Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ A Simple Twist of Fate ❯ Chapter 8

A bit of business before continuing on: this chapter has some citrus content in it. Not a full lemon, though that is coming numerous chapters from now, but things are about to get a bit interesting. Consider yourself warned. I mean no offense to anyone and if I have offended, please accept my deepest apologies.

 

Also just need to state, that the characters below are not of my own creation. I find them fascinating and can't seem to stop writing about them. I hope ya'll enjoy!

 

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Dinner was a quiet affair. Kaoru had watched him throughout the meal, curious as to what he was thinking. The past few days had been quite bizarre to say the least. The day's events in the glen still kept with her. She had learned of Tomoe, some woman from his past. Their brief skirmish also flitted through her mind. She still couldn't believe she had managed to strike a blow.

 

It made her feel guilty for having turned down her mentor the other day in the village. She hadn't meant to blow him off, but Kenshin had been waiting and she fully intended to keep her promise of not telling anyone of their relationship. Since the redhead kept a close eye on her, there would be no sneaking away for a quick lesson.

 

It made her thoughts turn to Enishi. The blonde had never spoken to her in such a manner before and it made her uncomfortable. More surprising to her had been Kenshin's reaction to it. It made her feel even worse for lying to him. She wished Megumi was here, or possibly Misao. Then maybe she could make sense of it.

 

Everything had happened so fast. Just when she thought she had uncovered the reason for one feeling, something else would happen to throw her off. The reality of love was far more confusing that what she had read in the books. Earlier she had thought he might kiss her. But he had backed off abruptly and again she had seen he was angry. It made her recall the fury she had witnessed when he had caught her speaking to Enishi. She was positive it was jealousy she had seen in the depths of his blue-violet eyes. But if he did desired her, why hadn't he kissed her that afternoon?

 

She sat back in her chair. Her mind was full of these thoughts and she sighed. Kaoru paused and then took in a deep breath. She wrinkled her nose in distaste. Was that her hair? She took the greasy strands and sniffed them. No wonder he hadn't wanted to kiss her. She smelled terrible.

 

She stood quickly and went upstairs to her room. She found her towel and a clean shift. She found the soap and debated, hopping from one foot to another. She hadn't bathed in several days, since before Kenshin had entered her life. Megumi's suggestion floated through her head. But this really wasn't about him seeing her as a woman. It went deeper than that. If he ever did kiss her, she didn't want him to be disgusted by her smell. He might be used to women who were clean on a regular basis. She found the small jar of oil Megumi had given her and moved towards the window. There was just one more question. How to make it to the stream and back before he realized she was gone?

 

Realizing it might be futile, she moved away from the window and reluctantly went downstairs. Kenshin sat in a chair by the fire, a book in his hands. “I thought I might take a bath.” She ventured softly.

 

The amethyst eyes looked up at her. “Do you need help with the water?”

 

She furrowed her brow. “Water?”

 

“Water for your bath.”

 

“I don't understand.”

 

He cocked his head to the side, a look of confusion now written on his face. “Do you need help carrying water in from the well…for your bath?”

 

“Carry water where?”

 

“To the tub.”

 

“You mean the water basin?” She asked, completely flummoxed by his suggestion.

 

He shook his head and rose from the chair. “I'll get a fire going for you.” He paused and looked around. “Where do you normally…bathe?” He asked shifting uncertainly.

 

Kaoru's mind reeled. “Fire? Why would you build a fire?”

 

He blinked at her. “Where were you planning on taking a bath?”

 

“I need to go down to the river. I want to wash my hair.” She blushed at the admission and looked down at her feet.

 

“It's a bit chilly outside.”

 

She shrugged. “It isn't anything I haven't done before.”

 

“You always bathe in the stream?”

 

She chuckled a bit uneasily. “Where else would I?”

 

He sighed and offered her a sheepish grin. “Forgive me, Kaoru-dono. I forget sometimes that you have not had many amenities in your life. You always seem to make me realize how many things I have taken for granted in my own, that you do.”

 

“You speak as though you have led such a grand life.”

