Chapter 7

"Release my son." Misao said coldly, flicking her wrists making her kunai show freely. Aoshi unsheathed his kodochi while Saito unsheathed his sword as well.

"Why Misao, don't you remember me?" the man spoke with a hint of humor in his voice.

"J-Juro… what the hell do you want?" she screamed towards him

"You never told me I had a son, and I see I have a daughter…" he said licking his lips. Sora's eyes narrowed and Misao was ready to charge.

"You let him go! I'll… I'll give you whatever you want just leave them alone." She offered as her head dropped in shame

Just as Misao was about to step forward she heard a sharp gasp and looked to see Katsu with a knife being buried into his neck. Blood spilled out in a rush.

"No… my baby." Misao said… then charged forward in a mad rage.

"I told you not to tempt me Misao, that night you tried to defy me was a mistake." He told her dodging her moves. Saito went to Katsu and tried to stop the bleeding with the sleeve of his shirt he tore off. Tokio grabbed Sora and made her run inside into a small crawlspace where it would be hard to find the two of them. Aoshi tried his best to help Misao.

"You bastard!" Misao screamed at Juro, Puncturing him in the arm with one of the knives. Juro fell to the ground as the pain erupted, fortunately for Misao; she had hit a vital nerve.

"Your own son Juro? How could you hurt you own son!" she slapped him hard in the face and tears began rolling down Juro's face.

"D-don't kill me." he begged. Aoshi came up and decapitated Juro's head quickly. He turned his head to find Misao by Katsu's still body.

"Katsu… you can make it…. you can make It." she repeated to him and herself over and over

The sad truth was that Katsu had already died.

-----days later

The funeral was simple, but many people attended. Misao's family, at the Aoiya was sent a letter and they attended as well, despite the fact that they didn't know him. Kenshin came along with more friends and family of both his and Misao's.

Sora cried on her mothers shoulder softly for both her spiteful father and her loving brother who had protected her threw thick and thin.

Aoshi stood close to Misao, for comfort, but sadly she hadn't come to him what so ever and kept to herself.

"Any last words for Katsu?" the priest asked the large group. Some nodded their heads respectfully saying no and others simply stood around doing nothing.

After the wake Misao was asked many times to return back to the Aoiya and with much talking with her daughter she accepted. Saito and Tokio helped her pack since she wanted to get the move over as soon as possible.

"Are you sure about this Sora?" Misao asked "do you really want to leave?"

"I'm sure; I don't think I can stay here much longer without Katsu mom… I miss him so much… its like part of me is, gone." Sora said obviously wanting to cry. Misao held her tears back. She didn't want her daughter thinking her mother was weak.

"Just go ahead and cry baby… its all right." And Sora cried. The ordeal of watching her brother be stabbed in the neck and her father, of which she never knew and hated, be decapitated.

Aoshi appeared in the doorway and saw Misao cradling her daughter as Sora cried. He didn't know how Misao hid all those year with two children and be so close at the same time. It was amazing to say the least. 'I'll talk to her later.' He mused

--------------------------- Next day

"It feels different to be home again." Misao said aloud, unpacking one suitcase of many.

"So this is where you grew up mom? It's nice." Sora complimented and walked off to follow Okina who would show her the room she would have.

"You seem depressed." Aoshi spoke scaring Misao a little making her jump

"No, just a little tired." She responded to his concerned comment

"Who do you think you're fooling Misao? Don't hold it in." Aoshi said with a rough hint to his voice

"I can't take it Aoshi-sama. I miss him so much. He was the glue to our family. Now its only Sora and I… she can't take it and neither can I." she told him with tears in her eyes threatening to spill over. He embraced her with his strong grip trying to comfort her in anyway that he could.

Days went by that soon turned into weeks which soon turned into months. Sora had turned fourteen and Tokio had given birth to a healthy baby girl. Misao had not overcome her son's death and soon became an empty shell. Aoshi and Sora were the only people who were able to get threw to her but everyone soon worried more as she began to loose weight. "Please eat mom" they would tell her or "Misao stop acting this way we need you." The worry filled concerns never ceased and she felt as if she was dying.

"Misao I hate to be the one to tell you, but without the proper nutrition your body will shut down within the next two weeks possibly less." The doctor told her in Aoshi's presence.

"That is impossible. She has a daughter to raise still." Aoshi told him

"I am so very sorry." The doctor told him and left the room quietly to report the sad news to the others.

"Misao…" he whispered towards her 'it's now or never.' He mused. "Don't leave me." he told her he heard her gasp slightly and she looked towards him.

"W-what?" she asked weakly

"You were the one with me threw the thick and thin. You were my best friend when I was a merciless killer. You were by my side when I told you to leave me be. I loved you since you were born. I love you now as a man loves a woman. I love you more than you could ever imagine… just don't leave me now." He confessed. He walked over to her and planted a soft kiss on her forehead.

"I- love you too…" she told him and smashed her lips to his.

Maybe life was going to get better. Maybe Misao would die. Maybe she would live. Only time could tell… bust for now all the mattered was her and him. She fell and he caught her. She cracked his shell and melted his ice… it was just her battle any longer… it was everybody's.

if i get enough reviews then be expecting a sequel in the next month or two!