I apologize greatly for taking so long. My mind simply could not think of how to write the next chapter. It finally came to me about two days ago. Once again, I greatly apologize. Busy, busy, busy is the only way to describe these last few months. Finally the weight of school is over for a while. Hopefully that means I will update a lot more, but that is no guarantee. Anyway here goes nothing.

Disclaimer: Watsuki-sama once told me that he would give me Kenshin! Then I woke up and found out it was all a stupid freaking lying dream, dammit. I guess I will never own it. –sob-

Chapter 4- The News

-3 months later-

"Yahiko! Hurry up! It's time to train! What is taking you so long?" Kaoru said walking around her yard, searching for the eleven-year-old boy.

Still she heard no response from him.

"Answer me Yahiko. I know you can hear me!"

The girl saw something move quickly in the corner of her eye. It moved into the house whatever it was.

She followed its path to the living area, and before she reached the door it opened. Revealing to her Kenshin holding up the small boy by the collar of his gi. Yahiko had his arms folded and a scowl on his face.

"Man this sucks." The boy whispered looking away from Kaoru.

Kenshin smiled and dropped Yahiko on his feet in front of the boy's sensei.

"I found him trying to escape out the back window, that I did Kaoru. Although I'm not sure why he would want to get away in the first place." The redhead said with a smile.

Kaoru frowned at her student.

"You usually always want to get up early in the morning and train Yahiko. Why don't you anymore? And don't lie to me." She said.

The boy grunted and still refused to look at her but instead a little pebble on the ground.

"Go on Yahiko. If you have something to say you can tell Kaoru." Kenshin said.

Finally the boy changed his gaze towards his teacher's face.

"Well to tell you the truth Kaoru . . . . . lately you have been so . . . . different in your training. You seem tired and less enthusiastic. I don't like practicing my sword movements with you when you're like that. I guess that I am . . . . worried in a way, but didn't know how to show it. You may not notice it Kaoru, but you aren't yourself anymore." Yahiko said.

Kaoru's eyes grew wide. She now knew she wasn't imagining things. Yahiko was starting to notice her behavior too. Even Kenshin was beginning to. These things she noticed weren't just her imagination.

Turning her head Kaoru sighed.

"I'm fine," the girl lied, "and there is nothing to worry about."

"But Kaoru . . ." Yahiko started.

She handed him his bokken and turned completely away from both the men's gazes.

"Just practice and quit making excuses. We're wasting time Yahiko."

"But . . ."

"Better do as she says." Kenshin said in a whisper. "You know how she gets when you don't listen. I know you're trying to help, but that doesn't seem to be what she wants right now. I'll talk to her later about it."

Yahiko looked up into his mentor's eyes and saw that he really was as worried if not more about Kaoru's behavior lately. He shook his head and smiled at Kenshin.

"Alright."

"Thank you Yahiko." Kenshin said as he turned and left to go start the laundry.

"Now remember Yahiko to always strike where is open and the easiest. Sometimes if there is not a spot open you have to make one become open to you. That way you can strike and run fast." Kaoru said swinging her own bokken up and down and then to the side.

"Right." The boy said following her movements. There was no way he was going to argue now. He knew Kenshin was right. She did seem like she needed this right now.

Kaoru smiled happily at her student and continued the days work out with him.

After about an hour had passed Kaoru noticed her stomach was bothering her. It was normal for her in the morning anymore, but the pain seemed more intense this time. She stopped the practicing and held her stomach.

"What's wrong Kaoru?" Yahiko asked.

"Nothing, nothing. I think we should take a break for a little bit okay?"

"Alright. If you're sure it's nothing."

Suddenly the girl fell to her knees. Her eyes were closed tightly in pain. She bit her lip and still clutched her stomach.

"Kaoru! Kaoru! What is wrong with you!" the boy said grabbing her shoulders.

She didn't respond.

"I'll go get Kenshin." Yahiko said running towards the other side of the house.

A few seconds later Kenshin and Yahiko came back and found Kaoru coughing up vomit and some blood. She then fell the ground unconscious.

"Koishii!" Kenshin yelled dropping to his wife's side.

Her face was red as if she was blushing and had a tint of blue.

"We must get Megumi-dono! Yahiko quickly go!" the ex-rurouni yelled.

Yahiko did as he was told and quickly returned with Megumi.

They found Kenshin and Kaoru in their bedroom with Kaoru lying on the futon still unconscious.

"What happened here?" Megumi yelled as she checked the girls pulse and temperature.

Kenshin explained what he had seen of it and what Yahiko had witnessed. The girl doctor just shook her head and kept checking different things. She then asked them to explain what Kaoru had been acting like lately to see if that had any connection.

"I see Ken-san. Can Yahiko leave the room for a moment?" Megumi said staring very seriously into Kenshin's eyes.

Yahiko grumbled as he shook his head and got up. He went to the door and unwillingly left shutting the door behind him.

Megumi touched Kaoru's stomach and then examined her face again. She kept shaking her head and muttering things.

"What is it Megumi-dono?"

The woman heard the worry and panic in Kenshin's voice. She didn't know whether to laugh or be sad about the way he felt. It was nothing for him to worry about, yet this was the worst condition mentally she had ever seen the man in.

A smile came across her lips as she stared at the panicked ex-samurai.

"What is it?" Kenshin repeated.

Megumi laughed and said with a bright smile, "Ken-san, there is nothing to worry about. This is just morning sickness."

"Morning sickness?"

"Kenshin it means Kaoru is just going through her normal state of pregnancy. I'm just surprised we didn't catch this sooner. For some reason she just isn't putting on much weight at all. She is lucky really. And it seems the baby is very healthy."

"Baby?" it was if Kenshin couldn't comprehend the word.

"Yes Ken-san. Kaoru is now carrying you guys' child." Megumi said with happiness for her friends.

Kenshin sat there a moment staring at his wife. He then smiled. It was a true smile, one from the bottom of his heart. Only one that only Kaoru had ever seen once.

"I-I'm going to be . . . a-a . . . father."