A/n Hello all. And Happy Easter for those that celebrate it. I hope everyone had a good week. I've been inspired to write for the first time in weeks so these stories are coming along nicely. Thank you for all the reviews! Bit of a longer chapter for you.

On with the story!

Chapter 15

Kaoru didn't like the idea of spying on her husband, but it happened quite by accident. She had been wandering from room to room looking at the art and massive flower arrangements in each one. In this particular room, Kaoru found herself softly touching the delicate petals of wildflowers when Kenshin's unmistakable voice sounded from the hall. Kaoru made her way to the open door to make herself known when she heard Lord Robbert ask a question that made her pause just out of sight of the doorway.

"Do you anticipate making changes to the Keep?" The older Lord asked. Kaoru held her breath to hear Kenshin's answer.

"I do think change is inevitable, that I do," Kenshin said.

"Not too much I hope." Lord Robbert mused. The pair walked side by side. The River Lord was head and shoulders taller than the Fire Lord. "Your wife wouldn't like it."

"She's a smart girl," Kenshin said after a few moments. "Even she knows change must happen. Our plans to protect the area can't happen with the Keep the way it is now. I will try and respect all that she holds dear, but there must be compromise."

The older man nodded. "You like little Kaoru, don't you?"

Kaoru wanted to lean out to see her husband's face. But she didn't dare. If she did, he would be sure to spot her instantly. As it was, Kaoru suspected he might know she was close by already.

"She has good points. She's reasonable, realistic and responsible. I see no reason to go against some of her ideas, that I don't."

Kaoru huffed. He didn't even answer Lord Robbert's question. Did Kenshin love her? Or even like her? Yes he enjoyed her enough for him to have nightly relations with and he was always gentle and kind with her and he cared about her. But how much of that was actual caring and how much of it was looking out for the vessel of his future children? Kenshin and the River Lord turned and went down a different hallway further away from where Kaoru was listening from an empty room.

… . . …

Kaoru enjoyed their short stay in the Riverlands but they left early in the morning the very next day. Again her breakfast didn't sit well on the swaying horse ride that morning, but Kaoru refused to go into the caravan no matter how much her husband or Sano protested.

She had been quite the rest of the short visit. She found her mind always going back to Kenshin's words. What change was coming to the Keep? What did he have planned? What compromises was he going to ask for? The questions rolled about in her head so much that a headache developed by midday. A fact that Sano didn't miss. She was sure it was because she was silent, which was strange for her. But he didn't say anything, thankfully. They followed the river and Kaoru tried to take comfort in the roaring sound of the water. Yet all it did was make her feel worse. Her head pounded and her stomach rolled with every step the horse made.

… . . …

Misao sat fiddling with the folded bit of parchment with the double K pressed into the red wax seal. She wanted to wait for Aoshi before reading it but she was far too impatient. It had been nearly two weeks and finally, there was a letter from Kaoru. Misao glanced about the Lord's study. She felt like a foolish child sitting in the large chair behind the desk so she opted to sit on the other side in one of the smaller leather chairs. Early afternoon sun filtered through the window, which Misao had opened and pulled the drapes wide to allow the warmth of the sun inside. On the plus side, the scent of wood, leather books, and males that seemed overwhelming was aired out a bit as the late spring breeze drifted in.

Arg! She couldn't wait for Aoshi to come from wherever he was when she summoned for him. She popped the seal and unrolled the thick paper. Kaoru's looping handwriting greeted her. The small woman couldn't help but smile as Kaoru told the story of their travels so far. She winced as Kaoru described the pain of being in a saddle for so long, laughed at the rush of feeling the power of the river and was enraged when Kaoru confessed the information she feared about the Fire's rebellion if she did not give Kenshin a child within a time frame.

So entranced by the letter that she didn't notice when the door opened or when Aoshi slid himself into the chair next to her until he cleared his throat.

Misao jumped nearly out of her chair. "Aoshi!" she nearly crumpled the letter in her surprise. "Where have you been!"

Aoshi lifted an eyebrow at her outburst. "Still gathering information about any troublemakers in the keep. Or did you forget that was your job too?"

