Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Never for the Public... ❯ Kenshin’s Little Secret ( Chapter 13 )

Never for the public…

Chapter 13 - Kenshin's Little Secret

Chapter Summary - How does a man, who's only had sex once in his life ten years ago, become a bedroom-stud overnight? Intense studying, mixed with a liberal dose of wet-dreams…

 

This story has not been beta'd.

 

Summary: Kaoru's suffered a traumatic experience resulting in anxiety attacks. How does Kenshin plan to cure her? This story is based on the manga and anime up to the end of the Kyoto Arc, and ignores the Jinchuu Arc. However, sometime before this story, Kenshin does confide his past to his friends (same roundtable as in manga, different reasons irrelevant to this story)…

 

Note: The Japanese language is highly flexible and very beautiful. Although I do love mixing Japanese with English to try to keep the story true, I believe there is a limit which can severely decrease a story's enjoyment factor. I decided to ignore Kenshin's changes between his use of “sessha” versus “ore,” although I felt it necessary to keep “de gozaru.” Nevertheless, this story does contain MANY Japanese phrases. I've included a glossary at the end for reference. I apologize to those whom may not enjoy this story due to the intricate language mix.

 

Disclaimer: I do not own, nor claim to own, any part of Watsuki Nobuhiro-dono's creations.

Rated: X for one lemon… I clearly marked the beginning and end of the lemon.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

December 6, 1878

 

Snow fell daintily from the slightly overcast sky. The sun's outline could barely be seen through the merry twinkle of flakes. However, the serenity of winter outdoors did nothing to prevent the charged, hours-long spar happening inside the dojo's walls…

 

“Yahiko, your arms are too low! Have you been slacking off in these past two months?!” Kaoru chastised as Yahiko retrieved his shinai from the dojo's floor.

 

“Urusai, busu! I've practiced everyday since you up and took off!” he insulted back.

 

“Maa maa, let's enjoy a snack, de gozaru,” Kenshin walked into the dojo bearing tea and rice balls on a food tray, turning the corner out the side door to the porch.

 

“Sugoi! I've missed Kenshin's rice balls!” Yahiko grinned from ear-to-ear as he barreled out of the dojo following Kenshin out to the porch.

 

“Saa, Yahiko, you have to save some for Kaoru, de gozaru yo,” Kenshin grinned as he laid the tray down.

 

“Hey busu! What's taking you so long?” Yahiko yelled back to the open dojo door. Silence greeted his exclamation for a few seconds, both men quickly getting worried. Finally, they saw Kaoru walking slowly to the door…

 

“Ken…shin...”

 

The blast of kenki accompanying his sudden sprint whirled up the surrounding puff of snow and Yahiko, as Kenshin caught Kaoru in time just before she hit the ground.

 

“Kaoru!” Yahiko stumbled in a panic, running to their side.

 

“Kaoru!” Kenshin called to her, gently trying to shake her awake, to no avail.

 

“Kenshin!” Yahiko looked frightfully at Kenshin, his worry for Kaoru glowing brightly in his young eyes. Kenshin gave a brief nod to Yahiko and quickly picked up Kaoru. He swiftly ran out of the dojo and front gate, using his god-like speed all the way to the medical clinic. He burst into the clinic's door...

 

“MEGUMI-DONO! GENSAI-SENSEI!” Kenshin bellowed. Megumi dashed out hearing his voice. Her eyes filled with frightened distress seeing Kaoru unconscious.

 

“Kaoru-chan! Ken-san this way!”

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

“Daijoubu, daijoubu yo!” Kaoru said grumpily, her temper barely held in check. She was lying on the medical futon, Kenshin kneeling on the floor to one side of her, Yahiko on the other. Megumi and Sanosuke were standing in front of them.

 

“Kaoru-chan, be honest, have you ever fainted like this before?” Megumi asked her.

 

“Not since that first anxiety attack here at the clinic,” Kaoru snapped, irritated with all the fuss.

 

“And before that?” she prompted. Kaoru thought about it for a bit, and suddenly blushed bright crimson.

 

“There was one time I fainted with Tae-san and Tsubame-chan at the market…” she said carefully, clearing her throat.

 

“And just why are you blushing about such an innocent memory, Tanuki-chan?” Megumi riled her. Kaoru grimaced, then glared at Megumi, refusing to answer.

 

“Kaoru--“ Kenshin tried to press for the answer, only to cringe under her redirected death-glare.

 

“Alright, enough teasing the tanuki, everyone out of the room. I need to examine her,” Megumi announced.

 

“Mou! I already told you I'm fine!” Kaoru ground out.

 

“Megumi-dono will examine you,” Kenshin commanded, brooking no room for argument as he stood up and eyed the other men out of the room.

 

“Ken-san, you should leave t--“ Megumi started, then clammed up when Kenshin turned his glare on her. Shocked at being on the receiving end of one of Kenshin's glares for the very first time, she covered up by reverting to her doctor-mode. He kneeled back down beside Kaoru, turning his piercing gaze on Kaoru as she also thought to protest his presence. Kaoru quickly closed her mouth and looked resignedly at Megumi. Megumi fetched her stethoscope and listened to Kaoru's heart and lungs. She leaned forward and touched her forehead to Kaoru's, feeling a normal temperature.

