Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin belongs to Nobuhiro Watsuki, Sony, Jump, etc. It is used without permission and no money is being made from this fic. It is purely for entertainment purposes.


The Reunion

Chapter 13: The Future In A Nutshell


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Kaoru and Misao looked at each other and smiled widely, eager to see what would appear. They glanced down the row at Megumi and she returned their eager expressions with a small clapping motion and a huge grin.


Sano's eyes lit up. "Hey! There I am!...Where's my clothes?!"


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Sano was dressed in a dark grey western suit, standing outside the clinic. His normal red headband was gone and his hair was cropped shorter. Megumi made her way outside, dressed in a black floor length gown with a high neckline and long sleeves. Small diamond earrings were in her ears and she was clutching a small black handbag.


"Okay, I'm ready. Let's go!" She smiled brightly at Sanosuke and he looked her up and down.


"You look mighty tasty tonight." He wriggled his eyebrows suggestively and Megumi blushed.


"Sano! Behave yourself." She swatted his arm and they strolled toward a new theater in town. "I'm so excited to see this play!"


Sano chuckled. "I know. And who would of guessed Tsubame would be the lead?"


Megumi shook her head. "It amazed all of us. Yahiko bet her she was too shy to try out and then she did it just to prove to him she wasn't as shy as she used to be and then she ended up with the lead."


Megumi's smile went from amusement to glee when she saw Kaoru and Kenshin up ahead at the entrance to the theater. "Hi, Kaoru-chan! Ken-san!"


Sano waved a greeting as the girls set in to talking.


Kaoru leaned against the wall of the building. "We're waiting for everyone to arrive before we go in so we can all sit together."


Kenshin chuckled at Kaoru. "Tsubame gave us all front row seats. We'll be sitting together anyway, koishii."


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Kaoru and Kenshin blushed brightly. What they saw next caused their eyes to bug out.


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When Kaoru turned from the building so they could see her from the side, she was very pregnant.


Megumi glanced down at the bulging belly. "How have you been feeling lately?"


Kaoru rolled her eyes. "You're just as bad as Kenshin! He won't even allow me to go to the market by myself and you're always playing the role of doctor!"


Megumi put up her hands. "I know. I know. I can't help it. But, with your pains last week, you should be willing to tell me how you are for the sake of your child."


"Megumi, I'm fine. Nothing more has happened. Just normal, big pregnant woman things. You know, sore back and feet, feeling tired, kind of depressed about being so huge. Nothing that will hurt the baby."


Megumi nodded and turned to Kenshin to ask him a question when she saw him waving down the street. She turned to look and saw Misao and Aoshi approaching. She quickly turned to Kaoru. "Have they made progress yet?"


Kaoru spoke through her clenched teeth and smile. "Not yet, but we're working on it."


They reached the group and Misao hugged each person. "I'm so happy to see you guys!"


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Everyone gasped as they saw Misao. Aoshi's eyes went wide. She's pretty now, but gods! She's absolutely gorgeous!


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Misao was dressed in a dark blue kimono with silver accents sparcely sprinkled on it. Her hair had been cut so it was almost to her waist, it hung loose and one side had a barrett in the shape of a flower holding it back delicately. The figure she worried about so much had filled out and she had matured into a beauty.


Many of the male patrons had given her covetous glances, but when one was bold enough to approach her, Aoshi gave him a scowl behind Misao's back and mouthed the word, "Mine" to the frightened young man.


Kaoru caught it out of the corner of her eye and grinned. Oooh, I'm telling Misao tonight!


They all got seated and Yahiko came out from behind the stage to sit with them. Kaoru leaned over to speak to him. "How's Tsubame?"


Yahiko scratched the back of his head. "I feel kind of bad for daring her to do this. She's so nervous, but she refuses to let her understudy perform. She says she can and will do the show tonight."


Kenshin smiled at the young man. "Perhaps she needs to do this to feel better about herself. Maybe she needs to prove to herself more than us that she can do the show."


