Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Cabana Boy ❯ Chapter 11

 

At long last, the moment everyone has been waiting for. I hope it delivers. I don't have much to say so I'm not really going to say it. A lot happens here in this chapter. On that note, there is a lemon so read at your own risk. Consider yourself warned.

 

I don't own Rurouni Kenshin. And I have no money, so don't even think about it. I just love them immensely! Enjoy!

 

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Kaoru watched Sanosuke being dragged into the mob. She couldn't place the blonde and decided she didn't care. She placed her empty cup down on the table and searched for a place to sit down. There was none available and she moved closer to the door that led outside. She paused and moved to the window instead. There she felt the cool breeze caressing her skin and she tossed her long dark hair over her shoulder. The song ended and she searched for someone she knew. She spotted Kenshin on the other side of the table.

 

He seemed slightly out of place. She was unsure of why he was keeping his distance. Lately she had felt him detaching himself from her and she didn't understand the reason. He didn't avoid her but when they were together, he didn't make any overtures or invitations in her direction. Preoccupied with thoughts of Enishi, she didn't press the matter. Just being with him was enough for her. She found comfort in his presence, in the knowledge that he was there to protect her. In fact, she felt he could protect her better elsewhere. Not wanting to be here anymore, Kaoru tried to find a way towards him and paused.

 

A girl approached the redhead shyly and began to speak to him. He politely shook his head. Undeterred, the girl continued to speak to him. Kaoru narrowed her eyes thoughtfully and decided to stake her claim. She didn't want Kenshin going home with anyone but her. Maybe she'd finally make a more decisive move towards him. Her sexual appetite was growing and it needed to be satiated. Her resolve firm she took a determined step in that direction. A hand on her arm stopped her.

 

“It's good to see you Kaoru.”

 

The voice was silky smooth and it sent a shiver down her spine. Her mouth went dry her eyes widened. She knew who it was before she turned around. Still she didn't want to believe it. Slowly she turned to see the owner of that voice hoping she was mistaken.

 

“Enishi.” She whispered.

 

She licked her chapped lips and took a step away from him. Her heart pounded in her ears, her breathing quick and uneasy. She was pressed against someone who rudely pushed her back towards him. She would have fallen if he hadn't caught her. Her hands fell against his hard chest and Kaoru stared up at him, trepidation widening her blue eyes. The man had not changed, in fact had grown more handsome if that was possible. His hair was a pale blonde shot through with gold. His eyes were the grey storm clouds she had once loved. However, there was no warmth in their depths, his chiseled features hard and unyielding. He smiled at her all her anxieties flooding and overwhelming her control. Fighting it, she jerked away from him vehemently. “What are you doing here?” She hissed.

 

“I told you, you were mine.” He told her softly, leaning in to her. His fingers bit into her arm and she cried out involuntarily. “I want you back and you will take me back. You can not get rid of me that easy.”

 

“Is this man bothering you, Kaoru-dono?”

 

The sound of Kenshin cleared her mind. She was no longer alone to face the demon who had possessed her for a period of time. She stepped away from her one time lover and came against the body of the redhead. She breathed in his scent, feeling safe next to him. “I'm fine.” She told him and turned to look into his face telling him it was time to leave. However the words never left her tongue at the look she saw in his violet eyes; except his eyes glinted a deep shade of blue, a golden hue to his irises. A predatory look she had never seen before was etched onto his features. Confused she stepped away from him.

 

“Himura.” Enishi stated his voice flat and emotionless.

 

“Yukishiro.” Kenshin's own voice was level, a trace of malice there.

 

Kaoru stared from one to the other. Kenshin had never acted like this before. “You two know each other?” She asked incredulously.

 

“I hoped it would not be so, that I did. Yet here you are.”

 

“What of you? I should have known you could not keep your hands off the women in my life. Why is now any different? Once you fucked my sister and now you have come to do it with my own lover.” The pale man spit, his voice full of hatred. “The only question is will they both come to the same demise?

 

Her mind reeled. Why was Enishi bringing up his dead sister? She knew of the man's pain, one of the few stories he had related to her in the beginning. Betrayed by her own husband, he had killed her in cold blood. At least that was what Enishi had always claimed. But now he was implying that Kenshin had something to do with her death. That couldn't be possible, could it?

 

Sano arrived then, the girl still hanging onto his arm. He shook her off and turned venomous eyes on the blonde. “So good of you to drop by Enishi. Now if you don't mind, we're about to head out and you aren't invited to come.”

