Kaoru trailed her fingers along the carefully inked parchment
Kaoru trailed her fingers along the carefully inked
parchment. As a child, maps fascinated her, and she often sat next to her
father as he copied them. It had been a hobby of his; something he said was
relaxing. The occasional afternoon when both her parents were able to rest was
filled with sitting in a high backed chair, watching her father draw lines. The
musky scent of parchment; the smell of her mother’s favorite tea; the crackle
of a fire if the afternoon was chilly with the promise of winter; her mother’s
teasing comments about the art of imitation… bittersweet memories.
Her father’s gift was to take what he had seen and re-create it. Maps,
pictures, paintings… anything his eyes had seen, although he seemed to prefer
maps. It never seemed to bother him that what he did wasn’t true creation.
Kaoru had once seen a picture he had drawn for her mother early in their
marriage, and she understood. While the picture was perfectly detailed… it
lacked some necessary life.
Instead, he patiently took a map and copied it line for line, noting each
mark with careful precision that could take only heartbeats or hours. It was
from her father that she learned how to read maps, learned what the
significance of knowing what your territory looked like, why understanding why
people fought wars over lines and scribbles was important.
The map in front of her was new. The lines were dark and the little markers
for how wide the lake was or how far one village was from another had been
carefully updated, the ink a different shade from the original color. Those who
didn’t live in Triath wouldn’t think twice about what the carefully drawn lines
of the map were hiding. Her memory of this particular enlarged area was
different. False information someone wouldn’t recognize.
She knew. Part of her was wondering if she was turning into the heretic that
priests said she was by giving up the information. Was it disloyal? To whom?
She would be sentencing Kenshin’s soldiers to death if she didn’t let him know
about certain inconsistencies in the maps her people had given him as part of
the now-broken trade agreement. It worried her that Tomoe would have given him
inadequate maps. That meant whatever she was planning, she might have been
planning anyway. On the other hand, perhaps these were stolen. Would it really
be betraying her people, the subjects that her cousins were exploiting, if
mercenaries Tomoe had brought in were also using her people so that they could
one day take the land for themselves? Was it betrayal to save them from that?
Oh, that report had hurt. Learning that Tomoe was willing to give up the
land their ancestors had sweated and died for, that their people fought every
day to make a living from, to mercenaries. Sold to the highest bidder.
It disgusted the part of her that had listened to her father for hours on
responsibility to the people.
Standing, she walked to the window and sighed. If those were her only
concerns… but they weren’t her only concerns, so she couldn’t say exactly what
she would be doing instead. A ghost of a smile crossed her face and she headed
back to her little table.
That morning Kagerou had brought her a packet that Tsunan, who now preferred
to be called Katsu, had delivered for her to read. His note told her that he
had run into an old friend who worked for Kenshin and sent along a copy to him
as well. It was amusing seeing the lengths her father’s men, now hers, were
willing to go to show that they were aligned with her first.
Since Kenshin had been in meetings all day with his generals, Kaoru could
only assume he had received the information. Kagerou would never keep such
information from Kenshin, even though her spy was curiously determined to make
sure she received it first. She rubbed her forehead as she sat down, trying to
relieve some of the tension headache she could feel building.
Katsu’s report had caused a knot of anger and disbelief in her gut that
churned like acid. There were such discrepancies in how they were raised. How had
two brothers produced children with so different morals?
Finding out why Tomoe was making certain decisions was nearly as
important as how they were going to stop her. Katsu’s report had given her
something else to consider. The suggestion that she was sleeping with Akira
Kiyosato was shocking enough. That this Kiyosato had made a blood pact with a
demon…
Kaoru knew from the books she had been taking from Kenshin’s library and
giving herself headaches going through that magic was part of everything. It just
depended on if you had the power to claim that magic for yourself, to bend it
to your will. It wasn’t that Triath didn’t have magic, it was that the people
never been taught to use it.
The temple had magic. They called it something else, gave it new definitions,
but it was magic. It wasn’t the natural magic Kenshin’s people practiced,
careful of how much they took and how they used it… but it was still magic.
