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 3

Misao felt her lips curve upwards into a mischievous smile when his golden gaze met hers, his surprise evident in the amber depths. Kami-sama but his eyes are beautiful! She bit her lip, green eyes questioning as they continued to stare at each other, eyes soft and each revealing a multitude of emotions. Matthew…or Kenshin? He’s both…yet neither… A soft sigh escaped her lips, eyes filling with sadness. I don’t really know him, do I? Her eyes narrowed when his gaze strayed once again towards the house, a frown marring his features, lips pressed together in a tight line. Growling under her breath Misao reached up and grasped a handful of red hair again and pulled sharply.

Kenshin winced and turned accusing eyes back on the young woman in his arms. “Itai! What was that for?”

She scowled at him, amazed at how dense he could be. For a moment she wondered how much of the stupid rurouni act really was an act. Sighing softly she shook her head with a little smile. “Stupid rurouni…” She whispered fondly, her smile widening when his frown deepened to a scowl. She nodded towards the house. “What is it?”

His eyes moved back to their scrutiny of the house. “Kaoru is moving within the house.”

Misao’s eyes widened, a soft, inaudible gasp escaped her parted lips. It was painfully obvious that Kenshin and Kaoru had a deep connection. She felt tears fill her eyes. He truly does care for her… She bit her lip to still its trembling. At least I was able to feel his lips against my own…even if it was for a brief moment. This is a memory I’ll always cherish… She realized belatedly that she shouldn’t have allowed things to progress this far. Nothing good will ever come of this! The people I care most about will be the ones hurt… She bit her lip harder, and tried unsuccessfully to blink back the tears threatening to fall. I never meant to hurt anyone… She pulled away from thee red-haired rurouni while he was distracted, slowly slipping away from him, and turned to step around the corner to reenter the house, accepting her defeat in silence.

“Misao, where are you going?” She hadn’t taken more than three steps when his voice stopped her.

So, he isn’t going to make this easy for me… Misao squeezed her eyes shut tightly against the pain she felt welling up inside of her. Why? Why is he doing this? Clenching her hands into fists, she allowed anger to replace the pain. How dare he? Well…if he wants it this way, then so be it! She shook his hand off violently and glanced over her shoulder, expression tight with hurt indignation. “I’m going back to my room!” She spun away from him and stepped up onto the engawa, back stiff with her growing anger. How dare he toy with us like this? No sooner had she turned her back on him than she felt the hair at the nape of her neck stand on end, her only warning before she was trapped once again with his strong arms, being pulled tight against his chest. She struggled, not wanting him to see her tears, to see how much his duplicity had hurt her. I wanted to believe! I wanted to believe he could want me as I want him… She continued to struggle against his iron-like hold, teeth gritted in growing fury. Suddenly she found herself being spun around, his strong arms holding her tightly against his lean form. Green met gold and she went completely rigid, a delicate shiver coursing up her spine. She raised her hands, intending to push him away and found herself closing them into fists instead. Choking back a sob, she pounded her closed fists against his chest, eyes clouded with pain. “I hate you!” It emerged on a hoarse whisper. “I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!” Her voice gained volume with each exclamation until she was shouting, tears spilling from her eyes to fall unchecked. She was barely aware of him lifting her and carrying her away from the house, out through the back gate and into the forest behind the doujou. “I hate you!” She cried a final time before drawing in a deep gasping breath, pausing in pounding against his muscular chest to swipe her arm across her face, angrily wiping away the tears. “I hate you…and yet you make me feel this…this…fire!” The confession ended on a hiss and she looked away, not wanting to meet his gaze any longer. I don’t want to want you… She thought despairingly and silently admitted that despite everything, she still did want him…very much so, in fact.

