Disclaimers: All standard disclaimers apply. The characters of Rurouni Kenshin do not belong to me, they belong to Watsuki Nobuhiro-sensei. I'm only borrowing. Nothing is mine except the plot. 



Chapter Two:

Kaoru was fast asleep when Enishi entered her room. He closed the door softly, slipping inside on noiseless feet. He could see her easily enough in the dark but the room was too stuffy, felt too hot and confining. So he opened the window and let in the cold, cold breeze. The clouds parted and moonlight shone in, touching the bed, caressing the sleeping woman on it.

With infinite gentleness, Enishi pulled back the covers from her, lifting the fingers that were loosely tangled in them. Her hands were definitely not soft, not like a lady's. They were slightly rough and the calluses told of her years of training. But he found them fascinating, long and slender yet so small compared to his. Discarding the sheets on the floor, he sat down and looked his fill. Her hair was loose, released from its ponytail and spread out under her. He almost chuckled when he noticed the formidable array of knots that clinched her bathrobe shut. As though she sensed his presence in her sleep, Kaoru turned over on her back, muttering so softly that even he could not pick up her words, shifting her legs. The bathrobe fell open at the knee and under the light her skin was creamy white with the faintest gold. 

He reached out, letting his hand rest on her knee, feeling her warmth against his cold palm. Then he slid it over and up, pushing aside the robe, stroking her inner thigh and calf, content for the moment just with that. 'Wake up,' he thought, wanting her to open her eyes. But perversely enough she seemed to like the caress and actually smiled in her sleep! "Kaoru," he called softly. When she sighed and muttered, he called her once more, louder this time.

With a start her eyes flew open and she started up on her elbows. Sleep-dazed and shocked, she could only gape at him before the weight of his hand on her leg registered. Kaoru gave a cry of alarm and would have pulled herself into a corner but Enishi tightened his grip on her, refusing to let go. Then with lightning speed he moved, taking firm hold of her shoulders and laying her back down. At once Kaoru pushed him away but she might as well have tried to push a brick wall. Enishi's weight kept her in place, pinning her legs down although he rested his weight on his elbows so that he wouldn't crush her. 

Her hair was soft, fisted in his hands. And then anger flashed into her eyes as she overcame her fear. "Get off me!"

"I don't think so," he drawled. She tried to slap him then but he caught her hands easily and brushed them aside. "What a change from just now. I could have sworn you were almost curious to know what would happen next had I stayed."

She froze momentarily at his words and the fleeting triumph on his face told her that she had betrayed herself to him. "It doesn't mean anything," she snapped.

"Yes it does. It means that Battousai has never bothered to pay attention to you." He almost regretted his remark when she flinched. "It disturbs you doesn't it? The fact that he never could see you as a woman but that I do." Of course that was a lie. Battousai treasured Kamiya Kaoru above all else. The only difference was that he hid his feelings. Too bad, Enishi thought. Had Battousai given Kaoru the love she had needed, tonight would never have happened. 

"That's not true." Her own words sounded empty to her. 

"Whether it is true or not, that doesn't matter anymore. The fact is, you don't loathe me nor do you hate me. If you did, I wouldn't be here. I'm not interested in forcing women into my bed, Kaoru. Nor have I ever had to," he added for good measure. 

She would have rolled her eyes at that egoistical statement had she not been so flustered by his previous words. How had he known ...how... And then she recalled that moment when he had looked right into her eyes. It was then that he had known. "I can't hate you Enishi," she said quietly. "You might try your best to harm Kenshin but in the end, I'm not going to waste away my life drowning in hatred and madness."

Deceptively mild, her words hit home with unexpected force. "I'm not interested in Kenshin tonight," he replied, evading the topic. "In case you failed to notice, it's you that I'm here for."

Kaoru sucked in her breath as some of her original fear returned. 'But he won't force you,' she reminded herself. If he wanted to, he would have a long time ago. Then why was she still afraid? And then it occurred to Kaoru for the first time that maybe it wasn't Enishi she was frightened of. 

She was so different from Tomoe. His sister hid her emotions effortlessly, naturally. This woman let hers play all over her face. He could see her confusion in her eyes, in the way her lips twitched slightly, the way she turned her head. "Would you mind if I kissed you?" Honesty was the best policy when it came to such innocence. She would be hardpressed to find a defence against it. 

"N-nani?"

"I won't do anything you don't like. You could think of it as a favour, since at the rate your romantic life is going, it'll be years before anyone kisses you." 

He really was mad, Kaoru thought, gaping at him for the second time that night. And then she noticed the way his mouth lifted at the corner. He was laughing at her! "Yukishiro Enishi, you-" His fingers touched her lips and the words died in her mouth. 

"I won't do anything you don't like," he whispered with unnerving gentleness, his thumb brushing the corners of her mouth. Before Kaoru could gather her wits, he lowered his head swiftly and touched his lips to hers. She stiffened so he just brushed his mouth across hers. 

