A/n Happy new year! I'm thankful for all the well wishes and encouragement from all my readers. I've finished the first "Book" of Steam and am 3 chapters into the second half. I'm not sure if I asked this already or not but I'll ask. For Steam and A Page and her Knight, should I continue the next half of their stories as one loooong fic, or should I start a new fic for the other half? I don't really mind either way. I know some people dislike it when fics push past 40 chapters and some love having long unbroken stories. So, I'm unsure what to do. If you have any strong feelings for one way or the other, please let me know.
Now, on to the story!

Chapter 28

The royal nursery was anything but. The large room had bare stone floors and a grand fireplace. At the moment there was only a small fire, but to Kaoru, the heat of it was stifling. Large stuffed chairs and lounges sat along the wall. Shelves were filled with books on one corner, and in another were shelves of toys. Most sat on the shelf, forgotten and dust covered while some on the middle shelf showed they were well-loved and played with. The floor was a scattering of tin soldiers on a tapestry of a fantasy world map. Two small boys sat playing with the tiny warriors.

Beside the fireplace sat two girls needle-pointing, while a young man sat at a desk pouring over a large book.

When Kenshin told her they were going to the nursery to see the royal children, she expected mounds of toys, soft rugs and squealing children. Not a man as old as herself, nor a girl budding into womanhood.

Everyone paused as they walked in. The two boys shouted in glee and jumped up from their war games.

"Kenshin!" They cried in unison and rushed at them. Kaoru sidestepped as the two boys plowed into Kenshin's waiting arms. They looked to be perhaps seven…eight years old and nearly identical in looks. Twins? The three males laughed as Kenshin was tackled to the ground and tried to wrestle with him.

The young man stood from his desk and with a large smile, approached her. He clasped his hands behind his back and bowed his head. "Forgive my little brothers, Kenshin is their favorite of all the family members and they have only had letters for many years."

Remembering this was the crown prince, Kaoru again sunk into a low curtsy. "My Prince, it is a pleasure to meet you."

He was lean, too youthful to have much of a man's girth about him. But his shoulders were wide and she knew he would soon fill them as he grew into his man's body. His hair was near black, like his father's and shot through with blood-red highlights. It was thick and shaggy and hung past his ears. He didn't have whiskers yet, and his eyes were a happy pale amber. He was dressed in simple pants and shirt with a black doublet half unbuttoned. "My name is Niran.." He took her hand and bowed over it as he kissed her knuckles.

Kenshin got to his feet, struggling with the two boys hanging off of him. "This is my wife the Lady Kaoru." He said in a rushed voice as the boys stooped to tickling, which caused the most feared warlord to shriek. Kaoru watched, her heart warming at the sight. Kenshin seemed to be good with children. He laughed and played and let them have the upper hand.

She turned back around as the two girls walked up beside their brother. They tried to keep their eyes downcast but it was obvious that they were very curious.

"Oh, these are my sisters, Shula, and Enya. The two brats are Adan and Adeen ." The prince gestured to the twins.

Kaoru again curtsied to the girls. "Hello, Princesses." She said softly. The eldest shot her brother a look before stepping forward.

"Is it true that you ran Aiga Keep all by yourself for a whole year?"

Kaoru blinked. "Why yes."

The three oldest children exchanged startled looks.

Kenshin returned to her side, panting, his dinner clothes rumpled. "Women are not in control of much in the Fire Relm." He informed her.

"Cousin, you didn't beat her for it, did you?" The smaller girl of perhaps ten years asked, her ruby eyes wide.

"Enya." The prince hissed softly. "It's not our business."

"No, I never beat her," Kenshin answered anyway. "She did no wrong. The Keep belonged to her family for generations, she knows how to run it best. If I tried, I'm sure it would just burn down, that I am."

The girls looked relieved.

"I'm glad you didn't." The youngest said again, her eyes looking sidelong at her older brother for any sign that she needed to stop talking.

Kaoru glanced at the prince. He seemed curious too, and not at all angry at the girls. Was he normally? Or were the girls just raised to take their cues from the males?

"Did you like to run the Keep, Cousin Kaoru?" Shula asked.

