Rurouni Kenshin fic: Truce, 9/?
Title: A Breath of Fresh Air
Chapter: 9/?
Rating: PG
Warnings: None.
Disclaimer: No Kenshin under the Christmas tree this year either… :(
Notes: I’m sorry this is so late! My new job just ate most of my free time during the week, and moving to a new apartment swallowed the leftovers - you just need so many things to furnish a place! But, I’ve slowly reached cruising speed. So back to writing it is!
Also, transition chapters, yo~
Beta: Thiswontbebigondignity, a.k.a The Enabler. :P
Lastly, a very happy new year to all of you! :D
A Breath of Fresh Air
The house Kenshin has been given sits on a bend of the road in the outskirts of Otsu. They cross the town in the late afternoon sun, and do not try to hide - they are refugees, like so many others, and no one must think otherwise.
Visiting the house takes seconds - it is little more than a cabin, with its four walls and little overhang on the side, and only one room, sparsely furnished. Still, the walls are sturdy, and the roof should not leak. It will do. Kenshin stands in the middle of the room and Kaoru wonders what memories the place has awaken. They must be fond; a soft smile plays on his lips.
There is a note and a medicine box waiting for him. For his cover, Kenshin is to pass as a doctor selling his remedies and that, too, earns a little smile from him.
“Can you do that?” Kaoru asks after reading the note. Having always had doctors nearby, she has never needed to learn much about healing herbs.
To her relief, Kenshin nods.
“Shishou taught me a bit about them,” he answers. “The nearest doctor was a two-day walk away; we couldn’t be too careful. I’ll see what I can find around here in the morning.”
“All right… It’s a nice cover, no one would suspect a doctor and his wife…”
He hums in response. “It will be nice, for a change,” he whispers, almost to himself, but she can hear him in the surrounding silence. Hear him, and the meaning behind his words. She calls his name, just as softly, and the smile he gives her is tremulous.
This time, he is almost, almost daring to hope.
-~-~-~-
They quickly dust the place and unpack their belongings, then Kenshin starts a fire and Kaoru prepares some of the rice and vegetables they brought. He keeps an eye on her, even managing to give her a few pointers without sounding patronizing, and dinner turns out all right. Maybe not good, or at least not as good as what Kaoru’s mother’s cooking could be, but definitely better than what she is used to.
Her relief even turns to pride when Kenshin asks her for seconds, his face open enough that she can tell he is not merely trying to be polite.
(She also commits Kenshin’s advice to memory for future reference, but she isn’t telling him that.)
-~-~-~-
There is only one futon. Of course. The Ishin Shishi have not planned for her coming; Kenshin was supposed to occupy the house alone.
Kaoru briefly wonders about the possible implications should they discover her here, but quickly dismisses the thought. There are more pressing matters at hand. Like the undeniable fact that there is only one futon and two of them and that, as much as she cares about Kenshin and knows he cares about her, the mere thought of sharing a bed makes her mind blank and her heart skip a beat. Not bad per se, but far too big a step and too intimate a gesture. They are not there yet.
… And her overactive mind starts wondering if she wants them to ever be there, but this is not the time to open the can of worms that are her feelings for Kenshin. Later. When they’ve solved this particular problem - surely they’re mature enough to get over this?
Kaoru shakes her head to clear it and is forcing her thoughts back under control when Kenshin materializes by her side and saves the day. He is wearing a night yukata and has tied his hair in a low ponytail, but his sword is still firmly in his hand.
“Take the futon,” he says, “I don’t need it.” He isn’t blushing like she is. Rather, his voice is almost… cold. Distant. Not what Kaoru expected.
“What? But…”
“I’m not comfortable lying down.” He explains, and proves his point by sitting down with his back against the wall. His sword comes to rest against his shoulder, and Kaoru understands. Lying down would slow his movements and reactions, if something were to happen. It would make him more vulnerable. Hitokiri Battousai simply cannot afford this luxury.
Kaoru understands, so she doesn’t discuss it. She simply nods and thanks him before slipping behind the paper screen to change too. When she emerges, he has closed his eyes and appears to be dozing lightly - to give her some privacy as she climbs into bed, no doubt. He holds his head low, but his ki is still too sharp for him to be truly asleep.
Still, he jerks up when she wraps a blanket around his shoulders, mindful of his sword.
“It’s colder out here,” she explains. “We don’t want the doctor getting sick, do we?”
“That… wouldn’t be a good image.”
“No… Are you sure you’ll be okay?” Some colour returns to Kenshin’s face at her question. Of course she’d ask. He even snuggles further into the blanket - the movement is barely there but, close as she is, Kaoru doesn’t miss it. He doesn’t even have to force himself that much to smile when he answers.
“Yes. I’m used to this.”
She fusses over the blanket for a breath more, and briefly squeezes his arm, the one that isn’t holding the sword, when she is done. “Alright then. Goodnight,” she whispers.
He replies in kind. “Sleep well.”
He closes his eyes again as soon as she stands back up, and lying down this close to him is surprisingly not awkward.
She blows the candle and tries to find a comfortable position, then: “Kenshin?”
“Yes?”
“Thank you for bringing me here.”
