THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!! 150+ REVIEWS!! THANK YOU!!!

For the people suggesting 2 separate stories: I had considered the idea of a sequel. But, seeing as this is going to follow the same plot, I decided to keep it as one big fic (my fics tend to get long-winded anyway…I suppose fans of my Inu Yasha trilogy got lucky that I split that into 3 separate stories.). Also, I wasn't sure if all the people reading would find there way to a new fic and I want to keep the reviews coming!! (I know, I know…I'm selfish!) XD

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"Misao, you shouldn't be doing that."

"I'm fine."

"No, let me do it for you."

The young woman frowned menacingly. For the past week, since Aoshi's birthday and the announcement about the baby, Okon and Omasu had been treating her as if she were breakable. She was incredibly independent and it was extremely frustrating to have them offer to do her chores for her. "Okon, go away. I can handle hanging the laundry on my own."

"But it's freezing cold out there. And it looks like it's about to snow. Aoshi-sama would not want you outside." The older woman reasoned.

Misao sighed. This much was true. Aoshi would be angry at her if she went out when snow was predicted. Especially if she went out to hang wet laundry when the temperature was somewhere around ten degrees and there was a beastly wind.

But when was Misao ever one to listen to reason? She was dressed warm enough, wearing several layers of clothing along with a thick Western jacket and scarf. Her frown deepened. If being pregnant made her helpless, maybe she didn't want a baby. "Well he can deal with it. I'm not going to sit around like a slug and get fat and lazy for the next six months. It's my job to hang out the laundry and I'm going to do it." This said, she brushed past Okon and out the door.

The other woman stood there, her eyebrows knit together in concern. Independent Misao…Always the same way. She didn't need help and she wouldn't accept help. Aoshi would not be pleased. Already rather protective of her, their former leader had practically forbid his wife from doing anything. He didn't want her outside, he didn't want her doing anything strenuous. Poor Misao.

Misao picked her way through the yard, crunching on the remains of the last snowfall. Her arms were wrapped around the basket full of wet laundry and the breeze whipped loose strands of her hair across her face. "Think I can't do anything…I'm not some sort of invalid now that I'm havin' a baby…" She grumbled out loud to herself, "I…What's that?"

Something was dangling from the clothes line, dancing on the wind. Something…It looked like…No! A sick feeling washed over her. The laundry basket fell from her hands and she began to scream.

Aoshi was seated at his desk, in the midst of writing a letter to send to Kenshin when he heard it. A scream like a siren rose up from somewhere outside. Some one was screaming bloody murder and my those screams sounded mighty familiar. That sounds like Misao…

It took a moment for the meaning behind this thought to fully register in his brain. Misao plus screaming equaled something was wrong. Something is wrong…He leapt up from his seat and sprinted out the door. She was doing something she shouldn't have been doing and something happened to the baby. I warned her not to. I told her to take it easy…He followed her terrified screams to the backdoor, but found it impossible to get outside.

Omasu, Okon, Okina and Shiro were huddled around the door, peering into the yard. Outside, Misao was screaming her head off, the laundry scattered and freezing around her feet. Kuro, who had gotten to her first, was doing his best to comfort her. And it didn't seem to be working.

Aoshi pushed his way past the other Oniwabanshu and out the door, tramping across the icy ground to his hysterical wife. "Kuro, what happened to her?" He demanded of the other man. Misao was shaking, her face streaked with tears, and she was still screaming.

"That happened." Kuro nodded in the direction of the clothesline. He was hugging Misao, trying to keep her from having a nervous break down or passing out or both.

Aoshi's gaze followed the nod until his eyes came to rest on what had set the girl off screaming. The line sagged under the added weight of something nearly unidentifiable. It took the man a moment to realize what exactly it was and his face paled when he did.

Swinging gently on the breeze was a cat. He recognized it as a stray that Misao sometimes fed. It had been given a crude disembowelment; it's stomach was ripped opened and entrails hung out, shiny with blood. It's eyes were wide and glassy, staring at nothing, and the clothesline creaked as it danced on the wind.

A nauseous feeling washed over him. That was just disgusting and he had an idea who had done it. Jishin was right to hold a grudge, but to take it out on Misao…That was just wrong. She hadn't done anything to him. I was the one who injured him. I was the one who caused him to catch the house on fire. I was the one who messed up all his plans. He should be attacking me, not her. He frowned, stepping towards the clothesline. "Take her into the house, Kuro. Get her to calm down; give her something warm. She should not be so worked up."

"Wha…What're you going to do, Aoshi-sama?" In her panic-stricken state, Misao forgot the present and the fact that she was married to him. She hadn't been so scared since she was about ten years old and he still was her Aoshi-sama.

He looked over his shoulder at her. She looked so young standing there, Kuro's strong arms wrapped around her, supporting her. They all treated her like family. She was special to them all -like that little sister you couldn't help but love- and Aoshi knew the other man was deeply upset by this. "I'm going to get rid of the cat." He said quietly. He wanted the poor dead animal gone and gone as soon as possible. It gave him the creeps.

"B-bury it…Please don't just throw it away somewhere." She sniffled, clutching at Kuro's sleeve, her fingers clenching, "It was a nice cat…"

Aoshi nodded solemnly. This was a serious situation. Very serious. He shuddered to think what might have happened had she been farther along. The more he thought about something bad happening to the baby, the more he hated Jishin for doing such a thing. "I promise I'll take care of the cat, Itachi. Now go back inside with Kuro. Please." His voice sounded strained.

