From: "floribelle maximo" Misao's Condition by flori-dono Disclaimer: This is a Rurouni Kenshin-inspired fan fiction. The author is not making any money out of this. The characters of Rurouni Kenshin belong to Watsuki Nobuhiro, Shounen Jump, and Sony and others that should be mentioned but were not. Misao stared dismally at her reflection on the mirror. She really looked bad. Her face was very pale and her eyes had lost their usual luster. She sighed. She even felt as bad as she looked. For the past few days, she had been finding it hard not to wake up without feeling dizzy in the mornings. She could not even have a cup of tea during breakfast because it only made her feel nauseous. She was really getting nervous about her condition. It was rare her getting sick at all. Besides, she could not tell Okon or Omasu since they would be worried too, overly so. She figured that the two were already suspecting something and she bet they would be telling Jiya once they confirmed her illness. The old man would probably send someone to get her husband, who was away due to an important business. She would not want to cause him delay, just because she was slightly ill. Knowing his possessiveness, which was stifling at times (though she was not complaining about that), he would back at the Aoiya in a flash. Her husband... Misao smiled. It had already been seven months since she, Aoshi had been married, and those seven months were pure bliss. It should be, Misao said to herself with a scowl. "It took me years just to make him smile and even more to convince him that he was the right man for me. But he sure was worth it." She had never thought that beneath his cold, calm exterior was a man smoldering with passion. Oh sure, he warmed up a great deal after his "first smile" but it was during their first week of marriage together that she had really begun to learn how much of a man Aoshi really was. Remembering that time could still make her blush. They did not leave their room at all that whole week. When they finally did, Jiya and the rest of the Oniwabanshuu were ready with their merciless teasing. Of course, Aoshi, being Aoshi, took it all in stride but Misao, for being Misao, was entirely a different matter. Three more days and Aoshi would be back home. He had been gone for almost a week now and Misao did not deny how much she was missing him. Misao looked at the mirror for the last time and controlled the urge to fling it far, from her. Instead, she placed it down on the chest gently and trudged back to her futon. She would sleep the whole morning off. Maybe she would feel better after a nap. Meanwhile... Okon and Omasu were pacing the kitchen floor, alternately. Misao had not come down from her room yet and it was almost noon already. They have been worried about her for the past few days noting her paleness and lack of enthusiasm, and the latter was a worse symptom than the former. Something was wrong... really wrong. "Okon! Omasu! What are you doing?" The two almost collided at the sudden sound of a voice. It was Okina's. "Oh goodness, Okina. You scared us!" Okon said breathlessly, a hand clutched to her chest. Omasu, equally breathless nodded in ascent. "Well," the old man said. "Why were you pacing like men waiting for their wives to have their babies?" Okon and Omasu looked at each other suddenly, squealed, then hugged each other. They turned to Okina, who was just staring at them dumbfoundedly, and they both gave him a bone-crushing hug that could rival his own. Okina disentangled himself from their embrace. He was getting more confused by the moment. He looked down at the women's happy faces and proceeded to ask. "Alright," he calmly started. "What exactly is wrong with you two?" The two women simultaneously spoke and Okina could not understand a thing being said. "Hold it!" he ordered. "Okon, you explain." "It's Misao..." Okon started. Okina frowned. Misao? "She's pregnant!" Omasu blurted out; she could not contain herself any longer. Okina blinked his eyes. Misao was pregnant? A grin started to spread on his face. Misao was pregnant! He felt glad. No, that was not the word he felt... oh, he could not explain how he felt. Okon and Omasu both smiled at the idiotic grin Okina had on his face. All of them were pleased by the news. "How did you know?" he asked as soon as he found his voice. "We-ell," Omasu stalled. "We don't know if she knows she's pregnant." "It's just that we noticed that she was getting pale these past few days. I heard her yesterday morning complaining to herself about feeling dizzy and nauseous," added Okon. "And this morning, she didn't come down for breakfast." "We were worried about her and it just dawned on us that she might be expecting after hearing your remark about babies," Omasu ended. Okina was rubbing at his chin, nodding. It was plausible but they were not sure yet. With his hopes still high, he ordered the two girls to talk to Misao as soon as she comes out of her room. The two girls nodded in agreement. "But don't frighten her my dears," Okina said with a wink before he finally went to tend to his garden, leaving the two women to talk about the coming new member of the Oniwabanshuu. After a few hours... Misao woke up feeling a lot better. Her nausea was gone. Her stomach rumbled hungrily, that told her that she had not had breakfast yet. She got up, brushed her hair and put on a kimono. She looked at her ninja uniform longingly. She felt more comfortable wearing it, but she was not yet up to go practice. She walked to the kitchen where she found Okon and Omasu gossiping about something, as usual. She could not wait to know what it was. "Ohayou, minna!" she greeted. The two women looked up at her and smiled mysteriously. "Something is up," Misao thought. "I wonder what it is. Maybe they saw Hiko-san in town. Oh well..." "It's already noon Misao," Okon said as she prepared Misao her lunch. "Noon?" Misao said, sitting down beside Omasu. "Yes," Omasu said, she sent a look at Okon across the room. "Weren't you feeling well?" Misao looked at the two nervously. She could not keep anything from these two. She might as well tell. "Actually," she began. "Yes. I've been feeling down." Okon smile triumphantly, but still it was too soon to celebrate. She nodded to Omasu. "Do you feel dizzy or nauseous in the mornings?" Omasu asked. Misao was surprised. "Why yes, actually tea makes me wanna throw up." "Have you had your monthly visitor?" Okon interjected. Misao blushed but answered her just