Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Never for the Public... ❯ Baka Deshi ( Chapter 14 )

Never for the public…

Chapter 14 - Baka Deshi

Chapter Summary - The Hitokiri Battousai embraces the Meiji Era…

 

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 and one lime… I clearly marked the beginnings and ends of both.

 

Author's Curiousity Question: Statistics shows that doggy-style is women's number one favorite sexual position… If you're a female, is this true for you and/or other females in your life? If you're a male, is this true for the females previously and presently in your life? Leave a review and let me know! Anonymous reviews are welcome! Plyric

 

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

December 7, 1878

 

“Nani yo, Kenshin?” Kaoru asked smiling as Kenshin excitedly pulled her towards his old bedroom.

 

“I have a surprise we should discuss, de gozaru!” he smiled mysteriously.

 

“What surprise? Tell me, Keeeeenshiiiin!” she whined teasingly. He took her hand and led her into the room. A large box lay on the floor. He guided her to kneel beside him in front of the box.

 

“Open it, de gozaru,” he softly requested. Kaoru pulled the box to herself and opened it with a flourish, gasping. She slowly pulled out a gorgeous dark-blue, formal kimono with a white hem border on the bottom-fifth of the dress and sleeves; she fingered the detailed white/gray butterflies on its shoulders and bottom half above the border. Reaching back into the box, her fingers delicately admired the cream-colored, intricately-patterned, formal laced-obi.

 

“Kenshin…” she breathed out. Kenshin reached into the box and pulled out a navy-blue hakama with matching white kimono and white kosode, complete with navy-blue trim. She laughed happily.

 

“Kenshin! These are beautiful!”

 

“I thought you might like these for our wedding celebration, de gozaru na,” he smiled.

 

“Oro?! Kenshin, this was your errand in Kyoto, wasn't it?” she giggled.

 

“Hai, this is what Aoshi helped me pick out, de gozaru yo,” he said as he carefully re-folded all of his clothes; Kaoru re-folded hers and packed it all away.

 

“Saa, Anata, when is our wedding?” she asked.

 

“That's what I wanted to discuss with you, Koishii. When would you like it to be, de gozaru?”

 

“Well, it will have to be very soon, before we start showing,” she said, smiling down at her stomach. He smiled at how she said `we'.

 

“It doesn't have to be before `we' start showing… it could be the day before you give birth, as far as I'm concerned, de gozaru yo. You'll be beautiful either way, de gozaru na,” he said charmingly as he lay down on his back, pulling her to lie on top of him.

 

“Kami, you're a closet-flirt, Kenshin!” she laughed, caressing his scarred cheek.

 

“I don't know what you're talking about, de gozaru yo, Kooooooiiiiiiiishii,” Kenshin smiled teasingly, gently rolling them onto their sides. He snuggled her close in his arms and sweetly kissed her. Kaoru blushed prettily as he lay his forehead against hers. He kissed her nose and pulled back far enough to gaze in her eyes.

 

“Saa, Koishii, this decision is yours, de gozaru yo.”

 

“I prefer sooner than later… I wish we could have it next week…” she sighed dreamily. Kenshin got up on his elbow and tenderly tucked some hair behind her ear.

 

“If I said I could have everyone here next week, then would you really want it next week, de gozaru?” he asked.

 

“Hai, I'd love it next week; however, there's no way you could get everyone here in that short amount of a time, Kenshin?”

 

Kenshin smiled, worrying his bottom lip with is teeth, “First, promise me you won't get mad at me, de gozaru yo.”

 

“What will I get mad about?” she clipped out, immediately suspicious. He reached into his kimono sleeve and pulled out a decorated envelope, handing it to her. Kaoru turned the envelope over, admiring the ornamental paper. Seeing Kenshin's mischievous smirk out of the corner of her eye, she opened the envelope and unfolded the letter inside.

 

“Calligraphy?” she mumbled as she skimmed the embellished contents. Suddenly, Kaoru gasped and looked at Kenshin.

 

“All of the invitations were sent out for that date, December 14th, but we can push it to a later date, if you'd like, de gozaru,” he said quietly, studying her reaction. Overcome with emotion, Kaoru suddenly hid her face in his kimono. Kenshin lost his bravado when he heard her sniffle.

 

“Oro? Kaoru?” he tried to cajole her to look at him. She sniffed, wiping tears from her eyes.

 

“Kenshin no baka, you're too perfect!” she cried, pulling him down for a deep kiss. He laughed into the kiss.

 

“If I'm so perfect, why am I a baka, de gozaru yo?” he teased, kissing her tears of happiness away.

 

“Because only a baka would leave the door wide open,” Sanosuke answered. He and Yahiko stood in said doorway snickering at the too-comfortable pair. The highly embarrassed couple quickly scrambled to their feet to the sound of Sanosuke and Yahiko bawling in laughter.

 

“Sanosuke, Yahiko!” Kaoru yelled angrily, ready to pounce on them.

 

“Sano, did you take care of my request, de gozaru?” Kenshin asked, surprising Kaoru long enough to stop her attack and look back at him.

 

“Aa, I reserved Momijidani in Shiba Park,” Sanosuke answered pleasantly. Kaoru's eyes widened to twice their size.

