A/n WOW! I live! I had no idea it had been so long since I looked at this story. I had a baby in June so as you can imagine my attentions were off of writing for a good long while. I still get reviews from loyal readers and to all of you I thank you so much. I'm so sorry for leaving it on a cliff hanger. I really hate that myself so I beg forgiveness.

On to the story!

She tried to look away, to avert her eyes as the Battousai stood. The steaming hot water trickled down his naked body as he stepped closer. 'No, please.' Kaoru silently begged to herself as she back up as far as the small bath house would allow. She didn't mean to disobey, she was only afraid for him. 'Please don't forget your promise.' Her frightened, sapphire eyes couldn't look away. The sopping wet red hair, the glowing eyes, and the scars. The scars on his body, how his muscles moved like that of an animal stalking his prey.

"Get your eyes off me." He growled. Kaoru snapped her eyes back to his and wished she had just looked away. His eyes were the most unnatural glowing yellow and narrowed into slits. He had never looked at her this way before.

"Battousai-san." She winced at the waver in her voice. "Please, I'm sorry." He was feet from her now, water still dripped from his skin. Suddenly he was in front of her and he slammed his hand against the wall next to her face.

"Shut up." He growled.

She could feel the heat off his body, could see the wisps of steam rising from his wet skin.

"I said; get your eyes off of me." His teeth snapped as he talked. His words were clipped and short. He was angry. Kaoru could feel his ki rolling off of him to smother her. It was all she could to keep from sliding down the wall.

But Kaoru couldn't look away. This man was a demon… a beast…but under the curse of wounds, under the mass of scars was only a man. A man suffering pain and loneliness. Instead she lifted her eyes to his face, taking in his features. His yellow eyes grew wide at her disobedience.

"I know you won't hurt me. You promised." She stated boldly.

"You can't trust a monster." He said in a tortured voice.

Kaoru shook her head and smiled. "But I don't see any monster."

"Kaoru." His eyes closed and when he opened them, they swirled with deep amber.

"I'm not lying." She tipped her chin up. "I know you think you're some ugly monster who must not be looked upon. But you're not. You're not ugly, and you're not a monster."

"I was." He said in retort.

"Was…but not anymore. Whatever penance you were paying for whatever sin you committed has been long replayed."

He shook his head. "The curse is still on me."

"What curse Himura-sama?"

"Whenever I harm someone, it's reflected back to me. Every killing blow I delivered I received in return. I felt the pain, felt my lifeblood draining from my body. I was always so close to death but could never reach it. For decades it has been this way. I hid myself away in this enchanted dojo. I can never leave."

"But Himura-sama you did leave, to go after those men. Leaving here doesn't mean you have to kill. You don't have to kill anymore." She reached out, resting her hand at his shoulder. "These old wounds heal…I can see scabbing and scars and old scars faded to nothing." She said as she glanced down his body. She noted the bold dusting of red hair below his navel and she jerked her eyes back up. "You're healing."

He shook his head. "Only because of you. The pain is fading, the wounds healing only because you are here and you care."

"So? I won't stop caring. I want you to get better; I want you to be happy. I don't want you to be lonely anymore. You seem mean and heartless, that's only because the pain. You're not really cruel, not anymore."

… . . …

Kaoru swallowed her meal, a blush burning hot on her face. Across from her sat her master. He wore his cloak, but the hood was down now. His damp hair curled about his shoulders and fell down his back. Their lunch was simple and light in the heat of the day, but Kaoru was burning with embarrassment. Helping her father and sister, Kaoru had seen her fair share of undressed people. She figured nakedness wouldn't bother her as much as a regular girl her age. But her master was not a sick man, lying prone in need of treatment. He was very much healthy and upright. After her passionate plea for him to understand that he was not lost did the fact become clear that she was standing alone with her naked master in the heat of a bathhouse.

Mortifyed, Kaoru quickly excused herself and escaped. But she still couldn't seem to get over invading his privacy.

