Hullo readers!
Wow it's been rough. Let me tell you. It's true when they say writing is a slow death on a page. It's very much mental and spiritual…more so when you have to work around mental blocks and sudden disinterest. I've have to say, writing every day is the best way...even if you're writing about not having anything to write about. It's the habit that counts.
Enough of that. On to the last chapter!

"Oh god….Sano! SANO!" Megumi screamed into the forest. Even though all she had to do was dive into his mind, she was panicking.

The male appeared before her, grabbing her by both arms. "What, Kitsune?"

"Look." She pointed to the ground between them a puddle was drying on the rocks beside the stream they spotted a lone shifter passing. "It's amniotic fluid. Sano, Misao's water broke." The two of them gazed off into the woods where they had seen the shifter run of.

"Shit." Sano swore. "He's on her scent."

"She's can't hide it now." Megumi rushed forward. The poor girl must be terrified. "We have to find her before he does."

… . . …

Now that she knew the pains were contractions it was far harder to ignore them than it was before. Perhaps they were stronger now because her water broke, whatever the reason, it was hell. Misao had to stop and lean against a tree as the pain rolled across her whole lower body. She had felt worse pain, for sure. But this was a deep pain, a pain that wouldn't go away. She was tired from being up all day and running and that damn broken rib still wasn't healed.

"Just wait a bit longer." She whispered, her hand on her belly where the baby had sat heavy and still since the moment Aoshi had found them on the bus.

… . . …

'Aoshi!' Sano's voice interrupted the fight. 'Aoshi, Misao's water has broken.'

That caused him to falter, allowing Daichi to clap his jaws around his neck. No! Misao was out there alone! With a roar he punched forward, his fingers diving deep into the shifters furry chest.

"You got too close." Aoshi whispered. "I'm sorry, but I'll always take care of Misao." With that he pulled, ripping the heart right out of the wolf. The animal fell and lay still, slowly turning back into human form. He tossed the heart to the side and turned to run into the woods but took only a step before falling. Hiko and Kenshin where there instantly.

"The baby is coming." Aoshi hissed, struggling to get back to his feet.

"I know." Hiko said, already slicing a cut on his wrist and placing it over Aoshi's mouth. "Sanosuke informed us. There is one other shifter hunting her."

The power of the Prince's blood surged into him. He had never been so worn down from a battle before. Was it because he had emotions now? Was it because these were shifters and not the undead? Vampires were foolish and they made foolish mistakes, these wolves were anything but foolish. They had fought as a pack, they had fought well. Wounds healed and strength returned the three males spread out into the woods, moving as fast as they could.

'Little One?'

… . . …

Misao was struggling to breathe through another pain; she couldn't stop the whimpers from escaping. She was just too tired to fight it anymore. It was then that Aoshi's voice finally filled her head.

"About god-damned time." She panted.

'Little One, Forgive me, I've ended your father's life.' He sounded torn.

"Don't feel bad, he was an asshole." Had always been. Fooling her with that caring father act. How fast he'd turned around realizing his bloodline would be broken. Part of her mourned only for the father that showed her kindness. Rare as it was.

'How close are the pains?'

'Pretty much a minute or two.' She couldn't only go a few yards before another one came.

'I'll be right there, just rest now.'

Misao had no problem obeying that. With a sigh she fell against a fallen log and propped herself against it. Lying down caused more of the fluid to leak, but Misao was no longer afraid. Aoshi would be there. A pain came, squeezing her belly and arching around to her back. Misao turned to her side, no longer holding back her pain, she cried out.

"Looks like I came right in time."

Misao gasped, looking up at the shifter standing over her. His arm was raised, an arm that had a hand full of razor sharp claws.

"I'll get that thing out of you Misao. Don't worry." Eiji's eyes were wide, wild with something Misao had never seen in him.

"No Eiji! Stop this!" Misao curled around her belly, trying to protect the baby when a power settled over her. Looking up she was stunned to find Sano crouched over her, growling. His movements were much like a wolf as he slowly edged over her body and placed himself in-between them. Lips were pulled back showing lengthened fangs. Glowing eyes locked onto Eiji. Instantly he sprung forward and caught the shifter around the throat with his fangs. At once the Carpathian rose up into the canopy of trees, taking the screaming shifter with him.

