Chapter XXXVI- Danger

Until The Dark

By Larissa Hyuga

Disclaimer: you already know it by heart… don't you?

XxXxXx

Megumi woke up feeling strange. She was dizzy and feeling too sick for an almost six-month pregnancy. She sat on the bed and felt she couldn't continue, the nauseas were too strong.

As he had to do sometimes, Aoshi knocked on Megumi's room door and waited for some seconds for her to answer. That day she didn't answer. He decided to go inside despite of everything to wake her up. After the pregnancy, she had had an inconstant sleep, sleeping too little at night and deeply during the early hours of morning. She was sat on the bed with her hands on her face.

He approached and crouched near her. " What's wrong, Megumi?"

She sighed and looked at him with a weird expression in her eyes. " Nothing really. Normal things about pregnancy, I suspect."

Aoshi watched as she got far from him and walked to the bathroom.

She knew she was not ok that morning but it wouldn't ground her into home. She needed to breathe. Slowly, Megumi undressed and entered the hot water Aoshi had previously prepared for her bath. Her limbs relaxed as she inhaled the fine smell of essence oils she had poured into the water. Somehow it made her feel better and it controlled her nauseas for a little while. Only then, the doctor allowed herself to smile for the first time that day as her hand slid down her body and lingered on her belly, making smaller circles around it at each time until she would only encircle her navel. But soon the nauseas came back and Megumi decided to leave the tub immediately but taking enough care not to trip and fall.

In the kitchen, Aoshi had already prepared breakfast. He was wearing a navy blue suit, perfectly set and white gloves. His eyes shifted to the hallway as he saw Megumi walking slowly and trying to force a smile on her lips.

"Good morning." Her voice sounded weak.

" Good morning." He responded but could not help looking at her as she entered and sat.

Megumi seemed not to be hungry, she merely looked at the food and chewed a rice ball for ages.

"Did I do anything wrong with the food?" Aoshi raised one pair of blue eyes to her.

"No! It is that I am not that hungry today." She said without looking at him.

He had finished eating a long time ago but he was still there into the kitchen with her, finding her behavior strange. At the usual time, Saeko knocked on the door and he opened it. At the same time, Megumi stood up from her chair and walked along the girl to the clinic. Without even touching her tea.

During the whole morning, Saeko realized the doctor was strange. She was smiling but it seemed she was putting lots of effort to do so. She was also very silent and Saeko caught her breathing deeply many times. At the end of the morning when there was nobody else to tend to, Megumi surprised Saeko by walking outside.

" Pardon me, Takani-sensei, but…"

"I am going to the hospital, Saeko. Please, close the clinic when it is time. I am going to work earlier today. You take the key and you can come here this afternoon to pick medicine for your mother. I told Aoshi yesterday and he will be bringing it later on."

Saeko could do nothing but watch the doctor walking slowly under the shinning sun. The girl went back to her desk and sat there for long minutes and stood up again when it was time to close the clinic. She walked calmly and bound the papers together, put the cushions on their right places and proceeded on putting everything into order.

Suddenly a great shadow was projected on the wall. Saeko looked behind and saw Shinomori Aoshi standing by the door. Aoshi's eyes surveyed the clinic for some seconds until they laid down on Saeko.

" Where is Megumi?" his voice was deep and calm.

Saeko straightened her body and clasped her hands together.

" She… left, sensei."

Aoshi frowned a bit. " Left?"

The girl nodded. "She told me she was going to the hospital to work earlier today."

Aoshi's eyes darkened for a while. He turned around and murmured "thank you" before leaving. He had probably brought the medicine she needed for her mother's knee full recovery but she didn't dare to ask that time.

Saeko came right after him and closed the door. From the outside, she saw he had gone home.

Aoshi entered the house and walked to the meditation room. He took off his gloves and jacket after placing some sheets of paper aside. He also noticed the bottle of medicine he was supposed to give to Saeko but he had forgotten to do it. Anyway, the girl was supposed to stop by that afternoon. Megumi's actions just disturbed him that time. "Stubborn." He thought. He walked into the room as he loosened the black tie from the collar of his white shirt. Megumi's behavior that morning somehow irritated him. Not only she was too quiet but she also refused to eat.

