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.
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Irresistible
Chapter Ten
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Kenshin rushed through the kitchen door, he was out of breath from having run both to and from the house to the Akabeko. He placed everything on the counter supporting himself on it as he took deep breaths. He was sweaty again but for some reason it made the smell of her stronger on him. He could smell her on him and it was the most heavenly thing. He had received some curious glances in town probably because he lacked the rurouni facade. He should have made the effort, it was just difficult when he could smell her though. There really wasn’t much room left in his mind other than thoughts of coming home.
He wiped his face with a small towel her kept handy and began serving food. She would be out any minute now.
Kaoru stepped into the kitchen a bit shyly. He turned the moment she stepped in, giving her a penetrating look. His eyes fell on the curves of her form before they settled on her face. The blush returned to her cheeks making the corner of his lips turn upward. He took their bowls and made his way toward her. Kissing her lips before he continued to their usual eating place. He set things down and went back into the kitchen to fetch their drink.
She settled to his left aware of his presence more now than she had ever been in her life. His hand settled over hers when she didn’t start eating. Her gaze moved from their hands to his eyes. There was worry there. She smiled at him. “I’m all right.” She told him squeezing his hand for reassurance.
He was reluctant to let go but he did, watching her now from the corner of his eye as they ate their dinner.
She seemed distracted and it caused him to worry.
“Are you unhappy?” He asked her when they were having their tea.
She seemed shocked. Her head shook to the sides vigorously. “No.” She said firmly. “Not at all. It’s just. It just seems like it’s too good to be true. I guess, I’m just waiting for the moment I wake up so I can start crying. The moment I realize that you aren’t real and that all of this . . .” She gestured with her hand. “That all of this was just a dream.”
He rose bringing her face close to his chest trapping her in the embrace. He hadn’t realized how much she had suffered. All this time, she must have loved him too. Though just how long he didn’t know, he would have to ask her later when she wasn’t so emotional. “Koishii.” He began.
He had something to ask her. Something important but he hadn’t wanted to ask her today. He had wanted to ask her tomorrow under the right setting. “You are the most important thing to me.” He said looking down into her glittering eyes. Words, weren’t enough to convey his feelings for how he felt but he would try. “If this is a dream than I can only say that it must be mine because you are too perfect to be real.” He said running his hand along side her cheek, lowering his face and giving her a loving kiss. “I only wish for you to be happy.” He said after they broke away.
Tears rolled down her cheeks. “I am happy.” She said. “More than I dare believe.”
He smiled at her. “Come,” He said helping her stand. “Let’s go to bed. I‘ll clear all of this tomorrow.” He put his hand on the small of her back and began to lead her to her room.
She tensed when he closed the door behind him. He hid the smile that threatened to appear on his face. She was so unbearably cute sometimes. He led her to the futon and laid them down. His arms held her against his chest basking in her warmth. “I love you,” he murmured against her hair. She smiled against his gi not really wondering why he still wore it. Not really aware of her surroundings. “I love you Kenshin . . . . always,” she mumbled.
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Kaoru opened her eyes quickly reaching for him upon waking refusing to panic until she was sure he wasn’t there. He wasn’t there. She rose quickly flinging the blanket to the side she made her way out of her room. The smell of breakfast made itself known to her almost at once. She smiled and went into the kitchen. Stepping lightly trying to surprise him.
He grinned when he sensed her approaching. Stirring the soup as he pretended to be oblivious.
She snuck into the kitchen hugging him from behind. “Good morning,” she whispered. The greeting sent goose bumps down his back. He was glad she was happier today. He stopped stirring the soup and turned to look at her, his arms wrapping around her waist in the process. “I fixed your bath.” He said in a voice too close to his rurouni persona. The tone made her freeze, and fear seeped into her heart. Would he feel guilty over what they had done? The rurouni, though she loved him dearly frightened her now, more so than the battoussai did at one point. What should she do?
She raised herself on her tippy-toes capturing his lips. He kissed her back and set her down. “Do you wish to eat before your bath? The food is done.” He said stroking her hair.
She was a bit thrown back by his behavior. Yesterday . . . . lately . . . . he’d been and now. She frowned not understanding why the rurouni facade was there. His hand moved from her hair to her brow. His purple eyes so full of warmth narrowed in concern.
She noticed and smoothed her face. “I think we should eat first.” She said noticing the wet tips of his bangs. “You already took a bath.” She said as he backed away from her embrace to continue his work in the kitchen. “Yes.” he said as he began to serve their plates.
She frowned as she moved away from him. What was so different about her today that he would act that way She sat down in her usual spot waiting for him. Yesterday she had taken a bath, cried and gone to her room. Dressed, cried a bit and brushed her hair. She’d then . . . . applied perfume. “Ohh.” She said out loud. What was it that girl said?
