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Kenshin was about ready to slip into bed when he heard footsteps outside his room. He walked to the door picking up his sakabatou as he did. He slid the door open and saw Kaoru standing behind the door looking a bit sheepish.
"I don’t know why I came." she whispered. She was dressed in a sleeping robe and her hair was braided back.
He realized that ever since last night Kaoru didn’t know how to react around him. He smiled warmly and took her hand. "Kaoru-do-" he stopped and said softly, "Kaoru."
She looked up at him.
"You never needed an excuse to see me before." he said. He dragged her into his room and closed the door behind him. He sat down and Kaoru sat next to him on the futon. He took her hand and said, "But I have a good excuse."
"Oh?" she said, "What excu-" she was interrupted by his kiss. It was gentle yet possessive. Kaoru kissed back, happy. She pulled away and said a bit breathlessly, "I see."
She rose, "I better go." she said. She kissed him on the forehead and turned to leave.
"Don’t go." She felt a hand take hers and she was tugged backwards. She felt herself falling, "Kenshin!" she exclaimed. She landed safely in his arms.
He looked down at her with a tender look and whispered, "Never leave me."
She nodded, "I promise." she said.
"When Seira-dono came back to say goodbye to Akira-dono I realized how fortunate I was to have you. I remember all those times I almost lost you. When I was close to dying, giving up, or turning into the Battousai I remember how your voice called to me." he said cradling her in his arms like a baby.
Kaoru felt safe in his arms. She nodded, her eyes half closed. She was reveling in the feelings that he gave her.
"That is why the more time I spend apart from you the more I fear for your safety." he said as he lowered her onto the futon. She looked up at him. He was leaning over her. He wrapped his arms around her body and held her close as if he would lose her. He crushed her to him and whispered, "You don’t know how much you mean to me." desperation creeped into his voice as he said, "Never leave me."
"I promise," she said. "But I have to go back to my room."
"You don’t sound convincing." he said. He hadn’t let go. Kaoru didn’t want him to.
"Today I spent the day with you." he said, "I was near you, close to you, able to look at you as a lover. I had to restrain myself from taking you in my arms and running away from Tokyo and all the madness I brought with me."
She lay silent. Let him talk, she thought, let him feel comforted and safe. She looked up and kissed the underside of his chin. His lips found hers again and she marveled at the thought that they fit so well. We were made for each other, she thought with awe. I was made for him and only him.
"Sleep with me." he whispered as his head dipped down and kissed her neck.
"Ahhh." she said, her eyes closed. "Sleep with you?" she said pulling herself out of the state.
"Not in that way." he whispered as he kissed her neck and then her lips. "I can’t sleep without you near me."
"Mmmfh." she said and then felt as he pulled away and looked down at her.
"Kaoru," he said.
Kaoru’s heart skipped a beat when he said her name with no honorific.
"Hai?" she asked softly, her voice betraying her.
"Aishiteru." he said. "Aishiteru, Kaoru."
"All right," she said, "You’ve succeeded in making me stay here."
He smiled, "I never lose, Kaoru."
"No you don’t." she said and kissed his forehead. He loosened his grip on her but kept his arms around her. She leaned against him once again marveling how well she fit him.
"... for you..." he heard as he slipped off to sleep. "Hmmm?" he asked half content and half asleep.
"Made for you, and only you." she whispered.
"Hai." he said sleepily.
"Oyasumi, Kenshin." he could hear through the haze of sleep. He felt her lips on his forehead and then on his lips. "Aishiteru, Kenshin."
"Hontou ni, Aishiteru." Kaoru said with a smile as she watched him slip off to sleep with a smile on his face.
Kenshin woke up and had to orient himself again. His pillow silently rose and fell rhythmically. He could hear a faint heartbeat under his ear. He was warm again, he tightened his arms around her waist. Kenshin sighed as he listened to her heartbeat. He could feel her hands in his hair. He smiled secretly to himself, he could get used to waking up in Kaoru’s arms. He rose his head and met eyes with hers, "Ohayou, Kaoru."
"Ohayou, Kenshin." she said softly.
He closed his eyes and focused on the feeling of her fingers on his scalp. Yes, he could get used to this very quickly.
