Absolution : Chapter Ten
It was strange to be back home. Okina had welcomed him and the Tokyo warriors with open arms. Aoshi had explained to Kashiwazaki that he had no intention of reclaiming the title of leader, nor of staying in Kyoto. He believed the title should pass to Misao. She was clearly the one that rallied their troops in the last battle. The Oniwabanshu knew her and they trusted her. His actions over the past few months were an indication that he wasn't in the right state of mind to be the Okashira.
The main sitting room of the Aoiya had been transformed into a make-shift hospital. Aoshi's wounds had been tended to earlier. His ribs ached. His thighs felt tight and itchy where the lacerations had been cleaned and bandaged. He had secreted away one of the purple bandages. He'd cleaned it in the nearby stream and had it stored in the trunk of his old bedroom. He didn't know what would happen next, but he had a feeling that Kaoru would soon be out of his life. The probable loss threatened to put him back into his depression. But mostly, he had a deep gnawing sensation in his gut ever since he saw Kaoru tending to Kenshin in the carriage.
Aoshi leaned against the doorframe of the sitting room and peered inside. Megumi Takani had arrived shortly after Shishio's men had attacked the Oniwabanshu at the Aoiya and Kaoru's subsequent abduction. Aoshi was familiar with the doctor from their time together under Kanryu. It was her friendship with Kenshin that had brought her to Kyoto. Under the opium drug lord, she'd been a terrified caterpillar.
As he watched Megumi place fresh dressings on Kaoru's wounds, he could see the butterfly she'd become. He was glad she'd decided against killing herself with the tanto blade he'd left her back when she'd been full of despair.
Aoshi was reluctant to leave his vantage point. He'd not spoken with Kaoru since they'd been back at the inn. His medicinal tea had worn off and the pain in his ribs and legs was beginning to escalate. He felt a disturbance in the air behind him.
"May I speak with you?" Kenshin asked.
"Over tea," Aoshi suggested, reluctantly looking away from Kaoru and turning towards the rurouni. Kenshin nodded his acceptance and the two walked together to the tea room.
Yahiko was already in the room, staring down into the cup in his hands. He glanced up as Aoshi and Kenshin entered. His dark gaze settled on Kenshin. "Should I leave?"
"No, this conversation concerns you too," Kenshin stated.
"I'm due for my medicinal tea," Aoshi said, as he sat lotus style before the tea supplies. "Are you due for your dose?"
"I would appreciate a dose," Kenshin agreed, sitting catty-corner to Aoshi. He touched his neck where the cuts had scabbed over and grimaced.
The three sat together in silence while Aoshi prepared the tea for himself and Kenshin. He took a deep drink from his brew. The relief was nearly instantaneous as the medicine filled his belly and began to circulate in his blood. It didn't escape him that the medicinal concoction included poppy seeds.
"I need the two of you to explain to me what happened to Kaoru," Kenshin said quietly. "When she looks at me, it is as if she sees a stranger."
"She fell off the ship when we were on our way here. I didn't see her again until she showed up at the Aoiya. Her memories are missing. She didn't remember me or even you, Kenshin," Yahiko said with a cringe.
"She truly does not remember anything from the past year?" Kenshin asked in disbelief. His violet eyes were dark with grief.
"Past year and a half," Aoshi clarified.
Kenshin gave him a suspicious look. "How do you know?"
"He's the one that saved her from drowning when our ship was caught in the storm. Kaoru was determined to not let you leave and fight this battle without our aid," Yahiko answered with a wistful expression. He set aside his cup and laced his hands behind his head. "I have never seen her so determined! At first, she was really sad for days. It got worse when Sanosuke left, she wouldn't get out of bed or eat anything. Then Megumi came by and she changed. I'm not sure what Megumi said to her, but it worked."
Aoshi's jaw clenched as he imagined Kaoru in such a weakened state of depression. He glared at Kenshin. And that depression was caused by Himura.
"I have a good idea why she was sad," Kenshin admitted staring down at his hands with a guilty expression. "Her feelings for me were returned," he said. "That's why I said goodbye to her amongst the fireflies. I didn't think I would come back from this mission alive. I wanted to spare her grief."
"So you left her behind—heart-broken?" Aoshi asked. He set his cup down before he shattered the porcelain. "How does that spare someone grief?"
"Says the man who abandoned his clan," Yahiko snapped.
