"Ne, Kenshin. Are you really alright?" Kaoru asked, putting her hands over his shoulders. Kenshin nodded, smiling his familiar rurouni smile. Kaoru almost believed him, but that yelp of pain had been unmistakable. It would be her fault if he was hurt now. She'd been chasing Yahiko, and had run right into Kenshin as they rounded a corner, throwing them both off of the step. Of course, Kenshin being Kenshin twisted their fall so he landed on the bottom.

"This one is fine, Kaoru. You should stop worrying, that you should." Kenshin said, gently pulling her hands from his shoulders. She stood up, and he quickly followed, hiding a wince as he straightened up. She caught it regardless of his attempt to hide it, and quickly reached forward again. He dodged under her outstretched fingers and slipped behind her. "This one will see to your bath now, Kaoru. Don't hurt Yahiko too badly during your training." He left, disappearing in the direction of the baths. Kaoru poked her head around the corner to see him massaging his right shoulder as he walked away. So he had been hurt by it. She huffed and stalked back to the dojo. Why did that man always try to hide his pain from other people? It's not like she was other people! As a result of her mood at Kenshin, Yahiko did indeed have a rather harsh session.

"Kenshin, can I come in?" She asked, knocking on the shoji leading to his room. There was a quick shuffling of fabric and then a soft, 'come in'. Kaoru entered slowly, eyeing the redhead sitting on the futon in the centre of the room.

"Can this one help you, Kaoru?" She shook her head, closing the shoji and wandering closer. He cocked his head to the side. "Kaoru?" She knelt down in front of him and wordlessly lifted her hand to the front of his yukata. He grabbed her fingers gently to stop her pulling it aside. "Kaoru, if you do that people will think we are doing things, that they will." Kaoru growled and hit his head. He 'oro'ed and Kaoru took advantage of the moment to pull his yukata shoulder down his arm. She gasped, and he quickly moved to grab the fabric and replace it. She held it stubbornly at his elbow. There was a large blue and brown bruise blossoming over his shoulder and half-way down his back.

"You were hurt earlier. I knew you were. Here, let me help." She reached forward, ignoring his protests, and gently massaged down the bruise. She moved to his back, her fingers rubbing expertly to ease the pain. After a few moments, she felt Kenshin relaxing under her fingers. She smiled to herself, after years of receiving bruises, she knew exactly how to ease them. As she stopped focussing on what she was doing, letting her instinct take over, her mind wandered, pulling her eyes over the otherwise pale back of the redheaded swordsman. She had to stop herself flinching. She'd never seen Kenshin without his gi on before. He had scars of varying shapes and sizes running not only over his exposed back, but over the top of his shoulders and she was willing to bet they were all over his body. She leant forward without thinking and planted a soft kiss on a particularly prominent one across his shoulder. Kenshin tensed up and swirled around to look at her.

"Kaoru?" He asked, violet eyes wide. She smiled and shook her head, her fingers moving to massage over some of the scars as well as the bruise.

"Sorry, Kenshin. I couldn't help it. You have so many scars. Don't you ever consider giving up the sword?" Kenshin smiled and took her hands gently, holding them inside his own. Their eyes met and she knew already what he'd say.

"No, this one doesn't. Each of these scars was taken in a battle, and whatever the reason for that particular battle, they have all helped to bring this one here. Without them, this one would not be who he is. This one is especially grateful that they bought him here, to you." He almost whispered, and Kaoru smiled.

"I'm glad too, Kenshin."