Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Again ❯ Again - what have you done? ( Chapter 2 )

Again

Arithkenshin

The next morning dawned brightly… or maybe it just seemed so to Kenshin. He couldn't believe he had been so scared of the ultimate intimate contact for so long. It was amazing. And to be completely honest with himself, he wanted more and more and more. As much as he could get if it was possible. Moving gingerly to look at the man whose arm was holding onto him, Kenshin admired the beauty that Aoshi's face had in slumber. Remembering the feel of that skin against his own Kenshin blushed… and glanced at the fire… ~hmmm should just need another log added to it ~

Reaching down to the wood basket he carelessly threw another log on the fire before an evil glint entered his eyes and he looked back at Aoshi. Grinning he jumped on the sleeping mans chest and kissed him.

Aoshi woke abruptly from a lovely dream… but had to admit that the reality was about ten times better, simply because it was the reality. Smiling as Kenshin pulled away from the kiss, he pushed a stray strand of hair behind his ear. "So I take it you don't regret last night?"

Kenshin laughed a bit ruefully. "No… the only thing I regret is that it took me so long to let that happen."

Kenshin wriggled his buttocks over Aoshi's lap and grinned a little shyly. Aoshi raised an eyebrow. "My my, aren't we horny this morning?" Kenshin blushed as red as his hair and yet still managed to sound a little seductive.

"Yeah… got a problem with that?" The red head battered long eyelashes.

With that the brunette sat up… pulling Kenshin into a long passionate kiss. "No problem at all," he murmered into his lovers mouth. ~ Lover… wow… finally. ~

The kiss grew more passionate, and Kenshin seemed to be impatient, he wanted to feel like that again. In no time he had opened the jar and started to lubricate his lover himself. Aoshi started a little, startled. "Na… have you turned into a little nympho now?"

Kenshin stopped… unsure of himself… "I just… want… that felt so good…" He looked ashamed and Aoshi couldn't let him feel like that anymore. He covered those hands that were massaging his member with his own.

"No… Kenshin, it is no problem at all… I am glad you enjoyed it so much." The smile that he received in answer made his heart melt… as the red head continued to lubricate his lover, the black haired man started to prepare the red heads entrance. Slowly inserting now lubricated fingers inside. ~Oh my god he is still so tight… I cant believe I broke in a virgin ~

Kenshin moaned… breaking Aoshi's train of thought. ~ hehe I created a monster… ~ For some reason Aoshi couldn't resist the delicate man on top of him. Helping the red head to raise himself on his knees he positioned himself beneath his now lubricated lover. Slowly he showed Kenshin how to slide down and gasped as he felt the tightness encasing him become deeper as Kenshin wrapped his legs around Aoshi's waist. He opened his eyes and looked into fevered violet ones. As the rose bud mouth enveloped his own Aoshi heard his lover plead with him. "Take me… hard… fast…now"

Less like the love making of the night before and more like a fuck, Aoshi filled the delicate mans wishes and took him hard and fast, then and there. And again they ended up sweat bathed and satiated lying in each others arms on the bed.

Kenshin looked up and smiled, that sweet, loving, no longer so innocent smile, that made Aoshi's heart melt. ~ I'm in love…I can't believe it… he chased the ice away…~ and he lowered his head and kissed the man he loved.

Reneging on their usual sword practice they spent the morning in each others company, cleaning up the house from the night before and just enjoying each others presence. Aoshi looked outside at the sky and sighed.

Kenshin looked up. "What is wrong love?"

"I'll go out and practice in a little bit and leave you two alone."

"Us two? … oh you mean Sano…" Kenshin chuckled. "Sano won't be coming around for a few days, that he wont. He and Katzu were going to spend some time together… because Katzu just got back from a trip. They have been friends for a long time."

"Oh." Aoshi tried not to show how pleased he was. He had his little hitokiri to himself for the next few days. "If that's the case." He leant in and kissed Kenshin, leading him away from the kitchen. "Come and watch the fire crackle with me." Smiling Kenshin followed him.

They curled up on the couch together… the shorter man resting his head on his younger lovers chest.

"Ken…?"

"Mmmhmm?"

"Can I ask you something?"

"That you can shi."

"Last night… I was your first… wasn't I?"

Kenshin nodded into Aoshi's chest, body tensing a little till the dark haired man began to massage his shoulders. "Yes… you are, were… does it… bother you?"

"No… not at all… I was just curious… why? I mean… you are amazingly attractive… you must have had propositions."

Kenshin sighed.

