From: "Sekihara Tae" Guess what, minna? I finally finished part II! Whoo-hoo! Know what else...? It's longer than a page! How long has it been since I wrote anything longer than a page? Anyway, here's part I for anyone who may want/need it before reading part II. Legend: * emphasis || thought // sound effect (there's only 1 ^^;) -Tae Taken With The Notion -- Part I ---------------------------------------- "I hope they don't mind," Kaoru worried aloud. It seemed to Yahiko that she'd voiced the same concern a hundred times since they'd left Tokyo, somehow managing to sound more anxious with each repetition. "I'm sure Misao-dono will be pleased," Kenshin answered, as patient now as when she'd first uttered the fretful phrase. Yahiko rolled his eyes. "Kitto! Kitto!" Kiriko echoed, squeezing Kaoru's fingers reassuringly, prompting a laugh from Yahiko. She turned her head to peer at him, wondering what was so funny, but her oniichan merely grinned at her. Kaoru tightened her hold on Kiriko's tiny hand as the little feet faltered. "Eyes front, Kiriko-chan," she scolded gently, "never mind Yahiko." The dark head obediently turned to watch where she was going, rather than where she'd been. "Are you looking forward to seeing Misao-oneechan?" "Hai! Misao-neechan daisuki!" Kaoru smiled at the energetic response. Under Aoshi's direction the Oniwabanshuu had returned to Tokyo, prompting several visits from the ninja girl over the last few years. She'd stayed with them most recently this past winter, and had proven herself an even better playmate than Kenshin. ||Of course,|| Kaoru thought wryly, ||Misao-chan has a mischievous streak . . . what child wouldn't find that appealing?|| She'd taught Kiriko to sneak treats from the pantry -- something they were still trying to prevent -- and had coaxed her into slipping snow down Yahiko's shirt on more than one occasion. ||And instilled a fondness for puddles and splashing,|| Kaoru added, giving a large one in the middle of the street a wide berth, drawing Kiriko with her to prevent any accidents. While Kenshin made the trip to Kyoto yearly, this was the first time since Kiriko's birth that the entire family had come. Muddy feet and soaked tabi might be cute at home in Tokyo, but were not what Kaoru had in mind for her daughter's first impression. Kiriko heaved an exaggerated sigh, looking longingly at the puddle before turning beseeching violet eyes on her father, poking her bottom lip out in a small pout. "Around the puddle, koneko," he directed. Sighing again, she poked her lip out a little more. Laughing, Kenshin raised his eyes to meet Kaoru's. "I hope Okina tickled Misao unmercifully when she got home," she told him, her voice cheerful although her eyes held a vengeful gleam. "Maa, maa," Kenshin shook his head, "Kiriko would've discovered puddles sooner or later." "Maybe . . . but Misao-chan didn't need to rush her! And it would be just our luck that it rained last night . . . *Around* the puddle, Kiriko-chan! Mou!" "She's as stubborn as you are, Kaoru," Yahiko teased, bending to pick the little girl up and settling her on his shoulders. "Hold on tight, midget," he advised, wincing as her hands immediately fisted in his hair. "Oi! I want to arrive with some of that still on my head!" She giggled but let go, wrapping her arms around the top of his head instead, being careful not to cover his eyes. "Good girl." He bounced up and down on his heels a few times to prompt more giggles before striding off after Kenshin and Kaoru. The walk from the train station passed without further incident, Kiriko now safely out of splashing distance. She chattered at Yahiko, kicking her heels gently against him, and willingly he answered -- sometimes truthfully, sometimes lying outrageously. Kaoru glanced worriedly at Kenshin, the two of them silent now that Yahiko was distracting Kiriko. Kyoto still held so many painful memories for him . . . Kenshin smiled reassuringly when he caught her watching him, his smile widening as Kiriko's laughter pealed. ||Kyoto . . .