Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin is the creation of Nobuhiro Watsuki, with the manga and anime rights belonging to Jump Comics and Sony Entertainment, respectively. FF is non-profit, meant for entertainment only.
FF can be archived anywhere, just let me know where. Please send no flames, I’m sensitive. For all other comments 0_o you may contact me at [email protected]
This fic was inspired by the song In My Dreams by Raquel. I like fast songs and this one has been one of my favorites almost since it came out years ago. This fic like many of my other has been sitting on a floppy for sometime. It was untitled till today when I heard the song again. Anyways I’m writing this one at the same time as Blue Moon but too much angst is getting too me so I thought I’d go back to some of the more racier stuff.
(None of the bad stuff applies to this fic. Kenshin is healthy. Everyone came back from where they left to at the end of the Anime. And most importantly he can and will always be able to use the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu.) Please remember this is a fic. FICTION, ok.
Timeline: Three years have passed and kaoru has become extremely frustrate.
Irresistible
Chapter One
*************
She ran into the practice hall wanting desperately to get away. To hide. She needed to hide. She sank into the shadow of the walls holding her breath.
He sensed her before he ever saw her. Her eyes were tightly
shut, perhaps in an effort to keep the sight of him out of her view. “Tsk tsk,
Koishii," he said leaning forward, closing the precious space between them.
His mouth was twisted in a thin smirk as he continued, "You should really
learn to finish what you start." His eyes swirled with a dangerous passion.
He leaned in and she try as she might she had nowhere else to go. She was backed
into the wall.
His eyes darted between her lips and to the creamy curve of her neck. His mouth hovered inches away from her mouth until finally he lost all restraints. He pushed her into the wall until he could feel the curves of her body. He pressed his lips to hers and she gasped in surprise. That gave him just enough opening to slip his tongue into the her mouth. Groaning as he caught her delicate neck in one hand, he probed gently in her mouth, eliciting a moan from her. Instinct kicked in and a different part of him took control. His rough hands pushed the material of her yukata, exposing the milky white skin of her shoulders. He tilted her head to the side deepening the kiss. He broke away to let her breathe. He watched her face as he pressed her further into the wall and all Kaoru could do was look at him with a helpless expression. Her hand reached out to settle in his silky locks as he began kissing her neck. She felt him lift her and that’s when she became aware of his aroused state. Her mouth opened again to let out another gasp. He lifted his head up to stare at her. His eyes had turned a molten gold sometime after the first kiss. She felt frightened and excited at the look in his eyes. He bit her shoulder and she sucked a breath in sharply.
“Hey!! You hag are you going to get up?”
Kaoru’s eyes snapped opened. It was a dream. It had felt so real.
“If you’re done moaning in there . . .”
Kaoru snatched the door open so quickly she startled him. His mouth was still open. She punched him right in the face knocking him back down the hall. She slid the door shut with a slam. Her whole face was burning. There was a chance Kenshin might not have heard her if he wasn’t in the house but he might have heard Yahiko even if he was outside. “Stupid brat.” She bit her tongue and began gathering her things. She needed to take a bath before anything else. She sped off to fix her bath when she spotted Kenshin coming in the door. She stumbled back trying to get away.
“Kaoru-dono?” He began but she couldn’t deal with seeing him right now. “I’m going to take a bath,” she said over her shoulder as she ran down the hall. His mouth was still open in half a question. ‘She looked ill,’ he thought. Her face had been flushed. Worry crossed over his features as he went back out side to fix her bath.
Kaoru leaned against the wall to the bathhouse panting. How embarrassing. She’d had dreams about him before but never like this. Not with the battoussai. Always he’d been gentle but now. She didn’t think she’d be able to face him. It was too soon to see him. Maybe she could spend the rest of the day out. Maybe with Tae. She made her way to the water touching it before she got in. It was warm. A smile touched her lips. Kenshin was so thoughtful.
She finished her bath and stepped out of the bathhouse. She walked slowly out to the porch to have a look at him. He was bent over hard at work doing the laundry. She went back inside to have a bite to eat. Just as she knew her plate was over the stove, covered so that it remained warm. Yes, thoughtful indeed.
