Under the Cherry Tree

"Matte Misao, wait for me!" Kenshin spoke as he raced after Misao. His violet eyes scanned the hordes of people, but looked ahead to hear some curses coming from certain people as Misao obviously ran into them. Again Kenshin started running desperately wanting to catch up with the upset young woman.

Every now and then he too had to apologise to other pedestrians for running into them, but still he would not give up the chase. He came across an intersection with traffic lights and scanned the area with his eyes. Just where did she go now? His head jerked to the right, a woman screaming loudly and pointing onto the road. He followed her gaze as a petite woman stood in the middle of the road her hands flung out horizontally, her eyes closed, just waiting for the large truck to hit her full on. It honked its horn at Misao, the wheels bringing up smoke as the driver applied the brakes quickly.

Kenshin, with sheer speed and skill he had learned over the years from Master Hiko sped onto the road, his right arm reaching out and clutching around Misao's waist, diving for the other side of the road. He skidded across the pavement and landed softly on the grass situated in the park. Immediately his eyes opened after the fall and he sat up not bothering to worry about all the onlookers and pushed Misao to a sitting position in front of him.

"WHY? WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST LET ME DIE?" Misao yelled angrily even though hot tears dripped down her cheeks. She staggered to her feet pushing Kenshin away from her even though he persisted in not letting go of her left arm.

"LET GO OF ME! AOSHI HATES ME, HE HATES ME!" Misao began yelling, numerous people still standing around to watch the two stranger's 'battle' it out together. Misao was trying to pry Kenshin's fingers from around her upper arm, but to no avail.

"Why did you stop me huh? What does it matter to you anyway?" Misao's voice had softened, her blue eyes staring into angry violet ones, they flashing and turning an amber-gold colour as he stared silently at her.

Misao's eyes grew wide in surprise, a soft gasp escaping her lips as she was jerked forward...and into Kenshin's embrace. One of Kenshin's hands rested at the back of Misao's head, letting her rest her head against his shoulder, the other loosened from her left arm and wrapped protectively across her back.

"A lot has happened over the past few months which everyone has been shocked about, not just you or Aoshi, but everyone that has ever been connected to the both of you." Kenshin paused for a moment, his embrace growing a little tighter as he closed his now violet eyes and leaned his head against Misao's.

"Your family would be in mourning forever if you had died. Your death would be a complete sorrow to Tokio-dono, Saitou, Aoshi, Megumi-dono and Sano…to all the people you grew up with as well. I couldn't let you do that to yourself because they care for you whether they voice otherwise or not. Nobody wants you to go Misao, especially not Kaoru or Misao-chan and especially me! I stopped you because I care. I promised you I'd take care of you Misao…you have become family to me…" Misao's eyes had widened at Kenshin's words. Her legs finally grew weak, but Kenshin held her up as she sobbed into his shoulder, her hands clutching the back of his shirt as she wept loudly.

"Gomen ne…gomen nasai!" Misao sobbed while repeating those words over and over again, the ordeal of killing herself floated through her mind was just ridiculous and totally absurd. Killing oneself over a man! Really, how pathetic!

"You have so much to live for Misao…even if Aoshi is not part of it. Don't you ever think of doing something like that again!" Kenshin's words were stern and strong, overpowering any of Misao's thoughts. He finally sighed softly when Misao nodded her head agreeing to his words, silently promising him never to think on such thoughts.

"Shall we start walking Misao, we have grown a crowd." Misao hiccupped lightly and laughed for the first time in a while as her and Kenshin made there way into the park, Misao dabbing away her tears.

Kenshin found a bench seat to sit down on and Misao sat gingerly beside him, her head bent not wishing to face the disappointment in his eyes. Kenshin however, remained quiet, watching as small children raced around the park grounds and waited patiently for Misao to begin talking. She had already begun to fidget, ringing her hands in her lap and he just knew she was about to speak.

"A-Aoshi…he said…he told me…in front of Kaoru and Saitou that…that…he hates me…" Misao muttered softly, Kenshin's face turning down to look at her rugged form. She had bags under her eyes, her usually genki self had disappeared leaving behind a deeply distraught and very troubled young woman. She had loved Aoshi ever since she could remember, probably ever since they met, but from one mistake, one misunderstanding, everything had gone wrong. All was not the same anymore…

"That is not true Misao." Kenshin replied but watched as Misao jerked her head up voicing her opinion loudly.