Ouch. Aoshi had never really been sharp with her and she felt a moment of guilt. Only a moment though. "I'm sorry, I forgot I still had to perform espionage while running this Keep. I guess I'll run this place at night because it's not like I need sleep or anything." She jumped up from her chair and paced.

If he noticed she was stressed, he decided not to say. Thankfully because Misao was sure she would have bitten his head off if he uttered a single word. The silence went on while Misao fumed. Aoshi got comfortable, more than happy to let her take her time wrangling in her temper. After a few long moments, she sat back in her chair. She looked over at Aoshi who sat quietly, not looking inclined to push her into talking.

"I shouldn't have called for you. I'm sorry."

That apparently wasn't what Aoshi thought she would say because he sat frozen for a long second before standing up and giving her a sharp nod. "You received a letter?"

Misao glanced down at the parchment in her hand. "Yes, from Kaoru, I wanted to read it with you but now that I read it, I don't feel comfortable sharing it. Even with you." A mistake to be sure. Aoshi was the most trusted man. But he was Kenshin's most trusted man If this was information that Kaoru was not supposed to know, would she get in trouble if it was found out? But, what if he knew about any rebels that would do such a thing? Kaoru already had enough to worry about, she didn't need to worry about having a baby to please the Hotheads.

"I understand." The Metal Fae rumbled. "You seem upset. Is everything alright with Kaoru?"

Misao stood as well. "She's fine, Travel was hard, but she's alright now." Was all she would offer him.

Aoshi nodded and then gave her a bow. "I'll take my leave then. My Lady."

"See you at dinner" Misao gave her head a nod as he backed up and left.

Once the door shut Misao collapsed on the chair once again. By the Goddess that was uncomfortable. She didn't like the mood between them but there was nothing for it. Aoshi for sure knew now that she was keeping secrets from him, but he was going to have to deal with it. She made sure to toss the letter in the fireplace.

… . . ….

Days went by and they reached the final stretch on their journey. Kaoru was sad to leave the river behind as their travels took them South-West while the river curved North. Yet the lush country more than made up for the loss of their water source. Emerald green rolling hills, beautiful pine forests, and lovely little villages dotted here and there. Kaoru watched in wonder as a boy half her age controlled a massive group of fluffy sheep with nothing but a stick. And most of all, there was the pull of the Ocean as it grew closer. It was still too far away to see in the distance, but its power radiated far inland. A strange sort of excitement tugged at the Water faes. Kaoru felt like a child waiting for the morning of her name-day to come. She could hardly stand the wait.

Sano kept Kaoru entertained with tales of his childhood, the hamlet in a grove of hazel that was his home, the first time he was at Great Oak and about the Lord of the Forest with his large antlers. Like the Water, the Earth fae worshiped primarily a Goddess. And Kaoru loved hearing Sano point out things that he saw the Goddess in every day. Nature was beautiful to him, sacred and holy. Kaoru was surprised that he was such a religious man. She didn't expect it from a fist fighter.

"So your Goddess is almost always pregnant"? Kaoru mused.

Sano nodded. "Yep. In late spring she becomes pregnant again by her lover. The God. God ages and dies in Midwinter, only to be born again."

Kaoru thought about it for a long moment as their horses ambled on down the well-worn roadway. "So the God gets the Goddess pregnant with himself. He is reborn from his lover?"

"Yep. Confusin' huh?" He grinned.

"No, I think I learned about this long time ago. Before I was married. I think my father must have planned to wed me to an Earth. This sounds awful familiar." Her brows scrunched together in thought. The memories were too hazy to recall. The Earth Goddess was the embodiment of the world, providing, nurturing, always there while the god represented all living things, being born, aging, dying. A constant circle. "A Wheel." She said suddenly.

Sano's grin grew. "You do know." He said happily.

"How can anyone forget something like that?"

Both Kaoru and Sano turned to find Kenshin riding up on Kaoru's other side.

"Something like what, My Lord?" Kaoru chirped.

"A constantly pregnant Goddess who will birth her own lover."

