Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin is the creation of Nobuhiro Watsuki, with the manga and anime rights belonging to Jump Comics and Sony Entertainment, respectively. FF is non-profit, meant for entertainment only.

Chapter Nine

*************

Kenshin and Cho faced each other in the deserted alley. The air was thick with tension. Cho took in the narrowed eyes and the deadly look the battoussai gazed him with. He didn’t have to die here. He just needed to buy Yasuyoshi enough time to get the girl back.

“You know what I’ve heard battoussai.” Cho said in a mocking tone.

The battoussai only gazed back.

“I heard you went into hiding. Scared shitless.” He took satisfaction in seeing the battoussai clench his fists.

“That Minbu Wolf still looking for you?”

The battoussai didn’t respond. He knew Cho. Knew he liked to talk, in fact he was better at talking than at fighting. Kenshin took his stance and waited.

“S’ you ready then old man. This time I’m gonna Fuck’ya up.” Cho made sure to keep his distance. He knew how fast the battoussai’s elbow could connect to his jaw. Cho’s blade extended like whip. He angled the blade and whipped his hand back. The blade only swooshed by the battoussai. Cho tried again. He ran to the left and whipped the sword again. His heart was racing. He snapped his hand back to draw the blade inward. He wasn’t getting anywhere at this rate. He stood back and watched the battoussai. He hadn’t even broke a sweat. Fucking bastard. “Are you just gonna stand there?”

“How soon do you want to die?” Came the cold reply.

Cho just smiled. The man was truly amazing. He could strike fear in any man. He stood there a moment. It’s been long enough, Yasuyoshi probably had the girl by now. He shielded his eyes with his hand so the sun wouldn’t block him from seen behind the battoussai. “Is that you’re woman they’re throwing in that carriage?”

He got the satisfaction of seen his head whirl around. He didn’t have much time to enjoy it though. He ran the opposite way. He used the boxes plied behind the restaurant and ran away.

The battoussai ran out of the alley. He ran back into the restaurant. “My Wife?” He said as he looked around. Where is she?”

The waitress from before looked at him. “She ran after you didn’t she find you?”

The battoussai didn’t wait for her to finish he ran out of the restaurant. Which way would she have gone? He looked to his right. A lot of shops. He looked to his left. More shops but there was an alley. He didn’t a waste anymore time. He ran around the corner but there wasn’t anyone there. His hand flew to his hair, grabbing handfuls. This was not happening. He took an extra second to look around before he headed in the direction he’d been at before. Cho.

Cho ran as fast as he could over the buildings. The battoussai was a fast runner. Every so often he threw backward glances to see if he was following. It was hard to run with so many swords on his back. He looked back and thought he saw something. His foot slipped through a small opening and crashed through the ceiling. He landed on his back. Took him a moment to regain his breath. His knees were a little wobbly but that didn’t matter right now. He stepped out of the restaurant and into the busy street. He looked around the crowed before he took off again. It was clear. He stepped to the left.

He crashed into someone.

He looked down. It was too late. His hair was yanked back forcefully. “I . . .”

“Shut UP!” Snarled the voice.

People looked around as a small red head yanked a taller skinnier man away.

Cho was looking around trying to find anyway to escape. He saw a cop. He turned his head slightly but the battoussai knocked him on the back of the head. He grimaced. His mind was set. “Help!!” He made his cry long before the battoussai kneed him in the mouth.

“Hey!”

Cho didn’t have to look, it was the cop. He felt the battoussai pick him up by the hair again. He brought his head close to his mouth. “You’re making it worse for yourself. The battou jutsu kills immediately. But if you want me to drag it out. That will be fine.”

“Hey!” This time the voice was closer. “What’s going on here? Ya wanna let the tall guy go.”

The battoussai's amber eyes connected with a pair of startled brown. Any other time, he thought. For a moment he wished they were all back with him in the Bakumatsu. There was no way they would have tried anything then.

“Ya need to let the other guy go.” The policeman, a man in his late twenties tried to make his voice commanding. It would have been but it wavered at the very end.

The battoussai didn’t let him go. He kept his eyes on the cop while the cop glanced at him nervously. The moment the policeman’s eyes fell on the sword he took his out.

Big mistake thought Cho, right before the blackness engulfed him.

Cho’s eyes opened slowly. He had a killer headache. He looked around it was dark. He closed his eyes for another moment. No, it was still black. His heart started racing again. Where was he? Most importantly, where was the battoussai?

“Where’s my wife?”

The voice sent chills down his spine. Wait, wife. He swallowed hard. He said wife. He felt a blow connect to his temple. Fuck.

“Where is she?” He hissed.

Cho felt the blood trickle down the side of his face. If he waited too long to answer he was going to hit him again.

“Wife?” He was saying when he felt the side of a blade digging into his hand till he felt the his pinky fall off. The battoussai had cut it off with the blunt side of his blade. He gritted his teeth. His breathing was shallow.

“If I tell you will you let me go?”

“No.”

He felt the blade drive through his shoulder blade. He couldn’t help but cry out in pain.

“Where is she?”

“I don’t know.” He felt the blade drive into the other side of his shoulder.

“Wait! Wait, I can tell you who . . . .” He said taking large gulps of air.

The battoussai pulled the blade out. “Who?”

“It was some guy. Yasuyoshi.”

The battoussai stepped back. How did he find them? “How” No, he didn’t really need to know how. Cho had been following them since the first town. He must have kept sending info back to Yasuyoshi. “You led him to me.”

It wasn’t a question, he knew. If only he’d gotten away. Things never worked out him. Why didn’t he just leave well enough alone. He’d gotten away once before but that was before. The battoussai was different when his woman was involved. He was crazy.

“Is he taking her back to his house?”

“He didn’t tell me. He even paid up front so I wouldn’t go looking for him.”

The battoussai stood of to the side. She’d been snatched away from him. His thoughts were jumbled. The obvious place to hide out would be his ancestral home in Akita. But how? How would he travel there. By boat or by carriage. He had to hurry and decide.

If he’d gone by boat, he must know that there was a chance of being caught. So it must mean that he’d gone by carriage.

He knew where he had to go. He stepped away from Cho, not sure what to do with him. ‘Kaoru’ he thought. Any feelings he might have had were swept away with the thought. He ran the blade through quickly. No pain, for the other.

The battoussai went back to the Inn. He’d pick up their things and then they’d . . . . .

No. Then he’d leave.

He was packing things into the carriage when the old man from the desk approached him. The battoussai didn’t look up. He had a feeling that somehow this man had sold them out as well.

The old man cleared his throat.

The battoussai continued his work.

“Hmm, Aya brought this over from the restaurant. She said you left it behind.” The old man stood there a moment with all the things in his hands. “Well I’ll just leave it here then.” He put everything down by the carriage and left.

The battoussai finished packing everything in. All except the new packages. Now was not be the time to open them but there was something about . . . .

He bent over and removed one of the packages. It was wrapped in silver silk with a cobalt ribbon. It wasn’t very big. Probably a night gown. Though why it was wrapped that way was beyond him. He caressed it once more before he put it away. He put everything inside the carriage and headed of to Kyoto. He’d drop everything there and then he’d head for Akita.

*************

Kaoru’s eyes opened slowly. She closed them again and tried to shield her eyes. Her hands were tied. As her mind cleared she noticed that so were her feet. The back of her head hurt that’s were she must have gotten hit. She looked around but she was alone in the carriage. Kami . . . . Her husband. Tears escaped the corners of her eyes. She refused to believe that anything could have happened to him. She shook her head. He was the best fighter ever, alive and dead. Her mind raced, they probably just kept him long enough for them to take her. There were only three people alive who could cause him serious damage. Correction, the rurouni damage. The battoussai was stronger. He wasn’t hindered by the vow to not kill.

Still she worried. Enishi and Saitou. Those were the only two that hated him enough so much that they might actually ally themselves with someone else.

No it wouldn’t have been them. Saitou wouldn’t allow her to get kidnapped and Enishi wouldn’t be happy unless he could hold her captive himself. He needed to run things.

It was someone else. His shishio: Hiko Seijuro was the only other person who could inflict serious wounds but he’d never do that. Despite what he said he loved the baka-deshi. He’d raised him after all.

Someone else meant no serious wounds. It meant he was safe. He’d come for her. Sooner or later he’d come. Though she preferred sooner. She looked out her window into the rising sun. She never got to tell him she was going to have a baby. The tears came down faster. She never got to tell him. She cried harder into her hands. Maybe he opened the package. The silvery one with the blue ribbon, the one she’d bought in Fukui. Anata, she thought as she felt the medallion. She pulled it out and ran her finger over the symbols. Unable to see through all her tears, she cried as she held it.

