Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Dreams on a Stormy Night ❯ Chapter Five ( Chapter 5 )

I'm sorry this is so late in coming. I have been busy with work. I know that's no excuse, but here is the end! Forgive me please. I hope you enjoy.

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Something was wrong. Kenshin paused, his thoughts searching through horrible scenarios of what could have happened while he had been gone. He had awoken and watched the woman at his side sleep. Kaoru was breathtaking in her slumber, her chest rising and falling in her sleep, a slight smile on her full lips. He had wanted nothing more than to kiss her awake and reconvene their activities from the night. But she had to be drained, having extricated an extreme amount of energy, both physical as well as emotional. At some point, he had risen to fix breakfast. After the night the two had shared and the idea of beginning a new life with her, he had decided to go to town for some fish for the meal. He had not been gone long, and yet something was way off.

He placed his purchases on the low table in the dinning area and quickly headed towards her room. It was empty, the messy bedding still on the floor. He couldn't help but smile to himself. Hopefully Yahiko wouldn't return until later in the afternoon. He would make use of the futon before then if he had his way. But where was Kaoru? A sound reached his ears and he turned swiftly, his stride quick and sure as he rounded the corner towards his own room.

The door was open. Cautiously he approached it, his hand on his sakabatou. He could detect no hostile presence, yet there was someone inside. He peered around the doorframe and stopped. In the center of the room, Kaoru was on her knees, her arms wrapped around her leg, her shoulders shaking violently. Quickly he hurried to her and touched a hand to her shoulder.

"Kaoru-dono?" Her body stilled. Her head lifted up slightly. "Kaoru-dono, what happened?"

"Are you really here?" She whispered hoarsely.

He frowned and knelt down behind her. He placed a hand on her back, noticing she had not put her hair up this day. "Hai. I went to the market, that I did."

"Market?" She turned to look at him and his heart broke when he saw her. Her cheeks were deathly white, contrasted by her red rimmed eyes. Her luminous eyes shined with grief. Tears stained her face, the neckline of her kimono wet.

"For your breakfast." He could see no reason for her distress unless… … … "Did something happen to Yahiko?"

She shook her head, her hand timidly touching his cheek. "No."

"I don't understand, that I don't. What happened Kaoru-dono?"

She cupped his face in her hands. "You're here. You're really here." She whispered.

And then it hit him. He recalled what Sanosuke had told him just the previous afternoon and her initial claim when he had bungled his first attempt at conveying his desire last night.

"You thought I had left." He mused aloud.

Through a haze he saw her nod. He touched a strand of her loose hair. "I woke up and you were gone. There was nothing cooking and no sign you were here. I thought I was finally living one of my nightmares." She croaked.

That admission widened his eyes. To hear from her lips, she feared him leaving was so much more profound than hearing Sanosuke tell him. "Why would you think I would leave after everything we went through last night?" He asked her softly. "I told you I wasn't."

Her lips trembled again. "I know. But you never…. I mean…you haven't… …. "

"Shhh." He pulled her to him and she willingly came into his arms. He stroked her hair, trying to soothe her fears. She pressed her lips to his neck, breathing in deeply. He pulled back and kissed her cheeks, the salt tangy on his mouth as he tried to alleviate her worries. His movements became more harried and she threw her arms around his neck, pulling him even closer to her. Suddenly he needed her, in a way he had never needed anyone before.

Kenshin's knees hit the floor and he pulled her up alongside him, his hands lost in the depths of her hair, their lips connected in a passionate kiss. The woman's fingers stole to the knot at his waist, trying desperately to undo it. Likewise, he undid the obi sloppily tied at her back. Then his hands were on her flesh and he picked her up to place her on the futon, her hands shoving at the gi on his shoulders.

They lay on his bedding, laid out from the night before, a mass of entwined limbs. Her hands were on his chest, caressing his scarred body and he moaned when she brushed over one of his nipples. Where last night had been an issue of want and desire, today was more of a matter of need. A need to know last night had been real, that it hadn't been a one-time thing, that he had not been the one dreaming.. As much as Kaoru needed to know he would not leave her, he needed to know she belonged to him.

The woman squirmed underneath him, her mouth hot and insistent, her tongue wild and demanding. He slid one hand down her body and between her legs. Part of him was surprised to discover she was already moist and ready. Without wasting another moment, he slid one finger inside her hot folds, urging her along a bit more. She arched beautifully beneath him, her mouth open with a loud cry.

