Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Separate Lives ❯ chapter 18 ( Chapter 18 )

eriesalia----Originally it was to be an angst fest-galore with Aoshi/Meg coming together after much devastation but just thinking about the scenes depressed even me and I wanted to spare the rest of you...I'm so thoughtful that way

Cherie Dee-Yes it is taking a lot of work to get these two together but they're the stubborn ones. It's not me, honest.

MissBehavin'-Finally the end is near and I'll stop whining about never finishing this fic to you.

Separate Lives

Chapter 18

by

Barbara Sheridan

Megumi avoided being too near to Kenshin as long as she could and when he began to play with Kenji and Kae she didn't know if she would be able to contain her jumbled nerves a moment longer.

"Kaoru!"

Megumi turned to look when she heard the chipper voice of Misao Makimachi, but she regretted it instantly because Aoshi was right following behind the beaming little ninja.

Though she tried not to look at Aoshi, Megumi's eyes refused to listen. She'd tried to deny her feelings every day since she returned to Aizu but she couldn't deny it any longer. She still loved Aoshi Shinomori with all her heart and she wanted very much to have him by her side to share his silent strength should Kenshin realize and question her about Kae's paternity. She took a half step forward towards him, but Yahiko's fiancée Tsubame called and asked her to help with the food.

Misao joined them in carrying the food to the blankets Kaoru had set out. The younger woman chattered incessantly to the point that Megumi allowed it to all run together like a birdsong in her mind until she noticed Kenshin studying Kae who sat next to Kenji as they fed themselves sharing a bowl of fruit and bits of rice cake.

Megumi swallowed hard. It was as plain as day that the boys shared a bloodline. Kenshin glanced at her and she in turned looked nervously around fearing that everyone else saw the resemblance as well.

"Kae-kun, come here," Aoshi said, holding out his hand in which a shiny top spun.

The fruit and his playmate forgotten, Kae went to Aoshi and climbed on his lap. Kenshin kept his attention Kenji and Megumi breathed a sigh of relief, casting a grateful smile Aoshi's way, totally unaware of the knowing smile Kaoru and Misao exchanged behind her back.

"I need to speak with you--alone," Aoshi whispered when he brought Kae back to Megumi when she finished helping clear the plates.

Before Megumi could respond Yahiko tapped Aoshi on the shoulder and insisted that he come help settle a bet with his friend Yutaro and Kenshin. Megumi's mind swirled with questions as she waited for Aoshi to break free from the conversation. The way he kept glancing at her told her that he had something important to say, but what?

He tried to speak with her again but then Tae arrived from the Akabeko bearing an enormous cake for Kenji and Kaemon. Misao passed around cups of tea as Kaoru cut the cake. Megumi tried to go speak with Aoshi but Sanosuke's friend, Katsu came looking for Aoshi to inquire about some incident in Kyoto he'd gotten a report on for his newspaper.

Without having had his nap Kaemon began to get drowsy as the sun sunk low in the sky. Aoshi was in the distance sitting with Misao and something odd about the look on the girl's face troubled Megumi. She could barely contain her gasp of surprise when Misao stretched out on the ground and lay her head in Aoshi's lap, reaching up to caress his cheek with her fingertips as a lover might.

Is that what he wanted to tell her? That the infatuation Misao seemed to have for him had grown into so much more?

Kae began to turn cranky and Megumi scooped him up, made her apologies to Kaoru and hurried back to town with her son as quickly as her unsteady legs would carry her.

* * * * *

It was after nine when Megumi stopped crying. She was glad Kae had fallen asleep as soon as they reached the inn, mere moments before her contained pain broke free. She didn't want him to be upset seeing her so emotional. Hearing a knock on her door, Megumi groaned and wiped her puffy eyes then slid the door open just enough to see who it was

"Hana? Is something the matter?" Megumi asked, opening the door further to let her housekeeper in.

"I don't know. Is there?" the girl asked, stepping inside. "I had this odd feeling all day and when I went for a walk with my brother I thought I saw you running here with Kae. Is he sick?"

"No. It's nothing. He was tired and I just wanted to get away from there."

"Did Himura-san say anything?"

"No. I thought he might but he didn't."

"Was he there? Shinomori-san?"

Megumi's fragile composure cracked and she sunk down to the floor cushion, her tears pouring out yet again.

Hana comforted her as best she could and once Megumi had regained her composure she quietly agreed when the girl insisted on going to get them a pot of tea from the inn kitchens.

Megumi finished her second cup of tea then rubbed her red eyes and yawned, feeling the turmoil of the day drag her down.

Hana gathered their cups and placed them on the tray she'd brought up then set it outside the room door to be picked up. "What don't you get some rest? You need it. And I'll stay the rest of the night here in case Kae wakes early. That way you can sleep in a little before the trip back to Aizu."

Megumi hugged her friend and stifled another yawn. "Thank you."

# # # # #

Misao rolled her eyes and looked at the clock on the mantle of the expensive western hotel suite she was sharing with her reluctant fiance. It was two in the morning and she had to do something soon. She turned her gaze to Aoshi standing out on the small balcony, staring up at the stars; undoubtedly thinking about Megumi.

Taking two large teacups outside she insisted Aoshi take one. "It will relax you. It's very late you know."

Aoshi shook his head. "You're the one who needs rest. I've spent more sleepless nights spying and on patrol than you've been alive."

Misao frowned and pressed one of the cups into his hands. "You're not spying or patrolling now. We have a lot of things to do in a short time and I can't rest if I'm worrying about you. So drink this and go to your room."

Aoshi exhaled a controlled sigh, his icy eyes narrowing. "Misao, I realize you may be feeling a bit more--emotional than usual, however, I will not be ordered about even by a," he paused to clear his throat. "...future wife."

He turned away and strode into the suite's sitting room then sat on the velvet covered settee and took a silver flask from inside the pocket of his trenchcoat that was draped over the settee back beside him. He poured a sizable amount of some liquor into his teacup then drank it quickly, pouring another and doing the same.

Misao watched as Aoshi slumped over within minutes. She picked up the empty fallen teacup from the floor, struggled to arrange his large heavy body into what she hoped was a comfortable position then and covered him with his coat. She shook her head, brushing back the fringe of bangs from his forehead then kissed his cheek.

"Now let's just hope I can get you awake and to the temple on time."