 

“We get to have our wedding at a waterfall?!!!” she turned back to Kenshin.

 

“Surprise, Koishii!” Kenshin said happily. Kaoru ran back to Kenshin, throwing her arms around him in a tight hug, forgetting Sanosuke's and Yahiko's presence...

 

“Woo woo!” Yahiko catcalled.

 

“Go Jou-chan!” Sanosuke joined in. Kaoru's expression was hidden from view, but Kenshin's happily peaceful expression was plain to see; he embraced her waist, warmly treasuring her happiness.

 

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

December 8, 1878

 

Yahiko yawned, scratching his head on his way to the kitchen. Upset with finding the kitchen empty and subsequent lack of breakfast, he scowled and stalked to Kenshin's bedroom.

 

“Kenshin!” he called out, startled for a moment at the empty room before remembering Kenshin had moved into Kaoru's room two days ago upon their return. Stomach grumbling, he stomped to Kaoru's… no, Kenshin's and Kaoru's bedroom. Thinking to the kitchen incident, he lightly knocked on their door. Yahiko waited patiently for all of five seconds before knocking again. Irritated as his stomach growled loudly, he slid open their door and walked in. The sun's early morning rays shone brilliantly into the room through the half-open windows. Kaoru was lying snuggled into Kenshin's left side, her head securely tucked on his shoulder as she hugged his waist. Kenshin's right hand rested on top of Kaoru's visible arm, his other hand buried in her hair holding her close to him. His chin rested lightly on her head as he slept. Amazed, Yahiko stared at Kenshin's peaceful expression. He never believed Kenshin could ever be relaxed enough to sleep as deeply as he slept now. Taking another step closer to them he suddenly froze, belatedly realizing their blanket was just below their waists, and he saw the upper swell of Kaoru's buttocks facing him. His young eyes slowly followed her smooth back up to her long, mussed hair.

 

<< Busu really is beautiful… >> he thought seriously, before an image of Tsubame popped up in his mind. Closing his eyes, he concentrated on clearing his thoughts, but started to silently giggle at all of the torture he planned to put his `big sister' Kaoru through later that day. Smirking at his amused thoughts, he opened his eyes… inhaling sharply at Kenshin's unfathomably deep, violet gaze. Yahiko flinched, realizing his ki must've shot up with his amusement, waking Kenshin in the process. He took a deep breath, returning Kenshin's stare with his own, guilt ridden. Then… Kenshin smiled.

 

“I'm sorry I'm running late this morning, Yahiko. Would you mind getting breakfast started for us, de gozaru?” Kenshin whispered, his voice softly subdued as he unconsciously squeezed his arms around his precious burden. Yahiko wanted to turn and run out, but a stronger emotion kept him in place…

 

“Are you… mad at me,… Kenshin?” he whispered as quietly to Kenshin. Kenshin's gently kind smile widened.

 

“No… Yahiko.”

 

Yahiko thinly smiled and nodded, silently leaving the room. He heard all of what Kenshin had to say in that pause, to not enter their room anymore, even if his knocks go unanswered. His smile sparkled to blissfully happy on his way to the kitchen. Kenshin really wasn't a rurouni anymore; he would never leave them again. Kenshin will permanently remain in their lives to continue protecting, and loving, all of them, the family he and Kaoru had created, forever more…

 

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

 

Kaoru woke up a few of hours after dawn to the cold-side of the futon. She smiled exhaustedly to herself, thinking of just how Kenshin had worn her out the previous night. << It's so late, he must've gotten up and cooked breakfast already, and is more than likely half-done with the laundry... >> She decided to skip a morning bath since she would just be sweaty again after her workout. Kaoru got dressed in her dojo uniform, stretched her arms above her head, and then bent down to touch the floor. Standing up, feeling the pleasant zing of muscles preparing for action, she left the bedroom through the outside door and headed to the dojo. Surprise greeted her as she found the dojo's side door wide open. She stepped inside, and froze…

 

Kenshin was bare-chested, dressed only in his white hakama as he whirled his sakabatou around the dojo floor in the most beautiful, most complex, most deadly kata she'd ever laid eyes upon. His eyes were closed as he reacted to the multitude of invisible enemies inside his mind, clamoring to attack him. Many enemies against one sword… THIS is the teaching of the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu, in action! Her mouth opened in awe, dazedly following the catlike fluidity of his movements. She was suddenly assaulted with the powerful kenki radiating from Kenshin, knocking the air from her lungs. His kenki's coercion, it's too strong…

 

Forcing air to re-circulate through her lungs, she concentrated on centering her own kenki, slowly aligning her trepidatious energies to the torrential waves roiling throughout the room. Keeping her eyes glued on him, she silently made her way down the sidelines to the center and quietly, respectfully, sank down to her knees. He spun in a quick circle, slicing the sakabatou in a wide arc during his spin. Kenshin landed skillfully down on one knee, his body crouched over the other bent knee, his left hand stretched straight down with fingers splayed beautifully on the ground. With his head bowed down, his very-long, low-tied ponytail spilled exquisitely over his shoulder. His sword arm glided forcefully to a perfect stop, straight out from the side of his body, his sakabatou an extension of his arm. She eyed the mastery of his stance from top to bottom, unconsciously evaluating him as she would one of her own students. However, none of her students was her exotically gorgeous husband… Kenshin's powerful thigh muscles, straining to his iron will, were plain to see through the hakama's large side splits. Was it just her, or was he not wearing a fundoshi today?

