Eep! Finally, an update! I wish it didn't take me so long…But I was having slight writer's block and I started a new ficcy called "Serendipity." Gomen *bows*

Anyway, this should be wrapping up soon. Maybe 2 or 3 more chapters, counting this one, and an epilogue. Oh, and guess what! I talked to the Kenshin look-alike! His name is Jeff (Just like in the dream I had O_O;;)

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"Aoi seems to be the picture of health. I watched her for a full week and she's perfectly fine; no colds, no illnesses at all, no breathing problems. She's eating well and she cries, just like any other newborn. She's just small, but that's nothing to worry about."

Megumi smiled as she finished her report of the tiny baby's progress. Little Aoi was remarkably healthy; she'd shown no signs of any of the usual problems that came with a premature birth. The kitsune had been checking on her periodically in the week since she'd been born and had given a good report every time.

Misao smiled broadly, her daughter cuddled in her arms. Aoshi looked down at them, the faintest trace of a smile on his face. She doesn't look so small when Misao holds her…But then, Misao is also so petite. Although none of that matters. I'm just relieved that they're both okay.

Misao had made a quick recovery and was back to her usual optimistic self after a second day, saying that "if her baby survived one ordeal, she could survive another." Aoi would live, and grow, and be happy, and no one could tell Misao otherwise.

"Thank you, Megumi-san." The weasel said brightly, "Thanks for everything. I was scared out of my mind. I thought I would lose her." She held the baby close to her heart; her smile soft, her eyes shining with happiness.

"You're welcome. But that's just what I do. Now I've got to be on my way. I have some more patients to see." The other woman smiled, patting Aoi on the head, "You'll be fine, Kid."

After Megumi left, Misao turned to Aoshi. "Why so quiet?" She asked curiously, shifting the baby in her arms. He had seemed particularly mute all week, hovering around the two of them, but never saying much.

"I love you, Misao. I love Aoi too. I have been worried about you both." He lightly touched the baby's feathery hair, his fingers running across her brow. He smiled faintly when Aoi turned her deep blue eyes to his face.

"We're fine, Aoshi." She smiled, handing the little girl to her papa. He took the baby, holding her carefully in his arms as if afraid she would break. She watched him carefully, knowing a real smile would soon grace his face. Aoi was a joy to him and she loved to see him smile.

The baby snuggled up on his shoulder, breathing a deep sigh. She had turned out to look a lot like him, with icy blue eyes and very dark hair. Her expression was quizzical, her cry lusty and her energy boundless. Already she was keeping them up at night, screaming at the most inopportune times. And Kenshin was right. Misao conveniently slept through it most of the time.

But pressing more on his mind was the matter of Jishin. Over the course of the week, he had gone out searching for the deranged man several times, all to no avail. That rich little skunk had gotten good at hiding himself away and that made Aoshi nervous.

"You're not really that worried about us, are you? It's Jishin that's making you so upset. You think he's going to hurt one of us, don't you?" She paused, "I worry about that too. I wouldn't be able to stand it if something happened to Aoi and I dread the idea of her without a mother or father."

He smoothed back her hair with his free hand. "Nothing will happen to either of us or Aoi, Itachi. I would kill him before he could lay a finger on you. And if he even comes within a hundred feet of Aoi, he'll be dead ten times over before he hit's the ground."

"Aoshi…Do you have to kill him? I hate the thought of you killing him. It's not his fault he went crazy." She frowned, staring at her feet.

"I don't want to, but I see no other way to stop him. Something needs to be done." He sighed, patting Aoi on the back. She fussed a little, burying her face in his shoulder, and he looked down at her. "We need to move forwards in our lives; to be a family with our Aoi-chan. But we can't do that with him skulking in the darkness. He'll be a threat until he's dead."

"I understand." She looked up, her face darkened by concern. I just want to be happy…And not have to worry about things like that. I want us to be free from worries. But it's sad that he'll have to die for us to be happy.

"Don't frown like that." His hand brushed across her cheek, he bent over to kiss her, "It's very unbecoming of you."

She blushed. His affection at times could still fluster her, especially then when she felt so out of shape. Her tummy was still soft and her chest had filled out; she didn't feel a thing like herself.

But she readily accepted his kiss, her eyes shutting as she craned her neck upwards. The baby made a little mewling sound, ruining their moment, then began to cry.

"She must be hungry." Reluctantly, Misao drew back from his embrace, taking the tiny baby in her arms. She rubbed Aoi's cheek, causing the little girl to turn towards her. "Are you hungry, my little Aoi-chan?"