 

“Everything's normal there,” Megumi said, looking at Kenshin, “Ken-san--“

 

“I'm not leaving,” he stated with finality. Fire blazed in Megumi's eyes, combined with her anger of having been glared at earlier by Kenshin of all people, and she launched herself to her feet. She stomped around the futon to Kenshin and painfully yanked on his ear, forcing him to look her dead in the eyes. Caught off guard by her sudden actions as Megumi only ever tugs on Sanosuke's ears, Kenshin lost his determined focus…

 

“Battousai or not, I . AM . THE . DOCTOR . HERE, KEN-SAN! If you don't like it, get the hell out of my office and take your ill tanuki-chan with you! Now, either get your fine ass out into the waiting room with the rest of the men, or so help me I WILL find a way to force some concoction down your stubborn, idiotic gullet that you will sorely regret!” she roared at him, her booming voice shaking the clinic's foundations. The men in the waiting room cringed with fear.

 

“H-HAI, DE GOZARU YO!!!!!!!!”

 

The instant she released him still wasn't soon enough for Kenshin to make his getaway from her wrath. He hit the doorframe, sliding on his tabi and grabbing the edge to keep himself from falling out in the hallway. Megumi stormed after him, slamming the door shut, only his god-like speed saving his fingers from dismemberment. She took a few deep, calming breaths and turned back to Kaoru, expecting to be knocked-out for daring to touch her husband again, not to mention chewing him out for the first time ever. Instead, Kaoru was a ball of giggles curled up on the futon.

 

“Mattaku, Kaoru-chan, what have you done to that sweet man?” Megumi smiled, relaxing as she returned to Kaoru's side, “It's not like him to be so obstinate.”

 

“Actually, it is like him, or rather, like Battousai, to be that obstinate,” Kaoru smiled at Megumi, whom chuckled in comprehension, “You're just lucky you caught him off-guard, Megumi-san.”

 

“Sou ka? Then again, I've always had a knack for catching him off-guard, haven't I?” Megumi winked slyly, both women giggling.

 

“Now, first, tell me what's been going on with your anxiety attacks?”

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

“Hmmm, I have to agree with Ken-san. It sounds like you're cured, but it's too early to tell, especially with psychological conditions and the possibility of relapse. For now, I'll say you're in the clear,” Megumi advised.

 

“Saa, now for the physical aspect… Kaoru-chan, please take off your gi and lie down,” Megumi requested. Kaoru blushed deeply and slipped her gi-top down her arms, allowing it to pool at her lower back. Megumi gasped at the fresh bruises apparent all over the exposed skin.

 

“Kaoru-chan! These bruises are new! They look only days old!” Megumi exclaimed. Kaoru blushed bright crimson as Megumi took a closer look at the bruises. She carefully examined every new bruise in detail, ending with the one on Kaoru's neck. Megumi chuckled darkly.

 

“So, how was he?”

 

“N-Nani?” Kaoru asked embarrassed.

 

“You want to play that game with me, Tanuki-chan? Fine, I'll play. Was the sex with Ken-san that good? You look like a wild animal tried to eat you alive…” Megumi evilly smirked.

 

“NANI?! I-I d-don't know what you're t-talking about!” Kaoru rather feebly dissented, “T-There's a good explanation for those bruises, Megumi-san--!“

 

“I'm suuuuuure,” Megumi quirked an eyebrow, amused at the obvious reason for the bruises, “Kaoru-chan, do any of these bruises hurt?”

 

“No,” Kaoru squeaked out, intensely focused on her nervously clenching hands. Megumi scrutinized the uncomfortable young woman thoughtfully, silently changing her exam methods...

 

“Kaoru-chan, remove your breast bandages and lay down please.”

 

Kaoru quickly took off her bandages, too embarrassed to think about why Megumi might need to examine her breasts. She stared at the other closed door leading out to the clinic's backyard until she laid down, refocusing on the ceiling as Megumi carefully examined her chest. She gasped when Megumi touched her arm.

 

“Kaoru-chan, I would never hurt you,” Megumi said softly, kindly.

 

“I know, Megumi-san, gomen ne,” Kaoru smiled back, relaxing. Megumi methodically wrapped her sphygmomanometer around Kaoru's upper arm and pumped it up, squeezing her arm. She placed the stethoscope on the inside of Kaoru's elbow and listened to her blood pressure. Silence filled the room, until Megumi was satisfied with the results.

 

“Your blood pressure is normal. When did you have your last period?”

 

“It's due in about two-three days; I had it almost a month ago.”

 

“Any spotting?”

 

“No, none.”

 

“Nausea?”

 

“No.”

 

“How is your lower back?”

 

“Fine,” Kaoru answered, growing confused at the strange questions…

 

“Any abnormal aches or pains?”

 

“Not that I've noticed.”

 

“Humph, with all these bruises, I doubt you'd be able to notice anything else. Kaoru-chan, you need to tone down your “special” spar sessions with Ken-san for a while, ok?” Megumi wittily remarked, bringing a fresh blush to the young woman.

 

“H-How did you kn--?”

 

“Have you forgotten I'm a Takani-sensei? Would you like for me to point out to you exactly which bruises you received individually from the assault, or from the lewd, lecherous sex with Ken-san, or from sparring with Ken-san?” Kaoru's blush deepened from crimson to fire engine red. Megumi sighed.

 

“Tanuki-chan, look at me.”

 

Kaoru refused to look up, burning shame emanating from her entire being. Megumi scooted closer to Kaoru and hugged her, causing Kaoru to gasp in surprise.

 

“Megumi-san? I-I thought you hated me?” Kaoru whispered stunned.

“Baka child,” Megumi whispered. Hesitantly, Kaoru returned the sisterly hug. She looked up at Megumi as the other pulled away.

