kenkao drabble; belonging
”I just wanted…I wanted to make sure,” Kenshin mumbled into her hair, nuzzling her neck in a way she had never even imagined. Her cheeks felt like they were on fire - burning and flaming red - while her heart thumped hard enough to hurt.
“Wha--?” she began, having woken mere seconds ago to her sliding door slamming open and strong arms embracing her in a tight, familiar hold that she had yet to struggle against. He murmured calming nonsense in her ear to slow her erratic breathing, to assure her it was alright. But he didn’t know. He didn’t know his mere presence made her nervous, didn’t know his touch made her whole being shiver in pleasure. It must be a dream, she thought, but his desperate ki and unfaltering grip told her otherwise. No time to feel uncomfortable, she reasoned. He wanted comfort, and he had come to her.
“Kenshin,” she whispered, sneaking her arms around his waist and bringing him closer still. Heavy breath tickled her ear as all energy seemed to escape him; his body now boneless inside her gentle embrace. She didn’t know what this meant, and as his warmth burned her exposed skin and dampened her loose strands of hair, she didn’t care.
“Kaoru, sweet, sweet Kaoru,” she heard, his voice rough and quiet in the night. “Living, breathing…Kaoru.”
She understood now.
She had suspected something was off on the island, had taken notice of his appearance and his unnatural weakness. Her supposed death had left more scars than she had ever thought possible. She still didn’t know how she felt about it, but she knew, oh she knew, how much it made her cry. Seeing Kenshin like this - starved, weak, wounded and broken - made her stomach twist into knots as she doubled over in silent agony.
But now, he was here, after so many days of only watching, fake smiling and obvious avoiding. He hadn’t wanted to face her, probably. Hadn’t wanted to show her a festering wound of past and present injuries. But she wasn’t blind, and she wasn’t afraid. She loved him, every scar, every wound and every fault. Despite the distance he tried to keep between them.
“Kenshin, I’m here.”
Now, though, he was in her arms.
“I’ll always be here.”
Finally.
“Always.”
He was where he belonged.