I sighed finally finishing up my bath and dressed in my sleeping clothes. Okina, Shiro and Kuro had dragged me around the city. They talked excitedly about the coming events that were occurring tomorrow. We had received word from Tokyo that Himura, Sagara, Megumi-san, Kaoru, Genzai-sensei and his grand daughters where coming. My kimono was ready and I picked that up as well. Other Oniwabanshuu members from different cities were coming as well. Now was not the time to think of that. It was time for some much-needed rest. I slid the shoji door open and found Misao standing right there, sleeping yukata and bath robe in hand. I smiled down at her, as this was the only time I had seen her all day except when she came to wake me up.
"Is something troubling you Misao?" I questioned her knowing tension was in the air. Her head lifted up those deep blue eyes gazing into mine.
"Hai…Everything is going so smoothly, too smoothly and I feel as though something terrible is going to happen tomorrow." I placed my hand against her cheek and a smile rose to her lips. I bent down placing a small kiss to her pink lips and then wrapped my arms around her holding her close, knowing I wouldn't see her until lunch.
"Oyasumi nasai Koibito." Her arms wrapped securely around my waist her head resting against my chest and she soon mumbled her reply.
"Oyasumi nasai Anata." I finally let go stepping out of the bathhouse and began walking towards the Aoiya not looking back at Misao.
xxxxxxx
Noon was coming near and I had hardly slept. I was sitting on the bench situated in the garden wearing my black kimono. I was a nervous wreck even though it never showed on the outside. What Misao had said yesterday stuck in my head all night. I was beginning to believe something might actually happen. I had greeted the guests talking to them all morning but now I needed some time for myself.
I am jolted out of my thoughts when a hand was placed on my shoulder. I turned seeing Himura standing beside me. I motioned for him to sit down and he soon spoke looking into the garden.
"It is perfectly natural to feel nervous Aoshi." I eyed him silently and his face soon turned to mine, a gentle smile touching his lips and he spoke once more.
"We are alike in many ways. Although I could never say its about time as it took myself awhile to finally come to terms of where my happiness lay." I nodded my head as he was talking about Kaoru.
"TOCHAN? TOCHAN WHERE ARE YOU?" I heard a small female voice yell. We turned facing the back shoji door and watched it slide open and a two year old girl came running over. I watched Himura lift her up into his lap and he soon spoke brushing his fingers through her bright red hair, which was placed in a high ponytail.
"Chibi-chan what are you doing out here? I thought kachan said to stay with her?" She was a chibi version of Kenshin with bright blue eyes like Kaoru.
"I wanted to come find you though, so I snuck away without her knowing." I chuckled lightly looking down at the small girl and soon spoke.
"Aa, so like your tochan." She giggled happily her chubby cheeks turning a soft pink and then she stopped looking up at her father and then over at me questioningly.
"Yume-chan this is your Oji."
"Like Uncle Sano?" She asked standing up in her father's lap her blue eyes staring into his violet ones.
"Aa, like Uncle Sano, but not so silly. Can you say hello to Aoshi?" She giggled again and then stepped out of his embrace and stood on the bench beside me looking into my eyes.
"Hi Uncle Aoshi." I tickled her tummy receiving giggles from her as she tried squirming away but she really didn't want to. I noticed her eyes flashed a dark violet and I turned my gaze questioningly at Kenshin, but he had no answer and just smiled at the both of us. I stood up taking Yume-chan with me and placed her on my shoulders and she placed her little hands in my hair messing it up. Kenshin was walking beside us and he spoke again.
"It surprises me how children react around you as though you are not a threat." I tilted my head looking down at the shorter man and soon spoke as we walked closer to the training hall.
"Aa, but I am no threat, not to them anyway. It is as though they can see an inner me, a gentle me that I couldn't see in myself. After all Misao was never afraid, even when she was a young child." He nodded his head and I placed Yume-chan in her father's arms and made my way into the hall and kneeled on the right side of the table. The priest was already in front of me, kneeling as well. The table had one candle on either side already lit. In the middle lay a warm bottle of sake and one cup. Next to that lay two bands of silver, plain but elegant. A piece of paper lay face down in front of the priest as we awaited Misao's arrival.
