Rurouni Kenshin Fanfic

Rurouni Kenshin & Samurai X Original Japanese Version © N.Watsuki/Shueisha * Fuji-TV * SME Visual Works Inc. * Sony Pictures Entertainment

All Fanfics created by Chiruken and Rurouni Angel were written for the sole purpose of shared entertainment and not intended for publication or sale.

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A collaboration of Rurouni Angel and Chiruken

Rurouni Heir

by Rurouni Angel and Chiruken

Chapter 1

Himura Kenshin, red hair falling into his eyes, bent over the washtub and scrubbed vigorously in an attempt to remove all signs of dirt from the training gi he held in his strong hands. Gritting his teeth in frustration, he exerted more pressure against the rough scrub board before sitting back on his heels and swiping a muscular forearm across his damp brow. Heaving a deep sigh he reached to the side for the laundry soap and swiftly rubbed the bar against the soaked material. When satisfied that he had sufficiently soaped the soiled cloth he set the bar aside again and proceeded to continue scrubbing. Dammit! You WILL come clean!

Makimachi Misao, green eyes narrowed against the bright glare of the sun beating down on the dry yard of the Kamiya Doujou, sighed and leaned forward, dark braid falling over her shoulder, her gaze focusing on the rurouni’s irritated expression. “Problems, Himura?”

He sighed and dropped the soaked gi back into the water with a plot. Sitting back on his heels he stared straight ahead for a moment, expressive violet eyes troubled. “Misao-dono…” He turned to look at her briefly before reaching inside his faded and worn gi. “I…” He paused and clutched a newspaper tightly with his damp and soapy hands before drawing in a deep, shuddering breath. “I may have a problem, Misao-dono, that I may.” He stood slowly and moved to sit beside her on the engawa, still gripping the newspaper in a tight, white-knuckled hold and closed his eyes tightly, a small tremor passing through his tense form.

Misao waited patiently for her friend to continue, watching his expression carefully. “Hey, Himura…come on, just spit it out. What’s wrong?”

He opened his eyes and stared down at the newspaper he was currently mangling. Slowly forcing his hands to relax their death grip, he smoothed the paper across his thighs and opened it to the second page. Handing the paper to his younger companion he pointed to an article. “This is what’s wrong, that it is.”

Misao looked down at the headline he was pointing to. “”Foreign Heir Sought’.” She looked at him dubiously. “I don’t understand. What does this have to do with you?”

Kenshin closed his eyes and sighed, leaning back against the support post of the engawa. “Just read it, Misao-dono…” Why are they even looking after all this time? He drew in several shallow breaths in an attempt to bring his rioting emotions under control again. Unfortunately his breathing exercises weren’t working. He could feel the old despair rising up within him, threatening to break free. There is only one thing I can do… He opened his eyes and stare out across the familiar yard of the doujou he’d come to regard as home. I must leave…before Kaoru and the others find out…before this cursed secret is revealed. He closed his eyes against the pain his thoughts brought to his heart. Will they never give up? He lifted his hand absently to trace the cross-shaped scar on his left cheek absently. Can I still be who they are searching for? Do I want to be that person?

Misao bit her lip anxiously, not liking the distant look in his soft violet eyes. Reaching over, she placed her hand lightly on his shoulder and squeezed gently. “Himura?”

He snapped out of his daze instantly at the sound of the quiet concern in his companion’s soft voice. Turning his gaze to rest on his friend he smiled a little as he noticed how much she had grown since they’d first met two years before on the way to Kyoto. Shaking his head slightly, Kenshin tried to summon a typical cheerful rurouni smile for Misao, wanting to reassure her that nothing was wrong. As he watched a small frown pucker her brows he knew that it wasn’t going to work this time. She knows me too well…

“I don’t understand how this concerns you, Himura…but I get the feeling that you’re fighting the urge to run for higher ground.” She let her hand drop from his shoulder and lifted the newspaper again to reread the article he’d pointed out to her. Biting her lip she pointed to one line and read it aloud. “’A reward is being offered to any information regarding the current whereabouts of Matthew Kingston, heir to the fifth Earl of Rodenberry.’” She looked up at the sky with her lips pursed thoughtfully. “Sounds like an important guy.”

Kenshin closed his eyes and nodded. “Yes…very…” He paused and looked away from her pensive expression. “Misao-dono…I know where that missing heir is, that I do.”

