Striking a Balance
folder
Rurouni Kenshin › Het - Male/Female
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
12
Views:
10,262
Reviews:
35
Recommended:
1
Currently Reading:
1
Category:
Rurouni Kenshin › Het - Male/Female
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
12
Views:
10,262
Reviews:
35
Recommended:
1
Currently Reading:
1
Disclaimer:
I do not own Rurouni Kenshin, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Chapter 5
Disclaimer - I do not own Rurouni Kenshin.
Chapter 5
Kenshin stood at the kitchen doorway, staring out into the dark dojo yard. Kaoru had just finished her story, leaving out a few of the thugs threats. He had changed the cold cloth on her shoulder once during her narrative, but took up his position at the door shortly after, hands clenching slightly.
Kaoru sat in the uncomfortable silence. Kenshin’s gaze was unreadable, but the tightness in his jaw spoke volumes. Coughing slightly, Kaoru broke the silence.
“Well, I was supposed to teach for Nakagawa next week, but that’s off. I’ll let him know tomorrow when I go back.”
“I’ll go with you.” Kenshin said, voice guarded.
“That’s not necessary, I just need to pick up my training bag and shinai.”
“It was not a suggestion,” he responded tightly, still as a statue at the door.
“I don’t want you to come,” she responded, getting more irritated.
“You are not going alone.”
“I will be fine.”
Kenshin stepped away from the door to face her.
“Kaoru, this is for your own safety,” he said, almost patronizing.
“I can handle this, Kenshin. I’ve dealt with fighters worse than this before.”
Kenshin clenched is jaw at her stubbornness.
“Obviously you cannot,” he spoke lowly, not meeting your eyes, “or you would not be injured, and we would not be discussing this.”
The frustrations of the day hit Kaoru like a tidal wave. Her anger finally got the better of her and she struggled to her feet.
“How dare you say that? Masuyama just got a lucky shot, I still avoided him and took him down! While injured!”
“And those other men were just lucky?” Kenshin said cooly.
“I. . . was distracted. I could have outrun them. I would have been able to free myself if I hadn’t been hurt.”
“But you were hurt.”
“God, you sound just like Saito,” she exclaimed, exasperated. “When did you start taking a page from his book?”
“I do not care who I sound like. I will protect you,” Kenshin responded, patience thinning.
“I don’t need your protection. I can take care of this.”
“No, you can’t,” Kenshin almost shouted. “How do you expect to ‘take care of this’ when you can hardly move your arm?! Those men will take any advantage they have. They will not hold back.”
Kaoru was startled. Kenshin never raised his voice. His face was almost too intense to look at.
“You don’t understand,” she said quietly, “I have to do this for my family honor.”
“What good is your family honor if you are dead,” Kenshin replied, his voice tight and controlled again.
“How would you know,” she shouted, “you’ve never had to worry about family honor, just your own precious guilt and pride!”
Kenshin looked down, eyes shrouded by his bangs. He was shaking slightly as emotions washed over him.
“I don’t want to discuss this anymore,” Kaoru continued somewhat less hotly. “I will go tomorrow morning to Nakagawa’s dojo to get my things. Alone. Those bastards won’t be up that early anyway.”
She carefully pulled her yukata up her shoulder and walked past Kenshin to the door.
“I’m going to bed.”
Kaoru resisted the urge to look back at him as she stalked out. She made her way to their room, and closed the door firmly behind her. She sat numbly on the futon, emotions swirling around her. Why couldn’t he just let her handle this? Why didn’t he believe in her?
Kaoru sighed wearily. She’d work this out with him in the morning when she was feeling better. She’d explain why upholding her honor and the honor of Kamiya Kasshin Ryu was so important. He’d just have to deal with it.
…………………..
Kenshin stood outside of the bedroom door, listening to Kaoru’s deep breathing in slumber. Why couldn’t she understand that he was just concerned about her safety? She should accept his protection as her husband. It was his right to provide it to her.
Kenshin sat on the engawa outside the door and leaned against the wall. He placed his sakabato against his shoulder and settled into his long-accustomed position for a sleepless night. He sat thinking in the darkness.
