A/n Hello dear readers! I'm sorry this is a bit late in the month. I've had a lot of adulting things to do this month and it's been a wreck. Hopefully everything will work out. I have a new poll on my profile asking about trigger warning. I wanted to ask about them for the new batch of stories that I'm working on. As many of you know, I have...goodness...like 7 other Kenshin fanfics in the works and I would like your opinion on Triggerwarnings and how you like them to presented. Feel free to Msg me if you have questions.
Anyways! On to the story!
Saitou lived outside of the city in the trees. The towering giants quickly shrank to more normal trees and then the leafy forest thinned and turned into vast stretches of grain fields and farms. Kaoru felt her mouth drop open as Kenshin's horse ambled down a busy slope that opened up to a cliff face that was just a small part of a massive crack in the earth. The sun was growing low in the sky and Kaoru shielded her eyes with one hand as she looked out over the canyon with its sheer rock faces. Within the faces of the cliff, windows and doorways and even stairways were carved. Thousands of them. A cliff city that seemed just as large as the one in the trees.
"It's like a second city." Kaoru breathed, her other arm holding tight around Kenshin as he urged his horse forward. All around them, people bustled by. Many on foot, some
on horses or in wagons, coming in from the fields and either going down into the cliff city or past them to go up into the tree city. Not many spoke and their footfalls were ever silent. Only the wagons made a racket when they rattled by.
"That it is." Kenshin's voice sounded far away as he too gazed out into the expanse of empty air. The setting sun made his hair glow with orange, gold and copper. Kaoru shifted in his lap and ran her hands through the silky fire.
"You look so different with your hair down like this." Kaoru tapped on the gold circlet around his forehead. "What's this? I didn't take you for one who wears finery, my Lord Husband."
Kenshin smirked. "Old habits, Air Fae tend to not welcome outsiders. This one assimilated quickly when he was brought here as a child."
Kaoru nodded in understanding. "I noticed the water healer as well. She had her hair the same as the other."
"Healing and hospitals are still very new to the Air people, that it is. They tend to live like the wind, coming in silent and going out the same way. They have only recently adopted the idea of pausing fate to keep a sick or wounded person alive."
Kaoru's lips pulled down. "I noticed. Saitou wanted to leave Sano for dead."
Kenshin heaved a sigh. "Saitou is a bit old fashioned. Believes people should submit to their fate. Makes him a great killer. He believes the Drow should have died off long ago. He wants fate to fall in line."
"That's not the way it works though." Kaoru turned to the great large birds that drifted in the open space of the canyon. "Fate changes, everyday."
"That it does." Kenshin said softly. "Fate changes in an instant." He added softly, almost to himself. He reached up to trace the edge of the bruise that had formed by her temple, his touch was whisper light but the other arm around her held her as tightly as he dared with her cracked ribs. "This one thought his fate was about to change." He paused when Kaoru turned to look him in the face. He swallowed hard and turned his face back to the open cliff and urged his horse to continue down with the flow of people.
Kaoru could see his jaw working as he processed some emotion that he wasn't ready to show her yet. When he spoke, his voice was surprisingly vicious.
"This one would have hunted them down to the Edge of the Word to get you back. Or for revenge had they…" He sucked in a sharp breath and bowed his head, shielding his face with a curtain of fiery red hair.
Kaoru understood. Emotional pain was not something Kenshin was used to. Kaoru was unsure how a Fire would even process what he was feeling. She was not surprised or upset that he fell back to thoughts of revenge, of hate and anger. Those emotions were his nature. However, she didn't know if he was trying to hide his face because of the violence that it showed or some other, unchecked feeling of grief and sorrow he had at the thought of having lost her. Whichever it was, Kaoru wanted him to feel it. Feel it and accept it. She set a hand over his as they wrung the life from the leather reins.
... . . ...
Saitou's home was large. Being a general afforded him that it seemed. Carved from an almost concave part of the cliff face, it had many rooms, each one separate from the other by an outside set of steps and bridges. Kaoru found it odd that Air fae would live in stone, a contrasting element. Perhaps they made up for it by having so much open space around them. Windows and doors were two or three times as large as they needed to be. They had no glass windows, only wooden shutters that seemed latched open permanently.