“Really? Are you sure?” She let out a low whistle when he nodded. “Well? What kind of foreigner is he? Is he Dutch? German? What?”

He shook his head and sighed heavily. “Neither. He’s English, that he is. Well, part English. His father was Japanese, that he was.” He held her gaze and waited to see if she would piece together the truth he was hinting at. When her eyes went round with amazement and her lips parted on a soft gasp, he nodded, expression grave.

“B-but…Himura! How—“ She drew in a quick breath and settled for shaking her head emphatically. “This can’t be.” She finally whispered.

“Matthew Kingston is a name I haven’t heard since I was a child…”

“So…what are you going to do now?” She waited and when he didn’t reply she snorted derisively. “You’re going to disappear, right? Start wandering again. You can’t do that, Himura. Think of all your friends. Besides…running away never solved anything.”

“I’m sorry, Misao-dono, that I am.”

“At least wait until tomorrow! Maybe if we just work together we can come up with a solution. Please? Promise me that you won’t leave tonight.” When he didn’t answer, just stared at her with wide eyes, she reached out and grabbed his hand and held it tightly. “Please, promise me, Himura.” She whispered softly, green eyes pleading.

Slowly, reluctantly he nodded. “All right, Misao-dono…I promise, that I do.” He gently extricated his hand from her grasp and turned back to his laundry. “I should finish the washing before Kaoru-dono returns, that I should.” Kneeling before the washtub, he resumed scrubbing, thoughts still in turmoil as he pondered the inevitable outcome of his predicament.

Misao watched as a frown darkened the rurouni’s expression and she knew he hadn’t been convinced that leaving wasn’t the answer…at least not yet. A sudden thought occurred to her. “Say, Himura…what is your name?”

He paused and glanced at her questioningly, thinking that that had been one of the oddest questions he’d heard in quite some time. “Oro?”

“I mean…which is your real name? Himura Kenshin…or Matthew Kingston?”

“Both.” He smiled a little at her dark scowl.

“Both.” She repeated flatly. “What kind of answer is that?” She rolled her eyes when he turned back to the laundry he was scrubbing. A sudden thought occurred to her and she snatched the newspaper up again to reread the article. “Ano…Himura…” She swallowed and slowly folded the paper neatly. He glanced at her questioningly before focusing on his laundry again. “Do you know why they’re suddenly so intent on finding you?” He shook his head with a shrug and she fought the urge to throw her hands up and scream in frustration. “Did you even read that article?”

“Well…” He hedged with a guilty expression crossing his features as he reached for another item to scrub. “Most of it…why?”

“Most…” She shook her head with a look of mild disgust before leaning closer to him. “They want to marry you off!”

“Oro?” Startled out of his dark thoughts, most of which were centered on the last stubborn stain marring the white perfection of Kaoru’s training gi…anywhere but on the topic at hand and his English family now searching for him after so many years of ignoring his existence… Kenshin looked up quickly and found himself shockingly close to the young ninja. “Oro?!” Pulling back swiftly, he found himself falling with undignified abruptness to the ground, the washtub tipping over and drenching him, plastering his comfortable hakama to his legs with foaming suds dripping off his soaked hair. “Orororo…”

Misao blinked, a faint blush spreading across the bridge of her nose, all thoughts of the implications of the newfound information concerning her friend’s history rushing to the back of her mind. Kami-sama…his eyes…they’re beautiful! She’d never thought eyes could be that mesmerizing…and all because of one too close glance into the rurouni’s unusual eyes. Misao felt a soft smile tugging at her lips, green eyes slightly unfocused as she searched for a way to describe the colour of her friend’s eyes, and tugged thoughtfully on her plaited hair. Blue…but more than that! The sky is blue, the lake is blue…but that doesn’t come close… She sneaked another glance at Kenshin and fought the urge to laugh. He was still covered with soap bubbles, a dazed expression on his handsome face. Orchids! That’s it! His eyes remind me of purple orchids. Satisfied that she’d found her answer, the young ninja leaned forward with a grin. “Hey Himura, do you need some help?”

Shaking himself out of his momentary stupor, the former hitokiri grinned and shook his head. “No, no! I’m fine, Misao-dono, that I am!” With typical rurouni cheer he surveyed the mess with a shrug. “Well…” Heaving a soft sigh he began to gather the scattered laundry. “I’ll have to wash everything again, that I will.”