 

The man ignored Sano, not a good sign. In the past, Enishi had jumped upon any opportunity to belittle the brunette. Now his attention was focused solely on the redhead and Kaoru wasn't sure why. She clung to him, her blue yes dancing back and forth between the two men. Neither had moved but continued to stare at each other. “Kenshin. Let's go.” She pleaded softly. She began to tug him towards the door, wanting to get away before she suffered an anxiety attack in the midst of all these people.

 

“How ironic that you wish to leave with him rather than me.” Enishi told Kaoru, his gaze coming to rest on her at last. “You always claimed I was such a monster.”

 

“You are a monster.” She spit.

 

He grinned sinisterly at her. “If I'm a monster then the man you have entangled yourself with is most definitely allied with the devil himself.”

 

“Shut up!” She cried. `You just can't accept the fact that I am not yours, nor will I ever be again.”

 

Enishi laughed heartily, Sano staring at him confused. “Battousai, you haven`t even told her, have you.”

 

Battousai? The name gave her pause. He had once been feared among those in the city. Something akin to Jack the Ripper, he had been a deadly assassin no one had been able to catch. Who he worked for exactly, no one really knew. He had disappeared nearly ten years ago and many claimed he was nothing more than an urban legend. She stared at the redhead. Kenshin and Battousai couldn't be the same man, could they?

 

“Stop speaking in riddles.” Sanosuke demanded.

 

“Riddles?” Enishi turned his hard stare on the brunette. “I'm the one trying to enlighten you, Tori-atama.” He sneered. “Himura here has been lying to you all along.”

 

“I don't understand.” Kaoru whispered, everything trying to sort through her brain.

 

Enishi sat back on his heel, his earring flashing in the light. “Kenshin killed my sister. He was once the assassin known as Battousai. He is a cold-blooded killer. There is more blood on his hands than you can possibly imagine. What more is there to understand?”

 

“You lie.” Sano told him softly.

 

The man shrugged. “Ask him.”

 

Kaoru and Sanosuke both turned to look at the redhead. “Tell me isn't true.” She pleaded.

 

The man swallowed and finally looked down at her. “I can't. Everything he says is true.”

 

Something broke inside of her at that moment. She stared at him in shock. She stepped away from him and felt hands touch her shoulders. She jerked away from the touch, her eyes still locked on Kenshin's. There was a touch of sadness in them and it made her recall her thoughts the other night. She had not known anything about him then. Why should it change now? He had never given her any reason to fear him, to doubt him. This was a man who had comforted her; who had done everything in his power to protect her. He had wanted to tell her the truth before now she could see it. The other night when they had sat together in the darkness of the hall he had attempted to tell her and she had quieted him. There was more to the story than Enishi was telling and for that reason and that reason alone did she do what she did next.

 

She kissed him.

 

Shock stilled the man in her embrace and she pulled him closer, ignoring everything around her. She focused all her energies on Kenshin, the feel of his lips on hers, the skin underneath her fingertips. Then he was pushing her violently away, something unreadable in his fathomless violet eyes.

 

“What are you doing?” He demanded quietly.

 

“I'm proving to you that I don't care.” She hissed.

 

“You should care.” He sneered before walking away.

 

Torn, Kaoru whirled and received a small sense of satisfaction to see the look of astonishment in Enishi's own eyes. “I'm done with you.”

 

“You only think that. This isn't over.” He told her menacingly before stalking away in the opposite direction.

 

“No!” She cried softly, tears burning against her lids. She turned then pushing people from her path. She reached the front door and jerked it open. Gulping in fresh air, she finally allowed the adrenaline to let loose and her knees shook. Tears fell down her cheeks. She nearly fell but strong arms were around her and she leaned gratefully against the warm body there. Kaoru looked up and was mildly disappointed to see Sanosuke had caught her. “Hold on, Jou-chan. I'll get you home in a flash.”

 

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Kenshin sat in the dark debating over his choices. When he had spotted the man hassling Kaoru, he had not even stopped to think who it might be. He just needed to rescue her and convince her to leave. His unease had been growing ever since she had received the phone nearly a week prior. To see her hassled, he figured she would want to leave. Never had he expected the man to be who it was.