*************

“Himura-kun, don’t worry will take care of everything here. You just go.”

The battoussai bowed in gratitude to the old man. He mounted the horse and left.

“Jiya!”

The old man turned.

“Jiya was that Himura?” Misao’s breathless voice carried across the street.

He looked over at Aoshi, silently communicating his worries. “Yes it was. He was in a hurry and couldn’t stay.”  He said as he walked back into the house.

“Does this have anything thing with her being sick?”  She asked catching up to him in the kitchen.

Again Okina caught Aoshi’s eyes. “No, seems someone took her from him.”

At this Aoshi turned around towards Okina and Misao stopped fidgeting.

She suddenly turned on Aoshi. “This is what you were hiding from me?"

Aoshi looked down into her face. “No.”

“No?”  She echoed.  He always did that. He knew things but he’d never say anything to her.

“Don’t interfere.” His voice broke through her thoughts.

“Oh, I see. It’s not like Kaoru’s my friend or anything. I don’t need to know she’s sick. I don’t need to know she’s in trouble and I don’t need to know where you go in the middle of the night.” Her hands were fisted. “When will you see I’m not little anymore. I’m almost twenty.” She turned her back on him before he could see her tears. She walked out but paused right by the door. “Sometimes I think It would be easier if I was crazy.”

Aoshi’s head didn’t turn in her direction but he’d heard her.

Okina only shook his head. After all this years Aoshi was still putting up a fight, reluctant to give up his heart. Though if he were truthful with himself. He’d know that he left it here years ago at the age of 15 to a small carefree girl with large blue eyes. Now that Misao was older he didn’t know what to do with her. He had to smile at that.

“What did Himura say?”

Okina’s smile left him a moment. “It seems that they were visiting Okayama. They’re married you know. Anyhow a man named Yasuyoshi Tokuma came and took her away while Katan-gari, Cho distracted him. The sad thing is that she’d been getting better. Himura is extremely angry and at the moment extremely dangerous. He has become the Hitokiri Battoussai.”

He was right. The bit of contact they’d had, had made him suspect as much. Aoshi’s face remained a mask.

*************

It had been a week of silent treatment before Jiya told her what had been happening. Misao was in charge of putting Kaoru’s things away in her trunks. She had some really nice stuff, she thought as she put away a jade kimono small dragon flies on the hem. She continue to put things away till she came across a curious package. Misao bit her lip. She really shouldn’t pry. She looked down to the silver package she held. The ribbon around the package was very soft. Feeling confident she could wrap over, she opened it.

She gasped.

Her hands were trembling. The package hadn’t been open. Himura didn’t know. She finished the rest of the packing quickly. And then took her time to re-wrap the gift. There was only one thing for her to do.

Misao made her way to her room and fixed a small bag. She scribbled something on a paper and left it in the middle of the room. She made her way out of the house and strode down the street swiftly.

“What are you going to tell Aoshi . . . .” Okan didn’t get to finish.

“Tell me what?” His voice broke in.

Everyone in the room turned to their attention to Aoshi.

Aoshi stood in the door way waiting for a response. “Okina?”

The elder man stretched his arm and handed Aoshi the note left behind.

Jiya,

Please don’t worry. I have set out to find Himura. There’s something he doesn’t know and I have to tell him. I don’t know how long I’ll be gone so if you could have one of the other girls bring Aoshi-sama his tea. Please don’t tell him where I have gone. Tell him I’m in Tokyo visiting Yahiko and the rooster. I’ll see you all soon.

Love

- Misao

p.s. If you let Aoshi-sama see this note I’m going yank of your whiskers old man.

Aoshi-sama, I don’t need a babysitter so stay home.

Everyone watched as he read the note. They had already read it. They watched as he folded the note again and handed it back to Jiya.

“Are you going to follow her?”

“No.” He said as he turned around and went back to her room. He was half way there when he realized what he’d thought. He had meant his room. He passed her room before he got to his.

He took a deep breath and started meditating. He was not going to think of Misao. She didn’t want him with her anyways.

Okina knocked on the shoji before he entered the room. It had been several hours since they’d found the note. He had hoped that Aoshi would have left on his own accord but he was a stubborn man. So fine, he’d give him the excuse needed to follow her.

Okina couldn’t see anything it was so dark. “I’ve brought you something to eat Aoshi. You haven’t eaten anything today.” He said as he placed the tray by the door and lit a candle. A smile that made his eyes twinkle spread over his face. The room was empty.

*************

Kaoru sat in the a spacious room, very similar to the one in Aomori. She was dressed in a beautiful pink silk kimono with large flowers on the bottom. The sleeves were long and wide. Her hair had been styled into two buns held together with large silver comes. She sat in front of the large glass window. There was nothing to do but stare out.

This is how Tokuma found her. She’d been starting to do that again. She’d started it in the last week. He had hoped as much. It had been five weeks since he’d taken her from the battoussai. It had been very hard to control her in the first few weeks. She’d kept trying to escape. She’d beaten a lot of his men too. Now though things were as they should.

“You look beautiful Kaoru-chan.” He said as he came closer to her. Not too close though. The first week after she had arrived she’d almost broken his nose. Kei and Yusuke had to pull her off him.

Kaoru kept staring out the window. The wind was getting stronger. Autumn was in full swing. Soon it would be winter.

“I thought we could have dinner together what do you think?” He said tilting her face upward. She was crying. “Kaoru-chan?” He said as he wiped her tears with his thumbs. Her eyes were still glazed. She wasn’t seeing him. He let go off her face. She turned back to the window. Why did she have to love the battoussai so much.

He took a seat to the side and just watched her. If he was with her enough she’d forget about the battoussai. Maybe if she thought he was dead then she’d let him go. He’d gotten word about Cho earlier in the week. He was dead. It was true, there wasn’t anyone that could stand up to the battoussai. But he was confident that the battoussai would never find them here in Sapporo. He could live here the rest of his live if need be. Though he hoped to live here only till she either fell in love with him or started to hate the battoussai. Either one was good.

*************

The battoussai stood on a large hill in Hachi-no-he. Even from this distance he could still see the fire raging on. It gave him very little satisfaction to see Tokuma’s house on fire. He made his way down the hill in the dark. Another day was about to begin and still he couldn’t find her. He’d spent the last month searching every corner of Akita. Only to find nothing.

The guards from Aomori had also been reluctant to talk. All in all he had nothing. He had a meeting with some weapon smuggler here in Hachi-no-he in a couple of days. One of Yasuyoshi’s contacts. He might not know where the bastard was hiding but he might know others who did.

*************

Kaoru laid in a huge four poster bed, her eyes closed in slumber. Tokuma bent over her and kissed her cheek before leaving. His foot steps growing softer as he got further away from the her room. Soon all that could be heard was the faint sound of crickets. Kaoru eyes snapped open. She sat up and looked around. She wiped her cheek with the sleeve of her yukata in disgust. Did he really think she could love him after trying to kill her husband. Forcing her away from the father of her child. Thirty four days, that’s how long she’d been with out him. She was three months into the pregnancy and just barely starting to show. Something she was glad for. Kami only knew what Tokuma would do if he found out. She got up quietly. She finally knew where she was. It had taken a while for him to reveal the location. Sapporo. There was no way for her anata to know where she was. She just needed to get back to the mainland. If she could just make it back to Aomori. She was sure he’d find her.

Kaoru dressed quietly and opened the balcony door. She stepped out, looking around carefully she crossed the yard. Today she was planning on heading just a little further than last night. In a week or two she’d have the schedule to all the guards. She’d also have a better feel for the grounds.

She snuck back into her room several hours later. Tired and hungry, she changed into her yukata again. Then proceeded to hide her night clothes in their usual hiding place. She laid back into her comfy bed and fell asleep. Soon she thought.

*************

Two months and no luck at all. This was starting to seem as hopeless as when she’d gone looking for her Aoshi-sama. She gave a small shudder as the wind blew cold. She should have brought some sort of coat. winter was just around the corner. She sat closer to the fire she’d made. Can’t believe he didn’t follow me. You would think that as much as I look out for him he’d give me the same courtesy. Misao threw a small branch into the fire. Watching the flames grow large for a moment before settling back down. Aoshi-sama, she sighed. I wonder what you’re doing now.