Misao bent to help the hapless rurouni in his task of picking the laundry off of the now muddied ground. “Say, Himura…” She waited until he paused and glanced at her. “Do you really like doing the laundry?” It was something she’d been curious about for some time.

“Ano…” After tossing the last of the soiled clothing back into the washtub, he sat back on his heels and contemplated a suitable reply. With Misao, he felt comfortable enough to open up and be completely truthful. Placing his hand behind his head he laughed a little with a shrug. “It occupies the time, that it does.” Lowering his hand he stared at the pile of clothes and sighed softly. “But truthfully, I just like to be clean, that I do.”

“Clean?” Misao tilted her head to the side curiously. “This has something to do with your past, doesn’t it?”

Looking at her quickly, he marveled at her incredible astuteness. “How did you---“ He paused and drew in a quick breath before grinning. “Sometimes I think you know me too well, Misao-dono, that I do.” Standing in one fluid motion he bent to retrieve the water bucket resting beside the washtub.

She shrugged with an answering smile. “It’s the only thing that makes sense.” Her smile turned into a grimace. “Well, it was either that or you’re gay.”

Kenshin dropped the bucket in his shock. “Oro?! Gay?!” Shaking his head sharply, he narrowed a slightly annoyed look at the dark haired young woman sitting on the engawa with one knee drawn up to her chest and resting her chin on it comfortably. “I can assure you, Misao-dono, that I am not gay.” With that said he retrieved the water bucket again and turned abruptly to cross the yard to the well.

Biting her lip, Misao closed her eyes and sighed softly. “I’m glad, Himura…it would be embarrassing to discover I’m attracted to a man who isn’t even interested in women…” She whispered softly as she opened her eyes again to watch as he drew water from the well, her gaze resting admiringly on his red hair. Everything about him is unique…

Feeling Misao’s gaze resting on him he paused in the act of drawing the water to turn his head slightly, looking back at her. The way she was looking at him… He jerked his gaze away and stared into the water, seeing his reflection staring right back at him. “Misao…” He closed his eyes as he breathed her name on a soft exhalation. Drawing in a shaky breath, he shook his head slightly. Get a grip, Himura…she was just looking at you. It doesn’t mean anything. Opening his eyes again, he tried to ignore the pang of disappointment his logic brought to him.

Biting her cheek to hold in mischievous laughter, Misao stood and slowly, cautiously crossed the hard packed yard, creeping up behind the unfortunate rurouni. Knowing that she couldn’t actually sneak up behind an ex-assassin didn’t deter her in the slightest since she knew that he would play along with her antics like the good little rurouni he was. Biting her cheek harder as she felt giggles threatening to erupt at her thoughts, she crept closer, walking on tip toe now that she had closed the distance. I want to hear him laugh… The thought was part mischievous and part wistful. She loved his laughter…it was so lighthearted and full of fun. A moment later she paused, watching as his muscles tensed, signaling that he’d detected her presence behind him. Drawing in a quick breath she leaned forward, pursing her lips into a deliberately thoughtful frown and reached out to tap his shoulder. What happened next left her head spinning with shock.

Sensing Misao directly behind him, Kenshin decided to just turn to her and avoid more teasing concerning his supposed sexual preferences. He could detect the amusement fluctuating in her ki, giving away her intentions before she had a chance to put whatever devious plan she had into action. Turning to face her, his eyes widened in shock when he found himself eye-to-eye, nose-to-nose…and lip-to-lip with the young ninja. Deciding just for a moment, to throw caution to the wind, he pulled her into his arms, holding her close, and turned the accidental brushing of lips into a real kiss. He found he liked the sensation of having her in his arms. When she pressed her slender form closer, her arms moving around his neck in immediate response, he knew he was lost.

Misao moaned softly, overwhelmed by the tidal wave of sensation as Kenshin’s lips moved against her own before trailing over her jaw to the slender column of her throat. Tilting her head back she allowed a soft, throaty groan to escape her parted lips, hands clutching at the damp material of his faded and worn gi. “Kenshin…”

He froze, feeling as if a bucket of cold water had been thrown on him, cooling his ardor instantly. “Misao…” He whispered her name hoarsely against the smooth skin of her arched throat. What have I done? Closing his eyes tightly he slowly, gently, pulled her arms from around him, not daring to look at her directly. “Misao-dono…” He swallowed and cleared his throat before trying again. “I’m sorry, that I am.” Drawing in a quick breath he turned and bolted, not caring where he went as long as it put some much needed distance between himself and the tempting young woman he’d left standing in the deserted yard of the doujou.

