Author's Note: Sorry I took so long with this update but this chapter took an entirely different direction than I had originally planned, a much better one I think that has Kaoru acting very true to her character, in spite of her being pregnant and it will carry over into the rest of the story. Kaoru is one of my favorite anime heroines and I'm sure something like having a baby wouldn't change that. The flashback is a reference to a scene in episode 26. A huge thanks to all the readers (1389) and especially the reviewers (48) I hope you all enjoy this.

Japanese Terms:

Satsujin-ken—Swords that bring death—the name for the use of swords in battle.

REUNION

"Himura." The voice spoke with realization as the person reached and uncovered her face, shaking her mane of blue black hair down. The lady pirate known as Shura stood before the pair of men, her deep brown eyes shining. "I knew one day we would meet again."

Kenshin stared at the woman whose life he saved in a dank cave so long ago. "Konnichi wa, Shura-dono."

Yamagata glanced between the two. "You know each other?"

Kenshin nodded, "Hai, we crossed paths some time ago when we were on a ship owned by Senbonya."

Yamagata asked, "The merchant who was actually involved in illegal trafficking of opium?"

"That's right," Shura replied as she took a seat and the men followed suit. "We the Kairyu had been attacking Senbonya's ships and on one of the raids we came across Himura and his friends. He fought us and when one of my men Gekki had abducted Kaoru-san, Himura offered his life for hers."

Yamagata commented, "It seems that you were protecting your bride even before she was your bride."

Shura's coffee eyes widened. "Bride?"

Kenshin nodded with a small smile. "Hai, Kaoru is now my wife. We were wed in the fall."

A slight flicker went across Shura's eyes but her expression remained taciturn as she listened without comment.

"And Himura is to be a father." Yamagata announced. He then abruptly changed the subject. "Himura is our Prime Negotiator and he will be working with you as our representative when you meet with Samekuroi. You did say that the leader was formerly one of your own."

"I did not say that," Shura retorted. "I merely said that Izuma has ties to us as he was a samurai that fought on the side of the shogunate during the Bakumatsu and his brother Ginjo was my first mate. Their family was in my village and Ginjo was the black sheep of the family, joining the Kairyu while Izuma went to fight as a swordsman of honor."

Yamagata turned to Kenshin as he added, "The Samekuroi are made up entirely of ex-samurai with exceptional kenjutsu skills, which is why we've assigned you to this. Shura informs me that the Kairyu is planning a confrontation with Samekuroi and we want you to try to intervene before any more lives are lost."

Kenshin inquired, "What about Hebikuroi? How did the negotiations with them go?"

"They didn't," Yamagata said flatly. "We promised them a place in the parliament if they would keep Samekuroi from staging anymore ambushes. Right after we kept our end of the bargain there was an attack on a trade ship bound for America. Two hundred lives were lost as the ship sank. So we ousted Hebikuroi from the parliament."

Kenshin nodded as he commented, "No honor among thieves."

Yamagata sighed as he removed his pince-nez and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "It is getting desperate. These cutthroats are so brazen that we're sure they'll attack a foreign ship and then we will be faced with war against America, England, or any other of the more powerful western nations."

Shura spoke quietly with conviction, "We of the Kairyu will do what we can to keep that from happening."

Kenshin agreed as he said, "Just tell me what you want me to do."

Yamagata began, "I will be assigning five of the top swordsmen in our troops to you for you to lead. They will be there just as a deterrent should negotiations fall through, not to mount an offensive. They are former Ishin Shishi so their skills are honed."

"I see." Kenshin then spoke, "I have an additional man to accompany me, if you don't mind."

Yamagata asked, "Are you speaking of Sagara-san?"

"Iie. I am referring to Kamioka Danjuro, who fought beside you."

Yamagata leaned back as he pondered the thought. "Hmmm. I hadn't thought of him due to his involvement in his hanare Kirishitan group."

"He has expressed a desire to accompany me in this and his skills are quite sharp," Kenshin informed him. "I have no complaints about his coming along."

Yamagata grunted in ascension. "Very well, Himura. I trust your judgment in this. Shura-san, have you any questions or suggestions?"

