A.N: Ahhh…minna san! I LOVE YOU ALL! Thank you for reviewing, definitely bought my spirits up after a hideous piano lesson, and an equally hideous theory class. Not to mention, much more motivation for the next few chapters. I basically have the story all planned out already. And yes everyone, there will be much lemony goodness here. *thinks about Aoshi in bed and swoons*

As well, forgive me if I’m a little historically inaccurate. I don’t know much about Japanese history, or Asian history in general. (That’s what you get when you go to school in North America)

Chapter One

"So this is the great Hiko-sama’s residence," Kaoru thought to herself as she was being led through the many connecting hallways of the large mansion. The woman who had a tight grip on the sleeve on her kimono was Takani Megumi, the doctor of the place. She was one of the oldest female members of the family, recruited at a young age.

Sliding open the shojo door, Megumi gently pushed the younger girl in. Kaoru was puzzled when she saw the interior of the room. It was very European looking. The entire house itself was a mixture of Japanese and Western style architecture.

"Come upstairs." There was a wide flight of stairs leading to the room on the second floor. "Downstairs was Ken-san’s, and now yours as well, study room. Or whatever you want to call it. I use it as my office. This is your bedroom."

Kaoru saw rice walls on two sides, and the other two walls were dark solid wood. There were drawers and a closet on one side, as well as a small table with a light. A large futon was on the ground, along with two white puffy looking objects lying underneath the thick comforter.

"Is that…" Kaoru began.

"Yes, that is a pillow. Ken-san seems to like it better than the headrest. I do have to admit it is very comfortable. You’ll enjoy it."

"Aa…"

The doctor went over to open the closet. Kaoru’s eyes opened wide in surprise as she saw how many kimonos were inside. "These are all yours. They should fit you perfectly." The young girl walked over and fingered the silky material. The kimonos were gorgeous. Being the normal female she was, she could not wait to try one on.

Megumi ushered the girl downstairs again, and the two girls took a seat on the Western style chairs. "I haven’t properly introduced myself yet, since Hiko-sama just threw you at me with the words "doctor" and "Takani Megumi". I’ve been here since I was quite young. Apprenticed with the former doctor, he’s now retired. It’s been a while since we’ve had any new people coming into the family."

"So you’re not all related?" Kaoru asked.

The older woman looked at her nails. "Of course not." She then raised her eyes and looked at Kaoru intently. "There is one rule about this family that I will tell you flat out right now. Whatever you hear and learn in this household, will not be revealed to the outside world. Do you understand?"

"Hai."

"Good," Megumi replied, airily waving the issue off. "Now I can get on with the more important issues. First off, we are a family here. We are known to everyone outside of the household as the family of Hiko-sama. Ken-san is whom we consider Hiko-sama’s surrogate son. Considering Hiko-sama found him and began to train him in Hiten Misturugi Ryu when he was a mere child. The first in the family."

"I see."

"There seems to be a lot of people in the family. But really, there aren’t that many. We’re just family because we really have no one else. It’s nice to feel accepted by everyone, and treat everyone like kin."

"That’s true," Kaoru replied. The thought of having a family again warmed the insides of the girl. Kaoru was never too close with the girls at the brothel, since she was kept a virgin.

"We woman also have much say in what happens here. Though Hiko-sama denies this, he’s quite the sucker for batting of the eyelashes and the puppy dog eyes, if you know what I mean." The two girls exchanged smiles.

"Perhaps this won’t be too bad," Kaoru thought to herself.

"So…with that little introduction, I will let you pack and wander around the house. Dinner is in two hour, but be there early. We help serve."

"Okay. Arigatou Megumi-san."

"It’s nothing Kaoru-chan. Ja."

"Ja."

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"So…hot?" a spiky-haired man asked when Kenshin arrived home.

"Goddess," Kenshin replied with a sigh. "Though I never did like the thought of buying a woman…"

"Don’t start with me baka deshi," Hiko warned before he entered his room.

"Hai."

Kenshin and Sanosuke walked a bit and entered the blooming garden, where they were sure the other older man was out of hearing range. "As you were saying?" Sanosuke said.

"Yes, I don’t like the thought of buying a woman."

"Screw that, do you like her?"

Kenshin gave the taller man a withering look. "How am I suppose to know? I barely know the girl."

"So…from a brothel," Sanosuke murmured to himself scratching his chin in thought. He gave the red-head a wicked grin. "That means you’re going to have the time of your life in bed…lucky bastard."

"She’s a virgin."

Sano’s eye almost popped out. "You’re shitting me, a virgin from a brothel?"

"She’s a virgin…you can tell by her ki."

"Holy crap, you really are a lucky bastard."

"You’re such a baka rooster head, if that’s all you care about," a female voice muttered from above.

The two men turned there head to see a girl sitting on a tree branch, swinging her long legs to and fro. She had slid her kimono on both sides up to her knees so she could move around easier. Her hair was plaited in a long braid, the end encased in a golden case.

"Weasel girl, didn’t anyone every tell you that eavesdropping is rude?" Sano taunted.

A kunai flew past his ear, and nicked it slightly. "Don’t call me a weasel girl you dumb rooster head!"

"Who are you calling a dumb rooster head?"

"I’m calling you a dumb rooster head!"

"Oh yeah weasel girl?"

"Yeah you dumb rooster!"

