Author's Notes: Look Minna! A chapter to UTCT! *Dances around* You have no idea how much I was dreading when writing this, but now its out of the way and well, I hope it is okay for now. There is only about 2 more chapters until Aoshi is back in Tokyo and the piece I've had written since Chapter 11 will finally be known!
I do hope you forgive me for this and well if you didn't read the notes in my "Fashion story" I'll just say them again.
All my fanfics are up at my Website now! Please go visit it at:
www.noahazuma.com
Its so, so exciting that I finally placed them up! I created a group for the fastest way to find out if I have updated anything. Please go take a look or subscribe.
noahazuma_fanfiction@yahoogroups.com
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I do hope you can join, it will be fun! Now another thing is that a petition (yeah I know another one which I only became aware of) is posted to try and get the creators of Rurouni Kenshin and Sony to get the Jin Chuu Arc animated. Please show your support and got sign it…it's mean heaps to me and all other RK fans that wish to see that arc animated:
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/jinchuu
Also if you'd like to have your fanart or fanfiction posted anywhere, I'm happy to accept it on my site. I'd love to host your stuff, although I'd love you even more if it was Rurouni Kenshin or Inuyasha related. If not I'll still host it as well, but please think about it okay? You can e-mail me using the following addresses: noahazuma@aol.com or noahazuma@yahoo.com.au or noahazuma@anfiction.net
For now that's it I think and thank you for being patient and keep reading and reviewing. I love hearing from anyone! JA! (^_^)
Now to Chapter 33
Under the Cherry Tree
Misao hummed lightly as she wiped down a table at the Akabeko. To think a month had passed so fast without her even realising it. She was now using a cane to walk properly these days but she still limped and needed to sit down for her leg started aching if she stood too long.
She still thought about Aoshi, about the many fights they'd had ever since she showed her face in Tokyo and yet she still smiled not regretting anything. Sure she missed him and there were niggling feelings telling her what she did was wrong, but then…that's what learning to live and make mistakes was for right? This was only going to make her stronger then ever and her, could she say relationship with Aoshi stronger as well? Time separated them four years ago, so what was three months to them? Misao stopped wiping down the table and moved to another one, her eyes moving over to the one where she and Aoshi had eaten a couple of months ago. She constantly wondered how he was fairing in China and always looked forward to his letters and e-mails.
"Misao sweetie, we open up in 15 minutes!" Tae, the owner of the restaurant called from the kitchen.
"HAI!" Misao shouted back, getting back to cleaning the restaurant for this evening's rush.
* * * *
(Tokyo Private Hospital)
"Would you like to know the sex of your child?" A female doctor spoke looking at the couple; the woman on the examination table listened along with her partner to the quick beating of the heart that belonged to their growing child.
"Iie…" The man mumbled, he too transfixed in watching the child move slightly, as though turning over to go back to sleep.
"Very well then." The doctor replied back and switched off the ultrasound, the man actually saddening at not hearing the beating heart of the child that lay protected within the woman he loved. He helped his life partner off of the examination table and watched her straighten her clothes out. Her head lifted up, a smile cast on her ruby lips as they moved closer to quickly kiss his, almost in shyness at not truly believing she did finally kiss him for once and not the other way around.
"Why did you not want to know roosterhead?" She spoke softly, always calling him by the pet name she gave him, from the way his hair defiled gravity. It didn't matter though, he was what she wanted and she wasn't giving him up to anyone, not without a fox fight that's for sure.
"I want it to be a surprise kitsune. I don't care if it's a boy or a girl as long as it looks like my foxy woman I'm happy."
"You want a son to look like me?" Megumi taunted as she grabbed her bag, placing in the tape that was recorded and left the examination room to pay for the session at the reception area.
"Okay, well when you say it that way, probably not, but if it's a boy I want him to look like me, but have a personality like you, but if it's a girl she can be all you."
"And why do you say that roosterhead?" Megumi whispered as she moved closer to the reception desk bringing out her visa card to pay for the session and she smiled down at the receptionist looking fondly at her. Sano's smirk left him, the male receptionist eyeing his woman openly. Sano slid closer to Megumi, one arm casually moving over her shoulders, the other patting her stomach lightly.
"She's beautiful isn't she?" Sano boasted to the young man behind the desk, he stuttering out a reply.
"Um, Ah, yes sir…congratulations to you both." Sano smiled wickedly down at a lightly blushing Megumi and pressed a kiss to her lips, not once embarrassed about showing such intimate affections in front of complete strangers. Megumi quickly collected her things, taking her receipt from the man and started walking hurriedly towards the exit, batting Sano's hands away from her.
