Disclaimer: I do not own either Inuyasha or Rurouni Kenshin.
Chapter 12.
Sanosuke walked over to the hut as Megumi disappeared inside. It was going to be a long night. He and Kenshin had decided to post watch over Kaoru and Megumi. At the door to the hut where Megumi had gone in, Sanosuke sat down. After a few moments he heard crying coming from inside. He turned around and peeked inside. Megumi had her hands full with two crying little girls.
"I want my grandpa!" Suzume started crying.
"Me too!" Ayame chorused in. Megumi looked like she was at her wits end when Sanosuke came into the hut. Megumi helped Dr. Genzai take care of the two little ones, but right now nothing seemed to be working.
"What's all this then?" Sanosuke said as he came in.
"They're crying for their grandfather, rooster head." Megumi said with annoyance in her voice.
"Well, fine, if you don't want my help…" Sanosuke said as he turned to leave.
"Don't you dare! I need some help here." Megumi wasn't exactly the motherly type Sanosuke thought to himself, even if she was a doctor.
"Alright little ones, come here and tell me what's wrong." Sanosuke said taking up the two little girls in his arms.
"We're scared" the two of the whimpered.
"Well its OK, Megumi and I are here to protect you." Sanosuke said.
"Grandpa always scares away the monsters." Ayame said innocently.
I wish he could scare away THESE monsters. Sanosuke thought bitterly. "Well, I'm here to fill in for tonight little ones. We'll get you back to your grandpa as soon as we can."
"Grandpa is the only one that can do it!" Suzume said passionately. "He's the only one that can do it since mommy and daddy died."
Sanosuke felt like a heel for saying this, but if it kept the little girls quiet, he'd just have to get over it. "I'll be your daddy for tonight little ones."
Ayame and Suzume looked up at Sanosuke with tears still in their little eyes. Man, don't look at me like that girls. "You can't be our daddy, you don't have a mommy to go with you." Ayame said.
Suzume looked at Megumi and said the unthinkable. "Megumi, if Sano is our daddy, will you be our mommy?"
Sano looked at Megumi, Yeah, would you fox?
"Of course I will little one. Just go to sleep." Megumi said, though she didn't look at Sanosuke.
Suzume looked at Ayame and smiled. "We have a mommy and daddy again!" she whispered.
It took a while but Sanosuke finally rocked the two little girls to sleep. Megumi took them from him and put them to bed. Sano leaned against the back wall and let his back ease for a moment.
"What's going to happen to these two when Dr. Genzai, well, you know…" Sano was uncomfortable with the thought, but the girls had gotten him to thinking. "The only family I know of them having is his sister, and I don't think she can handle two little girls."
"Dr. Genzai has talked to me about it before. I'll probably take over the clinic, but I don't know about raising two little girls by myself." Megumi looked at the two sleeping girls and lay down between them and the wall.
"I could probably help you with them." Sanosuke said quietly.
Megumi started to laugh out loud but hushed quickly to keep from waking the two girls. "You must be joking. You're not exactly an ideal father figure."
"You don't have a real high opinion of me, do you fox?" Sano challenged.
"No, I don't. You never think things through. You'll make all kinds of promises, and then you turn out to be unreliable. You jump in and never stop to think of the consequences. I've seen your kind before Sanosuke Segara." Megumi kept her voice down, but the heat in her voice spoke volumes. She hated him all right.
"How many?" Sanosuke said quietly.
"What?"
"How many men have you seen like me?" Sano said. "I know you've been hurt before Megumi. Any man with a brain could tell that you had something against them or else a woman like you would have either a husband or at least a dozen suitors."
"Don't you even pretend to know anything about me Sanosuke Segara."
"I'll take that as a lot then." Sano could hear her frustration, but he was tired of fighting with her. "I'd change for you fox. You make me want to be a better man. I'm not going to say I did all this time, at first I hated you. I hated you for the opium you made that killed my friend. I hated you for being so arrogant, and I hated you for being so hard on other people. It wasn't until I realized you were afraid of letting anybody get close that I started to like you. You were actually human under that exterior you put up."
