Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Separate Lives ❯ chapter 19 ( Chapter 19 )

Separate Lives

Chapter 18

by

Barbara Sheridan

"Misao, what did you do to the boy?"

"Nothing, Jiya. I gave him the tea like you told me too. I didn't know he was going to put alcohol in it. I didn't drive him to take up drinking."

Okina shook his head and nodded to the younger ninjas standing behind Misao. "Kuro, Shiro, carry him into the bathroom."

Aoshi shouted an obscenity when the shower of cold water hit him. Once he'd dhaken off the remnants of his sleepy haze and brushed back his dripping hair he glared at the people standing around the oval tub in which he lay. "What is the meaning of this?" he demanded, pulling himself out, yanking the towel out of Misao's hands.

"You're getting married," Okina told him.

"Yes, I know," he snarled. "Why are all of you here? What is going on?"

"You're getting married," Okon repeated.

"Today," Omasu added.

"To Megumi-san," Misao chimed in, her cheeks blushing.

"What?" The room vibrated with the force of Aoshi's shout.

"We've come to see that you marry Megumi," Okina said quietly.

Aoshi glowered at term each in turn. "I will not."

"But you have to!" Misao said, grabbing his hand.

"No!" Aoshi shot back, jerking his hand away, tossing the towel to the floor,. He looked at each of the Oniwanbanshu again. "Whom I marry and when I marry is no one's concern but mine!" he roared. stalking to his bedroom.

"What do we do now?" Misao asked.

"I don't know," Okina said with a defeated sigh. "I never thought he'd refuse."

Across town Kaoru and Hana were having much the same problem.

"Are you two insane?"

"But you two are in love. Kenshin and I saw it the day Kenji was born."

"And I see it every time you speak Aoshi-san's name," Hana added.

Megumi lowered her head, assurred herself that this was not a nightmare. . "This is Aoshi's idea?"

"Well, no,"Kaoru said. "Actually it was Okina's. You see-"

Megumi stood and glared at the women, part of her relieved that Aoshi wouldn't come up with insane plan like this while another part of her almost wished he had. She looked at Hana."Can I trust you to look after Kaemon? I need fresh air. I need to think and collect myself."

"Of course," Hana said.

"Megumi-"

"Don't say anything, Kaoru," Megumi snapped. She closed her eyes and sighed. " Just leave me alone. Please."

# # # # # # #

"Get out!" Aoshi yelled when Okina peeked in the door.

"Aoshi, listen to me."

"No." He turned back to the mirror, knotted his western style tie and ran a comb through his wet hair. He sat on the bed to pull on his boots and yanked the door open the rest of the way. "What were you thinking? Were you even thinking, Sensei?"

"Aoshi-"

Ignoring his former master and the rest of the Oniwabanshu he strode into the suite's main room to collect his coat, stopping long enough to give Misao a cold angry look. "I'm especially disappointed in you."

He walked west and decided to stop for a cup of tea at eth first shop he came to. Sipping the hot liquid he tried to make sense of it all. It might be laughable if it hadn't been so controlling and underhanded. And for the first time he wondered if Megumi had a hand in it. Surely she wouldn't. Knowing Okina he'd probably gotten Hana involved to do something similar to Megumi.

But if that was the case how had she reacted? Would she think he had something to do with the insane scheme?

Aoshi left his tea unfinished and went to the inn where Megumi had stayed the last time he'd been with her in Tokyo but he found only Hana and Kaoru and little Kae, who was munching happily on a rice ball, looking rather a lot like his mother when she was particularly hungry.

"Is she here?" Tearing his attention away, he oloked to Hana.

"No. She said she needed to think. I don't know where she went."

"Aoshi-"

He cut Kaoru off with a cold look. "I've heard enough apologies and excuses. Good day." He left the inn and tried to rid his mind of its silent turmoil by going to the temple to meditate. But soon, as it had in Kyoto, he found himself forming a picture of Megumi in his mind.

# # # # #

Megumi walked aimlessly, barely aware of where she was going until a large familiar landmark looked up in the distance. It was the Kanryuu estate. She turned away then turned back as if silently drawn to the place that held both the worst and best memories of her life.

