I hope you guys liked the last one! It really didn't have a cliff hanger at all so I can kind of relate to why people probably aren't looking forward to the second chapter! Well this chapter will be longer and will have more events in it! Not just an icky intro! People who have read The Field of Cherry Blossoms that was mine and this is just a remake of it because I just really thought that I could do better and make it longer! x so anyway! Enjoy!

Midnight Cherry Tree's

Chapter 2: The Disease

They all walked up to the sliding door and just as Namika put her hand on the door to slide it open Remiyu broke out into a coughing fit.

"Remiyu!"

Her mother cried in worry and pushed passed Hiko and Kenshin. She dropped to her knees putting her hands on Remiyu's back patting it softly. Remiyu grasped her throat gasped and cried out in sudden pain and fainted. Namika gasped in horror and shook her.

"Remiyu! Remiyu!"

She cried and Hiko practically had to pry her off of Remiyu.

"She'll be fine Kariduo-dono! Me and Kenshin will carry her in! Why don't you go get her some water and make sure she has warm blankets on her bed!"

Namika's lip trembled and wringing her hands together she went and did as Hiko instructed. Hiko laid his hand on Remiyu's forehead which was burning with a fever. Then without Kenshin's help he picked Remiyu up and Namika showed them to her room. There Hiko laid Remiyu on her bed gently as Namika stood her distance watching in horror.

"I am no doctor Kariduo-dono but I do know a few things about illnesses from taking care of Kenshin. I haven't been in care of Kenshin very long but long enough to know that your daughter is sick."

Namika gasped.

"But don't worry it's nothing serious Kenshin is still alive isn't he?

Namika looked over at Kenshin who didn't look dead at all he looked like a normal child. Turning her attention back over to her own child she was pale and looked very ill. Namika nodded at Hiko and he nodded back.

"She will get over it; just give her lots of liquids and rest. She will come around soon."

Namika nodded again.

"So Kariduo-dono, any idea where I and Kenshin will be sleeping?"

"Well we don't have the biggest house-

"I can see that.."

Hiko said. Namika glared.

"As I was saying, we don't have a very big house but Kenshin can stay in Remiyu's room I have a fine looking curtain that can be put up. My husband before his death built this bar in the middle of the room in case we were to have more children, but that didn't happen."

Hiko nodded.

"Well you don't necessarily have to put up the curtain."

Hiko said and smirked. Namika gave him a puzzled look.

"What are you implying Seijiro-san?"

"Well I'm sure Kenshin and Remiyu will get along great! I see no need for the curtain! Plus my apprentice could use the experience!"

Namika looked like she was about to explode with anger. Kenshin could have sworn steam was shooting from her ears. She could have breathed fire if she got mad enough. Hiko saw her look and his eyes widened.

"A-Although I was only joking Kariduo-dono!"

"You better have been joking. Now the curtain goes up now Seijiro-san!"

She thrust the long heavy curtain towards him with anger. He smiled in innocence and right away began to put the curtain up along the bar. Namika smiled with satisfaction.

"I have a bed for Kenshin I will set it up while your doing that Seijiro-san."

Hiko looked back at her and glared. He constantly cursed at the curtain as it kept falling off of the bar.

"What a shitty curtain!"

He exclaimed. Namika heard his horrid curse and came in with a bed in her arms glaring at Hiko.

"Do you say those crude words always in front of your 7 year old apprentice Seijiro-san?"

Kenshin nodded and leaned against the wall.

"Always, I tried to get him to stop, it's impossible that it is."

Hiko glared at Kenshin and finally got the curtain up.

"Finally."

"Thank you Seijiro-san. But I must say shame on you for your figure of speech."

"When did you turn into my mother? Well you do look old enough to be."

Namika glared.

"Do I? Well I'm not the one who's sprouting gray hairs already."

She smirked at her clever comeback as Hiko began to inspect his hair.

"Where? I don't see any!"

"Oh they are there."