Aoshi had lunch alone and stood quiet as if meditating into his room. When he opened his eyes and stood up, he immediately looked for his precious blades. His eyes ran over the sheath as his fingers did the same. Looking through the window, he saw the sun was shinning but dark clouds were coming. He got his trench coat and hid the swords under it. There was something different in his eyes now. Shine. He analyzed the papers he had brought with him that day for the last time and his semblance changed. Aoshi walked outside and soon he could no longer be seen. He would go into action once more and that excited and unstressed him at the same time.

xXx

Megumi braced herself against a wall of one seeming-endless corridor. The air was too thick for her to breathe and her dizziness had amazingly increased.

"Calm down, Megumi." She tried to talk to herself and she saw the white walls swirling and blurred people coming from afar.

She tried to walk to a room where she could sit and rest for a while. She saw the afternoon had become grey and it would soon start to rain. She could hear the thunders. She moved slowly, walking by the wall, trying to follow the blurred light at the end of the hallway. A sting came from inside and seemed to suffocate her. Megumi rested her back against the wall and looked through a glass window. The trees were rustling near, but the noise was getting to be farther and farther away. She turned her head to the left and saw the blurred people approaching but her body seemed to have run out of strength. She could hear someone calling her name but the voice was now too muffled and too far away and she could see no more.

A young doctor came running as he saw the woman braced against a wall and sliding down to the floor. " Takani-sensei, Takani-sensei" he called as he was approaching her but the doctor didn't answer or look. When he got near her, he saw she had passed out and he immediately grabbed her wrist to check her pulse. He waited and realized it was not normal. He was about to take her to a more appropriate place when he saw Matsuyama-sensei arriving.

" What happened, Samura-sensei?" he sounded worried.

" I don't know, sensei. I saw her sliding down to the floor and I called her name but she had passed out."

Matsuyama-sensei gestured for the young man to step back as he came near Megumi. The younger one watched that Matsuyama-sensei had winced. It was noticeable he had feelings for the woman doctor; at least it was what had been said by the hospital staff.

When Matsuyama-sensei placed his hand on her nape and was about to lift her, Megumi's eyes opened in a sudden and she breathed in too deeply as if drowning. Her body trembled and her eyes were too wide. When she could focus again, she saw she was almost in Matsuyama-sensei's arms.

" Takani-sensei." His voice was low and soft " you passed out."

But Megumi wasn't really listening to his words. She was confused and the only thing she wanted to do was to stand up again. Realizing her intentions, Matsuyama-sensei helped her under curious looks from Samura-sensei.

" I am better. Thank you." She stated to both doctors.

Matsuyama-sensei looked at her with some disbelief. "You don't look this better, Takani-sensei. I think you should go home, eat something and rest."

Megumi looked at the back of her hands and they were almost as white as alabaster besides being cold.

" I can escort her home, Matsuyama-sensei." Samura-sensei stepped forward.

"It won't be necessary, Samura." Matsuyama-sensei replied. "I will do it myself."

Takani Megumi and Matsuyama Noburi entered a carriage. Megumi sat near the window and looked through it the whole time. The sun was no longer visible, there were only the dark clouds and the first raindrops falling while thunders could be heard. Matsuyama-sensei eyed her discretely. She was silent and white that day. Her black hair seemed to make her look like a marble statue and when he touched her, he realized there was almost no human heat on her but a coldness he had felt only on statues. Yet, the texture of her hair and skin lingered on his fingers as well as the jasmine scent emanating from her lingered on his nostrils.

When the carriage stopped, Matsuyama-sensei was the one who hopped out first. He took his jacket and opened it above the door, making a protection so that Megumi wouldn't get wet. He accompanied her to her door.

" Thank you, Matsuyama-sensei."

" Aren't you going to be alone here, sensei?"

" Don't worry, I just spent too much time without eating. And Shinomori-san may be around to watch over me."

Matsuyama-sensei smiled and stepped back.

" I hope you get better soon and can be with all of us there at the hospital tomorrow."

"I will be." She smiled sadly and closed the door.

Matsuyama-sensei still spent some seconds stopped by her door, facing it as if Megumi could come outside again.

