A/N Hello readers! Wow there was quite an uproar on behalf of Kaoru in the last chapter. Do not worry dear readers. I felt the same when writing this next chapter. Now that Kenshin is finally at the Keep. Lets see how he deals with this shock on his first day in his new home. This chapter is quite a bit longer than normal, enjoy. On to the story!

Chapter 6

He saw the light go out from her glazed eyes and he acted before she started to fall. Kenshin kicked the bench that was in his way and he stepped forward to help catch the dead weight that was his wife as she fainted. Both of them tumbled to the floor and there was a shriek as a second woman nearly vaulted over the table with her Kimono hiked up to her thighs.

"Kaoru!" the woman cried as she fell to her knees beside them. Kenshin wormed out from under Kaoru and she settled on the floor at their knees.

"Must have been a bit of a shock." Kenshin said without a hint of humor. He couldn't help it. He felt…betrayed. Made a fool of. Even though she seemed as surprised as he. Even so….

"She said she wasn't feeling well." The woman at his side said, reaching down and setting a hand on her forehead. "Gods, she's burning up."

Kenshin set his hand on forehead as well and felt the heat there and noticed the sweat damp hair. He jerked up the sleeve of her Kimono and saw the wound on her wrist was a bit red and slightly swollen. Seemed she was not out of the woods with the Drow poison just yet.

By now the guards had rushed to them and Kenshin took over. "Take her to the coolest water in the Keep. Lady Kaoru has a fever, that she does.

"No!" shouted the woman as she jumped up. "Begging your pardon Lord Himura." The woman did a half bow, half clumsy curtsy. "But she'll be better with the healers."

"And who might you be?" Kenshin asked as he held up a hand to stop the guards.

"I'm Misao, I'm Kaoru's cousin." The shorter girl gave him a dangerous stare. "I've been helping Kaoru with the Keep."

While he'd been absent. Those unsaid words hung between them. He wanted to wince, but he kept his face like stone. "Hello Lady Misao." He said instead.

"If you don't mind Lord Himura," Misao said as she pushed the guards, "but we'll do with the introductions once Kaoru is in the hands of the healers. Will you move!" she shrieked at the guards when the one with Kaoru in his arms refused to move. The guard glanced over at his Lord.

Kenshin gave a quick short nod and the guard vanished down on hallway with his burden. Misao lifted her Kimono and rushed after them and Kenshin followed.

… . . …

Kaoru suddenly felt a shock of cold so strong and raw it nearly burned. Her eyes flew open as her body acted on its own to rebel away from the frigidness. But many hands reached out and held her down. Ice water swallowed her up again and her vision cleared enough to see the electric blue robes of the Healers. The Water Fae healers over her made clicking sounds of disapproval. Confused, she looked over and spotted Misao's large worried eyes. Her hands held her by the shoulder to keep her body under the healing water. Soon, her body accepted the cold and she relaxed.

"What happened?"

"You fainted." Said a voice.

Slowly, Kaoru glanced to the side of Misao and found her red-headed stranger. Husband. Kaoru corrected in her head. "Oh, Gods." She whispered as she locked her eyes with his blazing ones. He had his hands on her abdomen. But he looked as if the extreme cold water was making him uncomfortable. Yet he held her body under the water with such strength that she was sure he could have held her down all by himself.

… . . …

Her lips had turned a startling shade of blue. They matched the color of the healer's robes and the large chunk of ancient glacier that sat at the head of the healing pool. But, Kenshin noted, she didn't shiver even though the water was damned cold. Cold enough to make his hands ache and send shivers down his spine. She took one look at him and paled all over again. "My Lady Kaoru." He said, with a hint of sarcasm as he bowed his head to her.

"M-my Lord." She said in return.

Kenshin glanced up at the healers as they muttered to themselves as they studied the inky blackness that was leaking from the wound on her wrist. They were deep in the bowels of the Keep and Kenshin could hardly stand the feeling of rock pressing down on him. Closing in on him, smothering him like a wet blanket on a camp fire. It was dark, humid and everything he hated. But the large man sized rock of ice was a sight to behold. It glowed with some sort of strange light within it, as if it was alive. Finally, the last of the poison was pulled from her body and the healers helped Kaoru to sit up.

"Did you really have to bring me to the Ice? I just had a simple fever." Kaoru protested as she wrung her ruined kimono out over the pool of water.

"You should have told one of the healers about being poisoned." Misao shot back.

"Now, my Lady, you need some rest. You've been in here far too many times." Said one older healer.

"You've been ill?" Kenshin asked, turning his eyes back to Kaoru.

"Hardly, my Lord." She replied but she wouldn't look at him so he turned his hard gaze upon the elder healer.

