A/N- Ack! Once again, I forgot the disclaimer! Okay, so here it is: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin or any of its characters. I only lay claim to Genichi!

Chapter 2- Rain of Tears

It hadn't stopped raining since the birth of their son three days before. But now, it seemed to have even more of a meaning to it, as if foretelling the events about to occur.

Aoshi stood outside the door to the spare bedroom, where the doctor and her "aids" once again surrounded Misao. His ice blue eyes were fixed on the rain as it tumbled to the garden by the thousands, his arms crossed tensely over his chest. It may have looked like any other one of his shadowy calm stances, but he was anything but at ease. And an occasional worried shudder passed over him, revealing his inner fears.

Misao had never gained back her strength after the birth of their son. Slowly, it became harder for her to move at all to the point that she was almost paralyzed with pain. Aoshi had remained at her side the entire time, sitting close enough by the futon so that he could run his hand over her head, lifting the bangs off her scorched brow. But most of the time, she wasn't even awake to acknowledge his presence.

He turned around on his heels, approaching the door once again. How he wanted to be in there with her now! He may not have been the warmest of people, but with his beloved wife, it was different. Ever since they mustered up the nerve to confess their true feelings a year before, one could plainly see Aoshi's powerful adoration for Misao. It was she, after all, who brought a smile to his face with her wide grin and sparkling eyes. She was the one who made his life complete and happy. She was the one who idolized and loved him from the start, the one who had never turned against him. Yes, Misao was everything to him.

Aoshi sighed wearily. "Misao," he murmured. "Please hold on."

Creeeeeeeeeeeekkkkkkkkk..

His head snapping up, Aoshi quickly backed up so the door could be opened. Out stepped Kaoru, her face stained with tears and her eyes ready to produce more. Oh no, what was it? What had happened? "Kaoru how is she? What's wrong with Misao?" He ignored the panic in his own voice.

"Aoshi-san, she's.she's dying." came the young woman's shaky answer.

Aoshi's eyes shrunk in disbelief as he absorbed the words. "What?"

Kaoru covered her face in her hands as she told him. "She's bleeding internally.There's nothing that can be done."

The former okashira's mouth dropped open, pure terror paling his face to the point where he looked like he was dying himself. "It can't be.." he thought. "No.not Misao. Oh gods, not my Misao!!!"

Struggling to regain his composure, Aoshi pushed past her and into the room. The smell of blood was the first thing to greet him, turning his stomach over. As he came near to the futon, Megumi was getting up and taking a bag with her.

She looked up at him for a long moment. "I'm sorry. But there is nothing I can do, Aoshi-san."

His eyes flashed in anger, causing her to tense. She had forgotten that he was a powerful warrior and unpredictable at that. Taking his queue, she slipped past and out the door, leaving him to stand over his wife.

Misao slowly opened her eyes, feeling his shadow upon her. "Uh.A-Aoshi.?"

"Misao." Aoshi knelt beside her and, with great care, took her up into his arms so that her head rested on his chest. He tried to say more, but his voice failed him. He simply pressed his head into her dark hair, holding her trembling form against him.

Misao sighed, though it was ragged. "I.I'm so sorry.Aoshi."

"Don't be." He told her, trying to keep his voice even, but the growing lump in his throat made it difficult.

Her glazing eyes peered up at him lovingly for another moment, and then slowly scanned the dark room until they fell upon another form. Their infant son lay sound asleep, covered in blankets so only his head was visible. Misao smiled. "Aoshi.we.still have to.name him."

The man holding her lifted his gaze to their child. He had been so worked up over his wife, that he didn't have much time to regard the infant. He honestly didn't want to think of a name now, as he had become a sort of deathbed for Misao, but to please her, he thought about it. "What about.Genichi?"

Misao nodded slightly before relaxing against him completely. "Hai.that's.a good.name."

He could sense her ki was diminishing. No, she couldn't go; she couldn't leave him. Panic filled his eyes as her breathing became more rapid. "Misao! Misao please don't die! Don't go!"

He'd never begged anyone over anything before, but he wasn't thinking about keeping his composure anymore. His wife was dying and there was nothing he could do.

Reaching up with a shaky arm, she placed her hand on his cheek, fingers catching in his thick, ill kept hair. Even in her dying breaths, her face still radiated in beauty and happiness, sadness now invisible in her frosty eyes. "I.love you.Aoshi." she whispered. "Please.take.care of.Genichi.And don't.blame yourself.it's no.one's.fault."

While his other hand pulled her even closer, his free hand caught the one about to fall from his cheek. "I love you too, Misao.I always have and I always will."

She died peacefully right there in his lap, that small smile never fading even as her ki did. Aoshi squeezed his eyes shut, burying his face in her hair. "..Misao.." Tears slipped down his face unlike ever before, matching the rain that poured outside. "Misao...MISAO!!!!!"

Genichi instantly woke up and began to wail. The Kenshin-gumi heard the two cries throughout the house: that of a bawling infant, and the mournful cry of his grieving father. They were sorrowful sounds that not even the pattering rain could drown out.