Minutes passed and I could hear faint whispering and turned my head looking at the vision walking towards me. Misao was wearing a very expensive wedding kimono. One made of the finest silk in Kyoto and silver sakura blossoms decorated the outer kimono. Light make-up was applied to her beautiful skin and her lips were pinker then usual and she held that small smile on her lips. Her usual plait was replaced with an elegant bun as smaller parts fell down her shoulders and framed her glowing face. I followed her with my eyes as she came closer, giving her flowers to Megumi-san and now she kneeled beside me. I couldn't take my eyes away from her but soon the priest began to speak and so I faced him and the hall fell silent.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here this afternoon to witness the marriage of Makimachi Misao to Shinomori Aoshi. The ceremony will consist of vowels being spoken by both of them, followed by the exchanging of rings and then the drinking of sake in one cup. I must ask, is there anyone in this room who forbids these two people to commit to each other?" Silence spread through the whole audience no one saying a word, no one objecting. I glanced my eyes over at Misao to see that secretive smile etching her lips, watching it grow wider in happiness. I turned my gaze back to the priest and he opened his mouth to speak again but a very female voice outside the hall could be heard.
"TEISHI!" I noticed Misao went rigid beside me and I turned my head knowing that voice. A very beautiful looking female waltzed through the doorway, closing the shoji door and standing in the aisle that Misao had walked down minutes ago. She was slightly out of breath and I watched as she held a tanto in her left hand.
"Teishi! He's mine! My aijin!" My eyes went wide hearing this and small gasps and whispers could be heard. What the hell was she doing? Was she truly nuts! I had spoken inside my head. I watched shocked as she threw the tanto our way and I pushed Misao aside, making her fall onto the floor and leaned back as the tanto broke the sake bottle and cup in half and stuck into the wooden table. I stood up facing the now weeping girl and began walking towards her.
"Midori-chan…" I whispered and received many glares from other Oniwabanshuu members. I watched as she ran from the hall and I ran after her calling her name again. She stopped just outside and turned facing me. I stepped forward wrapping her up in my hug and spoke softly into her ear.
"What are you doing here? I told you it was dangerous to come! Why didn't you tell me you were coming? Why Mi-chan? Why'd you say that in there?" I pulled back seeing her eyes frowning apologetically at me.
"I didn't want you to be taken away from me again. I'm sorry…you must be so angry with me." I wrapped her in my hug once more and spoke.
"I will never be taken away from you, nor would I ever be angry with my imoto-chan." I opened my eyes and they widen as I felt the auras of many men coming closer to the Aoiya. I grabbed her hand and ran back into the hall and closed the door.
"Kuso! You were followed Mi-chan!" Her blue-green eyes were wide in fear and I opened my mouth talking to the others.
"GET DOWN!" I pulled Mi-chan under me protecting her as arrows came flying through the paper of the front shoji doors of the training hall.
"Stay here and stay down!" I had ordered her to do and she nodded her head and I got up jumping over fallen chairs, dodging arrows and running to the front area and jumped over the now upturned table. I squatted down seeing the priest, a pregnant Kaoru holding Yume-chan tightly and an emotionless Misao beside her, hiding behind the wooden table.
"KITSUNE!" I stood up looking over at a fallen Megumi, who was now unconscious, as she had hit her head on the side of the table and an arrow sticking into the side of her. Sagara was trying to wake her up but I raced over picking her up, Sagara following and placing her behind the table for protection. Kaoru had gasped handing a crying Yume-chan over to Misao as she looked over Megumi. I noticed Misao was not herself, as she'd usually be yelling orders by now. She just sat there whispering words of love into Yume-chan's ear trying to quiet her crying. I placed my hand out wanting to touch her cheek but my heart began to break as she moved her face away. I pulled my hand back quickly and my eyes went wide, as I was too late to dodge the arrow that headed straight for me. I fell backwards out a closed screen; an arrow now embedded into my left shoulder. I pulled it out, standing up and watched Sagara and Himura come running out. I watched Kenshin walk over to me, handing me my kodachi's. He had his sword with him, ready to defend his family and Sagara was already pissed because of what happened to Megumi-san.
