Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin and its characters are property of Watsuki Nobuhiro. The story belongs to me.

A/N: My hentai juices are flowing…that’s all I have to say…

Rating: PG-13 (mild citrus, sexual subject matter)

A/N: This takes place some time after the events that occur in my fic, “Irresistible Friction”. If you haven’t read it, the fic can be found on my website (/) or at MediaMiner (.?auth=61498). It is not here on because it is rated NC-17. Megumi and Sano are married and living in Tokyo, instead of having gone their separate ways and Kenshin has new clothes ^_^.

Summary: Kaoru is having a “problem” and calls upon Kenshin for help, but the trusty sakabatou might not be the right type of sword to handle this situation. Will Battousai have to make an appearance or is the rurouni man enough to handle the job?

~*Satisfaction*~

Part 1: The Dilemma

“Kenshin?”

Pausing in the midst of stirring the thick broth of his beef stew, the redhead glanced over his shoulder at his wife of two years, smiling pleasantly. “Hai, koishii?”

A soft pink blush was staining her ivory cheeks and her sapphire gaze studiously avoided his, focusing instead on a point just above his right shoulder. “Anou…I…I have to tell you something…”

Noting the slight tremor in her voice, Kenshin set the ladle aside quickly and made his way to his raven-haired wife, lifting a hand to grip her chin gently and force her eyes to meet his.

Hurt and confusion flared in his amethyst orbs as she pulled away abruptly, dropping her gaze to her hands, which were twisting nervously in front of her.

“Eto…”

“You know you can tell me anything, Kaoru,” the redhead reminded her quietly, his worry increasing when he realized her flush was deepening and slowly working its way down the alabaster column of her throat. “Are you feeling ill? Perhaps you should lie down…”

She shook her head quickly, smoothing down the front of her kimono with quivering fingers. “I’m fine, Kenshin.”

“You don’t look fine,” he commented, reaching a hand forward to brush across her forehead. “You look feverish, in fact…perhaps I should go find Megumi-dono…”

“I’m not sick, Kenshin!” Kaoru snapped suddenly, brows furrowing in irritation. “Well, not exactly, anyway…”

“Not exactly?” Kenshin repeated in a puzzled tone. “What—“

“Just be quiet and let me explain,” the raven-haired woman interrupted tightly. “Kami-sama…this is so embarrassing…”

“You have no reason to be embarrassed in front of me, koishii…”

As swiftly as Kaoru’s irritation had appeared, it was gone, her face transforming into an anxious expression, her eyes abnormally bright as she struggled to fight back tears.

Kenshin felt his chest tighten as he observed her, slightly pained by the fact that she was suffering and would not allow him near enough to offer comfort. “Just tell me what is troubling you, Kaoru…”

His wife raised her eyes to his briefly, gnawing nervously on her lower lip. “I’ve been lying to you, Kenshin…”

The redhead could only blink in surprise. Her whispered words were not even close to what he had been expecting. “Lying to me?”

Kaoru nodded tearfully, lip quivering.

“How so?” Kenshin questioned thickly, stomach twisting. Perhaps his wife had finally decided that he truly was unworthy and had begun to see another man. The very thought made him feel physically ill.

“You know these last few nights…”

“Hai?”

“When we’ve been making love…”

“…Yes?”

“I faked it.”

The redhead blinked slowly in confusion. “Oro?”

“I have been faking my orgasm,” Kaoru clarified, face burning hotly.

“You were…pretending?”

“Yes,” the raven-haired woman replied with a nod. “I…I didn’t want to hurt you so I…I pretended…”

Kenshin felt a flush spring to his cheeks, embarrassment flooding his body. “Do…Do I not please you?”

“Of course!” Kaoru cried, launching herself against his chest and burying her face in the material of his navy gi. “You do please me…very much…I don’t know why I’ve been having this problem…it’s only been happening for the last couple of weeks…I felt too ashamed to tell you…and I didn’t want to offend you…”

“Kaoru,” the redhead murmured, soothingly running a hand over her raven hair. “There is no reason to be ashamed. Things like this happen sometimes.”

“Do you think there is something wrong with me?” his wife questioned, voice muffled.

“Of course not,” Kenshin replied quickly. “I am sure there is a perfectly good reason for this and I am sure we can remedy it in no time…”

“Really?” Sapphire eyes peered up at him, shimmering with unshed tears.

Lifting calloused fingers to her flushed cheeks, Kenshin swiped away the wetness that had already spilled forth, leaning forward to press a soft kiss to his wife’s lips. Her normally sweet flavor was tinged with the saltiness of her tears. He took his time, running his tongue languidly over hers, cleansing away her sadness.

“Perhaps we should try now,” he whispered, nipping gently at the corner of her mouth.

Kaoru moaned quietly under the onslaught of his lips. “Right now?”

“There’s no time like the present,” Kenshin murmured, suckling gently on the ivory skin of her neck. “Besides, I still have a few tricks up my sleeve…”

“!!!”

Breathing roughly, the redhead collapsed atop his wife, golden skin slick with sweat.

He tried to calm his heart rate as Kaoru pulled him closer, pressing her face against the bare skin of his shoulder.

After a moment, her quiet sobs sounded throughout the room.

“It’s all right, koishii,” Kenshin soothed gently, running slender fingers over the silky skin of her back. “There is no reason to cry.”

“Of course there is!” Kaoru wailed, keeping her face averted. “We’ve tried three times!”

“You were so close this last time. Perhaps we just need to find a way to relax you a little more…”

His wife sniffed tearfully, breath choking on a sob. “Is th-there something wrong with m-me?”

“Of course not, lovely!” the redhead assured her quickly, burying his face in her raven hair. “You’re fine, I’m sure. Perhaps you are just too tense…let’s just try one more thing…”

Kenshin trudged slowly up the road to the clinic, flexing his shoulders tiredly. It had been over a week since wife’s confession. In that time, he had pulled forth every single erotic secret and technique he had ever learned, but nothing seemed to be working and their nights often ended with Kaoru’s tears.

It had taken every ounce of his persuasive abilities to convince her to allow him to seek out Megumi for help. Her embarrassment had prevented her from coming with and, as he grew closer to his destination, he was beginning to doubt he would be able to speak to Megumi about this issue without his fair share of humiliation.

Sighing softly, he made his way inside, following the sound of Megumi’s mischievous giggles.

He found her in the backroom, leaning back against her husband, Sanosuke, as he nibbled teasingly on the curve of her chin.

Kenshin cleared his throat quietly, regretting having to disturb their private time together.

“Ken-san!” Megumi greeted cheerfully, a soft blush staining her cheeks an adorable shade of pink.

“Oi, Kenshin,” Sano drawled lazily, crossing his arms over his chest. “What brings you here so late at night?”

“I have something I would like to discuss with Megumi-dono,” the redhead stated, feeling a flush begin to work its way over his features as Sano peered down at him in confusion. “In private…”

Sano’s chocolate gaze grew suspicious and he opened his mouth to protest, but the doctor silenced him with a look, waving him out of the room as she smiled encouragingly at the redhead. “What seems to be the problem, Ken-san?”

Kenshin waited until Sano’s ki faded down the hallway before he moved forward and slid the shoji shut with a firm snap.

Turning back to the doctor, he allowed some of his desperation and near panic to show on his features. “Megumi-dono, I need your help!”

TBC…

My inspiration is flowing today! LOL! This first part is short, but don’t worry, the next portion will be coming soon…

Thanks for reading! Please review me and telling me what you think!

~Midori^_~