It was Saturday, which meant no work and no school. Where would my brothers find me on a Saturday morning when I had nothing to do? In front of the holographic television watching cartoons, and eating cereal 'cause I'm cool like that.

I was in the middle of an old (emphasis on the old) re-run of the anime series, Rurouni Kenshin, when Sano stood up in front of me.

"Sanoooo move your butt." I whined, bobbing around on my floaty chair as I tried to get a better look.

"Kaoru, have you forgotten what you have today?"

"No, I have to watch the end of this episode! I want to see how Kenshin defeats Kanryuu."

He rolled his eyes. "How old are you, five?"

I stuck my tongue out at him and took another spoonful of Lucky Charms.

"Seriously, Kaoru. If you continue to dawdle, you'll miss your appointment with Megumi."

"Oh shit!" I yelled, effectively spilling all my cereal onto my lap and violently bobbing up and down. "Shit, shit, shit, shit! Why didn't you tell me earlier?" I screamed as I jumped off the damn chair and ran to get something to clean up my mess while simultaneously trying to clean my shirt.

"I tried." Replied my retarded twin, shrugging his shoulders. I glared at him.

"Help me out here, you rooster-head!"

"Now, now, play nice. I won't help you if you continue to be mean to me."

As I ran past him into my room, I shoved him headfirst into the wall. "Are you going to help me, or stay on your ass?"

I heard him grumble as he picked himself up but whether he was going to clean up my mess or not, I didn't know. I was too busy stripping down so I can shower all of the sticky milk and stuck Charms off of me when I heard someone clear their throat. I was in the hallway in the middle of taking off my shirt when I recognised that voice. I spun around to meet a bemused looking Kenshin, his hands in his pockets.

"Get out!" I screeched as I threw the nearest thing at hand at him, my cheeks burning. "Who walks in on a girl when she's changing?"

"Kaoru, you're in the middle of the hallway." Drawled Yahiko from his doorway. I slammed his door on his face, and ran down to my room, my face bright red. Why did everything have to go so wrong? Thankfully I had a bathroom attached to my room, I didn't have to go back out, but I was still mortified.

Twenty minutes later I emerged, a t-shirt and jeans on. I half hoped that Kenshin would be gone, but another half of me really hoped he stayed. Why am I like this? I wondered as I walked down the hall. He's just a guy. I barely know him! Must be the hormones…

When I went into the kitchen I was greeted with the sight of my brothers interrogating Kenshin. I hung my head in shame. Those boys…

"So you're twenty-one?" Sano was wearing his serious face, which was just plain comical. "How do you know my sister? What do you plan to do with her? What are your plans for the future?"

"What's your blood type? Your zodiac sign?" Asked Yahiko. As the questions continued, they inched forward to Kenshin.

I sighed. I grabbed the umbrella from our umbrella stand (why do we have one of these again…?) and whacked my two brothers on the head and without missing a beat, turned to Kenshin with a smile on my face. "Sorry about my idiot brothers." I said, ignoring their moans of pain. "They're over-protective and don't realise I'm a big girl."

Kenshin grinned. "I can see that." He then gave the two on the floor a concerned look. "Will they be ok?"

"Yeah, their heads are unnaturally hard."

"You're heartless." Groaned Sano as he stood up. "You damn raccoon."

I hit him again. "Don't call me a raccoon!"

"Kaoru…don't you think you're hitting them too hard? You know they lose brain cells every time they get hit on the head…"

"True. We can't let them lose the few they already have."

"Hey, ugly! Lemme see you try that now!" Yelled Yahiko from the entrance to the kitchen. I hadn't noticed when he had left, let alone grab a shinai…Poising the umbrella in front of me in the position our father taught us, I gave Yahiko a taunting smile.

"Bring it."

Before we could engage in what was sure to be an epic butt whooping on Yahiko's side (he could never win against me…I was the assistant teacher when dad was still alive) Sano stood between us. "I'm sure Kaoru has already forgotten, but she has an appointment." He gave me a look that said, get rid of the other guy.

