"Thank you," Kaoru said delicately. Moving like a cat, she drew up her knees to her chest and hugged them to her, so that she was leaning forward. She looked over her shoulder to peer at Kenshin and smiled.
His eyes, so full of desire, sent needles prickling up her spine, and she had to summon all of her self control not to order him to strip and get into the tub with her. No, that wouldn't do. She had to pace it, beckon Battousai. Kenshin had been struggling so hard to keep him away that even the alter-ego was hard put to emerge.
Folding up his sleeve, Kenshin dipped hand and washcloth down into the water, the rippling sounds taking on a sensual resonance.
She gasped a bit as she felt his tender fingers brush against her nape, then she felt him gathering her wet hair and sling it over one of her shoulders. Gently, he squeezed the washcloth against her back before he scrubbed slowly.
"How is that, dearest?" He asked in a quiet voice.
Kaoru merely purred and leaned her temple on a knee, closing her eyes.
Unable to help himself, Kenshin bent forward and began to plant lingering, open-mouthed kisses on her nape while the washcloth idly moved against the skin of her arm. This made her purr a bit louder.
"Kenshin, don't you feel hot in your gi with all this…this steam…?" She asked innocently enough.
Steam has nothing to do with it…thought Kenshin, leering at his wife. Off went the gi.
Kaoru almost felt her eyes flashing all their own. Kenshin had looked so…so ravenous. Not quite Battousai, but surely a manifestation of it. Her excitement climbed. Kenshin…Battousai…one and the same man, one I am willing to give my entire being to…if only the man himself would let me. And oh, those fine lines on his body, arms and back, though marred by scars, did everything to arouse her.
She leaned back on the tub, giving Kenshin a playful stare as she raised a perfectly shaped leg.
Without having to be prompted, he ran the washcloth gently against it, making unhurried circles on her skin.
Kaoru closed her eyes and sighed contentedly, keeping the roguish smile from escaping her lips.
Kenshin fought, his emotions tumultuous in the pursuit to keep Battousai from resurfacing. Already, he almost felt his ruthless half crawling out of his skin, the flecks of gold sparking his eyes. Controlling his breathing, he shoved Battousai away and willed the rurouni personality to resume.
He had always struggled, during these times of intense passion, Battousai seems to find a firmer foothold to appear out of his depths, but Kenshin had managed to forestall the beast every time. Tonight though…right now…this very moment, there was something about Kaoru that was just making his struggles near impossible to win.
Battousai's sixth sense has responded to her wordless summons. It had begun when he met eyes with her outside. The sapphire gaze so deep that he would have drowned in them. So soon after they had talked, he had her in his arms, wanting her, and now Battousai was putting up one hell of a fight.
Following his rurouni instinct and pushing away any thought of jumping into the tub and ravishing her, the washcloth dove beneath the water's surface to her thigh.
She gave a muted whimper as his other hand went down with it to massage her flesh.
The washcloth crept towards the bud of her core, and the circling motions sent her moaning in response. He could see her other knee rising slightly out of the water, her legs parting delectably as if with a will of their own.
Kenshin's heart raced, and his breathing was past being tamed. His fingers found its way through the washcloth to stroke the center of her.
Kaoru gasped at the suddenly pulsating pleasure emanating from the focus of his ministrations. It was so easy for her to get lost in the sensations, forget that she had a mission to accomplish, but the reminder that what she aimed for would be far more pleasurable for them both gave her the measure of purchase she needed.
Cracking her eyes open and biting her lower lip, she spoke. "Kenshin," she whispered ardently. "Maybe you should join me in the bath. No sense in wasting all this water just on me."
Kenshin leaned over and kissed her on the lips, his tongue seeking hers in feverish wanting. Yearning to get her to moan into his mouth, his fingers stroked her more insistently. He got his moan.
His need for her was almost painful, and it was demanding for the feel of his beloved. "I think you're right, Kaoru," he responded huskily. "Water is precious, ne?" He pulled away to get his hakama off, expertly undoing the ties of his sash.
"Yes," she replied, squirming a bit at the loss of his touch. Funny how that momentary separation gave her such a burning need to have the sensation continued. It was unbearable, to say the least. Kenshin, I hope you're as ready for this as I am.
Kenshin stepped into the tub to join her, gliding into the water and taking her in his arms. He took her lips, their tongues tangling instantly to soothe some of the need.
She rubbed her knees to his sides then ran her toes against the back of his legs in languorous up and down motions. It elicited a soft groan from his lips, and she was further rewarded by the soft, almost feather-like touch of his thumb circling her nipple.
It was enough to make her throw back her head and cry in response. That touch and…
He lifted her a bit out of the water towards him, dipping his head to take the stiffened peak into his mouth. His tongue swirled against her, relishing at her response so uninhibitedly made in voice and action.
Eager to please her in every way he can, he reached down between them to touch her womanhood. What he encountered there sent his control spiraling to nothingness.
Her fingers were right there, and yes, she was touching herself.
It was the single most mind-blowing fantasy of his life, and here was Kaoru, turning it to reality.
Amber flared for a moment, then it was gone, replaced by his violet gaze.
She blushed, but heightened sensations had swaddled her, forcing her to continue this newly explored pleasuring. It was all for him, anyway. Meant to snap his threads of restraint. And seeing him watch her with fascination as every nuance of her indulgence showed clearly on her face, she could only feel encouragement to continue.
Just as she'd hoped, he placed his own fingers over hers and joined the caress, making her mewl and writhe erotically.