Kaoru squeezed her husband's hand. He always knew just the right things to say. The theater darkened and hushed whispers were heard along with 'shh'. The lights on the stage came up and the curtain pulled back, revealing Tsubame sitting at a bureau, apparently preparing to give some sort of performance.


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Misao let out an awed, "Wow. Tsubame grew up a lot!"


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The scene shifted and everyone stood outside talking to Tsubame and Tae. Kaoru reached over and hugged Tsubame, albeit awkwardly with her round stomach. "You were so wonderful up there!"


Tsubame blushed. "Thank you. It was scary, but I did one show and that's all I wanted to do. My understudy will be doing the rest of them."


Tae invited everyone to the Akabeko, but only Yahiko could make it. Kaoru was having back pains so naturally Kenshin was going with her. Misao and Aoshi were staying with them and Megumi had to work the next day. Sano smiled. "Whatever the wife says, goes."


Megumi winked at him. "And don't you forget it!"


As they walked away Sano leaned in close to her ear. "You see Kaoru's state?" A nod from Megumi. "Why don't we work on making one of our own?"


Megumi giggled at him. "Only if you promise to fix the roof tomorrow."


"No problem."


"And do the yard work, chop the firewood, polish the floors."


Sano stopped her list with a quick kiss. "Your wish is my command, your highness."


Megumi giggled again as they walked off.


Kenshin watched Kaoru as she brushed out her hair. "This baby better come out soon! I'm tired of being fat!"


Kenshin watched in amusement as she went through her nightly routine of trying to gracefully sit on the futon, a talent she had yet to master. "Koishii, the baby will come out when it's ready. Just be patient."


Kaoru glared at him. "You carry this around for nine months and see how patient you are."


Kenshin chuckled. "You win. Now just lay down and go to sleep."


Kaoru complied with his wishes and when he wrapped his arm around her, her irritated expression softened. "Kenshin, I love you."


"I love you, too, Kaoru."


Misao went to sit outside and clear her head. Kaoru had said Aoshi was being possessive at the theater. She told her all about the frightened young man who was actually going to approach her. Misao dropped her head back to look up at the stars and sighed softly.


Aoshi came out of his room to do his nighttime meditation when he saw Misao sitting outside in her yukata. The reflection of the moon off the koi pond cast a light behind her and made her seem to glow. He took a deep breath and made his way over to her.


"Misao."


She looked up startled. "Oh, Aoshi-sama! I didn't hear you approaching. Sorry, I guess my skills are a little rusty." She gave a soft giggle and Aoshi's expression softened. "What are you out here for?"


"My nighttime meditation. You?"


"Couldn't really sleep." She paused to look into the pond, wondering if she should say why she couldn't sleep. "I kind of envy Kaoru and Himura. They got married two years ago, they have a baby on the way. They have what I wish I did, but don't seem close to having."


Aoshi eyed her intently. "Misao, you can have those things."


Misao closed her eyes. "Can I? With who? Some stranger who I barely know that Jiya sets me up with? I don't want that. I don't want a marriage that comes from convenience. I want to marry someone because I love them."


Aoshi grit his teeth. Should I? I finally accepted that I love her and she loves me. Is now the right time to tell her? He was close enough that he could just lean forward and kiss her. And that's exactly what he did. Misao's eyes went wide and a blush rose on her cheeks. She let her eyes drift shut and allowed Aoshi to lead her. It wasn't a very long kiss, but the shock of it left Misao and Aoshi breathless.


Misao stared at Aoshi wide-eyed and Aoshi looked her in the eye. "Misao, I shouldn't have done that. I'm s..." Misao cut him off as she launched herself on him. He toppled backward off the bench and Misao landed unceremoniously on top of him. She quickly kissed him again.


"I won't let you apologize, Aoshi-sama. That was my first kiss and you are not going to ruin it with an apology like you didn't want it to happen."


Aoshi stared at her astonished and then his face went from amused, to a small smile, to chuckling, to outright laughing. Misao blinked hard as she stared at him. Her first impulse was to smile at seeing him laugh like that and then she got mad. "Hey! You don't have to laugh about it being my first kiss! I was waiting for you, baka!"


