Kaoru laid cradled in his arms, uncertain of what she wanted to do or say, concentrating instead on catching her breath. Kenshin was wrapped around her again, so that every breath she took against his skin smelled of sweat and ginger and her. His own uneven breathing was puffing against her hair and it was almost as comforting as the press of his body had been moments before. She wanted to talk to him, to ask him what he had meant earlier when he has spoken of a temple. But he was doing unfair things with his hands again, lightly massaging her shoulders and neck so that she melted into him.
“Go back to sleep, Kaoru.” Kenshin softly suggested, his voice vibrating under her ear. “Its only a few hours past noon and you were up all night. I will wake you for dinner. I promise.”
She made a soft noise in the back of her throat and drifted off to sleep with the sensation of his arms wrapped around her waist and the palm of his hand pressing against her tummy.
“Here,” Tsubame said softly, coming forward to hand him a cup of tea. Dawn had broken and now the warm glow of morning warmed the chill in the air. Tsubame offered him a shy smile. “This should warm you up.”
Yahiko would never, ever mention that he wasn’t cold. Not when she had that shy little blush on her cheeks and her eyes were dropping in a nervous habit.
“Thank you, Tsubame,” Yahiko softly replied, daring to use her name without honorific. She blushed a darker red but she didn’t correct him, and he had to work to keep his smile to himself.
“You worry too much,” Tae said as she arrived, a line of sweat beading her forehead from working the hot ovens. “Kenshin will have gotten to her and brought her back by now.”
Yahiko sighed, nodding in agreement. “I know…but there are…” he searched for the correct word. “Complications.”
Tae frowned. “You mean besides the normal issues?” Her tone suggested she still had a long way to go before she forgave the Kenshin for making everyone think he was gone for a year. Yahiko had never felt any need to correct her thinking and neither did Kenshin. As far as Yahiko knew, he was the only one who knew about the split between Battousai and Rurouni and the gypsy magic it had taken to do.
“Yes,” Yahiko agreed, uncertain how much information he should give.
Tae pinned him with a look, and he fidgeted a bit, sipping his tea and concentrating on Tsubame’s presence next to him to keep from spilling. However, Tae was persistent and he felt his resolve caving. What could it hurt?
“Once I get her back,” Kenshin softly assures Yahiko, “she is going to the temple whether she wants it or not.”
Kenshin had that look in his eyes. Yahiko new with utter certainty he had meant to keep his word and that Tae would keep the secret for as long as the couple wanted to keep it. Sighing he looked up at Tae. “Kaoru is expecting,” he told Tae bluntly. “Baring the idea that she is unconscious from a head wound or something else, I imagine Kenshin will drag her to the temple tomorrow.”
Tae was still, her dark eyes wide and she blinked several times before a smile began to creep across her face. “Oh I hope it has Kenshin’s hair. Come Tsubame, if he plans on taking her to the temple tomorrow there are things we must do! We have a reception to plan!”
Yahiko blinked rapidly as he watched Tae practically bounce into the kitchen, mirth burbling from her mouth as she rattled off directions. Tsubame lifted her hand in a shy wave and Yahiko finally shook himself form his stupor.
“That was unexpected,” Yahiko muttered.
Kaoru woke to the smell of fish and miso. Blinking open her eyes she tried to force some sensation into her tired limbs. Part of her simply wanted to curl back into her sheets and go back to sleep. ‘Kenshin said he would wake you for dinner,’ Kaoru reminded herself as she turned her nose back into the blanket. It was really nice right where she was.
“I saw that, thistle.” Kenshin’s voice was teasing as he entered the room. “You’re awake.”
Kaoru grandly ignored him. Instead, she was attempting to talk herself into pulling the cover even further over her head. She complained in the back of her throat when she was suddenly picked up and lifted, including the blanket. Kaoru grumbled against his neck and he gave a soft chuckle.
“You’re so tired right now, Kaoru, because you’ve been asleep most of the day, and because of the complication of your pregnancy.” His voice was soothing and she turned her face into his neck. “And also because I couldn’t keep my hands to myself,” there was no apology in his voice and Kaoru squeaked when she found herself set down lightly in front of the table.
“Eat something,” Kenshin ordered firmly, setting a plate of lightly grilled fish with lemon and rice. The bowl he had filled for her with miso had pale waifs of steam coming off the top and she felt some of her wake up and with it came her appetite. She took several cautious bites, hoping that morning sickness only applied in the morning. Granted, she had found that if she wasn’t careful it could strike her at anytime, but she was going to be cautious.
