340A/N Hello my Lovely reviewers! Yes I'm back. Updates to all my stories new and old should be every Tuesday. (Hopefully, but you know life.) anyways, this story is drawing close to the end, But had just a bit more to go. Enough of my talking, on to the story!
The light around the woman grew and grew until it was too bright for Kaoru to look at. She turned her head away and in that moment felt a warm sensation settle over her whole body. It flowed all around her, getting tighter and tighter until it was a scorching heat and her body was ridged. She could no longer tell if she was still standing in the grass or floating in the air. Tomoe was chanting something, but Kaoru couldn't make out the words. Her mind emptied. As if washed of ever thought, worry or memory she had ever had. All she could see in her mind were two glowing amber eyes.
The moment that full peace had settled over her mind body and spirit was when the pain started. A searing hot pain pushing into the skin of her chest. She wanted to scream but was so disconnected from her body, Kaoru could do nothing. Through her skin and into her bone the pain pushed. Further and further until all at once it broke through and the painful heat blossomed through her whole chest. The chanting died away and all Kaoru could hear was her own breathing, and then slowly that started to fade away until it stopped. Then softly at first, but then stronger, came the sound of her beating heart. It thumped loudly in her head until it drowned out every thought and feeling. The pain returned and the beating of her heart stuttered and then stopped. The silence was maddening. The heat faded to warmth and that faded until she was left cold.
Death must be like this. Kaoru thought. She sank deeper and deeper into her mind until she could no longer feel the cold, no longer feel anything. Then, annoyingly, a force pulled her back. She could feel the cold, feel the pain. Then she heard it, the beating of a heart…no….it was the beating of two hearts! One slowly faded away and the other grew louder and louder and then warmth settled back into her body and then the heat until it felt like her bones were glowing with molten flame. The pain was gone; all that was left was the soothing heat, and darkness.
… . . …
Pain caused his lungs to suck in air. His gasp shattered the silence and woke him. He was greeted with the night sky above him and the cooling earth below. Bewildered, he turned his head and recoiled at seeing her lying not far from him. Her…Kaoru-san. He could remember her trying to save him, he remembered darkness pulling him and he slipped away, leaving her. He hadn't wanted to leave her, he wanted to fight and stay alive and marry her and live, but he was tired, the curse was weak and its hold on his immortality was gone. But yet here he was! But how?
Just then a loud shuttering gasp issued from Kaoru and she too jerked into consciousness. She was silent for a moment, and he wanted to call out to her, but he couldn't seem to find his voice. Suddenly Kaoru sat bolt upright, eyes wide. She took one look at him and cried out, covering the short distance between them and throwing herself upon him.
The soft feel of her body shocked him into reality. The pain that had caused him to wake returned. Kaoru fumbled about his body and pressed a hand to his side, which was the source of the pain. Then, as if his ears suddenly kicked back to life, he could hear her voice.
"Himura-sama! Can you hear me?"
Slowly he nodded. "Y-yes."
"You're bleeding, I need to help you." Frantically she looked around, it was dark with only a half moon low in the sky to see by. "Do you think you can walk?"
A low growl issued from his throat, but it sounded strange to his ears. In fact everything sounded strange. He moved both legs, and though they were sore, they moved. "I can." He moved to sit up, which only brought more pain to his side. Kaoru let lose a string of curses so colorful he could only gawk at her as she struggled to stop his bleeding.
"Put your arm around me and I'll help you up." Kaoru commanded.
He did as she told him and couldn't help but be distracted by the feel of her body up against his. He use his sword to help pull himself up off the ground. He looked up and froze. "What has happened?"
Kaoru looked over to where he was gazing and saw that all that was left of the dojo was a slight mound of earth grown over with grass and saplings. Across the mound she could easily see the old horse grazing on the grass. "Oh my." Kaoru breathed.
"What in the world is going on, where's the estate?" Not even the walls were up. It was so dark, even with the moonlight it could hardly make out the shadows in the distance.
"Himura-sama, the curse has been broken." Kaoru said softly.
He reeled. How could that even be possible? He was no longer a demon? Looking down at his body and seeing smooth perfect skin caused him to stumble in shock. "H-How?" He touched his chest, amazed at the lack of scars then was surprised to see that his hands were normal, no claws, no discolored and rough skin. He staggered. No wonder everything sounded strange, and why the darkness was all consuming, he didn't have his beastly senses anymore.