"IT IS SO! He told me in front of Kaoru and Saitou! Did I not say that to you? You want his exact words well this is what they are "I…hate…you" That's pretty blunt if you ask me!"

"He is upset Misao, everyone gets upset and they say things they don't truly mean."

"You don't know him the way I do okay! When Aoshi says something it means exactly what it means and that is what he said. He hates me!" Kenshin sat right beside Misao, his arm wrapping over her shaking shoulders and he leaned his head against hers one more.

"I am positive that Aoshi doesn't truly hate you Misao. He'd never hate anyone." Misao snorted lightly at his words and Kenshin corrected himself slightly.

"Okay, he'll hate Seta Soujiro, but never in all his life will he hate you Misao. The two of you can be parted for the rest of your lives, but never can he hate you…it is the way he is. If someone has affected him deeply like you have, all the pain he has inside…all the pain the both of you have endured through this entire ordeal will still not make the two of you hate each other for all of time. Aoshi says words like that because he has never known the true emotion of what hurt feels like until now. His mind and heart have never comprehended the full awareness that you could be with someone else…but now he has witnessed it full on. He saw it happen, first hand and even though nothing…major happened between you and Seta-san, Aoshi still doesn't know how to deal with it. He will need time to rebuild himself…just like you will as well Misao."

"Why do you always find the positive in everything Kenshin? Its like you've been through much heartache before." Misao spoke pulling away from him. Kenshin was very silent, Misao knowing that something must have been up with his past but he too was very secretive. He and Aoshi seemed quite alike in many ways…and yet not so alike in others. It really was uncanny for 2 men to be so alike and then so very different at the same time.

"Are you still planning to return to Kyoto?" Kenshin spoke completely changing the topic. Misao nodded silently and then glanced into Kenshin's frowning eyes.

"But I promise to stay until the baby is born. After that you'll need the bedroom anyway and…I need to go home…I need to get my life back on track just like you said. I need to rebuild. My mother always said that it is not the end of the world if you don't get what you dreamed of. She always said if you can't have your dream, then opt for the next best thing to your dream…and that was to be happy and to live life again, so that is what I shall do. It hurts, it'll hurt for awhile, but in the end I'm sure this is what is meant to be no matter how hard it is to accept."

"You are welcome to stay for as long as you like Misao." Kenshin replied as he stood up, his hand out helping Misao to her feet.

"Me live in that crazy house again? With a man who does a lot of housework, more then what a woman does is just plan weird. Not to mention a wife who has a lot of mood swings and is a terrible cook, a very energetic genki little girl who can't help but want to climb everything and to top it off a newborn baby. No, I think I'll have to escape when the time is right and that is when the new bundle of joy is born." Misao placed a small smile on her lips, humour flickering in her eyes as she stared up at Kenshin making sure he knew that she was grateful for everything but it was time to leave the past in the past and move on.

"Let us head back to the hospital, I brought Misao-chan to see Kaoru and I'm sure she wants to see you as well."

"But what about…" Misao never got to finish as Kenshin butted in and began walking, Misao's hand still cradled in his.

"I'm sure Kaoru is giving her 'little brother' a right good ear full at what he said to you. Its okay Misao, Kaoru was shocked about the news, but in ways everyone understood that it must have been difficult for you to choose between Seta-san and Aoshi." Misao was silent and never replied to Kenshin's words. She walked beside him as they made there way back to the hospital, thousands of lame explanations rolled around in her mind if Kaoru ever decided to ask her why things turned out the way they did.

* * * *

(Aoshi's hospital room)

Saitou had just been standing there; his eyes a little wider then usual in silent shock at Aoshi's harsh words. Did he really hate her that much? Aoshi even knew that Misao and Soujiro had truly done the "dirty" on him, but did he really detest her that much?

"Why did you say such hurtful words? Misao must be completely devastated right now; god only knows what is going through her mind at the moment. Aoshi! Are you listening to me?" Kaoru spoke, as she was back in the wheelchair, watching along with Saitou as Aoshi limped back to the hospital bed and crawled back into it. He was ignoring Kaoru again, her face scrunching up in anger, but she eyed Saitou as he came towards her, pushing her out of the room as he wished to speak with his brother alone. He held up his hands, as though 5 minutes was going to knock some sense into him and closed the door. His gold eyes observed as Aoshi curled on his side, facing away from his own brother.

