Chapter 8
An Answer and A Dragon

"It is time I explained everything to you, but first, are you okay?" He kneeled in front of her, noting how pale she looked, and brushed her hair gently from her forehead so he could check her temperature and her energy. She was obviously upset and unsure, but did not flinch away from his touch.

"You're hands are warm," She said, and then gave a small nod as he pulled back slightly, "I feel better than before, but I'm going to take a guess and say you're going to tell me what's really going on now? Sano is back, did he get the information you needed?" She asked him lightly, teasing a bit.

"Well, had I know that he would show up with that guest I would have informed you much sooner. Sano has a habit of being a bit lax about reporting in."

Before Kaoru could respond, Megumi handed her a cup, "Drink this quickly, and you should go someplace a bit warmer than a stone floor. Your energy levels are a bit better, but I still don't trust you with your... with Chaudry without bottoming out again. I'm going to go talk to him and see what can be done. Kenshin, you should probably take her upstairs to talk, I have no idea of the extent of the effects of the energies. He isn't too old, and his power is tied with his family, but it would probably be better safe than sorry." While Megumi was talking, Kaoru kicked back the warm drink and then stuck out her tongue. This concoction was more bitter than the last. She placed her cup on the ground and took Kenshin's hand as he held it out to her. He didn't bother to respond as Megumi quickly left the room.

She was a bit surprised with how quickly Kenshin helped her up and began leading her up to the house. She was used to a more leisurely pace.

"Kenshin?" She asked, panting a bit.

"I am sorry, Miss Kaoru, I just want to get you up there as soon as possible. I don't want to take any chances on your health and if distance is a key. Do you want me to carry you?"

Kaoru rolled her eyes and just kept up the pace. It wasn't that far, and she was feeling better the further she got away. She refused to go up the flights of stairs to the attic, though Kenshin looked like he might argue the point.

"Kenshin, I feel better here. I have no desire to go up several flights of stairs, let's just sit down. If I start to get worse, then you can drag me up there." Kenshin looked at her, trying to stare her down, but she just folded her arms across her chest and almost dared him to push her. He felt his mouth turn up.

"All right, but the moment I feel your energy dropping, I'm carrying you to the roof, and perhaps to town!" And he grinned as she rolled her eyes once again, but let him lead her to a sofa.

"This is where I saw that... thing." She said as she sat down, Kenshin following suit. At first she gazed out the window, but turned to Kenshin as he started talking.

"Yes, I believe I should come clean about several things regarding that. The first is, I saw very clearly who that was."

"Who?" Kaoru asked, wondering at his use of that word and what he could mean.

"Ah, yes, Miss Kaoru, we haven't been completely truthful here. But I have to explain. At first we just wanted you to get better without having to worry about the truth. After you started feeling better, I was worried that you would not trust us and leave, and we would not have been able to stop you. And then, I was worried, after awhile, that if I told you, that you..."

"That I would what?" Kaoru prompted as his pause lingered longer than necessary as he gazed at her.

"That you would be angry with me for keeping such a large secret. It's not in our nature to give up our secrets so easily either, even if we want to tell. I didn't want to tell a secret if I thought it would make you angry and leave."

"Your nature?" Kaoru prodded. She tried not to focus on the implications that if he didn't want her to leave that he liked her. Or needed her. She'd focus on that later, after she got the secret, and then decide how she felt about that.

"What you have to know, is there are a lot of us. Not as many as there once were, but we had to go into hiding and make ourselves invisible to people who would rather us be dead, or more useful than we are."

Kaoru had an expression of confusion on her face, and knew that whatever Kenshin was saying, he believed it whole heartedly. She had never seen anyone as sincere.

"You aren't about to tell me I'm a wizard or mixed in with some anti-You-Know-Who conspiracy, right?" She finally managed to ask.

Here Kenshin blinked and then laughed a bit, "Well, that's not what I thought you would pull out of that. But, no, you are not a wizard. Or witch. And there is no conspiracy. However, you did manage to get involved with dragons."