Kaoru felt a jolt run through her at being called family. She smiled warmly at the lovely dark-skinned girl. Kaoru could only assume she was of the religious sort as she looked to be sun worshiping regularly. "Yes, It was what I was raised to do. No need for Kenshin to worry about mundane things when he has to worry about the Drow."

All three of them nodded.

Shula took her eyes off her brother, clasped her hands behind her back which caused her chest to thrust out and she raised her chin. "I think it was rather rude that the men took your home away from you. I hope you can continue to do what you like there anyways."

Kaoru blinked and glanced over at Kenshin. Kaoru was startled to realize how quickly she picked up the habit.

The red-head cleared his throat. "No one took the Keep away from Kaoru." He informed as his twin cousins had returned to their battle plan on the floor.

"Oh, so she's just a part of the treaty deal? Is that why you had to marry her?" Enya quipped.

Kenshin glanced at the prince unsure how to answer and Kaoru flicked her gaze over to him as well and caught him wincing, and almost regretfully hissed low at his sisters. Both females jumped and took a step back.

"Too personal." The prince warned.

"You don't like reprimanding them," Kenshin said, as he stepped over to his royal cousin.

Kaoru's eyes went wide and she glanced over at the girls. Why was he talking about them like they were not even there? Was this a practice of the Fire men?

"I don't like to be mean to them. The Prince admitted. "But father says I have to." His eyes shifted, his brows lowering and he turned to his sisters. "If I don't then their husbands may beat them for their insolence." He said loudly. The girls flushed and retreated to their stuffed chairs and returned to their meek needle-point. The prince turned back around, his face fallen, all traces of anger gone. Kenshin set a hand on his shoulder.

"Perhaps they will have kind husbands" He offered.

"I pray so." Was all the prince said.

Kenshin promised he would visit again, and took Kaoru by the arm and led her out. She was shaken and uneasy as they walked the large halls of the castle. Sano and Jun a few steps behind them.

"Will they really be beaten?" She asked softly, almost too softly.

"No," Kenshin said in return. He watched her from the sides of his eyes. "It's more a threat to keep them in line. Like telling a child monsters will get him if he's not in bed. It's to help teach the girls they need to listen to the men."

"It's horrible." Kaoru returned, again in an almost too soft voice. Her hands balled into fists. "Don't ever threaten my daughter with that."

Kenshin blinked several times before bowing his head. "I would never raise a hand to my child, nor my wife. How could you think that of me?" When she didn't answer he pressed. "Have I done or said anything to cause you to fear me?"

Kaoru swallowed. "No." She answered. "But I know you won't harm a child, but you think threatening to beat them is harmless. It's not harmless, it's horrifying. Children should not live in fear. Women should not be taught to fear their husbands."

Kenshin fell silent, for what she said was true. The threat didn't harm the girls physically, but perhaps mentally? And what if their lawful husbands did beat them? Was he willing to let his sweet cousins live with it thinking they did something to earn it? Would he want his own daughter to accept a man hitting her for any reason? A bitter taste flooded his mouth and turned his stomach. But he was in no power to change the way people raised their children. He could only control how he raised his own. "Do not worry." He finally said as he could feel Sano boring holes into the back of his head. "It is extremely taboo to harm the vessel that carries your children. But the girls are never told this." He said softly. Kaoru made no sign that she had heard him.

The Fire in his blood made him want to grab her and shake her until she understood. But that would only have the opposite effect. He stomped the urge away. Finally, he added in a slightly louder, firmer tone. "It's simply the way things are done here." And that was that. Was it right or wrong was not for them to say.

… . . …

Kaoru looked down the vast table. It was large enough to seat dozens of people. But at the moment there was only about one dozen seated. At the head of the table sat the King, beside him on his right was his lovely young wife. Queen Emili. She resembled her daughters, round-faced, with large bright eyes and a high forehead. She had a strong nose and a delicately pointed chin. Her skin was a deep honey color and her hair vibrant orange-red. Her hair curled in millions of tight ringlets that must have taken her handmaidens hours to prepare. Or she was blessed with curly hair without the issue of it looking like a nest.

She was a lovely woman, with a soft voice but she hardly muttered a word as they sat there. Kenshin sat beside the King on his left and Kaoru sat beside Kenshin. Various other court officials sat alongside her and the Queen. Kaoru also noticed that the few women there were also silent. Wine flowed like water and because water was not served, Kaoru had to drink it lest she offend his Grace.