"Oi kitsune something wrong?" Sano questioned smiling down at his embarrassed woman. She usually got like this everytime he complimented her beautiful looks to anyone who stared at her for more then two minutes. To Sano that was two minutes too long. Sure he could admit he could get jealous, but no matter what, Megumi would always return to him and to their home…okay her home but he had taken up refuge in her place for many months now. He might as well call it theirs now. He wasn't overly obsessive of Megumi, watching her every move to see what guy she was talking to now, because he knew she'd smile just for him. She had two smiles after all. A cheeky smile when she laughed loudly, he almost seeing fox ears popping up onto her head as she tried concealing her laugh with her hand, but was never successful. Then there was the sweet one, the one that showed him she was happy with him, happy to lay beside him, happy to have him rub her bulging stomach, full and round with child…their child…
"I hate when you do that in front of me. Why can't you boast when I am not in sight, its so…so embarrassing…" Megumi muttered as she walked towards her silver BMW in the customer car park of the hospital. Sano chuckled lightly at her stubbornness coming out, she trying to hide her embarrassment but it never worked. Sano always felt the urge to shower her with kisses, to show her that he thought she was beautiful and felt it right to tell everyone because she was a striking woman. Every man they walked passed glanced once or twice in her direction, she completely blind to it, but he knew…knew all too well. Megumi could have anyone she wanted, have them grovelling at her feet, but she chose him and for the life of Sano he didn't know why. He was just glad that Megumi was in his life, for if she wasn't, he really didn't know where he would be. He could have been sleeping in some ditch, resting in some alleyway with no home, but she saw good in him, underneath the gruffness he usually bestowed to everyone, Megumi found Sanosuke Sagara…although loud to others, but shy to show the man inside. Sano felt he need not show anyone that side of him, Megumi after all discovered it and so it belonged to her…he belonged to her…for as long as she could stand him.
"Meg, I…I love you…" Sano stuttered out, a sigh of relief following straight after at finally saying these words to her. Sure it wasn't exactly the most romantic spot, but he just had to say it, to let her know. She had the power to command his every move, for he was putty in her hands. If she wished to leave this city to go somewhere else, he'd follow her…he'd follow her anywhere…
"S-Sano, what is…I mean, why say that now and here of all places...I mean…" Megumi was at a loss for words. Sano had taken her completely by surprise, completely mucking up her latest train of thought. Megumi stared wide eyed up at Sano, her back to the passenger side of the car, she not believing she had heard those words from him, but then they were spoken so purely and full of love. She watched as Sano placed a hand behind his head, a hint of red crossing his cheeks and he gave her one of his lob-sided grins, he becoming uncomfortable as she did not say anything to his confession. Sano watched as Megumi's dark eyes hinted the wetness of tears, one hand going up to rest at her rapidly beating heart. He stepped closer wrapping her in a comforting embrace, her creamy hand fisting in his dark red jacket as she sniffled lightly trying desperately not to cry.
"Gomen ne Meg, I didn't mean to catch you off guard like this. I just…I just needed to tell you, to say how much you mean to me, how happy I am that you wanted me. I never thought you would because I'm quite brash and not totally sophisticated like yourself and yet you still wanted me as much as I want you. I'll follow you anywhere Megumi, anywhere you go I'll be there with you…as long as you want me there I'll be by your side. Arigatoo kitsune, for wanting this baka…" Sano mumbled into her ear, his head dropping onto hers, he breathing in the strawberry and vanilla scent of her black hair. Sano pulled away from Megumi feeling her let go of him. His eyes widened as she stepped up on her tiptoes her lips brushing his possessively, showing him what his words meant to her. Never had she been so straightforward in public like this. Had he changed her ways? Megumi pulled away and rested her forehead against Sano's chest, mumbling out her own reply.
"You baka, you are all I thought of when I was with Aoshi! That is so wrong of me to say such things like that and I felt so ashamed at the way I hurt Aoshi like I did, but, he is okay now and I know he'll be better off with Misao. She is his heart, just like you are mine. I…I'm not good with these type of things, perhaps that is why we suit each other so well, but, I know that you are what I want. No matter how many men look at me, you are the one I go home too, since you are always at my place anyway."
"Kitsune…no need to get sarcastic now. You were doing so well in boosting my ego too…" Sano replied with a soft laugh hugging Megumi to him a little tighter, relishing in her soft laughter as well.
"I love you Sano, with all my heart and when you say you'll go anywhere with me if I decide to up and leave, it is the same for I. If you wish to tour with Deadly Nightshades, I will follow you…everywhere… Your mine…my baka roosterhead, my Sanosuke Sagara and I shall not give you to anyone!" Sano's eyes widened in surprise at her determined words as her hands wrapped tightly around his waist for more emphasis.