"Ah, shit." I mumbled. I turned to Kenshin. "Sorry about this, but…wait, what are you doing here anyways?"

He chuckled. "I guess it's my fault for not calling before, but I wanted to take you to lunch."

"Oh." I felt my cheeks heat up and I was speechless. "Um, maybe tomorrow?"

"What is this appointment? I can just take you there an wait."

Everyone froze. Sano and Yahiko both knew who he was – I discussed my decision of a sperm donor with them – so they knew that it was his baby (technically) that was growing in my womb. For which I needed to do a check-up on. For which he was offering to drop me to.

If I tell him that I'm pregnant, what will he think? Then again, he hasn't seen me at my best, either. The first time we met was the morning after sleeping with Enishi (the stupidest thing I've ever done), and then when I went and stalked him, and now when I'm mercilessly beating the crap out of my brothers. Yet he's still here. From this moment on, things can only get better, right?

"I don't think you want to do that…" I finally said, slowly.

Kenshin gave a confused look that was so adorable I had to resist screaming, "kawaiiiii." Ok, I'm a freak. Nothing new there.

"Why not?"

I shared a look with Sano. "Umm…it's for girl things…" I said, my voice trailing off at the end.

Obviously Kenshin heard enough because his face turned as red as hair. "Oh. Well, I guess with a sister I'll have to get used to this anyways, ne? I don't mind."

"What kind of man are you?" Cried Sano, grabbing Kenshin's shirt. "When a woman says it's for womanly needs, no straight man would go with her willingly. Are you gay? Come to think of it, you are quite girlie-looking…"

I whacked the back of Sano's head with the umbrella I was still holding. "Geez, Sano! You don't go asking guys that! He's straight! Do I need to spell it out for you?"

"Kaoru, say good-bye to that umbrella. It is getting shredded." Spat out Sano spitefully, advancing towards me, an evil smile on his face. I grinned and again raised my wannabe shinai in my 'ready' position. Even though I cannot hold a candle to Sano when it comes to martial arts, I can put up a pretty decent fight.

"I thought you said she had to go to an appointment?" Kenshin said politely.

And once again, I was distracted from my fight with one of brothers with a shot of reality. "Ah crap, Megumi is gonna kill me!"

Kenshin grbbed my hand and before I could protest, he dragged my out to his car (another hovercar! Damn these rich people…) and started driving away, chuckling as Sano ran out behind us shouting and pumping his fist in mock anger. I couldn't stop laughing. "I can't believe you just did that!"

"Well, I figured that you really needed to get to the appointment, and I wanted to have some time with you."

I flushed at this. Calm down, Kaoru! I berated myself. I don't think he meant it that way…

"Well, thanks for this. If my brothers and I were at it much longer, Megumi would have come and beat all our asses."

"She sounds formidable."

"She is, especially when it comes to her ba-" I cut myself off before I could continue. Unfortunately for me, Kenshin is a smart cookie.

"Were you about to say 'baby'?"

"Um, no?" I said, a wide grin on my face. He wasn't buying it.

"What do you mean by 'baby'? Is she your mother?"

I admit it. I laughed. A lot. The thought of Megumi being my mother when she was just a few years older than I was just so funny, plus with her personality, oh Kami! My mirth couldn't help but spill over. "No, Kami, no."

"Then what is it?"

I immediately sobered. "Do you really wanna know?" I met his violet eyes with my dark blue ones. "I dint want you to think badly of me."

"I don't think that's possible." He replied, and my heart jumped into my throat.

I stared at my clenched hands on my lap. "Well, she kinda bribed me."

"Into doing what?" Was there a hint of anger there?

"Into having her baby." I whispered into the tension.

"Her…baby? So you're a surrogate?"

"Well, yes." I refused to meet his eyes. Oh my gosh, I messed this up. I can't believe the scale at which I messed this up. Two guys will leave me within a month of the other because of what I'm doing.

"How did she bribe you?" I was expecting a tone of condescension, disgust or even hatred, but not this tone of tenderness.