 

Kenshin shook his head. “Not so grand as you might think.”

 

She smiled at him and moved towards the door. “I'll be back shortly.”

 

“We'll both be back. I'll come with you, that I will.”

 

She paused, her cheeks hot. It seemed she had been doing an awful lot of that lately. He made her blush with the most innocent comment. Why shouldn't he accompany her? Only that she would be stripping down and the idea of him seeing her nude made her heart race. Megumi's comment came back once more. “You don't need to.”

 

“I could use a bath as well. Wash of the sweat and dirt that we built up today.”

 

She took a shuddering breath and nodded. Of course he would want to be clean as well. It made perfect sense. “Okay.”

 

He went up to the attic for a few minutes and returned with a towel. He picked up his blade as he opened the door. She looked at it for a moment; unsure of why he was bringing it with them considering they wouldn't be gone long. How much could possibly happen?

 

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Kenshin felt much refreshed from the dip in the cold water. Numerous times he had utilized a fresh water source. Even during the war, it was the one thing he always did. He couldn't abide the smell of blood and after the horrendous things he performed, he needed to wash his hands clean if nothing else, once he had returned to his senses.

 

However, he felt silly for his assumption that Kaoru would need a warm bath. At her surprise and confusion that he even suggested bringing water for her, he wondered if she had ever had one. He thought of that as he secured his pants and glanced up at the fading light. He should find Kaoru and get her inside before it got dark. He shook out his damp red hair and tied it haphazardly out of his face. Then he picked up his sword and top and went in search of the young woman knowing she would be finishing her own bath.

 

He pushed his way through the branches and paused. He heard a soft voice humming and he grinned, imagining Kaoru sitting on a rock, combing out her long dark hair. Kenshin hurried towards her, not even realizing he felt lighter at the prospect of seeing her. He ducked under one last branch hiding the river from view and opened his mouth to call out to her. Her name died on his lips and his violet eyes rounded as he took in the sight before him.

 

He should have known, considering the luck he had where she was concerned. She had obviously just climbed from the water, but she had not had a chance to dress herself. Her pale skin glistened in the warm sunlight, her ebony hair dripping onto her ivory shoulders. She shivered slightly from the cold water and wrapped her arms about herself, but not before Kenshin saw the rosy taught nipples of her pert bosom. Absently he licked his lips, his own lust stirring at the sight of her naked body.

 

The soft melody she hummed floated towards him and he blinked out of his stupor as she reached for the clean linen she had brought to dry herself off. It was too late, he had already seen her and he could no longer deny what the young woman made him feel. Kenshin nearly stepped out into the clearing, intent on making his own objectives known. She would easily fall into his arms, he knew. And though she was a virgin, he didn't doubt his own abilities to please a woman. There hadn't been many, but the few he had bedded had been excellent teachers and had managed to satiate the darker hunger that had once driven him.

 

Only his sense of duty prevented him from going to her. He had promised to protect her and now that he suspected who she was, he couldn't bed her. If noble blood flowed through her veins then she deserved more than anything he had to offer. The reality burned him and he growled, taking a step back into the shadows to give the young beguiling woman some privacy.

 

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The man strode into the clearing, determination in his stride. She turned around, her shift falling around her, the thin cotton clinging to her still damp skin. She thought to cover herself, but then he had taken her in his arms, his lips on her mouth. She thought she would burst, at long last claiming what she craved.

 

He pulled back, her lips tender from his assault. His eyes glittered gold in the light, his passion clear and she shivered. “I had to come.” He murmured to her huskily. “Please forgive me.”

 

His lips were on her neck and she buried her fingers in the fiery depths of his hair. “Nothing has changed.” She moaned, his mouth playing hell with her sense. “All I know to be true in this moment is that I love.”

 

He pulled her closer, on hand snaking down to rest on her hips. His fingers caressed her cheek, his gaze thrilling her. “Even if what they say is accurate, that you are the missing queen, it won't keep me from you.” His fingers pushed back the damp strands of her midnight dark hair from her face.