"You don't truly hate Misao do you?" Saitou spoke softly at the door, not bothering to try and face his brother knowing he wouldn't look at him anyway. Aoshi was being a small immature child, but Saitou guessed it was about time he was a child anyway. As they grew up the both of them had mucked around, but in some cases it was as though Aoshi never really did lead a childhood life…one of games and punishments if he did anything wrong. Ever since he started martial arts at an early age he'd become so serious, so disciplined and he'd forgotten about being a young child. So in respect, Saitou could understand the way Aoshi was. He had, after all avoided emotions for a long time. The both of them were more alike then what they would admit to. Saitou knew that although Aoshi was experienced in many things, emotions…and love was not on his list.

"You said that, to make Misao forget all about you right?" Saitou persisted again and stepped closer to the bed.

"What does it matter Saitou, what is done is done okay." Aoshi replied as he buried his head into the pillows and closed his eyes.

"Are you sure about that? Are you sure you should leave it the way it is? Do you not think she might do something irresponsible…like killing herself?" Saitou watched as Aoshi abruptly turned ver to gaze up at him. That had struck him hard. The death of a woman that loved him till her dying day…was something Aoshi would not be able to live through at all.

"She is not stupid Saitou." Aoshi spoke as he sat up in the bed, the thoughts of Misao killing herself were eating at his insides.

"No she isn't, but being yelled at and heartbroken by the person you love can make anyone crack." Saitou replied instantly, his eyes narrowing as Aoshi never looked at him and remained quiet. His hand fisted and he grabbed Aoshi by the front of his hospital shirt, popping three buttons on it as he spoke through gritted teeth.

"Misao loves you ahou. Through everything that has happened she'll always love you. She has loved you ever since you were kids! When are you going to get that through your thick head?"

"Let go of me." Aoshi muttered with no emotion in his voice, his eyes never staring into Saitou's as he peered out the window instead. Saitou did let go and turned away his hand on the doorknob of the room, but he stopped, realisation finally clicking in his mind.

"You already knew…didn't you Aoshi?" He turned around once more, leaning against the door, his arms folded over his chest. He held a smug smile as though he had figured everything out.

"You knew Misao loved you…and yet you stayed quiet, kept silent hoping against hope that it would pass…as though you didn't want her love…couldn't come up with the idea of the two of you ever being together…but something happened…something changed didn't it?" Saitou finally got a glance from his brother, but again his eyes turned away and Saitou knew he was pretty damn close to the truth.

"You finally grew up…you finally began to feel exactly what the weasel-girl felt for you right? You finally felt that you couldn't possibly live without her being near you, without her being in your presence…and you got scared didn't you? Please, stop me if I'm wrong Aoshi. When did your feelings for Misao change? When did you start thinking of her more then your best friend…of her being…your lover?"

"Shut up Saitou!" Aoshi cracked and Saitou's eyes glinted in reaction.

"You became scared, because someone as stone cold as Shinomori Aoshi couldn't possibly shed any emotions…any feelings for the weasel-girl now could he? You got scared because you love her as much as she loves you and you fucking ran away!" The argument was interrupted as someone pushed open the door, Saitou smacking his head and he turned to glare at the 'intruder' to realise it was Hannya.

"We have a problem, Himura-san is bleeding." He spoke urgently and never bothered to apologise to Saitou as the both of them watched Aoshi fling himself out of the hospital bed and race out of the room. He would have pushed Hannya out of the way if he was any other man, but Hannya had skills and knew Aoshi's moves. Saitou as about to announce that they should notify someone but Aoshi was already ahead of him in that department. He smacked the buzzer on the wall extremely hard and lodged it stuck so it rang continuously.

"KAORU!" He voiced loudly, catching the pregnant woman before she fell out of the wheelchair.

"Ken…Kenshin…where…is…he? She muttered, silent tears escaping her eyes at the pain, but she fainted in shock and because of loss of blood.

"KUSO!" Aoshi muttered loudly and picked Kaoru up rushing her towards the nurse and doctor that were coming down the hallway. Hannya was jogging by wheeling the machine that was connected to Kaoru's arm and Saitou was following at a slower pace, but relatively faster then his usual walk.

"She's bleeding and fainted, do something!" Aoshi responded with a lot of emotion in his voice. Two more male nurses were bring up the rear and were wheeling a stretcher bed, Aoshi coming to a halt and placing the very pregnant Kaoru on it.

"We must get her to the operating room immediately." The doctor in charge of emergency procedures such as this spoke in a calm tone of voice. Aoshi, Saitou and Hannya watched as they wheeled her into the express elevator to head for the Operating Department.

"I've got to find Kenshin." Aoshi spoke and turned to face Hannya when he spoke about the incident downstairs.