“Drink your tea, Kaoru. Dr. Gensai said it would help. He also suggested that you eat six to eight meals a day, in small doses, instead of three large ones, said that it would be easier on your system; and he also recommended that you cut back you schedule and allow yourself to nap when you feel tired and if you feel really weary then to take a day or so off and simply relax.”
Kaoru had frozen mid-bite. “When did you…”
Kenshin took a sip of his own tea. “While you were sleeping. I went and asked him what I could do to make you more comfortable. He gave me a rundown on what to expect for the rest of your pregnancy and suggest we write Megumi to come down the two weeks before we think you are due, since we could only guess when the baby was going to be born. Eat up, Kaoru. We have a big day tomorrow and you need to get your strength back.”
Kaoru swallowed the mouthful before she spoke. “You…what?” Her eyes were wide. “You are seriously planning on…marriage? Tomorrow?”
Kenshin gave her a hooded look from his moon-glow eyes. “Oh yes,” he breathed. “You are mine, Kaoru. Not the Rurouni’s, not the past’s, but mine. I won’t give you up.”
Kaoru took a few more careful bites, unsure what she was supposed to say to that. Kenshin put her cup down and watched her. “Is there a reason you don’t want to marry me, Kaoru?”
Kaoru jerked her head up surprise written all over her face. “No! I mean Yes! I mean…” she swallowed. “I want to marry you, I always have. It’s just…I mean, isn’t it sudden?” Her voice was soft. “I don’t have a wedding kimono, and I don’t know if I have the money to pay the fees…” she trailed off and looked down at her rice with a faint blush.
“Eat your dinner, Kaoru.” He softly suggested. “Don’t worry about anything. I have it all worked out.”
Kaoru’s eyes were wide but when he turned back to his own meal she was forced to do the same. By the time she had eaten as much as she could, she was dropping again. Kenshin moved as if to pick her back up but she shook her head. “I want to go sit on the porch for a while. If I go to sleep now I will wake up in a few hours and not be able to sleep for the rest of the night.” She yawned behind her hand. Kenshin judged her mood behind his lashes and when she gave him a huffy look he nodded.
“As soon as you start falling asleep you’re going back to our futon.” Kenshin warned her. Kaoru glared at him and stood up, gathering the blanket around her shoulders and flouncing out. He smiled at her show of temper and went to pick everything up. Sighing he thought back to his other meeting that afternoon.
Washing the dishes he thought about what Saitoh had told him. He had gone first to the station and then to Saitoh’s home to find him. Saitoh had been eating dinner with his family and had been quite put out with him for showing up. His mouth curved into a smile. Tokio had been delighted and asked him to stay, but he had politely refused.
Saitoh had been very curt in his words, but if he understood the meaning behind them then he wouldn’t have to worry about any more men showing up to take his Kaoru away. From what he had heard, the matter had been turned over to someone who knew what strings to pull, and once given the proper names, he was very good at it.
Kenshin grinned to himself. “Have fun, Aoshi, and make him pay.”
Once everything was done he went and checked on his Shihandai and smirked to himself when he found her asleep on the porch, curled up with the blanket. Reaching down he picked her back up and she made a noise against his throat and snuggled against him and made no other sound for the rest of the night.
“You do realize that that this could be considered kidnapping?” Kaoru hissed as she was dragged around the corner, feeling particularly moody. Her eyes flickered with hot sparks of temper. Kenshin shot her a grin that reminded her of a mischievous little boy, his own eyes blazing amber; and there wasn’t even the beginning hint of an apology.
“Is it?” He all but purred at her, stopping in the middle of the street to bring her fingers to his lips and to lightly kiss the tips. “You act as if I am dragging you to towards something you do not wish to go to.” He dropped his mouth to the center of her palm and kissed it in a way that made her knees feel weak.
Kaoru glared at him, slightly breathless. “You are cheating again.”
His mouth curved against the skin of her palm. “I meant what I said earlier, Kaoru. I will marry you today. You may either walk with me and enjoy yourself, or I can throw you over my shoulder and use my speed to get us there without being seen.” He tugged on her a bit so that she was pulled close to him. Kaoru was suddenly thankful that the expanse of road they were on was currently deserted. “As beautiful as you look, I may just do that anyway.”
She blinked up at him, still slightly uncertain. “Kenshin?”
He smoothed back her hair and admired the new Kimono, such a stark contrast to her fair skin. “I thought you were going to learn to trust me, thistle. I am going to take you to the temple,” he kissed the corner of her mouth. “There, you and I will be married.” He kissed the opposite corner of her lips. “Then, we shall come back to the dojo, where Tae-san thinks she is setting up a surprise banquet.” He lightly kissed her mouth. “I shall take great pleasure eating our first meal as husband and wife, but I shall have to insist that everyone goes home so I may have you all to myself.” His kiss was leisurely and warm and she melted against his chest.
