Chapter One Hundred Eight

"Here, nee-san, we found this for you to wear."

Kaoru peeked into the box the komainu opened, and blinked in surprise. "Where did you find something like this?! It's beautiful!"

"Master used to receive lots of offerings from the humans at the base of the mountain. He kept every one of them, and stores them safely. He said you should wear it for the ceremony." The elder komainu explained how they had come in possession of the beautiful white kimono, and then Suzume piped up from where she was helping set her hair.

"We found one for nii-san, too!"

Feeling a little emotional, Kaoru hugged them both tight. She was perfectly fine with the small ceremony, and unbothered that it was being rushed. It still meant a lot, though, that Hiko and his guardians were going out of their way to make the moment special.

"Thanks, you two."

"Don't worry, Kaoru-nee. I'll take lots of pictures for you."

"And I'll fix your makeup once I'm done with your hair."

The kimono was three layers of heavy white fabric, each layer more extravagant than the last with textured patterns and embroidery. A small golden pin of a dragon was placed above the obi, and Kaoru's fingers touched it multiple times as she waited to be tied in place. Lastly, a stiff veil was placed over her head to partially obscure her face. Staring at herself in the mirror, half in disbelief, Kaoru blew a long breath from her mouth.

"Ok… let's not trip and get this dirty." The komainu giggled like they were meant to, and Kaoru grinned while accepting their help up.

Outside of the house, they found Hiko purifying a small rock formation that was a distant part of the yard. It stood at eyelevel, and was bracketed by beautiful evergreen sakaki trees. Each splash of water sparkled in the cold air like diamonds. There was a path to the rocks that was slowly being uncovered by the salamander as it walked backwards and breathed fire down onto the inlayed stones. His breath effectively cleared away all debris and scrubbed each step with loving attentiveness. Lifting sapphire eyes up, Kaoru next watched Kenshin carefully use his own flames to cleanse the stone platform that was laid out before the jutting rock formation. This was where they would make their vows, and it was important that it be pure. The care being put into the purification was touching, and spoke much to the care he was promising to put into their marriage.

A moment later, violet eyes connected with hers, and Kenshin stood straight to stare. He seemed frozen in place, his eyes never blinking, and his expression slackened just enough to make her bite her lip against a wide, silly grin. He was so very handsome in his wedding attire, the darker tones of the groom's kimono saturated and deep next to the ruby glint of his long hair. Even the disfigurement of his scar, and how it now marred his neck, ear, and part of his scalp, made him appear half-dashing. Fluttering in her stomach accompanied the racing of her heart, and she inhaled shakily while carefully stepping down into the lacquered geta that had been set out for her on the stone step.

Half-way to the ceremonial platform, Kenshin met them to take over as escort from the komainu. The girls both complimented him on how handsome he looked, and hung onto his legs for a pat on the head each. He obliged them, but his violet eyes were drawn back to Kaoru the moment they took off on ahead towards the platform. For a moment, he simply looked at her, and the dilated pupils of his eyes roved over her face in quiet appreciation.

"You look… beautiful, Miss Kaoru." There was a tightness to his voice that was warmed by the emotion-filled softness of his expression. Blushing while accepting his offered hand, she choked out her own shy response.

"So do you." Swallowing as she walked beside him now, Kaoru glanced at his face, and then up at his fiery hair. "I do really miss your horns, though."

A light chuckle vibrated his upper body. "I'm a little concerned about this strange fixation you have with my horns." She pursed her lips and looked slightly wounded, which had not been his intent. Exhaling slowly, he leaned in closer. "I'm glad you like them, but… I can't release them as they are now." They were half-melted and still covered by lava from his failed transition, and too dangerous for her or anyone else to be near to.

"Oh."

"Will you settle for this?"

Kaoru glanced back up from where her eyes had fallen to her feet, and watched white flames sprout from his red hair. The flames curled back on themselves and extended to mimic the shape of his horns. The soft drone of the burning flames was comforting in the background. Sapphire eyes brightened at the display, and her fingers carefully tightened back around his as she nodded happily. Even now, she was still so impressed by what his power could do, despite having seen him use his flames multiple times.

