.
She fell asleep in his arms.
Shinta held her close to him and breathed in the earthy scent of her hair, the smell of her. She must have been exhausted. He was exhausted, but he couldn't sleep, couldn't believe that he was here, they were safe, she was with him. In the black and silent autumn night, Shinta's mind was awash with pulsing warmth and light.
Finally Kaoru shifted and murmured. She twisted in his lap and twined her arms around his middle. A sharp, slicing pain in his leg where he had been injured, but Shinta ignored it.
"We should go inside," Kaoru whispered. It was impossible to move, impossible to lose her warmth, impossible to stand, but she was pulling away from him, and Shinta was on his feet, his leg screaming and his arms aching, helping her up.
He did not let go of her hand.
Mirine met them inside, handed him a modest blanket, and showed them to a corner. She cast a questioning glance at Kaoru before stepping away.
Shinta frowned. His fingers tightened around her hand. He would not let her go, but if it was only for the night...
Kaoru moved closer to him. She placed her hand on his shoulder, and she spoke into his ear, "Let's sleep."
He couldn't make out her face in the dark, but he could tell she was looking at him, waiting.
They arranged themselves on the floor, her toes pressed against his ankles, her head tucked under his chin, a rough pallet underneath them, a thin blanket for warmth.
Kaoru fell asleep instantly.
Shinta closed his eyes and finally relaxed.
.
Kaoru awoke in Kenshin's arms. His arrival the day before - the journey up the mountain, the day of the battle, the villa - everything seemed like a dream.
Sunlight glowed through the doorway to the shrine and the holes in the roof. Noises outside - birds in the forest, muffled voices, the scrape and pounding of tools. Everyone else was already long awake, working to repair their shelter, augment their supplies.
They were alone.
Kaoru turned her gaze on Kenshin - Shinta. His hair made a dark reddish halo around his head. Snoring gently, his features peaceful - even with his scars, he looked young.
Kaoru felt very warm. For the first time in days, perhaps weeks, she felt alive and aware in her body. She felt content. She felt like moving. She felt awake.
.
Shinta rose out of a deep and restful sleep to find a beautiful young woman leaning over him, smiling gently at him.
Kaoru.
Without thinking, he reached for her.
Then he was the one leaning over her, and her eyes were wide, blinking up at him. She reached for his shoulder with one hand, carding the other through his hair. Her foot rubbed against his calf, and she met his eyes. Her eyes creased in a warm smile, and Shinta realized he was grinning.
.
.
Sanosuke cursed the axe in his hand. He cursed the wood, and he cursed the child who brought him his midday rice.
Men and women.
First Hiro and that Mirine woman, and now the storm girl's samurai had returned.
Already the shrine was become a small village in miniature. Soon there would be gossip and fighting and illnesses. Soon other refugees and pilgrims would start arriving. In a year's time there would be babies, at least two at this rate.
Sano wanted none of it. He could still smell the burning villa. He could see the swords flashing when he closed his eyes.
Some day soon he would leave these people, leave this mountain. Everyone. Everything.
He had heard about the sea.
He would go to where no one spoke his language.
He would go beyond all these gods and monsters.
Someday, soon, he would leave.
.