 

The moment he had laid on eyes on the platinum blonde, he had known. His own stupidity had been convincing himself the world was a much bigger place. He had not wanted it to be the truth and therefore he had convinced himself it could not be so. Why else would he have been surprised to meet her ex finally face to face and be confronted with the brother of his first wife. He had grown considerably in the last ten years. His face had developed the long lean lines of his father, the grey eyes cold and sinister. Traces of the vibrant young woman Kenshin had once loved were lost in the hatred emanating from him. His first thought had been how the hell had Kaoru gotten mixed up with him in the first place. His second was more personal and selfish. What would she think of him now?

 

Once his secret had come out, the woman in turn had kissed him. He had not fathomed her reasons. In that kiss, she had attempted to convey her feelings, but he had not let her. He had pushed her away and stormed out, not wanting to infiltrate her purity with his filth. How he had gotten home, he couldn't quite recall. He believed Sanosuke might have picked him up. Kaoru was not with him and time had passed. He assumed the brunette had dropped her off at home and returned to get him. There had been no words exchanged in the car. Kenshin had escaped the moment the car stopped in the drive. Now he sat in the dark, knowing he should pack up his things and leave before dawn. Yet somehow he could not bring himself to do just that.

 

Kaoru would be safer if he left. Enishi would surely come after him, having finally found him after ten years. Besides, she did not need him around to infiltrate her world. But there was no guarantee Yukishiro would come after him. He had set designs on Kaoru before realizing Kenshin's involvement with the woman. Chances were he would use that to his advantage. Plus he had sworn to protect her and he would keep that promise. That was why he stayed. His feelings for her had nothing to do with it. That's what he told himself.

 

A knock brought him out of his thoughts and his eyes jerked to the door. In a flash he was behind the door, his sheathed sword in his hands as he waited to see who would enter. The doorknob turned and he felt himself slip into stealth mode automatically. The person entered quietly. It was the scent that reached him just before he struck. For that reason and that reason alone, did he not strike.

 

“Kenshin?” The woman asked hesitantly.

 

He leaned the sword against the wall. “You would seek me out even after discovering who I am?” He asked quietly.

 

Kaoru jumped at the sound of his voice just behind her. She whirled to face him, a gasp escaping her lips. “I th-though you s-s-said it was t-ten years ago.” She stammered. Her nervousness was apparent to him and he cocked his head to the side as he studied her.

 

The woman was anxious, that was obvious. However, she didn't appear to be scared of him. “Did I?” He asked her, his voice void of emotion. He needed to stay focused. If she became entangled any more with him, the consequences could be disastrous. He pushed past her and towards the window. He peered out into the night, the room barely illuminated by the lights from the distant house. “Regardless of when it happened, I am still that man. I can not run from my past.” He told her darkly, trying to instill some fear of him in her.

 

“You shouldn't. It is a part of who you are, though it doesn't define your character. What you did then is of no importance to me. Only what you do now. You have walked away from that life.”

 

“Such a pretty thought from a foolish girl.” He snarled bitterly.

 

“Why are you speaking to me this way?” She demanded, coming closer.

 

Kenshin gritted his teeth. He didn't want to hurt her, but it was necessary in order to protect her. He spun around, allowing his own self-hatred to fuel his anger. “You may have dabbled with the sword but you have no idea what it is like to be consumed. The bloodlust runs through my veins. I have fought it for ten years and it rages to be unleashed, unchecked. It devours me until I cannot think and has not outlet. Have you ever felt anything like this? How could you? You have led a sheltered life, protected by the evils of this world by your father. Even now, I can not understand why your father would hire someone like me on.”

 

“Because you are a good man!” She protested.

 

“How do you know?” He demanded, emotions he usually kept bottled up breaking free. “I was an assassin, Kaoru. I killed men for a living. My name was uttered to keep children in their beds after dark and women inside late at night. People feared the mere utterance of my name. What good have I done to warrant the judgment of being good?” He demanded gripping her arms. His fingers bit into her flesh and she squirmed within his grasp.

 

“You walked away!” She cried, her voice trembling now with pain and fear. “You left that life, or tried to. I don't know the full reasons as to why, but that says something. Not many men can and remain sane.”

 

“Name one who has done it successfully.”

 

“My father!” He paused and released her suddenly. Kaoru winced and rubbed her arms where small bruises were already rising to the surface. She swallowed and approached him. He could only stare at her; her azure eyes filled with unshed tears. “Do you think my father is a good man?” She whispered hoarsely.

 

“What does he have to do with all this?” He asked her cynically. As far as he was concerned she was comparing him to a man who was out of his league.

