My Dragon Husband, a Rurouni Kenshin fanfic by Raberba girl
Part 3
Kaoru had been out herb-gathering all morning to replenish her stocks, so it was not until late in the afternoon that she returned and realized what had been happening in her absence. Hearing the sound of muffled dragon cries from the village square, she tucked her bundle under her arm and ran.
The square was full, though not with the usual bustle of people going about their business. It seemed like everyone who had any time to spare was gathered around the captured dragon, shouting as they tormented him, laughing gleefully at his vain efforts to fight back. Even children were darting forward to cast stones at the creature, no matter how much they were yelled at to keep back where it was safe.
Kaoru nearly screamed with rage equal to the dragon's, wishing she could torch the entire lot of them. Instead she marched her way through the crowd, shoving people violently aside, until she reached a clear space near the dragon's head. As she turned to face the crowd, planted her feet, and set her hands on her hips, she had just time enough to think to herself, 'It's not a dragon's rage you need now, it's a human's. Be careful, or you'll be no help to him.' That is why the words, "What on earth do you think you're doing?" came out spine-chillingly low, rather than in a shriek.
The crowd grew quiet and shifted uneasily.
"Kaoru-san..."
"It's the witch."
"Hush, you want her to hear you?"
"You fools," she spat, ignoring their nervous murmuring. "Have you no respect? You think that your...that the 'earth mother' will be pleased with an offering that's been crazed by abuse?" It made her tongue tingle unpleasantly to talk of their strange gods, and she had to remind herself again to pretend to be human. "The Hitokiri is supposed to be your windfall, your treasure, your miracle whose blood will save your crops so that you will not starve. Treat him as such." She turned to the dragon and approached slowly, stopping within a safe distance.
At the nearness of her presence he went completely silent except for a very low, unbroken growl. His burning eyes were fixed on her warily, but - he knew her. Not as his mate of course, but as the one human creature that had showed him any hint of kindness. Kaoru went breathless with a sudden rush of hope. 'I will see you again tonight, my love,' she thought at him.
She bowed. Then she walked away. The crowd parted for her and soon dispersed, muttering.
o.o.o.o.o
She brought broth that night as well as water, and more medicine. This time he made no noise at her approach, but his chains clinked as he raised his head as much as he could, his crest and wings raised, his glowing eyes alert to her every move. His nostrils flared a little when she was close, and smoke began to trail nervously out of his bound mouth. He growled when she came within reach.
"Hush. You know me, Kenshin." She stood very close to his nose, watching him, and he watched her back as he took in her scent. He blinked and stopped growling, but did not otherwise move. "All right?"
He blinked again, then narrowed his eyes.
Kaoru sighed. "I wish you could somehow understand these human words."
He did not move.
"All right. Let's try the broth this time." He snorted and shook his head at the taste of it, letting it dribble back out, but when she cautiously tried to pour in some more, he did not resist. He snarled and grumbled as he ate, obviously displeased with the meal, yet he was also starving enough to accept it. Kaoru bit her lip, the only sign of her anger at his captors.
When he had eaten it all and she offered him water, he tossed his head in surprise at the change in liquids, but then took the rest gratefully. He was swallowing like an expert by now, as if he had drunk in this awkward fashion all his life. When Kaoru had no more to give him, he pinned his gaze on her again, intent on what she meant to do next.
He was right to be distrustful. At the smell of the herbs, he snarled and shifted violently but could not stop her from treating his wounds. His wings flapped and he tried to stab his face at her, but the chains severely limited his reach. Finally she straightened up and glared at him. "Now stop that, Kenshin. How do you expect to heal properly when you won't even hold still for me to help you?"
He glared at her, growling.
"Hush. I know you didn't ask for it, but you've got no choice in the matter. Now behave."
He understood the tone if not the words. In answer he lowered his head to hers and snorted ash into her hair.
Kaoru grinned up at him. "Do you honestly think that's going to- bother-" She broke off, coughing; she had not expected the ash to irritate her ridiculously sensitive human eyes. She struggled to recover, coughing and rubbing at her streaming eyes, then finally managed to turn back to him.
He was still watching her warily. She pushed him. He growled and stabbed at her again. She sighed. "We're not going to get very far this way." She put him to sleep again with the burning herbs, and finished her work in silent loneliness.
o.o.o.o.o
The villagers were at it again the next day, though they went still when Kaoru approached. She glared, and some of them glared back, but their cruel amusement resumed only half-heartedly, and they soon dispersed.
That night Kaoru found Kenshin waiting for her. His greeting this time was a purring sigh, rather than a growl. "Are you happy to see me?" she asked hopefully. He pushed at her with his head so that she nearly dropped her basket. "Oh. You're happy to see the food, aren't you," she realized ruefully. He looked at her with his golden eyes. "All right then, let's see how much better at this we're getting."
He had learned what to expect, and was almost friendly as she fed him the broth and gave him water. Of course he also knew what else happened during these night visits. When she brought out the medicine, he snarled and tried to shift away from her. "Now Kenshin, come on. Let me look at you."
He braced his head against her and pushed her away. It made her pause, for while the gesture had been firm, it was surprisingly gentle for a violent-natured wild thing like him. She looked more closely at his eyes and found that they were no longer glowing - the color had faded, but their expression was much clearer. So his rage was dying, at least when she was around. It was a good sign. "Kenshin," she whispered.
Longing for her mate, she pushed her face against his, trying to embrace him in the dragon way. It worked only partially, but she could tell he was surprised. He sniffed closely at her, as if double-checking to make sure she was really human. "What do you think, Kenshin?" she asked bitterly. "Am I human? Is there any ash left at all in my scent?"
He lowered his head and looked up at her, sighing thoughtfully. When she shook her head and focused back on the sword wound, his head shot up again and he snarled. "Stop that," she snapped at him. Bracing herself against his scales, she tried to ward him off as she worked, noting with satisfaction that the wound in his breast was healing nicely. For a moment she wished that her tears were still what they had used to be, but then she recognized that even if they were, she could not exactly cry on command. The human medicines were the next best thing, and she had to use what she had.
When Kaoru had finished, she went back up to his head. He looked away from her, grumbling. "I know it hurts," she said apologetically, "but not as much, right?"
He rested his head on the ground, still not looking at her, and did not respond.
Kaoru hesitated, then leaned over and kissed him. His hot scales were uncomfortable against her lips, but she welcomed the heat, wishing that she could take it into herself and warm up again. When she straightened, he rolled his eyes up to her questioningly, but did not move. "It's how humans say 'I love you,'" she told him. "I love you, Kenshin."
He closed his eyes, as if to go to sleep.
"Fine," she said, giving him a little kick. He opened his eyes again and raised his head in surprise. "I'll tell you again when you can understand, and then you had better tell me that you love me, too."
He studied her. His eyes were dark now, and deeper than ever. Kaoru stared into them for a long time. Then she went away.
To be continued...