 

His mouth covered hers in a searing kiss that left her breathless. Her hands moved down his strong back, wanting so much more from him. She moaned aloud as his fingers slid down her side and over her breast. His thumb teased a taut nipple and she threw her head back, crying out into the night. His mouth moved fiercely over her neck, his other hand moving to wrap her leg about his waist. It ran up her naked thigh, pulling her hips against him. His arousal was apparent and she knew exactly what was to happen and was powerless to stop it. She needed him as much as clearly needed her.

 

Suddenly the seemingly cool night was too hot and she was more than happy to oblige him when his fingers moved towards the ties of her thin shift. His fingers slid underneath the thin material and she moaned again when his cool finger tweaked one nipple and then the other. Tonight was their night and nothing could keep them apart. They were, after all, meant to be.

 

“Kaoru-dono?”

 

Her name broke through her reverie and Kaoru cried out, startled from the lascivious thoughts in her head. She felt a flush of embarrassment at having been caught and then even more so when she realized exactly what she had been imagining. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath to calm herself. Seeing him would be unbearable if he could tell she had been thinking of him.

 

Kaoru opened her eyes. She swallowed thickly and looked down at herself. Quickly she tied up her fresh chemise and reached for her dress. It wasn't as clean as she would have liked, but I would do for the walk back to the cottage in the chill air.

 

“I'm here.” She called out.

 

A shadow emerged from the trees and Kenshin stepped into the light. His eyes widened at the sight of her and he quickly turned around. “You aren't fully dressed.”

 

“I just…I…” She groaned softly and swiftly pulled the gown over her head. “You sounded worried.” She stammered, trying to explain her thoughtlessness.

 

“I didn't realize how long we had been out here, that I didn't.”

 

“Oh.” She couldn't help feeling slightly dejected. She thought he might have been worried for her. She smoothed out the skirts as best as she could and picked up the damp towel and dirty shift. “We can go now.” She said softly.

 

She walked towards him and gingerly touched him on the shoulder. Kenshin looked at her. His eyes were dark and she couldn't fathom what might be going on underneath his calm façade. Then he smiled. “Feel better?”

 

Kaoru returned the smile. “Much.”

 

“We should return. The sun is almost gone.”

 

She nodded and fell in step next to him. “Do you feel better?” She asked timidly.

 

Kenshin nodded. “I do. I've always enjoyed the cleansing feeling after a bath.” She nodded her head in agreement. “Perhaps next time we can find a way fro you to enjoy a warm one.”

 

“A warm what?”

 

“A warm bath.”

 

She stopped and gazed at him quizzically. “You would do that for me?”

 

He stopped and turned to look at her. The air between them seemed charged somehow. Once again, Kaoru as left wondering just what had happened. “I'm here to watch over you. I would do no good if you caught a cold due to your own vanity.”

 

The tension was momentarily broken and she rolled her blue eyes. “I'm not vain.” She sniffed as she passed him. “I like to be clean. I see nothing wrong that. Who wants to be near someone if they smell?”

 

He merely smiled and shook his head. “You can't argue with most obvious logic, that you cannot.”

 

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He glanced over where she sat by the fire on the floor. Her long dark hair hung in wet clumps down her back. She held a comb in her hands and she struggled to untangle the wet knots.

 

“Do you want some help?” He asked softly.

 

The azure eyes turned to him. “I can manage.”

 

He allowed her comment and looked once more at the book in his hands. He watched her out of the corner of his eyes. He imagined Tae or Megumi helped her with the ebony strands when they were here. Before he could stop himself he rose and moved behind her. He took the comb from the startled woman's fingers. “I insist, that I do.” He murmured.

 

He sat down in the seat closest to her and she shifted so that her back was resting against it. “Thank you. Megumi usually helps me.”

 

“I figured as much.”

 

Gently he ran the comb through the silky stands of her hair. He had never done such an intimate act before, even for his first love. Thoughts of Tomoe flitted through his mind and in turn led to Enishi. Again he could not have been mistaken. It had to be the same blonde man who had approached Kaoru in the village the other day. Why would he have done such a thing? Who was Kaoru to him?

