Title: An Evil Plan Gone Horribly Wrong
Author: Sephira jo (contact at: sephirajo@yahoo.com)
Archive: With permission only
Part: 4/6             
LEMON WARNING!
Series: Rurouni Kenshin
Rating: ARGH! NC-17! ^_^ This is the uncut version.  *giggles insanely* Uncut 
Genre: Romantic Comedy/Drama
Pairings: Kenshin/Kaoru, Sano/Megumi

Disclaimer: I don't own Kenshin! *sob sob*

If you wanted to be notified when I update my fan fiction, I have a mailing
list.  You can join at:
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Author's notes: Heh heh.  As I'm starting this chapter there have been at least
20 people saying "Poor Sano." Then admitting that he deserved it.  One of the
reviewers also noted the use of fists, instead of Kenshin's Sakabatou, and yes
that was on purpose.  I think it adds something personal to the ass kicking to
have your ass beaten by fists as apposed to a weapon.  Any way, if your reading
this on fanfiction.net know that you are feasting your eyes on the EDITED version
of this chapter.  The love scenes have been toned down greatly.  But, they are
still there.  If you want to see the unedited version direct your browser to
Adultfanfiction.net or Mediaminer.org, which ever works best for you.  Now, on
with the show.


* * ^-^ * *



Kaoru threw some wood into the fire that heated the bath, wishing she was inside
to make sure the water was the correct temperature.  Normally Kenshin heated her
bath water for her, one of the hundred little things he did for her every day. 
But Kenshin hadn't come back yet, he had run off after lunch, chasing after that
bastard Sanosuke.

The heat from the fire caused sweat to soak through her heavy kimono.  Kaoru
sighed, all that effort to make herself look pretty gone to waste, because
Kenshin hadn't stuck around to appreciate it.  Sighing, Kaoru entered the
bathhouse.  The water from the tub was steaming and she smiled in anticipation
of a hot bath.  With her first genuine smile of the whole day, Kaoru pealed off
her layers of clothing.  First her obi, then her kimono, then the light white
under-kimono she wore beneath it.  Free from the constricting clothing Kaoru
stretched languidly, the stress of the pervious evening and morning finally
easing away.

Kaoru tied up her hair and after settling into the hot bath water allowed herself
a long sigh.  "Mmm, this feels nice. . ." Kaoru said to herself, slumping down
until only her neck and head were above the hot water.  Relaxing in the bathtub,
she found her thoughts wandering to Kenshin. 

Kaoru giggled to herself.  If nothing else, Sano's ludicrous plan had given
Kenshin the push he needed to do something about their relationship through
picking at his constantly-strained control.  Her hand wandered to her lips, the
fingers lingering for a moment as she remembered the kisses Kenshin had given
her.

Kaoru flushed.  The water seemed even hotter now, and she wondered offhandedly
if she had added too much firewood to the furnace.  Not only was Kenshin's
reaction to her something she didn't understand, even though she readily admitted
to herself that she enjoyed it, but her own reaction to Kenshin was something she
was unfamiliar with as well.  Although she loved the rurouni deeply, the Kenshin
of this afternoon, with eyes glowing like fire, possessive, lustful and caring,
spiked something in her own body, and somehow lit an answering fire in her soul. 
She was sure she had loved him before, she knew that she had enjoyed the small
touches she had manage to steal, but this seemed to be something totally
different.

Kaoru gasped -- was this lust? The primitive needs that his stare alone invoked
couldn't be anything else.  She smiled slyly, love and want somehow didn't seem
to be so far apart anymore.  She really wished Megumi-san hadn't interrupted her
and Kenshin in her bedroom, then she wouldn't be sitting here wondering about the
fruit of their desire, she would be experiencing it.

A knock at the bathhouse door practically sent Kaoru through the ceiling. 
Swallowing her shock, she was able to put her voice together enough to speak,
"Who's there?!" She shouted, her voice catching on the words.  The embarrassment
at being caught in the middle of such thoughts turned her redder than the steamy
bath water ever could.

"Hey, Ugly!" Yahiko's high-pitched voice responded, "Tae want's me to ask you if
it's okay if I work at the Akabeko tonight."

If Kaoru were outside, she would've punched the young boy -- he came back to ask
that? "Why are you asking me?!" She shouted, voicing her thoughts on the matter.

"Because, Tae said she wouldn't let me stay and work without your permission,
UGLY!"

"Good god, Yahiko, JUST GO!" Kaoru yelled, "I don't care how long you stay out,
just don't bother me while I'm taking A BATH!" she finished, spitting out the
last word.  It seemed impossible to get some any privacy?  If it wasn't Yahiko,
it was Sano, if it wasn't Sano, it was Megumi.  Especially after tasting
Kenshin's passionate kisses, the idea of some alone-time with her rurouni made
her tremble with anticipation.