"Has she?"

The healer looked uncomfortable. It was obvious that Kaoru didn't feel like sharing such information, He was loyal to her, but Kenshin was his Lord and he had no choice. "She's fallen ill many times since her father first fell ill, my Lord."

"It's just stress." Kaoru waved it away as she was helped up out of the water. Slowly, the blue color drained from her lips and her skin started to regain its soft color. She was taken by a female healer to a section of the cave secluded by a paper screened wall. All around were alcoves carved into the rock, each one large enough for a bed and a chair and a small side table. At the moment all were empty. Their curtains pulled open to show pristine white sheets.

Misao glanced over at her Lord while the healers cleaned up. "Kaoru's had bouts of exhaustion." She started in a soft voice. Kenshin gave her a glance before returning to drill holes into the paper screen. Misao blinked. "You're acting kinda weird."

"You're close to Kaoru?" he said.

"Yes."

"Then did she tell you anything when she returned from her recent outing?"

Misao blinked again as the Fire turned his glittering hard eyes on her. "She spoke with the Snow Fae."

Misao said slowly, unsure about giving this man any information. "Not much other than that."

"The Snow fae of the mountains beside us?"

"Yes."

His eyes narrowed a bit more. "She also had a run in with some Drow, resulting in the wound on her wrist. She also was with me."

Misao gasped in surprise. "I can't believe she wouldn't tell us about the Drow and being wounded. She never mentioned you."

"No, I would guess not. She didn't recognize me as her husband. Even when we spent some…time…together."

"Oh." Misao eyes widened and she jerked her head at him. "Oh!" She glanced in alarm at the paper wall. "And you?"

Misao was greeted with a cold stare of even narrower eyes. "I haven't seen my wife since she was a brat. I had no idea either." Kenshin said in a low tone.

Misao let out a breath. "Well then you're even."

"Even!" Kenshin felt hot rage starting to bubble. His wife betrayed him. Yes she lost her virginity to her husband…but she didn't know he was her husband.

"Yes even." The girl stepped closer, her bright eyes suddenly going dark as her water powers flowed close to the surface. "Because you were with a woman you didn't know was your wife and I have no doubt you were with other women as well. Because Fire men have no honor when it comes to wet places to stick th- "

"Misao!"

Both Misao and Kenshin jumped and turned to Kaoru who was standing there in a robe. Her wet hair free of its ties and hanging down her back.

"Well it's true. Even with their ridiculous laws."

"Misao." Kaoru hissed again.

The younger girl bristled and turned on Kenshin. "You have no right to be upset with Kaoru when you're nothin' but a low, shameful, betrayer." She bit out each word, as if she had to dig them up from deep inside her.

Kenshin reeled in shock at being spoke to in such a way. But the short woman wasn't done yet, She jabbed a small finger against his chest. "Deserter, who left Kaoru here to suffer her father's illness alone and the bear his death alone and to run this Keep alone and to try and control your hot tempered people on her own. While you rutted with who you pleased and the one time Kaoru looked for an escape you have the nerve to give her the stink eye. She's been sick because she has not taken a bed-mate, waiting for you to show up."

"Mis-sao!" Kaoru snapped. She was upset and yet had to fight off hysterical, fear induced giggles at the sight of her husband wide eyed and leaning back as her cousin kept jabbing her finger into his chest.

With a growl and a huff Misao turned on her heel and stomped away and out the door.

Kaoru watched her cousin slam the heavy wooden door behind her and then slowly turned to her husband. It was odd that the handsome man she met in the forest was the same man who was before her. His face was hard, eyes like glittering stones; his gentle mouth was set in a hard line. He was still shocked at Misao and was staring at the door she left through.

"I apologize for my cousin. She was never held to the same standards as I was and was left to grow with her attitude." Kaoru said quickly. Even though she was wrapped in a robe and her hair was free and dripping wet, she tried to hold herself as properly as she could. With her hands clasped before her and her eyes downcast.

"I admit I've never been razed by a woman before." His voice still dazed as he turned to her.

Kaoru lifted her eyes slightly. "She's good at it." Kaoru admitted. She turned as a Healer silently stepped up to her side.

… . . …

Kenshin's pride was stinging. He never had a woman tell him just what he needed to hear quite that way before. Everything she said was true, but it was a shock to his system to hear it from a short, young woman. A court woman no less, not some backstreet doxy. Still stinging, Kenshin watched the old healer dip his head to whisper in Kaoru's ear. He passed her a small packet made of folded, thick paper. Kaoru nodded and the packet vanished in the folds of her robe.

"If you'll excuse me my Lord Husband. I'm going to my chambers to change into more proper clothes since the healers found it necessary to dunk me in the healing pool in my Kimono."