The salamander sat at the foot of the platform, and happily accepted a scratch from Kaoru's fingers as they passed. He then followed them the remainder of the way to where Hiko stood waiting. Even the water dragon had dressed for the occasion, and wore appropriate garb that amazingly fit his large frame. His markers were unveiled to display his coral horns of light sea-blue, his dark hair the color of the ocean, and his large irises of sea foam.

"Are you both ready to begin?"

Sapphire eyes shared a glance with violet, and they answered together.

"Yes."

"I assume you will wish to make your vows before the deity of the fire elementals?"

"Yes." Kenshin held up both of his bandaged hands to unveil the katana form of the Kagu-tsuchi. It glowed in the dispersed sunlight filtering through the trees, not like steel, but with the ethereal beauty of a divine being. Reaching up as if to settle the katana on the rock formation, it instead hung suspended above the stone surface. Pulling away slowly, Kenshin took a step back, and bowed his head respectfully in reverence. Unused to seeing this side of Kenshin, Kaoru watched him curiously, but then quickly joined his deep bow when he stepped back to stand next to her. When he spoke, his voice was clear and humble.

"Kagu-tsuchi, deity of celestial flame, we ask that you witness our marriage and provide your blessing."

The clearing was silent for several seconds as even the birds fell quiet. Then flames burst into a half-moon behind the katana.

"SPEAK AND I WILL WITNESS."

The komainu gasped softly behind them, and even Hiko to their right bowed deep. Kaoru smiled at the familiar voice, and reflected on how much power his tone truly carried when he spoke freely.

A red sake cup was handed to Kenshin when the ceremony proceeded, and he took a small sip of the clear liquid before passing it to her gently. The taste of the sake was strong, and it burnt her nostrils long after she passed off the cup to Suzume on her left. A second cup of sake was next handed to her first, and she blinked when this time the alcohol tasted nearly too sweet, despite having been poured from the same container. Offering the cup to Kenshin for him to take his sip, she caught the way his eyebrows pinched as he too noticed. The third and final cup was given to Kenshin by Ayame, and his violet eyes looked a little heated as he sipped the sake and stared at Kaoru over the rim. She understood why when it was her turn. Something about this final cup of sake was warm and thrilling, like the loft of his apartment, and for some reason, it tasted like cinnamon.

With the ritual finished and the cups taken away, Hiko's deep voice spoke up as he provided direction.

"Present your seal to be purified and blessed."

A carved stone was retrieved from Kenshin's sleave, and he placed it upon the rock directly before the suspended Kagu-tsuchi.

"In this place of purity, speak your vows before your god, and know they will be heard and remembered."

Now facing one another, Kaoru's breath was suddenly hard to catch. The atmosphere was charged in the small clearing, and the Kagu-tsuchi fairly sparkled with power and grace. Careful fingers collected her hands in his, and she stared as if mesmerized into the vertical pupils of the man before her.

"Kamiya Kaoru." A small pause followed her full name, as if to emphasize this would be last time anyone would address her as such. "I swear to love, protect, and honor you, through sickness and health; to be faithful, and to look only at you," Her lips twitched, and he smiled softly. "until my soul fades from existence. I bind myself to you and no other."

It was her turn, and she wondered briefly if she would be able to speak her own vows over the dryness of her throat. Swallowing, she caught her breath and spoke with tremulous emotion.

"Himura Kenshin." It was not his true name, but it was his name none-the-less, and soon to be hers. "I swear to love, comfort, and honor you, through sickness and health." His fingers clenched briefly around her quivering hands, and her nerves quieted. "To be your shelter in the rain, your guiding light in the dark, and to be faithful, until time is no more. I bind myself to you and no other."

"With these vows, you are bound. Let no being break what has been formed." A small branch from one of the surrounding sakaki trees was cut free and handed to them. "Make your offering so that your vows may be blessed."