"Fine, Ugly! And maybe I won't come back tonight!" Yahiko shouted as he stomped
away.

Kaoru snorted, that arrangement sounded fine to her.  After all, Yahiko had
stayed out all night a few times before.  And Kaoru had a sneaking suspicion who
he had spent those nights with.  Her only comfort in that fact was that Yahiko
was way too young to know very much about the facts of life.  After all, he was
only eleven, not old enough at all.  "Fine!" She shouted, "Just go!" Yahiko
offered no answer and Kaoru knew that he had taken off again.  She shook her
head.  He would be back tomorrow, he always was.

Kaoru smiled, her headache had finally died down, Yahiko was going out for a
while, and she didn't have to deal with Sanosuke and his damned plan anymore. 
At least not until tomorrow.  She stood up, the water had started to cool -- she
should have put more wood on the fire.  Stepping out of the tub, she wrapped a
simple purple yukata around herself, not even bothering to dry off.  The thin
fabric clung to her skin, but at least she felt clean.

Picking up the heavy, sweat-laden kimono and obi, Kaoru left the bathhouse.  The
cooler outside air hit her instantly, making her feel even more refreshed.  She
enjoyed the small breeze that worked itself up around her, pushing the fabric of
her yukata up.  She pressed the fabric back against her skin and suppressed a
giggle.  Then Kaoru heard a rush of air and looked up, to see nothing but a flash
of pink.  It slammed into her, picking her up and carrying her with it.  Shocked,
Kaoru dropped the expensive kimono and obi, and looked into a pair of deep golden
eyes.  She was suddenly pressed between Kenshin and a dojo wall.  Kaoru had no
time to collect her thoughts as his mouth came down on hers, kissing her hard and
deep.

* * *

Kenshin flexed his hands, shaking off the tenseness that lingered behind from his
encounter with Sanosuke in the alleyway.  It should have scared him that he had
enjoyed punishing the younger man.  It should have, but it didn't.  It had been
enough to soothe his conscience that he had dropped the other man off at the
clinic, to the caring, if one could call them that, hands of Megumi.  His temper
still wasn't calmed however, and there was no way to really relieve it on his
short trek back to the dojo.  The only calming thought in Kenshin's mind was that
he was able to defend his Kaoru from Sanosuke and whatever that bastard had been
planing to do to her in the hallway.

His.  His Kaoru.  When had he stared thinking of her as his own, Kenshin
wondered.  Looking back, he tried to place an exact time, but was unable to do
so.  Perhaps it had started the first time he laid eyes on her, in the back
alleys of Tokyo.  Something in her then had called out to him to be protected,
to be watched after.  And when Gohei had moved to deliver the killing blow that
night in the alley, Kenshin had already felt the burning, possessive rage
directed at one who would dare hurt someone he had already marked as his.  The
events of the past day had just brought his turbulent emotions, emotions he had
tried so hard to bury, to the surface.

Kenshin entered the courtyard of the dojo, his steps heavier and faster than
usual, then stopped dead in his tracks at the sight that greeted him.  Kaoru was
walking out of the bathhouse, the beautiful blue kimono she had been wearing
earlier was gone, replaced by a simple purple yukata.  It clung to her wet skin,
and showed off her curves.  Kenshin swallowed, his desire spiked instantly.  He
did not need this right now.  Kaoru had been hurt the night before, had almost
been abused again this afternoon . . . but . . . but . . . Lucid thought left him
a second later when a strong breeze blew through the dojo yard, pulling up the
thin fabric, showing the smooth, pale skin of her legs.

The snapping of his strained will was almost audible.  Without even being fully
aware of his actions, Kenshin sprang toward her.  Running full speed, he slammed
into Kaoru, carrying her with him until they both hit the wall of the dojo.  His
eyes locked on hers for a moment, then he crushed his mouth to hers, as if he
could devour her.

She was still only for a moment then she responded to him.  The innocence behind
her ardor only served to fire his desire greater and he let his tongue snake out,
sliding against her lips, demanding entry.  When she opened to him and answered
his tongue with her own, he crushed himself even harder against her, pressing her
into the wall.  Kenshin delighted in the way her lithe body pressed against his. 
Her pert breasts pressed into his chest, and her legs lifted to encircle his
waist. 

Kenshin heard the sound of ripping fabric, only half aware that it he was tearing
the light robe off of Kaoru.  The purple garment fell to the ground in pieces. 
His mouth moved away from hers slowly, teasingly, brushing her jaw line, moving
down to her chin.

