Hello!

Hope your holidays were nice ^ _ ^

Again, let me thank you all for the sweet and encouraging reviews and messages. I'll miss them when this story ends T_T
(No worries, this isn't the last chapter LOL)

Without further ado, I present you this chapter.

Chapter 23: Life

Megohime gently moved Masamune's hair away, exposing his forehead, and leaned down to kiss him. He shifted slightly but never opened his left eye. He had been sleeping for some long hours. The day before after finally reuniting with his wife and whispering few bold things into her ear, Masamune simply collapsed. As a result, the Date army spent their night at Odawara. Ujimasa was more than happy to have the Date army as his guests. He was even generous enough to have his personal physician check on Masamune and treat his wounds. Even with all the hospitality, Masamune ordered his men in one of his few waking moments to get ready to leave to Oushuu then he fell asleep once again.

As everyone was getting ready to leave, Megohime was in search for Katakura Kojuuro. When she finally found him he was taking care of Masamune's horse. She called out to him as he didn't seem to notice her. "Mego-sama! How may I help you?" Kojuuro said as he stopped what he was doing and walked to her. Megohime didn't answer at once since she wasn't sure how to approach the matter. She looked down at her feet, turned her head a bit to the side as if she was hiding her face. Few more seconds and finally she was able to speak. In a quiet voice she slowly stated her need, "I want to ask about Takenaka-sama." She said and gulped. Kojuuro nodded.

"I…" she started and came to a halt and looked down again.

"I fought him, but in the end, he threw himself into the sea."

Megohime looked up at Kojuuro with a face that was fighting tears. "Can you please take me to where you fought him?" she asked in almost a whisper.

"If I may share my opinion with you, Mego-sama, I don't think it's a good idea. Masamune-sama won't like it." Kojuuro said in a low, serious voice.

"He wouldn't know… If you don't tell him, that is." Megohime was almost pleading.

Kojuuro stayed silent for few moments thinking about how he can solve this issue. He doesn't want to hurt Megohime, but at the same time he doesn't want to get her into trouble with Masamune.

"Order me, Megohime-sama. Order me to keep my silence and I shall obey and take what I see and hear and say to the grave with me." Kojuuro said as he kneeled before Megohime.

Megohime was taken aback by what he just did. But she came to understand that he was doing it to help her, so she gave out the order.

On the way to their destination, Megohime and her companion exchanged few words. Kojuuro decided that the little he knew; the best it'll be for both of them. But he couldn't resist asking what happened between Megohime and Hanbei that she wants to bid him farewell. "Mego-sama, please excuse my rudeness, but I can't help not to wonder about what happened between Takenaka Hanbei and you that makes you take this trip." he asked. Megohime took few seconds to choose her words as she went through the one-year-worth of memories of her time with Hanbei. "He was my family there. Everyone treated me well, but he alone took care of me genuinely, even that he always acted as if he never cares. I'll always be indebted to him." she said with a soft smile. Upon hearing that answer, Kojuuro started to think; "She's the one who brings out the saint in the sinner, and the compassionate in the killer, and the benevolent in the selfish."

Their journey didn't take long after that. Megohime stood at the edge of the cliff in silence for a while after their arrival. Kojuuro was expecting her to start crying at any moment, but she never did. She just stood there watching the waves hitting the rocks violently. She wondered where Hanbei is lying now. After what seemed like eternity for Kojuuro, Megohime turned back, but she wasn't walking towards him; she was looking around for something. Just as Kojuuro opened his mouth to ask if she needs help with anything, she was picking a stick up from the ground. She walked back to where she was standing and started scribbling on the ground with the stick.

"Yukihiko-niisama,

I hope you are at a better place.

I am going back home, so you do not need to worry about me anymore.

Till we meet again.

Momiji."*

She went over her short message two times, placed the stick down, bowed and put her hands together and prayed for Hanbei's soul and every fallen soldier, and finally she walked back to her horse and announced the end of her visit.

When Megohime and Kojuuro arrived at the Odawara castle, Masamune was already up, and he was furious.

"Where had you been?" Masamune barked at them as he walked in a fast pace towards them.

Megohime got off her horse and smiled innocently at her enraged husband. "Just around." she said effortlessly and waved her hand around.

"Around? Where?"

"Here and there. I thought it will be quite a waste if I didn't take the chance and went sightseeing."

"Sightseeing!?" Masamune said in disbelief.

"You were sleeping all the time and I had nothing to do. So I thought about going out and see the area. Kojuuro-dono was kind enough to accompany me. I know you get restless when I go out alone. But it seems that you get way more restless when I'm with another man, fufu." Megohime said with a mischievous smile.

"No I don't! Especially if it was Kojuuro!" Masamune replied defensively.

"Should I feel offended?" Kojuuro said and joined the couple.

