Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Rurouni Kenshin characters!

Notes: This is just an excerpt from the massive RK fic I’ve been working on for over a month now. It’s filled with pure WAFF (fluff whatever you wanna call it), and it’s probably one of my favourites from the many scenes I’ve written. If you want to know more about the fic I’m working on, email’s the way to go!

Big inspiration from episode 62 of the RK anime (either that or 63). Those who've watched it will know where it's from! ^-^

Dedications: As always, this goes to my number one fan and great friend of mine, Angel-chan. Also thanks to my imoutos (especially P-chan, Ivory-chan, B-chan, and Usachan) for being with me every step of the way!

Warning: Contains slight spoilers for the RK anime series, but it’s nothing that you don’t already know! *grins*

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After another day had passed by, Kenshin had spent the earlier part of the afternoon playing with one squealing little girl. He had smiled fondly as he tucked her in, pressing a soft kiss on her forehead, wishing her sweet dreams of candies and toys. With a paternal look upon his face, he had taken one last glance upon her sleeping form, gently removing her thumb from her mouth. This could have been his. Meirou could’ve been his little girl, and how she won his heart in such a short amount of time came as no surprise. After all, her mother had done the same to him, except he had been too much of an idiot at the time to realise just how lucky he could’ve been.

He shut the door carefully, not wanting to disturb her. Spinning around, he was about to make his way to Kaoru’s room when he nearly squeaked in surprise to find her face so close to his own. Both faces flushed furiously, their gazes falling immediately to the ground as he shifted around awkwardly. Years of ingrained shyness had been drummed into him, and had been such a large part of his life that he found it hard to relinquish it at times. Baka deshi. A voice sounded from within his mind, nearly making him groan aloud. Of all times, why did his shishou have to show up now? Rudely tossing aside that part of his brain that was part Hiko Seijuurou, he tried to settle his conflicting feelings.

Amethyst sought sapphire, beseeching her eyes to reach his so he feel the brilliance coming from within. So he could feel the sense of rightness that flowed between them each time they were near each other. He wanted to protect her from any further harm, and ease the hurt and suffering she had been through while they had been apart. Foolishness. Why had he been that stupid? His shishou would’ve been happy to know that for once, his pupil completely and whole-heartedly agreed with the name he’d been given. Baka deshi. He must’ve been insane for letting her go in the first place, for denying what they wanted to badly. The yearning had grown within him, becoming so powerful that he wasn’t sure how long he could hold on to his infamous self-control.

"Kaoru…"

Her gaze finally left the ground to meet his straight on. Self-doubt. Confusion. And love. They were all encompassed in those beautiful expressive eyes of hers. She should never have to doubt what he felt about her. How she could’ve even thought otherwise was beyond him. Most of the others had already known. Even his shishou had known upon first glance. Their moments together had been too rare, and too far in between. That he could change. While he couldn’t control destiny, he could make her realise the depths of his feelings. Words longing to be freed got caught up in his throat, and he almost stumbled from the force of trying to get them out.

She gave him a curious glance before a worried expression came over her face.

"Kenshin, daijoubu?"

He was caught between wanting to laugh and love her all the more for her sweetness. She was the one who had been hurt, who had been wronged, who had wound up paying the price for a mistake he should’ve never made. Yet she was concerned about him because he was such a baka that he couldn’t even say the words that were in his heart.

Something about his expression must’ve given something away for suddenly, she inhaled sharply, surprise evident in her eyes.

"Kenshin?"

How he loved to hear his name from her lips. It was like a sweet caress, each syllable adding such depth and such meaning. But he wanted to hear another word even more. Anata. He wanted to bind her to him in a way that would have her by his side until the Gods saw it fit to part them. Hopefully, that day won’t come soon, but if it did, he wanted her to always know that he had loved her. He had always loved her. How could he not? In her, he had found hope, peace, and comfort. Her simple belief in him never failed to overwhelm him, and he was humbled by it.

"Okaerinasai," he finally choked out, watching the tears flood her eyes as they were both spun back to a time when he had first returned from Kyoto, upon that path. He could almost smell the scent of cherry blossoms, along with Kaoru’s unique scent, mingling to combine a most powerful, heady aphrodisiac. He felt giddy just thinking about it, and a small smile tugged at his lips. He knew what he could do.

"Do you feel up for a walk?"

She nodded, eyes wide and trusting, confusion still very much there. Poor koiishi. She resembled a lost kitten at the moment though to his biased eyes, he rather thought she looked adorable.

Ignoring her protests, he scooped her up in his arms, her own automatically going around his neck. He chuckled at the sound of surprise, and he had to say, he loved the feel of her in his arms. He hadn’t had the opportunity to do that since he had first met her. Always, koiishi. I exist to protect you. I exist for you.

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She nearly fell asleep, lulled by his slow steady gait, and his tender hold on her. She swore she had never felt so cherished and so loved by him. She smiled to herself before resting her head against his chest, hand clutching on the magenta gi that she loved so much. It was so much like him, a worn, cherished item which had seen much hardship and lived through the worst weather and battles imaginable. Yet it still remained, slightly tattered, but whole. It contained his unmistakable scent, and she inhaled it, as if she could somehow take it and make it a part of her, keeping it within for always.