 

He whipped his sword vertically back in front of his body, adding his left hand to the butt of the hilt. Drawing the sakabatou upside-down, he viciously slashed upwards with his entire body, as if carving through his enemy's face, and then immediately turned to his side, decisively done with the invisible corpse... She inhaled sharply at that attack; it was frighteningly obvious he'd performed that move many times, against very real, solid resistance rather than mere air… He brought the katana back down again, leaping in a graceful side flip, aiming for the next invisible enemy.

 

Without breaking his stride, he slashed the sakabatou to his side, as if clearing blood from the blade, a hitokiri's cleaning slash… Still moving, Kenshin sheathed the sakabatou, bending at the waist. Kaoru expectantly watched for one of his trademark attacks, surprised when he only executed a normal battoujutsu attack. He slowed down after the attack, this part of the kata obviously testing endurance, discipline, and form. His blade decorated the air as he expertly wheeled it in and around his hands, arms, and abdomen, the blade a hair's breath away from his skin in the dangerous inertia of this kata. One wrong move… only one wrong move, and this kata would easily provide suicide… She gasped as the blade hugged his neck in a rotating circle, the razor-sharp edge of the sakabatou sliding against his skin, but leaving no mark... such is his skill as a kenjutsu master.

 

Kaoru's known of his secret identity as the Bakumatsu's legendary Hitokiri Battousai since the first day she'd met him. She's seen him in battle too many times to count, even getting to occasionally fight by his side. She's watched him defeat Hitokiri Udoh Jinei and the Oniwaban's previous Okashira, Shinomori Aoshi right before her eyes. And yet, despite knowing all of this, this is the first time she's actually thought of Kenshin as simply a kenjutsu master… somehow, being the legendary hitokiri did not mesh the same in her mind as being a normal kenkaku…

 

Because a normal kenkaku would never be able to slay an entire army of 100 men single-handedly in one night…

 

Or survive not one, but a few stalemated battles with each and every one of the ten Shinsengumi captains…

 

Or attain the body count attributed to only the Battousai, by himself, during the final battle at Toba Fushimi, guaranteeing the Ishin Shishi's victory. In fact, without the Battousai, there's no telling if the Ishin Shishi would have won that battle at all, much less the war; the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu, as wielded by the Battousai, firmly secured the odds against the Bakufu and its Shinsengumi…

 

No, no normal kenkaku could have done all of that, and if she didn't know Kenshin first-hand, she would continue to attribute the title of Bakemono to him as the rest of the country still does… a bloodthirsty, murdering-happy bakemono.

 

Realizing this epiphany, Kaoru studied Kenshin, wondering if he thought that way about himself, considering it would explain quite a lot of his remaining insecurities with his Battousai persona… Regardless, although Kaoru herself has mastered every technique of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu, including the ougi, her skills as a Shihandai are nowhere near Kenshin's level of normal kenjutsu, Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu and Battoujutsu aside. Truly, this is the vast difference in expertise between a Kenjutsu Master and a simple Shihandai like herself… All too soon, his kata ended as he suddenly whipped the sword out wide to both of his sides in two brutal counter-slashes, looking like a figure-eight. He became still, standing straight and sheathed the sakabatou, the click of its habaki resonating loudly in the empty dojo…

 

“Ohayo, Koishii,” Kenshin whispered, breathing normally, his eyes still closed. She smiled, letting out the breath she'd been holding.

 

“Ohayo, Anata,” Kaoru greeted. Kenshin opened his smiling eyes and walked over to her. He reached out his hands, to which she readily joined with hers. He pulled her to her feet and loosely hugged her waist, her palms falling open on his sweaty chest. Unable to help himself, Kenshin lifted her up into a soulful kiss, her arms reaching around his neck as his tongue sensually reminded her of his love.

 

“What surprises do you have for me this morning, Anata?” she asked pleasantly.

 

“I have a question to ask you, de gozaru na, Kaoru,” he answered, the brilliant shine in his eyes letting her know it was not a grave question. He slowly guided her to the center of the dojo.

 

“Nani, Kenshin? You're acting strangely serious,” she teased, caressing his cheek. He took her hand and kissed the inside of her wrist, then nuzzled her palm. Gently releasing her, Kenshin got down on his knees, simultaneously removing his sakabatou from his belt. Bowing his head, he stretched his arms out in front of himself, cradling his katana in his hands up towards Kaoru as a subservient offering. She was suddenly struck by the seriousness of his unknown question.

 

“Kenshin?” she asked, slightly alarmed.

 

“Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu Shihandai, Himura Kaoru, I formally request to be trained in the ways of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu, de gozaru.”

 

“NANI?!!!” she thundered dumbstruck, “Kenshin? This doesn't make sense? What about the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu?”

 

“The time in this world has passed the need for the Killing Sword, and samurai are now obsolete, de gozaru. We are in the Meiji Era now, the time for the Sword Which Protects. Neither Hiko-shou, nor myself, have any inclination to pass on our style to the future generations, de gozaru yo. The Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu will die with us. However, I am a kenkaku; I can never give up the sword. Kenjutsu is in my blood, and will be until I die… If I can no longer protect everyone using Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu, I can think of no better style to learn than Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu, de gozaru yo,” Kenshin explained, his head bowed the whole time.

