A/n Hey guys! I hope I didn't make you wait too long. I had planned on posting in Page and her Knight, but I'm struggling with it right now, so here, you get another Steam chapter. Hehe. I hope to break through Page and post a chapter for it next month. Okay short notes today. On to the story!
disclaimer: sensitive content ahead.
Megumi watched the Fire Lands slowly die away. Out in the distance, the doctor could see the Nether Expanse stretch out on the horizon. The last time she was here, she was a wounded, small child with no memory. It was odd to be back.
Megumi sat in the covered wagon to keep the relentless sun off of her. Already its rays were growing weak as they left the hot, dry land behind. She glanced out the back of the wagon at the last bit of her old home. At her chest, she clutched her first book, printed when she made Master Apprentice. Sparc had worked secretly worked late nights to get the first copy finished before she left and had given it to her. She couldn't bring herself to look at it yet. Every time she thought about it, tears would well up in her eyes and blur her vision. She was content for now, to hold it.
Beside her, a guard reached out and pulled her over to him and pulled back the hood of her cloak that she had been hiding under since the day they left. She looked at him, shocked.
"Miss M." as the warriors had taken to calling her. He called himself Lobi, what his real name was, or if that was his real name, Megumi didn't know. He was the quite one of the group and it was his turn to sit and keep her company even though she hardly muttered more than a few words to the men.
"Y-Yes, Lobi?" She quickly reached up to rub the moisture from her eyes but the soldier caught her hand.
"You needs to cry. Miss M." He said solemnly. "I hates to see you like this, Holdin' back all that pains you. You're not with the Fire's anymore Miss M. You can cry in front of us. And don't rub those tears away. Let them do their job."
Megumi gaped at him for a long moment, then slowly her red lips pulled back in a grimace and she shut her eyes as she felt the ache in her chest grow. She let it grow for the first time in a long time. She let the pain blossom and the tears come until they overflowed and spilled over onto her cheeks. She never allowed herself to cry, to show such weak emotions in front of anyone, not even her mother.
But here she was with her own kind, and such emotions were natural and needed. The guard gathered her up close to him and encouraged her with soft words.
"That's it Miss M. It's not healthy to hold it all in like that." He clicked his tongue like a nanny at her charges. "I know it hurt to leave and go somewhere new. I know you have people you already miss."
The thought about her mother and her teachers and all the bright students. She thought about Sparc weeping openly in the confines of his room as the morning sunrise ended their time together. Thinking of him hurt the worst and she clutched at his book until the corners of the hard cover dug into her chest. She wanted to curl around the book and cry for the rest of her life. Instead, she moved and clutched at the large hard warrior who supported her as if she were a small child.
When the others, hearing her weeping, poked into the wagon to investigate Lobi didn't hush them or tuck her away from their eyes.
"Eh, she's finally having a good cry." He said matter-of-factly. And the news seemed well received. "You were looking rather stricken there for a while Miss M. We were worried." Lobi said in way of explanation as she sobbed into his chest. "Don't be holding yer feelings back like that anymore. It's not healthy. Yous a Healer, you should know that."
Megumi nodded., unable to speak.
Time went by, she didn't know how much. Minutes, hours. But finally, her eyes dried up and she fell silent.
The guard was petting her hair gently, as if she were a kitten. It was odd to see such a battle-hardened man do so, but it always seemed like second nature. Water's really were the nurturing kind.
"There now, you feel better?"
Megumi's eyes were red and puffy, her nose was running and her head throbbed with a headache and yet the pain in her chest and heart were gone. She thought about Sparc and her mother and less pain came with the thoughts. Crying somehow healed the hurt. It helped her move on.
"Yes." She sniffed and sat up to give the man a smile. "Yes I feel much better."
... . . ...
