A/n Hello lovely readers! Many of you might have noticed that I double posted for Page and her Knight this last week. I hope you didn't think I was going to skip this story. Haha never fear. I hope everyone had ample time to cool down after that last chapter. Everything seems like peaches and cream at this point but don't get too comfortable. Kenshin and Kaoru still know very little about each other, nor the threats that are around them.
On to the story!
P.S. Forgive any typos.

Chapter 8

Kenshin woke first. He could feel the soft curve of Kaoru's body pressed against his. His face was in her hair breathing in her scent and when he tried to move he discovered he was tired. Tired and sore. He was not a young buck of a teenager anymore. But he refused to let his love-making skills go rusty. Memories of the night flashed before him, they caused him to grow hard for her again. But he wouldn't wake her. The Water Goddess needed rest more than he. Kenshin remembered having his head between her thighs, his mouth on her most sensitive parts, causing her to buck more than a wild mare. She begged, pleaded and cried until she screamed his name, only then did he stop the beautiful torment. She in turn used him just as hard. He taught her how to please herself with him. She rode him as forcefully as ever before.

The soft light of the morning was rising when he filled her with his seed for the last time. Then and only then did he let her sleep and did he allow himself to rest. But now harsh sun was filtering in through the windows and there was a soft knock on the door. Kenshin didn't say anything, he just pressed himself closer to Kaoru and hoped whoever it was went away. But the lock popped and Kenshin silently cursed as a small wave of servants quietly rushed in. The drapes were pulled back, bathing the two of them in bright white sunlight.

"Gods damn it all." Kenshin cursed as he squinted against the light. He never thought he would hate the Sun God as much as he did at that moment. Or perhaps he just hated the servant girls as they rushed around, pulling out clothes. In the tub room hot, steaming water was being poured into the large vessel when Kaoru was finally roused by the noise.

Kenshin didn't mind being seen without clothes, but Kaoru took one moment to realize the half dozen servants in the room had seen then naked, and knowing what had gone on and instantly she turned with a squeak and pressed her face into his chest.

Protectiveness rose in Kenshin. He wrapped one arm around her as he casually flicked the bed clothes over their bodies. There was a moment of silence before a string of whispers came from under the blankets, her morning prayer. He set a kiss on her temple before slowly untangling himself from her and slid out of bed. The servant women froze upon seeing him, all except his own servants. His servants were women of the Fire Clan who were used to serving naked Lords. Apparently while free in their lovemaking, Water fae were more private in showing their bodies.

"That will do." He said. "My Lady Wife and I will bathe and dress ourselves, that we will." Instantly the woman curtsied, and bowed and rushed from the room. Once the lock slid back in place, Kenshin returned to the bed. All he wanted was to crawl back under the covers and feel Kaoru press up against him, but he knew he had a job to do.

"Kiga?...Kaoru?"

The girl muttered from under the covers.

"The bath is hot, you should get in before it starts to cool. It will help with any soreness, that it will."

That worked. The covers were thrown back and Kaoru sat up. Her hair was a wild mess, a few marks on her creamy skin gave away where he had held her a little too hard. Other marks on her from love bites were put there on purpose. He helped her up and across the room to where the tub sat. Water whispered softly around her body as she climbed in. It was strange to watch how it reacted to her, clinging to her skin like diamonds. It was fascinating to watch the tiredness fade away, for slow, languid movements to become sure again.

"Are you taking energy from the water?" He asked as he pulled the bathing tray closer to the tub before he too climbed in. The tub wasn't meant for two to share, but they were small people. The pair of them folded themselves and made it work. Kenshin sat against the end of the tub and Kaoru leaned her back against him. She tipped her head up so she could look at him.

"Yes, my Lord Husband demanded much of me last night and a few hours of sleep is not enough after that. Not as good as a stream or river, but it will work for now."

Lips twitched upward in amusement as Kenshin reached over for the soaps on the tray. He recognized his favorite soap as well as a few others that must belong to his Wife. He took up a soft peach colored soap and wash cloth which he soaped up. He slowly washed Kaoru's back and arms as he sat in silence. He pressed close and dragged the soapy cloth across her breasts before dipping one hand below the water to caress her belly and then lower to her sensitive parts. Kaoru tensed against him, her head resting back on his shoulder.