 

Kaoru was overwhelmed, the extent of his humbly sincere flattery bedazzling. However, he must know in his heart that she could never turn him away. A Shihandai has to maintain her pride, after all. “Hmmm? I suppose I can take you on as a student… but on one condition,” she smirked. Startled, Kenshin looked up at her.

 

“Oro?”

 

“You have to teach me that kata you just did. Then I'll agree to train you,” Kaoru giggled.

 

“B-but Kaoru, that was a Hiten Mitsurugi kata, de gozaru yo,” Kenshin stammered.

 

“Hmmm? How else will you pay me for my services since we all know you're a penniless rurouni?” she winked teasingly at him.

 

“Ororo?!” his eyes bulged as a cute blush covered his cheeks.

 

“How about a concession? I know you will never pass on the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu to anyone; however, teach me only that one kata, or rather, a variation of it, and nothing else, in whatever means you see fit to keep to your vow. In exchange, I will train you in all of the techniques in the Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu. Also, in addition to your training, you will promise to fight all of your future battles using only the Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu… unless it's another one of those annoyingly power-hungry, Bakumatsu bakas that just love either hunting you down or forcing you to save Japan, yet again… How's that?” Kaoru smirked impetuously.

 

“Orooooooooooooooooooo!” Kenshin blinked incredulously at her terms, his eyes swirling in shock. He shortly returned to himself, shaking his head to clear his senses, then smirked proudly up at his entrepreneurial wife.

 

“Aa, I vow to fight all of my future battles using only the Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu, unless another archfiend appears,” he said, his voice taking on a husky timbre when she accepted his sakabatou. Kaoru sharply inhaled, the unchecked lust in his eyes instantly triggering her desires.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~LIME~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

“Maa, Kenshin. Megumi said we can't spar the way we did in Otsu that last time,” she teased, her voice dropping to a passionate pitch. Kenshin rose to his full five-feet-two-inches and stepped into her private space. He caressed his fingers over hers on his sakabatou, breathing heavily over her lips as his right hand perched on her hip. He was pleasantly astonished; Kaoru holding his sword proved to be a previously-unknown, powerful aphrodisiac. Kaoru closed the distance, dragging her left hand through his nape's hair, claiming Kenshin's lips as her own. She thrilled in his erotic submissiveness, feeling through both their hakamas the swift degree of his excitement as they sensually massaged each other's fingers over the sakabatou's sheath. She ran her free hand down his back, to his waist, and slipped through the hakama's side opening, massaging his muscular backside.

 

“Do you always practice with no fundoshi on, Kenshin?” she teased, sucking his bottom lip into her mouth, teasing it with her tongue before slowly letting it go. Kenshin's blush increased as he carnally gazed into her eyes, allowing her to lead their movements. Moving his free hand from her hip, he grabbed her rear and pulled her into his body, gracefully stepping between her legs. She drove her tongue into his mouth, commanding more from him as their fingers continued to dance on his sword. He bent his knees, squeezing her bottom tighter, and ground his arousal up and down into her core. She arched her head back, mouth open gasping in pleasure. He watched her predatorily with lust-glazed, quickly lightening blue-amethyst eyes…

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~END LIME~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

“Honestly, what did I say about taking it easy during your `sparring' sessions?! You're both worse than rabbits in heat!” Megumi's sardonic voice called out as she entered the dojo's front door, acting as freezing water doused on an inferno. Kenshin and Kaoru gasped, instantly pulling apart, fiercely blushing in their ultimate embarrassment to date. Humiliation flooded them as they both still had a firm grasp on his sakabatou. Kenshin quickly released his katana, his eyes widening as he looked at Megumi, and then hastily turned around, away from both of them lest his fierce amber glare frighten them. He was infuriated, beyond aggravated that not only had Megumi seen his fully-prominent erection, but had pointedly stared at the open gap in his hakama as if committing his arousal's semi-naked image to her memory. He didn't want anyone but Kaoru to see his passionate side… what a rotten day to forget to wear his fundoshi… Kaoru wasn't faring any better; she held the sakabatou with both hands to her chest, her eyes closed and breathing hard through her mouth, desperately trying to regain her composure.

 

“Mou, you two are really hopeless… if you didn't want to be caught, there're plenty of bedrooms in this dojo… or better yet, the bath house since it's a separate building…” Megumi said nonchalantly, amusedly flipping her hair over her shoulder as she walked past them toward the inner door. Although, taking a sneak peek back over her shoulder… It was one thing to see Ken-san naked while treating him for critical injuries repeatedly, but quite another to see him in full health, with a full arousal, and pissed off at someone other than some villainous maniac. What a beautifully mysterious, passionate volcano that man is… Then again, she did see him healthily naked at Hakone Springs; Mou, the man is chiseled like a Kami! She was highly satisfied with the especially advantageous view she'd stolen through his hakama's side split, opened much wider than normal and showing hidden assets due to the `tent-effect'. Megumi grinned to herself with the luscious realization that Ken-san doesn't seem to wear his fundoshi all the time. Her invisible fox-ears popped out, continuing on her cunning way into the residence for breakfast and some side-splitting, hysterical gossip…

 

Slowly, Kenshin turned back around to Kaoru as she opened her eyes on him, beautiful blue meeting glowing amber. The inferno backdrafted between them as Kenshin swept her up in his arms and hurtled out to the bath house.