“Kaoru,” He said finally getting her attention.
She smiled at him and ate. A little too fast. “Thank you for breakfast Kenshin.” She said as she rose. She bent to kiss his cheek and rushed to the bathhouse. She stood behind the door, her heart pounding in her chest. What had the girl said? The girl had suddenly grabbed her wrist. She had tried to pull back when the girl had said . . . . . what had she said. “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.” Then the girl had then let her go.
So it was the perfume.
“Hmm.” She thought. All right so now she knew what all of his odd behavior meant. It had been a reaction to the perfume. It seemed like it made her . . . . what . . . tempting, alluring. Irresistible. It made her irresistible to him.
I mean yes she knew he loved her. Kenshin both rurouni and battoussai loved her. It was just . . . . well the perfume had helped. The rurouni had always been more reluctant to show his feelings while the battoussai . . . . well . . . . He not so much. I guess you could say he was aggressive though the word didn't really cover it. She smiled coyly.
The raccoon ears and tail were a bad sign for the unsuspecting rurouni. She felt bad for him if it was the perfume. He’d been unable to resist her charm. She really shouldn’t unleash the battoussai either. Though she no longer was afraid of him. He still seemed like a handful. Well I guess as long as he was indoors when he was like that things would be fine. Still she wanted to be sure it was the perfume. If it worked then she would put it away and truly only use it on special occasions. She smiled at her own lie. Probably not unless that girl had left town. Hmm, she began to undress and headed over to the tub. She had to test it out just to be sure.
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She stepped out of the bathhouse and headed to her room. She smiled when she opened the door not surprised to see her futon had been put away. He was wonderful. She sat down and began to comb her hair. Putting it in a high ponytail she then went on to applying a light powder to her face and then the balm to her lips. She looked at her reflection, she was pretty but irresistible. ‘I don‘t think so,’ she thought.
What should she wear? Did it really matter thought, I mean the perfume should work no matter what she wore. Hmm. She added perfume to the usual spot and went outside to look for him.
She stood on the porch watching him hang a gi on the line. It was nice to know where he was, it kept her from worrying. Wait. Hadn’t she been worried yesterday because he had gone somewhere. “Kenshin.” She called out to him.
He turned around drying his hands on his gi. He smiled warmly at her as he came closer. ‘The rurouni,’ she thought as he approached.
“Kenshin where did you go yesterday?” She asked when he came to stand directly in front of her. She watched him sniff the air. The look in his eyes slowly changing. ‘So it was the perfume,’ she thought
A light smile spread on his lips. “I went to get you something.” He responded stepping closer.
“Me?” She asked anxiously.
The smile on his lips remained as he stepped closer to her, so close now he could almost touch her. “I think we should marry.”
Her mouth dropped open, working wordlessly. But for the life of her. “What?”
He slipped the ring he’d bought her on her ring finger, looming over her form. Intent on reading the expressions crossing her face. She looked from his eyes to the ring. Unable to comprehend much else but the fact that he had just proposed.
*************
He stroked her hair lovingly, running his hand through her silky hair. It had been a whole month since they’d married. He had wanted to marry her on the same day he proposed but she had put on a resistance he had not expected. Distracting him with her body persuading him to her way of thought.
He sighed contently.
Everyone had been surprised when she told them the news. Excited, the word didn’t do justice for how they had reacted. They had been thrilled.
It had taken a week to finish the preparations. At least that’s what Kaoru and Tae had said. Though what they needed other than to go to the shrine he still didn’t now. But its what she had decided and so that’s how it would be.
The wedding had been surreal. It still seemed that way. But he reaffirmed his mind every morning he woke up next to her, touching her to make sure she was real, that she wasn’t part of a cruel dream his guilt had conjured. Enticing him with something he couldn’t have. His hand continued it’s caress, running through her hair as he thought about their life.
She stirred, opening her eyes and smilingly lightly through the veil of sleep. Yawning, she noticed it was still dark. She ran her hand over the planes of his chest.
“Good morning.” His voiced rumbled over her head.
She smiled against his skin. “Morning?” She asked, sleep lacing her words into a slur. “Not morning.” She said hugging him to her, moving up against him until her face was tucked into the crook of his neck. “Not yet, more sleep.” She breathed. Feeling sleep’s heavy hold pulling her back into a land of dreams. She grasped him tightly in effort to bring him with her.
He smiled softly in the dark room. His hand stilled through her hair then slowly made it’s way down to her waist, taking a firm grip, he decided joining her in sleep was more than tempting. The offer was . . . . . irresistible.
There you guys go. I'm sorry it took me so long. But I hope I made it worth your while. Thanks for the support and the reviews. I'll see all of you in the next fic.