Sunburn

by sunflorah

Oneshot. Post Jinchuu arc, Kenshin considers leaving the Kamiya dojo behind to avoid falling further for Kaoru. She convinces him to stay. M.

Oneshot. Post Jinchuu arc, Kenshin considers leaving the Kamiya dojo behind to avoid falling further for Kaoru. She convinces him to stay. M.

The breeze was a light, welcome respite from the glaring heat of the sun beating down on Kenshin Himura's back as he scrubbed the final piece of laundry in the wide basin. It was late July and in the early afternoon when the sun was at its highest and most sweltering, not an ideal time to be outside doing manual labor. This was exactly his reason for doing it, he knew he would be left alone to process his thoughts.

A few seasons had passed since his last battle with Enishi and Kaoru's rescue, things had been quiet at the Kamiya dojo, far quieter than he had ever remembered. He didn't want to concede to the notion that peace was finally upon him, because he couldn't seem to drop his guard. If something was still lurking in the shadows, he had to be alert to protect his friends. All of the misfortune that fell upon them was due to his presence there. The time Kaoru had been framed to be dead was even more painful than Tomoe's death, he couldn't live through something like that again.

Kenshin wrung out the last piece of laundry and sighed, wiping his brow clear of the beads of sweat that had gathered. It had almost been a year and no one had come searching for him with hostility. If anything, the last few months had brought more students to the dojo in response to Kenshin's reformed ways, no longer were students seeking the strength of violence from Hitokiri Battosai, they wanted to learn more about preserving life in the ways that he did, through the Kamiya dojo's practice of the life giving sword.

Kaoru was the happiest he had seen her surrounded by students, her dream of revitalizing the dojo was coming true. He sat and watched many of her lessons, admiring her patience with her students and her graceful form wielding the shinai. She was a strong and steady young woman, and his own feelings for her had begun to overtake him. They had fallen into a simple domesticity with the day to day chores at the dojo, and he was careful to keep his distance from her.

One day she had questioned his intentions.

"Things have been really quiet around here lately," Kaoru said quietly as she poked at the soup she had been toiling over. She had gotten a recipe from Megumi and was determined to get it right, Kenshin saw the concentration in her brow while she poured over the recipe notes and meticulously dropped each ingredient in one by one.

"They have been indeed." Kenshin was seated by the open shoji door, staring at the sun setting beyond the horizon.

"Ow!"

Kenshin was by her side in an instant, "What it it Miss Kaoru, are you hurt?"

Kaoru had her finger in her mouth, her face embarrassed. "Don't worry Kenshin, the soup was boiling so much that some broth leapt from the pot and burned me. It's nothing serious."

"Let me see," Kenshin pulled her hand towards him to see an angry welt left on her index finger, the burn had already blistered, but it didn't look serious. "I wish you wouldn't be slaving away so much on this cooking, that I do. I am appreciative of any meal I receive from you."

When he met her eyes again her face was flushed, he still had her hand in his and they were still huddled close by the fire. "…I want to improve so I can be as good a cook at Megumi-chan," Kaoru's face seemed to redden further as she whispered, "… so I can take good care of you."

Kenshin stilled in surprise for a moment and felt warmth blooming from deep within his chest. He had tried to quiet any feelings he had for Kaoru, knowing he wasn't deserving of her kindness. He had only brought violence to her life, and couldn't even consider the possibility her suffering further due to his past mistakes. He still ached for her, the longer he remained at the dojo the ache continued to grow. He was well aware of her affections for him, yet he continued to deny them the chance to move forward out of his own shame. He should have returned to wandering once the battle with Enishi was over, but he couldn't leave her behind again so abruptly. It seemed like no matter what action he took, he would hurt her with any choice.

He said nothing in response and squeezed her palm before letting go of her hand and sitting back on his heels. They were silent for few moments, the air between them strained. And then, as if reading his thoughts—

"When will you leave again Kenshin?"