"Whoa!" Kaoru gripped him tighter, clamping harder on the wound at his side. "We need to get to my horse, maybe I have something to patch you up with and I can take you to my home. My father can stitch this up in a blink."
He let her pull him across the field. "Go….to your house?" The idea seemed so alien.
"Yes," Kaoru said firmly. "You're a man now; you can go anywhere and be seen by anyone."
"Gods." Was all he could say as they carefully made their way pass a small dip in the ground where the pond would have been. "The years have not been kind to my home."
"Himura-sama….how long have you been cursed?" She asked softly. "If you don't mind my asking?"
"A hundred years, perhaps a hundred and fifty." He admitted.
Kaoru was silent for a moment. "No wonder I never heard of these wars you had been in." She said softly. She paused, her breathing loud and ragged, even to his human ears. "Forgive me Himura-sama, I need to catch my breath a moment."
His legs were stronger, and he leaned away, not putting any weight on her. All she had to do now was keep her arm wrapped around him to stem the flow of blood. "Better Kaoru-san?"
"Yes, your legs, they don't hurt?"
"No." For once in his life his body didn't hurt, except for the gash in his side.
Finally they made it and Kaoru instructed her master on where to place his hand to keep pressure on his wound. She quickly went to the horse and grabbed a small leather pack. She sat beside him and dug through it, pulling out wrapped rice balls and setting them to the side.
"Oh, thank you Megumi." Kaoru whispered as she pulled out a roll of bandages and he heard the sound of small glass items clinking together. "Alright." She turned to him, suddenly unsure. "Lean back. This is to clean the wound." She held up a small bottle. "But it's going to hurt."
He leaned to the side, giving the girl the access she needed. He didn't know his gi was loose until she pulled it open to expose the wound. Cold liquid splashed against his side and then at once fire seared his skin. He clenched his jaw and refused to make a sound and she poured more on the wound. The bandaged went on, her arms wrapping around him to get the bandaged on correctly. It was then in the soft light of the partial moon that he noticed a rip in the thick wool covering she wore, it was right in the center of her chest and he could see her soft skin. But what caught his eye was the bright pink scar that sat just between the swell of her breasts. Normally it wouldn't have bothered him, but the rip in her shirt was just too perfect for the scar. He reached one hand and let his fingers touch the mark.
… . . …
Kaoru froze as she felt his warm fingers brush her bare skin. "What..?" She looked down to see that her wool covering was sliced right open right between her breasts and right there her master was touching was a rope of scar tissue. As much as the sight of the scar shocked her, she was more affected by her mastered touch in such a sensitive spot.
Looking up, she was surprised to find hard amber eyes, though they no longer glowed. "This is fresh. What caused this?" he demanded.
"I'll tell you later."
"Tell me now." His old master's voice returning.
Kaoru quickly finished with the bandaged and caught his hand, but he would not pull away. "I promise I will tell you later." She locked eyes with him. "I promise."
His eyes narrowed, which caught her off guard, his hand on her skin moved away, but only to grip the ruined edged of the shirt and he yanked.
Bending over as she was, she was quickly pulled off balance, but her master wrapped an arm around her as she fell against him and caught her lips with his. His kiss was just as hard and as demanding as she remembered. And just as before, as soon as she yielded to him, he pushed her away. Stunned, she stood for a moment, unsure what to do with her hands. Even in the dark she could see the brooding look in his eyes, emotion flashing across them.
Silently Kaoru scrambled to gather the things back into Megumi's leather bag. She slung it over her shoulder and stood. She went to help her master up, but he surged to his feet without assistance.
Surprised, she backed up a step. Strange, even as a normal human he had such a powerful Ki and his strength still frightened her. But she tipped her chin up. "I'm taking you to my home." Kaoru declared.
"All right." Her master gave a slight huff. Kaoru turned and climbed up into the saddle. She and turned to help him up, but he had already grabbed the saddle and with a jump he pulled himself onto the back of the animal. One arm instantly went around her middle and she found his chest pressed firmly into her back. She tried to rationalize the quickening of her heart as excitement to get back home with her master, but she couldn't fool herself.
With a soft kick the horse turned and plunged into the dark forest.