"Ano. . . Kamiya-san?" a voice said.
Kaoru turned to see Mr. Toriyama. He was standing at the gate. "Ah Toriyama-san." she said standing up and taking a bow. "What brings you to the dojo so unexpectedly?"
"Well I brought -"
"I’ve come to see my son." a voice behind him said. A woman in a kimono and shawl appeared behind him. She was leaning on a cane.
"Kanzaki-san!" Kaoru exclaimed and then remembering her manners, took a bow.
"Kaoru-san, where is my son?"
"He went out, Kanzaki-san." Kaoru said. "Please let’s sit down in the dojo." she led Akira’s mother and his lawyer into the dojo. She noticed cushions already set out. She smiled and whispered, "Thank you, Kenshin."
"What was that?" Kanzaki-san asked.
Kaoru turned, "Nothing important." she said and made them sit down.
Kenshin entered the dojo with tea.
"This is unexpected." Kaoru said, "Forgive me for not being prepared."
"Your servant certainly works fast." Kanzaki-san said.
"He is not a servant, Kanzaki-san." Kaoru said. "He is my-"
"Himura Kenshin, Kanzaki-dono." Kenshin said bowing. "I have been living with Kaoru-dono for two years now."
Kaoru frowned at the ‘Kaoru-dono.’ Kenshin knew she would frown, but he was prepared for this day. He knew that even though she loved him she was still engaged to Akira.
"Ahhh I see." Kanzaki said, "Kanzaki Kaede." she said bowing over her tea cup, "I am Akira’s mother." she turned to Kaoru, "I was hoping to arrive here to find my son already engaged to you."
Kaoru froze. "Eh?"
Mr. Toriyama looked guilty. "You see, Kamiya-san, your fathers wanted you and Aki married. It was their wish since the day you were born."
"By the look on your face, I guess he hasn’t asked you." Kaede said with an eyebrow raised.
"Okaa-sama!"
The room looked up to see Akira standing at the door with Seira close to him.
"Akira-san." Kaede said, "Seira-san."
Seira bowed, "What an unexpected surprise, Kanzaki-sama." she said softly.
"Akira-san, I was having a lovely conversation with Kamiya-san about your engagement. Why haven’t you told her yet?"
"Because if he did I would have told him no." Kaoru said. "Father’s wish or not father’s wish. I have been on my own for too long. I think being independent has given me the right to make my decisions. Besides," she took Kenshin’s hand, "I love someone else." she smiled when she felt Kenshin squeeze her hand.
"And I wouldn’t have asked her. I love Seira." Akira said talking Seira’s hand. He knelt down on the ground and bowed his head to the floor and said, "Please let me marry her! I love her! She is all I want. If you love me Okaa-sama let me marry her!"
Kaede stared at her son for a long silent time. Kenshin was afraid that Kaede would force the marriage. "But your fathers wanted it so badly."
"It seems, Kanzaki-dono," Kenshin said quietly, "that neither side wishes to fulfill their father’s arrangement. So in the best interest it is best to not fulfill the engagement."
"It seems? It’s obvious!" Kaede exclaimed. She looked at her son again. Akira was still close to the ground but he was looking up at her. She sighed and said sternly, "If it is my blessing that you want, you have it."
Akira bowed his head and was about to go into his tirade again when he heard Seira kneel to the ground and say, "Thank you, oh, thank you, Kanzaki-sama." his mind slowly processed the words and he looked up at his mother in shock. She smiled down at him. "You. . . ." the rest of the sentence died on his lips.
"Akira." his mother said, "First of all I am your mother, and secondly I am not stupid. I may be away from the house most of the time but I am not blind. Do you think a mother can’t see the way her son looks at his companion? I remember the day you brought her home. I saw how she was falling in love with you. The only reason I let you come to the Kamiya Dojo with Seira was that you could two could finally see how much you love each other. But Toriyama-san has been reporting nothing good so I had to come."
Akira bowed, "Thank you! Thank you!"
Kaede smiled and said, "Stop that, every mother in their heart wants their son to be happy. Seira makes you happy." she turned to Kaoru and Kenshin and bowed to Kenshin, "Thank you for making Kaoru happy. I trust to find a wedding invitation in the mail sometime soon."