Aoshi stopped laughing and brushed some hair behind her ear. "I'm sorry. I'm not laughing because it's your first kiss. I honestly don't know what I'm laughing about. I just feel better than I've felt in a long time and wanted to laugh." He gave her a warm smile and Misao felt her eyes tear up.


"I've waited for so long to see you smile." She leaned over and kissed him again and then remembered their position. She scurried to get off him, blushing hard through it all. "I'm sorry! I forgot I was...um...Sorry for tackling you."


Aoshi bit his bottom lip to keep from laughing again, but a few chuckles escaped. He ran a hand through his hair and took both of Misao's hands. Misao bit the inside of her mouth hard to make sure she wasn't dreaming. Sure enough, it hurt. "Misao, I wanted to tell you something. I wasn't sure when to say it, but I guess tonight is as good a time as any. I think lately, due to your maturing and the fact that I'm starting to forgive myself, I've realized a lot of things I was blind to before. Such as how I really feel about you."


Misao's stomach started doing flips. Was he going to say what she thought he was going to say?


"I love you, Misao. Maybe it wasn't a passionate love at first, but a crush sort of love. Now, I want more than anything for you to be my wife and the mother of all my children. I want to spend eternity and beyond with you and a family that we create together. So, will you marry me?"


Misao started to cry and laugh at the same time, which Aoshi found a bit odd, but kind of cute. Misao hugged him as tight as she could, rivaling Jiya. "Of course, baka! You know how long I've waited for that?! I'm so happy, Aoshi. I love you, too."


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Misao was blushing and Aoshi had a very faint, but detectable stain on his cheeks. Sano laughed. "So, the icicle will thaw? That's good news for you, Misao!"


Misao smiled at all of them as she declared, "I told you all Aoshi had a smile in there and I was going to find it."


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The screen lit up again and this time Kaoru was slightly pregnant, chasing after a 4 year old, Kenji. "Kenji Himura! You get back here this instant!"


Kenshin smiled as he entered from the market. "What's wrong?"


Kaoru glared at her son as he hid behind his father's legs. "He painted in the dojo again! I swear, Uncle Sano is paying to have it fixed this time! It was his bright idea to give a toddler finger paints!"


Kenshin giggled and lifted his small clone up so he was face to face with him. "Kenji, we told you about using your paints only on paper, right?"


"Yes, Tousan."


"Then why did you paint the wall?"


"I was trying to make it pretty for Kaasan's birthday present." His little lip quivered and Kaoru felt like crying.


"Oh, Kenji. I appreciate the thought, but I would love it more if you would paint a picture on paper for me." Kaoru took her little boy and hugged him close. "That way, I could take it wherever I go and show people how talented my little Kenji is." She smiled brightly at him and he kissed her cheek.


He took off for his room to paint his creation on paper. "I love you, Mommy!"


Kenshin called to his son. "Hey, Kenji! What about me?"


"You love Mommy, too, Daddy!"


Kenshin and Kaoru both laughed. Kenshin pulled his wife close. "He was right, you know."


Kaoru winked. "I know. How do you think we ended up with three kids?"


As if on cue, a 2 year old Shinta came bounding out to his parents. He raised his chubby arms to be picked up and Kenshin scooped him high into the air, twirling him overhead. He clapped his hands and giggled as he yelled out, "Birdy! Birdy!"


Kaoru sighed as he was put down and went off to find his older brother. "This one better look like me. Both those children are a mirror image of you."


Kenshin smiled devilishly at her. "We could keep trying until we get one that does look like you."


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Kaoru blushed and Kenshin 'ORO!'ed and fell over. Megumi's fox ears popped up. "Why, Ken-san! I didn't know you could be so naughty! Ohohohohoho!"


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Kenshin and Kaoru were sharing a kiss in the yard when a familiar voice was heard down the street. "Aoshi! I can walk just fine! Put me down!"


