Chapter 11

Kaoru gasped, cold air entering her lungs. She was in a bed. Something warm was beside her. She looked down and saw Kenshin, eyes clenched shut, breathing hard. Sweat covered his chest, his muscles taunt. He looked like he was in severe pain.

"Kenshin," she said softly, smoothing his hair across his forehead.

"Do you always….wake up…with these headaches?" he asked in a small voice.

"Ah, reaction headache. Result of too much power after too much disuse."

"What was I supposed to do….practice before hand?"

Kaoru laid a kiss upon his forehead, whispering a few words. Immediately he relaxed.

"Ah, that's better," he said with a sigh.

"It won't make it go away, but now you'll have small headaches for days instead of a killer one in one day."

"You are too good to me…" he said softly and pulled her close. It was then Kaoru noticed she was naked. He nuzzled his face into the crook of her neck, perfectly content to go to sleep.

"Uh…Kenshin…"

"What? I just went through hell and killed the devil for you sweetheart. Don't tell me you're backing out now. I'm not leaving this bed till you've agreed to marry me and I've had a long nap."

"Is that a proposal?"

"Yes."

"That was awful! Our children will ask and I have to tell them that!"

"If you tell them everything before it I'm sure they'll understand."

"Kenshin! I'm going to give your headache back!"

"No, anything but that!" he moaned, rolling over. He grabbed Kaoru and brought her with him. Now she sat atop him. He managed to open his very weary eyes and look up at her, eyes a gentle violet.

"Marry me or I won't sign your treaty when Shishou dies."

"WHAT?" she squealed. "Is that the best you can come up with?"

"I'm a soldier, not a romantic. Tell you what. You tell me what you want me to say and I'll say it with the utmost sincerity."

"No wonder Tokio wanted a divorce," Kaoru said, crossing her arms across her chest which stole the lovely view from him. "You know a simple I love you will you marry me is sufficient."

"So no I-killed-the-devil-for-you bit?"

"Kenshin," she warned. "If you don't come up with a decent proposal on the count of three you can forget it. You'll just have to be my slave."

Much as the thought intrigued him, he decided to play by her rules. Besides, who knew if Kaoru's idea of a slave was the same as his or if she'd condemn him to something for the rest of his life….like laundry!

"Marry me," he said, sitting upright so that his nose was touching hers. "Please?"

"I guess that will do….I can at least tell our kids how you begged."

"Damn right I'm begging. Now that you've agreed I think there are a few people who would be very happy to know you are alive. But only after my nap…." he said, pulling her back down with him. Kaoru giggled and snuggled up under the warm covers. It had been a while since she had been warm. Now she would never be cold.

Misao slept in Aoshi's arms having cried herself out. Kenshin had locked the doors to his room. She couldn't even say goodbye. Aoshi made a mental note to beat the shit out of Kenshin later. Even if it got him executed.

The door to his room flung open and Kaoru came bounding in like a puppy. His jaw dropped. She was supposed to be dead.

"What?" Misao said as he shook her. She looked up, rubbed her eyes and tried to focus. "Kaoru?"

The small woman went from laying half on Aoshi to springing into midair to catch her cousin in an enthusiastic hug. So enthusiastic they fell on the floor crying and laughing. Kenshin stood at the doorway, a small smile on his face.

"I do not need to know," Aoshi said, his hand up before Kenshin said a word. "Thank you."

Hiko greeted Kaoru as if she'd never left. Kenshin had thought his Shishou would be in the greatest shock, but the old man seemed to know all along. Then again, what didn't he know?

"Took you long enough to get my hints," he said. "You'd think I'd have to spell it out for you."

Tokio gave Kaoru a gentle hug. She looked horrible…like she'd been crying too much and not sleeping enough.

"Welcome back," she said.

"These tears were not for me, were they?" Kaoru asked, more a statement than a question. Tokio looked down at her dress, suddenly very interested in the floor.

"Saitou declared war on Kyoto as soon as he returned to Fujita. Said we violated the treaty. I'm such an idiot." Kaoru hugged her close.

"Do you love him?" Kaoru whispered in her ear.

"I don't know why…."

"Then let's ride out and meet him. Full war banners and all. If it's war he wants he'll have to fight you." Tokio looked up at her in amazement.

"How did you get so wise so fast?"

"You'd be surprised what one night can do for you."