Having grown up with a mother that was quietly, but firmly, against the state
religion had made the transition to Kenshin’s kingdom easier. She had still
been taught the basics and had made her yearly offering, but she didn’t have
the built in resistance to what was such a part of her husband’s life.
Through her years spent in the temple, Kaoru had learned things that were
just now starting to make sense as she started to understand the rules and
guidelines in her husband’s spell books. Too many things were just accepted
by her people. No one thought it was at all odd that the Temple had it own brand
of magic, no one thought it odd that the royal family was somehow able to rule
the priests. The priests had power. The royal family had nothing but their
bloodline and name, a political position.
Tracing her fingers over the lines that separated Cervon from Triath, she
considered the land between the countries. There was a strip of land there,
nearly a mile wide that no man (and supposedly beast) dared inhabit. Fear of
contamination from Cervon, presumably. She wasn’t sure why Kenshin’s people had
chosen not to inhabit it before Kenshin ordered the barrier that Tokio was
working so hard on. Besides the smallholdings and watchtowers, she didn’t
remember there being a lot of inhabitation near the border.
There were supposedly secrets in the temple that only the royal family knew,
but Kaoru didn’t know what those were. She hadn’t been privy to those books or
tablets. There were only whispered rumors of a great source of power that the
temple controled. Considering the lack of magical use… if she applied the same
theory that the palace used to heat the towels and baths, but instead of using
it the priests stored it somehow…
Frowning, she rubbed the ache between her eyes. What would that mean? Why
wouldn’t the priests have already used it. Why would they use it? Did it have
something to do with the royal family? Was that why they held power over the
priests? How was that factoring into Tomoe’s plan?
She needed information and she needed to get it without letting Kenshin know
what she was doing. If she was right… then he wouldn’t be able to do anything
about it. He was going to have enough problems, what with Kiyosato and his
demon magic. Kaoru didn’t have any idea how demon magic worked other than it
warped everything it touched and that it was best used in battle.
What had someone said once? That Kenshin’s magic also worked best on the
battle field? Worrying her bottom lip with her teeth, her breath caught in her
throat at the delicate touch of her husband through the bond between them. For
a single moment she was wrapped in strong arms and warm, washing her anxiety
and nerves away. It was frustrating that she couldn’t return the favor, at
least not yet…
Closing her eyes in pleasure, she sighed in regret when he pulled away. No,
her husband’s focus was going to have to be Kiyosato. She was the one who was
going to have to worry about Tomoe. For now, at least.
Sitting up, she stared back down at the maps in front of her. For now, this
was what she could concentrate on. She needed more information to handle the
rest of it. Until then, she might as well make sure her husband had the best
possible maps to plan his attack with.
This was something she could do to help.
Taking her mind away from Kiyosato and Tomoe, and what their plans were, she
bent her memory to remembering land, villages, and open places for battle.
Kenshin would know more than she with what to expect from her cousins. She
could put her father in that. Kagerou would find out what she wanted to know
and then she would decide what her move was going to be.
Sliding her finger down the map, she located where she thought the
underground tunnel to the temple opened in a small clearing. Emergency exit.
There was another use for it, she had heard her father comment once, but Kaoru
wasn’t sure what that was. Yet. She would be by the time the battle came. She
supposed she could tell Kenshin about the place later. Once she was sure it was
where her memory said it was.
All this thinking was giving her another raging headache.
Well, she was just going to have to beg his forgiveness for this after they
both survived. Assuming, of course, it was necessary. She could be
reading everything wrong. She wouldn’t know until Kagerou could find her the
information she wanted.
“You’re not Kenshin.”
The tone was young and brimming with accusation and Kaoru sat up. She found
herself looking at an annoyed face, about fourteen, dark brown eyes and hair.
He looked a little tired, but the grumpiness in that face pulled her from the
deep reflections that were doing her no good.
“No, I’m Kaoru.”
Arms crossing in front of him, he frowned. “He married you?”
Both brows raised, she blinked at him. “Yes, he did and who are you?”
“I’m his cousin.” The words were growled at her, as if she should know the
answer already.
Feeling faintly annoyed, Kaoru narrowed her eyes. “Oh, I’m sorry. I was
expecting someone a little… older, I suppose.”
“What?”
