Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Scratching the Itch ❯ Chapter 3 ( Chapter 3 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin

 

 

 

Kaoru moaned into Saito's demanding kiss as he pressed upwards into her heat. Her hakama lay in a pool at his feet, having been hastily undone in his desire to take her. She dug her nails into the skin of his shoulders accessible through his open coat and shirt, arching her hips into his thrusts. Her legs clenched around his waist, and he held her firmly against the wall as he pounded into her.

 

His mouth drew a trail of heat down her chin and neck, sucking hard on his favorite spot to leave a mark on her shoulder. It was right below where her collar rested, but just barely.

 

All rhythm was lost as she leaned forward and bit his neck in response. He released her skin and grunted, thrusting madly into her quivering opening as his forehead pressed against the wall behind. He came quickly, his hot seed inside her triggering a small climax of her own.

 

Saito set her on her feet all too soon, and she hurriedly pulled up her hakama while giving him a small glare. She leaned against the wall in the somewhat secluded back alley. Sounds from the nearby street faintly reached her ears. They had been intimate in public places before, but this was a little risqué even for him.

 

“You couldn't be bothered to drag me down to the station this time?” she said a bit acidly. “I know we're not a couple, but indoors would be nice.”

 

He drew a match along the exposed timber and lit a cigarette, his face glowing eerily for a brief moment. Inhaling deeply, he regarded her with that infuriating smirk.

 

“You didn't seem to be complaining a minute ago.”

 

Kaoru finished with her ties, jerking the ends a little in frustration. She pulled her collar up higher on her neck as she straightened her gi. Something dark flashed through his eyes for a moment. He leaned in over her, tempting chest still visible through his open shirt.

 

“Hiding evidence from your roommate?” he taunted, pulling his garments aside to show a reddening half-circle of her teeth marks on his shoulder.

 

Kaoru reddened and pushed on his chest, ignoring the heat of his skin under her fingers. He let her push him away and grab her things. About halfway down the passage towards the busy street, he called after her.

 

“Don't bother running, Kaoru. A wolf always finds its prey.”

 

Kaoru shivered a little at the dark promise in his words, half excited, half scared.

 

She exited the alley and blinked a little at the brighter light, getting her bearings. He'd met her unexpectedly outside the dojo where she taught, obviously wanting her from the look in his eyes. She'd chastised him for seeking her out in such a public place, but he was unsympathetic. He guided her with an iron hand on her elbow down several twisting streets until they reached his `destination.'

 

Her thoughts were a jumble as she headed towards home. Saito had become more daring since the day he'd taken her at the police station. No place was sacred, as long as he could get her alone. Their encounters did not increase in frequency, but he was more demanding. Kaoru wasn't sure what she was getting out of the arrangement anymore. Except the sex.

 

Even that felt like it had changed. In the beginning, she felt empowered by his attraction to her and her affect on him. They had a powerful chemistry that neither could deny once uncovered. She just lost herself around him.

 

But he was always in control. She didn't expect moonlit walks by the river, not from him. And certainly she was powerfully aroused by his domineering nature. There was just something . . . hollow about their little arrangement. That and she always felt like she was never on solid footing; he kept her off balance.

 

Kaoru sighed, passing over the bridge that signaled the last leg of her journey. She couldn't deny that when she was with Saito, it felt good. His ongoing interest in her was flattering, and made up a little for the lack of affection she was receiving in other quarters. Sometimes. At least that wonderful, awful tension was relieved under his touches.

 

The familiar gates of her dojo came into view, the late afternoon sun painting the entrance a brilliant red. The hue reminded her of Kenshin's fiery hair. Kaoru mentally kicked herself at the thought. Why couldn't her heart let him go?

 

`Maybe because he's living under my roof. . .'

 

She locked the gates behind her, looking around for the swordsman. The compound was oddly quiet. There was no smoke rising from the bathhouse fire, and the yard was devoid of the smells of cooking dinner. Kaoru's heart gave a painful lurch at the stillness.

 

Did he leave?

 

“Dammit,” she muttered, cursing her foolishness. She truly was pathetic today.

 

She stomped angrily into the dojo, putting her boken away. She continued down to her room, intent on tossing her bag inside and grabbing a yukata before starting the fire for her bath. It had been a while since she had to heat the water herself.

 

Kaoru jumped and froze when she opened the shoji. Kenshin sat against the back wall of her room, face and body partially obscured by the angle of the afternoon sun. He rose slowly, approaching her with a dangerous grace. She didn't realize she was holding her breath until his eyes came into view. They were swimming with warring emotions, concern, anger, and something indescribable fighting for dominance in his dark gaze.