*************
She finished getting dressed and stepped out of her room. She just needed to get past him. Straightening her kimono and smoothing her hair she began to walk out side. Don’t look at me. Don’t look at me. Don’t look at me. She kept chanting it over and over again. She stepped out to the porch and her chanting became continuous.
“Kaoru-dono where are you going?
She stopped and turning around slowly. She looked at the top of his head rather than looking him in the eyes. Yet her flush increased when her eyes swept past him. “I was going to go buy some . . . “ She couldn’t think of anything. “Tea and . . .” Kami how could he not know she was lying. “I thought I’d pick up a new bottle of . . . perfume.” Her face was burning. She was more than ready to leave.
“Sessha will come with you.”
She was going to protest but he simply wiped his hands on his hakama and walked over to her. He undid the string holding the sleeves back and tucked it into his gi. Smiling brightly at her they began the walk into town. She bit her lip and kept her eyes on the road.
Kenshin remained quiet by her side but then that wasn’t a surprise he usually did. Three years going on four and what had she gotten from him? Nothing. Just about every male in town had come to notice she’d developed into a woman. But not Kenshin. He still treated her the same. Kaoru-dono this and Kaoru-dono that. It wasn’t that she didn’t appreciate him it was just very frustrating. To love someone so much and for them to just smile at you in utter ignorance. It drove her crazy.
They walked down the busy street looking around for her items. She made a big show about picking out tea. But her mind was on other things. Why did he act like . . . She wasn’t even sure she knew what he acted like. She wanted more out of this . . . what ever this was between them but she was afraid of broaching the subject. If he didn’t feel the same way as she did then telling him would be a big mistake. He might run off.
They walked to the next stand down the street and she peered at all the different bottles. Well at least this was true. She did need perfume. She looked at all the other fragrances. “Should I get a different one Kenshin?” She didn’t know why she asked. The answers was always something kind and formal. Never personal.
“You should get the one that pleases you most Kaoru-dono.” He responded cheerfully.
She wanted to shake her head or better yet shake him until he caught a clue. She pointed at a deep blue bottle. “What’s that one?” She asked the young girl tending table.
The girl looked at Kaoru for a long moment before she answered. “It’s jasmine.” She said.
Kaoru looked at the little girl. Her voice sounded much too deep for someone so young. She turned to look at Kenshin but either he hadn’t heard or he ignored the obvious. She handed the girl the money and the girl handed over the bottle. Suddenly the little girl grabbed her wrist with surprising strength. She pulled Kaoru closer to her and whispered. “Use only a bit and wear it only on special occasions. This batch is really strong and we won‘t be responsible for his actions if you don‘t listen.” The little girl let her go just as quickly as she’d grabbed her. Kaoru looked at Kenshin who’d turned during the whole exchange. Not bothering to look at the little girl again Kaoru strode by Kenshin and began to walk at a fast pace.
Kenshin stared at her in confusion as she sped off. He had to almost run to keep up. ‘She must be ill,’ he thought. She wouldn‘t be this cranky for no reason at all. “Kaoru-dono is everything all right?”
“Fine Kenshin.” Her tone was forced. She was not all right but he didn’t push it. If something was bothering her she’d tell him. He hoped she would.
They kept silent the rest of the way back. When they got to the dojo she kept on walking not bothering for him to finish closing the gate. He felt a bit hurt by that. She always waited for him but not today.
He watched her pause on the porch. She half turned to him. “I’m going to take a nap Kenshin I don’t feel too well.” She knew she shouldn’t have said that because he would worry. He always fussed over her when she became ill. Today though she just didn’t seem to care. She’d be nicer to him later. She turned and went back inside. She needed to hide in the safety of her room.
Kenshin stared after her for a long moment. An unreadable expression crossed his face before it disappeared. He shook his head to clear his mind. He couldn’t stand around all day there were things to do. He walked back into the house and began cooking their lunch.
He finished his chores and began to sew one of Yahiko’s gi. It really needed patching up. After sometime he put the gi down and went back into the kitchen. The food was done. Walking further into the house and down the hall, he stopped in front of the second to last room on his right.