The leader of the Kairyu stood up as she stated bluntly, "All I want is assistance from the government. My crew is made up of men who are descendants of fishermen and farmers and although they are fierce fighters they don't have the skills to wield a sword like Samekuroi."

Yamagata said, "Understood. Himura, you will work together with the Kairyu to protect the coastal villages and silk mills. You leave in a week after you train with your command."

"Hai."

The threesome got up to leave Yamagata leading the way so Kenshin and Shura fell in step with each other, and they chatted to catch up on their lives.

"So Himura, you and Kaoru-san are married?" Shura inquired as they walked down the hall.

"Hai, that we are," he replied with a smile. "Finally."

Shura nodded as a pang went through her. "You seem very contented."

He nodded, "I am. Kaoru and I have been through so much together, and she was the first to really make me believe that I could have a normal life instead of the life of a hitokiri." He smiled at her as he asked, "And you Shura-dono, how have you been faring?"

She shrugged, "Oh me? Well, as you know, me and the Kairyu are battling the thieving hordes from the Samekuroi. They are attacking the peaceful villages that are just poor fishermen trying to make a living in trade." Her husky voice was filled with righteous anger.

Kenshin halted as he studied the anger in the snapping coffee eyes in the petite pirate leader. He commented, "They are a group that appears to have no conscious." He smiled again as he asked, "But I meant how you, yourself are faring."

The kind interest in his fathomless violet eyes caused Shura's heart to pound as she became nonplussed. "I-I'm fine."

"I wonder if you've gotten an opportunity to wear your mother's kimono."

She blushed as she replied crossly, "Iie. I have little time for frivolities of that nature when my people are living in fear for their lives."

"Of course, forgive me," Kenshin apologized, the atmosphere between them awkward and they continued to walk the hallway.

Shura took a deep breath as she said sheepishly, "Iie, I ask your forgiveness, Himura. I am on edge about the situation and should not have jumped at you, I'm sorry."

Kenshin nodded as he said reassuringly, "Don't worry, I'll do all in my power to assist you in defeating them, that I will."

She bowed in gratitude. "Arigatou, Himura."

They passed a partially open door as they headed out and a shadow regressed into the dark recesses. Souichi, the obsequious private transfer leaned against the door and smirked in satisfaction as he said, "Ahh, so Shura has arrived. Izumo will be pleased to know this."

As the sun was setting, Kaoru was sitting in the parlor, resting after her umpteenth time at the otearai. She sighed in annoyance as she had no idea carrying a baby would be so taxing, it was quite a nuisance at times. But, on the other hand it was an experience she would not trade for anything as she could feel Kenshin's child moving inside her, the little life growing stronger everyday and her love for the baby growing proportionately. She tried to read her book of poetry with no success and then gave up as the child moved energetically inside her.

As she sat, Kaoru felt the baby kick and so she giggled as she laid a hand on her belly. "Hey there, little one. You're quite the mover in there today. How about letting me read this letter that came today?" She picked up the letter that arrived that day from the Aoiya.

Dear Kaoru-san,

I'm so happy to hear about the baby, you and Himura must be overjoyed. We all here are thrilled, even Aoshi-sama smiled a bit when I read your letter to him. We think about and talk about you guys often.

Anyway, Aoshi-sama and I are planning to take a little trip and come out to see you, Himura, Yahiko, and the rest in the next couple of weeks. It'll be early spring by then and Jijii would be able to spare us, as Aoshi-sama is now helping with the books and the business of running the Aoiya, and I'm still helping with the kitchen although Omasu is still the best cook here.

So I'll write to you just before we leave so you know when we'll be there. In the meantime, take care and give our regards to Himura and Yahiko.

Ja ne

Makimachi Misao

Kaoru smiled as she folded the missive and put it back into the envelope then slipped it in her obi to show Kenshin when he came home. She sighed as she remembered her first meeting with the spunky shinobi maiden that brought her to Seijiro Hiko's hut to see Kenshin one more time, her heart aching. She then remembered how Kenshin had said he was half angry and half relieved with her for following him and when he returned to Kyoto, their time on the roof in the moonlight on the eve of his fight on Mount Hiei with Shishio.