Kaoru was curtsied so low she may as well have just kneeled. Thankfully, her legs refused to shake under the strain of such an awkward position. She focused not on the burning in her muscles but on the strange flower pattern on her oddly simple white dress. It had no hoops and a simple bodice and Kaoru feared it was not suitable for apologizing to the King or for public for that matter, as it seemed to be no more than a fancy shift. She couldn't recall Kenshin looking at this fabric in the dress shop.
Kenshin had insisted she wear it that morning.
The redhead stood beside her as she apologized in her submissive position. The King stood, his steps echoing in the empty expanse, as they were the only three people in the throne room. Kenshin grew stiff as Houjin stepped closer but he simply set his large hand on the top of her head.
"We both learned a lesson, My Dear." The King rumbled. "You learned you need better control of yourself and I learned never to provoke you unless I wish to feel your wrath."
Kaoru wanted to fume but instead kept her head down and her eyes trained on the flowers on her dress. She really did need to control herself better. "Yes, Your Grace." She said softly. That seemed suitable as he dropped his hand from her head and turned back to his throne and sat. Kenshin didn't pull her to her feet so she stayed bent low.
"As my suggestion is considered to be the utmost insult to the Water people I will apologize by giving the Keep the coin required to accommodate the soldiers and their families. Build barracks, villages and farms."
"Uncle." Kenshin blinked at the King.
Kaoru risked a glanced upward at the royal and then over at her husband.
"That is far too much coin." Kenshin warned.
The King shrugged. "Consider it a belated wedding gift."
Kenshin bowed low. "Thank you, Your Grace." He dipped down and took Kaoru by the shoulders and helped her upright. Her legs felt like jelly and he made sure she was able to stand before turning back to his Uncle.
"Are you going to be a witness?" Kenshin asked.
Kaoru blinked and looked over at him. A witness to what?
The King nodded. "As is Mishal. Do you have yours?"
Kenshin bowed his head. "Sanosuke Sagara will be mine."
The King stood. "Well, see you within the hour." and the King turned to leave them alone in the throne room. Kenshin turned to lead Kaoru out the doors they came in from.
"Witness to what, My Lord?" Kaoru wondered in low tones.
"Something I'm not allowed to tell you about." Kenshin sighed. He paused just at the doors. "It has to do with my visit to the volcano and my transformation but I'm not allowed to tell you the details." His glowing eyes looked down as he took both her hands in his. "I beg forgiveness."
Kaoru blinked. "Well this is obviously some personal pilgrimage you are doing. You don't have to ask for forgiveness. You are doing nothing wrong." She bent to look him in the eyes. What wasn't he allowed to tell her? Was he apologizing for not telling her?
He allowed her to catch his gaze and he gave her a weak smile. "I admit that I'm terrified and exited at the same time, that I am."
"Why are you afraid?" Kaoru pressed, clutching at his hands. Again he sighed. "Alright, I get it, you can't tell me." She smiled. "I'm excited I get to see your True Form."
He reached out to trail his fingertips down the side of her cheek. "I fear I will not be beautiful as you, but monstrous instead."
Kaoru turned and kissed his fingertips. "You will be a grand sight." She argued. His eyes started to dance as he took her hand and led her through the castle. They went down a strange hallway where Sano was waiting for her. "You'll go with Sano now, he'll take you to a viewing point. And Kaoru."
Kaoru paused and turned back to her Lord Husband. "Yes?"
"I love you." He said simply, his eyes igniting.
Kaoru flushed and took the moment to feel warm. "I love you too." She whispered back to him as Sano approached. She wished him luck as she let Sano link his arm with hers and lead her up many flights of stairs. So many stairs that Kaoru wondered if they were still in the castle at all. Sano seemed fidgety but for once was somewhat silent. Kaoru was left to wonder about Kenshin's strange confession. He didn't speak of his love for her outside of the bedroom. In the Fire Lands she heard it less and less. It seemed a bit of a taboo thing to say in ear shot of another.
