Chapter 49:- Reassurance

Kenshin sat on the edge of his bed, the silence of the night pressing in around him. The events of the day had taken their toll, and yet his mind refused to settle.

The more he tried to push thoughts of Konan aside, the more they lingered, like a shadow he couldn't escape.

A soft knock at his door pulled him from his thoughts. "Kenshin? Can I come in?" Akane's voice was gentle, but he could hear the concern behind it.

He hesitated for a moment before responding. "Yeah."

The door creaked open, and Akane slipped inside, closing it quietly behind her. She crossed the room in a few steps and sat down beside him on the bed.

"You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to," Akane began, her voice soothing. "But if something's bothering you, I'm here to listen."

Kenshin looked at her, his heart aching with a mix of gratitude and something deeper, something that had always been there between them. "It's just... Konan. I feel like there's something I'm supposed to remember, something important, but it's like it's been wiped away."

Akane reached out, her hand resting on his cheek in a gesture of comfort. "Maybe it's just the stress of everything that's happened recently. You've been through a lot, Kenshin. It's okay to feel a little lost."

He leaned into her touch, closing his eyes as he allowed himself to take comfort in her presence. "I know, but it's more than that. It's like... I'm missing a piece of myself."

Akane moved closer, her arm wrapping around him as she leaned her head against his shoulder. "Whatever it is, we'll figure it out together," she murmured, her voice a soft promise.

Kenshin's heart swelled with affection for her, the bond they shared deepening in the quiet moments between them. He turned his head slightly, pressing a kiss to the top of her head as he whispered, "Thank you, Akane."

She looked up at him, their eyes meeting in the dim light. "You're not alone, Kenshin," she whispered back, her voice full of emotion. "You have me, and you have mom. We're here for you, no matter what."

Her words were like a balm to his troubled soul, and before he could think twice, he leaned down and captured her lips in a tender kiss, the world around them fading away as they lost themselves in each other.

Akane's hand slid from his cheek to the back of his neck, her fingers threading through his hair as she deepened the kiss. There was a sense of urgency in the way they held each other, a need to be closer, to forget the outside world, even if just for a little while.

Kenshin's hands moved to her waist, pulling her into his lap as their kiss grew more passionate. The warmth of her body against his was a welcome distraction from the thoughts that had plagued him earlier.

For a moment, it felt like everything else melted away-Konan, the uncertainties, the weight of their past lives. All that mattered was this moment.

But as his fingers brushed the hem of her top, ready to lift it, Akane gently broke the kiss, her lips curving into a playful smile. "Wait," she whispered, her voice laced with affection. "Mom's preparing dinner... We shouldn't do this right now."

Kenshin blinked, reality seeping back in as he processed her words. He let out a soft chuckle, his forehead resting against hers. "You're right," he murmured, though a hint of reluctance colored his tone. "We don't want to make things uncomfortable for her."

Akane nodded, still smiling. "Besides, I do get pretty loud when we do it," she added teasingly, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

Kenshin couldn't help but laugh, the tension in his chest easing slightly. "We should probably consider her feelings then," He said, his voice warm with amusement.

Akane's smile softened as she leaned in to press a gentle kiss to his lips. "We can continue this later, when we have more privacy. For now, let's just stay like this."

Kenshin nodded, pulling her into a warm embrace. "Sounds good."

They remained like that for a moment, savoring the closeness and the sense of understanding between them. As they eventually pulled apart, their eyes met with a shared sense of anticipation and affection.

"Let's go see if Mom needs any help," Akane suggested, standing and offering him a hand.

Kenshin took it gratefully and stood up, feeling more at peace than he had in days.

As they made their way downstairs, the warmth of their earlier closeness lingered between them, making the simple act of walking together feel intimate.

Kana was in the kitchen, her back turned as she stirred a pot on the stove. The sight of her, busy with the evening meal, was a comforting reminder of the normalcy they were striving to build in their new life.

"Hey, Mom," Akane called out softly as they entered the kitchen. "Do you need any help?"

Kana turned, her face lighting up with a warm smile. "Oh, you're back! I could use some help setting the table, if you don't mind."

Kenshin and Akane moved to assist, their earlier conversation setting a softer, more relaxed tone for the evening.

Kana glanced over, noticing the calm, almost contented expressions on their faces. "Everything alright?" she asked, her tone laced with genuine concern.

"Yeah, just needed a little break," Kenshin replied, offering her a reassuring smile. "Everything's good now."

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Once again, thank you everyone for your continued support and power stones. As always, please give me your power stones and comment your opinions. They make a big difference and motivate me to write more.

And I noticed a certain someone talking BS about our protest and apparently every point that guy used was propaganda spread by some other countries. BBC itself confirmed this. I was too tired to argue with the guy so I just deleted the comments.