Kaoru gazed out one large window that looked out into the now black space of the canyon. It was dotted with thousands of warm glowing windows and doors, like a new night sky with a strange constellation of stars. It was quiet. So silent, that the Water fae could make out the sound of crickets and bat wings.
Such a quiet people. It explained many things about Kenshin.
Her young maid Cyan dabbed ointment on the bruises across her ribs. The poor thing was still weepy upon the news that her Lady was expecting. The girl saw fit to scold Kaoru for hiding such an important fact from her, but her stern tone was ruined by the tears welling in her eyes.
There was a soft sound of someone clearing their throat and the two women looked up just as a hand reached through the sheer curtain that stood for a door and brushed the fabric aside. In the doorway stood an ethereal looking young woman. She was only slightly taller than Kaoru, with delicate looking limbs. Her face was round, with a pointed chin, skin the color of pale beach sand. Her hair was pale gold, like corn silk. Nestled within it was a circlet of swirling silver. More silver twisted around her ears as decoration, giving them a slightly pointed look. Her long flowing robes were ecru and the palest of green.
"Excuse my interruption." She said, her voice soft and warm. She placed a delicate fingered hand over the center of her chest and bowed her head down. "This one's name is Tokio, wife to Lord Saitou."
Gasping, Kaoru shot up from her chair, her maid scrambling to keep her Kimono shut as she moved. Kaoru bowed as best she could with her cracked ribs. "My Lady"
Tokio's brow knitted together and she hurried forward. "Oh, dear Lady, don't move in such a way. This one understands that you were wounded in the ambush and you are in a delicate way." She indicated with her hands to her general belly area. A dozen silver bangles chimed at her wrists. She seemed embarrassed to talk about Kaoru being pregnant.
Kaoru straightened. "Thank you for your hospitality, Lady Tokio." Kaoru said with a smile.
"It is nothing, Battousai is always welcomed in this home. He has done much for our people, that he has."
Kaoru blinked. Kenshin had many names, didn't he?
"This one thought that it would perhaps be more comfortable for you to change into some new clothes. This adventure you've been on must be horrid for such a lovely, well-bred Lady." At the gentle sweep of her hand, a train of females silently filled in with their arms full of flowing yards of fabric.
Kenshin said they didn't like outsiders and that he dressed to be better accepted. Kaoru quickly agreed. "It would be nice to have some fresh clothes."
The Air Lady smiled. It was a gentle smile but Kaoru had a feeling that was as far as she would go with showing her feelings. Kaoru's maid stripped her of her Water clothes as Tokio's maids stepped forward with replacements. There were no underthings, just a silky soft white skirt that hung to her knees and a tight wrapping made of the same material was weaved around her breasts.
"Not so tightly." Tokio clicked her tongue at her maid. "It will be painful otherwise, that it will be."
The maid bobbed in apology and reworked the ties to relive the pressure on her growing breasts and cracked ribs. The dress was made of the same silky material. It was light as air and drifted gently down her body to settle weightlessly on the curves of her shoulders and hips. The upper sleeves were tight but below the elbow flowed yards of gauzy material. More layers were added to the dress in the form of robes and sashes of the same lightweight nature. Each one smaller than the last so that the layers of colors peeked through. Many soft lavenders, greys and blues that Kaoru felt made her eyes look like jewels.
Tokio made more clicking sounds as a rose gold circlet was placed across her forehead. "No, this will not do." She waved at her maids who moved quickly to strip it all away.
"My lady?" Kaoru questioned as she let the maids peel off layer after layer of beautiful robes.
"This one realized she made a mistake with the colors. You share quite a resemblance to Kenshin's mistress, that you do."
Cyan, in the corner, made a strangled sound, yanking her head up from her mending to catch the eyes of her Lady.
Kaoru caught her breath and watched the pastel colors drift away.
"Perhaps that is not a subject this one should speak of." Tokio's brows knitted again and she pressed her hands together. "This one understands for Fire fae that the subject is taboo." She turned her gray blue eyes to Kaoru. "But this one fears she knows little about Water customs, she knows you are more like Earth in those mores and customs." That beautiful face pulled into a grimace when she said the word 'Earth'. As if it was still a new and unfamiliar thing to speak of them on friendly terms.