“You hate me?” He whispered softly, ignoring the dull hurt building within his heart at the echoes of her words in his mind. “Is that it, otome?” He murmured against her hair, feeling her tremble against him in response. Slowly he lifted his hand and gently stroked her hair back from her face, looking into her eyes, over bright with tears, and sighed softly, saddened by the hurt he saw reflected in the sea green depths. “Is that why you tremble at my touch?” He bent his head closer, not quite touching her lips with his own. “Is that why you desire me?” When she opened her mouth to hotly deny his claim, he placed a finger over her lips, staying the words before they emerged. “The same way I desire you?” He held his breath as he awaited her reply, praying that she wouldn’t reject him…that she hadn’t meant what she said…that she didn’t truly hate him. Please, kami-sama…don’t let her hate me.

Her eyes slid closed as she reveled in the feel of his arms around her, his quiet strength warming her as nothing else ever could. His soft voice echoed through her mind and she wondered at the meaning behind the words. Could it be? Hissing in anger, her eyes snapped open. “I will not be your whore!” She shoved at his chest violently. “I will not be used!” She cried out, shoving ineffectually at his chest again. “I will not be used while you are in love with Kaoru…” She ended on a pained whisper, tears finally spilling down her cheeks as she bowed her head, shoulders shaking with her silent sobs.

“Misao?” He whispered, expression stricken. “I-is that what you think?” It hurt to realize that the thought so little of him. He swallowed, bending his head to try to peer into her features, chest constricting painfully at the sight of her tears.

Misao wept bitterly, heartbroken and full of despair. She tried unsuccessfully once again to pull away from him. “I won’t…can’t…leave myself open for that kind of rejection again.” She turned her head sharply away from the gentle touch of his fingers against her cheek. She kept her gaze on the ground, staring at her bare feet, wiggling her toes against the cool leaf littered dirt of the path.

“Misao…” He whispered softly, feeling as if his world were crashing down around him. “Misao, please…look at me.”

At the sound of his soft, pained voice, Misao struggled, trying to break free again, wanting nothing more than to run, hide, and forget that the last three days had happened. “I-I refuse…” She whispered brokenly, her tears falling faster.

“Please, Misao…won’t you please look at me?” He was becoming increasingly worried as she continued to stare at the ground, slender frame shaking with her silent weeping. He hated to see her like this, appearing as if her spirit had been broken…and knowing that it was all his fault. When her knees buckled and she crumbled towards the ground, he automatically tightened his hold on her, lifting her against him wrapping his arms around her in a fiercely protective embrace. I won’t let her go! Not like this…never like this…

She allowed her body to go limp, half hoping that he’d just let her fall to the ground where she could curl up into a little ball. “Never again…” She whispered.

“Misao, look at me!” He winced when she jumped at his forceful command, but refused to relent. She closed her eyes tight, refusing to allow him any power over her. “I said look at me!” Her head snapped up despite her best intentions to refuse, unable to in the face of his harsh tone. She couldn’t remember ever hearing him use that tone of voice before and it almost frightened her. However, it was the look in his eyes that held her mesmerized, her heart beating rapidly in her chest, a painful tightening beginning when she saw the deep hurt reflected in his amber ringed violet eyes. “I do not love Kaoru, that I do not. At least, not as you so obviously are assuming.” He waited a moment, but she continued to regard him warily, green eyes bright with unshed tears, lips trembling. He briefly closed his eyes and when he opened them the amber had receded, leaving soft, hurt violet. “I care for her as a brother would a sister…nothing more.” He shook her gently, punctuating his words. When still she remained silent, he sighed and lowered his gaze. “Believe it or not, as fast as it has happened…” He drew in a shallow breath, preparing himself to place his pride in her small hands, praying that she wouldn’t continue to reject him. “You’re the only one I want, Misao.” When she didn’t push him away he looked up slowly to see a small frown puckering her brows. Suddenly his eyes flared brilliant amber before settling into soft amethyst once more and he shook her again, this time a little harder. “And if you ever refer to yourself in such an insulting manner again, I will not be held responsible for how I correct you. You are not whore.” The last was said in a fierce whisper.

