Kenshin watched her sleep, his eyes lovingly taking in every nuance of her expression. The way her lashes flared against her pale skin. The faint rosy glow in her cheeks as she slept easily.
He lightly traced the scare across her left wrist, his eyes flaring with anger.
'I don't know how long he was there. I swear I don't!"
Turning, he headed towards her kitchen to set her coffee pot to turn on at the proper hour and added the corrected amount his lover required to be coherent in the morning.
"He had a knife. He didn't hurt me much, Kenshin. I swear it. It was you he was after. He wanted me to lure you somewhere. I couldn't, wouldn't be responsible for that!"
He checked all the windows to make sure they were locked, paused to make sure she had food for breakfast, and then he left.
"So I left. I was in hysterics when I got to Misao's. You hadn't met her yet, she was on a exchange trip those first few years, and she had just got home."
He easily manipulated the lock, and then he leaned against the door, wanting to go and snuggled up to her warm curves, but he held himself back.
"So she and I ran. You couldn't track her cause you didn't know about her. She is very good at what she does."
There was some business he had to take care of.
"Do you see why I can't be with you? I'm your weakness. It would kill me to have them hurt you!"
Enishi.
He had dared threaten what was his. Touch what was his. Hurt Kaoru in a way none had managed before, and none would manage again. He had taught his lover to fear, and he wouldn't let that go unpunished.
"I'm sorry. I just can't!"
It was the first time he had considered the possibility of someone using him to hurt her; it infuriated him. Enishi had used Kaoru because he could, because he believed that Kenshin should have been more loyal to his despicable sister.
Enishi held a grudge against him for what he considered the mistreatment of his sister. Kenshin growled low in the back of his throat, his eyes snapping flames.
Four years she had suffered because of Enishi.
Picking up his cell phone, uncaring of the time, he waited for the occupant to answer.
"We're hunting new prey."
He would deal with this…Gavrael character later.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
It had been a week since Kenshin's visit…
Kaoru sighed in relief as she finally managed to maneuver the key into the lock and she kicked her door open. The keys hung, unnoticed, in the door and she dropped onto the couch with a huff.
Her clean laundry spilled to the floor but Kaoru was beyond caring. Her feet hurt, her head hurt, it was two in the morning, and she was finished with her laundry.
She had discovered hours earlier the need for clean socks, so she had quickly thrown all the dirty whites she could find in a basket and run downstairs.
Kaoru tossed one hand over her eyes and lay there a while before she realized that yes, her door was still open, and yes, that was her key rattling in the lock.
Kaoru sat up and froze. "Gavrael?"
He had locked them in the apartment. Kaoru felt a hard knot forming in her stomach as she mental reviewed the hour and the fact that no, she couldn't reach the phone before he reached her.
Gavrael sat down on the love seat across from her, his expression mild.
"We need to talk." His voice was smooth, and very controlled.
Kaoru nodded slowly. "Okay. You are aware it's almost two in the morning?"
Gavrael shrugged. "I had to make sure we were not interrupted."
"Right."
"I don't want you anymore. You're more trouble than you're worth, and I have met someone." Gavrael continued, as if she had not spoken.
Kaoru got a good look at his eyes and winced. Gavrael had never done drugs when he was with her, but she recognized the signs.
"I'm happy for you, Gavrael." Her tone was soothing, even as panic was bubbling in her throat, threatening to choke of her words. There was something –almost- aggressive about him.
"There is only one thing that's bothering me." Gavrael continued.
Kaoru blinked. "Yes?"
He leaned forward and braced his forearms on his knees. "If I can't have you, Kaoru, then I can't let anyone else have you either." He sounded so reasonable that it took a moment for Kaoru to realize exactly what he was saying.
When it finally clicked, Kaoru went white.
"Now, Gavrael..." Kaoru tried but he stood and took a long step towards her. Kaoru lunged towards the other end of the couch but he caught her hair in a nasty grip.
Kaoru screamed as she was jerked completely off her feet, crashing onto the floor was a painful thud. Her head hit the floor hard enough for her to be seeing stars.
"Shush, sweetling." Gavrael crooned as he picked up her stunned form and laid her on the couch. Kaoru frantically attempted to right herself, just as the pillow descended onto her face.