She then went behind the curtain and set up Kenshin a nice bed. Then came back around leaning against the wall staring at Hiko as Kenshin ran behind the curtain to lay on his comfortable bed.

"So where will I be sleeping Kariduo-dono? I hope it's with you! But that would be kind of sick to be sleeping with my mother."

He chuckled to himself and was surprised when a stinging shock came to his right cheek. Realizing what Namika had done he rose his hand but then put it back down.

"I suppose I deserved that."

"It was much needed! If you continue with your crude behavior and manners you will be sleeping outside tonight! But I will be kind and show you to the living room where I will set out a bed for you."

She glared at him and Hiko deciding to be nice followed her to come help her move some things to make room for his sleeping area. Kenshin could hear Hiko arguing that the space she had chosen for him was too small and he rolled his eyes.

"Looks like he needs to learn his place that he does."

He mumbled and then got up off of his bed to go check on Remiyu. He felt bad for her. He remembered having this sickness, it involved a lot of coughing and spewing. He knelt beside her and didn't notice that he had left his katana beside his bed. Waiting for Remiyu to awake he pulled something out of his gi that looked like a spinning top. He had had this since before Hiko had found him. He treasured it deeply. He quickly put it back in his gi as he heard Remiyu make a coughing groan.

"Remiyu..?"

"Kenshin.."

She whispered hoarsely.

"How are you feeling? You scared us there for a while that you did."

"My throat hurts and I think I'm gonna-

She then got up and ran past Hiko and Namika who were still arguing and spewed into the bushes. Kenshin followed quickly behind her and grimaced hearing her cough and hack. When the coughing and hacking had stopped he called her name.

"Remiyu-chan?"

"I'm fine Kenshin."

"No I don't think you are that I don't."

He went over to her and helped her back into the house and to her bed. He set a bucket beside her bed so she didn't have to run all the way outside again. He pulled the covers over her chilling body and then got up and made his way to the living room to where Hiko and Namika were still arguing.

"Do you think you could keep it down a bit guys? Remiyu just hacked up something awful and all you can do is bicker? I will settle this with my master Kariduo-dono thatI will. Why don't you go help your daughter into something more comfortable to rest in?"

Namika nodded at the 7 year olds words surprised that he was so incredibly wise for his age. Why he was more mature than Hiko!

"Master, you forget that we are here as guests let us make a good impression on this family who is so kind to take us in that you do."

"Yes I suppose I should be more polite Kenshin. I have been a bad example to you but I believe I am too big to have this small corner."

"Master they do not have that much room in this home that they don't. Just except what she has offered to you. At least you have a fine bed to keep you warm tonight and I'm sure this set up is only for the night that I am."

"Who says we are staying longer than one night Kenshin?"

"No one master. I just thought-

"You thought wrong Kenshin. Now go back to the room."

Kenshin nodded and then remembered that Namika was dressing Remiyu. He could see their shadows and he wasn't magnetized to girls like Hiko so he waited outside trying to ignore the shadows. His eyes kept on wondering over to the shadows but he decided to stare at the wood in front of him.

"No!"

He thought.

"I will not turn into what Hiko has become I will never marry or see a girl in the way he does! As far as I'm concerned girls are just there. And besides they could carry some sort of disease or someth-

His thoughts were then interrupted by the sound of the sliding door. Namika came out and she looked over to him.

"You can go in now Kenshin. Thank you for waiting."

"Your very welcome Kariduo-dono that you are."

She nodded and went to do some house work. Kenshin then went in trying to ignore what he referred to as 'diseased' but he couldn't when she whispered his name.

"Innocent.."

He thought.

"Like a cherry blossom petal- No! like a diseased cherry blossom petal! Not innocent like those other pink petals!"

He grinned and laughed softly at his thought.

"Kenshin? Are you alright?"

"Yes Remiyu. I hope you get better but I don't really want to get your dis- I mean your sickness that I don't."

"I understand Kenshin but mom says I'll be over it in a little while."

"Yes that will be good that it will."

"Do you think you will be staying long enough for you to keep your promise? Cause I can't play with you until I get better."