"Dragons?" Kaoru looked completely confused. "Those really large things with scales and teeth and sacrificial maidens and... wait, am I a sacrifice or something?"

Kenshin sighed, "The 'Maiden Sacrifice' fiasco was a story that got out of hand a long time ago when times were much different. I promise most dragons wouldn't know what to do with a maiden sacrifice if they got one. Your old bond mate included."

"He's a dragon?" She asked incredulously.

"He is a dragon. Which you managed to form a bond with."

"I formed a bond with a giant lizard? We're not even the same species... how does something like that even happen?" Here, she stopped and thought a second, "Wait a minutes. Are you talking an actual dragon? This isn't just slang for... I don't know... 'A Very Confused Desi' or something? We are talking magic and St. George and flying wings?"

"Yes, we are talking magic and creatures of myth." Kenshin's lips twitched and Kaoru couldn't make out his expression. She felt she was doing very well, not jumping up and running off, or completely freaking out. She frowned a bit and looked out the window.

"So 'who' was out there? And how do you all fit into this story?"

"You saw Misao flying in that day. She had been off doing some research in town and was just coming back."

"That was Misao?!" Kaoru looked at Kenshin sharply, who simply nodded. "But, she's tiny and that thing was huge!"

"Well, she's actually very small for a female dragon. Normally the females are a lot larger."

Kaoru narrowed her eyes.

"I know I saw something, but I'm not sure I can believe that creature was Misao. I'm trying to not run off screaming because I want to know the truth, I want to get better, and I did see something out there."

Kenshin stood up and offered her his hand when she took, although slowly.

"I will show you." He said to her and walked toward the window. He reached behind the curtain and pulled a latch, then pushed the large window outward, like a door. He stepped outside and Kaoru followed. "Just," He hesitated, bit his lip, and looked a bit unsure as to what he wanted to say, "Just don't be frightened. It's just me."

She wasn't sure what was going to happen, but she trusted Kenshin. He let go of her hand after a small squeeze, and then walked some distance away from her, finally turning and facing her. She wrapper her arms around herself, suddenly very aware of the cold. For a second, nothing happened, then there was a wash of heated air, and she could see his eyes glowing more brightly. He started to grow and change. His hair color began to seep into his skin until he was red all over, his hair becoming harder, as if they were large scales or horns. At first his clothes started to stretch, and then were hidden under more scales and color as well. He kept growing until it.. Kenshin... was right next to her, though he had started a fair distance away. Suddenly she had forgotten all about the cold as she looked at the very large dragon in shock.

He had turned into a fairly large, bright red and gold dragon, complete with beautiful wings of translucent gold veined with red that were tucked up neatly against his body. He seemed overly flashy, what with the way he glistened even in the soft light of the cloudy day. Kaoru wondered what he would feel like, as his scales looked like fire and gold. His face, Kaoru decided, while he had a mouthful of razor sharp teeth and large scales and horns, was expressive and more human than she would have thought. Not that she had ever thought much about dragons. But there she was, staring at what had once been Kenshin.

After he had finished transforming, he didn't do anything except keep his head and body down on the ground. He looked like a giant puppy, a giant scary puppy, Kaoru thought.

Concentrating on breathing slowly, Kaoru considered her options. She could run off and pretend she had been hallucinating the whole thing and never speak of it again, or she could swallow her growing fear and deal with the fact that she had bonded with a dragon and was standing not two feet from another. Finally, she took a step forward and giving into her earlier urge, touched Kenshin's unscarred cheek with one pointed finger, and then smoothed her palm over the warm scales that were surprisingly not as hard as she would have imagined. They were tough, but they gave a bit under the press of her hand. Kenshin just sat, angling his golden eyes to look up at her, and she giggled.

"You look like a sad puppy!" and she started giggling again at his wide eyes and snort. Kaoru jumped at the sound, jerking her hand back. He gave her what seemed to be an apologetic look.

