Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Now and Forever ❯ The start of a new beginnig ( Chapter 9 )

~ Now and Forever ~

Author's Note:

Hi minna-san! At last! The final chapter is here. I really enjoyed working on this story especially with you wonderful readers out there. I can finally work on my other stories that has been held up because of this story. Anyways, I hope that you guys will still read the other fan fictions that I'll put up. Well, on with the story!

*** Oh, and by the way, Kenshin accepted the police's request for his help because Kenshin still thinks that helping others is way for him to atone for his sins. It's a completely different matter with Shishio… there, he was asked by their Prime Minister (oi, ok, I forgot his name!), to assassinate Shishio. That was the reason why he was reluctant to help the government in the first place. They want him to kill again. Hehehehe, I hope I got that cleared up…here we go!

Chapter 9: The start of a new beginning

Kenshin blinked slowly as his eyes adjusted to the ceiling. Turning his head, he looked at Kaoru resting beside him. He smiled, he didn't know what he had done to receive an angel such as her. Tomoe had been the sheath to his madness, her quiet nature was the calm to his storm.

Stroking Kaoru's hair, he smiled. Kaoru was the light to his darkness. Her cheerfulness and kindness had drawn the rurouni to her, while her determination and fierceness matched Battousai's spirit. He chuckled as Kaoru snuggled deeper into his embrace.

He nuzzled her neck with the intent to wake her from the deep slumber she was in. He smiled ferally as he remembered their little tryst the night before. His hands continued to wander further down her body earning a hushed moan from the woman beneath him.

Kaoru stretched languidly beside Kenshin, *Mmm, her dragon has a very nice way of waking her up…*

Blinking coyly up at him, "Ohayou, Kenshin…" she purred.

Kenshin nibbled her ear breathing his response right back, "Ohayou, Kaoru-koishii…"

Kaoru giggled as Kenshin's hands skimmed her hips, tickling her.

"How are you feeling, koishii?"

"Mmmm… much better now," her eyes twinkled mischievously, "Megumi-san is going to kill me."

Kenshin raised an eyebrow in question.

"She told me, no strenuous activities until I've fully recovered." She told him eyes twinkling with barely suppressed mirth.

He chuckled "Well, she wouldn't know now, would she?"

She giggled and nodded, "Hai!" Looking out at the direction of the door and seeing the light filtering thought it she grimaced.

"We should get up or that brat will tear up the entire dojo if we're not yet awake by the time he's up."

"Maaa…. I'll take care of everything while you, stay and rest. Megumi-dono did say, no strenuous activities."

Kaoru whacked him playfully with her pillow. "Baka"

Kenshin chuckled as he tried to avoid the pillow being flung in his direction while dressing up. Catching the pillow, he threw it back at her.

"Mou!" came the muffled response as the pillow hit her square in the face.

Laughing and turning to a swift exit before she could retaliate, Kenshin made his way to the kitchen to prepare their breakfast.

" Kitsune, do you think Kenshin and jou-chan are fine?"

Megumi bristled a bit at Sano's use of her hated nickname, but answered him nevertheless.

"Hopefully yes, tori-atama. The person I'm really worried with is Ken-san."

Sano sighed, "Yeah, you're right. Kenshin was sure pissed off when he saw jou-chan in that condition."

"Pissed off to bring Battousai out."

"Aa… I wonder how Yahiko is doing…" he wondered out loud as he entered the dojo gates after Megumi.

Upon entering the gate, they were greeted by a very happy ruruouni.

"Ohayou, Sano, Megumi-dono." Kenshin greeted them

"Anou… ohayou, Ken-san."

"Oi."

Megumi eyed the former hitokiri as he turned his back and started to do the laundry.

"A… I'll go on Kaoru," Megumi said as she made her way to Kaoru's room

Kenshin dropped the kimono he was washing and blocked Megumi using his god-like speed, startling the lady doctor.

"Ken-san!"

He laughed nervously, "Aa, just a second Megumi-dono, I'll see if Kaoru's awake." he told her before rushing to her room.

Sano went up to a stock still Megumi. "What was that about?" he asked her

Megumi blinked, "I don't know."

"If I didn't know better, I think Kenshin was hiding something."

Megumi stared to the direction where Kenshin disappeared. Her cinnamon-brown eyes widening in realization. "Why the…" she looked at Sano, "You mean he doesn't want me to see something."

He looked at her confusedly, "Eh?"

She eyed him meaningfully.

Sano grinned ridiculously, "Aa… ok. I get your point."

Looking around he then asked Megumi, "Oi, kitsune, have you seen the little brat? I think I haven't seen him from the moment we arrived here."

"Hello to you too, you big dumb, tori-atama!"

Sano and Megumi both turned to the sound of Yahiko's voice, a huge vein popping in Sano's head.