"I am afraid of nothing." Megumi spat at him. She was close to tears.
"Is that why you keep flirting with Kenshin then. You know as well as I do that he belongs to Kaoru. He loves her, and he still keeps her at a distance. I figure that was what you were looking for, distance. You were afraid of anything else. Damn it Megumi, I know you think I'm just some sort of bum that would never amount to anything else, but I would change if I thought there was anything there waiting for me if I did." Sano finished and then got up. He blew out the oil lamp and headed for the door. He'd said his piece and now he was leaving. He'd figured it was useless, but he at least had needed to try.
"Sano." Megumi's voice came to him as he stood at the doorway.
"Yeah." Sano was numb. It was the only way he could describe it.
"Please stay. You can sleep here by the girls. They'll want you here if they wake up." Megumi said from the dark.
"What do YOU want?" Sano said seriously.
"If you stay with me tonight, then we can talk about it tomorrow while the children are gone playing. I mean, seriously talk about it." Megumi said solemnly.
Sano hesitated a moment, but moved toward the girls. He lay down on the other side of them and felt a blanket laid over him by Megumi. Sano moved over onto his side and stretched out his arm over the girls' heads. After a while he felt Megumi take his hand. He sighed for a moment as sleep over took him and his little pseudo-family. It wasn't great, but it was a start.
Tae watched the as everyone went to their huts for the night. She and Tsubame had been fortunate enough to get a hut to themselves. Most of the men would be sleeping outside tonight. She stretched and got ready to head for the hut when Hiko took her hand. She looked down at Hiko in surprise, but he turned for a moment.
"Yahiko." Hiko said to the boy getting ready to sleep.
"Yes, Master Hiko?" Yahiko said back sleepily.
"I have a task for you."
"Aw, can't I get you another jug of sake in the morning?"
"No this is something else. Take my sword and go protect Tsubame tonight. I don't want any of the women to be left alone and you're the only one Tsubame trusts. Now go boy." Hiko pulled out his sword and sheath and threw it to Yahiko. Yahiko looked down at the weapon as his eyes opened wider and wider.
"Yes Master Hiko!" Yahiko was barely out of his bow before he took off for the hut at a dead run. Something passed between Hiko and the other men. Anji and Cho got up and followed after him. Tae watched as Yahiko went and escorted Tsubame into the hut. Cho and Anji took up positions around the hut quietly and settled down for the night.
"So where am I supposed to sleep?" Tae said to the large swordsman.
"Wherever you like. I'm not going to stop you." Hiko said downing a little more sake.
"You men are all alike, you make your decisions and you don't take anyone else into consideration." Tae scolded. She didn't particularly like the idea of sleeping out in the cold night air.
"Hmm, you're not used to men making decisions for you are you Ms. Tae." Hiko said almost amused.
"No, I run my own business. I don't need a man telling me how to do things. I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself." Tae said turning her back to him.
"Which is precisely why I didn't worry about letting Yahiko spend the night with Tsubame. A woman capable of taking care of herself shouldn't have a problem roughing it out here with the men. You see I was considering someone, it just didn't happen to be you." Hiko chuckled.
"You are an arrogant and obnoxious man Master Hiko." Tae said turning on him.
"Maybe so, but the boy needed to be indoors and from what I've seen you wouldn't mind the two of them getting a little closer either."
"That's different, Tsubame cares for Yahiko certainly but she doesn't need to be sleeping with him at her age." Tae said incredulously.
"I'd be surprised if he knew what to do. Knowing my baka deshi, the boy probably hasn't got the foggiest idea what a woman is like. I really need to give Kenshin some pointers on raising children." Hiko drank down some more sake and handed the jug to Tae.
"Here, it'll keep you warm. You can have my bedroll. I'll probably just sit and sleep here by the fire." Hiko sat up and threw another piece of wood onto the fire and sat back. Tae looked at the bedroll and looked back at Hiko.
She sat down next to him and took a sip of the sake before handing it back to him. "You certainly know how to charm women." Tae said sarcastically.
