Hi everyone! I know the timeline has been kind of confusing but just stick with me please! I decided to give you a scene with Kaoru and Kenshin in this chapter. Thanks to everyone who reads! Standard disclaimer: I do not own RK!

Recap from prev chapter:

"Who is paying you?" Kaoru finally asked.

"Why, Kaoru, I was for sure you would know. She's been close at your heart this whole time." The man replied sneakily.

"Tomoe." Kaoru whispered.

"Now no more questions, let's get this over with!" With that the man charged forward with Kaoru being caught off guard.

Kaoru watched in slow motion as the man's sword swung towards her. Closing her eyes, Kaoru waited for the inevitable.

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A few seconds passed and Kaoru mentally searched herself for any pain. When feeling none, she opened her eyes and gasped as Aoshi used his twin kodachis to fight off the mysterious man.

Almost crying with relief, Kaoru quickly crawled over to the fallen Yahiko. She almost had another heart attack when Misao appeared out of nowhere beside her.

"Kaoru, are you okay? How's the baby?" Misao asked concern apparent in her eyes.

"I'm fine, Misao, but Yahiko was knocked unconscious by that man!" Kaoru said, looking over Yahiko for any outward damage.

"I think he will be fine. Thank goodness, we got to you in time!" Misao said, watching the man race off at the first chance he got.

Kaoru nodded and quietly started to cry. 'Damn hormones.' Kaoru thought crying into her hands. She felt Misao gather her in her arms and rub her back.

Rubbing her eyes, Kaoru looked up at Aoshi and thanked him. In response, Aoshi just nodded and scooped Yahiko up in his arms. Misao helped Kaoru up on shaky legs and met Aoshi's eyes. Something wasn't adding up.

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When they arrived at the clinic, Megumi immediately came to their side. Luckily she was on duty that evening. Giving Yahiko a quick medical scan, Megumi conducted a more thorough one on Kaoru.

Stress could be very unhealthy for a pregnant woman and Megumi knew Kaoru was under a lot of stress. With orders to take off work for a couple days, Kaoru was declared healthy enough to go home.

With Yahiko awake and Aoshi as an escort, Kaoru arrived at the dojo safely and was tucked into bed by Misao.

Of course Kenshin wasn't there, but Sano was found sleeping in one of the guest rooms. So Yahiko, Misao, Aoshi, and Sano went into the living room and formed a meeting.

"So what the fuck happened tonight?" Sano asked angrily. Once again he wasn't there to protect Kaoru.

Everyone turned to look at Yahiko since he was there when it happened.

"I was walking Kaoru home from work and this man jumps out of nowhere! He says he is there for Kaoru, so I fight him…but yeah." He looked ashamed, but Misao touched his shoulder reassuringly.

"We saw the broken bokken. You did everything you could to protect Kaoru." Misao said gently.

Turning to look at everyone else, Misao grimaced and a stern expression graced her face.

"This is starting to become ridiculous! This is the second time Kaoru has been attacked." Letting that statement sink in, Misao continued.

"Before Kaoru fell asleep, she told me the man claimed Tomoe had hired him." Everyone's faces looked shocked and angry, except Aoshi of course.

Slamming his fist on the table, Sano yelled "I knew she wasn't as innocent as she acted! That bitch, she's the reason Kaoru's life has been hell and she has Kenshin wrapped around her little finger."

Yahiko nodded, "It's true. Kenshin is hardly here anymore and is distant and cold when he is. It's like he doesn't care about us anymore."

Misao tapped her finger against her chin thoughtfully. "That does pose a problem. Kenshin doesn't believe Kaoru and she's the only one who has any proof against Tomoe."

Concentrated looks appeared on everyone's faces as they tried to think of a solution.

Standing up abruptly, Misao yelled excitedly, "All we have to do is trick Tomoe into exposing her true side to Kenshin!"

Both Sano and Yahiko jumped up too excited, but then Aoshi busted their bubble, "And how do you propose to do that?"

Seeing their energy deflate, they all dropped back into their sitting positions.

"I don't know yet, but we will find a way!" Misao said quietly.

