Hidee hi everyone! Here's the next chapter! I don't have much to say, so enjoy!
Disclaimer: If I owned Rurouin Kenshin . . .I wouldn't be writing fanfictions now would I?
Chapter 23: A Bright Beginning
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Kenshin paced nervously outside of the bedroom door. Megumi having banished him moments earlier because he was being 'an annoying expectant father.'
"I am not being an annoying expectant father." Kenshin muttered under his breath as he wiped his sweaty palms on his pants. He paced some more then walked over to the door and placed his ear against it. Inside the room he could hear Kaoru's strained breathing and Megumi's shuffling feet.
Seconds later he found himself on his face. Megumi had opened the door to ask him to boil some water when she saw him staring dazedly up at her. She sighed aggrivatedly (A/N I think I invented that word . . .o well) and stepped over him. Kenshin slowly sat up and watched as Megumi dug around in the kitchen cabinets for some pots. He rubbed the back of his neck and turned to look in the room where his wife was laying.
He walked over to her side and brushed the sweaty bangs from her eyes. Her eyes fluttered open and looked up at him.
"How do you feel?" He whispered. She rolled her eyes.
"Just peachy Kenshin." He mentally smacked himself. What was he thinking of course she didn't feel good. 'Stupid, stupid, stupid.' He thought over and over. He leaned down and kissed her forehead.
"I'm sorry, dumb question." She smiled weakly and began to groan. Kenshin's heart ached. This was what had driven him crazy before.
Megumi walked back in the room and put her hands on her hips. "I thought I said that you needed to stay out. You're upsetting her."
"I am not upsetting her!" Kenshin hissed.
Megumi walked over and grabbed his arm. "Yes, you are now come on. Come on!" She beckoned him out of the room again. "I promise I'll call you when it's time but for now you're only going to upset her because you're upset. And I don't need to have to treat a shock victim ok? So stay out here until I call you. It will be another hour at least. Go outside and try to amuse yourself ok?" With that Megumi closed the door and locked it.
Kenshin was boiling. 'HOW DARE THAT IMPUDENT DOCTOR TELL ME WHAT TO DO. Kaoru's MY WIFE!' He began to pace again outside the door. All the while thinking, 'stupid doctor, stupid doctor, STUPID DOCTOR!'
He carried on in this manner for about and hour and a half. By then he had resorted to sitting on the couch drumming his fingers on the table. Just then the bedroom door opened. He looked up.
"Kenshin it's time." Kenshin was in the room in a matter of milliseconds.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *Kenshin stared down at the whimpering bundle that his wife now gently cradled in her arms. Kaoru looked up at him. "Kenshin, do you want to hold him?" Kenshin nodded and reached down and picked up his son.
He stared down into the piercing blue eyes that resembled Kaoru's and the tiny face that stretched into a yawn. "Kenji . . .Himura." He whispered. He smiled down at Kaoru his eyes just glowing with pride. "I love you." She just looked at him, sighed and closed her eyes.
Megumi knelt down by her bag and gathered her tools together listening as the new parents cooed over their new baby. 'I once dreamed of doing that with a man.' She thought painfully. Tears stung her eyes but she swallowed them back. Her pride was too great. She would not admit to pain. She stood and looked over at Kaoru.
"I think I'll head out now."
Kaoru looked at her confused. Then nodded her head. "Thank you for coming Megumi. You are always welcome here." Megumi nodded curtly and picked up her bag. "I'm sure the whole town will be here within the hour to congratulate you both. SO let me be the first. Congratulations you've got quite a gift there."
"We know." Kenshin said with a smile. "We'll be sure to take care of it." Megumi forced a smile in return then turned to leave the house forever.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *Sano galloped down the road fuming. 'I told her we needed to go over to Kenshin's because the baby is coming. Now I probably missed it, all because of her. Why does she have to be so difficult? I've given her everything and she refuses to be content. Why can't I make her happy?' His thoughts plagued him as he road furiously on.
'I wanted to be there so badly when the baby came . . .now I've lost all possibility of ever being there.' He swallowed hard. Fighting back the threatening rage that consumed his being. The house came into view and he dismounted leaving his horse freestanding he climbed the five front steps in two.
He swung the door open and blindly rushed into the room. Not watching where he was going he felt himself collide with something. He reached out and caught whatever it was from falling. He looked down for a split second and met glittering blue eyes. "Sorry . . ." He muttered and released the woman's shoulders. The woman nodded and continued on her way. His thoughts immediately turned to Kenshin.
He looked back towards the bedroom and saw Kenshin leaning against the doorframe watching him. "I was wondering when you'd get here." He chuckled. Sano chuckled back and walked over to him.
"Sorry, I got . . .held up." Kenshin glanced over his shoulder and looked like he was about to ask a question then appeared to dismiss it. Sano tilted his head and looked at him. "What?"