Aoshi settled into sitting position for the night. He’d been walking for a while. No sight of Himura, Kaoru or Misao. Misao, Misao. If she had only asked he’d come with her. Instead she decides to run away. Why did he even bother. She had always been an impulsive child.

“When will you see I’m not little anymore. I’m almost twenty.” He could hear her voice as clear as if she was sitting in front of him. She had turned her back on him then trying to hide her tears. She had walked out then but paused right by the door. “Sometimes I think It would be easier if I was crazy.”

Misao, why do you love me? He thought. He had tried to dissuade her at first. Some one like him didn’t deserve to be loved. Specially by someone like her. He had to admit he hadn’t done a very good job at making her back off. And he knew why. He never said it out loud but what would he be if he wasn’t her Aoshi-sama. He needed . . . . . what . . . . . her love. . . . her. He shook his head trying to shake the thoughts out of his head. He needed to meditate longer than he was now other wise she would consume his mind. Back at the Aoiya he spent most of his day just meditating. It cleared his mind and allowed him to live. Even if it wasn’t really living.

*************

Kaoru ran though the forest. She ran as fast as she could. She felt branches ripping at her kimono and some pulling on her hair. She ran faster even as the braches slapped and scratched her face. In the distance she could hear the barking of dogs. They’d be able to follow her. They’d force her back to Tokuma. She ran faster the river was just ahead.

She threw herself in. It felt like her whole body had gone numb. The water in the river was freezing. But then she should have know it would be during winter. She forced herself to swim across. Her only thoughts were on her husband. He was going to be a daddy. They were going to be a family. Family she thought. Her muscles ached but she did it. She crossed the river. She could still here the barking. She continued to run again. The feeling in her limbs was starting to come back. She’d never been passed the river and she didn’t have any sort of map. She’d have to keep running till she felt safe.

Finally just when her legs were about to give she spotted several houses ahead. She slowed down to trot, eventually coming down to a slow pace. Her heart felt like it was going to explode. She needed to catch her breath but she’d do that ones she was safe. All the lights were off. She stood at a distance look intently at the houses. When she could finally make out the better one she approached it cautiously. The better house meant the people there had more money. If they had money then the shed would only hold keepsakes. A place they would hardly ever visit. She thanked Kami when she finally made it inside the shed. It was just as she had hoped. She made her way all the way to the back just in case some one came in. She looked for an old blanket to keep her warm. She could hardly see. Finally she felt something thick. She pulled on it carefully, they had placed stuff over it. When she finally got it she found it to be two futons one slightly thinker than the other. Smiling at her luck she unstrapped her bag and then she took her kimono off. She place it on what she could only assume was a large stove. She placed the thick futon on the floor and covered herself with the thinner one. She rubbed her belly to make it warm. She was shivering from the cold. But the futons were thick. It would take a bit but she’d be warm soon enough. Her eye lid were getting heavy. Sixty-four days, she thought. Sixty-four days without you anata. Sleep came to her seconds after her thought.

*************

“Well did you have any luck?” Tokuma was in a really fowl mood. How could she have escaped. He had so many men guarding the house.

“We lost her just before the river.” Yusuke said.

Tokuma shook his head. “We need to find her. She’s going to try and get on a boat. She’s going to try and head back to her home. I don’t know where she and the battoussai lived.”

Kei looked at Yusuke.

Tokuma watched them exchange looks. “What? What is it?”

Kei looked a little apprehensive. “We received word today, from home. Seems the battoussai has gotten to twelve of your contacts.” Kei and Yusuke exchanged looks again.

“What do you mean gotten hold?” Tokuma had stopped his pacing.

“They’re not . . . .anymore . . . he . . . .” Kei stopped for a moment. “They didn’t know where you are so it doesn’t matter.”

Tokuma had a funny feeling. He had always know Kaoru loved her rurouni. He’d been surprised and angered to find out that the battoussai and the rurouni were one and the same. He’d never taken into account that Himura loved her back. The thought had just never occurred to him. He started pacing again. What could he do? He loved Kaoru too. A lot. Enough to take her away from her husband. Enough to want to kill her husband so he could keep her. That could still work. He just needed to find someone strong enough. “I want you to offer a reward for her. She is to be brought in alive and safe. No harm must come to her. She couldn’t have left Sapporo so easily.”

Kei and Yusuke stood there a moment.

“Well, GO!” Tokuma yelled at them.

The other two bowed and left the room quickly.

*************

Aoshi stood in the middle of chaos. The buildings blazed in the middle of the night like towers of flames. The whole line to the left was burning to the ground. At three in the morning he and a large crowd watched as the buildings were reduce to ashes.

From the information he’d gathered these buildings were warehouses. Yasuyoshi stored illegal arms for his contacts. His Chinese contacts weren’t going to be happy.

Aoshi took his eyes of the inferno. The battoussai must have been very mad. The odds of him still being around were slim. He was obviously trying to draw Yasuyoshi out. He looked down at the note in his hand. Fourteen of the twenty men Yasuyoshi did business with had gone missing. There were still two more sites were warehouses remained. He looked further down the paper.

P.S. Still no word on Misao.

How angry would one have to be to cause this much destruction. Was it even anger? It seemed more like desperation. The battoussai really loved his wife. Even beyond reason, it seemed. He folded the note and placed it back into his coat. He walked away from the flames. The night air warm with the heat of the fire. He walked away, alone. Always alone.

Small Note: Cho was captured and blinded by the battoussai. After trying to escape he was bound and interrogated. In the end he met his fate, quick and painless.

Kaoru has had to play along with her captor in order to find out where she was and to figure out a way to escape.

Misao learning of Kaoru’s condition, set out to find Himura to tell him. And perhaps find Kaoru if she can. She decides she can do this without her Aoshi-sama. Feeling the need to prove to him she’s not a child anymore. She’s loved him all her life, despite his stubborn streak she knows time and love will conquer all.

Aoshi under the pretense of duty sets out to find Misao. Having being Okashira of the Oniwa-banshu he’s a skilled fighter with contacts all over the country. He’s on the trail of the battoussai, having just missed him. He sets out for one of the last two remaining warehouses. Love is something Aoshi doesn’t understand having never felt the feeling. He strives to keep his life uncomplicated. Determined to remain alone because it’s what he deserves. (Thinks he deserves.)

Chapter Ten

*************

Kaoru stood over the basin looking at her reflection in the water. She was very pale. She’d been eating at odd times. She was almost six months along. Still she looked good she thought. Her hair was shiny and her eyes were lively. She had to stay strong for the baby. She wouldn’t let her need for the battoussai dominate her at such a time, though she admitted she missed him. Though ‘missed’ might be an understatement. Do fish miss water? Would birds miss their wings?

Today marked three weeks of hiding out in the shed. Tomorrow she was going to try and get on a boat. She had let enough go by. She knew Tokuma well enough, she wouldn’t have attempted anything while she had just escaped. He would have surely caught her.

Kaoru snuck into the house noiselessly. Removing food carefully so the people living here wouldn’t notice. She took it all and made her way back to the shed. She had to steal food early in the morning to last her for the rest of the day. She made it back without incident. She placed the food to the side and went back to sleep.

*************

Misao arrived in Aomori were Yasuyoshi’s house once stood. It had taken her a long time to get here. She’d combed Japan town by town, from Kyoto all the way here. There was no sign of Kaoru or Himura. She looked at the ruins of a once large household. The people from town had told her it had once been very beautiful. It looked like only the house had suffered. The trees around were nice and healthy.

She was still going to look all along the coast before heading back to Kyoto. She frowned. Jiya was going to have a fit when she got back. She should have at least brought a coat of some sort. All these months the only thing she really missed was her Aoshi-sama. Was he still up at the temple meditating? She walked along the road kicking rocks here and there. Did he miss her? In the last three years, well almost four now. She had spent time with him trying to get him to know her. Still it seemed he was unwilling to let go of little Misao-chan. Misao-mine.

The sun was going to set soon. She was very low on money. Grudgingly she headed for the outskirt of town were there were a lot of trees. It looked like she was going to camp out again.

Shinomori Aoshi stood in the arch way of the Aoiya. To say he was upset was undermining the situation. Three months and fifteen days that’s how long he’d been out there searching. Whenever he thought he was close to Himura he’d disappear. He’d seen neither hide nor hare of Kaoru or Misao. They were either very well hidden or they had met their demise. Neither choice appealed to him. He’d only comeback in hopes that Misao had come back. He shouldn’t worry about her, she was an adult after all. Still he had never finished her training and though he was very confident in the way Okina taught. He couldn’t help but wonder at what level in her training she stood. His thought turned over his dilemma while his face much like his heart remained frozen. As soon as his supplies were ready he was going to head back out. There were only two more places to search but they were so large it would take months. Aoshi watched the sky darkening. A storm, the first of the season.