"Feel whatever you wanna feel. Just know that you're no good for my Meg." Masamune replied and took Megohime's hand. "We're leaving shortly, get everything ready, Kojuuro." he added before walking back into the castle, dragging the giggling Megohime after him.

Kojuuro chuckled at his lord's childish possessive nature as he watched the couple disappear behind the main gate.

Not long after that, the Date army bid Ujimasa farewell and headed back to their home.

When they reached Oushuu, they were welcomed with cheers, flowers, and music. Welcoming the army was way more festive than usual this time. And that was because Oushuu was out there to welcome their returning lady. Everyone was calling her name and running to greet her. They poured the flowers they brought into her arms and cried for her safe return. Overwhelmed by her people's happiness;Megohime permitted her tears to flow freely. Every face she ever knew was there welcoming her back with bright smiles. She kept on repeating "I'm home." till her voice disappeared because of her cries.

Masamune on the other hand wasn't so happy about this. He wanted to have his wife for himself already. He didn't go all the way to Odawara to defeat Toyotomi Hideyoshi and rescue his wife to hand her to other people! But no one seemed to care about what he wants. The welcoming party lasted till the late hours of the night. The villagers brought foods and drinks, and everyone partied at the castle. By the end of the day, Masamune couldn't help but surrender and smile with everyone else. If he survived waiting for a bit over a year, then he can wait for few more hours till he can finally have Megohime all for himself.

But his mother-in-law had other plans for him.

Later that night, just before Masamune could join his wife at their room, a young servant brought him a letter that arrived earlier that day from Mutsu. Thinking that it was addressed to his wife, Masamune didn't open it at the spot and took it with him for his wife. When he entered their bedroom, Megohime was already in bed. Without thinking much Masamune asked "Are you sleeping?" He wanted Megohime to be awake. He wanted to at least be able to talk to her before he sleeps. Gods heard his wish and granted it. Megohime turned and looked at him. "What took you so long?" she asked and sat up. Masamune couldn't hide his happiness and crawled to her and kissed her. Then he remembered the latter; he placed it on his wife's head and kissed her again. "You got a letter from home." He whispered. Megohime quickly reached for the letter, looked at her husband who was getting out of bed to change his clothes, then down to the letter and opened it.

"So?" he asked as he walked back into the bedroom after changing.

Megohime had a wide smile on her face. "Mom is coming over tomorrow morning!" she said in the most cheerful voice.

Masamune froze in his place as he felt a bucket of cold water being poured over him.

"Something wrong, Masamune-sama?" Megohime asked with concern.

Her husband let out a cry of agony and with both hands he shuffled his hair in anger. "Unbelievable!" he said with gritted teeth as he let go of his head and threw his hands up in the air.

Megohime watched him walk in circles and biting his thumb and mumbling with wide eyes. She couldn't get what exactly was upsetting him. Then he was walking to her. He got on his knees as he reached the futon and crawled to her, then he put both of his hands over her shoulders. "Should it be tomorrow?!" he asked with a pained expression.

"My mom's visit?" Megohime asked, not sure if he meant that or something else.

Masamune nodded. The pained expression not fading at all.

"That what she wrote."

Masamune released his wife's shoulders and threw himself on the bed. Rolled right and back left as he groaned,then liedon his back and covered his eyes with his arm. Megohime looked down at him not knowing what to do with him.

"Masamune-sama… Wha—"

"I want to be with you! I want to have you all for myself already! People keep on snatching you away from me! This is annoying! Can't okaa-sama give us a day or two?"

Megohime giggled at his childishness as she listened to him. He moved his arm away and looked at her. He propped himself up and watched her trying to stop giggling. "What's so funny?" he asked. Megohime didn't bother to answer and pulled the covers over both of them instead, forcing Masamune to give up his support and lieflat on his back. Megohime rested her head on his chest and wrapped an arm around him.

"I missed you so much, Masa-chan."

"Liar."

"You know I did. Now say "Welcome back home" again for me."

Masamune stayed silent for a while, refusing to do so. But he couldn't just ignore her request; so he whispered a "Welcome back home." Unfortunately he was late; Megohime was already sleeping by then.

Two weeks later.

"I'm home." Megohime said in a tired voice.

"Welcome back." Masamune replied as he put the documents he was going through down and looked at his wife in the flickering candles light. "So, how were your grandparents?" he asked.

"Fine, and full of life as ever. They asked about you. Grandma said "Tell Masamune-kun that I want to see his face in the upcoming couple of months. I want to see him before I die"" Megohime answered and imitated her grandmother for the last part. Masamune chuckled at the imitation and turned to fully face his wife, and invited her to sit on his lap. Megohime accepted his generous offer and crawled into his lap. The weather was still cold, and the couple is still against any kind of distance that would separate them. Masamune wrapped his arms around Megohime's waist and rested his chin on her shoulder after kissing her neck. He closed his left eye and just listened to her breathing.

