He drifted through the tree silently, moving from branch to branch as he followed the travelers. He avoided the beams of sunlight that risked to give him away, if by chance one of them looked his way. The trees barely registered his passing, moving more for the gusts of wind than for his slight frame.
He hugged up against the trunk of the tree he was in, as he saw Misao pull Kenshin under the branches of a neighboring tree. Less than ten seconds later, a torrential downpour soaked him to the skin. He smiled wryly, realizing that Kenshin was under one of the thick canopied trees, that would protect him from the worst of the sudden squall.
He had been following them for three days, waiting patiently to get the man alone, so they could finish their duel. He was beginning to think that defeating him might be even easier than he thought. So far, the man didn't even know he was there. The sword's edge was dull.

Himura Kenshin sat under the tree, watching the 'gentle' spring rain wash rivulets through the earth. Beside him, the 16 year old Misao was droning away about the virtues of Aoshi. He mostly tuned her out, as virtues were not what Kenshin believed Aoshi had. In fact, for a change, his mind wasn't even on the trip to Kyoto. It was actually on-
"HIMURAAAAA!!!!!"
"Oro?"
"Are you LISTENING to me?!"
"Of course I am," Kenshin said as he batted at a mosquito.
"Then what did I just say?"
"You're talking about Aoshi, again."
"What do you mean by again?!?!?!?" Misao yelled.
Kenshin sighed internally. Why, he wondered, are girls like this? They always get upset when you don't give them all your attention. And they always seemed to want to talk about love and 'stuff'. He personally didn't know how to talk about that sort of stuff. He didn't understand it, actually. There was Kaoru, of course. She was pretty, and he respected her views, and severely hoped that her views would become the views of others. As long as her temper didn't go to the others as well. He did miss her. But she wasn't here, and he knew he'd never see her again. That was one of the harsh realities of the world, that he knew she'd know. People leave. No matter how much you care for someone, they could leave you at any moment.
"Anyway," Misao began speaking on Aoshi's beautiful eyes.
Oro.
He began to ignore her, adding in the occasional nod to make her think he was listening to her. He used this seeming attention to her to mask the true object of his attention.
He could no longer ignore Seta Soujiro.
He had known that someone was following them. Some might claim that he had lost his edge since he became rurouni, however they had no basis to make this assumption. Kenshin knew his senses were as sharp as they had been 10 years before. And so he knew someone was following him. Seta might be well able to mask his passage through the trees, but he couldn't mask the birds that were disturbed by his passing too close to their nests and roosting spots. It hadn't taken long to figure out who it was.
"Excuse me, Misao," Kenshin said, standing up. "I have some business to attend to. I won't be overly long. Maybe you should take a nap?" He added with a smile.
"You're going out in THAT? Trust you to have a call of nature when she seems the most piqued," Misao shook her head.
Kenshin looked at her, scratching his head absently. "Uhhh... I'll be back," he said, and hurried out into the deluge.
He felt the rain pierce his kimono quickly. In only a moment, his deep red hair was hanging in his face, and his nose steadily dripped water. His kimono was plastered to his skin, and he was glad he had left their meager food back with Misao.
He moved away from the tree, slipping quickly through the trees, for about five minutes. As he came out into a clearing he had remembered they had passed, the sun came out. The rain was now only a few drops.
He turned toward the north, looking up into the gray-blue sky, and smiled at the rainbow that arced its way across the heavens. He gave Seta a minute before turning to him.
Seta's smile was unchanged. He stood amidst the fern, looking as wet as Kenshin felt.
"Ah! Himura-san! A good day to you!"
"Seta," Kenshin nodded his head in greeting. Hundreds of water droplets flung out from him, and a lock of hair began to drip onto his nose.
"I'm gratified to learn that I was not completely unnoticed by you. I was beginning to wonder about you." He walked to the middle of the clearing, and gave himself a shake.
"Why are you following me?"
"Then again, maybe I should wonder," Seta sighed.
"Are you so dishonorable as to attack a weaponless man?" Kenshin asked, noting the sword at Seta's side.