A bit of the hardness left his eyes and one side of his lips tipped upward. "That was my fault, actually. I might have been a bit forceful and rushed when we got here."

Even with the softer eyes, Kaoru didn't let her guard down. But she gave him a slight smile in returned and bobbed a curtsy to him before turning and heading to the door Misao left from. One of her guards appeared at her side to escort her, but before leaving she turned back to Kenshin. "It's still breakfast time. If you like, go have a meal with our people; It's good to be with them."

… . . …

Kenshin hardly noticed the servant as she set a plate of food in front of him. His mind was a jumbled mess.

Kaoru Kamiya…. That little brat was the wild one that wanted to attack a scouting troop of Drow all on her own. She never would have stood a chance. Sure, she could have taken one down, but not the other, that bigger one was a challenge for any normal man. Why would she do something so foolish? The very thought of it burned him more than the idea of giving away her virginity. Drow were deadly creatures. Even now, long after their death, Kaoru was still suffering their poison.

"Contemplating life?"

Kenshin jerked from his thoughts and turned to find Sanosuke folding himself into the chair next to him.

"More like my wife." Kenshin muttered as he turned his attention to his breakfast for the first time. Eggs, still in their shell, a strange tiny round grain he'd not seen before and various cooked greens, onions and peppers resting in a bowl of steaming hot ground corn-like meal. Not what he was used to, but nothing so strange. He didn't know what to expect from a community mostly of Water Elementals, but this was normal enough. Given their close proximity to Earth territories, it felt more like good home cooked Earth food than anything else,

Sano didn't even raise an eyebrow in question but Kenshin launched into the whole story of meting his wife in the forest, having been ambushed by her while he was stalking a scouting troop, the battle, the fight for her life, their time of passion and then their slightly awkward farewell the next morning. And the whole time one didn't realize who the other was. The story spilled out between bites of savory vegetables and sips of juice. Sanosuke sat silently, slipping lower and lower in his chair, his long legs stretching out under the table.

Kenshin paused to tap an egg on his plate and chip away the shell.

"Well damn man." Sanosuke said with a whistle. His arms crossed across his chest. "So I'm figurin' the reunion with the wife was uncomfortable."

Kenshin scoffed. "To say the least. Then I got flayed by her cousin." His egg was cooked perfectly, firm white with the bright orange yoke cooked until thick like lava, just the way he liked it.

"Miss Makimachi is not afraid to speak her mind and tell you just what she thinks." Said a low voice beside them.

Both Kenshin and Sakosuke turned and looked up to see Aoshi fold himself into the seat on the other side of Kenshin. He waved away a servant who rushed forward. The girl bowed and retreated back to the corner of the room. Kenshin didn't worry about their conversation from being heard with the din of noise from the dozens of men finishing their breakfast in the large hall.

"So you took your time getting here but didn't waste a moment in bedding her." Aoshi drawled.

Kenshin hissed and glared over at his friend. Aoshi had bulked out since the last time he had seen the hybrid. The year and half in the foundries and Aoshi had developed arms like tree trunks and shoulders that could smash a door down with an effortless shove. But that didn't intimidate Kenshin.

Aoshi only shrugged away the flashing amber eyes. "You need to put a babe in her belly as fast as you can so I'm not criticizing you there. Only in the fact that it took you long enough to get here."

"I know, I've read your letters, that I have." Kenshin finished his second egg and shoved his plate away, agitated by being reminded of his duties. Almost instantly a different girl swooped in and the plate vanished.

"By any chance do you remember what I said in those letters other than you needing to be with your wife?" Aoshi snapped, suddenly sitting up in his chair and leaning closer. "There has been rebellion in the Keep. You are this close in going against the Treaty." Aoshi held two fingers a hair's breathe apart. "You want to be the one to destroy the ten years of peace we've had?"

Kenshin wasn't surprised or upset at this talk. It was nothing new, Aoshi's letters were filled with this. Still, he scrubbed his face with his hand and then dragged his fingers through his hair with a slight groan of frustration.

"I'm here." He glanced at the two friends sitting beside him. "What I saw this morning didn't seem like some sort of uprising. Just arguments."

"Yeah, but man…talk like that shouldn't be happenin' here." Sanosuke countered. "Once your people think someone is weak, they attack."

Kenshin agreed. "I'm going to keep my eye on things. Don't worry. I don't want peace to fall apart, that I don't. I'm tired of fighting each other. It's hard enough worrying about the Drow in this valley, I don't want to have a civil war breaking out on top of it."