"Oh no!"

He thought.

"I can't break a promise like that! But I don't want to get whatever disease she carries that I don't!"

He panicked in his mind for a moment or two but then came back to reality again.

"I don't know. Hiko says it might be for just the night but I hope I can keep my promise thatI do."

Right now he hoped that he would be going the next morning he didn't want to play with Remiyu! Sure she was nice but that 'disease' that he thought had affected Hiko, he wanted to stay far away from that.

"Aw. Well I hope you stay longer Kenshin I don't get to play with many friends much."

And now the most horrible thing had happened. She had made him feel guilty. That disease was far from his mind at the moment. Now all he wanted was to keep his promise because his father was a man of his word as far as he knew. And Hiko his roll model at the moment was as well.

"I hope we stay longer too Remiyu that I do! I think you should get some rest now though besides talking to me. I'll just be on my side of the room that I will."

He walked over to the other side of the curtain and sat down on his bed pulling out his spinning top and with one twist he began to smile as the top spun which seemed to amuse him.

----------

Namika and Hiko were now sitting down having a nice conversation.

"Yes I am a samurai Kariduo-dono. Sorry about my constant complaining and crude joking earlier. You really are fantastic women."

"Why thank you Seijiro-san. And it's alright I shouldn't take things so seriously. By the way, you may call me by my first name Namika if you wish."

"Alright then Namika. You may call me by my first name as well, Hiko."

She nodded and smiled at him.

"So how long will you be staying Hiko?"

Hiko had changed his mind he wanted to stay longer now. He wanted to get to know Namika better. It had been a long time since he had sat down with a women like this, usually it was buy them a drink get them really drunk and then carry them off to the bedroom. Namika was different. She didn't drink sake she seemed very natural and he liked it.

"Oh I don't know, as long as you would let us stay I suppose."

"Well that might be longer than I have ever let anyone stay."

She winked all flirty like while Hiko turned beat red.

"Well uh. Thank you for your kindness Namika."

"No need to thank me Hiko it's a pleasure to have you and Kenshin stay with us. Remiyu doesn't get a play mate often like this."

"I would imagine. You two live far away from the outside world."

"Yes we do. But we like it. Remiyu doesn't really get to socialize as much as she would like to though. She often talks to her dolls or me. When she talks to me it gets quite annoying somewhat."

"Yes Kenshin blabs like that too. But when I snap at him and tell him to hold his tongue. He listens."

"Well I never said she bla-

"Believe me Namika; she looks like one who would blab."

"Do you often interrupt people like this?"

"Only when I know what they are going to say."

He then pulled out what looked like a plate but it curved up slightly like a cup. Hiko poured his jug of sake into It and pulled out a second plate like cup.

"Would you care to even try some Namika?"

He smirked.

"Only one cup Hiko. I think I can trust you enough to only have one cup. But is it good around this time of year?"

"Oh yes very good."

Hiko poured her a cup and handed it to her. She nodded in thanks and sipped it gracefully.

"Ah. It is good. It's been a while since my last cup. I'm very cautious; I don't like drinking as much. I don't care for the hangovers and what it does to your mind."

"I understand."

Hiko took another sip and Namika copied his action. Hiko smiled at her and she smiled back.

"I wonder what Kenshin is doing."

"Probably just being a 7 year old boy."

She chuckled.

"No, Kenshin wasn't taught to be a 7 year old boy. He was taught to be serious and to focus on his destiny. I regret teaching him that."

"I'm sure Remiyu can teach him the ways of a child. How to enjoy his childhood while he has it."

"Yes I hope so. I fear he is miserable. I do not show love or affection towards him as a father would his son. I would like to, but he might forget his place."

"Ah. Yes that could happen. Not good for a swordsmen eh?"

"No not at all. But I hope he can learn his place as a child here with Remiyu. I think we will stay for a long time for this reason. I don't want him to have a miserable childhood."

"You do love him like a father loves his son don't you Hiko?"