Aoshi watched the interaction between mother and daughter; the tender moment between his wife and child. He felt his heart swell with love for them both, but his expression remained the same; cool and collected. "I'm going to go out for a little while, Itachi. You and Aoi stay here, please. If you need anything, tell Kaoru or Kenshin. It's not safe for you and Aoi to be out in the city."

"Yes, Dear." She said teasingly, looking up from the baby. She loved how he fretted over her, constantly worrying about her. It just proved how much he loved her. "Kiss me before you go?"

He half smiled, kissing her gently on the lips. "Ai shiteru, Itachi." He ran a hand over Aoi's hair, but the baby was too busy nursing to pay attention. "You too, Aka-chan. I'll be back later."

Misao smiled at him, but when he left the room, her smile became a frown. He's going to look for Jishin again…She looked back down at Aoi. "I just wish this would all end, Aka-chan." She sighed, "I don't look forward to telling you about why you were born so early when you're older."

The baby drifted off after she had eaten and Misao rose to her feet. "Well, I might as well go get some fresh air. No point in staying inside all day. I wonder what Himura is up to…"

Aoshi was systematically checking every inn in the city of Tokyo for any clue to the whereabouts of Jishin Kanemochi. It was a pain, but he had to visit each one, ask if any one had seen a man bearing the description of "a pretty-boy, with thin chestnut hair and emerald eyes. He's a touch off-balance and it shows; he gets a really odd smile when he's scheming something."

He had no luck to date.

Also, he stopped in at restaurants. The skunk had to eat at some point and one of the waitresses might have remembered him.

No one did. It was as if the man didn't exist. How could he possibly have gotten so good at being untraceable? Where had he learned such stealth? Aoshi was getting more and more annoyed; his patience was wearing thin.

Where could he be? He must be here somewhere…I want to kill that man…I swear I will destroy him. After all the trouble he's put us through…Our innocent little child could have died because of him. He despises the both of us enough to try and destroy our happiness by killing the baby and expects nothing to come of it. If Aoi had died because of him…If anything had happened to Misao…

He pushed those dark thoughts from his mind and instead focused on the task at hand. I must find him no matter what the cost…

"Looking for me, Shinomori?"

Cold, cruel and taunting; there came Jishin's voice behind the former Okashira of the Oniwabanshu. He sounded almost singsong, as if he were a little child who had done something naughty.

Aoshi turned slowly to face him. The young heir was leaned against a building, his chestnut hair falling lightly over his forehead and into his emerald eyes. "Pity the baby survived. I was looking forward to seeing you in mourning."

"You disgust me." He could feel his throat constricting; his entire being burned with hatred. "You don't deserve to live. I should kill you now." He was quivering with rage; all he wanted to do was destroy the heir.

"But you won't, will you?" The other man smirked, "You won't kill me. It's just not going to happen. You don't want to." He could see it in Aoshi's eyes. There was no desire for bloodshed; no death-glare.

"That's right. I don't. But I will if I have to. I won't allow you to torment my family. Misao has suffered enough." He took a step forward, closing the gap between them.

"And how is little Aoi-chan today?" Kenshin finished hanging the laundry and turned to Misao and Aoi. He was smiling, the same cheerful rurôni as always. Kenji sat at his feet, tugging on the hem of his father's hakama.

"She's fine, Himura. Just had her breakfast and now she's asleep." The young ninja smiled, shifting the baby in her arms.

"And how are you, Misao-chan?" The former hitokiri asked gently. He knew Misao hated to be bothered about her own well-being; she got that from Aoshi enough. But he still worried about her. Not matter how tough she seemed, as he had told Aoshi two years before, she was still very young.

"I am a little worried…" She frowned lightly, "I don't want to think about what will happen if he…well…you know. But Aoshi says he won't let anything else happen. He's trying so hard to protect us, Himura. I think I'm more worried about him than anything else."

"Aoshi can take care of himself, Misao-chan, that he can. I know you worry about him the same way Kaoru worries about me." He smiled, lifting Kenji into his arms, "I suppose everybody worries about the person they love. But things will work out. You'll see." He paused, removing Kenji's fingers from his hair, "Aoshi will take care of everything. He loves you so."

"Yes. I believe in him. But I just want everything to be over. I want things back to normal." Aoi was asleep on her shoulder and she rubbed the baby's back, "I know things won't ever really be the way they were, but I can dream, can't I?"

Kenshin said nothing, simply smiled reassuringly. He understood that she was asking the question more of herself than anything else. Yes, Misao, dream. There is hope still that everything works out fine. As long as one lives, one can hope.

***

Ah, really short chapter. Gomen 'bout that. Like I said, this is winding down. The final confrontation with Jishin will occur next chapter.

I talked to Jeff again this afternoon. No more stalking for me! I can say hi to him now!! ^_^x