… . . …

Kenshin had to admit he was impressed with the Keep. Aoshi walked Kenshin and Sanosuke around for a few minutes before leaving them to go back to the foundries. The pair followed him so that they could get a good look as the weapons being manufactured. The large cavernous space opened surprisingly wide. They were not particularly deep in the mountain of rock, so small portholes in the stone allowed light from the outside to brighten the area. Even so, soot from the countless fires coated the inside of the rock making it seem dark. Roaring fires, hot metal and the noise from the beating of hammers on anvils made the space oppressive.

And yet, Kenshin loved it. Heat poured out of the foundries and he felt it seep into his bones. The smell of smoke and sweat filled his lungs and mind with memories of his childhood. He walked slowly among the men. He could see swords of every shape and type being shaped from the metal. Finished ones rested against one wall where other men were working on putting an edge on the weapons. Stone and metal stairways dove downward and rose upward in a maze that men rushed too and fro. Most all the workers paused in their work to greet the Lord and express their gratitude in having him finally at the Keep. Kenshin found himself filling away names and faces. It would take him time to place them and remember them, but he was trained to know details. Already he noted a few who's attitude needed adjusting, notably the ones who refereed to his wife as "That Chit"

Both Kenshin and Sanosuke left the oven that was the foundries and quickly made their way back through the Keep. Every turn, hallway and stair well was filled away for later. Both men committing each carved rock and brick to memory. Every guard was asked their name and how long they had been in the ranks.

"My brain is going to melt." Sanosuke muttered as they finally found themselves back in the Great Hall. It was empty, save for small servant girls sweeping the floor.

"You know we don't have to memorize the damn place the first day, man." He added as he followed the shorter man around the large tables and down the servant hall to the kitchens.

"No point in taking our time." Kenshin said over his shoulder. "If we're attacked tomorrow I don't want to be lost in a corner of this damn mountain."

Sanosuke agreed although he didn't voice his opinion on the odds of being attacked tomorrow. The man was a solider...an assassin. He survived countless battles due to his discipline and attention to detail. Sanosuke admired his friend and trusted him with his life, even if he couldn't understand why the whole mountain had to be memorized in a single day.

… . . …

Kenshin paused when the hallway suddenly opened up to a room almost as large and grand as the foundries. Women in various shades of white, cream and beige bustled about with dirty dishes and baskets of produce. Men and boys dressed in similar uniforms did the same. A man with a skinned deer over his shoulder froze just moments from crashing into the men.

"My Lord!" The servant exclaimed as he came to a halt. At his voice the entire room fell silent save for the crackling of the cooking fires. Kenshin felt the weight of a hundred eyes and everyone paused in their work and turned.

A round, older woman pulled herself from the immobile group and bowed deeply. The entire room followed her example.

"What's your name?" Kenshin asked the woman. He ignored the ever suffering sigh from Sanosuke.

"Milinda, My Lord." She bowed again. "I am head of the kitchens."

Kenshin turned to look down the massive room. Tables were covered in half chopped vegetables and fruits. Hot water from soaking the dishes sent steam up into the already heavy atmosphere. The cooking fires were dying down from breakfast but already he could see men bringing in wood to get them roaring again for dinner. Mounds of dough were being formed into rolls and loaves. A second deer and various other small game animals were hung or in the middle of being disassembled. Soups simmered in many large pots and barrels of drink were in the process of being stacked in one corner.

As his eyes settled on each man, woman and child, they dropped into a second bow. He didn't bother to hear their names, he would save that for another day. He turned back to Milinda. "This is a large job for just one woman." He said, raising an eyebrow. "You don't seem old enough to handle a job of this scale."

This time Milinda raised her brow and set her hands on her hips. The workers put their heads down and continued on with their job, soft conversations replaced the unsettling silence.

"It never used to be this big, having to feed your Fires have nearly doubled this room. I swear your kind are nothin' but walking stomachs with large loud mouths. They are either shoving food into them or spewing filth."

Halfway though the rant Sanosuke lost his control and had to turn away to hide his laughter. But instead of being angry, Kenshin was intrigued. "How is the health of the forest?"

The older lady blinked. "Stable, your men cry for more meat but we won't strip the forest on account of them, nor the steams."

"I agree." Kenshin said. "The workers are just workers after all, but are not used to handling themselves as though they are at court. Excuse their roughness." He glanced over at Sanosuke as he finally quieted down.

If the woman was surprised at this, she hid it well. She still eyed him with a bit of suspicion. So Kenshin continued. "You talk rather well for a kitchen worker."

It worked, the woman dropped her arms and a slight hint of a blush dusted her round face. "I was once my Lady's personal maid...my Late Lady's" She corrected.

"Kaoru's mother?"

He could tell that Milinda was unused to someone calling her mistress by her name by the way she eyed him.

