Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Love at Last ❯ One-Shot

"Kaoru-dono?" Kenshin asked as he opened the door to the bathhouse.

"Kenshin…no hentai! Baka!" she said as she snatched her towel from the stool beside her. She turned bright red, as she pulled it around her body. Kenshin turned around and stumbled back outside while she dressed. She walked outside to meet Kenshin who was now bright red in the face. She did everything but meet his eyes, which was ok because he couldn't look her in the face. What was sessha thinking? Sessha knew Kaoru-dono was taking a bath so why did he go in? "Kenshin? Did you hear me?" Kaoru's soft voice interrupted Kenshin's thoughts. He looked up at her with questions in his eyes.

"Oro…sorry, Kaoru-dono, I wasn't paying attention. What did you say?"

"I asked what you wanted to speak with me about, Kenshin?" she said placing her hand on his shoulder. He smiled at the feel of her hand there…any contact he had with her gave him a feeling of immense comfort. What did I want to talk to her about? Think…think…He smiled and shook his head.

"I honestly can't remember. Sorry for walking in on you in the bath house." He smiled and turned away. She blushed as the image of Kenshin and herself went through her head again. Baka…You are terrible Kaoru. You had better get back to the chores now before you do something to embarrass yourself. She turned and walked to her room to change out of the kimono she was wearing. She smiled to herself…Kenshin always did like that blue one. She said holding up a blue kimono. She placed it back where it was before and grabbed a simple gray one. Much too fancy to clean in. What would Sano or Yahiko say if they saw me scrubbing floors in my favorite blue kimono? She threw her hair up in a gray ribbon and smiled to herself.

"Speaking of Yahiko and Sano, where did those two lazy jerks get to? They could help do chores." She turned and spotted a small paper on her floor. She picked it up and read. `Yahiko and I have gone fishing- won't be back `til dinner. Sano.' "Why those no good, lazy guys. Can't do any work." She grumbled to herself and tossed the note aside preparing to go do cleaning when an intriguing thought crossed her mind, thatmeans Kenshin and I are alone until dinner! She blushed a deep red at some of the thoughts that flashed through her mind. Baka! No hentai! She scolded herself as she walked to the well and grabbed a bucket of water to scrub the floors of the dojo. She grabbed her scrub brush and began her work. It was about an hour before she finished the floors and she realized she was getting hungry. She walked out and expected Kenshin to be at the wash basin doing laundry or dishes or something, but he was no where to be seen. She walked all over the grounds and couldn't find him. Oh no! Whatif he left me? What if that's what he wanted to tell me while I was in the bath? She thought in a panic. She turned and ran to his room and called to him. No answer. She called again…no answer. She knocked on the door and went inside. She looked around for a sign that he hadn't left her forever. There, she spotted his sakabatou leaning against the wall. She walked over to it and inspected the handle of it and its sheath. It's not even out and it already looks deadly. She thought to herself. She pulled it out ever so slightly to inspect the blade itself.

"Kaoru-dono? What are you doing in my room?" said Kenshin from behind her. She jumped and nearly dropped the sword. She turned around slowly, her face beat red.

"K…K…Kenshin….I…I…I was looking for you." She finally stammered. He smiled and took the sword from her hand, placing it where she had found it.

"Ah, Kaoru-dono what did you want to see me about?" he said smiling kindly at her. She almost forgot what he had asked her. But she recovered her head quickly.

"I was wondering if you would like something to eat. Since it would only be the two of us I figured it would be silly to cook if it was only me that was hungry." She said meekly. Kenshin stared at her confused. The two of us??

"Where are Sano and Yahiko? Weren't they supposed to be here?"

"Yes but I found a note in my room saying they went fishing and wouldn't be back till dinner." She fidgeted with her fingers in front of her kimono and finally looked up into his deep purple eyes. She tore her gaze away from his as she felt her face burn a bright red. "So are you hungry or not?"

"Yes, Kaoru-dono. Would you like me to cook for us?" he said cheerily. She shook her head no.

"I'll cook for us." She said as she dashed past him towards the kitchen. He smiled as he watched her walk away. My, Kaoru-dono sure is a beautiful woman. She will make a lovely bride some day. Sessha wishes she could be his bride. He thought inwardly with a smile. He shook his head and made his way to the kitchen after Kaoru. He walked in to find her cutting up some vegetables and cooking some rice. He smiled to himself and walked up beside her. "May I join you Kaoru-dono?" She jumped at hearing his voice unexpectedly and cut herself with the knife she was holding. He winced as he saw the deep red blood surface to her skin. She dropped the knife and grabbed at a spare rag to wrap around her hand. She stood and looked at Kenshin with a slight smile.

"Kenshin, will you finish getting lunch ready while I go fix my cut?" he nodded vigorously.

