A/n Whooo it's been a hot minute from the last time we were here. That's all my fault guys. Getting on top of real life things, health, my laptop dying, transferring files and now the holidays are suddenly here! I would say I will be back to posting on a schedule but that's going to be impossible for a while. I will be posting every moment I'm able to, though. Right now I'm more focused on my health and writing has taken the back seat. I've a family and home to care for so I need to work on myself a bit.
I'm still writing though!

Anyways, on to the story!

Water. Blessed water.

Coming from him, that was a stretch. But Kenshin meant it. His half muttered prayers to Tohi were finally being answered. After yet another full week on the road, bunking at inns in towns and cities, Kenshin finally pulled his horse to a stop at the foot of a great wide lake. It was not landlocked, a river fed it, and a river emptied it. It was just what Kaoru needed. Kenshin turned in his saddle and watched as Sano set his wife on her horse and took the reins in his hands and led her over to him. She seemed uncomfortable and unsteady riding side-saddle. But it was necessary in her dress.

Sano stopped in front of him and Kenshin took in his wife. She looked worn, tired, pale with dark rings under her eyes. She was well fed, slept well and made love to her as much as he dared. But she needed water and real energy. Her lips were chapped and even in the cover of the wagon, he could see the start of sun poisoning setting in once again. She had managed to stretch out the bottles of water Megumi had given them, but days of nothing but a rub down and oil for a bath were not kind to her. She needed water. Lots of it.

"Take her to the lake, find a secluded area. You know what to do."

Sano's mouth was pressed into a thin line. It didn't look good on the teenager. It made him look deadly, frightening. But Kenshin didn't care. He had argued with Sano that morning and he had to pull his authority with the man to force him into complying. Kenshin was going to patrol, He was going to make sure the other Water Fae were taken care of. And the Fire guards were going to be posted in a large half-circle around them. No one would bother the Waters as they stripped and soaked in the lake. Kenshin's hand itched and he loosened his sword from its sheath but didn't pull it free. He was stretched to the limits of his temper. He would slaughter anyone who spoke against this.

Even his own men.

… . . …

"Kenshin, seems….tense," Kaoru said softly, her voice hoarse.

"He's angry for what you Water folk are goin' through." Sano answered, not looking up. He kept his eyes trained on the lake. Already he spotted a nice little alcove created by giant boulders enclosing a small stretch of beach. Once between those rocks, they would be out of sight. The fighter glanced from the sides of his eyes to see a Fire guard trotting along, parallel to them, but hundreds of feet away.

On the other side, both Sano and Kaoru watched as Kenshin followed behind the wagon carrying the rest of the Water folk. They reached the soft sand and the driver dared to go no further. The Water guards climbed out of the wagon and with the last of their strength, helped the handmaidens out and over to the water. The Healer followed after. They had started to strip when a large rock blocked their view. Sano pressed forward.

"But why is Kenshin so..."

"Pissed?" Sano offered. "Fire folk don't take well to people getting naked with each other in public. Since we're sure they will have to couple together in the water to help restore themselves, Kenshin wants to make sure they are safe to do so." He scoffed. "At this point in time, I wouldn't argue with the man. One wrong look and Kenshin's going to lay someone open." Part of him wished someone would say something so the red-head could kill someone and get out some of that aggression. Where was the discipline he had seen in the man for years? Then again, Kenshin hadn't been in the homeland for who knew how long. Perhaps he had simply forgotten what it was like to have fire for blood again. Or maybe he grew too used to the ways of Water and Earth and the laws of this land were rubbing him wrong.

Sano snuck a glance over his shoulder and the small girl on the horse. Perhaps it was watching his wife slowly die day by day. Sano couldn't blame Kenshin for his mood. He understood.

Finally, they reached the cluster of boulders and Sano helped Kaoru down and they left the horse to munch on weeds growing on the bank and he took Kaoru by the hand and led her over to the boulders and slipped between them. Just as he had thought, the rock created a little alcove of beach and they were hidden from view. He turned and with easy movements started to pull at the laces of Kaoru's bodice.

