I love You, My Stranger Chapter 4: Awakening, a rurouni kenshin fanfic

Chapter Four - Awakening

After a month of being at the hospital, Aoshi and Misao's son was allowed to come home. He was healthy now, and was doing very well. Aoshi had decided to name him Kiseki, which meant 'miracle' for to him, he was a miracle. Aoshi had began to get into a routine. He would wake up three times a night to feed the infant, then in the morning, he would take care of Misao. After that, he would work. Every now and then he would have to go to meetings, but he would come home every night. Aoshi was working too hard, and Hannya and the others did all that they could to help him. They would take care of Kiseki while Aoshi worked or took care of Misao, and they even offered to take over taking care of Misao in the mornings so he could get more rest, but Aoshi refused to let them. He wanted to take care of her. He felt it was the least he could do for her since he practically ignored her their first few months together.

For four years this went on. Kiseki was growing, and was very intelligent for a four-year-old. He started joining his father every morning, watching him take care of his mother. He would ask questions, and Aoshi would answer as best he could. He told Kiseki all that he remembered about Misao when she was still conscious and the boy took in every little detail. He wanted so much to see his mother awake, but he knew that she would wake whenever she was ready.

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One morning, after Aoshi had finished bathing Misao and changing her clothes, Kiseki entered the room. He had just woken up and knew exactly where to find his father. He ran to him and gave him a big hug. Aoshi hugged him back and picked him up. Then he sat down in a chair beside Misao's bed. "Otou-san, what color are kaa-san's eyes?" Kiseki asked.

"They are a green-blue, like the color of the sea and when she smiles, they seem to sparkle with a thousand stars in them," he replied. Kiseki had heard this answer many times, but it was his favorite description of mother. Kiseki leaned towards Misao's sleeping form and whispered, "I hope you wake up soon, okaa-san. I can't wait to meet you." He then kissed her cheek and slipped off his father's lap to go have breakfast downstairs. After he had left, Aoshi took hold of Misao's hand and broke down. He had tears streaming from his face. "Oh how I wish you would wake up, Misao. I miss you so much." Just then, Aoshi felt her squeeze his hand. His head snapped up to look at her face. Misao's eyes were open. "Misao," he whispered.

Misao turned her head towards him. "Oh, good morning, Aoshi. How did I get home? I remember being attacked but some man, and then darkness..."

Aoshi suddenly embraced her, shocking Misao. "Aoshi, what's wrong? You've never acted this way before."

"Misao, you've been asleep for four years," Aoshi told her.

Misao shot up, "WHAT?!"

"You were in a coma, and they said you might never wake up. I was so worried! Kami how I missed you!"

Misao was shocked at hearing this. She had felt like she had just slept for the night. Wait a minute! If four years have passed, then what about the baby....

"Aoshi, what happened, to the baby? I was going to tell you I was pregnant and then..." Aoshi silenced her with a kiss.

"Our son is just fine," he replied with a smile.

"We have a son?" Misao said incredulously. I've never seen Aoshi smile. He must be really happy.

"Aa."

Misao was happy to know the baby had survived. She hugged Aoshi tightly, which he returned. "What day was he born? Does he look like me or you? What did you name him?" Misao was babbling.

Aoshi chuckled. "He was born four months early, on November looks like you mostly, but he has my eyes, and I named him Kiseki."

"Kiseki," she whispered.

"He really wants to meet you."

"I really want to meet him too."

"I'll go get him. I have to call Dr. Takani as well. She needs to give you a check-up."

"Hai."

With that, Aoshi slowly let go of his wife, gave her one last kiss, and walked downstairs.

Everyone was ecstatic to know that Misao had woken up. Kiseki wanted so badly to run upstairs to her room, but his father asked him to wait until he was done talking to Dr. Takani on the phone. Once he hung up, Kiseki grabbed his hand and ran towards the stairs. Aoshi laughed and picked up his son and ran the rest of the way. He slowed down at the door, and opened it. Misao was sitting up, and looking in their direction. When she saw her son, she smiled brightly with tears streaming down her cheeks. "Okaa-san!" Kiseki cried. Aoshi put him down and he ran to his mother. Misao opened her arms and Kiseki immediately embraced her. Misao hugged him tightly. Kiseki then looked up into her eyes. "Otou-san was right! Your eyes really do look like the sea and sparkle with a thousand stars!"

Misao was shocked to hear this. Never had she thought Aoshi would think of her eyes that way. And hearing it from this small boy, she knew it had to be true. Misao looked up at Aoshi, and he blushed and looked to the floor, only to peek back up at her. She smiled at him, and Aoshi couldn't help but return it.

