Happy holidays to all of you! Happy new year too!
Thanks for the many reviews, guys! You like me, you really like me! ^^ Responses at the end.
Oh, and I found out how to format so there won't be large spaces. Hope you like the change!
Dialogue-driven chapter coming your way. ^_^
"Musume" is daughter, and "musuko" is son.
…………………………….
"It will be a girl, Kaoru-dono!" Kenshin argued with certainty from one end of the table.
"A baby that kicks so much is not a girl!" Kaoru retorted from the other end, and patted her stomach where the baby just kicked. "It's a boy!"
"Musume, Kaoru-dono!"
"Musuko!"
"Stop this already, you two hotheads!" Sanosuke separated husband and wife as he spread his strong arms wide. He faced Yahiko, still munching on a rice ball for breakfast. "How did this squabble start?"
"They don't know what kind of clothes to get for the baby, if for a boy or a girl," the spiky-haired boy calmly explained without looking up from his breakfast.
"Why not get for both?" Misao cheerfully suggested from the kitchen door.
"Expensive." Aoshi rationalized while sipping tea, to which Kenshin nodded with his oro face.
Sanosuke asked the combatants. "So what happens now?"
"I go to work, de gozaru," the redhead called the truce, picked up a last rice ball, and exited.
Misao had to ask, astounded. "Is this the same Himura that I saw passionately kiss Kaoru-san, just last week?!"
Three young men and a young pregnant woman nodded their heads with indifference.
……………………………….
"Have you heard about the mysterious stranger, sensei?" one of Kenshin's students asked during a practice break, a little later that morning. The trainer shook his head.
"Yeah, a guy has been roaming around the city recently, not bothering anybody, but walking around and asking questions," another rookie cop added.
"Description, de gozaru ka?" Kenshin asked.
"Not old, not too young," the first student began. "Smart dresser! I haven't seen Western-style clothes look so good!"
"Probably rich, too," the second included. "Chinese silk! He wore a suit made of Chinese silk!"
Only one individual that Himura Kenshin knew wore Chinese silk, and he shuddered at the thought that he was in Tokyo again. Still, he maintained a nonchalant demeanor. Other eccentric, rich, Japanese people could wear the same thing, he reasoned. "Anything else? Face? Hair?"
"Rumor has it that the stranger is a trader, a businessman, sensei," yet another student got himself included in the conversation. "However, people have been trying to get information out of him, to no avail. Nobody gets to see his face very well; he keeps it under a big hat."
Kenshin rubbed his chin thoughtfully, analyzing all of their clues. It could be him, but then it might not be him. As he was not officially part of the police force, he was not required to poke his nose into these affairs, and he decided not to press further. "Arigatou de gozaimashita," he concluded, and stood up. "I wish you all well with the investigation into the man. But now we have to start another lesson, alright?"
………………………………………..
"ITAIII!!" Kaoru once again found herself gripping her stomach in pain, as a helpless Misao looked on. "As if the throw-ups a few months ago weren't bad enough!" She did not care that they were in the middle of a crowded area of the market. She had to cry out, to release some of the awful cramps. The cramps were coming closer with each passing day. Still, she could not get used to them.
"Breathe in and out, in and out, slowly, in and out………" the Oniwabanshuu ninja quoted from her well-thumbed book.
"SHUT UP, MISAO-CHAN!!"
More than a hundred people in the market quickly looked at the two women, as Kaoru's voice reverberated throughout the area. They could only look back at the crowd with sheepish and red faces.
They quickly turned a corner into a narrow and deserted street, to avoid further embarrassment. There Kaoru waited out the ordeal, and tried to follow Misao's instructions, until the pain subsided.
By, then, however, they were no longer alone.
As she gave out a final sigh of relief, Kaoru felt the sharp point of a knife on her back. Misao was still too concerned for her friend to fully comprehend what was happening, until too late.
"Don't look behind you, ladies," a harsh voice instructed. "I only want your money. If you give it to me without a fuss, you'll leave here unharmed."
The ladies were unfazed. "You picked on the wrong girls, you creep!" Misao spun around, and readied her kunai in her slender hands.
"You're right about that, Misao!" and Kaoru swung her purse toward the robber's head. Misao threw a couple of kunai, and pinned the man to a wall .
And without warning, someone else landed a straight punch to the robber's stomach, leaving the man slumped on the ground, unconscious. Even the women were surprised at this second attack.
"This man, um, disturbing you, ladies?"
Misao and Kaoru looked up to Sanosuke's grinning face, flushed with victory. He was happily driving his sore right fist into his left palm.
"We could've handled ourselves quite nicely without you, rooster head!" Misao pouted.
"Sure, sure, whatever ya say, weasel girl," Sanosuke teased. He then became rather serious. "You girls better be careful. There are rumors of a stranger lurking around Tokyo, and nobody knows his intentions. A man in a big hat. Look out for that guy, will ya?"
