I'm really sorry that I took so long, but the screen on my laptop broke and I had to replace it. This is basically just a filler chapter, but please try to like it!

Chapter 21: A Rough Month

Kenshin and the others returned to Tokyo at the end of the week. Misao was sad to see them leave, but promised to do just as Kaoru had and to go to them when the baby was due. Aoshi and Okina said they would be sure to come as well and wished them a safe trip. Hiko wasn't bringing much back to the dojo with him, he just stored most of his possessions away—Okon and Omasu were distraught when they learned that he would be so far away.

Kenshin fussed over Kaoru on the boat home. Yahiko reclaimed his usual spot at the rails from sea-sickness. Sano chased Megumi around the whole trip while she played hard to get. In the end Hiko found them half-naked in an empty compartment on his search for a quiet drinking spot.
Back at the dojo Kenshin had to do more chores than normal because Kaoru was suffering so badly from morning-sickness. He was distraught as there was nothing he could do for her. Kaoru was upset because she wasn't able to complete her daily routines and Yahiko's training had no schedule anymore. Sano and Megumi were obviously trying to avoid each other and when they did meet they fought more than normal.
"You need to calm down," Hiko told Kenshin as he raced around the kitchen early one morning. Kenshin gave him a furious look. "Baka-deshi," Hiko stood up and walked over to the red-head and put his hand on his shoulders, "you're running yourself into the ground." Kenshin sighed and Hiko took the knife out of his hands and set it down. "I do love to see you fall to pieces, but this is ridiculous."

Kenshin turned around to face the taller man. His shoulder's moved up and down with the deep breath that he took. "Master, this one has no other option. Kaoru-dono is not able to do much and she needs this one to look after her right now."

"Why do you do these kinds of things to yourself?" Hiko said loudly as he smacked Kenshin across the face. "Answer me!" Kenshin kept his face down. "The reason Kaoru isn't able to do much is because you won't let her! She's trying to help out and you keep pushing her away. Women have been having babies for ages and have gotten along just fine. Kaoru's body is made for this and she would be much better off if you would just let her be."

"But, she is—"

"Don't. She will be fine. Her morning sickness should be almost over; and she will get more tired as the months pass, but she will be fine." They both turned as there was a polite coughing from the kitchen door. "Megumi-san, how nice to see you."

"Hiko-san, must you lecture him always?" Hiko smiled.

"Megumi-dono has not visited with us in some while," Kenshin said as he walked towards her.

Megumi snickered, "Well, Ken-san, I came by to check on Kaoru and I couldn't help but overhear what was happening in here." She walked towards Kenshin and shook her finger at him reprimanding him. "Kaoru will be fine if you make her rest, but she is worried about you. You can't keep this up for much longer or else you're going to get sick and then how well off will Kaoru be? She needs all the exercise she can get right now—it will make it easier for her in the last months and the baby will be healthier. We all know she can't train with Yahiko, but there are other things that she can do and she wants to help out."

"Sessha wants to help as much as possible and know that she will be fine."

"I understand that, but you must look at this from her point of view: For the past three years Kaoru has done nothing but chase after you, Yahiko, and the rooster-head." Megumi took as deep breath. "And now just because she's pregnant you have taken all that away from her and turned everything around. She will be fine if you just let her do some of the smaller chores." Kenshin gave her a look that said he knew what was best for his wife, doctor or not. "Kenshin, please do as I say. Even if she is physically fine, mentally she's breaking down. Kaoru doesn't have the spark that she used to because you've forced her into being someone she's not. She has protested as much as she dared without upsetting you because she feels that by doing what you want that she is taking care of you."

Hiko walked up behind Kenshin, "Go talk to Kaoru, tell her that you've been fusing over her too much. We all understand that you're nervous and just want to do what you think is best, but really, Kaoru is carrying the baby and needs a say in the matter. If she feels up to doing something, then let her do whatever she can. After all, this is still her dojo."

Kenshin reluctantly admitted defeat when he said: "Hai, Megumi-dono. You and master are right." Kenshin rinsed his hands off before he left the kitchen. He paused at the door, "Arigato."

Hiko smiled at Megumi and crossed his arms as he relaxed against the wall. "Did you talk to Kaoru before you came in here?"

"Hai, she's really enjoyed being able to relax, but she understands that Ken-san can't keep this pace up. He's not as young as she is and she knows that she wants to keep him with her as long as she can. Being a father is going to drain him. We don't need Kaoru trying to raise a child on her own."

Hiko laughed, "If anything happens I'll look after her and the child."

"Oh, like we would let you! Look at how much you messed up Ken-san when he was little!" Megumi put her hands on her hips, "The only thing worse than you would be if we let Sanosuke look after him. That would have Kenshin rolling in his grave." They both laughed as a familiar dark haired figure entered and Megumi rolled her eyes and snorted.

"Talking about me again, kitsune?" Sano said. "No reason my name should have come up and even so why do you have to be so mean?"

"Sagara Sanosuke you followed me here just to annoy me didn't you?" She walked over to him, "You big brute, why don't you just leave? I need to check on Kaoru and I don't need you hanging around complicating things. Kenshin has enough to do without cleaning up after you as well."