"Come on, Misao." Kuro lead her back to the door and she wandered behind like a lost soul, clutching his hand in both of hers. He looked over his shoulder at her, his dark eyes full of worry. She stared back at him absently, her eyes wide with fright. "Don't worry." He pulled her forward so that she was in front of him, "Aoshi'll take care of everything."

Okon and Omasu fairly pounced on her when he pushed her through the door. They were a flurry of activity, taking her coat and scarf, telling her to go sit down. Omasu ran outside to gather the discarded laundry.

Misao stood there numbly, trying to say something. Not a word managed to come from her mouth; her throat had constricted so much she could barely swallow. A frightened squeak was the only sound she could make. Then she burst into fresh tears and buried her face in Kuro's chest.

He patted her back, unsure just what to do. It's not every day that one finds one's self trying to comfort a hysterical pregnant girl who is not one's wife. "It'll be okay, Misao." He said slowly, trying to choose his words carefully. He didn't want to say anything that would get Aoshi angry with him. So he said the one safe thing. "Everything will be okay."

Aoshi disposed of the cat by placing it in a box and burying it in the woods. He made it quick, saying a short prayer for the poor animal, then turned to hurry back to the Aoiya, back to his friends, and back to Misao.

He found Kuro still standing in the doorway, hugging Misao and attempting to stop her tears. He removed his sobbing wife from the other man's arms, nodding a silent thanks. He lifted her into his embrace, glad she was so tiny, and cradled her in his arms. She rested her head upon his shoulder, sniffling and hiccupping, and he stroked her hair. "Itachi…I'm sorry you had to see that. I'm so sorry." His lips brushed across her forehead, "I wish you didn't…It must have been terrible."

"I…I shouldn't have seen it…" She sniffled, "Okon wanted me to stay inside…If I had listened…"

"I understand, Itachi." He hugged her tightly, "I know I make you exasperated when I tell you not to do things. I know you do them anyway. I'm not going to be mad at you over it, because I know that's just the kind of person you are. And I'll keep telling not to do things I do not approve of because that's the kind of person I am. None of this is your fault."

"That was awful. Who would do such a thing to an innocent animal?" She stared up at him, her eyes wide blue pools of tears.

A frown crossed his face. He knew damn well who had done it, but he wasn't about to tell her, especially not since she was in a delicate condition. "Probably just some cruel children, Itachi." He caressed her cheek the way she liked and she sighed wearily, snuggling into his arms. She needs to forget…I need to get this off her mind…Don't want anything to upset her or hurt the baby…

"Did I frighten you a lot?" She asked softly, "Were you really worried? I didn't mean to scare you by screaming like that. I know I upset you. I'm sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry about." He kissed her, "That was quite the terrible sight. I would have been more upset if you didn't scream."

A faint smile crossed her face. "I'll have to tell Kuro 'thank you' later. He tried to make me feel better and I cried all over him. But right now," Her voice dropped to a whisper, "I just want to stay with you."

"I know. We'll go sit in my study. No one will dare bother us there." He wanted to be alone with her as much as she needed to be alone with him. She was still hugging him, her arms around his neck, and she still had the air of a lost child about her.

"Do you regret marrying me, Aoshi?" Misao asked softly. He was seated in the leather desk chair and she was snuggled on his lap, "I cause so much trouble. I must've scared everybody, screaming like that. I'm just a child still, aren't I?" She looked up at him, her azure eyes still full of tears.

"Itachi…" His voice was full of warning, "Don't be so cruel to yourself. You're a woman and a beautiful one at that." He wiped the tears from her eyes, "Don't cry. 'Sad' is not an emotion that suits you. I like you best when you're happy and cheerful. One of us at least should be happy."

"Oh Aoshi…" She kissed his cheek, "I'd be a lot happier if every one weren't telling me what I can and can't do. Don't tell them to stop me from doing the stuff I've always done. I won't purposely do anything to hurt myself or the baby. I want our baby more than anything. So please, please tell them to leave me alone about it." She fiddled with one of the buttons on his shirt.

"All right." He nodded slightly, "But you better let me scold you, because I'm your husband and I'm allowed to." He teased.

This caused her to brighten considerably. "Oh no, I get to fight with you more about it." She smiled impishly, "Because you're my husband."

A genuine smile crossed his face and he hugged her. "That's the way I love you; always disobedient and rebellious, always doing as you please. Stay as you are, Itachi." He drew her face up to his and kissed her softly, "Never change."

"I won't." She promised, laying her head back on his shoulder. His arms were around her; he held her protectively and she felt very safe and warm. He was so good to her. So sweet. So unlike how he was around every one else. He had always been that way with her and that's why she loved him. She knew the true heart of the man behind the ice blue eyes.

He stroked her hair absently, worried over her health and the well-being of their unborn child. This had potential to get very serious, were Jishin really behind the mutilated cat. That man was trouble and Aoshi knew it. He held Misao a little closer. Itachi, I swear on my life, I will never let anything happen to you…

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Got my Aoshi plushie today!! *huggles plushie* IT'S SO KAWAII!