"Kaoru-dono, are you alright? I didn't mean to frighten you, that I certainly did not." He said as she brushed past him. She smiled and nodded and turned to go tend to her cut. As she finished wrapping her hand the aroma of the cooking food came to her nose. She smiled to herself and started walking to the kitchen. Kenshin looked up from the trays he was preparing to see the bottom of Kaoru's gray kimono. He slowly dragged his gaze to meet hers, expecting some sort of anger to flash in her deep blue eyes. He gaze finally locked on her face, she's smiling? After what happened she's smiling? He thought disbelievingly. "Kaoru-dono, is your hand alright? Was the cut deep? I'm sorry if I scared you and made you cut your hand." He said not pausing to even take a breath. She smiled and slightly laughed before replying to him.

"Kenshin, it's not your fault, calm down. My hand is fine; it's not deep at all. In fact by the time I got to my room the bleeding had already stopped." she said as she walked over to him and placed her other hand on his arm. He placed his hand on hers gently and smiled before handing her a tray. They walked into the dining room and sat down next to each other. They ate in silence for most of the meal. Kaoru finally broke the silence. "Kenshin, it's such a beautiful day out to day isn't it?"

"Hai Kaoru-dono, it is very beautiful outside, that it is."

"Well I was thinking, since we have finished the chores and no one is expected home for a while," she paused for a few seconds contemplating whether or not to finish her sentence. "Never mind, it was silly of me. Forget I said anything." She said laughing and getting up to go to her room. He grabbed her hand and pulled her down next to him.

"Please Kaoru-dono, finish your sentence." He asked cheerfully releasing her hand and smiling his odd rurouni smile.

"Well I was wondering if you wanted to go for a walk. Since it is such a beautiful day outside, seems like a waste to just stay inside. But never mind, we don't have to. I mean" before she could finish he cut her off.

"That sounds like a good idea. Kaoru-dono. I would be delighted to." He smiled and got up. She blushed a crimson red as he extended his hand to help her up. She accepted it and helped him clean the dishes. As he finished the last of the remaining dishes she dashed to her room to change her kimono. She put on her favorite blue kimono with a white obi and white hair ribbon, and glanced in the mirror. I hope this looks ok. She thought worriedly. She shook her head and smiled, you look fine. She pushed open her shoji door and ran smack in to Kenshin.

"Gomen, Kenshin I didn't see you." She said quickly apologizing.

"Kaoru-dono, I found something I thought you would like." He smiled and took her hand. "Follow me" he led her to the wash basin. She looked around and saw nothing out of the ordinary. He took me to see the washbasin? "Look" he said pointing to a nearby tree. She gasped at what she saw.

"We have a family of birds. They're so cute." She said walking over to the tree and the new found birds' nest. She wanted to hold the bird on her finger, but he wouldn't budge from his place on the branch. She sat down and listened to the sweet song he sang. Kenshin could tell that she wanted to hold the bird; he sat down next to her and whispered in her ear.

"Would you like to hold him?" she turned with interested and hopeful eyes.

"Yes that would be wonderful." She smiled and looked up at the bird. Suddenly Kenshin scooped her up and placed her on his lap. He grabbed her wrist lightly and held her hand to the bird, he whistled slightly. The bird seemed to hesitate but flew down to perch on her index finger. She smiled in awe as she realized what was happening. She tried to remain as still as possible so she wouldn't frighten the bird. He began to sing. Kaoru smiled as he took flight from her finger to his original perch in the tree. "That song reminds me of the song my mother used to sing to me." She began to sing with the bird, the two songs were almost identical. Kenshin smiled at the sound of her soft voice singing with the bird.

"You are a wonderful singer Kaoru"

"Thank you…" she paused realizing he left off the honorific. "Kenshin." His warm breath sent shivers up her spine. She smiled and threaded her fingers in his. He looked down at their joined hands and his lips tugged into a frown. He saw the bandage on her hand and remembered what happened.

"Sessha is sorry for hurting you this morning." She turned her head to look at him with a puzzled gaze.

"Kenshin when did you hurt me?" she asked her confusion seeping into her voice.

"When you were in the kitchen, and I startled you and you cut yourself." He said looking down at their joined hands again. This time she frowned. She let go of his hand and stood abruptly. He looked up at her and saw the heat blazing in her eyes. What is this all about? He asked himself seeming to be very confused. "Kaoru-dono? What's the matter?"

