Rurouni Kenshin Fanfic

Fanfic By: Chiruken

Takani Megumi glared furiously at the younger woman standing before her, blocking her way, dark eyes flashing with anger as she tossed her head, long dark hair flying out behind her with the abrupt movement. "Get out of my way, Misao." She forced herself to keep her tone under tight control, though the anger and fear vibrated in her voice.

Makimachi Misao, green eyes glistening with unshed tears and reflecting determination, shook her head emphatically and tugged her long, thick dark braid hard enough that she winced at the sharp pain on her scalp. "Please, Megumi, don’t…" Her words were cut off abruptly when the older woman roughly shoved her out of the way. Caught by surprise, Misao fell heavily to the ground, scraping her palms and knees on the rough gravel of the path. "Megumi…No!" She cried out, jumping to her feet and rushing forward towards her friend. Megumi is going to get herself killed! The terrified thought echoed through Misao’s mind as she shoved the doctor violently from behind, throwing the lady doctor to the ground a safe distance away, effectively placing herself between the two men instead. Green eyes widening in shock she watched as Shinomori Aoshi’s twin kodachi, unsheathed and glinting coldly as the blades arced down towards her, froze her limbs with terror and the certainty of her own death. Oh kami-sama! I’m going to die…and I never told him how I feel! She squeezed her eyes shut tight to block out the inevitable, wondering briefly if it would hurt much.

Slowly she opened one eye a crack at the unmistakable metallic sound of steel striking steel and when she saw Aoshi’s first kodachi sliced in two she opened the second eye in time to see the other short sword halted by Himura Kenshin’s sakabatou, the reversed blade flipped, exposing its deadly razor sharp edge. Distantly she heard Kaoru and Megumi cry out, their actual words lost in the roaring sound of her pulse thudding in her ears as her eyes traveled up the blade, past the tsuba to the strong hands gripping the hilt, then further past the deceptively slender wrists over corded muscular forearms. She blinked, lips parting on a startled gasp, when her eyes met the fiercely protective amber gaze of the man once known as Hitokiri Battousai. "Kenshin…" She whispered softly, feeling warmth spreading throughout her body, a faint blush staining her cheeks a soft, becoming pink. Time halted as they stared into each other’s eyes, sharing a moment of unnerving clarity, their feelings obvious for all to see.

Lips curving upwards in a gentle half smile, Kenshin slowly lowered his sakabatou, amber gaze tender as he held his hand out to the young woman gazing up at him with wide, trusting green eyes. When Misao slowly placed her hand in his, his fingers closed around hers and he gently tugged her to her feet, into his arms. He looked over her dark head and sent a withering glare in Aoshi’s direction when the other man opened his mouth to speak, his entire bearing screaming blatant disapproval. "Not a word, Shinomori." He growled in warning, tenderly tracing his fingers over the delicate line of Misao’s jaw, before tucking a strand of her dark hair behind her ear, golden eyes never leaving Aoshi’s.

Kaoru felt the blood draining from her face, eyes wide with shocked disbelief, and stared at the most unlikely couple she’d ever seen as she slowly took a half step forward. She shook her head sharply, sapphire blue eyes never leaving her friend’s golden gaze so lovingly tender as he looked down into Misao’s upturned face, her hand raised and outstretched towards them. "Kenshin?" There was a frightened quality to her tone as she questioningly addressed the red-haired rurouni, terrified that he’d reverted back into the hitokiri he’d once been and therefore becoming dangerously unpredictable.

Misao turned and glared at Kaoru, expression hostile as her green eyes flashed an unmistakable warning. She had her chance! Her mind cried defiantly. She stepped away from Kenshin’s warm embrace reluctantly and advanced on the other young woman who watched her approach warily. Stopping before her, Misao narrowed her eyes in unmistakable threat, lowering her voice so the words wouldn’t carry to the others. "He’s mine, Kamiya. You stay away from him. You’ve hurt him enough." With that said, she ignored her sharp intake of breath and shocked expression, instead turning her back on Kaoru to smile at the tense rurouni, silently holding her hand out in invitation.