Finally, the two emerged into a grand open-air room. It seemed like the top of the castle with great archways opening up to a wrap around balcony that was carved out of the rock of the nearby mountain and was massive. There were no windows, only open arches and there was no railing to prevent one from falling to their death.
"Sano this seems unsafe." She pointed out as they neared the gold painted arch ways.
"Well this room is not for people." Sano informed as he glanced around. "It's for dragons."
"Eh?' Kaoru glanced around. There were no doors, again only the massive archways. The ceiling loomed so high overhead that Kaoru couldn't make out the paintings on them. And the grand balcony with no railings seemed perfect for a dragon to land on.
"Eh?! Is Kenshin going to land here as a dragon?" she gasped. How she couldn't wait to see him. She wondered what he would look like. Would he be red like his hair? Would he have vicious dagger like teeth? Even though the creature he would become was a violent, war beast, she felt nothing but wonder at the thought. She had never seen a dragon before and all she had to go by were the fantastical paintings in the Keep and around the castle. How true were they?
"I wanted to go with Kenshin to the Volcano." Kaoru pouted. "But Kenshin said it was forbidden for me to go."
"Aye, Missy. Kenshin wouldn't want ya up there anyway. In some places there is only a thin crust of old lava flow, one wrong step and ye'll fall into the volcano." He turned his earthy eyes to her. "Ya bein' Water, even a small burn from lava would certainly nearly kill ya. Just as Kenshin was as risk on the water to see ya, yer at risk on the Volcano and Kenshin refuses to let ya take that risk."
Again Kaoru pouted. "But he risked for me, I'm not afraid."
"Don't stick that bottom lip out at me Missy. It won't work." His eyes shifted around once again.
"Sano what are you looking around for?" Kaoru's brows knitted together and she took the moment to glance around as well. Had she missed something?
Sano cleared his throat and rolled his shoulders in that way he did when he was uncomfortable. "Kenshin told me summat he isn't allowed to talk to ye about. He worried how ya would handle it and asked if I could break th'rules for him, as I'm not a Fire, nether are ya." he rattled off.
Kaoru blinked. Sano's voice was flat and rushed as if the line had been coached. "What's going on?" That must have been the magic word because Sano grabbed her by the arms and hurried her around an archway and placed himself where he could see the door leading in.
"The King ask for th'two of you to take part in the Dragon Bonding Ritual as part of yer apology." He informed. His accent grew thicker with each passing minute.
Kaoru stood there with her eyes empty and confused. "Huh? What is this ritual?"
"I don't have time ta explain it all." He glanced up at the door behind her. "If a dragon moved into a territory with a city or town, they'd offer up a bride to th'dragon to keep him from attackin' them. Their legend says that th'children they had became th'royal family and able to turn into dragons at will. And the tradition started tha' when a member or the royal family wed, especially to acquire alliances, th'bride would be offered up this way. If th'dragon thought she was worthy, he would mate wit 'er. And their marriage would be blessed. Th'bride isn't informed of this. Sometimes a rape would happen. Which might result in their much desired child by rape."
"But Sano, Kenshin and I have already married and consummated it." Kaoru tried to keep the worry out of her voice, this couldn't possibly be why Kenshin was so adamant about his love for her before he left, could it?
"It isn't as popular as it once was but th'King has a love of the old ways. Kenshin told me that it was not required for him to perform this ritual because ya were a child and the marriage was takin' place in the Water lands and it is well known to the family that Kenshin dinnae like rape. Seems you miffed his Majesty a bit too much last night. He wants ta punish ya both." Sano gave her a light shake. " Kenshin will land here as a dragon, an' change back into his human form before takin' ya. Right after his transformation he will not have control of 'imself. The Fire of his bloodlines will take over and the dragon will still be very much in his head. Ya are dressed in this simple white dress for tha' reason. The white symbolizes th'virgin bride sacrifice."
Kaoru struggled to understand it all. "Like the volcano god story that Kenshin told me one time" She found it hard to remember the details. Her hands flapped uselessly as she tried to pull up the memory. Something about a rape child being the blessed one.