… . . …
"Himura-sama?" Kaoru said as they trotted out of the strange forest and onto the main road. It had hardly taken them half the time to get out of the forest as it did getting in. Once the curse was gone, it seemed that they were not far from the main road at all.
"Yes." Came his voice at her ear.
"I'm sorry, for being late getting back." it had been eating at her. None of this would have happened if she hadn't forgotten. But then again….she thought as she turned her head slightly, trying to catch a glimpse of him. He was human again, no longer suffering in his own personal Hell.
The arm around her middle tightened. "Why did you break your word to me?" he asked in a soft tone.
Kaoru cringed. If he had been angry, violent and yelling she could better handle him, but this softer inquiry threatened to bring the tears back. "It was an accident. There was a foolish bunch of drunks at the wedding and one ended up getting seriously hurt. I had to help my father and sister save him. It took hours. I was exhausted. My sister took off my ring while I was sleeping to clean the blood off of it; she put it back in my jewelry box." Her voice trailed off. "I had no idea so much time had been passing." She added in a softer voice, her head dropping. "I would never betray you. Forgive me."
There was silence, with only the sound of the horse moving under them and then she felt him move. His other arm reached around her and his strong hand wrapped around her throat. The movement forced Kaoru to bring her head up as he pulled her tight against him. His mouth was at her ear.
"Do not suffer." He said. The movement of his lips tickled against her ear and made her stomach do funny things. "I forgive you." He continued. His grip on her throat never loosening. His arm around her middle tightened, and his hand splayed across her stomach. "Only because I'm a kind Master."
"You always have been." Kaoru said quickly, unable to see the road with her head tipped up at such an angle; she had to trust the horse to stay on the road and not wander off for a meal. But that was the least of her worries. She feared that his hand would feel the fluttering butterflies that must be in her stomach. Though he was no longer a demon, his voice still held that growl. Heat flooded her face and she was suddenly glad it was dark.
"You still acknowledge me as your Master?" He seemed surprised.
The fingers at her throat were starting to brush softly against her skin in a sort of petting way that was greatly distracting to her. "Y-Yes."
"I am nothing but a poor wanderer now."
Kami help her. He was winding her up so tight she feared she wouldn't be able to hold herself together. He was so tightly pressed to her she could feel his heart beating and she was sure that the quickened pulse under his fingers was giving her emotions away.
"You are my Master always." She managed to say, her voice sounded strangled. "Until you release me, I belong to you."
Thankfully this seemed to please him because slowly, so slowly, he dropped his hand from her throat. And Kaoru was surprised to feel regret as he loosened his hold around her.
… . . …
The space between them didn't last long though. Being out from under the forest meant that the warmth from under its canopy was gone. The Autumn air grew chilled as the night went on and Kaoru soon found her shivering body pressed back against her Master's body. The horse picked up a bit of speed, as if realizing being home was better than out in the cold night. Her Master had to hold tight to keep from falling, as she was secure in the saddle. Yet he seemed to have very little issue with one arm wrapped around her middle and his other reached around her to take the reins from her hands. She knew he liked control, it was what he was used to, so she relinquished the reins to him and let him scoot himself right up against her. His legs pressed against her legs, his front against her back again. If it wasn't for the saddle she'd be in his lap. She was thankful though, because it really was starting to get cold.
And, she realized with a start, she was getting tired. Was this what Tomoe had talked about. Helping Kenshin walk earlier had winded her, when before she would have been strong enough to bear him for miles. Now in the saddle, she felt exhaustion taking over her limbs. Her legs could no longer brace herself up in the stirrups and they started to shake from fatigue. With her Master pressed against her so, he knew instantly that she was struggling. Without a word he pulled the reins. The horse slowed and then stopped.
"Kaoru-san?" he leaned forward to look at her face.
"M-alright." She answered; surprised to find she was also out of breath, as if she had been the one running and not the horse. She sagged in the saddle and had her hands fisted in the horse's mane. She felt her Master lift himself up and slip into the saddle, effectively scooping her out and onto his lap. "Himura-sama!" she shrieked, feeling herself rise up to rest on his body, she scrambled for a tighter hold on the horse but he had a secure arm around her.
