Chapter 5

(1 and a half months later)

Kaoru woke slowly, blinking in the sun. She stretched slightly, and then froze when the body tucked close to her shifted with an intake of breath. She relaxed gradually, lest Kenshin wake. The redhead had not slept well for the past little while, and at seven months it was taxing on the rurouni. The baby had been kicking more ferociously, which meant that it kept Kenshin up at night sometimes. He was a bit pale, but otherwise doing fine.

Kaoru slowly pulled herself away. She was a bit reluctant to leave. Kenshin had snuggled very close to her, his head tucked under her chin. As she stood she gently kissed his forehead, laying a gentle hand on his large stomach. The baby kicked against her hand and Kenshin shifted slightly.

Kaoru smiled and left the room after tucking the blanket around him. She found Kyla sitting in the main room sipping tea.

The woman smiled at Kaoru, handing her a steaming cup of tea. "Ohayou Kaoru. Did you sleep well?"

Kaoru accepted the drink and took a grateful sip of the warm liquid, feeling the warmth spread down to her toes, fully waking her. "Hai, arigatou Kyla."

"Shinta still sleeping?" she asked, worry creeping into her tone.

Kaoru nodded with a frown. "He needs the rest. He's so worn out."

Aurora's voice filtered in from where the dragon was just outside of the building. His magic reserves are running low. It is weakening him. We will need to perform a power transfer in not much time.

Kyla nodded, sipping her tea again. "There's one thing I am worried about. He hasn't had many emotional episodes. He has amazing self-control, but he can only hold out so long. He's just going to explode one of these days if he doesn't let himself cry."

Kaoru nodded, and then stood. "I'm going to make something for breakfast. Kenshin will probably be hungry when he wakes."

As the woman left Kyla sighed. Aurora shifted in her spot. You seem troubled Kyla. Is something wrong?

Kyla switched to mind communication. Hai Aurora. Am I the only one that feels something is wrong? That something is going to happen?

Aurora snorted softly. I too feel apprehensive. It the little one is it not?

Hai. Shinta is weakening too quickly, his magic is fading faster than I thought. We'll need to do the power transfer soon, Kyla replied, rising to her feet. If not this child may die, along with Shinta.

Kenshin woke about 2 hours after Kaoru, going into the kitchen when he smelled the food his wife had made.

Kaoru smiled at him when he came in. "Ohayou anata. You slept late." He sat down, shoulders visibly slumping. Kaoru frowned. "Are you alright Kenshin?"

Kaoru almost jumped when the man in front of her burst in tears, burying his face in his hands. She immediately drew him into a hug, letting him cry into her kimono front. She petted his hair gently. "Kenshin, talk to me. What's wrong?"

Kenshin just continued his violent, tearing sobs, his fingers clutching at her kimono. Kaoru let him, knowing he probably just needed a good, hard cry.

After a few more moments Kenshin's sobs began to quiet, and he backed away from his wife. He smiled shakily at her through his still lingering tears. "Arigatou Kaoru. I think I needed that."

Kaoru heard Aurora call suddenly for her, and she turned to go outside. "Kenshin, would you keep slicing the vegetables for me?"

The redhead smiled and nodded, taking up the knife and continuing what his wife had been doing.

Kaoru walked out to find Kyla just opening the gate for Sano and Yahiko, who had been sent to the market earlier. Kaoru took the bucket of tofu from Yahiko with a smile. "Arigatou boys, I really appreciate it."

Sano grinned. "It's nothing Jou-chan. How're you doing Kyla?"

The ex-hitokiri grinned back at him. "Not bad." She took a bag of rice from him and turned towards the dojo. "Shinta's inside, come on."

Kaoru walked ahead of her, walking into the doorway for the kitchen. The tofu hit the ground as Kaoru screamed. "KENSHIN!"

The redhead was on his side on the ground, red hair splayed across his back and shoulder. The knife lay a few inches from his limp fingers, where his arm was outstretched. He was motionless on the floor.

Kyla yelled for Yahiko and Sano to get Megumi while Kaoru ran forward, rolling the limp body over and picking his head up. She cradled his head, tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Kenshin…" she whispered gently. "Please wake up…Please…"

Megumi sighed, sitting back on her heels. She wiped sweat from her forehead. "He's got a raging fever, but thankfully nothing's been damaged by his fall. The baby's fine."

All in the room seemingly relaxed, glad that the redhead was alright, along with his child. Kaoru frowned. "He's got a fever?"

Megumi sighed again. "It's because of stress, exhaustion, and weakness." She shook her head. "I'm not sure what's causing his weakness though."