"Aye." She answered. "I was Misses nurse when she was born, and I cared for her through much of her young life."

This was interesting information about his wife. He remembered a pair of women always with her when they were married, but he couldn't recall if this woman was one of them. "Why are you now head of the kitchens?"

"Misses loved the treats I would bake her as a child. I spent much of my time here once she was too old for a nurse. I'm happy with my job here as I am too old to be her personal maid. But perhaps I'll pick up my old job as nurse once you give her little ones."

"Well, I'm sure." Kenshin said, always uncomfortable with the knowledge that his first job would be to produce an heir.

"Will you be joining my Lady this afternoon?" The woman turned to pick up a basket from the wooden counter. "She had little this mornin' and I know she is Ill. I packed her favorite lunch in hopes she will eat."

The still fresh memory of her face submerged under freezing water disturbed him. "I will."

"Good." She thrust the basket at him. "She takes to prayers at this time of day." You'll find her in the church. Just follow the path." She pointed out an open door and then turned to shout orders.

"You've been dismissed." Sanosuke said with a grin. "My Lord."

Kenshin scowled as the pair of them turned and headed out the door. "Don't think I like this new title." Out the door and down half a dozen stone step and Kenshin found the well worn path with ease. A large stone building was nestled in a grove of trees and by the size of it and the symbols painted on the stained glass windows told Kenshin it was obviously the church.

"Ah yes, you would rather return to being the Battousai." Sano said as he nodded to a pair of pretty young servants who had moved off the path to give the men room.

"Perhaps." Was all Kenshin said. In truth he didn't miss war, he was quickly growing sick of the body count and scrubbing blood from his skin. However, he knew the threat was only growing, and now that they stopped waring with the Water clans, they could all focus every bit of their attention to the Drow.

The path led them past a large kitchen garden where more workers were stooped over weeding, picking, and pruning. They all paused and straightened up to fall into a bow of respect as the men walked by.

"How do they all know who I am already?" Kenshin wondered as he gave them a nod.

"I've never see servants scramble like they did when the Lady Kaoru fainted at the sight of you. When you announced who you were the servants in the halls bolted. I'm pretty sure it was to spread the word of your arrivin'. It's not hard to pick you out." Sano said with a grin. "With the hair and all."

"I'm not the only one here with red hair."

"Yeah, but-"

"I get it." Kenshin snapped. He was different, smaller than most men, with hair longer than most.

Sano shrugged."It's good to be the Lord." He said lightly before pausing and whistling low.

Kenshin paused too. The stone church was much larger than he had thought. It wasn't nestled within a grove of trees, it was made from the grove of trees. Stones sat between the trunks of massive trees to form walls. The pair fell silent as they walked up the stone steps into the structure. Like all Elemental churches, there was no roof. The only cover was that from the canopy of leaves. The center of the church was open to the sun and rain. From the many curved stone benches and kneeling areas, Kenshin figured that maybe three hundred people could be in here comfortably. And with the sky above them, people could worship both the sun and the moon.

Kenshin pulled his eyes from the circle of blue sky overhead. "This is an Earth Church." He observed.

Sanosuke bent to set a hand on a tree trunk. The trunk was covered in markings from the stones. They had been moved at one point to let the tree grow. "Yes." Was all he said at first. He straightened up and looked over at Kenshin. "About a hundred years old. But over there," He pointed across the church "Is a much younger area."

Kenshin glanced in the indicated direction to see an angular section created with much younger trees.

"That section was added with the Fire Elemental's arrived." Said a voice behind them.

Both men gave a start and whirled around to find an older man dressed in white priest robes. The man smiled, knowing he walked up on the pair and he bowed his head. "Welcome, My Lord. I am Vitae."

Kenshin nodded at the old man and turned back. The new addition was circular as was the rest of the building, with the addition of the fourth element, the church took on the shape of a clover with each element represented. One section housed a fountain where water bubbled and trickled, dripped and dropped, The second was a plot of rich earth where an oak tree was growing.

Kenshin's eyes grew and he turned back to the priest and Sanosuke. "Is that a Great Oak?"

Both men glanced over his shoulder. Sanosuke's brown eyes narrowed slightly before snapping wide open. "It is!" He weaved around the web of stone benches and approached the tree with slowly, careful movements and set a hand on the slender trunk.

"Ah yes," Vitae nodded. "I was given a sacred acorn when I went up North. Goodness that was many, many years ago."