"Nothing." 'Better not ask about Sayo. Looks like he's not having a good day.' He smiled up at Sano. Sano grinned back waiting expectantly. Kenshin just stood there dumbly for a couple of minutes and Sano finally lost his patience.
"So where's the little squirt?" Kesnhin howled with laughter.
"I was wondering when you'd ask."
"Make you happy?"
"A little. Come on in."
Kenshin led him into the bedroom and sat down on the bed beside Kaoru. Kaoru smiled up at Sano. "Kenji," She whispered. "Want to meet your Uncle Sano?" She asked sweetly. Sano smiled embarrassed a little and walked slowly over to the bedside. He looked down at the tiny lump that rested happily beside Kaoru.
"It's a boy?" He asked cautiously. Kenshin chuckled.
"Yes."
"Would you like to hold him Sano?" Kaoru asked curiously watching as his eyes shine with utter delight.
"Can I?"
"Mmm Hmmm."
Sano reached down and carefully lifted the baby into his arms. He held him gently. Afraid it would break. He stared down into the infant's chubby face and grinned widely at Kenshin. "Looks just like you Kenshin! 'Cept he has the Missy's eyes. Don't you little man?" Sano cooed.
Kenshin held back his laughter as he watched his tall friend talk to the baby. Kaoru smiled and reached over and grabbed his hand. He looked down at her confused.
"Kenshin?"
"Hmmm?"
"You need to finish Kenji's crib. He's going to need a place to sleep tonight after everyone's through seeing him." Kenshin about fell over. His wife had just delivered a baby and she still had her head on her shoulders.
"Don't look at me like that." She rebuked. "He's going to be tired. So get his bed done. I assume Aoshi and Misao will be here soon. So get busy. Oh and turn the oven on. I have a casserole pre-made in the freezer. Everyone can eat that for dinner.
Kenshin obediently got up and did his 'chores.' He shook his head bewilderedly and shrugged his shoulders. 'That's my Kaoru.'
* * * * * * * * 6 Months Later * * * * * * * * * *Misao sat curled up in a ball on the window seat in the parlor of her house. She stared out at the drizzling rain as the pellets ran down the windowpane. She sighed painfully and thought about the recent events.
She and Aoshi had gone to visit the Himuras to see the new baby. It had been a baby boy. She had talked happily with Kaoru several times of how adorable the baby was, how sweet the baby was, how much she loved the baby. Yet deep in her soul every time she went to visit Kaoru she felt a piece of her slip away into nothingness.
She had been cheated in life. When she saw Kaoru and Kenshin so happy all she could see in her mind's eye was her and Aoshi doing the same thing but with their baby. She hated wishing evil upon other people but at the same time . . .how could she truly be happy for them when it was supposed to be her joy first?
Tears welled up in her eyes and she clamped them shut. She was tired of sitting around being pathetic. She was tired of crying and mourning her loss. Why should she suffer when everyone else seemed to be so happy. Why had Kenji's birth gone so well? Why hadn't Kaoru had complications . . .was it because she herself was defective.
She had been told so many times that it wasn't her fault. When deep down inside she continued playing her entire pregnancy over and over again. Trying to find out what she could have done differently. Lori had often come over to comfort her and tell her stories when she too had lost a child. 'I understand . . .but why did it have to be this one?' her heart cried out.
Deep down she knew that the pain would still have been there even if it had been her 20th child. 'Why can't I get over myself.' Aoshi had begun to seem perfectly fine after about 4 weeks of seeing the Himura's new baby. He seemed to have a new peace about him. 'Why? How can Aoshi just sit there and look at their baby and not want to just wring it's neck for causing so much inner pain!' She looked down at her tiny hands. She didn't want Kenji to die . . .she just wanted to stop hurting everytime she looked at him.
'Kaoru knows I feel this way. I see her look at me so confused and helpless like she doesn't know what to do. Then she puts Kenji down for a nap or takes him outside to see Kenshin. How can she read me.' Misao hated being read so easily. Her one goal over the past almost year had been to be able to keep her emotions locked up. Not let anyone in. Yet Kaoru read her like a book. Misao clenched her fists. She wasn't going to take this she didn't have to.
The tears began to seep from her eyelids and stream down her face. She rested her forehead against the cold windowpane and tried to keep from sobbing. "Why . . .why did you have to die . . .Joshua." She murmured. A question that had been burned into her soul one that would go unanswered until the day she died.
She sat there consumed in her thoughts when a hand on her shoulder woke her. She turned quickly and stared into the eyes of her husband. He didn't say a word. He just scooted her body forward and slid onto the seat behind her.
He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her back against him. She stiffened. 'WHAT IS HE DOING?' Her mind screamed. She frantically sought for the answer. She had been trying to avoid any sort of eye or physical contact ever since it had happened and now he had caught her vulnerable.