"Sorry Ken, you don't have to answer that, I shouldn't pry."

"No Shi… its ok…just…" He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Relaxing against the feel of his lovers hands on his flesh.

"I was an assassin. I killed simply because I could and because I believed I could make a difference. Relationships of any kind are dangerous. If you form a relationship with someone you run the risk of either losing that person or what would probably have been my luck, having to kill the person you feel for. I had accepted that I would not have a long life, and I did not want to cause myself any excess pain. Everyone who I had cared for as a child was either dead or just gone… or was so arrogant and cold hearted that it didn't really matter." The shorter man took a breath…

"The one time I let my heart dictate my feelings instead of my head, I was betrayed, and then as she tried to remedy the damage she had done… I didn't see… I… I…" silent tears fell onto Aoshi's skin and he held the red head tighter, wanting to take the pain away. "I killed her…I was supposed to love her, but I killed her… and she still released me from the curse my first scar had cast over me. I killed her… the only person I had weakened myself to show my love for… I killed… with my sword and my hands…" His body shook and he let the tears fall. Aoshi just held him wishing he could absorb the pain and make it better.

"Ken…?"

"It's ok…" Kenshin cuddled into his lover's chest tighter and his voice sounded stronger as if he had drawn strength from his blue-eyed boy. "I… killed so many people in the following years, sometimes I still think I can see the blood on my hands… I can still hear their screams… I wake up sometimes in a sweat…but its cold and I cant breath…and I can see the burnings and I can hear the screams… the screams I caused, the lives I ended." Aoshi heard Kenshins voice catch. "The amount of souls, my sword damned to torment. I used to kill without remorse, not thinking, just believing I was doing the right thing … but that doesn't change how many people I killed. And when it was over… I was disgusted with how things had turned out… I vowed not to kill, and I haven't… and I vowed to myself that although I may have friends I could never again let myself get so close to someone because if that pain that her death caused me enveloped me again… I knew I wouldn't survive. But no matter how many people I have saved, no matter how much good I have tried to do, no matter how many friends I now have. I can't escape who I was…I can't escape hitokiri battosai… I can't escape those screams and cries and begs of mercy. Nothing I have done can ever be made good. How can you love me… how can you honestly say you love someone who has harmed so many? I…" He pulled away from Aoshi… falling to the floor… crawling away on his hands and knees, eyes blinded by tears and curled himself into a ball… rocking back and forth…"I'm a monster…I haven't felt… I don't deserve to feel… I…"

"Stop it Kenshin!!!"

Aoshi was suddenly next to him, holding him kissing his hair, soothing his aching soul with that feather like touch that made electricity run through every fiber of the red heads being. He started to shake and the sobs wouldn't stop… so he let them pour out…

Stroking his lover's hair Aoshi wished again that he could take the pain away. Clutching the man to his chest he held him tightly, murmuring to him, soothing him, trying to show him how much he loved him. Wondering what on earth had made the red head change his mind and love him.

As if reading thoughts, Kenshin raised tearstained eyes to look into blue ones…"But you Shi… I can love you… because you are strong enough to protect yourself…" And the tears continued to flow down his face as he closed his eyes…Aoshi kept him close as the red head cried his way into an exhausted sleep.

"Ashiteru Ken." The brunette murmured into red waves as he carried his lover into the bedroom and tucked him into bed.

Over the next few days Kenshin seemed to get over his breakdown, and Aoshi did everything he could to make Kenshin smile. The red head enjoyed the feeling for the first time in his life, to be loved by someone so completely that nothing else mattered.

And Aoshi did love him. Amazingly, happily and greedily, if it had been possible he would have attached himself to his lover so that they never had to be apart. He could almost feel every breath the delicate man took, and he wished that every one of those breaths were breathed because of him. He saw the devotion and love in those violet eyes and complete and utter trust, and the younger man reveled in it.

Late one afternoon, that it was almost evening Aoshi looked out the window as he heard a whistle on the air and saw Sanosuke approaching, he sighed. ~Couldn't stay perfect forever now could it. ~

Kenshin had heard the younger man sigh. "Love?"

"Sano is on his way Ken… I'm going to go out the back and practice… been neglecting it for the past few days anyway. Have fun love." He kissed Kenshin chastely, picked up his Kadachi and headed out of the house. ~It will probably do him some good, they both have such a close friendship. ~

Sano didn't even need to knock on the door, Kenshin had stepped outside to meet his best friend. "Hey Sano… it is nice to see you, that it is."