 

He knew.

 

Emotions wrenched painfully in her gut, a tiny thread of relief running far underneath.

 

They stood regarding each other in the stillness, Kaoru's heartbeat loud in her ears. She started when he finally spoke, smooth voice cutting through the quiet.

 

“I came to meet you at the dojo this afternoon.”

 

Kaoru cleared her throat nervously before responding. His gaze pinned her to the spot.

 

“I didn't see you there.”

 

“The senior students told me you left with a policeman. With Saito.” His voice was coldly neutral.

 

Kaoru couldn't contain the angry blush that covered her face. She struggled to find a response. Her brain short-circuited when he took a step closer. His presence overwhelmed her as he regarded her in stern silence.

 

“Why do you smell like cigarettes?”

 

Her skin felt hotter, and her mind buzzed with a million thoughts. There would be no covering up this time. She shifted uncomfortably, hand unconsciously drifting to the concealed mark on her shoulder. Just because she had to tell him didn't make it easy.

 

“Saito and I have an arrangement.”

 

Kenshin's gaze moved to her hand. He placed two fingers on the collar of her gi, pulling it aside slightly. She didn't try to stop him. His eyes darkened when saw the red marks standing out sharply from her pale skin. He released the fabric and stepped back a bit, eye shaded by his bangs.

 

“I don't think you know what you're doing. He is dangerous, and you are putting yourself in harms way.” His words cut into her. “Why would you entangle yourself with him, a married man no less!”

 

The reproach in his voice snapped her last thread of restraint. The emotions she'd been keeping in check since this whole thing began rose up like a tidal wave, almost overwhelming her with their strength.

 

“How dare you lecture me,” Kaoru cried angrily. “You pushed me away! I told you that I loved you, and you were too involved in your guilt and `unworthy' self to respond. I still can't figure out why you would be my companion, my protector, my damn housemaid and not my husband!”

 

Kenshin's eyes were wide, uncommon surprise evident at her outburst.

 

“You have no idea how much that hurts. Once again, I'm not good enough for you. All the danger is past, no more enemies to fight, and still you won't let me near you. I had to hold all these emotions inside, not show them, and still keep myself and this household together.”

 

Kaoru struggled to keep her voice under control. Her eyes flashed defiantly as she locked gazes with him.

 

“And after I got depressed, I got mad. I needed you so badly, but couldn't have you.” She took a shaking breath. “So I made a choice, and Saito was there at the right time to fill a need that you wouldn't.”

 

“But, Kaoru-dono. . .”

 

“Argh!” Kaoru's hands flew to her head as she turned and screamed in frustration. “Kaoru-dono, Kaoru-dono. I hate it when you call me that.” She fought again with her emotions, not wanting to cry. She turned to him with pained eyes.

 

“Saito may want me just for the sex, but at least I know where I stand.”

 

Long quiet moments passed, emotions swirling in the air between them. Finally, Kaoru voiced a decision that had long been weighing on her heart. Unwilling to meet his eyes for fear of what she would see, she softly spoke.

 

“I can't live in limbo any longer. I love you, but I have my limits. Be with me and stay, or don't and go.”

 

She grabbed a yukata lying near the door and turned to leave the room.

 

“You have until tomorrow morning to decide.”

 

Kaoru held herself together as she went to the bathhouse. She started the fire with automatic motions, tossing on enough wood for a marathon soak. She kept her mind blank. Thankfully, the secluded location of the bathhouse on the compound kept her from hearing any noises from the dojo's other occupant. Once the fire was well stoked, she retreated into the steamy confines of the furo.

 

Slowly, each piece of clothing dropped from her body. She wrinkled her nose at the combination of sweat, sex and cigarettes that wafted off her body. God, she really did stink of him. She released her long hair and poured buckets of water over her body. Washrag and soap soon followed as she vigorously scrubbed her skin. She didn't realize how hard she'd been rubbing until she felt a pinch of pain at his mark on her shoulder.

 

Kaoru sank to her haunches, wrapping her arms around her knees. Tears slipped down her face as the careful walls holding in her emotions cracked. It felt like she'd ripped out a part of her insides and walked all over them. Her heart had been beaten from all sides, soothed and burned by Saito's insistent touches, coddled and cut by Kenshin's presence. She could barely muffle the choking sobs with her face pressed to her legs.

 

As she sobbed with gasping breaths, she caught the damned smell of him that still clung to damp strands of her hair. She rolled forward to her knees and poured another bucket of water over her, grabbing more soap to scrub furiously at her raven tresses.