Seta put his hands up in front of him. "No no! Nothing like that!" He smiled widely. He then pulled off his katana and threw in toward the forest. "No weapons. But, yes. A duel. I do not wish to wait for you to get a new katana. Will you fight me without your sakabato?"
Kenshin looked at Seta warily. This one was no fool, and he would be a strong opponent even at hand to hand combat. Kenshin knew he would be at a disadvantage without his katana. He just hoped his skill was as good as Seta's. He pulled off his saya, which held the half of the sakabato that he had left from his last duel with Seta.
"I suppose you leave me no choice," Kenshin said.
"On the contrary. This is not yet a formal challenge," Seta said, hands spread out.
"You'll never leave us alone unless we duel," Kenshin said evenly. At least there was no immediate threat of death in this sort of combat. Well, he hoped not.
"No, you're right!" Seta smiled broadly. He bowed to Kenshin, and then stood completely still.
Kenshin's ki was only half raised. He was wary, not sure what to make of this sort of duel. Seta only hoped that Kenshin wasn't very good at this sort of fighting, otherwise the pretty redhead would mop up the forest with him.
Like the last duel, Kenshin could read nothing off of Seta. But unlike last time, he wasn't going to spend time trying.
He circled Seta cautiously, looking for an opening. Seta mimicked him moves perfectly.
But this was what Kenshin had hoped for.
From the times that he and Sano had 'fought', Kenshin had learned a couple tricks. While he had used his sword and Sano used his fists, he had seen a few of the moves that his friend used, and even without his sword, believed he could counter them. So he was using Sano's weakest movements, hoping Seta wouldn't see those weak points without his own katana.
Seta merrily mirrored Kenshin's movements, knowing that it would be hopeless for Kenshin. So his surprise was great when Kenshin, with a shout, came at his right side, and gave him a good punch in the ribs. Instead of his usual strike on the move tactics, Kenshin stayed where he was, and hit him on the left shoulder.
Seta whirled under the next fist and kicked Kenshin on the back of his calf, driving his elbow into his back. Kenshin fell forward, but countered by sweeping his leg around, knocking Seta off his feet. The both jumped to their feet, and turned to face each other.
Kenshin faked a punch at Seta's face, while his left fist went toward his stomach. Seta surprised him by grabbing both fists, and holding on tightly.
Seta pushed Kenshin's arms down, and behind his back, moving his hip more towards Kenshin, so the man couldn't try a nasty trick with his knee. This action pulled Kenshin close to him, and he found himself looking into a pair of soft purple eyes, framed by damp, red hair. He looked cautious, but neither angry, nor frightened. "Yield?"
"No," Kenshin said firmly.
"Well, then," Seta smiled, then swept Kenshin's feet out from under him.
Kenshin let himself fall smoothly, catching the impact on his bottom, where there was more flesh. He looked surprised when Seta fell to the carpet of ferns with him.
Seta sat on his hips, keeping his arms pinned down, and looked at him with eyes that reflected no emotion, the midnight blue sparkling with the light of amusement, but nothing more. The smile on his lips was a touch smug. He felt Kenshin struggle a moment before realizing he was stuck.
He leaned down closer to Kenshin, his eyes locked with the redhead's. Keeping his eyes open, so he could gauge Kenshin's reactions, he kissed Kenshin's lips.
Kenshin's eyes widened dramatically, and he tried to say 'oro'. Seta's lips were firmly on his, but after a moment, they softened. Seta began to kiss Kenshin in earnest, sucking on his lower lip, teasing the corner of Kenshin's gentle mouth. He slipped his tongue into Kenshin's mouth, and touched the tip to the tip of Kenshin's tongue. Kenshin's eyes fluttered a bit, as he tried to keep control of himself, but began to lose. Something about him...
"You taste sweet, Battousai-san," Seta smiled down at him. "How very nice. My first kiss. Is it yours, Battousai-san? Or perhaps there was another. Did he have you like this, or was he kind and gentle to you? Perhaps there was even 'love' involved?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Kenshin said flatly. The touch of Seta's lips on his had stirred something inside him that he had thought dead for the last 11 years. Even Kaoru couldn't stir the fire of passion in him.