Kyla knelt beside her brother's head. "I do. His magic reserves are running low, and it's beginning to drain his life force."

Kaoru gasped, looking at Kenshin's face. The redhead was panting, cheeks flushed and a fine sheen of sweat covering his face.

Kyla laid a hand on Kenshin's forehead, closing her eyes. She began to glow with magic, fire flowing down her arm towards Kenshin. Aurora's tail snuck in past Sano and Yahiko, resting on Kyla's shoulder. The dragon's own cobalt magic flooded down through Kyla and into Kenshin. The redhead's breathing grew quicker, a strange whimpering noise joining each breath.

Kaoru felt afraid, but she did not interfere with the transfer. Kyla pulled her hand back from her brother. "He'll be alright now, but we need to fight off the fever."

Megumi stepped into the conversation. "I can handle that." She focused her attention on Kenshin, mixing herbs and other medicines in a bowl. With the help of Kaoru she pulled the redhead into a sitting position. "This should help lower his fever."

After that Megumi left, saying that she needed a few more things from her clinic. Kaoru sat with Kenshin's head in her lap, toying with his crimson hair.

Kenshin moaned and his eyes fluttered open. He focused on his wife slowly. "Kaoru? What happened? All I remember is feeling dizzy…"

"You fainted Kenshin." Kaoru murmured. "I was so worried…We found you unconscious on the floor." Kenshin's eyes closed again and he had to fight to open them again. "Get some sleep anata. You need to fight this fever off." She kissed his warm forehead gently as his eyes shut wearily.

Kyla smiled at this, glad to know that her brother was going to be alright. She put a hand on the blanket-covered mound that was his stomach, eyes glowing softly as she examined the child. Her smile grew wider and Kaoru cocked her head.

"What is it Kyla?" the woman asked.

"Do you want to know the baby's sex?" the ex-hitokiri murmured with a smile.

Kaoru started to nod, but Kenshin's tired voice stopped her. "I would very much like to know onee-san, that I would."

Kaoru smiled down at him teasingly. "You're supposed to be sleeping anata."

Kenshin grinned sheepishly back at her. "I couldn't help it, I want to know too."

Kyla chuckled. "It's a boy."

Kenshin's face filled with joy as tears welled up in his eyes. "A boy…" As the baby within him shifted he put a hand on his belly as though to calm it.

Kaoru gently brushed away his tears as they rolled down his face. "Don't cry anata, it's alright."

Kenshin smiled at her through his tears. "These are happy tears Kaoru, I'm alright." He closed his eyes, hand moving up the bulge of their child to rest on his sister's hand. Kyla had kept her hand on Kenshin's stomach, feeling the baby kick against her hand. Kenshin squeezed the woman's fingers gently. "Arigatou onee-san."

Kyla smiled, brushing his hair from his face. "You're welcome Shinta. Now sleep and get well so your baby will remain healthy."

Kaoru continued to pet Kenshin's hair until his face relaxed and his hand fell limp from Kyla's, falling to rest on his stomach. His breathing settled down to a slow, soft, and steady rhythm, although it was still slightly strained, his cheeks still flushed with fever.

Kyla sighed, withdrawing her hand. "He's safe now. His magic should remain until the child is born."

Kaoru's face grew worried as she set the back of her hand on Kenshin's cheek, feeling the heat coming off her husband. "How much longer does he have Kyla? He is so tired all the time, I'm worried."

Kyla closed her eyes slightly. "2 months, give or take a week or so." She put a hand on Kaoru's shoulder. "He'll be alright Kaoru. Shinta's strong; he'll make it through this."

Kaoru sighed again softly, pulling the blanket up to Kenshin's chin and wetting another cold cloth. She laid it gently on his forehead, hoping to calm the fires of his fever. The redhead shifted under her touch, dry cracked lips pursing and then opening again to let his breath whistle softly through.

"I know he'll be alright Kyla, but I can't help but worry." Kaoru murmured, looking at her. She shook her head. "Gomen, I'm probably sounding silly."

Kyla smiled slightly. "That's a sign of how much you love him Kaoru, it's nothing to be ashamed about." She stood, going to the door. "I'm going out to talk with Aurora. I'll see you for dinner. Don't worry, I'll cook tonight."

Kaoru nodded at her older friend, looking back down to where Kenshin's head rested in her lap. She brushed her fingers over the cross-shaped scar on his cheek and he mumbled something, leaning into her touch. She smiled, love filling her eyes as she leaned over to brush a kiss across his lips. "Aishiteru my Kenshin…"