Kenshin jolted up and looked at her in shock, but she refused to meet his eyes. Her attention was back on the stew, she stirred it gently avoiding the use of her injured finger. "There's nothing really keeping you here any longer right?"

'It's you, you're why I remain here, I can't stand the thought of you being alone here again, I..'

Kenshin battled his intrusive thoughts, he turned away from her so she wouldn't look up to see his tortured face. He was selfish to want her for himself. He wanted her to be happy, he wanted her to find a husband and a family, he wanted a peaceful life for her.

"Miss Kaoru, I am honored to be of aid to you at your dojo, that I am. I wanted to be sure there would be no further harm to you, Yahiko, or Sano after everything that has happened." Kenshin smiled weakly at her, "It's true I was a wanderer for 10 years, and I can return to that life if you no longer wish to have me, but for right now I would like to stay for a while longer, that I would."

Kaoru still refused to look at him, but seemed to relax a little at his answer. She hesitated, then started with a soft voice, "Kenshin… I—"

"Hey ugly, what you're cooking actually smells good for a change, seems like Megumi is going to save us from eating slop all the time—"

WHACK

Yahiko cowered with a lump growing on his head from the wooden utensil Kaoru smacked him with. "You aren't entitled to eat anything I make little runt! You're a freeloader anyways!"

"I'll always be your first student who saved the dojo and you know it! You owe me a lifetime of free meals!"

"WHAT?"

Kenshin was eternally grateful for Yahiko's interruption that night, Kaoru's questions had weakened his resolve and he could sense her sadness at his lack of reciprocation. He wanted so badly to give in to her, and he would have eventually if the young boy hadn't intervened when he did.

He had put more thought into leaving since she mentioned it, if he did leave, the temptation to have her would lessen with the lack of proximity, and perhaps he could keep an eye on things from afar. To ensure she was safe of course, for no reason other than that..

He had made up his mind, he would leave the dojo tonight after everyone had went to bed.

Yahiko was off training at a neighboring dojo that day, Sanoske out gambling, and Kaoru at the market picking up the necessary supplies for dinner. They had all announced their leave to him earlier that morning, warning him of the extreme heat the day would bring. Kenshin began to feel the sting of sunburn on the back of his neck and supposed he had been out in the sun for too long.

After hanging the last piece of laundry, he emptied the wash basin and tilted it upside down to dry out. As he walked around, he could feel sweat running down his arms and legs. 'Perhaps I need to bathe now after a long morning in the sun, that I should.'

Just then he heard footsteps approaching and the familiar scent of jasmine blossoms. And then a whack across the newly sensitive skin on the back of his neck.

Kenshin dropped onto his knees shaking from the pain, and looked up to see Kaoru staring angrily down at him with a rolled up newspaper from the market, "Oro….?"

"Kenshin! You're beet red, I told you to stay out of the sun!"

"I swear I didn't realize how long I had been out, I was just about to draw a bath, that I was."

"Hmph." Kaoru glared at him and reached out the back of her hand to his forehead, and quickly drew it back, "You're burning up!"

Still dazed, Kenshin rubbed his neck wincing, "Miss—"

Her nostrils flared dangerously, and using a strength that was only reserved for an angry woman she bulldozed him towards the front shoji door. "Go inside! I'll draw you a bath you idiot! You will stay inside until it's ready!"

"Y-Yes Kaoru-dono…"

Kaoru flung open the door and threw Kenshin inside. He heard the door slam shut behind him and her grumbling circle around the side of the house where the washtub was. He laid on the cool floor coming to his senses, 'You do take such wonderful care of me…Kaoru dono.'

The gang had finished dinner with many compliments to Kaoru's cooking, she really had improved after working closely with Megumi, and it was a nice change to have Yahiko no longer complaining after every bite.

Kenshin had been quietly cleaning his quarters in the dojo to make his departure. Once he was satisfied with how he had left things he closed the door of his room behind him and walked towards the center of the house.