 

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

 

The outer door of the bath house slammed shut, quickly followed by the inner door. Winter's breath was ignored as skin was swiftly made bare. Neither able to wait a moment longer, Kenshin hauled Kaoru up against the wall in his arms, her legs wrapping around his waist, his sakabatou still in her hand against his back. He quickly reached down and ran his finger across her opening, checking her readiness. Neither needing preparation, he grabbed her rear with both of his hands, and drove himself up into her moist, welcoming heat. They both cried out in sheer relief as he set an unyielding pace, his sakabatou rubbing fiercely on his back against overly sensitive skin.

 

Kenshin drove his tongue into her mouth, their battle for dominance beginning anew. His manhood brutally plundered her slick passage; the `foreplay' in the dojo mixed with their joining brought Kaoru to a swift release. He swallowed her scream as her muscles clenched down hard around him. Stopping to reign in his rapidly fading control, he shifted her slightly before continuing with his relentless assault. He kissed down her neck and firmly massaged her breasts. Hearing her signaling mewls rise swiftly once again, Kenshin moved to kiss her, but Kaoru had other plans. She clamped down, sucking hard on the junction of his neck, her ecstatic scream lost in her teeth on his skin. Kenshin stilled, the unexpected love bite almost causing him to come undone. Panting heavily into her shoulder, his control threadbare, he remained unmoving, simply holding her in his arms. Tilting his chin up, she kissed him sweetly, lovingly, their heated breaths steaming the chilly winter air surrounding them. He slowly resumed, plowing mercilessly into her before long, shocks of feeling his precum spurt inside her jolting through his body as he struggled not to succumb. He reached between them to fondle her core as he placed open-mouth kisses up her neck to her ear, and sucked on her soft lobe.

 

“Kenshin,” she implored, on the brink of another orgasm but tiring against his vigorous stamina.

 

“Once more… for me… once more… Koishii,” he panted out, allowing her high-pitched whimpers to reign free this time out to the biting cold. Refusing to climax before her, he fought to delay himself; giving her no rest, he removed himself, dropped her to her feet, turned her around, and impaled her from behind while reaching around to harass her core with his fingers. Her orgasm was powerfully instantaneous.

 

“Kenshin!” Kaoru screeched urgently into the bathroom's echoing wall. Kenshin's breaths coalesced into a long, guttural, open-mouthed moan, his intense release throwing his head backwards as he copiously filled her with his essence. They collapsed to their knees, spooning each other intimately as they recovered, satiation suffusing their bodies. Kaoru leaned back and kissed him with all her heart; Kenshin tenderly responded.

 

“Mou, Kenshin, warn me next time you're going to give me your sakabatou,” she teased him, rubbing her forehead against his.

 

“Warn you?...” he kissed her as he rubbed her breasts from behind, enjoying the light sensations and feeling pleasantly light-headed.

 

“… I'm the one whom needs the warning… against myself, de gozaru na.”

 

Kaoru chuckled, lovingly stroking her fingers backwards through his loose hair, his hair tie lost somewhere along the way.

 

“Don't tell me you never thought of your sakabatou as an extension of your phallus?” she taunted him. Kenshin's eyes bulged in shock.

 

“No, I really never have… at least not until today, de gozaru yo,” he burst out sheepishly laughing, Kaoru laughing with him.

 

“They're going to give us hell,” she commented, leaning comfortably back against him, gently sucking on his lips.

 

“Aa, my Kaoru-shou, de gozaru na,” Kenshin smiled, happily hugging his beautiful Shihandai.

 

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

 

“I never thought Kenshin'd be the kind of man that couldn't keep his pants on,” Yahiko teased, snickering mercilessly. Luckily for Kenshin and Kaoru, Yahiko had filled the furo that morning before their unplanned activities. They had quickly washed themselves with the frigid water, not bothering to tie their hair back up, and hurriedly joined Sanosuke, Megumi, and Yahiko for breakfast's leftovers. The other three were already done eating, remaining for the sole purpose of jubilantly torturing the hilariously insatiable newlyweds.

 

“Considering what I saw, I wouldn't blame Kaoru-chan if she never allowed Ken-san to put his pants back on again,” Megumi coyly stated; Kenshin flushed fire engine red, and he suffered a choking fit on the rice he just swallowed wrong. Forgetting his manners, Kenshin left his chopsticks in his bowl as he hastily grabbed for a cup of tea to ease his sore throat. Kaoru, in a similarly dire state of embarrassment, focused all of her attention on trying not to choke on her food.

 

“Not bad, that Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu!” Sanosuke quipped in his laughter.

 

“Sakabatou ne?!” Yahiko loosely `compared' to Kenshin's assets jokingly, unable to control his mirth.***

 

Megumi's, Sanosuke's, and Yahiko's rollicking laughter slightly eased the horrid humiliation of being caught for the couple, the laughter signifying their family's acceptance, and more importantly support for their marriage, but annoyingly at the same time...

