A/n Hello everyone! I hope everyone had a great holiday season. Now we're starting a whole new year already. How the year goes by.
Thank you for all my wonderful reviewers. Your kind words and ideas are always loved and welcomed. This chapter, unfortunately, turned out quite short. I even lopped off some of the next chapter to tack on to this one. Which helped it end in a better spot, I think.

Anyways. On to the story!

Chapter 11

Kaoru watched with interest at the activity going on in the clearing in front of her. Around the Keep, on the other side of the stables sat a ring of wooden fencing. Inside were numerous men fighting. Most were youths practicing, but some were grown men sparing with various weapons. Misao, in a tunic and leathers, climbed up the wooden railing and sat on the top. Kaoru followed her gaze across the clearing to where Aoshi was wailing on a poor soldier with a two-handed sword. It was nearly as tall as himself. He was dressed in black leathers and a soot-stained wine red tunic. The poor soldier couldn't block a sword of such a size and was reduced to hiding completely under his shield as Aoshi beat at him. Each strike sounded like an ax on a tree. The other warriors looked on in thinly veiled horror.

"He's magnificent." Misao sighed.

Kaoru had to agree, the man was fierce.

Some ways away from the one-sided battle Kenshin walked. His hand clasped behind his back. He also wore black leathers, but instead of a rough tunic, he wore a black cotton shirt with a black leather doublet over it. His red hair looked like a splash of blood against the all black outfit and his eyes like great royal jewels.

Kaoru sighed, to her, he looked magnificent. Hours ago those eyes had been burning into hers, and she was sure her hips were marked with his handprints. She felt her face grow red and she forced herself to pay attention to the training and not their activities that morning.

Finally, the warrior could no longer hold up his shield and he was forced to drop it and raise his sword. Aoshi hit it once, in an upward swipe which sent the sword flying off harmlessly into the dirt. The next swing brought the giant sword down across the head of the disarmed man. Aoshi paused with the sword a hair's breath from splitting his skull. The ladies and other bystanders clapped while Kenshin explained what the warrior did wrong and what could be done instead.

"Would anyone like to try?" Kenshin asked loudly out at the group inside and outside of the training grounds. Two men stepped forward. A Fire with orange hair and a beard who stood a head taller than Kenshin and one of her own Water guards. He was broader in the chest than the fire and was nearly as tall as Sanosuke. Kenshin nodded and waved both of them in while he undid the silver clasps on the front of his doublet with one hand. Kaoru gave a start when he turned his amethyst eyes at her and made his way across the expanse towards her.

He shrugged the doublet off and with a half grin, handed it off to her.

"Your form of entertainment is strange Lady Wife." His eyes glanced down and back up her body. "As is your style of dress today."

Kaoru's face was properly red now as she glanced down at her soft leather pants and yellow tunic. She looked up and took the garment from her husband. "Misao and I are here for training, we didn't know you were working the men today."

He lifted one eyebrow and glanced from her over to her cousin and then back to her. His voice rumbled from deep in his chest. "Well perhaps later we can see what we can teach you, my Ladies." He gave a slight bow of his head before turning back to the center of the training ring.

"Man….that made me all hot," Misao admitted as she shifted on the wooden rail. "He sound like that in bed?"

Kaoru snorted before swallowing back her laughter. "You keep your eyes on your Metal fae." Kaoru snapped teasingly.

"I'd like to get something other than my eyes on him," Misao muttered under her breath as the two challengers took their places. The Fire held a sword much like Aoshi's but half the length and weight. The Water Fae had a short sword on his hip but was choosing instead to use his spear. Kaoru leaned forward, this was the first time she had seen Kenshin fight since the battle in the forest. That fight was still seared into her memory, she wondered if he would be just as ruthless with the trainees.

Kenshin unsheathed his Air style sword with little fanfare. The metal glinted in the sun as he leveled it at the pair and crouched into a stance. The two followed, crouching into stance. They stood there, still as stone statues before the three of them lunged forward. It almost seemed as though their weapons would meet in the middle, but Kenshin vanished in a blur of motion and was behind them.

"Always stay alert to your surroundings," Kenshin said, his sword hovering just over the Fire's back. A slice like that would have cut the man nearly in half. "Don't expect someone to watch your back or come and save you." He added, dropping his stance. "Let's do that again."

