The Deep Sea
Disclaimer: Don't own Kenshin.
Joh: I've just discovered all the Kenshin image songs. I love the song that Kenshin sings with Kaoru. It's so sweet!
Note: Just a reminder…Kaoru isn't human. Not even half human. So her body works differently than ours
Warnings: None that I can think of…
0o0o0
A month later"Kaoru…I think there's something wrong." Kenshin said loudly, trying to make himself heard over Kaoru's loud humming.
"There's nothing wrong with me!" she growled, whipping around to glare at him.
"You've been throwing up nearly everyday for a month! There's something wrong here." Kenshin folded his arms over his chest and let out an impatient sigh when Kaoru turned away from him to wander down the hallway. "Kaoru…"
"What?" she snapped, still moving onwards.
Kenshin ran up to her, catching her by the wrist to pull her against his chest. "Kaoru…are you sick?"
She didn't answer, choosing instead to press closer to him. She closed her eyes and pressed her face into the crook of his neck. "Kenshin…I'm fine…really." She whispered, suddenly sounding tired.
She pulled back, smiling as she tucked her robe around her more securely. "You know, these are a lot of fun to wear." She commented happily, turning back down the hall.
"Yeah, you've been wearing them a lot lately." Kenshin answered, bewildered at her sudden mood swing. She had been like this for the past four weeks and it was slowly, but surely, driving him over the edge.
"Do you think we can buy more?" she asked him, turning out of the hall to the landing.
Kenshin shrugged. "I suppose." He couldn't help but feel a surge of hope at these words. It was possibly a sign that Kaoru was going to stay, forever.
He watched her anxiously as she descended the staircase slowly, her hand on the railing to keep her steady. There was something definitely off about her. A frown made its way onto his lips as he studied her carefully.
The mood swings, the hurling, the sudden change of eating habits…
Kenshin's eyes widened. No…it was impossible…it was way too early for her to be showing signs like this…but…
Kenshin sucked his teeth as he walked down the wide steps of the staircase, trying to find some other explanation. There was no way…but as he searched his mind for any possible answers none came up.
Time to confront Kaoru about this…
0o0
Kaoru laughed and threw back her head, gazing up into the blue sky. "Ne, Misao?"
"Yes?" her friend answered, carrying a couple boxes of clothes they had purchased together.
"What do you think of children?" Kaoru glanced at Misao, smiling slightly.
The young maid blinked her large green eyes several times before answering. "Children? I dunno…I've never gotten on with them very well…"
"Would you like to have children of your own someday?"
Misao blushed and looked away. "I…I suppose." Her mind wandered to a certain tall black haired man. If they had a child together what would he look like? "Why? This is a strange subject for you to bring up."
Kaoru simply smiled wider and touched her belly gently.
Misao's eyes widened as she noticed the small gesture. "Kaoru…. you aren't…" she whispered the next part as if afraid of saying it too loudly. "Pregnant…are you?"
Kaoru giggled and shrugged her shoulders. "I was quite shocked myself when I figured it out."
"But when did you and Himura-san…" Misao flushed a brighter red as she broke off uneasily. "Er…so…shouldn't you go to a doctor or something?"
The sea-maiden rolled her azure orbs to the sky and snorted. "I don't need some human to help me. They wouldn't understand my body since it's actually quite different from that of a human."
Misao frowned. "But…"
Kaoru flapped a dismissing hand as she wandered over to a booth selling flowers. "I'll be fine. I have good instincts and I can already tell when the child shall be born."
"You can? That's amazing!" Misao whispered, watching her friend pick out a bouquet of white roses. "When? When?"
Kaoru reached into her sleeve to give the flower lady the correct amount of coins before answering Misao. "Only three more days."
"…What? That's…too early…it should take longer than that…much longer…even I know that." Misao stammered.
Kaoru smirked slightly as she clutched the flowers, delighted at the thick white ribbon tied around them. "As I said before, my body is different then that of a humans."
"I hope it's a girl." Kaoru mused, walking ahead.
Misao stood right where she was, staring at Kaoru's back with her mouth agape. It was…so strange.
Three days then…only three days.
Excitement rose within Misao's chest as she thought about it. A wide smile lit up her lips as she ran after Kaoru.
Three days.
0o0
Kenshin growled in frustration, slamming his fist down on the table. Sano sighed at his friend's outburst as he calmly put down his fork. "Just give her space."
"That's what I've been doing for the whole month!" Kenshin snarled.
Sano didn't reply as he chewed his dinner slowly. He ignored the death glare sent his way and swallowed, licking his lips lazily. "So where is girly now?" he finally asked, looking up across the table.
"In her room with Misao." Kenshin said gloomily. "I'm not allowed in."
Sano laughed loudly and shook his head.
Kenshin scowled. "What's so funny?" he demanded.
"I haven't seen you sulk like this since we were kids!" Sano chuckled, putting his hand over his face as he laughed.
"I'm not sulking!"
"Sure." Sano thumped his hand on the table, laughing harder.
A reluctant smile spread over Kenshin's lips as he watched his brown-haired friend laugh hysterically. "I'm not!" he insisted.
And somehow they ended up both laughing together, not even remembering the reason of their laughter.
And so that is how Misao found the two men when she entered the dining room. With raised eyebrows she curtsied quickly, announcing her prescience. "Himura-san, Sagara-san." She addressed them politely.
Kenshin sobered hastily as he stood up, knocking his chair back. "How's Kaoru? Is she well?"
Misao smiled faintly. "She's in bed right now, Himura-san. She wishes for you to bring the chest to her."
"The chest…? Oh! Yes that." Kenshin said, remembering the elegant white chest that held Kaoru's answer. "Would you fetch that for me?"
"Yes sir." Misao bowed her head and scampered off.
Kenshin sighed and nodded towards Sano before exiting the room. So Kaoru wanted that box, huh?
0o0
"Here's the box, Himura-san." Misao said humbly, holding the box out towards him once they stood right in front of Kaoru's bedroom door. He took it, giving her quick thanks. He was anxious to see Kaoru already.
As he opened the door his eyes widened. Kaoru was lying in the large bed, her long ebony hair fanned out around her, contrasting against the white pillow. Her face was flushed and her eyes were a shimmering sea of blue and green hues. In her arms lay a bundle of blue cloth, which she held close to her chest.
As he stepped into the room she looked up at him, a smile settled nicely on her full lips. "Kenshin."
He approached slowly, holding the white chest in both hands. Carefully he laid the chest on the bed, his eyes focused on the small bundle held against his lover's chest.
"Is that…?" he looked up into her face questioningly.
"His name's Kenji." She held out her arms, offering him the swathed child.
With trembling fingers he took the baby in his arms, gazing down into the small face. "Kenji." He said the name slowly, liking the way it sounded. The child gurgled, opening his eyes to look up into his father's face.
Sea blue eyes were revealed as the babe did so, lips moving soundlessly.
Kenshin was so focused on his son that he didn't notice Kaoru opening the chest.
A small gasp finally alerted him to Kaoru's actions as he glanced at her. She had pulled out a long dress from the box. A wedding dress.
She pulled it all the way out of the chest, inspecting it with wide eyes. It was an off white color, shimmering an almost blue. It was simple but elegant, like the chest it was hidden in. But that wasn't what made it special. It was the belt of pearly shells around the waist that caught the mermaid's eye.
She slipped the belt off the dress, holding it in front of her. As her fingers wrapped around the shells she looked up at Kenshin, a sad smile on her features.
0o0o0
Joh: Yeah…I have nothing to say…sorry…if that…was bad…um…It's not over yet just so you know…I figure the next chapter will be the last…please don't flame me!
Review please.