She just sat there in silence feeling his chest rise and fall beneath her. His arms rested comfortably around her middle, not restraining yet firm. She waited. 'What is he up to?'
Silence passed on and time seemed to stop. The two just sat there. Misao ready to bolt and Aoshi just resting his head against the wall confortably.
"Misao . . ." It was spoken so gently and yet firmly. Misao wanted to run, but to where could she excape from him? "Misao, we need to talk." That was it she was out of there.
She tried to wriggle out of his arms and run from the room only to feel the once light grip tighten and pull her harder against him. "Misao . . .I said we need to talk . . ."
She was dying, 'Can't he see I don't want to?' She screamed mentally as she struggled to get away. Aoshi just sat there like a block, firm and unbending.
Eventually drained of all her strength Misao resorted to settling down and just listening. Aoshi took a deep breath and began again.
"Misao, why are you killing yourself?" She caught her breath. 'Killing myself?' He mind tried to register what he meant.
"Your grieving is getting you nowhere. It's been almost a year. Let it go." He spoke calmly and deliberately. Hoping that she would hear him out before she tried to reason with him.
'LET IT GO? HE SEEN ALL I'VE BEEN THROUGH AND HE WANTS ME TO LET IT GO?' She was furious. What was he talking about?
"I know that you have so much pain locked up inside of you. Everything was fine at the beginning. It was okay then to not talk to me, it was okay then for me to let you grieve silently . . .but now it's not okay. There should have been a time where we talked. Where we let each other in, it is my fault that we didn't. Had I done this earlier, it would have been easier. Forgive me."
'F-forgive him?' She was dumbfounded.
"I should have taken the first step. If it weren't for my stupid ego I would have. I didn't want to seem weak and feeble. Though . . . this about proves it. I should have been the one to take the initiative. I shouldn't have wanted you to come crawling to me. You are a strong woman Misao . . .and I love you deeply. You've dealt better with the situation than any woman I know. But it's time to give it up . . .it's time that we move on . . .not separately . . .but together as husband and wife."
She couldn't believe her ears. She wasn't ready yet. Not yet, she wouldn't give in! She whirled around and pounded her fists into his chest.
"He was MY BABY! How can you expect me to just forget about him. You're so dense. How could you possibly understand. You think you understand everything about me don't you? You think that you can read me don't you? Well, I've got some news for you BUSTER you CAN'T NO ONE UNDERSTANDS! How can you possibly understand when you were NOT the one carrying him for nine months? How can you possib;y understand what it feels like to lose a part of your HEART?"
"I CAN UNDERSTAND!" Aoshi said raising his voice as he placed his hands firmly on her shaking shoulders. "I can understand because that's what has been happening to me for the last year! I know what it feels like to lose a part of your heart because every day since we lost the baby you've been slipping away from me. Piece by piece you've fallen apart. I would wake up every day with a completely different woman than the one I thought I knew. The Misao I loved and still love has vanished before me, but I know that somewhere deep down she's still there. She's only confused and frightened." He watched her tremble beneath his grip and he pulled her against him tenderly.
"I'm not a vocal man Misao, and I don't mean to come across distanced and unconcerned. I am very much concerned. I only want to woman I know and love to return to me and let us start over."
Misao broke. She began to uncontrollably sob into his chest. She whimpered and cried and Aoshi just sat there and rubbed her back soothingly. "I don't want to forget my baby Aoshi." She choked out.
"I'm not asking you to. I'm asking you to give up your grief the only people you're hurting is yourself, your friends and me."
She quivered in his arms. Her sobs quieted down and Aoshi could once again hear the gentle patter of the rain outside. "Will you come back to me, my Misao?"
Misao was quiet. She was having a war inside her body. Part of her wanting to just go back to normalcy the other half wanting to go to her grave filled with anger and hate.
"I-I can t-try." She whispered.
He smiled and sighed in relief. "That's all I ask."
Misao felt a great weight suddenly give way from her shoulders. For the first time in a long time she felt content. She was content to be in the arms of the man she loved. She was content to try and rebuild with him. He loved her. He had never said it . . .yes, at times it had been implied but never spoken. She had the sudden urge to giggle though she could hardly remember how.
Aoshi felt her chest rumble beneath him and he looked down into her eyes questioningly. She grinned mischievously up at him. "I knew that I'd get you trained eventually. Took long enough, though. You actually had an entire conversation. I'm impressed."
Aoshi looked down at her seducingly( A/N Umm don't think this is in the dictionary either, either that or I spelled it REALLY wrong). "Don't tell me this was all part of your grand plan." He said huskily. Misao rebounded. This was not the Aoshi she was used to. The other one would just walk away. This one was actually challenging her.
She giggled nervously. "Actually, no . . ." He chuckled and she looked up at him.