"Okay. So. Dragon. I saw a dragon, Misao that day. She's not as bright as you. And you are much bigger. So. Dragon. Right." She poked Kenshin's cheek again, to assure herself that she wasn't hallucinating and then began to touch the scales again. "You are here. I can feel you. Scales and all. Very warm. And look, you have horns." She touched where the scales and horns seemed to meet, and Kenshin let out a dragon sigh. Kaoru looked down at him, he seemed to be enjoying his head rub so she began scratching all over. He settled his head down lower into the ground to allow her better access. And it seemed to make her more comfortable with him. Kaoru laughed at bit as he let out a noise somewhat like a purr when she found a spot near his neck and he rolled over, feet up in the air like a kitten, as she rubbed his neck. She looked curiously to see how he had gotten on his back with wings, but he seemed to have tucked them up further to roll, and was now using them to balance on his back.

Suddenly Kaoru stopped, and stepped back a bit.

"Okay, sorry." She said, blushing a bit as she realized she had started to think of Kenshin like a large kitten or puppy, and not as Kenshin or a dragon.

Kenshin seemed a bit disoriented, and then gracefully rolled over, and amazing feat with those large wings, Kaoru decided, and pulled himself up into a sitting position. Kaoru suddenly felt very, very small and realized just how small Kenshin had been trying to make himself. He gave her a dragon grin, full of teeth, and then he started shrinking. When he was fully human again, he seemed a bit out of breath, but was still smiling.

"Scales can be a bit itchy." He said and Kaoru's blush deepened a bit.

"I just had to make sure I wasn't hallucinating. So, a dragon. You are very bright." Kaoru realized she had been repeating 'dragon' for awhile, trying to make her mind realize that, yes, there were dragons.

Kenshin shrugged a bit. "Male dragons always seem to be a bit more flashy than females, Misao is even a water dragon and she tends towards a dark blue grey instead of an actual blue."

"So. Dragons." Kaoru winced as she did it again. "Sorry, I just keep thinking if I say it enough it will make more sense to me. What type of dragon is Megumi?" She unconsciously took the hand Kenshin offered and he led her back inside.

"Megumi isn't actually a dragon. She is a rare human who can sense and manipulate magical energy around her. People like her are known as 'mediums' or 'witches' and she is one of the most accomplished. It has come in very handy with your predicament."

Kaoru looked towards the door and frowned. She didn't say anything for a minute, thinking through everything. Finally she spoke quietly "So, I managed to form a bond with a dragon, and that bond was broken. I know Megumi has been treating me, but she kept talking about doing more research, so I am obviously not healed. What can be done?" She asked the last question, turning towards Kenshin who suddenly looked out the window. His eyes looked much more golden than she remembered.

"Your former bond mate has requested you return with him to try and reform the bond. His family magic should be strong enough to reforge the bond, and he seems to feel responsible." He frowned at the window, but looked up in surprise when he heard a snort of laughter from Kaoru.

"'Requested'?" Kaoru said incredulously and laughed again. "Are we talking about the same guy because the dude I know wouldn't request anything."

"He stated that you would go with him. He feels confident you will." Kenshin amended, and Kaoru laughed, then stood up, eyes flashing a bit dangerously.

"Excuse me, dragon or not, I have to go beat some sense into him." And as she took a step toward the door, Kenshin was in front of her.

"If you go in there, the bond will try and reform and drain you of energy-" He stopped as Kaoru cut him off.

"But I need to at least go knock him over the head and tell him no!" And she tried to brush past him, but Kenshin stood his ground.

"But it might kill you! You can't... wait, you're going to tell him no?" He asked, with such a shocked look on his face Kaoru stopped her attempts to get by.

"Well of course I'm going to tell him no, why would I tell him anything different?" She looked liked she might start trying to beat sense into Kenshin's head, and he gulped as he started talking, choosing his words carefully.

"Well, he was your bond mate, and you spent a fair amount of time pursuing him. I just assumed to be with him is what you would want." He flinched a bit as she stepped back, all she did give him a small, playful smack in his shoulder.