She held her emotions in check. It was hard after learning about Misao, but she had to. A large slice of roast pork sat on her plate and even though Kaoru wasn't one for much meat, she dove into it. Sweet yellow corn, rice flavored with tomatoes and broad beans made up the rest of her plate. It was odd food, but nothing too different. She was keen to try it all and learn as much as she could to take back home with her. Perhaps a little change in the menu would help calm those Fires.

"Drow in the North," Huojin muttered. He and Kenshin had been talking.

Drow in the North was news to Kaoru. How long had Kenshin known about this? How far north were they? Above the Earth territories? Or actually in them? The thought made her blood run cold and chilled her appetite. She wanted to ask questions, but instinctively knew she needed to keep her mouth shut.

Mishal sat on her other side. While he was content to talk across the table with another man, he had no problems leaning over to her to try and get her to talk. Kaoru didn't know if he was trying to be polite or if hearing her have an opinion on things amused him.

"Does the idea of the Drow pressing in frighten you, My Lady?" he asked just as Kenshin and the King started talking urgently about plans for Drow battles. She very much liked to know what they were, but she turned to Mishal and smiled at him.

"It is a bit worrying. We've not had them come in this far North before."

The man smiled and stroked his beard. "Yes, they do seem to be trying to press in on all sides. First, it was from our side, then the Air's which they gave up rather quickly. You Waters gave them trouble and now they are tying the Earth. Bad idea that. Earth are ferocious when it comes to protecting their land and family. Even Fire's wouldn't mess with that."

Kaoru was reminded about what Sano had said about an Earth mother fighting like a wild animal to protect her children. She didn't doubt that they would be formidable warriors. Perhaps this was why they were getting close to their Keep. It was just enough into the Water territories to not be a worry to the Earth, but also not close enough for any royal Water soldiers to reach in time if they were attacked. Surely now that they were both a place of healing and forging of amazing weapons they would be a resource all elementals would want to protect?

"I see those wheels turning behind those jewel eyes of yours." Mishal grinned as he took a drink of his wine.

"I was just wondering if the Keep is not seen as a worthy resource to protect."

The man's smile only grew. "Well don't worry your pretty head about it, Kenshin will take care of everything."

The man did nothing but smile at her every time she opened her mouth. She wanted to slap his face for it. She immediately felt guilt for such thoughts. The man was kind and only smiling and he couldn't help that he was patronizing. She turned back to her meal to distract herself. The servants were adding small bowls to the table just then. She looked into one small white bowl set near her and Kenshin's plates. It looked to be a deep red berry sauce. Perhaps for the pork? She knew apples and pork went rather well together. Eager to learn more about their food culture, she spooned a generous amount onto her plate and coated a bite of pork with it, and put it in her mouth.

At first, she was hit with a slightly bitter flavor that mellowed into a smoky sweetness. Then suddenly it felt as though she had gulped boiling, scalding water. She gasped as her throat seared in pain and her lungs contracted, causing her to cough uncontrollably.

Kenshin whirled around in his chair and saw her red, teary-eyed face as she attempted to hide her coughing behind her cloth napkin. Sano, standing behind Kaoru near the wall rushed forward.

"Is she chokin'?" Sano moved to grab her.

Kenshin spied the red sauce on her plate and understood. "Did you eat this?" He asked her, pointing at the red sauce on her plate.

She could only nod.

"This is mashed chili peppers," Kenshin said, exasperated and yet relieved he couldn't help his tone, as if he were speaking to a child. "It's too spicy for you."

The table, realizing that she had eaten something spicy and was in fact, not choking, burst into laughter. Kenshin scowled and turned to Sano. "Bring milk."

"Right." The Earth man rushed off.

Kaoru reached for her wine but Kenshin caught her arm and pulled it out of her hand. "No, not that, it'll only make it worse."

"Why, has the woman not had chili before?" The King chuckled.

Kenshin kept his hand on his wife's back, as she gasped for air. "No, Your Grace. Such a food does not exist in the Water Kingdom."

"How boring, food must be bland." The Queen said softly, although she looked concerned at the startling red shade Kaoru had turned.