"I haven't forgotten how to ride a horse, that I have not." He reprimanded in a soft tone. His feet found the now empty stirrups and the horse was moving again.
But she was the one who was supposed to be taking care of him. She wasn't bleeding from a wound like he was. Kaoru set her jaw as she clamped her eyes shut as the movement of the horse forced the rhythmic rocking that was now sheer agony with her planted in his lap. She cursed the horse, the man behind her and herself in turn.
… . . …
Kaoru was so happy to see her city that she nearly cried. Himura-sama hadn't said a word to her since getting into the saddle but the man was causing Kaoru to suffer until she was biting her tongue to keep from begging for death. Secure in the saddle, he took further liberties with his hands. He petted and pressed against every spot that hurt, until the heat of his touch made the pain and soreness ebb away. He never strayed to areas that burned for his touch and it was all she could do to not plead with him. The closeness of his body seemed to push away the weakness, though she was unsure if it was just because she was no longer cold.
The closer they got to the city though, the more nervous she could feel him becoming. She soon found herself trying to soothe him instead.
"Himura-sama." She said, breaking the silence that had lasted well over an hour. She was proud her voice was steady. "You're getting tense." She could feel him slowly growing tighter under her with each step of the horse.
"It's been a very long time since I was in civilization." He growled.
"Himura-sama, you look like any other man." She turned as best she could to look at him. His amber eyes were hard and darting all around, as if enemies would spring at any moment. "Trust me." She added and those hard eyes landed on her. "Anyways, it's dark, and in the middle of the night." She said soothingly. It seemed to work, but only just.
The farms were well behind them and the first buildings started to surround them. Kaoru took the reins from Kenshin and led the horse through the smaller back roads. The horse had been walking for a while, but seeing that home was a few short moments away seemed to perk her right up. Ears swiveled forward and head up; she trotted on the hard packed dirt road. Over the bridge the long road that stretched to the gates of home lay out before them. On each side of the road, cherry trees with their dry autumn leaves shuddered softly in the wind.
Her Master wouldn't relax; she could feel him under her. His muscle twitching, head moving one way and then another. If Kaoru hadn't taken the reins from him, she was sure he would have turned the horse and bolted. They paused at the gate and here Kaoru took a deep breath before untangling herself from her master. He held her tight so she wouldn't just fall off the horse. Kaoru wobbled on her feet for a moment, she had never been on a horse so long in all her life. But soon the feeling returned to her legs. She glanced up at her master, and was concerned at the dark stain on his gi. She reached up and pulled back the fabric and found that blood had soaked through the bandages some time ago.
Hurrying now, Kaoru rushed to the gates and threw her shoulder into one and pushed it open. As soon as she did she could hear the soft tinkle of a bell deep inside the house. If she didn't know to listen for it, she would have missed it. The alarm would wake her family, if an emergency came to their house late at night. As she was leading the horse inside she could already see lantern light from her sisters room. Rushing now, Kaoru pushed the gate shut. One glance and she could tell her Master was agitated. He slipped off the horse just as Megumi rushed from the house with a lantern.
"Kaoru?" Megumi gasped as she rushed up to them. Her flurry of doctors robes over her snow white sleeping clothes made her Master reel back from the light.
"Whoa." Kaoru rushed to his side and took his arm. "It's alright." She said softly, as if trying to calm a wild horse. "This is my sister, Himura-sama, don't be afraid of her."
"Sama?" Megumi whispered. Her eye wide and one hand going to her mouth. "Oh! This is your Master."
Kaoru tried to pry away the arm that was covering his face. "Yes." She said. "He's very hurt and bleeding." She turned back to him and continued to speak to him as one would a frightened child. "It's alright, you're safe here." She whispered to him as he continued to back away.
"I'll get the clinic ready." She took a few steps backwards before tuning and rushing to the other building.
"Himura-sama, please." She begged. Wild amber eyes under red bangs darted here and there. "Don't be afraid. She won't hurt you, and you look normal." She pulled at him, but he resisted. She pressed closer. "Please let us help you, I can't lose you again." She thought she was stronger, but her voice cracked.
"Don't weep in front of me." He said forcefully as he dropped his arm.
