I don't own R.K.

"I want the bitch dead. And before you say anything Battousai I would like to remind you that if what you have told me is true than I will have to kill her to be on the safe side."

"What will come of all this death?"

"The same thing that came of my mother's death!"

"A false act of protection!"

"Protection!….smart ass and you better watch what you say about my mother."

"Apologies but I don't think this is the woman your mother would hope for you to become. Filled with revenge and rage, where is the woman who saved me in the snow?"

"You knocked her up and now she has more than herself to worry about."

"Killing her will not make our child safe. What about the families of the men you have killed. All it takes is one to come after you with a plan of revenge. Trust me Koi you can't keep up with them all."

"So you want me to let her go. That bitch has taken everything from me. My father's dojo was the only home I knew. Her brother burned it to the ground. He had men kill my father to draw me out. Once I was gone they went after Yahiko. I have a family to protect Kenshin and while you are busy trying to be the other man in Tomeo's life I have lives to worry about."

"She was once a good friend of mine. Never doubt my love for you."

"I know you love me but you love her too. When this fight is over no matter the outcome you better look through your heart and see where it belongs. Because Kenshin I can't share your love with a dead woman."

Kenshin had no words for his beloved. He wasn't in love with Tomeo but he cared for her. Still he couldn't let Kaoru kill her. If she did then the blood would never end. Still he couldn't help but wonder would he feel the same way if the roles were reversed.

If Tomeo killed his father and went after his family. Would he still be preaching the same sermon or would his answer rest at the end of his blade. Looking at the woman in front of him he knew the answer. It hurt his heart that he was going to agree to this.

"I can't make the choice for you but I know if it were me I would have killed her. I just hoped you'd be better than me. The woman who helped me in the snow knew I had blood on my hands and didn't care. As you opened up to me I saw the only thing you wanted was freedom. But taking a life doesn't stop that. It only gives those who are left alive a reason to live on. I know that killing only leads to death but the choice is yours Koi. Do you still wish for her to die?"

"I understand that blood will never dry from our hands. Still I can't bring my child into this world with her alive. I will not leave my child mother less. It's a hard thing to live with. Now I have to ask….Have you given me your whole heart?"

Yahiko

Completing his morning work the young warrior headed in to the market. There was someone he'd been avoiding since he got back. Not knowing if she would still have anything to do with him considering everything. All he could do was hope he could see her even if it was for the last time.

Like his sister he wanted to live in peace with the person he loved someone who loved him because of who he was and how he made them feel. Knowing that he could always love someone who didn't love him back like Sano and Kaoru.

Deep in his heart he hoped that wasn't the case. Just the thought of her loving someone who wasn't him made his stomach turn. He was feeling sick and thought it best to think of better things. Like is sister being with child and him being an uncle.

Still it scared him that they had so many enemies and a baby on the way. If she came back at all Kaoru wouldn't be able to live here. Not when everyone knew her as the blood thirty Blue Rose. Her child would be hated and persecuted just for breathing. That he wouldn't allow.

His father's teaching told him not to kill but beating the hell out of wasn't against one of his rules. Honestly if that was the case then he would have been saved a lot of beating from both his father and sister.

Finally reaching his destination Yahiko looked around in hopes he would see her before that rooster and his fox were on his tale. Living with nosy people was trying at times.

Aoshi and Misao

Her heart was in shock. There was no way she heard him right. This was a man who lived by strike rules. A smile was a frequent as a blue moon but seeing either was less of a surprise than this. In all honest she believed this to be a dram.

"Um… could you perhaps say that again?"

"We should take a trip you and I."

"Why after everything that has happened. Kaoru will need help adjusting to everything and…"

"One day she will have her family and what will you be the nanny?"

"Just say what you mean."

"Now that this is all over we should take some time for us."

"What?"

"I want to marry you. If we are going to have a life and family together then we need to see what life is like away from all this. No spying or work just us."

"You can't really mean that."

"Why have you changed your mind about me now that there will be no more mission?"

"No! I just don't think you will still want to be with me once you think everything over."

"Honestly I am confused."

"I don't think I can be a house wife. While I want to have your children I don't want to be a baby making machine."

"Misao I would love children with you but that is not all I want from you. You give me life and I don't want that taken from you. This is why we should go away and live life way from all of this."

"What if you can't stand me?"

"What if you can't stand me?"

The small woman smiled at the man she loved. If he was asking her then it had to be bothering him since they were set free. There was nothing they couldn't do. Working with the organization allowed them to be paid well.

"So Aoshi are we running away together?"

"It's not how I would word it but yes we are running away together."

Kaoru and Kenshin

Night fell and till the two were at ends. Kenshin still didn't want Tomeo to die but Kaoru wasn't budging on the matter. It didn't take long for her to figure out if word got out about a child this would begin again.

That was why she needs Tomeo dead. Once dead her brother would attack and the council would be forced to kill him. With both dead no one would come against her. If the woman's husband came at her Kenshin would end him.

No matter what he felt at the moment she knew he was happy about being a father. Anyone with eyes could see that. Still his words reminded Kaoru of her father's teaching.

He thought her not to kill that there was always another way. While death was the easiest it wasn't always the best. Once you killed someone you couldn't make it up to them because they were dead. While the living could forgive or you could try to make amends.

In the days after her father's death Kaoru wasn't able to keep to this teaching. That knowledge hurt her more than anything. If she could see her father now would he look upon her with shame for the things she'd done? Or hug her in understanding. She knew neither answer because her father was dead.

Leaning back into her beloved the blue eyed woman smiled as he tightens his hold on her. The action felt as if he vowed to never let her go. In a few hours Tomeo would be punished and she'd have to live with the after math. Still she wondered if Kenshin would still love her.

I know this was more fluff than some may have wanted but think of this as the calm before the storm. I will be ending this in four or less chapters. Still the whole baby thing is up in the air and your input would help matters greatly. Until next time R&R