It was too much. Too much! Kenshin thought. Fighting Battousai…giving in to Kaoru's merciless teases…when had he been so weak of will? Never, until now…until tonight. All he could do not to go berserk was plead…
"Oh, Kaoru…" he growled, hissing through his teeth and meeting his lips with hers. "I must have you now, but…" he was almost apologetic, sorry that he could not linger more.
Kaoru had expected as much. "But what?" She breathed, placing several, light kissing on his chin and neck, a moan escaping her as she felt a particularly wonderful stroke.
"You must promise…to show me what you like later…" he murmured, taking her mouth with his.
There was no denying him. Not now, not later.
Her affirmative response was muffled against his kiss.
He lowered his body over her, and with a fluid thrust, he entered her, forcing both of them to break the kiss and cry out in their own pleasures.
"Oh God…" he groaned loudly. She was exquisite, warmth and pure passion all at once.
Kaoru draped her legs around Kenshin's hips, using the leverage to push harder against him. She cried out, throwing her head back so that her throat was bared for him to taste. He did so without reserve.
Kenshin plunged into her with vehemence, one arm hooked around her waist to keep her close and the other finding the strength to hold both of them up. He pushed and withdrew with almost inhuman savageness, and in spite of that, she cried out for more.
Aroused by her insatiability and the challenge to appease it, Kenshin grit his teeth against the distant roar of Battousai in his ears and focused on Kaoru…her pleasure…is his.
To move with such abandon did everything to send Kaoru's senses screaming for gratification, and the demand was answered.
The ecstasy slammed into Kaoru, and it felt like it would snap her in half. She shrieked, digging her nails into Kenshin's shoulders in heated response. The climax swelled, flooding her mind with thoughts of nothing but him.
She tightened around him, and Kenshin lost himself. Giving a loud, drawn-out groan, he released, filling her, blinding his consciousness as his neck arched back, pressing himself deeply into her.
Their movements slowed as their fulfillment tapered to a close.
Kenshin gasped for breath as he held her. Though Kaoru was quieter, he could feel her chest heaving heavily against his.
He gently turned them over in the furo so that she would be resting against him and then he laid a loving kiss on her lips. Nestling against him, she gave a contented sigh. "Kenshin…that was unbelievable."
Kenshin kissed her neck lazily. "Kaoru, you drive me insane," he murmured softly.
She smiled. Apparently, not insane enough. She thought in amusement. Oh, it had be phenomenal, perhaps even more phenomenal than usual, but she hadn't quite succeeded in her goals. Battousai…almost had you…but the night is young…"Mou…that's the way it's suppose to be," she replied to him, voicing some of her inner musings.
He chuckled. "Is that so?" he asked, tracing a finger on her face as he looked down her soulful, gem-like eyes.
"Yes," she replied adorably.
He played the water against her a bit and she gave a slight giggle.
After staying for a while soaked in the water in each other's embrace, Kenshin thought it best to move to the room.
"I should get you to bed, Kaoru," he said, carefully coaxing her to her feet as he stood up himself.
They rose out of the water and he reluctantly stepped out of the tub to grab a drying cloth.
The momentary separation put a pout on Kaoru's face and she reached out for him.
Kenshin smiled in amusement and placed his hands around her waist firmly. He lifted her out and planted her in front of him, then he wrapped a towel around her so he could rub her dry.
Kaoru flushed slightly at the care he was so prone to show her even after years of marriage to him, but she let herself be coddled, watching him as his muscles rippled every time he moved. She saw his scars again, and the usual pang of compassion stirred in her, reminding her that he had known hardships of the worse kind. He endured, with Battousai.
It only strengthened her resolve to free, not necessarily Battousai, but Kenshin himself, from the fear that gripped him. He deserved complete happiness, and she was only glad that she was trying to give him that.
When he was satisfied that she was dry enough, he took her robe from nearby and wrapped it around her, then securing a drying cloth around himself, he scooped her into his arms without warning.
Over the years, Kaoru had learned that any protest with respect to carrying her were futile. He never listened. He was too stubborn and he cared for her too much to be bent.
She let him carry her to their room and carefully placed her on the futon.
Kaoru only cried out when she realized that he wasn't staying just yet.
Kenshin chuckled and kissed her forehead. "Maa…maa…I'll join you in bed, Kaoru, but we left a mess in the bathhouse. Do you want Yahiko discovering it?"
Kaoru had almost forgotten about the young man. He was probably still out. It was not very late, and he usually spent a lot of time with Tsubame in the Akebeko, so it wasn't much of a problem. Yahiko still teased Kaoru though, and any teasing he did about hers and Kenshin's…activities were the worse in her book. She relented. "Alright, but come back soon…"
"Yes, as soon as I could," he replied, hurrying off.
Kaoru watched him disappear at the bend and raised an eyebrow.
You're not going to get away from me that easily, Battousai. I want my husband to be happy, and by God! He WILL be happy, because I will make sure that from tonight until forever, I will let him show me how Battousai loves, and I will make sure Himura Kenshin knows how it feels to be bereft of fear.
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It ain't over yet. Battousai hasn't made an official appearance, ne?
Author's Note: Phew! Just give me a sec…jeez, did they just turn up the heater or something…jeez…
Standard disclaimers will apply…Watsuki-sama and Sony, please do not sue me. However, if you’re looking for a writer…*sigh* I know, I know. Go home, get some sleep, you'll be rid of your delirium in the morning.
