Fanfic by Blueroseulan

November 2, 2005

Standard Disclaimers Apply: RK doesn't belong to me!

AN: Ok guys… the chapter we've all been waiting for! Drum rolls TADA! And the long wait is over! Quick! Quick! Scroll down and read what happens next!

Sorry for antagonizing you guys .

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Previously:

Kaoru closed her eyes, accepting the painful reality that she was going to die. Thoughts about her life with Kenshin reeled across her mind. The trials they had shared, their fights and their baby. How their relationship blossomed and how she had ended up hurting her best friend in the process. Everything came coming back to her memory. And as tears of hopelessness welled in her eyes and slipped past to her cheeks, she silently waited for the shot that would intend to take up her life.

BANG!

"NOOOOOO"

The sound of a body dropping limply on the floor and the echo of frantic footsteps reverberated across the whole beach front as the heavens continued from up above.

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Quick as a lightning, a form abruptly collapsed to the ground.

"KAORU!"

She had dropped on her knees, form trembling and shaking, her face ashened and as white as sheet. With a spurt of speed, he caught her just before she buckled to the ground.

"Kao—Kaoru!"

His distress call was suddenly cut off when shock and amazement filled his face and confusion echoed in his voice.

For in his arms, he held a breathing Kaoru, trying to grasp for precious air and trying to regain her own composure. Hastily throwing his gaze, he now noticed that it wasn't Tomoe who had fired the gun; rather, someone else had done it.

"What—what happened?" he stammered, assisting the shaken woman back to her feet.

"I don't know…" she trailed off before gasping aloud with the sight that met her eyes.

"T-Tomoe…What happened to Tomoe?"

The said woman was lying on the floor, a pool of blood already forming beside her. She was unconscious, and the gun she had held on so tightly before had now rolled to the floor. And as Kenshin quickly jogged towards the fallen woman, he became aware of two things. One is that someone's headlights were on, illuminating the whole area and that two, there was another person standing behind him.

"I shot her."

The red head staggered back, mind hurtling in puzzled mystification.

"Who are you?" He eyed the man suspiciously. So many things had happened in one night and he wasn't so sure he could entertain another person wanting to shoot them all.

The questioned one held out a valid ID and answered in a passive voice.

"Aoshi Shinomori, hired detective and spy working under the Oniwabanshuu group."

"Spies? Detectives? I don't understand this…" both men turned to find Kaoru, already at her feet, still pale and quite shaken.

"Kaoru! Daijobou desu ka?" Rushing towards the limping woman, Kenshin all at once held her under a protective arm as he warily watched the other, possessiveness panic and fear still swarming in his gaze.

The spy gravely nodded, before directing his gaze to the other fallen body on the ground. "I could tell you later, for now, I believe we should bring your lady friend there to the hospital." he declared, motioning for Kenshin to help him carry Tomoe back to the car.

"Is she still alive?"

Once again, Aoshi nodded. "I believe so. I did not fire directly. I only made sure it would be enough to scare her and knock her unconscious. But she's alive yes, though she might need a few stitches."

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The parking lot was mostly empty, partly because it was hours after the clock struck midnight and partly because no one had the guts to drive a car in the pelting rain that bade its way through the night.

Two figures slowly made their way towards a parked Mercedes, the red haired man assisting the pregnant woman in her every step.

"I'm just glad that Tomoe will still live." she softly said, voice soft a bit weak.

He frowned. "Although I'm hoping she won't cause anymore trouble than she's caused us tonight." Watching as his companion merely nodded her head, he reached his arm to snap her seatbelt on before fastening his own. "You're tired. I'll drive you home."

A grateful smile lit her face. "Arigatou. I feel as if all of my strength had deserted me."

Murmuring a soft 'hai', Kenshin inwardly wondered what would happen to Tomoe. Aoshi had told them that evening, while the trio of them sat outside the Emergency Room how the woman had contacted him in a desperate attempt to bring her boyfriend back.

"I knew she would only cause trouble for the both of you. And I also knew she could do something dangerous as well. So instead of returning back to my office, I decided to stay and watch her. When she revved up her car and sped away, I immediately felt sure that she was on her way to the beach house."

Kenshin had then quietly thanked him for what he had done.

"Don't mention it. I'm just glad that your wife didn't get hurt, nor did your baby. As for Yukishiro-san, it's up to you if you want to report this to the police… though I doubt if she's more likely to cause trouble now."

For a while, neither of the two spoke. Finally, after their gazes met, sealing a silent agreement between the two of them, Kenshin turned to the detective.

"Shinomori-san, we'd rather that you don't report this to the police. Kaoru and I don't want anymore trouble." the red head stated, his tone sounding firm and sure.

With the decision made, Aoshi slowly stood up. "I better go contact her family. I suspect you wouldn't want to linger here would you?" a skeptical eyebrow rose when he saw Kaoru secretly shudder and shake her head. "Oh well… I hope we meet again Himura-san." He extended his hand to the man and Kenshin eagerly shook it, murmuring words of gratitude for having saved his girlfriend and his child.

With a last bow addressed to Kaoru, Shinomori Aoshi walked out of the Emergency room and out into the stormy night.

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She was exhausted by the time they reached her small apartment. Kenshin had to coax her to lie down on her bed and not just flop down the sofa. Handing her a long nightgown, he bade sure that she was comfortable enough before he turned to kiss her goodnight.