 

“Shimatta, Kitsune! Just how much of them did you see in the dojo?! Speaking of, ne Kenshin, what were you doing to Kaoru with your sakabatou in the bath house, eh?” Sanosuke asked evilly.

 

“Aaaah, gross, Sanosuke! I don't wanna hear about that!” Yahiko smirked obscenely.

 

“Well, at least the sakabatou seems clean,” Megumi chided playfully, then turned back to her usual flirtations… “Ken-san, I wonder what would happen if I picked up your sakabatou?”

 

“Yareyare,” Kenshin sighed heavily. Suddenly quirking a wickedly amused eyebrow, he laid down his chopsticks, picked up his sakabatou, and stretched it across the food trays to Megumi. Kaoru finally choked on her bite of food, breaking down into coughing giggles. Sanosuke, Yahiko, and Megumi gaped, stunned speechless by his evasive action; Never one to pass up an opportunity, Megumi took his weapon and examined it carefully.

 

“Ara? It's clean,” she said frowning, sounding somewhat disappointed at both the sword's unquestionably impeccable state and at Kenshin's usual apathy, as she handed it back to him. Sanosuke and Yahiko chortled.

 

“Ne Kenshin, I guess Yahiko and I will have to go do the tofu shopping for you today…” Sanosuke said. Kenshin turned a wary eye on Sanosuke, realizing he was being setup for yet another joke…

 

“… seeing as to how you two haven't had your marriage made public yet, I doubt you'll want to walk into town looking like that...”

 

“Oro?” Kenshin looked down at himself, but saw nothing out of place.

 

“Nani ka, Sano? Looking like what, de gozaru?”

 

Kenshin turned to Kaoru, whom had turned fire engine red again as she stared at his neck. More calmly than she thought possible, she laid down her chopsticks and bowl and crawled over to Kenshin. Kenshin blushed thin-lipped as she approached him, fighting to keep his eyes from straying below hers. She daintily circled a finger at his neck's junction. Feeling the rush of sensation flood him, his blush quickly matched hers as he deduced the severity of the obviously pronounced hickie, still burning to the touch. Kaoru quickly returned to her spot, digging back into her food as their friends cackled raucously at them.

 

“No wonder we couldn't hear you two out there until Jou-chan's scream!” Sanosuke brokenly laughed out. Kenshin's eye twitched, hitting his maximum tolerance for today, thank you very much, and he hastily hid his face below his long bangs. Battousai's amber eyes swirled full of vengeful mischief, thoughts of various tactics supersonically twisting in his mind…

 

“Arigatou for the shopping, Sano…” Kenshin said in a low voice far too calmly, an evil smirk gracing his features as he lifted his purely violet eyes, releasing the utterly rare, fully impish side of his personality...

 

“… for the rest of this week, de gozaru na.”

 

“Eeeeeeeeeh?!!!” Sanosuke sweat-dropped. Kaoru spat her bite back into her bowl and covered her mouth as she joined Yahiko's and Megumi's laughter.

 

“As you said, Sano, `Sessha' cannot tarnish Kaoru-dono's good reputation in town, which means `Sessha' will not be able to do the shopping this week until this heals, or until after the wedding, whichever comes first, de gozaru yo,” Kenshin stated factually in the purest voice he could muster, emphasizing his own overplayed use of Kenjougo language. He battered his eyelashes innocently at Sanosuke.***

 

“Temeeeeeee, don't try to pull that innocent rurouni act with me, Kenshin yo!” Sanosuke growled, his eyes blazing suddenly.

 

“Oro? Nani ka, de gozaru? `Sessha' just doesn't know what you're talking about, de gozaru na, Sano? Besides, for all of the free food you mooch everyday off our poor, hard-working Kaoru-dono, `Sessha' believes it's the least you could do to help her out, de gozaru yo,” Kenshin tilted his head to the side, devilish bemusement adorning his features.

 

“Kisama! You've been mooching off of her for longer than I have!!!” Sanosuke blushed guiltily as he snapped at Kenshin.

 

“Mou… stop… stop, Ken-san!... I can't… take anymore!” Megumi cackled, wiping her continuously-falling laughter tears from her eyes. Kaoru gave up holding her breakfast for fear of spilling the food everywhere. She barely dumped the bowl and chopsticks on the food tray before she laid down on the floor, holding her sides from her laughter. Yahiko was faring no better as he'd fallen on his back, coughing from having laughed so hard for so long.

 

“Naaaaani, Minna, doushita no, de gozaru yo?” Kenshin continued his overly-exaggerated act, “'Sessha' is not sure what `sessha' has said wrong, de gozaru yo? `Sessha' is at a complete loss, de gozaru naaaaaaaa!”

 

Hearing chopsticks break, Kenshin looked over to Sanosuke, seeing plumes of fire explode from the latter's head. Smirking inside his mind, Kenshin closed his eyes, satisfied with his revenge. He picked up his bowl and chopsticks, and dug in more heartily now than when he had first entered the room. Kenshin slitted open one eye, then both, to observe his family, from under his long bangs. Sanosuke's vengeful glares and curses promising painful retribution; Kaoru's, Megumi's, and Yahiko's sweet laughter providing music to his ears. He looked at them all, smiled contentedly, and continued eating his breakfast.