“Your things are ready Aoshi.” Okina’s voice broke the silence of his pondering. “Omasu also wants you to give Misao this coat when you find her.”

Aoshi took the things handed to him and left. About an hour into his journey the rain started coming down. His bag had been strapped over his shoulders while her coat remained under his trench coat. He walked the street with his hand in his pockets. He’d send word to contacts in Nagasaki, see if they had headed that way while he searched the islands further north.

*************

The battoussai rushed down the rail as soon as the boat docked. It had taken him months to find this place. Finally he was here. With steely eyes he searched the crowd for the familiar face. He knew exactly where he was going. His pace increased as he drew near the house. This was it, the last location. The moment he’d heard about it he had rushed to jump on a boat. He would have swam here if necessary. It didn’t matter though he was here now. Here to take back that which was his.

A storm was brewing, ready to begin at a moments notice. An icy feeling swept over him, gripping his heart and controlling his mind. His hands fisted together as he ran and jumped the gate. He had a bad feeling. The moment he jumped the fence bullets started to descend like deadly rain drops. He ran faster until he disappeared from their sight. He jumped to the roof and cut away a spot. He descended into the house like a demon. The rumble of thunder muffled the sounds of bullets and metal. Flashes of lightening illuminated the scene that was unfolding. The deafening sound of thunder echoed in the streets of Sapporo. The arrival of the savage storm, an omen to the men in the Yasuyoshi household.

The hitokiri battoussai appeared unexpectedly in front of Hisaishi Toshio, the guard from Aomori. Anyone else would have met his blade instantly. He stood in front of Toshio a moment, his sword still drawn. Toshio hadn’t drawn out his sword. The battoussai had caught him as he was about to leave the household.

“Where is she?” The tone was cold. Offering death to anyone who heard it.

“She’s not here anymore. She escaped about two months ago. Yasuyoshi has been searching for her like mad. But he’s been unable to find her. He left for Aomori early in the week when he heard his last warehouse had been burnt down.” Hisaishi Toshio offered his response in a calm tone. Only his eyes betrayed his calm, showing fear at the sight in front of him.

The battoussai slashed the air once to clean his sword before he re-sheathed it. “Did he do anything to her?” He asked with and underline of anger.  His question laced with threats. 

Hisaishi shook his head. “When they first brought her here she was very . . . . . wild. She kept trying to escape. She gave a lot of the guards some pretty good blows. Eventually Yasuyoshi started going to see her with two personal body guards. The same ones that had brought her in. Yusuke and Kei Hiragizawa. They had to start coming after she almost broke his nose. Eventually she seemed to grow weaker. In the weeks before she left all she did was stare out the window.” Hisaishi remained calm.

The hitokiri took his information and left. Hisaishi Toshio remained in his spot long moments after the battoussai had left. He never thought he’d be spared. His older brother had told him once how he’d seen the hitokiri battoussai kill someone with one stroke. It had been so fast he’d almost missed it. When feeling came back to his limbs he started to move. He kept his eyes on his feet as he rounded the corner to his room. His movements were sluggish. He took the money from his room and left the house. Keeping his eyes only on his feet so he wouldn’t have to look at his surroundings. The rain pelted down on him as he left the premises.

*************

Kaoru was soaked to the bone. She had just left the boat and had no idea where to go. It had been a little over two months since she had escaped. She pulled her cloak closer. All the clothes she had used to keep herself warm were now dragging her down. Hachi-no-he looked deserted to her. Her teeth were chattering from the cold. She needed to find a place to stay the night. She felt fear of getting caught but she couldn’t stay out here were she might get sick. She was not going to endanger the baby’s health. She trudged on in the rain. The mud soaking the hem of her clothes. She was becoming numb. She needed to find an Inn. She drew her limbs closer to her, needing to keep her warmth. She was starting to stagger.

“Had much to drink, cutey?”

Kaoru’s heart sank to her stomach. No. This wasn’t happening, she couldn’t give up the little bit of money she had. And in this weather, wearing these clothes, she couldn’t fight. Not just that she was seven months pregnant. She couldn’t afford to get hurt. Her hands trembled from the deep cold she felt. She turned her face in the direction of the voice. It was just one man. She could take him.

“I’m sick.” she muttered.

“Oh, well then you need a place to stay. A nice warm bed, ne?”

Kaoru’s hands fisted.

He approached the hooded figure. She was soaked. Easy prey he thought. She was so small she wouldn’t put up much of a fight.

A thought flashed across her mind. He didn’t want her money. This man wanted something else. She took a step back if only she had her shinai. Her eyes widened as he pulled out a knife. Just then Kaoru felt a sharp pain on the side of her abdomen. Her breath had been knocked out of her. She hissed through her teeth. She was down on one knee holding her stomach. The hood falling over her head blocked out the oncoming. She heard smacking sounds and then a thump. She was going to loose consciousness. She swayed a little as she tried to get up. Someone approached her. They held her by the arms trying to get her to stand. Kaoru put a hand on the arm using it as leverage to right her self up. Lightening flashed in the background giving the situation an eerie feeling.

The gasp of the other person was swallowed by the roar of thunder.

“Kaoru?”

Kaoru caught sight black hair before fainting.

*************

The holler of the wind blew a window open.  Waking Kaoru up from a deep sleep. Her sight was a little groggy, the first thing she did was touch her stomach. It was still round and smooth. She gave a deep sigh. The baby had kicked her particularly hard. Then she remembered she was about to be attacked. She looked around but she wasn’t in the same place she’d lost consciousness in. The shoji slid open and Kaoru closed her eyes, feigning sleep. She felt the presence closing int. They touched her forehead.

“Oh, Kaoru-san.”

Kaoru’s eyes opened slowly when she recognized the voice. “Misao” she uttered.

“You’re awake?” she squealed in delight. “I’ve been looking for you for months. Himura has gone crazy looking for you.”

Kaoru didn’t know what to say. She opened her mouth and closed it again.

Misao beamed at her. “What do you think you’ll have?”

Again Kaoru opened her mouth. “A . . .a boy.” She said.

“How do you know?” Misao asked with great interest.

“I have a feeling. How did you know I was pregnant?” She asked raising her self to a sitting position.

Misao scratched the back of her head. “Yeah, well. Promise you won’t get mad and I’ll tell you.”

Kaoru nodded her head. “All right.”

“Well, you see Himura dropped off all your things off before he went in search for you. And my job was to put all you’re things away. I had put almost everything away went I came across this package.”

“The silver one,” Kaoru interrupted.

“Yeah, I opened it. When I saw what was inside I was surprised. I packed everything back into place and headed out in search of Himura to tell him of your condition. But I still haven’t found him.”

Kaoru frowned. She missed him so much and still he didn’t know. “How long have I been asleep?”

“One day, why?” Misao asked.

“It’s been a hundred and twenty three day since I’ve seen him.” Kaoru’s eyes misted over.

Misao frowned. “Where have you been all this time?”

Kaoru snapped out of her depression. “Um, Sapporo. Tokuma took me to Sapporo. He told he had killed K-e-n.” She couldn’t bring herself to say it.

Misao rubbed Kaoru’s back soothingly. “There is no one alive who can beat Himura. You know that.”

Kaoru nodded. She just needed reassurance. “Misao where are we?”

“Oh, we’re at an Inn in Hachi-no-he.” Answered Misao.

“We can’t stay here too long. Tokuma has people following me. He’s offered a large reward for anyone who turns me in. He will do anything to get me back.” Kaoru finished in and anxious tone.

“It’s still raining pretty hard. Do you really want to travel in this kind of weather?” Misao asked.

Kaoru burrowed her brows in thought. “A carriage. You could find us some transportation. They won’t be expecting me to travel with anyone else.”

Misao seemed delighted at the idea. “All right Kaoru where are we going?”

Kaoru looked at Misao. She was a little embarrassed to ask. “Can I stay at the Aoiya?”

Misao’s eyes grew wide. “Of course you can Kaoru.” Kaoru was like the older sister she never had. Plus the problems she encountered with Himura were very much like the ones she had with Aoshi-sama. Her eyes grew distant as she started to think about him.