Megohime had one hand running through Masamune's hair, the other was holding onto his arm. She wondered what he was thinking about; he had a very peaceful look on his face. She wanted to talk to him about how her trip to her grandparents' made her feel, but she decided against that. She didn't want to upset him again, not now. After marrying, Megohime had always wished to age with Masamune beside her, and their children and grandchildren around them. She wanted the same kind of happiness her grandparents are having. But she couldn't get pregnant at all. Yet, she was not ready to give up. Even that sex was becoming more stressful than enjoying for her; she would always remember the failed attempts during it.

"Meg, what's on your mind now?" Masamune asked and slowly opened his only functioning eye to look at his wife.

"Hm? That's a secret." Megohime replied and raised a finger to her smiling lips.

"That's some annoying habit you picked up lately." Masamune said as he moved his chin away from her shoulder.

Megohime said nothing more and led her fingers to the back of Masamune's head to undo his eye-patch. Knowing what will be coming next; Masamune closed his left eye and felt Megohime's soft and full lips come into contact with his deformed eye. She adjusted her position and kissed him on the cheek, and then on the lips, with her hands running along the collar of his kimono. Slowly and in perfect harmony they started undressing each other, pausing only once when it was time to undo Megohime's obi**, this part always brought teasing and laughter. And no matter how hard Masamune tries, he can never get how the obi is tied; he always needed Megohime's help with it. This time though, instead of letting her undo it all on her own, he asked her to lead him. She turned and had her back face her husband, and slowly she led him. It took them double the time Megohime needs to undo the obi on her own, but she enjoyed every moment of this unplanned-for lesson. When the obi and the other two pieces used to hold the kimono were finally out of the way, Masamune gently moved the kimono off Megohime's shoulders. Not entirely taking it off, but as much as it revealed her birthmark. He moved closer, wrapped his arms around his wife and printed a kiss on her birthmark. Her nape and shoulders always turned him on. Whenever they come into view, he can't help but stare and enjoy the pure but sexy sight.

That single kiss on the shoulder sent too much warmth down Megohime's spine. Then she started to feel Masamune's lips working on her nape and then moving to the other shoulder. A small moan escaped her lips. She felt Masamune's arms pulling her closer to him, so she rest her head on his shoulder and had him kiss, bite, and lick her ear and neck. Some more moans were made, and they were fueling Masamune's desire and controlling his body. His arms were loosening their grip and traveling beneath the many layers of Megohime's kimono to have his fingers run over her cold skin and make it burn.

Two months later.

"What's wrong? You barely touched your breakfast." Masamune asked his wife after taking a sip from his miso soup.

"I'm not hungry." Megohime answered and pushed her tray away.

"Yesterday you said the fish was too smelly. The day before, you didn't even get out of bed. Are you sure that you're not sick?" Masamune was concerned now. He put down his bowl and chopsticks and approached his wife. "Let me call the doctor, Mego."

Megohime shook her head and forced a smile. "There's no need. By noon I'll be just fine. I must be still tired due to the festivals week. It seems that I'm getting old."

"C'mon! Don't age and leave me behind. Or I'll get myself a young beautiful wife." Masamune said teasingly as he pinched Megohime's cheeks playfully. "Now, eat something. Just some rice will be fine." He added and turned to get her rice bowl and chopsticks. When he turned back, Megohime was on her feet running out of the room with a hand covering her mouth. "Not again!" he said and sighed, then he walked out to check on his wife. "I'm totally calling the doctor, and you should keep quiet and never object. You barely eat during the day, and the next morning, you barely keep your dinner from the previous night down. Even a child can tell that you're sick."

Masamune then helped his wife getting back to bed after she emptied her stomach. He never saw her as weak as this before, and he was getting more and more worried with every passing minute.

The doctor didn't take long to arrive after he was summoned. But he surely took his time examining Megohime. Masamune who was waiting outside the room stood close to the door in hopes of hearing anything that will tell him what's wrong with Megohime. He was too anxious to wait properly. After what seemed like eternity, Masamune was finally able to hear something. Footsteps, they were running towards the door he stood at. For a second he was in a panic. Why the doctor was running? He thought that something really bad must have happened to Megohime. When that second passed and the door slid open, Masamune was now confused. The one standing before him wasn't the doctor, but his wife. "Meg—" before he was able to finish his question about what she was doing, Megohime jumped at him with her arms around him.

She hugged him tight. Tighter than her condition suggested she could.

"Megohime? What's going on?" Masamune asked. The answer he heard was barely understandable. More like he couldn't make out the words Megohime said, since she was burying her face in his chest. "What?" Masamune asked.

Megohime slowly looked up at him with tears running down her cheeks. "Finally…" she started. Masamune was in too much loss till she talked again. "I'm pregnant."

*The names Megohime chose for Hanbei and herself in chapter 17 (title: Osaka), when they met for the first time.

** The sash that keeps the kimono closed.