Sanosuke smiled in return. "What you been up to Kenshin?"

At his friends blush Sanosuke got an uncomfortable feeling that he didn't like, but pushed to one side. Instead he winked at the shorter man. "Hehe… I might regret this, but hell lets go inside… you can tell me all the details."

"Sano!"

The friends laughed… it felt good.

Aoshi threw himself into his practice exercises. He knew he couldn't begrudge Kenshin having friends. After all, if his friends hadn't died, he would still have them, but as it was the only person he wanted was Kenshin. Kenshin chased away the bad… he chased away the cold, made it possible for Aoshi to be who he should be and not constantly have to fight for control of what he was doing. He knew he had done some horrible things while he hadn't been himself… when the cold had gripped him and not let go. He had almost killed a dear dear friend. One of the friends he had entrusted Misao to, a man who had been one of his mentors as a child. He had allied himself with that bastard Shishio and done unspeakable, dishonorable things because that ice had gripped his soul and not let go.

Pausing in his exercises he smiled… Kenshin had made that all go away. Here was a man that could actually defeat him in a fight. That strength, those eyes, that hair; they were all things that pulled him towards his lover, made him want him, made him love him. He knew he was being childish and he sighed. He knew it would make Kenshin amazingly happy if he went inside and spent some time with both him and Sano, so he sheathed his sword and shaking his head ~ The things I do for my man ~, entered the house.

And he stopped as the ice burst forth and engulfed him.

Sano sighed. It was all well and good and he didn't have the heart to tell Kenshin to stop. But after he had told Kenshin all about Katzu and what he had been doing, Kenshin hadn't stopped talking about Aoshi. And Sano couldn't feel happy. He was angry… he had known Kenshin for so much longer… he had always fought by Kenshin's side… he had always been there for the red headed swordsman. And now… that black haired man has been Kenshin's first. ~It isn't fair… I should have been the one… why didn't he ever realize that I was in love with him. I should have said something…I should have done something… hmmm well maybe I still can…~

He looked at his friends face, it was flushed and his violet eyes shone… he seemed to have taken to wearing his hair loose, something about Aoshi liking it or something. Sano stared at the man, not hearing what he was saying, just watching those rose bud lips speak… forming words, moving… that tongue licking those lovely lips to keep them from getting dry… and before he knew it, Sano had leant across and kissed his best friend.

Kenshin froze.

~What the…? I… NO!~

Delayed reaction as Kenshin tried gather his thoughts, he pushed Sano forcefully from him… "Sano… what the hell are you doing… I'm taken… I'm in love with Aoshi!" He followed his friends gaze… as it was no longer directed at himself.

"Shi!…" Kenshin didn't know if he had seen the kiss… but looking closer when Aoshi didn't respond to his name answered the question for him…those usually beautiful blue eyes were almost gray… cold and gray. No feeling, no thoughts … nothing emanated from them. It made a shiver run down Kenshin's back, that had nothing to do with arousal.

Aoshi didn't think he just acted. He didn't register Kenshin pushing the man away, though it filed itself in his mind. All he saw was his property, his everything being kissed by someone who wasn't him. He snapped and all that remained was the person he had wanted to leave behind. Walking to where Sano lay on the ground, he picked the younger man up by the scruff of his neck. Pulling the shirt on his captive so that it started to strangle him, Aoshi turned impassive unfeeling blue eyes to look into startled brown ones. "No one touches what is mine." The voice was murderous, and no matter how much Sano struggled Aoshi had always been stronger, and he was not about to let go.

~No… he cant… he doesn't mean this, he is just angry ~ Kenshin walked hurridly to his lover. "Shi… come… don't … he didn't mean it …he…" But he didn't get further. Aoshi turned his head, cold dispassionate eyes meeting violet ones and Kenshin flinched, not noticing the hand Aoshi wasn't using, grabbing his Kadaichi and smacking Kenshin upside the head. Kenshin didn't even have time to dodge it and the hit left him on the floor feeling dazed as he felt blood trickle down from the cut on his brow…and he heard the dispassionate voice speaking to him. "I will deal with you later…"

~No… this can't be him.. this can't be my Aoshi… how can I stop him… I can't hurt him.. I just can't…~

Aoshi's attention returned to Sano and he flung him almost carelessly out the front door… shrugging as the brunettes head hit the door post on the way out, he sauntered after the younger man. Kicking him the rest of the way through the doorway, a cruel smile emerged on Aoshi's face.