Kaoru sprang at her chance. Taking his arm she pulled him to the clinic. Megumi had lit the room up, and the white walls and floor blinded both master and servant. They both blinked at such brightness. He stepped inside warily balking at the sheet covered counter full of metal instruments polished to a mirror shine. Kaoru kept a firm grip on him. "Medical science has come a long way in a hundred and fifty years." She mumbled.
Megumi stayed silent as the tied her hair back and started washing her hands. "If you can, get him on the table." She finally said over her shoulder.
Kaoru turned to her master. "She'll sew you up so you can stop bleeding. But you need to rest on here," He indicated the sheet covered platform, "so she can get a good look at it." When he looked ready to refuse she added, "Or we can just wait for you to drop from blood loss and haul you up their ourselves."
That did the trick. With a look that promised retribution and a sigh, her master took the step at the foot of the table and sat. Kaoru stood at the side of the table and guided him to lay back. She turned him on his uninjured side and pulled his loose gi away.
Megumi turned and nearly recoiled at the sight of hard eyes on her. "I'm Megumi; I'm Kaoru's older sister." She introduced herself; trying to shake off the dangerous feeling those eyes were giving her. She turned back and set her supplies on a tray and brought it to the table. "I'm going to take a look at this wound and then wash it before we close it up." Megumi paused.
Kaoru's eyes went from her sister to her master and back again. It was odd for Megumi to just not take charge, but perhaps her master's Ki was strong enough that even untrained Megumi could feel it. Her Master nodded once, and Megumi got to work. She cut free the soaked bandages and pulled at the wound to see how deep it was.
Kaoru couldn't look anymore. She turned away, and focused on her Master's red hair instead. It hurt to see him wounded and bleeding. She reached out and took a lock of his hair and curled the crimson strands around her finger. Her other hand was clasped in his, not because she felt he might need the support, but to make sure he stayed still. Stealing a quick look confirmed that those hard amber eyes were on her. She fought to not squirm under his intense stare. It must be odd for him, to be half naked in such bright light under the careful scrutiny of two women. It wasn't so long ago that he scorned the light and hid himself from view.
"Alright, I need to wash this wound." Megumi muttered almost to herself, already lost in her duties.
"There's going to be lots of water." Kaoru warned just as Megumi turned back and upended a jug of clean water onto the wound.
Himura-sama gasped at the shock of cold. But Megumi was already scrubbing away. He twitched and grunted deep in his throat each time she went across the wound.
"Megumi." Kaoru hissed. "Do you have to be so rough washing all the time?"
"No point in stitching him up if he's just going to die of infection." Megumi replied automatically. They had had this argument before. More water, soap and scrubbing, then more water. The sheet on the table dripped with pink water and the floor was puddled with it as it flowed to the drain built into the stone floor.
Then the needle was brought out and Megumi went to her zone as she made dozens of tiny stitches. "Kaoru I need your help." She said suddenly, not looking up from her work.
Kaoru jumped and untangled her fingers from her Master's hair and went over to the sink to wash up. "Aright, what do you need?"
"I need you to hold the wound closed so I can stich it."
Kaoru had been her sister's extra hand many times before; she went to the other side of the table and had to climb up on to it. She stayed on her knees as she pinched to two sides of the wound together. It wasn't bleeding as much and now that it was cleaned, she could see that the skin was ragged; this was a tear, not a cut. Still unable to bear seeing her Master wounded, Kaoru took a breath and adverted her eyes. Exposed as he was, and not in any fear for her life, Kaoru gazed at his body. Hardly a bit of fat on him, his skin was pulled tight over lean muscles; no wonder Megumi needed an extra hand. His skin was very pale, having not seen daylight in who knows how long. Moving upward Kaoru felt her breath catch when the sight of a single small pink scar sat right in the middle of his chest. A scar that looked just like her own. It was the only marking left on his skin.
She looked away before her Master snapped for staring. Megumi's quick hands and nimble fingers made quick work on the rest of the stiches. She then washed him one more time as Kaoru climbed off the table.
"Sit up." Megumi said, still in her doctor's zone.
Kaoru moved quickly to help her Master sit up without pulling on the stitches. She then stepped back as Megumi placed a cotton pad against the stitches and wrapped him up in bandages until his entire middle was covered.
Megumi gave a sigh, letting her shoulder droop. "Done."
Kaoru could feel her Master starting to shiver. Most likely from the cold of wet clothes and from being tired. "He'll rest in my room." Kaoru announced, helping him off the table.