"We will, Sano!" Misao and Kaoru sweetly promised.
……………………………….
Yahiko was in seventh heaven. Tsubame was beside him as he fetched water from the well. They were finally having a decent conversation!
Now was the best time, there won't be another chance like this again!
"Tsubame-san, um, could I ask you a question?" Yahiko began, as they headed back to the Akabeko, both hands sweating profusely, holding a bucket full of newly-drawn water.
"Sure, Yahiko-chan---I, I mean, Yahiko-kun," the waitress smiled.
Nothing could possibly ruin this moment!
"Tsubame-san, anou, could I possibly, that is, if it is alright with you…………"
"Yes, Yahiko-kun?" Tsubame's face was full of expectation.
That was when Yahiko's sweaty palms lost their grip on the bucket, and half the water splashed onto his hakama. Yahiko jumped away as the cold water reached his skin, then tripped and fell full on his back. Tsubame quickly grabbed for the bucket, left it by the wall, and came to Yahiko's rescue.
A dazed Yahiko found himself flat on the pavement, gazing up at the warm blue eyes and concerned face of his one true love. "Yahiko-kun? Are you alright, Yahiko-kun?" she was asking in the midst of the fog in his rattled brain.
This was a nice view of Tsubame, but it made him look like a weakling. He sat up and reassured her that he was fine. Now, to get back to what he was trying to say………Tsubame's angelic face was still in front of his own……….nothing could get any better than this………………….
A man unexpectedly tapped Yahiko on the shoulder. "Sorry for the intrusion," he addressed the two teenagers. Never mind that the boy was still sitting on the ground, with a girl kneeling beside him.
Gak, the timing of this guy! Yahiko fumed.
The man in Western clothes half-kneeled beside them. "Kamiya dojo, please. Where do I find it?"
Do NOT remind me of the Kamiya dojo at this exact point in my life, PLEASE, you crazy man! Yahiko's face was twisting into an angry mass.
"Straight down this street, a little past the Oguni clinic," Tsubame calmly answered and pointed.
"My thanks." The man stood up again, and left the two alone by themselves. Yahiko sighed with relief.
"Now before anything ELSE gets in the way, I'm asking you," Yahiko almost angrily sped through his words. "Are you free tomorrow night? I plan to treat you to dinner, anywhere you like—within my means, of course. But you know what I mean, don't you?"
"It will be my pleasure!" Tsubame happily agreed.
"Good!" Yahiko was still in a furious, excited state. "I'll meet you here tomorrow after work, and we'll go wherever you like for dinner. Noodles, sushi, anything goes. I will make SURE that Tae or Kaoru or Kenshin will NOT ruin this date for us!"
"Oh, of course, Yahiko-chan----I mean, Yahiko-kun!"
………………………………
"Sagara, you are home early," Aoshi's arms were folded in front of his chest, as he sat ramrod-straight at the front porch, waiting for the sun to set that afternoon.
"Not my idea, Aoshi," Sanosuke shrugged, as he lowered a small crate. "The post office made me bring this home. It's for the Himuras, but I don't know why."
"Neither do I," Kenshin had stepped inside the dojo and sat beside the two at the porch. "I didn't order anything, de gozaru yo."
"Tadaima," Kaoru hobbled up to the porch and greeted her husband, Misao trailing after her. "Who gave us the crate?"
"Dunno," Sanosuke repeated. "You mean you didn't order anything, jo-chan?"
"I've never ordered anything ever again, not after that cake incident last year," Kaoru reminded him with shame.
Yahiko entered at this point, after a whole day's work. "Oi, what's everybody fussing about?"
"I move that we open the crate now," Misao recommended, completely ignoring him, "It might have a bomb inside."
The –gumi agreed. Aoshi took out a knife, and deftly undid the crate's cover. Kenshin readied his sword and a hand on Kaoru, Misao looked intently at the crate, Sanosuke prepared to run from the porch, and a puzzled Yahiko stepped back from the box.
Aoshi lifted the cover. They prepared for the worst.
Five seconds.
Ten.
Fifteen.
"But there are only clothes in this crate!" Yahiko peered into the wooden box. The rest of the –gumi looked in and confirmed this, surprised.
"Search the whole crate! Take everything out!" Misao ordered.
Sanosuke inverted the crate. Out tumbled all the contents of the box.
"Clothes, just clothes!" Yahiko noted.
"Baby clothes!" Kaoru added, as she picked up one little kimono. "The best fabric, too!"
Kenshin picked up one little article of clothing after another. They were all made for a baby, and were all in neutral colors, neither decidedly feminine nor masculine. And it was true what Kaoru noted. The clothes were of the finest spun cotton. Some were even made of silk. Obviously from the best clothing store in the district. They could not be bought with the income any and all of the –gumi currently made.
