ALEXIS' POV

Several days had passed and we were back in Echigo and we were finally living in a peaceful life that we dreamed of. 

Kenshin and I were asleep in our bed until a certain four-legged animal woke us up. Sora licked my face and I groaned a little before turning away from him. 

"Sora knock it off..."

Sora whined and then I heard Kenshin speak up.

"Let us sleep more..."

Sora growled a little before we felt our covers being pulled away from us. I groaned a little before Kenshin and I sat up a little and we saw Sora holding our covers in his mouth. He gave us that innocent look and then I mumbled.

"Where's an alarm clock when you need one?"

Kenshin chuckled before he patted the spot between us.

"Come on Sora."

Sora dropped the covers and then he got in between us and then we petted him while chuckling.

"Make yourself at home why don't you?" I told him before Sora laid down and I gave him a belly rub.

I looked at Kenshin and I said to him.

"Good morning, Kenshin."

"Morning, Alexis."

Whenever Kenshin was just waking up, his voice has that husky quality that I found adorably sexy. The way he'd say my name was so warm and it almost sounded musical. 

'It lets me know just how happy he is to see me when he wakes.'

I got up and got dressed before casting a quick glance at Kenshin as I finished. He'd gone straight to going over the documents for the day. While I brushed my hair, I asked myself while staring at him.

'...That side there. That's definitely his best side or is it the other one?'

I tied my hair back with the purple hair ribbon and then I opened the sliding door for Sora.

"Go on buddy, do your business."

Sora barked at me before leaving the room.

"Hmm? this letter's from-"

After I closed the sliding door, Kenshin had picked up a letter and he held it like it was a spider. 

'Uh...what's wrong with that letter?'

I asked myself as before Kenshin spoke up.

"...Alexis, this letter is for you. It's from...the Oda."

The gentle he said my name was misled by his body language. All of a sudden, I was developing a bad case of acute arachnophobia. 

'Oh boy, this is gonna get me into trouble.'

I thought to myself after seeing Kenshin's face.

"What's wrong? Don't you want it?"

"I'm, uh, deciding," I spoke nervously.

I cautiously took a few steps towards the 'smiling' Kenshin. 

"You know, I bet it's a response to the letter YOU said I could send them."

"That's right, it is."

"So, why do you look upset?"

"I'm not upset, I'm smiling."

'Yeah...but, it's that smile where there's a shadow over your eyes! What did Sasuke call it again? your yandere smile?'

I asked myself before I told Kenshin.

"Why don't you put the letter on the table, move far away from it and THEN I'll get it?" I suggested to him.

"I'll do no such thing. Now, come here...and take it from me."

'Oh man...why can't he do this like a gentleman?'

I marched towards my fate. 

"Thank you."

"You're very..."

I held out my hand and I thought Kenshin was going to place the letter in it but, as he started to do so, he lifted it out of my hands at the last second. Like a cat who had her toy snatched away, I tried to reach for it again.

"Wha?! hey! Kenshin!"

I shouted as I tried to get the letter back but, that's when I fell into Kenshin's playful trap. 

"...caught."

Kenshin snapped up my hands in his.

"Hey! you said you weren't upset!"

"I'm not. Why would I be upset about a response to a letter I already agreed you could send?"

His warm breath journeyed up my neck and it felt devilish sweet on my ear. Kenshin caressed my line with his gentle nibbling teeth. 

'Well, he's not upset but, just kind of snuggly.'

"What I am is incredibly jealous. What should I do, Alexis?"

"Maybe what you need is some reassurance? A sign that I love only you...?" I asked him before I kissed his cheek.

'A kiss should solve this problem.'

I thought this would work but, Kenshin didn't look happy.

"That wasn't even moderately reassuring."

'I get the feeling he's milking this. Fine, I was thinking of kissing him anyway.'

"Maybe you want someone to kiss those jealous lips of yours closed?" I asked him.

I brought my lips to his for a brief kiss. I wouldn't have minded lingering but, this was a familiar and beloved game. 

"I'm a little reassured but, it's still not enough."

"You want ANOTHER kiss?"

"And I want to kiss you back."

Kenshin told us before I brushed my lips once more, slowly, giving him the opportunity to kiss me back. It was a beautiful kiss. Passionate, loving stimulating and strong. Our lips opened to each other's, our tongues daring to share all while he held my hands. I forgot about the letter, about Kenshin's jealously and I just lost myself to his wonderful, skilful kiss.

'He's masterful.'

I thought to myself after the kiss ended. I was boneless and tingling by the time the kiss ended. It was, in fact, possible to be kissed into a state of euphoria. 

"Now that I'm reassured but, don't move."

"I don't think I'll be moving," I mumbled.

'He's still got my hands, I notice. I wonder what he's up to?'

Kenshin opened a drawer and then he took out a beautiful, braided cord. The dominant colour was a passionate scarlet. 

"This is a gift, for you. My sheath should a sageo. A braided cord, to bind it to my side."

'It's beautiful. I've seen some of the blacksmiths decorating their sword's sheaths, elegantly and beautifully.'

Kenshin took my captured hands and he skillfully bound them with the cord. 

"Kenshin, come on, untie me-"

"I refuse."

Kenshin knelt before me and he looked at me. I will always remember the look in his two coloured eyes. They were filled with hauntingly passionate. 

"Are you upset at me for being this jealous over a letter?"

"No, of course not," I spoke with a small smile.

'When you're this nice about it, I can take it for the flattery it is.'

Kenshin's new pursuit was finding ways to face his fears. Often, fun ways. Ways to share with me, like this. 

'I'm happy to support him as he does.'

"You're my sword, Kenshin. And I know you feel lonely when you're not safe in my embrace."

'Swords are powerful but, they can be broken. I'll protect you when the world becomes too much.'

I thought to myself with a small smile on my face.

"You know me too well. Even though I've tied you up like this, I'm the one who's a prisoner."

Kenshin brought my hands to his lips and he placed a warm kiss on each wrist. My heart surged. He was commanding me as much as he was asking me to command him. 

"But, I'm not a prisoner of grief. Everything I am is rightfully yours."

"I accept, Kenshin. And I accept you."

'And in return for this gift you've given me...all I am is yours. I give you myself, my freedom, my love...you take them so sweetly.'

The light through the paper doors cast a lattice of shadows over us. It made the room look like a most beautiful cage, to keep the two of us together in a world of our own...