Ah, it's been so long since an update, ne? It's just, I've had this massive writer's block for ages, and I hate to force things, because then the writing's not all that great… hopefully this chapter's ok, it may not be though.

V: Herureiza

Whimper.

My eyes shot open. It was still pitch dark.

"Damn these motherly instincts," I mumbled drowsily.

The futon shifted slightly as a warm arm resettled over me, but didn't wrap around me.

Pooh.

Instead, Aoshi extended his arm to our baby and pulled us both closer to him.

"Mmmm, Misao, don't be cruel…"

Our baby—we really should come up with a name—vying for our attention, opened the gates to an all out deafening, earsplitting, mind-numbing bawl.

There was a distant pounding that progressively grew louder, and the shouji and shutters.

There was howling too.

Aoshi and I shot up, involuntarily reaching for our weapons.

"Kami-sama, our daughter is a Hell Raiser," I whispered in awe.

"Aa…" It was, for once (about time really), a sort of panicked "Aa."

We were standing, me clutching our wailing child and my husband with his katanas raised, when the entire door, flimsy frame and all, came crashing down (I knew that damn thing needed to be replaced).

"What happened!" the entire household chorused together. I would have laughed, if I hadn't felt like fainting in exasperation. Bare fists and various daggers prepared, the whole lot of them looked like an army of beasts with their messy hair and bloodshot eyes.

Hell Raiser, indeed.

The only difference was that these brutes from Hell (or they looked like Hell anyway) were outfitted in an assortment of wrinkled sleepwear. Jiya, heading the front, was clad in only a pair of pink shorts.

Oh, spare me the sight.

Aoshi growled, "What are you all doing here?"

Weapons clanged to the floor, the Oniwabanshu now looked like a bunch of guilty slumber partiers that were being scolded for going to bed too late.

"Well," came a feeble voice. It was Okon. "We heard some crying--,"

"More like screaming for mercy!" Hiro butted in.

"And so," Jiya proclaimed, "we immediately thought you were in trouble; so we rushed over to help."

"And what about me?" Aoshi looked annoyed. Ah, his ego must have been insulted.

I could almost hear him think. I can take care of my wife and child, all by myself!

Misao watches, head in hands, as chibi Aoshi bounces up and down angrily.

The group took a step back.

"It was only a reflex…"

Oh, Kami-sama, I hope not.

There were…other…times screams could be heard from this room. What if they barged in then:shudders:

"Then you must all exercise self-control," Aoshi replied.

I nodded vigorously.

They started to file out. Aoshi and I sighed, and there was once again a peaceful silence. The bundle of joy had stopped crying a long time ago.

We were just about to settle in again when Jiya poked his head into the room.

"So what was that noise anyway?"

Aoshi and I gazed at our daughter.

"Our little Herureiza," I said quietly.

"Herureiza?" Aoshi asked, with a bit of humor in his voice.

"Appropriate, don't you think?"

"Hai."

Jiya whispered goodnight and the shouji slid shut. We held our breathes as I gently squatted and lay Rei on the futon. Our breathes hitched when we saw her roll over, but sighed when she remained silent, her small frame rising and falling with soft breathing.

Behind me, Aoshi hugged me around the middle and pulled me down to curl into him.

"Herureiza…" he muttered, experimenting the name on his tongue.

"Hmmm?"

"Nothing. Go to sleep."

"'Night." I relished the small bundle of warmth at my chest. They say a baby sleeps sounder while she hears her mother's heart beat. Like a lullaby. I guess that's true, except for me, it would always be—and will still be—Aoshi.

"'Night, baby." I wasn't sure which one of us he meant, mother or daughter, but I think he meant both.

Men. Forever bundling things up, because they're too lazy to differentiate.

Let's just do it all at once!

Aoshi twisted so that he was lying on his back, my head resting on his outstretched arm.

"Herureiza…" he murmured again. "Heru…Reiza…hmmm…He…Ru…no no….Za?...iie…Rei…hmmm…Rei…I like that…"

"Good," I grumbled. "Now shut up and go to sleep."

He turned again to return to our original position.

"I love you both."

"We love you too," I said sleepily, almost automatically.

"I will always protect you." He seemed to really want to make this clear. "And I'll always win."

I snorted. As I said: Men.

"Wanna know why?"

It was amazing how casual he became when we were alone (um…baby included). His proper language just flew out the window.

"Mmmm."

"Because."

"Because?" I rolled my eyes. How mature.

"If I ever wanted to give up. I would think of you. And I'd keep going."

"Persistence does not ensure victory," I responded sagely.

"Jeez, Miss Optimism…"

"Hey, that's Mrs. Shinomori to you," I smiled. I felt him smirk.

"When you're fighting," he continued. "And you're fighting to protect the ones you love, your power and will rises to a level that can't be spurred by any other reason."

I guess that makes sense. Kind of like Kenshin. Shishio would probably be the ruler of the world if Kenshin hadn't fought knowing what would happen to Kaoru if he lost.

"Aoshi?"

"Hmmm?"

"Have you always fought thinking about me?" I knew it was a stupid question, because I knew the answer. But maybe I was wrong, and I wanted to hear his side.

"No," he said darkly.

I sighed.

"But…" Aoshi mused, "Half the time, when it mattered, like with Shishio, one of the reasons was always you. But you see why I was never much use…the overpowering reason was being number one."

"That's kinda sad, Aoshi," I teased.

"Aa…I was a real dork back then."

I sniggered. Marriage had done some good to Aoshi.

He was more relaxed, and he finally had his damn priorities straight.

I, Makamichi Misao, had successfully melted the ice cube.

"Well, that's kind…" I felt his hand run the length of my thigh. I giggled.

We started fooling around when—

Whimper.

"Damn."

"You could say that again," I groaned.

"Damn."

"Hey, just who do you think you are? Swearing in front of my baby like that!"

"Your baby..."

"You're not the one who had her lower half nearly ripped off for her."

"That's not fair."

"Nope."

"Fine."

"Fine what?"

He lifted me and crushed me to his other side. Keeping me imprisoned with two legs, he tenderly took a whimpering Rei into his arms.

"I'll just have to kidnap her then." He rocked her until she feel asleep again, which wasn't that long.

I watched him and sighed, my head leaning on his shoulder. I was so relieved, thanking Kami-sama for the millionth time for blessing me with Aoshi as my husband.

If I couldn't take care of Rei, rest assured, he would be able to.

"Mine," he said pouting. I chuckled and kissed him on the cheek.

"Can I hold her?"

"Iiiieee…"

"I'll just have to kidnap her then."

"No can do."

I raised my eyebrows.

"'Cause you're mine too."

Well, there you go, fluff, fluff, fluffidy, fluff, fluff. It's short, but I hope you liked it, cause I'm not too happy with it, not enough humor, but then again you need a balance I guess.

I'm still feeling some writer's block…but hopefully I'll get to update soon.

When finals come around though, updates will have to wait till summer. I don't think I'm going to put a plot, since I want this to remain something like the adventures of Aoshi and Misao through parentage. An easy-going story, if ya get what I mean.

Thanks for all the reviews, and sorry again for taking so long.

cya