"You think I didn't know?" He kicked the younger man once again for good measure. "You think I never noticed the way you look at my man?" He adjusted his Kadaichi so it wouldn't get in his way. "You aren't worth spending steel on."

Sano stumbled to a standing position clutching obviously broken ribs,: "You bastard, you don't care for him, you treat him like shit…" blood dripped down Sano's face… somehow he had gotten cut, it had probably been the door frame.

Cracking knuckles Aoshi let out what could have been a laugh, if laughes can indeed sound so mirthless. "I give him everything he needs… though once I have finished with you he will have to be punished."

So fast Sano didn't register it… Aoshi's fist met his face in a crunching blow… blow after blow rained down and Sano could only block half of them. He had never yet won a fight with the dark haired man and it didn't look like this one would be any different.

In a daze Kenshin crawled to the door, still not believing, not registering that the man with those cold eyes and that dispassionate voice was the man he loved. Hanging on the cracked doorframe he looked out just in time to see Aoshi deal a final bone-crunching blow to the spiky haired youth. Watching Sano crumble to the ground Kenshin gasped… tears unnoticed running down his cheeks.

Aoshi turned… a cold empty smile emerging on his lips. "Kenshin."

The voice held no warmth, no feelings… absolutely nothing at all. Kenshin stumbled backwards… head not able to think as the man he loved stalked towards him so unlike he was used to. Continually he muttered under his breath…"No… it can't…be…"

"Where are you going Kenshin?" The voice was mocking; filled with things Kenshin hadn't realized Aoshi was capable of. The red head tripped as he continued to back away and fell to one knee, still in shock… still not believing the change that had come over the man he loved. He reached out a hand.

"Shi… please…" But not even vague recognition flashed through Aoshi's eyes, even though the taller man reached for the hand and roughly pulled Kenshin to a standing position, kissing him harshly enough to bruise the red heads lips. Kenshin squirmed in pain, which seemed to anger his lover more… and Aoshi held him disdainfully at arms length, eyes still vacant.

"You are pathetic…you do what you did and then squirm from me…" He threw Kenshin across the room with a strength the smaller man did not know the younger man possessed. The red head came to a sliding halt as his head hit the floor… causing stars to dance in front of his eyes… and he realized there was blood on his tongue where Aoshi had bitten him.

A shadow fell over him and he looked up dizzily. ~But if I grab my sword I could hurt him… I can't hurt him… he doesn't mean this… he can't mean this ~

"Get up…" Anger flashed through Aoshi's eyes briefly before leaving them vacant again when Kenshin didn't move. Reaching down Aoshi grabbed Kenshin by his hair and yanked him to his feet. The red haired man cried out in pain. "Shut up… and move." Kenshin stumbled and Aoshi lost patience… again sending him flying across the room, aiming carelessly for the bedroom door. But the aim wasn't true and Kenshin smacked head first into the wall next to the doorway, and slumped to the ground.

"Get up I said." Kenshin attempted to move… and soon a hand yanked him up by his hair yet again, throwing him into the bedroom.

Somehow managing to stand, Kenshin faced Aoshi… one eye swollen shut, scratches down his right cheek where his face had hit the wall, dropping blood on the ground. His shirt was ripped and there were red marks on his chest. Raising his eyes he managed to look at the man approaching him. "Aoshi…you… I…pushed him away… it wasn't …" But that was as far as the red head got.

A fist smashed into his stomach, knocking the wind out of him and sending him crashing to the ground, followed by a kick, which slammed him back into the bedroom wall. "You go behind my back and dare to look at me… to speak my name…" Another kick caused Kenshin to cry out in pain clutching his ribs and coughing.

"Stop it… you don't deserve pity."

Aoshi leant down and yanked the red heads hair yet again throwing him onto the bed… either ignoring or plainly not seeing the blood from one of the cuts on the others head, soaking the blankets. "You want it so much… I will give you everything you deserve."

Kenshin's head swam… he somehow still couldn't grasp that this person was his Aoshi… the man he loved more than life itself. His head hurt and his body ached and he tried to struggle into a sitting position. But was shoved back down roughly and held in place by knees as hands literally ripped the clothes from his body.

He was thrown back onto the bed roughly. The rebound making his head spin again. He felt himself pinned by now naked legs and arms…one hand shoved behind his head, angled it up uncomfortably and before his eyes focused he felt something near his face. A finger shoved itself into his jaw line, forcing him to open his mouth, and as his eyes refocused he saw what Aoshi was doing, just before the black haired man shoved his hard cock into the his mans mouth.