Sanosuke returned with a pitcher of milk and a glass. Kenshin poured it for her. "Here, drink this." He hardly got the words out as the woman snatched it from his hands and downed the whole glass much to everyone's amusement. "Better?"

Kaoru only nodded. She dabbed at her watering eyes but nothing could be done about the flaming red flush of her face. Partly because of the spice, partly from mortification. His poor wife.

"I bet that was a surprise for her." The King added. "And it was the Red Death chili too, whoo that would give me fits. And that poor girl just ate it like candy." He winced. "Her belly is going to hurt. Drink more milk Lady Kaoru," he called over to her.

Kaoru only nodded and poured herself another glass and was content to sit back in her chair and sip on it. The spice level of the chili was enough to kill all hunger from her, Kenshin realized. She was lucky that she hadn't been sick.

"Now where were we, ah, the Keep requires much better protection."

"On the subject." Kenshin interrupted. "The letter you gave me this afternoon. It was from my adviser. My cousin-in-law was attacked at the Keep. She survived with minor wounds, but it could have been far worse. The attacker was one of my men."

Huojin arched a brow. "Why would he attack a woman?"

"She was left in charge of the Keep while we are away." Kenshin set a hand on Kaoru's shoulder. "Understandably my wife is upset. Lady Misao is her only close family and is only a girl of sixteen years. I don't want you to think it an insult, but we would like to cut our visit short so that we may return to the Keep and deal with this treason, that we do." He hoped in touching a nerve with the King by relating Misao to his daughter, as they were close in age and also Kenshin's cousin.

The King waved his worries away. "Yes, you must, you must cut that disobedience out root and stem. Perhaps instead of a month-long stay, you should leave in a fortnight."

Kenshin bowed his head. "Thank you, your Grace."

"Perhaps, my dear." The Queen said in her soft tone. "You should let the Lord and Lady Himura retire for the night. The poor dear looks a fright."

Huojin leaned over to take a look and Kaoru, her taste of chili and the reminded of her cousin had indeed wilted her and the heat hiccups had started. "Yes, nephew, take your wife to your rooms and rest. Will you require a healer? Mine is the best in all the lands."

Kenshin shook his head. They had their own healer, but instead, he said, "I'm sure she'll be fine in time. Perhaps I'll send for a late night meal if her appetite returns."

"Yes, do that." The King agreed.

Both Kenshin and Kaoru paid their respects to the table and he set a hand on the small of her back and led her away. Sano grabbed the milk and followed after them.

… . . …

"I could just die!" Kaoru hissed into her milk glass as Sano clicked his tongue at her and petted her hair like she was a little girl.

"None of that now, Missy." He said. Although he felt for the poor girl. Reduced to a beet red coughing fit in front of the whole table.

"I never thought to warn you about the chili sauce," Kenshin muttered as he paced the room. "It's my fault."

"No." Kaoru hiccuped. "I should know better than to shove something in my mouth without knowing ….what it was."

"Well, the good news is that we're allowed to leave in two weeks, that we are." Kenshin sighed. "I wish it was sooner but I'm thankful for what we were offered."

"I'll…..write Misao and tell….her," Kaoru said around her hiccups. She would drink the milk first. The King had been right. Her stomach felt like a hole was being burned right through it. She found herself hunched over from the pain and her nose was starting to run. She tried to let Sano's petting distract her from it but to no avail. The deep-seated searing pain was like acid on her insides. She worried for her baby, even though she knew spice couldn't harm it. She worried only that the pain would put stress on her body. She turned to Kenshin, wondering if now would be a good time to tell both the men about her condition.

"Uncle Huojin is keen on sending more troops our way. I think that's why he was fine with us leaving early, that I do."

The announcement died in her throat. "More troops?" She crocked out. Stomach acid started to rise and it burned her throat. She gulped more milk.

"I'll have to talk to the King about it later," Kenshin grumbled. "My father will be down soon, and I'll need to go to the volcano at least once." He glanced over at Kaoru. "And you still want that tattoo, right?"

Kaoru forgot all about asking for a lifeline tattoo. "Oh yes, please."

"What's this? Missy getting all badass with a tattoo? I never thought you were the type." Sano said, surprised. "I wanna see this."

"We'll do that tomorrow so that you'll be fully healed before we leave." Kenshin nodded.