|| The ache had begun to diminish with these yearly visits, and faded even more with his family around him; there was no need for Kaoru to worry. He reached out to catch her left hand in his right, threading his fingers through hers. "Daijoubu de gozaru yo," he murmured for her ears only. Nodding, she squeezed his hand tightly, releasing it only when they arrived at the Aoiya. "Himura!" Misao cried, rushing out to greet them as Yahiko set Kiriko on her feet, "It's good to see you . . . and you brought Kaoru and Kiriko-chan too!" "Hey, weasel-girl, what about me?!" Enfolding Kaoru in a warm embrace, Misao stuck her tongue out at Yahiko. "I don't answer to weasel-girl. It's Misao-sama to you!" "Che . . . are you really twenty years old?" Yahiko goaded, his eyes laughing, "You still act like you're twelve!" "Naaaaaniiii?" Instantly her kunai were in her hands, although her eyes were laughing too. A moment later both relaxed as their laughter found voice, the familiar exchange their way of greeting one another. "Misao-neechan! Misao-neechan!" Kiriko raised her arms, hopping up and down with excitement as she waited for her hug. Misao snatched her up, swinging her around in a circle before squeezing her tight. "Konnichiwa, Kiriko-chan! Welcome to the Aoiya!" Kiriko pressed her face to Misao's, throwing her arms around her honorary oneechan's neck. "Were you s'prised to see Kiriko? Ne? Ne? Were you s'prised Misao-neechan?!" Misao blinked, reminded that this little one might be even more genki than she. "Yes, Kiriko-chan, I was very surprised! Your otouchan usually comes by himself." "Wai! Wai!" Kiriko's arms tightened, obviously seeing the important part as the surprise, not the reasons for it. Her exclamation allowed the others to ignore the question in the ninja girls's observation. "What's all the fuss out here?" Okina appeared in the doorway, his face lighting with pleasure when he recognized Kenshin and Kaoru. "Welcome! Welcome! Himura-kun, Kaoru-kun . . . and who's this?" he asked, bending to peer into Kiriko's face. "This is Himura Kiriko, Jiiya," Misao answered, bouncing the little girl in her arms and earning a bubbly laugh for her efforts. "Is everyone going to ignore me?" Yahiko groused under his breath. "Kiriko-chan, eh?" Okina pulled his beard consideringly, "And Yahiko-kun, too . . . what brings all of you to Kyoto?" "Jiiya," Misao began warningly, appalled that he would feign ignorance when these visits were so important to Himura. Kaoru hastily interrupted, forestalling another Misao-Okina argument. "I wanted to visit with Misao, and we didn't trust Yahiko alone--" "Oi!" "--so here we are." Kaoru smiled, bowing slightly as she finished, "I hope we're not imposing . . .?" "Of course not!" Both Misao and Okina seemed insulted by the very idea. They ushered their guests inside where the rest of the Kyoto Oniwabanshuu waited to greet them. "How long will you be staying?" Misao asked as Kuro took their belongings, "the usual two or three days?" "Hai. We don't want to overstay our welcome, ne?" Kaoru eyes met Misao's, confirming the younger girl's guess that her sudden urge to visit was only an excuse, and reading understanding in other's gaze. "Well then, we shouldn't waste any time!" Misao declared. She rubbed her nose against Kiriko's, arching an eyebrow questioningly, "Who wants dinner at the Shirobeko?" "Shirobeko! Shirobeko!" Kiriko crowed. "Koneko, you don't even know what the Shirobeko *is*," Kenshin teased, reaching to take her from Misao. "Mmm," Kiriko nodded, snuggling her head against his shoulder, "Demo, if Misao-neechan likes it, it must be nice!" "Explain the kunai and her fondness for Aoshi, then," Yahiko snickered, grinning as he ducked Misao's punch. "Losing your touch, weasel-girl?" "Misao-neechan's *not* a weasel!" Kiriko scolded him, "Weasels are nasty!" She made a face, shaking her head at Yahiko. "Nasty, nasty!" "There, you see?" Misao taunted over everyone's laughter, "Even children can tell I'm not a weasel-girl. Arigatou, Kiriko-chan!" "Hmmm . . ." not to be outdone, Yahiko also turned to the little girl. "Ne, Kiriko-chan, if Misao isn't a weasel, what is she?" His eyes sparkled with suppressed merriment, having a fairly good idea what the answer would be. He wasn't disappointed. "Monkey!" Kiriko proclaimed, pointing at Misao's long braid, "Misao-neechan even has a tail, see? See?" "Mo . . . monkey?" Misao was crushed, staring at her former ally in shock. "Misao-neechan?" Kiriko's voice was worried. "Don't you like monkeys? Kiriko daisuki! Honto ni! And . . . and . . ." the little face twisted in thought, "and . . . and . . . Misao-neechan is friendly and kawaii like the monkey Kiriko saw at home." She looked up at her father, "Ne, 'touchan? Ne?" "Oro?" Kenshin blinked, not at all prepared to compare Misao to a monkey. "Gomen ne, Misao," Kaoru apologized through her laughter, "she saw a street vendor with a monkey a few weeks ago, and hasn't stopped talking about it yet." "Monkey?" Misao repeated, and then caught Kiriko's hopeful expression. "Well, a monkey is certainly better than a weasel. And if Kiriko-chan likes them, they must be nice, ne?" She smiled as she repeated Kiriko's earlier logic. "Hai!" The little head bobbed enthusiastically up and down. "It suits you, the way you jump around and all," Yahiko