"You, Kenshin Himura! You're the matter! I told you it wasn't your fault; you do this every time something happens. You take the guilt and the blame for everything, you put the weight of the world on your shoulders and it doesn't need to be there." She turned abruptly on her heel and stormed off. He stood and started after her, after a few moments. She was on the bridge looking down into the cool clear water. Kenshin followed her gaze, and as he did so he saw the water ripple. Kaoru-dono is crying! She's crying because of me. He thought sadly. He was about to take another step closer when he heard her speak. "Oh, Kenshin, when will you understand? Not everything that happens has blame or that you are the person at fault. There are accidents, people get hurt and there is no one to blame. Why can't you see that? You think you don't deserve to be happy because you killed many in the past. Ten years, ten years you have repented and never killed a single person. When will you let yourself be happy? When will the blame and the guilt wash away?" She breathed in deep and let it out again slowly. "Now, Kaoru if only you could say that to him with out sounding so out of place. Why can't he just understand?" she bent her head as the tears she bit back before fell from her eyes. They landed with small little splashes in the water. She looked up in to the blue sky and wiped away the wetness on her cheeks. "Oh Kaoru, calm down, quit fussing. One day he'll let himself be happy, maybe he'll even let you make him happy. Kenshin, I love you, but I fear one day the guilt will drive you away from me. I don't think I'll be able to live with out you here." She smiled and sniffed in a long deep breath. She stood straight and walked towards the dojo. As he watched her walk away the meaning of her words sunk into his mind. Poor Kaoru…she's afraid of what the guilt does to Sessha. She cried because she was afraid. Sessha takes the guilt and the blame to help wash away the blood still staining hishands, and in doing that it makes her cry. Kenshin looked down at the ground feeling another wave of guilt for making her cry for him. Stop it! That is exactly what makes her cry. He scolded himself. He started across the bridge and towards the dojo and his room. He slowly passed Kaoru's room and heard her soft cries from outside her door. He knocked on the door and called out her name.

"Come in Kenshin." He opened the door and walked in. He sat down next to her and noticed her still wet cheeks.

"Kaoru-dono, what makes you cry?" he asked already knowing the answer.

"Kenshin…I…" she took a deep breath. "Kenshin you worry me. You take so much blame and feel so much guilt, and even though you don't show it, it tears you apart and makes you miserable. One of these days I know the guilt will have to be too much." She threw her arms around his neck and buried her face into his gi. "Kenshin I don't want to lose you." She said just above a whisper. Tears streamed down her face, and soaked the front of his gi. He rested his chin on the top of her head and held her close letting her cry and get it all out. Finally her sobs subsided and they became mere hiccups and shallow breathing. "Kenshin," she paused and pulled out from the embrace to look him in the eyes. "Kenshin, why? Why do you take so much guilt and give yourself so much pain?"

"Sessha takes the pain and the guilt to help repent for his sins from before."

"Kenshin no baka! I already know that. But surely you don't need to take so much guilt and live with so much pain." She snuggled closer to him. "You know, even the most horrid of beings deserve some happiness…some love. You deserve happiness and love. But still you insist on closing yourself off from everyone. And I do mean everyone." She concluded, silencing his protests.

"Sessha…"

"Stop it! No more `sessha' this and `sessha' that."

"I, still have a lot more atoning to do to make up for my stained past. Gomen, if sessha…I worry you."

"You know, it helps to talk about things. Instead of keeping them inside to yourself. The weight of the world could be less for you, if…you let me help you carry it. Kenshin I told you before I don't care about your past, what I do care about is how it brings you so much pain. Please let me help you bare that weight let me help you face your past. We can do it together." And with that she placed her soft lips up to his in a soft and passionate kiss. Kenshin's arms tightened possessively around her waist, pulling her closer to him. When the kiss ended she looked deep into his eyes. "Please, let me help you." She said again burying her face into his gi. His hand came up and cupped her chin and pushed her face up so she was looking at him again. He smiled to her and brought his lips down to hers in silent response. Her heart skipped a beat and then began to race when she felt his tongue probing her mouth open. She happily obliged his request and opened her mouth sending his tongue to a war with her own. His hands came up and cupped her face momentarily then skimmed down her arms and settled on the small of her back. She took her nimble fingers and traced the opening of his gi down from his neck to his abs. Her other hand wove its way into his thick soft red hair. His lips traveled down from her mouth to the sensitive flesh of just below her ear. His warm breath tickled her ear when he spoke.

"Gomen, I will try to remember to let others help me." He paused for a moment as he felt her soft fingers pull on his gi top. "Kaoru-dono. Will you help me bare the weight of my past?" Tears welled up in her eyes. She smiled and threw her arms around his neck.

"Yes Kenshin. Yes of course, I'll help you. Always." She breathed into his ear. "Oh Kenshin! Kenshin! You silly man. I have always been ready and waiting to help you."

"Oh Kaoru-dono." He smiled and kissed her softly.

"Kenshin can you do something for me?" She said through tears. He smiled and nodded in between kisses. "Say my name again."

"Kaoru-dono." She frowned and shook her head. "Kaoru-d" she stopped him from finishing with her soft lips on his. He smiled into her kiss understanding what she meant. "Kaoru. Kaoru-koishii." Her breath caught in her throat at hearing the new name. She smiled up at him.