"Well, all our deities are a bit strange to others. I think it explains quite a bit as to why Earth fae are the way they are." Kaoru defended.

"For certain." Kenshin returned, Flashing his friend a smile over her head.

"Why do I feel as though you are sharing a joke and I'm not in on it?" Kaoru turned to Sano and then back to Kenshin.

But Kenshin only gave her one of his half smiles before clicking his tongue. His stallion rushed forward and he returned to the front of the line with the two guards. Kaoru turned and leveled her blue eyes at the Earth Man. "Sanosuke?"

"Aw, Hell, Missy, he's just teasin' us."

"What for?"

Suddenly Sano found something very interesting in the mane of his horse because his eyes were glued. "He's happy that we are good friends," he said, refusing to look at her.

Kaoru blinked, somewhat confused. "What do you mean? Of course we are good friends, I thought that's what he wanted?"

"He wants us to be very good friends." He emphasized each word.

Oh….oh no. "What?" She hissed under her breath. "How….how dare he...He asked this of you?" Why would Kenshin do that? She would never….never betray him like that.

"Ken-man is only lookin' out for you, Missy." He said softly, earthy brown eyes soft and gentle. "Besides, he said only if you asked it of me, or it was an emergency." He added.

Kaoru deflated a little, her eyes roaming up to find Kenshin ahead of them. "I understand why…" her voice trailed away.

"But.." Sano pressed.

"But I still hate the idea. I spent my whole childhood learning about the Fire traditions and I want to prove that-"

"You don't have to prove nothin' to no one." Sano returned. "Kenshin knows this. Now, let's drop this subject from now on. You'll do what you have to do, you understand me?"

Kaoru reared back as if slapped. "What's this? You giving me orders now?"

The tall man seemed to grow taller in his saddle and Kaoru couldn't help the feeling that he was looming over her. "You are in my charge and I'll do what I'll have to do to keep you healthy and safe. You're my friend too." As if suddenly realizing who he was talking to, he gave a sheepish grin. "Of course, only if you want me."

Kaoru felt as though her face would catch fire. She was sure she was so red that heat waves must be floating over her head. How in the world did she come to this point in life? Talking about sleeping with her husband's best friend out in the open in broad daylight. And the man had the cheek to add "Only if you want me." As if he were flirting with some innocent, young Lord's daughter waiting for her first romance. She shot Sano a look. He was smiling to himself, looking ahead at the road and completely relaxed.

Damn him

… . . …

Near the time they would stop for camp, a town came into view. Just as Kaoru could see the thatched roofs over the hills their young scout returned and pulled his gelding next to Kenshin's stallion. They talked for a few long moments and then the boy cantered off again. Kenshin spoke to the two Fire guards beside him and then pulled on his reins to turn his horse around.

"Looks like Ken-man has a plan," Sano stated as the red-head made his way over. It was the first time Sano spoke since their awkward conversation a few hours ago. Kaoru shot him a look before turning her attention to her husband.

"There is a nice inn in the town. Big enough for all of us. We'll stay there for the night."

"Won't that be expensive?" Kaoru wondered. Already she was trying to calculate the possible cost in her head.

"Don't worry about that." Kenshin shook his head at her.

"Why shouldn't I worry about it? I'm the keeper of the books." Kaoru argued but Kenshin had already turned away and returned to the front. Kaoru growled. "Red-haired, little Bastard." She muttered, causing Sano to nearly laugh himself off the side of his horse.

… . . …

The innkeepers were quick to hurry their large company inside and make them feel welcome. Their stables were filled with their horses and their long tables were filled with Kaoru, her handmaidens, and over a dozen soldiers. Kenshin sat with Sano and two of his closest guards at the head of the table to discuss the rest of their journey. Kaoru was content to be with her maids. Kenshin must have paid the innkeeper quite a lot of coin, that or he was fearful of the group of Fire's for he brought out his best fare. Roast rabbit and pigeon pie. Herb and buttered spring vegetables, tea, ale and warm milk. All the men went for the ale, while Kaoru and her girls sipped tea.