She entered her house and looked around. Everything was closed and quiet.

" Aoshi-san." She called out expecting a response although she considered he might not be home.

He didn't answer. Megumi walked to the meditation room and saw it was empty, the trench coat and the swords were gone. He left… a mission, most probably. She sadly walked to the other room where the cradle was. Megumi sat on the floor and braced herself against the cradle as her hands cuddled the teddy bear.

"Playing tricks on your mother…" she smiled sadly. She had felt the baby move sometimes that day despite of the bad things she was feeling; but it should be normal. It was normal for pregnant women to be dizzy and sick.

It was getting colder and darker as the rain was falling heavily outside. It was only four p.m. but the sky was tinted with a deep grey. Megumi felt shivers and with great difficulty, she walked to her room and sank into the blankets without even changing into more comfortable clothes.

xXx

The city was too grey for a summer afternoon. The rain kept on falling insistently and making small torrents on the edge of the streets.

The young and petite girl left the train station and walked the empty streets. She couldn't guess it would rain that much and she didn't have anything to protect herself from the cold rain. Her small bag contained food and some clothes only, none of them hot enough for that occasion. The only place in Tokyo she really knew how to get was the dojo and chances were Aoshi would be there.

The rain was soaking her to the bones and she shivered, almost sobbing and breathless from the contact of the cold rain on her skin. She ran the faster she could, trying to avoid the torrents. She could stop and wait for the rain to pass but she didn't know when that would happen, she even didn't know if that could happen. And she ran down the streets, trying to fight the darkness that was approaching little by little.

Finally, she realized the dojo was at sight. A big smile showed up on her lips and she put all her strength on her legs so she could get there and run into Aoshi-sama's arms. Misao was panting when she got out of the rain. She knocked on the door and waited. A sleeping Yahiko came to answer the door, rubbing his eyes.

" Hello." She greeted.

Yahiko yawned.

" Is Aoshi-sama here, Yahiko?"

Yahiko seemed not to be able to open his eyes. " Aoshi-sama? No, try at Megumi's house."

Misao froze. " Megumi's? Where is it?"

Yahiko yawned once more before explaining to the girl how to get to Megumi's house.

The girl was now panting but not because she was tired but because she was angry.

" I will come back later to visit. Thank you, Yahiko." She left running.

" No problem, Misao." He closed the shoji door and walked to his futon once again. When he suspended the blanket, his eyes widened and almost fell from their orbs. "MISAO?" he yelled. He ran to the porch but he could no longer see the girl. Sanosuke was arriving, soaked and chewing fishbone. He looked at Yahiko who had a desperate expression.

" What's the problem, brat?"

"I-I am going to be slain…" he looked terrified.

Sano laughed. " By whom?"

Yahiko seemed mortified. "Shinomori Aoshi."

Sanosuke's expression changed and assumed a serious tone "Ok, brat, what did you do?"

"Misao. I told her to go to Megumi's and look for Aoshi there."

Sanosuke snapped his forehead. "Damn… that is bad. But Shinomori knows how to deal with that weasel-girl. But you're idiot, has anyone ever told you that?"

Sanosuke entered the dojo and Yahiko stood still like a dummy.

xXx

Aoshi entered the Government Headquarters in his usual calm and aloof way. His spying activities had left him lighter for it was always good to remember the old times. When he passed by the receptionist guy, the man glanced him and came after him.

"Shinomori-sama."

Aoshi stopped and looked at the shorter man coming after him.

" I am sorry but this was left to you here some minutes ago." He handed him an envelope and disappeared that very second.

Aoshi looked at the handwriting and he knew who had written that. He opened it immediately and his eyes read the note.

"Misao went to Tokyo and must be arriving by the time you read this.

Okina"

Aoshi put the note into the pockets of his jacket and turned on his heels to face the door. He left the building with long strides and ran to the dojo.

The rain was falling down but Aoshi didn't mind. When he got closer to the dojo, he noticed that Yahiko had run from the porch to the inside. Aoshi walked with his long strides into the dojo. Kenshin looked at him totally amazed.

" Aoshi-san!"

