Gaining From Losing
Shizuka-chan16
A/N- Okay, this is my very first Rurouni Kenshin fic, and it is based on my favorite couple Aoshi and Misao. Honestly, I haven't seen a lot of Rurouni Kenshin on TV but I have spent a few months on the computer learning about it. So, while this fic leans more towards the events after the series, if there are any mistakes, please let me know. Thank you and enjoy.
Chapter 1- Life and Death
Sweat beaded Aoshi's brow as he ran, jumping over and veering around the debris in his path. Just ahead was his long-awaited destination, though in his desperation it seemed to come up in slow motion. If not for his fiercely pumping adrenaline, spurred by the news of his wife, he wouldn't have made the long trip through such rough terrain.
Dark clouds chased after him as he continued on, as if he was the bringer of death or misfortune. But he ignored their threatening rumble, his thoughts centering around only one thing. "Misao!"
Oh gods he hoped he would be on time. Aoshi had known she was well into her pregnancy and wasn't going to go to Tokyo for business. But Misao had reassured him that the baby was still weeks away from arrival. He had gone only at her insistence as he needed to complete his meetings.
But now things had changed. Misao was just ahead of him at the Himura household, probably having the baby. Kaoru was the one who had sent word of her labor to him through a letter. The moment the paper was opened, his eyes had widened and he was on his way.
"Aoshi, you idiot." He rasped breathlessly to himself. "You left her alone and now she's having the child without you there! You should have stayed with her!"
His guilt was short-lived as he made it up to the building and made for the door. Kenshin, to his surprise, was there waiting for him. Aoshi came to a halt in front of him and rain began to fall. "Himura, is Misao alright?" he asked, his voice cool, yet urgent.
Rather then say yes or no, Kenshin led him inside. "Miss Misao is in this room here, Aoshi."
His patience already stretched, Aoshi brushed past him and inside. He would see for himself if his Misao was alright. But as soon as he made it through the door, he saw something was wrong.
"No Misao-chan. You can't give up! You have to keep trying!" Came Megumi's hurrying voice. What followed sounded like a hoarse scream.
"Misao!" Aoshi pushed closer, attempting to see over Kaoru and Megumi, who crowded around a small futon. All he could see was his wife's feet protruding off of the sheets.
Kaoru spotted the man standing overhead and looked at the young woman lying on the futon. "Misao-chan, Aoshi's here. He's here, honey."
Misao's face, contorted with pain, relaxed enough for her eyes to open. "Aoshi-sama?"
Kaoru moved aside, gesturing the expectant father over. Immediately, he knelt beside his wife and placed a large hand to her head. -Gods, she was burning hot, almost as if she were about to melt! Aoshi swallowed, not accustomed to such fear. Fevers weren't supposed to come with child births!
She hardly had any time to smile up at him before another contraction rippled through her. She let out a strangled cry once more. "AAAAUUUUUGGGHHHH!!!!!!!"
Panicked, Aoshi reached for one of her flailing arms, taking her hand. In her struggle, she began to squeeze the life out of it. He couldn't stand to see her like this, his brave, strong Misao screaming and struggling in agony. He himself wanted to scream.
Meanwhile, Megumi was positioned at her exposed back end. "Misao, push now! Push hard!"
Panting shallowly, Misao did as she was told, screaming and grunting all the while. "Come on, Misao." Aoshi whispered, grasping her hand as tight as he could.
"WWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" A shriek took the place of Misao's cries, filling the room with its intensity. Aoshi dared himself to glance upwards, to find Megumi holding a tiny, pulpy form. He couldn't believe what he was seeing.
"It's a boy!" the doctor announced brightly, quick to wrap him in Kaoru's readied bundle.
Misao feebly held out her hands. "Let me.let me see him."
A bright smile flashed across her paled face as she accepted the wailing infant, holding him tightly to her chest. She looked up at Aoshi. "Aoshi- sama.he's beautiful."
Smiling back at her in relief, he sighed. He had a son.