"No? Really?" Seta asked sweetly. He leaned down to put his lips against Kenshin's earlobe. "Kenshin," he whispered breathily. He slid his hand under Kenshin's kimono and rested it against Kenshin's now very hard sex.
Kenshin shuddered at his name being said by this boy. The child was warped! Utterly without a soul, his eyes windows to a blank plain of nothing. Yet, Kenshin couldn't help responding to his touch. He looked to the side, his heart aching, and took a deep breath. The wet ferns tickled his nose, softly, and a tear slid down to join the droplets of the greenery.
"I bet I look like him, hmmm?" Seta giggled.
Kenshin's head snapped up.
"Maybe reincarnation? No... couldn't be. He died 11 years ago, and I'm now the age he was when he departed."
"What... what are you talking about?"
"I'm sure you knew him, Kenshin," Seta said, playing with a lock of Kenshin's hair. "My, what a pretty hair colour. And so soft!" He began to kiss Kenshin's neck softly.
Kenshin's eyes closed at the soft touch. A shudder went through his body as the hand between his legs began to knead him softly. He was glad that the girl hadn't seen THIS fight.
"Do I taste like him?" Seta murmured.
"Who?"
"Okita," Seta's voice sounded amused.
"Okita!"
"Yes. Your last lover. He was the last, wasn't he? Were you there when he died?"
"Why are you torturing me like this?" Kenshin asked, wishing the painful constriction in his heart to go away or deaden him like Seta was dead inside.
"Torture? I'm not trying," Seta said, opening the front of Kenshin's Kimono. He kissed down the centre of Kenshin's chest, and nipped at a nipple.
Kenshin hissed at the half-pleasure-half-pain that the feeling gave him.
"No, I'm not trying to torture you. I'd just like to know," he lapped at Kenshin's nipple, and began to suck it like a newborn. He swirled his tongue around the hardened nub, while using his fingers to play with the other side.
"Why?" Kenshin's question was a strangled moan.
"I was only 14 when he died. He wrote me letters about you. He... I guess he loved you, despite him being your enemy. Okita was my brother. We had the same father."
Kenshin's eyes widened with shock. Seta looked at him, smiling. His deep blue eyes, so like Okita's, glittered like jewels in the sunlight. "He took his mother's surname, and changed his first name to Okita. We had the same name, Soujiro. Funny, hmm?"
"You're... his brother?"
"Yes!"
Kenshin lay in the ferns, his eyes closed, his mind reeling. Seta Soujiro was Soushi Okita's brother. The only love Kenshin had ever had in his like. Okita. Who left him when he was 17, dead at the age of 25 from tuberculosis.
Kenshin's eyes opened in shock. Seta had undressed him in the moments he was thinking. His lips were now traveling over his hardened flesh. He was free to get up, but couldn't make himself move. Seta's lips wrapped around him, and he moaned, deep in his throat.
Seta brought Kenshin into his mouth, tasting the salty sweet flesh in his mouth. He moved up and down over Kenshin, pushing him all the way to the back of his throat. He scraped his teeth along the underside of Kenshin's organ, finding he liked the noises and reactions of the redhead.
Kenshin arched his back as Seta's teeth grazed him. It hurt, but felt so good. He felt the pressure build inside him as Seta worked on him. As he was about to orgasm, he realized that Seta still had him inside of his mouth.
"Soujiro..." his whispered huskily. "Ahh!!"
Seta's eyes widened as Kenshin said his name, then widened more when Kenshin exploded in his mouth. Kenshin's hot seed spilled into his mouth, some going down his throat, some coming out the corners of his mouth. Seta drank the salty liquid down, sucking Kenshin until he was dry. Kenshin spasmed twice more before collapsing into a heap, breathing hard.
Seta sat up, gently dabbing at the corners of his mouth. Kenshin lay in the ferns, eyes closed, both hands clutching ripped up plants. His ponytail was loosened. Seta softly kissed Kenshin, letting Kenshin taste the remains of his seed. Kenshin moaned softly, snaking one arm around Seta's neck. He kissed him back, passion flaring in him to new heights. With his other hand, he undid Seta's obi, and pulled off the top of his blue kimono.