Tapping her lips with her fingers, she nodded. “With that attitude, I would
have assumed you were much younger than what Kenshin described you as.” Not
that Kenshin had bothered to describe him at all. Something to poke him about
later… with force. “You have to be at least twelve.” Amused at the way his
features were slowly turning red with frustration, Kaoru leaned back and offered
him her best smile. What can I help you with?”
Those dark eyes narrowed. “I’m looking for Kenshin.”
“He is in a meeting with his generals.”
“What,” the boy returned, “he doesn’t want you in there?”
Kaoru shrugged. “I don’t know. Does a Queen normally join her husband in
those sorts of meetings?” The question was general curiosity. Kenshin was too
tactful not to let her know about the choice to join him if he thought she had
something to offer.
The boy looked grumpy. “I don’t know.”
She smiled. “I shall be sure to ask him then.”
The boy’s eyes flickered over to the table. “What are you doing?”
“Studying the maps.”
“I can see that,” his voice was borderline insulting. “Why?”
“These maps were given to us by the Yukishiros,” she pointed out easily. “I
was checking to see if there are any inconstancies that Kenshin should know
about.”
To her surprise, instead of leaving, he walked over. His round face was
interested.
“Do you study maps?”
“That idiot uncle of mine makes me memorize them,” his tone was absent. “Says
I need to learn practical skills and map making might as well be one of them.
“So you can draw a straight line?”
“Everyone can draw a straight line, ugly.”
Kaoru blinked, and then scowled. She might not be the most attractive thing
in the room, but honestly! “Well, then you won’t mind drawing the corrections
onto this map for me. As practice.”
Brown eyes stared at her in disbelief. “You have to be kidding me…”
“It is unkind to lie to children.” She smirked at his sputtering. Two could
play at this game and he had already shown a dislike for being young. Calling
him a child wasn’t the most adult thing she had ever done, but it was fun.
“Do I need to find some sand in case you make a mess?” She took his almost
silent swearing as an agreement and moved over so she could point out the
lines.
~*~
“That is not the symbol I asked for.”
“I can’t help it if you can’t read our language properly!”
“For someone supposedly born in this country, your grasp of the language is
atrocious.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
“It means you should go back to grammar school with the first year students
and learn how to read and write, like a good little boy. Now here is some sand,
and if you write it correctly this time I might be able to find you a cookie.”
“I am not a kid!”
“So you don’t want a cookie?”
He growled at her.
Kaoru lifted one brow, leaning her hip against the table, and watched him
with unblinking eyes. Swearing at her, he picked up the sand and attacked the
spot Kaoru decided was unacceptable. His second attempt was actually very good.
“There,” he growled as he etched the drying spell over the map, sealing in
his marks. Kaoru felt a pang of jealousy. She couldn’t have done that if she
wanted. “I hope that is to your satisfaction?”
Reaching out, she ruffled his hair with a smile. “Yes, thank you.”
“Will you stop that?” he snarled, batting at her hands.
“Alright, alright,” Kaoru said with a smile, lifting her hands. “You’re just
too cute when you’re mad.” At his snort of disbelief, she grinned. “I’m
hungry.”
“So?”
“So, do I get your name or am I just going to refer to you as ‘the kid’
every time someone ask me who helped me with the map?”
“Yahiko.”
“Well, Yahiko, I’m going to go and beg dinner out of Tae. Care to join me?”
She leaned forward, her eyes dancing conspiratorially. “If we ask really nice
she even gives us honey cake.”
“Honey cake?”
“Hmmm,” she agreed, her eyes closing at the thought. “My favorite.”
“Aren’t you going to eat with Kenshin?”
“He said he was going to be cooped up with the generals until sometime
tonight. I refuse to sit at the court table if I don’t have to, and I’m far
more comfortable eating actual food.” Shoving her hands into the pockets of the
trousers she was wearing, she grinned. “Besides, I think I should get to know
my cousin.”
Brown eyes blinked at her.
“You should know,” Kaoru said as she moved down the hall and away from the
startled boy. “If I get there first I get your honey cake.”
~*~
Kenshin walked into his private room, his eyes taking in the figure his
uncle cut against the dark furniture of the room. He was still wearing that
ridiculous white cloak and his boots were muddy.