Aoshi wisely chose to refrain from a response. He picked his cup back up and calmly sipped his tea once more. He had suspected that prior to her memory loss, that Kaoru and Himura were an item. Kenshin had been scarred by the war, much like Aoshi. They might appear to be unharmed, but inside they were both damaged. No doubt they both saw the acceptance and comfort that Kaoru offered.
"Perhaps this is for the best. She is young and so caring. She deserves more than a widowed murderer. I had my chance at a life beyond fighting," Kenshin said. "That ended the day Tomoe died. She's buried here in a Kyoto cemetery."
"Don't be an idiot. Kaoru's feelings for you are real! Don't discount them just because she's young," Yahiko said defensively, his face red in anger.
"I believe we should take into account her memory loss. It may have been the blessing of Kami," Aoshi said, setting aside his now empty tea cup. "Let her make her own decisions and find the direction of her heart. It may be in a different direction." He didn't want to admit that with his current feelings for Kaoru, he really hoped she never regained those memories.
Kenshin's hands gripped his knees tightly. He leaned towards Aoshi, a suspicious gleam in his eyes. "You're in love with her."
"I hardly deserve her either," Aoshi admitted. "At least you don't kill people now. I don't have any guilt about killing someone that deserves it, if it will keep them from hurting others."
OoO
Kaoru felt stronger, her head no longer ached, and her gait was steady. She sat on the porch of the Aoiya and stared into the garden behind the inn. The Oniwabanshu had a generous amount of herbs and vegetables. Though, Megumi had picked through a great amount of the herbs for various salves and medicinal teas for everyone's various injuries.
"Miss Kaoru," Kenshin called, walking towards her from around the building.
Kaoru smiled in greeting. She still didn't remember him, but she liked Kenshin Himura. He had a gentle spirit and everyone at the Aoiya, and especially Yahiko, seemed to respect him so very much. "Good morning, Kenshin. How are you?"
Kenshin's hands were clasped behind his back, his behavior shy and unsure. "I was hoping you might accompany me to town," he said. "I wanted to pay a visit to the memorial of my wife. I wanted her to meet you."
Kaoru was momentarily speechless. Why would this handsome stranger want her to visit the grave of his dead wife? Just how close were they before her accident? "Are you sure, Kenshin? That sounds like a private moment." She rubbed her sweaty palms over the skirt of her yukata.
"Please, Miss Kaoru, it would mean a lot to me if you were to come with me," Kenshin said, his voice quiet and serious. He extended his hand towards Kaoru, a rather bold move.
"Of course," Kaoru agreed. She took his hand and was surprised by the strength of his grip. He didn't release her hand, but guided her on the path leading away from the Aoiya. He snagged a parasol that was leaning against the wall of the inn. Kaoru recognized it as belonging to Megumi. Another person she was supposed to know and yet didn't remember.
"The scar on my face," Kenshin began, "it was given to me during the war. The first half was the dying stroke of a young man, whom I didn't know at the time, was the fiancé of the woman I would later marry. The second mark, that formed the cross, was from Tomoe as she died in my arms."
Kaoru frowned. She had learned that Shishio, the bandaged man that had her kidnapped, was also from the Revolution. She knew the great grief that haunted Aoshi from the loss of his companions from that time. "Did anyone survive that war unscathed?"
"No," Kenshin said, shaking his head. "That's why us old war hounds rely so heavily on you, Yahiko, and Misao. We need people that weren't scarred by the war to help heal our wounds. You were only a young child and your father protected you so that you would have a childhood." He squeezed her hand and then released it, opening the gates to the Kyoto cemetery.
"I know you don't remember, but you came to Kyoto because of me," Kenshin said quietly. He led her to a simple memorial. He started the incense and kneeled before the stone. Kaoru kneeled next to him. "We had something special. Something I didn't think I would ever feel again. You accepted me, all of me. My dark past and my desire to atone for my mistakes."
Kaoru turned to the redhead. She wished she could remember. It was obvious that she and Kenshin had something more than just friendship together. He gazed back at her, his lovely violet eyes swirled with emotions that she simply didn't share. She smiled kindly at him. "I may not remember our time together, Kenshin. But I know that when I saw you in that battle, I feared you might die and it broke my heart."
"You are a caring person, Kaoru. That is what attracted me to you. When we met, there was a man using the name Battousai to try and destroy your father's dojo. You went about Tokyo intent on finding him and clearing the name of your school," Kenshin explained. Kaoru felt her eyes well up with tears. She didn't remember these things, but she could remember some of the emotions.