"Let's go." I spoke and we jumped onto the roofing of the hall and made our way to the front entrance. The idiots had stopped thinking no one was alive but we jumped down surprising them and began protecting the people inside. They were clearly amateurs. Everything was becoming a blur, blood was being sprayed everywhere, and bodies lay motionless on the ground. To the left of me I could see Kenshin and Sano and to the right…my eyes widened knowing that person.
"Mi-chan get back inside!" I had yelled at her.
"No Aoshi-niisan, I won't let you do this alone!" I was soon struck on my shoulder again, the one that was already injured and grunted loudly at the slight pain. I turned looking over at Mi-chan who was running towards me but stopped as a blade was now stabbed through the back of her coming out her right front side. My eyes burned with hatred and anger at seeing this.
"MI-CHAN!" I had yelled and killed every bandit that got in my way. I kneeled besides her cradling her unconscious form to me. I had dropped my kodachi's and soon heard Kenshin's voice.
"Take her inside!" I picked her up running inside the hall and watched as Oniwabanshuu members grabbed their weapons and began fighting. We soon outnumbered them and they retreated away, running back into the forest and away from the Aoiya. I placed her on the ground and watched as Dr. Genzai raced over examining her.
"Is Mi-chan going to be okay?" I spoke softly looking at him. He stood up and began to speak.
"We need to get her inside and I need my bag." He began racing off towards the house and I picked her up and was just about to follow her when I noticed Misao was staring silently at me.
"Sagara, take her and follow Dr. Genzai. I'll get Megumi-san." He nodded reluctantly taking Mi-chan into his arms and raced off. I walked over towards Misao and watched as she bowed her head still holding Yume-chan in her arms.
"Misao…" I had spoken in a whisper and watched as she stepped back away from me and turned her sad eyes towards mine.
"Don't! I don't want to hear it! Just take Megumi-san and go see your precious Mi-chan! Just leave me alone!" I felt as though I had been stabbed in the heart and I bowed my head obeying her wishes and picked Megumi up and carried her into the Aoiya.
xxxxxxx
Morning had come and Megumi was up and slowly walking around with Sano's help. I paced outside the room Mi-chan was resting in. Dr. Genzai was in there checking how she was going and I stopped and stared at the door as it opened up and he walked out with a smile on his face. The tension immediately eased and he spoke.
"She's going to be fine. She's resting right now and won't wake for a while yet. Perhaps it is time for me to look at you Aoshi-san." I shook my head negatively indicating I was fine and left walking into the main room hearing some small commotion going on. The talking soon stopped and everyone faced me. There was silence for about a minute and then everyone began yelling and cursing me a mile a minute. I couldn't understand a word but soon a loud voice could be heard overpowering the others.
"MO II!" All eyes had turned to Okina.
"None of you have any right to speak this way to Aoshi. That is no lover that holds onto life by a mere thread. She is family, Aoshi's only family left. That is his imoto-chan." There were surprised looks on everyone and I soon spoke looking over at him.
"Where is Misao?"
"The training hall." I nodded my head walking from the room and made my way into the training hall. Broken chairs lay on the wooden floor, some with arrows stuck in them. Arrows were embedded into the wooden planks holding up the hall and there were holes throughout all the paper shoji doors and screens. Way up the front lay the broken area I had fallen through and kneeling on the ground, head placed on the table was a weeping Misao.She was wearing her under kimono, which was silver and fit her perfectly, showing off her womanly curves. Her fragile form racked with sobs as she cried to no one. I silently stepped forward and kneeled besides her placing my hand on her shoulder. She reeled back being frightened and as soon as she knew it was I her hand came out slapping me across the face.