Kaoru watched as Misao’s eyes glazed over. A smile appeared on her lips. Shinomori must still be acting as cold as ever. Poor Misao. She was still on the first step. Then something occurred to her. “Misao, I want to head in to Aomori there’s something there I need to buy.”

Misao gave her a funny look but in the end she agreed. “I’ll go get us something to eat.” She said as she got up and left the room. Kaoru gave a deep sigh. She rubbed her belly in comfort. This trip to the medicine shop would really help Misao out. What harm could there be in that.

*************

Aoshi straightened his trench coat, feeling the kodachi underneath settled him some. Once again he had arrived too late. He watched the police spread all round the perimeter of the Yasuyoshi home. The battoussai had already been here. His jaw clenched in annoyance. If this was anyone else he wouldn’t have interfered. But the battoussai had once gone out on a limb and helped him out. This feeling of fellowship. It had been years since he’d felt it for anyone other than his men. He cleared his mind. His detachment of the situation made him see how the incident had occurred. He took in the details as he waited along with the rest of the crowd.

The police were offering some lame excuse as they waited around. They obviously had no idea who it was but they had revealed enough about the situation for him to move along.

**************

Kaoru sat in the carriage with Misao. It was a good thing she’d had half a mind to bring some of the new jewelry Tokuma had given her. Misao had sold a particularly pretty ruby necklace that Tokuma had given her about a month after she had arrived. Right around the time she had started spacing out again. She pursed her lips. She just didn’t believe her luck. Finally when everything was going to fall into place, when she finally achieved in acquiring her family. He’d snatched her away. Kaoru ran her hands over her tummy absentmindedly.

Misao watched the clouds growing darker and the air was becoming colder. Kaoru had said they were almost there.

The carriage came to a stop. Kaoru drew her cloak around her tightly making sure the hood covered her features. “You know what you’re buying right?”

Misao voice was steady. “Yes Kaoru, though I still don’t know why you’d risk coming here just for that?”

Kaoru smiled knowingly. “I promise I’ll tell you later.”

Misao stepped out of the carriage and into the general store where she bought a book. Then she went into an odd little shop where Kaoru had told her to buy some special kind of tea. The old man gave her a funny smile and handed over five little jade bags. She gave him the money and left. Now all she needed was to buy their food and then they could go. She gave a deep sigh and almost choked on the air. It was so cold and the air was so thick. They had a very long way to go but it didn’t matter they were on their way home.

**************

Tokuma couldn’t believe this. He stood on land which had ones held a beautiful home. Now it was tainted. His hand on his forehead. He gritted his teeth. Every single warehouse had been burned to the ground.

What was he to do?

His great grandmothers home in China. No one knew of that place. Just him. He’d never told anyone. He still had enough money there to start over.

In the time he’d come to know Kaoru he’d become obsessed with her. He couldn’t just let her go. The battoussai had gone out of his way to take everything he had. It was probably fair since he’d taken away all he had first. Still he felt this deep hatred. He wanted to see the battoussai dead. He looked at around again. The battoussai had ruined him. He knew how he could ruin the battoussai but he’d never hurt Kaoru to do it. No, he wanted her for himself. The problem was as long as she remained sane she wouldn’t want anyone else. Only Himura.

It was possible to drive someone crazy if they lived with you. It was different when they didn’t. Maybe for now he could let her go. Only till he found a way to drive her insane. Then she’d never flee from him. They’d have children and he’d be happy. He could make her happy. He knew he could.

“All right Kaoru-chan for now I’ll let you go but the time will come when you won‘t be able escape me.” He said as the wind grew cold. The chilling atmosphere completed by the rumble of the sky. Yusuke and Kei looked at each other. Each thinking the same thing. He’d gone crazy. One more look at each other and they knew what they had to do. They needed a new job before the battoussai found Yasuyoshi.

*************

Kaoru and Misao were soaked. They trudged along the side of the road. They had changed carriages at every town. Just in case. They were still very far from Kyoto. Kaoru was walking in discomfort. She couldn’t walk much more. She clutched her tummy. “Misao” She called out.

Misao stopped. She peered at Kaoru in concern. “Are you alright?” She watched her friend clutching her tummy. Oh, no. Misao thought looking around frantically. “Come on Kaoru we need to get to town. Find a doctor or an Inn.”

Kaoru straightened up, “all right Misao.” She winced but kept her pace.

Misao was getting desperate. After sometime. They started to see the small lights. “Almost there Kaoru please hang on.”

Kaoru felt large amounts of fluid flow down her legs. In this rain, none would notice. The baby was coming. It was early. She was still two days away from her eighth month. The pain was increasing and she had to lean a lot more on Misao

By the time they reached the Inn Kaoru was ready to pass out. Misao rented them a room in a matter of moments. She slid the door open and unrolled the futon. She laid a lot of blankets on the futon and rushed to help Kaoru lay down. She closed the door and stood in front of not sure what to do. Then she remember something from when she was around ten years old. “Kaoru I remember what to do. I’ll be right back.”

Kaoru squeezed her eyes shut and took deep calming breaths. Misao came back almost moments after she left. She parted Kaoru’s legs. On no the baby was almost out. She took a deep breath and did as she remembered. Moments later the wails of a child filled the room. Misao’s hands shook as she cut the cord connecting mother and child.

The wet cloth she’d had in the bowl of warm water was ready. She wiped the blood off carefully. She wrapped a large blanket around the baby.

“Tell me.” Came Kaoru’s soft voice.

“It’s a boy, Kaoru.” Misao’s voice was broken. She was so happy for her friend.

“Does it look like him?” Kaoru asked in almost a whisper.

“Yes, he looks like Himura. Here,” she said putting the baby in Kaoru’s arms.

Kaoru clutched the baby to her. “Misao, I need for you to do one more thing for me.”

“What is it Kaoru?” Misao peered at her friend

“Misao, please fetch me a doctor.”

Misao just noted the pale look her friend had. She swallowed hard. “Kaoru all right. Just hang on," she said as she rushed out the door.

She ran to the desk, asked the woman where to find a doctor and ran out.

*************

Tokuma boarded the boat. He’d stayed in Sapporo a couple of extra weeks hoping to catch Kaoru. But he’d had no luck. He walked to his room deep in thought. He was ready to start a new life. Build his fortune again. He’d come back for her. “As long as I draw breath Kaoru-chan, I’ll keep coming back.” He said as he closed the door to his room.

“No you won’t.”

That declaration was all the warning he had. It all happened so fast. In, twist and out. He wasn’t aware he’d been stabbed until the blade was pulled out. he clutched his heart. Feeling the blood oozing out. He looked up. His sight was failing him. “I love you Kaoru-chan.”

“Those can’t be your last words.”

With the swiftness of a practiced swords man he dug the blade in through the rig cage. And with an upward stroke, the man dropped to the floor.

Tokuma eyes got the glimpse he’d known he’d see.

“Battoussai.”

*************

Misao ran out into the cold. The weather was horrible. She ran through the roaring and the flashes of lightening. If they were any deeper into mainland it be snowing. Something they were going to have to deal with. She rounded the slippery corner. She slipped and hit her chin on the floor. She got up and started running again. She needed to find the doctor. Finally she found the place. Everything of course was dark. She banged on the door. But their was no response. She banged on the door harder. She hit it till her hand had gone numb.

Finally an elderly man opened the door. “What’s going?”

“Are you the doctor? I need the doctor to come with me, my friend just gave birth and she’s looking extremely pale please. I need the doctor.” Misao didn’t give the man a word in edge wise. She started pulling him out the door.

“Wait I’ll get my son he’s the doctor.” He went back into the house. A second later, a man emerged. He was very thin with a pale complexion. He was about to greet her when she pushed the door open and pulled him out. They ran through the darkness back to the Inn. As she rounded the same corner she felt another blow connect to her face. She fell back to the ground. With the chilling weather her whole body was numb. The blow she took had knocked her back, it just barely hurt. She looked up to see a burly man standing in front of her. Beyond him she could see the doctor.

“GO!” She yelled.

The doctor hesitated but ran on ahead.

The man didn’t really seem to care about the man. “I saw you walk into the Inn. I thought you might need some company?”

“Grr, what is it with you men?” She said as she took out her kunai. She hurled them but the wind weakened the force in which she threw them. She took her stance.

The man smiled and the fight began.

The doctor came to the room. He slid the door opened. A petite woman cradled a baby to her bosom. He noted the paleness and her lack of activity. As he got closer he noted that she didn’t seem to be breathing. He carefully removed the bundle she held tightly and started working on the ill woman.