Kenshin could tell by the look of the oak that it was perhaps a quarter century old. Perhaps planted the same year he was born. Kenshin had seen many Great Oaks, some younger but most were hundreds of years old and towered over the churches built for them. They all came from the same sacred tree. The acorns were not rare, but it was a struggle to keep the saplings alive without Earth fae to help it grow. This one seemed to be doing well. He could feel the pull of power as Sanosuke tapped into the life-force of the tree and the sacred oak gladly gave him power. His tan skin glowed and a look of utter peace settled over his features. Like a child wrapped in his mother's arms.

"This is quite a bit of Earth power for a place that belong to the Water people." Kenshin said out-loud to himself.

Vitae cleared his throat. "Yes, But much of the folk here are Earth people and we are quite close to Earth territory, and besides, the healing waters in the Keep are quite powerful in their own right. Feel free to come here anytime, this is your place now."

Kenshin glanced to the Fire section and saw a black cracked ball of lava in the center of a fire pit where bright flames danced. They burned nothing, no wood or other material. The lava ball fed them life. It was a normal bit of sacred fire, taken from the Volcano that Birthed their God. Kenshin had seen many identical shrines in other churches. Turning, Kenshin saw a fourth plot with a small whirlwind weaving to and fro. Having been in a few Air temples, this whirlwind was tiny, but there were few Air people here, and it had little power to feed from.

It was a nice place, Kenshin realized. He felt calm and relaxed. The dancing fire called for him. It felt like warm buzzing against his skin. But no, he was not here to worship right now. Later he would come, he promised.

"Actually I came looking for my Lady Wife, that I was. I was told she was here." But he didn't see her anywhere.

"I see. The Lord and Lady have a private temple. Normally Lady Kaoru doesn't bother with it, but she's taken to using it to grieve her father in private. Poor Child."

Sanosuke dropped his hand from the tree with a whispered blessing and returned to Kenshin's side. "Perhaps we shouldn't bother her then."

Kenshin nodded. "Perhaps you're right." She did receive a shock today.

"Oh, no, don't worry. I just came from talking with Lady Kaoru, she seems fine, if a bit ill. Come, I'll take you to her."

"Hey Man, should I stick around here?" Sanosuke asked.

Kenshin shook his head. "No, I want you two to meet and do this. Sooner the better."

"Follow me." Vitae said with a smile and he led the pair around the stone benches and to the head of the church were a small alcove was cut into the stones and surprisingly was being guarded by an armed man. Kenshin approved of the guard, even though he did look a bit bored, Kaoru was inside so he was at attention when they approached. "Let me know if you need anything." The priest said before turning back to the main room.

Kenshin didn't know how she would react to seeing him again. Why did he suddenly feel like he was intruding? This was his place of worship now too. He shot Sanosuke a look before taking a breath and plunging into the alcove.

There was only one turn and the stone fell away, the nook was completely made up of trees. This place was far older than most of the church. From the branches, chains with colored glass carved into perfect spheres hung down and glittered in the flashes of sun, like colorful drops of rainbows. Sano had to dip and weave to keep from disturbing them. Fire red, Sea blue, Forest Green and Golden Yellow. Each glass drop left a matching light dancing against the trees and the ground. It took his breath away. It was small and simple, but beautiful. The nook was small, only four stone benches would fit, and each bench fit only two people. But at the moment Kaoru was kneeling in the grass at the back of the nook. She had her hands in the water of a large fountain and prayers were falling silently from her moving lips. Her ink black hair and been restyled after being ruined by the healing water. It shimmered blue-black in the light. She looked just as lovely as when they met in the forest. How strange that a Water fae could make him forget himself.

Kenshin cleared his throat before the silence could become uncomfortable.

Kaoru glanced up at them, then turned back to the water and it seemed like she excused herself. No doubt she was speaking to the little water creatures that only she could see. Slowly she stood up and gave him a slight smile. "I see you met Milinda." Her blue eyes were glowing from the power she was absorbing from the water, but the ethereal glow quickly faded, as did the water that dripped from her hands.

"Oro? Oh!" He looked down at the basket in his hands. "Yes...interesting woman, that she is." He looked her over. She seemed well enough. Her skin was still pale but she seemed strong as she approached him.

"Did she send you to make sure I ate?" She muttered as she took the basket from him and set it down on one of the benches. "I swear that lady never stopped being my nursemaid." She added in a tone that hinted that she missed her old maid. Blue eyes lifted and spotted Sano dodging the glass sun catchers.

"Ah! Hello!" She clasped her hands in front of her.

Kenshin gave his head a jerk trying to clear his head from the spell of her blue eyes. "Ah, yes. This is my close friend Sir Sanosuke Sagara."

Kaoru moved to bow but Sanosuke caught her hand before she could and took a knee in front of her.

"I swear upon my head that from this day forward I will be faithful to you, my Lady. That I will protect you from those that would cause you harm. I will give you strength, counsel and companionship. I do this of my own will and faith and without deceit."