"Can't wait!" She panted. He agreed with that and quickly removed his pants. Then he was on her, her legs wrapping around his waist. He slid into her so easily and both groaned at the pure enchantment of being with one another. He began to move, hardly believing how absolutely he fit within her. Her curves fit him naturally and he couldn't help but wonder why he had denied himself for so long.

They came together, his name on her lips, her cry reverberating the still morning. Then he cradled her against him. Not wanting to let her go, knowing that he just might have a whole lifetime in which to cherish her. No longer had he heard a voice clamoring for acquiescence. He smiled, pressing a kiss to the back of her neck, the hitokiri and the rurouni truly well at peace with each other.

Kaoru sighed contentedly and snuggled against him. "I'm sorry." She murmured.

"For what?"

She glanced over her shoulder at him. "For thinking you would abandon me. I just…" She blushed and looked away, resting her head on his arm.

"What is it, Kaoru-dono?"

"I didn't have nightmares last night and I hoped they would finally be over. Then when I couldn't find you. … It was like I was reliving them in reality and this time I didn't have the advantage of waking up to find you really were still here."

He squeezed her a bit tighter. "Is that all you dream of? Me leaving?" He asked, hating himself for ever giving her doubt.

"Mostly. Or you don't come when Gohei comes for me, or Ji'neh." Her voice hitched slightly and he rolled her over so he could look at her. Her blue eyes were rimmed with tears, her cheeks slightly flushed.

Kenshin brushed a dark hair from her forehead. "I will always protect you and come for you, that I will. I promise you that."

She nodded. "I know. That's why I love you so much." She leaned up and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

"When did you know?"

"Know?"

Suddenly he felt embarrassed. He felt a blush creep up his neck and he looked away from her. "When did you know that you loved me?"

Kaoru giggled. "Do you doubt my love for you?"

"No. I'm just curious when it began. Sanosuke mentioned how you had been…. how you loved me for a long time and I was curious just how long."

"So the great Himura Kenshin finally has met an inquiry he could not answer."

"I am not so great."

She touched his cheek and he glanced at her, his amethyst eyes meeting her cobalt ones. "To me you are."

He felt a tear against his lids and he leaned down to kiss her tenderly, trying to convey everything he felt for her in the simple kiss. "I've always loved you, I think." She told him when he pulled back. "But I think it was the moment you first came back to me and practically disparaged my family style of fighting that I first began to know it."

"Oro?"

"Gohei and his gang had returned. I thought it was over. Here I was alone in this world. The only person who had really tried to be nice to me had left in the middle of the night never to return, not that I blamed him for the way I treated him."

"You weren't so bad." He whispered.

She flashed a hint of a smile before continuing. "He had me by the scruff of my neck and I didn't know what he was going to do. Kill me or have his way with me or both. And then the door slid open and you were standing there. But it wasn't so much that you had come back for me that struck me. Gohei accused you of being weak and demanded if you believed the same nonsense that I did. You said no, that the sword was a weapon and meant to kill and anyone who actually believed that it was meant to protect was living in a dream world talking nonsense." Kenshin colored. Had he really said that? Her smiled deepened when she saw him blush. "But then you claimed that while my beliefs were silly, you hoped would one day they would become the truth."

"I will always come for you and I still hope that your silly talk will become reality." He kissed her nose and she giggled. He leaned back and thought for a moment. "I guess it was quite literal and figurative for me, though I couldn't pinpoint the exact moment I knew I loved you."

"What?"

He glanced at her. "It was when we first met. I was struck by your tenacity to actually approach me and take me on with a wooden sword that I didn't pay attention to what I was doing when I leapt out of the way. I was so enamored by your beauty that I miss-stepped and landed on the weak eve of the roof, falling to the ground. So it was literally then than I began to fall for you." He tweaked her nose, hoping to get another giggle from her.

Instead Kaoru sat up, clutching the sheet to her chest. He watched her with interest. Why was she acting so strangely to him telling her his heart; she had confessed the moment her feelings had begun to develop. Then it struck him.

Kenshin slapped himself on the face. No wonder she had panicked to find him gone this morning. No wonder she had assumed the worst despite the fact he had told he wouldn't leave her alone. Not once had he actually told her how he felt. She knew of his desire, and deep down probably knew he loved her. But nothing brought the reality home like actually hearing the words. Hadn't he thought that last night when she had finally declared her feeling towards him?

"Kaoru-dono," He touched her bare shoulder. "I did this badly, that I did. But there's something I have to tell you."

She looked at him, something unfathomable in her azure eyes. "Nanda?"