After a long time, hours after Yahiko had stumbled home, Kenshin rose from his position at the wall. He glanced at the closed door where his treasure lay sleeping. Resolve strengthened, he strode towards the dojo gate in the gathering morning light.
Chapter 5
Kenshin stood at the kitchen doorway, staring out into the dark dojo yard. Kaoru had just finished her story, leaving out a few of the thugs threats. He had changed the cold cloth on her shoulder once during her narrative, but took up his position at the door shortly after, hands clenching slightly.
Kaoru sat in the uncomfortable silence. Kenshin’s gaze was unreadable, but the tightness in his jaw spoke volumes. Coughing slightly, Kaoru broke the silence.
“Well, I was supposed to teach for Nakagawa next week, but that’s off. I’ll let him know tomorrow when I go back.”
“I’ll go with you.” Kenshin said, voice guarded.
“That’s not necessary, I just need to pick up my training bag and shinai.”
“It was not a suggestion,” he responded tightly, still as a statue at the door.
“I don’t want you to come,” she responded, getting more irritated.
“You are not going alone.”
“I will be fine.”
Kenshin stepped away from the door to face her.
“Kaoru, this is for your own safety,” he said, almost patronizing.
“I can handle this, Kenshin. I’ve dealt with fighters worse than this before.”
Kenshin clenched is jaw at her stubbornness.
“Obviously you cannot,” he spoke lowly, not meeting your eyes, “or you would not be injured, and we would not be discussing this.”
The frustrations of the day hit Kaoru like a tidal wave. Her anger finally got the better of her and she struggled to her feet.
“How dare you say that? Masuyama just got a lucky shot, I still avoided him and took him down! While injured!”
“And those other men were just lucky?” Kenshin said cooly.
“I. . . was distracted. I could have outrun them. I would have been able to free myself if I hadn’t been hurt.”
“But you were hurt.”
“God, you sound just like Saito,” she exclaimed, exasperated. “When did you start taking a page from his book?”
“I do not care who I sound like. I will protect you,” Kenshin responded, patience thinning.
“I don’t need your protection. I can take care of this.”
“No, you can’t,” Kenshin almost shouted. “How do you expect to ‘take care of this’ when you can hardly move your arm?! Those men will take any advantage they have. They will not hold back.”
Kaoru was startled. Kenshin never raised his voice. His face was almost too intense to look at.
“You don’t understand,” she said quietly, “I have to do this for my family honor.”
“What good is your family honor if you are dead,” Kenshin replied, his voice tight and controlled again.
“How would you know,” she shouted, “you’ve never had to worry about family honor, just your own precious guilt and pride!”
Kenshin looked down, eyes shrouded by his bangs. He was shaking slightly as emotions washed over him.
“I don’t want to discuss this anymore,” Kaoru continued somewhat less hotly. “I will go tomorrow morning to Nakagawa’s dojo to get my things. Alone. Those bastards won’t be up that early anyway.”
She carefully pulled her yukata up her shoulder and walked past Kenshin to the door.
“I’m going to bed.”
Kaoru resisted the urge to look back at him as she stalked out. She made her way to their room, and closed the door firmly behind her. She sat numbly on the futon, emotions swirling around her. Why couldn’t he just let her handle this? Why didn’t he believe in her?
Kaoru sighed wearily. She’d work this out with him in the morning when she was feeling better. She’d explain why upholding her honor and the honor of Kamiya Kasshin Ryu was so important. He’d just have to deal with it.
…………………..
Kenshin stood outside of the bedroom door, listening to Kaoru’s deep breathing in slumber. Why couldn’t she understand that he was just concerned about her safety? She should accept his protection as her husband. It was his right to provide it to her.
Kenshin sat on the engawa outside the door and leaned against the wall. He placed his sakabato against his shoulder and settled into his long-accustomed position for a sleepless night. He sat thinking in the darkness.
After a long time, hours after Yahiko had stumbled home, Kenshin rose from his position at the wall. He glanced at the closed door where his treasure lay sleeping. Resolve strengthened, he strode towards the dojo gate in the gathering morning light.