"Amazing," Misao said in a hushed whisper. "I didn't even see him move.

The men were setting up again and Kaoru turned to her cousin. "It was far more impressive in the forest. I couldn't even see him move then. Here I could follow him. But I'm sure that's only because I was expecting it."

"But attacking like that from behind." Misao glanced over. "Seems a little dirty don't ya think?"

"You think the Drow don't fight dirty?" Drawled a voice. Both girls twitched and turned to find Sano standing between them. He was wearing training leathers in browns and reds, which worked to bring out the mahogany color of his eyes.

"Man, stomp your feet when you walk up on people!" Misao gasped. "And no, I assume the Drow are a bunch of low, snail-slime covered rats." She added.

Sano blinked at Misao's description, cleared his throat and turned back to the training area. "Ya fight to win, even if ya haveta fight dirty." He said. As Kenshin gave pointers to the volunteers and the men around them. "Even if you have to throw dirt in his eyes, you do what you can to win, and make no doubt that your enemy will do whatever he can to kill you first."

Kaoru nodded to herself. She knew as much, they all did, but it was difficult for Water Fae to do such dishonorable acts. She glanced up at Sano. "How did you overcome your honor?" Misao made a strangled sound, but Kaoru ignored her. "I know Fire and Air have no problem doing whatever they can to win, but we...Earth and Water...we have too much honor."

"Practice," Sano said cryptically. "It helps, thinking that if that enemy gets passed you, they will continue on to harm the ones you are protectin'." He turned thoughtful for a moment. "Earth have great respect for life, but it's this love and respect that turns us into fearsome fighters. There are family, friends, lovers, children, anyone I care about all behind me. I can not allow myself to fall and leave them unprotected." His teeth flashed in amusement. "This is why mothers fight like feral cats to protect their young."

Kaoru could understand, she would do anything to protect this Keep. But fighting to protect a life was on a different level that Kaoru had never experienced yet. "I hope that if the time comes for me to fight someone, I could be as fierce."

"Like I said, My Lady. Practice. The more you practice the less fear you'll have and the more level-headed you will become." He reached out and mussed her hair like one would a child. He froze in mid-action. "Shit, I shouldn't have done that." He dropped his hand.

Kaoru only smirked at him as she tucked a few strands of loosened hair behind her ears. She turned in time to witness Aoshi demonstrating how to use the heavy pommel of his sword as a tool to bash a person's skull to pieces. It instantly deflated any urge in her to fight.

… . . …

The door to their rooms opened and Kaoru risked a peek around the tub to see Kenshin walking in. He noted Kaoru in the bath and kicked the door shut behind him. Kaoru turned back around in time to hear the lock slide securely in place. She listened as his foot steps carried him to their bathing area. His sword belts rattled with each step, and she sank lower into the milky white water. She glanced up as he paused beside the copper tub.

"My Wife takes many baths." Kenshin looked amused as he pulled up the small stool the maids used to sit on. He struggled slightly with the two swords on his belt until he was able to sit.

"That's what happens when you are a Water Fae." Kaoru murmured, too relaxed from the heat of the water. "Both you and Sano worked me until my muscles screamed." She added. "If I don't soak now, I'll hardly be able to move tomorrow."

… . . …

Kenshin could relate, sore muscles were a thing of the past for him, but he could very well understand why his wife would want to prevent the pain. It was near time for the evening meal and Kaoru was nowhere to be found until he spotted Sano lollygagging near their quarters. Kenshin sent him ahead to eat. He stole a glance at his wife. Her body was mostly hidden under the water, water that looked like milk. The scent of lavender and jasmine hung thick in the air around them. Her skin was only a shade or two darker than the milk. Kenshin wondered how a woman who stayed out in the sun nearly all morning and afternoon didn't grow darker. But both she and Misao were moon-like pale. Perhaps it was the nature of their element.

Kaoru raised her arms over her head and arched her back, wincing in pain as she did so. Kenshin, however, had his eyes rooted to her breasts. They rose up out from under the water, her nipples looking almost like ripe berries against a field of white. He instantly felt himself harden. He wanted a nibble of them, even if it meant getting a bit wet. He set his hands on the edge of the tub and nearly pulled himself forward but right at that moment Kaoru's shoulder gave a pop and her arms and breasts went back under the cover of the water.

"Eyes up here." Kaoru snickered.