Kaoru sat in relative silence. Her handmaids flirted with their fellow Water Guards and the men flirted in return. It gave the young Lady the feeling of being back home, sitting among her people as her father watched over them all. The men and women loved openly and looked out for each other. So much had changed once the Fire arrived. Such open flirting was scowled upon. It didn't stop the Waters from doing so, but perhaps not as openly as before. Any grouping off happened well out of sight. They feared speaking their mind for fear of what Fire's would think.

Fire's were not so sexually repressed as they seemed, Kaoru understood that. They were just far more private than Water's were used to. Even so, it was nice to see her small group openly bantering back and forth within sight and earshot of the Fire guards and surprisingly, they didn't seem bothered by it. Kaoru wondered if they just happened to pick guards that were more accepting, or had grown accustomed to it, or perhaps they had all become comfortable friends in the weeks they had been on the road.

Even so, it was the Water fae that had to compromise, even on their own territory.

Kaoru huffed at herself. She was in a bad mood and being unfair. She should know better.

… . . …

"I'm worried." Kaoru blurted as Kenshin got ready for bed. Kaoru was already in her night clothes and sitting on the plain, slightly lumpy mattress. The Keeper put them in the only private room while the others slept in the communal room. Their room was small, hardly enough room for the bed, a washstand and a medium sized fireplace. At the moment the fire was dying to glowing coals. Which was fine as the nights were warm. Even so, the smell of months of smoke clung to the room. Proving the Keeper had yet to Spring clean this particular room.

Kenshin set his sword by the bed and worked to untie his pants. He looked at her long enough to send her a questioning look. "About?"

Kaoru fiddled in her hands in her lap. "About the Keep."

He pulled his tunic over his head, muscles pulling at old scars across his chest. "I'm sure Misao is taking good care of it." Now naked he climbed into bed.

Kaoru couldn't fathom why he insisted on sleeping naked all the time. Seemed quite impractical if they were attacked in the night. But what did she know, he was the seasoned warrior, not she. Besides, by his nature, he ran hot all the time and it must be terrible to try and sleep when feeling so smothered by heat. Already a wave of it hit her as he lay back on the slightly flat pillow. Kaoru felt pinned in sitting between the Hot Head and the wall.

"It's not Misao you're worried about, is it?" Kenshin asked softly when Kaoru kept her eyes on her lap.

"No." She absently traced the water sigil embroidered in her nightgown. She didn't want to look at his amethyst eyes. It was hard for her to be upset at him if he looked at her with those eyes. And she needed to be strong against him."I know you have plans for the Keep. I know you want to develop it more."

A silence stretched out and Kaoru risked looking over beside her. Kenshin's eyes were shuttered away from emotion and his mouth was set firm. And for the first time, Kaoru felt a jolt of uncertainty and fear. He had never really been firm with her, always yielding and giving. She knew at that moment that he was going to deny her and he seemed to not enjoy it.

"Change will happen." He said finally, carefully. His eyes turning to look at her. "But I've promised you already that I won't touch the Medic ward or the healing waters, that I have."

She should be happy with that, but words tumbled out before she could stop them. "But what about the rest of the Keep?" Kaoru asked, her nightgown twisted in her fists. "What changes do you have planned?"

At this Kenshin sighed and rolled over onto his stomach. "More room for the troops really."

Troops? "Just how many do you intend to have?"

"As many as I can. The Drow are coming and we are right in their path. We need an army."

Kaoru was reeling. An army? That could be hundreds of men, perhaps a thousand. How could they keep up with so many men? That would drain the Keep of all resources. And these men were soldiers, warriors, not just swordsmiths, and blacksmiths. Hot blooded fighters whom Kaoru was sure would be mostly Fire's. The idea should have made Kaoru feel safe. The Keep would be well protected but all Kaoru could feel was unease. How would they be able to keep so many men?

"The trouble is talking men into coming into Water territories," Kenshin added with a final sigh.

It was obvious that the conversation was over and with a sigh of her own, Kaoru slid down under the thin sheet and rough covers. But Kaoru could not find sleep, not with her mind on so many things.