"I've never needed a woman. I'm perfectly content living in my cottage and making my pottery. It makes me enough money to buy food and sake." Hiko said defensively.
"No wonder you need the sake then." Tae said.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Men always need something to keep them happy. For some it's their work, for others their families, but it's always something they need to keep them going. Without it, I imagine all men would sink into a jug of sake and never come out." Tae said wistfully.
Hiko snorted next to her. "You shouldn't classify all men like that."
"And you shouldn't try to make assumptions for women that aren't yours."
"You mean you aren't? I thought all women loved such a splendid swordsman as myself." Hiko said proudly.
"Yeah right. Women want more than a big set of muscles. They want caring and security, not bravado and overstated masculinity. You should take a few lessons from Kenshin." Tae said mischievously.
"What? Me take lessons from that baka? That'll be the day. He can't even get things straight with his own woman." Hiko said hotly.
"Kenshin may have is problems, but you have to admit he's captured Kaoru's heart well enough. She wouldn't have followed him all the way to Kyoto if she didn't love him." Tae said sagely. "You should try it, you might find life with a good woman better than sake."
Tae got up and unrolled the bedroll. She got into the thing and moved over to one side. "Try not to wake me up when you come to bed."
"What do you mean, 'when I come to bed'?" Hiko said hotly.
"Nothing. Just wondered how you would feel to have a woman make assumptions and decisions for YOU for a change." Tae said warmly.
"You shouldn't make decisions for men that aren't yours." Hiko said mimicking Tae.
"You mean you aren't?" Tae shot back. "Now shut up and come to bed, it's freezing under here."
Tsubame gasped as Yahiko darted into the room. All she had on was a light robe. Yahiko was immediately blushing. "Uh, I'm sorry! I'm supposed to come protect you tonight." Yahiko said dumbly.
"Where is Ms. Tae, Yahiko?" Tsubame asked sweetly.
"I think she's staying outside with Master Hiko." Yahiko replied as he sat down across the lamp from her. "He gave me his sword to protect you with tonight."
Tsubame smiled at Yahiko and his pulse started racing again. It always did that when she smiled at him. Yahiko gripped the sword tighter as his palms began to sweat. Tsubame got into her futon and rolled towards him. "Where are you going to sleep Yahiko?"
Can I sleep with you? Yahiko shook the unbidden thoughts from his mind. He definitely didn't want to hurt Tsubame like that. Kenshin would have proven to be a total basket case if he'd asked him about women. After seeing his performance handling Kaoru, he'd dropped that idea. It was one of the few times Yahiko could say 'Thank goodness for Sanosuke'.
"I'll just sit up here and stand watch." Yahiko turned back towards the door. He had always had Tsubame on his mind ever since he had met her that day while he was training. He wanted nothing more than to have her in his arms, but he had already decided that he wasn't going to dishonor Tsubame. As soon as he was strong enough, he was going to find a way to support her and then he was going to marry her. He had seen the ring Kenshin had botched the engagement to Kaoru with, and ever since then he'd had his mind made up. Tsubame was going to have one of those rings.
Yahiko felt Tsubame put her hands on his shoulders. She took hold of him and put her forehead against the back of his neck. "Yahiko, will you do something for me?" Oh god, I won't dishonor her. I won't. I won't. I won't. I won't. I won't. But if she asks, oh Kami-sama, what am I going to do?
"Anything you want of me Tsubame. You know that." If she wants that, I'm going to run screaming out of here that's what I'll do.
"Will you sleep with me tonight?" Tsubame asked in a whisper.
All right Myoujin, here's your cue. Start screaming any minute now. "But, Tsubame…"
"I want you to hold me. I want to feel warm and safe with you." Tsubame said into his back.
Get your mind out of the gutter Myoujin! She just wants to cuddle. "OK."
Yahiko got into the futon beside Tsubame. He was going to give her the only pillow, but she slid it under his head and rested her own on his arm. Yahiko felt his whole body stiffen as she wrapped his other arm around her. She pulled it up over her heart and held his hand with her own.