"I'm sorry, for barging in like that." She muttered.

Her master set his sake cup down and picked at his food. He was not comfortable having his face uncovered, but his lips twitched upwards. "There's easier ways to see a man naked Kaoru-san." He lifted his rice bowl and calmly started to eat it.

Kaoru sputtered. "I wasn't trying to see you naked! And I've seen men naked before."

At this her master lifted one delicate red eyebrow his half smile now turned into a frown that pulled at the X shaped scar on his face. "Oh? Many men?"

Kaoru's chopsticks clattered on the table and she frantically waved her hands in front of her. Her face was near glowing now. "No, no, no. I used to help my father and Megumi. They are doctor's…sometimes they need help with men raging with fever, they can get out of hand sometimes. It's not what you think." She snatched her chopsticks back up. "So stop looking at me like that."

He chuckled, then after a long moment of silence. "Kaoru-san?"

"Hmm?" Kaoru lifted her eyes to her master, chopsticks in her mouth.

"Will you marry me?"

The look on his face made Kaoru choke on her bite. It lodged in her throat as a lump grew. He looked sad, yet hopeful. Why was he asking her again? Sure a few things had changed…but….

"Himura-sama, you're my master, and I can't be anything more than your closest friend right now."

But…

"So, no Himura-sama…no." She lowered her eyes so she didn't have to see any pain he might show, or for him to see her pain for that matter.

"Very well." Was all he said as he returned to his meal.

What was she supposed to say now? The table was wavy from the flood of tears in her eyes. Was it because of his pain or hers? It didn't matter, either way it hurt and she wished he wouldn't ask her again.

A hot tear dripped from one eye to land on her hand. Startled, Kaoru gave her eyes a quick rub before returning her attention to her lunch, shoving as much food into her mouth so she didn't have to think about the feelings boiling inside of her.

"Do you miss them?" He suddenly asked.

"You should eat and gain your strength, not talk." Kaoru scolded.

"Answer me." Eyes flashed and that familiar tone was there. Apparently her master's former attitude had returned.

"My family?" when he nodded Kaoru sighed. "I miss them very much." She looked away. "Especially my sister Misao. Her wedding will be in a few days, I think."

"You two spent some time planning it?"

Kaoru nodded. "After a while I was as excited as if it were my own wedding. It was hard not to take over." She said with a soft laugh. She wondered now if all the loose ends had been tied up. She hoped her disappearance didn't hinder the rest of the planning. She made Misao promise to not fall into sorrow and put it off, but Kaoru couldn't be sure if her sister would listen. "I hope everything goes well." She said softly, returning to her food.

She noticed her master sat in silence for a few moments before also returning to his meal. But the silence last for only a moment.

"So you come from a family of doctor's… that explains a lot."

Kaoru swallowed and reached for her tea. "What do you mean?" She glanced up at him and locked eyes with him for a fraction.

"It explains why you insist on taking care of me like I'm a boy of ten and not a man well past your age." He muttered scathingly even though his lips upturned.

Kaoru wanted to snap but the ghost of a smile dashed away all negative feelings. She only smiled and shrugged. "I only have basic knowledge, nothing important enough to really help anyone in trouble." She paused for a moment. "I always relied on my father or sister to be there." She hadn't thought so much about her family in such a while. It was like a scabbed-over wound had been ripped back open.

… . . …

He watched her.

Behind him he could hear dinner being set at the table by the invisible hands. But his eyes never wavered from the sight of the girl in the garden. With the sun setting, the heat of the day finally started to dissipate. Kaoru crouched on the small bridge that arched over the man-made stream that cut through the property. Kaoru tossed stale crumbs over the edge where koi fish had gathered. Their shiny bodies gently rose out of the water like gentle waves to snatch at the food on the surface. She looked at peace, but he could tell that she was deeply troubled. She missed her family, that much he knew. And her pain was his pain, only tenfold, because he had caused it.