… . . …

Megumi blinked, her vision going blurry for a moment. She gave her head a quick shake and then turned back to her notes. No less than three large books sat open around her and a stack of notes had grown thick in the past few hours. Megumi squinted at her writing. It was obvious to see where she had started dozing off. Her handwriting normally small and neat had turned large and nearly unreadable. Her last line even drifted off at a slant. With a sigh, she scratched it out and dipped her quill to write it out again.

A hand came from the side of her view, with it a red ceramic cup filled with dark liquid. Megumi glanced up to see Sparc.

"Looked like you could use this." He said as Megumi reached for the cup.

"Coffee." Megumi breathed, blowing on the hot liquid before taking a large swallow and sighing. "Thank you, Sparc." She smiled at him and glanced around as he pulled out a chair and sat beside her. The library was dark and quiet, most all the lanterns had been put out. Only the ones around her table were still burning. The windows showed the last bit of twilight in the sky. "I didn't know it was so late. Why didn't you say anything?" She turned to her friend.

He shrugged. "It's not like I haven't left the library open late for you before."

"Yes but I'm sure you've other things to do with your time than wait for me." Megumi sat back, not wanting to risk her notes or the important books by dripping coffee on them. She rubbed at the front of her forehead and winced at the pain there.

"You know me well enough by now to know I've nothing to do anyway." Sparc returned. He tipped his head slightly at Megumi's wincing. "Headache again?"

Megumi pressed her lips together and nodded. "The coffee will help." She sipped again. Sparc didn't look satisfied. He lowered his voice even though they were the only two souls in the library.

"You still haven't taken a man to your bed."

"Sparc!" Megumi nearly barked. Her voice echoed slightly. The pair of them winced and Megumi lowered her voice and set the mug on her lap. "That's none of your business."

"Megumi it's not a secret that Water fae need sexual partners. Earth Fae feel no shame in it and Fire's don't think less of the Earth for it."

"Yes, but I'm in a Fire school and I will follow the rules."

Sparc's glowing eyes narrowed slightly. "They made an exception for you. You have to stay healthy."

"I am healthy. I just take a dip in the lake and make myself some herbal tea."

This time Sparc pressed his lips together. "You can't live on that." he bit out. He took a deep breath and sighed, his shoulder slumping. "Sorry. I didn't mean to snap."

"That was hardly snapping," Megumi said, her mouth tipping upward. The poor man couldn't even let his Fire passion burn for more than a moment before he pulled it back. The woman reached out and patted his arm. "I'm fine. I know I can't live off a landlocked lake and herbs my whole life. I don't plan on doing so for much longer. Once I turn in my paper, no matter the outcome, Master or not, I'll be leaving."

Megumi watched as Sparc turned various shades of red. She could feel the Ki of Fire starting to rise again and she sat back.

"I could help." He looked away, pushing his spectacles higher on his face. "No one would have to know."

Megumi blinked. Was her best friend really offering to have sex with her? "Sparc."

"I know I'm not anyone's best choice of partners but you're my friend Megumi and I hate watching you suffer. You get worse and worse as time goes on. It's not right to go against your nature." He was babbling now. "No one needs to know, I'll take it to my grave."

"Sparc." Megumi hissed, lowering her voice even more. "You're not a student anymore and I am. If we got caught you would be removed. Stop talking about this."

"But."

"No, Sprac." Megumi took a gulp of her coffee ignoring the scalding heat as it went down her throat. "I know the school will let me bend the rules but I don't want to bend them. I want to show everyone that I can play by their rules and still come out on top."

"Megumi, you're being stubborn." Sparc argued, he finally turned to face her. She was shocked at the change in his eyes. They burned like small sun's. Megumi could feel the heat rolling off him. She knew if she touched him now, it would burn.

"No one here believes you're are still a virgin anyways."

Megumi's spine stiffened.

He realized he made a mistake in his tone. The Fire sputtered, backtracking. "No one would question that you would deny your nature. No one expects you to."

"I'm not a whore," Megumi growled.