“Already drinking?”
“After hearing of your current stupidity, I wonder how you expect me to
survive on the pitiful amount of ale you have here.” Hiko responded, swirling
the amber liquid in his glass, a frown on his face.
“I suppose you are going to bless me with your opinion on the current
situation, whether I want it or not?”
“The current situation?” Hiko drawled. “You mean the fact that you, my idiot
nephew, are preparing to go to war after having brought home the wrong bride?”
Kenshin sighed and settled himself in for a lecture.
Hiko ignored him.
“When Shinomori told me the extent of the situation I was dumfounded. I
suppose I had given you too much credit. When I left for my well-earned
vacation, I was aware of your stupidity. I suppose I should be thanking the
gods. The woman you picked out all on your own was a nightmare! I
suppose it is a blessing you can’t tell one naked woman from another in the
dark.”
Kenshin sighed. “Are you finished?”
“Discussing the entirety of your stupidity would take months. I shall
content myself with lighting candles to the gods in the hope that any children
you have take after your wife.” Hiko took a drink of ale and eyed Kenshin.
“When exactly are you going to invite me to meet the lovely woman? All I have
heard about her is promising, although she might not enjoy being stuck with
such an idiot.”
“Kaoru is our private chamber.” Kenshin said, masking his exasperation. “She
has the best working knowledge of Triath and agreed to go over our maps.”
“Then I shall go and speak to Tae about the preparations for dinner.” Hiko
declared. He finished off his glass.
“You want to catch up on all the gossip.” Kenshin corrected in exasperation.
“Yahiko is bathing at this time, but will probably wish to see you in the
near future. Try not to stay locked up in those meetings. I have already
informed Shinomori that I wish to see a summarized copy of the reports.”
Kenshin shook his head as Hiko swept out of the room. There had to be some
great sin in a past life that had made that man his relative. However, the
introduction of his wife to his younger cousin would prove to be interesting.
Yahiko was at the age where he preferred to pull hair and call the opposite sex
names.
Maybe it would work as some kind of distraction for his wife. Kaoru was too
tightly strung with nerves. Of course, there were other distractions…
Rubbing the bridge of his nose, he headed back into the meetings that were
now going to go well into night.
~*~
“This is your idea of a honey cake?” Kaoru said in disgust, looking at the
slice on Yahiko’s plate. “You’re supposed to respect the honey cake.”
The boy looked at her and rolled his eyes. “There is nothing wrong with my
piece of cake?”
“It’s lonely.”
“Excuse me?”
Kaoru leaned forward, a grin tugging at her lips. “It’s lonely.”
“It’s a piece of cake!” Yahiko retorted. “It’s not capable of being lonely!”
“Oh, to be young again,” Kaoru said with a sigh. Standing up, she walked
over to the cold room and came out holding a small pot stained a dark green.
Settling back into her chair, she took off the ceramic lid. Inside was a
smooth, white substance.
Yahiko sat up in his chair. “How did you get Tae to make her clotted cream?”
She blinked at him. “I asked her nicely.”
“That’s it? Kenshin asks all the time!”
Kaoru shrugged. “I’m cuter.” Picking up a spoon, she dug into the cream and
dumped a huge dollop of the cream onto the soft, honey-glazed cake. “This is
how you eat honey cake.”
“How long have you been in this country?”
“Not long enough,” Tae said as she walked in, her apron covered in flower.
“She still doesn’t have any meat on her bones. That’s why she gets the cream.
You may have a half spoonful, Yahiko.”
The young man pouted. “But, Tae!”
Kaoru just grinned, her fork digging deep into the cake and cream
combination. The distraction was nice. The back of her mind was worried, but
this…
“So you must be the woman my idiot nephew married.”
Kaoru turned in surprise to find that she was staring at a man who she would
have thought to be related to Aoshi before she ever considered him related to
her husband. As lightly colored, as Kenshin was, this man was his exact
opposite. And he was so tall…
How many relatives did Kenshin have, anyway?
“I’m Kaoru… you are?”
“You may call me Hiko,” the man said easily.