Holding the evergreen branch together, they extended it out to the Kagu-tsuchi and bowed their heads. The furthest leaves of the branch draped over the stone seal. When they spoke, they spoke in tandem.

"With your blessing, I take this man/woman to be my husband/wife."

A moment later, the sakaki branch disappeared into a puff of white flames that washed over the stone seal in purification.

"YOU HAVE MY BLESSING."

As the smoke drifted up towards the heavens, the komainu cheered.

"Congratulations!"

Kenshin smiled when her eyes darted to him, but she was openly confused.

"Don't we still have to do the marriage seal?"

Red eyebrows lifted into his hairline, and when his lips twitched in amusement, she knew she had apparently said something the others found silly. Before she could feel put out by his amusement over her ignorance, he leaned forward to explain quietly.

"The seal will need to be placed on bare skin, Miss Kaoru… which is best done when we're alone."

"O-oh!" Mortified, Kaoru covered her red face with both hands. "Ok."

"I'm sorry. I should have explained that sooner."

"Idiot." Hiko's gruff input was filled with reproach for making her say something that had embarrassed her.

"Idiot!" Chiming in, Ayame and Suzume giggled without malice. The salamander huffed at him before turning his head to chuff softly at Kaoru in adoration.

"Alright, alright." Conceding, Kenshin smiled at the komainu. "I hate to ask when she looks so beautiful, but will you help Miss Kaoru change? We still need to find a place to stay for the night."

They had already discussed leaving the mountain that day, so his rush came as no surprise. Still, she wanted at least one picture of them facing the camera together to commemorate their wedding. When she said as much, his already warm features softened, and he quickly gathered the Kagu-tsuchi and the seal before agreeably obliging her request. Ayame took several with a digital camera that they had, and then a few more with Kaoru's phone. Afterwards, Kaoru was taken back into the house where she removed the heavy kimono. While grateful she had been given the chance to wear it at all, she was also a little sad to have to take it off so quickly. The small wedding had been sweet and warm, and perfectly reflected the way Kenshin showed his love.

"Come visit us again, okay?"

Outside the house, the request was spoken by both Ayame and Suzume, and their saddened tone tugged at Kaoru's heart as they tugged on Kenshin's sleeves. They clearly loved him. Watching him pat them both on their heads in reassurance, she was suddenly filled with excited impatience as she imagined that someday he would do the same with Kenji. He would be a wonderful father, and she looked forward to watching him become as great a parent as he praised his own father with being.

"Take care of the others for me."

Glancing up from her place on the veranda, Kaoru briefly frowned at Hiko's input. Gently, one of his fingers pointed at an eye, and she understood. He was asking that she look after the onibi she had taken in. Guilt washed over her chest, as she had not thought of them at all within the last three days. She had made a promise to them. Sooner or later, she would need to figure out how she was going to keep it.

"I will."

"Look after that idiot, too." Begrudgingly, he mumbled his concern, and Kaoru grinned at his continued refusal to acknowledge how much he actually liked Kenshin.

"I will."

"It was a pleasure having you in my home, Himura Kaoru." The foreign name caught the breath in her chest, and her heart swelled with overwhelming happiness. "Be sure to visit again."

"Thank you so much for having me."

The trek down the mountain was slower with baggage than it had been when running the paths freely. Ahead of them, the salamander trotted along to make sure the trail was safe. Overhead, the sun had started its quick descent towards the horizon as the winter afternoon brought on the rush of evening; as if the sun was too tired to hang around. It was warm with Kenshin walking beside her, though, and she started to hum without realizing it.

Kenshin's chin turned towards Kaoru as the melody danced around them, and a slight twitch of his mouth spoke of amusement as the hand holding his started to swing with a little more enthusiasm than necessary. Her actions were reminiscent of the mute and innocent Kaoru from before the return of her memories. He enjoyed her innocence, just as much as he enjoyed her bullheaded strength. Kaoru was not simply one or the other, just as no one could be summed up by a single aspect of their personality. He loved and enjoyed her for all that she was, and was humbled that she felt comfortable enough with him to show her most vulnerable self without fear or censor.