Sanosuke hadn't been a knight for long, but he apparently took it seriously. Kenshin was impressed with the young man. Kaoru looked shocked but it seemed that she had dealt with Oaths of Fealty before. She took firm hold of Sanosuke's hand.

"Thank you for swearing yourself to me. I will do my best to be the Lady you would gladly serve….Sir Sagara."

At this Sanosuke rose up to his full height. The teen towered over Kaoru and she had to take a step back to keep from straining her neck looking up at him. "Please call me Sano." He lifted her hand to his lips and sealed his oath with a kiss on her knuckles.

Kenshin stepped forward. "Sano is a close, trusted friend, and I hope he will be yours too. It is most likely that I will attach him to you as your personal guard. I wouldn't trust anyone else with you."

… . . …

Kaoru blinked. A bodyguard? She glanced over at Sanosuk-...Sano. He was young, perhaps just a year or two older than herself. He was an Earth Elemental; tall, good looking, lean, strong, yet friendly. She looked back at her husband. He didn't trust anyone else to protect her? While it was true that Earth Fae were incapable of things like rape. She didn't know if she should feel grateful that he would assign his best friend to her or upset that he didn't think her own guards could do the job.

Kaoru decided she would talk about it later and not in front of the man. "I understand." She said softly.

"Trust me Missy, following you around would be a breath of fresh air after following this guy around. He's stubborn, reckless, and absolutely boring." Sano thumbed over his shoulder at Kenshin.

Kaoru felt her mouth drop before hiding it behind her hand. "Goodness I don't think I will be any better. What you must think having to deal with a woman all the time."

The brown eyed man gave her a grin. "Nah, Missy, you're already like my little sister." He placed a large hand on her head and gave her perfectly placed hair a ruffle.

Kaoru was stunned by how easily he took liberties but she already felt a smile on her face before she could even be worried. She liked this man. She glanced over at Kenshin and found him smiling softly at the two of them.

"What? My Lord Husband?"

Kenshin shrugged. "I'm glad My Lady Wife and my best friend are already getting along."

… . . …

"By the way man, I told you not to call me "Sir Sagara." Sano said. "Do I have to call you Duke Himura?"

Kenshin winced at the title. Being a Lord of the land was bad enough but his official title was worse. "You know I have to announce you as such during official meetings." He quickly changed the subject. "Now I was told you had to eat." He faced Kaoru. "You didn't eat this morning."

Kaoru ducked her head. "I was interrupted by something going on in the Hall."

"So I witnessed." Kenshin's next job was to root through the troublemakers and punish them. He was used to the discipline of warriors in the field and though they were not with enemies, he expected the same kind of discipline to go on in his Keep.

Kaoru looked slightly embarrassed and she hid her face by looking into the basket. "I fear your men don't like the idea of being ruled over by a female. I'm sure they will be much better now that you're here." She lifted her eyes and held out a white cloth with a roasted chicken leg. "My Lord Husband?"

"I just ate, thank you." Kenshin refused. "That may be so, but my people are not raised to treat their Lords or Ladies in such a way. I understand they do not like you, being that you are Water. But they will have to get over their prejudices now. You are my wife and I demand you get respect."

Kaoru blinked, surprised at his words. After a moment she cleared her throat. "Well….thank you….my Lord Husband." After a moment where she collected her feelings she held the chicken out to Sano. "Sano, are you hungry?"

The man had taken his spot near the wall but at this he slid himself into the bench behind theirs. "Aw yeah, I'm starving!"

"Sano, the whole point of this basket was for Kaoru to eat, you just ate!" Kenshin scolded in a gentle but firm tone.

"Oh, no, I don't mind. I'm not that hungry for meat. I don't want it to go to waste." Kaoru returned, already slipping the cloth napkin to Sano.

"If you feed him, he'll never leave you alone….he's like a puppy." Kenshin muttered as he watched his friend inhale his treat as though the man hadn't eaten in days. Kaoru glanced over at Sano and hide her laugh behind her hand while Sano ignored Kenshin's teasing.

"This is more appetizing." Kaoru assured, pulling out a second cloth. Nestled inside was a soft white cheese about the size of her palm. She went to take a bite from it but then abruptly stopped herself. Instead she set it in her lap and pulled a small chunk from it and popped it into her mouth.

Lips slowly turned upward into a sly smile and Kenshin leaned forward. "My Lady Wife does not have to stand on ceremony when it's just us here. He said in a smooth tone. He fought to ignore Sano leaning back behind Kaoru's line of sight and shooting him a thumbs up in approval. His wife actually started blushing. It was a pretty, soft pink tint on her pale cheeks. And Kenshin's mind flashed back to that same blushing face of her lying naked on the forest floor.