The baby kicked at her as she was deep in her reverie, bringing her out with a laugh as she laid a hand on her stomach. Kaoru said to the child, "You know, I followed your daddy to Kyoto as he fought Shishio, a man who wanted to take over our country and he beat him. Your daddy is one of the bravest and strongest men I ever knew."

She felt a presence steal up behind her as a familiar arm encircled her and a hand covered hers as a soft tenor murmured, "And your mommy is one of the most beautiful and courageous women I have ever known."

Kaoru turned and found herself in the arms of her hitokiri. "Kenshin! I didn't even hear you come in, did you just get home?" she asked as he captured her lips in a soft tender kiss.

They were locked like that for sometime until Kaoru had the feeling they were no longer alone. Getting irked with the thought of Yahiko intruding on her private moment with her husband, she glanced up and was ready to unleash a scathing diatribe on the head of the nosy youthful samurai when her eyes widened at the cloaked figure standing in the dark hallway. She broke the embrace with her husband and with Kenshin's assistance rose to her feet.

Kenshin held her hand and drew her over to the waiting figure with the blue black hair shining in the dim candlelight of the hall wall sconces. Kaoru stared at the petite comely female pirate Shura as the latter returned the gaze with an inscrutable expression that became a slight smile.

"Konban wa, Kaoru-san," she said politely as she watched Kenshin slip his arm around his wife's slim shoulder.

Kaoru bowed cordially as she returned to greeting. "Konban wa, Shura-san. I'm surprised to see you."

Kenshin smiled as he announced, "Koishii, Shura-dono and the Kairyu are battling the Samekuroi who have been attacking her and the surrounding villages. Yamagata-sama has assigned me to assist her."

"Oh I see," Kaoru responded. "They are quite a terrible group, I've been reading about them in the paper."

"Those reports are tame by comparison," Shura pointed out. "They are far worse in person which is why I came to Tokyo to get help from the government."

Kaoru nodded as she stepped back into the parlor. "Won't you have a seat and we'll go make some tea." She turned to her husband, "Onegai, Kenshin, would you assist me?"

Hai, koishii," he said as he gestured to the parlor. "Shura-dono, onegai, have a seat and we will join you shortly." They headed to the kitchen as Shura entered to parlor and sat on a cushion. She glanced around at the simple yet comfortable décor of the dwelling and her envy intensified, as she remembered the poor hut in which she grew up.

In the kitchen, Kaoru and Kenshin began to get the things together for tea as he filled the kettle and lit the stove and she set up the cups and teapot. They worked silently until another kick from the baby drew a sharp gasp from the mother-to-be.

"Ohhh!" Kaoru said, placing a hand on her stomach, which drew her husband's immediate attention.

Kenshin was instantly at her side. "What is it, tenshi? Are you all right?"

She smiled weakly, "Hai, anata I'm fine. It's our child, he's been very active today."

Kenshin smiled affectionately as he placed his hand on her rounded belly. His eyes widened as he felt his child move under the surface of Kaoru's kimono. He chuckled as he remarked, "He is very lively, that he most certainly is."

"Uh-huh. He wouldn't even let me read today, he kept me going back and forth from the otearai and I felt him kick me all day."

Kenshin's eyes sparkled like jewels. "I'll have to speak to him about that."

Kaoru smiled at that and then it faded as she asked, "So you've been assigned to assist Shura. She hasn't changed, she's still quite lovely." She turned from her husband and went to check the kettle, trying to appear nonchalant. But her attentive husband picked up on her mood right away as he drew up to her, wrapping his arms about her waist as her back was against him.

"I hadn't noticed," he murmured against her hair.

"Really?" she asked softly, hesitantly.

"Truly," Kenshin laughed as he turned her to face him. "You have nothing to worry about, koishii. How can you when you bear clear evidence of my devotion?" He laid his hand on her belly with a meaningful twinkle in his eyes.

"But I'm getting so fat now," Kaoru protested. "Now it's true when Yahiko calls me busu." She lowered her head but Kenshin took her chin in his hand and raised it to meet his gaze.