“The rest of us call him less polite things,” Yahiko muttered under his
breath. Hiko ignored him and settled into a chair that Kaoru would never have
guessed would have fit his… girth.
Hiding her bemusement, Kaoru took another bite of cake. It was in moments
like this that Kaoru could almost imagine that there wasn’t a war going on… or
that she wasn’t consort to the king. Life had never been simple but it had been
a long time since she had these little moments…
Kenshin’s warmth brushed against her for a moment and then was gone.
“You’ll do.”
She looked up in surprise, her fork diving down into knuckles that had been
reaching for her cake. Ignoring Yahiko’s yelp, she blinked at Hiko.
“I beg your pardon?”
“You’ll do.”
Kaoru blinked at him. Before she could say anything, Yahiko snorted.
“Like she cares about your opinion.”
“My opinion is far more valued than yours,” the tall man pointed out. There
was a cup in his hand that hadn’t been there before.
“That’s what you think.” Yahiko retorted.
“That,” Tae said as she walked over with a tray of food, “is not ale at my
kitchen table.”
“Of course not,” Hiko said smoothly. “It’s something new I picked up in the
south.”
“Oh, not that sake stuff,” Yahiko said making a face.
“It is not my fault you cannot hold your liquor. I am doomed to raise boys
that cannot hold their liquor.” Hiko responded after a long sip.
“Adopt Sano.” Tae suggested.
Kaoru snickered into her drink, and pulled her most innocent look as Hiko
stared at her. She had so many questions she wanted to ask, but it just didn’t
seem like this was the time. Maybe when this whole mess with Tomoe was sorted
out.
~*~
Kaoru couldn’t sleep. Sitting up in her empty bed, she sighed. She supposed she
was spoiled, used to the warmth and feel of Kenshin next to her. She could have
headed over to the fireplace and built up the coals, but it wasn’t cold. It was
a lack of Kenshin.
Sliding out from under her covers, Kaoru headed into her closet. Finding a
pair of soft breaches and a tight undershirt, she changed. Kenshin was part of
the reason she couldn’t sleep, but he wasn’t all of it. Echoes from her
thoughts earlier that afternoon wouldn’t leave her alone and she needed to feel
the way her blade would hum in the air of the dojo. Rolling up her pants legs
to her knees, she didn’t bother with her boots. It had been a long time since
she felt the earth beneath her feet.
It was warm enough outside that Kaoru wondered why they even had the fires
going in the castle. Shook off the thought; it wasn’t really her decision and
she didn’t feel it was her place to complain. She opened the door to the dojo.
It was a calming dark, welcoming in its silence. Taking a deep breath, she
closed the door behind her. Heading to the screens along the sides, she threw
them open to let in the moonlight.
It took only a few moments for her vision to adjust, and while she was
waiting, she stretched out her muscles. Cameral would have her hide if she knew
she was out here with her hair still damp from her bath, but she couldn’t find
that she cared. She could always take another bath once she got back. She
needed to do something or she was going to go crazy.
The chances were that Kenshin wouldn’t be back from his meeting anyway.
Sighing heavily, and rising on her tiptoes to stretch the muscles in her
calves, she walked to the wall where Kenshin had promised to keep her sword.
There was no other sound in the world like steel hissing from a sheath. In
her lifetime, it had invoked so many different emotions. Tonight, it was a
promise; a promise that even if she couldn’t rid herself of her thoughts then
she could at least wear herself into a deep enough exhaustion that she would
sleep through them. Setting the scabbard back onto its holder, she walked to
the middle of the dojo. Bringing the blade up to watch it catch the moonlight,
she let it twist in her hands.
She had spoken to Kagerou. He had promised to send Katriona in to find out
what she could. She had contacts, he had said. Worry ate at her gut. The temple
was a dangerous place to snoop…
Turn.
She was running off partial information. Not knowing was worse than knowing.
It ate at your stomach and chest until you couldn’t breathe with worry for what
you thought and not what you knew.
Duck. Twist. Stab.
Her people were being held captive in their own homes by blood priests and
mercenaries, their own royal family having decided new land was more important
than that what was held by blood and oaths.
Slide. Sidestep. Counterstrike.
Her very marriage to Kenshin been a sort of betrayal to her people. She was
in love with this place, this land, these people…
Where did all of this put her in the coming war?