"Do you hurt, here?" He asked, pressing his lips against the shell of her ear.

"A little." She admitted, and his touch stilled which caused her to huff. She maneuvered around to face him, wrapping her legs around his hips.

He smiled at her constant need. "There will be no coupling tonight. It will hurt more later, that it will" Again she huffed and went to argue but Kenshin was having none of it. "I know we are in need of an heir, but not at the sake of causing you pain. I'll let you have as much of me as you want tomorrow night."

A look of indignation flashed across her face a split moment before she burst into peels of laughter. "My Lord seems a bit full of himself. But I should like that very much."

"As would I." He admitted. He was silent for a moment as Kaoru took the cloth from him and reached for his soap and turned to wash him in return. "Kaoru."

"Hmm?" She said as she soaped up the cloth and scrubbed at his chest and shoulders.

He locked his purple eyes onto hers. "I'm glad that we are happy together." They could have hated each other from the start.

Kaoru remained quiet as she washed one of his arms. But she nodded her head in agreement. "To think of how it could have been if we never ran into each other in the forest."

Their relationship might have been cool acceptance at best. But Kenshin refused to believe he wouldn't have noticed her spirit after a while. No matter how much he might have hated her, he would have at least admired her. She seemed agreeable and was kind to everyone in the Keep. It wouldn't have been hard to establish a relationship. The fact that she was lovely helped as well.

"I'm sorry I was angry with you. I've no right to be."

"It's fine." Kaoru shook her head but Kenshin reached out and took her by the chin.

"No, No it's not fine. I had no right in feeling betrayed, I've been with women, I'm the one who betrayed my vows."

Kaoru raised an eyebrow. "You married a brat, I would be shocked if you had spent the last ten years in celibacy."

The Red-head nodded. "Yes but the Fire clans have strict rules, and the Water clans have more open rules. Why did you wait so long to be with a man? You must have been lonely." More so after the death of her father and being left alone to run the Keep. He suddenly felt selfish. He let go of her chin and she returned to washing him. She was quiet for a long moment.

"I was married to a Fire...My father made sure I was raised knowing the ways of the Fire. How to deal with temper, the heat, your rules and mores I learned about your food and as much of your culture as I could. Although I never did hear about that Red Banner thing." She paused to laugh to herself. "While we are more free with our sexual relations, I know that Fire's are not once married and therefor I wanted to respect it. Perhaps that was why the Fire's here never liked me ruling them. It was not so much that I was female or a Water..."

"It was because you had been yet to be bedded by me."

Kaoru nodded. "They knew that I could take a man if I wanted. I think they were angry for you. That is was possible I broke the vows."

Kenshin was quiet. Maybe that was why she was treated with disrespect and why they had demanded the Red Banner, a way to prove that she didn't betray him and therefor them.

"Besides," Kaoru added. "I was too afraid I'd ruin the treaty. It's just at that moment in the forest, I didn't care anymore. Not about the Keep or the treaty or the possibility of war with the Drow...I just wanted…." She paused and shrugged her shoulders. "I just wanted. My Water tendencies came through…I wanted the comfort of coupling."

And here all he wanted to do was leave the treaty behind. He had a duty and a little brat learned all she could about Fire people and how to run a Keep and please her Lord in bed while he wallowed in selfishness. He felt humbled by her. "I don't want you to feel you need to learn or obey the rules of the Fire Clan. You are not Fire."

"But I'm married to a Fire."

"That does not make you one. To try and be one goes against who you are and it isn't right. I don't want you to be anything other than who you are, Kaoru, that I don't."

Kaoru's eyes took on that shimmering look again and Kenshin knew they were tears. He took both her hands in his and made her look up at him. "I know Water is just as passionate as Fire. I will give you all I can but if you need a man and I'm not there-"

"No." Kaoru interrupted, shaking her head. Tears escaped but she tried to laugh. "We're not like Earth, their life-force depends on love-making, they are the creators. If I'm near water then that's enough for me."

Kenshin leveled his eyes with hers. Kaoru wilted under his gentle purple gaze.