Misao stared up at him, eyes wide with shock. Slowly she reached up and brushed her fingers against his lips, seeing the uncertainty in his gentle violet gaze and hating herself for causing it. “Kenshin…” She whispered, blinking away the tears that remained unshed in her sea green eyes. Despite his strong words and quiet conviction, she knew that he was just as confused by the speed at which their new relationship was forming. She swallowed and placed her other hand against his shoulder, fingers nervously smoothing the soft material of his gi. She dropped her gaze to his muscular chest revealed by the opening in his gi. “Y-you want me?” She whispered softly, tongue darting out to lick her suddenly dry lips. “You want me…as a man wants a…a woman?” Meeting his gaze directly, she forced herself to not look away, demanding the truth with a single glance.

Lips curving upwards into a gentle half smile, Kenshin nodded slowly, eyes focused on hers, trying to read the myriad of emotions flitting across her pretty features. “Yes, Misao…” He murmured softly, arms pulling her closer against his lean form. “Very much so…” He lowered his head, lips barely brushing against her own in a whisper soft caress. “Do you still doubt it, otome?” When she shook her head slowly his smile widened a little as he pulled back a short distance to look into her eyes again, his arms moving to encircle her waist and pull her flush against him. “I am glad, that I am.” He brushed his lips against her own once, twice before claiming them in a gentle coaxing kiss, silently asking for her response to sooth his lingering anxieties. To his delight, her arms moved around him as well, pulling his head down as she returned the kiss enthusiastically.

Slowly, reluctantly, she pulled away, placing a hand against his chest when he moved to follow. She shook her head slowly, earning a frown from him. “You want me?” He nodded and moved to kiss her again. She placed her fingers against his lips, stalling his movement again and pretended to not see his small pout. “Is that why you kissed me?”

“So now it dawns on you to be curious?” His lips curved up into a teasing grin when she nodded slowly. “Yes, Misao…I want you.” He repeated slowly, enjoying the way his words caused her eyes to light up.

A slight frown turned her lips downwards. “But not Kaoru?”

His smile widened a bit more. “No, not Kaoru.” He almost laughed aloud at her pleased smirk. “So, otome, I have soothed your raging jealousy?”

Blushing, Misao looked away, but not before she saw the amusement lighting his violet eyes to twinkling amethyst. Closing her eyes with a groan, she realized that this was his way of paying her back for the gay jokes from three days before over the laundry tub. To make a joke of her jealousy… Suddenly she frowned. Was I jealous? Was I jealous of Kaoru? She caught her lower lip between her teeth and opened her eyes to glance at him, seeing his knowing smile. Sighing with a slight pout, she silently admitted that she had been jealous. Tilting her head to the side curiously, she leveled a direct look at him. Something wasn’t quite right about the situation and it was beginning to bother her. Looking up at him, expression sweetly innocent, she drew in a quick, fortifying breath before asking the question that was nagging the back of her mind. “Kenshin…are we in love?” She trusted him to answer her question honestly. No matter what the answer, it would come from his heart, true and honest, and not what he might think she would want to hear. She smiled a little at the thought. That’s Himura Kenshin…honest to a fault. I don’t think he knows how to tell a falsehood.

Kenshin didn’t reply immediately, choosing instead to truly think on her question and weigh his answer well before speaking. “I think…” He began slowly, expression thoughtful. “I think, otome, that what we share is a miwaku, that I do.”

“Hmm…” She pursed her lips thoughtfully, regarding him with a curious expression. Finally she blushed and heaved a soft sigh. “So…we don’t know if this is love, then?” Her lips curved into a smile in response to his amused expression, his eyes seeming to change yet again to a soft and gentle lavender. So many different colours! She thought in amazement. Instinctively she new that he his changed with his emotions. His eyes truly are windows into his soul… She hoped that someday she’d be able to interpret each of the changing hues and know all of his changeable feelings. He’s a very passionate man… She thought in awe, knowing that Himura Kenshin felt emotions much more strongly than most other people she’d known throughout her life. It would be a true challenge to match his passions…but it would be very rewarding at the same time.