"Say that again Yahiko-CHAN?!" he asked him while cracking his knuckles.

Yahiko stared daggers at him, "Don't call me CHAN!!!" he yelled before pouncing on him chewing on his head.

Megumi sighed as eyed the two beat each other up. *These two act like kids. Yahiko, I can understand, but Sano?!* she shook her head ruefully. *What on earth did she find so appealing with that tori-atama?*

"Sessha missed this de gozaru yo."

Megumi turned to find Kenshin behind her smiling at the sight Sano and Yahiko made. She smiled back, *Kaoru is really lucky to have someone like you to love her, Ken-san*

"You can go to Kaoru's room now, Megumi-dono."

"Aa. Arigatou, Ken-san. Demo, you didn't have to warn Kaoru that I was coming to check on her." She told him as she passed by him.

Kenshin flushed brighter than his hair, "Oro… hehehehe, ooopps." Then turning to his two raging friends, he sweat dropped and tried to stop them.

Kaoru turned her head towards the door as Megumi entered.

"Ohayou, Megumi-san"

"Ohayou, tanuki."

Kaoru glared at Megumi as she laughed her trade mark laugh that made her unaware of the hand that hit her at the underside of her head.

"Itai! What did you do that for?" she wailed as she rubbed her head

"Hmph. I told you tanuki, no strenuous activities while you're in recovery."

"WHA?!" Kaoru gaped at Megumi while blushing brick red. "What do you mean?"

"Don't look at me as if I don't know. Ken-san's earlier actions gave the two of you away." She told her.

"Baka Kenshin" Kaoru muttered under her breath

"Hmph." Megumi smirked, "I presume it was an early morning tryst?"

"Aaaa!!!! IIIEEEE!!"

"Now, tanuki…"

"Iie, honestly…"

"Hmmm, last night?"

"Aa…"

Megumi chuckled as she eyed the brightly flushing girl before her. Leaning forward, she started her check-up Kaoru. Announcing that she was already in good health pleased the young kenjutsu shihondai. Raising a hand in protest, Megumi told Kaoru that she still needed to lay still for another week, just to be sure.

"Another week?!"

"Hai, and I mean lay still. No strenuous activities, or else!" Megumi warned her before leaving her to look for Kenshin. Finding him busy with preparing breakfast, she dragged the startled samurai out of the kitchen despite Sano and Yahiko's protests.

"Oro, Megumi-dono, is there anything wrong de gozaru?"

"Hai, Ken-san." Megumi told him as they reached the closed doors of the dojo, whirling around to face him, and glaring at him darkly.

"Ken-san!"

"Oro…."

"I'll make this perfectly clear. NO STRENOUS ACTIVITIES for Kaoru-chan!"

Kenshin blinked "Oro?"

"You know what I mean Ken-san."

He flushed brighter than his hair, "Aa… wakatta, Megumi-dono."

"I'll hold you to that Ken-san."

"KENSHIN!!!!!!!" Yahiko yelled from the kitchen.

"BRAKFAST IS GONNA BURN!!!!!!" Sano's voice followed Yahiko's.

"Oro! Sessha is coming de gozaru yo!!!!" Kenshin yelled back as he scrambled back to the kitchen.

"Ken-san"

Kenshin stopped as he heard Megumi's voice, turning to the fox doctor who was now making her way towards him, he tilted his head in silent question. Megumi answered him as she whispered in his ear making him flash a brilliant smile at her.

"You are very lucky to have Kaoru to love you, Ken-san. As you are to her… so you better take care of that tanuki or else, that little brat and that tori-atama will be the least of your problems."

Kenshin chuckled. "Hai, Megumi-dono. I promise you on my life that I will take good care of Kaoru."

"You better go now before those two hunt you down for their breakfast."

"Oro… hehehehe, hai de gozaru yo!!!!"

"Oi, Kenshin?"

Kenshin turned to Sano and Yahiko who was both watching him intently.

"Jou-chan's ok now, right?"

"Yeah, busu's gonna be fine… ne?"

He smiled in understanding. "Hai de gozaru. Don't worry."

Yahiko beamed up at him, then frowned. "She really scared me this time." He whispered

Sano grunted in agreement. "Nah, jou-chan scared all of us, but you Kenshin really scared the shit out of me."

"Sano…" Kenshin warned him

"Aa… Sano's right Kenshin…" Yahiko told him weakly

"A,… gomen ne. I didn't mean to scare all of you de gozaru."

Kenshin grinned as he turned his gaze towards Kaoru's room.

"Sano, Yahiko…"

Both men looked at him questioningly.

"I need you to do something for me."

Yahiko and Sano looked at each other and back to Kenshin.

"Sure. What is it?"