Kaoru was already breathing heavily.  Kenshin could feel her chest rising and
falling beneath him.  And that wasn't the only thing he was aware of.  Her wet,
freshly bathed skin called to him, its texture and its scent, faintly jasmine
spiked with her own arousal, made him crave more.  Her skin, her taste, her
scent, it was tearing down what little control he had left.  His hands roved over
her breasts, kneading, caressing, tugging at sensitive flesh as his lips moved
to her neck, kissing and nuzzling before he bit down, hard, digging his teeth
into the flesh there.  He sucked at it, moving over the wound with his tongue. 
Kaoru gasped and moaned beneath him, responding to his fierceness with abandon,
the small sounds she was making driving him toward insanity. 

"Kenshin. . .?" Her voice was a drawn out question, both unsure and demanding. 
As if she was asking for something that she didn't know how to put into words. 
Kenshin grinned wickedly, the last of his unvented rage finally finding a
suitable outlet: passion.  The rurouni part of his mind protested though; do
nothing without her permission.  The question in her voice could have easily been
something else, make sure first. 

Torn between desire and compassion, frustration and caution, need and necessity,
but Kenshin somehow found the ability to gather his scattered thoughts together. 
He lifted her and carried her into the dojo, trying to calm himself down with the
pause in their activity.  The way her legs were wrapped around his waist and he
could feel her against him every time he moved didn't help, but he couldn't make
himself put her down when she was finally in his arms, so he stopped moving. 
Resting her back against an interior wall and trying to ignore the way she was
twined around him, he tried another tactic to distract himself from her long
enough for him to get the answer to his question.

After several deep breaths he spoke.  "Kaoru," he said, his voice hanging on the
tones of her name and he felt her shudder in time with the rasp of his breath as
he continued, "Do you want this?" Want me, he thought.  It almost seemed too
much, that she would crave him the way he had been craving her.  Wholly and
completely, he needed her to complete him.

Breathing heavily, nuzzling her neck, he tried to control himself as he waited
for her answer.  His overpowering desire for her made that nearly impossible. 
At first he took her silence as a sign of rejection.  She had, after all, been
victimized just the night before.  Kenshin started to pull away, shaking with
rage that was now directed at himself, only to be stopped by Kaoru.

Her silence hadn't been rejection.  Unable to find words, she had been nodding
her head in silent assent.  His eyes met hers, and they seemed to have a light
of their own in the encroaching shadows of the night.  One of Kaoru's small hands
reached up and tangled in his hair, the last of the dying daylight playing over
her perfect body as she did so.

Kaoru pulled his head closer and answered without words, pulling his mouth to
hers.  That was all Kenshin needed to cast off the part of him encumbered by
doubt.  There was no turning back now, not for him.  And most definitely not for
Kaoru, he would make sure of that.  The passionate need in him again burning at
full force, he assaulted her mouth.  He held nothing back in his claiming of her
as his hands roved over her body, his body pressing Kaoru's smaller one into the
dojo wall.

In the heat of his intense passion, it never once occurred to him to be gentle. 
Nor did Kaoru do or say anything to make him think he should do otherwise.  Not
feeling the need to baby his soon-to-be lover, Kenshin did nothing to hide the
fierce need driving him.  Without disengaging from Kaoru, indeed it would've been
impossible to free himself from her anyway so tightly did she cling to him,
Kenshin worked his way out of his hakama, the action causing his gi to fall open. 
At long last flesh touched flesh, as it was meant to be.

Kenshin lifted Kaoru to meet him using the wall as leverage.  He held her against
him for a moment, savoring the feeling of his length brushing her warm opening. 
Bracing Kaoru between him and the wall, Kenshin plunged into her, pulling her
down over him in a single swift motion.  Distantly, some part of Kenshin's mind
registered the feel of something breaking.  It almost undid him completely when
he realized what it was.  Kaoru was trembling, but didn't appear to be in any
pain.  Her head was buried in his shoulder, her breathing heavy.

Kenshin wrapped his fingers in Kaoru's hair, pulling her head upward so he could
look her in the eyes.  He loved the expression in those eyes, the passion and
bewilderment in the passion, the innocence he was unsure how he missed seeing
before.  He moved in and out of her fiercely, keeping his amber eyes locked with
hers the whole time.  "Mine," Kenshin growled, "Not Sano's, not anyone else's,
just mine," he finished, before taking her mouth with his own once again.  Then
there was no more need for words between them.  

Kenshin pressed Kaoru closer, pumping into her even harder than before.  One
strong arm hooked around her bottom, holding Kaoru firmly in place, while
Kenshin's other hand moved over her body, drawing small lines in the sweat
created by their frenzied joining.  The noises Kaoru made, the small panting
moans and breathless gasps, drove him on, urging him to thrust deeper, faster and
harder.