"It's true it's not the same as the sea….but I don't know any different so the streams and lakes here are good enough for me."

Giving and taking energy was something they all did and it was something Kenshin could understand. "Even so. Promise me that if you have need, you will." When she tied to look away Kenshin followed her, never letting her look away. "Promise me."

Kaoru sighed, then gave a huff. "Alright, I promise."

"Swear it." Kenshin urged in a firm tone.

Kaoru's mouth dropped and her eyes narrowed. "Fine I swear it."

"Good." Kenshin stood, causing a small wave to splash against Kaoru. "This is enough water for me." He said as he climbed out.

Kaoru was drawn to the way the water cut trails down his body. How it took the lines between the muscles of his back and around his legs and followed the many lines of scars. She would have kept watching if he hadn't wrapped a towel around himself. Sighing Kaoru sunk deeper into the now roomy tub. He might not want to wash his hair, but she sure did. She sank lower until her whole body was under the water. It was not a struggle to hold her breath, as the energy pulled from the water also allowed her to breath while under it. She felt her body hum and shimmer with the transfer of power and Kaoru felt that familiar pull...the call to the sea. All pain and soreness ebbed away.

Slowly she sat up and blinked away the water from her eyes and went to reach for her hair soap when she realized that Kenshin was still standing there watching her. "What?" She asked when she noted the startled look on his face.

"Your skin." Was all he said as he bent to touch her exposed leg.

Confused, Kaoru followed his gaze and realized what had cause his wonder. She smiled and relaxed as she poured soap into her hand. Scales pushed up under her skin, like a tattoo design of blues, purples and pinks. His fingers were hot even though her body was warm from the bath. She could feel them tracing over her skin.

"Your True Form?" He asked in a hushed and awed voice.

"You seem surprised." Kaoru said as she lathered her hair. "I thought you were of royal blood too. You have a True Form too don't you?"

… . . …

Kenshin nodded. "I do, I just never been around Water fae much, and no one of royal blood. I have never seen a Water's True Form, that I haven't" All Elementals of royal lines had the ability to transform into their original forms, the forms they were thousands of generations ago. All Elementals could change when at there "Source." That is for Water Elementals, would be the Sea, for Earth, the Mother Tree, for Air, the Great Cliffs, and for Fire, the Volcano. But being of royal blood, they could transform at will, although it took massive energy to do so.

"I've never transformed before." Kaoru interrupted his thoughts as the suds on her head continued to grow. A strong scent of jasmine wafted up from the soap.

"Have you ever tried?" He himself had transformed only a handful of times in the field of battle and a handful more times while visiting his uncle, the King at the Volcano.

Kaoru nodded. "A while ago, but I'm not strong enough. I need a larger body of water." She chewed on her bottle lip in thought.

Kenshin watched the flash of white teeth against the soft flesh of her lip. He remembered what those teeth felt like on his skin. He had just as many marks on his skin as he had left on hers. "I will take you to one soon." He promised before turning away to get dressed.

"Kenshin?" She murmured, turning slightly to see him better.

He turned to look over his shoulder and smiled in amusement. "What now, Kaoru?"

She flushed, sinking into the tub. "I was wondering what that word was, the one you called me this morning. You said it often last night."

"Kiga?"

Kaoru nodded.

Kenshin shrugged one shoulder, looking away. "It means The Reason for Being. Precious."

"Precious." Kaoru repeated softly to herself.

… . . …

Kaoru watched him leave and shivered at the tone of his his voice. It was deep and thick with some sort of emotion, but she didn't know what. Kiga she thought. Mulling the word over and over in her mind and deciding that she liked it. The sound of it rumbling from Kenshin's chest along with other words in his language left her feeling warm and soft inside. Much like that pleasant warm fuzzing feeling when she drank too much sake. Her own mother tongue was not as lovely sounding. Kaoru had never learned very much of it and she often thought it sounded like a person downing, or gargling. Either way, it wasn't as popular as the Earth tongue in their parts anyways.