My hand is between her breasts! Yahiko thought ecstatically. Yahiko tried to get a grip on his raging pre-teen hormones. Finally his body began to relax and he could feel the warmth of Tsubame against him. He could smell the scent of her hair, and it was intoxicating.
"Good night, Yahiko."
"Good night. Uh, Tsubame?"
"Yes, Yahiko?"
"Can I kiss you good night?"
Tsubame rolled over in his arms and kissed him deeply. Yahiko was still new at the whole kissing thing, but he let his instincts guide him. He cradled Tsubame and pressed his lips firmly to hers. Then shyly he began to move his tongue across her mouth. Tsubame parted her lips and before he knew it he was having the most passionate kiss he'd ever shared with her. He didn't know how, but somehow he'd rolled back and Tsubame was now on top of him.
Breathless Tsubame pulled away to catch her breath as Yahiko did the same. She laid her head against his chest and seemed to be listening to his heartbeat. "Yahiko?"
"Yeah, Tsubame?" Yahiko said between long inhaling breaths.
"If you want me, I won't stop you." Tsubame said timidly.
Yahiko nearly forgot to breathe. "Tsubame?"
"I only feel safe when I'm with you Yahiko. I've seen how the other girls have had problems opening up to the men in their lives and I don't want to be like that. I don't think you would ever hurt me or you wouldn't have risked your life to save me. I want you to know that I am yours. I want to give you everything for the happiness you've given me." Tsubame said in a hush.
"Tsubame, I love you. You don't have to give me anything for that. I'm going to marry you as soon as I'm able so I can be with you as an honorable husband. You make me feel strong, and you make me feel needed. As long as you're here I have someone to protect and it gives me meaning. You've made me just as happy."
Yahiko pulled Tsubame back to his side and pulled her even closer. "I want you more than anything else I've ever wanted Tsubame, but I'm not going to rush you. I love you to much to dishonor you."
Tsubame reached up and caressed his cheek. "I love you too."
"Good night, my Tsubame."
"Good night, my Yahiko."
Yahiko drifted off to sleep with his beloved Tsubame in his arms, and was happier than he'd ever been before in his life.
Misao sighed as she looked at Tae and Hiko. Hiko-sama was definitely getting exactly what he deserved. She almost felt sorry for him, but then there were worse things than having Tae decide to make you hers. Hiko was definitely in for an interesting experience.
At least she wouldn't be the only woman out here. All the other women had been given spare huts to sleep in. Kagome and two of the children, Rin and the little fox-child Shippou, were staying with Kaede. She however had decided to sleep out here with the men. That way she could be closer to her Aoshi. Kamatari was out here too, but 'she' was sleeping further away.
Misao looked at Aoshi. The man was so still you could never tell if he was asleep or awake with his eyes closed. He had always controlled his breathing so that wasn't a good indication either. She sat up and looked around. Even Tsubame had someone close to her tonight, and Misao had to be honest, she was just a little bit jealous.
Finally giving up on the sleep that was managing to elude her Misao got up and started towards the river. She didn't really have any other place to go. As she walked towards the river she passed another one of the extra huts and heard "Oh, Saitoh" followed by some giggles.
Blushing furiously, Misao ran the rest of the way to the river. What Saitoh did with his own wife was his business, but it conjured up mental images that Misao REALLY didn't want to dwell on. The idea of Saitoh married was wrong enough; the idea of him actually getting anywhere tonight just seemed twisted AND wrong.
Misao finally got down to the river and found a tree to sit under. She sat down on the soft ground and tried to think. Suddenly a voiced interrupted her thoughts.
"Uh, Misao?"
Misao jumped nearly out of her skin. "Who's there?"
"It's me Soujiro." He said out of the darkness.
"Where are you? I don't see you."
"Down here. You're sitting on me." Soujiro said. Misao looked down to realize she was sitting on Soujiro's stomach.
"What are you doing here Sou-chan?" Misao said as she slid off him.
"I came down here to sleep and listen to the river. There are fireflies out tonight too." Soujiro said sleepily.