 

“Most of your friends are men, so you might as well get used to how crude and uncouth they can be when they speak of sex. Just because someone may call what you and Ken-san have done lewd, lecherous, or worse, doesn't mean that it was. You are a wife now. Your duty is to please your husband, just as much as it is his duty to protect, care for and respect you. If having sex using unconventional methods is pleasing for both of you, then you have both fulfilled your duties to each other, regardless of what anyone else might say, understand?”

 

“Megumi-san,” Kaoru took a moment to absorb everything, then smiled, “arigatou gozaimasu, Megumi-san.”

 

“Although, why it always falls on me to knock sense into that tanuki head of yours, I'll never understand,” Megumi sighed dramatically in pure annoyance, nonchalantly flipping her hair over her shoulder. Kaoru smiled.

 

Megumi smirked as she continued, “Have you felt unexpectedly tired lately?”

 

“Hai. “

 

“Kaoru-chan, I need you to remove your hakama….”

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

“I think you know what I'm going to say…” Megumi said softly.

 

“Am I pregnant, Megumi-san?” Kaoru held her breath hopefully.

 

“Chances are very good that you're pregnant,” Megumi said, then asked gently, “have you discussed this with Ken-san yet?”

 

Kaoru nodded her head enthusiastically, “If it's a boy, I've named him Kenji, and if it's a girl, Kenshin's named her Saya,” Kaoru smiled bashfully.

 

“You both discussed having a child already?!!!” Megumi exclaimed utterly shocked.

 

“Actually, Kenshin brought it up when he realized he'd accidentally forgotten to use birth control…”

 

“OH ho ho ho ho hoooooooooooooo!”

 

“Megumi-san! It's not that funny!” Kaoru snapped, instantly irate.

 

“I could just imagine the pitiful look on Ken-san's face when he'd realize that! Yareyare, you must've had him under quite the spell for such an astute man to forget something so critical!” Megumi chortled, ignoring Kaoru's warning growl.

 

“Oh ho ho ho ho hoooooo! You two really are hopeless!” Megumi evilly teased, “Regardless, Kaoru-chan, I'll need to see you again in two weeks, maybe sooner. Get dressed and we'll schedule an appointment.” Megumi rose and left the room.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

“Kenshin, you'll burn a hole in the ground where you're standing,” Sanosuke joked.

 

“ … “

 

“Kenshin, I've never seen you this worried about busu before?” Yahiko sighed insufferably.

 

“Yahiko,” Kenshin warned very quietly, sparks of amber flecking in his half-hidden gaze. Sanosuke and Yahiko looked at Kenshin like he'd grown two heads. Kenshin closed his eyes and breathed deeply, trying to calm his worries. He looked back to Yahiko, his normal, kind expression firmly in place.

 

“Yahiko, man-to-man I'm asking you… please stop calling Kaoru busu, or any other hurtful names from now on, de gozaru yo, ne?” he softly requested.

 

“Kenshin?” Yahiko asked puzzled. Kenshin walked over to him and got down on one knee, placing both of his hands on Yahiko's shoulders.

 

“Please, de gozaru na, Yahiko,” Kenshin looked into his eyes. Yahiko studied Kenshin's serious expression.

 

“Kenshin… d-did I hurt Kaoru?” Yahiko asked in a small, pained voice.

 

“Not yet, but very soon your words will cut her as surely as any blade,” Kenshin stood up and removed his hands, “do you really want to hurt Kaoru, de gozaru, Yahiko?”

 

Yahiko looked down, “I've never wanted to hurt bus--, Kaoru.”

 

“Saa, it's a promise then, de gozaru yo?” Kenshin asked, placing one hand on Yahiko's shoulder. Yahiko looked up into his idol's eyes searchingly.

 

“Aa!” Yahiko smiled.

 

“Katajikenai, Yahiko,” Kenshin smiled back, moving his hand to rub Yahiko's hair, causing Yahiko to giggle. Sanosuke came over and patted Yahiko on the head after Kenshin.

 

“What are we going to do with you, gaki?” he asked jokingly.

 

“Well isn't this a comfortable, male-bonding scene?” Megumi commented, having watched half of the conversation.

 

“Megumi-dono, Kaoru, de gozaru?” Kenshin asked, stepping forward anxiously.

 

“The tanuki-chan is fine. It looks like she's cured of those seizures, but it's too early to tell. She could relapse, so you'll have to monitor her carefully. For now, I'll say she's cleared of the anxiety attacks…” Megumi said, then purposefully went silent.

 

“Kenshin, pull yourself together. You look like you're going to faint,” Sanosuke grumbled.

 

“Megumi-dono, that isn't all, is it, de gozaru?” Kenshin asked apprehensively.

 

“Hmmm?” she hummed, thoroughly enjoying her revenge for his earlier glare...

 

“Spit it out, Kitsune, before Kenshin has a stroke,” Sanosuke snapped at her. She quickly grabbed his ear and gave it a good yank, effectively shutting him up.

 

“Ken-san, you already know what I'm going to say, so go grab your tanuki-chan and take her home. Try to make sure she eats enough, as well as stay away from eating her own cooking… I'm positive you would both be upset if your baby were poisoned before it was even born--“ A blur of red flashed past Megumi before she could complete her witty crack.

 

“Jou-chan's pregnant already? Haven't they only been married for two weeks?” Sanosuke asked stupefied. Megumi shrugged her shoulders in feigned ignorance.

 

“Kaoru's pregnant? What's the world coming to?” Yahiko asked tactlessly.

 

“Oro? Looks like you'll be spending another night with me, Yahiko-chan. You'd better learn to curb saying stuff like that about Kaoru around Kenshin, baka…” Sanosuke smiled, Megumi joining him.