"I...it's fine…" Kaoru said softly as new bright blues, greens, browns and yellows were brought in. They layered them all on her, with the faded grass green robe on top of the maroon brown. This time, a white gold circlet was placed around her head, it sparkled brilliantly against her black hair.
"So, I look like Tomoe?" Kaoru pressed, unsure where the desire to know about this woman was coming from.
Tokio gave her a sidelong look before picking out a pair of leather slippers. "He brought her here a few times when we hosted dinners." Tokio stated carefully. "So you know her name. This one didn't think Fire's shared that kind of information."
"He didn't. His friend, my bodyguard, Sano. He told me." At her perplexed look Kaoru added. "He's an Earth."
"Ah," That same grimace crossed her features. "They share this sort of information freely."
"He didn't mean to, it slipped." Kaoru defended the man.
Tikio nodded. "This one will say that she enjoys you more." She said in a tone that insisted the subject be dropped as she took her by the arm and led her away with floating steps. She took Kaoru outside, down a series of steps to another room carved in rock that turned out to be the dining room. There they found Saito and Kenshin standing behind their chairs waiting on them. Kenshin's eyes grew at the sight of her in Air costume.
"Forgive our tardiness." Tokio bobbed to the men.
"Your wife makes a lovely looking Air fae." Saito said as he pulled out the chair for his wife. "Well done, My Sky."
Tokio preened at the compliment.
Kaoru glanced over at Kenshin. She didn't know what to do with her hands in such long flowing sleeves so she just clasped them together in front of her and hoped the long sleeves hid the way she was twisting her fingers together. What did he think?
Kenshin's eyes were flickering flames. His eyelids closed a moment as he glanced down and then back up at her face. "You are lovely, Lady Wife."
Kaoru fought the urge to deflate. His tone was somewhat flat even though his eyes were a torment of fire. She bobbed a curtsy since a bow was too painful and sat in the chair he had offered her. "Thank you, Lord Husband." She returned softly.
She wondered if he really cared for her in such clothes? Perhaps Tokio was right, she resembled Kenshin mistress far too much. She must have been an Air fae. They must have lived in this town, in his apartment. It was large because he wanted a family, and the word of his marriage must have caused a great mess among his and her friends. Kaoru felt she should be more upset about this fact. But she was unsure if there was any real reason to be. She herself felt it was unfair to expect him to stay true to vows made to a child. And as he and Sano told her, it was in the past and all that was over now. But it still felt strange to have such odd feelings. Had being raised as a Fire instilled in her the feeling of jealousy? Mistresses and lovers were not frowned on, or thought of as rivals among the Earth and Water.
Kaoru focused on the food placed on the table instead, suddenly realizing she was very hungry. Roast chicken, quail, and even great turkey on beds of rice, millet, and other grains. Tender loaves of bread made with wheat that grew like weeds on the plain-lands were hot, soft and fragrant with herbs. Kaoru made sure to sample a little of everything. The bread was amazingly light and wonderful. She felt she could eat the whole loaf to herself. And took an extra yeast roll for herself before the end of the meal. Before long she was fighting her eyelids and meekly taking Kenshin's arm when he excused them. She didn't recall the walk back to their room or being undressed. She only recalled the warm kiss he placed on her forehead as the soft, pillowy covers were pulled over her and tucked around her body.
... . . ...
Kaoru woke. Her sleep had been dreamless, but strangely her body was humming in want of her husband. She lay there, her head nestled on the feather pillows for a few moments. It was near black darkness in the room. It was silent, so silent. Not even the chirp of nocturnal insects or the call of birds at dawn. It was in the small hours of the morning. Perhaps this need strumming within her was just her body calling to heal itself. She rolled over, reaching out for her husband but found the bed to be empty.
Kaoru blinked, waking up even more and sat up. His side of the bed was still warm, so he hadn't been gone for long. She was just about to lay back down and wait for him to return, or for sleep to take her when she noticed a soft glow flare to life from the window. It died down just as quickly as it came. Curious, Kaoru slipped out of bed, she stood still for a moment to see how her body felt. A slight bit of dizziness, her head ached somewhat and her side was starting to feel quite tender indeed. Perhaps this was why her body was calling out for her bedmate. She wandered closer to the window just as the orange glow came back to life and Kaoru was shocked to find it was Kenshin.