"Meg, will you let me breath, I'm not going anywhere, nor is anyone taking me away from you!"
"Well that's the same for me baka!" Megumi retorted back as she stepped away from him, her hands on her hips as she stared up into his laughing chocolate brown eyes. That smirk was on his lips, he having elicited furious emotions within her like he always did.
"Oh get in the car baka and let's go home!" Megumi spoke flustered and got into the passenger seat, Sano closing it while chuckling to himself as he moved around to the drivers side. He got into the car, started it up and drove off, glancing over at Megumi who rested with her eyes closed, her left hand patting her stomach while her right rested on his leg tapping some tune on his thigh absently.
"If we have a girl Megumi, I'd want her to be like you, that way I know she's going to be a complete success and my little cub…my baby kitsune." Sano placed a smile on hearing a snort leave Megumi's throat as she replied her answer and then closed her eyes dozing off.
"Whatever the sex, they will be a success but no doubt they'll have your mischievous attitude and be a complete terror, but it shall be worth it in the end. He or She can have my brains, our looks and your strength, that way he or she can power anything and anyone." Sano couldn't help but laugh at that, imagine their child running some damned company and bossing people around. Yep, he could actually see it now.
* * * *
(Himura Residence)
"WAA, WAA, MAMA LOOK AT ME!" Misao-chan yelled at the top of her lungs as Kaoru sat on the porch watching her run around, not tiring at all. She had a splitting headache, her back ached and she hadn't slept well for the past two nights. Kenshin hadn't been there to cuddle beside her, to stroke her bulging stomach in comfort, to hold her lovingly. He'd gone to Kyoto to see his master, Hiko Seijiro. He'd been doing that every week for the past month and Kaoru hated it. She hated him being away from her, away from their daughter and especially when she was nearly six months pregnant too!
"MAMA? MAMA YOU'RE NOT WATCHING ME AT ALL!" Misao-chan yelled, Kaoru's control finally breaking as she yelled back.
"Stop yelling Misao-chan, I am not deaf!" Kaoru gasped in horror at her words and watching her daughter's eyes widened in shock at never hearing that tone being spoken to her. Kaoru watched with tears in her eyes as her three-year old raced passed her to climb the stairs to head for her room.
"Misao-chan wait…" Kaoru got up and raced after her daughter only to hear the soft sobs as she hurriedly made it to her room and closed the door shielding herself away from her mother. Kaoru's eyes glistened with tears, a small sob escaping her throat and she turned her head hearing the click of the lock on the front door and it opened to reveal the ever-smiling Kenshin. Kaoru walked over practically falling into his embrace and wept like a child into his chest.
"Koibito what is wrong?" Kenshin asked, worry very much evident in his voice as he kicked the door closed with his foot and hugged his wife comfortingly. Kaoru sniffled lightly and finally let go of her husband to stare up into his violet eyes.
"Enough Kenshin, please don't go away anymore, I can't handle this alone. I thought I could, but I need you to be with me all the time." Kenshin wrapped his arm around Kaoru and walked her to the lounge room making her sit down and he sat beside her, his arm still wrapped around her shoulders awaiting an explanation.
"I don't want you to go to Kyoto anymore. I was missing you so much and I have a headache and my body aches and…and I yelled at Misao-chan today, completely out of the blue. Oh it was so horrible, she must hate her mother so much now." Kenshin held his wife to him as she cried pitifully into his chest, his arms rubbing over her back trying to soothe her cries.
"Everything will be fine koibito. I'll go speak with Misao-chan and tell her what is happening. Just lay down and rest for a minute, I'll be back soon to explain everything to you okay?" Kenshin felt Kaoru nod silently and he pulled away getting her comfortable and brushing his fingers through her hair until she closed her eyes sighing deeply. Kenshin needn't go far as Misao-chan was at the bottom of the stairs, her eyes red and puffy from crying and she held her stuffed dog to her chest looking up at her father.
"Mummy's very tired Misao-chan, she needs some rest and then she'll be fine. She just got upset cause she was missing me so much. Do you understand Misao-chan, mummy is sorry for making you cry." Kenshin kneeled down on the tiled floor in the main entrance of the house, his daughter rushing over to hug him.
"Its okay daddy, I forgive mummy. She's been a little different cause she's been sick." Misao-chan replied pulling away from her father to stare up at him watching as he brushed her last remaining tears away.
"What do you mean sick Misao-chan?"
"Aunt Megumi's daddy came over yesterday to see how mummy was. He said she needs to be careful or something and she needs to come to the hospital as soon as you come back. Is something wrong with mummy?" Misao-chan's eyes wavered slightly, fresh tears appearing in her frightened eyes, but Kenshin placed a smile on his lips, he lifting his daughter into his arms and walking into the lounge room.