Kenshin almost choked… it was hard enough for him to get air as it was… but that didn't seem to phase Aoshi. Legs and arms pinned, weakened as he was Kenshin had no choice but to suck… it didn't even cross his mind to bite the man he loved…but tears slid down his cheeks as the younger man thrust harshly in and out of his mouth. It didn't take long for Aoshi to climax…and as he came with one last thrust Kenshins head was slammed against the wall at the head of the bed, giving him no choice but to swallow the hot liquid that pumped into the back of his throat. Never having given head before Kenshin almost choked at the speed with which the cum shot into his mouth…and had a coughing fit from which Aoshi withdrew his cock with disgust.

He threw the red headed man off the bed… absently reaching down with a hand to pump himself again as he watched the red head raise shakily to his feet. A cold smirk settled on the dark haired mans face… and Kenshin backed against the wall…

"No… not that way…"

Grabbing a hold of the long red hair again Aoshi roughly kissed him on his forehead, tasting blood…"You don't deserve anything better." And he wrenched him around so that the scarred man hit the wall face first. Kenshin didn't have the strength to support himself properly and so Aoshi just pinned him against the wall with his arms… positioning the red head, he spread those now bruise covered white legs wide and squatted to his knees, positioning his hard again member at Kenshin's entrance.

The red haired man's entire body tensed, and a cruel empty smile spread over the younger mans face. No preparation, no care involved he simply spread the soft butt cheeks apart and slammed into the red haired man.

"AAUUGGHH" a scream tore from Kenshins throat. He felt like he was being ripped apart. This wasn't pain, this wasn't pleasure… this man couldn't be his Aoshi… it just couldn't… this was pure agony. This wasn't making love… he was being fucked. Tears traced a clear path through the blood on his face as Aoshi slammed in and out of him.

Having already cum once, Aoshi had more staying power this time. He continued to slam into the smaller man until Kenshin's backside became numb. He continued to slam into him until the blood flowed down Kenshin's legs… He continued to slam into him until Kenshin lost consciousness and finally the dark haired man came inside the damaged one. He withdrew and cast Kenshin aside like a rag doll before falling onto the bed into a dreamless sleep.

It was close to dawn… when Sano woke…to be honest he didn't know how or why he managed to wake… he was freezing and his whole body ached, but then he had always had amazing recuperative capabilities. He didn't even want to think what had happened to Kenshin, Aoshi had flipped. But he also knew he couldn't be of any help to his friend… one more hit and he may never wake up again. Slowly, painfully he began the crawl back to the dojo.

Dawn light shone through the window and all of a sudden Aoshi was wide-awake. His head hammered, he wished it would go away. He reached out a hand to gather Kenshin into him and snuggle down to enjoy a little bit more of the morning in bed, but his hand met an empty bed.

Rising to a sitting position he cradled his head in his hands, wishing the pain would recede. When had they gone to bed last night? Had they been drinking? Hell how much had they drunk? His head was hammering.

He heard a moan and looked up to see Kenshin lying on the floor. He chuckled. Idiot… hadn't even made it to the bed. Getting out of the bed Aoshi stumbled to where Kenshin was lying… frowning he realized that his boyfriend didn't have any clothes on.

"Kenshin?" He reached out a hand and rolled the red head over onto his back… a groan of pain escaping from the older mans lips and Aoshi froze. "Oh my god… Kenshin."

The man on the floor was bruised all over… scratches running down his face and chest… beautiful lips coated with crusted blood. He was unconscious and his skin was taking on an unhealthy hue of blue. In a daze Aoshi picked up his lover to placed him on the bed. As he was about to cover him with a blanket he noticed the insides of Kenshins legs.

"No…" the blood was caked from that beautiful backside all the way down the inner side of both legs… dried semen mingled with it. He touched it… not wanting to believe… not quite grasping what had happened to his lover. How had he not noticed it? Absently the dark haired man covered the damaged one with a blanket. Violet eyes fluttered open… not focusing properly till they rested on Aoshi. Those eyes flinched for a moment before growing softer… "Shi… it's you again…" Relief apparent in the voice, the eyes closed again but the black haired man didn't realize it… that flinch had been all he had needed. He knew what had happened… he knew what he had done… and he drew his knees to his chest, rocking himself, not wanting to believe what he had put the red haired man through… not wanting to believe that he was capable of doing that to his lover… he remembered… everything.

That was how they found him… rocking back and forth, eyes vacant, tears running down his cheeks…in shock.