"Okay, that isn't terrible logic, but it's only part right. I did spend a lot of time trying to win his attentions." She sighed, looking a bit wistful as she went to go sit back on the couch. Kenshin followed, sitting beside her. "Had he chosen me to begin with, I probably would not be here. But he didn't." She looked up at Kenshin and smiled, a bit coldly. "He chose the way his family had set up for him, and I don't begrudge him that. But he did not choose me, and to come in and act like I'm just going to follow him off to a harem because he feels my life is his responsibility? Um, no. No, it's not going to happen. I do not share. Plus, it would have been difficult enough to be a part of a family of a different culture. To be a part of a family as a second wife in a clan of dragons? You couldn't pay me to go back with him!" She straightened her shoulders, chin up defiantly. When she turned her gaze to Kenshin, he had such a strange look in his eyes that should couldn't quite grasp what they were telling her. Finally she said, "He isn't going to like me telling him no, but I suppose he will get over it."

"I would not allow him to do anything except accept your answer." Kenshin said, his tone hard. He was looking at her with such resolution, her retort that she wouldn't allow it herself dying on her tongue. It occurred to her it was probably a good thing there was a whole clan of dragons that would protect her and not allow her to get carted off. Not that she thought her former bond mate would, but she had never seen him disappointed and realized she had no idea how he would react. Had Asad just been human, Kaoru knew that she would be able to take him herself, but as a dragon, she had no defense against him.

"I don't believe that would be necessary," She said, "But it will be appreciated if it comes to that. Now I will just have to find a way to tell him."

Kenshin quirked and eyebrow and pulled a phone out of his pocket. He fiddled with it a second, and then Kaoru heard the sound of ringing.

"Hey Misao..."

"Hey Kenshin, we've been talking about the logistics about getting Kaoru back and how we'd have to stagger her arrival with his and how the family bonding ritual works and Megumi has been taking some notes and..." Misao was talking into the phone, and he could see her and Aoshi from his screen. He could also hear the others talking in the background. She kept on for a bit, as Kenshin kept trying to interrupt, finally Misao realized that he was just repeating her name. "Uh... yes Kenshin?" She asked finally.

"Miss Misao, Miss Kaoru would like to speak to Mr. Chaudry, would you mind?"

"Oh! No, not at all, hey, Chaudry, Kaoru." And he frowned a bit as the screen showed Misao tossing her phone. He handed his to Kaoru.

"Are you ready to go?" The dragon asked Kaoru as she pursed her lips.

"No."

"You should be ready soon, it's..."

"I'm not going, yaar. I am staying here."

There was silence for a minute, and Kenshin leaned over a bit to try and catch the look on his face. He felt a bit unsure as he couldn't pick up on the dragon's energy from this far, and did not know how he was taking the news. The other dragons and Megumi had gone silent on the other end of the phone. Kaoru kept her face even, and let no emotion show through.

A/N - Sorry for the slight cliff hanger everyone. It's quite late and this seemed like a good place to end the chapter. I'm listening to Isaac outside my house right now, blowing trees around.

This chapter was also pretty difficult to write for some reason. I kept rewriting parts of it, and really trying to make the characters work. I love Kenshin and Kaoru but I have such a difficult time writing them. I'm actually not sure if everything is exactly where I want it, but I'm never really totally satisfied. I can't tell if it's my being picky or what. I've been a bit busy, and I've managed to get a few art commissions as well as my usual coding work, but I'm still making sure time to write! Still haven't had time to update corrections, but I know I will be able to after the 15th. Also, is it still frowned upon to respond to individual reviewers in authors notes? I haven't done that because my brother told me it wasn't allowed anymore, but I would really love to respond to everyone. Anyway, a big gigantic hug and thank you to everyone who has reviewed my story! Knowing people read my story makes me work at it even harder!

Also, I've been listening to Mumford and Sons on repeat while I'm working. Especially their Dharohar Project album. Check it out on YouTube! It's Folk Rock and Indian fusion. Love. It's also the best six bucks I've spent in iTunes.