" Himura. I am looking for Misao."

The ex-samurai blinked. " Misao-dono?"

"Yes. She arrived in Tokyo this afternoon."

Sanosuke was in another room but he heard the talk. Immediately, he went to the room where Aoshi and Kenshin were now standing.

" Shinomori, weren't you with Megumi?"

" What are you talking about, Sagara?"

Sanosuke breathed in. " Misao is going to Megumi's house to look for you."

"What?"

"I didn't follow because I thought you would be there."

Aoshi shot Sanosuke a death glare and left in a hurry.

"What is happening, Sano?" Kenshin asked.

" Now I am worried. Yahiko sent the weasel-girl to the fox house."

xXx

It was not very far. Misao could spot the street Yahiko had talked about., she just wasn't too sure about what house Megumi's one would be. When she got near, she asked an old lady who was holding an umbrella and appreciating the rain.

" Good afternoon. Is Takani Megumi house here?"

The old lady looked at the girl and nodded.

"Yes, it is, but the sensei is at the hospital now. Maybe you find her husband home tough."

Misao's eyes widened and her heart pumped. "Hu-husband?"

The old woman smiled. "Yes. Shinomori-san."

Misao felt like sinking, the ground was not under her feet anymore and her head hurt.

" Thank you." She said to the woman and walked to the white house surrounded by a pretty garden. The next door was a clinic. Her clinic, Misao thought.

The girl stepped on the porch and knocked on the door.

Megumi heard someone was knocking on her door and opened her eyes. Her vision was blurred but she needed to open, it could be important. Unfortunately, Aoshi was not home to do it for her. It couldn't be Saeko because she had the key to enter the clinic. A new knock was heard and she left the bed. The woman walked slowly, tottering, and praying not to fall. She could now see the doorframe and the wood looked so blurry. A new knock. Megumi finally placed her hand on the door and opened it slowly.

She couldn't tell what happened, she only felt a draft of wind and saw someone right there in front of her.

xXx

Misao waited too long but she could hear there was someone inside, walking slowly to open the door. From behind the wooden door, Megumi's figure appeared. Misao's nostrils flared and she got more furious than ever. Megumi, the one she once had called friend. The ninja girl grabbed the doctor's shoulder and looked into her eyes. Megumi seemed too confused, she didn't speak a thing.

xXx

Saeko walked with her umbrella and took a key out of her kimono when she stopped by the clinic door. She entered the waiting room and arranged some wet locks of hair back into place.

Everything was very calm as she searched the medicine bottle she was supposed to take home until she heard voices. She thought it couldn't really be into Megumi's house, she was working. However, Saeko heard the voices again and this time, she recognized Megumi's voice. She couldn't find the medicine and decided to go inside and ask the doctor if she knew where Shinomori-sensei had left it. There was another woman there she didn't know the voice but it made her worried when she heard the other woman was talking TOO loud, it sounded like a fight.. Saeko ran to the other room to open the door and see what was going on.

xXx

Thick tears rolled down Misao's cheek " Tell me it is not true… please, where is Aoshi-sama?"

Megumi felt the grip on her shoulders sliding to both her arms and getting tighter.

"What?" her voice was weak. "I can't understand… Misao?" her eyes widened.

The girl was crying. "Yes, it is me. Tell me where Aoshi-sama is, tell me you are not married!" Misao was so desperate she started shaking Megumi.

Megumi fought to release herself form the girl's grip but her dizziness didn't allow it.

"Aoshi-san is not here. I don't know."

Misao's face was very red. Her eyes bore anger. She knew Megumi was trying to escape her. "You liar!"

xXx

Aoshi ran faster and faster. He couldn't let Misao into Megumi's house. When he was going up the lane, he realized it could be too late. He ran more and more and he saw Misao had gone inside but the door was still open and things didn't seem to be doing nice. Misao was grabbing Megumi's arms.

"I…" Megumi tried to speak but she couldn't. She was getting even dizzier and breathless now, she could barely see anything before her eyes.

Misao realized Megumi's eyes were not normal. Scared, she stopped shaking the doctor.

"Stop it, Misao!" a deep, cold and strong male voice echoed into the room.