"For you information Megumi-dono I came over here to help Kenshin." She snorted disbelievingly. "Listen here, you need to—"

"BOTH OF YOU STOP IT!" Hiko yelled as pushed them away from each other. "What is wrong with you two lately? You've always fought but why so much now?" Megumi crossed her arms and turned away with her face held high; Sano clenched his fists. Hiko let out and exasperated sigh, "Have you two done it yet?" They stared at him in shock. "Have you two had sex yet?" They both mumbled. "I ASKED YOU A QUESTION!"

That got their attention. "Hai," they said in unison rather nervously.

"Then what is the problem, Megumi?" She turned her head down. "Oh, please, we all know that you were no virgin when you found these two," he pointed to Sano. Megumi remained silent, "Sanosuke, she had her chance, you tell me." Sano shook his head. "Fine, I'll just go get the others and when we drag it out of you it can be all over Toyko by this time tomorrow!"

"NO!" Hiko smiled evilly as he turned back to face the pair. "I'll tell you," Megumi said.

"I'm listening."

"We needed to break the tension between us and it just sort of happened. Once it did we just couldn't stop and when you found us on the ship back home I decided that it was time to end it and Sano here hasn't been able to get over it."

"Sano, is that all?"

"No it isn't! It's not that I can't get over not having you anymore, but why should we have to stop just because we got caught one time by someone who doesn't even care! I thought that we were sharing something and actually starting a true relationship and then you think of this stupid reason to end it because things didn't go your way." Megumi huffed and Hiko knew this was he cue to leave.

The giant man slipped out of the kitchen unnoticed as Megumi's temper flared and she started back on Sano. "Why do I have to be the one who sets everything right around here? How did they ever get along without me here to baby-sit them?"

"It's been so nice having Kenshin do everything and just being able to relax for once in my life," Kaoru thought as she sat underneath a tree in the yard. She put her hand on her stomach, "Your daddy is such a good man, do you know that? Of course you don't, but you will soon enough and then Kenshin will have a real family at last." Kaoru sighed as she looked at the clouds in the sky. "I still think this child is exactly what Kenshin needs right now. I mean, we got married, yes, but how much has actually changed between us?" Kaoru turned her face down and noticed that Kenshin was walking towards her. "He's here to tell me that I have to actually start doing some of the work again."

"Kaoru?" Kenshin said as he knelt down beside her.

"Hai, Kenshin, what is it?"

"Nothing, I just wanted to talk to you." Kaoru scooted forwards, away from the tree; allowing Kenshin to rest is back on it and then she settled herself in his lap. Kaoru turned her body at a slight angle and placed her head upon Kenshin's chest. He put his head on hers and softly rubbed his face in her dark hair.

"Kenshin?"

"Hmm?"

"What did you want to talk about? Is it that you're going to let me start helping you out again? Please tell me that's what it is because you're draining yourself I just hate to see you that way, especially now because it feels like its my fault."

Kenshin wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer to him, "Kaoru, aishiteru, and I want to take care of you and the baby but I'm afraid I just don't know how."

"Kenshin, what do you think that you're doing right now?" Kaoru yawned. "How about a nap Kenshin?"

"That sounds great, koishii," he said as he fixed her so that they would both be comfortable. Just before she drifted off to sleep, Kaoru moved his hand from her ribs to her stomach. "Aishiteru, Kaoru."

A small shower woke the sleeping couple later that afternoon. Kenshin scooped Kaoru up and rushed her into their room.

"Kenshin, I'm fine."

"I want you to change into a dry kimono."

"There are like five drops of water on it!"

"I don't care," Kenshin was next to her in a flash and put his hands behind her back and began to undo her obi. He had her hands pinned at her side so she couldn't resist him. When it was loose he took it with him across the room. "Now you don't have a choice. Take off your wet kimono and put on a dry one."

"I will but only if you change too."

"Kaoru, you're pregnant, the last thing we need is for you to get sick because we got caught in the rain."

"Well, if you're so worried about it why don't you change as well and make me feel better?" Kaoru said starting to pout knowing that she would get her way.

Kenshin went back over to her, "Don't you start that now." Kaoru pouted more. "Kaoru, I mean it." Kaoru pretended to cry. "Oh, come here and stop it. I'll change as well." He kissed the top of her head. "Why do you do this to me?"

Kaoru turned her head upwards so she could see his eyes, "Do what to you?"

"Pout and I give you whatever you want."

"Oh, that. Because it works and you know it."

"I know what you're doing, but still I can't refuse you anything."

"You can't?"

"No I can't and you very well know this," he said just before he kissed her. Kaoru moved her arms around Kenshin's neck as she kissed him back. Kenshin tilted her chin back with his hand to give him a better angle as he slid his tongue into her mouth. Kaoru groaned and the arm that was circling her waist from behind pulled her even closer to his body.

Kaoru could feel a bulge in Kenshin's hakama and she slowly slid one of her hands down his body to hold him through the fabric. Kenshin pulled away from the kiss and let out a long breath.

"Koishii?"

"Hai?"

"Will I hurt the baby?"

"Not in any way."

"Good."

Again, filler chapter but I promise to post the next one as soon as I can (I don't know when that will be because I had to write this one on a friend's computer). Please review.