Painfully Sano managed to drag himself to the Dojo… all he managed to croak out before he passed out on the floor was…"Help… Kenshin…" It was kind of lucky that Megumi was over to breakfast. Leaving doctor Ginsai to take care of Sano, Megumi grabbed her medicine bag, leaving Yahiko and Kaoru to gather any other supplies, and they headed for the cottage they had only visited a handful of times.

Megumi took in everything as they walked towards the house…The outer door frame was damaged…~Sano probably got that head wound from there ~ Slowly she picked her way up the steps… followed slowly by the other two… and she entered the house. A part of the wall was crushed in; another part had red hairs embedded into it. Megumi didn't even want to think about what Kenshin might look like. It seemed Sano might have gotten off lightly. She glanced around the room…and seeing that the bed in the bedroom seemed to have a lump in it she turned and entered it, followed by the others.

Blue eyes not focusing her gaze rested on Aoshi first. Obviously the instigator in all of this he didn't look overly pleased with himself… She didn't want to look at the bed yet so she told Yahiko to go and get her some water… and she proceeded to mix a sedative for the younger of the two men. He took it… unseeing… unspeaking and drank it. Still unseeing he looked in her general direction… "I… he… kissed… I couldn't… didn't realize… only just remembered…"

"Just stay out of my way Aoshi…" And she turned to face the bed. A small cry emerged from her throat as she saw the usually happy, smiley man's face. The bruises would not have been as bad if he hadn't been bruised over the same spot over and over again… the same for the grazes, some of which had developed into cuts. Purely professionally she removed the covers and gasped in horror at the blood on the mans legs.

"Get me some hot water Aoshi, and then get out of my sight…" Slowly as if by remote control, Aoshi stood and went to get hot water. "Kaoru leave the room, Yahiko bring me towels." Kaoru did not need to see this.

After the hot water arrived Megumi filled it with a disinfectant to cleanse the wounds. She cried as she cleaned him up. His breaths were shallow and she needed Yahiko's help to turn him onto his side and clean the back of him. Biting her lip to keep from sobbing she cleansed around his torn entrance, trying to maintain a clinical detachment. But she couldn't… slowly the tears fell down her cheeks and kept falling as she bandaged his damaged ribs with the help of Yahiko.

She heard a sob behind her and looked to see Aoshi standing against the doorpost. "Ken?" The voice was so full of sorrow Megumi almost thought Aoshi really was sorry, but you just didn't do that to someone you loved.

Violet hued eyes fluttered open yet again…"Shi…?"

All of a sudden Aoshi was next to the bed, holding Kenshin's hand. Tears slid down their cheeks. "Shi… you're back… its really… you… again???"

Aoshi nodded, not trusting himself to speak coherently. "I… I…"

Kenshin motioned the younger man to be quiet… grimacing as the movement caused him pain. "You saw… him… kiss me?"

Aoshi nodded. "I didn't see you push him away… I didn't… not then… I did this morning… I…I am so sorry…Ken please… please believe me." His voice was desperate.

But the red haired man smiled, that warm loving, endearing smile, marred a little by the state his face was in. "I know it wasn't you." His voice grew stronger as he gained strength from the medication.

"Why didn't you fight me back Ken… you are the only man who can beat me."

"Because silly… remember… I can't hurt someone I love… that I can't"

Aoshi bowed his head and wept.

Megumi had had enough.

"That's it! As soon as I have built a stretcher you are coming home with us Ken-san… it is far too dangerous for you here."

"I thank you miss Megumi, but I will be staying here yes I will. Aoshi needs me and I will not abandon him when he needs me, that I wont."

"You have to be kidding Kenshin, he could have killed you."

"Perhaps, but I do not believe he would ever do that. He can't help what happened…" Kenshin needed to take a breath… "He lost hard fought control. He would never willingly hurt me Miss Megumi… that he wouldn't."

"You idiot! You are far too good natured Kenshin, you will get yourself killed."

Kenshin smiled that smile, that sad, contemplative smile. "If I die standing by someone I love through thick and thin, then I think my life has had purpose Miss Megumi, that I do."

Megumi threw her hands up in the air.

"There are instructions for the painkillers on the counter in the kitchen… take the directions. Do NOT expect anything from us unless you come back to your senses." And with that the three left the house.

A tear slid down Kenshin's cheek. Aoshi gathered the man he had almost killed into his arms murmuring over and over that he was sorry.

"Its ok… I'm not badly hurt…" And the violet eyes closed as the former assassin fell asleep in his lover's arms.

TBC

Please tell me what you think!