"Yes! Kenshin told me to warn ya because if ya refuse 'im, he'll rape ya. He won't mean it, but th'dragon will force him to. To warn you of this "Attack" will curse ya marriage instead of bless it. He dinnae want to risk it so he asked me to tell ya."
Kaoru gasped at the sudden realization of what the King was forcing him to do. "But why would I refuse him? Because he'd be scary and dragon like? He's already like that."
Sano glanced back at the door and Kaoru could hear the King's voice coming from the stairwell. "Because there has ta be witnesses."
Kaoru blanched. Witnesses! That's what the King and Kenshin were talking about! "You and Mishal and the King are going to watch?!" She shrieked.
"Shhh!" Sano hushed, "don't give it away that ye know."
"But, But Why?" She hissed as her heart started to race.
"Some weird royal dragon law." Sano sighed, lowering his voice to a mere whisper. "We ain't supposed to really look. But we'll be here. Just block us out Missy."
Kaoru couldn't say anything because just then Mishal and Houjin stepped through the door. They easily spotted Sano and wandered over to them.
"My Dear, why do you look so stricken on this glorious day?"
Suddenly all three males were looking at her, Sano's warm eyes begging her to behave. Weakly she reached out to the Earth fae and gestured meekly with one hand out to the balcony. "There are no railings." Her voice was hoarse.
The two Fires glanced over at the dragon balcony and Mishal laughed. "I believe the little Water fae has a fear of heights." I thought that was an Earth phobia. No offense." He added toward Sano who only grunted at him in response.
"Oh dear Kaoru, don't be afraid, just don't get close to the edge and look down." the King assured her. He took her arm and she was forced to let Sano go and he led her stiff form to the other side of the balcony. There they had a perfect view of the volcano. It rumbled in the distance and a lazy cloud of ash drifted out of the crater. Houjin led her back under an archway and into the room where many stands with spyglasses were mounted. "Here, you'll be able to watch your husband from here." He said in a soothing voice, petting her head as if she were a child.
Kaoru had a feeling she was the lamb being calmed before the slaughter. She watched as the men took up their own spyglasses and searched the volcano for the party leading Kenshin. Kaoru took the moment to look around the open room. The walls were covered in paintings depicting wars but otherwise, it was a large open and empty structure. Was Kenshin expected to take her there on the hard floor? The idea wasn't too bad but still the thought of being watched. This was even worse than the red banner. Heaven forbid her marriage had been consummated here.
"Oh, there he is, My Lady." Mishal pointed, his eye still on the spyglass. Sano and the King looked to see where he was pointing and looked in that direction.
Kaoru followed suit. Taking the spyglass and swinging it around in the general direction Mishal was pointing. She quickly found the troop of warriors with Kenshin in the lead. It was odd seeing him walking so calmly among the heat and the raining ash. The small explosions that rained bits of red hot rock all around them didn't seem to bother him at all. Just the rumbling sound was enough to make Kaoru nervous.
But he was in his element. Already Kaoru could see the change in him. The look of wild, fierce savagery in his expression seemed strangely fitting. His skin and hair glowed, and even in distance she could see the strength of him as his muscles grew tight against his simple clothing.
"He looks in fine form" Mishal commented to no one in-particular. "Shame we lost him from the battlefield."
Kaoru looked away to discover that Mishal was turning to talk to her. "In dragon form I've seen Kenshin wipe out a whole battalion of soldiers. Horses and all burned to ashes in moments. He's hard to control in this form. A true war dragon."
Kaoru wondered what such destruction would look like. She prayed she would never have to see it. She swallowed and returned to the spyglass. Kenshin was climbing now. Simple stairs were carved into the black rock. In many areas, they were destroyed, but most of them were still usable and Kenshin was quickly at the top edge of the crater.
... . . ...