agreed, "and she's right . . . it does kind of look like a tail." He tugged experimentally on the end of her braid. "Ow! Kaoru!" "That's enough," she told him, handing him back his bokutou. He gave her an annoyed look as he slipped it into place across his back, but made no more monkey comments. "Ne, Misao, where's Aoshi-san?" "Here," came a soft-voiced reply as Aoshi stepped away from the wall and into the room. "I came in during the excitement." Although his face was as impassive as always, his eyes were alive with amusement as he looked at Misao. "A monkey, hmm? Yahiko's right . . . that might explain some things." Misao blushed at her husband's cryptic remark and hastily changed the subject. "Weren't we going to the Shirobeko for dinner?" ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Kenshin awoke as faint morning light began to filter through the thin walls of the Aoiya. Not an unpleasant way to awaken, and morning was when he preferred to visit her: when the day was still fresh and young, untainted by either words or deeds. He lay for a moment listening to the quiet, the occasional spate of birdsong. It was going to be a beautiful day. Moving carefully, he pushed the covers back and sat up, prevented from rising by a gentle tug on his hair. His eyes crinkled with fond amusement as he turned to the two beside him, Kiriko nestled safe in Kaoru's arms, and found each clasping a generous handful of the red strands. ||Like mother, like daughter.|| Teasing their fingers free he rose, tucking the covers warmly around them again before moving to dress. "Kiwotsukete." Kaoru's voice stopped him as he quietly slid the door open. He turned to find her watching him with drowsy eyes, not really awake but not fully asleep. "Aa," he whispered in return, his lips curving in a slight smile, "Go back to sleep." The words were hardly necessary, her eyes already closed again, her cheek snuggled against the softness of Kiriko's hair. Sliding the door shut behind him, he padded down the hall on near-silent feet, striving not to disturb anyone else as he departed on his errand. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- "Ohayou, minna!" Kiriko's voice was bright and cheerful as she skipped into the main living area, her mother following at a more sedate pace. "Ohayou, Kiriko-chan," Okon greeted her, patting the cushion next to her as she reached for a clean bowl from the stack in the middle of the table, "are you ready for breakfast?" "Haaaaiii!" came the immediate response, Kiriko plopping herself down on the indicated cushion with an emphatic //thunk//. "You'd think she hadn't eaten in days," Yahiko muttered, clutching his head and leaning back against the wall. Kaoru arched an eyebrow at him as she took her place next to Kiriko. "I told you not to drink so much sake. You're starting to act more and more like Sano everyday." She nodded her thanks to Okon for her breakfast, "First it was just the hair and the attitude. Now you're starting to pick up his bad habits, too." "Yahiko as a young Sanosuke?" Misao laughed, catching the tail end of Kaoru's comment as she walked into the room, "That's the last thing we need: *Two* foul-mouthed rooster-heads!" "Shut up, monkey-girl." Yahiko's muffled reply served only to increase Misao's amusement. "Careful!" Kaoru scolded as Kiriko tried to giggle around a mouthful of rice, "Maybe we shouldn't put so much in our mouth, ne? Here, let okaachan help." Struggling with her chopsticks the little girl nodded, obediently opening her mouth as her mother offered her a much smaller bite than those she'd been serving herself. "Now chew," Kaoru instructed, watching to prevent further mishap as she directed her next words to Misao. "Are you busy this morning? I need to do some shopping and I thought you might like to go with me." "Shopping? What for?" Kaoru's eyes twinkled as she glanced at Yahiko, "Sake." The young swordsman moaned. Misao's face was puzzled. "Sake? Demo, Kaoru-san, I didn't think you cared for it! You didn't drink any last night . . ." she trailed off when Kaoru shook her head, laughing lightly as she fed Kiriko another mouthful of rice. "It's not for me, Misao. It's for Hiko Seijuurou-san." "Hiko-san? Himura's master?" "Mmm. I thought we should pay our respects while we're here." "Visiting?" Kiriko asked, opening her mouth for another bite, "Can Kiriko go too?" The violet eyes were hopeful. "Hai. You can go too, provided you're on your best behavior." "Demo, Kaoru, Himura never visits Hiko-san . . . at least," Misao frowned, then shook her head, "at least I don't *think* he does." "Then it's about time he did." Kaoru's voice was firm: Kenshin was going to visit Hiko whether he liked it or not. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Kenshin returned to the Aoiya in the quiet of late afternoon, when activity was hushed and muted; lazy, as the shops and restaurants awaited the evening customers. The Oniwabanshuu-run establishment was no different from its more commonplace neighbors, its large common room empty, its tables cleared and cleaned in preparation for the nighttime diners. Similarly silent, the living area offered no welcome when he entered, but faint voices carrying down the hallway led him to the Aoiya's spacious kitchen. "Tadaima, de gozaruuuuuorooo?" The kitchen was a happy disaster. Kaoru and Misao were hovering anxiously over an oil-filled wok, their voices shifting sporadically from bright triumph to agonized despair. Surrounded by culinary clutter and gossiping like grandmothers, Okon and Omasu were busily chopping vegetables in the only relatively clear work space. Kiriko was perched on the counter, her feet kicking back and forth as she industriously shaped rice into onigiri under the watchful eye of . . . *Aoshi?!* Kenshin blinked, resisting the urge to rub his eyes in disbelief. Leaning comfortably beside her the Oniwabanshuu okashira appeared completely at ease, responding to the little girl's chatter in a voice that was gentle yet not condescending. His normally impeccable uniform was dusted with rice flour across the back and shoulders, and the same powder coated over every other available surface -- heads, clothing, floors and counters -- as well. A tower of dishes that looked as if it must contain every container and utensil the Oniwabanshuu owned, waited in the sink. No one seemed concerned about the mess, and their cheerful disregard only added to the sense of confusion. Wondering dazedly who was responsible for cleaning everything, he found himself guiltily hoping it wasn't he. "'Touchan! 'Touchan!" Kiriko's enthusiastic welcome roused him from his stupor and called attention to his return. Clearing his throat, he tried his greeting a second time, "Tadaima de gozaru!" He stepped gingerly into the room -- afraid of what might be hidden under the coating of flour -- as he asked in a bewildered voice, "What's going on in here?" "We're making dinner!" Kiriko displayed her handful of rice for emphasis, "Aoshi-niichan and Kiriko are making onigiri, demo . . ." she shook her head sadly at Aoshi, "Aoshi-niichan doesn't know how to make usagi-onigiri, so they're just plain ones. Misao-neechan is showing 'kaachan how to make temp'ra . . ." her little brows drew close together as some new puzzlement struck her. "Vegetables and shrimp dipped in batter and fried," Kenshin told her as she drew breath to ask, "You'll like it." The dark head bobbled up and down, satisfied that she would since he said so. "When we're done we're going to eat and then Yahiko-niichan and Okina-ojiisan are going to clean the kitchen and then 'kaachan said you're going to go see your shishuu and that Kiriko could go too if she was good!" She beamed at him as she handed Aoshi the completed onigiri. "Kiriko has been very, very good today! Honto ni!" Kenshin reached for her reflexively when she raised her arms to be picked up, his violet eyes widening in surprise as he deciphered her seemingly endless flow of words into something coherent. ||My shishuu?|| He arched a questioning eyebrow as Kaoru joined them. Several strands of hair had slipped free from their ribbon to hang limply around her heat-flushed face, there was a smudge of tempura batter across her cheek, and she had bitten her lip in concentration until it was bruised and almost kiss-swollen. She appeared harried and adorable, her blue gaze silently promising to explain later if he would just not ask about Kiriko's chatter now, and Kenshin willingly agreed to hold his questions until she didn't seem so weary. After all, he already had a fairly good idea just what -- or, rather, *who* -- his shishuu was, and it certainly wasn't embroidery. "Tempura?" he inquired gently instead, reaching to stoke her hair back with tender fingers, his thumb riding the curve of her cheekbone to brush the dried batter away. Kaoru shook her head disparagingly. "Misao was trying to teach me, but I think it's a lost cause. No matter how hard I try, I always do something wrong -- too much flour, not *enough* flour; the oil's too hot, or it's not hot enough; I cook it too long or I take it out too early-y." She stopped, suppressing a sniffle into a sigh, and turned to press a kiss to Kiriko's forehead. "I hope you've got your father's gift in the kitchen, Kiriko-chan! If not, you'd best hope a sweet, handsome, cooking-inclined rurouni comes