With a deep breath he set out into the garden and stood silently beside her as she finished feeding her new pets. Kaoru stood, dusting off her hands and flashing him a warm smile. It made him hurt all the more inside.

"Kaoru…"

"Yes Himura-sama? Is dinner ready?"

"Almost." He paused and took a breath.

Kaoru tipped her head slightly as she watched him. He could no longer tell her to not lay eyes on him. Her crystal blue eyes didn't show a sign of fear or revolt any longer. And having seen the flicker of heat in them in the bathhouse…well that thought was best not thought about. "What's the matter Himura-sama?"

"There's something I wanted to ask you."

"Sure. What is it?"

"If you left here, would you come back?"

Kaoru blinked. "Himura-sama….why would I leave here?"

He broke eye contact. Amber eyes darted around as he thought, unsure. Kaoru stood silently as he struggled to gather his thoughts. "I…I'm willing to let you go back home, for your sister's wedding."

Kaoru gasped. He was willing to let her go see her family? Suddenly the thought of seeing Misao get married and seeing her father and Megumi again brought tears to her eyes and nothing she could do would stop them. Already three fat tears escaped to trail down her cheeks. "Himura-sama." She said. Her voice cracked and she bit down on her bottom lip to hold back her crying as she dropped her chin to her chest to try and compose herself.

He was stunned at the sudden reaction she gave him. It was all he could do to stand there and watch her. "B-But you will return, that you will." He said softly, adverting his eyes slightly as she quickly rubbed at her face.

"Yes, Yes Himura-sama, of course I will come back." Her eyes were red and still shimmering with tears but she gave him the brightest of smiles. "Thank you Himura-sama, this means so much to me." Without thinking, she threw her arms around him and embraced him tightly.

He froze, arms pinned to his sides.

"They'll be so excited to see me." Kaoru pulled away quickly but her master reached up and gathered her in his arms and pressed her to him once again. Kaoru carefully wrapped her arms around him once more in a careful embrace. "Himura-sama?" she asked quietly.

"Just promise me that you will return." He said. He felt panicked, anxious and unsure if this was a good idea. He didn't want her to go; to be alone again would be worse than death. But this was something he had to do, for her, she deserved to be happy. His fear made him reckless with her. But he held her tight regardless and pressed his face into her hair.

"I promise." She said.

"Swear it." He pulled away then and took her chin between his thumb and fingers and lifted her till he locked his amber eyes on her tear filled blue ones. "Swear it." He repeated.

His grip on her chin was firm but not rough. Kaoru could see swirls of emotion in his eyes, like gazing into the depths of a fiery ocean.

"I….I swear."

… . . …

Kaoru sat on her bed with nothing but the soft cling of the wind chime in the soft breeze coming in from the open window. She gazed at the warm light spilling from the large paper lantern beside her bed. She was tending to her hair with a wooden comb, slowly running it though the soft, straight hair. Slowly…as she was deep in thought. It was still hard to imagine that her Master was letting her visit her family, and in time for her sister's wedding! A gentle smile tugged at her lips as she thought about the faces of her family when they saw her once again. But the smile faded as the thought about Himura-sama. He seemed almost flustered during dinner. It was obvious to Kaoru that he was worried. And she could understand, he had been all alone here and in pain with no one to care for him.

She had meant what she said when she told him she wanted him to be happy and not lonely. She wouldn't leave him here to waste away again. She no longer felt like a prisoner here, Sure she was lonely with no one but Himura-sama to socialize with. But that just cemented the fact that she wouldn't leave him here alone. Especially now that she was able to look at him. True he wasn't pleasant to look at covered in wounds and scars as he was, but to see the emotion in his eyes. Years of being alone had made his face a mask, but his eyes were like windows. The rage in them when she walked in on him in the bathhouse had rooted her feet to the floor. Kaoru gave a shiver from the memory. Those were the eyes of the killer he had been. How many had seen that rage and lived to carry the memory of them? All Kaoru knew, was that she would never forget the glowing amber, or that acid yellow.

