Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Now and Forever ❯ Promises ( Chapter 2 )

~ Now and Forever ~

Chapter 2: Promises

See contents for disclaimer. * This fic includes some lemon scenes at the last part… read at your own risk. If these type of story plots offends you… skip the last part and move forward to the next chapter. You have been warned.*

After bidding the chief a good evening, he turned back toward the house. Yahiko had arrived earlier form his fishing trip with Sanosuke and Suzume and Ayame went home and hour after the chief arrived at the dojo.

"Well, I guess I'll be seeing your then, Himura-san." The chief had told him outside the gate, he merely nodded and watched until the officer was out from his sight before re-entering the dojo. He can clearly hear Yahiko's howl of pain as he went through another part of Kaoru's training. He can clearly imagine what was happening at the training hall this very minute. With a slight smile, he went directly to the kitchens to prepare dinner.

Feeling gratefully refreshed after a long soothing evening bath, Kaoru silently padded down the hallway to the kitchens, wearing her yukata.

*Kenshin…*

She smiled, remembering their afternoon play. But as quickly as it had appeared, her smile disappeared when she remembered the intense concentration in Kenshin's face as the chief talked to him that afternoon.

*His eyes…* Kaoru's lips formed a slight frown at the remembered reaction, especially when he looked at her. His eyes had widened as if he was surprised to find her looking at him then flashing her his traditional grin, as if he was hiding something from her. *I don't know why…demo…something's wrong… I can feel it.* Her face was still sporting that expression when she entered the dinning room… earning her another loud and insulting comment from Yahiko.

"Hey, UGLY! Why're you frowning like that? You're getting UGLIER by the minute!* Yahiko shouted.

"UGLY?! UGLY?! Who're you calling ugly kid?" she shouted in turn.

He made an angelic face…"Why… of course… YOU! You big ugly raccoon!" he answered her.

"Watch it kid! Call me ugly one more time and I'm gonna knock the lights out of you!" she shouted all the while holding Yahiko by the collar.

"Oro?" Kenshin blinked rapidly before smiling at Kaoru and Yahiko. As usual, Kaoru was going to knock Yahiko's head off as he continued to insult her. His eyes widened when he saw that Kaoru's fist was already positioned to punch Yahiko square in the face.

"Kaoru-dono, Yahiko, dinner's ready!" he announced and was grateful when Kaoru let go of Yahiko and proceed to her place… eyes still sharp as daggers as they looked at Yahiko.

*I think I should tell them now.* he thought, but he knew that his announcement was not going to appreciated by his friends… especially Kaoru.

Clearing his throat, he began. "Kaoru-dono, Yahiko." Both heads turned to him. "There's trouble down south, and the chief has just asked for my help…"

Kaoru's eyes widened, so did Yahiko's.

"Kenshin… you… didn't…" Kaoru gasped.

He nodded. "I'm going to Kyoto in a couple of days."

"Man, you didn't…" muttered Yahiko.

Kaoru's eyes held different emotions. From shock, to sadness, to hurt, then to anger. "You're going to go to Kyoto in a couple of days… and I'm sure that you're NOT going to allow us to accompany you! Am I right!?" she asked him.

Kenshin's violet eyes slid to a close… "No. I'm not going to let you come with me. It's going to be dangerous. Too dangerous." He answered her. His eyes snapped open when he heard a venomous Kenshin no baka. Eyes focusing on the young woman before him, he was surprised to see that her eyes were filled with tears and that her face was contorted in anger.

"BAKA! It's just been 3 weeks since your last fight with Enishi, and now here you are. Jumping in another heap of trouble that you're not even supposed to be involved! I'm quite sure that you still haven't regained your strength from your last fight!" she shouted at him.

Kenshin looked at Kaoru ruefully, "I'm sorry Kaoru-dono, but I have to help them." He replied.

