Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin belongs to the great Watsuki.

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Runway Groom, Vengeful Bride: Chapter Two

Misao yawned as she rubbed her eyes and rolled over contentedly on her futon.

What a wonderful night, she thought to herself as she pushed back her sheets and stretched. Going over the wedding details with Aoshi-sama... She hadn't even minded when he fell asleep while she was talking, something that would normally receive a kick to the head, had it been someone else.

Yes, Misao Makimachi, was deeply in love. She had thought he needed his rest anyway, to make sure he looked his most handsome for their wedding day. She had basically invited the whole of Kyoto for the wedding and could it be helped, that she wanted to show him off?

"That'll serve all those smarmy girls right," she thought gleefully, running a comb through her long hair. "Saying someone like me could never get a husband...he he he!"

As she tiptoed over the sleeping forms of Kaoru and Megumi, Misao peeked through the window apprehensively, before smiling in satisfaction.

"It's perfect weather," she declared in a delighted whisper. "Everything's sooo perfect!"

She twirled around like a little girl. "I had my beauty sleep, as Megumi puts it, the weather is great, Aoshi-sama's getting his rest in his room...Kenshin's protecting him just in case..."

As she thought of her beloved Aoshi, her smile got even wider. Today, after many years of would he or wouldn't he, they were finally going to tie the knot! It was going to be finalised...Misao had made sure to put a spot in their new home especiallly for the framing of the marriage papers, just to reassure herself.

She wondered if Aoshi was up or not. Maybe I'll just go check on him, she thought, glancing back at the other women. It looks like they'll be out for another hour or so...

Giggling, Misao slid shut the shoji and practically danced towards the boys rooms.

She peeked into the room Yahiko and Sanosuke were supposed to be sharing.

Her brow furrowed.

"That's strange," she said, a finger tapping her chin. For only Yahiko was sleeping in the room, snoring as he lay sprawled over both futons. "Where's Sagara..."

Shrugging, she made her way towards Aoshi and Kenshin's room.

Smile wider than ever, she slowly and silently slid open the shoji. The former Okashira peered around the room, giggling when...

...slowly but surely a frown appeared on her face.

There, in the futon where Aoshi-sama was supposed to be safely and soundly tucked away, was nothing but a blanket. The room was empty. Even Kenshin was gone.

Misao panicked. They had discussed how everything would turn out a dozen times at least...! and Aoshi had not mentioned any errands he had to run...Her eyes widened. Why else would he leave? And why would the others...

Misao swallowed, coming closer into the room. He couldn't be regretting his decision, could he? And the others...maybe they were trying to find him without telling her! With a sob, she lay down on the cold futon. She buried her face in his pillow and started bawling.

"How dare you leave me Aoshi-sama!" she wailed, thumping the pillow violently. "How dare you!"

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"Atchoo!"

After irritably stopping to sneeze, Aoshi continued following after Hiko, watching him take great swigs from his sake as he went, and fuming as he did so.

How dare this man, he thought silently.

Hiko glanced at his stony faced captive, as if reading his thoughts.

"You keep looking at my sake, it's bugging me," he said finally, annoyed. (Maybe..not.) "If you want a drink, just say so."

Aoshi said nothing.

"You don't talk much do you?" Hiko looked amused. "I can't for the life of me figure out why that weasel girl would want to marry someone like you."

Aoshi glared at him.

"I thought you were supposed to hand me over to the others," he pointed out. "That's not going to happen if you keep stopping to make unwanted conversation, is it?"

"Unwanted eh? Suit yourself. It's your own fault for coming all the way out here. It's going to be a while before we arrive. So if you don't wanna talk, which isn't a problem with me, stop looking at my sake, and just relax and enjoy the scenery."

Smirking, Hiko continued walking.

"I wasn't looking at your sake!" called Aoshi as he followed, looking very indignant.

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Kaoru was having a difficult morning.

She had woken up just in time to see Misao pulling on her ninja outfit, several kunai between her fingers and looking livid. Kaoru could have sworn she saw her eyes gleam an inhumane colour. It took every ounce of the swordswoman's energy to stop the younger woman from barelling down the door and racing through the streets of Kyoto to skewer Aoshi who she claimed--rather hysterically--had left her.

Suffice to say, Kaoru had been very bewildered.

"Now look, Misao," she said in a soothing voice as she gently steered the younger woman towards the kitchen. "You don't want to skewer anybody, okay? Let me make you a nice cup of tea and we can discuss this from the beginning."

"I'll flay him alive!" Misao roared, still trying to barell through the door.

"No one is flaying anyone," said Kaoru firmly."And besides, what happened to that vow of yours? No violence on the wedding day?"

"That wasn't for me, it was for Lor-- Aoshi pighead."

"Oh honestly," said Kaoru in exasperation, firmly seating the woman behind a low table. "Now you sit there quietly, understand?"

"Kaoru, my wedding is ruined," the younger woman moaned, pulling at her long rumpled locks.

"Nonsense. It's not even officially morning yet! And on top of that, there are many hours to go before we arrive at the Temple. How can your wedding be ruined?"

"Because Aoshi-sama has left me, that's why!" She looked mournful, her usually vibrant green eyes clouded over.

Then her eyes flashed dangerously again, and she made another wild lunge for the exit.

"Just you wait Aoshiiiiii! When I get a hold of you... You'll be sorry you ever played with my feelings!"

Kaoru sighed. Misao could be very stubborn once she believed something. "I don't think Aoshi would leave you," she said patiently. "He loves you, remember?"

"You call this love?" Misao drooped. "I can't stand this shame...He should have just told me he didn't want to marry me, instead of running away like this! As if he could hide from me anyway. Why I should go looking for him right now...I bet I could find him in little under two minutes...the nerve of him...embarrassing me in front of everyone! I should do exactly the same...give him a taste of his own medicine...I'll make it a public execution...yes, that's exactly what I'll do! If I can't have him, then no one can!"

"Mommy?"

The two turned to see a small redhead poke his head through the kitchen entrance, sleepily rubbing at his eyes. "Mommy, is it daytime?"

Kaoru was relieved at the interruption. Misao added a whole new meaning to the word 'tirade'.

She smiled at her son. "Of course not Kenji-chan! It's stll sleeping time for you..."

"I'll be right back, don't go anywhere," she warned Misao, before guiding her six year old back to the childrens bedroom. She found a yawning and very grumpy looking spiky haired four year old also standing in the corridor. She sighed.

"Did you wake Sozou too?" She gave her son a reprimanding glance.

"No!" Kenji protested. "He just followed me."

"Come along, both of you," said Kaoru, taking each by the hand and heading quietly towards the childrens room.

"Not wanna go back sleep," said Sozou defiantly as they came upon the door. He looked wide awake, and was looking towards the womens' room. "Want Mama."

Kaoru ruffled his black spikes. "Come on Sozou-chan, your mama needs her sleep. She's very tired, she's going to have your baby sister soon you know that."

Sozou wrinkled up his nose. He gave Kaoru a look that suggested she didn't know what she was talking about. "My Mama's havin a boy," he said proudly.

Kaoru smiled. "Come on," she said gently. "Back to sleep now. You don't want me to tell your Daddy that you woke up your poor Mama do you?"

Sozou thought about this for a moment. "No," he said finally.

"Good," said Kaoru, looking relieved. "Now off you go."

After she had put the boys back to bed, she hurriedly head back to the kitchen. " So Misao, have you calmed down alre--Misao?"

Kaoru put a hand to her mouth. With a sinking feeling, she realised the ninja woman was nowhere to be seen.

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