Kenshin realized he'd been caught and rubbed the back of his neck as he smiled up at her. "Can't blame a man when you look like a Goddess, Kiga."

Kaoru flushed, or was that just from the heat of the water?

"Quit insulting the Goddess that way, I'm plain as the next blade of grass." She used her fingers to flick a few drops of water at him.

He moved closer, the tiny stool lowered him enough that he was able to rest an arm on the rim of the tub. His other hand dipped into the water and he returned the flick of water by splashing her. "Among the blades of grass, you are a flower." He said. He could see the dome of her knee through the milky water and his hand cupped over it, lowering to palm her thigh.

Oh yes, she was blushing properly now. "You're getting your sleeve wet." She warned.

"I'll change." He returned simply, shrugging one shoulder as his hand dipped lower until he bumped into her belly. His fingers turned down until he was petting the soft curls between her thighs.

"You, Lord Husband...are trying to seduce me."

Kenshin rose up from the stool and leaned forward. "You, Lady Wife, are correct." He leveled his gaze at her. "Only fair, being that you spent all afternoon seducing me."

The female gasped. "I was doing nothing of the sort." She was getting ready to argue her case when he slipped his fingers further down and tagged her most sensitive bud. This caused her to choke on her words.

"You and that cousin of yours were shameless with Aoshi and myself." He said calmly, in almost a bored tone. "Wandering about in front of everyone in pants." as if to punish her he slipped a finger up inside of her, causing her to arch back and shudder so violently that the water around her trembled. "I hear you two do that often?"

She whimpered, realizing he was waiting for an answer. "W-we always h..have."

"You realize Fire's are not used to high born females in such clothes. Your breasts and round bottom were quite noticeable, that they were." He slipped in a second finger making her mew. She kept trying to sink down but the tub wasn't allowing her to. "You worked hard, and I was glad to see that you and your cousin are such fine warriors yourselves...but you sweated so much your clothes were sticking to your body. I never wanted to mount a female in public...but you pushed me."

"It's n..not m-my fault your F-Fires can't handle f..females." She gasped.

"Oh, we can handle females just fine." Kenshin mused. "Warrior females though….well that just drives us mad with lust." And with that, he pulled away. A look of disappointment flashed across her face but it didn't last long as Kenshin was already pulling her out of the tub and pulled her up against him. He ignored all the water splashing and instead enjoyed the sight and feel of her wet skin. Her mouth was devouring his, her hips surging forward against his, desperate for release. Kenshin didn't aim to keep her wanting for long, he pulled her up in his arms, her legs wrapped around his hips, and her arms around his neck. He turned and shoved her back against the wall and he reached between them. With her legs around his hips, she was open for him and his fingers made quick work of bringing her to the point of mewing and shuddering all over again.

He wanted to seem sure and calm, but working his sword belt free was done in a frenzy of jerky movements. The swords dropped noisily to the floor and he yanked on his pants to free himself with one hand while still stimulating his wife with the other. But he discovered he was having trouble and fumbled around like a smoothed faced boy.

"Ah, fuck!" Kenshin huffed, which caused Kaoru to erupt in a fit of giggles as she let go with one arm and reached between them to help him free himself. The feel of her warm wet hand against his member almost undid him and as soon as she angled her hips, he surged forward, as if trying to pin her to the wall with his cock. He slipped inside forcefully and felt her convulse against him. His fingers only stroked her twice more before she tumbled over the peak and came undone. He was ashamed to admit that only a dozen more thrusts brought him to spill his seed. The two of them held tight to each other, his clothes slowly absorbing all the water off her skin. They gasped for air as they came down together and slowly relaxed. Her legs slipped off his hips and he pulled her away from the wall to allow her back on her feet. He pressed his forehead against hers.

"Let that be a lesson to you." He said firmly and smiled to himself as Kaoru hid her flushed face.

… . . ...

Kaoru had returned to the tub to wash while Kenshin changed into dry clothes. She quickly dried, brushed her hair and dressed. But Kenshin was already waiting for her.

"Washed again?" He asked, returning his sword belt to his hips.

Kaoru bit her lip. "It's a messy thing to do...making an heir." She admitted, looking over to watch him think.

"Well Yes. I imagine it's a necessary evil for the female, that it is."

"Why must it be necessary." Kaoru huffed as her feet went into slippers.