as well. "Come to think of it, I'm already two months late." Omasu and Okon ran to her and embraced her just as they did Okina earlier. They were right, oh how Aoshi would react when he would find out! "Ok..okon..." Misao struggled to say. "I... I can't... breathe!" The two released her immediately. Misao could see that they had tears in their eyes. What was going on? "Oh Misao," Okon held her hands. "Congratulations, you're expecting!" "Me?" Omasu nodded. "The things you told us are signs of pregnancy. In seven months time, you'll be having a baby!" Misao was dazed. Oh, how baka can she be. Of course, she was pregnant. How could she not know? Aoshi! Oh, how he would be delighted! "Well, well," Omasu said. "We wouldn't want the wee one to be hungry for long. Here, eat Misao." Misao thanked her, and she and the other two excitedly talked about the baby while she ate. Meanwhile... Aoshi was walking through the forest behind the Aoiya. Half an hour more and then, he would be home. He had been gone for six days; the urgent matter he had to attend to in Tokyo was finished finally. He was looking forward to seeing Misao's delighted expression when she would see him come home earlier than scheduled, and he was also looking forward to what would happen later, afterwards... The corners of his mouth lifted at that. Being married was not bad, he had decided. It had done him good actually and it was not exactly the marriage, which changed him but Misao herself. He remembered how long he hid his feelings for his ward, thinking that he was not worthy of her. That he was too old and had seen too much evil in the world. Yet, she was persistent. She had showed him that where there was darkness, there was also light. She had shown him how to love and how to forgive himself. She showed him life. That was why he loved her so much. She had become his life. There was no one in sight, when he reached the Aoiya. He came inside and found the same. Where was everybody? Where was Misao? He went to their room but she was not there. Maybe she and the rest were at the restaurant. His stomach grumbled. He had not yet eaten lunch. Maybe Okon would forgive him if he raided the pantry just this once. Aoshi heard noises as he approached the kitchen. He could hear Omasu's voice followed by Okon and Misao's laughter. He smiled. So, there they were... "Konichiwa," he greeted. The three women looked up at him then exchanged knowing looks. Omasu and Okon acknowledged his return then excused themselves saying that their lunch break was much extended already and they must return to the common room and help wait on the customers. Aoshi followed them with his eyes as they left the room. He did not miss the wink Okon gave Misao as they rose to go. Something was going on, he could tell. Misao was delighted upon seeing her husband return. She longed to run to him and kiss him until he would be out of breath. First, there was some matter to attend to... "Where's the warm welcome Misao-mine?" Aoshi asked, an eyebrow raised slightly. Misao smiled at him then gave in to her first impulse. She ran to her husband and he caught her in his arms, kissing her as he spun her around. Aoshi drank in her scent and her taste, how he survived without her by his side, he did not know. When they were finally out of breath, Aoshi put her down but still kept his arms around her. "I missed you, anata," Misao said gently as she tweaked the hair brushing his forehead. "I missed you too, Misao-mine," Aoshi said. "But a little lunch would not be a bad idea." Misao laughed at that. "Oh, how stupid of me! Of course how can you keep up your stamina if you're hungry, eh?" Aoshi's eyes glinted with something but Misao knew what it was. "We'll see." Misao was too excited of his return that she almost forgot the news. Well, she wasn't expecting him to come home this soon so she still hadn't planned on how she was going to say it, but she couldn't keep it to herself any longer. She had to say it now... "Uh, Aoshi?" Misao started. "Before you eat, I'll have to say something first, okay?" He noted the nervousness in her tone. It must be important. "Yes?" "We-ell," she stalled, lowering her eyes and played with the collar of Aoshi's coat. "I think we have to add another room." Aoshi frowned. Another room? The Aoiya had just been renovated. "And that is because...?" "Somebody's gonna come in about seven months time and he will be staying too," she said. He was really getting confused. "And that would be...?" "Your son, hopefully," Misao said and kissed a startled Aoshi. His son? Then that would mean... "Misao... are you?" he asked his wife who was smiling at him, definitely enjoying the predicament he was in. "Yes, I'm pregnant!" she announced. "And..." Aoshi cut her off with a kiss. It was a gentle one at first then it grew a little heated. "Aishiteru," Aoshi said against her lips, then scooped her up and carried her to their room. "But your lunch!" Misao whined. Aoshi gave her his quiet smile then said. "Don't worry, we'll be done in time for dinner." And Misao smiled at that. Very much later that evening... Okina, Okon, Omasu and all the Oniwabanshuu were seated at the dining table where food lay, still untouched. They all sighed. Okina glanced at the clock and saw that it was nine o'clock. "Might as well eat," he announced. "I guess they won't be out till next week." Everybody laughed at that. Aoshi and Misao who were lying on their futon, naked and sated heard the laughter. Misao groaned. "What's the matter?" Aoshi asked although he already knew the reason why she did. "I don't think I can face them the next time I'll see them," she said through his shoulder. Aoshi laughed then grew serious. "Don't worry, I'll be there with you." Misao looked up at his face. She suddenly knew that what he said was not only about facing Okina and Co., but he was talking about forever. "Aishiteru, anata. Now, our happiness will be complete." He nodded at that then placed his palm on Misao's still-flat stomach. "I know. Arigatou, Misao for making me complete." Then he kissed her, which was followed by something more. And like what Okina predicted, it was a long time until they saw the couple. --------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ---------------------------- Your opinion counts, and we'll reward you for it! Win Prizes! Join the ZOOMERANG Internet survey panel today. It's confidential, easy, and fun! Click Here ------------------------------------------------------------------------