"Listen to me. You are not now nor have you ever been a busu to me. I think you are beautiful, I thought so the moment I first laid eyes on you," Kenshin declared firmly. "I'm so blessed to have you as my wife and the mother of my child." He held her close, cradling her head against his shoulder.

The water began to boil over on the fire on the stove so Kenshin released Kaoru and picked up the kettle to pour the water into the teapot. He turned and flashed his trademark rurouni smile and said, "So shall we see to our guest?"

"Hai," Kaoru smiled and followed as Kenshin lifted the tray and began to leave the kitchen.

In the parlor, Shura sat quietly as she pondered about Kenshin and Kaoru so they got married, I really shouldn't be surprised, during the battle with my crew, he had shielded her as he fought. Then when Gekki had captured her, Himura traded his life for hers and the night I asked him about the type of woman Kaoru was, the look in his eyes was unmistakable…

Flashback:

The full moon shone brightly, making everything appear silver lined and ethereal as Kenshin was tied to the post, awaiting his death. Yet the feeling he had was an overpowering sense of peace, as if he had everything in order for his upcoming trip to the afterlife. He smiled as he gazed at the moon, his heart content, save for one thing. . . .

He never told her.

His reverie was interrupted by Shura as she knelt beside him and studied him with a thoughtful frown. Kenshin smiled benignly at her as he made a comment.

"You have a question in your eyes. What is it?"

Shura asked bluntly, "What kind of woman is she? This Kaoru?"

He inquired, "Why do you want to know?"

Shura stammered, "N-no reason." She got up and turned abruptly away before she continued, "I just want to know the kind of woman you'd give up your life for."

Kenshin pondered for a moment, his amethyst eyes thoughtful. "Well, let me see." Then his orbs grew soft as he went on almost dreamily, "Kaoru-dono is a woman of tremendous strength and compassion, with a strong spirit to help others."

She watched him as his eyes became sad. "But at the same time, she has a heart that is very lonely, that she does." He then added with a smile. "She's a lot like you."

Shura became nonplussed as she stared at the swordsman who was so fierce and at the same time so gentle.

End flashback

Shura was awakened from her musings by twin footfalls and the rattling of china as Kenshin entered the parlor followed by Kaoru. He favored the female buccaneer with a smile.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Shura-dono." He placed the service on the low table before Shura and then taking his wife's elbow, assisted lowering her onto the cushion, ungainly in her state of pregnancy. Shura watched as Kenshin tenderly saw to Kaoru's comfort before he took his own seat and a hollow ache filled her.

Kaoru reached to pour the tea to serve both Shura and her husband then herself as she said conversationally, "So, Shura-san. I'm sorry that your villages have been victimized by this group. They sound like a nightmare."

Shura responded in a voice heavy with emotion. "They are merciless monsters who wield their katana with ferocity. Men, women, children, none are exempt from them as they turn the ground red with innocent blood." Her hands on her lap balled into tight fists as she continued, "I've made a vow to stop them even if it costs me my life."

Kenshin spoke frankly, "I think that you did the right thing, coming to seek help from Yamagata-sama. No need to put yourself in a situation that would lead to the senseless sacrifice of your own life."

Kaoru sided with Shura and agreed with alacrity. "If it were me, I would do the same. They must be stopped," she stated as her sapphire eyes glittered with righteous indignation.

Kenshin said, "Yamagata-sama has assembled a squad of swordsmen from the former Ishin Shishi for me to lead as we assist Shura-dono and the Kairyu in facing the Samekuroi. So that is what we plan to do, but first we must come up with a strategy. These are former samurai and they are well skilled in kenjutsu as well as tactical combat."

Shura nodded as she sighed, "My Kairyu crew are good fighters but not skilled as samurai. They wield their swords wildly, not with the precision or accuracy of true swordsmen." She gazed at the former hitokiri and added, "And definitely not like you, Himura."

Kaoru gazed at her husband with pride. "Nobody is like Kenshin."

Shura turned to him and asked, "Will you teach my men to wield a sword like you do?"