 

“Do you?” She insisted.

 

Kenshin stared at her and then lowered his gaze. Suddenly he felt very tired, the rage he had been feeling dissipating in an instant. “Yes.”

 

She turned away from him and wrapped her arms tightly about herself. “Have you ever heard of the Black Geisha?”

 

He looked up at her sharply, blinking. “Thirty years ago he was a rogue swordsman. He fought for no one but himself, loyal to neither the government nor those who opposed it. He slew many from both sides, purportedly based on what mood he was feeling that night. He could be given one assignment and in turn kill the man who had given it.” He answered. The Black Geisha had been even more notorious than even he at the height of his Battousai days. He had committed crimes that made even Kenshin cringe. “Stories proclaim he wasn't even a real man, but a demon banished from hell searching for a new place to stake his claim.”

 

“Do you know what happened to him?”

 

He snorted sardonically. “The irony is that allegedly Battousai destroyed him. However, I never had the fortune of meeting him.”

 

Kaoru turned to him, her lips slightly curled with a smirk. “And what would you have done if you had met him?”

 

He blinked. “I don't know.” He answered slowly. Where was she going with this story?

 

“Funny how fate works. The dragon, meeting the demon who shaped him. Yet neither knows it. Or I assume the demon did know. Only the dragon was left in the dark.” Her words made him hesitate with his next question. She was speaking in riddles now and he didn't like it, not one bit. He had sometimes been referred to as a dragon, something he hadn't quite understood. She turned to him fully. “You're wrong you know.”

 

“Oro?”

 

“You have met the man that was known as the Black Geisha.”

 

He froze. He knew the truth then, before she said her next words. “I know what happened to him, what really happened to him.” She told him softly, her caustic amusement gone and replaced by a sadness that tugged at his heart. “The Black Geisha is my father.”

 

In that moment, everything fell into place. When he had returned from Australia and touched base with Hiko, the man had mentioned he should search the classifieds; people were looking for summer help. What about Kamiya's ad had attracted him, he wasn't sure, but it had stuck out. When he had later spoken to the man about protecting Kaoru, he had mentioned contacts. He had deduced the contact to be Hiko, though the reasons had still eluded him plus the mystery of how the two men would know each other. But the revelation connected everything. Why Kaoru was familiar with kendo and now why she did not shy away from him, though she knew he had once been called Battousai, a manslayer who ravished the underworld just ten years before. She might be the one person who would understand, just as Sanosuke had told him.

 

“I love my father. He did what he did for whatever reason. I can't fathom what would drive a man to kill, what the bloodlust can do to the senses. He doesn't speak much of his life before he met my mother and honestly, I don't care to know. That was years ago and he lives with his guilt everyday, as I'm sure you do. He is a good man despite that. And so are you.”

 

Kaoru fell silent, her emotions clearly visible in her cerulean eyes glimmering in the pale light. He wanted to believe her; he almost did. In the past few weeks, he had nearly convinced himself he could lead a normal life. She made it so easy to pretend. He opened his moth to speak and she crossed to him. He pressed his lips together.

 

“I don't deserve this.” He whispered hoarsely, his heart pounding by what he read in the deep pools of her eyes.

 

“Deserve what?” She asked softly. Tentatively she reached out and touched his cheek and Kenshin felt the last shred of his sanity snap. He was inundated with her closeness and he no longer cared. All of his arguments vanished from his mind. So easy to forget when he was with her. “I don't deserve you.” He croaked, his heart racing by her gentle touch. It was the final stand, one he clung to with desperation. He did not want to taint her with his past.

 

A small smile touched her full lips. “I'm the one who is unworthy.” She murmured.

 

He looked at her in surprise, the final argument swept away by her words. Then his gaze strayed to the soft skin of her shoulder. Gently he touched the strap of her camisole and slid a finger underneath it. He slid it off her shoulder and down her arm. Her breathing was off, mingling with his. He could allow one night. Forget for one night, pretend he was a decent man who justified the touch of a willing woman. For the first time in a long time, he greedily took what was offered.