"Misao!" Megumi cried as she fell to her knees beside the girl. "Here." She waved her hand and instantly her jeans and panties were gone.

"Megumi!" Misao squealed, as she struggled to cover herself but Megumi clicked her tongue.

"The baby can't come out if you're wearing jeans."

Oh god, it was real, the baby was really coming. She felt a warm sensation as Megumi went transparent and settled low in her pelvis. She frowned and reached up to feel inside Misao, which had the girl gasping. But then Aoshi was there, He took her hand and settled on his knees beside her.

"It's alright Little One. Let Megumi work."

Megumi pulled her hand away and then flowed back into her body. "The head is already in the birth canal. But the baby's shoulders are too big."

Aoshi had just a moment to processes that information when another pain hit Misao hard and he instantly took the pain away from her. The girl sagged against him, as if he had cut her puppet strings.

"Wish you could have done that a while ago." Misao panted. She was tired, so very tired.

"We're going to have to perform a Cesarian." Megumi stated.

"Huh?" Misao whimpered. Just then Sanosuke returned and then Hiko and Kenshin were there and so were Tomoe and Kaoru. But she was still thinking about being sliced open to care about being half naked in front of everyone. Kaoru kneeled on the other side of Misao.

"It's going to be alright." Kaoru assured. "You have the two best Carpathian healers with you."

There was a flurry of activity then. Kenshin and Hiko moved to clear off the leaf litter from the forest floor and expose the deep rich earth under it. Aoshi picked up Misao and set her down on this exposed spot.

"Touching the earth will give you strength, Little One." Aoshi explained.

He looked fine but Misao was touching his mind and found him a mess of emotions. Again Megumi went inside her body and studied the baby.

"Yes, this baby is far too large to pass through Misao's pelvis." Megumi announced.

"Of course the baby is too big, look who's the father." Misao snapped and she glared at Aoshi, but with only half of the anger she was really feeling.

"I am not too large, you are just too small, Aoshi countered, his hand resting on her belly as another contraction forced her muscles to squeeze tightly around the baby.

"Baby is not happy being stuck, the heart rate is starting to drop." Megumi snapped in doctor mode. "We need to get the baby out now."

As if on cue, Kenshin settled beside Misao's head and touched his hand to her temple at once her vision blinked out.

"Hey." Misao protested.

"Trust us Misao." Kenshin said in his gentle tone. "You don't want to see your insides."

At this Misao paled. "Uh…right." She rested her head back on the ground. It was odd because Aoshi was taking her pain, but she was not numb, she could still move and feel them touching her. She could slowly see as Aoshi fed her images. Hiko went to stand behind Aoshi and rested his hand on his shoulder, feeding him his power. Tomoe and Sano did the same with Megumi.

'Hold very still Little One.' Aoshi said gently.

…. . . . …

Aoshi was not prepared for this. Yes he'd delivered countless human babies by caesarian. But it was different when it was his own mate. He focused on his child's heartbeat. It was soft but constant. He forced his nerves down and was rock steady and he dragged one lengthened nail low on Misao's belly. Megumi was there, keeping the blood from flowing. She sealed off every cut vein so that not even a drop of blood would escape. Aoshi had to get rough now to pull skin and muscle away to expose the womb. Swallowing and taking a breath, he drew a second line. Instantly fluid gushed and his hands dove inside his mate and felt the body of his child. He tugged gently, but the baby didn't move.

"The head is still in the birth canal." Megumi rushed to press her hand up inside Misao.

His mate gasped again. There was nothing he could do to stop her from feeling the sensation as Megumi pushed on the baby's head.

"Wedged pretty good." Megumi mumbled as she pulled one of Misao's legs up so that her knee nearly touched her belly and then open so that the hips would open more, but still the baby's head wouldn't move.

The heartbeat that was a constant thud in Aoshi's head started to shudder. The baby was struggling.

"No!" Misao cried, reading his thoughts.

Kaoru hushed her gently as she petted the sweaty hair from her face.