The comb paused, the strands of ebony hair falling back to lay across her shoulder. As much as those eyes had terrified her, they excited her as well. Kaoru chewed on her lip. Truthfully she had always thought she would bolt if she ever had the chance to get away from him. A moment like this would be perfect, she would be away from the dojo, out of the forest of the lost and she would be with her family. But even as she thought of escape, Kaoru felt the pain of leaving Himura-sama behind. True, she did give her word but even so, deep in her heart, she didn't want to leave him. She would miss him, Kaoru realized with a jolt, she would miss him and have such heartache.

Unnerved by the sudden wave of unfamiliar emotions, Kaoru set her comb down and got to the task braiding her hair for bed. She wouldn't dwell on it right now. Right now all she wanted to do was make sure she got up early in the morning to get ready to see her family.

… . . …

When Kaoru woke the next morning she was surprised to find traveling cases already packed and ready to go. The invisible hands must have been hard at work while she slept. Excitedly Kaoru made for the kitchen table and found her breakfast waiting for her but no Himura-sama. She felt a small twinge of disappointment but remembered that it was fairly early and her master was recovering from fever. But it was halfway through her breakfast when she first started hearing strange noises from the front courtyard. Kaoru left half her breakfast and stood up to investigate. Carefully she made her way to the front door. The attack from the strangers was still fresh in her mind and she didn't want to take any chances. She pulled at the front door and it pulled open with ease. She opened it just a crack and peeked out.

In the courtyard sat the very same carriage that had brought her here. Now that it wasn't bringing her to her doom she could see how beautiful it actually was. It was black with accents of deep burgundy and silver filigree. The strange noise she was hearing was her Master as he walked around the carriage rattling the chains and beating at certain areas of the carriage. Two giant black horses were tethered to a nearby post as Himura-sama got to work on the web of leather straps and chains needed to hook the team to the carriage.

Kaoru pulled the door open the rest of the way and made her way down the steps. Her master wore his cloak but the hood was pulled back and she watched in fascination as the sun glinted off his mane of coppery-red hair that trailed to touch nearly the back of his knees. It had seemed like such a tangled mess before; she had spied wisps of it from under his hood. But now it fell straight and soft looking, even though it poofed out around his head into a true mane of wildness.

"I didn't think I would be leaving so soon." She said as she made her way down the stone steps.

Her master jerked his head around her direction and she got a flash of grim features before he retuned to his work.

"I thought it would be best to get you going as soon as possible." He said. "Before I change my mind." He added softly.

Kaoru watched him for a moment more as he finished with the carriage, then he walked past her and back up the steps to the dojo. He returned with her traveling cases and loaded them up. "Himura-sama, Let me help you." Kaoru offered turning to get the third case.

"You stay right there, that you will." He snapped. "Let me do this."

He still refused to look at her for any length of time, but Kaoru could see the skin of his face was starting to clear. The strange molted look was fading away to a more even and natural skin tone. Even the scars on his exposed hands had started to fade. The scabs had turned to scars, large pink scars had faded to flat and white and the old scars were melting away into normal skin. Kaoru was instantly curious, but her Master would not hold still long enough to her to get a good look, and she knew asking him would only make him grumpy and self-conscious.

Once her cases were packed he retreated to the dojo one more time and returned with a small chest. He looked almost nervous as he walked up to her, his face exposed. Again she noted that the skin on his face was evening out, but she didn't dare stare so obviously. Instead she focused her attention to the chest he was anxiously fumbling with.

"I hope you do not mind me providing a wedding gift for your sister and her new husband." He said as he awkwardly and hurriedly jammed the foot long box into her hands. Blinking in surprise Kaoru flipped open the latch on the chest and opened it to find the red velvet lined chest stuffed with gold and silver coins, and various jewelry. It was a small treasure indeed! Kaoru gasped and slammed the lid shut. "Himura-sama….t-thank you. I don't know what to say." A treasure like this was a large fortune for a new bride and groom.