The once immaculate grounds were overgrown with weeds, many of the windows were broken and a couple birds flew out of a hole in the roof near the front chimney. She stood and stared at the massive house countless images tumbling through her mind. Without considering the possible danger that roaming bandits might be inside she approached, walking around the side of the building to a hidden entrance. It was the same one Aoshi had used to sneak them in and out of the night Hannya coaxed him into escorting her to the festival.

Dust motes floated in the shafts of light poking through the dirty and cracked windowpanes, the only sound that of her own footsteps on the once immaculate wooden floors..

It was almost funny really Okina's odd plan to get her married to Aoshi. She wondered what his reaction had been. Would a part of him have found the idea tempting as a part of her had?

Megumi closed here eyes a monet and allowed herself to drift back to that one perfect night when Aoshi showed her what it was to truly be a woman. Smiling sadly to herself she opened her eyes again and allowed herself to take the path they had that night, throught the least used back hallways up into the farthest reaches of the rambling mansion where her room was located.

It was just as she left it, albeit dustier. The little desk still had the stack of books she'd read to pass the endless hours of captivity. The arms of the thickly padded velvet chair still held the little tatted doilies Kanryuu's English born maid showed her how to make. They were yellowed with age and when she lifted one it left a gray lacy imprint on the chair arm from where the dust had settled into the open spaces. How odd it was that something dirty and ugly could create something undeniably pleasant.

Odd wasn't it how it mirrored her experiences in this place? The captivity and forced opium making had been horrible but there had been that one shining moment, those intoxicating hours spent in the arms of Shinomori Aoshi....

As if in a trance she dropped the doily and went toe h bed, pulling back the dusty top cover to reveal the cleaner sheet beneath. She sat and ran her hand over the fine cotton and remembered how cool it once felt on her flushed skin as Aoshi set her body on fire with each caress and kiss. She closed her eyes and allowed herself to remember those even more perfect nights she'd shared with him since. She could count the times ont eh fingers of one hand but the memories were still as imprinted on her mind as if it had occurred every single night of her adult life.

If only things had been different. If only ahe and Aoshi really had gotten to the point of being married. To spend each and every night like that and to wake up cradled in his strong arms would be a dream come true. A wonderful, perfect dream come to life.

If only such a thing were possible.

If only...

"You have no idea how many nights I dreamed of what it was like making love to you in that bed and in yours in Aizu."

Megumi, jumped her eyes springing open. "Aoshi," she whispered, certain the was just part of her memories, just another sad dream to haunt her. But surely the boots of a phantom wouldn't echo on the wooden floor as he approached her. "Is it really you?" she wondered aloud as he knelt before her and took her trembling hand in both of his.

"It's really me," he answered softly, raising her hand to his lips.

He reached up to touch her face and Megumi pressed her cheek into his palm."I had nothing to do with that crazy plan. It was all Okina's doing, and Misao's."

"And Kaoru's and Hana's." Megumi chuckled. "It's almost romantic in an insane sort of way."

"Romantic?"

Megumi felt her face flame with embarrassment. "It's almost like those western stories my one patient told me about. Where the handsome prince captures his princess and sweeps her away and off to his castle to be his forever. She protests at first but then he is a handsome prince after all."

Aoshi laughed and moved to sit beside her, her hand still firmly cradled in his. "Can any man alive makes sense of the minds of women?"

Megumi laughed. "It's not as if I would believe or condone such foolishness."

"Of course not," Aoshi said lightly. "You're too mature and practical. Now Misao on the other hand-"

Megumi laughed again and felt her spirit rise for the first time in ages. But then the feeling began to fade.

"It was wrong of them to think they could force two people to be married against their will."

"I found it cruel. Okina told me Misao had gotten pregnant by some boy who ran off. He convinced me that I had to marry her."

"What?"

Aoshi nodded. "He did, but I've been thinking about it while I was out walking and I suppose he did it to see if I'd refuse."

"But you wouldn't. You aren't the kind of man to let Misao suffer the public humiliation."