He opened his mouth to speak and found he couldn't find the words to convey to her what he was feeling. "Before, when Tomoe ….died, I wandered looking for my death. For some reason though, death just wouldn't come. I assumed it was fate's way of punishing me, making me live with my grief for what I had done. Then ten years later I was walking through the back streets of Tokyo and a young beautiful woman approached me. That day on the street, something happened. I stopped waiting for death and began to live again. All because of you. I still don't think I am worthy of your love, but for whatever reason, you love me and I will take it and cherish forever. I love you and I will spend the rest of my life proving my worth to you, if you'll let me."

Her blue orbs grew wide, her breathing stopped. "What are you saying?" She asked softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

His heart fluttered madly and his anxiety mounted. Never had he been this nervous, not when fighting a worthy, not with the idea of facing Shishio, not even with Tomoe. "I guess, I'm saying I love you, that I am. I know it's not the right day, but maybe it never will be. And if you'll have me, I would be deeply honored and grateful if you'll be my wife."

Her lips parted, her breath having grown short and shallow. "How long have I waited for this moment?" She breathed, not quite sure how to react.

"Is that a yes?"

"Hai."

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Megumi sighed as she watched the happy couple. They had exchanged vows not even an hour earlier and their friends surrounded them. Even Misao and company had made it up from Kyoto for the wedding. Aoshi even smiled at one point. She sighed, feeling a touch of envy for her friends. The tanuki finally got what she wanted.

Kaoru looked radiant in the pale blue kimono. She had not wanted the formal wear and the blue illuminated her large azure eyes. Her dark hair was tied back in the front, the length falling down her back in waves. Her pale skin glowed with her happiness and her eyes radiated her love for the man at her side. She indeed was more beautiful than herself she admitted in this moment. True love could do that to a person.

For his part, Kenshin didn't look too shabby either. He couldn't seem to stop looking at his blushing bride. His own affection for the woman at his side was evident. Never had Megumi seen the redhead so open with his emotions. Only four weeks before they had been estranged, the tension between them so thick; Megumi was still surprised it had taken so long for them to succumb. It gave her hope as her dark eyes spotted another figure amongst the throng of people. She frowned when she saw him animatedly talking with Misao.

The petite girl had grown up quite a bit since she last saw her. The only fact she still was obviously pining after the stoic swordsman made Megumi's jealousy stay to a minimum. She did not want to admit Sanosuke had looked good enough to eat this day.

The tall man had been ignorant to any innuendos she had dropped the last few days. She had been around constantly, helping Kaoru with the wedding. Sano practically lived there so she had seen quite a bit of him over the past days as well. More than once she had let him know she enjoyed his company and yet he would either get up and walk away, or make some random comment about the weather. Or maybe he knew more than he let on. Hadn't Kenshin told her he had helped him to come to terms with his own emotions?

"And how is the kitsune faring?" The man occupying her thoughts sat down next to her.

Megumi blushed and turned her face away so he wouldn't see it. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Sure you do. You've been looking sick with your jealousy all morning. Distressed now that Kenshin is finally taken?"

She glanced at him sideways, surprised at the bitterness she heard in his voice. "Not at all. I'm happy for Kenshin and Kaoru. It's about time the two got together."

"Really?" He asked her speculatively.

"Yes. I don't know what you think you've been seeing, but I am not jealous of them. Why do you think I have draped myself over Kenshin for so long? It was the closest Kaoru would come to expressing her true feelings for the man."

"So there is not interest whatsoever in the rurouni?"

"No!"

The man sat back and rubbed a hand over his stubble. She watched him, curious to how that would feel against her palm, against her neck. She sighed, wondering just what it might be like to have the tori-atama in her bed.

Sanosuke caught her staring. "So why have you been eyeing daggers all day?"

Her shoulder sagged. "Because they have known something, experienced something, I might never know."

"You don't know that."

"Don't I?"

He shook his head. "Kitsune, you are an intelligent and beautiful woman. There are men who would die to be next to you. Don't tell me you won't experience happiness, because it will happen. Someday, some man will come and sweep you off your feet. Then where will the rest of us be?"

Her brown eyes widened. "Where did that come from?"

"Just saying you shouldn't be over here moping is all." He told her defensively. He crossed his arms and watched the blissful couple.

Megumi watched them as well and another thought came to her. She glanced once more at the brunette at her side. "What did you say to the tanuki that day?"

"What day is that?"

She raised an eyebrow. "You know what day I'm talking about."

"No I don't."

She sighed in exasperation and stood up. "Whatever. I'm going to congratulate the happy couple."