Kenshin paused in the dojo training area towards the main entrance, it was this room where he rescued Kaoru for the second time, and where he made a personal vow to protect her. He looked at the wall with the students names hanging proudly. She had made good on the promise to her father to spread the teaching of the life giving sword, and Kenshin was so proud of her.

He sighed and reluctantly turned towards the front door, with a start he realized he wasn't alone anymore.

"Where are you going Kenshin?"

Kenshin cursed himself, he had been so lost in thought he didn't sense her approach, what a lousy swordsman he had become during this time of peace.

When he saw her, he forgot how to think.

Kaoru had only her sleeping yukata on, it hung loosely around her, and her hair fell in soft tresses down her shoulders and back, free from its usual ribbon. She was beautiful.

When he didn't answer, she pressed again, "Kenshin, where are you going so late at night? You're all dressed and everything…" Her eyes widened with realization, "You're not leaving are you?"

Kenshin grimaced, this was not going according to plan. He would try to lie his way out of it, as terrible as he was at it. "I was only going out for a walk, that I was. You can return to bed Miss Kaoru, there is nothing to worry about."

Kaoru stared at him suspiciously, "I don't believe you Kenshin. What is this really about?"

Kenshin sighed, he should have known he wouldn't be able to lie to her. He would be honest. "You asked me when I would leave again," He couldn't bear to look at her, his traitorous body was reacting to her lack of dress and causal manner and he trembled with his sudden desire. "It's time that I take my leave now, that it is. Everything is at peace here, if I stay I will only bring forth more suffering."

"That's not true! You have helped bring peace here!" Kaoru argued, "You can't leave Kenshin, you can't!"

He smiled sadly and shook his head, "I'm afraid it has to be this way, that it does." He started to take steps towards the front entrance. Before he could reach out to slide the shoji door open he felt Kaoru crash into him, her arms firmly secured around his waist.

"You idiot." Kaoru's voice was thick and quiet, her body shook with tears, "I told you I wanted to stay with you forever." She fisted the material of his gi with one hand, her other pounded against his chest weakly, "I have been waiting for you to come to me, I've been waiting for you all this time!"

Kenshin clutched her hand to still her punches, "Kaoru-dono you must understand… the thought of something more happening to you because of me, is too devastating to bear." He sucked in a shaky breath at the onslaught of grief at the memory of her staged death. He was a shell of himself without her. "You will be safer without me."

"I won't let you leave… I.." Kaoru felt Kenshin shift to remove her other hand from his gi, and knew he could overpower her easily. Determined, she surged forward, sealing her lips with his.

Kenshin froze against her, his mind trying desperately to catch up with his body. The thoughts persuading him to twist out of her arms grew weaker as she fully pressed herself against him. He had not been this close to her since he fell into her arms after his battle with Enishi, he had stayed away with purpose. But now, nothing else seemed to matter besides this, besides having her as close as possible. He began to move with her, his hand that had tried to push hers away now locked around her fingers and he returned her kiss fervently.

Kaoru pulled away to breathe, he could see the streaks that her tears left behind and how puffy her eyes were. Even now, he was still hurting her.

"Kenshin… idiot…. do you even realize how much I love you?" She blinked away the tears in her eyes while shaking her head, "What about how I feel? Have you even considered how selfish you are to not even ask me what I wanted? Even if I am destined to a life of danger, it's worth it if I can be by your side!"

Kenshin wrapped his arms around her tightly, shaking at her confession. He buried his face in her neck, suddenly feeling weightless. "P-please… forgive me Kaoru-dono…. I only wanted the best for you, you're right, I did not consider you. I did not think of myself as deserving of your kindness."

"You deserve only good things," Kaoru tilted his face up to meet hers, "You are such a good man, Kenshin…"

Kenshin met her halfway and they were kissing again. This is exactly what he feared, falling in deeper with her, but it was also what he had wanted from the very beginning. As soon as she willingly accepted him into her life, overlooking his past, embracing him as a reformed man, he was never the same. He had begun to heal with her.