Smiling in return and sliding his sakabatou into its saya with a fluid movement, Kenshin relaxed his stance. With a last look of warning in Aoshi’s direction, he stepped towards Misao and placed his hand in hers to tug her gently to his side. Lightly trailing his fingertips down the side of her face, savage amber gaze slowly softening, becoming infused with gentle violet, his lips curved up into a sweetly tender smile as she swayed closer to him. "Wagakokoro…" He whispered huskily.

Aoshi watched, a frown marring his features, a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. "Battousai…" He began only to step back quickly when he was confronted with a look of such pure menace it even gave him pause. He cleared his throat, refusing to allow the former hitokiri’s threatening ki to intimidate him. He felt an obligation towards Misao’s well being and his main concern was the tremendous gap in age between the two. He didn’t doubt for a moment that Misao would be treated with the utmost of respect…but would she receive the affection she so deserved? He felt uncertain of the older man’s ability to give of himself in such a way…especially considering his past and the tragedy that shadowed it. He opened his mouth to voice his concerns when he caught Megumi’s expression. He closed his mouth slowly, deciding to hold his peace until after she’d had her say.

Megumi flipped her long dark hair over her shoulder and cleared her throat to gain the attention of her companions, not entirely comfortable with the revelations unveiled in the garden of the Aoiya. "Misao, I should see to those scrapes on your hands and knees." She kept her tone neutral, despite her misgivings.

Misao shook her head with a grin, her usual exuberance showing through again. "I’m fine, Megumi. Don’t worry about me." Suddenly her expression darkened and she stepped closer to Kenshin, taking comfort in his presence. "H-how is Sanosuke?" She lowered her head, hiding her expression behind the dark fringe of her hair. Kenshin’s reassuring hand resting against the small of her back was a welcome comfort while at the same time it sent exciting tingles throughout her limbs. What she wouldn’t give to be alone with him again…to feel his compact and muscular form pressed intimately against hers, his hands igniting forbidden passions held dormant within her subconscious, his lips playing havoc with her senses. She blinked and blushed at the less than pure thoughts about the man standing so close to her that she could feel the warmth of his body through the layers of both their clothes.

"He’ll be fine. There was no permanent damage done." Megumi slowly stepped towards Aoshi, sharp eyes noting the blush staining Misao’s cheeks and the possessive expression in Kenshin’s amber and violet ringed eyes. She shook her head with a small smile. How could we have missed what was going on between those two?

"That is good, that it is." Kenshin murmured softly, breathing in Misao’s delicate feminine scent. Closing his eyes he sought to name the perfume she wore as it teased his senses, tantalized him, and pushed his control to the limits. His lips curved upwards in a self-mocking smile, the irony of the situation not lost on him. He’d spent so long denying himself close contact with Misao to avoid this very occurrence from happening. Now that she knew of his true feelings and seemed to return them, he found it increasingly difficult to maintain the necessary distance required to remain in control of himself. Finally his smile turned triumphant as he placed the delicate, musk-like fragrance of her perfume. "Lilac tree…" He murmured softly, bending his head closer to selfishly indulge for a moment longer.

Hearing his low, appreciate tone, Misao blushed and trembled in anticipation, of what she wasn’t certain, but she fervently wished for some immediate privacy as she felt that glorious tingling sensation beginning to get stronger, flooding throughout her body, sensitizing her nerve endings. "Uh…" She blinked, trying to remain focused and failing miserably. What’s wrong with me? She wondered fuzzily, swaying into Kenshin’s strong embrace. For a moment she wondered if she’d been drugged. At that thought she felt nervous laughter bubbling up inside her, threatening to break free. Until recently, she hadn’t thought these feelings longing possible for her for anyone other than Shinomori Aoshi.

**To Be Continued…**

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1.I’m really sorry about the really short chapters. I hope this chapter makes up for those other ones…at least in part.

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Tsuba: sword guard

Wagakokoro: my heart