"I won't let anything happen. "Aoshi promised, still elbow deep inside her body. Blood from the womb started to well up, this was birthing blood and it could not be helped. Still it unnerved him as he pulled one red arm from his mate. Megumi moved away and Aoshi slowly and carefully rested his hand on her and went transparent as he explored. He could see now. Megumi's fingers were long and narrow and could reach the baby's head, but only just. Aoshi pulled his hand away. Both healers were transparent now and the Carpathians around then were chanting in even clam tones.

"Megumi you're going to have to push, hard." Aoshi stated flatly, pushing his arm back inside Misao and feeling where the baby disappeared into the birth canal. "Don't be afraid." Aoshi said, putting every bit of compelling force behind is words. Megumi nodded.

"Right, push."

Megumi didn't hold back, a part inside Misao tore and the baby popped out as if a great suction had been broken. Aoshi pulled away with a baby in his hands. His baby. Such a small thing in his hands, but obviously far too large for Misao's small body to ever birth. A second thread of his soul became stronger, tighter as it weaved with the child's.

"It's a boy." He said, nearly in awe. But his boy wasn't breathing. The heartbeat in his head was still shuddering. Quickly Aoshi cut the cord and pressed the child to his chest.

"Aoshi?" Misao whimpered from behind her mental blindfold. Kenshin moved, breaking his contact and allowing Misao to see. She avoided looking down at herself and instead focused on Aoshi as he moved beside her. But the sight of blood and a silent baby frightened her.

"Shhh." Aoshi soothed. "Go inside my mind."

Misao was there in an instant and at once Aoshi pulled her with him into the baby's mind.

'Live.' Aoshi said. His voice rumbled from everywhere, as if willing the baby by force. The child felt both parents there. His fear was quickly replaced. Happiness. Instantly the baby coughed and Aoshi cleared the mucus away from his mouth. Then the child started to cry and that broke the spell everyone

seemed to be under. Everyone breathed and smiled.

… . . …

"Good luck getting that baby away from him." Megumi muttered as she tucked the blanket around Misao and made sure the pillows were supporting her. The girl smiled at the lady doctor as she watched Aoshi make his way down the steps to the lair. The baby was cradled in his arms. "Let me know if you need anything." Megumi added before turning to silently let herself out.

"Thank you." Misao said after her as Aoshi sat on the edge of the bed. His stone face had returned, there was a hard look in his eyes as he gazed down at the tiny life. "Aoshi?" Misao tipped her head to the side. Everything had turned out alright. Her father and Eiji were gone. Part of her was pained. Aoshi could feel that.

The Dark One turned and carefully set the child in Misao's arms.

Misao watched him stand and make his way to his desk. Turning her attention to her son, it was first time she could get a real look at him. Cleaned up, he didn't look so angry or red. He had a head full of black hair and eyes as Ice blue as Aoshi's. He was round and adorable yet Misao could already see that he would have Aoshi's striking features.

"He's got your shoulders, that's for sure." Misao said. He was going to be large and broad shouldered like his father. She glanced up and caught Aoshi carefully writing in his journal. He paused, feeling her eyes on him and he looked up.

"What is his name?"

Misao blinked. "We never thought of names."

"No." Aoshi's lips twitched upward. "You name him, Little One."

Misao looked at the bundle of blankets and the sleeping face within them. "I've no idea about names. I've lived my life in the pack." She sighed. "I don't want to name him after my father…what about your father?"

This time Aoshi did smile and set his quill down. "You do know that my father lived many thousand years ago."

"Yeah." Misao shrugged. "It can't be too bad."

"His name was Cornelius Cleon." He stated flatly.

Misao winced. "Gezz."

"His Lifemate, my mother, wasn't born in the homeland. She was much younger and had lots of Asian influences, hence my siblings and my names.

Which was also why Aoshi had such western features. "Well it's not that bad." Misao protested. "It's very old."

"You want to name our son Cornelius?" He leveled his gaze on her.

Misao shrugged, her fingers playing with the soft spikes of the baby's hair. "How about Leon…it's like Cleon."

"A western name?" although he could already feel that Misao had made her choice and he thought the name was perfect.

"Yes, you're a western race." Mused to herself. Aoshi picked up his quill again and started writing.

"Well….Leon Shinomori…Drakon."

"Drakon?" Misao blinked.