“Do not fear bringing your uncertainties and your questions to me, little love.” Kenshin softly chastised her once she had raised her lashes. “It is my delight and my privilege to keep your heart at ease.” He laced her fingers with hers again and stepped away. “Come with me and be my wife.” His voice was velvet heat and promise and she found herself nodding her head in agreement.
His smile was anticipatory and possessive and she swallowed again as he continued down the path, pulling her towards the temple that was just now in sight. She felt slightly lightheaded. She was marrying Kenshin.
Being married wasn’t always bliss, but she was learning that most of it was. Kaoru reclined lazily on her porch, attempting to develop a strategy that would get her out of the dojo without her husband following along or attempting to go with her. Her mouth curved with a bit of a smile on that thought. She would never have thought he would allow any of his practices of the Rurouni to come into his actions. Not that he was, really, there was such a difference between how the Battousai went about stalking her and how the Rurouni had cheerfully followed her with or without her permission.
Kenshin was more inclined to prove his point in a way that left her unable to breathe properly and more than a little weak-kneed. She wasn’t sure what it was, but something about his amber-eyed smirk and the way he would drag his tongue along his bottom lip as he watched her argue that left her…breathless.
‘He is such a cheater,’ Kaoru groused, resting her hand on her swollen tummy. At five months in she was starting to have a touch of a change in the way she walked, her stomach finally starting to gain weight at a speed that surprised her. She wasn’t waddling yet, but she had the disgusted notion that she would be soon.
However, so far she had loved being Himura Kaoru, even if she had been pregnant and moody through most of it. A humorous smile graced her lips as she thought about how life had been since she had to no longer hide her pregnancy. The first time something someone said made her burst into waterworks had caused Yahiko and Kenshin to have all sorts of palpitations while she tried to tell them, through her tears, that she was fine.
She paused a bit, suddenly feeling a bit sheepish. Nothing had quite covered her sudden cravings for sour or pickled things yet, and Kenshin always seemed to be able to tell when she wanted something. She was always faintly relieved when she would want something as simple as fish or a certain side-dish that he rarely cooked; but she was still uncertain as to where the pickled daikon came from.
Looking up at the scent of her husband, she also vaguely wondered if she was going to ever be able to get used to how quiet he was. He had none of the inclination to scrape his feet so people could hear him coming that the Rurouni part of his personality had used. In fact, he seemed to use his ability to sneak up on her for very devilish things. He had never, not once, let her think that her growing frame was repulsive. If anything, he strove to make her feel more beautiful being pregnant than when she was not. Not that it worked all the time, but he sure knew how to prove his points.
“Kenshin?” Kaoru asked, moving to sit up a bit. His eyes flickered to her face and his stance softened.
“We’re going to have company,” he told her gently, offering her his hand to help her rise. She accepted his help and the way his arms briefly wrapped her in a warm embrace, his chin resting on the top of her head. “If you start to feel tired, I am asking them to leave.”
Kaoru glared at him, or his shoulder, and thumped him. “I am not that worn down, Kenshin! Dr. Gensai said that I could expect to have a fair deal of energy for at least another month. He said it was in my last three months that I was going to be tired again! Stop being so over protective!” She swatted him again and turned to greet her guests, unable to completely hide the glow to her cheeks.
Her smile blossomed full blow when she caught sight of Tokio. She had apparently left the new baby with her mother, and the other little ones as well. However, it would be wrong of her to say that her entire smile was just for her friend.
It was also for the sight behind her.
Saitoh was carrying a box between his arms that with a look on his face that suggested that he did not want to be carrying it. His lips were thinner than usual and his eyes held a look to them that forced her to swallow her giggles. “Tokio!” Kaoru said in a delighted voice, moving away from her husband’s body to hug her friend.
“You look very well, Kaoru,” Tokio said as she hugged her in return. “I see you have been rounding out wonderfully.”
Kaoru made a face. “Rounding is perhaps the best way to put it. I am getting fat, I know I am getting fat, and if people keep dancing around the subject I will be forced to hit them.” She smiled sweetly at Saitoh. “Would you two like some tea? I am sure Kenshin would be happy to fix it.” She turned and fixed her husband with a fierce look, and he looked rebellious for a moment but disappeared into the dojo.
Tokio smiled her appreciation. It was growing late in the season but it was still a walk from her home to the dojo. “I cannot begin to tell you how lovely it’s going to be that you’re pregnant during the winter months,” she told her friend as she sank down onto one of the cushions. “Being with child in the heat of summer is dreadful.”