"KUSOYARO!" She had yelled. I watched as she stood ready to leave but I stopped her by standing in her way.
"WILL YOU LISTEN TO ME?" I yelled in complete frustration. Those blue eyes grew sad, never seeing me this angry or frustrated with her. I fisted my hands and spoke once more.
"Mi-chan is not my lover! She's my…" I stopped hearing running footsteps and soon watched as Mi-chan came running into the hall and jumping over fallen chairs.
"NIISAN!" I was now engulfed in Mi-chan's hug. She was way too energetic, especially after being stabbed through the side. She soon let go apologising softly and turned to look over at a red-eyed Misao.
"Gomen nasai Misao. I'm sorry to have ruined your wedding but I thought my niisan was being taken away from me. Gomen nasai." She had bowed formally at Misao and her eyes soon turned to look up at me and then over to Mi-chan's and she spoke in a small voice.
"Y-you're his imoto-chan?" I watched Mi-chan nod and she walked over wrapping her arms around Misao.
"So you're my giri no imoto huh?" I watched as Misao pulled away shaking her head negatively.
"You will be though." Mi-chan replied back and walked off going back into the Aoiya. I stood looking over at Misao walking slowly towards her and she soon spoke.
"I'm sorry a-anata…for calling you a bas-" She was unable to continue as I wrapped my arms around her small form and pressed my lips to hers. She moaned when I deepened the kiss and her small hands pressed firmly against my shoulders. I hissed pulling away, placing my right arm on my left shoulder. Misao looked worriedly up at me and pushed my hand away and parting my wrecked kimono. She gasped seeing the badly bandaged wound and grabbed my right hand dragging me back into the Aoiya and calling for Dr. Genzai.
xxxxxxx
It was early morning as the guests had left late yesterday after a brief explanation was spoken to them about Mi-chan, or should I say Shinomori Midori. Okina was the only one who knew, as it was not wise for anyone to know. Her name was changed as it was only for her safety. Okina hadn't even received word that she was coming either. She had fled the home she was secretly living in and escaped from her guards and raced to the Aoiya. Little did she know she was being followed. Misao had been a bit upset at not knowing but she knew for safety reasons for herself and the Oniwabanshuu that no one was to learn of Midori because she was the okashira's sister and could be used as a bribe against the Oniwabanshuu. Now everything was out in the open and Midori was able to stay at the Aoiya for good.
After all the commotion was taken care of I finally got to speak to Misao alone. She apologised again about calling me a bastard but at the time I deserved it as I had kept that a secret and from her too. I had finally replaced her lost kunai's when I was in the city with Okina and the others. She thanked me and finally got her birthday present and wish…me.
I slept down the opposite end of the futon as I had propped my head up in my right arm, as my left one was rather numb from the medicine Dr. Genzai gave me. I watched my new wife sleeping peacefully beside me. We had a quick ceremony inside the Aoiya while everyone was still around. It wasn't exactly the way it was supposed to go but Misao didn't care as long as I was beside her. She said it didn't matter that it wasn't an exquisite wedding because having her loved ones, her friends and her beloved there was better then anything she'd ever dreamed of. I totally agreed to her statement. I looked down when a contented sigh left Misao's lips as she curled on her side her naked body cuddling up close to mine. Her hair was free from its bun and a complete mess. I brushed strands away from her mouth and tucked them behind her right ear.
"Your supposed to be resting anata." Misao had whispered wrapping her right arm around my waist and brushing her fingers lightly over my upper back.
"Aa, but I wanted to watch my beautiful kanai sleep." I watched a blush spread to her cheeks and I smiled down at her speaking once more.
"I can still make her blush." My smile grew as Misao buried her head into my chest further not wanting me to see how embarrassed she was. I watched as she kissed the scar crossing my heart and spoke quietly to me.