 

He lowered his lips to her bared flesh and pressed a tender kiss to her shoulder. Her skin was silk underneath his mouth and he moved to nuzzle her neck. She moaned softly, the sound echoing in the darkness. That was all he needed before he captured her lips in a searing kiss. He claimed her mouth, his tongue demanding entry. She relented, her fingers entangled in his hair. He savored her taste, but soon lost himself in it. She was intoxicating, her scent overwhelming him, her fingers driving him to the edge. Briefly Kenshin debated between savoring each moment and taking her than and there. Recalling he had allowed himself all night his hands skirted quickly down her side and gripped her thighs. He hefted them up and wrapped her legs about her waist. Kaoru eagerly complied, her tongue delving into his mouth, her own desire fueled by his need.

 

How they made it to the bedroom, he wasn't sure. Her lips engulfed him, the contact of her body against his the only thing he could concentrate on. His hands moved underneath her top as her feet found the floor. He moved up and found skin, the flesh even softer than it had been just a few nights ago. Wanting to taste her skin, he tore his mouth away from hers to nibble kisses down her throat. Then she was tugging the garment over her head, baring her slightly covered breasts to his view, her chest heaving in the hot room. She pulled away from him, her hands finding the hem of his own shirt.

 

Kenshin allowed her to pull it free before he pulled her to him once more. The feel of her skin against his stimulated his desire. How he had once thought to live without her. He could not even imagine now. She was heaven in his arms. She moved with him, her hips undulating against his, edging him on. He found the clasp of her brassiere and removed it with a toss of his hands. Her hard nipples poked at him, his moans matching hers. He laid her on the futon, his lips abandoning her mouth to taste the erect nubs. Her ragged breathing filled the room and he couldn't wait much longer. His tongue traced a trail down her stomach as his fingers unclasped the pants she still wore.

 

Quickly he divulged her of the article of clothing, her panties close behind. Then he sat back with a shuddering sigh to stare at her. “You are so beautiful.” He murmured in the darkness.

 

A blush stained her cheek, enticing him even more. Kenshin claimed her mouth again, his tongue tasting her, exploring her mouth. His hand grasped her breast, reveling in the weight against his palm. He needed her, now. His thumb grazed the erect nub and she gasped aloud, her hips arching up to meet his. Kaoru's finger found the clasp to his own jeans and he was victim to let her unzip them, the sound filling the room. Her fingers found him and he groaned as she stroked his desire. With a savage cry he pushed her to her back, ridding himself of his remaining clothing. His own fingers stole below her waist and stroked her core, hoping she was ready. He was surprised to find indeed she was hot and slick, waiting for him.

 

“Kenshin!” She breathed, her hands closing around him and guiding him to her. She ached for him and he was vulnerable to her wants.

 

He gasped as he felt himself enter her, the woman beneath him arching up to meet him. He waited until her blue eyes opened his reason almost beyond his grasp. Then he plunged deep within her, the feel of her around him almost more than he could take. Her moan reverberated in the dark room, his cries mingling with hers. He almost lost it then and there. The pure rapture of being within her more than he could bear. She clung to him, her fingernails biting into his shoulders. As it was he didn't think he would last long. He was lucky; she helped guide him, her body reminding him of things he'd long forgotten. With a shriek, she clutched him, her own cry rivaling his. He collapsed on top of her, completely spent. After a moment he rolled to the side, his eyes closed. Not for a long time had he felt so sated. For the first time in a while he thought he might just get some sleep.

 

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Kaoru stretched lazily, her senses slowly coming back to her. She glanced at the man to her right. His eyes were closed, the look of sleep upon him. For some reason it didn't upset her the way it had with Enishi. The blonde had a tendency to sleep the moment he was finished, rolling over and not allowing her to wake him. Many times she would be unfulfilled and would curl up in a ball, hoping the ache inside would abate. For those reasons it had bothered her. Why had she stayed with him for so long?

 

The redhead duplicating her previous lover's action did not trouble her though. Perhaps it was because somehow he had made sure she was satiated, her own lust curbed for the moment. The passion and need that had filled him told her it had been a long time since he'd been with a woman. And yet, he had attempted to hold off for her. Only because it had been sometime for her, did she think she was able to peak so quickly. Usually she enjoyed foreplay, something Enishi had taught her and then used against her. She only hoped Kenshin, once he'd gotten his fill, reciprocated her feelings. She grinned evilly in the dark, already thinking of what she might do to the man at her side.

 

She sighed, her throat parched. Kaoru glanced once more at the redhead. She squirmed and tried to slide out from under his arm without waking him. The arm around her waist tightened.

 

“And where do you think you're going?”

 

Kaoru giggled. “I thought you were sleeping.”