Slash. Duck. Sidestep.
Kenshin confused her with the stroke of his feelings against her soul.
Half-circle counterstrike.
Even the hum of power in her hands couldn’t slow her thoughts and she
sighed, stopped in the middle of the pattern and stared at the moon, her
shoulders heaving with exertion. Sweat beaded along her body, yet she was no
closer to finding the answers that she sought.
What would the answers she wanted gain her? What would they force her to
lose? Would she have to act in a way that she would regret?
Could she live with herself if she didn’t?
Stubbornly she set her jaw. She might not know the answers, but she would
find them. Finding her place in the pattern, she allowed herself to remember
the sound of her father’s voice directing her through the steps of her kata.
~*~
Kenshin was tired. There was a mild ache between his temples and he really
just wanted to be curled around his wife, smelling her skin and the faint scent
of flowers in her hair, as he let each individual muscle in his body slowly relax.
Except his wife wasn’t where she was supposed to be. There were signs that
she had been there: rumpled covers, half-tossed pillows, and the scent of her
bathwater. Closing his eyes, and ignoring the urge to wake Cameral and ask her
if his wife had acted differently, he felt along the threads and relaxed as he
felt her. Determined, uncertain, angry…
The way she had been all day, even with his attempts to assure her from a
distance. No wonder his wife couldn’t sleep. He had known this was tying her
into knots, but he hadn’t had the time to deal with anything lately. There was
never enough time. The moment of the attack on her had been followed suddenly
by so many other occurrences…
Well, he had the time now. Shedding his over shirt and belt, he headed out the
balcony stairs and into the garden. He had the time now and it was time to
comfort his unhappy wife.
~*~
Kaoru was sitting on the steps, watching the moon when he arrived. He paused
just to watch her. Several strands of her dark hair had worked their way loose
and they clung to her neck and face. Her bare toes were curled into the earth
and her sword was sword was held across her lap unsheathed.
There were moments when the simplicity of her beauty took his breath away.
“Some husbands would be disappointed that a sword was more attractive than
the bed they shared with their wives.”
Kaoru twisted around and blinked at him before setting her sword aside and
arching a brow at him. “Some husbands would warn their new wives that they have
family that would be invading.” Her tone was faintly hesitant.
Smiling, he walked over and sat next to her, letting his eyes linger on the
curve of her calves. “I wasn’t aware that they would be invading so soon,” he
replied honestly, letting one hand creep up under her braid to rub the tight
muscles of her neck. His smile widened as she sighed and leaned against him.
“I find it very difficult to believe that you are related to Hiko,” she told
him in that grumpy tone he thought was adorable. “The man is positively huge.”
“Are you describing Hiko or his ego?” Kenshin asked teasingly.
Kaoru snorted and poked him in the stomach. “He wasn’t… okay, so he was
slightly unbearable, but it was fun watching him defend himself against Tae.”
“So he did go into the kitchen,” Kenshin mused. “I sometime wonder if he is
going in there for the gossip or the verbal sparring.”
“With your family, I couldn’t tell.” Kaoru remarked dryly.
They settled into a relaxed silence that Kenshin finally broke.
“Something is bothering you.”
“Lot’s of things are bothering me,” Kaoru replied honestly. “But none of
them will be very helpful to talk about tonight.”
“I have the time.”
“You might have the time,” she replied, pulling away from his shoulder. “But
I don’t know how to talk about them.” Which was true. Oh, he was likely to be
the one who understood why her father’s kingdom being torn to shreds hurt her
so badly, but she just didn’t know how to express that. Didn’t want to.
“You forget,” Kenshin, chided gently, reaching up to curve his palm against
her cheek. “Not everything between us has to be about words, Kaoru.” Lightly he
brushed against the cord that connected their emotions. “Let me understand.”
The way her tongue stroked along her bottom lip almost nervously was
temptation, but he held himself in check as she relaxed, turning her cheek into
his palm. Reaching out with his other hand, he pulled her into his lap. She
settled against him smoothly, her head tucked into the crook of neck and
shoulder so that each breath ghosted across his collarbones. Closing his own
eyes, he let himself feel through each individual emotion, testing the depth
and learning exactly how affected she was by the entire mess.