The heat and gasses would have killed anyone else by now. All of his fellow pilgrims settled some time back, leaving him the only one to walk the edge. He chanted in his hard growling language. A rhythmic prayer to the volcano, to his patron God.
Tohi.
His chanting turned into fevered whispers to gentle his hand on what he was about to commit. Do not make him harm the one that he held most dear. And if the God of creation saw it fate for Kenshin to plant life in Kaoru this day, please let him do it painlessly.
... . . ...
Kaoru felt her heart jump into her throat. Part of her felt dread, as if she were watching someone commit suicide as he paused to pray. She had to remind herself that the lava could not harm Kenshin any more than water could harm her. He would not burn but be reborn in his True Form.
"Here and now, Fire,
The flames of creativity and passion.
Source of heat, light and life.
I seek the glowing forge within.
That I might warm myself with desire, courage, excitement and inspiration.
I call upon you to burn away all that hinders me."
Kenshin had said the prayer many times before. But only now, looking down into the boiling cauldron of red liquid earth, knowing Kaoru must be watching him, perhaps knowing what fate was to come, only now did the words mean something to him. Let him be pure, let all doubt burn away. He felt a tear slip free and evaporate almost immediately. He would not hurt Kaoru, he would not let the King punish them this way.
Please.
Kaoru couldn't help but gasp as Kenshin tipped over into the crater. There was a deep rumble that shook the castle and then silence followed by a shrieking roar. Kaoru felt hands on her and she jerked back from the spy glass. Mishal had her by the arms.
"Sir?" She protested as he led her away.
"Now my Lady, you're to wait for your Lord here." He marched her out to the balcony. "Don't be afraid of the height, I assure you this structure is very sturdy."
Kaoru felt ill simply from the unease that was settling in her. This had to happen. She was unsure if the King was suspicious of their union, or if he was simply flexing his strength by forcing Kenshin to do this act he so greatly detested. Kaoru burned at the thought that her loss of temper would cause such punishment for Kenshin. She glanced at Sano as Mishal moved away. Thankfully, Kenshin had seen fit to have Sano warn her. What would have happened if she was left ignorant to the ritual? Would she'd have been raped? What would that do to her soul, to her child.
Remembering her child, Kaoru felt the panic return. There was no reason to think her child was in any danger as long as she didn't fight, and there was no reason to fight other than not wanting to be watched. But she could endure that humility and more if it meant keeping their baby safe.
But all thought left her as the volcano spewed a towering shower of red hot molten rock. Out from the ash unfurled a large dark dragon. Kaoru's breath caught upon seeing him. He swooped in quickly, roaring the whole way. Below she could hear people calling in surprise in the streets. He was a dark silhouette in the sky. Kaoru squinted up at the hot sunlight as he passed overhead but he was too far away for her to make out any details. Great leathery wings whooshed loudly with every flap. Kenshin turned and hovered over the castle for a moment, before diving down into the city and swooping over the buildings, nearly scraping his belly along the roof tops.
Kaoru could no longer see him but she could hear his roars, they were louder than the volcano and the sound of it caused her insides to tremble. She couldn't imagine what it would feel like facing him in battle. Suddenly Kenshin appeared with a cow braying, trapped in his fangs. He hovered there, as he swallowed the full gown cow nearly whole. Kaoru wondered if in dragon form he had his mind? Was the creature Kenshin on the inside, or was the strength of the dragon too much for the mind of a man? The thought terrified her. How did he know what he was doing? What if he attacked his own people? Did he somehow know they were his own people and if so...would she be a stranger to him?
He was deep ruby red with black throughout. His belly was dark and his wings were orange-red like fire. He had two smooth curved horns jutting up from his head and smaller sharper thorn shaped horns lined his jaw.
The King came out from under the arches just long enough to put his fingers in his mouth and whistled a shrill and ear piercing sound that caught Kenshin's attention.