A small hop bounced her over a tree branch that had fallen over the path, and the tune hummed louder and with feeling. It was not a soothing tune, but rather one that was a touch forceful. Again, Kenshin recognized it as that same song she had hummed at the hot spring, and he wondered what it was about that melody that kept her coming back to it.

"Do you like that song, Miss Kaoru?"

A peek of sapphire eyes, and he was surprised when they narrowed slightly before darting away. Offhandedly, her shoulders shrugged.

"Not really."

Bemused, Kenshin studied the way her mouth pouted. Had he said something wrong?

"You've been humming it quite a lot recently."

"Oh yeah? It's just been really loud, that's all."

Loud? Violet eyes blinked. Is she talking about the ability tied to her voice? If that was true, then this song was most likely something she had felt from either the komainu, Hiko, or himself. Curious now, Kenshin squeezed her hand.

"Will you sing it for me? I'd really like to hear the lyrics as well as the tune."

"Hmm… it's not really a song I can sing very well. The original was sung by a man, and it has a lot of guitar breaks." Dodging his request, Kaoru continued refusing to look at him.

"I don't mind. I'm certain anything you sing will always sound wonderful, Miss Kaoru."

This time her narrow-eyed glare was blatant, and his tactic to butter her up with a harmless smile faltered instantly in confusion. The annoyed expression stayed on her face for a few seconds longer, and then switched almost instantly to nonchalant. For a moment, he was uncomfortably reminded of the five-tailed vixen.

"Ok… but on one condition."

"A-and that is?"

Stopping in the middle of the path, Kaoru stabbed a finger into his chest and grinned.

"You are henceforth banned from addressing me as 'Miss' Kaoru." Letting her finger drop, she huffed. "Really, a-anata, we're married now, you know." The stutter gave away how novel the idea still was to her, as well.

A slow, slightly wicked smile banished his reservations, and he nodded in smug agreement while bringing her fingers to his mouth.

"You're right, koi. We are married now."

A small nip of his teeth tinged her nose red, but she smiled as if victorious.

"You can't make fun of me if I sing it weird, though."

Laughing, he dropped her hand back between them and urged her to continue walking.

"I wouldn't dream of it."

"Ok." Talking more to herself now, he listened as she took a few moments to work her way back to the beginning of the song. Hums got her through the intro, and then she opened her mouth to sing the start of the lyrics. The words, however, were so unexpected, that Kenshin's eyes whipped back to her in shock.

"'Ain't found a way to kill me yet. Eyes burn with stingin' sweat. Seems every path leads me to nowhere.'"

She grinned as she tried to match what was obviously the lower tone of a male singer, but instead of getting frustrated by her inability to sing it properly, she went full in on overdramatizing it. It was slower than he had expected, each word emphasized but not really pronounced clearly. Staring as she finished the first verse, it was the chorus that drove home just where this song was coming from.

"'Here they come to snuff the rooster, oh yeah. Yeah, here come the rooster. Yeah!'" Suddenly throwing her arm up into the air, she put all she had into singing the rest. "'You know he ain't gonna die!'" Giggling at herself as her steps picked up, she missed his reaction completely. "'No, no, no, you know he ain't gonna die.'"

Before she could start in on the next verse, Kaoru darted a look at him to see how he was handling her goofiness, but the song died on her lips when she caught sight of his expression. Dead stopping, Kaoru clutched at his bandaged hand.

"Are you okay?"

Staring into the glowing blue flame of her irises, Kenshin's features slowly softened.

"Somehow, beloved, you always find a way to make everything okay."

Blushing while grinning, Kaoru leaned into him as he nuzzled her temple.

"Oh! I forgot to tell you. I ran into Yūtarō the other day while I was in the city. Maybe we should give him a call. He might have an idea where we can stay for the night."

X

Song: Rooster – Alice In Chains