He stood, leaning against the wall of the room, bare chested and gazing out into the blackness of the cliffs around him and the valley below. The orange glow was from a slender cheroot he was smoking. She went to the doorway and brushed aside the curtain door. The look on his face told her that she had startled him.
"Kiga? What are you doing up?" he whispered so softly, Kaoru felt like she could almost be dreaming.
"I could ask the same of you." She whispered back. She indicated to the cheroot forgotten in his fingers. "I didn't know you smoked."
Kenshin glanced down at his hand and turned to tap out the glowing end. "This one quit two years ago. Saito isn't one to smoke alone and since this one has been with him these past few days he's been insisting it'll help calm my nerves."
Kaoru nodded as Kenshin turned back to her and took her by the arm to lead her back into their room. "Does it help?"
"Normally no. But Saito isn't smoking just tobacco, there are other medicinal herbs in it as well. And the ones he gave this one are quite effective, that they are." He whispered, even though they were now in their room. The lack of glass or even shutters on the window meant that any sound would be amplified to echo out across the cliffs. And it was so early that the silence was such that no one wanted to break it until the birds started their morning calls.
"Why are you up?" Kaoru asked as Kenshin led her back to bed and pulled the covers over her.
"This one has found sleep to be difficult right now." His pants had only been hitched up over his hips and so he quickly shed them and climbed into bed with her.
He didn't elaborate. Was it because she had been in a coma-like state or because he was here with painful memories and apparently some new enemies, was he worried about Sano? Probably all four reasons. Kaoru was sure she would be a mess herself at the moment if her brain wasn't still so addled. "Perhaps you should ask your friend where he got the cheroots and get some to last you a spell."
"This one did not think you would approve of the habit."
Kaoru tipped her head to the side as she regarded him from where she sat on the bed. "Why?"
He opened his mouth and then quickly changed his mind. He swallowed his words and gave a half shrug of his shoulders. "Most women disapprove, that they do."
Was that why he quit two years ago? "I know smoking is a Fire and Air habit but tobacco has made it to the Water Kingdom hundreds of years ago, Kenshin. My own father smoked pipeweed. As long as you don't smoke in our rooms, I couldn't care less about it. The scent of tobacco reminds me of sitting in my father's study, looking through his great leather books and eating tea cakes." She sighed.
Kenshin looked as if he were mulling over the idea. "Perhaps this one will then." He finally whispered. "So why did you wake? Do you need anything?" He went to get back out of bed but Kaoru caught him by the hand and drew him back into bed.
"I was needing you." She whispered
In an instant his eyes ignited in the darkness. As soft a glowing orange as the cheroot he had been smoking. His warm hand drifted to the tender ache in her side. A light, almost fluttering touch that nearly tickled more than hurt. "This one will be glad to finally be able to do something to help his wife. This one will be gentle with you." And he made good on that promise. His touch was light, hardly there, as he pulled her nightgown down. Kaoru slipped her arms free so that her breasts spilled out into the cool air. Her heart jumped at the chill and she plunged her hands into the curtain of his hair as she had been wanting to do since she woke up in the hospital. She pulled him to her and kissed him, demanding more from him.
His gentle kisses were soon overwhelmed by her as she set a higher pace. A deep seated yearning had her arching up into him even as he tried to keep her calm and keep his touch soft on her bruised body. That was fine, she didn't have to be as gentle with him. She demanded more and more and watched as her husband's eyes went from a comforting glow to a molten red-orange. He pressed her down into the bed to rest against the pillows where he ravaged her with soft kisses all along her bare skin and equally soft touches. Kenshin hiked her nightgown up over her hips so that the cloth became a useless belt of fabric around her middle. His hands burned as he gripped her thighs, and the heat of his mouth on one breast felt almost painful. As slow and as gentle as he was, his power raged regardless, still strong and hot in the Air Kingdom as it was in the Fire Realm. The pain was enough to almost drive her to distraction. Yet Kenshin had a way with his mouth and hands that kept her wanting more and more, no matter the pain.
She bit back on any sounds that wanted to escape. Painfully aware of their lack of privacy. As it was, their painting breaths sounded far too loud in the silence. This must be why he was almost always very silent in bed during their first weeks together. It had taken him months to learn to voice his pleasure even a little and now it was shuttered back again. So much about her husband was being answered in this place.