The girl gasped and clutched at the fabric. "Sano!"

"Hey Missy you wanna take a dip in this nice new dress then that's fine with me. Otherwise, you're goin' to need help takin' it off. You ain't got nothin' I've haven't seen a hundred times over."

Kaoru smirked at him over her shoulder and dropped her arms and she turned her back to him to continue. "Sorry. I forget."

"No need to be sorry, Missy," Sano grunted. He was uncomfortable as hell. But he couldn't let the girl notice that. He was her strength where Kenshin couldn't be, he had to remember that. Quickly the laces were undone and he pulled the bodice off of her. Kaoru kicked off her shoes and managed the giant sash bow on her own. She pulled the dress off and Sano allowed himself to take his fill of her pale, naked body before glancing away as she pulled the dress from her face. She folded it up and set it down on her shoes before running on the balls of her feet into the water. The sand sloped gently and then dropped off so the girl went from knee deep water to in over her head in a single step.

She came up sputtering and gasping, a bubble of giggles escaped her throat and Sano watched as the blue energy slowly started to gather around her. It was dim. Lakes didn't have enough power, but it was better than nothing. Sano watched as the girl glided through the water as he worked one button at a time until he dropped his shirt and then reached for his belt.

She didn't know this was part of Kenshin's plan. If the water wasn't enough, Sano was going to have to help. His Earth energy would help her more than a desert lake ever could. He had hoped the lake would be enough but, he too was tired of watching Missy suffer day in and day out. He almost felt relief, he could make it better. He could flex his powers and help his friend.

Shoes and pants kicked off, Sano strode into the water, surprised that it was somewhat cooler than body temperature despite the scorching sun. He made sure to be submerged up to his neck before letting Kaoru see him. She popped up from diving down and brought a smooth round, red rock up out of the water to look at. She glanced up and spotted him and dropped it in surprise.

"So I have to tell you somethin'." Sano said before Kaoru could say anything. He opened his mouth and realized he had no idea really how to approach the subject. "Ah, fuck. This is awkward" He said instead. Wincing at his choice of words.

To her credit, Kaoru's brows knitted together in worry and she drifted a little closer. She was not afraid of him, Sano reminded himself.

"What is it? Just say it Sano." She urged.

This was it, here it goes. "Kenshin wants me to fu...be intimate with you." He braced himself. They had never really spoke about this arrangement to each other. To Kenshin yes, but it was different when you were face to face with the person and alone. The last time, the barest hint of it brought out her temper.

He could tell Kaoru had curled her arms and legs up close to her body under the water. Her face flushed brightly "Wha- now?" She whispered, her blue eyes grew to damn near half her face.

"He knew the lake wouldn't give you enough, I'm Earth. I can summon enough for you and your body will accept it."

Kaoru looked away and then around at their secluded cove. "Kenshin can't….?"

She was nervous, shy. Sano knew she would be. He knew from the past that the best way to get rid of that was to be upfront. Kaoru didn't mind his way of talking, he reminded himself. Be blunt. To the point.

"Kenshin's a Fire. As much as f...sex with him is helpful to you, here it may be harmful. Fire is a destructive force. He tells me he's been with you far more than normal this past week but you only seem to be gettin' worse. He knows you need your own kind. Or even better….an Earth."

Kaoru blinked, looking down into the water. "What do you think, Sano?"

"I think he's right, Missy."

She nodded. Brave little thing.

"I have some rules." Sano stated. He drifted over to where the water went from shallow to deep and perched on the underwater shelf. He was still in the water but touching solid ground made him feel better, stronger, he was a dumb-ass for going into the deep anyways.

Kaoru drifted over to him, her arms still wrapped around her, even though her breasts were well under the water. "What are they?"

"One,….I'm not fuckin' you." He said, giving up on finding a more delicate word to use around her. She arched a brow at him.

"I'm confused, how will you be able to help me then?" And right after her lips turned downward "And why the hell not? What's wrong with me?"

He reached out and splashed her in the face. "Nothin's wrong with you, Missy. We're two complementary elements. I'll put a baby in your belly and then...then there would be hell."