How the years had flown by. She knew she loved him when she left for Osaka initially, but she never realised for a second how much she needed the gentle rurouni’s strength. He gave that to her, with his quiet and simple faith, his determined ways to protect them all. From him, she found the courage to continue each day despite the barrage of tragedies that had occurred. Between the dimmest light of hope that existed within her, and her daughter, she had managed to hang on. It was through clinging on to that lifeline that she was able to continue, that some day, she might see Kenshin again. When she had first found out they were to go to Tokyo, she had been ecstatic until the uncertainty and fear overwhelmed her. Since she had sent that one letter, none had ever come back. Initially, she had waited patiently for them. As she had grown rounder with her child, the flutterings of life within her had somehow drained her own zest for it. Each day that the responses never came, she had died a little. Then one day, she had made up her mind to cut off all ties with the past. As much as she tried to deny it, she still dared to hope.

Lost in her memories, she recalled the first time she had seen Kenshin again, and how wonderful he looked. Just as always, he had come to rescue her. He almost had this innate sense of when she would need him the most. Then again, trouble had a funny way of following her around. His hair was just a bit longer than she had remembered, the vibrant shade still as magnificent as ever. But it was always his beautiful hyacinth eyes that kept her riveted. That day, it had been tinged with the slightest hint of gold around his irises as he spoke in his calm, quiet manner. She knew differently. She knew he was barely holding Battousai at bay. It had thrilled and worried her all at once for she had been thrown back in another time once again. She held on to her faith that Kenshin would come through.

She understood the hitokiri part of him far better than anyone gave her credit for. As much as she loved her rurouni, she knew that Battousai would always be a part of him, a reminder to the actions of his past. The grace of the hitokiri had astounded her, along with the godspeed that came along with it. She remembered when he had fought Saitoh and she hadn’t been able to reach him. Battousai would exist as the dark side to his pained soul, and if he learned to accept that part, perhaps he would be able to find the elusive peace that he had always sought. She wanted to do that for him, to offer in return everything he had given her. Family. Because of him, for once in her life, she hadn’t felt lonely. She felt wanted, and needed. With his arms around her, she could feel as if her father was watching from up above, making sure that his little girl was taken care of. It were as if the heavens were smiling upon them, approving of this that had taken so long to happen.

Five years had swept by in a blink of an eye. What would’ve happened had she not left for Osaka? Meirou would’ve been his daughter, and perhaps they would’ve been blessed with more children with his gorgeous hair, and beautiful eyes. They would’ve inherited his gentle nature, his quiet assurance, his skill and grace. She let out a soft sigh, missing the smile upon his face as she unconsciously rubbed her cheek against his chest. Her hands had begun wandering to the edge of the gi, nearly touching the flesh beneath.

Her fingertips felt singed as her hand moved off the material onto rough skin. She gasped, and heard his own startled intake of breath. She quickly returned her hand back to safe territory, her cheeks flushed beyond belief as she buried her face in his gi. She was mortified. If only she could’ve seen the ear-splitting grin that our rurouni had.

"Kaoru…" he whispered to her ear, his warm breath tickling, sending her senses into chaos.

In a daze her eyes flew up to meet his, and she saw the soft smile he had for her. Thank God Kenshin had been carrying her, because she wasn’t sure if her knees could support her. That smile… it was love.

"Do you remember?"

The soft scent of cherry blossoms floated airily as the petals cascaded around them in a lover’s dance. She closed her eyes in bliss, in memory - one time to say goodbye, and one to welcome back. He set her down gently on a rock, and she opened her eyes to find him next to her, with the most tender expression she had ever seen on his face.

"I remember…"

Though she recalled the heartache that accompanied her heart-wrenching sobs when Kenshin had left for Kyoto, it was the return that she remembered the most. She remembered offering her hand out to him, welcoming him home, saying the few words that represented all of the love she had for him. The warmth and sensation that accompanied his hand clasping hers was beyond explosive. She hadn’t thought it was possible to feel so happy again. Kenshin was back with her… in Tokyo.

In Tokyo, nothing was tainted, and everything was as it should be. Kenshin… her heart threatening to spill over, abundance of emotion uncontrollable. The sakura petals brushed lightly against her skin, and she giggled. His eyes crinkled, expression softening as his hand reached out for a petal that had strayed from the welcoming shower provided for them. Picking it up, he trailed it past her forehead, sweeping it slowly and delicately across her cheek. Her eyes closed in bliss as the petal wandered a bit too close to her nose. The scent, delicate yet overwhelming, only made her that much more aware of Kenshin’s own. She wrinkled her nose in response to the petal tickling her nose, and he chuckled.

That sound was unburdened by blame or guilt, and her eyes fluttered open to stare at his beloved face. Anata… She blushed at her thought, for it wasn’t proper since he hadn’t even said anything. But despite all this, it felt so right, so perfect. She hoped, oh she hoped. Could she be that blessed?

The gaze between them stilled, and all around them, it rained cherry blossoms, waving gently in the air, blessing them as if giving them heavenly approval. He lowered himself on to his knees, the worshipful look upon his face making her heart race. She stared at him blindly, unable to believe what was happening. He picked up her hands gently and clasped them in between his own larger ones. Such incredible hands he had, his touch was incredibly tender, his fingers were delicate yet graceful, the same ones that held his sakabatou with such precision. Leaving them entwined upon her lap, he continued looking at her with those eyes of his. She was spellbound; she couldn’t move, or breathe.

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"I promise you this… I will be with you… for always." Koishii…

"And I to you…" Anata…Tadaima.