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Reporting the incident to the police was helpful in its way, but Kaoru kept secret the part naming Tomoe as a suspect. She didn't want them starting to think she was crazy or not believe her thinking she's a jealous lover. It seemed like Tomoe had everyone fooled.

Kenshin still hadn't heard about the attack and Kaoru doubted he ever would. It's not he would care anyway. Tae had about freaked out when she heard about it. She even stopped scheduling Kaoru for the night shifts.

A weeks rest really helped build Kaoru's strength and she felt it helped the baby too. Even though she wished the baby was going to be raised by two parents instead of one, she knew they would be happy regardless.

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Another couple months passed and Kaoru was entering her sixth month of pregnancy. Her pregnancy was very noticeable now and everywhere she went, she received disgusted looks but nothing changed Kaoru's optimistic attitude.

There had been no more attacks and Kenshin had even started hanging around more. Kaoru thought maybe it was because he felt obligated in some way to be the "man" of the house or maybe with her pregnancy being apparent, he couldn't hide from it anymore.

Misao had disappeared back to Kyoto for a little bit, but was due back any day now. Kaoru knew she wouldn't miss out on her second cousin entering the world. The only thing Kaoru really didn't approve of was Yahiko learning how to use a steel sword.

Although she knew the reasoning behind it, she couldn't help feeling like a parent who realized their precious child had now turned into an adult. It was hard watching him grow up and become more independent.

After the accident, Tomoe had come around every now and again with Kenshin, but after the cold treatment she received from Yahiko and Sano, the visits eventually stopped. The picnic they had planned kept getting postponed since anything seemed to make Kaoru sick.

Kenshin seemed like a changed person with Tomoe at his side. He seemed happier and relaxed like he finally found someone who completed him. It made Kaoru sick. She had not been lucky in her pregnancy and during the first couple of months, she would wake up early from morning sickness.

One time it was particularly bad and Kenshin had surprised her by staying by her side, rubbing her back. It was those rare moments in which Kaoru missed him fiercely.

This particular morning, Kaoru was cooking food for the picnic later on that day. Since it kept getting postponed cause of her, Kaoru finally got tired of it and scheduled it for today.

There had been no morning sickness and she felt optimistic that today was going to be a wonderful day. As if in agreement, she felt her baby move encouragingly inside of her.

A smile lit up her face as she stopped moving and concentrated on this small wonder.

"How does it feel?" Surprised, Kaoru turned around and saw Kenshin staring at her.

Smiling, Kaoru said, "It's breathtaking. It never ceases to amaze me the realization that inside of me a living human being is growing."

Seeing his gaze, drop to her stomach, Kaoru motioned him forward. Placing his hand on the side where the baby was kicking, Kaoru watched the astonishment adorn his face.

"Miss Kaoru, I realized I never got a chance to say this, but…" Confused, Kaoru inquired gently.

"What Kenshin? What did you never get a chance to say?" In some part of her mind, she was hoping fervently it was his declaration of love for her.

"I'm sorry that I wasn't there to protect you." Kaoru could see the overwhelming sadness that appeared in Kenshin's eyes. It saddened her that in some way, he felt what happened to her was his fault.

Kaoru maneuvered her body as best as she could in the position so she could hug Kenshin. Tenderly taking him in her arms, Kaoru rested her head on his shoulder.

Quietly Kaoru begin to talk to him. "Kenshin, despite everything that has happened, in some way I am glad that it did. I'm not happy about everything he did to me, but if this hadn't happened, I would not be blessed with this baby growing inside of me."

Kaoru felt Kenshin release the tension he was holding, so she continued.

"I know there was nothing that you or anyone could have done to prevent him from taking me and if anything then it is my fault for not being strong enough to stop him. I shouldn't have let my guard down like I did."

"Miss Kaoru, don't say that!" Kenshin said pushing her away lightly and holding her at arm's length.

"Sessha know you fought him the best that you could, that he does."

Kaoru felt tears flowing down her cheeks and rubbed at them hastily. "No one could mistake me for a tomboy again with these hormones." She joked, trying to ease the tension in the room.

Smiling warmly at her, Kenshin offered to help cook for the picnic. Returning his smile and accepting, Kaoru just knew the day was only going to keep getting better.