“Miwaku is a funny thing, Misao, that it is. It is very difficult to know the direction it will lead, that it is.” He tenderly brushed his fingertips against the smoothness of her cheek. “It is impossible to determine what the future holds, that it is.”

Frowning thoughtfully, she moved her hands to the opening of his faded gi, pressing her palms against the smooth warmth of his muscular chest. “Then…” She paused, trying to gather her thoughts. “Then love isn’t something that is known in an instant?” She looked up at him questioningly and frowned some more when he remained silent. “True love comes in time, as a man and woman grow and learn more about one another…” Her voice trailed off into nothingness as she watched the corners of his mouth turn slightly downwards. She bit her lip and when she continued her voice was a soft whisper. “And then they just might learn that they love each other in different ways…” Like Aoshi-sama and me…

With a soft, inaudible sigh the red-haired rurouni forced a smile. “This is true, Misao, that it is.” He wasn’t certain what it was that he felt for the young woman in his arms, but he knew it was far more than mere momentary attraction. What saddened him was the fact that she was right…time was needed to discover the true depth of their feelings. And time is something we don’t have.

Misao watched as his expressive eyes changed yet again, turning into a deep, sorrowful blue, a slight frown furrowing his forehead. She reached up, gently smoothing her fingertips over the frown, earning a soft smile for her efforts. “Kenshin…” She whispered, fascinated by the way his eyes seemed to light up when she spoke his name. Kami-sama…miwaku or more…I don’t care! All I know is that he means so much to me that my heart hurts at the thought of his leaving! “I’m so confused!” She blurted out impulsively and then bit her lip, eyes wide in surprise at her sudden outburst. “Ahhh…” She swallowed, thinking fast of a plausible reason behind her professed confusion. “I-I don’t know what to call you any more. A part of me wants to call you Kenshin because that’s who you are…” She paused, watching for any signs of suspicion, knowing that this man was nearly impossible to lie to with his uncanny ability to read people so accurately. Must be his training in the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu… She thought distractedly before continuing with her excuse. “But then again, your name is also Matthew.” That should be safe…after all, it isn’t really a lie…it IS confusing! “So…” She swallowed and tried to pretend that she wasn’t blushing bright enough to glow under the light of the moon shining through the canopy of branches and leaves growing high above them. “What should I call you around everyone?”

His lips curved upwards into a smile, sensing that there was more to her outburst than his name warranted, but he decided to accept her explanation rather than pursue it. She will tell me when she’s ready and not a moment sooner. “Kaoru-dono and the others don’t know the English language, that they do not.” She nodded slowly and he found himself wondering if she knew anything of the foreign language. “However, I don’t think you should call me by my English name in front of them, that I do not.” He frowned and finally sighed. “Nor do I think you should call me by my given name either.” He smiled a little at her pout and resisted the urge to lean forward and kiss it away. She blinked in surprise and opened her mouth, intention obviously to ask why she shouldn’t address him using his first name. His smile widened slightly at her predictability, finding it sweetly endearing. “It might seem odd to the others if you were to suddenly start addressing me by my given name, Misao, that it would. I also would prevent hurt feelings if I could.”

She nodded slowly, expression solemn. “I understand.” He didn’t need to tell her that he was referring to Kaoru. “I won’t say a word, Kenshin…I promise.” Though it pained her to keep such a secret from her best friend, she also didn’t want to be the cause of her broken heart, which would be the case if she ever found out about the recent developments in her relationship with Himura Kenshin. “Will you tell them about…” She began only to be interrupted almost immediately.

“No, Misao, no…” He closed his eyes and bowed his head, allowing his forehead to rest against hers. “I don’t want them to know of this mess with my English family, that I do not.”

She reached up and pressed her fingers against his strong jaw. “I understand, Kenshin. Don’t worry. I won’t say anything to anybody about anything. I promise.” Her words of understanding earned her another gentle smile followed by a soft, butterfly touch at her waist moving up to her ribcage and stopping just below her right breast. With a soft gasp she pressed closer to him, enjoying the feel of his touch. Closing her eyes to savor the sensation she smiled when she felt his breath fan her lips followed by a sweet and all too brief kiss. If this is what I get for understanding…I’m going to try like hell to understand everything!