"You rest with mummy Misao-chan, daddy has to make a couple of phone calls. Mummy is going to be okay, she just needs some sleep okay?" He watched his daughter nod her head, she curling on the couch as well, Kaoru's arms absently going around her daughter as they rested peacefully on the couch. Kenshin smiled down at his family, but a frown soon appeared, he becoming sick with worry and headed off to call Dr Takani on what he had missed yesterday, Kaoru not phoning to tell him anything. He'd definitely talk with her about that when she woke up.
* * * *
(Back at the Akabeko)
"Misao-chan, another customer has arrived." Misao got out of her chair, she needing to rest her sore leg and moved towards the front counter, only to notice it was a smiling Seta Soujiro. Misao chewed her lip hesitantly and took a deep breath greeting him properly.
"Good evening and welcome to the Akabeko. A table for one?" Misao asked bowing formerly.
"Yes thank you." He spoke and followed Misao to a table near the window and sat down, his hand brushing hers as he grabbed the menu from her hands.
"What would you like to drink?" Misao asked, ignoring the brush of skin and took down his order and walked away not saying anything else. She had stopped being his patient two weeks ago, it becoming complicated as his sessions where becoming quite personal, making Misao feel very uncomfortable. Ever since she told Aoshi, Soujiro was a friend and nothing more and that she'd wait for him to return from China, she vowed to keep that promise, not wishing to break his heart anymore then she had done so already. Misao returned with Soujiro's drink and placed it down, she gasping softly as he caught her wrist with his hand.
"Misao that's enough now. I didn't mean to frighten you away, I am sorry. I know you do not wish to be my patient and I can understand that, but ignoring me altogether is very rude. Can't we go somewhere together, just as friends, no strings attached I promise." Misao stared silently down at his smiling face, it not portraying any hidden danger and Misao pulled her hand free and muttered a reply before walking towards another table as the customers were ready to order their meals.
"I'll think about it Seta-san."
* * * *
(Somewhere in China)
Aoshi stared endlessly into the blank canvas on his easel as he stared into space, going deeper into his thoughts. He'd written numerous times to Misao, sending postcards from different places he'd been too over China, but now he stood in the large back garden at Anika's mansion in Hong Kong looking up at the sky for a moment.
A cool breeze blew through the yard, rusting the leaves, some falling into the large pool and making the water ripple slightly. He'd apologised for his rude behaviour to Misao in a letter yet again. Her tears making him feel as guilty as hell even though it wasn't his fault in getting angry in the first place. He couldn't really blame her though; Misao was an attractive girl. Aoshi shock his head at that, Misao was an attractive young woman now. There was so much to talk about when he got back to Tokyo.
Aoshi hoped Misao hadn't killed his fish or over fed them either. She wasn't too good with pets after all…and these were only goldfish! Aoshi sighed looking at the blank canvas once more and snapped out of his thoughts when he heard some rustling coming from behind him. Aoshi swiftly turned around to see Monica, Anika's daughter watching him.
"How long have you been there Mon?" Aoshi asked smiling at the approaching girl, she shrugging her shoulders and replying absently as she looked over his shoulder to see he hadn't placed anything on the canvas yet.
"Not long, you looked rather deep in thought though. I at least thought you would have placed something on here by now though." Monica nudged his side jokingly and Aoshi placed a small smile on watching her wave her arms around giving him suggestions on what to paint. She was dressed in a dark green sarong, with bright yellow flowers all over it and wearing a pair of bikini bathers in the same bright yellow colour as the flowers. Her long hair fell to her waist in wavy curls and was a deep brown colour like her dads.
"Have you ever thought about painting?" Aoshi questioned the 17-year-old as she kneeled near the edge of the pool testing the temperature of the water to see whether she could swim in it without freezing to death!
"I'll leave that to the professionals. I'm going to be a chef!" Monica spoke proudly as she stood up facing Aoshi with her smiling face.
"Aa, will you cook for me then?" Aoshi asked jokingly but watched a small blush form over her cheeks, her hands clasping together in front of her as she muttered out her answer.
"H-Hai Aoshi, I'll cook for you anytime…" Aoshi started feeling funny inside, not liking were this conversation was headed and hated the fact he was the one who started it. Aoshi cleared his throat not sure about what was truly happening. He suspected that maybe Monica had a small crush on him, but froze at the next words that she blurted out, her eyes wide with surprise at voicing them so freely and he unmoving, not knowing what to do at this point and time.
"I love you Aoshi!" Time had stopped for the both of them…
* * * *
To be continued…
* * * *