"He raced after Misao as we watched her run hysterically out of the hospital." Saitou's eyes bore into Aoshi's but his face was stern and he swiftly turned around and raced for the stairs knowing the elevators would take forever to get to this level.

* * * *

Aoshi burst through the doorway of the stairs and raced for the main entrance to the hospital. He had ignored Tokio and Misao-chan as they glanced his way while playing with some of her toys. He stood on the road the ambulances drove down to drop of casualties and scanned hi eyes around the large area. Where the hell was he?

Aoshi raced further out, getting out from under the cover of the shelter and finally his eyes caught site of red hair, his form hidden by bushes as he was sitting on a bench in the front garden area of the hospital. Aoshi was already puffing, his side aching, but still he raced over and running around the bushes to voice what had happened. He came to a complete stop when his eyes set upon Misao's wide ones, puffy and red from crying. Her knees were grazed and she had a pump on her head. Aoshi shook any thoughts from his mind and turned his focus on Kenshin whom was looking up at him.

"You've got to come quickly, its Kaoru." Aoshi spoke and didn't get any further as Kenshin raced off heading into the hospital.

"SHE'S IN THE OPERATING ROOM!" Aoshi yelled hoping his now worried friend had heard him so he could find his wife straight away. A thick silence…not to mention tension surrounded Aoshi and Misao, he not having the guts to look down at her…and Misao not having the guts to look up at him. She watched his bare feet turn away from her, he ready to head back inside the hospital and her eyes lifted up, to catch him holding his side, blood dampening the green material.

"Your bleeding, let me hel-"

"I'm fine!" Aoshi abruptly replied, Misao jerking in surprise at the way he spoke to her as though she was the most despicable creature that had ever walked the planet.

"Wh-What happened to Kaoru?" Misao asked as she stood up, trying to get her anger under control lest she voice something she would regret saying afterwards. Misao knew she wasn't perfect and yet one small mistake was hanging over her entire body as though nothing could be repaired, as though everything that occurred was her fault. God, he was just so infuriating sometimes! Misao wanted to scream and curse him until she was blue in the face, but now wasn't the time for it and so she held back as best she could.

"She's giving birth to the babies…" Aoshi replied not facing her and he raced off heading back into the hospital to be with Kaoru and Kenshin.

"B-Babies? There is more then one?" Misao questioned aloud, her eyes wide, but quickly shook her head of thoughts and raced after Aoshi, she too wanting to see how everything was going, whether Kaoru…would make it through the ordeal alive.

* * * *

To be continued…

* * * *

Authors Notes: Minna-san it's finally out! *Falls back in her chair* Thank the gobs for this one! Well were to begin…

Okay, just think there is only 2 more chapters and then the dear story is over! Yep, you heard right the end is close and it shall be all Aoshi and Misao angst…I think…no I am positive.

Do not fret though for anyone wandering about any of the other "couplings" in the story because Noa has decided that the end will come, but a rather HUGE epilogue will follow so Mara-san don't fret you'll find out about Saitou ad Tokio okay? Anyone who is interested in Sano and Megumi will find out how they faired through everything and the same goes for Kenshin and Kaoru.

Did anyone else predict that Kaoru was going to have more then one baby? I wanted her to have more then one because…well you'll see in the next chapter okay?

Okay so whoever said I had some fetish with babies and children in my story is correct now, but come on, the thought of seeing little Rurouni Kenshin children is just too adorable and must be created into stories.

Now on another note, Noa has finally updated her Website 'Definity in Motion - Home of Noa's Fanfiction' and has produced her own Aoshi gallery, complete with about 55 screencaps with the help of her best friend Al-chan! (^_^) Do go have a look if you wish, I won't mind, but I think they kind of turned out a bit funny, but it could be my computer…who knows. Anywho I'll have to link the original large pictures up to the small ones so everyone can have a better look at the wonderful Bishounen Male.

www.noahazuma.com

I want to thank everyone for reading and reviewing as always. It means heaps and I'm so glad so many people enjoy this story so much…although there are some who don't but ah well…take the bad with the good ne? Anywho I just wanted to thank everyone for their support in continuing on with this story, for giving it a chance and also for being patient while Noa types out other unfinished stories as well. On a good note though…at least there is only 2 more chapters and an epilogue to go!

Spelling and grammar mistakes? Most likely and I apologise, but I wanted to get it out or else I'd forget about it…

Ja ne Minna-san and please review! Till next time! (^_^)