"Aishiteru Kenshin. Aishiteru." His arms circled her waist pulling her impossibly closer to him. He kissed her with a fierce passion that left her breathless.

"Aishiteru Kaoru. Always." Her breath stalled and she threw her arms around his neck in joy. She tugged at his gi and it soon came loose from his hakama pants. He pulled out of the embrace and looked at her. "Kaoru?" he asked questioningly as she pushed it from his shoulders to the floor. He knew what she wanted. "Are you sure?" he asked looking into her deep blue eyes. She nodded her head vigorously and continued to kiss him. She soon felt her obi come loose, followed shortly after by her kimono. She blushed furiously when it fell open slightly exposing the curve of her breasts. He took his hands and placed them on her shoulders underneath the collar of her kimono. He moved his hands over and down her arms taking the soft fabric with them. She shivered slightly when a cool breeze reminded her of her current state of undress. She broke the kiss and tried to cover herself, it was in vane. He smiled slightly to himself at her shyness. He guided her gently to lay down on her futon. "Beautiful." He whispered to her. She blushed furiously under his intense gaze. He bent down and kissed her barren lips with a passion from deep within. His hands skimmed over her hips, up her trim sides to lightly caress her breasts. She moaned into the kiss. He left her lips and took one of her rosy peaks into his mouth lightly suckling and flicking it with his tongue. She threaded her hands through his bright red hair and arched her back further exposing her aroused breast to his hungry, seductive mouth. He felt her hands come out of his hair and travel to the belt of his pants and he stiffened. She tugged lightly and soon his pants came loose and she pushed them down his legs with her feet. He now rested squarely between her glossy, pale thighs and had to stifle a groan as his heated skin touched hers. His hand traveled down from her breast, over slim stomach to the apex of her thighs. Her hand shot down from his chest to catch his wrist just before he touched her.

"Kenshin. Not there, I'm embarrassed." He smirked and kissed her lips, nibbling lightly on her lower one.

"Don't worry Kaoru." He brought her hand back up and placed it above her head holding it there with his free hand. He captured her other wrist and placed it with the other one. His now free hand traveled back down, intent on continuing what he had started. He spread her open and slid his longest finger inside searching for the little bump her knew existed. He found it and rubbed at it, watching her face contort with pleasure. A tension was building in her lower belly and she couldn't help but moan out at how good it felt. Suddenly the tension became to much and a scalding release hit her body. She gasped out and moaned as the wonderful pleasure cascaded through her body. Kenshin, now more excited then he had ever been in his life, pulled her lips up to his and sealed them in a scalding kiss. She was still floating down from her pleasure filled high when she felt him adjust his body, his manhood now probing her slick entrance. She stiffened knowing it would hurt very soon, but very ready and willing. He pushed in slowly, trying not to cause her any pain. When his erect member cleared the first set of tight muscles he hit a barrier and froze. He looked down and captured her gaze. He pushed in roughly and she cried out in pain. She eyes shut and a single tear escaped out of her tightly shut eyes. He released her hands and wiped at the moisture. He whispered words of comfort and love into her ears waiting for the pain to recede. The pain was short but intense. It didn't take long before it left and she moved to make sure she was ok. He took that as cue to continue to move. The friction was sensational, and he groaned at how tight she was. He started out slowly but the urgency he felt made him speed up. Kaoru was clinging to him crying out in pleasure. Soon he heard her gasp out his name and felt her inner muscles shudder around his thick length. He pushed in a few more times before completely sheathing his body into hers and spilling his seed inside her. Her name left his lips and he collapsed on her gasping for breath. She slung her arms around his back and held him close, breathing his scent of sandal wood and other scents she couldn't quite name.

"Arigatou Kenshin. That was wonderful." She said kissing his damp temple. He pulled his head up to look her in the eyes.

"Gomen for hurting you Kaoru. I couldn't stop myself." He kissed her cheek and nibbled on her now swollen lips.

"It's ok Kenshin. It only hurt for a few moments. After the pain went away it was great. And besides, I wouldn't have let you stop, I needed this Kenshin. I needed you." She kissed him soundly on the lips.

"Aishiteru Kaoru-koishii. Aishiteru always." She smiled through happy tears and kissed him a loving, passionate kiss.

"Always Kenshin. Always." She said. They rested for a long while, Kenshin eventually rolled off of her pulling out as he did so. They soon fell asleep clutching to one another as the sun set. Both had peaceful smiles on their faces.

"Well, it's about time. C'mon Yahiko. We'll go to the Akebeko for dinner." Sano said moving away from the window of Kaoru's room. He smiled to himself as he recalled the view of the lovers sprawled over one another smiling.If only I could convince the fox I'm not that bad a guy.

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AN: Sano was not sitting there watching…he just saw them through the window and the only thing he saw was the lovers cuddling…under a blanket…(I m not that big of a perv!...lol)