Misao, kneed the man in the face. He fell to the ground but despite her best efforts to keep him down he rose again. He kicked her stomach hard from where he stood. This was finally his chance. Misao was on one knee trying to regain her breath. The man stabbed her through the shoulder. And she cried out in agony. She pulled away from the man. She rolled to the side and stood again. The cold rain would numb the pain. She had to get him to stay down. She ran at the man knocked the air out of him. She kicked his left shin hard. When he went down she kneed him in the groin and he howled in pain. He pulled his hand away from his groin and swung out madly. He hit her on the left side of the face. He was still down on his knees though. She had been knocked back a bit. She took the opportunity and kicked the man on the side of the face. She watched as he slumped to the floor. Finally she ran off, back to the Inn. She clutched her arm. She s lipped and fell. She was getting dizzy. Damn the rain.  She thought as she ran back.

She slammed into the front door of the Inn unable to make herself stop. She ran by the desk and into Kaoru’s room.

Aoshi was getting information from an elderly woman when he saw Misao run by. His head turned. “What?”

He went into the direction she had run into. The room’s door was open. He made is just as she slumped to the floor. He bent to inspect her and as he did he noticed a pale figure on a futon. “Kaoru?”

A very skinny man seemed to be attending her. The doctor he assumed. He watched as the man scrambled over to Misao.

“Not her too.” The doctor exclaimed.

Aoshi’s attention was once again diverted to her. Her shoulder was bleeding. The doctor pulled back the cloth to see the wound was deep.

“Can you lay her there next to her friend?” The doctor asked as he set out another futon with blankets out.

Aoshi laid her back carefully. She was pale and she wasn’t moving anymore. He gripped her good shoulder but she didn’t wake. His finger touched the side of her neck trying to find a pulse. The doctor was busy stitching up the wound from the front. “Will you hold her while I sew the back?”

Aoshi only nodded as the doctor moved behind her and starting his sewing. Moments later he added ointment to the front and back of the wound. He added gauze around the wound and patched her up. The moment he finished the knot he went back to Kaoru. He put his ear close to her chest. He gave a deep sigh. She’s still breathing he said to Aoshi who still held Misao.

“What happened?” His tone betraying no emotion.

“That little one came to my house seeking help. Half way here some man w as waiting around the corner. He knocked her back but she didn’t fall. She yelled at me to go. I hesitated but eventually ran out to find her friend.” He turned back to Kaoru. “She wasn’t breathing when I came in. She’s had a tough pregnancy it seems.”

Aoshi’s eyes sought the baby. He noticed a little bundle on the other side of Kaoru, all he could see was a small patch of red hair. Himura, he thought.

“The baby?” Aoshi asked as he laid Misao on the futon.

“He’s fine, nice and healthy. The mama however seems to have weathered all the struggles. It’s hard for me to tell if it’s pneumonia, yet. Even if it isn’t she’s going to have heart complications. I think they’ve been walking in this weather. It’s the only explanation I can see for their health’s being in this kind of state.”

“Will you get some water? I‘m going to give them some herbal tea that should helped them through this.” The doctor started looking through his bag as Aoshi left.

Aoshi came back a moment later. He gave the man the teapot full of hot water and then left.

“Hey where are you going?” The doctor paused to see the stranger leave. “Now who’s going to help me.”

*************

Misao opened her eyes slowly. Her whole body ached. She noticed she was warm. She turned her head to the side. “Kaoru,” she whispered. “Kaoru can you hear me?”

“You’ll wake her.” came the deep voice.

Misao didn’t turn. It couldn’t be. She closed her eyes. Tears threatened to spill out of their confines. He’s not here, I’m just imagining things. She thought. The guy must have knocked me on the head.

Aoshi watched her still. Was she still angry with him? As much as he liked to know he wouldn’t ask her. He didn’t say anything else.

Misao tried to remain alert but sleep was taking hold of her. “Aoshi-sama,” she half whispered as she fell into deep slumber.

Aoshi watched her lips form his name before she fell asleep again. He gave a deep sigh and looked down into the face of the baby. He was sound asleep. A low rumble in the back told him the storm still persisted.

*************

“Kaoru why are you being stubborn?” She spoke curtly.

Kaoru shook her head. “You don’t understand Misao.”

“Aoshi-sama is here. No one will take you or the baby away. I promise.” Misao insisted.

Aoshi stood outside while the girls changed.

“I need to head back there please.” Kaoru said sounding weary.

“You don’t understand Kaoru. You are in NO condition to travel. The trip might upset you.”

“Misao I thank you for your concern but I’ll be fine. You are right I don’t fear for my safety or the baby’s. Now that he’s here we may travel by boat and get back quicker.” Kaoru begged Misao to listen.

“Kaoru if something happened to you.” Misao’s lip started trembling. Last time they thought she was dead she’d been too late to save her. But now she was here and she could save her.

“Look.” Kaoru said taking out a beautiful ruby bracelet. It was obviously the a set of the first one she sold. “You can buy us some knew clothes. Winter clothes and then we can head off without any problems.” Kaoru explained.

“All right Kaoru but I hope you know we’re going against better judgment.” Misao headed for the door. “I’ll get us some breakfast.”

She opened the door and slid out.

“Where are you going?” Aoshi asked noting the bracelet she held in her hands.

“I was going to get us breakfast,” she said as the bracelet was pulled from her hand.

“You are still in no condition to be walking around.” He said as he slid the shoji open and pushed her back inside. “I’ll get breakfast,” he said and closed the door.

Misao stood on the other side of the door her mouth slightly opened. She made to open the door but Kaoru’s voice stopped her.

“Misao there’s something I need to tell you.”

Misao turned around and sat in front of Kaoru.

“You know the tea I made you buy from the medicine shop?”

Misao nodded and Kaoru smiled.

“There was a time when I hated the rurouni.”

Misao opened her mouth but Kaoru’s hand stopped her.

"I wasn’t in the right state of mind you see.  When he left I broke down.  Lost in the madness.  Alone in the darkness.  I hated him.  I thought he was dead.  I mean why else wouldn't he return to me.  So I believed him dead."  Kaoru paused for a moment.

"So when he showed up in Aomori my mind couldn’t take seeing him. I almost broke down completely.  But some part of my mind reasoned that though the rurouni was dead there was no reason I couldn’t have the battoussai.  So from that day on I did everything I could to bring him out.  The tea I made you buy.  It’s special.  It makes the drinker loose his restraints.  Easier for their emotions to surface.  That’s exactly what I needed.  So the moment I got it I gave it to him.  We left that day so we could go shopping, I wanted to see how he would react.  It took a moment to kick in.  Some men followed us they wanted to steal our money I think.  Anyway one snuck up on me.  The man frightened me but that’s not what upset me.  I was upset because my plan hadn’t worked.  At least I thought. It hadn’t.  The hated rurouni gave into his into his anger and the battoussai emerged.  After that other feelings surfaced.  Jealousy and passion were the other two.”  Kaoru had a glazed look over her eyes.  Lost in the memory.

“I want you to take four of the bags Misao.” Kaoru finished.

All kinds of thoughts flickered through her head. Misao bit her lip. Oh, the possibilities.

Kaoru smiled. “The rurouni, he'd had a lot of restraints.  He’s a master at self control.  The first time I gave him the tea I made him drink four cups.  But I think men like him and Aoshi need larger amounts.  Don’t you think?"

Misao nodded.

“I know you might hesitate taking something like this but I believe Aoshi loves you. Very much. He’s unwilling to cross that line much like the rurouni had. This is just to help them move along. I mean, you do want to be married before you’re thirty right?”

“Yes I do.” Misao admitted.

“All right then,” Kaoru smiled. “The book I made you buy is something I think you should read to him. You’d see the amount of similarities there are between your life and theirs. Mainly the way the characters act. You‘ll see what I mean when you read about Yosho. Take a peek at chapter Seventeen.  Second to last page”

“I’m going to feed the baby. Why don’t you read some.” Kaoru pointed towards the book before settling in.

Misao was reluctant to get the book but eventually she did. She looked at the plain cover of the book.

How Could I Not Fall In Love With You

By Yume

Life has always been so hard for me I don’t understand.