"Oro! At least that deals with our problem this morning, de gozaru!" Kenshin exclaimed. Everyone else sweatdropped.
"Any leads to who could have sent this?" Misao asked in an official tone.
Sanosuke searched the whole box, but found no means of identification with the source. "The postman told me he didn't know who it came from, either. Just this man with dark glasses and a silk coat left it there with instructions. Didn't see him myself."
"It's probably the same guy Tsubame and I met," Yahiko added. "His voice sounded familiar, but I'm not so sure. He asked where he could find the Kamiya dojo. Silk coat, right? Tall man, dark glasses, big hat?"
"Big hat?" Kaoru piped in. "Isn't that the guy you were warning us about, Sano?"
"I do not want to scare all of you," Aoshi spoke, "Someone has been loitering just outside the dojo and watching our movements this afternoon. As mentioned, a tall man wearing dark glasses, a large hat, and a silk coat." He nodded at Kenshin.
Kaoru and Misao looked at each other in alarm.
"But what would a tall man want with us? Why would he send us baby clothes?" Yahiko inquired in confusion.
"I should like to know as well." Kenshin stood up, and assumed a stern demeanor. "Aoshi, Sano, be ready for anything. Yahiko, take care of Misao-dono and Kaoru-dono."
He proceeded to the dojo gate, left hand on his sword, and a grave face. He left the dojo gate open, so the people inside could hear anything he said. They kept a close eye on him from the front porch.
They heard him address someone just outside their field of vision.
"How long do you intend to wait there…………Enishi?"
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It was rather obvious, I know. I think I meant it to be that way.
For the benefit of the general reading public, I'm aiming at 20 chapters. ^^
Spellcaster the Diamond, Oh, you're so welcome! S/M mushiness will return eventually. The fic will continue, it will!
Ayce Shade, no more Battousai-ness after those chaps. ^^
Ro-Chan, I like your 12 Days fic much! Initially I was also thinking about that farming bit, but I don't know enough to expand it. Besides, Tokyo then was already a rather big city then, so you won't get a farm nearby.
Shiko, sorry for making you cry. Yup, I basically plan to run the plot as you said it. Maybe not the 5-10 years bit, though, since the way SeisouHen has it is so darn DEPRESSING!!
CardMistress Sakura, say hello to your Draco plushie for me! ^_^
Chiki, thanks for the gambatte's, but I think I did awful on that test. I studied, I did! I'm pretty good in English, but Filipino grammar and rhetoric is dreadfully annoying!! No baby yet, that's a few chapters off. ^^ I like Kya-kyaff's Enishi and Sano a lot. I've finally got to reading "When the World Revolves Around You". Everything is well characterized, congratulations! You deserve all your reviews. Get well soon!
JML, thanks again for the basket stuff. You already mentioned the "Aoshi-dono" thing, so I keep the –dono off most of the time. I was just emphasizing the rurouni mode at that point. How come I read on a website that pre-labor contractions last for a few months? ^^ Thanks for the help all the same!
C-Chan, an enumeration test asks you to list down a set of things. Example: "(1-10) List all of the Hiten Mitsurugi techniques." Now that's a pure recall and memorization type test, and I'm the worst at that kind of thing!! Sure I know my stuff, but not word for word. ^^ AACK! I'm not established yet, but I'm glad people read my stuff. It's nice motivation to keep doing a good job!
Sabrina-star, scarf stuff over, I already explained about Aoshi and Misao. Keep reading!
Fehrocious, yes, she came, thanks for the suggestions!
Kriska, thanks for the compliments. Suggestions are still welcome, since I know I can still improve. Oh, sure, Aoshi has plans, I just don't know how he'll go about it!
Moonwind, OK, you got more out of me!
Jibeth, thanks for the compliments. Hope you keep reading!
Soul, oh, yeah, Misao is one cool character! And sometimes she could get crazy missions like that, for the sake of world peace---I mean, to get her Aoshi-sama!
Kaoru Himura, I won't do both again to your husband. ^^ Make him sick and make him go Battousai.
Xellina, thanks a lot! I like Misao a lot, too!
Kurara, Misao just has ninja instincts to go snoop around, but she's not too good at it. ^^
Anonymous reviewer, identify yourself!! Thanks for the compliments about the grammar and spelling. It comes with working on the material for several days, and not uploading until I'm almost perfectly happy with the chappie. ^_^
Siomei, don't worry about it. I KNOW university exams, they're horrible. Sorry, like I said, I'm not too good at describing mush. Crystal, long time no see, kabayan! Misao will be alright.
Ayumi, thanks for spending precious time reading this fic! Yup, Ao and Mi will stay until the fic ends. ^^
Until next time!