 

An image of Kenshin's reproachful gaze flashed into her mind.

 

`I have to get clean.'

 

Saito's smirking face from earlier in the day appeared, possessive heat in his eyes. Her fingers dug into her scalp.

 

`Why me?'

 

The smell of her soap filled her senses, a soothing balm of jasmine and lavender. She stood and dumped one more bucket over her, coughing and sputtering as her uneven breaths brought water into her airways. Hands clenched the rim of the tub as her breathing calmed.

 

Weary, Kaoru climbed into the welcoming heat, just hotter than comfortable. Her hair fanned around her as she brought it over her shoulders. She sank down until her nose sat just above the surface.

 

Something ended today. This was either the last day she lived with Kenshin, or the first day of their life together. Either way, it was definitive. She'd just have to accept whatever happened. She said her piece.

 

Much later, Kaoru emerged from the bathhouse, hair wrapped in a white towel. She was still on edge, but calmer than before. An odd sense of stasis hung in the dusky evening, the world teetering on the edge of perfect balance before tumbling through time again.

 

Her stomach growled insistently, and she changed course from her room to the kitchen. Faint smells of food drifted out, and she was pleased to see a meal set out at the eating table. A slight frown creased her face at only seeing one setting. Still, she ate the simple but delicious meal, trying not to think that it could be the last good food she would have for a while.

 

Kaoru continued back towards her room, looking around for the rurouni. Faint sounds from the dojo reached her ears, and she calmed a little. At least he hadn't left yet. She shook her head to rid herself of those thoughts. It was up to him now.

 

She settled herself into her room, noting the lit lamp and futon already rolled out and prepared for her. Long strokes of her favorite comb dried her long hair, eyes growing heavier with each pass. It was early, but the day had been beyond draining. She dropped into bed, remembering just before she fell asleep to extinguish the light.

 

Blissfully, she did not dream.

 

………………….

 

Kaoru was surrounded by warmth. She floated in between asleep and awake, enjoying the sensation.

 

Gentle fingers of dim light teased at her eyelids. A silken strand of hair brushed lightly on her cheek, and her eyes opened just barely as she took hold of the offending item with slow motions. It took a moment for her mind to focus on the thin strand.

 

It was red.

 

Arms she didn't know were there drew her back to a firm chest, the source of the wonderful warmth. The clean sandalwood scent of his soap surrounded her, more wisps of hair tickling her cheek as a head buried into her neck. Head still fuzzy with sleep, she turned in the embrace onto her back to better see him.

 

Soft lavender eyes peered down at her through a river of crimson hair. It lay unbound and barely tamed around his shoulders, standing out in sharp contrast to his white yukata. His lean form was pressed against her side, one arm settled under her neck and curling around her shoulder, the other holding her close to him by her waist. He looked so perfect in the filtered light easing in from the shoji. She almost hated to speak lest she break the spell.

 

“Kenshin?” she said softly, voice sounding loud in the quiet morning.

 

A sword-calloused hand left her waist and reached up to gently brush her bangs out of her eyes.

 

“You deserve to be wanted for more than just sex,” he intoned with equal softness. “You deserve to be protected and loved.”

 

Her heart nearly stopped at his words, trembling fingers reaching up to touch his scarred cheek. His hand caught hers, holding it to his face and kissing the palm.

 

“Kenshin?” she said again, not daring to believe.

 

A gentle smile touched his face.

 

“I still do not believe I am worthy of you, but I cannot deny your needs and your call to my heart any longer.” His gaze lingered over her like a caress.

 

“If you will still have me, I will stay and love you.”

 

“You will? You'll give me all of you?” she said shakily.

 

“Everything you desire.”

 

His lips lowered to hers in a tender kiss. Kaoru threw her arms around him and held him close, thanking whatever gods that were listening that he had decided to stay.

 

He withdrew his lips from hers, and she cupped his face in her hands. She placed light kisses on his cheeks, forehead and nose, delighting in the vibration of his soft chuckle against her chest. Her hands skimmed down to his shoulders, tangling a little in the silky red strands that spilled over. Locking eyes with his, she leaned in for a gentle kiss of her own.

 

After some slow presses of barely open lips, Kaoru tested the seam of his mouth with her tongue. He opened his mouth with a groan, tongue tangling with hers as he pressed himself to her again. He tasted sweet and earthy, like fine sushi rice with a hint of miso. The tender yet firm way he kissed her sent shivers through her body.