She dunked her head under the water to wash off the soap. There was an emotion deep inside her as well. What it was, Kaoru didn't know. It made her feel warm and good. It made her heart race, but in a pleasant way. She knew it was more than likely that she would never love her husband. But now...with her husband being that red-headed stranger she wanted anything to run away with… now it seemed quite possible she would grow to love her husband deeply. Kaoru wasn't a love sick youth, she knew it was also possible that after the thrill of having a man was over she might grow to resent Kenshin.

It was true what he had said. It was hard being alone. She had felt such need for the comfort of another after the death of her father. She could have easily broken her vows with one of her guards. Her own people would find it normal and the guard wouldn't breath a word to a soul. But her father had taught her that rules were important to the Fire fae. And so she never allowed herself to think about it.

But things had started rocky and they seemed to have smoothed out now. She would much rather be in a relationship she could cope with than to be in one that was bitter. She would rather they be cool toward each other if it meant they could be civil. If their relationship heated up, that would just be a welcomed extra. She was lucky that he was understanding and so far...kind and gentle.

Hands reached in and grabbed her from under the water. Surprised, Kaoru opened her eyes and sat up out of the water. Her handmaidens were gathered around the tub.

"If you stay in there any longer M'Lady, you'll get all wrinkly." The youngest one joked as she held a towel out for her.

Kaoru looked around her tub to see Kenshin adjusting his sword belt on his hip. He must have allowed them in. Kaoru stood and climbed out of the tub and allowed the women to fuss with her. She was not used to the attention, but knew now that the Lord was here she would have to play Lady.

"What are your plans today My Lord Husband?" She asked as she was lead over to her wardrobe to pick her clothes for the day. She didn't feel like a Kimono today but she knew it was only proper so she pulled a yellow striped Kimono from the wardrobe and handed it to her handmaidens.

"Look around Aiga Keep more, and write letters to the Kings about our consummation, that I will." He glanced at her apologetically. "They will want to know I have taken over, that they will."

Kaoru nodded. She had letters to write as well as look over the books.

"By the way." Kenshin advanced on them and stopped in front of Rachi, the head handmaiden. She was a woman of middle age, and strong Water looks. "The key." He said firmly, holding out his hand.

All of them blinked at the Lord.

"The key to the room." Kenshin clarified.

Rachi immediately dug into the pocket of her apron and pulled out a key on a chain and removed it from the chain, which was attached to her apron and set it in his hand.

"Kenshin?" Kaoru said in a questioning tone as she stepped forward.

The red-head gave the maiden a smile and turned to Kaoru as he slipped the key into of the folds of his Gi. "Forgive me, My Lady Wife. But I don't feel comfortable letting the maids have a key to this room, that I don't" He quickly turned to the women. "Not that I think you would do anything, that is. I don't want you to be targeted because you have easy access to the room. Anyone wishing to cause me or your Lady harm would think nothing of harming you to get this key. From now on, just knock and one of us will let you in. I can tell that Lady Kaoru is not used to being waited on hand and foot and I most certainly am not as well."

All the women stood silently for a moment before Kaoru spoke up. "That is true." She turned to her handmaidens and smiled. "You know I never really liked being waited on hand and foot." The maidens all smiled at her and nodded but they moved to help her dress anyways.

Kenshin turned to leave but paused and turned back to the room and up to the bed where he took the sheet in both hand and with a flick of his wrists, yanked it off the bed. "Can't forget this." He said and walked over to the balcony window and threw it open.

"My Lord Husband, you're not going to hang that from here are you?" Kaoru gasped. From the bedroom window? It faced the church. Everyone would be coming from that church after the party.

"Of course." Was all he said as he stepped out onto the balcony. He flashed her a smile over his shoulder, his eyes dancing with purples and lilac. His hair was still free and it was tugged by the breeze. The sun set it on fire again.

Kaoru would have protested, but she was stuck by the sight of him. How could this amazing man really be her husband?

He tied the sheets corners to the carved stone railing and it snapped in the breeze like a true banner. He was still tying one corner when a shrill whistle rang out and there were cheers from below. Kenshin finished tying and gave whoever was down there a wave and a nod. That certainly didn't take long. They were not overly high, but high enough that the stain looked perfectly passable. Kaoru was certain that if anyone wanted a closer look, they would find no fault in it. Hopefully though, the only ones getting a closer look would be the washer-women.