"Kaoru, the clinic is empty, there are many rooms here." Megumi said as she cleaned up.
Kaoru turned. "No, the fires haven't been lit, these rooms are cold and he'll be more comfortable in my room where I can watch him." Kaoru argued firmly.
Megumi blinked. "Alright." She said slowly.
"Where's Otto-san?" she asked.
"I gave him a sleeping drink; he was rather upset about your quick departure." Megumi answered as she turned to start cleaning up the exam room.
Kaoru felt a stab of guilt but was thankful that Megumi knew what she was doing and that she knew what was best for their father. "Do you think he would mind if I borrowed some of his clothes for Himura-sama?" Her master gave a huff but she ignored him.
"No, he wouldn't mind at all, I'm sure." Megumi answered as she pulled the dirty sheet off the table. "I'll be there soon to make some tea, would you like some?"
As tired as she was, tea sounded lovely. "Yes, I'll join you." Kaoru turned then and helped her master across the yard.
… . . …
Kenshin glanced all around to try and take in as much as he could. The Estate was half the size his had been, but the walls were high and sturdy. Even in the darkness he could see the lush garden from the light pouring out of the clinic door. Soon it would fall into a deep sleep as winter grew. Even so, Kenshin had no problem picturing the famous Koi Kaoru had described swimming in the pond. The home was simple, but nice and Kenshin felt better once they were inside and in the darkness and away from the bossy sister.
"Your sister is very good at what she does." Kenshin said softly and Kaoru-san carefully navigated the house in the dark.
"My father always encouraged her. Even when people doubted the idea of a woman doctor." Kaoru said softly, her voice filled with pride for her sister. Suddenly they turned and a door was slid open and he was surrounded by the scent of her. This was her room.
She left his side and moved further into the room. He could hear her rummaging around her things. He suddenly cursed his lack of sight. With his beastly curse he'd be able to see even in the darkest of nights. But now he could hardly see a step in front of him.
Light flared to life and he saw her cup one hand around a tiny flame and set it through the open door of a lantern. Soft light filled the room and he looked around. It was a simple room, much like the one he had given her. There was a space for futons and ink paintings on each wall. A large window was shut tight against the cold on the far wall and at his feet were many articles of clothing.
Kaoru returned to his side. "I told you I left in a hurry." She took him by the arm and led him around the mess.
He could only wonder what she had felt the moment she remembered him. From her confession she seemed to have been extremely upset at her betrayal, even if it was accidental. That only seemed to stroke his pride all the more. Kaoru stepped away again and was working quickly to bring out her futon and set it out. She fetched a pillow and an extra blanket and got to work making up the futon.
"Get out of those wet clothes." She stated as she fluffed up the pillow, she paused and then added "If you please Himura-sama."
He smirked. "You've become as bossy as that doctor sister of yours." He said as he slowly peeled the wet gi from his body. He moved carefully, feeling every tug on the stitches.
"I only want to get you comfortable." She argued as she stood and took the wet gi from him. "No point in fixing you up if you're going to get sick in these cold wet clothes."
"You really do sound like your sister." He mumbled, jerking at the ties of his hakamas.
Kaoru blinked, and turned on her heel to face away. She could hear the rest of his clothes being removed and then finally the sound of him settling in her futon. She could only hope that her face wasn't as red as it felt as she turned around and took the wet clothes to put with the rest of the washing. She glanced up and caught him watching her. He sat on the futon with the blankets pulled up to his hips, his eyes watching her every move.
"I'll…um…get you some dry clothes, and get these cleaned." She turned but paused and looked over her shoulder. "Do you need anything? Are you hungry?"
Kenshin blinked and took a breath, his eyes shifting away. "No Kaoru-san, I'm fine." His shoulders slowly lowered as his guard dropped. "Just tired."
Kaoru nodded. "It's been a…busy day" She said softly. "Get some sleep; I'll take care of everything."
A/N So…Himura-sama is in Kaoru's home now and under her care. The roles are a little bit reversed here, let's see how it goes. Hopefully the next chapter won't cause me as much trouble as this one. I've already got a nice chunk of it started, but I'm getting just a touch of writers block with it. No worries though, I can work my way through it. Thank you for reading and reviews are loved.