He watched her swallow hard and was silent. No doubt thinking up all the ways things could get ugly if the first heir to the Keep was an Earth child.

"Good point." she nodded.

"We can do other things."

"Other things?"

Damn., was Kenshin boring in bed or something? "Like touchin', or usin' our mouths." He explained.

"Oh!" Kaoru flushed that pretty color again "Of course, I knew that." She muttered quickly. She nodded, still looking away from him.

"Two." He continued. "I like to talk sometimes durin' sex. I'm givin' you nicknames."

At this, she struggled to smother giggles that bubbled up. "I never heard of someone who talks during it...what do you talk about?" She broke down and laughed a moment. "No, seriously."

Sano leveled his brown eyes at her. "I talk about whatever I need to to make my partner scream my name." He lowered his voice until it was damn near rumbling from his chest. He needed to start heating her up. She was like a temple virgin on her way to share the high priest's bed. Her eyes lowered again, and he could see her throat working as she swallowed. The voice worked.

"So I need a nickname?" she asked in a whisper.

"A name or a few names I call you only when were bein' intimate. I want to be professional about this." How the fuck he was going to do that, he didn't know, but he was going to try. "I don't want to call you by your name, I'm sure Kenshin does that in bed, and I sure as hell don't want to be callin' you, Missy."

Kaoru nodded vigorously. "Yes, that's a good idea. I never thought about it that way. It would be kind of strange. It would be nice to have a separate name."

"I'm not sure what I'm going to call you. Love, Sweets, Pet?" Shit, he was not a poet. It was the first thing that came to him mind that was clean.

Kaoru, even uncomfortable as she was, gave him a slow smile. "They all sound cute."

"Ah hell." He sighed. "I ruined my reputation of bein' a badass."

Being upfront and too the point worked. But it was still awkward. Ah, fuck it. He had to not see her as his best friend's wife and instead see her as a friend, his friend who was ill and needed help.

He held open his arms. "Now, come here, Sweets" He nearly jumped straight out of the water when she actually started to move towards him. Shit, it worked! When she was close enough he reached out and took her by the shoulders and turned her around and then brought her closer until her back rested against his chest. His hands glided down her arms but that was as far as he could go. It felt like a wall shot up and he slammed right into it. Cock first. He winced and his hands stilled "Sweets...I can only do this if you want it as well I'm not gonna do anythin' you don't want me to do. I can't do anythin' you don't want me to."

"Just give me a moment, Sano….oh, I can still call you Sano?" She glanced at him over her shoulder.

"Yes, Pet, you can." He kept his voice a low rumble, it was impossible not to, he was already hard and ready, just feeling her soft skin against his, the round globes of flesh that was her ass up against his belly made him forget everything but wanting to have her ride him. But he pulled himself back. He was in control. He couldn't do anything anyway until she wanted it as well. Otherwise, it was physically impossible.

"Can...can I touch you first?"

Oh, she was one of those. "You can touch all you want." He rumbled, dropping his hands away and pulling himself up a bit more on the sandy bank. His chest was out of the water now, but he had a firm hold of the ground. He started to pray, pulling power from the earth as Kaoru settled between his legs, her back still to his chest. She reached out behind her, turning slightly to let her hand rest on his belly.

Muscles tightened as she touched him. He wasn't one to really peacock for a female. But it was involuntary

… . . …

Kaoru thought she would have been more shocked or argumentative about the situation, but she wasn't. She understood that Kenshin had talked to them both, he wanted this to happen. Yet that didn't stop the guilt she felt regardless. In the end, Kaoru knew to keep her baby safe, she needed to be healthy and she could feel herself sliding back down that slippery road of weakness and low energy.

It wasn't like it was difficult. Sanouske, well...he had a body on him. He was sweet and kind and gave her lovely little nicknames. His voice made her breasts ache, and lower places ache as well. She just had to swallow the guilt she felt. This was for Kenshin's child, she could do this for her baby. And to be brutally honest with herself….she was curious. Her fingers trailed over his hard stomach, feeling the muscles twitch and flex. He had so many muscles, was there even a drop of fat under that bronzed skin? She turned a bit more to watch his face as her hand dipped under the murky water to what she imagined would be dark-colored curls and then, her hand wrapped around his cock.