Reluctantly he pulled back, peering down into her upturned face, memorizing the sweet and trusting features, committing them to memory. He closed his eyes and pulled her a little closer. This is more than miwaku…so much more… He closed his eyes tighter, feeling a painful constricting within his chest. Just how much more? The thought caused him much distress. How can I possibly leave her now? Just when we’re coming closer to the answers! Kami-sama…how can I leave now? But he knew that as much as he didn’t want to leave, he had to, the decision had been made for him the moment his family in England had decided to remember his existence. “Misao…” He murmured her name, treasuring the way it rolled off his tongue so easily. “I promised that I would not leave until we had a chance to talk…” He paused and drew in a quick breath before continuing. “But I can’t stay any longer, that I cannot.” He pulled her a little closer, his arms tightening around her small frame. “Someone might point whoever is seeking me in this direction, that they might. I can’t allow anyone else to get involved, that I cannot.” Fear for the safety of his friends at the Kamiya Doujou and the Aoiya in Kyoto had been causing him much anxiety over the past three days. “There’s no telling why they are seeking me after all these years…” He whispered against her hair, inhaling the subtle scent of her perfume and committing it to memory as well.

Misao cried out, clutching at his shoulders desperately. No! No, he can’t leave…not yet! Tears fell unchecked down her cheeks as she threw her arms around him, holding him close as she pressed her face against his chest. “But you can’t!” Her hands clenched into fists against the faded and worn material of his gi. “If you go now, you’ll be shipped off and married before you can blink and say ‘oro’!” Her protest ended on a choked sob, the thought of losing him so thoroughly crumbled her defenses and broke through her composure. “They’ll marry you off to some stranger and then we’ll never see each other again!” Dimly she was aware that his arms had tightened around her, holding her so close that it was becoming difficult for her to breath. “I couldn’t bear that, Kenshin…I just couldn’t…”

“Misao…” He pressed his lips tightly together, resting his cheek against her dark hair with a soft sigh. “Please don’t cry, Misao. There…” He paused, swallowing with some difficulty before continuing. “There is nothing that can be done, that there is not.” The thought of abandoning all that could have been for the sake of his English heritage made no sense, yet he also knew that there was no other choice. For both of our sakes, i have to leave now before something irreversible happens between us. “I’m sorry, that I am.” He whispered, too soft for her to hear above her quiet, heart-wrenching sobs.

Misao’s mind raced as she sought a solution to their untenable predicament. Biting her lip she frowned against his chest, a fleeting thought entering her mind and sticking. It’s crazy! It’s so crazy…it just might work… “Kenshin…” She pulled back slightly, reaching up to brush her fingers against her cheeks, removing her tears. “What if…” She paused and drew in a quick breath, screwing up her courage to continue. “What if you were already married?”

“O-oro?!” Kenshin pulled back slightly and stared down into Misao’s thoughtful features, feeling as if the world were tilting crazily beneath his feet. I WAS married! The thought sounded desperate, even to him. “M-married, Misao?” I misunderstood! That has to be it…I misunderstood her meaning, that’s all.

She nodded slowly, a frown of intense concentration marring her features. “Yes. What if Himura Kenshin was married?” She focused on his horrified expression. “Kenshin? What is it?”

“N-nothing!” Kami-sama…the implications…marriage… He tried to banish the images coming into his mind…all of which centered on Misao in the role of his wife. She would be bound to me…she’d have to stay with me… He shook his head sharply. No! I could never do that to her! Tear her from her family…all that she knows… He forced a bright rurouni smile to his lips. “All is well, Misao, that it is.” He knew it was wrong, but the idea had taken root within his mind, teasing him, tempting him and he was hard pressed to banish the thought. His mind was conjuring images of Misao in the role of his wife…every aspect of that role… He mentally smacked himself hard for his less than noble thoughts, though it did nothing to banish the image of the passionate young woman in his arms lying back against an unrolled futon, yukata gaping open, soft green eyes heavy with desire, lips swollen and damp from his kisses, arms outstretched, voice husky with need calling his name… He blinked, shifting uncomfortable, trying to hide his body’s natural reaction to the little fantasy playing out in his mind. Himura, you are so pathetic… He sighed softly, acknowledging that he was becoming fixated on Makimachi Misao. Nothing can ever come of this, so I may as well give it up.