"Of course. He just doesn't know it yet. I often pay no attention to his safety but sometimes I accidentally show that I'm worried. I'm afraid that he either has already figured it out or is puzzled by it."

"If he has figured it out he is doing a good job of not showing affection back."

Hiko smiled.

"Yes he is."

"Well I'll start making lunch. Go ahead and explore the territory, make yourself at home."

Hiko nodded and made his way towards the door.

-------

Kenshin stared down at his top. He felt as if this was the only part of his parents that he had left. His eyes began to swell with tears.

"I will not cry thatI wont."

He thought.

"I must be strong. Like master, he would be disappointed to see me cry over such meaningless matters. Who am I kidding though! They aren't meaningless! They were my parents that they were."

Tears rolled down his cheeks. He was a depressed 7 year old. This was so unusual for Kenshin because 7 year old children are supposed to be happy! Mood swings and depression often don't come until the teenage years but he was so depressed. He wished someone would just come and put their arms around him. He needed love more than ever. He grasped the top crying harder than he had ever cried before. Remiyu was asleep and as Namika was walking down the hall way to fetch some potatoes from the storage she heard his small soft sobs. Peering over the side of the curtain she silently made her way over to him.

"Kenshin. What is the matter dear?"

"Why do you care?"

He sobbed trying to stop crying.

"It's nothing. I'm the bravest boy in all of Japan that I am!"

"I'm sure you are Kenshin, but even the bravest shed some tears now and then."

"Not master though."

"I'm sure Hiko has cried many times Kenshin. You shouldn't be so hard on yourself."

"Master will be so disappointed that he will."

He sobbed.

"No Kenshin. He wont it may seem like it, but he won't."

"Why do you figure that?"

"Because no one could take care of a child such as you and feed them and spend all their time with them and not love them. He may not show it Kenshin, but he does."

He didn't reply and Namika simply hugged him and covered his cheek and forehead with comforting kisses. To him this felt like his mother.

"Kenshin more people care about you than you know."

She smiled and wiped away his tears.

"It's ok to cry."

Kenshin nodded and continued to cry until his face stung when the tears rolled down his cheeks. Namika stayed with him for about an hour comforting him until he stopped crying. In the end Kenshin gave Namika a hug and in a childish tone he said,

"Thank you Namika."

He smiled his nose and cheeks still red and his eyes swollen from all the tears. Namika smiled back and nodded. Kenshin stayed in his room until the red from his face and eyes were completely gone. Then he got up and walked into the kitchen telling Namika how he liked his lunch. She listened to every word he said intently and made it just how he liked it. Hiko had never done this all he did was cook up some fish or something. This was a pure treat. Sushi and rice with several other delectable dishes. He was surprised when she put salmon next to the two pieces of sushi on his plate.

"Thank you Namika"

He said and began to eat. Hiko soon came in and Namika went to help Remiyu to the table. She looked tired and pale. Kenshin felt really bad for Remiyu but he knew that since she had Namika for a mother she would be getting better soon.

"mmm! This is delicious Namika!"

Hiko exclaimed Remiyu only mumbled a few words that no one could hear but they didn't really want her to speak for fear of further loss of her voice.

"I'm done that I am!"

Kenshin said and picked up his plate and cleaned it off dried It off with a towel and put it away where he thought they went.

"Hey Remiyu want to go play!"

"urggghhhhmmm."

Was Remiyu's reply and Kenshin made a face.

"Yeah I think you should stay inside and rest I'll just go out and look at the fish or something that I will!"

He ran out and saw something that he had never seen before or he had but just couldn't remember!

To be continued…

End to the second chapter! Exciting eh? Eh? Man that was a horrible cliff hanger! But all well I'm not really good at them anyway! I'll try to make up some really sweet cliff hangers! x See I surprised you during the week! Sometimes I just get bored and write out my whole story in like 3 or 4 hours! I don't get writers block much but I'll have to brain storm on some more exciting events! So REVIEW! Give me some idea's people! Thanks for reading! –Rachee-chan