21
Further Complications

Kenshin urged his mount down the hill, his eyes sweeping black and forth as he followed the well-worn game trail that led to a narrow stream flanked by tall willows and slender cottonwoods. He often rode into the hills that were a part of Kaoru's land, needing to be out in the open, to ride beneath the bold sky, breathe the scent of earth and trees, and to be away from the big house that seemed a different world altogether.

His cabin in Himura had been small, but that was because his people tended to spend more time outside than in. A cabin was just for shelter, for sleeping, not entirely for living. If not for Kaoru, he would have left a long, long time ago.

It was near dusk when he drew rein downwind of three does and two fawns who stood drinking at the water's edge. He had been eating chicken and pork and beef for some time, and this night he had a taste for venison.

He had just set his eyes on the doe with no fawn by her side when a big bay horse trotted up to the stream, spooking the deer, which quickly bounded out of sight.

Kenshin frowned as he urged his horse down the slope and across the stream. The bay horse whinnied softly as he rode up.

Dismounting, he took up the bay's reins and tethered both horses to a tree, noting as he did so that there was blood on its saddle. He backtracked the horse, hand on his sword hilt, eyes wary.

He found the man lying face down in the dirt some three hundred yards away. A dark brown bloodstain covered much of the man's shirt. His breathing was shallow and erratic.

When he was certain the man was unarmed, Kenshin rolled him over, swore softly as he recognized the one who had arrested him and taken him to Seiyo.

He stared at the unconscious Enemy for a long time, forefinger tapping at the hilt of his katana. He considered killing him for a long while, and then he hoisted the man onto his shoulders and carried him to the stream where the horses waited, his eyebrows twitching a little in irritation. This was only going to further complicate his life, but he couldn't kill a man who couldn't defend himself.

Draping the lawman face down over the back of he bay, he lashed the man's hands and feet together, jumped onto his own mount, and started for home. Yes, only trouble could come of this.

Kaoru was standing near the stove, cheerfully botching the evening meal, when Kenshin rode up. As always, familiar warmth filled her at seeing him, but her smile wavered when she saw the body lying across the saddle of the bay horse. She quickly wiped her hands and hurried outside.

"What happened? Is he dead? Did you…?"

"Hush now, Kaoru," Kenshin said quietly, though a trifle sternly. "He's not dead, yet. He was unconscious when I found him."

Kaoru drew in a deep breath when Kenshin dragged the man from the saddle and she saw his face for the first time.

"Ataru!"

"You remember him, then?"

Kaoru nodded. Remember, indeed, she thought guiltily, remembering that last night with him in Seiyo.

She helped Kenshin get him into the bedroom, threw back the covers on the bed. Ataru's face was almost as white as the pillow case.

"The bullet's still in his back," Kenshin said, and Kaoru nodded.

The next few moments were busy ones. Kaoru collected scissors, disinfectant, bandages, a bowl of water, and a clean cloth while Kenshin removed Ataru's blood-stained clothes and covered him with a sheet, then sterilized the blade of a knife.

Kenshin's hand was amazingly steady as he adroitly probed for the bullet lodged low in Ataru's back. Kaoru swallowed the bitter bile that rose in her throat as the blade sank deeper into his flesh. Moments later, Kenshin removed a small leaden chunk of metal from Ataru's back. Kaoru clamped her lips together as she washed away the blood, poured disinfectant over the wound, and then bandaged it securely.

"Will he live?"

"I think so," Kenshin said. He didn't sound entirely happy with this fact.

"I need to change the sheets."

Kenshin lifted Ataru while Kaoru removed the blood bedclothes and replaced them with clean ones. He told himself not to be jealous as she drew a blanket over him, smoothed the hair from his face, sponged the sweat from his brow. But all the while he was remembering how it had been in Seiyo, staring through the bars, watching Kaoru cross the street with Ataru, seeing the way the lawman held her arm and smiled down at her, and the way she had smiled back.

He shoved the memories away. Kaoru loved him; he had no reason to doubt it.

She spent the night at the lawman's side, patiently replacing the blankets he threw aside when the fever came. She wiped his face and chest with a cool cloth, offered him water, spoke to him even though he couldn't hear her.

Kenshin stood in the doorway and watched his woman care for another man. She was a soft-hearted girl, caring and sweet, and he knew she would have nursed absolutely anyone with the same tender concern. Still, the fact that she knew Ataru before was really started to gnaw at Kenshin's vitals. He had seen the way the Enemy law-upholder had looked at her, touched her.

As dawn began to lighten the sky, Kenshin insisted that Kaoru get some sleep, if not for her own sake, then for the child's.

"I'm fine," she argued. "Someone has to stay with Ataru-san."

"I'll stay with him," Kenshin said, just a touch irritably. He went to his wife, scooped her into his arms, he carried her to her old bedroom and deposited her firmly in her old bed. "Sleep now," he ordered.

She nodded. There was no arguing with him when he believe himself to be right. Besides, he was right. She was tired. And her back ached, her feet ached, and he eyes felt gritty with the need for sleep. She turned on her side, her cheek resting in her palm. She was asleep before Kenshin left the room.

Ataru regained consciousness a layer at a time, aware of a great pain in his back. He heard footsteps, wrinkled his nose appreciatively as he smelled fresh tea. Feigning sleep, he tried to remember where he was, but his mind drew a blank. He remembered killing the two men that had ambushed him, remembered getting onto his horse, then nothing more.

He was aware that he was lying face down on a bed, beneath a starched sheet. He opened his eyes a fraction of an inch, swore under his breath when he saw a Wild Boy standing in front of the window, somewhat blurred out by the bright sunlight.

