Striking a Balance

Disclaimer - I do not own Rurouni Kenshin.

Chapter 10 *Lemon*

Dinner was a quiet affair. After Yahiko had made sure that he would be coming along to the “duel,” as he called it, he disappeared to the Akabeko for his evening shift. Kenshin had made a simple but delicious meal, and they both sat quietly and enjoyed each other’s company.

It was these moments, Kaoru decided, that kept her going. The stability and routine of life together cemented the bricks of their relationship and brought them back to balance after rocky times.

The rhythm of Kenshin’s knife as he’d cut vegetables and meat, the soft sounds of the simmering pot of rice, and the quiet clink of pottery as she had set the table were all very comforting.

Kaoru sat sipping tea, watching Kenshin clean up. He had refused any help, of course. His red hair swung lazily back and forth as he deftly washed the dishes, almost hypnotic in its motions. How she loved to tangle her hands in those silky locks. . .

An itch in her own hair distracted Kaoru from her after-dinner musings. She pulled back her hand and grimaced slightly.

“Something wrong koi?” Kenshin inquired, wiping his hands on a cloth as he finished cleaning.

“I haven’t had a proper bath in a couple days,” Kaoru replied. “I feel a bit grungy. It’s almost impossible to wash my hair with one hand.”

Kenshin smiled, a mischievous twinkle in his lavender orbs.

“I could assist you in bathing.”

Kaoru looked up at him and smiled. She knew that look.

“That would be lovely. You’re very good with your hands,” she said, licking her lips at the thought of his hands all over her.

Kenshin bent to help her stand as she rolled carefully to her feet. Her shoulder was sore, and could use the heat of the bath to loosen up before bed.

“Why don’t you get your things, and I’ll prepare the bath.”

Kaoru nodded and padded quietly down the hall. His eyes watched her with a growing hunger.

He’d have to be gentle.

When Kaoru entered the bathhouse a short time later, sleeping yukata in hand, the room was hazy with steam from the generous bath. Kenshin had obviously stoked the fire for a pleasant soak. She hung the yukata on a peg awkwardly with one hand and entered the room. Kaoru reached up to undo the knot on her sling.

She turned as she heard the shoji slide shut. Kenshin moved smoothly into the room. Kaoru’s breath caught at the intensity and emotion in his eyes.

He stepped in front of her, hand covering hers at the knot.

“Let me take care of you tonight,” he said, taking her hand and kissing her fingers gently.

Kaoru bit her lip at his gentle caress. She nodded her assent.

Kenshin brought her hand to her side and carefully undid the knot of her sling. He let her guide her injured arm down to her side, kissing her forehead as it crinkled slightly in discomfort.

He undid her obi, unwrapping it and gently pulling it from around her body. He folded it carefully and placed it on the bench. He slid the kimono off her right shoulder, brought it behind her body and very gently lifted it from her injured side. The kimono joined the obi on the bench.

Kenshin removed her under-kimono from behind just as carefully, but placed light kisses along her neck and right shoulder as he bared her to his eyes. Kaoru closed her eyes and enjoyed his attentions.

He guided her to the bathing stool and pinned her ponytail to her head, creating a makeshift bun. Picking up a bucket of warm water, he slowly ran water down her skin, the little rivulets caressing her gently like touches. He repeated his slow, sensual pours until her skin was dewy with moisture.

Kaoru closed her eyes and enjoyed the warm sensation of water on her skin. He was slowly relaxing her and stroking her fires all at once. He knew how appealing he was when gentle, especially when she wasn’t able to enjoy him being rougher.

Kaoru opened her eyes and smiled as he walked in front of her with washcloth in hand. He had taken off his gi, and her eyes played over the lightly defined muscles in his chest and abdomen. Her gaze lingered down towards the vents in his hakama, which showed off some of his well-toned hip and thigh.

He smirked at her appraisal, and lathered up the washcloth with her jasmine-scented soap. Starting at her neck, he carefully washed her injured shoulder and arm, and then teased down the other arm with a stronger, massaging stroke. Sudsy paths dripped down her breasts, and he chased the bubbles down with the cloth, pinching her nipples lightly through the material. Kaoru blushed in pleasure, and sighed in disappointment as he traveled on.

He knelt in front of her and languorously drew the soapy cloth up one leg, drawing close to her center, and pulled away down the other leg. Kaoru shifted as he repeated his motions, the heat in her center increasing with each stroke. Standing, he washed her back with soothing strokes, occasionally running the cloth around to her breasts or belly, always gently teasing without giving her satisfaction. She was suspended between a state of arousal and relaxation, and his gentle teasing kept her wavering in that void.

