Konan's gaze softened as she leaned down without realizing it, her lips brushing lightly against Kenshin's cold ones. She stayed there, her eyes fluttering shut for a moment, indulging in the briefest taste of a connection she could never have fully.
But the instant Kenshin stirred, her heart jumped. She straightened up so quickly it was as though she'd been burned.
His lips twitched, forming a faint smile, and he let out a soft sigh, still deep in sleep. Konan's chest tightened as she wiped the lingering tears from her eyes, the sight of his peaceful face calming the storm of emotions within her. The tears that had threatened to spill finally receded, replaced by a fragile sense of solace.
Her eyes shifted to the flickering fire, the orange glow casting shadows on her face. 'At least I have this,' she told herself, her fingers gently resting against his chest. She could feel the steady rise and fall of his breathing, the strong yet calm rhythm of his heartbeat beneath her palm. 'These small, secret moments... even if they're only mine. It's fitting for me.'
The weight of her deception pressed heavily on her. She, who had always prided herself on loyalty and honesty, was now the greatest liar in Kenshin's life.
She had taken his memories, hidden the truth, and was stringing him along for the sake of a plan she no longer fully believed in. Yet, she couldn't let go. Not of him, and not of the ideals that had once guided her path.
Her thoughts wandered as she stared into the fire. What kind of life did he lead in his past world? she wondered, her fingers idly tracing small circles against his chest. Was it peaceful? Did he have a family? A home?
She thought back to what Kenshin had told her after her confession—his mental age due to being reborn with all his past memories. He had been so young in that life, not past his teens, and yet he had died alongside Akane's former self. What could have led to their deaths?' she pondered, her brows knitting together.
The idea of war was the first to come to mind, but there was something about the way Kenshin spoke of his other life, as though it had been vastly different from their own. A world without ninja? Or perhaps something even stranger? Or maybe a peaceful world?
A few hours passed, and the gentle crackling of the fire was the only sound in the quiet night. Kenshin's eyes fluttered open, his vision blurry at first as he adjusted to the dim glow of the firelight. His head was resting on something soft, and as his gaze cleared, he realized it was Konan's lap.
She was staring at the sky, her eyes distant, lost in thought. The soft glow of the firelight danced across her serene face, giving her an almost ethereal beauty.
To Kenshin, she looked like an angel descended from the heavens, her calm presence filling the silence with a warmth that soothed his very soul.
He didn't move, afraid that any sudden action would disturb the tranquility of the moment. Instead, he stared at her, his heart throbbing painfully in his chest. That ache, the one he couldn't shake no matter how much he tried, returned in full force. It was so familiar, yet so utterly confusing.
What is this feeling? Kenshin wondered, his brow furrowing slightly. He wanted to understand, but every time he thought he was close, the answer slipped away, leaving only the ache behind. Could it be... love?
The thought startled him. Could he really be in love with Konan? She had been there for him for as long as he could remember, guiding him, comforting him, teaching him lessons that shaped who he was.
It was her that taught him to hold on to what he had left, not what he lost. She had always been a source of strength for him, and now, as he stared at her, he felt a deep warmth that threatened to spill over into something he wasn't ready to acknowledge.
But then there was Akane. Akane, who had only recently returned to his life, yet whose presence had importance he couldn't possibly ignore. Could he truly look her in the eye and tell her he loved another?
'No, I can't.' Kenshin clenched his jaw, the ache twisting in his chest. If he were to add this to everything else, it would only cause more pain—for Konan, for Akane, and even for himself.
Kaede was already a source of enough tension, with her growing attachment and the frequent conflicts between her and Akane. Adding Konan to the mix would create chaos Kenshin wasn't prepared to face.
'It must be something else,' he told himself firmly. Something he didn't yet understand, but would figure out eventually. It had to be. It couldn't be love. It couldn't...
Konan suddenly looked down at Kenshin as his eyes met hers, her gentle smile softening the moment. "You've woken up?" she said, her voice calm and soothing. "I thought you'd be more comfortable here than on my shoulder, so I moved you down."
Kenshin sat up, running a hand through his hair as he tried to shake off the lingering haze of sleep. Konan stretched her legs slightly, the movement drawing his attention before he spoke, his voice carrying a quiet insistence. "You should get some rest, Onee-san. You've been awake all night."