Reaching inside his pocket, he turned to Yahiko, "Yahiko, make sure that Kaoru stays in her room. And if she asks you where we went, tell her that Sano and I took a walk outside."

"Aa. Sure no problem."

"Sano, you come with me."

"Oi, Kenshin, that was really great. You are going to surprise that tanuki."

"Hai, Sano. You go on ahead and tell Megumi-dono to meet us at the akkabeko."

"Right on Kenshin."

Kenshin smiled as he patted the pocket in the sleeves of his gi. Sano had accompanied him into town to find a suitable ring to replace the one he first gave to Kaoru before he left.

Upon entering the dojo, he was greeted by a very nervous Yahiko.

"Kenshin! Am I glad that you're back! Busu's been throwing a fit since I told her that I didn't know where you've gone with Sano and what time you'll be back."

He chuckled, *Typical Kaoru.* he thought, "Yahiko, go on ahead at the akkabeko, we'll meet you there."

"Hai. See you two there!" Yahiko told him before jogging off to the direction of the restaurant.

Stepping inside, he stopped shortly as he felt as very familiar strong ki just behind him. *Koishii…*

"You better have a very good explanation as to where the hell you've been, Himura Kenshin."

Turning to the owner of that dangerous growl, Kenshin flashed Kaoru a very bright smile despite the amber hue mingling in its amethyst depths.

"Maa… I just went to town with Sano de gozaru."

"And why, may I ask you, why didn't you tell me?!"

"Oro. Megumi-dono told me that you needed the rest, so I decided not to bother you anymore. And I wanted to surprise you with something…"

"And that would be…" Kaoru looked at him skeptically

His eyes flashed brightly as he kneeled in front of her, holding left hand of the startled angel before him.

"Kaoru…" holding her gaze with his, he removed the first ring he gave her and slipped the new one slowly into her finger.

"Would you make me the most luckiest and happiest man on earth, if you would accept this unworthy one to be yours?"

Kaoru blinked back the tears as she tore her gaze from the ring and into Kenshin's eyes. Throwing her arms around his neck, she sobbed in happiness.

"Hai! Hai!!!! For the second time, Hai!"

Holding her slim form against him, he stroked her raven locks. Sighing in contentment, he closed his eyes and remembered everything they had been through. From the moment he laid his eyes on her in that alley with her challenging battousai with nothing but a mere wooden sword, the time when she followed him to Kyoto during his upcoming fight with Shishio, during his fight with Shougo Amakusa where he had temporarily lost his sight… and who could forget the hell they've been through with Enishi.

She had always been the beacon of light that guided him through those dark times. Her kind, caring and compassionate nature kept their unique set of family intact. And most of all, it was her love that saved him from the darkness that had tried to consume him from the inside out. She had accepted him unconditionally, even when she knew of his past, what kind of demon he harbors within him. Kami had sent him an angel… his very own angel. And now, she was his, and truly his.

"Koishii…"

Kaoru raised her face from his shoulder, "Hai?"

"You should get dressed, they're waiting for us at the akkabeko."

She chuckled, "You planned this all along, didn't you?"

He merely chuckled and ushered her into her room before giving her a slight peck in the cheek. "Wear your dark blue kimono today, koishii."

"Man! What is taking them so long?!" Yahiko grumbled

"Hehehehe, maybe they decided not to show up and just spend the evening at home and…ooff!"

Megumi elbowed Sano deeply. "Tori-atama, shut the hell up!"

"Ow! Kitsune! What's wrong?! I'm merely telling the truth! Knowing how Kenshin and Kaoru now, he would have probably jumped on her by now!"

Megumi smirked as she saw Kenshin and Kaoru directly behind Sano.

Sano stilled as he saw Megumi, Tae, and Tsubame trying to stifle their laughters as Yahiko fell off his seat laughing his guts out.

*Shit. I. Am. So. Dead.* he thought as he slowly turned to face Kaoru and Kenshin.

"Hehehehe, jou-chan, Kenshin! Nice of you to finally join us!" he chuckled nervously.

"Hmmph! Lucky for you Sano, I'm in a very good mood!" Kaoru told him as she gently whacked his head.

Tae smiled as she eyed the couple before her. She didn't know if it was merely coincidence or Kaoru or Kenshin's idea, but it suit them really good. Kaoru was wearing a dark blue kimono complemented by a white obi with butterfly and sakura patterns on it. Kenshin, on the other hand, was wearing a dark blue gi so unlike his usual pink (magenta, whatever you call it!) gi that they were so used to see him wear.

She smiled mysteriously, if this was Kenshin's idea, then it was a sure sign of possessiveness on his part. She tilted her head to the side and regarded Kaoru critically, the young kenjutsu shihondai was literally beaming.

"Kaoru-chan, is there something you wish to tell us?" she queried

"Hn?" Kaoru blinked in confusion as she eyed Tae.