Her master only shrugged, a simple shift of the shoulders. "It's not important to me anymore, let someone who could use it have it." He said simply.

Kaoru was still stunned as she made her way to the carriage and carefully tucked the chest under the seat.

When she turned around Himura-sama was right beside her and she blinked in surprise and took a step back and bumped into the carriage. He was so close now that Kaoru to see how delicate his features were in the sunlight. His normal looking skin was fair, a shade not unlike her own. His eyes were troubled and he was fumbling with his hands under his cloak.

"Humura-sama?" She asked softly and was startled when he jerked his hands free of his cloak and grabbed the wrist of her right hand.

"Kaoru-san. I want you to wear this." He said and Kaoru felt something hot slide onto her middle finger. She looked down to find a gold ring with a large round crimson stone set in the center.

"Himura-sama…" Kaoru sighed, but her master interrupted her.

"It's very special, an important ring. Please don't take it off, or you'll forget me." His amber eyes were pleading, afraid. This confused Kaoru. She looked down at the ring. The red stone glowed brightly in the sunlight and was just like her master's mane of red hair.

"How would I ever forget you? I won't be gone long, I promise." She swore, looking up at him. "I won't be gone more than two weeks."

"Two weeks." The demon repeated, nodding his head. "No longer than that. I couldn't bear to be alone again longer than that.

He was breathing hard and shallow, his eyes darted, refusing to look at her. He wouldn't let go of her hand and in a moment of weakness….he broke.

"I don't want you to go." He confessed.

Seeing the fear in his eyes, the torment in his voice Kaoru nearly crumbled. It was all he could do to give her this bit of freedom, but he was terrified. "Himura-sama, I will stay if you wish me to, you are my master after all."

But he shook his head. "No, I would never forgive myself to denying you this." He finally sighed.

Having nothing to lose now he moved with a speed she could not react to and he pressed her between him and the carriage and caught her lips with his. Through he wanted to ravage her, he was gentle, heartbroken. Kaoru froze for only a moment before pressing up against him, letting her lips part slightly. She heard him whimper very softly as he carefully explored her mouth. She could feel his fangs, felt their points with her tongue and for some reason that only thrilled her all the more.

Then Kaoru felt herself yank back as her master grabbed her hair and pulled her away from his lips. Held at such and angle her throat was exposed and he latched his lips over the delicate throbbing pulse in her neck. His other hand had her kimono at her hip and she had both arms around his shoulder and found herself arching her back just slightly as his mouth moved lower on her throat.

No, how could she ever forget her master? How could she leave him here alone?

A soft moan past her lips and he gave a shuddering sigh in answer and slowly, painfully untangled himself from her. His eyes were heated, face flushed, his whole body was trembling as he took her by the waist and lifted her up and into the carriage and shut the door firmly. Kaoru pushed the curtain aside and leaned out, wanting to reassure him that she would return; however, the words died on her lips as she was greeted with yellow eyes.

"Don't take that ring off Kaoru Kamiya." He said in a firm and frightening tone as the horses started to back up on their own accord. " I will die without you." He added as the carriage turned.

Wait, what did he mean by that? "Himura-sama?" she called, but the horses were already picking up speed and the doors to the dojo grounds were already closing as the carriage plunged deeper into the forest. Kaoru returned to her seat as the ride became bumpy. What on earth did he mean by that? He would be destroyed if she broke her word, that she would understand. Yet she didn't fear him coming after her or her family if she chose to stay…no, she could no longer see him slaughtering them all. What was left was a vision of a sad and depressed master that didn't sit well with Kaoru. She glanced down at the ring on her right hand and fiddled with it. No, she would never break her word. She would be back.

A/n I felt a bit sad writing this last part. I guess sad that they had just realized the feelings they have for each other the moment they part. Least Himura-Sama was brave enough in that moment to express it.

Anyways, Yes I am working on my other stories but no guarantee when they will be updated. But hopefully soon. Thanks for reading! Reviews are loved.