The Spoken

Kaoru's heart dropped to her toes as she saw that Sanosuke wasn't there. Though try as she might to deny it, she almost wished she could change what she had just done. She had run away because of her pride, away from the man who she'd tried her hardest to supress feelings for. Kenshin had always been there for her when she needed him, but that "magic" she'd always heard of never sparkled between her and Kenshin.

Her breath caught in her throat as she thought of Sano's eyes, his creamy brown eyes, filled with that cocky twinkle which could always catch her attention when he wanted it to. Did he give her that magic? Was it he who sent her heart fluttering every time his gaze fell upon her?

She was suddenly frightened out of her senses when a figure, a well-built man a head taller than her, somehow appeared in front of her. In fear she backed up a few steps, smacking into the wooden wall of the dojo. The man's imposing stature sent her limbs shaking. What on earth should I do!? I was just bluffing about being almost as strong as Sano - I don't even have any tricks up my sleeve that I was joking about! Her mind was whirling crazily as she panicked. Kenshin's out buying tofu, and Yahiko's training by the river, and Sano...

All of her worries were put to rest as she realized who it was.

His filled-out and well-exposed chest expanded and contracted in a mesmerizing rythym; his powerful arms relaxed by his sides as if in amiable surrender; his dark brown hair dangled in front of his eyes.

Oh, his eyes...those strong eyes of a fighter seemed now like melting chocolate as he gazed at her.

Sanosuke stood before her, lulling her into his world with his alluring gaze. It was all she could do to stand her ground in his presence.

Kaoru blinked back to reality - she had to think of a way of escape. He was chasing her; he wouldn't let her get away. Perhaps that had been her own fault: she had challenged him and awakened emotions inside him that might have been left unstirred. And perhaps she still had some control over his actions.

It wasn't as though she didn't want him to come closer to her. She was so afraid that he was only teasing her, mocking her, hunting her as a game. He didn't really like her back, did he?

She had to run away. She couldn't let him take advantage of her or play with her mind like that.

He must have read her thoughts, for just as she had decided to run to her left, he thrust out his arms on either side of her, his hands spread out on the dojo wall, trapping her between himself and the wall.

His head dropped to her height, his face so close she could feel his breath streaming down her neck as it had minutes before. His eyes were so near now, his beautiful brown eyes that she couldn't break her gaze from. He broke the silence, whispering, "Missy, I've never felt like this for anyone before."

She could see the sincerity in his eyes; his adorable nickname for her had never sounded so wonderful.

He took a step closer, and she could see beads of sweat and rain clinging to his bare chest. And before she could respond, he didn't hesitate as he had before. He launched towards her, his lips pressing to hers.

Her breath stuck in her throat and her eyes widened as he poured all of his pent-up emotion into a passionate kiss. Her heart melted, and she couldn't hold back any longer; her hands remained idle no more. Her arms flew up his chest and over his neck, entangling her fingers in his deep brown, hypnotic hair.

He broke off and held his head still very close to hers, and they both took a gasp of air.

Chocolate brown met sapphire blue as their eyes met again.

They stood still for a long time, catching their breath.

The only sound was that of their own deep breathing; they could only see the other's serene face and the other's chest heaving and falling; she was surrounded by his scent. Being so near this boy made her head feel light, and he smelled so good...

Sano's beautiful face broke into a playful grin, a grin like that of a teenage boy in love. Then again, he was a teenage boy in love. His jubilant features lightened Kaoru's spirits, and her lips parted into a similar smile. After he caught his breath, his smile faded, and his eyebrows cocked up in challenge, as if to say, "Come and get it!"

Nothing could keep her back now - he asked for it!

She lunged for him, throwing her arms around him and nearly toppling him over with her aggresive momentum. Her lips locked onto his, and the world around them disappeared. Her feet were still moving though pressed to him she was, and he was forced to back up for fear of tumbling to the floor. His lean arms slid around her back, enveloping her in his strong grasp. But she hadn't given total control to him: she still pressed him backwards, and he began to worry that -

SMACK!

Kaoru knocked him into the wall with her forward strides. They had crossed the entire room in a matter of seconds, and Sano's back paid the price for it. He was shaken senseless for a moment, more out of surprise than pain, but that only fueled his drive further. He couldn't resist the chance to tease her just a little, so he laughed, "Woah, go for it, Missy!"

Her eyes opened casually, and she broke off from his lips just long enough to retaliate, "Don't go blaming me -you unleashed the dragon," before pressing her lips to his again.

Sano tried to say something, but she was so passionate that he couldn't break away. He wanted to be in control, to be leading the kiss, but the "dragon" had awoken a fever-like crazy love unlike anything he'd ever felt before. She kept the lead just out of his grasp, binding her arms around him so tightly he thought she might squeeze the very life out of him. She still had control over him, driving him mad as she seemed to toy with his emotions.

Kaoru couldn't stop kissing him, couldn't let go of this fantasy she'd held since she met him. Her small and petite body melted like wax into his strong and powerful chest. His lips danced with a passion over her own, sending her heart a shudder.

He ripped away from the wall, spinning them both around in circles. Kaoru's feet couldn't keep balance, and she leaned on an unsteady Sano for support. He lost his footing, and they both crashed to the ground.

THUNK!

His massive body toppled to the floor, his hands flying to her sides to keep the Missy from landing on her head - or on his head. She fell right on his chest, knocking the air out of his lungs. Pain.

But it was a good pain.

He stared up into her sparkling eyes. Her silky black hair had been ripped from its bow, and it all came tumbling over his chest as she landed safely on her human cushion. It was so smooth and soft, like petals of an exotic flower - it smelled like one, too. His fingers toyed with her luscious hair, taking in its amazing texture. He lifted a strand to his perused lips and inhaled the intoxicating scent.

His gaze returned to her eyes, those eyes which had tormented and teased him so many times before. But not anymore. The question still rung in his mind, What about Kenshin? If Kenshin still wanted her, he'd have to put up a pretty big fight - naw, her eyes told him the single truth that sent his heart pounding: she wasn't into Kenshin. For the first time in his life, he felt secure, staring into her eyes.

He was broken from his reverie as she leaned down and kissed him again, her raven-black bangs dangling in his eyes. Her kiss lasted only a moment, but it was the final blow to rendering him speechless in his assurance of her affections.

But then she slapped him. "I still love you and all, but you'd better not expect me to kiss you like that again," she commanded, returning to her usual Kaoru voice.

A smile broke over his face as she stood and tromped out of the dojo.

That was all she needed to say.