'Shit.' Kaoru thought as she struggled desperately, as his heavy chest held her lower body flat.
Kaoru felt the heavy sense of panic filter into her brain as her world faded, the tightening of her chest as her lungs screamed for oxygen.
She was suddenly aware of the sounds of a struggle as the world began to right itself. The pillow was gone, and the faint sounds of flesh hitting flesh reached her fuzzy senses.
Even as she pulled in air, she couldn't find the energy to open her eyes. A gasping, strangled noise emitted in the room caught her attention. It took her a second to realize it was hers.
Then hands, warm and gentle on her skin, were holding her close. "Kaoru, come on love, breath."
Kaoru gave a half choking sob and clung to the strength of the shoulders holding her. She heard more voices, two of them sounding vaguely familiar as she coughed and slowly regulated her breathing.
Calloused fingers brushed at the warm tears that fell from her eyes, the arm at her waist tightening. "Don't cry."
His voice was desperate and she forced her eyes open. The apartment was empty, she vaguely remembered the shutting of her door, and a mass of red hair was clutched in her left hand while her right was fisted in a shirt.
Kenshin.
Kaoru jerked, but he refused to let go of her. Kaoru had always known he was strong, but he bent his lean body around hers and laid them down on the couch, trapping her between his chest and the back of the couch in an iron- strong hold.
"I don't think so." Kenshin told her flatly, some of the edge still in his voice. "If you think I am letting you go after that, you have another think coming, Snap Dragon."
Kaoru struggled to argue with him, to fight the lazy pull of the warmth of his body. She opened her mouth to fight; she couldn't do this, but he cut her off by pulling her into his arms.
"Listen, you almost died. I am not letting you go tonight. We can move this to your bedroom…but I can't promise you sleep in there." His voice was rough, needy, and Kaoru was filled with a different type of apprehension.
"I won't take advantage of you, Snapdragon, because I want you to come back to me on your own. So go to sleep, or you won't be sleeping."
Kaoru promptly shut her eyes, mentally promising herself that if she just let sleep take over there wouldn't be a problem.
"What did you do to Gavrael?" Kaoru asked as she attempted to get comfortable.
"Nothing he didn't deserve." Kenshin's tone suggested that she not ask any more questions and Kaoru found herself complying.
She was just too damn tired for this. It was so easy, to relax into the easy strength of his arms and disappear. To melt the soft lines of her body into the firm strength of his.
Kaoru was gone in a matter of moments.
She awoke to the sounds of early morning. Birds sat on the ledge of one of her windows and she was hard pressed to force herself to move.
She was warm, relaxed, and was vaguely aware of something soft under her hands. Her eyes fluttered open when she realized that the most prominent sound was a heartbeat.
Her eyes met even with the couch, and when she looked up, she was staring at a familiar Adam's apple. Kaoru wanted to cry; she wasn't supposed to be here, he was supposed to be gone.
Instead, she was using him as a human body pillow. Sprawled out over his hard form, her head tucked between his shoulder and neck. She knew from past experiences that as soon as she moved he would awaken.
"Himura Kenshin." Kaoru hissed, moving to untangle herself, furious with him.
His arms (which had been around her waist) tightened as one moved up to allow him to bury his hand at the base of her neck, tangling needy fingers in her thick hair.
"Yes?"
"I need to get up." Her tone was matter of fact, but he only continued to play with her hair.
"If you don't let me up, my bladder is going to explode." Her tone was dry, but he released her instantly.
Kaoru finished her morning needs, sighing at the clean taste of her freshly brushed teeth. She didn't expect for him to drag her into his arms as soon as she left the bathroom.
She could smell toothpaste on his breath as he held her, so she assumed he had used her guest room to freshen himself up.
"Himura!" Kaoru tried but was cut off when he picked her back up. "Kenshin!"
He sat them both on the couch, arranging her into a comfortable position, then caught her hands in his face and forced her to meet his gaze.
"Alright Snapdragon, talk."
"About what?" Kaoru asked, attempting to keep from getting lost in his colorful eyes.
"Enishi is dead." There was no hesitation in his voice, eyes, or the way he held her. "What else is holding you back from giving into me?"
Kaoru's lips parted in surprise. "Excuse me?"
Kenshin didn't even hesitate. "I killed Enishi. Gavrael is lucky Aoshi decided two bodies were more than he wanted to deal with."
