Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Separate Lives ❯ Chapter 17

Okay, I've read that the Japanese count a baby's actual birthday as them being "one" but I'm also accustomed to the big deal we in the USA make of babies' first birthdays here, so humor me a bit and chalk it up to artistic license.

Cherie Dee-What can I say, my characters tend to bring that feeling out ion people, even me *grin*

Moonlite Goddess-Never fear. As a card carrying romance author Happily Ever After is my life. It will all work out in the end-but I get to put 'em through the emotional wringer first *wink*

eriesalia-Did you mean the non-centered title stuff being out of whack? The rest seemed ok on my end. Saitou with the "best line"? Damn;. I wrote something that memorable and I can't remember it???? *breathes an old and forgetful sigh*

Separate Lives

Chapter 17

by

Barbara Sheridan

(based on characters created by Nobuhiro Watsuki)

Spring was hovering over Kyoto once again, budding the trees and flowers, melting the mountain snow, warming the icy winter air. Outside the Aoiya, Misao stood waiting for the mail to arrive. Her long contained emotions near the bursting point, she rushed into Okina's office as soon as she read the opening sentence of the letter.

"What do we do now, Jiya?"

Okina offered the girl a comforting hug. "Don't worry. I know exactly what to do to make this thing right."

* * * * * *

Hana stood in the doorway and stared when she returned from taking Kaemon for a walk and finding Megumi sitting at the low table in the kitchen in exactly the same position as when they'd left two hours ago. Odder still was the way her employer and friend seemed not to notice that her son was tugging at her sleeve, trying to climb onto her lap.

"Are you all right, Megumi? Has something happened?"

Megumi shook her head as if shaking off a bad dream then smiled as she pulled Kae to her. "It's nothing really. Himura Karou has invited Kae and myself to Tokyo next month to take in the festival. She wants to have a party to celebrate her son's first birthday and wants to celebrate Kae's second as well since they were born within a few weeks of one another."

"What a nice idea!"

"Yes, it is," Megumi said flatly, thinking that it was probably the worst idea she'd ever heard.

Two nights later Megumi was still having trouble sleeping. She knew that she had to respond to Kaoru's letter soon, but the last thing she wanted to do was to have Kae and Kenji share a party. It was too much, the similarities between them might be too noticeable now that Kenji would have lost that commonplace infant look that all babies seemed to share.

Pacing the perimeter of the small yard, the thoughts tumbled through her mind, blinding her to everything but her inner pain. She didn't want to deal with this, not now, especially not alone. But to refuse would be awkward, especially after all that Kenshin had done for her to get her away from Kanryuu safely and to encourage her to devote her life to medicine.

Kyoto

Though his body was firmly planted in the temple in Kyoto, Aoshi's thoughts were flowing to Aizu. In his mind's eye he saw Megumi outside, looking indescribably beautiful in the silvery moonlight, her thin sleeping yukata gently molding itself to the generous curves of the body he ached to hold in his arms.

Ordering himself to stop such thoughts he slid his mental gaze to Megumi's beautiful face, his heart going out to her when he saw the glimmering tear slid down her cheek, a letter clutched firmly in her grasp. He imagined it was the same as the letter he'd received from the Himuras inviting him to Tokyo to help celebrate young Kenji's first birthday as well as Kaemon's second.

She would go out of a sense of honor. She would go and it would eat at her like a beast, every look from Kaoru and Kenshin a potential attack on the peaceful life she'd created for herself and her son.

The sound of Okina's voice broke into Aoshi's concentration and he opened his eyes slowly, his body tensing. Okina wouldn't have disturbed him especially not in the dead of night unless it was important.

"Something's happened?" he asked, getting to his feet in a fluid single movement.

"No. Everything is fine at the Aoiya. I wanted to speak to you. It's so hectic during the day. I'm sorry to interrupt your meditation but it is important. I prepared us some tea. It's in my office."

"Actually there is a problem," Okina said after he poured the tea. "It's Misao. She's pregnant."

Aoshi said nothing. He simply stared, his hand still poised to pick up his cup. "By who? No one has been courting her. She hasn't even seemed very interested in any young men. Not since that one a while back."

"The boy who passed through with the traveling magician a few weeks ago," Okina added. "He's the one." He reached out to grab Aoshi's arm when his protege made a move to stand. "You can't go looking for him. Of course you could find him and make him do the right thing, but it's not best for Misao. The boy isn't worthy of being her husband. And I will not have her or her child suffer any public humiliation because of this. I know you don't want that either. It would be a complete dishonor to her grandfather who entrusted her into your care."

Aoshi's stomach knotted, knowing full well what was coming, knowing that he could do nothing to change it.

"You have to marry her," Okina said in no uncertain terms. "You clearly aren't involved with anyone and you're the perfect choice. Misao has always looked up to you and you would be a fine father figure should this child prove to be a boy."

Okina paused and studied Aoshi's impassive face. "Of course if there was a woman in your life we could find someone else-"

"No. There's no one interested in me that way."

******

Tokyo

"Would you like me to go with you?" Hana asked as they exited the train depot. I can keep Kae occupied for you."

Megumi managed a smile. The tension as this day approached had been close to making her ill and she'd finally confided in Hana the reason. "We'll be fine. If anything is going to happen, maybe it's for the best to get it in the open."

Hana hugged her and Kaemon. "You have my parents' address if you need me."

Megumi nodded.

She'd politely refused Kaoru's invitation to stay at the dojo, choosing instead to book a room at the closest inn. After checking in she freshened herself and Kae then headed out to the place Kaoru had chosen for the boys' birthday picnic.

That slightly sick feeling overcame her once more when she saw that she was the first guest to arrive.

Kaoru's chipper voice rang out. "Megumi! Over here!"

Megumi forced a smile, tightened her grip on her son and ordered her feet to carry her forward towards the unwavering stare of Kenshin Himura .