 

“Eeeeeeeeh! Not again… and don't call me -chan!!!” Yahiko sputtered outraged.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

December 7, 1878

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LEMON~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Kaoru belatedly awoke from her deep slumber, her body scorching in a fully-aroused sweat. She was breathing through her parted lips, high-pitched whimpers of lust thrown into the air as she tossed her head form side-to-side. She arched into the mouth and hands on and in her. A third finger was added to the other two recklessly plunging into her depths, her explosion imminent as a talented tongue wreaked havoc on her core.

 

“Kenshin!” Kaoru screamed out as the powerful waves rocketed through her body. She clawed her fingernails into the futon, seeking any purchase to ground her from this unforeseen high. Oxygen rushed back into her starved lungs, and she opened her eyes to see Kenshin looming over her, smiling. He laid down on top of her, pulling her into a deep kiss, their tongues battling for dominance.

 

“Ohayo, Kaoru,” he purred huskily as he slowly pushed himself into her, his tongue temporarily winning the battle. Kenshin set a maddeningly casual, forceful pace, using long, deep strokes to drive Kaoru insane. He placed kisses all over her face, her neck, his moist breath in her ear.

 

“I said… ohayo, Kaoru,” he whispered in her ear, punctuating his whisper with a quick, jabbing thrust into her thus-far ignored jewel.

 

“K-Kenshin,” she whimpered miserably. He stopped his lazy motions and kept still, waiting for her to have sense enough to acknowledge him. She struggled to open her eyes.

 

“Kenshin,” her needy breaths wreaking havoc on his control.

 

“Ohayo, Kaoru,” he achingly panted over her lips.

 

“Ohayo, Kenshin… AAAAH!” she cried out, her eyes shut as she threw her head back, suddenly struggling to stay afloat as the storm's eyewall violently collided and meshed with her pleasure. She was suddenly separated, picked up, and tossed flat onto her stomach. The arms of the wind swept underneath, her hips raised barely high enough for full, immediate impalement.

 

Without pause, Kenshin rolled them both onto their backs, holding Kaoru teetering off the side of his body. He grabbed her knee up in the air and held it higher, closer to his body, opening her wide as he spread his legs. He bent his knees and plowed hard up into her, each lunge pure bliss. His other hand tilted her chin back to himself; he devoured her lips as he reclaimed her body. His free hand roamed willfully over her neck, breasts, stomach, anywhere in reach.

 

She was spread out too wide, too many sensations simultaneously in too many places… overwhelming stimulation. This position was too much…

 

“KEEEEENSHIIIIIN!” she shrieked, his free hand spontaneously reacquainting itself with her core.

 

“KAORUUUUU!” his thrashing sharply ended as he pulled her knee closer to his body, stabbing himself deeply within her, deluging her with his essence. Their muscle-toned bodies lay in stark relief against each other, straining on the pivotal breach, before luscious air blessedly swirled back into their lungs. Kenshin let go of her knee allowing it to fall to rest against his own. He lifted Kaoru's body wholly on top of his, holding her close as they both enjoyed their intimate connection. Kenshin let go of her when she sat up, turned herself around without removing him, and laid back down, stomach-to-stomach, resting her head on his shoulder. He cuddled her closer to his body.

 

“Ohayo, my Kenshin.”

“Ohayo, my Kaoru.”

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ END LEMON~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Finished with his meditation and warmup katas, Yahiko made his way to the kitchen yawning widely.

 

“Stupid tori-atama and his loud snoring...”

 

He walked slowly, having not slept well for the past two nights. Exhaustion dampening normal reaction time, Yahiko suddenly stopped at the open kitchen door, mouth gaping in disbelief...

 

Kenshin had backed Kaoru up against the kitchen counter, where they were currently lip-locked in a passionate embrace. Yahiko could only blink stupidly as he watched Kenshin's left hand knead Kaoru's bottom, Kaoru's right hand in turn buried deeply into Kenshin's almost loose hair, his hair tie slowly working free. He could just barely see Kenshin's right hand caressing her neck, tilting her head for easier access. So lost were they in their endeavours, Kenshin didn't seem to sense Yahiko's ki?

 

Having been in the yakuza for most of his life, Yahiko's witnessed many kisses; however, every kiss he'd ever seen had always disgusted him. He'd grown up thinking of kisses not as signs of affection, but as a seemingly necessary step for stoking lust before sex. He'd even stealthily watched the other yakuza thugs have sex a few times. It looked exactly the same every single time, and repulsed him to no end. But this kiss…

 

Yahiko took the opportunity to really study them, noting that although their movements had seemed just as frenzied as the yakuza thugs' at first, they were actually full of tenderness for each other. Kaoru's hand wasn't pulling or tugging on Kenshin's head; she was more lightly massaging his scalp than anything else. Kenshin's hand was tilting her chin up, but not forcefully. Actually, her chin was resting, nuzzling, his hand, as his fingers ghosted across her skin. Even Kenshin's hand on her rear was not disturbing as his hand seemed to mimic her hand tangled up in his hair. Finally, the kiss itself was so filled with passion and love, it was almost blinding.

 

Studying this emotion-filled kiss, he wasn't sure he could tease them about their marriage, and impending pregnancy, as he had planned to do. Yahiko reflected on Kenshin's trusted request from the day before…

 

<< Would Tsubame like to be kissed like that? >>

 

Kaoru was obviously oblivious to the world… It looked like Kenshin was the perfect kisser; then again, what wasn't his idol perfect at? Well, perfect at when it's not dealing with women or children…

 

<< How do you even learn to kiss properly? Would Tsubame look as sweetly flushed in my arms? >>

 

Blushing at the newly-discovered, chaotic train of pubescent thoughts, he decided to take a more pragmatic approach. Yahiko walked over to a corner, picked up the rectangular, wooden footstool Kenshin had constructed just for him, and dropped it loudly down on the floor in front of the stove, near the oblivious couple…

 

“Eeeeeeeeeyaaaaaaaaaah!” Kaoru screeched upon seeing Yahiko right next to them getting up on the footstool. She unintentionally shoved Kenshin away from herself, whom had nothing to balance against…

 

“OROOOO--, ITAI!” Kenshin cried out as he fell soundly on his derriere.