From the moment my real father died till now. All is hell. Maybe I should start from the beginning, my name is Aeka. I don’t have a last name because I come from a poor family, so there is no last name. My father died when I was two years old. My mother who was a beautiful woman remarried about two years later. She married a man who had money but who’d come to it out of fowl deeds. This man had a son. A boy about five years older than me. My mother must have been happy with her new life. But good things never last long. Yusuke, my step father was only with us for three years. He was murdered sometime before my sixth birthday. The man who killed him Jurai, tried to get my mother to marry him. Even after ten years, the memory of that day still comes to me so clearly. I came in from playing outside. I had been hungry so I looked for my mother to give me some food. I came to see this man slap my mother across the face he was yelling at her. “ Whore! Do you really think you can do better than me?” My mother who had fallen onto the floor held her cheek. She yelled back at him. “I rather be a whore a hundred times over than ever stoop so low than to sleep with you. I would kill my self before I ever became your wife.” He seemed so enraged. I watched in horror as he picked her up and shook her. I couldn’t watch anymore. I ran out only to crash into my brother. Yosho had never liked me much. At least I thought he didn’t. He always kept to himself and he’d never play with me.

He asked me what was wrong and I told him. As soon as the man’s name left my mouth he ran off into the house. I stood there where he left me for what seemed like forever to me.

Misao’s interest was peaked.

I finally couldn’t stand it anymore. I ran back inside. What I saw it still makes me sick. Jurai had beat my mother to death. He’d killed her but no before taking away her beauty. Her body laid crumpled up in the left corner of the house. When my vision was finally able to move past the figure of my mother. I saw Jurai. He laid far off to the right. He was all bloodied up. As I got closer to his body I noticed my brother laid a couple of feet from me. He had a large gash over his eye but other than that he was fine. My eyes were drawn to the sword he held in his hand. It made me realize that the blood on his Gi and on his Hakama weren’t his. I turned back to Jurai. I was a lot closer now. I could see his head had been severed. I had never seen so much blood before, I felt like screaming but I couldn’t. I just stood there a couple feet behind my brother staring.

I know I was in shock. I never saw Yosho move till he grabbed my face with his hands. I looked into the face of my step brother. He looked different, colder. It was almost like he’d spent all his life to achieve this one moment. How could that be possible, he was only nine.

He took me to my room and told me to pack only what I could carry. When I was done he told me we’d be leaving soon to get some sleep. I just looked at him. I think he must have understood. He held me until I fell asleep. We left at sun up right after he burned our house.

She hesitated but only for a moment before she skipped to chapter Seventeen.  Second to last page.

Frozen heart, blazing passion.

Could any one man be more distant, more untouchable? He had never been too demonstrative but at one point his eyes had held kindness, warmth and caring. Now though they were indifferent, cold.

She had loved him all her life. He was a conflicted soul. Despite the years they‘d spent together and the changing times everything had changed, and yet everything remained painfully the same.

How hard it was to love someone who refused to see you as anything more than the child he once knew. The child he once rescued. A responsibility.

Would the image of her childhood image be ever present in his minds eye. Though not a child anymore he refused to see. My love has grown with each passing year, becoming stronger as time slips through. A love strong enough to continue into the spirit world and beyond.

But the source of my pain seems would never understand. Or at least, I think he wouldn’t. Confessing my love to you was difficult. The fact that you took the declaration as the ramblings of an innocent who didn’t know any better, hurt. I have learned with you, practiced with you, eaten with you and slept with you. But this is not enough for me anymore. My quick temper has driven me out of reason. It always has where you are concerned. My youthful energy gives me strength to continue this pursuit. One day I will gain your heart.

Misao smiled and kept reading.

He watched her emerge out of the river. His breath caught in his throat. He couldn‘t keep denying her development into a young adult. She really wasn’t a child anymore no matter how he wished it so. Her body petite in frame was as curvy as that any man could wish for. The roundness of the breasts so pert and full. The smoothness of the skin too smooth for any mortal woman. He watch transfixed by the site, as droplets of water slipped of her breast and fell on the ground.

He’d been on his way home when he’d seen her. This was to a secluded part of the river, he‘d told her many times not to come here on her own.

She was completely nude, she‘d been getting ready to go home and was unaware of the heated gaze that traveled the slopes and curves if her body.

The reaction of his body brought him back to the present. Desperately he tried to ignore the sight of her nude form. He tried to move to turn around, to close his eyes. Anything to keep himself from destroying the image he had created. To keep away the one he denied. His eyes refused to close and in that moment he realized it was to late. The image had been shattered.

Shattered it had been but he had no yet been defeated. He had survived this long without emotions. His control is something he still maintained and as long as that remained. The temptation could be overcome. He took a step back and then another till he was far away from the scene. He needed the distance before his desire ruled him completely. The urge to make her his was overwhelming. Even now he wished nothing more then to return to her. To explore, to teach, to enrapture her.

For her sake he had fled. Control would be harder to maintain around her. But it would be sustained. With that last thought he headed back into the forest. Away from the river.

Misao’s eyes focused on that last paragraph.  Why?  Why would he do that if that's how he felt?

Misao turned the page.  Ready to begin the next chapter.

“I have lunch.”  She heard the deep masculine voice.

Her eyes turned upward.  They swept his form quickly before settling on his face.  He stood in front of the closed door.  Her heart fluttered just a bit.  Aoshi-sama.  He looked from her to the book.  The need to know what happened was strong.  When she didn’t get up he came closer and placed the food in front of her. “Thank you Aoshi-sama.” She said as she took the food but didn’t eat.

“Misao.”

Her attention was drawn away from the book once again.  The image of Kaoru, sleeping peacefully with her baby evaded her sight.  If Kaoru got through to Himura then surely she could get through to her Aoshi-sama. 

I don’t want to wait ten years to see a flicker of emotion cross your eyes when you look at me, she thought. As soon as we get home you’ll be drinking that special tea.

“Misao.” His voice calls me out of my thoughts again. I watch as a hand reaches out to brush a tear from my face away. I didn’t realize I was crying. My hand goes to my eyes but they’re dry. It must have been just the one tear. He’s gone back to eating. I take a deep sigh before I start to eat. The food is really bland.

*************

Kaoru shivered in her cloak. Misao was starting to really worry. She came closer to her and wrapped an arm around her. “Kaoru?”

Kaoru looked at her. She gave her a weak smile. “Misao I’m fine just cold.”

Misao gave her a dubious look. “Usually it wouldn’t take that long to get to the Aoiya but the weather.”

“I know Misao don’t worry about it.” Kaoru said patting Misao’s knee. “Why don’t you sleep a little Misao you look tired.” She said taking the baby back from Misao.

“Me tired. You’re the one who just had a baby.”

Kaoru looked at the baby. He was so beautiful. She was hoping for deep amber eyes but amethyst would do just fine. “Kenii” She cooed. It was short for Kenshin, named after his father.

The baby gurgled. A little smile spreading on the angelic face.

“Mama’s little man. I love you so much Kenshin,” she said bringing the baby close to her. The baby gurgled again. “Are you laughing? Are you laughing at Mommy? Yes you are. Yes you are.” She cooed lovingly.

Misao watched the interaction. She was happy for them but she couldn’t help feeling a little jealous. Kaoru was only one year older than her. She was thankful when the carriage came to a full stop.

Both women turned when the door opened. Aoshi stood tall waiting for them to come with him. Misao came out into the chilly weather. It looked like it would snow soon. She turned back into the house after she saw her Aoshi-sama help Kaoru out of the carriage.

“Jiya.” She called out.

She didn’t have to wait long. The whole household had run out.

Misao!

Misao-chan!

Misao-chan!

All the voices blurred. Misao was happy to be home. She hugged the old man first. “Jiya,” she said as she embraced him.

They hugged and broke apart both grinning like big fools. Misao walked back to him and pulled on his whiskers.

Ai! he hollered.

“I told you in the note didn’t I.” She scolded.

Jiya’s face broke into a grin. “I would have thought you’d thank me for sending you “Aoshi-sama” he squealed in a feminine voice.

Misao’s face burned in embarrassment.

“Okina,” came the cold tone.

Everyone turned to Aoshi. Then to the woman next to him. Then to the little bundle she held. It took them a moment to process the information. Then with loud squeals the women rushed over to look at the baby. The men made their way a bit more discretely. Still curious as to what the baby would look like.

That night everyone celebrated the return of their fellow Oniwa-banshu members. And the addition to the Himura family.

*************

A large blanket of snow covered the town. A lone figure walked the empty streets. Angry, injure, tired and alone. The figure made its way to a restaurant. How long had it been since the last meal? How long . . . .

The figure entered the restaurant and slumped into a seat. The waitress approached and gasped. The pounding of her feet as she ran away made the figure look up. Shinomori.