Kaoru patted her tummy with a smile. She seemed to smile easier these days and Tokio noticed it, even as she noticed the lingering shadows in her eyes. “I know, I can only imagine. Even in the cool weather it can be a bit warm.” Her eyes flickered to the box Saitoh set down with a thump, but didn’t say anything.
Tokio grinned. “I have three boys. Saitoh likes to pretend he doesn’t, but he has quite a few relatives who happily send us baby clothing for every child. Most of them won’t fit your little one for a while, but we won’t need half of what we have. So, perhaps you can use them as well.”
“Your utterly ridiculous woman, of course we’re going to need them!” Saitoh bit out.
“Shut up Hajime, after two children we have had more than we could possible use for twins.” Her voice was sugar sweet and held the syrupy tone that always meant trouble.
Kaoru blinked for several long moments and then offered Tokio a shy smile, attempting to ignore the way Saitoh growled a bit. “Thank you,” she whispered. She knew Kenshin had been secretly putting together some clothes for the baby but this would probably take some of the burden from his shoulders.
Kenshin arrived shortly after that and set the tray and tea-cups down between them. Tokio and Kaoru ignored the bristling from the men and chatted away, discussing various ideal facts about having a baby. It wasn’t until the pot was almost empty and Saitoh had a vein throbbing in his forehead that the subject they had all been dancing around came up.
“The politicians are dead.” Saitoh suddenly announced, clearly ready to leave and not wanting to deal with being in the dojo next to Kenshin any longer.
Tokio sighed. “My husband enjoys killing politicians, regardless of which side they are.” Her voice was long suffering. “I have been attempting to break him of this habit.” She and Kaoru and exchanged long-suffering looks.
“Did Aoshi discover their reasons behind why they were targeting us?” Kenshin asked darkly, his voice a growl. Saitoh gave him a drool look.
“You were just someone who was going to be in his way,” Saitoh told him with a shrug. “He said that you had insulted him during the Bakumatsu and that he wanted to have his revenge.” Saitoh’s finger twitched as if he wanted to smoke, but Tokio’s hand reached out and swatted his own. Kaoru was thankful because she just knew the scent of cigarette smoke would make her stomach lurch.
“What my husband is trying to say is that our families were inconvenient.” Tokio clarified. “It wasn’t for more than that. Saitoh was someone who he detested through his work in the Bakumatsu and you were someone he loathed because you once held more power than he. That is all.” She looked sad.
“Bastards,” Saitoh agreed, the dark smile in his eyes promising the man had died slowly.
Kenshin’s fingers flexed and tightened as he attempted to control his temper and Kaoru decided to leave him alone for a moment. “Thank you,” she told Tokio, deliberately changing the subject, “for the clothes.”
Tokio nodded and rose. “The littles ones will want their lunch soon. Come along, Hajime.” Her voice was firm. He gave a low growl but followed her, something in the line of his shoulders tense as he walked away.
“He is nervous about showing you his back,” Kaoru whispered, turning to her own growling husband. “Kenshin?”
She found herself yanked forward so that her stomach was pressed between them as her nose was buried against his throat. She sighed in pleasure as he held her.
“He would have taken you away simply because of something that happened many years ago,” Kenshin hissed, his hands firm against her.
Kaoru placed a light kiss along his throat. It was unusual, her having to reassure him. “He didn’t, you were there to stop him.” Her voice was soothing and he breathed raggedly for several moments before he released her. It took some work, but she managed to keep from feeling slightly smug about the fact that she had also taken care of the problem.
“You’re hungry,” he guessed as he looked at her face. Her cheeks rose in a blush and she scowled at him.
“Why don’t you just call me fat as well?” She propped her hands on her hips and glared at him, knowing that it only emphasized her waist line. The amused curve of his lips threatened to take her breath, but it was the light, nibbling kiss along her bottom lip that kept her quite.
“You’re quite lucky, thistle,” he breathed, “that Yahiko will also be looking for lunch soon.” There was a wealth of meaning in his voice and Kaoru felt her own lips curve.
“Is that so?”
“Hmmm, do not test me, Kaoru.” He warned lightly. His golden eyes gleamed down at her. “I am quite capable of backing up my threat.”
Kaoru grinned at him and moved back into the dojo. “That might have been my point.”
A low chuckle followed her words, and if she had been capable of it, she would have taken off into a sprint. Instead, all she could do was quicken her steps and attempt to hide her giggles.
One installment to go! Possibly with a little Kenji running around and causing havoc...who knows. and the quesiton, what exactly happened to that Rurouni will be answered! Otherwise, I hope everyone enjoyed!