 

“Kenshin! Gomen, Anata, daijoubu ka?! YAHIKO NO BAKA! Look what you made me do to Kenshin!!!” Kaoru blindly raged as she helped Kenshin stand back up.

 

“Daijoubu, de gozaru yo, Koishii,” Kenshin smiled sheepishly as he dusted himself off. He watched Yahiko for a moment, whom had picked up the cooking where they'd left off, rescuing their breakfast.

 

“What're you two gaping at? Go straighten up your clothes before Sanosuke gets here, otherwise you'll never hear the end of it…” Yahiko mumbled as he tested the miso soup, deciding the soup was ready and added the final ingredient of miso paste, removing the pot from the fire. He smugly smirked when he heard Kaoru gasp, guessing she'd finally noticed her kimono open and showing cleavage. << Man, Kenshin must be really good if a prude like Kaoru didn't notice he'd loosened her kimono… How do you loosen a kimono, anyway? >> She dashed out of the kitchen as he methodically moved to check on the rice, only to have a large hand lay on top of his. Yahiko startled and looked up to Kenshin's proud and thankful smile.

 

“Nani, Kenshin?”

 

“I'll help, de gozaru yo, Yahiko,” Kenshin kindly requested. Yahiko smiled in return, flattered at his mentor's silent praise.

 

“Nah, I've got things here, you wanna setup the trays?” Yahiko chummily jabbed his shoulder into Kenshin's stomach, surprising Kenshin and knocking the air out of him.

 

“Hai, de gozaru,” Kenshin replied laughing, affectionately ruffling Yahiko's hair before taking off for his assigned task…

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

“It's nice outside today,” Sanosuke commented, sitting on top of an overturned washbucket, chewing on a fishbone. Kenshin crouched on the snow-covered ground near to him, happily enjoying his favorite hobby, scrubbing away on laundry. Sanosuke looked back at the petite redhead, smiling at the lack of ever-constant tension which used to plague the rurouni… No, rurouni no longer…

 

Sanosuke picked up a handful of the fresh snow from the early morning, made a snowball, and chucked it at Kenshin's head. Lack of tension or not, his reflexes were still superior as Kenshin easily backhanded the snowball, sending it unexpectedly right into Sanosuke's face. Kenshin didn't even look up to take aim...

 

“Missing something, de gozaru yo, Sano?” Kenshin chuckled as Sanosuke amusedly wiped the snow off his face.

 

“My pride, I suppose,” Sanosuke joked, “Oh yeah, I have something for ya, that is, if you'd still like for me to provide them…”

 

Kenshin wiped his hands on his hakama, smiling knowingly, and reached a hand out to Sanosuke expectantly. Sanosuke quirked an eyebrow at Kenshin's sudden eagerness; Before today, Kenshin's extreme shyness had always caused a guiltily reluctant acceptance of the vulgar documents. Sanosuke used to have to force the papers on Kenshin, the latter only accepting when Sanosuke would get frustrated enough to threaten bodily harm…

 

Sanosuke handed the envelope to Kenshin, whom quietly opened it and flipped briefly through the five loose pages, as if instantaneously memorizing their contents. Storing back the pages, he quickly folded and tucked the envelope safely inside his kimono, then returned to scrubbing. Sanosuke observed this new quirk in Kenshin's eternally odd-behaviour with the utmost amusement.

 

“I take it the sexual-position pictures helped out down in Otsu, eh?” Sanosuke asked.

 

“That's actually an understatement, de gozaru na. Without all of those pictures you've been forcing on me for the past few months, I think I would've been just as lost this time in that house as I was the last time, de gozaru yo,” Kenshin replied gratefully. Sanosuke grinned widely.

 

“So you finally admit it's Kaoru you've been having all those wet-dreams about, ne?”

 

“ORO?!!!” Kenshin slipped on the scrubber and fell halfway into the washbucket, his face lighting up as red as his hair. Sanosuke laughed as Kenshin coughed out water, recollecting himself and glaring at Sanosuke at the same time. “I don't know what you're talking about.”

 

“I've spent more than enough nights over here, and I lost count long ago of how many nights you've spent out in the bath house making out with freezing water. Not to mention, what just happened to `sessha' and `de gozaru'?” Sanosuke chuckled devilishly. Kenshin's blush intensified, if possible.

 

“Kenshin, about Battousai…” Sanosuke began hesitantly.

 

“Nani yo, Sanosuke?” Kenshin snapped warningly.

 

“BAKA!” Sanosuke growled. Kenshin instantly brought his amber gaze to bare on Sanosuke.

 

“Listen, I'm worried about you. Why is it, all of a sudden out of the blue, we have Battousai's presence gracing us with nary a badass villain around?” Sanosuke ventured, curbing his usual tactlessness, tiptoeing with care around the deadly persona. Kenshin turned back to the laundry, his scrubbing showing how pissed off he'd instantly become… Kenshin never gets pissed off, or even angry, with friends though… unless he wasn't really feeling anger… no one wants Battousai around, they all just want their safe, kind Rurouni… no, not pissed off, more like… hurt betrayal?