The dragon turned and spotted the balcony and hovered lower and lower until he landed. As his great girth touch down, the balcony trembled but held strong. Kenshin put all four claws on the ground and flared his wings wide open and he roared long and loud. Kaoru covered her ears, ducking as if she could dodge the sound. His wide open mouth showed rows of sharp dagger like teeth in a mouth larger than her whole body. A stream of flame escaped his mouth, heating the air around them to an uncomfortable level. His great tail whipped to and fro, cracking loudly against the golden painted arches of the room as his claws scratched into the stone of the balcony.
He was a sight to behold and Kaoru yearned to take a step closer to touch those warm scales and look into the dinner plate size golden eyes. But she didn't dare. He didn't look in control of all his faculties in this form and she was not of his kind. So instead she took a step back.
The movement caught his attention and the dragon's wedge shaped head jerked over in her direction. Kaoru couldn't help the jolt of fear that ran through her. He was her natural enemy, instincts were screaming inside of her but she fought it. Still, her eyes darted over to the men. The Fire's watched Kenshin while Sano was looking at her. He didn't seem afraid, but then he was safe under the roof while she was out in the open with a dragon.
The great beast moved, he rushed forward and Kaoru thought he would take flight again as he opened his great wings but instead his red and black scaly body started to shrink. The great thrashing tail and long neck sucked back into the ever changing body until a more familiar body emerged. Ridiculously, Kaoru wondered in her frozen position of terror where the cow he had eaten went. Did it simple shrink as well?
Kenshin was still covered in scales, they were pressed flat against his skin like scars, his fingers were still tipped in claws and he still possessed a tail that counterbalanced the great wings that sat on his shoulders. His horns were sticking out from under his hair, but shrunk down to half the length of her arm. Fangs protruded from between his lips and his eyes were swirls of color with a great slit for a pupil. His hair fanned out wildly like a great lion main. Power and heat flowed around him, causing that red hair to dance hypnotically. The skin on his abdomen was dark while the skin on his shoulders and back lightened to a sunburned red. It matched the coloring of his dragon. His muscles were tight and corded and twitched with his every move.
The sight of his naked form in such a way caused her insides the clench in a most delicious way. He looked so magnificent and powerful, feared by many, and he belonged to her. Kaoru felt the weight of those strange pupils as they locked onto her. Kenshin crouched down on his hands and the balls of his feet and sprung forward, closing the distance between them in an instant. He moved in a blur of speed that Kaoru could not react to.
" Be'he Kiga Doq'thee hassth"
Kenshin's strange guttural language was more of a hiss with his large fangs but she caught his nickname for her. His wings flared out again, a leather web of brilliant, hypnotizing colors. Her instant of distraction was all he needed and Kaoru was grabbed and pressed against his naked body within a blink of an eye.
"Kenshin?!" Kaoru gasped, "What are you doing?" She had to act ignorant as to what was expected to happen but she wasn't expecting him to be this way. It wasn't an act anymore to Kaoru.
"Do-th'a" He answered in a demanding tone and yanked her around to press into her back. Kaoru felt his fangs latch onto the back of her neck while his claws dragged along her side. Kaoru heard the terrifying sound of ripping fabric. Her stays were cut as if they were threads and she felt the dress go slack around her. Kenshin buried his face in her hair, taking deep breaths through his nose. Taking in her smell. He used his name for her so that meant he knew her? Right?
More fabric tore and she felt her bare back pressing against the burning heat of his body. He was almost too warm to stand with her still tender tattoo but he held her tightly. His grip on her was stronger than he had ever used on her before. And she felt herself being pushed forward slowly until she fell on her hands and knees.
She caught sight of the three men before Kenshin arched his great wings around them, effectively hiding her from their eyes as he mounted her from behind. Kaoru was surprised that she was somewhat wet and he slid deep inside of her with ease. She had no idea how this sudden intrusion had affected her. Even though her gasp of shock sounded more like pain, she was more than enjoying him. His was rough with his thrusts, seating himself deep into her core. One clawed hand gripped her by the shoulder while the other had her hip and he had all control. Their bodies slapped together over and over with force enough to cause her to yelp from the intense stimulation.