He got on his knees and drew her to him to hook her legs around his hips so that he didn't put any weight on her. He eased into her, grasping her hips with his hands, his thumbs playing across her softening belly as he made love to her softer and slower than she thought possible of him. She could only lay there, watching his glowing eyes above her and the dancing blue energy around them. He shifted one hand down between them and Kaoru bit down on the gasp that rose up fast and hard. But he was making quick work of bringing her to climax and as her breath stuttered, Kenshin's hips moved in shorter, faster strokes. Watching her come undone was his own undoing.
When it finally hit, her arched back was the only signal. And the blue light gathered in tighter and tighter before diving down into her. The pain in her head drifted away, as did the aching in her side. Kenshin's hips convulsed and he clenched his eyes shut. It was the only signal that he spent himself just a moment before falling forward to catch himself on both hands above her. The two gazed into each other's eyes as they both sucked in air as silently as they could. Then slowly, he lowered himself down over her body, rolling them both to the side so that he could pull her into a tight embrace. And the two drifted away to sleep almost at once.
... . . ...
Two days later and Kaoru found herself back in the saddle. The healers didn't want her to travel so soon, but both she and Kenshin were anxious to catch up to Sano. As it were, at their rate of speed, it was going to take a week to get out of the Air Kingdom and reach the Nether Expanse.
Kenshin had received an urgent letter from Kaoru's healer that Sano had been stabilized at the first Earth village they reached. They decided to move him Northward toward a large town called Benfore. There, they had a Great Oak and a powerful High Priestess who could better heal him.
Kaoru found the travel hard. Tucked onto Kenshin's stallion in his well cared for saddle, Kaoru could only watch as they passed field after field of wheat, amaranth, and millet grain. Kenshin sat behind her, always pressing close, guiding his horse at the lead of their small troop. Her maid sat with one of the fires on the wagon and around them were the three Fire soldiers that was all that was left of their group. The bulk of which went with Sano, the other fallen soldiers, her healer and the other two maids along with her poor mare.
While Saitou accompanied them with five of his own men, they fell back as they grew a day away from the Nether Expanse. And Kaoru suddenly felt nervous about their low numbers. The wagon with their supplies seemed to be rattling too loud for her ears. Kaoru feared they would be heard miles away.
While together, Kenshin and Saitou talked of nothing but plans for a war that may come in from the North. Of the numbers they would need. The mystery of the Drow kept everything they said pure speculation and Kaoru could feel Kenshin growing more and more tense every time Saitou said. "We will have to wait and see." To nearly every variable.
Alone now in the Nether Expanse, Kaoru felt strange as they entered the In-between. She set a hand to her head as a fog seemed to lift. It was so sudden and jarring that she wobbled in the saddle. Kenshin's arm tightened around her.
"Are you well, Kiga?" His voice was by her ear.
"Oh, yes. I just feel strange." Kaoru admitted.
"Mmm. Leaving the Air lands always seems to clear the mind. These lands seem to cause a bit of lightheadedness and the like, that it does."
"Explains their muted emotions, But not how they become such skilled assassins with their brain all muddled."
"We learn to push pass all that." Kenshin said. "In doing so, they have the highest focus especially outside of the Air lands. This one was fortunate to have been trained here, that I am."
Kenshin pulled Kaoru back to rest against his body and she complied. She was glad that her secret was out because she could hardly stand a few hours of travel before they would need to stop for her to relieve the pressure on her bladder, or to stretch, or to satisfy a sudden urge to eat a whole horse. She tried not to take too long. She was anxious to see Sano.
Kenshin never said a word, and was always more than willing to oblige her needs. When she voiced her worries about their low numbers, he hushed her fears. The border cities had been made aware of the Drow lurking in the expanse while she was in her semi-coma and all four elements had sent in troops to root them out. They found very few, scattered and already wounded. Perhaps it was the dregs of the group that had attacked them.
"They are all dead now, Kaoru. Even so, we will be vigilant." Kenshin reassured her that first night.
On the second day in the In-Between, They came across a small troop of Earth soldiers patrolling their border. The sight of tall, brown skinned men built like trees, great bushy beards with longbows at their back was a welcome sight for Kaoru. Kenshin pulled his horse along side them and asked if they were headed in the proper direction to reach Benfore.