"Then I ended up staying. I had traveled for the past ten years wandering throughout Japan. I never thought I would know what it was like to have a home, until I found you." Kenshin reached out for Kaoru's face and brushed away a tear from her cheek with the pad of his thumb. "You welcomed me."
Kaoru raised her hand and covered his against her face.
Kenshin smiled at her sadly and pulled back his hand. "Tell me of your time with Aoshi. He saved you from drowning?"
Kaoru nodded, her face feeling cold at the loss of Kenshin's touch. "He was so full of darkness and despair. He didn't have to save me and he certainly didn't have to protect me in the woods." Kaoru thought back to her first meeting with Aoshi. "His body was covered in scars and he was lost in his own anger, but there was still some light in his heart. It was faint, but the ember of hope still glowed."
Kenshin nodded. "His friends were killed in a fight we were involved in. We rescued Megumi from an opium drug lord and Aoshi was there also. He and his men were hired to serve as security for the drug lord. Kanryu turned against Aoshi and tried to kill him with a gatling gun. Aoshi's friends jumped in front of him and protected him."
"I could see the loss heavy in his eyes," Kaoru whispered. Her chest hurt remembering the pain she'd seen burdening Aoshi." She shook her head and stared at the stick of incense in front of Tomoe's grave, remembering where they were. "Kenshin, will you be returning to Tokyo? You are still welcome."
Kenshin's hand clasped over Kaoru's shoulder. "I think I may disappear for a little while. Perhaps I will return to the mountains with my Master Hiko to focus on my meditation." He took a deep breath. "I don't want you to feel obligated towards me, Miss Kaoru. Though, if you don't mind, I will continue to think of you as home."
"Of course I don't mind," Kaoru said quickly. "The Kamiya dojo is home to us all."
Kenshin smiled at her sadly. "If your memory returns and you want to talk, I will come to you no matter what."
Kaoru nodded. If she had truly loved Kenshin, it might be for the best if her memories never returned. Her feelings for Aoshi were so strong. What would she do if she loved two men in such a way? Was anyone capable of loving two men?
OoO
Kaoru wiped the sweat off her brow with the back of her hand. "How about fifty sword raises," she ordered Yahiko.
"And what are you going to do? Watch while I collapse from exhaustion?" Yahiko protested. His dark hair was slick with sweat.
"I need to work on my endurance too," Kaoru said. "I'll be doing fifty sword raises right alongside you."
The temper Yahiko had worked up evaporated. He held his practice sword up in anticipation and together they began the final leg of their workout.
Koaru's muscles ached and she could feel a quiver of exhaustion washing throughout her body. Shortly after their journey to Tomoe's memorial, the mysterious Kenshin Himura left the Aoiya alongside the equally mysterious Hiko Seijuro. She felt that she should have been more upset by his departure, but mostly she felt relieved. She couldn't stand the pitying looks from Yahiko, Megumi, and Sanosuke. Nor the sadness she caused Kenshin through her amnesia. The Oniwabanshu were unfamiliar with her relationship with the wandering samurai and treated her normal.
"Kaoru, can I ask you a question?" Yahiko asked. His face red from exertion as he worked on his thirtieth raise.
"Of course," Kaoru grunted.
"Will you continue to train me in the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu technique?" Yahiko's voice cracked with anxiety.
"I will be honored for you to continue your training with me," Kaoru answered with a bittersweet smile. "I'm not as good as my father, but I think together you and I will train to become masters of the art."
"Do you think Kenshin will return?" Yahiko asked in a small voice.
"Honestly, I have no idea, Yahiko." Kaoru counted silently until she reached fifty and then balanced the bokken over her shoulders. "I'm glad he's alive. Obviously, he's very heroic. But, he's a stranger to me. We are tentative friends at best." She didn't want to admit to her young friend that she was more concerned about what would happen with Aoshi Shinomori. Would he disappear from her life too? The idea made it hard to breathe.
"Are you okay?" Yahiko's hand rested gently on Kaoru's forearm.
Kaoru smiled in hopes of easing her apprentice's worry. "As long as I still have you, I'll be fine." She hooked her arm around Yahiko's neck and caught him in a headlock and mussed his hair. They both burst into laughter.
OoO
It didn't hurt to walk anymore. Aoshi's legs were healing nicely. He only felt a mild, annoying ache when he over-exerted himself. With the depletion of the inn's herbs, he took a trip into town to purchase more teas. The local merchant had an excellent selection and Aoshi filled his burlap sack with the items.