 

“Battousai is connected hand-in-hand with my strongest emotions… Bloodlust, rage, hate, anger, passion…” Kenshin snarled out, trailing off.

 

“Love?” Sanosuke asked softly. Kenshin immediately hid his eyes under his bangs, stubbornly remaining silent. It only took another second for Sanosuke to realize how much that made sense. Kenshin had fallen in love with Tomoe when he was still the Battousai back during the Bakumatsu… but then, Jou-chan would've been exposed to this as well, probably all alone with him in that lonely hut. And yet, she still married him, so then… so then, there should be nothing to worry about. Battousai or Rurouni, Kenshin is still Kenshin…

 

“Alright, shorty, fess up! Jou-chan and the brat will be busy with their lessons for a while. You can start with that absurdly huge hickie that's still on her neck," Sanosuke gloated. Battousai looked up at him in surprise.

 

“Sanosuke?” he asked warily.

 

“Kenshin no baka, don't make me chide you like I know Jou-chan probably does everyday… Rurouni, Battousai, you say po-tay-to, I say po-tah-to, whatever … you are you, Kenshin,” Sanosuke waved a hand in the air back and forth, scolding Kenshin as if he were talking to a small child. Battousai blinked once, twice, then burst out loud into delightful laughter, startling Sanosuke. He filed away the information, that Kenshin the Battousai can also laugh like Kenshin the Rurouni, for later entertainment. Sanosuke chuckled when Kenshin opened laughing, violet eyes on him. The latter turned back to scrubbing.

 

“It would seem you've already figured out our favorite position so far, de gozaru na, Sano,” Kenshin admitted, sighing heavily in relief at Sanosuke's acceptance.

 

“What kind of friend would I be if I hadn't? Besides, doggy-style happens to be most womens' favorite position.”

 

“I wouldn't know, de gozaru,” Kenshin smirked at Sanosuke.

 

“Humph, not all of us are good boys like you,” Sanosuke quipped. Kenshin's smirk widened as he continued scrubbing.

 

“Kaoru is very… open… daring… bold. She loves both sexual and sensual exploring, de gozaru yo,” He offered, hoping against hope this would be enough of a tidbit for Sanosuke.

 

“One, that's highly unusual in a woman, so count yourself superbly lucky. Two, if you think that tiny bit of general nothing's gonna get you off the hook, you've got another think coming! You owe me for all of that excellent literature I've been sneaking to you for the past year with my hard-earned gambling money,” Sanosuke teased Kenshin about their “little secret.”

 

“Yareyare, you want to know something raunchy, don't you, de gozaru na?”

 

“That would be a start. How about how you seduced her the first time?” Kenshin blushed deeply, focusing harder on his scrubbing. Sanosuke carefully watched Kenshin's subtle reactions…

 

“Kenshin, you did seduce that first time, right?” Sanosuke asked suspiciously

 

“The truth is, I was a bit caught off guard the first time, de gozaru,” Kenshin said tight-lipped, his blush deepening.

 

“USO!!! Jou-chan made the first move?!!! This I've gotta hear…” Sanosuke grinned from ear-to-ear. Kenshin dramatically faked a heavy sigh.

 

“We had a fun day together, de gozaru… Kaoru and I actually played all that morning, de gozaru yo… Sanosuke, not the kind of playing you're thinking of…” Kenshin chided amusedly when he noticed Sanosuke's grin.

 

“Nani? What other kind of playing is there?” Sanosuke artificially frowned.

 

“Mou, you're hopeless, de gozaru na,” Kenshin joked as he rose to hang up more clean laundry, “I teased her a little too much at breakfast and she exploded. I ran out of the house and down to the river nearby, but she managed to toss us both down the bank and into the cold water--“

 

“Ooooh? So you're saying Jou-chan's as much a klutz in bed as she is out?” Sanosuke joked mercilessly.

 

“Sano…” Kenshin glared, unable to contain his smile, “In retaliation, I splashed a big wave of water on her; she splashed me back, and I dunked her under the water. We played together in the river for hours--“

 

“Boooring! So where's the hot, steamy sex come in?” Sanosuke cut in impatiently.

 

“Do you want your payment or not, de gozaru yo, Sano?” Kenshin asked mischievously, crouching back to more scrubbing. Sanosuke snorted laughingly.

 

“Later that evening, we ended up in the bathroom together. I tried to leave, but Kaoru begged me to stay. She shocked me when she suddenly stripped naked in front of me. Next thing I knew, I'd flung my clothes somewhere and had her in my arms--“

 

“YATTA!” Sanosuke praised. Kenshin ignored him and kept going…

 

“--I was so ready to take her then and there, but then she told me that she was still scared. I kissed her… her lips are so soft…” Kenshin trailed off, lost in his memories. Unfortunately, memories and reflexes don't usually mix; Kenshin blinked as the cold snowball slowly slid down his face. He turned to Sanosuke, pouting as he wiped off the snow.

 

“No spacing out allowed, or else I'll add interest to what you owe me!” Sanosuke said cheerily.

 

“Temee…” Kenshin growled smilingly, “the kiss became heated quickly. She had said she was scared and not ready, so I turned away from her to meditate on getting rid of my arousal. Kaoru had other plans…”

 

“Other plans?” Sanosuke prompted.

 

“It's how I discovered just how innately inquisitive she is… she, caught me by surprise and touched me, down there, and well one thing sort of led to another…” Kenshin blushed sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. Sanosuke stared at Kenshin, focusing on reading between the lines.

 

“Oh hell no, kisama! Jou-chan gave you a blowjob?!” Sanosuke exclaimed, barely able to keep it to a hushed whisper.

