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Disclaimer: See Chapter 1 and as always, please don't flame.

Chapter 6: Wedding Plans Go Awry

The waiter placed a covered dish in front of Kaiya. Lifting off the cover, Kaiya found artistically place on a slice of cheese cake an engagement ring. Before she could touch it, a pair of fingers lifted it up.

She found herself looking into the greenest, sweetest pair of eyes. "Would you marry me, Kaiya?" he asked softly.

0o0o0o0

Shiori was both pleased and horrified that her beloved son was getting married and already had a family on the way. She had grown quite fond of Kaiya and her brother and had wished Shuichi could see that Kaiya would make a good wife to him. However, she didn't expect this.

"Now Shuichi," she said, "I wished you two had waited until after the wedding before you made me a grandmother." She had chided her son for his carelessness about the pregnancy.

He just shrugged and gave her own of his smiles. She so lived for those smiles. "Yes Mother," he smiled, hugging her. "We did try to be careful but things do happen. You'll make a wonderful grandmother."

Thankfully, Kaiya was willing to let her do most of the planning, which was a good thing, in Shiori's opinion. It really was a shame that Kaiya's parents were gone and her uncle was missing. Shiori frowned slightly at the thought of that horrorible man. To treat his own blood kin in such a despicable manner.

Well, with no family, the poor girl was at a loss on how to organize the wedding. Kaiya did mention one thing. The wedding had to be during the cherry blossom season which was in a few months and that it would be held at the dojo. She was quite firm on it and Shuichi backed her on it.

'Oh well, can't have everything,' Shiori mused. She couldn't wait to start spoiling her grandchild.

"Spring is a good time to plan a wedding," she said softly, giving her family a smile. "Then after the wedding, a new grandbaby. I can't wait. "

0o0o0o0

Kaiya knelt in the dojo, mediating. She felt off balanced and slightly dizzy. She was only a couple months pregnant and showing already. Yoko said it was normal. Kitsune pregnancies were only six months and not the nine for humans. How are they going to explain to Shiori and Shuichi's family?

Shuichi. He didn't want his mother to know about Yoko. When the child is born, how is he going to have to explain Yoko's features on the child? She was almost afraid to ask him. She really didn't want to know the answer or have an argument with him.

Rubbing her hand across her stomach, she smiled softly. 'Soon little one. I can't wait for you.' She felt a pulse of energy and gasped. Wait, not one pulse but two. Twins. She was going to have twins. Does Yoko know? He's been very evasive on subject. He can be so cocky sometimes, it sets her teeth on edge.

Kenshin smiled as he stepped out of the shadows. "Kaiya-dono?"

"Ancestor. I need your wisdom."

Kneeling in front of her, Kenshin gave her one of his loop-sided smiles that she so adored. "Oro?"

"Shuichi and Yoko. What if they look like Yoko? What will Shiori do? What would she say?" she asked, not really explaining who 'they' were.

"Kaiya-dono. You can only do so much. Shuichi must face his own fears and tell her."

"But it'll kill him if she rejects him," Kaiya said in a worried tone. "He's very devoted to her."

"Kaiya-dono, all you can do is be there for him and let him make his own decisions."

0o0o0o0

The watcher growled as he was joined by three other demons. For months now, he had been watching the run down dojo. He had been reporting the comings and goings of humans. The woman was getting heavy with child. She was always watched.

Today, she was alone. Today, she will be taken to his master. Today, the waiting and watching will be over.

"Kurama wasn't home. The boy's at school. Perfect," he said as he laid out his plans.

He motion the others to get into position as the woman stepped out onto the porch. She rubbed her swollen stomach and sighed. 'She wasn't wearing her sakabato. Good,' he thought, nodding to the demons with him.

"Let's go!" he hissed.

0o0o0o0

Kenshin sensed the dark auras as soon as they moved. He had been feeling uneasy for months but couldn't put a finger on why.

He darted out of the dojo just as Kaiya was surrounded by four demons. She fought them bravely as they dragged her across the compound. Being pregnant, her balance and dexterity was off, plus she was out numbered. One of them knocked her unconscious.

"Release her!" Kenshin snarled as he crouched into the battojutsu stance. "Now!"

Two demons moved to stop him as the other two took flight with Kaiya in their grasp. Unfortunately, Kenshin couldn't stop them as they moved out of his protection zone and unto the street. He was able to bring down the two that tried to stop him.

"KAIYA-DONO!"

0o0o0o0

The moment Shuichi walked into the dojo, he knew something was wrong. The place reeked of negative spirit energy. Rushing through the place, he searched for Kaiya, not believing she wasn't there.

'I can't sense her anywhere, Red. '

Kenshin stepped out of the shadows radiating stress and anger. "I couldn't save her. I couldn't help her, that I couldn't." Appearing at his feet were the two demons that he had brought down. "These failed. They took her to the Makai. They are willing to tell you everything. "

Kurama growled as he turn loose of Yoko. The silver kitsune towered over the two, rose whip in hand. "So tell me, little vermin. Where's my mate?"

0o0o0o0o

So what do you think? Boy/Girl, both boys or both girls? What do you see them to be?

Until next time. --GF