As Kenshin thrust deeper, he hit the very core of Kaoru's womanhood.  She began
to shake around him, the small sounds she had been making replaced by passionate
screams.  Well, well, MY Kaoru IS a screamer, he thought, grinning wickedly the
whole time.  Kenshin silenced her impassioned cries with his mouth, and felt her
inner muscles begin to tighten and tremble around him.  He pulled his mouth away
from hers and smiled as her shining eyes stared back at him.

Kenshin's hand once again tangled lovingly in her hair.  He wanted to see Kaoru's
face as she came for him, as he pushed her over the edge into passionate
oblivion.  He loved being the one to do this to her, the center of her existence
as she cried out for more.  Harder.  Deeper.  More.  Kaoru screamed, her climax
taking her.  The feel of her around him, her muscles trembling and grabbing at
him coupled with the sound of her voice screaming out his name sent Kenshin
tumbling over his own edge.  He thrust himself as deep as he could inside of her,
sheathing himself in her very core, once again taking her mouth with his as he
released himself inside of her. 

Kenshin held Kaoru to him as the wave of sensations tapered off, and the sweet
afterglow set in.  As the passionate fire slowly faded into soft glowing embers
and Kenshin's ability to think logically returned.  He narrowed his eyes.  Kaoru
had been a virgin until just now.  A virgin. 

Slowly disengaging himself from Kaoru, he set her to stand somewhat shakily in
front of him.  Without saying a word he offered her his pink gi, wrapping it
around her.  Without pretense, he retied his hakama in place then took Kaoru's
smaller hand, pulling her behind him as he made his way to his room.

"Kenshin?" Kaoru squeaked, her voice a fraction of its normal tone, and still
husky from her earlier screaming. "Where are we going?"

Kenshin stopped and looked back at her, his narrowed eyes making the girl start. 
Kenshin did not enjoy being made a fool of, something he would make sure that
Kaoru learned quickly enough.  But he didn't want to scare her either, so he had
plans to get the information he wanted from her in a much more enjoyable way. 
His answer was short, "My room.  You, Kaoru, have some explaining to do."

Kaoru gulped at the look in his eyes combined with his explanation, but said
nothing in return.  Kenshin merely guided her by the hand to his room.  Once
there he sat Kaoru down on the floor and sat down across from her.  He locked his
gaze on hers, "Now Kaoru, I want to know exactly what happened between you and
Sanosuke."

* * *

Kaoru swallowed hard and looked away from Kenshin.  It was hard to stare him down
when he had such a look in his eyes.  Not a violent one, but an intense look that
spoke volumes without saying a single word.  How could she explain "The Plan,"
as Sano had dubbed it?  Something so incredibly stupid couldn't be put into
words, could it? Especially not when she still shivered inside from what they had
just done, still shuddered in pleasure every time she looked at his body and
remembered how he had felt inside her and what he had made her feel.

She pulled the borrowed gi tightly around her, closing it--and the sight of the
flesh underneath--to the man before her.  Trying to close herself off to him as
easily as she did the gi.  Kaoru's mind tried to string together a thousand
different excuses and explanations that she could pitch toward Kenshin without
having to admit to the embarrassing truth of concocting an insane and drunken
plan with Sanosuke.

"Kaoru."

She looked up, only to be caught by his eyes.  They looked like the eyes of a
predator.  Violet ringed with gold.  Caught in those eyes, she couldn't move,
couldn't speak.  She could only feel the aftershocks rippling through her body
and the renewed wetness between her legs from just looking at him.  The only
sounds she was able to make was inane babble, dripping from lips that had,
somewhere along the line, forgotten how to speak.

"Tell me," he said softly.  His demand was simple and absolute.  Kenshin moved
closer, a single hand reached out for her, reopening the fabric of the gi she had
pulled closed just moments earlier.  He pulled it off one shoulder in a single,
smooth motion, making sure she was aware he would not allow her to put any
distance between them.

Kaoru just shook her head.  Some things were just too bizarre to say aloud.  The
only consolation that she had was that, on her end at least, the results of the
plan had panned out, even if the plan itself was something that she had wanted
no part in.

Kenshin moved closer until he was practically atop of her.  Kaoru reflexively
tried to move away and stumbled over the loose sleeve of the gi.  She fell back,
but never hit the hard floor.  One of Kenshin's quick arms had reached out
underneath her, shielding her from the blow, but also placing him directly above
her.