Misao drew in several deep breaths, trying desperately to understand what had just happened. Finally she scowled and, hands clenched into fists at her sides, ran in the direction Kenshin had disappeared in. “Damn you, rurouni! You are not getting away with this!” She growled under her breath, using her ninja training to her advantage and following in the most likely direction he’d gone in.

Stupid, stupid, stupid! It was a mantra of self-condemnation chanting through his mind as he turned abruptly and jumped with ease to the roof of the training hall. How could I be so stupid? Dropping down to his knees he bowed his head and closed his hands into fists on his thighs. Himura, you’re an idiot.

Misao skidded to a halt and scowled around herself before looking up at the roof. Eyes narrowing she took a few steps back and then sprang forward to take a running jump, her hands catching the edge of the roof, using her arms she began to pull herself up, bracing her feet against the wall for extra leverage and support. After a moment of struggle, she managed to roll onto the roof and lay panting for a moment before jumping to her feet and glaring down at Kenshin who happened to be looking at her in wide-eyed shock. Planting her fists on her hips, she fixed him with a green-eyed glare. “Have you suffered many head injuries recently, Himura?”

“Oro?” Kenshin blinked uncertainly up at her. “Misao-do—“ Whatever he intended to say was abruptly cut off when the young woman’s knuckles connected with the top of his head forcefully. “Itai!” He rubbed the sore spot vigorously.

Crouching down in front of him she grasped his hand. “Kenshin, listen to me…” When he bowed his head and stared at the tiles of the roof she sighed and reached out, grabbing a handful of red hair and tugged hard to ensure she had his full attention. “I know you’re upset, but don’t run away, all right? If…” She swallowed and drew in a shallow breath before continuing. “If you regret what just happened, that’s all right…just don’t push me away. I’m your friend, right?”

He reached up and gently disentangled her fingers from his hair with a small half smile. “Of course we’re friends, Misao-dono.” He looked up and gave her a typical rurouni grin.

She rolled her eyes. “I hate it when you do that, you know.” Lowering herself to the smooth tiles, she sat cross-legged in front of him, still holding his hand loosely. “Your laundry is still waiting, remember?”

“It can wait, that it can.” He looked away for a moment, a frown marring his features. “Misao-dono…I…” He paused and drew in a deep, calming breath, feeling his emotions swirling around inside, threatening to overwhelm him. “I owe you an apology, that I do. I should not have done what I did, that I should not have.”

“Stupid rurouni.” She muttered under her breath as she glared at his profile.

Startled, he turned his soft violet gaze back to her. “I beg your pardon?” Did she just call me a stupid rurouni?

“Oops…did I say that out loud?” She grinned a little nervously, hoping against all hope that he wouldn’t take offense. “Look Himura…can we continue this on the ground and in the shade? It’s a little hot to be perched up on the roof.”

“Misao…” He began, wanting nothing more than to take the hint and drop the subject, but also knowing that he couldn’t.

“You’re forgiven, all right? I don’t want to talk about it anymore. It was a mistake…just one horrible mistake…I understand that.” She looked away quickly before he could see the hurt in her eyes.

He nodded slowly. “All right…” He murmured softly, expression sad, eyes wistful as he slowly stood, tugging on her hand to help her up as well. Suddenly he scooped her up in his arms and stepped off the edge of the roof to land lightly on the ground.

Misao blinked as he set her down. “Ano…thanks, Himura.” She turned to leave when she felt his hand on her arm. She glanced over her shoulder at him questioningly.

“Misao-dono…” He kept his head bowed and drew in a quick breath before continuing. “I…”

“Kenshin! Hey Kenshin, where are you?”

Kenshin swore under his breath at the untimely interruption. Casting a quick look at Misao he groaned inwardly. He doubted she’d let him have another chance to explain. “Misao, we’ll continue this discussion later.” His tone left no room for argument. He turned on his heel and strode towards the corner of the house, the direction from which the call had originated. “We’re over here, Kaoru-dono, that we are.”

Misao stared after him in a state of shock. “Kenshin…” She whispered softly before hurrying after him. She knew it was useless to run or hide…he was stubborn enough to drop everything to find her.

“Misao.”

She halted and spun. “A-Aoshi-sama!” She pressed a shaking hand to her chest over her heart, feeling it thud painfully against her ribs. Where did he come from?!