Kaoru took a deep breath, glad that the pain in her middle seemed to be ebbing away. She glanced up at Sano as the Earth man kept petting her hair. She suspected he had something to do with her easing pain. His warm mahogany eyes looked down at her and he winked, confirming her suspicions.

"Huojin wants a map of the surrounding area around the Keep," Kenshin muttered, looking through one of the trunks of their things.

Kaoru blinked and looked over at him. "He does? What for?"

Kenshin paused, standing up straight with a large leather portfolio in his hands. "Knowing my uncle, he'll want to start planning battle strategies for an attack from any angle of the Keep. Which I understand and now that I think about it, is smart, that it is. I should have done this myself."

"Never too early to plan." Sano dropped his hand from Kaoru's hair and took the chair next to her at the table.

Kaoru didn't want to think about war plans. She didn't want to think about her precious home being attacked. But that was why Kaoru was glad to have Kenshin as her husband, he wasn't afraid to think of the worst that could happen and plan for them. She looked over at the redhead as he pulled the map out of the portfolio. He was a slight man, but Kaoru knew first hand that he was a fearsome fighter. Now, was he as fearsome a tactician? Perhaps that was why he was working with his uncle.

Kaoru looked down at her lap. She couldn't tell Kenshin about her condition right now. Not with all that he had to think about.

"Kiga ."

She looked up at her husband's amber eyes. He reached out and set a hand on her cheek. His touch was hot, burning. He always seemed burning here in these lands. "Yes?"

"Perhaps you should lay down and get some rest."

Kaoru smiled. "Do I look that bad?"

"You look exhausted. This journey has been too hard for you."

"You just trying to get rid of me?"

"Missy, get your butt in bed," Sano grunted from his seat.

Kaoru shot him an astonished look. "I feel betrayed, Sano." The Earth man's eyes squinted as one side of his lips tipped upward as he tried to not laugh. "Fine." She sighed, she did feel tired anyway. She stood and kissed her husband on the lips before making her way to the other side of the room and pulled the colored cord that alerted her handmaidens.

"We'll be right here if you need anything," Kenshin said as Sano moved the vase of flowers off the table and took the map from Kenshin to spread out on the table.

"Don't you two need rest too?" She glanced out the giant window where she was greeted with an astonishing sight of the orange and lavender line that was all that was left of the sunset. It curved around the sharp mountains, outlining their black silhouettes. It was lovely.

"Too much energy for me," Kenshin said over his shoulder.

"I took a great nap," Sano added just as the door popped open and her handmaidens filled in. They removed her elaborate dress and took down her hair. Kaoru didn't feel odd undressing with Sano still in the room. She glanced over at the men, their heads bent over the map. She was wrapped in a soft, billowy cotton nightdress. Her hair was put in a single thick braid and she told her handmaids goodnight. She climbed into bed, forgoing the covers because even at night, the place was overly warm.

… . . . …

Kaoru blinked. The large windows by her bed showed complete darkness with only a sliver of a moon glowing brightly. Her stomach twisted and gave a loud growl. She set her hand on her stomach and sighed. "I hope you don't turn into a mid-night snacker like Misao." She whispered to her child. With a sigh, she sat up and found Kenshin and Sano still pouring over the maps. How long had she slept? Ten minutes? An hour? A few hours?

She hadn't moved at all during her sleep, thankfully, so her nightdress was not riding up over hips like it always did. She climbed out of bed and padded her way over to the table. Sano glanced up.

"Missy?"

Kenshin turned around, surprised to see her. "Are you well?" He asked as he reached out and guided her over to the chair she had been sitting in before.

Kaoru looked down at her lap sheepishly. "I'm hungry." She said softly.

Kenshin sighed, his smile warm as he set a hand on top of her head. "You've hardly been asleep an hour."

"My dinner was cut short." She replied.

Kenshin's smile grew. "As was mine." He leaned down to kiss her.

"Hey, I'm starvin' too!" Sano chimed in as he jumped up. "I'll call for some food."

Kenshin backed off and Kaoru set a hand over her mouth to hide her grin as the Earth man opened their door and stuck his head out. She heard him call someone out in the hall.

"I think you embarrassed him," Kaoru muttered around her hand.