Kaoru swallowed hard as Kenshin stared down at her, his chest bare.  She,
herself, was only covered by borrowed clothing in an extremely improper situation
causing her to blush and stare at his well-muscled chest.  The reminder that she
had just been caressing that chest caused Kaoru to turn even redder and it
occurred to her that she had no more reason to feel shy around this man.  But she
couldn't stop staring at him as he moved above her, his face stopping close to
hers, his lips brushing her cheek.

"Why won't you tell me, Kaoru?" Kenshin drew out, his breath the edge of a
whisper.  His slight exhalation of breath played in her ear.  Her breath caught
and, once again, she shook her head.  Although, with his body over hers, touching
in so many odd places, his hair brushing against her forehead, she almost
cracked.  But some things were too embarrassing,  too insane, so she tried to
break away from his gaze.

Kenshin stopped her from looking away with a strong hand holding her chin in
place.  He didn't seem so much angry as bemused.  Kenshin held her firmly in
place, his other hand now pinning her shoulder to the ground.  "Kaoru, I may be
wrong about this, but most people who sleep mostly naked next another person are
not virgins when they wake up in the morning." 

Kaoru blushed twenty shades of red at that remark.  This interrogation was not
welcome at all.  She tried in vain to escape Kenshin's grip, the tight hold he
kept on her, and his legs straddled over her small waist.  Why hadn't she noticed
that earlier?

"Kaoru, Koishii, I can get the truth out of you the hard way, if that's how you
want it.  And I will get the truth out of you." Kenshin's eyes were dancing with
golden light and violet shadows, his voice had a lilting tone to it, and Kaoru
winced.  The hard way? What does he mean by that? She wondered, stopping her
struggles for a moment as she looked up at him, confused.  Kenshin just grinned
and the hand on her shoulder moved, pulling open the gi the rest of the way. 
Then, without warning, his hand covered one breast, stoking it, his long fingers
playing with the nipple that quickly grew hard under such attention.

Kaoru gasped and closed her eyes, her body involuntarily arching, as if it
possessed a will of its own.  Kenshin shifted his weight so it covered her own
better, without straddling her.  His other hand was laced in her hair and he
pulled at it slightly, forcing Kaoru to open her eyes and be met by his intense
gaze.

"Don't close your eyes Koishii, I want you looking at me," Kenshin said softly,
his voice seemed like silk to Kaoru, covering her.  "Now, tell me, what happened
between you and Sano?"

"Nothing," Kaoru said quietly, "Sano didn't do anything to me."  She tried to
look away, only to be stopped by Kenshin's strong hand holding her head firmly
in place.

Kenshin laughed, "I know that, Kaoru," he said, his eyes taking on a strange and
dangerous glint.  His eyes were no longer full amber, but that didn't make them
any less intense, "But the two of you did something, and I don't like being left
in the dark.  So tell me, Kaoru, tell me what the two of you did do."

"No," Kaoru squeaked so quietly that she barely even heard herself answer.  But
Kenshin heard.  His eyes narrowed, his one wandering hand moved lower, stopping
for a moment to lightly tickle her stomach.  Never once did he let her eyes move
from his as his wandering hand drifted lower and slipped between her legs.

Kaoru bit her lip to keep from crying out as his fingers started to move over the
hypersensitive flesh, teasing it with a gently firm caress.  The hand tangled in
her hair held her tightly, preventing her from looking away.  Kenshin leaned
forward a little more and bit Kaoru's lip, drawing it into his mouth and suckling
on it.

He pulled away slowly, his expression smug, "So, Koishii, you've chosen to do
this the hard way, haven t you?"

Kaoru flinched.  No matter what he did to her, her resolve would be firm.  She
would not break.  She would not break.  Nothing he could to do her would make her
confess to a night of drunken scheming with Sanosuke.  Nothing. 

Kenshin's fingers brushed against something that burned and Kaoru felt her body
jump of its own accord.  A wave of pleasure washed through her, shaking her
resolve, tearing down her resistance to him with nothing more than the stroke of
his talented fingers, the feel of his breath on her cheek.

"Tell me."  His voice was quiet, silky, sending shivers up her spine that
corresponded with the pleasurable waves his caressing fingers sent through her
belly.  The two sensations mixed together, and something began to build in Kaoru
yet again.  She recognized the feeling from earlier, but Kenshin's slow,
leisurely pace made it almost harder to deal with.  Falling back on her vast pool
of stubbornness, Kaoru shook her head, the controlled motion almost impossible
to make.

Kenshin laughed, the sound low and throaty and caused Kaoru to tremble
uncontrollably as his hand continued his ministrations.  Just when she was sure
that she could resist the sensations he was creating throughout her body, Kenshin
changed what he was doing, instead of a circling caress his fingers pulled,
pinched, twisted and played with oversensitive flesh.  His other hand left her
tangled hair, traveling downward to move over her chest.  It was followed shortly
by his mouth, which closed around one tight peak, suckling, nibbling and pulling.