"Well If you want babies," Kenshin said simply, a cheeky grin on his face. "I could spill my seed elsewhere -"

"Enough!" Kaoru held out her hand to stop him. "I get it."

He took her hand then and lead her out of their chambers and down the maze of steps to the Main Hall. It had been days since Kenshin arrived but the Hall remained filled. It brought mixed feeling for Kaoru. She felt warm seeing the men gather together finally, talking and mingling. But yet she felt cold that it took her Husband's arrival for it to happen.

Sano greeted the two of them with a shark-like smile "There you are, thought you fell in the tub with her." He joked under his breath. Kenshin cleared his throat while Kaoru couldn't help but smile. She lowered her head to hide it but he caught sight of it anyways.

"Thank you, Sano...for being so concerned." Kenshin said sardonically.

"If you had, I'll gladly fish you two out."

Kaoru nearly burst from holding back her laughter, She sat and risked shooting Sanosuke a glance, imagining him trying to pull the two of them from the tub. Her humor gently morphed into embarrassment at the thought.

They had been well into dinner when Kenshin turned to Kaoru. "We revived pigeons and ravens today."

"Oh?" Kaoru set her water glass down. "More than one?"

"Many...many more than one. Damn near a whole flock."

Kaoru swallowed. "Really?" Why so many?

"Yes, most of them seem to be from the nearby Houses."

"Oh!" Kaoru smiled. "It must be from the Bannermen."

Kenshin nodded. "Yes, It seems they want to come and pledge their loyalty." He shifted in his chair. "I don't really agree with it, but if that's what they want."

"Oh, you must." Kaoru gasped. "It's a tradition to pledge to their Lord. And you seem to be so agreeing in letting people follow their traditions."

Sano chortled into his cup.

"But why don't you agree to this? I figured as a Warrior you would be looking forward to knowing how many men you have."

The Lord set his jaw and it started working back and forth. Was he grinding his teeth?

"In the past, it would have been. But we are all united now so there's no reason for them to pledge to me. I would protect them if they were attacked because we are all one people now, not because they swore to do the same for me. The Drow are after everyone. Water, Air, Earth, and Fire...We have to work together if we're to survive, that we do."

Kaoru smiled. "That would make a beautiful speech. I think you should let them come." She said gently, moving to set her hand over his. He turned his hand over so that he could take hers.

"I already wrote them back. I gave them a date a week from now to come down. That's enough time for even the furthest house to make it here."

"A week?" Why so soon?"

"Because of the other letters we received. Two from the Fire and Water Kingdom." He said with a sigh.

"What did those say?" He seemed frustrated, was it bad news?

"They want us to do the same."

Kaoru blinked. "I beg your pardon? What does that mean?"

"It means they want us to travel around the Four Kingdoms and for me to swear loyalty to the Water King and for you to do the same with my Uncle, the Fire King." His eyes were unreadable when he turned to her. "It's a damn long journey and will take months."

"Inconvenient." Kaoru muttered. Immediately she thought about how much clothes would have to be packed, did she even have anything fit to wear for royalty? Or should she just get something made there? How much food they would have to take with them and how many stops there were on the way to replenish their supplies? It was a bit dangerous now so they would need more than a few guards and soldiers with them. The soldiers would also need clothes, food, and carts. Horses for those carts, food for those horses.

"I can see you doing the math already." Kenshin murmured.

"It's gonna be a bitch." Sano put simply.

Kaoru nodded. "Yes, it's going to be a pain the ass." She looked down at their clasped hands. "But...I'll get to see the Fire Court." She smiled.

"And more important...you get to see the ocean." He gave her a wink.

Kaoru clapped her hands together. "The sea! Oh, that almost makes it all worth it."

Kenshin smiled, "Then it's settled. In a week the Houses will come by and after that, we'll be off. Will you be able to arrange everything for while we are gone?"

"Leave it to me." Kaoru clapped her hands again.

A/n So there's going to be a road trip…a very….very long road trip. I'm excited to have them see the different kingdoms and I'm excited to write about them. Kenshin and Kaoru seem to be getting along quite well so far. Hopefully, no one throws a rock into the calm waters.
Mwhaha! Ahem.

Happy New Year Dear readers. It's been fun so far. Hopefully, next year will be just as good. Have a safe and happy new year! I adore you all.