 

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

 

“Can't you two keep your hands off each other?” Yahiko irritatedly chided as he entered the dojo to find Kaoru with her arms around Kenshin... why is he holding a bokken?

 

“Yahiko! You're late! Hurry up and stand here in line with Kenshin!” Kaoru snapped, then turned back to Kenshin, “now loosen this hand's grip a bit by tilting your hip just a little more forward.”

 

“Like this, de gozaru?” Kenshin asked, adjusting his stance.

 

“Hai, that's excellent, Kenshin-kun,” Kaoru jokingly praised him, playfully flicking his ponytail as she moved opposite to him and Yahiko

 

“Kenshin…-kun?!!!” Yahiko stuttered confusedly.

 

“Mou Kaoru, I'm eleven years your senior, and you're calling me -kun, de gozaru yo?!!!” Kenshin asked surprised, bursting out into delightful laughter. His amusement rubbed off on her, and she cutely giggled.

 

“Kaoru, what are you thinking? Have you forgotten that Kenshin is the Battousai, the ultimate kenjutsu master? Besides, he already has a shishou!” Yahiko sputtered in shocked puzzlement, quickly turning to outrage, “You're acting like that annoying fake Battousai with the `dojo' full of brats! For crying out loud, what makes you think you can correct any of Kenshin's stances, busu???!”

 

“Meet our newest student, Yahiko! Himura Kenshin!” Kaoru winked at him, in far too much a good mood to care about his insults as she giggled uncontrollably. Yahiko dropped his shinai, his eyes bulging, mouth gaping wide open...

 

“EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHH!”

 

“Nice to meet you, de gozaru yo, Myojin Yahiko-senpai,” Kenshin teased, chuckling heartily.

 

“OK! Have you two gone completely mad?!!! Seriously, what the hell is going on here?” Yahiko picked up his shinai and stomped up to the couple, brandishing the shinai with the intent to whack some sense into his temporarily-insane, surrogate family…

 

“I'm going to teach Kenshin the Kamiya Kasshin Ryuu starting today,” Kaoru answered, finally sobering up at Yahiko's real distress.

 

“Doushite?!” he cried out, his shinai fell limply to his side.

 

“Yahiko, Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu's usefulness is coming to an end, de gozaru yo. It's been over a decade now, time enough for me catch up to the new era, de gozaru na,” Kenshin explained patiently.

 

“I don't get it?” Yahiko said. Kenshin chuckled, smiling kindly as he patted Yahiko's head.

 

“Believe it or not, Yahiko, I said the same exact thing to my Shishou before I mistakenly left him to join the Bakumatsu, de gozaru yo. I should have listened to him back then, but at least I can make up for it now, de gozaru na, “ Kenshin vaguely explained, “Saa, you ready for today's lessons, Senpai?”

 

Yahiko studied Kenshin's teasing, yet serious face, searching his eyes for any signs of subterfuge. Finding none, he grinned happily and took his place beside his idol. They bowed as one to Kaoru.

 

“Yahiko, we'll have to work on only the basics today to catch Kenshin up to us. Let's begin…”

 

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

 

“Mattaku, Kenshin! You're the most amazing man who's ever lived! It's too easy to see how you were dubbed `legendary,'” Kaoru teased. Kenshin hugged her waist tighter, and turned to laughingly peck her cheek. They luxuriated in the furo's steaming, hot water, soaking tired muscles after a full-day's workout. Kaoru sat between Kenshin's legs, resting her head back on his shoulder, their hair floating lazily around them.

 

“How so, de gozaru na, Kaoru?” he asked exhaustedly, curiousity winning out.

 

“I only had to show you each move once. Not only did you memorize everything thrown at you today, but you also executed every step, every move, every stance, flawlessly, on the first try. How do you do that?” Kaoru openly admired him. He blushed, highly uncomfortable with the unadorned praise.

 

“Shishou was a harsh trainer, de gozaru. If I didn't learn how to replicate something correctly after being shown once, his punishments assured my regret for lack of attention, de gozaru yo.”

 

“Hiko-shou punished you, Kenshin?” Kaoru frowned appalled, unable to imagine Hiko hurting Kenshin…

 

“Hai, but they were all punishments in humility, de gozaru na. I had too much pride in myself when he first took me in; my pride is what kept me sane during my year of enslavement. Shishou never hit me outside of lessons or spars, so his punishments were all focused at curbing my pride, de gozaru.”

 

“I can't imagine a hell-bent, young Kenshin,” she giggled. Kenshin kissed her cheek again.

 

“Jotto! That means you learned the Amakakeru Ryu no Hirameki in one shot?!!!” Kaoru suddenly cried out.

 

“Anoooo, sort of, but not really, de gozaru yo… I perfected the Kuzu Ryu Sen in one attempt, but then Shishou told me I was missing something that I needed, otherwise I could not use the Amakakeru Ryu no Hirameki, de gozaru yo. He gave me one night to figure it out, de gozaru.”

 

“So you figured it out,” she smiled happily.