 

Kenshin turned deep crimson as he stood up to hang more clothes, faced away from Sanosuke. He was silent for a few moments… “I'd never felt anything like that before, de gozaru. It was… wonderful. Ever since that day, Kaoru's taken an affinity to, um, surprising me, de gozaru yo.”

 

“Jotte matte! You're saying that Jou-chan's regularly giving you blowjobs, eh? Kono yarou! I'll bet she even swallows too, doesn't she?” Sanosuke asked, jealously stunned.

 

“Oro? Is that unusual for a woman to do, de gozaru?” Kenshin asked innocently, back to scrubbing again. Sanosuke fell off the washbucket in outright astonishment, leg twitching in the air.

 

“Oro?” Kenshin bewilderedly observed Sanosuke, tilting his head in genuinely confused innocence.

 

“Masaka, Kenshin, it's hard to keep in mind you're more innocent than me even though you're ten years older!” Sanosuke moaned jokingly as he reseated himself.

 

“Mou, I'm only nine years older than you, de gozaru na, Sano!” Kenshin adorably pouted.

 

“Only?” Sanosuke smirked incitingly.

 

“Gaki-chan,” Kenshin jokingly insulted. Sanosuke laughed heartily.

 

“So then, what did you do after your first blowjob ever?”

 

“I made love to her, de gozaru na,” Kenshin said dreamily, happily scrubbing away as his mind ran circles around those memories.

 

“GAG ME!”

 

“Oro?”

 

“Made love?! C'mon, Kenshin yo, it had to be more interesting than that!”

 

“Sano, I hate to burst your bubble, but did you forget the reason we even ended up in Otsu, de gozaru?” Kenshin asked seriously, getting up to hang more clothes. Sanosuke blanched.

 

“Gomen, Kenshin, I was outta line,” he looked down, deflated.

 

“Don't worry about it, Sano. Besides, it's not our first few times you're really interested in, de gozaru na,” Kenshin straightened out the sheets he'd hung up. He walked back to the washbucket, removed the scrubber, and crouched to pick it up…

 

“I'll get it, little buddy… JOTTO! The first few?!!! Kami, Kenshin, how many times did you two make out down there? No wonder Jou-chan's pregnant within two weeks…” Sanosuke blustered incredulously as he crouched and grabbed the heavy bucket from Kenshin. He went over to the ditch, dumped out the dirty water, and brought the empty bucket back to the well. He pulled up a bucket of clean water and set to thoroughly rinsing the washbucket for Kenshin. Kenshin was busy picking up all of the laundry materials. They soon made their way to the kitchen where Kenshin packed away the laundry items.

 

Turning to grab tea items out of different cupboards, Kenshin smirked smugly, a testament to his rarely displayed, outside-of-battle virility... “I'm guessing that's another abnormality, de gozaru na?” he clipped out quickly, knowing it would easily provoke Sanosuke. Sanosuke was flabbergasted catching the smirk he wasn't meant to see…

 

“Oi! Answer the question, temee!” Sanosuke laughed.

 

“Hmmm? Anoooo… the first two days was once each day, but that changed as of our honeymoon night… eeto, we sort of had what Kaoru calls a sex-marathon that night, and um, the entire next day, de goz--”

 

“TWENTY-FOUR HOU--?!!!”

 

Kenshin quickly slapped a hand over Sanosuke's mouth. He let go as Sanosuke doubled-over insuppressibly laughing. He was laughing so hard, he dropped to his knees, then to his side on the kitchen floor. For his part, Kenshin attempted to act annoyed at Sanosuke, failing miserably as a smile broke through.

 

“I don't see what's so funny, de gozaru na, Sano? You're making fun of my age again, aren't you, de gozaru yo?” Kenshin playfully sulked. Sanosuke, still chuckling, got himself under control and stood up, dusting himself off.

 

“Kisama no yarou, Kenshin… I don't know another man, dead or alive, who's ever had sex for twenty-four hours, or whom could even last that long, including myself,” Sanosuke admitted.

 

“We took breaks in-between sessions, Sano. It's not like we didn't stop during that whole time, de gozaru. I don't understand, de gozaru yo?” Kenshin asked wide-eyed, sincerely confused again as he started to make tea for everyone.

 

“Twenty-four hours, kami… With stamina like yours, it's no wonder I could never beat you in our serious battles… You really are a bakemono, Kenshin!” Sanosuke laughed.

 

“Sou ka, de gozaru?” Kenshin blinked chuckling, his eyes sparkling with amusement, “I've been called that often enough, de gozaru na.”

 

“But that also doesn't make sense; Jou-chan should have been hella sore after the second, consecutive time… how many times in that day did you tw--?“

 

“Katajikenai, de gozaru yo, Sano… for everything,” Kenshin met Sanosuke's eyes and smiled, abruptly ending the conversation, then turned back to mixing the tea. Sanosuke looked at him puzzled, thinking over his words to see if he might have said anything that could have offended Kenshin. Then he heard Kaoru's and Yahiko's arguing voices drawing near. He smiled, wondering if his ki-sensing abilities would ever match Kenshin's someday…

 

“Aa, arigatou yo to you as well, for everything… Kenshin,” Sanosuke patted Kenshin's shoulder. Kenshin smiled up at him, that warm, kind smile that melts even the coldest villain's hearts, then refocused on preparing the tea serving tray. Sanosuke moved to the kitchen's wall and leaned back, comfortably crossing his arms and feet. He watched as the finally at-peace ex-hitokiri euphorically made tea for their family. Sanosuke smiled affectionately at his idol… and best friend.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Author's Note: Whew! I didn't mean to scare everyone with the title of the last chapter! :O

No worries, there's still two more chapters to go after this one, fifteen total. Also, I wrote an odd epilogue of sorts that I'm still debating, especially since it kind of bloomed into 23 pages on its own…damn those muses! ;P

 

Special Thanks:

Neko-sama - LOL! I so enjoyed K/K's foul language in the furo scene. In my mind, I can easily imagine Kenshin learning all of that language from back in the Bakumatsu, and Kaoru learning hers both from teaching kenjutsu to males, along with daily reinforcement from Sanosuke. I used the unusual cursing to express the extreme extent to which their emotions had been forcefully pushed, and they really needed to vent their frustrations. If sex was not to be had, then tongues may wage the bloodiest of wars. After all, the pen is mightier than the sword. ;) Katajikenai!