"Is-is that all?" Kami! Had she really said that? Kaoru almost bit her tongue. 

"That will be all if you keep kissing like that." 

He had the nerve to sound bored! "Well, excuse me for not knowing what to do," she snapped. 

"Then do as I say," Enishi ordered, like a teacher instructing a student. "Close your eyes."

"What?! Of course not." 

"No wonder Battousai hasn't kissed you yet."

"You leave Kenshin out of this!" Kaoru huffed furiously.

"Then do as I say," Enishi repeated reasonably. When he kissed her again, Kaoru found herself staring into his opened eyes. The sensation of his mouth on hers was soft yet overwhelmingly strange. But the look in his eyes, the heated light, that was what made her shut her eyes promptly. Without the help of vision Kaoru was plunged into another world, one of heightened sensation, where nothing else existed but the touch of this man on her body.

"Open your mouth," he murmured, kissing the corners of her mouth. He sensed her surprise but he persisted. "You asked me if there is more. I'm showing you now. I'll stop if you want me to."

I'll stop if you want me to ...how could such sweet words come from someone like him. Behind closed lids Kaoru tried to conjure up his image, the wild violent man who had beaten Kenshin within an inch of his life. But try as she might, she couldn't reconcile that image to the man who was handling her with such gentleness. 

Her lips parted ever so slightly and that was enough for him. He touched his tongue to her mouth, slicking it over her full lower lip. Kaoru gasped and her hands, previously folded on her chest now wound their way into his clothing, grasping. "Don't-" But she didn't mean it and he knew it. Enishi pressed harder against her, pressuring her to open more for him and she did. He stopped for a second, let her accustom herself to this new development before he flicked his tongue inside her warm mouth, tasting, exploring. She writhed beneath him and he couldn't stop the soft groan that escaped. 

Kaoru stirred restlessly in his arms. So this was what he meant by more. Eagerly she pressed her mouth tighter to his, raising her head off the pillow. Enishi murmured something but she let it fall on deaf ears. She wanted more now, not just these light brushes. Stubbornly she kissed him back, inexperience falling to the onslaught of natural curiosity and desire. Unknown to Kaoru, she was also relying on Enishi's promise that he would stop when she wanted him to. Her hands tightened on his tunic, pulling him closer, demanding. 

Suddenly the kiss exploded and he cupped the back of her head as he forced her back down, almost bruising her mouth with his. His tongue thrust against hers in an act that mirrored what his body wanted even as his leg slipped between her thighs. She tried to pull away but he kept her locked against him. "I told you not to do that," he said in a low tight voice. "I warned you."

So he had. But she had ignored him and tested his limits. She had forgotten that he was a dangerous man. When he finally lifted his head, Kaoru said nothing. She didn't know what to say. Her body was a riot of sensation, her heart and mind felt like they were detached from her senses. His keen eyes pierced her and she glanced away, afraid to look at him. 

She was suddenly passive now. He hadn't exactly frightened her into submission but she was unsure of what to do. All the better. It was alright that she didn't want to touch him. It was enough that she let him touch her. He kissed her neck, her shoulders, tugging the robe down as far as it would go. Her pulse raced like a mad thing under his touch and she let out a harsh breath. He nuzzled her through the thin cloth, but as he continued in a lazy downward trail towards her breasts, Kaoru's hand touched his shoulder and she whispered his name.

It almost killed him but he listened to her. "You want me to stop?"

"I-I ...don't know," she said in a small voice. He smiled at her words, a rare genuine smile that softened his face. 

"When you make up your mind, just let me know," he said, leaning forward and dropping a light kiss on her nose before kissing her thoroughly once more. "Open your eyes Kaoru."

"But you said ..."

"I want to see you." And once more she obeyed him. Desire blazed in his eyes so that they were almost luminescent. She could see her reflection in them. He wanted her very badly and that realisation filled her with a strange pride. As much as Enishi could affect her, she could do the same to him. Once more curiosity egged her own and she slipped her hands up his chest. His eyes crinkled at the corners and she knew he was smiling. She didn't want him to humour her, damn it. With reckless daring, Kaoru reached down and tugging up his shirt, she touched his bare skin. Immediately he stiffened but she continued, stroking her hands upward, feeling the curve of his ribs against her palm, trailing her fingers over his chest. She stopped when she felt the touch of his own hand on her body. In effect, Enishi was mirroring her every move. 

"I'll stop when you stop," he said by way of explanation. Kaoru felt better knowing that she could set the pace and continued. Only she wasn't prepared for the rush of sensation when he cupped her breast, his thumb circling her hardened peak. She tossed her head on the pillow, and Enishi bent his head, taking her in his mouth. Kaoru's hand tangled in his hair as she moaned, arching her back. It felt so good it almost hurt.