The girl blinked and turned around immediately. It was her Aoshi-sama coming running. Immediately, Misao looked at the other woman and let go of Megumi.

The doctor stumbled and hit her back on the wall, sliding to the floor afterwards.

" Stop it, she is pregnant!" Aoshi screamed.

"Aoshi-sama!"

And the world stopped all around Misao. She thought she had become numb and shapeless. Paralyzed. Her big jade eyes didn't blink and her chest didn't rise to show she was breathing. Silence and blurred visions. Everything was frozen.

My fall will be for you
My love will be in you
If you be the one to cut me
I will bleed forever

Saeko had opened the door the very minute Aoshi had screamed from the outside that Megumi was pregnant. She couldn't see the man tough. Right in front of her there was a young woman, stuck, in shock with lips parted and widened eyes. On the floor, she saw Megumi trying to sit down.

Aoshi crossed the door like an arrow and came to help the fallen woman. Misao's eyes registered it in slow motion tough. She saw her beloved Aoshi-sama pass by her, making raindrops reach her skin and crouch to the woman on the floor. She saw he was speaking to Megumi, she nodded and he carried her into his arms. But her vision was blurred; when she blinked, hot tears touched her cold skin. There was another woman standing between them, a woman she didn't know. Misao was too unhappy. What could she do now? Regaining strength, she looked behind and saw the open door.

" Megumi." Aoshi came to her. " Are you feeling well?"

She breathed in and looked to him; he was very serious, his lips firmly pressed together and he was leaning over her, helping her to come to his arms.

" I am fine. Dizzy but fine." She let him take her and she hid her face into his wet trench coat.

Saeko didn't know what to do. Yes, she was shocked by the news but why was Megumi on the floor and who was that younger woman standing there?

Aoshi lifted Megumi and before disappearing with her into the hallway, she turned to Misao and looked at her.

" I am not over with you."

Yes. There was the open door. When Aoshi entered one of the rooms Misao just turned around and disappeared through the door. Saeko tried to stop her but she was faster.

" Hey you, wait!" But the woman dressing such a strange gi disappeared into the falling rain.

xXx

Aoshi was worried and Megumi could read it in his blue eyes. He put her on the bed and spent some seconds looking at her. Her vision was less blurry but her back really hurt.

" I am sorry for Misao. And for wetting you."

She smiled in attempt to dismiss the tension. Her light blue kimono was wet in several parts and her smock was now sticking to her belly. Megumi slid her hand on her belly, protectively and her eyes became distant. Her back hurt and the nauseas were back.

" Maybe you should go outside and stay with… her" her voice was barely audible in the last part.

Aoshi's eyes roamed the room. " Misao and I have to talk."

Megumi gathered strength and in a great effort, she stood up. Aoshi came to her and tried to take her back to bed but she shook her head, keeping him far. She walked to him and looked into those blue eyes and for some seconds, she felt her soul almost at ease. She placed both hands on his chest and spoke decidedly:

" You belong with Oniwabanshuu and you know that. Go now." She smiled and leaned forward with eyes closed, besides standing on tiptoe. Her lips almost met the cold ones of his but she dodged from the logical path and merely looked into his vast blue eyes… and she smiled purely. Megumi stepped back short seconds later and looked at him in a completely lovely way. " I will be fine." She pressed her fingers, realizing they were very cold.

Aoshi said nothing more. Her pure smile and the deep eye contact she had kept with him… He knew he needed to solve some important issues and it had to be now. He turned around and walked outside, closing her bedroom door but hesitating to leave her alone: she had been thrown on the floor violently some minutes before.

She swore she wouldn't cry but it was impossible to restrain one tear that came faster than she imagined. "Fare thee well, Aoshi." And with that, her tired body fell on the soft mattress and the white sheets received little colorful dots.

xXx

Aoshi found Saeko running to the porch. He could have guessed what had happened.

" Sensei, she went away! Through there. I am so sorry I couldn't stop her."

He nodded and passed by her. He knew Saeko could not manage to stop Misao.

" Is she fine, sensei?" her inquiring jade eyes made him think of Misao ones.

"Megumi? She says so, but watch over her, Saeko-san. Mif something unexpected happens, you will know what to do, I believe."