"Very old family line." His eyes flicked up from his paper to catch her. "Dragon-seeker blood. We're the last line. There's only about a handful of us left."

Misao gently set the baby down beside her on the bed. "Does that mean he'll be able to turn into dragon like you?"

"Of course." Aoshi stated with a smile. "It will be a few decades after he's left his fledgling years behind, but he will."

Misao smiled down at her son as his eyes blinked sleepily back up at her. "I can't wait to see that." She said softly to herself and brought the baby up so she could place a kiss on his forehead. Already he was back asleep.

Aoshi was suddenly by her side and Misao glanced up as he bent to carefully take Leon from her arms. A small, old-fashioned wooden cradle appeared beside the bed and Aoshi gently set his precious child inside and made sure he was swaddled tightly before giving the cradle a tip to send it rocking back and forth. Then, just as gently, he turned and set a kiss on Misao's lips. Soft and tender, just like always. Misao sighed softly and melted against him as he slipped beside her in the bed.

"And so you will, Little One." He promised. He arms wrapped tightly around her. "Are you afraid?"

Misao knew what he was talking about. She could fell it in his mind. It had been nagging him as soon as she was healed after the baby was born. Now it was safe…now he could take her blood and change her into a Carpathian. His body demanded it. To help keep her safe, she needed Carpathian power. Ever disciplined, Aoshi would not wait to change her.

"No, I'm not afraid. I'm done being afraid." The pack was gone, Any surviving males deserted the camp, Kenshin, Sano and the Prince went to help any females and children. The kidnapped women would be released back into the city with their memories erased. Misao mostly worried for the women who were born into the pack and had no knowledge of how the outside world worked. They would need help.

Eiji and her father were gone; she had nothing to worry about anymore. No one would try and take her away and most of all no one would hurt her friends trying to get at her.

Aoshi's lips were already trailing down to her throat, his hands on her body, making her thoughts scatter like dry leaves on the wind.

"Aoshi…could you wait some time before we have another baby?"

The Carpathian actually laughed. His breath hot on her throat as he pulled back slightly. "Our race is dying away and you are able to have children quiet easily and you want to wait?" He grinned.

"Not a long time." Misao shrugged one shoulder. "Just let me enjoy my new body for a year or two. I know you're going to want to have like a hundred and fifty kids."

Aoshi's head fell back as he laughed. He quickly went quiet, his eyes glancing at the sleeping baby in the cradle before he answered in a lower voice. "Oh if that were possible."

"See! I knew it. You just want to keep me pregnant." She gave him a pinch.

Still holding back his laughter, he hushed his mate. "No, no. I am not like the men in your pack. I can command nature, but I believe I will let nature take control over this."

"Perhaps you can hold nature back for just a while?" Misao blinked her large eyes.

Aoshi had already returned to dragging his fangs against the skin of her throat. "I think that is fair. You endured so much already. I will do whatever will make you happy."

Misao smiled, arching back to give him better access to her neck. "Just being with you has made me happy."

Aoshi' heart surged. He never thought he would be able to love as strongly as this. It was a deep, burning love that left him breathless, and with his son, he could feel his love surging, growing. It was a wonder…he never thought he would ever feel such emotions again. Lost in the wonder that was happiness, he bit down, slipping his fangs painlessly into his mate's neck. Her blood was hot, wonderful. His mind dropped into his deepest instincts and he felt his own blood flowing close to the surface of his skin, calling to his mate, calling for the change. She would only have to endure one more major change and then…then the rest of his life with her could start.

The End

A/n

I want to thank all my readers who stuck with me. I know it sucks when it's so long between chapters. Just know that as much as you are dying to read it, the writer is dying to write it.
Kenji's story is still in the early form of development. It may or may not happen. We'll see.
As I've been hinting at before, I've three new fics in the works. I've almost 50 chapters accumulated covering three main stories. (plus a few shorts) Hopefully this painful wait between chapters will be a thing of the past. I'm thinking of starting to post my fics sometime in January. My goal is to get at least one of them finished by then and the rest will be closely finished. So keep an eye out for me in the Winter!
Also! My other fics...Kenshin Gumi Tales..all three of them. Will be finished as well. Don't worry, I've not abandoned them.
Big thanks for all the readers. Reviews are very much loved.