“Come.” Aoshi’s detached facade always in place.

The slumped individual rose again, despite the fatigue.

Aoshi brought the visitor into a larger room in the household. The room was large and very warm. Aoshi could hear the laughter of the women as they brought the food into the room. All the women sat down. All but one.

“Come on smile for Mommy. Come on. Come on. Oh what a good baby.” The woman nuzzled the baby and in return the baby gurgled. She was smiling at the baby when she stiffened. She turned her body around slowly. Her lip trembled and her eyes shimmered as tears came down her cheeks.

The visitor was rooted to the spot. Riveted by the scene unfolding.

Kaoru turned the baby in her arms so the visitor could have a better look. She looked down at the baby and smiled. “Baby,” She pointed her finger at the visitor. “Daddy.”

“Daddy.” She said her finger still outstretched. “This is Kenii. Short for Kenshin.”

The figure still didn’t move. But the amber eyes conveyed more than actions could.

Kaoru moved forward till she stood in front of the familiar stranger. He looked down at them both. His eyes darting between mother and child. Till finally it was too much. They were encompassed into a tight embrace. “Koishii,” He whispered.

And then she cried. And so did the rest of the people in the room. He pulled back and saw her watery smile. He looked at the baby and he was smiling too. It looked like the baby took after him. Maybe the next one would take after it’s mother.

Kaoru handed the baby over to her husband. He peered down into the little face and smiled. A son. When had all of this happened. He’d missed his birth, his face darkened for a moment before the look disappeared. The baby eyes were purple like his. He touched his little hand and watched as the baby tried to grip his finger. He pulled his finger away when Kaoru leaned in closer to him. He peered down at his son a little more closely. He’d seen a flash of amber.

“Himura-kun I’m glad you’ve made it back. Did you want to tend to your injuries first and then eat? Or eat and then tend to them?” Everyone looked from Jiya to Himura and then back again.

Kenshin smiled. “I’ll eat first.”

“Kenshin-no-baka.” Kaoru started off.

Kenshin grabbed her from around the waist and sat her down next to him in front of the table. He held his son as they began to talk and eat. Misao recounted Kaoru’s great escape from Tokuma while Kenshin scowled. And then Kaoru recounted how Misao had defeated the man in Niigata. Misao blushed while they laughed. Only Kenshin and Okina felt the rise of Aoshi’s ki. They both smiled knowingly.

“All right Himura. It’s your turn.” Misao addressed him curious to know what had been happening.

Kenshin shook his head and gave then a watered down version of what he’d done. Four of the eight people present believed him. The other four simply narrowed their eyes at him in suspicion and Kenshin smiled broadly. “What about this last fight?” Misao asked.

Kenshin’s smiled slipped away. “I met up with Saitou in Akita.” Kaoru gripped his arm hard. “We fought.” He said as his mood darkened again. “But were both still alive.” He finished.

“Did you win?” She asked

“Misao!” Everyone except for Kenshin had scolded her.

“It was a draw.” Kenshin said. Trying to forget. Putting it behind him. Everything was different now. His soul wasn’t in shreds anymore. It was whole. And maybe even a little brighter than before. He smiled at his wife as she tried to give him a stern look. He kissed her nose and she turned away so he wouldn’t see her smile.

The only time he’d left his wife’s side was when Okina and Aoshi had tended to his wounds. There had been some awkward questions there from Okina. Like what happened to Yasuyoshi’s contacts. Some he hadn’t even bothered to answer. Like why Saitou was waiting for him in Akita. Kenshin frowned, he hadn’t said anything but he was sure Aoshi knew the answers anyways.

He know laid with his arm around his wife. Glad she was home safe and sound. He smiled, ‘especially sound.’ They’d be going back to Tokyo soon. Kaoru wanted to show of the baby to anyone with eyes. She wanted to visit Hiko but the weather wouldn’t allow it. He was glad for that. He felt sleep sneaking it’s way into his mind. For the first time he was glad. It had been moths since he’d slept well. ‘With her by his side the nightmares should stop,’ he thought as he fell asleep.

*************

Misao and Kaoru were wrapped in a tight embrace. They’d been crying earlier. A month had come and passed. They were now at the train station saying their good-byes. Kenshin and Aoshi stood straight and tall. Their faces set into a mask of passiveness.

“Misao don’t forget?” Kaoru reminded her as she was pulled away by her husband.

“I won’t. I’ll see you in a month or so. Don’t worry.” Misao screamed over the sound of the train.

Kaoru smiled and waved enthusiastically. Misao returned the action.

Misao and Aoshi stood till the train was no longer visible. She turned and flashed him a great smile. Aoshi’s only outward sign of acknowledgment was his face turning to peer down into hers. “Let’s go home Aoshi-sama. We need to pack.”

“Pack?” He asked as he watched her skip in front of him.

“We’re going to Matsue.” She said as she skipped away from him.

He frowned, what are you thinking Misao.

*************

Kaoru sat on their futon waiting for Kenshin to come in from checking the yard. She wouldn’t have know he did that if they didn’t sleep together. The dojo was safe, she thought. She didn’t know why he did it.

The shoji slid open and he came in. He smiled warmly at her. “Koishii why are you still up?”

She grinned at him and it confused him. She pulled something out from underneath the blankets. He looked down at the package she held. He recognized it at once. It was the silver one with the blue ribbon. “I have wanted to give you this for a long time.” She said as she handed it to him.

He sat in front of her and opened it. It was a little gi, same color as his. He looked at the very bottom of the front to see two little green dragons embroidered. “You were going to give me this in Okayama. You knew then?”

He looked up from the gi to her face as she nodded. Everything had turned out right but for a time he had feared the worst. He gazed at her intently drowning in her eyes. Her smile changed to something more sultry. She pulled out another package, smaller then the first. She laid it in his open palms. She closed her fingers around his. “Open it.” She whispered.

Kenshin broke eye contact with her to look at the little package. He pulled a smooth heart shaped medallion. One side read. “Himura.” While the other side read. Kenshin’s mouth opened and Kaoru smiled. He looked back down and touched the characters. “Daddy’s girl.” He said.

She nodded and he hugged her. He felt overjoyed. He pulled away an he kissed her. She had always made him happy. She always would. His kiss deepened and only the need for air broke their kiss. They panted for air, their breath mingling as their foreheads rested against one another.

“Are you happy Kenshin?” She asked as she caressed the scarred cheek.

“Since that fateful day almost four years ago when you accused me of being the hitokiri battoussai.” Kenshin shook his head in amusement. “You’ve created a life worth living for me. You are my joy, my life, my soul. Yes koishii I’m happy.” He said kissing the top of her hands.

She smiled at him. “I love you Kenshin.”

He cupped her cheeks and gave her a penetrating look. “Words cannot express the depth of my feelings for you Koishii. But I’ll start by saying I love you.”

Kaoru sighed. “That’s all I’ve ever wanted.” She said as she kissed him. His need for her added intensity to the kiss transforming it into something deeper more passionate, savage, wilder until they became lost in the madness.

The End.

Hey there everyone.  I'm finally done.  Yay.  I 'v shed a good amount of tears writing it, so I hope you enjoyed it.  Are you sorry to see the story end?  I'm a little sad but maybe there'll be a sequel.  The book Misao and Kaoru were reading is called, How Can I Not Have Fallen In Love With You.  I didn't get a chance to tell you guys how it ended in the fic.  So if you're interested go to my website.  I've posted the story there.  It will also be temporarily available here. 

Small Note: The Shinsegumi fought against the Ishin Shishi during the Bakumatsu. Hajime, Saitou. I think that’s what you’re all wondering about. Well in the RK world every time there was any funny business Saitou would come sniffing around. Saitou is a policeman so of course the disappearance of twenty high profile criminals brought his attention. He has this obsession with the battoussai. Desperate for a rematch to a fight that started more than ten years ago. He got his shot in once and always hoped for another. Wanting and end to the fight. Well not really. He wants to kill the battoussai. Not Kenshin or the rurouni but ‘The Hitokiri Battoussai.’ The assassin he once fought.

Tokuma met his fate after being overwhelmed by his obsession to keep Kaoru captive.

The pretense for sending Misao and Aoshi to Matsue is to retrieve Kaoru’s thing from the house and bring them back to Tokyo. The main purpose is for Misao to finally break Aoshi down once and for all. If one bag of tea worked on Kenshin then four bags should be enough for Aoshi :P

Thanks for reading. Don’t forget to review. I’ll see you all in the next FF.