Seta allowed Kenshin to undress him, learning how to kiss Kenshin better as he went along, using Kenshin's kisses as an example.
When he had Seta nude, he rolled onto his side, putting an arm around the taller man, and slipped his leg between Seta's. He gently nudged his knee against Seta's manhood, his fingers running through his hair.
Seta gasped softly, feeling a stir in his loins. A shot of pleasure flowed in a wave through his body at Kenshin's constant movements.
Kenshin rolled Seta onto his back, and lay on top of him, moving his sex against Seta's in a constant rhythm. Seta was starting to pant in time with his movements, his eyes closed, smile gone from his lips.
Kenshin stroked Seta's sides softly, the satiny smooth skin feeling so nice to the touch. He kissed Seta's lips with an intensity he had long forgotten until now.
Seta jerked under him, his eyes and mouth open in a silent scream. His eyes rolled back in his head, and Kenshin wondered for a moment if he had passed out.
Seta couldn't understand the feeling that besieged his body. He felt himself come, the orgasm ripping through him. He blacked out for a moment from the explosion of pleasure within him. When he came to his senses, he found his face in the rain soaked ferns, and Kenshin on his back.
"What the-"
"Good, I'm glad you're awake," Kenshin said, then pushed his way into Seta's virgin canal.
"Ahhhhh!!!" Seta screamed in pain. Kenshin waited for a moment before moving within him. He closed his eyes to try and focus out the pain of the quick, unexpected entry.
Kenshin began to thrust in and out of Seta, a hand on the taller boy's hip, kissing the back of his neck roughly. Seta was tense, shaking slightly, wishing this to be over quickly. Kenshin's movements became a bit faster, and he thrust inside deeper. Instead of the pain Seta had felt, the tingling pleasure began to make its way through him. He relaxed, spreading his legs wider for Kenshin. As Kenshin's thrusts became deeper, he began to buck back against him, mindless of the pain he still felt, only wanting more of that feeling that made him shiver and pant. He dug his fingers into the ground, gritting his teeth. "Please, oh please!!" He shouted in ecstasy.
He felt Kenshin come inside of him, a spreading of heat within his body. Kenshin slowed down to almost a stop, leaving Seta uncomfortably on the edge of climax. He put his face on the backs of his hands, and began to sob. "No, please. Don't stop," he whispered hoarsely.
Kenshin had felt Seta finally respond to him, but before he came, Kenshin orgasmed, the throbbing in his loins painfully wonderful. He slowed down, enjoying the last few moments of the pinnacle, before stopping. He lay on Seta, his face in the pretty boy's hair.
"No." Kenshin heard the whisper. He was stunned to feel Seta's shoulders shaking. "Don't stop. Please don't," Seta sniffled.
"Seta," Kenshin murmured in amazement. He slowly began to move back inside of Seta, making himself go slowly and steadily. He drew out as slowly, until the very tip of himself, and then moved back inside. The hot cavern of Seta was very wet and slick now, and Kenshin felt himself mount back towards another climax.
Seta's sob turned into a ragged moan as Kenshin began to slide inside him again. Within three movements, the wave crashed over him, and he bucked beneath Kenshin, biting his lip to choke back a scream.
Kenshin felt Seta orgasm beneath him, but he himself wasn't finished, so he continued. With a detached part of his mind, he felt Seta orgasm several more times before he spent himself again within him.
He rolled off Seta, and lay in the grass for awhile before being able to move. Seta was still in the same position, face against his hands.
He got up, and pulled on his kimono, then covered Seta with his kimono, before making his way toward the forest. Hopefully he'd be left in peace, though he knew the memories of Okita were now coming back to the surface.
Before he slipped into the forest, he heard a gentle whisper from Seta, choked with emotion.
"You've won, Himura Kenshin."

All characters copyright Nobuhiro Watsuki All story contents copyright 1997 Michiru