"No of course not, that's not what I'm trying to say." The man sighed. "No one would blame you or think less of you," he said finally.

Already just talking about it distracted Megumi greatly. She found her eyes roaming over Sparc. He wasn't as large and as strong as most Fire's but that was fine with her. His desert colored hair shimmered in the lantern light and his naturally dark skin was so in contrast with hers. She knew it would feel warm to curl next to him, skin on skin.

Stop.

Megumi gave her head a shake, damn her nature.

"I would think less of myself." She finally said. "My virginity is not for anyone to worry about but myself. I do this to prove to myself of my own strength. I know you're worried, but don't be. If it really was so bad then you would find me waiting in your bed."

Sparc looked about to argue and then sighed, his Fire ki dying once again. "Swear it?"

"I swear it." against her better judgment she reached out and took his hand. Just as she thought, the heat from his body was hotter than the coffee he had given her. "If I ever find myself in such a situation I will come to you. You are my friend, I do trust you."

Sparc nodded, he looked down and swallowed hard. "I'm sorry I butted into something so personal."

Megumi smiled gently and gave his hand a squeeze. "You are only looking out for me. Sometimes I don't look out for myself enough." She sat back, the moment now over. "You don't seem the type."

Sparc's face burned and he looked away again. "My blood runs just as hot as any other Fire's" He stated. "I just don't have the nerve to visit whores or the stomach to take a woman who may not want it. I want to be with someone special."

Megumi nodded, realizing that if Sparc was any other Fire, she wouldn't have been able to fight him off he wanted to take her right in the library. He wasn't married so he could have all the women he wanted to, he wasn't a student either so he didn't have to follow the rules. But he was a kind man. A rare type in these parts. "I'm saving myself as well. Not for anyone special, really. Just for...myself."

… . . …

The Keep was still and dark. The air was heavy with the smell of the coming rainstorm. Misao quietly popped her door open and looked out into the dimly lit hallway. To one side a guard stood, Water fae, tall, dark water features. Easy on the eyes. He glanced over at the sound of the door opening and gave Misao a smile.

Misao was glad to see this particular guard. He'd been watching over her at night for some years now and was used to her midnight wanderings for leftovers. He was older by a good couple of decades but he was still very much in his prime, young for a seasoned Water soldier and Misao knew was willing to share her bed. Sweet as he was she had known him far too long in her youth and saw him as a loyal watchman and the midnight guardian remained outside of her room and her bed. Even so, she gave him a smile and a nod as she wrapped her cloak around her nightgown. He smiled back and with a wink, whispered that the halls were deserted, she was free to go.

"Thanks, Azure," she whispered back. Wandering at night was not the safest thing Misao had the habit of doing. But she knew that all it took was one scream, or perhaps a slightly raised voice to bring her guard and many others to her aid. Not that she ever needed the help. The halls were always empty and the kitchen deserted. Only a handful of times had she ever run into someone in the kitchens. Mostly maids or the pit boys and they gladly sat with Misao and talked while she shared whatever she was able to pillage from the stores.

Her bare feet padded silently across the rock floor and stairs. She slid lightly past a maid and Water guard pressed together in a dark corner. The maid had her hands under his clothes and Misao knew the guard knew little else other than his companion, much less the dark shadow that flitted by. Through a back hallway around the Great Room, Misao pressed her ear to the wooden doorway to the kitchen. She didn't hear anyone. There was no latch on this door so the servants could come and go with arms full, so Misao simply pressed forward. The door swung silently on well-oiled hinges and Misao was greeted by the large empty room. Coals glowed in warm red and yellow in the giant roasting hearths. The smell of roasted meat was still thick in the air. Not until the morning would the smell be replaced with the scent of fresh bread. With a secretive smile, Misao ventured inside and went straight for the large pantry.

She was in the middle of deciding if she wanted a creamy soft cheese or something harder when she heard the swish of fabric far too close to her. Figuring it was a pit boy come to stroke the glowing coals she turned to look over her shoulder expecting to startle the boy but instead found a large shadow looming over her.