"You…you…" Kaoru gaped at him.
"I told you, Koi, no one would step between you and I once you committed. I meant it." His voice was hard, dangerous, the voice of a man who destroyed all in his path to keep what was his.
"Kenshin!" Kaoru groaned. She knew this was going to happen if he ever found her. That single-minded intensity directed solely at her. Again.
"You have 45 seconds to come up with a good reason why you can't give in to your feelings, and then I am going to seduce you."
"You…" Kaoru's temper flared. "You can't do that!"
He leaned forward, his warm breath falling over her lips as he rested his forehead against hers. "Can to."
"Kenshin!" Kaoru cried, jerking back.
"30 seconds, and I not only can, but am going to, Snapdragon." His voice held a teasing note, but his face was dead serious. "You can't stop me either…"
Kaoru gaped. "But…but…you said if I had a good reason!"
He paused. "True. I am waiting on that reason!"
Kaoru froze.
"15, and you're not shy, are you?"
"Kenshin, we can't!"
"10…not good enough"
"Your enemies!"
"Dead or dying… think fast! 9 seconds!"
Kaoru sat there, her mouth working to catch up with her brain.
"5 seconds."
"What happened to 6, 7, and 8?" Kaoru desperately cried.
"3 seconds and you were thinking."
Kaoru blustered, knowing that once he touched her, it was over.
She was his again.
Kaoru opened her mouth, eyes sparking, but he stole anything she had to say with his tongue. It slid across hers, tangling in the possessive way only he could.
He slide one hand to the small of her back, holding her effortlessly, the other reaching around the base of her neck to bury his fingers in her hair.
Kaoru was melting. His mouth was wrecking havoc on her senses, his tongue stroking a beguiling rhythm against hers, shattering any reason she had to deny him.
She had known it would.
She was unaware of how long he kissed her, hard and deep, or soft and slow. His lips tasted and teased every inch of her mouth, tugging lovingly on her full bottom lip when she needed air, and lit every inch of her with flame.
And he hadn't even moved past her mouth. Kaoru was a moaning mass of pliant flesh as he kissed her, shifting her into his arms as he stood, navigating the dangers of her living room without even coming up for air.
She was vaguely aware of him shutting the door, and even less aware of the press of her mattress into her as he slowly lowered his attention to her throat.
Kenshin's movements were unhurried, lazy, and absolutely attentive to her slightest motions. He was completely content to work his way lower, slowly removing her clothing as he did so, exploring every single inch of skin he came in contact with.
Kaoru could believe he had spent four years thinking of ways to torture her, because if she gave the slightest noise he did his damndest to make it into a moan.
Kaoru arched into his hands as he kneaded the soft flesh of her chest, wishing –for only a second- that she had the strength to back away.
That was before he decided that taste was far better than feeling. One hand continued its soft kneading while his mouth moved over soft skin, stopping to scrape teeth and tongue in the places that would make her moan the loudest.
His other hand was divesting her lower half of all her remaining clothing. In fact, that only thing she had left was a pair of socks.
Kenshin lavished every inch of her with his lips, determined to reacquaint himself with every part of her soft body.
He shot Kaoru a fast, wicked glance from golden eyes as he began to paint his way lower with his mouth. Soft kisses and gentle strokes of his tongue marked her smooth stomach.
He scraped his teeth across the sensitive skin of her stomach and dipped his tongue into her sensitive belly button.
Kaoru could only moan and bury her hands into his hair, silently begging for more. The only sounds she could force past her throat were the incoherent kind, soft and begging. Kenshin seemed to be interested in only how she responded.
Kaoru's only warning was a slow rumble of male satisfaction, low and so velvet smooth Kaoru felt it wrap around her senses. His fingers buried themselves into the dark curls and Kaoru gave a low wail.
It was a different assault this time. Instead of slow, warm, melting sensations that assaulted her form, it was like small bolts of lightening thundering in her blood.
"Ken…shin…" Kaoru managed to groan, her breathing coming in pants as he lowered his head. Kaoru gave a low, aching cry as he sent her over the edge, her body tightening and spinning out of her control.
Kenshin raised his head to look at her, his eyes watching her face hungrily. His eyes were burnished gold and burning as he watched her tremble with the aftershocks of his touch.