Kenshin grunted softly. "So you decided to live."

"So it seems." Ataru opened his eyes fully and glanced around. "Where the hell am I?"

"In the house of my wife."

"How'd I get here?"

"I found you not far from here."

"I'm…obliged."

"I don't want your thanks."

"What do you want?" Ataru asked guardedly.

"I want you to get well and then go."

"I'll do my best."

Kenshin nodded and then Kaoru breezed into the room, her face beaming when she saw Ataru had gained consciousness.

The lawman blinked at her several times, and then he stared at Kenshin.

The Wild Boy smiled. "My wife," he said softly.

Ataru felt as though a lead weight had been dropped into the pit of his stomach as he finally recognized this particular Wild Boy. "But she told me you were dead. Killed at the battle of the Shining Mountains with Saburo."

"Only wounded."

A taut silence stretched between the two men as they glared at each other.

Kaoru fidgeted a moment, then said brightly, "Well Ataru-san, you're looking much better this afternoon. Would you care for something to eat? Some broth and tea perhaps?"

"That'd be nice," Ataru replied, his eyes still on Kenshin.

"Kenshin, will you help me in the kitchen, please?" Kaoru said, knowing it wouldn't be wise to leave the two of them in the room together alone.

He nodded and followed her out of the room.

Later, when Kenshin had gone out to tend the stock, Kaoru and Ataru had a few minutes alone. Kaoru felt her cheeks grow pink under his probing gaze.

"Is it his?" Ataru asked, gesturing at Kaoru's protruding stomach.

"Yes." She smoothed a wrinkle from her kimono. "How did you happen to be in Iyo?"

"I was on my way to see you when two men jumped me." Ataru laughed softly. "I finished them off before they got to me."

"You might have been killed."

"Yeah. I guess I owe you my life."

"No," Kaoru corrected. "You owe Kenshin your life. He found you and brought you here. He dug the bullet out of your back."

"Damn," Ataru muttered. "You know I've got to arrest him, Kaoru. It's my job."

"Arrest him!" Kaoru burst out. "After he saved your life? How can you be so ungrateful?"

"I'm not ungrateful. I'm a lawman, and he's wanted by the law."

"I don't want to discuss it," Kaoru snapped tersely. "Tell me, why were you coming to see me?"

"You must know. I love you, Kaoru. I came to ask you to marry me."

"I'm married to Kenshin."

Ataru made a gesture of dismissal with his hand. "A dragoner ceremony isn't a marriage. I'll make you a good husband if you'll give me the chance."

"I have a good husband, Ataru."

"I told you, a dragoner ceremony isn't--"

"We were married by a priest," Kaoru interjected. "It's quite legal."

"Kaoru--"

"Please, Ataru, don't say any more. I love Kenshin. I'm carrying his child. That's the end of it."

Kaoru was quiet at dinner that night. Kenshin eyed her surreptitiously, wondering what had upset her. She ate little, which was unusual now that she was pregnant. Lately he had taken to teasing her about the danger of getting chubby.

"What is it?" he asked as they lingered over their tea. "Tell me."

"Nothing."

"We have no lies between us, Kaoru. Don't let this be the first."

"It's Ataru. He wants to arrest you."

"He can try," Kenshin said lightly.

"This isn't funny," Kaoru said sharply. "He's a lawman. He knows you're wanted for killing Kamishi and for escaping from jail…" Kaoru voice trailed off. She had helped Kenshin escape. Didn't that make her an accessory or something to that effect? Would Ataru arrest her as well?

Later, when Kaoru had gone to bed in her old room, Kenshin went to see Ataru. The two men regarded each other for a long moment, and then the lawman couldn't ignore the shiver of fear that wound through him. He was helpless, unarmed, and the Enemy. Had Kaoru told the Wild Boy what they had talked about earlier? Had the dragoner come to do away with him and settle the rivalry between them once and for all?

"How are you feeling?" Kenshin asked.

"Fine," Ataru answered warily. "Kaoru-san tells me I owe you my life."

Kenshin shrugged. "She tells me you intend to arrest me."

Ataru nodded. "It's my job."

"And if I don't want to be arrested?"

Ataru said nothing, only gazed, unflinching, at the Wild Boy, knowing that to show weakness now would be a grave mistake.

"This is not about right or wrong," Kenshin said. "This is about Kaoru. You want her, and I want her. But she is my wife, she carries my pup, and I will not let her go."

Ataru had fought drake people in the past. He knew of their love for the wild life, the free life. He looked at Kenshin, and he wondered how long this particular Wild Boy would be content to dwell in a house and walk on deliberate streets and eat food bought from a store.

This was the question he put to Kenshin, and hearing his Enemy voice these questions and doubts that had rolled about in his mind sparked the Wild Boy's anger. What had made it worse was the knowledge that Ataru was the kind of man that Kaoru should have fallen in love with in the first place, the kind of man who could give her the life she desired.

"She's mine, and I'll kill you before I let her go."

Ataru nodded slowly. "I fear this will not be over between us before until one of us is dead."

"We will not speak of killing now," Kenshin said. "My pup is to be born this very summer. We will do nothing until then."

"Agreed."

"You'll leave here as soon as you're able."

"How do I know you won't take off?"

The glare thrown his way made Ataru swallow involuntarily. "I would not abandon my wife and I won't leave this place or this world until I have seen my pup."

"I guess not."

"But I tell you this now, Ataru-san: I will not be going back to your jail. And if you try to take me, I won't spare you life a second time."