"There you go, Love. See, not so bad." He said.

His eyes were bright, his voice hitched, his whole body arched ever so slightly closer to her. Slowly and with a light touch, her fingers trailed up the length of him. There was plenty of length for her to work with and he laughed a throaty laugh as her eyes grew wider and wider as her fingers finally found the mushroom-shaped tip of him.

Were all Earth men so...gifted?

She gripped him harder this time and started a smooth stroke. At once Sano's shoulders relaxed, his head dropped back. Again she marveled at the power she had with a simple touch. She stroked downward and then her fingers slid further to cup and softly squeeze an equally impressive set of balls.

"Ah...Shit." Sano hissed, his whole body rippling. She massaged him some more and was shocked to hear a throaty moan come from him. Kenshin had always been silent, or in low tones, but Sano...Sano voiced his pleasure like a woman. The husky sound shot straight to her sex.

That must have been the last of her resistance holding him back because Sano sat up straight and his hands found her breasts. They were tender from the change her body was going through, but strangely, his firm handling of them didn't hurt. Instead, it soothed the ache away. His head dipped and for one heartbeat Kaoru thought he was going to kiss her on the lips. Not until that moment did she realize she didn't want to kiss him on the lips. That was too personal, her lips were for Kenshin. And it was almost as if he understood, or felt her resistance because his head swerved away from her mouth and found her throat instead.

His tongue swept over her racing pulse as she turned further until she was forced to spread her legs and straddle his hips. Her hands worked between her legs coaxing more moaning and swearing from him.

… . . …

Gods damn he was in a heap of trouble.

He was Sanosuke, Fist Fighter. He was an Earth. He'd been with hundreds of women, and some men as well. But the little slip of female in his lap right now, with her unsure movements and shy touches was doing something for him. Touching just the right buttons. He had to hurry, or else he'd ruin it all. Thankfully she was fully open to him now. The wall was gone and from the way her hips rocked just slightly in his lap, was willing to take him for a ride. But no. As much as he'd love to let her, he couldn't risk getting her with child. Although his nature cried out to plant life in her. His hands went from her breasts down her sides to her soft belly and there he stopped.

… . . . ….

Kaoru gasped, red flags waving wildly in her mind. But with Sano doing such things to her body, gasping was expected. But as he palmed her belly below her belly-button, she knew she was in danger of being found out. Sano would be sure to feel the life growing just under her skin. Her belly was already growing softer with each day. Soon she would start to swell. But she hoped she wouldn't have to hide it for much longer. He was already spending too much time there. Quickly, before she could think otherwise, she reached up and took his hand away from her and guided him to her lower lips. Her belly went forgotten as he eagerly continued exploring. He breathed into her ear.

"When we touch each other together, my powers will start to grow. I'm going to push them away from me, they will flow into you instead. It will feel strange, but let it in."

Kaoru nodded, not trusting herself to speak. Instead, she put all her focus on touching Sano just the right away. His long fingers spread her lower lips wide and he gave her sensitive bud a long gentle stroke before slipping two of those long fingers up inside of her. He pressed against her inner walls as he moved them gently. The pressure was new, different and a low, rough moan escaped her before she could hold it back.

"Yes, love. You like that? You feel me touching you here?" He pressed into that spot again and he pushed his fingers deeper and Kaoru felt her whole body tremble as her brain refused to work. Why did he have to talk like that? And what the hell was he touching inside of her to make her make such wanton sounds? She let one hand keep stroking him while the other reached lower to massage his balls at the same time. Sano grunted like it was painful for him. But she opened her eyes to see his head thrown back again. Blue and green energy pulsed around them. There was so much green energy, it was like being back in the ocean again. The more she worked his cock, the more the energy grew in brightness.