Kenshin took a sip of tea and shook his head. "Iie. I am flattered by your request, that I am but when I turned down the title of Hiko Seijiro the fourteenth, I made a vow that I would not pass down the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu to anyone, that I did. I am sorry."

Shura lowered her head as she said, "I won't ask you to break a vow Himura, but I must find some way to better train my men. We can't just rely on you and your group to fight our battles."

"Shura-dono, the battle is not yours alone. It is also that of our government and since I now work for them, it is my battle as well," Kenshin stated quietly but firmly.

Shura snapped, "I refuse to act the coward and hide behind the government's skirts." She sat with her arms folded obstinately.

Kenshin said reasonably, "It's not like that at all, Shura-dono. It's the duty of the government to protect all citizens."

She made an unladylike snort. "That's a new one to me. The Kairyu and the government haven't exactly been allies in the past. I'm afraid it'll take quite a bit for me to trust them. It was hard enough to come and ask for their help in the first place."

Kenshin sighed as the stubborn hardheaded female pirate was getting on his nerves. Obviously, she had not changed at all and working together harmoniously with her was going to be an arduous task. There was an uncomfortable silence as the words hung in the air.

Kaoru sat and digested all that was said and all of a sudden an epiphany hit her like a bolt out of the blue. Excitement built inside her like a volcano about to erupt and she cleared her throat to speak.

"If I may be allowed to make a suggestion, I have an idea," she said as her eyes shone with an inner light. Both Kenshin and Shura turned to regard her curiously as she prepared to reveal her notion.

"Since your men have no formal training in kenjutsu and since Kenshin will not teach any of the techniques of the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu, why don't you bring them here and I'll teach them Kamiya Kasshin Ryu?"

Shura just stared as Kenshin spoke incredulously, "Kaoru, you can't be serious."

His wife bristled as she became indignant at his reaction. "And why not, Kenshin? I am the shishou of the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu and can teach the technique to anyone."

"I know that."

"Then why are you so opposed? Do you think I cannot teach anymore?"

"Of course not!" Kenshin insisted as he reached for his wife's hand to placate her. "I did not mean anything bad, koishii. I just was surprised by the suggestion for several reasons, one being obvious." He gestured to her advanced state of pregnancy.

"I can still teach the technique verbally. And Yahiko could help," Kaoru said, undaunted.

Kenshin nodded as he responded, "That is true Kaoru, but you have to look at the practicality of the situation. First and most obviously, your being with child limits your movement as far as performing hikitate-geiko and that is the most important part of teaching kenjutsu."

"I could have Yahiko perform hikitate-geiko with the students as I give directions. He's studied with me for over two years now and has gotten quite strong. He is nearly thirteen now you know," she pointed out.

"Hai, but what about the style itself? As you know, the Kamiya Kasshin Ryu is a style of katsujin-ken, and as former samurai the Samekuroi are expert in satsujin-ken." Kenshin inquired.

Kaoru gazed steadily in her husband's eyes as she replied, "I'm fully aware of that, Kenshin. But as I also told you, my father was an expert swordsman who fought in the Boshin War and then lost his life in the Seinan War fighting for the Meiji and was extremely skilled with a katana. But he hated killing and that's why he developed Kamiya Kasshin Ryu and as his only child, he taught the technique to me with both. I have used a katana before because my father insisted I learn to use one, even though I now teach and fight with a bokken."

Kenshin saw the determination in his wife's sapphire orbs and realized he was fighting a losing battle for when Kaoru had her mind set on something, she was as tenacious as a crab and nothing would pry her loose. He turned to Shura who, had up to this point, remained silent.

"Well Shura-dono, how do you feel about Kaoru's suggestion? Admittedly it has merit, that it does."

Shura looked at Kaoru as her mind registered and pondered on the conversation and the offer. She saw the same stubborn glint in her eyes and saw a woman who had a steadfastness to her along with a desire to help in the best possible way. She admitted grudgingly that Kaoru was quite a woman and could clearly see why Himura once sacrificed his life for her and now she was bearing his seed and shared his name.

