Disclaimer: Standard disclaimers apply. None of the characters from
Rurouni Kenshin belong to me. They belong to Nobuhiro Watsuki and I
acknowledge all his rights and the rights of the various companies
associated with RK.


Chapter Six:

"Get off me!!" Megumi scratched and kicked like a hellcat and was
rewarded by furious cursing. She had regained consciousness while her
assailant was still carrying her off and had proceeded to deal him some
sound punches on his kidneys, which had been conveniently facing her.

But now he was angry and a lot stronger than she was. Pinning her arms
down, the man leered at her in a way that reminded her strikingly of
Karryuu. Megumi was about to scream once more when suddenly he was
hauled off her and tossed almost all the way to the other end of the
clearing.

"Aoshi!" she cried in relief. A chill wind blew although the air had
been still a minute before and Megumi knew that Aoshi was flaring 'ki'.
He was standing beside her and looking up at him, she was taken aback at
the pure fury that hardened his features.

"Did he touch you?"

"Huh?" That was the last thing she expected from him. She had thought
that his first questions would be to the ninja.

"I said, did he touch you?"

"N-not really." Why wouldn't he look at her? It was frightening to see
that kind of anger on his face and she was only thankful that she was
not the target. But if anything her answer seemed to fuel Aoshi's rage
as he advanced on the ninja with quiet menace. He flipped his kodachi
and she knew at once what skill he was going to use.

It was over in less than a minute. Megumi kept her gaze averted until
the sound of footsteps approaching let her know that Aoshi was finished.
The man hadn't even have time to scream. Before she could stand, Aoshi
reached down and hauled her to her feet. His eyes were shards of blue
ice and his voice lashed her like a whip.

"I told you never to leave my side. What the hell were you thinking?" he
bit out. "Do you know you almost lost your life, not to mention what he
would have done to you?"

"I'm sorry, I--"

"Should have listened more carefully to me!" Aoshi almost shook her in
his frustration. The sight of the man on top of her was still seared in
his memory along with the intense fear and blinding anger that had come
with it. Somehow or other a bond had formed between them and the sight
of her in danger frightened him like nothing else ever had.

"I did! You told me that no one else knew about this place!" She shouted
at him, blinking back tears. "Getting the horse back would save time and
I know I was stupid not to suspect anything!" To her horror, she burst
out crying from a volatile mixture of fear, shock, relief and anger.
Then her knees gave way.

Aoshi caught her to him and they both sank down onto the damp grass. He
had her in such a tight embrace that she couldn't move. "I'm sorry," she
sobbed. "I didn't know. I didn't..."

"Of course you didn't." His voice was calm and gentle now and she clung
to him, burying her face against his neck, safe once more. "Please don't
cry." Gradually as she grew calmer, Megumi became aware that Aoshi was
caressing her back in soothing strokes. It was far too familiar an act
between people who, twenty-four hours ago, had been barely friends but
then again, the last twenty-four hours had been extremely intense and
anything but normal.

"You're not angry anymore?" She asked, her voice muffled against him.
She knew they should get and leave soon but she felt absolutely no
desire to do so.

"No. But I am serious about what I said." Sliding his fingers beneath
her chin, he tilted her face to his. "Until this is over, you are not to
leave my side. I will keep you safe Megumi, I promise."

"I know you will," she replied sincerely. "I never doubted that you
would come for me."

A smile touched his lips then and it was so very astonishing that she
blinked hard to ascertain she wasn't imagining it. Then his hand shifted
to cup her cheek and she froze. "Aoshi ...?" All of a sudden the air
around them was thick and dry with desire that crackled between them
like tinder under hot flames.

She was confused and hesitant. Yet even as he lowered his face to hers,
her eyes fell close. Her skin was flushed and he could feel the racing
of her blood beneath his fingers. But what Aoshi was unprepared for was
the way he trembled when he brushed his lips softly against hers.
"Megumi ..."

The way he said her name, a mixture of longing and reverence, made her
shiver. And what frightened her was the heady desire that she felt
spiralling through her body. It was not as though she had never wanted
anyone before. She had wanted Sano too. But not like this, not with this
kind of intensity, this surety.

He watched her every expression keenly. She wanted him too, he knew that
with every instinct he possessed. But she wasn't ready. "Shall we go?"
he asked. Megumi simply stared at him. He could practically see her mind
processing the events of the last five minutes. "Megumi, we can't stay
here all morning. Although if you want to I won't protest either," he
teased.

"Ah, of course we can't stay," she said in a rush, quickly pulling
herself together. The familiar cool mask fell back in place and Aoshi
felt a tinge of displeasure seeing it.

"Megumi?" He called as she turned to go.

"Yes?"

His arm circled her waist and then his mouth was on hers in a forceful
hard kiss that was as tender as it was possessive. Megumi groaned as his
tongue caressed hers, arching against him instinctively and he moulded
her against his lean frame. When the kiss ended, her senses were all
afire and she couldn't tell where her body ended and his begun.

"I have nothing to say about how you conduct your relationships with
your friends. However, when you are with me, I want no masks, no pretences."

"Will you do the same for me?" She asked, a quiver in her voice. In
reply, Aoshi took her hand and kissed the centre of her palm.

"Must you ask? But the answer is yes."

"Then so is mine."

They were about to kiss again when the sound of rustling bushes startled
them. Immediately Aoshi stepped in front of her protectively. Then
Megumi let out a chuckle when she saw who it was. "Why, it's the horse."

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