Finally, he stepped away and gently had her stand. Warm water ran like rivers down her skin as he repeated his gentle pouring from before. Soon she stood, skin wet and shining, feeling quite cleansed.

Kaoru eeped as Kenshin picked her up bridal style and lowered her into the tub. She moaned as the wonderful water caressed her, making her body tingle with languid pleasure. He positioned her carefully at the edge of the tub, placing a folded towel behind her to cushion her shoulder, and leaned her head back.

With a slight flick, Kaoru’s black hair fell loose from its binding and flowed over the edge of the tub. Putting his hand on her brow to protect her eyes, Kenshin wet her hair with more warm water. He began soaping her hair in soothing motions, working his way up the strands to massage her scalp. His talented fingers reached down to her neck as he rubbed, releasing days of tension from her muscles. After rinsing her hair with the same care as before, he placed the shining mass next to her in the tub, allowing strands to float around her submerged form.

Kaoru was floating, only half-aware as she relaxed from his ministrations. He had such talent for washing away her stress and tensions. His touches focused their whole world on each other and nothing else. He spoke through his actions, whether in battle or passion.

She lifted her head lazily as she felt movement in the water. Her eyes opened in time to see Kenshin sliding into the tub, hair wet and body smelling sweet from a quick wash. Eyes glinting with his smile, he moved towards her and gathered her into his arms, positioning her to straddle his lap without jostling her arm.

He looked deeply into her eyes, taking her in. He leaned in to her, one hand cupping her cheek.

“Kirei,” he murmured, and captured her lips in a gentle kiss.

His lips caressed hers, teasing and pulling at her arousal until she moaned lightly. At her cry, the kiss became more passionate, his tongue stroking hers and demanding submission. Kaoru tipped her head slightly, giving him more access. He plundered her mouth greedily.

Moving away from her lips, he placed alternating kisses and light nips along her jaw and down the column of her throat, paying particular attention to the junction of her neck and shoulder. Kaoru moaned as he bit on the sensitive spot, fingers of her good hand tangling into his damp red locks.

One hand moved to cup her breast, while the other supported and caressed her back. His questing lips descended further, teasing around the mounded flesh before suddenly attacking her taut nipple. Kaoru’s head lolled back at the ministrations of his hand and mouth, skin sensitized from the heat of the bath.

He continued to switch between one breast and the other, licking, nibbling and teasing her further. Kaoru rolled her hips against his pelvis in her passion, and smiled when he stiffened and moaned at the sensation. He was more than hard, and obviously ready for her. She stroked her folds against his hardness again, and locked on his eyes.

“Inside me, please,” she whispered, voice husky with need.

Kenshin’s eyes flashed at her words, and with shaking restraint he lifted her up and on to his shaft. His eyes rolled back and he groaned as he sheathed himself in her heat. The tightness and sensation pulled at his control, making him want to drive into her swiftly until she came screaming.

Kaoru rested her head on his shoulder, intensely aroused as he filled her. Gods, she loved the feeling of him inside. She carefully placed the hand of her injured arm on the edge of the tub to put it out of the way.

She almost cried out as he rolled his hips and stroked her inner walls. The delicious friction stoked both their passions, and he set a slow, steady rhythm.

His free hand roamed up her back, to her front, teasing her tight peaks, and cupping them as they bounced gently in and out of the water. As he increased his measured thrusts, the hand wandered down to play with her curls. Kaoru gasped as he began toying with her jewel.

“More, please, more,” she moaned, his teasing having stroked her need to almost fevered heights.

Kenshin gladly complied, shifting forward slightly and increasing his thrusts. As his fingers circled her clit and pinched lightly, she came with his name on her lips. The clenching of her walls pushed him over the edge, and he buried his face in her neck as he released into her.

Panting, Kenshin leaned back against the side of the tub, Kaoru breathing heavily on his chest as she came down from heaven. The wet strands of their hair mingled in the water, floating serenely around them.

After a while, he pulled her off him gently, and lifted her out of the tub. Kaoru was blinking lazily as he dried her, tiredness and languor making her limbs heavy. Kenshin wrapped her sleeping yukata around her and carried her dozing form to bed.

Kaoru wouldn’t let him go when he laid her on the bed.

“Mine,” she murmured sleepily.

Kenshin chuckled.

“Hai, anata, yours,” he responded as he slipped in beside her.