"Ah, fuck me." Sano bit down on his lip, his eyes screwed shut. But an instantly later he seemed to have gathered up his resolve because his face smoothed out and his fingers worked even faster. "No, you don't, Love. You're not going to finish me before I make you scream." His eyes opened and he looked directly at her. "You're gonna come for me." His fingers paused, his sure stokes were short and fast and rough against that spot inside of her. Pressure built up. A glorious, sinful feeling that had her crying out with every stroke. Her legs wanted to clamp shut. She wanted to twist away. The sensation was just too much for her to stand. But the Earth man refused to let her move away and his touch only intensified as the green energy slowly started to press into her skin.

"S...S-ano….wait….I." She didn't know what she wanted to say, the water around them splashed from their frenzied movements sending droplets of water cascading through the trails of energy. Everything seemed to move in slow motion.

"Yes, that's right Love.: Sano breathed, he must have felt something or seen something in her face to know she was close. "Just let it flow over, Pet. Let it come. Let it come. You don't have to say my name, just come, that's right."

Her whole body tensed, as she felt herself start to trip over the edge of completion. As her inner walls tightened around Sano's fingers she felt his cock throb in her hands and together they both cried out. His, a moan that grew with each pulse of seed he spilled into the water and she a sharp shriek that she bit back before it could grow too loud. All at once she felt a strange hot and cold feeling pressing into her skin. She let it penetrate and sink into her. The energy rush was such that it pulled her right over the edge into a second orgasm that forced her to grab tight to Sano's shoulders lest she fly away. She was vaguely aware of strong arms wrapping around her, of her breasts smashed into a wall of muscle, of his still hard cock slipping to rest between her lower lips, nearly at her opening and his mouth against her ear and words, there were words but nothing she could understand. Finally, the blinding green energy started to fade away.

But no, why was it fading away? She could feel every corner of her insides humming with life, with power. She felt like she could jump ten feet into the air and run her way to the Fire Kingdom. All at once real desire urged her and she rocked her hips, determined to ride Sano properly this time.

"Whoa!" Sano pulled her away before she could impale herself on him. "Damn it, Love, I said none of that."

She very nearly blurted that she was already pregnant. Anything to reach more of that energy. But she caught herself. She blinked her eyes and gasped for air, not realizing she had been holding her breath the whole time. She jerked away from Sano's arms as she saw light pulsing under her skin.

"Shh, shh..." Sano hushed, reaching for her, "That's normal. That's just a bit of extra energy that hasn't found a place to settle inside of ya yet."

Sano had pulled them mostly out of the water. And the two of them sat in the sand while Kaoru waited for the pulsing green light of her skin to slowly seep inside of her. She didn't want to leave while still glowing, she didn't want Kenshin to know….even though she was sure he already knew.

"Ah, Hell." Sano sighed, and Kaoru realized she had tears falling from her eyes.

"No, I'm fine." She rubbed them away as Sano pulled her into a hug that ended with them lying together in the sand. "I don't know why…." she swallowed around a painful lump in her throat.

Sano pet her hair. It was awkward for him, but Kaoru had never felt more soothed. Her heart warmed and she sat up and faced him, rubbing away the last of the tears. "I'm sorry. I just….I'm overwhelmed. I've never felt that way before." she held her hands out to watch the last of the light slowly seep into her. Her insides felt like wilted, dying plants being given a lifesaving splash of refreshing water. Her body felt like it was humming in satisfaction. "I guess I'm upset that I can't share this with Kenshin too." She realized.

"Aye, his power would cause you harm and your power would cause him harm. Unless we three lie togeth- no, no" He gave his head a shake. "No!" He said again, forcefully this time, as if she had argued.

Kaoru could only imagine what had gone on inside of his head. "I didn't think I was good enough to make you….finish."

Sano scoffed. "Sweetheart, I'm an Earth. All we need is a willin' partner and some stimulation and well go until we spill every drop of seed we have." he glanced at her and quickly added, "But we do have our likes and dislikes. You just happened to meet some of them."

"Oh?" Was this pillow talk she was doing with Sano? They were cuddling together, naked, his hand was trailing along her skin. "And what is it you like the most."

"I can't give that away?"

"Why not?" Kaoru asked innocently.