He broke away from her lips only to kiss down her neck, his hands found her waist and clutched tightly, the desire that he had pushed down for so long boiling over.

"Kenshin…wait.." Kenshin stopped immediately and looked up at her. Kaoru's face was red and she was panting heavily, her body shaking in his grasp. He cursed himself again for pushing her, she was still so young, and much more innocent.

"We can stop, this one is sorry to have pushed you too far—"

"No!" Kaoru interrupted him, "I don't think Yahiko or Sano would appreciate walking in on us like this. Please.."

Kaoru took his hand and led him away from the dojo's entrance, towards the open door of her bedroom. Once inside she motioned him to close the door, Kenshin did with his heart threatening to burst.

Kaoru walked towards her futon and faced him. She slowly began to remove her yakata with trembling fingers. She slipped the thin material over her shoulders, leaving her body bare before him. She modestly crossed her arms to cover her breasts with her face down, unable to meet his eyes.

Kenshin swallowed as he approached and hugged her close, "Are you sure about this Kaoru?" He whispered.

"Yes. I've wanted you for so long Kenshin."

His breath hitched at her admission and he kissed her passionately, his fingers tracing down her arms and up her back. He felt her tugging at his obi and helped her loosen it. When his gi and hakama fell by his feet, he pulled her flush to him, feeling the soft plush of her breasts on his chest and the wetness of her core. The feelings of sweet anticipation felt foreign to him, being over a decade since he had been with a woman. Kaoru still shook against him, reminding him of her inexperience. Pride welled up in him at the thought of him being her first, he would cherish her.

Kenshin pulled away slightly and gently led her towards her futon. Once they settled under the covers Kenshin kissed her softly, hovering over her and supporting his weight with his forearms. Kaoru's hands were everywhere, running over his arms, shoulders, back and down to his hips. Her curious hands found his erection and he gasped in her mouth when she took hold of it. His hand was over hers at once, stilling it.

Worry crossed her features, "Did I do something wrong?"

"N-no. Not at all." Kenshin's skin felt hot, both from his healing sunburns and from her touches, his face burned the most. "It felt so good, I just want to last for you."

He cupped her face and trailed kisses on her cheek, down her neck, and across her collarbones while his other hand cupped one of her breasts, eliciting a soft moan from her that set all of the heat from the surface of his skin pooling in his core. He wanted to hear her moan over and over again.

While one hand fondled her breast, he dipped down and took her other breast into his mouth, his tongue swirling around her nipple. She panted underneath him, her back arching and hips bucking up in a subconscious attempt to find friction. Kenshin obliged by slipping a hand down and stroking her mound with his fingers, running them between her slick lips and slowly circling inside her entrance.

Kaoru whimpered at the intrusion, her chest heaving. Kenshin continued pushing inside of her with his dextrous fingers, every so often removing them to swipe over her hardened nub at the center of her mound, the spot he knew she needed his touch the most.

"Please, I want you… please!"

"Kaoru-dono please be patient," Kenshin whispered gently, "I need to get you ready for me, I don't want to hurt you."

Her eyes were still wet with tears, she stared up at him with so much trust he couldn't breathe. How was he here with her? He didn't and would never deserve her.

"You are so beautiful," Kenshin spoke into her skin as he kissed between her breasts and up towards her throat, "I have loved you for so long, Kaoru. Please forgive me for not telling you sooner."

Confident that she was opened up for him, he ran his wet fingers over her clit, drawing out wonderful gasps and cries from her. He covered her mouth with his own and swallowed her moans, waves of pleasure washing over him at her reactions.

"I'm going to start now," he spoke against her lips, his hands moving to clutch her waist to hold her shaking body steady, "I will stop when you tell me to."

He started to push into her, her tight heat making him delirious. He steadied himself and moved as slowly as possible so not to rush things. He watched her face as he moved forward inch by inch, it was scrunched up in discomfort, and he could tell she was bearing it for his sake.