(Battlefield)

Saitou sat atop the biggest, meanest horse in his stable. The one his wife jokingly had nicknamed Gentle Dove. Gentle Dove bit anyone within ten feet of him and regularly trampled dogs, stable boys, fences, small rodents and Saitou's foot. Right now the damn horse was trying to bite his foot…through the metal armor.

God he was going to miss her sense of humor.

Kyoto's army faced him on the far hill. The entire army. Prince Himura was in there somewhere. He'd find him and finish what they started all those years ago.

A rider came forward, white flag in hand. There was always a messenger. Probably setting up terms. Saitou raised his hand and motioned for his messenger to go out. The man galloped out and met the other rider halfway. Then he bowed and came galloping back while the other rider remained put.

"Your majesty….she'll only talk to you…" the man blurted out.

"Tell her, whoever she is, she can damn well talk to you or…." Saitou stopped. His messenger had bowed to the other one. There was only one She he would bow to.

"Wait here," he commanded and spurred the horrid beast under him.

Sure enough, Tokio was in full armor holding that white flag. She looked gorgeous, as usual…although there were dark circles under her eyes and a haunted look.

"Your terms?" he asked.

"I want to go home," she said quietly.

"You are home, or had your forgotten?"

"No, Kyoto is not my home," she said, a tear falling down her cheek. The sneer left his face. She was crying? Tokio never ever cried. She hated to appear weak, especially to him.

"What do you want of me woman?"

"Kaoru is alive. The barrier is intact. I don't expect an apology or even a smile. I just want to go back. Either cut off my head or take me home. If you won't then I'll die on this battlefield."

"Fool. No man in my army would lay a finger on you."

"No…but that won't stop me from slitting my own throat."

"Dammit woman, why the hell would you commit suicide over this?"

"Isn't that your intention? To fight Kyoto until either you die or no man is left standing?" She had him there. Saitou had expected to fight Himura again. He was not expecting to go home intact. Damn woman was too damn smart sometimes.

"Let the horse go. I won't be accused of stealing Hiko's nags." He hauled the nasty beast he was riding along side hers and held out his hand. She grabbed it and pulled herself up, letting the other animal free. The horse was perfectly content to stand there and not move until Gentle Dove decided to kick out and snap at it. The horse quickly returned to the Kyoto side.

"Forgive me," he said as they rode back to his side. Her arms tightened around from behind.

"Thank you," was her soft reply.

"Good thing that worked," Kenshin said to Kaoru. "I don't know how long he would have believed these straw men were really soldiers."

"That is the beauty of sorcery. From a distance it looks just like a real army. Shall we?" she asked, turning back toward Kyoto.

"How long before their next fight?"

"I give it 24 hours. But three hours after they'll probably make up…I think their relationship is the kind that never really comes to a stand still."

"I hope I never have that problem with you."

"Just do whatever I tell you and we'll have no problems." Kenshin laughed but like any wise man did not choose to reply to that statement.

"So where shall we live?" he asked.

"I was thinking half the year in Edo, half the year in Kyoto."

"Can we just live in Edo and visit Shishou on holidays?"

"Coward."

"But a smart coward."

And that's the end of this story. Millions of thanks to those who reviewed! I was shocked to get such a response! Now I feel bad it's so short. Sorry, originally I just wrote this as a short amusement...then posted it on for the hell of it...getting only like 6 reviews (I didn't really care). The fact that I've had such a better responce from this site is astounding. I would have expanded the story...but I got this little problem called "lack of time". And I've got all these other stories I've been working on...so I have even less time.

Anyway, the prequel to this (Saitou and Tokio story called Checkmate:Royal Aquisition) is on due to the fact that they life is a bit more graphic and includes rather descriptive humiliation (eventually) which I was inspired to write due to an article about Marie Antoinette. I'll see if I can tone it down enough to stick it on here eventually, but don't expect it for a few weeks. I'm also working on the sequel, another short story of Sano getting help from nearly everyone to snag Megumi...who he's been after for like decades. Not to mention we'll see more of Kenshin and Kaoru, struggling to be husband in wife in two different countries...Hiko didn't just let his heir go, he demanded the baka undergo intensive mage training. And then there's the added difficulty of Aoshi and Misao trying to be a couple...but Misao avoiding the topic of marriage. It should be fun. I'm hoping to make that one more humorous.