Saeko watched the man disappear outside in the coming darkness. The house was now too silent and gloomy. A flashback came to her mind and it was as if she could listen to Shinomori-sensei's voice telling that the doctor was pregnant. And the younger woman froze. Saeko smiled sadly. Takani-sensei is pregnant. What happiness for her. And she thought of Shinomori-sensei running after the young woman and letting his wife there. But he had been sweet coming and taking her inside. Shinomori-sensei. Saeko walked to Takani-sensei's room and knocked on the door.

" Takani-sensei? It is me, Saeko. Are you okay?" she expected the doctor to answer. "Sensei?" but she didn't answer. Leaving behind any sense of property, Saeko decided to open the door. And she saw the sensei like a fallen deity on the white sheets, an immaculate snowy scene if it weren't for her sad smile …

Saeko couldn't believe. " I-I need to do something. I need to find Shinomori-sensei."

xXx

Misao ran faster, ignoring the screams of that unknown woman she had seen at Megumi's house. Megumi. She felt a wave of heat come to her face. Megumi was pregnant. Aoshi-sama's son, most probably. Yet, she couldn't believe. Her Aoshi-sama had betrayed her. He had fooled her, once again.

Misao couldn't tell where she was now. The rain had made the small rivers near the city run faster and everything was desert and dark. The rain had stopped and it was windy. The wind was taking the clouds to the west and letting the full moon appear. The grown weed touched her naked calves as she followed the water. Misao took off her sandals, unwrapping them carefully and sitting by the water. Both her feet sunk into the river and she felt herself even colder.

"Aoshi-sama… you are the one to cut me."

Aoshi knew Misao couldn't have gone too far. She didn't know the city very much and there were a couple of years since she had last stepped there. He walked fast but extremely attentive to everything around. He remembered of when she was little and used to run away and hide near the water or springs.

It was dark but his accurate eyes could reach the girl figure anyplace. His trained ears heard water running and girlish sobs. He walked into the weeds and he could see the full moon reflected on the water. He also heard what he suspected that were feet tapping the water. He got near enough and recognized her smell.

" Misao."

His speaking of her name cut her breath. She looked behind and saw the tall man standing behind her and he approached more and more. She wanted to run but she also wanted to stay and be with him. In the end, she stood motionless.

He came, crouched near her and then, sat down.

" We definitely have to talk." His voice was deep and it sent shivers down her spine.

XxXxXxXxXx

I am becoming the cliff-girl… :P anyway, next chapter, many things will be solved, or at least, I expect so.

Although soap operas and movies show that when a person fain, one takes ages to come to, that is not really the truth. You only take two minutes, if it takes that much…

Sorry for the innumerous scene shifts but I thought those were really necessary.

There was something I wrote about Aoshi going into action and getting unstressed after that. Doesn't it just sound like a Saitou-ish thing:P

The verses in the middle of the fic, related to Misao, are from a Nightwish song called Ghost Love Score. Wonderful.

I am currently watching X 1999, the TV Series and it is so cute Kamui answers "Aa". /melts

And I definitely can't stand Brazilian dubbing… Aoshi's voice makes me get nervous and I always have the will to turn off the computer.

Ladie Shinomori: thank you! I was very very flattered by your comment. Misao is in, now let's see what happens next!

Araly: once again, I smiled while reading your review! Don't throw the tantrum, here it is!

Yvonne: not so fast, I am sorry! Blame it on the black star! What are Aoshi and Misao going to do?

Ak0: hehe… Meg is not really driving him crazy. I wonder he never really took so much of his time by a pregnant woman's side, if he ever took that much time by a woman that was not Misao. But it is nice, IMO, when she drives him out of coldness!

Leila: you wrote on chapter 35 review " argh! Someone needs to shoot Misao." Well, I think you must be screaming it now! And Aoshi is a sweet babe, I love to write about him discovering fatherhood and feelings. So, after now, other people know of the pregnancy. For how long will this secret last? Oh, yes, THAT scene of the touch on her belly. I ever made a drawing for it but I am ashamed to show: P The two of them rolling on the huge couple bed? Hum… let's see… : P