 

Kaoru shifted her hips against him, feeling his stiff length through their sleeping clothes. Wanting more, her hands slid underneath the collar of his yukata, testing the smooth scars of his chest with her fingers. Their kiss continued for countless moments until her little hands danced over his pebbled nipples.

 

He ended the kiss by pressing her onto her back and pulling away a little. Both were breathing heavy. Kaoru spent a moment drowning in his darkened eyes. He took one of her hands that was still on his chest and kissed the palm lightly.

 

“Kaoru, let me make love to you?”

 

Her heart swelled at his words, and she licked her lips in anticipation.

 

“Please,” she said softly, voice husky with desire.

 

“Then I will enjoy worshipping every inch of you,” he said, leaning in for another deep kiss.

 

Kenshin was obviously in control this time, the kiss quietly dominant but full of his need to please her. While he drank deeply of her lips, deft fingers undid the knot of her yukata. When it came undone, he tossed the belt to the side and left her lips, kissing down to the open skin of her chest that his fingers uncovered. He shifted so he was leaning over her completely, and drew his eyes appreciatively over her exposed form.

 

“So beautiful,” he murmured, and an answering blush rose across her cheeks.

 

Kaoru moaned as his skillful hands cupped her breasts. He leaned in and took one stiff peak between his lips, the curtain of his hair teasing her warming skin like flames as it brushed across her. He sucked with increasing pressure, never painful but always pulling at the growing pool of heat between her legs. She arched off the futon as his teeth scraped at one nipple, his tongue curling around it soon after. He switched to the other breast, kissing a trail to it's peak and lavishing it with the same treatment.

 

She didn't realize that she was clutching at his head until he moved lower, pushing more of her yukata away from her body. He kissed down to her navel, briefly dipping his tongue into it. Calloused hands ran up and down her thighs, thumbs brushing in tantalizing circles closer and closer to her core. His lips traced her hipbone, then along the seam of her leg.

 

Kaoru nearly sat upright when his hot tongue entered her wet folds. It was like a bolt of electricity shot straight through her, only to return to her center with increased strength. She'd never felt anything like this before. He continued the amazing sensations, licking, nibbling and sucking at her. She writhed on the futon, hips moving in frantic rhythms without any conscious control.

 

Her peak was coming closer and closer, and when two long digits entered her slick channel, she exploded. His name tumbled from her lips with a cry. He continued the pleasurable assault on her, and another heady climax soon followed.

 

She lay back panting as she came back to herself a little. His hands disappeared for just a moment, and the heat of him pressed along her, his naked skin creating electric shocks where it touched her hypersensitive flesh.

 

“More koi?” he asked teasingly, pressing his erection against her wet heat.

 

“Please, yes, I want you inside me.”

 

His eyes darkened further at her plea, a bit of amber lacing through his gaze. He captured her lips, the taste of her lacing through his own flavor. Kaoru felt herself being lifted, the yukata completely stripped away. His hands took her long legs and placed them around his hips, and he positioned himself at her entrance.

 

Kenshin leaned over her, brushing damp strands from her forehead. He kissed her forehead lightly and held her eyes, pressing himself deeply into her. Kaoru's eyes closed a little at the sensation of him filling her.

 

“Eyes open, koi. I want to watch you.”

 

His words aroused her even further, and she moved her hips against him in eagerness. He obliged her desires, starting rhythmic strokes into her velvet heat. Kaoru struggled to keep her eyes open at the wonderful sensations he created in her, but she was rewarded by the look of determined bliss on his.

 

He shifted slightly then, changing the angles of his thrusts and watching her reactions as she moaned louder. Finally one of his strokes sent bolts of pleasure through her and left her gasping. With a very male smile, Kenshin began thrusting harder, hitting that spot again and again. Kaoru thought she might see stars, it felt so good.

 

Beads of perspiration began to gather at his brow, and Kenshin thrust faster and faster, beyond Kaoru's ability to keep up. His head lowered to her ear, and he licked the edge slowly.

 

“Come with me, my Kaoru.”

 

Kaoru screamed as orgasm overtook her in a heady rush. She felt her walls pulsing around his hot shaft, his slowing strokes prolonging the wonderful sensations. He jerked a little above her and gave one final thrust home, spilling himself in her quivering warmth.

 

The world came back in fragments, first the light, then the feeling of his breath in her hair, then his scent surrounding her. A lazy streak of sensation curled in her as he withdrew. He carefully gathered her to him, pulling the blanket over their cooling bodies.

 

Kaoru sighed into his chest, fingers pressed lightly against his skin. Her heart was full. She didn't realize it could be this good. Her divine thanks echoed through her mind as she dozed off in the circle of his arms.