 

Once more he entertained the notion he had been brought here to protect the young woman. It could make sense. Tae obviously was worried about her well-being. He knew next to nothing about her past, every time he had probed, she had effectively turned the question around on him. And while he had relinquished some details of his past, he wasn't willing to divulge all of his prior actions, afraid he would lose the camaraderie they had developed. She was of the right age. What better place to hide the princess, than next to the castle?

 

The thought chilled him and led to more inquiries he could not answer until the old woman returned. Either that or take Kaoru directly to the source and demand answers from the king. He paused in his action and followed the new train of thought. Hiko had mentioned he should come here. Did that mean his mentor knew of Kaoru? Why had he sent Kenshin here, now? Why had Tae not returned ten years ago when the war was over?

 

Was it possible that he had not destroyed Shishio ten years ago?

 

“Kenshin?”

 

He looked at the woman seated in front of him in startlement. “Oro?”

 

“Are you finished?”

 

She was watching him, her dark eyes unreadable as the light was behind her. Her hair was mostly done, hanging now in neat damp tendrils, the ends curling slightly. Not wanting to stop, he shook his head. “Not just yet.” He lied as he moved to touch the soft strands once more.

 

She settled down in front of him again and tucked her knees up underneath her chin. “What are you thinking?” She asked after another moment.

 

Kenshin shrugged, trying to think of something to say. “You take good care of your hair.” He answered lamely.

 

She giggled. “I do what I can. I don't have many options.”

 

He ran the comb through it one last time and reluctantly sat back. “It looks more radiant than many of the woman of court, that it does.”

 

She twisted around. “Have you ever been to court?”

 

“On occasion.”

 

“What's it like?”

 

He gazed down at her. “It's fairly boring. People pretending to be who they are not. Believe me, Kaoru-dono, you have not missed anything, by not being a member of the court.”

 

She wrinkled her nose and turned away. “I don't want to be a courtesan or anything. I just want to go to one ball. Have the chance to dress up and have someone curl my hair and put all sorts of goop in it to make it shiny.”

 

“You don't need any goop in your hair to make it shiny.” He told her sincerely.

 

“And what of you?” She sat up on her knees. “Do you need help with your hair?”

 

She leaned forward to finger a loose strand and Kenshin moved away from her touch. Her clean smell drifted towards him and he moved away, further afraid of what she was doing. “My hair?”

 

"Do you need help combing it?”

 

He stared at her, not sure what to say. “I don't usually comb it.” He murmured.

 

“Then all the more reason I should return the favor.” She told him. She stood and towered over him. “Now sit.” She pointed to the floor.

 

Not sure what else he could do, he moved to the spot she had just vacated. He could sense the woman's surprise that he had acquiesced. Timidly she sat down behind him. He felt her release that band he used to hold his hair back and allowed her to brush out his long red locks.

 

Kenshin's mind wandered, just as his feet had for so long. It felt so comforting to sit here and allow her to pamper him. Despite his years at court, he had rarely found time to bother with vanity. It made him happy to know that he had encountered Kaoru here in the middle of the woods. If she had grown up at court, she would be just as the other courtesans were: full of arrogance and snobbish attitudes. She was beautiful. She received such joy out of the simple pleasures in life. That was something else that made her all the more endearing that would not be a part of her character if she had lived within the walls of the palace. But it still didn't justify why Hiko had left her here while the true king mourned the loss of his family.

 

He frowned. Was he conceding that Kaoru was the princess? It seemed too easy. The truth also meant the horrors of his past, that he had spent so long attempting to hide from, were going to come back. Evidence of that proved true when Enishi showed up in the market. That, above all else, he wasn't sure he was ready to face. He would be forced to admit he had messed up all those years ago, in more ways than one.

 

He had discovered where the sorcerer's lair had been located. Albeit, it had been through his discovery of his lover's betrayal. Enraged and against Hiko's orders, he had gone after the man anyway. The resulting altercation had resulted in Tomoe's death. Caught up in his grief and anger, he had chased the wizard to his castle. There, Hiko had finally relented and they had laid siege to the fortress, eventually burning it to the ground. But he was a young and naïve boy, the same age as Kaoru was now. So much would be different if he had just listened to his mentor and waited. But then he had rarely listened to anyone until his title had finally caught up to him.