 

“With you next to me? Not bloody likely. I'm still recovering, that I am. Now that you seduced me into your arms, you have decided to leave me alone?” He asked, his violet eyes opening, revealing a teasing gleam.

 

“I was thirsty.” She murmured.

 

Kenshin propped himself up onto an elbow. “Do you want some water? I think there might be some juice and some milk in the fridge, but I'm not sure. Sano raided it the other day. There might not be much left.”

 

“I wondered about that.”

 

“What?”

 

“What you kept in the refrigerator.” She brushed auburn strands fro his face, only because she knew now that she could.

 

“Why would you want to know that?”

 

“Because silly.” She tapped him on the temple lightly with her finger. “I want to know what kind of man you are.”

 

His smile faded and he sat up, the sheet falling to his lap revealing his pale chest. Kaoru touched him, hugging the sheet to her, the pain in his eyes hurting her. “Can I ask you a question?” She inquired.

 

The man's jaw tensed and he nodded stiffly. She nibbled on her lip, not wanting him to feel anguish. “What's your favorite color?”

 

“Oro?”

 

He blinked at her, his lavender eyes wide with surprise. Kaoru smiled, happy to have caught him off guard. “Color? I like blues and purples. My favorite I'd have to say is periwinkle, which is usually a nice pale blend of the two. It seems to attribute both, though sometimes, I think it has more of a purple hue to it. I convinced my father to let me paint my room that color one summer. He wasn't overly pleased, thinking it reminded him of living inside a large grape. I like to wear it too, as I think it compliments my hair and my eyes. Anyway,” She realized she had begun to ramble. “I was curious. You don't have to answer.”

 

He stared at her. “I just thought you were going to ask something else.”

 

She'd wanted to. Wanted to ask of his previous life, how he'd come to know Enishi's sister, a woman whose death had shaken the core of the man she had once loved. She desperately wanted to know of his relationship to her, knowing they had been married. What had possessed him to kill her; she knew it wasn't out of cold blood as Enishi had always proclaimed. She believed it might have been indirectly, something her father admitted had feared would be her mother's demise; the bitter irony that her mother had succumbed to a terminal illness. An old enemy come to take his revenge maybe? Her curiosity was troubling her, only because of the overwhelming sense of guilt Kenshin had portrayed. But opening that door gave him privilege to pose questions of his own and she didn't want to discuss Enishi this night. Besides, what happened in the past wouldn't affect how she felt. She just wanted to know.

 

“I just wanted to know what color you liked. What would you paint this room?

 

A faint smile touched his lips. “I do enjoy the rich azure blue that are your eyes, Kaoru-dono.”

 

The sincerity touched her and she blushed, her gaze falling to her lap. “You sound like Sanosuke.” She murmured, trying to lighten the moment.

 

“Is that good or bad?”

 

“I don't know. Sometimes I think he says things, knowing they'll make me feel better, which they do.”

 

“You don't think he's sincere?”

 

“No. I know he is. But there's never been anything romantic between us so when he says I'm beautiful, it's a little hard to take.”

 

He touched her cheek and leaned in to brush a kiss against her lips. “I'm sincere. You are one of the most stunning and exquisite women I have ever had the pleasure of meeting, that you are. You are beautiful and never think anyone is just saying that.”

 

She colored and looked once ore at her lap. “Thank you.” She whispered stirred by the honesty he displayed so openly.

 

“May I ask you a question in return?”

 

“I suppose.”

 

Kenshin fidgeted and dropped his hand from her face. “It's somewhat personal.”

 

Kaoru looked up at him sharply. She had purposely not asked him questions about his previous life so she would be spared the same fate. So much had been revealed, and she didn't want anything else to mar their first night together.

 

“It's been bothering me for some time. Misao made an innocuous comment the first day I met her and I haven't been able to speculate on what she meant by it exactly. Megumi has enlightened me, but then the `fox' has her motives for what comes out of her mouth. I thought she was trying to provoke me. Both of you have stated there's nothing between you, but Misao's statement and Megumi's comments makes no sense unless there had been.”

 

She blinked. Obviously he wasn't going to ask about her relationship with Enishi. “What exactly is your question?”

 

“Well………I just………it's not a big deal to me, really it isn't.” He absently tugged at his hair. “Did you and Sanosuke ever sleep together?”

 

Her heart dropped. He didn't appear angry. The last time she had confessed the truth, she had been called a whore. But they were two different men! She hated herself in that moment, for doubting him. Too much she had thought of Enishi tonight. She was with Kenshin, and she needed to put her past behind her. They were two different men. He would not react the same way. “Yes.” She answered finally. “It was five years ago.”

