't need to.

!

!

!

Kenshin was up with the dawn despite the slightly fuzzy feeling of his head. His mouth was parched and he felt a little heavier on his feet than usual; nevertheless something of the glow from the previous night stayed with him. His smile was genuine as he drew water from the well to wet his throat and again for breakfast.

Kaoru was already up and about when he ventured back inside, eyes red-rimmed with fatigue and face a trifle pale. She greeted him with a whispered "Good morning," checking behind her to be sure Yahiko hadn't risen yet. Kenshin could have told her there was nothing to fear; when he had passed his room Yahiko had still been sleeping like the dead, limbs sprawled every which way.

She followed him carefully into the next room, falling into a routine that had become as natural to them as breathing, preparing breakfast with each assigned their own particular task. Kenshin dodged neatly when Kaoru spun a little too quickly, sprinkling water droplets on the floor; she grimaced apologetically and Kenshin waved it away without thought, a little water couldn't hurt anything and he was still accustoming himself to the lack of tension between them.

He caught her eye every now and again as they prepared breakfast, saw the light blush that spread across her features when he smiled. That was new, and oddly reassuring. On impulse, he nudged her gently out of the way, taking the knife that she had been using to slice daikon from her hands. She had already seen that he had his fair share of scars, unsteady as her hands were today she might earn a few of her own if she was not careful.

For a moment she looked ready to protest, a flash of temper sparking in her eyes; Kenshin braced himself for the onslaught, but it never came. Shaking her head and muttering what were doubtless vile imprecations against his character she stepped away, looking for another way she could assist.

"You promised another story today. What better time than now?"

Excitement not unmixed with hesitancy. Most of his tales had not been happy ones, but Kaoru seemed glad for the sharing.

Kenshin glanced down at his hands, watched the scars stretch over his skin as he worked, felt the shift of muscle in his fingertips. There were still a few stories he could tell, and not all of them cruel. He considered for a moment, choosing his words carefully lest he give insult.

"Miss Kaoru." He caught the flicker of disappointment in her face and immediately regretted his choice of words. His tongue could hardly keep pace with his thoughts this morning and fell willingly back into old habits.

Drawing a breath he began again, conscious of his suddenly rapid heartbeat.

"For years I wandered. Stopping no more than a few days in each place, doing whatever I could to ease suffering. No matter how much I accomplished there was always more to be found. I began to despair of ever finding its end."

Kaoru had stopped moving, sensing the change in his thoughts perhaps. Realizing that this story would be different from those that came before.

"It is always concentrated in the greater cities; too many people crowd too close and petty feuds begin to brew. It was the same here."

Kaoru frowned, perhaps now recognizing where he intended this tale to end.

"The difference being, I found someone worth protecting."

Kenshin cleared his throat and Kaoru shifted subtly.

"And then others came, and an impromptu family was formed. Each protecting the other. We all bear scars from some encounters."

His shoulder ached from the memory of Shishio's teeth, but he determinedly pushed the phantom pain away.

"You know those stories, Kaoru; a few of them are yours." He laid the knife down carefully. "As for the others; there will be many more days to tell them, I hope."

He could hear Kaoru swallow thickly behind him. "You're staying for good then?"

"I gave my word once."

"I wasn't sure." A hint of willfulness crept over her face and Kenshin watched her cautiously from beneath his bangs, unsure what this portended.

"Promise me you will tell me all the stories, Kenshin. In time."

"In time. I promise." He laughed lightly, was surprised to find it was genuine. "Though they may take years in the telling."

Kaoru sniffed with satisfaction, "All to the better. I know you won't run out on me… on us soon."

"Never." He could see Kaoru's surprise at the vehemence of his tone, but so help him he had nearly lost her one too many times. The thought of surrendering her willingly was repugnant at best. Fundamentally Wrong.

If she had ever thought otherwise… that was a failing on his part. One he would have to correct.

Kenshin stepped forward before he could think better of it, hand reaching out to trace along her stubborn jaw. Kaoru tilted her face up to his, locking eyes with him. There was an unspoken challenge there, an unacknowledged fear and a sliver of hope. Carefully he dipped down to press his lips to hers, giving her time to pull away and reconsider, hands hovering just over her form.

Kaoru did not know the meaning of retreat, and her mind had been made up for some time now. She stepped into him, hands rising to grasp his own, threading through his fingers and leaning into his warmth without hesitation.

And it wasn't perfect. The water boiled over in the kettle, hissing as it struck open flame; the fish began to char until the scent of it assaulted their noses, while they were both so giddy with fatigue and relief that they trembled with it, leaning into each other for balance's sake.

It certainly wasn't perfect, but it was perfectly them.

!

!

!

Kaoru bolted out of the dojo, slipping into her zori as fast as she was able and zipping around the corner at breakneck speed. "Kenshin! Kenshin!" She sounded a little frantic to her own ears, but it wasn't everyday she misplaced her only child. Usually he crawled worshipfully behind her and it was all she could do not to trip over him every time she turned around.

Only today when she had turned around he had been conspicuously absent.

Kenshin stepped out from behind a pillar, movements sharp and eyes darting in every direction, seeking whatever had so upset her. Kaoru was already calming down, having spotted the object of her abject panic clinging to her husband's shirt, wide-eyed and startled.

"You found him. He's here."

"Who?" Kenshin's voice turned hoarse, eyes narrowing dangerously. That saddened her, that even after all these years he still expected another foe at any moment. She prayed that too would heal, as had so many of his other pains.

"Kenji." The tension visibly drained from his body, one hand clasping his son's firmly where it tangled in the folds of his shirt. "I turned around and he was gone." Kaoru glared in mock anger, "But I see he is safe and making up to you."

Kenshin grinned, reaching out an inviting hand. "He is fine; in fact, I was going to tell a story while we waited for you."

"Story!" Kenji chirped delightedly; unsurprisingly it had been one of his first words, right behind "mama", and "sano" and sometime before "daddy". Something Sano had never stopped teasing him over. Kenshin bore it with his usual equanimity, and a little help from his singularly vengeful wife. Kaoru still had a trick or two up her sleeve, and marriage hadn't made her any more reluctant to use them.

She reached out to take his hand, a familiar thrill coursing through her at the feel his calloused palms against her own. They each smiled with understanding, Kaoru heeding Kenshin's gentle tugs as he started for the shade of the walk.

For his part, Kenshin was already lost in thought, absentmindedly allowing Kenji to trace the faded patterns that ran across his hands and up his wrists to disappear up his sleeves. It was difficult sometimes, to judge what stories he should tell and which he should hold back for another time, especially now that his son hung on his every word. Kaoru said it was nothing more than a love for his father's voice, but Kenji was clever, young as he was, and Kenshin was never quite sure how much he might understand.

He glanced down, seeing Kenji's fixation on some of the more visible criss-crosses.

He took a moment, only a moment and only in the silence of his own thoughts to pray that Kenji would never understand the significance of those marks or these stories. Prayed that his son would never bear any of his own.

Kenshin had the feeling that thought was in vain, but he dared to hoped nonetheless. And if all else failed… if all else failed Kenshin hoped he would find someone willing to share the burden.

!

!

!

Small translation note: 'zori' are the Japanese sandals most characters are depicted as wearing.

Many thanks to all those who read and/or reviewed. I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it! :)