 

Gingerly she ran the brush through his fiery locks. It felt strange to have someone else do something so simple for him. He reluctantly admitted it felt nice and soothing. He allowed her to tug the tangles from his hair and he stared into the fire. There were so many enigmas surrounding this young beauty. Tae was adamant she not leave the surrounding areas of the cottage. That was strange in and of itself. And while the older woman didn't allow Kaoru to wander very far, Megumi had no such restrictions; he had seen the woman only the one time when he had met her. So why Kaoru? Why must she stay here?

 

Kenshin realized he was trying to convince himself Kaoru wasn't the missing princess. All of his sacrifices would have been in vain if she was. Or was it something else? Perhaps Koaru was here for no reason than the story she told. She was just some young woman whose parents had met a tragic downfall and had been left in an old woman's care. He wanted to believe that, for more than one reason. As long as Kaoru wasn't nobility, then there was a chance he could succumb to his own desire. She was so different than any other woman he had ever encountered, even Tomoe. He enjoyed her honesty and her lust for life. She held no reserves about her appearances.

 

“You should take better care of your hair. It's beautiful.” He didn't answer, the long red hair another vanity he had never thought twice about. “I bet you have women fawn all over it.”

 

Lulled by the strokes of the bristles, he thought about that. The last time he had been to court, was that really just a week ago? Hiko had been having a ball for some visiting royal and Kenshin had gone, only because he had been there and Sanosuke had not relented. The short time he had spent had been horrendous, courtier after courtier vying for his attention, flattering his hair and commenting on his eyes. He had left as soon as he could get away from the prying fingers.

 

“Many women do comment on it, that they do.” He replied absently.

 

The brush stilled and then resumed, the brush moving a bit harder. He winced as Kaoru found a knot. “Are they beautiful?” She asked tightly.

 

A frown puckered his brow and he realized the woman was upset about something. He turned and gripped her wrist, looking up into her face, softened by the fire. She had appeared that way in the glen when they had been discussing his age and again when he had forced himself from accosting her. She had been upset then and was clearly upset now. What had he said to bring about such a drastic change in her demeanor? A tear hung on the corner of her lashes and her cerulean eyes were unusually bright. The young woman pressed her lips together and she sucked in her breath. “Why are you angry?”

 

She tried to yank her wrist away, but he refused to let her go. “I'm not.” She answered stubbornly.

 

Kenshin watched her face as the tear fell free of her long lashes. Something about her face struck him and he felt something stir he had not felt in a long time. Her skin glowed in the warm light, her ebony hair falling loose about her face; different from the usual way she wore it, high in a ponytail. Before he could stop himself, he reached up and wiped away the stray tear. Her skin was soft underneath his fingers and he was drawn to the full lower lip she was constantly biting. His thumb touched the corner of her mouth and Kaoru parted her lips slightly.

 

How he wanted, needed, to taste her lips. Her breath quickened ever so slightly. Unexpectedly he realized that she just might need it as much as he did. His thumb traced the edge of her bottom lip, his amethyst eyes watching the path it took. So easily she could be his. Her eyelids had drifted closed and she leaned forward expectantly. It wouldn't take any convincing, no seducing even. The woman could be writhing beneath him in moments if he wanted, and oh how he wanted.

 

It occurred to him that his alter ego was steadily rising to the surface. He fought against the carnal urge desperately. He was inches away from Kaoru and he turned his head, breaking the connection. He rose swiftly to his feet and turned away from her, her hand falling from his grasp. “It's late.”

 

She sat there for another minute before she rose and swiftly went to her room. The door slammed closed upstairs and he winced again. He knew exactly what had distressed her. With a loud curse he picked up the book he had been reading and flung it across the room. He was angry now. Furious with himself and furious with the situation Hiko had put him into.

 

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Hope you enjoyed it and don't forget to let me know what you think. Until next time!