"I-I am not a bratty, mud covered child anymore. I've been trained since our marriage to be a lady."

"Bet that was fun" Sano muttered, having already finished his chicken.

Kaoru gave Kenshin a sidelong look before turning her eyes to Sano. "It was boring but necessary." Was all she said. There was a silence between them all as Kaoru wrapped her half finished cheese back in its cloth and set it back into the basket. "If you will excuse me, my Lord and Sir." She nodded to both Kenshin and Sano before taking the basket and standing up. She took only a single step when a paper packet fell from a fold in her Kimono.

"My Lady, you dropped this." Kenshin leaned from his bench and took up the packet. It looked like the small item that the healer slipped to her when they thought he wasn't looking. He glanced up to find Kaoru looking stricken.

"Oh, yes…." She stuttered, looking down and holding out her hand.

"Wasn't this what the healer slipped you? Are you well?" Was there something wrong with Kaoru? They had said she's been sick as of late. Was it from stress and overwork? Was she sickly?

"I assure you that I'm fine." Kaoru muttered softly, still looking at the floor.

Kenshin glanced over at Sano who had the same suspicious look about her sudden behavior. He turned back to Kaoru and stood. "My Lady Wife should feel comfortable telling Sano and I anything." He said gently.

Kaoru was silent and still as a statue. There was just a flicker of her blue eyes in Sano's direction and then at himself before returning to the floor. Her outstretched hand never moved.

Curious, he didn't look away from his Wife as he held the packet out to Sano.

A horrified expression flashed across her face as the Earth man stood and took the packet and unfolded the thick paper.

He only had to look at it for a moment to identify the contents. "Pennyroyal and Rue."

Kaoru looked even more horrified if that was even possible. "How did you know that so fa…." Kaoru paused, the answer coming to her. "Earth Fae."

"Yes ma'am." Sano folded the packet back together and handed it over to Kenshin. To the Redhead, Sano looked slightly uncomfortable but his eyes read worry and warning.

"What's its significance?" Kenshin asked.

"In that amount. It's a powerful abortive." Sano said softly, turning away and stepping to the fountain to give Kaoru a semblance of privacy.

Shocked, Kenshin turned to his wife and was stunned to find her near tears, her outstretched hand now clenched into a fist as her side.

"My Lady Wife?" He said said cautiously.

"I had ordered it last night." She blurted, looking up at him. Ocean blue eyes shimmered with tears and her lips were set in a firm line. She glanced at Sano who was pretending to be fascinated by the fountain. "...I….I didn't know you were my…..I didn't know who you were." She blinked and tears fell but she remained calm and her face set.

Kenshin stepped forward, reached out to grab Kaoru to prevent her from stepping back. He pulled her against him and he dipped his head slightly to speak softly in her ear. "I understand. You were only being careful."

Kaoru looked up at him, her eyes still shimmering. "You were furious." She said in the softest of whispers.

"I was." But her cousin's words rang true. Kenshin had many lovers after they had been married and he had been willing to forsake their marriage for his last love. Where as Kaoru had her first real battle and nearly died. She needed to heal. His being away had made her feel alone, unwanted. Was it so bad that she let him make her feel wanted for just a few hours? "….But I understand and I don't blame you for anything, that I don't." He let her go and held out the packet.

Quickly Kaoru blinked to let the rest of the tears fall and she wiped them away with a dash of her hand. She took the packet and tucked it away. "Thank you my Lord Husband. But I don't need it anymore." She cautiously looked up.

Kenshin gave her what he hoped was a convincing, small smile. But she only gave him a confused look in return before turning and fleeing out of the alcove.

A large hand slammed down on his shoulder and Kenshin turned to see Sano.

"Eesh, Man that was rough."

"You thought it was rough? It was rough for me!" Kenshin snapped back.

"She didn't want to shame her husband by having a bastard."

"I know that." Kenshin returned. "I didn't do a damn thing to make sure I didn't plant any children in the bellies of the women I was with. I've no right to be angry with her."

Sano flashed him a thumbs up. "There you go man, Finally seeing your wife as a person and not some Water monster out to ruin your life."

"Shut up Sano."

A/n Oh dear. I really felt bad for Kaoru at the end of this chapter. Embarrassed for her maybe? I don't know, perhaps I share too much empathy for my characters that I should. You know how it goes. Well it seems Kenshin is the forgiving type, which is nice, but I don't think he's going to be soft on his men. And now his best friend is Kaoru's personal guard. Things are going to be interesting to say the least.
Now for the dreaded first dinner. I hope all will go well.
Thank you for reading Dear Readers. Reviews are loved.