"You didn't have to do what you did last night. I could have waited…until your injury was healed."
"My injury was at my shoulder not down there Misao-mine." I chuckled lightly seeing the redness in her cheeks brighten once again. Her head lifted up, those glorious eyes gazing into mine and she spoke back.
"But you were still hurt…and you did feel pain too."
"Only because you got too excited and kept digging your nails in Misao-mine." Her cheeks burned redder and I laughed a little louder. I stopped when she turned over, her bare back facing me. Her long dark hair fanned out around her and she spoke in a slightly angry tone of voice.
"Stop teasing me!" She was so cute and still shy. My Misao would always be this way around me and I liked it a lot. I sat up looking down at her form, those eyes shut now, waiting for me to tease her more. The blankets fell around my mid section covering my own nudity and I reached my hand out caressing my fingers up and down her back. I could see goosebumps were beginning to form over her body as she liked this very much and I bent down whispering into her ear.
"I just wanted you to enjoy yourself Misao, become a true woman and a true wife to me." She turned on her back as I leaned over her smiling softly.
"But I did enjoy myself…immensely."
"And it still hurt." I spoke looking down at her. I observed as she pushed me away sitting up, crossing her arms over her breasts and she looked over her shoulder at me rather angrily, but she was still ravishing like that.
"Of course it hurt you baka! You were my first!" Just hearing her say that made me want to protect her even more. It made me want to love her even more as well. She turned her head back around facing the other side of the room, her hair flowing around her at her abrupt movements. I moved closer sitting behind her and wrapped my arms around her shoulders pulling her back against my chest and whispered into her ear and then placed a kiss close to her left eye.
"First, last and always mine kanai." She sighed placing one of her hands on my arm stroking it lovingly.
"Niisan! Niisan you've had Misao in there too long! We must get aquatinted better! I expect her to be out in ten minutes or I'm coming in there!" I chuckled lightly at hearing this. Even though she was 26, she was still a pain in the butt. I reluctantly let go of Misao and she stood up. I followed her with my eyes watching her move around our room getting her clothes and placing them on. I watched her brush her hair, tying it up in a simple ponytail and then she came back over sitting in my lap.
"Aoshi, have you ever thought about one day being a father?" Her head was looking over at the shoji door and I turned it to face mine and spoke.
"Why do you ask Misao-mine?"
"I saw you outside, with Kenshin in the garden and the way you were with Yume-chan…it was just…I looked down there thinking that you were holding our child and being that gentle and happy with her…or him."
"Misao-mine, we shall discuss this later, but if your asking me if I want to have children with you I'd never give it a second thought. I'd love to see little Misao-chan's running around the Aoiya."
"What about little Aoshi's?"
"Yeah them too." Misao's worry was replaced with a glowing smile and I gave her a long passionate kiss and then pushed her up and out of my embrace.
"Now go…before I keep you here for the rest of the day." I watch a slight blush cross her cheeks and she reached the door sliding it open.
"Koibito? What ever Mi-chan says about me, it's a complete and utter lie." Misao giggled and left the room, blowing a kiss and closing the shoji door making sure no one would disturb me. I lay back down on the futon looking up at ceiling. A couple of little Misao's running around as well as a couple of little Aoshi's too and maybe even a couple with half of us each in them. Yep, I could really get used to that idea.
THE END
GLOSSARY:
Aa, Hai - Yes
Okashira - Leader
Kami - God
Arigatoo - Thanks, Thank you
Aishiteru - I love you
Otto - Husband
Oyasumi nasai - Good night
Koibito - Beloved
Anata - Darling
Tochan - dad
Kachan - Mum
Oji - Uncle
Teishi - Stop!
Aijin - Lover
Tanto - Blade (small sword)
Imoto - Little sister
Kuso - Shit!
Mo ii - Enough
Kusoyaro - Bastard!
Niisan - Brother (Older)
Gomen nasai - Sorry
Giri no imoto - Sister-in-law
Kanai - Wife
Baka - Idiot