A great bear of a man gazed openly at Kaoru his hand reaching for the white amulet on a leather string around his neck. Kaoru gave him a smile. She had nothing to fear from Earth men, they were gentle giants like Sano. The soldier dipped his head to her and hurried to the troop leader's side to whisper in his ear. All at once the whole troop turned to Kaoru as if they had all heard what he had said.
Kenshin's hold on her tightened in that moment.
"Ye have a Blessed Mother with ye." The leader stepped closer as if he had never seen a woman before.
Kenshin relaxed, slipped off his horse and surprised Kaoru by helping her down and pushing her gently toward the great men.
"It is her first." Was all Kenshin said as he back up a step.
Murmurs of excitement went through the Earth soldiers as they all pressed closer. Kaoru understood now. She was the form of their Goddess. What little power they had flowed around her like a warm reassuring caress. They came in close but didn't move to touch her. Kaoru greeted them, feeling slightly awkward at all the attention. They smelled of garden soil, moss and trees, of a wilderness wild and welcoming.
"Sacred Mother, let us escort ya into our lands. It would be foolish tae let ya go through th'Expanse alone."
"It is not necessary." Kenshin tried to assure them but the stubborn Earth's were not having it.
"It would be th'highest honor." The leader insisted, his gentle eyes were of the softest hazel. They were strange and out of place under bushy brows and a wild beard. A great beast of a man who was nothing but tender and loving. Kaoru wasn't very surprised to feel like walking into their group and letting them take her away. Sano had made her feel safe simply by being beside him.
"We should let them." Kaoru said softly.
"The Mother has spoken!" A roar from a man in the back. The rest followed and Kenshin had no choice but to let them take her up and place her gently on his stallion. The beast was normally not fond of strangers but was powerless against so many Earths. He acted like a sweet gelding under their pats as they set Kaoru in the saddle. She looked bewildered as she turned to look down at him and in that moment Kenshin could see what the Earth men always saw...a Goddess. Powerful in her own right.
... . . ...
Entering the Earth Realm felt like crawling into a warm bed after a hard day. She never realized how much on guard and distrust she had felt during her time in the Fire and Air territories. Now she felt like she did back home.
Safe, secure, protected. Earth men worshiped their females. It was a lovely change to not look at a man in suspicion but in brotherhood. To love each one like family. The first small town they encountered as the Troop of Earth men continued to escort them all but fell upon Kaoru as Kenshin helped her from his stallion. The females took her away and Kenshin could only watch helplessly as she and her maid were spirited away to the female only huts in the center of the town.
Kenshin had no fear. He too suddenly felt thankful that the people of this Realm were loving, and trusting and honorable. The men of the town helped his fire soldiers repair their one suffering wagon. A new canvas was procured to cover the top of it. As Kenshin helped a smith fix a broken bolt on one wheel, he spied small girls in their earth tone clothing and wildflowers in their hair dart to and from the wagon, their fingers stained dark. He was not surprised to find the wagon marked with swirling goddess symbols, trees, and stag antlers. He smiled at the dark stains. The wagon was most blessed now.
He found Kaoru washed and dressed in clean clothes. She was sitting on of the many carved stone benches chatting happily with other village women. One was twisting her mass of dark hair into delicate braided knots. Already a crown of flowers had been weaved into her hair. Around the women, small boys gathered and sat. Kenshin always found it amusing that the girl children would run free and wild while the boy children were content to sit with their mothers until they reached what the Earth fae considered to be manhood.
It was not hard to see why. Girl children were safe and protected, taught in their young tender years how to hunt and survive off the land. Their young years were their free years, before the age of motherhood would be upon them, while the boys learned the ways of women from their mothers and aunts, learned to care for a household, how to care for infants, to tend to the hurt and the sick. They left their mother's side as men closely tied to the females in their life.
It seemed a bit upside down especially for the Fire fae. But to Kenshin, it was wonderfully idealistic. The older boys of around nine and ten rushed to the gathering, arms filled with more wildflowers and Kenshin stood and watched as the mothers used Kaoru to show the boys how to weave them into her hair. Another set of boys rushed over with food and drink in wooden bowls and cups. A smaller boy trailed behind them with a folded wooden table that he set up at Kaoru's knees so the boys could place the meal on it. Kaoru looked very taken with the eager boys and thanked each one in turn, sending them back to their mother's side flushed and pleased.