She felt something slide around her leg and she looked down to find his tail coiling around her calf. The tail pulled at her leg forcing her to lose balance but the move opened her up more and Kenshin took advantage to deepen his thrust. His wings pressed lower and through the gaps Kaoru was able to see the men once more. She didn't want to look at them, she wanted to pretend it was just her and Kenshin. But no matter how hard she tried not to, she looked.
Sano was looking slightly away. His eyes flashed and his jaw was tight, no doubt he didn't like having to witness what was supposed to be a rape. The King was also looking slightly away, he was more at ease, happy now that the marriage had been blessed the way he wanted. And then there was Mishal.
Mishal wasn't looking away...he was watching. With the distance it was difficult, but to Kaoru it was obvious he was enjoying watching the scene.
It acted like cold water on Kaoru and the heat of Kenshin was starting to burn her. Were his claws scratching at her skin or was she starting to blister from the heat? Kenshin immediately felt the change in her. He bent forward, covering more of her with his body. The heat of him branded into her back and he started to talk. She couldn't understand his words, but she shut her eyes and listened to him. When he came, he arched back, flaring open his wings and roared skyward.
Humiliated, Kaoru glanced upward to see the men turning to leave them alone finally. Mishal watched until he was forced to duck through the doorway and the door was shut.
Kenshin it seemed was unsatisfied with her lack of participation and Kaoru's world turned as he flipped her over on her back. The dragon converged upon her again. He held himself off her with hands and knees and Kaoru watched in fascination as his eyes flickered from long slit pupils to round pupils and Kenshin's lavender color was leaking back into his eyes. He was fighting himself. Kaoru realized. This was a punishment for him. She knew how he felt about the idea of rape and although she allowed him, it was obvious at one point that she wasn't really into it.
He lost the fight with the dragon and more of her dress was torn. Although he growled and moved in violent, jerky motions, he never nicked her with his claws, he never caused her a bit of pain. The only discomfort was the strength of his grip. His fangs wrapped around her sensitive nipples, scratching welts into her breasts, but the pain was more pleasure for Kaoru. His wings shielded her from the sun and she looked up and admired the strange, terrifying creature that was oh so gentle with her. The sun through the thin membrane caused his wings to glow like fire. Like laying out under the Autumn trees as the sun set their reds and oranges aglow. He gathered her up in his lap and stood, forcing her to wrap her legs around him. Kaoru felt the thickness of his member slide back into her. Again his movements were frantic, his lips and fangs were everywhere on her skin and his fingers bruised her hips and buttocks with their grip.
But without eyes on them or ears listening, Kaoru relaxed and soon her pleasure began to build. Seeing her fight for control only excited the dragon and his guttural talking had returned. Kaoru felt herself rise above it all but she caught the tremor that ran through Kenshin. His whole body shook with the force and she saw Kenshin's eyes return to their human form just as her face twisted into that tell-tale mask of pain and pleasure as she fell over the edge, She shrieked from the force of it. But she only rode one wave before Kenshin lost his balance and the pair of them fell. The shock of hitting the balcony stones cut off the rest of her climax as Kenshin tore himself away.
"Kaoru!"
Kaoru blinked, half dazed and half upset she was left unfinished and Kenshin dragged her up off the rocks.
She was going to level a death stair at the dragon but instead found horrified purple eyes. Although he still had his fangs, his claws, wings and scales; his eyes and, Kaoru figured, his mind had returned.
"No! No no." Kenshin crushed her to him, his wings wrapping around like a blanket. "Kaoru forgive me, please please don't be harmed."
This was what Kaoru was afraid of. She didn't know he would return so soon and he must have thought that the ritual went wrong. She tried to talk but the heat of his body and the blanket of his wings took her breath away and she tried to push him away.