"Kenshin!" Kaoru gasped as her body jerked involuntarily, racked with the
sensations he created within her.  Kenshin didn't answer, just moved his mouth
lower, his teeth nipping at the soft flesh.

Kaoru gasped again, and moaned.  "Koishii," Kenshin said, "I can be every bit as
stubborn as you, so why don t you just give it up and tell me."

The answer Kaoru had formulated was lost on a gasping shout as Kenshin's mouth
replaced his fingers, caressing the most intimate part of her with his tongue. 
The sensation was so strange, but at the same time so wonderful that it tore
Kaoru apart.  The feeling of growing pleasure was so intense that she forgot
everything except what Kenshin was doing for her.  Even the reason for it eluded
her.

Kaoru began to tremble, the feeling of imminent release one she recognized from
their earlier activities.  Kaoru heard strange sounds coming from herself, but
so focused on Kenshin's attentions that she couldn't place them as noise that she
was making.  It was when she felt herself ready to tumble over the edge that
Kenshin pulled away.

She called out his name, detached from even the sound of her voice, begging him
to return to her, needing to finish, needing him, needing more.  Kaoru reached
out to grasp him, only to touch nothing but air.  Of all the things she had been
through in her life, this was by far the most painful.  To be this close to a
shattering completion, and have him pull away from her was killing her.

Kenshin was still close by, he leaned over Kaoru without touching any part of
her, "Do you want more, Kaoru?" Kenshin asked, and Kaoru only nodded, unable to
find the words to form into coherent sentences.  Kenshin smirked, on of his hands
brushing stray strands of hair away from her face, that simple gesture setting
her skin on fire where his fingers had been.  "Then you have to tell me what
happened.  Tell me, Koishii," he finished, his face hovering above hers.

Without thinking, Kaoru shook her head, holding on to the last vestiges of
stubbornness, of pride.  Her pride became panic as Kenshin moved away, standing
up and walking toward the door.  Kaoru frantically scrambled to her hands and
knees, unable to move her body any more than that.

She reached out, as if she could stop him by just her hand alone, "Kenshin!!"
Kaoru screamed, her voice catching on a tangle of emotions, "Don't leave me,
please!" 

Kenshin turned around slowly, inches from the door.  His face was dark and in the
dim light in the room, his eyes seemed to be glowing.  To Kaoru they seemed to
be lighting the room on their own.  "Why should I stay, Kaoru?" he asked, walking
a few steps closer.  His bare chest was beautiful, Kaoru decided and tried to
pull herself closer to him.  Kenshin kneeled down and took her chin in his hand,
"Why should I stay when you don't trust me enough to tell me what happened
between you and Sanosuke?"

"I'll . . ." Kaoru started, the disjointed words tumbling out slowly, her mouth
not quite able to form them right.

"You'll what?" Kenshin said quietly.  The fingers on her chin caressed her
lightly, the sensation robbing Kaoru of what little lucid thought she had left.

"I'll . . . I'll tell . . . just don't leave me, please!" Kaoru begged, taking
the hand on her chin in her own, holding it to her as if it was the most precious
thing in the world.

Kenshin smiled and lowered himself to his knees in front of Kaoru, moving close
to her once again.  His look spoke of victory and it stole what little mind Kaoru
had left.  He spoke, "Good, then you'll tell me after we finish this."

Kaoru nodded vigorously, lacking the ability to even think straight as Kenshin's
body once again covered hers and eased her down onto the floor slowly.  Kenshin's
touch, his lips, his caress was all she knew as he took her with him, freeing her
from the madness that he himself had created in her.  As he freed them both from
the all-consuming need, all Kaoru felt was an immense joy at finally being his. 
And he was finally hers.  About damn time.

Sometime during everything, Kenshin and Kaoru found their way to the futon. 
Wrapped within the circle of his arms, Kaoru felt safe and more comfortable than
she ever had in her life.  She snuggled closer and Kenshin's arms grew a little
tighter.  Kaoru sighed.  "I suppose I have to tell you now," she said.

Kenshin laughed softly and held her close, his arm not letting her stray far from
him at all, his free hand tangling in her hair.  "Yes, I suppose you do,
Koishii," Kenshin said, his mirth apparent in his tone.

"I like that so much better," Kaoru murmured, not even aware she was speaking
aloud as she gathered her thoughts about her.

"Like what better?"

"Huh?"

"What do you like so much better, Koishii?" Kenshin asked, playfully rolling
Kaoru underneath him, holding her closely.