… . . …

Kaoru peeked into the kitchens to make sure everything was running smoothly. She also needed to speak to Milinda about stocking the kitchen. It was strangely quite in the kitchens. Only a few pots boiled, one person was watching the bread bake, and the large cooking fires were being cleaned out and new wood was stacked inside. Kaoru felt a moment of panic before she remember that there was party last night and there was hardly anyone around to cook for, it was also closer to mid-day meal than breakfast.

"There you are!"

Kaoru jumped and so did most of the workers, everyone paused and turned to her. Kaoru felt her face burn under their attention. She shouldn't be embarrassed, every single person in the Keep knew that the marriage was to be consummated. They were all adult, and more importantly most of them were her own people. They were most likely glad she finally let a man share her bed. That helped soothe the blush that was crawling along her neck and face. Misao rushed forward.

"There you are." She repeated. "I've been looking for you all morning." Her large eyes were wide with curiosity and worry.

"I figured you'd be at the party and still asleep." Kaoru admitted.

"Oh, I was at the party, but the Fire's got drunk far too fast and Aoshi wasn't around so I didn't stay for very long. Enough about me, how did you-know-what go with you-know-who?" She said in hushed tones as she pulled Kaoru over to the servants table where they sat alone.

"Fine, Misao, everything is fine." Kaoru could tell by the look on her face that Misao didn't believe her. "Truly, Lord Kenshin apologized. I think he would have come to understand, you just sort of crammed it down his throat before he could accept it." Kaoru added.

Misao let out a sharp breath through her nose. "I'm sorry I got snippy." Misao reached across the table and took her hand. "What about last night?"

Kaoru ignored the feeling of heat crawling back up her neck. "It went very well." She said quickly.

"Ah, no, you're not getting away without sharing any details." Misao laughed as she gripped Kaoru's hand to keep her from getting up from the table.

"Misao." Kaoru hissed, looking out into the kitchens, "I'm not sharing details."

"Awe come on!" Misao pouted. "Don't you trust me?"

"Sharing information about the wedding night is bad luck." Said a voice over them. The pair of women jumped and turned to find Milinda standing beside them. "You should know that, Lady Misao."

"That's just not fair!" Misao cried.

"Shhh!" Kaoru hissed. "Either way, everything went well. We made up, and our night was lovely. That's all you really need to know."

"Really Lady Misao, just take a man to bed and get rid of that curiosity." Milinda huffed. "Leave the Lady Kaoru alone."

Misao let Kaoru go and muttered to herself. "So you two like each other?" she said after a moment.

"Yes, we don't hate each other. At least I don't feel any hate toward him." Kaoru admitted. "Thankfully, I wouldn't want to be stuck in a marriage where we hate each other. I would rather keep the peace. But I haven't really had to keep my tongue, he's extremely accepting." She looked at Misao. "And kind and understanding." She added.

"Huh." Was all Misao said.

"By the way Milinda, I need the grocery order for the books, also I'll take my meal in my reading room." The day was already half over and she needed to get to work. "My Lord Husband also wishes to have his meal in the study." Kaoru informed.

"Right away," Milinda turned and was off calling a servant to her side. Kaoru turned back to her cousin.

"Please be good to Kenshin. I know you two didn't make the best first impression, but I think you two would get along rather well."

"Hump" Misao crossed her arms. "I'll try, only because you asked, but if I hear or see something off about him then I'm not keeping my mouth shut about it."

"I don't expect you to." Kaoru said with a warm smile.

… . . …

The study was impressive, Kenshin had to admit. He never had one of his own before, having lived the life of a warrior. But he had to agree that the room of dark wood bookshelves, maps and such made the name, "Duke of Aiga Keep" A little more real. He took particular interest in the war table. Which had a map of the region on it. Various markers for neighboring houses and fae dotted the countryside. Kenshin was going to have to learn all the houses in the area as well as the landscape. But at the moment he was looking at his best friend as he melted into a wood and leather chair. His hands covered his face in an effort to shield his eyes from the sunlight coming in from the window.

"Long night?" Kenshin said amused as he sat on the other side of the desk. The chair was large, obviously made for a man much taller. He was going to have to get a chair more for him.