A hand on her arm stopped her and she glanced once more at Sano. There was something unreadable in his dark eyes. "Why do you want to know?"

"Just curious what you might have said to get a woman to blush so."

Sanosuke studied her another moment and smiled slyly. "I merely said something so Kenshin would think there was something going on between the two of us."

"And was there?" She demanded.

"Was there what?"

"Something going on?"

"Why would you think that?" He asked, smirking ever so slightly.

Megumi bit her lip, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of getting under her skin.

"And what are you two doing over here?"

They looked up at Kaoru who was watching them with interest. "Nothing." Sanosuke answered hurriedly. He hugged her to him and pulled back, holding her at arms' length. "Have I told you how radiant you look today?"

She colored slightly. "Yes, but it never hurts to hear it again."

"You look absolutely dazzling today, Jou-chan."

"Arigatou." Her blush deepened and Megumi gritted her teeth at the attention he was bestowing on the bride.

"I was beginning to wonder if this day would come. I was thinking I just might have to make a play for you myself."

Megumi elbowed him at that comment, unable to fully contain her anger. He really was a dolt and she wondered why she let it bother her so much.

"That is my wife you are talking to, that she is." Kenshin came up and placed an arm around Kaoru's waist. She glanced at him and Megumi felt a shot of envy to witness their happiness. But if any two people deserved it, it was they.

"Can you blame me, Kenshin? She is quite a catch."

The eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "And you were the one who helped me to realize what a fool I would be to let her go, that you were."

Sanosuke grinned sheepishly and scratched his head. "I just made you stop acting like a obdurate fool."

Now the redhead blushed and Kaoru giggled, snuggling into his side. "Lucky for me you did." She said, smiling up at her new husband.

Kenshin smiled back at her. "I'm the one who is lucky. You never once gave up on me."

The kissed briefly and Megumi felt something akin to sadness touch her. Would anyone ever look at her that way? Another hand touched her and again she looked up to see Sano watching her. "What?"

He shook his head and caught Kaoru's eye. She put a hand to her mouth and giggled. What had that been about? Kenshin caught the exchange and hooked her arm. "I think we should mingle with the others." He teased.

She beamed up at him. "As long as I'm by you, I don't care what we do." She told him, allowing him to guide her away. Left standing alone with Sanosuke she glanced at him once more. His comments made her wonder. She wasn't always around, working at the clinic. "Was there something going on between you and the tanuki at some point?" She demanded, her voice belying her slight aggravation.

He shrugged. "Why does it matter? She's married to Kenshin now."

Her lips pressed together in a thin line and Megumi crossed her arms and started to walk away. "Wait." She paused, but didn't look at him. "Why are you really upset?"

Megumi looked at him. "I'm not upset." She told him hotly.

He sighed. "Nothing ever went on between Jou-chan and me. I couldn't explain the relationship we have, but it's nothing……" He colored slightly. "It's nothing sexual."

"And why should I believe that?"

"You and I both know that she has been in love with Kenshin since the day he arrived at the dojo." He snorted. "That day when Kenshin got all strange and they finally gave into their cravings, I whispered something to Kaoru to make her blush to upset you, not Kenshin."

She stared at him incredulously. "Why on earth would you do that?"

Nervously, Sanosuke ran a hand through his dark hair. "I've been trying to figure out a way to approach you for months now. I can't figure you out and I guess I'm suffering from Kenshin-syndrome as well."

"What's that suppose to mean?"

"It means I don't think I'm worthy of being with you."

His words shocked her and Megumi was left speechless. "Why would you want to be?" She whispered, not daring to believe what she had just heard.

Crossing his arms in defiance he turned his back on her. "Come on, kitsune. You're intelligent. I imagine you can figure it out."

Gnawing on her lip, Megumi contemplated his words. He had to be saying what she thought he was. "You want to be with me?" He didn't say anything. "What did you say to Kaoru that day?" She asked again. For some reason, she had to know. What could have made the woman brush so deeply?

He colored now and rubbed the back of his neck. "It had to do with you."

"Well?"

He looked her in the eyes. "I told her that it was merely a matter of time before I had you naked, your clothes on the floor and you were writhing in my bed." He told her flatly.

A devious grin crossed her face and she tossed her dark hair over her shoulder. "Want to get out of here and see if you can accomplish that?"

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And there it is. At this time I have no plans to write a sequel concerning Sanosuke and Megumi. Or Misao and Aoshi. If someone wants to, then by all means go for it. I hope you enjoyed this story. I have to admit I'm a bit proud of it myself. Thanks to everyone who read and reviewed my story. Until next time!