Kaoru smiled and her two children came running from the house. "Auntie Misao and Uncle Aoshi! Yay! Yay! Yay!"


Kenshin opened the gate for them and Misao hugged him, her swollen abdomen making it difficult. Kaoru giggled as Misao huffed at Aoshi. "He thinks I'm made of glass or something!"


Kaoru hugged her friend. "Welcome to the club! I've been glass for the entire 6 years Kenshin and I have been married. You get used to it."


Misao rolled her eyes as she caught sight of her husband. "Was he THIS bad?"


Kaoru looked over at Aoshi. "What is he doing?"


Aoshi was stealthily walking the grounds, peering around corners, looking up into trees, as if he were looking for something.


"He's checking to make sure it's safe. Like we could be under attack at any moment." Misao blew a hair out of her face. "It's endearing at first, but after six months it's just infuriating. I can't get a drink of water without an escort to the kitchen."


Kenshin stepped up to the women. "He's just concerned. I was the same way. I still am, but Kaoru will tell you it gets better after the first pregnancy."


Kaoru was about to retort, but a squeal from her youngest caught her attention. He was up in a nearby tree, Aoshi pointing out things to him.


Misao's annoyed demeanor changed and she smiled at her husband. "He's so cute when he wants to be. I love watching him play with kids. He'll be a wonderful father."


Kaoru giggled when Shinta found pulling Aoshi's hair to be more interesting than whatever it was they were looking at. Aoshi was trying to gently pull his hair free, but two year olds can be freakishly strong. Kenshin yelled up to his son, "Let Uncle Aoshi's hair go. It's not nice to pull hair." Shinta let go and smiled innocently at his father.


Kaoru shook her head. "He got that from you, Kenshin."


Kenshin gave her his innocent smile. "I don't know what you mean, Kaoru."


Misao giggled at them and then her eyes lit up when she saw Sano and Megumi come in. "Sano! Megumi! How are you?"


Megumi patted her flat stomach. "Finally lost all the baby weight."


Misao narrowed her eyes. "Don't start on that, Fox Lady. I've still got to go through the birth, let alone lose the weight."


She spotted the tiny bundle Sano was holding and bounced up to him. "Aw, she's beautiful!"


The proud papa beamed at everyone. "Her name is Ayao."


Misao 'aww'ed again. "I want mine to come out!"


Aoshi put an arm around her shoulders. "Three more months and it will." He turned his attention to Kaoru. "Thank you for letting us stay with you. It was important to Misao that Megumi deliver the baby."


Misao smiled at him. "It's more special if you're surrounded by friends."


The scene shifted and Misao was sitting on a futon, propped against Aoshi, a small baby in her arms. She was weeping softly and Aoshi looked as if he would do the same, mixed with wonder and excitement. "What will we call him, anata?"


Aoshi kissed the top of her head and wrapped his arms around her to touch his new son. "Hannya?"


Misao smiled at the new baby and tried the name on him. "Hannya. Do you want to be 'Hannya'?"


He paused in his crying and looked directly at his parents. Aoshi's eyes misted over. "I think he likes it."


Misao let out a small half-laugh/half-sob. "I think so too. I love you, Aoshi."


"I love you, Misao."


"And I love my little Hannya."


Aoshi took the child from her so she could sleep. "I love you, son."


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Akino opened her eyes and the scene faded away. "I'm so exhausted. But, at least you've seen what you needed to see. See how happy you could be? If you'd just allow yourselves to be loved and love others in return!"


Kenshin left the dojo and motioned for Aoshi and Sanosuke to follow him. They all left the dojo wordlessly and the women wondered what the heck was going on.


Kaoru stood up, Tanuki attitude taking over. "That's it! Let's go see what they're doing and what we need to do to be happy!"


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A/N: This is kind of long, but I couldn't find a good stop in the middle of their future. I think it's a bit sappy, but I was trying to convey lots of loooove. ^__^ Anyway, review and let me know what ya think. Hugs & Kisses! One more chapter to go!