Darkness of Mind

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Chapter 1: Innocence

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Kenshin walked up to the dojo, and rested a hand on his son's head, watching as Yahiko sparred with Kaoru. It was hard to believe it had really been ten years. Yahiko still teased Kaoru mercilessly about how 'busu' she was, and Kaoru forced him to do chores as penance.

Kenshin smiled gently. You could barely tell he was thirty eight now. In fact, he didn't look a day older than he had been when he first arrived at the Kamiya dojo. His hair was growing back slightly, only because Kaoru was so fond of it. He would admit freely that Kaoru had him wrapped around her pinky finger without trying.

Kaoru had barely changed as well, even the birth of Kenji hadn't changed her figure, save adding a few inches to her breast-line and hips. To Kenshin this just made her more appealing. She was still beautiful, with vibrant blue eyes and silken black hair. She wore kimono's more now, since Yahiko had taken over teaching. More money was comming into the school now. She still taught, but recently she'd been getting sick more and more.

It worried Kenshin.

Every morning she'd bolt from bed and run quickly for the bath and return later, her face pale. She'd also been abstaining from their usual...activities. He was confused. If he didn't know better, he'd think she was growing tired of him, but if that was the case, she would have told him so. He also knew his wife inside and out. Their thoughts frequently parralelled each other's.

He laughed softly as his young son launched himself towards his beloved wife in the same manner that Kenji had recently done to him. It was always refreshing to see his son acting so energetic and free. He knew he would never tire of that sweet laugh, that innocent smile. He silently begged for the peace to remain and his past to remained buried.

Yet, knowing his luck, this could not be. Silently, Kenshin turned his eyes to the young Yahiko, who's energy was still boundless, despite his first eight years being alone and the ninth and tenth with the 'Kenshingumi', constantly getting into fights that tended to determine the fate of the entire country.

The boy was actually beginning to grow more like Sano by the day, constantly fliting, but wrapped around the finger of young Tsubame, as Sano was wrapped around Megumi's. At the thought of his old friend, a melancholy smile touched his lips.

Yes, so much alike.

Yet, Yahiko had barely changed at all. He was growing more confident by the day, especially with his skills, and Kaoru was proud of him, as if he were one of her own children. He practically was. Kenshin could remember raising him in the dojo. Until now, when he was a man, and helped bring in money for them.

He also never lost his pride. It had shocked Kenshin frequently that even after Yahiko had almost been killed in Kyoto while Kenshin was fighting Shishio, that he'd kept his faith in Kenshin. That when faced with death, he didn't flee, he stood there.

Kenshin was proud too. As proud of Yahiko as he was of his own son.

Speaking of whom. "They're incredible, tousan..." Smiling blue eyes stared up at him.

Kenji would remain innocent. He would never learn that his father was a legend, and was once considered one of the most powerful swordsman in the world. He would never know of Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu, or of the hitokiri that frequently came back to haunt Kenshin during his first year here. No, it would be best if the boy never found out. "Hai, Kenji."

He noticed Kaoru and Yahiko jump and smiled fondly. He frequently got caught up in his thoughts about his family lately. He couldn't help it. He felt as though he had what was probably the biggest family on the planet.

Kaoru, his beloved wife. The mother of his only son, and the love of his late life. He'd loved Tomoe, but the feelings he had with Kaoru were stronger, built from trust and friendship, growing into love.

Kenji, his innocent son. Always lighting up rooms with that incredible smile, with those big blue eyes.

Sano, his delinquent younger brother. Always getting into fist fights and always in trouble with the cops. Always trying to return to the fox he left behind.

Megumi, his intelligent and coy younger sister. Living in Aizu and searching for her real family, and hopefully a new love to mend her broken heart.

Yahiko, his adopted child. Strong, and quick witted, and honorable. Wrapped around the pinky finger of a delicate girl named Tsubame.

Misao, his rambuncious cousin, the one who could make anyone laugh with her never ending energy and clutzy ways.

Aoshi, well, let's say the quiet brother-in-law type. Even now he was oddly silent all the time, although Kenshin had seen him crack a few smiles when Misao would do something...exceptionally stupid.

And Hiko...

Thinking of Hiko always brought bittersweet memories to Kenshin's mind. Hiko was the only father figure he'd ever known. He had saved Kenshin, then taken him under his wing. Although the old, probably dead man always picked on Kenshin, both had a form of affection for the other, a warmth, a caring that was confusing.

Suddenly, a soft voice broke through his thoughts. "Kaoru-san, Ken-san?"

Kenji's face lit up. "Aunty Megumi!" He cried, then tore out of the dojo almost faster than the eye could follow, and threw himself around Megumi's legs.

She stumbled, and would have fallen if not for an equally quick paced ex- rurouni. She stared up at sweet, laughing violet eyes and sweatdropped. "He's as fast as you. I didn't see him coming."

"Come in, Megumi-dono." Kenshin said, smiling and setting her on her feet. Obviously, Megumi was doing better. Her eyes weren't red as they had been the last time she visited.