 

Jenniebennie-sama - Hehe, I was worried the Battousai/Sano & Yahiko scene would be OOC. I happy to learn it didn't come off that way though. :) Katajikenai!

 

Ginny-sama (aka Kokoronagomu) - 4 AM! I'm truly honored! There's quite a few nights where I stay awake reading a really good story that I just can not put down. I'm flattered you consider my story one of those. :) Katajikenai!

 

Rosie-sama (aka Freaky-hanyou) - If it's any consolation, it's taken me 10 years of anime watching so far to learn all the Japanese I know so far… ;P Katajikenai!

 

Meet.A.L.E.X. - I'll consider FF.net, but I dunno. I was, and still am, pretty bitter at them when I lost two stories I had written a few years ago when they had renounced all hentai stories. Back then, I knew nothing of backing up material, and then triple backing it up. I think my profile may still exist over there, though… Arigatou for the kind thought. :) Katajikenai

 

Katajikenai, minna-san.

 

Glossary:

 

Aa = an exclamation made in agreement or acknowledgement of the previous statement or gesture

Anata = in this story, a term of endearment usually used by the wife

Ano = an exclamation, “Ummm”

Arigatou = Thank you

Arigatou gozaimasu = Thank you very much

Baka = idiot

Bakemono = monster

Bakumatsu = The Late Tokugawa Shogunate period in Japan's history from 1853-1867, ending with the Boshin War of 1868 and the final battle at Toba-Fushimi

Battou-jutsu = (Quick Draw Technique) by whipping the sword out of its sheath, one can increase its speed twice- or three-fold, which can kill with one blow without taking a single blow from one's opponent. This is a real-life kenjutsu technique.

Battousai = Kenshin's name during the Bakumatsu Revolutionary War per his sword-fighting specialty, Battoujutsu… the -sai at the end designates him as a Battoujutsu Master, having perfected every Battou-technique possible

Busu = Ugly

-chan = an honorific pronoun suffix addressed to someone whom is younger, or equal to, in age, or for friends

Daijoubu = “It's ok.”, “Are you ok?”, “Everything will be alright.”

De gozaru = an obsolete phrase of extreme politeness added to the end of sentences, roughly translated to “that it is”, a form of “to be”… (I only use one conjugation of de gozaru to keep things simple.)

-dono = an honorific pronoun suffix addressed to someone of important standing… Kenshin uses this over-excessively in connection with his Kenjougo (polite) language use

Eeto = an exclamation to express “let me see; well; errr...”

Gaki = brat; kids

Gi = A half kimono top worn during workout sessions or in battle with a hakama

Gomen = I'm sorry

Hai = Yes

Hakama = traditional Japanese pants which resemble a wide, pleated skirt

Hitokiri = Assassin

Jotto Matte! = Wait a minute!, jotto can be used for short

Jou-chan = Sanosuke's nickname for Kaoru, a shortened form of ojou-chan, or young woman

Kami = God

Katajikenai = Old Samurai language, now obsolete… Thank You formally; grateful; indebted

Kenji = the path of the sword

Kenki = “the air of a sword”… not the kind of air you breathe, but a swordsman's physical spirit, the source of his power projected outwardly into a physical appearance and/or manifestation

Kisama = the most vulgar curse for “you” in the second person, most typically used as Bastard or Asshole, or against an enemy you're about to/are in the middle of fight/ing

Kitsune = Fox

Koishii = a term of endearment usually used by the husband

Kono = difficult to translate to English, slightly similar to “very”

Maa = an exclamation to soothe a conversation, or calm someone down

Masaka! = Unbelievable!

Mattaku! = Good grief!

Mou = geez

Nani? = What?

Ne = equivalent to a softly spoken English “hey” or “is that right?”

Ohayo = Good Morning

Oi = Hey!

Ore = “ I “ (typical brash male pronoun)

Oro = an exclamation, only slightly similar to the English “huh?”

Rurouni = homeless wanderer, vagabond

Saa = an exclamation similar to the English word “so”

-san = an honorific pronoun suffix addressed to someone whom is older, or is a stranger

Saya = a sword's sheath

Sessha = this humbled one

Shinai = (bamboo) fencing stick

Sou ka = “Is that so?” or “I see”

Sugoi = an exclamation to express “cool; amazing; great; wonderful; to a great extent; terrible; dreadful; terrific”

Tabi = Japanese split-toe socks

Tanuki = Raccoon

Temee = “You”, said in a vulgar way, usually used by males, very rarely by females

Tori-atama = Rooster-head

Urusai = Shut up!

Uso! = No way! Impossible! It can't be!

Yakuza = Japanese mafia, or criminal gangs

Yareyare = an exclamation made in exasperation, relief, annoyance, or disappointment

Yarou = a “catch-all” curse with many uses such as asshole, bastard, jerk, son-of-a-bitch, etc.