"Well, Sano and I work to get through with everything: the bills for the house, Yahiko and my school bills, y'know. We weren't really doing very well because the minimum requirement for a really good job is at least a Bachelor's and we don't have that, well, unless you count me. Then Megumi pops out of nowhere with this ridiculous proposition that she pays for my tuition if I have her baby, because she can't have one even though she really wants one."

"I don't think that having a baby is that bad." I looked up in surprise. Kenshin was staring forward, his eyes on the road. Sensing my eyes on him, he faced me and gave me a big smile. "I think you're really brave to be having a baby and giving it away."

"Really?"

"Yup. Plus, women sell themselves for much less honourable reasons."

I hummed in agreement, though I was still a little disappointed that he thought me dishonourable, even if it's a little. The rest of the car ride was passed in an awkward silence, and when we reached Megumi's clinic I immediately hopped out. "Hey, Kenshin, if you wanna go, you can. You don't have to wait for me." I said to the ground. I couldn't look him in the face.

A slamming door answered me and I looked up to see Kenshin getting out of the car. "Are you kidding me? I said I'll take you to lunch, and that's what I'm going to do." He gave me such a sincere smile that I wanted to cry. Even with what I had said, he wanted to stick around. Either he really didn't care, or he was someone who didn't go back on his word. I really hoped it was the first one.

I gave him a quivering smile and led the way into the clinic. Megumi was at the reception area, tapping her foot and giving me a pissed off look. "Where were you, raccoon girl?" She snapped. "I've been waiting for ten minutes! You aren't my only client, you know."

"I know, I'm sorry. There were a few complications." I said, jerking my head in a not-so-subtle point in Kenshin's direction. Seeing the redheaded man, Megumi's jaw dropped before she regained her composure.

"Well. Whatever. Just come in." She said stiffly, turning towards the main body of the clinic. Kenshin started to follow alongside me, our hands nearly brushing. I blushed at the close proximity but before I could think something of it, Megumi noticed. "No males allowed, unless you're the father." Which I found was ironic, because he technically is the father…

"Oro, of course." Kenshin rubbed the back of his head with a sheepish look on his face. "Kaoru, I'll wait for you out here, then."

I flushed slightly, still surprised that he is still with me. I nodded and waved awkwardly as Megumi closed the door. Holding her ear against the door, Megumi held a finger up so that I won't speak. Only when (I assume) she heard Kenshin retreat down the hall did she look at me.

"What the heck are you doing with him?" She practically yelled-whispered. Yeah. I don't know how she did it either. The vehemence in her whisper was louder than a shout.

"He showed up at my house!" I protested.

"Randomly, out of the blue?" Her tone was suspicious.

"Um, I kinda went to his house first…"

"Kaoru Kamiya! You're not supposed to get attached to the donors! You stupid, raccoon girl!"

"I can't help it! I'm hormonal!"

Megumi held her head in her hands. "And I'm assuming because he's here, he knows about you?"

"Yes."

"And he's cool with it?"

"I don't know… We haven't really talked about it."

"Geez, Kaoru, you're smart, but you aren't."

"I don't even know what that means."

"It doesn't matter, just lie down."

I did as she said and raised my shirt. She spread some freezing goopy gel on it and started spreading it around with some stick thing. Next thing I knew, I was looking at a little black splotch in my womb.

"Is that my…I mean, your…baby?" I whispered, awed.

"Yup. You're at five weeks, and everything seems normal." Megumi gave me a large smile. "Congrats, Kaoru. We're pregnant!"

My face broke out in an ear-to ear smile. At this moment, everything seemed so bright and full of hope, that I couldn't help the few tears that leaked from my eyes. As I wiped them away, I mumbled, "Damn hormones…"

Megumi smiled as well and handed me a tissue. "Yeah, well, I'm tearing up too."

We grasped hands, two women brought together by the strangest of circumstances. "Megumi, I think you'll be a great mother."

"You too, Kaoru."