“Misao, come here.” He watched impassively as she hastened to obey, soft breeze ruffling his dark hair, blowing it into his cool green eyes. Some things never change… He thought grimly. When she stood before him, a faint blush staining her cheeks, he gestured towards the engawa. “Come. We must talk.”

“Ano…” She swallowed against a lump that seemed to form in her throat. It’s probably my heart!

“You do realize what you are doing, do you not?” Shinomori Aoshi, former leader of the Oniwabanshu, fixed a direct stare at the young woman he considered as a younger sister. Thank kami-sama she’s finally over that silly childhood crush she had on me!

“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about, Aoshi-sama.” She whispered as she clasped her hands behind her back and stared at the ground…anywhere but at him…and dug her toe into the dirt.

“Then let us speak frankly, Misao. You are attracted to Battousai.” When she looked up with a hot blush staining her cheeks, green eyes flashing and her lips parted…obviously ready to deny his statement…he snorted and held up a hand. “Don’t try to deny it. It is plain to see.”

“Yeah, well…it doesn’t really matter since he doesn’t feel the same.” She shrugged and hoped her hurt feelings at the rurouni’s rejection didn’t show in her tone.

“Nonsense. I saw the two of you by the well. He certainly didn’t appear to be unaffected or disinterested, Misao.”

“Y-you saw?!” Her hands flew to cover her cheeks as embarrassment washed over her. Can this get any worse?! All I need is to discover that Kaoru saw too and my humiliation will be complete!

Aoshi sighed inwardly and barely resisted the urge to roll his eyes. “Yes, I saw. It seems to me that someone should have a talk with him.”

“No!” Misao’s eyes darted around, expression revealing something close to panic. She reached out and grabbed his sleeve. “Aoshi-sama, promise me you won’t say anything.” When he remained silent she stepped closer and released his sleeve to grasp the front of his shirt. “Promise me, Aoshi! I don’t want you to say anything to him!”

“I think you’re overreacting, Misao.” He reached up and gently removed her hands from his shirt, smoothing the wrinkles out distractedly. “He merely needs to be told of your feelings.”

“Uh huh. Just like you did, right? No thank you. I don’t need any help, Aoshi-sama.”

“Then you are content with this arrangement? Do not be a fool, Misao. Love is a precious gift and should not be wasted.”

Misao heaved a deep sigh and turned to face him again. “Please, just leave it alone. I’d rather be his friend than risk pushing him away by being too forward or demanding. You know of his past just as well as I do…I could never take the place of Tomoe-san in his heart and there’s no use in even trying.”

“You are being foolish. But if this is how you want it to be, then so be it. I won’t interfere.” Aoshi shook his head, a flicker of sadness flashing in his green eyes before he turned away. “Take my advice, Misao-chan…tell him how you feel before it’s too late. Time is fleeting and waits for no one.” With that said he strode away, steps silent on the smoothly polished boards of the engawa. Misao sighed again and shook her head slowly as he turned the corner and disappeared from sight.

“He’s right, y’know.”

With a half strangled shriek she spun, pulling her kunai and preparing to throw them before she recognized the owner of the voice. “Kami-sama! Don’t do that!”

“Che…you’re too violent, weasel girl.” Sagara Sanosuke leaned against a support post of the engawa with his hands shoved into his pockets and a blade of grass dangling from his mouth as he smirked at her, brown eyes revealing an intelligence most people overlooked.

“Don’t call me weasel!” Misao visibly bristled at the familiar insulting nickname. Eyes narrowing suspiciously, she advanced on the former fighter-for-hire, hands gripping the comforting and familiar smooth hilts of her kunai tight enough her knuckles turned white. “Just how long have you been here, Sagara?” Her voice, usually bright and cheerful, emerged sounding like a low.

“Long enough, weasel.” He turned his head, red ties from the bandana holding his spiky brown hair out of his eyes trailing over his shoulder, and spat the blade of grass out. “So…whatcha gonna do ‘bout you and Kenshin?”

She lowered her weapons and bowed her head, allowing her dark hair to fall into her face, obscuring her expression and ignored the habitual insulting nickname. “You too, Sanosuke?” She sighed softly and shook her head slowly. “Nothing can ever become of it, so it’s better to just pretend nothing happened.”