"Kenshin, I'm fine." She gasped for air as Kenshin pulled away and frantically yanked at the ribbons that was all that was left of her dress until she lay bare in his arms.
"Please tell me I didn't." He begged, not hearing her words.
Kaoru blinked, he was off in his own personal nightmare. Suddenly rage burned deep in her center. This was all Houjin's fault. He knew how Kenshin felt about rape. He did this as punishment not for her outspokenness but for Kenshin allowing her to be. Was that what this ritual was all for? Not to satisfy some tradition but for punishment for both of them?
Kenshin was going pale at the sight of his hand print shapes bruises on her hips.
"Kenshin!" She sat up and took his face in her hands and forced him to look at her. "I'm fine. Sano told me the plan."
"He...He did?" Kenshin whispered. His sounded like a lost little boy and Kaoru's heart ached.
"Yes." She answered gently.
"I didn't hurt you?"
Kaoru shook her head. "No you didn't.
Tears welled up in his purple eyes and as they fell they evaporated off his skin. "I wanted to tell you, but to do so would curse us, that it would."
"I know," Kaoru hushed him. "I know, Sano explained it all."
The tears vanished and his eyes turned to stones as he looked around. "Where are the witnesses?"
"They left after...um..you came the first time."
Kenshin started to calm then, the familiar hint of rage returned to his eyes and his mouth now pulled into a cruel snarl. "He got what he wanted then."
Kaoru set her jaw, feeling as though her face mirrored his. "Was this to punish us both?"
"Yes."
"But you were to spend this time in your True Form. He ruined it.
"Yes, that he did." Kenshin turned his head to spit his anger. "He punished us both with rape."
Words foul enough to call the King wouldn't come to Kaoru and she seethed silently in her rage. She was soothed only in that Houjin's plan had failed and that Kenshin didn't rape her.
"Why did he think this ritual would end in rape?" Kaoru asked, her voice suddenly calm. She reached around Kenshin's shoulders to feel the great wings on his back. They twitched at her touch. "I was nothing but aroused by you in this form."
Kenshin was flushing. "Not to most women. Plus. We are much stronger in this form." He glanced down at the bruising on her hips. "Did I hurt you?"
"No, Dear Husband you did not." Kaoru gasped as she felt his hand slide between her thighs and cup her mound.
"What about here, did I hurt you inside?"
"You were more forceful than you normally are. But I was wet and I liked it." She confessed.
Kenshin visibly relaxed. "I don't like to be rough with you. But if you like it..." He trailed off.
Kaoru wasn't sure what made her think of it. But she straddled his hips, wrapping her legs around him and pressed her breasts against his chest as she leaned in to drag her teeth along his neck. The result was instant. He shivered, and moaned. The sound of it rumbled in his chest. Kaoru didn't like Kenshin this way. She hated seeing him afraid for her. Afraid of himself with her. She didn't like the broke, cautious sound of his voice.
She would show him she was not afraid of him. She loved him no matter what. He tried his best to prepare her for this event without breaking the tradition.
Kaoru pushed him until he stretched out under her. His wings lay flat on the ground soaking up the sun and he held on as Kaoru made love to him. She had never really been in this position much and never had she ever have full control. Kenshin's hands were up over his head in full surrender, not guiding her, or dictating the strength of her movements. She rocked her hips until she saw him starting to come undone. His head tipped back, words she didn't understand started to pour from his lips in a begging tone. His gasps became pitched and it was a wonder to see him in such a way under her. His hands fisted in his red hair and he bared he teeth as he came. His eyes were flashing again, back to that ever burning amber and he propped himself up on his hands as he watched her tremble atop him until she came as well.
As they caught their breath, Kaoru, pressing a hand into Kenshin's chest to brace herself as she looked up into those warm amber eyes. She felt the words tumble right out.
"Kenshin, I'm going to have a baby."
A/n *throws papers in the air*
Effin finally Kaoru! Egads, we've been waiting for ages.
Thank you for reading!