After changing into her training clothes, which would allow for greater freedom of movement in the countryside, Kaoru closed the back gate behind her and started out. She didn't know which way they'd gone and there were so many. Kaoru decided she'd just go along and hope she ran into them. If she didn't find them in an hour, she'd head back. Kaoru walked along slowly in the forest, dappled with sunlight, keeping a sharp eye out for even a glimpse of red.
-
Kenshin's and Kenji's kis suddenly flared up again. They braced themselves as an aftershock tore through the ground. Kenji clutched his dad's neck. Kenshin had to keep the boy in a vicelike grip to keep him from falling from his arms. The aftershock was worse than the earthquake! A few large trees were uprooted and fell down in front of them. Kenshin started running again, jumping and dodging flying debris and the ground splitting open, threatening to swallow them both up.
-
Kaoru felt the ground shake and jumped to the side just in time to avoid the ground splitting up in front of her and swallowing her whole. She moved with the grace borne of her years studying kenjutsu, dodging stuff getting flung up at her from the ground. However, she couldn't dodge everything and was hit in the left knee by a large rock, which sent her to the ground. As she fell to the ground, Kaoru's head hit the trunk of a tree, knocking her out cold just as the aftershock stopped.
-
Kenshin pulled up as the aftershock let up. He and Kenji looked about them. The land was eerily still. Kenji's ki flared up. He pointed off to their left.
"There's something that way," he said.
After a brief debate of whether or not to listen to the boy, Kenshin decided to trust his son's newfound training. Giving a brief nod of acknowledgement, Kenshin set off in the direction that the faint ki came from.
The feeling of the faint ki was hard to pinpoint. Somehow though, Kenji seemed to be able to sense what his Dad could not. His little finger kept pointing in the direction it came from. He was very glad he took his son seriously when they came out and found Kaoru still knocked out cold under the momiji tree. Setting Kenji down, Kenshin was instantly at his wife's side. He gently tapped her cheek with the back of his hand, trying to rouse her.
"Kaoru?" he said, on the verge of total panic.
Kenji approached his Mom from the other side.
"Mom? Mom, wake up," he said softly.
Kaoru's eyelids flickered and then opened, looking up into the worried faces of her two red-heads. Kenshin, too overcome with relief to maintain propriety in front of their son, pulled her into his arms.
"Are you alright?" he asked, his voice choked with emotion.
"I'm fine," said Kaoru reassuringly, caressing Kenshin's cheek. "I'm sorry for scaring you. I went out to look for you two, but you found me."
Still shaking, Kenshin smiled at his wife and shook his head.
"It wasn't really me. It was Kenji who sensed you," he said, locking his gaze on their young son.
"Kenji-chan?" said Kaoru, gazing at the boy also. "You sensed me on only your first day of ki training?"
Kenji shook his head.
"I didn't sense you, Mom," he said. Kenji knelt down and touched her stomach. "I sensed this."
"You sensed my stomach?" asked Kaoru.
Kenji nodded solemly. Kenshin and Kaoru exchanged glances, but now was not the time for discussion. Kenshin stood up, Kaoru still in his arms and started walking back to the dojo.
"No, Kenshin. I can walk," protested Kaoru.
"With that knee?" said Kenshin, his eyes travelling to her bloodied left knee.
"Damn..." said Kaoru under her breath.
Kenji gleefully walked behind his parents. He was excited. He wasn't certain what it was he'd sensed in the forest, but there was something new inside Mom, something he'd never sensed before. It was a ki, small but so very bright. What could it be?
-
After they arrived back at the dojo, Kenshin got right to work cleaning and bandaging the wounds Kaoru had suffered. She had to argue to convince Kenshin not to put her on forced bedrest. He did however, insist that she take things easy for the rest of the day and he would attend to all the remaining housework. Kenji offered to help too.
That night, Kaoru tucked Kenji into his little futon. Kenji's hand again found its way to her stomach and his bright blue eyes concentrated on it so intently, it seemed as if he were communicating with whatever it was.
"Good night," he said to Kaoru's stomach.
"Kenji-chan? What has you so fascinated by my stomach all of a sudden?" said Kaoru, honestly curious about her son's odd behavior.
"Ki," said Kenji solemnly.
"In my stomach?" said Kaoru.
"Aa," said Kenji, finally raising his eyes to meet Mom's.
"What does it look like?" asked Kaoru, remembering Kenshin telling her that swordsmen could see ki in their mind's eye.
"Bright," said Kenji.
"Is that so?" said Kaoru, ruffling Kenji's titian locks. 'I wonder. Could I be...'
"Aa," said Kenji again.
"Good night, Kenji-chan," said Kaoru.
"Good night, Mom," said Kenji, snuggling with his rooster.
Kaoru kissed Kenji on the forehead and left the room, sliding the door shut behind her.
-
Kaoru slipped under the covers and snuggled up with Kenshin, who ran his fingers through her hair. The couple laid together for a long time, staring intently into each other's eyes.
"Kenji really led you to me?" asked Kaoru as she ran her fingers through Kenshin's mane.
"He took me straight to you," said Kenshin. "It was strange because I didn't sense anything at all, but he said he felt something. If I hadn't listened..."
"But you did. You both found me. We're all home safe and alive," said Kaoru, pulling her husband up short before he started blaming himself for a tragedy that never occurred.
"He's an amazing child," said Kenshin softly.
"He takes after his Dad," said Kaoru, tickling Kenshin's face with a lock of his ruby hair.
Kenshin wrinkled his face at the sensation.
"So what do you think of the ki he sensed in my stomach? Do you think it could be?" asked Kaoru.
Kenshin smiled at her. "It's certainly possible," said Kenshin.
"I hope a second child is welcome," said Kaoru softly.
"Of course they are," said Kenshin. "As would be the fourth, fifth and sixth."
"Let's not get carried away," said Kaoru.
-
The next day...
After thoroughly emptying her stomach in the outhouse, Kaoru came inside to find the two red-heads sitting and staring at her intently. With a small sigh, she sat down between them. Kenji snuggled up to her and she put her arm around him.
"Mom has something to tell you, Kenji-chan," said Kenshin.
Kenji looked at Mom intently.
"Our family is about to get bigger again," said Kaoru softly.
"I think you're right," said Kenshin.
"You mean the ki inside you?" asked Kenji, looking into Mom's eyes.
"Yes. You're going to be a big brother," said Kaoru.
"Really?" asked Kenji.
"Yes, the ki you've been sensing is your little brother or sister," said Kenshin softly.
"When will I see my little brother or sister?" asked the excited boy.
"I'd say about eight months," said Kaoru.
"Mom, was I inside you like that once?" asked Kenji.
"Yes you were," said Kaoru. "I carried you in my stomach for nine months.
"Does it hurt?" asked Kenji.
"It gets a bit awkward toward the end, but it doesn't really hurt like a scrape," said Kaoru.
"Can I help?" asked Kenji.
"Yes you can," said Kenshin seriously. "When your little brother or sister is born, it will be your duty as the older brother to protect them."
"Protect them with Kamiya Kasshin?" asked Kenji.
"If necessary," said Kaoru. "But mostly, just look out for them, set a good example for them. Your little brother or sister will look up to you and want to be like you."
Kenji's blue eyes were as big as saucers by now. Being a niisan was going to be a huge responsibility. He would do it! Whatever it took, Himura Kenji was determined to be the best niisan in Japan.
"Yeah! I can do it," he said.
"As if there was any doubt," said Kenshin, ruffling the boy's hair.
Owari