Misao looked back to her son and said, "Well, okaa-san thinks your otou-san's eyes are like the sea after a storm. It may intimidate some, but they certainly draw me in!" Kiseki giggled at that, and Aoshi couldn't help but chuckle. He then moved closer to his wife and son. "Well Kiseki, what do you think of your okaa-san?" Aoshi asked.

"She's the most wonderful person in the whole world!" he cried. Misao and Aoshi both smiled. Aoshi then looked at Misao and said, "Aa, she is." Misao blushed at this. Apparently Aoshi had changed much during the

past four years. She figured it was Kiseki that brought about this change in him, and she was glad that he accepted him and loved him. Then, there was a knock on the door. Hannya poked his head in.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything, but Dr. Takani is here."

"Arigatou for informing us. Tell her to come in," Aoshi replied. "Come, Kiseki. We need to leave so your okaa-san can have a check-up."

"Hai, otou-san," he replied. Then he turned to his mother and said, "I'll see you in a little bit! I love you, okaa-san!" He then kissed her on the cheek, slid down the side of the bed, and ran downstairs. Aoshi then turned to Misao, "I'll be back as well," he whispered, and he too, kissed her on the cheek. He then got up and left the room. Misao put her hand to her cheek where they had both given her a kiss. Aoshi...

Dr. Takani then entered the room. "How are you feeling? Any dizziness or nausea?"

"No I feel fine. It feels like I just woke up from a good night's sleep. I still can't believe four years have passed!"

Dr. Takani chuckled. "Well, you're lucky. All your charts say that you shouldn't be awake. It's a miracle. It's probably all Aoshi's doing. He barely left your side! It was hard for us to convince him to rest, but he insisted on staying by your side, just in case you woke up."

Misao was surprised to hear all this. Aoshi hardly left her side? He was so distant before, why did he suddenly change? Was it only because she was carrying his child? Did he really care about her?

During her silent musing, Dr. Takani had finished her examination. "Well, everything seems to be fine, but don't overwork yourself. You also need to slowly start eating solid foods again. I would start with miso soup, and work in some small vegetables. I'll come back next week to see how you're doing. I would also start going out for short walks, but don't overexert yourself. If you get tire, take a rest, and make sure someone is with you if you do go out." With that, Dr. Takani left. A few minutes later, Aoshi returned. He walked towards her and sat down in the chair next to her bed. "Kiseki fell asleep. He's taking a nap in his room," he stated. Misao wouldn't look at him. Aoshi wondered what was wrong, but didn't want to pry. They sat in an awkward silence, until Misao spoke.

"Dr. Takani said that you hardly left my side these past four years. It kind of confused me. You were so distant before, and then suddenly, when I'm not conscious, you want to be around me? Then, when I wake up, you hug me, you smile, and you kiss me like it's so natural, like it's all we've ever done. What changed you? Was it all only because I was carrying your child? Is that all you wanted from me? To produce you an heir?" Misao was crying now.

Aoshi didn't know what to do or say. How could she possibly think that he didn't want her? He didn't marry her just to get an heir, he wanted to help her. Aoshi got up and embraced Misao. Misao cried into his chest."Why did you marry me? You didn't even know me!"

Aoshi hugged her tighter. "I agreed to marry you, because I thought I was saving you. If a man is willing to give up his own flesh and blood just for some stupid business, he obviously doesn't care about them. I thought, if I don't accept, then he may offer her to someone else later, just for money, and what if that person doesn't care for her? I have to accept, to protect her.I didn't want an innocent woman harmed because I refused to take her from a man who obviously didn't care about her welfare." Aoshi looked downat her. " Now that I've told you my reason, you should tell me yours. You also agreed to marry someone you didn't know."

"I wanted to get away from my father. He started abusing me after my mother passed away. For five years I put up with him, and then he tells me he marrying me off and I have no choice. I would rather marry a complete stranger than stay with him. You were my escape." Aoshi was disturbed by what he had heard. Things must've really bad if she would wed someone she didn't know just to get away. Aoshi was glad to know that he really did save her. "Aoshi, I'm really glad that I married you. Thank you." Aoshi just held her. This was his oppertunity to tell her how he really felt.

"Misao, I'm so sorry I was distant those two months after our wedding. I was just scared. I was feeling things for you never felt before. I was afraid that if I told you how I felt, you would think I was moving too fast. Even now, we're strangers to each other."

"How do you feel, Aoshi?"

"Misao, I love you," he replied gazing into her eyes. Misao stared back, a smile spreading on her face.

"I love you too." Aoshi was thrilled. He kissed her with all the passion he had in him. Misao kissed him back, just as passionately. The broke apart, from lack of air, and just held each other.

"Will you promise not to leave me again?" Aoshi whispered.

"I promise," she whispered back.

Silence

"So, in the past four years, did you ever get so stressed out that you had to hop on a plane to Ireland?"

Aoshi chuckled. "Almost."