Frusrated tears fell from her eyes as she shouted straight to Kenshin, "KENSHIN NO BAKA!", and with tears streaming unchecked down her face, she fled the room leaving a miserable Kenshin in her midst.

Yahiko, who had been watching the entire scene happen before him, sat quietly munching on his dinner before commenting after Kaoru had left the room…

"Ya know Kenshin, Kaoru's right. You should leave this for the police to handle."

Kenshin looked at Kaoru's untouched food and sighed. *He knew that his news would not be appreciated… but he didn't expect things to go out of hand.*

"Yahiko, you know that I have to help. It's a way for me to atone for what I have done years ago. You know that."

"I understand. Demo, Kaoru's really worried about you. We all are. I don't know Kenshin, demo, I think you should start thinking about her. You should talk to her."

"Arigatou, Yahiko. I'll keep that in mind."

Kenshin stood in front of Kaoru's room. His hands clenched into fists as he heard her muffled sobbing. He can't forget the way her eyes had looked before she left the dining room. Tears were falling freely from her eyes. Yahiko's words echoed in his head… "You should start thinking about Kaoru…"

Mind made up, he grasped the handle and slid Kaoru's door open with barely a sound and slid it closed just as quietly. Heart spasming in pain as he watched Kaoru's sobbing form. He kept on hurting the one person whom he was desperately trying to protect. He hated himself for doing that… hated himself so much. She was lying on her futon with her face pressed onto her pillow as her hands fisted on the covers beneath her, shoulders heaving as she sobbed.

Kneeling beside her, he was quite unsure of what to do to make her tears stop from falling. Every fiber of his mind and body urging him to hold her and console her, yet was afraid to do so. Afraid that his touch might even hurt her even more. His hands were inches from her hair when he murmured her name, her head snapping up at the sound of his voice.

Kaoru's head immediately snapped up when she heard Kenshin's soft voice, "How… When… What are you doing here?" she stuttered as she tried desperately to hold back the tears.

"Gomen nasai, Kaoru-dono, demo, I have to talk to you."

Kaoru's tearful eyes flashed angrily, "Talk? Talk?! There's nothing to talk about you idiot! Get out of my room!" she shouted at him.

Kensihn's eyes darkened at the hurt and sadness in her voice, "I'm really sorry Kaoru-dono, but you know that I help others as a way for me to atone for my sins." he sighed when she turned her back to him. Gently he held her upper arm, "Kaoru-dono, please look at me."

When she didn't listen to him, his hold in her arm tightened as he forced her to face him. "Please, Kaoru-dono." he continually pleaded her. She was already facing him, but her head was bowed down, still refusing to look directly into his eyes, tears seemed to flow even faster. "Kaoru-dono, I beg of you. Please look at me." He requested her again, and yet again, she didn't listen to him. Kenshin grasped her chin to force her to look at him. Yet her eyes were still closed, this time he asked her again… forcefully.

Her eyes snapped open at the low hiss of Kenshin's request. Gasping when her vision was filled not by the gentle rurouni purple, but by glittering amber.

"Kaoru-dono, I need you…iie…I want you to understand what I have to do."

The fire in her eyes returned, "UNDERSTAND?! You keep on accepting responsibilities, which are not supposed to be yours, then punishing yourself if things go wrong! How can you say that you need me to understand you, when here you are trying to destroy yourself on purpose!" she screamed at him.

"Kaoru-dono…" Kenshin hung his head and closed his eyes, anger and frustration building up within him. *How could he make her understand him…* his hands shot out and grasped her own and held them firmly in his. He could feel her resistance with his actions but still he kept his hands firmly on hers.

Kaoru struggled form his grip… vise-like grip to be precise. "Kenshin, let go of me!" she hissed, only to gasp as he forcefully tugged her hands forward. Deep amber eyes held shocked blue as his lips met hers forcefully. He released her, but not completely. One his hands was still gripping her wrists against him while the other tunneled into her hair, releasing the dark strands from its confinement. Letting it slip freely and cascading down her back, all the while his head resting on the crook of her shoulder and neck.