While sorting through her jumbled emotions, he came across something that
had his breath catching in his throat. He didn’t spend long admiring the pale
thread; instead, he left it in peace, wondering how long it would be until she
noticed it. Stroking a hand down her side to settle along her hip, he slowly
let go of their connection, his mind turning over that delicate shadow of
emotion.
Kaoru shivered a little against him and he looked down at her bare feet
again. “You should have worn shoes.”
“I like the feel of the earth under my feet.” Her tone was mulish and grumpy
again, bringing a smile to his lips.
“That may be so, but you are cold.”
“I am not!” She protested as he stood easily with her in his arms. “I’m
just… I’m not used to being examined in quite that manner… and it’s…” her words
trialed off as she struggled to describe it.
Kissing the top of her hair, he held her for a long moment. “It’s something
that can’t be put into words, Kaoru. I understand.”
She nodded against his throat.
“However,” he allowed a note of mischief to creep into his voice as he sent
her sword back to it resting place with a spell “I think we should warm you up
anyway.”
Her head tilted back, both of her brows lifting into her hair. “Is that so?”
“Hmmm,” Kenshin agreed as he started to move back towards their bedroom,
hefting her teasingly. “Both of us need a bath.”
“I’ve already had mine,” she remarked offhandedly.
“You’re getting another one.”
“Greedy.”
He just smiled against her temple.
‘You have no idea.’
~*~
The table was curiously silent. Even Misao had nothing to say and the long
silence drowned on between them. Soujiro had lost his normally charismatic
smile, a cup of cold tea clutched in his hands. Megumi was starring at her
clenched fingers intently, as if the clean line of her nails could tell her all
the answers she needed. Sano was standing next to the fire, his back to them
all. Only Aoshi managed to maintain his normal air of calm.
“So,” Misao said finally. “We have two weeks to prepare.”
“Lord Shishio has already been informed,” Soujiro agreed. “Lady Yumi is
already working on a way to combat the blood priests before they can become a
larger problem.”
“Megumi,” Sano started, his voice muted by the crackling of the fire.
“I’m going.”
His mouth was a thin line as he turned to face her, his eyes dark in his
face. “Do you think that is a wise decision?” Years of interaction with his
wife had taught him that a direction confrontation would lead to nothing but
frustration and anger.
“I could never forgive myself if I something happens to anyone here and I
could have saved them.”
‘And the baby?’ He questioned on the mental thread between them. ‘You
would risk the baby?’
‘There is something in Kaoru’s face… she is distracted. Uncertain,’
she whispered into his mind. ‘I need to be there. I want this child… but can
we afford to loose Kaoru and Kenshin because I was unwilling to take that risk?’
He was silent.
“Well,” Misao said grimly. “Two weeks is enough time to prepare ourselves
physically, if not the troops mentally. The standing army has been prepared for
something like this since Kenshin first started making arrangements with the
Yukishiros. It is going to be a long march and it will be worse if we delay.
Kaoru was looking over the maps we had to make sure they were correct. Winters
are wet enough here, but they are bitterly cold in Triath.” Both of her hands were
clutched tightly around one of Aoshi’s.
“We cannot say we didn’t see this coming,” Aoshi pointed out. “We all knew
something would come once we cut off their trade routes.”
Soujiro grimaced. “Yes.”
“Anyone crazy enough to pull the stunt Yukishiro did isn’t fit to rule.”
Sano agreed. “It was just a matter of time before she found the forces to
strike back.”
“Then I suggest we all get some sleep.” Misao said finally. “We have a lot
of work to do in the next few weeks. We need to be prepared. Has Kaoru said
anything yet? Does anyone know how she feels about this?”
“She hasn’t said anything,” Megumi said with a frown.
“Kenshin knows how she feels, or he should,” Sano reminded them. “He will
take care of her.”
“Well,” Misao said as she leaned against Aoshi’s shoulder. “We can only hope
that two weeks is enough time for her to prepare, then. If she is distracted,
Kenshin will be too.”
“Yes,” Megumi said softly, her eyes lowered to her hands again. “We can
hope.”