"But I almost did. I almost refused."

"Why?"

"Because of you, of course."

Megumi's eyes grew wide. "Me?"

Aoshi nodded. "The only woman I have ever considered marrying was you."

"Me? "

Aoshi brought her hand to his lips and kissed her palm. "I wanted to ask you a long time ago but then that man tried to attack us by the river. I stopped myself because I knew that there could be others like him, wanting revenge on me but finding it easier to take it out on you or Kae. I couldn't risk that. You're both too important to me. And then the business with Kurogane came about." He paused.

"I was sick when I heard you were there. I wanted to get you out immediately but I had a duty. I promised Saitou I'd help break up that syndicate. If anything would have happened to either you or Kaemon, I'd never have forgiven myself."

"I know," Megumi said, caressing his cheek with her free hand. "I know that now. I didn't understand it at first and I was angry, but now I understand. I realized it that night you came to my door in Aizu, I tried to tell you but you were gone so quickly and I was too ashamed to contact you in Kyoto."

Aoshi swept her into an embrace and hugged her tightly. After a time he pulled back to gaze into her lovely eyes. "What do we do now?" he asked quietly. He brushed her hair back from her face and left his hand resting against her cheek. "I'm not an entirely reformed man like Himura. If I ever find myself in a situation to kill I would if necessary. That fact and my past is a constant threat to you and your son."

Megumi's practical side urged her to tell him that he was right and that taking on such a threat for herself and especially Kae was too much to bear. But then her heart made itself heard above the din.

Life itself is risky game. We don't know from one day to the next what waits for us-illness, accident, violence. But remember what it felt like being with him, as a friend and lover. Are you willing to turn that away again?

Megumi took hold of his strong hand and kissed it. "I want to be with you Aoshi. And if Kami grants us one day or a thousand I'll be happy."

Aoshi's answer was lingering kiss and when it ended he looked at Megumi and grinned.

"What's so funny?"

"I was wondering if Okina and the others were still here. They may as well see the wedding they worked so hard to make happen."

# # # # # # # #

Hana told them that Okina and the Oniwabanshu went to the Kamiya Dojo drown their sorrows in tea and sake. The long faces brightened when Yahiko opened the door and ushered Megumi and Aoshi inside with a grin.

"Ugly wins the bet, Misao. Looks like you have to pay up!"

"Bet this!" Misao shot back punching him in the head.

Aoshi and Megumi sat quietly by, suppressing their laughter and allowed Kaoru and Okina to re-plan the "fabulous wedding". Once they were told when and where to report they rose to return to the inn to get Kae. They had reached the end of the street when Aoshi stopped and motioned for Megumi to be silent. They were being followed.

"Himura?" Aoshi said when the figure stepped from the shadows.

"Forgive me. I need to speak with you for a moment. In private."

Megumi looked to Aoshi, her face tight with strain. He placed his arm around her waist and pulled her to his side."Anything you have to say to me you can say in front of Megumi."

Megumi felt the former Hitokiri's gaze boring into her. He knew. Damn him. He knew. She gripped Aoshi's jacket as Kenshin turned his attention to him.

"I may be none of my concern, but, having grown up without a father I hope you will treat young Kaemon with affection, especially if you and Megumi-dono should have children of your own."

"I've come to think of him as my son, Himura. Within my heart Kaemon is very much my son and I plan to adopt him formally."

With a wistful smile, Kenshin bowed. "I've taken enough of your time, then. Goodbye."

"Goodbye, Himura, and thank you."

Megumi looked to Aoshi her eyes brimming with tears. "What do we do? What if he-"

Aoshi pressed his fingers to her lips long enough to silence her. "What we are going to do is collect Kae, go to my hotel, order a pre-wedding feast from the kitchens, spend a relaxing evening with our son and then, when he goes to sleep..."

Megumi's fear melted away. She smiled and enjoyed the flush of heat that ran through her as Aoshi's blue eyes swept possessively over her body.

Aoshi grinned. "We can work out the details later, what do you think?"

"I think it's perfect. Absolutely perfect."

The End

(finally!)

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