"Gomen nasai…" he whispered to her, "gomen…" he whispered again, this time, into her ear.

Kaoru's ocean blue eyes were wide with shock at Kenshin's actions. "Kenshin…" she whispered, "what are…" her question was silenced by Kenshin's grip as he leaned back and took her mouth once again. Kaoru felt like she was going to faint.

Kenshin felt Kaoru's head become a weight in his hands as her eyes slowly slid to a close and her struggling ceased. Feeling her relax, he surprised her by drawing his tongue in her mouth, exploring each and every part of her. Finally releasing her, he grinned a bit to see her gasping for air, when he noticed that his breath was just as shallow as hers.

"Kaoru…" he whispered.

Kaoru's eyes widened, *He didn't mention the honorific. He said her name without the 'dono'.* her eyes softened at that as she succeeded in pulling one of her hands free from his grasp, then stroking the cross-scar on his cheek, making it's way down to his lips where he gently sucked each digit into his mouth. Kaoru gasped at the sweet sensation, never in her whole imagination would she think that her dreams would become into reality.

Kenshin looked deep into Kaoru's eyes and asked her, "Kaoru… do you trust me?"

A nod was all the answer her needed before he gently turned her back to him so that he work on the knots and ribbons which held her kimono closed. Removing all the ribbons and cloths from her waist, he continued to work on the kimono itself.

Kaoru shuddered as he brushed his mouth along her nape as his hands continued to work removing her kimono. Closing her eyes, she smiled inwardly, *Kenshin…*. She gasped as her eyes flew open when she felt Kenshin press his hand on the curve of her stomach.

Finally succeeding in opening her kimono, Kenshin steeled to control himself as her parted kimono gave him an enticing view of what he had only dreamed and sometimes, accidentally, glimpsed before. Moving his hand from her back, he gently reveled in the smoothness of her skin, *It feels like silk…* he thought, his hands paused in the midriff of her breasts for a moment before cupping it.

Kaoru moaned as Kenshin's hands cupped her breasts. Feeling her limbs and her body grow heavy with desire, she leaned her head back, certain of support from him. Unable to control the shuddering caused by the desire aroused by Kenshin, Kaoru clenched and unclenched her fists, wanting to hold on to something.

Sensing her reactions, Kenshin held Kaoru's hand and guided it to encircle his neck. He then continued with his ministrations until finally, her kimono dropped to the floor around her feet. His eyes glittered amber as he eyed her soft pliant body resting against his.

Feeling totally vulnerable, Kaoru tightened her grip in Kenshin's nape when she felt him turn her into his embrace. Kaoru shuddered as she gazed into Kenshin's glittering amber. Blushing furiously when she saw desire and possessiveness sparkle in his gaze. Her breaths coming in short gasps as Kenshin lowered his head to kiss her. In her dreamy state, Kaoru was only dimly aware when Kenshin lowered her onto the futon. Raising her eyes, she blushed again when she saw him remove his clothes, then turning her head the other way so that she wouldn't be able to see him undress. Sighing in contentment when she felt Kenshin return by her side on the futon. Kaoru raised her head, whispering uncertainly up to him, "Ken.. ken..shin…" before he covered her mouth with his, locking them in deep and passionate kiss.

Kenshin brought Kaoru to the brink of passion before joining her, shouting her name as he came. Wrapped securely in his arms, Kaoru snuggled deeper into his embrace, before looking up at him again and smiled.

Kenshin looked deep into her eyes before asking her, "Will you wait for me Kaoru-koishii?"

Kaoru giggled before pinching him in the arm, "Hai, Kenshin no baka. Of course I will wait for you."

"Aishiteru, Kaoru. I will come back for you. I promise."

"Mmmm… aishiteru."

to be continued…

on to Chapter 3: Departure