"Oh, man, you don't even know." Sano muttered from between his hands. "Water fae make spirits hard enough to put Lilous on his ass."

The Earth God of food and wine. Kenshin wondered just how powerful the drink Sano had were for him to make that assessment. The God had many well known stories of his love for copious amounts of drink.

"Plus there were these two Earth girls." Sano continued, his hands dropped from his face and he had a cheeky smile. "Servant girls I think, wow they really let lose."

Kenshin cleared his throat. "I'm sure you had nothing to do with that."

"Oh I had everything to do with that. Hey man, I'm not worried, they have the best contraception in these parts."

Being so close to Earth territory, Kenshin didn't doubt it at all. Being love-makers, Earth had some of the most powerful contraceptives in the four lands. They loved to create, but life was something they created only with the deepest of thought. A party at midsummer under the influence of drink was not the best time to think about a child. Unless of course the goal of that midsummer party was to make life.

Kenshin gave his head a shake. "I have a favor to ask you."

Sano sat up as best he could. "What's up?"

"If Kaoru wants to have sex with you, you do it, alright?" He stated firmly. He knew it wasn't the best way to deliver this delicate information to Sanosuke, but the man could handle it.

Mahogany brown eyes grew wide and then narrow. "What the hell happened last night?" The young man's back went ram-rod straight, his shoulders squared.

The red-head waved his hands in front of him. "Calm down Sanosuke, everything went well, it went great actually, that it did." Kenshin and Sano stared at each other in silence for a long moment.

"Then why the Hell you tellin' me to bone your wife, man?" Sano stood up from the chair and winced at the shriek of the wooden legs across the floor. He put a hand to his head. From the look on his face it was not hard to tell the man suffered from his night of drinking.

"I know Water fae are like Earth fae in that they often need physical contact with others in order to be mentally and physically well."

Sano sighed, leaning a hip against the giant desk. "Yeah." Was all Sano offered.

Kenshin swallowed and looked down at the desk, his eyes focused on the grain of the polished wood. "I know that Kaoru suffered greatly while being alone. She reached maturity and even lost her father and never once been with a man to ease her pain. It was only when she suffered near death that she weakened." Kenshin knew this to be true, she suffered poison and nearly died, her body would take what it needed so desperately to survive, sharing the life force of another. He glanced up at Sano who was watching him closely. "If something were to happen, if I was not around and she is wounded, or ill or in pain in anyway, I want you to be with her Sano. You are my friend and I trust you with her. I don't want you to question her, just do as she asks. More than likely she wont ask. You'll have to bring it up."

Sano sighed and looked away.

"Understand?" Kenshin pressed.

"Yeah man, I understand." He muttered.

Kenshin blinked and also stood from his chair. "You don't seem happy about this?"

"Kaoru's a lovely girl." Sano admitted. "A little shy, but sweet. I won't have any problem lettin' her take what she wants of me." The teen turned to look at his friend. "But I know you will be upset if it ever comes to that. I don't think you'll like the fact that I had sex with your wife. He held his large hands out. "Cause, C'mon man, she's gonna love what I'll do to her." He added with a shark grin. "You'll get jealous."

"You're an Earth man." Kenshin stated flatly, crossing his arms. "I have no doubt in your abilities to please any female. I took that into account when I thought about this, that I have."

Sano sighed. "Alright, Kenshin. I still think it's odd for you to give another man permission to bone his wife, but I understand. Just don't kill me after the fact."

A/n Sano must think that Kenshin's into some freaky stuff. LOL I've a real soft spot for Kenshin in this moment. He has to admit to himself that he's not always going to be the best thing for his wife. Their elements are so different that he isn't always going to be able to help her. Letting Sano, a more compatible element, lay with Kaoru must have taken some effort and pride swallowing.

I don't know if this will bring them all closer or rip them apart. Hopefully there will never come a time where Kaoru is in trouble and Kenshin isn't there.

Now comes the hard part, developing their relationship outside of the bedroom. They know they must have children but they hardly know each other. Arranged political marriages must have been so awkward. Don't you think?
Thank you for reading! Reviews are very much loved.