"Wait…" she murmured. "Could you stay Kenshin? I… I feel scared…"

Of course you would feel scared… I don't blame you love… A smile graced his lips as he pulled a chair to settle beside her bed. "Of course I would. I'll watch over you." he reassured her, allowing his fingers to skim lightly on her face before he returned to his seat. "Go to sleep love… it's been a very long day for you… and oh," he stopped, having remembered something, "Happy Birthday again… I doubt if you could ever forget your birthday this year." he laughed silently, watching as a lazy smile lit her face. "You have that figured out." she joked before sitting up and planting a kiss gently on his lips.

"I love you Kenshin… it's a miracle how both you and I managed to survive today… with only minor bruises and wounds… I do feel sorry for Tomoe though…" she admitted softly. He shook his head. "Maybe I do too… but I think she only got what she deserved… for her to threaten you and our baby like that…" he trailed off, clearly still angered with the other's actions.

Kaoru had seen that one coming and she placed both of her palms in either side of his cheeks. "I know… but let's just be thankful okay? For a moment I thought my life was just going to end in a snap…. just like that…" her tone was soft and in her eyes was a faraway look. "My life flashed before me… how I met you, the day I found out I was pregnant, how we came to grow fond of one another, Soujirou… everything…" a tear found its way to stray down her face, gently falling in their linked hands. "I'm just scared, tired and thankful… that's all." she smiled, despite the fact that her voice sounded shaky.

Her words arrowed straight to his heart. He already knew that he couldn't live without his Kaoru, but the thought that she and his child could have died there and then under Tomoe's gun was just about sinking to him. It was only now that he realized how much he could have lost everything in one single night.

His mind could not form any words at the moment and so he only found himself wrapping his arms around her form and burying his face in the gentle fall of her hair, relishing her touch and memorizing her jasmine scent. Words would belittle any emotions they had—for words were far too ineloquent at the moment. It was only through their touch and the long passionate kiss they shared after did they get to express what they truly felt inside.

"Go to sleep love. I'll watch over you." planting a kiss on her forehead, he settled himself comfortably on the chair, wanting to catch a few winks himself.

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She woke with the sound of the hard rain heavily pelting against the tin roof outside. Kaoru could tell that the storm hadn't let up the whole night and that it was most probable that it was already flooding just outside her building.

Distantly, a crack of lighting illuminated the sky and the clap of thunder erased all the sleepy thoughts in her foggy mind. A tingling, almost painful sensation had woken her up and she was more than uncomfortable with the feeling. Struggling to stand up as silently as she could as not to wake a dozing Kenshin beside her bed, she decided to make herself a cup of hot chocolate in the kitchen, hoping that the hot liquid would soothe down her grated nerves.

Placing a hand on her back, she loudly winced when she felt pain shoot up her spine. Tension probably had something to do with the spasms she was experiencing now—she rationalized. Yes, she was far too beat up during the day and her system was finally winding itself down.

Walking proved to be difficulty too. For in each step she took, a couple of contractions rushed and registered on her senses. The kitchen… I only need to reach the kitchen… She wasn't going through labor, was she?

Kaoru prayed not.

With a storm such as furious as the one whipping outside her house, Kaoru was very much aware that it would prove to be almost impossible to call for help, given terrible storm and the rising water that was starting to collect outside the building. Kami-sama… not now… please… she silently pleaded as she tired to gasp for breath in an effort to soothe the pain that came like jutted knife.

Something is definitely wrong. Kaoru finally decided upon reaching the kitchen. Something warm and sticky was already running down her leg and when Kaoru threw her gaze down, she almost screamed.

Blood.

She was indeed, undergoing labor.

The pains were starting to come in closely now and Kaoru had to grip the kitchen counter deathly tight in an effort to stifle the scream that was wanting to erupt from her mouth. Water and blood were starting to pool at her feet and she glanced helplessly towards her room where Kenshin slept. I really don't want to wake him… but…

"KENSHINN!" she screamed when she felt tremendous pain slicing her like knife.

It took a moment for him to reach her. Given another situation, Kaoru would have probably laughed her head off seeing the man sleepy, panicked and all with his hair ruffled and askew.

But not tonight.

He immediately paled when he saw her form, legs and dress all bloody and her breaths coming out in pants. Rushing to her, he did not need ask her what was happening to her. Water mixed with blood was enough for him.

"Yo-You're go-going into l-l-labor!" his tone was that of shock, amazement, disbelief and alarm all rolled into one.

She nodded her head, before allowing a scream to erupt from her mouth. "YES KENSHIN! I AM! NOW HELP ME!" She screeched, scaring him in the process.

"B-but…" he trailed off, frantically watching the pelting rain on her window. "I… we can't possibly go t-to the h-hospital right now…" She cut him off with another yell.

"KENSHIN NO BAKA! I KNOW THAT! YOU HAVE TO DELIVER OUR BABY, HERE… RIGHT… NOW! AND I MEAN RIGHT NOW!"

Tbc…

YEY! I didn't kill Kaoru, did I? . Hope you guys are happy with all that…

Congratulations for those who got their guesses right! (Those who said Kao wasn't going to die and Aoshi was the one who shot the gun… Omedetou!)

Sorry for those who got it all mixed up… I don't want to kill Kaoru in this fic… and certainly not our beloved red head! 0

Awww… Kenshin's s sweet and caring to Kaoru… I can just imaging him fussing over her… awww…. kawaii ne?

Uh-Oh… Kaoru's undergoing labor! OH no! o0… with such a fierce storm whipping outside and a deep flood… oh NO! o0… and Kenshin's going to deliver the baby himself… another Oh No! o0… oh well… another week's wait for you to read on what's going to happen next (I figured Kaoru giving birth in the hospital was common enough so I thought… Hey! Why don't I give it a twist? )