"All right," Shura agreed. "I will go to my ship and discuss the idea with my men. I'll send a message back to you with my final decision."

Later, as Kenshin and Kaoru prepared for bed, the kenjutsu sensei was strangely reticent as she sat on the futon and ran a brush through her midnight tresses, thinking about her husband's attitude about her involvement in training Shura's men. By the end of the evening he agreed with the plan finally but she could tell his heart was not in it. But as usual, Kenshin covered up his feelings with his neutral rurouni smile and they both bid good night to Shura as she left the dojo and then he said nothing as they cleared up the china from the parlor. This only served to fuel Kaoru's temper as she began a rather intense mood swing and by the time both were retiring, she had worked herself into quite the snit, entertaining all kinds of thoughts as to why he was so reluctant.

Kenshin stepped out of behind the screen, tying his yukata as he went to the window to open the slats and let the moonbeams illuminate the room and then approached the futon. He knelt down and then reached and extinguished the lantern as he joined his wife who was finishing braiding her hair. Smiling affectionately, he reached a playful hand to a stray strand but was dismayed when Kaoru pulled away.

"Mou, Kenshin don't do that, I just fixed it," she stated in irritation, turning her head.

He did a double take, wondering why she was acting so and then tried to advance again, running his hand on the back of her silky head. He pulled close and leaned into her ear, nibbling as he whispered, "Unbind your hair like you always do koibito, so I can run my fingers through it."

"I'd rather not."

Kenshin withdrew as he sensed Kaoru's mood and so he sighed as he asked, "So what is it then? You're angry with me, that you are."

Kaoru sighed as she replied quietly, "Not angry, disappointed."

"Disappointed?" Kenshin was baffled as he turned himself to confront her. "Why?"

Kaoru answered, "Because it seems you've lost faith in me and my abilities."

"And how did you begin to think that?"

She sighed impatiently as she said crossly, "Because you seemed very reluctant for me to train Shura's men in Kamiya Kasshin Ryu. It's almost as if you resented my interference."

Kenshin leaned back and he closed his eyes as he responded, "That's not it at all, Kaoru. As always, I have tremendous faith in your abilities, that I most certainly do."

She pinned him with her eyes. "Then why are you so reluctant for me to help?"

Kenshin opened his eyes and returned the regard and she saw they had become an icy blue. "Because these men are pirates, fighting a noble cause for sure, but pirates just the same. Need I remind you what happened to you on Senbonya's ship that time?"

Kaoru bit her lip as he went on, "They sliced your shoulder open, that they did and then tried to make off with you as their prize. If I hadn't been able to overcome the poison dart shot into me, and begged for your release, they would have succeeded." He folded his arms obstinately as he said, "I didn't like the idea of you being on that ship in the first place and I don't like the idea of you training them here at the dojo alone."

"I won't be alone, Yahiko will be with me," she said defensively but her husband was now digging his heels in, showing his own stubborn streak.

"Yahiko, for all his posturing and skills is still a boy and as such I doubt he could take on any threats made by these men, most who have little or no scruples. And since I would be tied up in training my squad, I won't be around to be sure that you're safe so I am indeed, very concerned," Kenshin declared, his features in a scowl. "I'm worried about my wife and unborn child and if that's my only sin, so be it."

The air was heavy with tension as the heated words stood between the couple like a barrier. Yet both were in the textbook stalemate, with neither willing to budge an inch as both were grounded in their positions. They were in that state for an indefinite amount of time when Kaoru then softened her heart as a scripture verse she read recently came to her:

Ephesians 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath.

She reached over and took Kenshin's hand in both of hers as he remained still. She began in a soft voice, "Kenshin, I-I…," but he turned and laid a finger against her lips.

"Don't," he said softly. "Instead, please forgive me, koishii. I know you only want to assist me, like you always do and I forgot about that." He pulled his hand from her grasp to cup her face , brushing his thumbs across her lips before his mouth claimed hers.

All thoughts of the disagreement forgotten, the Battousai and his bride celebrated their love as the moon journeyed across the sky to the western horizon.

NEXT---THE GREAT PLAN