 

The violet gaze blinked and he looked away. “Oh.”

 

“But it's not like that. If you're worried about him, I wouldn't be.” She went on in a rush. “I told Meg the other day it wouldn't happen again; he and I have spoken about it. It just kind of happened.”

 

“Why?”

 

Now Kaoru was the one who squirmed under the scrutiny. She hugged the sheet to her and leaned back against the wall. She jumped slightly, the dry wall, cold against her bare skin. She offered him a sheepish grin before sighing. “Sano and I have known each other since I was eight and he was nine. He was there for me, the only way an eleven-year-old boy can be when my mother passed away. Growing up in this………neighborhood, people are all the same until you enter high school. Then you have the real people versus the fake people. I like to think I was one of the few real people, along with Sano. We were more concerned with having a good time and enjoying life rather than the latest trends. He got suspended so many times. I never got caught, but then I never did anything as risky as he did.” She smiled at the memory.

 

“I could always count on him and he could count on me. When I was sixteen, a girl I was on somewhat friendly terms with asked if she could ask him out. I didn't care. I had never looked at him that way. The girl thought I was nuts and wondered aloud why we had never gotten together. Again, I have never found myself attracted to him in that way. Around this time, his parents began spending more and more time out of the country. He would stay with us and it became more of a brotherly affection that I felt for him. But that comment always stayed with me.

 

“Anyway, five days before my senior prom, the guy I had been dating broke my heart. Sanosuke, of course, was there to mend it. I don't know what happened. He was comforting me, and this girl's statement came to the surface. I guess he might have heard the same thing, because the next thing I was aware of, was his hand on my breast, my shirt on the floor and he was kissing me.” Kaoru risked a glance at the redhead as her cheeks flamed. He was listening to her intently, though his opinion was unclear. She sighed and shrugged. “It was my first time and his. It seemed fitting that we lose our virginity to each other, so we didn't stop. But it was strange and not really good.” She toyed with her ring and brushed her dark hair behind her ear. “So that's the time he and I slept together. I agreed to go to prom with him, but we didn't really speak to each other during the course of the next few days.

 

“When we got there we went up to a room and sat on the bed. We realized that sex was not something we could share and haven't slept together since then. We're both better off. Sex would have just ruined our friendship.”

 

Silence descended on the room when she was finished telling her story. “So why the comment by Misao?”

 

“I don't remember. I'm sure Sano was remarking on his sexual prowess or something and she was saying it to put him in his place. If you haven't realized Kenshin, we all make derogatory remarks against each other. I could easily sue all of my friends for sexual harassment, save you and Aoshi.” She grinned and leaned forward, dropping the sheet ever so much allowing him a glimpse of her bosom. “Of course now that you have seduced me, that changes everything.”

 

“Who seduced who?” He demanded lightly with a chuckle. “I recall you knocking on my door.”

 

She reached over to push him when he grabbed her arm, pulling her to the bed. He rolled her onto her back and grinned down at her. Kaoru swallowed when she saw the look in his eyes and noticed they had taken on a golden hue to them. It was the predatory glint she had witnessed at the party. However, it didn't frighten her, though it made her heart race. She licked her lips and struggled halfheartedly against his grip. “Here you are pinning me down.” She said huskily.

 

“You're mine for tonight, if for no other time. You might have gotten me into bed, but I'm not about to let you leave until morning.”

 

His words held a definite air in them, but she chose to ignore the comment. “And what will you do to me?” She asked, arching her back so the sheet pulled down, revealing her taut nipples.

 

The gaze flickered down to her chest and the man licked his lips licentiously. “Wouldn't you just like to know?” He asked, enigmatically.

 

One hand left her wrist and slid down her arm to where her hair was splayed out. Gently he caressed the strands and she moved beneath him. “I would very much.” her breath hitching as he tugged gently on her hair.

 

He smiled slyly at her and leaned down so his breath tickled her ear. “Then lay back, love. I've got ten years to make up for.”

 

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This is no where close to the end, so don't fret. Be happy I didn't leave it hanging for once. ^_^ I have big plans for the Enishi, Kaoru, Kenshin triangle, would it be considered a triangle? Anyway, much is coming up plus the final confrontation. And finally at long last, our beloved couple finally has a night of passion without interruption. Let me know what you think.