She dropped low and kicked for the legs. Solid contact caused the shadow to stumble forward while Misao dove out of the pantry. She was about to bolt from the kitchen and call for guards she the shadow let out a curse in that ever rumbling voice.

"Aoshi Shinomorie you scared me to death." Misao gasped, willing her hammering heart to calm. She dropped the cheese she somehow managed to keep hold of on a table and leaned against it. She watched as the Metal fae rushed to right himself. His large figure made it hard in the limited space of the pantry and he also seemed to have become tangled in his coat, but finally, the man extracted himself from the small room and stood upright. Misao hid her laughter by looking busy hunting down something for her cheese.

"What are you doing here in the middle of the night?" He hissed.

Misao gave him her best wide-eyed innocent look. "Eating, what are you doing here?"

He huffed. "Looking for you. I can't believe you came here unguarded, what good is that man at your door?"

Misao set down her prize of leftover crackers and took up a knife she had pilfered from the tableware. She pointed the thin strip of sharp metal at him as though she were wagging her finger at him. "You leave him alone. He's been my guard since I was a child and he's always let me out to have midnight snacks." She in return didn't cause him any trouble and always returned to her rooms quickly.

"It's not safe for you to be out like this," Aoshi argued, pushing the cheese across the table to her.

"It was safe before your lot came in," Misao muttered, hacking into the cheese. Aoshi only sighed and watched as she made herself a few cheese and cracker sandwiches. This tense mood between them had lasted far too long for Misao. She hated it. Taking a bite of her snack she took up the other and offered it silently to the larger man. He looked as though he would refuse but then carefully plucked it out of her palm and ate it in one bite.

There, they had eaten together, to Misao, that meant they were friends again.

"That was a good kick," Aoshi admitted.

In the dimly lit room, Misao let herself blush slightly. But her chest puffed with pride. "I know how to protect myself." She said simply. "I know legs are a weakness, I know I was too small for someone as large as you so I was ready to call for the guards and not be stupid and try and fight you. I'm not stupid so please don't think I'm someone who has to be looked over at all hours of the day. I did just fine before you ever showed up."

The man looked away and gave her a curt nod. "But it's not like before, as you said. Fire's are full of temper and you are like to add fuel."

Misao had no choice but to agree. "I've been better." She thought out loud and he nodded.

"I take my job seriously." He went on as Misao slid another snack across the table for him. He looked down at the pale bare arm peeking out from her cloak. "But I'm not going to ask you to change who you are. It is your nature. You are changing as much as you can and that shows that you've matured." He took up the offered meal.

Misao only gave him a sidelong look as he talked. She still nibbled on the first sandwich she made, suddenly no longer feeling like munchies. She finished it though and quickly moved to clean up.

… . . …

I'll do my best to let you do your job." Misao stated as she put the crackers and knife away and took up the cheese to replace in the pantry.

Aoshi found himself following her. "That's all I really want." He watched her reach up to set the cheese on the shelf and found his eyes trailing down her exposed arm to the shock of pale blue on her shoulder. Her nightdress.

His eyes darted down to find small bare feet and shapely calves that vanished under the dark cover of her cloak. She seemed so vulnerable, but the throbbing in his shin proved she could topple even him. She had been well trained, and like all Water females, was not weak-willed. But even so Aoshi found himself advancing into that small room, the walls sudden felt closer and his large body blocked what little light there was in the kitchen. Misao turned and pressed her body against the shelves and appeared to tip her head up as she waited for him.

He wanted to take that chin of hers in his hand. He wanted those lips of hers as well.

"Misao," he grunted, realizing he couldn't draw breath or he would catch that salty sea air smell she always seemed to exude.

"Yes, Aoshi?"

She was waiting for him. Expecting him to do something, anything. Her eyes were heavy-lidded and her mouth parted just enough to hold all of his attention. Damn her, damn him. His control was slipping. Kenshin's words echoed in his head. He could have her if she would have him. And as he stepped closer, crowding her in the small room, she was not telling him to back away or to mind his distance. He was being too bold with her and yet she said nothing. Still, the honorable man in him just would not let it happen this way.