"Oh," Kaoru blushed.  "Koishii.  I like that so much better than," she wrinkled
her nose, "Kaoru-dono." 

"Oh, really?" Kenshin peppered kisses across her face.

"Really, really," Kaoru laughed, kissing him back. 

Kenshin broke the kiss before it became too passionate and smiled down at her,
"No, Koishii, you're not getting off that easily."

Kaoru frowned.  "You sure?" she asked, and Kenshin nodded at her, his own lips
turning upward in an easy and real smile.

Kaoru let loose a long-suffering sigh.  "Okay, I guess I can tell you," she said,
a twinkle in her eye, "On one condition."

Kenshin's eyes narrowed slightly and flashed amber.  It was apparent he thought
that they had been through this before.  Kaoru tried to stifle her laughter,
"Will you please get off me?  You're kinda heavy."

Kenshin's expression changed instantly.  He chuckled and rolled off of Kaoru,
allowing her to draw a deep breath.  Thinking, she tried to get a good place to
start her story, a place that wasn't too embarrassing.

* * *

Kaoru told him everything.  Kenshin held her in his arms as he listened, not once
interrupting her, wanting to hear the whole story of what had happened from start
to finish.  Slowly he eased Kaoru through the telling of what seemed to be a
traumatic tale for her.  Kenshin's fingers idly moved through her hair the whole
time.  When she finished, Kaoru didn't even look him in the face.

Kenshin took Kaoru's smooth chin in one of his hands and made her look up at him. 
He had to push other thoughts out of his mind, everything about her making him
want her yet again.  "Kaoru," he said, his voice husky, "is that all?"

Kaoru nodded shyly and still refused to look at him, her eyes staring down at the
mattress.  She was embarrassed, Kenshin realized, and then, unable to help
himself he started to chuckle.  Kaoru looked up at him at that, her look now
slightly more angry than embarrassed.

"That's all?" Unable to help himself Kenshin's quiet chuckle quickly became full-
blown laughter.

"Kenshin!" Kaoru shouted, her voice back in full force, "What's so funny?"

"Kaoru," Kenshin breathed, his laughter tapering off, "You practically sent me
to hell for a day because you were ashamed to admit to not remembering something
you did while drunk!"

Kaoru flushed, but Kenshin noticed this time she had a small smile on her face
as well.  His Kaoru could never stay upset for long.  She shook her head, her
hair fluttering around her face, "What do you mean, sent you to hell?"

Kenshin moved close to Kaoru, his hands on her shoulders, moving over her smooth
skin, "Koishii, it almost killed me to think Sanosuke had hurt you, used you."

"But he didn't--"

Kenshin put a finger on her lips, silencing her quickly.  "I know that now, but
let me finish." Kaoru just looked at him, confused.  "Also, seeing him with you,
thinking that he did those things to you, made me jealous that he got to see you,
that he got to touch you . . . "

"You were jealous?" Kaoru asked, her tone conveying her disbelief.  Kenshin just
smiled softly.

"Yes, I was," Kenshin nuzzled Kaoru's nose, enjoying the new closeness between
them.  "Insanely jealous."

"You're not angry with me?" Kaoru asked, giggling and snuggling closer.

"No, I m not," Kenshin said softly.  "I'm more angry at Sano for hiding liquor
in your room than I am in you for confiding in a friend.  An insane friend," he
added delighting in the sound of her laughter.

"You were really jealous?" Kaoru asked quietly, her tone light, as if she didn't
quite believe him.

"Yes," he replied, taking the opportunity to nip at her ear, his desire for her
growing again.

Kaoru gasped and giggled softly.  "Good, then that stupid plan worked."

"Stupid?" Kenshin whispered, moving his lips down further, to her pale white
neck, his hands roving her uncovered body, "Hardly.  I'd call it evil, that I
would."

"Evil?" Kaoru breathed, taking one of his hands in her own.  "And here I thought
it was just a stupid plan gone horribly wrong," Kaoru said, kissing his hand, the
sensation of her soft, warm lips on his skin caused him to forget everything but
her.

"An evil plan, Koishii, an evil plan gone horribly wrong," Kenshin gently
corrected, smiling as he lightly grazed her collarbone with his teeth.

Kaoru stopped kissing his hand, but didn't let go.  Kenshin really didn't care
as his other hand ran lazily up and down her shapely legs, his lips seeking out
the flesh of her shoulder and starting to roam even lower.

"Kenshin?" Kaoru asked quietly.  Almost too quietly, Kenshin thought.

"Hmm?" 

"Why is there blood on your hand?"