“Kuso…” He swore softly and grabbed her shoulder, shaking her gently. “Don’t be so stupid, Misao. He wouldn’t have kissed you if he weren’t interested. You should know by now that Kenshin doesn’t do anythin’ without a reason.” He shook her a little more. “And he doesn’t just go around doin’ stuff like that unless he has serious feelin’s…he isn’t the kind of guy to play around with that sort of thing. Got it?”

Misao stared up at him with something close to shock. “But…”

“But what? Why did he stop?” Sanosuke rolled his eyes and shook her once more before releasing her. “You really are a stupid weasel.” He turned and shoved his hands deep into his pockets. “When you figure it out, let me know.”

“H-hey! Wait!” She grabbed the back of his shirt and held on tight, halting his progress. She rested her forehead against his back and closed her eyes. “Please, Sanosuke…help me to understand…”

Kenshin strode around the corner, expression revealing his implacable determination, and halted, violet eyes widening in shock. Lips parting of a soft sound of pain, he turned his back on the scene of Misao embracing his best friend from behind. Hands closing into fists, he drew in several gulps of air in an attempt to calm the roiling emotions threatening to engulf him, the first and foremost being hurt betrayal. Slowly his eyes opened, revealing amber ringed violet. Glancing over his shoulder, he decided that he’d had enough of being the “stupid rurouni”. Growling low in his throat he spun and stalked across the yard swiftly, furious gaze intent on the couple standing so intimately close together.

Sanosuke sighed softly and shook his head. “Stupid weasel…” He twisted slightly, disengaging her grip on his shirt. “Look…his problem is that he doesn’t know how you feel. You know as well as I do that Kenshin won’t ever make a first move ‘cause he’s afraid of offendin’ anyone. You’re gonna have to make the first move, Misao, ‘cause he won’t. Got it?”

Kenshin halted, Sanosuke’s word’s penetrating the haze of anger clouding his senses. Blinking he tilted his head to the side and regarded his friend with a half smile. Imagine, Sano giving out advice concerning matters of the heart…

“But what if you’re wrong? What if he doesn’t feel that way?” Misao bowed her head, green eyes filling with tears. “I know I’ll never be able to compete with Tomoe-san…I’m just a stupid weasel…” A tear traced a silvery trail down her cheek when she closed her eyes. “How could he feel anything for me when he has Tomoe-san’s memory to compare me to?”

Sanosuke turned to face the young woman and blinked in surprise when he met Kenshin’s concerned violet gaze. He opened his mouth but refrained from giving away his presence when the older man shook his head. Sighing heavily, the ex-street brawler placed his hand on Misao’s shoulder in a gesture of comfort. “How do you know unless you ask?” He kept his gaze directed at his friend as he addressed the youngest member of the Oniwabanshu. “Talk to him, tell him how you feel…you might be surprised.” With that said he turned on his heel and shoved his hands into his pockets, hunching his shoulders. “I wonder if jou-chan will lend me a few yen…” He swiftly departed, his footsteps against the boards of the engawa retreating into the distance.

“Tell him how I feel…” She whispered tearfully. “I-I can’t…I just can’t.” She shook her head sadly, reaching up to brush her tears away with trembling fingertips. “Better to remain friends than to…” She gasped when she felt strong arms come around her from behind.

“Misao…” Kenshin whispered softly against her dark hair. “I’m sorry, that I am. I never meant to cause you pain.” He closed his eyes and rested his cheek against the silken strands, silently inhaling her subtle perfume. Hyacinths…she smells of hyacinths…

After her initial shock, Misao found herself melting into his warm embrace, a gentle smile curving her lips upwards as she lifted her arms as she rested her head against his chest, eyes closed in contentment, and pulled his head down onto her shoulder. “Stupid rurouni…” She murmured tenderly. She felt his lips move against the sensitive spot just below her ear and shivered delicately.

He closed his eyes and sighed softly, a small smile gracing his lips as he tenderly pressed a kiss against her warm skin. “Stupid rurouni, huh?”

She nodded slowly, her smile widening into a mischievous grin. “Does this mean you really aren’t gay?”

“Oro?! Not that again!” He shook his head and pulled away just enough to turn her to face him. “You’re a brat, Misao, that you are.” He pressed his lips to her forehead in a tender show of affection. He smiled sweetly and stepped away reluctantly. “However, the laundry is still in need of washing, that it is.”

Misao smiled and stepped back, wondering how she could go from being incredibly depressed to deliriously happy in such a short amount of time.

~~*~~