As he stepped outside of the shop, he noticed Soujiro waiting for him in front of the building. "What are you doing here?" Aoshi asked.
Soujiro shrugged, his face blank of all emotions. "I just wanted to make sure you were okay. And the others. Kaoru was it?"
"We are all recovered," Aoshi reassured him. He adjusted the burlap sack over his shoulder.
"And Misao?" Soujiro's lips tightened anxiously.
Aoshi smiled. "She is well." He looked the teen up and down. His feet were dirty and it was apparent that his normally clean outfit hadn't seen a wash since the warship. "Would you care to join me at the Aoiya for some tea? Perhaps have a nice bath."
Soujiro leaned his nose near his under arm and grimaced. "That bad, huh?"
Aoshi nodded, but said nothing.
"I would like that." Soujiro smiled, a genuine smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes.
"You can ask Misao yourself, how she's doing," Aoshi added. He and the swordsman fell into step beside one another.
"What happened to Kenshin? I saw him leaving the city," Soujiro commented.
"He went off to the mountains to train with his master," Aoshi answered. He'd been relieved when the rurouni ventured off again. Though, he'd still not had a chance to speak with Kaoru privately. She was always with her apprentice, Misao, or Megumi. At least with Soujiro, he'd be able to distract one of those chaperones.
Misao sat in one of the lower branches of a large century tree outside of the inn. Her legs dangled below her as she sharpened her kunai. She held them between her fingers in a threatening manner when Soujiro approached alongside Aoshi. "What's he doing here?"
"Misao, I'd like for you to meet my friend, Soujiro Seta," Aoshi said. "He'll be staying with us for a few days. I need to speak with Kaoru. Could you show him around?"
Misao's green eyes narrowed suspiciously as she leapt from the branch to land smoothly on the ground. "Give me your sword," she ordered Soujiro. "Until I can ascertain your intentions you will be unarmed on these premises."
Soujiro removed his sword from his waist and handed it over to Misao without a word of complaint. "Not a problem."
Misao sniffed. "Maybe we should go by the bath house first. No offense, but you smell like a dumpster." She reached for a blob of something sticky that was stuck in his hair and yanked it out. "Definitely the bath house."
"I'll have Kurojo bring a change of clothes for our guest," Aoshi said, leaving the two of them.
He saw Kaoru by herself. She sat on the small arching bridge over the koi pond outside of the inn. It had been a gift from Misao's father to her mother when they had first married. She was tossing in feed to the fish, her face relaxed into a mask of serenity.
"May I join you?" Aoshi asked at the base of the bridge.
Kaoru looked up at him. "This is your home, you may do as you please, Aoshi." She scooted a few inches to her left to make room for him beside her.
Aoshi sat next to her and she handed him some of the fish food. "Are you leaving back for Tokyo soon?"
"I need to return. Megumi says I should be able to return within two days," Kaoru answered dispassionately. She stared into the pond and pointed. "I like the orange and white one. Do you see him?"
Aoshi followed the direction she indicated. "Yes, he or she is quite lovely," he agreed. "You don't sound too pleased about returning home."
Kaoru dumped the last of the feed into the pond and brushed off the powder from her hands. "I'm a little anxious about being on a ship again," she admitted. "The last one sunk to the bottom of the ocean and I fell overboard from the previous one." She gripped her biceps and hugged herself. "Yahiko and Megumi will travel back with me. Megumi is still trying to convince Sanosuke, but without Kenshin she thinks he's going to start wandering off again."
"Would you like for me to accompany you?" Aoshi asked quietly. He stared down at the orange and white koi, too nervous to look Kaoru in the eyes. He couldn't face her rejection or her pity. "I can make sure you get home safe."
"I don't want you to go out of your way," Kaoru said, her words spoken carefully.
"My men are buried not far from Tokyo. I must retrieve their bodies so that I can bury them properly in the mountains of our ancestors," he explained.
Kaoru was silent for the span of several heartbeats. Aoshi was about to retract his offer and leave her alone. Then he felt her small hand upon his wrist. He looked down at her in shock and met her concerned blue eyes. Blue eyes like his. Perhaps there was gaijin blood within the Kamiya swordswoman as well.
"I would love to have your company," Kaoru said with a soft smile.
At the sight of her caring smile Aoshi felt something akin to ice melting from around his heart.
"Might I be so bold as to ask you something else, Kaoru?"