Kenshin stopped, frozen in place as his eyes shot open.  Oh god.  In the soft
circle of Kaoru's warm arms he had forgotten.  He shot up and looked at the hand
she held up from him to see.  Yes, there was most definitely dried blood on his
hand.  And a lot of it.  Kenshin went pale and fell back on the word used to get
him out of many a tough situation.

"Oro?!"

"There is blood on your hand," Kaoru said, clearly enunciating each word.  "Why?"

Kenshin couldn't think of anything to say.  And he just shook his head blankly,
feeling numb.  He had practically killed his friend, all over a misunderstanding. 
Kaoru was giving him that look, that look that told him he was in a lot of
trouble.  "Kaoru-dono," he started, even sounding pathetic to himself.

"Kenshin!" Kaoru interrupted, "Is this Sano's blood on your hand!?" Kenshin just
nodded his head, unable to answer out loud.  Kaoru glared at him.  "So tell me
Kenshin," she said, her voice deceptively sweet, sending shivers down his spine,
"how did this much of Sanosuke s blood get on your hand?" Kaoru grabbed his other
hand, and if the situation was slightly different he would have been ecstatic to
have her touching him, even a simple touch of hands.  "This hand too! Your
knuckles are covered in blood! How did this happen?!' 

Now it was Kenshin's turn to be speechless, to not want to tell.  He could feel
the flush enter his cheeks and a wave of profound guilt sweeping over him. 
Apparently he didn't need words to make Kaoru understand what had happened.  At
his reaction her eyes widened and she looked pale.

"Please Kenshin," She started, her voice desperate, "please tell me you didn't
kill him." 

"This unworthy one could never kill a friend, that I couldn't, Kaoru-dono,"
Kenshin said, his voice quiet.  Kaoru visibly relaxed, the tension easing out of
her and draining some of Kenshin s own tension from him as well.  It was amazing,
how her emotions affected his own.

Kaoru smiled softly, serenely, "Even though you thought Sano did horrible things
to me, you couldn't kill him." 

Kenshin shook his head and Kaoru touched his face gently.  "Good," she said,
"because if you ever broke your vow, I'd kill you." Kenshin smiled.  He didn't
doubt it, not at all.

Kenshin felt himself move into her gentle touch.  He relished it, she seemed to
be a goddess, come to heal him, to make him whole.  When she moved away he looked
up, confused.  He watched with fascination as she moved to pick up his now
wrinkled gi and hakama and handed them to him.  He looked up at her, his gaze
questioning.

"Get dressed, Kenshin," was all Kaoru said.

"Oro?" he replied.

"You have to go apologize to Sano for nearly killing him for no good reason,"
Kaoru said, much too sweetly. 

Looking at Kaoru, the way her skin seemed to glow in the evening light, Kenshin
didn't want to go anywhere, even to apologize to his best friend for almost
killing him.  Standing up he moved toward her, placing his hands on her shoulders
he tried to comprise, "Koishii," he said, trying to win her over with sweetness
of his own as he nuzzled her neck, "can't it wait until tomorrow?" 

The air around Kaoru flared and Kenshin flinched.  Oh shit, he thought, knowing
his ploy had failed.  "Kenshin . . ." Kaoru said slowly, hanging on every
syllable of his name, her voice dripping dangerously. 

Kenshin meekly looked up at Kaoru.  Her eyes were burning with a temper that was
directed at him, "Yes, Kaoru-dono?" he said, his voice squeaking.  

"You think you can sweet-talk me while a friend of ours is lying somewhere half-
dead because of a mistake you made?!" She shouted, hitting him in the head with
his gi, "Get your ass dressed and go find Sano and apologize!"

"But--"

Kaoru pushed him toward the door to his room and shoved him out, "No buts!" Kaoru
said, "I don't want to see you again until you apologize for beating our friend
to a bloody pulp!"

"Kaoru-dono," Kenshin started, only to be stopped when his sakabatou flew at him,
hitting him in the head and knocked him backwards as his gi and hakama were
thrown over him.
                           
"Go apologize, Kenshin!" Kaoru shouted, before he heard the door to his room snap
shut, the feminine voice inside swearing loudly at the universal stupidity of all
men.  Kenshin stood up and dressed himself quickly, shaking his head the whole
time.  Kaoru was every bit as stubborn as he, and he knew his fiery lover
wouldn't let him near her again until she was sure he had apologized. 

Kenshin flinched.  If Sanosuke even accepts my apology, he thought.  Guilt once
again rose to the surface.  That and a total befuddlement at how he could have
misread Kaoru's signs so completely.  With a final sigh of defeat, Kenshin
attached the sakabatou to the tie of his hakama and started toward the clinic,
hoping that Sano would accept his humble, and sincere, apologies for the unjust
beating he had delivered.

* * ^-~ * *