"I want to kiss you." He blurted before he could think better of it.

"Well then kiss me already." She murmured as her arms lifted.

All willpower in him melted away as those arms reached around him. He bent, allowing her to reach for him. Her arms slid around his shoulders and Aoshi wasted no time finding her lips and ravaging them. He wasn't soft nor gentle as he stood upright, lifting Misao and sitting her on one of the shelves. His tongue forced it's way past her lips as his large hands cupped each side of her face. His body, out of his control, surged forward, forcing Misao to open her legs to allow him to press up against her body. His blood rushed loud in he ears and then flooded his already hard cock. His hips surged again, jolting the shelf and causing some items to topple but the reward of feeling Misao press against the hard length of him was worth the mess.

Gods she tasted like wine and the soft creamy cheese they shared. He just wanted to drink her in. Her Water powers buzzed along her skin, with each heartbeat, the surge of fluid in her veins carried this power, calling to the fluid in his body. His heart hammered harder and suddenly there was a frantic need to touch skin. His hands dove under the cloak, ran across bare thighs and up under the lace and satiny fabric. Her hands, which had been tangled in his hair now fumbled with his belt and somehow she easily slipped her small hands down his pants and gripped his cock like she was an expert.

Her hand gliding down the hard length of him and a wash of pleasure flooded him from his middle up to the top of his head and down to his toes. He feared he would come just from her delicate touch alone. Not wanting to make a mess like some untouched youth he fished her hands out from his pants and forced himself to pull away from the kiss.

The both of them panted for air, but Misao wasn't ready to let him go. She made a soft feminine sound of want and frustration that nearly undid the rest of his tattered control.

"No." He was surprised he could even think the word, much less say it. The small room was far too warm, even for him. And the scent of her arousal made him want to bury his head between those smooth thighs.

"No?" Misao croaked. Her too-large eyes looked stricken but Aoshi shushed her softly, taking her face in his hands again and pressing his forehead against hers. "I will not take you here in a pantry. Not that I would mind. I just don't want some fool pit boy to walk in and catch us."

"To bed then." Misao nearly pleaded, her hands had a stranglehold on the front of his tunic.

"No."

… . . …

The bastard wanted to leave her... like this!? Misao nearly roared in frustration. She was slick and ready for him. She had never felt such wetness pool in her most sensitive areas.

"No, not now. I...can't" He rasped.

He did mean to leave her wanting. "Aoshi, I'm going to kill you in your sleep." She said through clenched teeth as she pushed him away and made her hands let go of his tunic. She jumped from the shelf and nearly shoved him out of her way. She needed air or she would attack him and take him by force. Miffed as she was, the idea was amusing. She knew he was weak. If pressed even the Metal Man would crack. But Misao had to admit that he was right. She didn't want the kitchen gossip to be about her in the morning. Like Kaoru, she needed to find a bed-mate for her health and soon. A fluttering idea of dragging her guard into her room finally seemed ideal. But at once she shoved the thought away. She wanted Aoshi and only Aoshi.

"If it helps any...I'm in agony." He said behind her.

"Good." She snapped over her shoulders. "Don't ever do that again unless you mean to finish the job."

He was behind her now, pressed against her back. He bent, nearly in half to whisper in her ear. "Don't worry, next time, I will finish the job."

A/n Show of hands...who wants to kill Aoshi right now? Or perhaps me? Pretty sure there are a few. Aoshi and Misao are getting warmed up, Megumi and Sparc are getting warmed up, heck even Sano is flirting with Kaoru, and it's so much fun to write!

To make things clear. I see Sano and Kaoru as the very closest of friends. They will be at the point that they will do anything for each other. But believe me, I'm a die-hard Ken/Kaoru, Sano/Megumi fan, I'm just not afraid to experiment in this sexually charged world. Please don't hate me!
This was a bit of a filler between the bigger events. I'm sure that was obvious. But it was necessary to show the little details, like the slight discord between Kenshin and Kaoru starting. Things couldn't be perfect for long between them.

Please review! They are loved!