"You may ask me anything you like, Aoshi. I owe you my life," Kaoru said with a laugh. "A simple question hardly compares!"
"May I kiss you?"
Kaoru's eyes grew wide and her mouth gaped open. The corner of Aoshi's mouth curled up in a smirk. He hadn't expected her to be quite so surprised. "You want to kiss me?"
He nodded.
"I would be okay with that," Kaoru said, breathless, her eyes focused on his lips.
Aoshi leaned close to her, he draped one arm around her waist and pulled her close. He brought his lips down to hers slowly, enjoying the anticipation. Kaoru's breath hitched as he drew near. He pressed his lips against hers, hesitant at first and then more resolute. Kaoru gasped and he took the opportunity to taste the inside of her mouth. Her hand rested upon his shoulder, gripping him tight.
Aoshi's head began to swim. There were so many sensations and feelings being released that he'd denied for so many years. He almost felt giddy, a sensation he'd not felt since he was fifteen and just promoted to the role of leader. Eventually, he pulled back, resting his forehead against hers.
"So, I hear you take in strays," Aoshi said conversationally. He smiled in amusement as Kaoru gazed back at him with a dreamy glaze over her eyes.
"Oh? Are you a stray, Aoshi?" Kaoru asked. She brought hand from his shoulder to cradle his cheek, the callouses from her swordsplay tickled against his skin.
"I am technically homeless," he admitted.
Kaoru tilted her face up and pressed her lips against his softly. "You're welcome to stay with me." She leaned back and took a deep breath. "And if you would like company while you put your friends to rest, I would be happy to join you."
Aoshi began to chuckle. Kaoru's happily dazed expression vanished and was replaced by an annoyed scowl. "I'm not laughing at you," Aoshi assured her, rubbing his forehead against hers and closing his eyes. "I'm just so grateful that sea brought you to me. I was so lost. My mother once told me a story about how the sea is cleansing. All the darkness in the world will one day be washed away by the ocean."
"That doesn't sound like a funny story," Kaoru said, tugging on Aoshi's long bangs.
He opened his eyes. "I suppose it's not. But I never thought I'd feel absolved. With you, I feel like maybe I don't deserve to rot away in darkness."
"No one deserves that," Kaoru protested. "Happiness is a choice."
"Then I choose you," Aoshi said firmly.
OoO
Epilogue:
It had been two years since Kaoru's return to Tokyo after her adventure in Kyoto. She could hear Yahiko practicing with their students in the dojo. He'd become an excellent assistant instructor. The number of students at the dojo continued to grow. As the use of steel swords was outlawed, the idea of being able to wield a bokken became more attractive. Though, a good portion of those new students originally came by the dojo, curious about the ninja that ran the tea shop on the premises.
Kaoru, in a simple light blue yukata, sat in the yard behind her house on a bench next to her peaceful koi pond. It wasn't as large as the pond outside of the Aoiya, but it was special to her. Aoshi had dug the pond himself when he moved to Tokyo with her. She could still remember the way the sweat had glistened off his bare chest. He'd glowered at the earth as if every blister or splinter he suffered from his pick axe were the fault of the hard packed dirt. She waved her hand in front of her face for a moment to cool off as a well-visited memory came to mind.
She smiled down at the orange and white koi fish. Her husband had gone out of his way to stock their personal pond with several koi of such coloring. There was a flutter in her belly and Kaoru pressed her hand against the bulge of their unborn child.
That morning had been different. She'd had a dream, a vivid dream, that revealed the truth of what happened during the year and a half of memory that she'd lost. She remembered her father's death, running the school, the fake Battousai slandering the Kamiya name. And she remembered Kenshin.
She had loved him, as strong and completely as she was capable at seventeen. There was no doubt that their love was true. She remembered the night by the fireflies. Kenshin would have returned with her after Kyoto, had she only asked. He wanted her to meet Tomoe, because he loved her. A tear slipped from her eye and she wiped it away hastily.
"Hormones acting up again?" Aoshi asked, his deep voice startling Kaoru from her thoughts. He sat next to her on the bench and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, drawing her close. He pressed a kiss to her temple.
"I'm just feeling nostalgic," Kaoru said, laying her cheek against Aoshi's chest. He wore simple robes. She took a deep breath and enjoyed Aoshi's scent — pine and ginger. He spent much time in the forests and had ginger in all the tea he'd made for the past four months. He wanted to be prepared for any bouts of nausea Kaoru might have. If she was thirsty, he had ginger flavored tea or hot water for her.