He stood while Kaoru attempted to catch her breath and shucked every inch of clothing he had. He smiled as he noted her stocking-clad feet.
Crawling up her body Kenshin settled himself over Kaoru's flushed form. He waited till she opened her dusky eyes and traced her bottom lip with his thumb.
"Still having objections, lover?" Kenshin asked her softly.
Kaoru sighed, her hand rising to brush his bangs. "Have you ever allowed me to have objections, Kenshin?"
He smiled. "No." He nuzzled her hand and sighed. "I love you, Snapdragon."
Kaoru closed her eyes. "I know."
Kenshin kissed the palm of her hand. He nudged her legs apart and settled the heavy weight of him between her thighs. "Let me love you, Kaoru."
"Kenshin..." Kaoru started but her words were turned into a moan as he slid himself inside her in one smooth stroke.
"Let me take care of you." Kenshin demanded, his voice strained, but his eyes were determined. He held himself perfectly still, unwilling to continue until he had the answer he wanted. "Let me, Kaoru."
Kaoru looked into his beloved face, the eyes she knew better than her own. He and she were so much a part of each other, and Kaoru couldn't turn him down like this.
Not when he was showing her the reasons they fit so well, the way he made her feel. The safety of letting him take care of her, the emotional stability he gave her.
But more importantly, it was for the same intensity of emotion that rose in her in response to him. It was the same need for his love that drove her as much as it did him.
She should know; she had spent the last four years attempting to erase him from her blood.
"Kenshin." Her was voice was soft and gentle, her eyes inviting.
"Say it." His words were fierce, his eyes hot.
"I love you." Kaoru told him. "I do need you."
He kissed her, hard, his tongue spearing into her mouth to mimic the hard rhythm his hips set at her words. Kaoru's rising cries were lost as their tongue tangled.
Kaoru wrapped her legs around his waist in an attempt to get closer and screamed as she tumbled over the edge, her voice muffled by Kenshin's mouth.
Kenshin gasped as he recovered from his release and rolled onto his side, pulling her into his arms. They lay there, simply breathing each other in.
"So," Kaoru mused and she toyed with his hair.
"You're moving in with me." Kenshin informed her, pinning her under his chest. "I know what you're going to say, love, but if you hate my place, I will buy another one."
Kaoru blinked at him. "You have a house?"
"Two." Kenshin muttered absently, suddenly very interested in the skin behind her ear. "One in the country, and one towards the outskirts of Tokyo." He bit lightly at the ridge of her ear.
Kaoru shuddered. "But I like my apartment!"
"Then I will buy it too. We can stay here when we are trying to disappear." Kenshin moved lower and nibbled on the skin of her jaw.
"But Kenshin," Kaoru tried, laughter bubbling up in her throat, her hands coming to still his movements, "You can't win every argument with sex!"
Kenshin nodded solemnly. "Just the important ones!"
"Kenshin!" Kaoru scolded even as his mouth attempted to distract her. "Food!"
Kenshin sighed into her throat. "Alright, Koishii." He kissed her once, solidly on the mouth, and stood.
"I am going to fix you a high protein breakfast, get back into that bed, and then I am going to wear you out. I have four years to catch up on."
Kaoru gaped at his back, watching him easily glide out of the room. Apparently, he was going to cook her breakfast in nothing but his boxers that he picked up off the floor.
Kaoru giggled. Kenshin was going to need a change of clothing. But then again, he didn't seem to plan on wearing them much today.
Kaoru sprawled out on the sheets and contemplated the information that Kenshin had given her, scattered thought their lovemaking.
Gavrael was alive, he had admitted to that. For how long, Kaoru didn't know. Sighing she fingered the embroidery on her comforter and she sighed. She had accepted that part of her lover long ago.
He killed, made no exceptions, and loved her endlessly. Kenshin's job (she never asked for details, but after two years of living with him had gleaned more than he wanted) allowed for it. Besides, Aoshi was second to none at hiding information; except, perhaps, Misao.
Kaoru caught the faint smell of bacon and the distinct smell of coffee and decided they could hammer out living arrangements later. She did love Kenshin, and he would break heaven and hell to make her happy.
It was something she could live with.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Once again I venture into the world of tangy...er...sour...er...um...
Nevermind.
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