Konan shook her head, her smile never wavering. "I'm fine, Kenshin. I want to stay here."
"But you need to sleep. There's no point in both of us being tired tomorrow," Kenshin argued, his tone growing more persistent.
Konan's resolve remained firm, though her heart softened at his concern. 'I don't want to sleep, she thought to herself. I want to spend as much time as I can with you. While I still can.' But aloud, she said, "I'm staying here, Kenshin. Unless..." She hesitated for only a fraction of a second before teasing, "You're coming with me. Otherwise, I'm not going anywhere. And I can't sleep on someone's shoulder."
She expected him to balk at the suggestion or, at the very least, fluster himself into silence. Instead, Kenshin's eyes narrowed in playful defiance, and his lips curled into a smirk. "You know, Onee-san, this version of you is really different from the 'Konan-sama' I grew up watching."
Before Konan could respond, Kenshin made a quick hand seal, creating a shadow clone beside him. "There. My clone can stay here and keep watch. Now I'm free to do whatever you want," he said with a teasing edge to his voice.
Konan's face flushed slightly at his unexpected response, but she didn't waver. Instead, she stood and took his hand, pulling him toward the tent. "Fine. Come on, then," she said, her voice steady, though her heart raced.
Inside the tent, Konan settled down, Kenshin beside her. The silence between them grew thick with unspoken tension, neither one willing to admit the awkwardness of the situation.
Kenshin's mind raced as he tried to process what had just happened. 'Why on earth didn't she refuse?' he wondered, his stomach twisting in knots.
He had expected her to immediately reject the idea, to brush off his teasing with the composure she was known for. But instead, she'd brought him inside, and now they were here, side by side in the quiet of the tent.
Konan, meanwhile, was experiencing a similar turmoil. 'What am I doing?' she thought, her fingers lightly gripping the fabric of her cloak.
She hadn't expected Kenshin to call her bluff so easily—or to so casually bring up his clone as a solution. Now, she found herself in a situation she hadn't fully considered, and she didn't want to back out.
The two of them lay in silence, both pretending to be at ease while their thoughts swirled with uncertainty.
Kenshin sighed heavily, breaking the tense silence. "Okay, fine. This is really awkward." His voice was low, carrying both amusement and exasperation.
Konan turned her head toward him, her brow arching slightly. "It's your fault," she replied, a faint trace of annoyance in her voice. She shifted, laying down with her back to him, as if to end the conversation.
Kenshin sighed again and followed suit, settling onto his side with deliberate care to maintain a respectful distance. But as the minutes passed, the tension eased, replaced by the gentle rhythm of their breathing.
Slowly, Konan's exhaustion caught up to her, and her body relaxed as she drifted into sleep.
Kenshin turned his head slightly, glancing at her peaceful face. A small smile crept onto his lips. "You should've just gone to sleep first, silly," he whispered softly, shaking his head. Reaching out, he brushed a stray strand of hair from her face, his fingertips lingering against her skin longer than he intended.
To his surprise, Konan's hand reached up in her sleep, gripping his with surprising strength. Her expression tightened, and she muttered softly, her voice fragile and strained, "Don't go... don't die..."
Kenshin froze, his chest tightening as the ache in his heart deepened. He stared at her, her vulnerability cutting through his own walls. Almost instinctively, he shifted closer to her, his free hand wrapping gently around her frame. He whispered, his voice quiet and steady, "I'm not going anywhere. I promise."
For a long while, he lay there, his embrace protective, his thoughts a storm of emotions he couldn't name. As the fire outside dwindled to embers, the two of them remained entwined in the quiet sanctuary of the tent.
When morning came, the first rays of sunlight filtered through the tent's fabric, and Konan stirred. Her eyes fluttered open, the haze of sleep still clouding her mind.
She blinked, realizing that she was nestled in Kenshin's arms, her hands clinging tightly to his. Her cheeks flushed, and her breath hitched as the weight of the moment sank in.
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Once again, thank you everyone for your continued support and power stones. And as always, please give me your power stones and comment your opinions. They make a big difference and motivate me to write more.