"You are literally beaming!" she blurted out.

All eyes turned to Tae and back to a furiously blushing Kaoru.

"Anou… I…^gulp^" was all that Kaoru could say. She merely ducked her head trying to hide her flushed face as she raised her left hand in explanation.

Tae and Megumi squealed in delight as Tsubame and Yahiko gasped and smiled. Sano merely grinned and thumped Kenshin at the back.

All girls ran to hug and congratulate Kaoru. Each taking turns to see the sapphire ring Kenshin gave her. Sano and Yahiko soon followed, giving her an enormous bear hug. The akkabeko was soon filled with their laughters and cheers.

"Took you long enough though, Kenshin. But I'm glad that you finally did it. I really thought that busu was going to be an ugly old hag forever." Yahiko told Kenshin

Kaoru bristled beside him, "Why you little….."

Kenshin and grabbed on to Kaoru as to prevent her from pouncing onto Yahiko, "Maaa…koishii."

Everyone had a good time reminiscing about the past and teasing Kenshin with his slowness with Kaoru.

"So, tanuki, when will the wedding be?" Megumi asked her as they started their trek home.

"Ummm. I'm not yet sure. Demo, Megumi-san, can you help me with the…"

"No need to ask tanuki. I'll be glad to help you out, and by the way, you are one lucky girl to have Ken-san."

Kaoru blushed, "Hai, I probably am the most luckiest girl alive."

"Mmmm. Omedetou, tanuki. I'm really happy for you." Megumi hugged Kaoru before turning on the direction towards to her place.

"Megumi-san.."

Megumi stopped in her tracks as Kaoru came beside her and whispered something in her ear that made her blush and look wistfully at a certain tori-atama.

"He'll come around, Megumi. Don't worry."

*Sigh* "I do hope so Kaoru-chan, I hope so. Well, I better get going. Ja ne!"

Kaoru smiled. "Ja ne!"

Kenshin wrapped a protective arm around Kaoru as Sano turned to look at Megumi.

"Oi, omedetou to you two. Kitsune! Wait up!" he told them before running to Megumi.

Stopping for a while, he grinned, "Kenshin, you take care of our Jou-chan or you're in big trouble with me. Got that?"

"Don't worry, Sano. I promise I'll take care of her. Ja ne!"

"Ja ne!" he called back as he turned to run after Megumi

Arms tightening around her, "Koishii, I think we should be heading home as well. Yahiko might come looking for us."

She shook her head, "Iie, Yahiko will be staying at the akkabeko to help clean things up."

"Maa, so this means we have the whole dojo to ourselves?"

"Hai. What do you have in mind, Kenshin?"

He grinned ferally at her, "A lot, koishii… a lot."

Upon entering the gates, Kenshin began nuzzling her neck but stopped when Kaoru turned and held his face in her hands, fingers tracing the cross-scar on his left cheek. Complete trust and love shining in her eyes.

"Kenshin, aishiteru."

He smiled and grasped her face in turn before kissing her.

"Aishiteru, Kaoru-koishii… now and forever more."

~Owari~

Index of Japanese terms:

1. Dame- stop

2. Oro- Kenshin's expression when he's surprised or just plain confused

3. Konnichiwa- Good Afternoon

4. yukata- night robe

5. demo- but

6. Kenshin no baka- Kenshin you idiot ^^;

7. baka- idiot

8. Gomen nasai- I'm sorry

9. iie- no

10. dono- miss

11. koishii / anata- darling / beloved

12. aishiteru- I love you

13. busu- ugly

14. nani- what

15. mou- expression of exasperation

16. itadakimasu- let's eat!

17. hai- yes

18. tanuki-chan- little raccon

19. ne- right? ^^;

20. tori atama- rooster head / chicken head

21. jou-chan- Sano's nickname to Kaoru meaning little missy

22. sensei- teacher

23. Kami- God

24. Tadaima- I'm home

25. Okaerinasai- Welcome home

26. hitokiri- shadow

27. arigatou- thank you

28. gaki- kid or brat… (I think.. oro^^;)

29. sessha- this unworthy one (our one and only Kenshin's style!)

30. rurouni- wanderer

31. chikuso- damn

32. daijobou ka- are you alright

33. kuso- shit

34. doushite- what

35. honto ni- truly

36. onegai- please

37. koneko- kitty? ^^;

38. ohayou- good morning

39. kitsune- fox

40. itai- ouch

41. wakatta- I understand

42. omedetou- congratulations

43. Ja ne- see you later

AN:

Me finally done with this story! I just want to thank all you wonderful readers out there and hopefully you enjoyed reading this story and hope that you'll read the others that I'll be releasing in the future! To everyone, a very big thank you! Hope you like the end of this story! Mwuah!!!!

Aoi_Mizu_Ryu