“Kaoru-dono?” He waited for a response before he tried again. “Kaoru-dono?” When there was no answer he decided it would be best to check inside. He lived under the silent threat of her being taken away from him. He opened the door to see that she had indeed fallen asleep. ‘She looked peaceful when she slept,’ he thought as he closed the door. He just stood there for a moment before he spoke. “What is it Sano?”
Sano’s smirk gave way to a large grin. “When are ya gonna gets some guts Kenshin and go in there and handle your business.”
Kenshin ignored the crude comment and turned around to face him. “Will you be staying for lunch?”
Sano nodded. “Yeah, but don’t change the subject. Come on Kenshin. You telling me she doesn’t look tempting to ya?”
Kenshin shook his head. It’s not like that. “Kaoru-dono . . . She’s important to me. But sessha could never feel like that about her.”
“Bullshit.” Sano exclaimed coming into the kitchen. “Do ya even believe half that shit ya say to me?”
Kenshin only sighed. He began to pour some soup for Sano and himself. Then took the rice out with him. He served and they began to eat.
“Kenshin.” Sano began again.
Kenshin shook his head. “Please Sano let it be. There is nothing there.”
“So if ya don’t wanna Fuc . . .”
“SANO!” Kenshin’s temper gave in for half a second. He looked intently at his rice. Almost every day since Sano had come back he’d ask the same questions. In the last six months however his comments had started to become crude.
“I just don’t know why ya won’t let her love ya.” Sano said before he began to eat. He didn’t say anything else during the rest of the meal.
The afternoon passed by much too quickly for Kenshin’s liking.
Kaoru opened her eyes. Looking refreshed but feeling disappointed. There had been no dreams. No dreams at all. She got up and tossed on a lavender kimono. She tied her obi in place and then went out to find Kenshin. She saw the setting sun as she walked to the kitchen.
“Come on Kenshin gambling will do ya some good.”
Kaoru frowned recognizing the voice. “It will not do him or you any good. If you’re going to try and corrupt Kenshin I will ask you keep away.” She said as she stepped into the room.
“Come on Jouchan. How about just tonight then? Kenshin brings me luck.” Sano asked.
Kaoru looked disapprovingly. “No, Kenshin will not go.”
“That’s some leash ya got him under.” Sano murmured.
“What was that?” Kaoru said coming closer. She stepped into his personal space looking menacing.
Sano swallowed hard. He looked pleadingly at Kenshin who seemed happy to have her awake. Kenshin grabbed her by the arms and eased her back slowly.
“You should not bother Kaoru-dono if you’re not willing to endure her wrath.” Kenshin said with a mother-hen tone.
Kaoru beamed at him and his rurouni smile became genuine. “Are you hungry Kaoru-dono? Dinner is almost done.”
She nodded at him and sat down next to him on the porch. The sun was setting and the sky just seemed amazing. She seemed mesmerized by the colors.
Kenshin caught Sano staring at her and he frowned. Sano met his gaze and grinned at him. Sano nodded at Kenshin several times indicating for him to make his move. Kenshin felt a gust of wind flow through yard. It picked up a couple of leaves and Kaoru’s hair for a moment.
“Let’s go inside.” Kenshin said, he didn’t want her to become sick. He helped her up and led her back inside. Away from the wind. And maybe away from Sano.
Kaoru sat next to him like she always did. During every meal or during any event. It made him . . . content to have her favor him. He shook his head trying to clear his thoughts. He kept his feelings and thoughts well checked. Sometimes though one or two escaped him. “More tea Kaoru-dono?” Kenshin asked.
Kaoru nodded at him. “Yes please.” She said smiling at him. The previous feelings of embarrassment had drifted away. She still felt the color rise to her cheeks when he gazed at her but she tried not to make it to obvious.
Sano made a disgusted sound somewhere in the back. And Kaoru’s attention was brought back to the room. She scowled his way. He was still here.
“I think I’m gonna head out. Ya coming Kenshin?”
Kenshin hid behind his tea cup. Shaking his head. “Sorry Sano, sessha . . .”
“Yeah, yeah save it.” Sano said leaving through the door.
Kaoru bit her lip but she didn’t say anything else. She spoke for him often enough. She watched as he cleared the plates and took them into the kitchen. She sighed another day had passed and nothing had been accomplished.