A/N- Okay, this is my very first Rurouni Kenshin fic, and it is based on my favorite couple Aoshi and Misao. Honestly, I haven't seen a lot of Rurouni Kenshin on TV but I have spent a few months on the computer learning about it. So, while this fic leans more towards the events after the series, if there are any mistakes, please let me know. Thank you and enjoy.
Chapter 1- Life and Death
Sweat beaded Aoshi's brow as he ran, jumping over and veering around the debris in his path. Just ahead was his long-awaited destination, though in his desperation it seemed to come up in slow motion. If not for his fiercely pumping adrenaline, spurred by the news of his wife, he wouldn't have made the long trip through such rough terrain.
Dark clouds chased after him as he continued on, as if he was the bringer of death or misfortune. But he ignored their threatening rumble, his thoughts centering around only one thing. "Misao!"
Oh gods he hoped he would be on time. Aoshi had known she was well into her pregnancy and wasn't going to go to Tokyo for business. But Misao had reassured him that the baby was still weeks away from arrival. He had gone only at her insistence as he needed to complete his meetings.
But now things had changed. Misao was just ahead of him at the Himura household, probably having the baby. Kaoru was the one who had sent word of her labor to him through a letter. The moment the paper was opened, his eyes had widened and he was on his way.
"Aoshi, you idiot." He rasped breathlessly to himself. "You left her alone and now she's having the child without you there! You should have stayed with her!"
His guilt was short-lived as he made it up to the building and made for the door. Kenshin, to his surprise, was there waiting for him. Aoshi came to a halt in front of him and rain began to fall. "Himura, is Misao alright?" he asked, his voice cool, yet urgent.
Rather then say yes or no, Kenshin led him inside. "Miss Misao is in this room here, Aoshi."
His patience already stretched, Aoshi brushed past him and inside. He would see for himself if his Misao was alright. But as soon as he made it through the door, he saw something was wrong.
"No Misao-chan. You can't give up! You have to keep trying!" Came Megumi's hurrying voice. What followed sounded like a hoarse scream.
"Misao!" Aoshi pushed closer, attempting to see over Kaoru and Megumi, who crowded around a small futon. All he could see was his wife's feet protruding off of the sheets.
Kaoru spotted the man standing overhead and looked at the young woman lying on the futon. "Misao-chan, Aoshi's here. He's here, honey."
Misao's face, contorted with pain, relaxed enough for her eyes to open. "Aoshi-sama?"
Kaoru moved aside, gesturing the expectant father over. Immediately, he knelt beside his wife and placed a large hand to her head. -Gods, she was burning hot, almost as if she were about to melt! Aoshi swallowed, not accustomed to such fear. Fevers weren't supposed to come with child births!
She hardly had any time to smile up at him before another contraction rippled through her. She let out a strangled cry once more. "AAAAUUUUUGGGHHHH!!!!!!!"
Panicked, Aoshi reached for one of her flailing arms, taking her hand. In her struggle, she began to squeeze the life out of it. He couldn't stand to see her like this, his brave, strong Misao screaming and struggling in agony. He himself wanted to scream.
Meanwhile, Megumi was positioned at her exposed back end. "Misao, push now! Push hard!"
Panting shallowly, Misao did as she was told, screaming and grunting all the while. "Come on, Misao." Aoshi whispered, grasping her hand as tight as he could.
"WWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" A shriek took the place of Misao's cries, filling the room with its intensity. Aoshi dared himself to glance upwards, to find Megumi holding a tiny, pulpy form. He couldn't believe what he was seeing.
"It's a boy!" the doctor announced brightly, quick to wrap him in Kaoru's readied bundle.
Misao feebly held out her hands. "Let me.let me see him."
A bright smile flashed across her paled face as she accepted the wailing infant, holding him tightly to her chest. She looked up at Aoshi. "Aoshi- sama.he's beautiful."
Smiling back at her in relief, he sighed. He had a son.