"Sano? Embarrassed? Hardly." Kenshin muttered, pulling her hand away so he could kiss her. "He respects privacy is all, that he does."

Kaoru had realized this about Sano early on. She glanced at the map on the table. They had used the decorative stones from the vase as markers and they were placed all around the map. "How goes the planning?"

Kenshin sighed. "I'm not as good as my Uncle in strategy. But even I can tell that we don't have enough men to adequately guard the Keep if it comes under attack. At this moment it has bare-bone coverage." Kenshin set his hands on the table and leaned heavily on them. "We'll need twice as many men to be more secure. Three times as many if we want a guarantee."

Kaoru blinked and looked down at the map. That was hundreds more men. Those numbers would put their count of fighting men over a thousand. There was no way the Keep could hold that many men. She wondered if Kenshin had a plan, but felt it was best to not ask it at the moment. He seemed frustrated. His jaw was working and his eye twitched at the corner. Kaoru had seen that look enough times to know he was not happy.

Tentatively, Kaoru reached out and set her hand on top of his. "I'm sure everything will work out," she said softly. She didn't know if it was true, but she wanted to be supportive.

Kenshin turned his hand around so he could grasp her hand. As always, his touch was burning but she grasped him tightly and tugged at his arm. Kenshin looked away from the map to find her upturned face waiting for him. He bent down and set a warm, sensual kiss on her lips. The two hovered there. Only their hands and lips touching as Kenshin had part of the table firmly between them.

The moment stretched on for longer than Kaoru thought it would. His tongue trailed along her lips but didn't dive further to deepen his kiss. Instead, he slowly, pulled himself away until their lips parted. Kaoru was greeted with wild yellow eyes that promised more later and she felt her middle flutter in anticipation.

Kenshin distracted himself by shifting the map to one side of the table, careful to not disturb the stone markers. Sano returned with a small troop of servants. None of them were hers, she realized, and sat frozen in her chair. She was in her nightdress without even a robe. What would they think? The cotton dress was simple and plain with sleeves nearly to her elbows and the hem reached well past her knees, but still, she worried.

But they paid her little attention as they set their burdens on the table. Plates of sliced roast pork and chicken, small buttery yellow potatoes roasted to a crispy golden brown and sprinkled with aromatic herbs, rice cooked with tomatoes and cheese, and a plate piled high with warmed, soft very flatbread. A pitcher of wine with fruit was set down and the servants bowed and left them.

"Woo-hoo! Let's eat." Sano clapped his hands together and rubbed them. "Let me make you a plate, Kaoru." He said and quickly picked up an empty plate and began filling it. Kenshin ignored the plate and took one of the flatbreads and filled it with the rice and herbed potatoes and then rolled the bread around it. The flatbread was so thin and soft that it rolled without cracking or tearing and Kenshin even folded the ends, tucking them tightly into the creation and he wandered back over to the map with his hand-held meal.

Sano set the plate in front of her and she thanked him. She reached out and pulled a round of the flatbread for herself and marveled at how mailable it was. "I must learn how this is made," Kaoru muttered to herself. She was sure the other Fires would be glad to have this. She had seen it on the royal table but was so distracted by the conversation that she hadn't seen how anyone ate with it. Sano already filled his plate and he too took the flatbread and ripped a piece off, using it to scoop up his food to eat, bread and all. Kaoru mimicked him and found the flatbread to be genius.

Kenshin smiled over at her, distracted from his maps by watching her experience new foods. "I'll send one of your maidens down to the kitchens to learn. It's really very simple, that it is."

Kaoru nodded enthusiastically, her mouth too full to talk.

… . . …

Kenshin kept his hand resting on Kaoru's head, forcing it down gently into the padded surface. Sano stood nearby, arms crossed easily over his chest. All Kaoru could hear was the constant tapping going on over her head and the annoying sharp scratching pain of the tattoo needles burying the ink into her skin.

The tapping stopped as the artist switched to a single metal instrument tipped with a thick row of needles. This was used to create the line, Kaoru came to understand. And the two pieces tapping against one another was used for more delicate marks.