Kenshin sweat-dropped as he watched his friends argue back and forth. The girl was now holding up three kunai in her hand and waving them around, threatening to pin Sanosuke to the ground. He lifted his head when he felt a familiar ki approaching. He saw his other best friend Aoshi coming from the distance, dressed in his usual black kimono. When he was behind Sanosuke he spoke up softly. "Misao-chan, get down from there. You’re going to ruin your kimono on that bark."

Misao froze as her gaze travelled to the person who had just spoken. A small lit her lips and she jumped down and ran over to the man, hugging him tightly. "AOSHI-SAMAAA!!!"

"Aa…" Aoshi murmured as he held the small girl close to him.

"Thanks man," Sano said as he touched his ear, hoping that no blood had come from the slight cut. "The weasel was going to kunai me to death there."

"Yeah, and next time I will actually hurt you, you dumb rooster!" Misao threatened as she lifted her head from Aoshi’s chest and glared at the other man.

"Hush," Aoshi whispered stroking the girl’s soft hair. "Come on koibito."

Kenshin half-smiled when he saw Misao and Aoshi walking hand and hand together.

"BAKA DESHI!" a voice roared from back in the house.

The red-head sighed, "I wonder what he wants."

"Ehhh…he’s a tough old man to figure out."

"I HEARD THAT!"

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Kaoru wandered through the halls dressed in one of her new kimonos. She did not think that the old one would be appropriate in any way. The girl stopped here and there in the hallways to look at some old paintings, or to peak inside to see if she could meet anyone. She already found Megumi’s "clinic", and the dining room and kitchen as well. She had met the cook, a girl named Tae, in there. Her helper was a little girl named Tsubame. So far she had found the house relatively calm and quiet. Though she did hear Hiko-sama bellow a few minutes ago for Kenshin.

As she continued to walk around, she was soon hit by a whirlwind and almost fell over. The whirlwind stopped, and Kaoru saw a young boy with spiky hair standing there. "Oi, sorry ‘bout that."

"It’s okay."

"Hey, are you the new family member?" the boy asked looking at her curiously.

"Yeah."

"I’m Yahiko, the youngest here, well, next to Tsubame."

"My name is Kaoru."

"Hhmph…I thought that baka would have better taste than that," the boy muttered as he eyed the girl in front of him.

"Excuse me?" Kaoru asked.

"Oh nothing," Yahiko quickly said.

"I heard that Yahiko-chan."

The boy’s eyes narrowed. "Don’t call me that."

"Nani, Yahiko-chan?" the girl mocked crossing her arms.

"I said don’t call me that busu!"

"BUSU? I’ll get you for that Yahiko-chan!" Kaoru shouted as her fighting spirit kicked in and she had the boy quickly in a choke hold. "Now, what did you call me?"

"BUSU!"

"Say that again?"

"BUSU!" the boy yelled louder.

They suddenly heard a small laugh coming from in front of them. "I should have known. You are a Master of some form of kenjutsu."

"Kenshin."

"Himura-sama!"

Kaoru let go of the boy, and Yahiko quickly went over to the man. "Why did you get such an ugly scary woman Kenshin? You’re such a baka!"

"Watch your mouth," the man quickly shot back staring the boy down.

"What?" Yahiko cried. "Strange people. I’ll see you guys at dinner."

Kenshin and Kaoru were quiet as they stared at each other for a few minutes. Kenshin took her hand and proceeded to lead the girl back to their room. "You know, you don’t have to call me Himura-sama, Kenshin will be fine."

"Are you sure?" Kaoru asked, "I don’t want to be impolite."

"It’s fine." Silence dragged on until they arrived in the room, and then up into their bedroom. Kenshin sat on the futon, and pulled Kaoru down with him. "What technique do you use?"

"Kamiya Kasshin, it was my father’s technique," she replied softly.

"I see." A few seconds passed by before Kaoru felt hot breathe against her ear. "Yahiko is a child, he will grow to appreciate the goddess I see before me."

"Nani?" she whispered turning around to face him.

The red-head tucked a stray strand of her ebony hair behind her ears. "You are beautiful." Kenshin looked at the girl before him, her bright sapphire eyes wide as she digested what had just been said to her. Letting his temptation take over, he leaned forward and captured her delicate lips with his own. He felt her give in to the feeling and respond by snaking an arm around his neck, pulling herself closer to him. He brushed the tip of his tongue against her mouth, seeking entrance. When she opened her mouth, he brushed the tip of his tongue against hers, tasting her. She was sweet and accepting. He planted soft kisses from her cheek down to her neck. Every once in a while he flicked his tongue out to tease her skin. He delighted in the soft whimpers that escaped from her throat.

"I think you should go down to help dinner," he murmured as he continued his ministrations on her neck.

"Aa."

Kenshin kissed her lips for the final time before he allowed her to go. As he lay on the futon thoughts began to go through his mind. No one had every made him lose control like that. Not even his first love. It felt out of character for him to be so heated and forward with a woman, but then Kenshin knew Kaoru was no ordinary girl. An innocent temptress, that’s who she was, if that was even possible.

"Whatever she is, goddess, temptress, she’s still mine," he thought with an edge of possessiveness that went unnoticed. Smiling in satisfaction he got up and proceeded to head down the stairs, to the bustling place known as the dining room.