A/N: Because I have so many ideas of these two adorable lovebirds and because I need a break from time to time from the long term stories. Here is a collection of short stories and ideas I have of Kenshin and Kaoru. :'D enjoy!

Illusions of Dreaming proudly presents:

A Hundred and One Encounters

Pride

The bleak, tasteless, white –oh so white room was an irritation to his eyes. The bed was incredibly soft and springy but the man on it wanted nothing more than to get off and escape. The wires and tubes, the white bandages –this whole place was an insult to him!

His hands fisted by his side as he continued to stare out of the large hospital windows, wrapped in the bloated silence of the hospital room.

How the mighty has fallen. His jaw tightened with displeasure, teeth sinking into his lips and drawing blood. He was the Battousai, the lone soldier that felled and disbanded many gangs single handedly. The one whose name was like venom on people's tongue and casted fear into the very depths of hearts. Battousai, the one who finally fell.

"Cowards." He hissed softly, irises burning with molten gold.

Had fear finally drove the gangs to such cowardly tactics? Called and arranged a truce only to ambush him? They should've known it wouldn't work and they paid dearly for trying to fell the demon. If it weren't for that distracting statement, if he hadn't let his emotions get ahead of him…

"We know where she lives Battousai! You may be invincible, but that raven haired girl isn't!"

A sword to the jugular ended that thug's life, but he was a bit too late to notice the others. The night ended with a spray of blood and utter darkness.

When he woke, he was confined to the bleak, tasteless room with the heart monitor beeping monotonously beside him. The offenders were dead of course, but he didn't leave without injuries this time. Something hurts, aches and pounds. His insignificant pride was hurt, disappointed and even shocked at his first failure. But was it just that?

His throat was suddenly very parched and dry and the male grunted as he sat up to reach for the water pitcher on the table. His hand struggled with the weight, straining and shaking with effort as he tried to lift the jug from the table. Kenshin was devastated to realize that he couldn't lift the pitcher at all. His arm was still too weak to carry out even such simple action, the knowledge burned at him and made him cry out in anguish. Falling back on his covers as he covered his face and drowned in self pity. The strongest soldier on the field, reduced to this!

The soft clinking of glass reached his ears, then something cool and wet touched his arm a second later. Kenshin removed his hands, staring at the glass of water held out to him. His eyes travelled up the fingers wrapped around the container and met the stunning blue eyes of a raven haired lady.

"Here." A small smile graced her features as she offered the glass to him again.

Kaoru. His eyes drank in her gentle smiling face, the long silky raven locks that rolled down her back like a sheen of silk, her soft and accepting expression. She was the reason why his emotions had been in turmoil these past few days, the reason why he was in here.

"I don't need your help!" Battousai hissed as he slapped her hand away. The glass flew from her grasp and shattered against the floor, spraying the area with millions of sparkling gems and droplets of water.

Kaoru didn't flinch nor did she show fear on her face, only a small resigned sigh slipped from her lips as she looked at the Battousai's crumpled form.

"Does it hurt Kenshin?" she asked softly, her hands folded gently across the front of her lap.

Battousai growled as he glared at Kaoru, he felt uncomfortable with others knowing his real name –those that do usually ended six feet underground. Yet Kaoru was the only one who could say his name without him hating the sound of it. Why did she evoke such strong emotions within him? Why did he feel so much anger when the thugs spoke of her? This fear… this… weakness.

"Where does it hurt Kenshin?" she asked again, her hand reaching out to touch him.

Flinching, the man slapped her hand away, snapping at her. "Of course it hurts woman!" he exploded, turning his frustrations on her.

"My head hurts, my arms hurt, my stomach hurts, everywhere hurts! Why do you ca-" his eyes widened and he stopped his rant halfway when Kaoru leaned forwards unexpectedly and kissed his forehead.

Leaning back, the raven haired lady smiled at his bewildered expression.

"Where else does it hurt?"

"…" Kenshin blinked, staring into sapphire eyes and trying to judge her intentions.

"…"

"Here." The man grumbled as he pointed to his bandaged neck.

Again, Kaoru leaned close and gave the designated area a gentle peck.

"…" Silently and avoiding her eyes, the soldier pointed to other areas of his body and Kaoru obediently graced those places with her butterfly kisses. His shoulder, his neck, his cheeks and his nose.

Leaning back from her last kiss, she stared into his amber depths, love radiating from those beautiful sapphire orbs. His anger had subsided as her small actions of love calmed the irrational and explosive demon within. Uncertainly, his hand began to move, reaching to touch his lips lightly, his eyes flashing an unspoken challenge, a slight stirring of fear and uncertainty.

A small knowing smile broke over her face and her hair curtained them as she leaned down to press her soft lips to his. Searing, liquid passion exploded in his veins as the carefully built dam around his inner fears broke down, consuming the male as their lips exchanged knowledge that words and language could not phrase. He feared for her, feared that his ruthless ways might end up involving her and her delicate form. He feared the day he'll find not a warm body to return to, but one that's cold and lifeless. His passionate and possessive kiss that communicated his worries and urgency was met with a gentle and understanding one as Kaoru soothed him without resistance. Her delicate fingers twined into his flaming hair and become one with them as she offered support to her weakened lover. Her understanding, patience and acceptance were communicated through the way she wrapped herself gently around Kenshin as she supported the weakened male. They could kiss forever, exchanging loving words the lovers' way as they made up for their lost time.

Kaoru broke the kiss first, breaking apart for air as she smiled against Kenshin's unsatisfied grunt, meeting his passion glazed eyes.

"Feeling better?" she breathed softly as she twirled with a piece of his hair, eyes sparkling with amusement.

"…Not yet." The male breathed huskily, his lashes lowered as he peered at her, his hands fisting in her shirt tugging her closer.

"…Just a bit more…" he whispered before locking his lips against hers in a crushing embrace.

Kaoru smiled against his desperate lips and relented, giving him a small kiss before pulling away from his grasp, flashing an amused smile at Kenshin's disgruntled expression.

"Anymore and we'll be stripping." She explained as she straightened herself, smothering her laughter at Kenshin's pouting face.

"I don't mind, the room's empty, there's lots of beds." He growled as he reached for her hand to tug her into his lap.

"No." Kaoru stuck her tongue at him as she pulled her hand away from his range.

"Take this as punishment for breaking the cup." She tutted at him before her expression softened.

"You need rest."

"We'll get plenty of rest afterwards." Kenshin snorted as he crossed his arms. "I'm in pain."

Kaoru laughed lightly as she turned from him and towards the door. "Well then, use it as motivation to get better soon." She smirked, pausing by the door and flashed a grin at him.

"Use your brilliant imagination to substitute for now." She chuckled, leaving a wide-eyed Kenshin staring after her retreating swaying hips.

Silence consumed the room once more as the male fell back on his bed, the lingering sensations of Kaoru still tingling on his lips. Her perfume saturated the area and gave him the sense of being embraced by her presence, almost as if it's reassuring him that he's no longer alone.

"Women." He snorted as he turned over to let sleep claim his exhausted body and mind. His fear had obviously been misplaced.

Yes! Kenshin the unbeatable has been beaten and trampled to the ground!

I'm sorry invincible Kenshin fans but this idea that came to me one day wouldn't work if Kenshin wasn't beat up one way or another xD (I was not a big fan of invincible characters anyways ;u;)

I hope you enjoyed the first short story xD more to come as more random ideas comes to bombard me!

Comments are loved! :'D thanks!