When was fully inside of her he stilled. "Kaoru, are you alright?"

"I..I need a moment please."

"Of course."

Kaoru was completely flushed beneath him, her hair fanned out around her, some of it sticking out in weird directions. She reached up and pulled his hair free from the tie holding it back, it fell down creating a curtain around them. She ran her fingers through the base of his scalp and down through his long red locks, the sensation of her light pulling and petting relaxed him beyond what he thought possible.

"You're so handsome," She murmured.

Kenshin took in a shaky breath and hid his face in her neck, overwhelmed with emotion. Kaoru wrapped her arms around his upper back, her fingers still massaging his scalp.

"I want to do this the right way Kaoru… I want to marry you."

Kaoru exhaled a short laugh of disbelief and held him tighter, "So does that mean you won't leave?"

"How could I ever think of that now?" Kenshin placed light kisses on her neck, "I will never leave your side, I promise you."

Kaoru let out a muffled sob.

"You can move."

He nodded into her neck and began to slowly rock his hips, feeling her tense up with every thrust that hit her core.

As soon as it seemed like she stopped flinching with every movement, he set a rhythm that had both of them gasping. Due to her inexperience and his decade long dry spell, neither of them were going to last. He brought the fingers he used to ease her open to his mouth then reached down between them to massage her clit once more. Her taste aroused him further and soon he felt his release building fast.

Kaoru quivered below him, his stimulation was pushing her to her end, Kenshin bent down to take her nipple in his lips again and it sent her over. She cried out and tightened around him, the feeling seeming to suck him in even further into her. Hearing her pleasure and watching her fall apart was all he could take. He pulsed inside of her, letting himself savor the moments of silencing bliss.

No longer being able to hold himself up, Kenshin carefully removed himself and laid down beside her, taking her into his arms with her back pressed to his front.

"..Kaoru-dono," Kenshin said after a few minutes of quiet, "Are you okay?"

Kaoru held his hands wrapped around her front tightly, "I'm great, I'm so happy."

Kenshin exhaled, relieved. "I am truly sorry for any upset I may have caused you, that I am. I have been foolish."

Kaoru turned in his arms to face him, her face wearing a radiant smile, "I forgive you, Kenshin. Please don't apologize anymore." She brought his hands to her lips and kissed his knuckles sweetly.

After cleaning up, they settled back into the futon together. Kaoru fell asleep quickly leaving Kenshin to his thoughts. His trajectory had been reframed in a matter of hours, after years of being a widower, he was going to be a husband again. He felt warm at the thought of Tomoe smiling on them and thanked his former wife for her blessing.

He breathed in her comforting sent and sleep soon overcame him.

"Kenshin please come to training with me! The other students are dying to meet you!"

"There are so many chores to do here Yahiko, I will come another time."

"That's what you always say!" Yahiko was growing quickly, both in training and physicality. He had started teaching classes of his own at the dojo, having near mastered Kaoru's techniques.

Kenshin continued to later up the hakama he was currently working a stain out of and smile weakly at Yahiko, "I'm sorry, that I am."

"Pssh. You just want some alone time with your wife."

Kenshin's smile widened, "When you return I will be in the same spot I am now, that I will."

"Whatever."

Yahiko stormed off, Kenshin returned to the washing, shaking his head. It was still summer, and the wash basin had been strategically placed underneath the shade of a tree for the day's work.

Once satisfied with the state of clean that pair of pants had, Kenshin shifted to stand up and hang them to dry. Now on his feet, he had a clear view into the house where his wife was concentrating dutifully on a pot of cooking rice. The steam rising from the pot had given her face a sheen and colored her cheeks pink. He had shown her how to cook rice for onigiri several times and she was finally getting the hang of it. Still she couldn't bear to leave it cooking without keeping a close watch.

She glanced up and their eyes met. A sweet smile spread across her face and he felt his heart race. There was no where left to wander. He was home.