Misao looked out at the river and watched the fireflies. She sighed. He was right, it was so romantic that it made her heart ache and here she was sitting here alone. Well, Sou-chan was here, but he didn't count.
"Do you mind if I stay down here for a while?" Misao said quietly.
"Of course, not. You seem depressed though." Sou-chan said worriedly.
"I am a little. All the other women have someone to be with tonight except me. Kagome's alone, but that's because her man is away tonight. I even saw Miroku and Sango together. They were going to go camp next to the well in case anything came out or in case Alanor showed up. I'm the only one that's lonely." Misao was ready to cry.
"Aoshi-sama still not paying you any attention?" Sou-chan asked.
"It's not just that. I have to accept the idea that Aoshi may never return my feelings for him. I'm just so tired of being lonely. I want someone to hold me and to care for me too. I'm not like Tae. I need someone." Misao really did start crying this time.
Soujiro sat up and put a hand on her shoulder. Misao turned around and knocked him to the ground as she buried her head in his chest and sobbed. She stayed that way for quite some time.
"Sou-chan, can I stay down here with you tonight? I don't want Aoshi to see me like this." Misao said softly.
"Sure Misao, anything you want." Soujiro told her kindly.
Misao looked out at the river. The wind picked up for a moment, reminding Misao that her legs were uncovered. A shiver ran down her spine as she remembered her blankets were still up at the camp.
Without speaking, Soujiro pulled his blanket over the two of them. Misao huddled close to get warm and looked out over the river. Soujiro put his arms around her shivering shoulders and she welcomed the warmth.
It was in that moment reality decided to intrude on her. Her mind started taking a quick inventory of her situation. It was a romantic evening with fireflies dancing over a quiet river, it was a night cold enough to require a blanket and preferably someone to be close too without freezing to death, she was laying in a blanket in the arms of a man with her head on his chest, all this and it WASN'T her Aoshi.
Misao started to panic. She switched Soujiro and Aoshi in the equation. If Aoshi were here she would be on cloud nine. This would be the most romantic moment of her life. Well, actually the night was no less romantic, but it was with the WRONG GUY!
Misao started to say something, but she heard Soujiro's soft snore. He had already drifted off to sleep. Misao didn't want to wake him, so she was stuck. Here she was spending the most romantic moment of her life with Seta Soujiro.
Misao closed her eyes and started to think again. It wasn't that there was anything wrong with Sou-chan, far from it. He had an impressive array of qualities that any girl would love to be snuggled up to like this. It was just that she had always dreamed of a moment like this with Aoshi.
It was then that it struck her. In all the years she'd been with Aoshi, all she could ever do was dream about a moment like this. Yet somehow, here she was falling into this moment with someone who was her friend. A friend she was starting to feel rather close too. Misao thought about this some more. In the short time she'd known Soujiro he had gone from enemy to close friend. At least he better be a close friend if she was lying here in his arms, truth be known he needed to be more than that.
Misao unconsciously started comparing him to Aoshi. Both men had blood on their hands. Soujiro had probably killed a few more, but Aoshi had nearly killed Okina. Both men would probably die to protect her. She had seen Soujiro fight. He had been the last one to leave the battle with the demons. He had outlasted even Aoshi. Both of them were brave, and strong. The only difference that Misao could see was that Soujiro was kind and supportive, while Aoshi remained cold and aloof. There was also the fact that Aoshi was quite a few years older than Misao while Soujiro was just a year or two older.
There was also the fact that Soujiro was here right now while Aoshi was elsewhere.
What did Soujiro feel? He had always been there for her. He'd followed blindly while she'd dragged him around Japan and now they were stuck here in the past and he still stayed by her side. She needed to talk to Soujiro about all this. She needed to know, because if he was in love with her she felt like she'd be leading him on. What if Aoshi doesn't love me, and Soujiro does? What then? Could she throw away someone who loved her for someone who didn't? Could she actually love Soujiro?
Questions kept floating through Misao's mind as she drifted off into an uneasy sleep.