"Wait." He pulled back and she blinked as he reached for the sash. "Kamiya Kaoru, what have you done to the bathrobe I gave you?" he asked in exasperation when he tried to undo the knots. 

She blushed and was about to try and help him when Enishi gave up and simply pulled the robe down off her shoulders. Cotton ripped. Cool night air touched her skin and then there was nothing but the heat of his body, the curl of his tongue around her peak as she cried out. He suckled one breast, then the other, leaving hot wet trails over her skin, over her flat stomach. Kaoru shut her eyes, feeling like her body was on fire as she slid her hands into the soft hair at the nape of his neck. 

He promised her he would stop when she wanted him to. But now he simply wanted to rush her through until she was his. He prayed she would forget his words as he assaulted her body with new sensations and experiences. When she arched once more he yanked the robe aside and ran his hand up her thighs. Her grip on his hair tightened almost painfully but he didn't stop.

She tensed when he ran his knuckles down her womanhood, parting the folds, seeking her entrance. When his fingers slid inside her Kaoru screamed but Enishi muffled it, kissing her, murmuring reassurances. "It's okay, it's okay," he whispered, hushing her as he stilled his hand. She was shaking so hard ... "Trust me Kaoru ...trust me koishii..." He was unaware of the endearment as it tumbled again and again from his lips but Kaoru clung to it. And then slowly it began, the gradual tightening that built up unbearably, taking her breath as he flexed his fingers against her, inside her. 

"Enishi ..." She writhed against him and he pinned her still with his leg, rendering her immobile. She was helpless when the climax came crashing down on her, a nucleus of burning pleasure that erupted and splintered her body until she shattered in his arms. Once, twice, three times he drove her over the edge. 

When he let her go, Kaoru lay back against the pillows, thoroughly exhausted. She looked up at him with glazed eyes as he knelt over her, pulling off his top. She closed her eyes when his hands went to his trousers but she welcomed him when he came to her, basking in the feel of having him lie skin to skin with her. It took her several moments before she realised that he wasn't done yet.

She looked slightly bewildered when he gripped her hips, his leg parting hers. And then alarm shot through her eyes when she felt him against her thigh. "No, don't," she protested but he ignored her. "You said you'd stop," she cried, panicked. She didn't know what else there was but something told her that this was going to be different from everything else. 

"I can't...Forgive me, I can't," he said harshly and through her tears she saw him. His breathing was erratic, as though he had been running for miles but what touched her was the fact that he did stop. He was waiting for her. 

"I..." she whispered, cupping his face. It didn't seem fair to ask him to stop, after what he had given her. And a part of her didn't want him to stop either.

"Just this...after a lifetime of hatred and madness...give me this Kaoru. I will never ask anything of you again." When she said nothing he used the one thing he knew would work against her: the truth. "You don't want me to stop. You know you don't." 

"You won't tell anyone?" 

He closed his ears to the doubt and pain in her question. "I swear on Tomoe's memory I will keep this a secret." 

She didn't say anything else but he had her answer in the way she wrapped her arms around his neck as she buried her face against his shoulder. "Thank you, Kaoru," he whispered as he held her trembling body to him. She yelped when he entered her slowly and although she tried to pull away instinctively, her grip on him did not lessen. 

"This will hurt for a while," he warned and she nodded. When he encountered her barrier, he tried breaking it gently but it didn't work and she only flinched in pain. Withdrawing, he took a deep breath. And then he drove into her, thrusting until they were joined completely, hip to hip, flesh with flesh. It took all his willpower to stop from moving anymore. But she felt like heaven around him, slick and hot, pulsing. 

She had muffled her cries but now he felt the hot tears. Tilting her face up to his, he tenderly wiped the silvery drops, kissing them away, cupping her face with his hands. "You feel so good," he whispered raggedly, brushing his mouth over her forehead, her hair. "I want you so much...I've never wanted anyone this way before," he confessed as she lifted her mouth to his. "Thank you ...thank you, koishii..."

He had hurt her more than he knew. Not just with his possession of her body but with his words. She had always dreamt that Kenshin would say those words to her but as Fate had it, it was Enishi who was saying those things, who was inside her in a way that she never knew was possible between a man and woman. "Like a sword and sheath," she thought as she moved with him. And then thought fled as the familiar sensation started thrumming once more.

Her nails bit into his back but he almost couldn't feel it. He guided her movements and she learned quickly, meeting him arch for arch, thrust for thrust until they were both spinning out of control, a man and a woman engaged in the oldest, most wildly beautiful of dances. She was killing him, Enishi thought as he clung to her. And within that maelstrom of his mind, he quietly acknowledged that she had beaten him. She came first, the breath torn from her body in an ecstatic cry that rang out through the room and beyond it. And then it was his turn to lose control and he went with her, lost in the fierce pleasure that drove all other senses from him. Enishi collapsed onto Kaoru and they lay on the bed, wrapped in each other's arms as he filled her again, spilling himself deep within her body.