"I hope ye don't mind all th'attention."
Kenshin turned to find the smith standing beside him. His arms crossed over his barrel chest as he turned to the scene of Kaoru in the town center. "We dona get much visitors here. Air folk dona seem ta wanna come by, an' it's rare ta see a Water on this side of th' Realm."
"Perfectly understandable," Kenshin said with a smile.
"A Sacred Water Mother at that. Folks here will be wantin' ta throw a bit of a party."
"Oh, this one wouldn't want you to go to all the trouble, that I don't."
"Ha!" The smith threw his head back and barked a laugh. "Too late. Word from th'border solders is that ye are some sort of Duke. In charge of that Healin' water Keep on th'other side of th' Realm."
The Keep was close to the Earth/Water border but Kenshin never thought that word about it would spread to tiny villages on the other side of the Realm.
"That's correct." Kenshin agreed reluctantly.
"So a Duke and Duchess with an heir on th'way is more than enough for simple folk like us ta want ta party." The smith slapped Kenshin on the back, nearly sending the assassin face first into the ground.
... . . ...
Kaoru was amazed at all the warm earthy colors and styles of their clothes, each person seemed dressed in their own style, with very few rules or customs. Women in full dress, half dress, some in nothing but a short skirt and a sash to hold up their breasts, leaving their arms, legs and midsections bare. Body paint and tattoos on both the men and the women. Small girls and boys painting each other's face with pigment, braiding flowers into each other's hair. Older girls stood behind their kneeling fathers so that they could braid their hair with bells, and gemstones set in copper, gold and silver. Men clean shaved, or with short beards trimmed in decorative ways. Long bushy full beards with braids and more bells, or left to grow wild and free.
Kaoru found it rather endearing to see teens, perhaps men her own age, nervously watching the young females. Their face open to the feelings of admiration, awe and attraction but never daring to take a step in their direction. The girls her own age seemed content to ignore the plight of the teens and instead focus on the older boys who in the two to three years of awkwardness seemed to have grown in confidence. No wonder Sano had such swagger even though he was only just about to have his twentieth name day.
A mood darkened Kaoru's features for just a moment. She wished her Earth bodyguard was here. He could better explain the strange symbols she saw repeated everywhere, the reason boys seemed attached to their mother's hip. How in the world did they get leather so supple and soft that it could be used as swaddling for a new baby. And why she felt she could love each and every person in the village. And if he was there with her, she would know he was safe, and healthy. The unknown was eating at her.
The boys, picking up the slight shift in mood, pushed their power forward. Their warm dark eyes turning to her in question. Like Sano, the feeling was like a soothing vibration against her skin. One bold boy about twelve set his hand in the gentlest of touches on her arm, drawing her attention. Kaoru's eyes shifted over, not wanting to move her head and ruin the delicate work being done to her hair.
"Is Mother needin' anythin'?" he asked. His mahogany hair and eyes reminded her of Sano. And she was dismayed when her emotions rose up to the surface, yet again ignoring her water skills of control. She blinked furiously to keep any tears at bay. The boy easily picked up the disturbance. He looked just as upset and turned his head upward to the woman working on her hair for guidance. "Mama," The boy said in the lowest of tones to one of the women. "She is sad."
"It is nothing," Kaoru assured. "You remind me of my friend, who was recently wounded. I worry for him, that is all."
"When ye carry life, feelings can get overwhelmin'" the mother explained to the boy. "Remember?"
"Ah, yes." The boy nodded solemnly and patted Kaoru on the arm. "All will be well, you'll see."
The boy didn't have an idea of the problems or worries Kaoru had, in delivering his prophecy, with all seriousness in his eyes, Kaoru couldn't help but feel it was the truth.
A/n Well, Kaoru and Kenshin are finally in the Earth lands. The both of them can breathe a little bit easier now. I'm sure everyone is in a hurry to get to Sanosuke and see how he is. I always wanna say, writing the Earth accent is fun. It's only gonna get thicker from here.
Don't forget to swing by my profile to the poll, please msg me if you have questions. I'm very excited for the new batch of stories that are in the works. I'm keeping my head down to try and get everything done so that my readers can enjoy in a timely maner
Thank you for reading! reviews are muched loved!