 

“You have so much faith in me, de gozaru,” his eyes twinkled gratefully and he tweaked her nose, “Although I stayed awake the entire night, I was unable to figure out exactly what I was missing, de gozaru. Until that night, I had never thought about why I surpassed others in kenjutsu…”

 

Kaoru heard the infinite sadness in his voice. She turned in his arms and straddled him, hugging him close to her. Touched by her compassion, Kenshin affectionately nuzzled into her shoulder.

 

“When we faced each other the next morning; I was still unaware of what I was lacking. He told me that mastering the ougi and defeating Shishio would be meaningless so long as I could never defeat the hitokiri within my own heart. Even if I were to live, I'd be in agony for the rest of my life. I would be tormented by anguish and pain, and eaten alive by loneliness. Due to that, my fate would have inevitably led me back to the hitokiri, permanently.” Kaoru gasped, leaning back to look into Kenshin's eyes.

 

“To prevent that, Shishou embraced his final duty as my master… to end my life.”

 

“Hiko-shou tried to kill you?!!!” Kaoru gasped. Kenshin smiled and stroked her cheek.

 

“He had no choice, de gozaru yo, Koishii. I was incomplete… Shhhhh,” he kissed her, swallowing her protests, “think of all the damage other hitokiri have done since the Bakumatsu… Udoh Jinei… Shishio Makoto… Engrave that picture on your heart, then imagine if the legendary Hitokiri Battousai was released upon this peaceful Meiji era. The only other one, besides Hiko Seijuro, whom had the slightest chance of defeating me before I learned the ougi, was Saito Hajime--“

 

“But Kenshin, that battle here in the dojo with Saito was a draw?”

 

Kenshin's eyes hardened, “Though our duel went unfinished, it left Saito and myself with no doubt as to which of us had the upper-hand… even after ten years of spilling no blood.” Kaoru stared at him in shock, comprehension leaving her breathless.

 

“During that final battle with Shishou, I reverted to Battousai yet again… I watched, as if in slow-motion, Shishou charging at me; in that moment, in that miniscule space of time, I saw everyone flash before my eyes. I remembered Sakura-san shielding me with her body before she was killed, telling me to live on. Then, I saw you, Kaoru-Koishii. I heard you call my name. I felt the pain of your tears when I had told you “Sayonara” that night, so long ago now… You were waiting for me, and I realized, in that split second, I had no reason to die--“

 

“Kenshin…”

 

“… As with all other kenjutsu ryuus, Hiten Mitsurugi has its own legacy. The mastery of the ougi is passed from master to student with the ultimate sacrifice, of the master's life--“

 

“But Hiko-shou is alive!” Kaoru cried out shocked.

 

Kenshin finally smiled, “Aa… for two reasons. One is my sakabatou, which cannot slay anyone. Regardless, even with the sakabatou, the Amakakeru Ryu no Hirameki is too powerful an attack, and is still very much a guaranteed kill. Luckily, I am every bit the baka deshi my Shishou calls me. We had sparred so fiercely during those days of training, I'd neglected taking proper care of my sakabatou. On that final day, what saved Shishou's life… was the sakabatou's loose hilt pin.”

 

He took a breath, pulling her close for a sweet kiss, “Because I've killed so many people, I didn't value my own life. That is what allowed the hitokiri to make a nest in my heart. I discovered, in that moment between life and death, that the will to live is what I had lacked.”

 

Kaoru smiled happily and pulled him closer, “You really are a baka deshi… promise me you'll live on, my baka deshi,” she closed her lips over his, slowly partaking in his pure, sweet spirit.

 

“Aa,” he smiled happily, feeling serene with her in his arms. Deepening their tenderness, their hands liberated the need for words…

 

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

 

*** Author's Note:

1) Yup, I swiped this from yet another episode. One of my favorite comedic scenes in episode 19 when the Kenshin-gumi visited Hakone Springs. Kaoru and Megumi got an astonishing eyeful of Kenshin, in broad daylight no less… *snickers evilly*

2) Although throughout this story, I've left it up to the reader to be able to hear inside their own minds when Kenshin switches between his humble language (sessha, de gozaru) and his brash, male language (ore, temee, etc.), I needed to use sessha as an exaggeration for this particular scene. Kenshin is perfectly aware that his Kenjougo language use can, at times, frustrate the hell out of Sanosuke (and all other males dealing with him). This was the perfect place to show what Battousai thinks of the Rurouni's Kenjougo language use... I hope you enjoy it as much as I had a blast writing it!

 

Special Thanks:

Neko-sama - LMAOROFL!!!! Kitty-style, OMG, LOL! I love you, Neko-sama, you're hilarious! Funny thing is, there really is a cat-style sexual position! :) As for doggy-style, I actually did quite a bit of research online and yup, sure enough, statistically speaking it's women's number one favorite sexual position. In fact, there are a few different ways of performing doggy-style itself! (Try the links below on for size! :) ) Course, I didn't go by just statistics. I may be heterosexual myself, but I'm a listening personality-type that people just feel the need to open up to, no matter their own sexual orientation, or where the crazy conversations tend to end up! Out of curiousity, I decided to post your question at the top of this chapter. :) The honest reason I included a prologue, 13 chapters into the story, is because I was dreaming it when I woke up earlier this week. I hopped out of bed and immediately rushed to get my dream on `paper' out of which emerged the prologue. I never intended one for this story, but I suppose better late than never! Katajikenai!

 

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