She falls asleep quickly, unaware of his gaze lingering on her for another long, long moment.
Chapter: 9/?
Rating: PG
Warnings: None.
Disclaimer: No Kenshin under the Christmas tree this year either… :(
Notes: I’m sorry this is so late! My new job just ate most of my free time during the week, and moving to a new apartment swallowed the leftovers - you just need so many things to furnish a place! But, I’ve slowly reached cruising speed. So back to writing it is!
Also, transition chapters, yo~
Beta: Thiswontbebigondignity, a.k.a The Enabler. :P
Lastly, a very happy new year to all of you! :D
A Breath of Fresh Air
The house Kenshin has been given sits on a bend of the road in the outskirts of Otsu. They cross the town in the late afternoon sun, and do not try to hide - they are refugees, like so many others, and no one must think otherwise.
Visiting the house takes seconds - it is little more than a cabin, with its four walls and little overhang on the side, and only one room, sparsely furnished. Still, the walls are sturdy, and the roof should not leak. It will do. Kenshin stands in the middle of the room and Kaoru wonders what memories the place has awaken. They must be fond; a soft smile plays on his lips.
There is a note and a medicine box waiting for him. For his cover, Kenshin is to pass as a doctor selling his remedies and that, too, earns a little smile from him.
“Can you do that?” Kaoru asks after reading the note. Having always had doctors nearby, she has never needed to learn much about healing herbs.
To her relief, Kenshin nods.
“Shishou taught me a bit about them,” he answers. “The nearest doctor was a two-day walk away; we couldn’t be too careful. I’ll see what I can find around here in the morning.”
“All right… It’s a nice cover, no one would suspect a doctor and his wife…”
He hums in response. “It will be nice, for a change,” he whispers, almost to himself, but she can hear him in the surrounding silence. Hear him, and the meaning behind his words. She calls his name, just as softly, and the smile he gives her is tremulous.
This time, he is almost, almost daring to hope.
-~-~-~-
They quickly dust the place and unpack their belongings, then Kenshin starts a fire and Kaoru prepares some of the rice and vegetables they brought. He keeps an eye on her, even managing to give her a few pointers without sounding patronizing, and dinner turns out all right. Maybe not good, or at least not as good as what Kaoru’s mother’s cooking could be, but definitely better than what she is used to.
Her relief even turns to pride when Kenshin asks her for seconds, his face open enough that she can tell he is not merely trying to be polite.
(She also commits Kenshin’s advice to memory for future reference, but she isn’t telling him that.)
-~-~-~-
There is only one futon. Of course. The Ishin Shishi have not planned for her coming; Kenshin was supposed to occupy the house alone.
Kaoru briefly wonders about the possible implications should they discover her here, but quickly dismisses the thought. There are more pressing matters at hand. Like the undeniable fact that there is only one futon and two of them and that, as much as she cares about Kenshin and knows he cares about her, the mere thought of sharing a bed makes her mind blank and her heart skip a beat. Not bad per se, but far too big a step and too intimate a gesture. They are not there yet.
… And her overactive mind starts wondering if she wants them to ever be there, but this is not the time to open the can of worms that are her feelings for Kenshin. Later. When they’ve solved this particular problem - surely they’re mature enough to get over this?
Kaoru shakes her head to clear it and is forcing her thoughts back under control when Kenshin materializes by her side and saves the day. He is wearing a night yukata and has tied his hair in a low ponytail, but his sword is still firmly in his hand.
“Take the futon,” he says, “I don’t need it.” He isn’t blushing like she is. Rather, his voice is almost… cold. Distant. Not what Kaoru expected.
“What? But…”
“I’m not comfortable lying down.” He explains, and proves his point by sitting down with his back against the wall. His sword comes to rest against his shoulder, and Kaoru understands. Lying down would slow his movements and reactions, if something were to happen. It would make him more vulnerable. Hitokiri Battousai simply cannot afford this luxury.
Kaoru understands, so she doesn’t discuss it. She simply nods and thanks him before slipping behind the paper screen to change too. When she emerges, he has closed his eyes and appears to be dozing lightly - to give her some privacy as she climbs into bed, no doubt. He holds his head low, but his ki is still too sharp for him to be truly asleep.
Still, he jerks up when she wraps a blanket around his shoulders, mindful of his sword.
“It’s colder out here,” she explains. “We don’t want the doctor getting sick, do we?”
“That… wouldn’t be a good image.”
“No… Are you sure you’ll be okay?” Some colour returns to Kenshin’s face at her question. Of course she’d ask. He even snuggles further into the blanket - the movement is barely there but, close as she is, Kaoru doesn’t miss it. He doesn’t even have to force himself that much to smile when he answers.
“Yes. I’m used to this.”
She fusses over the blanket for a breath more, and briefly squeezes his arm, the one that isn’t holding the sword, when she is done. “Alright then. Goodnight,” she whispers.
He replies in kind. “Sleep well.”
He closes his eyes again as soon as she stands back up, and lying down this close to him is surprisingly not awkward.
She blows the candle and tries to find a comfortable position, then: “Kenshin?”
“Yes?”
“Thank you for bringing me here.”
She falls asleep quickly, unaware of his gaze lingering on her for another long, long moment.