"I'm going to have to get you back into shape. You're no fun to taunt when you're out of practice."
"Out of practice huh?" He smiled evilly and bent down to brush his lips against hers.
"Don't scare me like that again. Understand?" He said it playfully but Misao knew that those words were saying more than what they appeared on the surface. She licked her lips unconsciously and Aoshi grinned even wider. "Been a while hasn't it?"
She just smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck and he looked at her expectantly. "Yep, but lets take it slow . . .okay?"
"Whatever you say." Aoshi said before encasing her mouth with his.
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Woo hoo! Another chapter down the drain. I actually came up with this one last night and wrote it in my head. Yay! Okay on to my reviewers! Oh and if I missed anyone sorry. My review alert system has been messing up!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ My Reviewers ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Half-Breed-Demon-fox- Sorry bout the cliffy but I updated soon right?
Koishii Sweet- Okay sorry the last one was short. But this one's way longer than the last one!
Kakashi-fan- O hoo I am so evil. They just passed each other did you see it? HAHAHA! That was great. He didn't even hardly day 2 words to her . . .he didn't he said only one . . . hahahah! That's great! Glad you liked the cake!
Mz.AmberEyes- So glad you loved it. Hope you liked this one!
Lazy Lime- Didn't you just LOVE how they 'missed' each other? I think it's hilarious . . . and at the same time. . .WHAT WAS I THINKING? I'm an idiot . . .an evil idiot though!
Lily of the Shadow- Ooo airline ticket . . . NICE! Hope you like all of the events in this chapter!
Me, Myself, and I- That's cool. I go to First Baptist Woodstock! No, I'm not rich. I went to Argentina on a mission trip and raised support money. My parents are going on the cruise for their 20th anniversary and are taking my brother and I! Isn't that great? And too bad for Sano and Megumi because . . .she's GONE! Bwahahaha! Ha . . .
Ginny-cry- Glad you liked it!
Allin656- We finally have some progress with the situation! YAY! Thanks for reviewing hope you liked this chapter!
Tintin-chan- Well, you ARE LOVED! Yay! Well I'm really working on getting it done . . .at least am a little more than halfway there I think . . .
Crimson Kaoru- Awww, sniff, thanks! You're so sweet! Thanks for the review!
Ochanoko- Ahh hope that answers some of your questions. Heheheh. As for Megumi who knows if she'll make it . . .bwahahah!
Animemistress419- Yea problems, problems, problems at least I got some of them solved right?
Goth~Korn~Luvr- Yep, I hate Sayo! Mmmm, chocolate. If I had some extra chocolate I'd give it to you . . .but I already ate mine. You're not a freak . . .well at least not to me . . . people think I'm a freak so we can stick together! Glad you're liking my story!
Phoebe Otaku- Ooo hoo that . . errm well I really don't know wither. I just know you asked about Kaoru's family back home and I was sort of in a weird mood and that's what came out . . .sorry bout that one. Lol! Hope you liked this chappie!
Strawberry Sweetness Angel- Oooo ok! Cool! Anyway glad you liked the last chapter! Hope that this one makes you happy!
Sequel x Kira Yamato- Ohh good shocking is good! That's good . . .lol! Anyway hope that you liked this chapter! I'm really trying to finish up this story . . .it's killing me . . .I'm so close and yet . . .so far. (knew that was coming didn't you?) Thanks for reviewing!
The Evil Witch- ohohohoh . . .a certain someone eh? Ohohohoh. And who might that certain someone be? Anyway hope you liked this chapter! Lol!
Mishorou Mie- So glad I can please you! Hope you liked this chappie!
AnimeSoul3- Heheh hope you got some sleep! Ooooh! Coffee! I definitely used it! As you can see! I mean I got this whole chapter written in my head last night! Lol! And Booh to testing!
Gypsy-chan- Lol! That's funny!Yep Matthew is dead and Sayo is still kickin'! Heh and as for the hint . . .sorry to dash your hopes and dreams . . .Just couldn't resist having them practically 'miss' each other. Hope you liked this chappie!
Lanse- I think my review alert is messed up again. I'm lucky I even got to answer your review. I was looking on ff.net to check one more time and there was your review . . . and no alert! Argh! Anger! Anyway I'm good now and Kenshin was cute wasn't he?
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Well, that's all for now, I'm very anxious to see what my reviewers think about this cahpter and Sano and Megumi and Kenji and
Grammar Teacher: Ahem!
What do you want I'm terying to close out this chapter!
Grammar Teacher: It is very EAGER not Anxious.
Ummm ok . . .whatever. Stupid grammar. Guess I better go now. Anyway hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Remember to REVIEW!
~Kairi7~
P.S. Um I don't really know how Kenji is supposed to look but in my fic he looks just like Kenshin but with Kaoru's eyes!