When we walked out (after shedding a few more happy tears) my heart jumped a few notches when I saw that Kenshin was still outside. When he saw me arrive, he stood up and gave an uncertain smile. "Everything is all right?"

"Yup. Totally normal." I replied with a smile. "Kenshin, you should see it! It's so precious!"

He grinned and jerked his head to the exit. "Tell me about it as we go to lunch."

My heartbeat rose and I nodded, too happy to speak. I turned around and gave Megumi a smile and she gave me a thumbs up.

The lunch with Kenshin was nice. It wasn't what I'll describe as a lunch between friends, nor would I say it was a date. It was warm. Kenshin really took it in his stride my strange craving for soy burgers and pickles with ice cream, and he allowed me to gush about the baby. He even seemed excited for me.

"So when do you find out what gender it is?"

I shrugged. "I think that's in the sixteenth week."

"Which gender do you want it to be?"

I thought about it. "Well, technically, it isn't my baby. It's Megumi's."

"Yes, I know, but what do you want?"

"When I eventually have a baby? I want my first child to be a son."

Kenshin looked surprised. "Really? Why?"

I shrugged. "I've always had a brother to look out for me, so I want any daughters I have to have an older brother to protect them."

"But it seems as if you don't need any protection." He smirked, obviously remembering earlier that day.

I blushed. "Yeah, well, they deserve it."

He laughed. "I don't think any daughter of yours would need to have an older brother to look out for her."

I smiled into my ice cream (with a pickle on top) and really thought about it. "Yeah, but there are some things girls need a brother for."

"And sometimes, a brother needs a sister." He replied soberly. When I looked up at him, he was staring in the distance with a small smile on his face.

"Are you talking about Misao?"

"Who else? She and father are the only family I have. Even then, I wouldn't ever want a sister other than Misao. She may be mischievous and annoying and really curious, but she's really sweet." He laughed quietly to himself. "I rely on her good judgment and she softens me."

"What do you mean by 'good judgement'?" I asked, sceptical.

"She warned me about Tomoe, telling me that she was bad news. And she was right."

"You never know…" I trailed off.

He laughed humourlessly. "I saw Tomoe with Akira the day after our 'break'. I don't think I want to be involved with her anymore. Plus, she never smiled so much around me as she does around him. I'm happy for them. We made each other miserable."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. Want to know what she said about you?" He leaned onto the table now, grabbing my eyes with his. I couldn't tear myself away. I nodded mutely, once again finding my voice gone. "She said you were a keeper."

I froze. What did that mean? That he likes me? Before I could let myself travel down that road, I took a large spoonful of ice cream and pickle and choked. "Ugh, brain freeze." I groaned, putting my head in my hands. "Maybe ice cream wasn't the best idea."

Kenshin chortled, leaned back in his chair, and toppled over. Now I couldn't stop myself from laughing. He sat on the floor with a dumbfounded look on his face, and my laughs grew louder. He looked at me and started laughing again.

He then paid (against my protests, I believe in men and women paying equally) and took me home. Ever the gentleman, he walked me to my doorstep. For a second I allowed myself to fantasise that he would kiss me, but instead he gave me a bright smile and a wave.

"Kaoru, where were you?" Sano towered over me, his face dark with anger. I stuck my tongue out at him.

"None of your business!" I retorted. "Oh, Sano, Sano, want to see the ultrasound?"

Sano's face took on a weird expression. It almost looked hopeful but kinda scared at the same time. "I don't know, Kaoru…"

"C'mon!" I dragged him to the couch and pulled out the snapshots, forcing him to look at them. I didn't regret it: the expression on his face was like a proud uncle, joyous to the point of astonishment. The glow in my chest increased.

Ok, this was cheesy and filled with a lot of violence, but hey, Kaoru is hormonal ;) I was thinking of squishing a whole trimester in here and having an extremely long chapter, but I don't have the patience for that :p So I think I'm gonna do one for each month :D

Any thoughts? Comments? Criticisms? Like it? Hate it? Love it?

r.e.v.i.e.w

please?

;]