At first, the pain was sharp, but Kaoru refused to do more than wince and bite her tongue. Sano helped to dull the pain by holding her hand and resting his free hand on her head, thumbing her ear in such a distracting way that Kaoru soon felt nothing but his thumb moving across her ear. It was a bit awkward with both men doing their best to comfort her, and it being the power pulled forward by Sano that did the job. The men didn't find it odd at all. In fact, the two of them talked in a brotherly manner over her head.

Soon though, the pain ebbed away into a burning numbness and Sano backed away to get a better look at the process. Kenshin didn't take her into the city for the tattoo. He trusted no one but the royal artist who had done his own. The wrinkled man had a head of white hair kept pulled back in an immaculate braid and his white beard was well-groomed and trimmed. His eyes were clear and his hands were delicate yet strong. The Fire's really did age well. Kaoru mused. The artist had been surprised that Kenshin brought him a woman to work on, but was elated to meet her. The Nephew's Wife.

The studio was large and giant windows let in lots of bright light for the artist to work with. Large cones of incense burned in metal holders, scenting the place rather thickly with amber and patchouli. Various cloth screens on wheels were set to the side to be wheeled around a padded table when in use for privacy. Kaoru was glad because she had to remove her bodice, corset and her dress hung on her arms so that the whole of her back and shoulders were exposed.

The artist only talked to Kenshin and yet Kaoru was fine with that. She knew nothing about this sort of tattoo and was content to let Kenshin and the artist come up with the designs. The line started at the hairline at the base of her neck. The blue wavy lines signifying her birth. A wispy swirly line that faded into nothingness marked the death of her mother. Then, all too soon, her marriage mark. At this she interrupted.

"I was wondering if it could be like yours?" She asked in a soft voice. Kenshin smiled down at her and nodded. The tattoo continued. Kenshin didn't have to hold her head down, as the line was off her neck now and reaching between her shoulder. A deep, thick slashing line that faded away marked her father's death. The line continued down, A blue and red line twisting together marked their consummated marriage. The line stopped just before the center of her shoulder blades. Here four blue and white lines curved to look like a great wave signified her first time at the sea. Then a sunburst in yellow-orange and red for her time here. And there it stopped.

"How does it look? She asked as the artist wiped the new tattoo down with something thick and cold.

"Lovely." Kenshin bent to kiss her on the temple and Sano walked up to help her up and shrug her dress back up onto her shoulders. The Earth man took his cape and gingerly attached it to her dress so that her bare back would be covered from sight without the torture of a tightly laced corset.

Kenshin took off his cape, doublet and pulled his shirt free of his pants. He unbuttoned them and pulled them down slightly, exposing the end of his Lifeline. The artist began wiping down his skin and changed out his tools.

"My Lord, are you getting more added to your line?" Kaoru asked, surprised, she had no idea he had planned to get marked as well.

"Of course." His warm fiery eyes glittered. "Our consummation."

Kaoru flushed but watched in fascination as the artist worked. It was interesting to see how it was done, as she couldn't see when she was being worked on. After a few long minutes, it looked like a mess of ink splotched on his skin but as the artist wiped it away Kaoru marveled at the thick jet black line with twisting red and blue lines. Everywhere the lines touched, they formed a single line that was deep purple.

"Is that what mine looked like?" She asked in low tones to Sano.

"Yes, Missy...My Lady." He corrected himself.

Kaoru didn't like how stifled Sano seemed here, but she understood he was trying to be as professional as he could. She turned back to watch the artist finish up. It was Kenshin's only new mark and he was done quickly. Kenshin hitched his pants back up over his hips but left his shirt untucked and his doublet off, but he did return the cape to his shoulders.

He turned and shook the hand of the old man and paid him an overly large amount and thanked him for his ever amazing work and gentle hand with his wife. "I don't know what I'm going to do when I have my first child."

Kaoru's breath hitched and she turned to look at Kenshin, wide-eyed.

"Oh sir, I have quite a few apprentices that I've full trust in. Write me and I'll send one of them to you for your markings." The old artist laughed and Kenshin joined him.

Kaoru wanted to share the news, but she opened her mouth and nothing would come. She glanced around as Sano moved the screens away and saw all the other people in the room. Now was not the right time. No, she would wait until just the right moment.

…..
A/n I'm ready to grab this girl by the shoulders and give her such a shake. It's time girl! Tell him!
Thank you for reading!