"The reflection pond has earned its name then," Aoshi mused. "Misao and Soujiro should be here in the hour."
Kaoru smiled. She looked forward to visits from the young couple. They were both full of boundless energy and enthusiasm. She doubted if there was a person alive that could keep up with the two of them. "How was your day at the shop?" Kaoru asked.
"We just received the shipment of chamomile and lavender," Aoshi said. He sold herbal and exotic tea leaves. His hobby turned into a very successful business in Tokyo. Since Aoshi and she married, Kaoru hadn't struggled financially. It had been a nice change to the meager finances she'd eked out before. She wasn't forced to sell precious heirlooms in order to buy food for the table.
"And more ginger?" Kaoru prompted.
Aoshi chuckled, a deep rumble in his chest, that vibrated against Kaoru. "As if you need it. Megumi says the morning sickness abates after the first three months."
"Perhaps I have developed a taste for it," Kaoru countered. She angled her face towards his and met his amused gaze. She felt her heart stutter in her chest for just a moment. While her lost memories had returned to her, including her feelings of love for another, they didn't compare to the love she felt at this very moment for the man beside her and for the life growing inside.
"What's with that expression?" Aoshi's eyes narrowed. "Please, don't tell me you're thinking of more grueling workouts you want me to train Yahiko in."
"Well you can't expect me to do it!" Kaoru laughed.
Aoshi used his free hand to grasp Kaoru's chin and then he pressed a firm kiss upon her lips. He stood and scooped her into his arms, a contented smile upon his face. "How can you critique your students if you're way over here?" He carried her to the dojo on his long legs and then set her on her feet. They sat at the edge of the dojo and observed the students together.
Kaoru caught Yahiko's eye for a moment and he nodded at her in acknowledgement as he continued to instruct their students in fifty sword raises. Normally, the students would complain about such a request at the end of their workout, but with the Master of their school present as well as her husband they wanted to impress them.
Aoshi's familiar arm looped around Kaoru's waist and he leaned close to whisper in her ear. "Your father would be so proud."
Kaoru smiled. She knew he was right. She was proud too. Proud of what she'd managed to accomplish both on her own and with her friends.
She felt Aoshi shift against her and a moment later, Misao and Soujiro were in the doorway to the dojo. The swordsman's arm was casually looped around Misao's tiny waist — whether from his affection or to keep her from launching herself at Kaoru and Aoshi it was hard to say.
"Oh, you're in for a treat today, students," Yahiko said. He looked across the dojo and grinned at Soujiro. "How would you like to see your assistant instructor in a friendly sparring match against Soujiro?"
The dozen students turned towards the door as a whole. They were familiar with Soujiro, as his and Misao's visits were fairly often.
Soujiro grinned, released his arm from around Misao, took one of the wooden practice swords from the wall, and made his way towards Yahiko. The students scampered out of the way to the periphery of the dojo while Misao sat next to Kaoru and Aoshi.
"Oh, I love to watch him swordsplay," Misao gushed, her green eyes dreamy. She turned to Kaoru and her eyes drifted down to her belly and she smiled broadly. She leaned near Kaoru's ear. "Are you sure you'll still be able to fit into your kimono? You know, the dark blue one with the purple butterflies?"
Kaoru started to cough in surprise. Aoshi's hand pressed between her shoulder blades in concern. She hit her fist against her sternum. The dress Misao referred to was a gift from Aoshi on their one-year anniversary. It was the colors that represented his family and was a special token from the Oniwabanshu to signify their support of the union. "I believe so," Kaoru answered. "At least for another few weeks."
Misao turned her attention back to the match. "Good, because you'll need it for the wedding."
"Pardon?" Aoshi asked sharply.
"Soujiro and I are marrying. We were hoping you could come back to Kyoto next week for the wedding." Misao turned back towards them, her eyes shining bright and her smile eager.
Aoshi's hand fisted into the back of Kaoru's yukata. Kaoru laid her hand over Aoshi's knee and squeezed it in reassurance. His fist loosened. "We wouldn't miss it," he said.
"Good! Because you're the one walking me down the aisle," Misao said.
"Just think of it as practice for when you have to do so with your daughter," Kaoru whispered.
Aoshi's eyes grew wide. "We're having a girl?"
Kaoru smiled. "I do not know. But if our firstborn is a son, we can always try for a daughter after."
"I do like the trying," Aoshi whispered in her ear.