Sano sighed and muttered. "I like it when a woman takes me in her mouth."

Her brows shot upward. "Really?" That was something she hadn't really tried with Kenshin yet. "Why?"

"Hell if I know. Something about the female having all the power over me." He shrugged. "The Goddess knows what she wants an' takes it when offered. I guess I feel like my partner is a Goddess when she has control over me. And the best way for that is with my cock between her teeth. I'll do whatever she wants."

"Funny. I don't see you as a man who wants his control taken."

"Given. I give my control over. No one can take it. I let them have it." He corrected. "Plus it feels damn good." He added with a shark-like grin.

… . . …

Sano schooled his face into a mask of flat, calm, stoic and boring. He led Kaoru's horse back to the camp they had set near the lake. The sun was low in the sky by the time He and Kaoru emerged from their alcove. Her face burned with what he was sure was guilt, shame even. He looked at each Fire guard he came across and dared one so much as speak to them. He would gladly punch in all their damned teeth. But no one said a thing. He wasn't sure why, but everything seemed calm. Relaxed. Shit, did the fire guards get their rocks off somewhere while they were busy too?

Whatever, he didn't care about them. He only cared about Kaoru and Kenshin. In the walk over, Kaoru, filled to the top with energy, sagged lower and lower in her saddle. Relaxed and languid, no longer suffering any pain. She needed to get into a bed. They reached the main tent and he plucked the girl off the horse and carried her inside. It was dark, but his vision was sharp. The tent was empty and he moved to set the girl on the cot and cover her with a sheet. It was too warm for a blanket. At once she was asleep. Her cheeks still stained rose from the pleasure he had given her.

Nuh-uh. None of that thinking now. He had to leave those thoughts back in that little alcove. She was Missy again. And he, her loyal bodyguard and nothing else. Quickly he stood up and walked from the tent. He hadn't even put one foot outside when Kenshin appeared as if he had been standing there the whole time.

"Well?" He pressed, his eyes glowing in the dim light.

Sano sighed. "It's done, man."

Kenshin sighed, his shoulder dropped and he suddenly looked years younger. Strange, Sano really expected him to be upset. But he actually was worried for Kaoru. He really did mean it when he said he rather she lay with another man and get well. Well hell, that must mean the red-head really, truly loved her.

"That's great." he sighed and for the first time all week, smiled. "Did she argue any?"

"Not really." Sano rolled his shoulders. He didn't really want to talk about this to him. Yes, she was his wife, but what an Earth and their partner did in private stayed in private. "I think she realized she was very ill. She was upset afterward, man. Full of guilt."

"I told her not to be, that I did."

"I know man, it's hard sometimes, for those who have feelin's for someone else."

Actual fucking warmth showed on the Manslayer's face. Like a lovesick pup getting his first love letter. His friends had it bad for each other. And for the first time since that morning, he was glad he did what he could to help them both. He was drained, Missy having pulled in all the energy. But it was nothing a bit of praying wouldn't restore.

He could only hope the Missy wouldn't regret it later.

He went to leave but paused. "Hey man, I know she's asleep and all, but something seems different about her." He was about to add. 'hey, let me feel her up one last time' but that sounded like something someone would say if they wanted to die. Besides, he wasn't a healer. Touching her wouldn't answer his questions.

"What do you mean?" Kenshin asked.

"I don't know man, she felt different. Not that I've felt her before this." He added quickly. "Not really physically different. Shit, I don't know how to explain it."

"Perhaps it's her finally being restored?"

Sano shook his head. "Naw man, I felt it before all of that." He rubbed his face. Perhaps forcing all that energy into Kaoru drained him far more than he thought it did. "Never mind man, I'll figure it out later."

He left the pair to their privacy. He was sure it was nothing important anyway.

A/n Oh Em Gee Sano! Come on man, you're so close to figuring it out! To be honest I was/am nervous about this chapter. I know some people won't like what happened between Kaoru and Sakosuke. But they are the best of friends and Not having Sano help Kaoru seemed like a waste of his powers. But eh, I think it work.

Anyways! Thank you for reading, reviews are much loved.