Kenshin bowed and said, "Yes, but not soon." which surprised Kaoru. She didn’t have much time to think about it when she heard. "Now, now you rarely cry, why the tears now?" Kaoru watched as Akira took a teary Seira into his arms.
"I’m so happy. Let me have this one moment of happiness and be a weepy woman." Seira said.
Akira laughed, "Be whatever you wish, as long as you stay my Seira." he handed her his handkerchief.
Seira took the handkerchief and said, "Hai."
Kaede smiled, "I had to do something fast or else I won’t be able to see any grandchildren."
Seira blushed.
Kenshin took Kaoru’s hand and silently led her out of the dojo. He looked down at her and said, "I meant what I said in there. I want to wait a while before I ask you to marry me."
Kaoru nodded.
"But don’t get me wrong, I do want to marry you." he said sternly.
She smiled at him, "Heh, good if not I’ll have to knock you out and drag you to the altar." she pushed up the sleeve of her kimono and pumped her arm. As she said this she gave him a punch which knocked him over.
"Oroooooo~~~!"
"Kenshin!" she cried out kneeling next to him.
"Orooooo. What a punch." he said.
Kaoru paced in front of the dojo. "Mou!" she said, "He’s late." She sighed, she was dressed in her favorite kimono, just as he had asked. Kaoru smiled a little when he gave her his innocent look and asked her to wear it. She could never say no to that look and he knew that well.
She turned at the sound of a door opening. "Ken-" she stopped mid way when she saw the look in his eyes. He had a determined look, but thankfully they were still violet.
"Ready?" he asked as he walked towards her.
"Yes." she said.
"Good." he picked her up in his arms.
"Kenshin!" Kaoru said embarrassed. "Put me down!" she whapped him with her bag.
"Oro!" he exclaimed as he left the Kamiya grounds.
"Kenshin, we’re in public! People are watching!" Kaoru exclaimed red-faced.
"Maa maa," he said, "Just wait, de gozaru."
She crossed her arms and said with a huff, "Just wait."
He looked down at her with laughing eyes. Kaoru grew more annoyed. Apparently, he was enjoying carrying her around Tokyo in his arms.
She heard a whistle and saw Sano winking at Kenshin. Kaoru could feel her face heat up even more and hid her face, "Put me down." she said quietly yet in her stealth "Kenshin, I’m gonna kill you" voice.
"Yare, yare, we’re almost there," he said as he walked down a hill towards the river. He sat her down on the grass and sat next to her. "The log is gone."
Kaoru glanced at the river edge and saw the edge was bare. "Yes its been a long time. It’s almost been three years since that night with Jinneh." she said.
"Three years." he said softly. He glanced at Kaoru, three bittersweet years. He wouldn’t trade them for anything, not if it meant never meeting her.
Kaoru fell back into the grass and looked up at the sky, it was almost sunset. The sky was slowly turning red orange and the first summer stars were showing themselves.
Kenshin lay next to her and propped himself on his elbow. He gently traced a curve of her cheek and silently asked, "Kaoru?"
"Hmmm?" she asked.
"Are you happy?"
She smiled warmly, "Of course I am." she covered the hand that was at her cheek.
He smiled and said, "Kaoru, for ten years I’ve been alone, I don’t want to be alone anymore. Will you marry me?"
Kaoru’s smile froze. Kenshin panicked, isn’t this what she wanted? She loved him. Her eyes were sparkling and he saw her love still there. She opened her mouth and after a few tries finally said, ". . . yes. . . Yes. Yes!" she hugged him around the neck.
"Oro!" he exclaimed. He slipped something cold on her finger and said, "I know its not much but- Ka-Kaoru!?" he exclaimed when he saw tears spilling out of the sides of her eyes. He began to wipe her tears away.
Kaoru cried, "I promised myself I wouldn’t cry, but oh look at me!"
Kenshin smiled and held her close to him. "I’m so happy." she whispered, her voice muffled by his shirt. Her hand was clutching his shirt.
Kenshin smiled, "So am I."