She pursed her lips thoughtfully, sensing that he wasn’t being completely honest with her. “If Himura Kenshin was married…then Matthew Kingston couldn’t be married off once he arrived in England.” She waited for his response and felt her worry increase when he merely stared down at the ground, expression distant, eyes a dull blue. “Kenshin?” She whispered softly, reaching up and gently touching his face, palm cupping his cheek tenderly, green eyes filled with concern, before she let her hand trail downwards to press against the warmth of his chest, over his heart, beneath his gi. She blinked in surprise when she felt his heart beating rapidly, thudding beneath her hand.

“Misao…” He paused and heaved a deep sigh. “I don’t want people to know that Himura Kenshin and Matthew Kingston are the same person, that I do not.” He looked away from her upturned face, staring instead into the darkness of the quiet forest, lips pressed together into a tight line as his eyes filled with weary sorrow. Alone…always alone…I can never allow those around me to truly know me… He closed his eyes, another soft sigh escaping him as his shoulders slumped slightly in defeat. To protect those I care about…I will tread the path of solitude, that I will. I’m sorry, Misao…it’s better this way…

“All right, then.” Is he purposely missing the point? Stupid rurouni… She curled her fingers into a fist against his chest. “Matthew…if you were already married, they couldn’t marry you off once you reached England.” She closed her eyes and waited for his response. Two can play at the idiot game! She opened one eye to judge his response, lips curved upwards into a mischievous grin.

She shivered, sea green eyes sliding closed in pleasure, a soft sigh escaping her parted lips, when his lips moved against her ear, a soft chuckle rumbling in his chest to whisper against the tendrils of hair escaping her braid. “Matthew is it now?”

Shivering in reaction, she raised her hand up again to cup his cheek, pausing for a moment to look into his eyes and see his amusement as well as the shadows of sorrow still lingering in the amethyst depts. “Of course…that is your name, isn’t it?” She whispered softly, allowing her fingers to brush against his cheek briefly. “Matthew Kingston…” She smiled at his slight frown. “And an English Earl, right?”

“Well…I don’t know about that…” He cleared his throat, holding himself as still as he could beneath her tender touch. “M-my grandfather…he’s the Earl, that he is.” Kami-sama but she’s tempting me! He closed his eyes briefly, striving for continued restraint and control. I must not give in! But he wanted to. He wanted to taste he sweet lips again, hear her soft voice rising with passion as she cried out his name. I want her!

“I’m just trying to show you the proper respect an Earl deserves.” Her smile widened into an impish grin, green eyes dancing with growing amusement. “So…maybe I should call you Kenshin-sama instead?”

His strong sword callused hands dropped to her waist, and then her hips, pulling her hard against himself, dropping his head to nip lightly at her delicate earlobe. “Respect?” He growled, delighting in her immediate response, as she pressed closer against him, her sweet curves tempting him as no other had done in years. “Hmmm…” He murmured softly, trailing his lips across her delicate jaw to press a soft kiss against the corner of her mouth. “My lord will do.” He bit back another groan when she moaned and wriggled against him. “And if you don’t stop tempting me, I will have you screaming something else!” With that warning, he spun, pinning her against the tree behind them, lifting her, growling again when her yukata loosened and she wrapped her slender legs around him, and claimed her lips in a heated kiss, no longer asking for a response from her, but demanding one.

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Definitions:

Otome: daughter; young lady; virgin; maiden; little girl

Miwaku: attraction; fascination; lure; captivation; charm