"I'll be right in, Kenshin. I've got to go change." Kaoru pecked him on the cheek and disappeared towards their room.

"I help momma!" Kenji cried, and prepared to chase after her. Kenshin picked him up by the back of his gi and carried him into the house over his shoulder, smiling from ear to ear. "Have a seat, Megumi-dono."

Megumi sat, her face slightly drawn. "How is everyone?"

The open ended question made Kenshin smile. She wanted to know how Sanosuke was. Even after ten years without fighting, Kenshin's ability to read someone was still sharp. "Well, Kenji is...energetic as always...Kaoru's been a bit sick, though. Yahiko's...discovering that he's being flirted with by Tsubame and is really embarassed about it-"

"I am NOT!" Yahiko cried.

"The last letter from Misao said Aoshi's unresponsive as always and she's getting frustrated with him." He let it hang there. She should really be more direct about things.

"What about..." She stopped herself. "Have you heard from Sanosuke lately?" She tried to ask casually, but failed.

"Hai..." Kenshin smiled a bit. "He's in China at the moment. He seems to be alright..." Kenshin sighed. He could see the pain in her eyes. Time to change the subject. "Shishou is probably dead, or he may as well be. Same with Saitou." He poured some tea. "They dropped off the face of the planet. Genzai sensei has died. I sent a letter last week, but it must not have reached you yet..." He noticed the pain on Megumi's face. "I'm sorry, Megumi-dono. I know he was like a father for you..."

Megumi smiled bravely. "I'll live, Kenshin. I'm stronger than most think. So you've told me about everyone else...how are YOU."

"I am..." Kenshin sipped his jasmine tea, thinking hard. He hadn't thought about it much. He was happy, yes, but Megumi knew that. The last time Megumi heard, he was thrilled with Kenji's training. "I am content." He smiled genuinely, nodding. "I'd better go check on Kaoru."

"I will." Megumi said, standing. "I'm the doctor. Husband or not, I'll know what's wrong, you wont." She padded silently towards the room and walked in without knocking. She found Kaoru in the corner, her arms braced against the wall, her head lowered, hair braided. "Kaoru-san?"

"I'll be out in a minu-" There was the sound of someone regurgitating and Megumi hurried over.

She pulled the girl from the wall and frowned. "Get in the futon. Now. I'll have Kenshin clean this up." She ignored Kaoru's feeble protests and called Kenshin. "Ken-san! Could you bring a mop and bucket...there's been a spill." No need to worry them.

Kenshin appeared in notime, his face worried. "She is ill, isn't she."

"Clean up the mess, Ken-san. I'm sure she's fine, but I wont know till I examine her." He did so in record speed, then disappeared, back into the hallway, where he began to pace silently. Megumi closed the door.

"I'm really fine, Megumi-san..."

"Silly girl." Megumi plopped a hand on her forhead. "Your temperature is low...how long have you been ill?"

Kaoru blinked. "A...a week or two..."

"When was the LAST time you vomitted every day for over a week?" Megumi arched an eyebrow.

"When I was-" Her eyes widened. "You don't mean..." She whispered, her heart pounding, her hands beginning to shake. Quickly, she began to count off her symptoms. "Sensetivity to the breasts...increased appetite...inability to keep certain foods down...missing a period..." Her face turned red. "I'm..."

Megumi nodded. "Pregnant." She shook her head. "Maybe I should write you a list of the symptoms so maybe next time you wont put Kenshin and yourself through a world of worry. Speaking of which." She went to the hall and opened the door, gesturing Kenshin inside.

"Is it bad?" Kenshin asked, looking worried.

Megumi whacked him upside the head. "YOU BAKA!"

"EEP!" The married couple went.

"As long as the two of you have been married and you haven't figured out what the signs of pregnancy are?! Kenshin! I thought you were supposed to be able to sense aura's!"

"Well...that is..." Kenshin blushed. "I didn't sense Kenji's until a little after the third month..."

Megumi shook her head in exasperation. "Kenshin, she's pregnant. About a quarter of the way into the second month!" She shook her head and sighed. "I've decided to move back into town. If I haven't heard anything about my parents in over ten years, then I never will, and I've got to get away from that town."

Kaoru smiled weakly. "You can stay here until you've got your affairs settled and have a place to stay."

Megumi gave a firm nod and walked from the room.

Kenshin knelt beside Kaoru on the futon and pulled her into a tight embrace. "Kaoru..." He murmered into her hair. "You've made me so happy..." He whispered, kissing below her ear.

"Not as happy as I am." She assured him, smiling, her eyes teary, until finally, she buried her face into his shoulders and cried happy tears into it.

Suddenly, Kenshin's eyes narrowed slightly. Something dark was approaching. He gently stroaked Kaoru's back, kissing her hair and soothing her, while he felt a knot in the pit of his stomache form.

Something was disturbing his peace.

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End Chapter 1: Innocence

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AN: Well, whacha think? Like? Hmmm...::Licks lips:: Thinks are going to get tasty for you Sano/Megumi fans next chapter! Until next time! *DemonLovin* 3