to visit!" "Rouni! Rouni!" Two little arms twined around Kenshin's neck, squeezing appreciatively as Kiriko repeated the word -- neither knowing nor caring what it meant, simply liking the sound of it. "Misao has taken over the tempura now," Kaoru continued, the little one's cheerfulness having covered her lapse, "so I thought maybe I could help with the onigiri, and let Aoshi-san get back to the reports he was working on." "They weren't that important," Aoshi protested mildly, reaching out to tickle Kiriko just below her ear, making her giggle and snuggle closer to Kenshin, "your daughter was much more entertaining company." He bowed slightly, earning another bubbly laugh, before moving away to join Misao at the wok. Much to her exaggerated complaint and everyone else's amusement, he reached over her shoulder to snag a piece of sweet potato. His eyes shining with mischief he tried for a second, chuckling when she slapped his hand away. "Misao-dono is good for him," Kenshin observed quietly. Kaoru nodded agreement, turning her attention to her daughter at a gentle tug on her sleeve. "'Kaachan help Kiriko make onigiri?" Her little face glowed with eager delight. "Mmm . . . well," Kaoru reconsidered, "hinder with the good intentions, anyway." She smiled at Kenshin as she took Kiriko from him, but he could see the slight trembling in her lips, the effort she made to appear happy and enthusiastic. He watched her carefully as she talked and played with Kiriko, their tray of onigiri steadily growing, and wondered why this nerve was so raw. For whatever reason, her failure in the kitchen was weighing heavier on her than usual . . . ||More questions for later,|| he decided. Dinner and its preparation were completed without further mishap, although Yahiko and Okina were somewhat chagrined to find themselves responsible for cleaning the kitchen. "If I'd known I could have avoided this by making onigiri, I would've gladly played with the rice!" Yahiko grumbled, staring glumly at the mess. "Well, now you know for next time, ne?" Misao told him somewhat gleefully, handing him a rag and a bucket of sudsy water, "I think maybe you should start with the floor, while Jiiya takes care of the dishes. Ja ne!" and she slid the door closed over his protests. She was still snickering when she rejoined the others in the main living area. "Did they argue too much?" Kaoru asked, her tone bright with something resembling vengeful good humor. Kenshin chuckled softly: ||One for her.|| She and Yahiko never seemed to tire of their bickering. Misao's tone echoed the older girl's. "Of course . . . but I didn't let that sway me," she winked, "They're both hard at work." "It's no more than they deserve," Okon chimed in as Miso seated herself between Aoshi and Kaoru, "Okina hasn't lifted a finger all week, and Yahiko earned it with all of his teasing. Ne?" The other women in the room nodded emphatically, while the men were wise enough to remain silent. "Ne, Kaoru . . ." Misao asked, looking longingly at Kiriko, "could I hold her?" Her face was full of hopeful fascination: the look of a woman beginning to yearn, wanting a little one of her own. Beside her, Aoshi's eyes flickered with something -- satisfaction, welcome, approval -- and his mouth curved in the faintest of smiles. Cuddled in her mother's lap, her belly full and her eyelids turning heavy, Kiriko blearily objected. "No, no, no! Kiriko wants to stay with 'kaachan." Kaoru smiled softly, her voice apologetic as she met Misao's surprised and slightly hurt gaze. "I think it's time she went to bed. She's never clingy unless she's tired or frightened." "Aa," Kenshin agreed as Kiriko rubbed sleepily at her one visible eye, the other turned into Kaoru's chest, "it *is* getting late; she's usually asleep by now." He offered a hand to help Kaoru to her feet. "Do you want me to take her?" "Iie, daijoubu. Tell everyone goodnight, Kiriko-chan," she whispered coaxingly. "'Yas'mi," the little girl mumbled, her hand creeping to her mouth so she could suck on her thumb. Her mother laughed, shifting to cradle her against her shoulder as they left the room. Misao sighed wistfully when they were gone, directing a speculative look at her husband and forcing Kenshin to cough to cover his chuckle. Misao blushed. "She's just so sweet . . . the more I'm around her, the more jealous I become of you and Kaoru." She moved closer to Aoshi, resting her head on his shoulder, wrapping her arms around his and hugging it to her. "I want one," she whispered, like a child wanting a toy they're worried they can't have -- half-petulant, half-pleading. Aoshi merely raised an eyebrow, the gesture somehow conveying wry amusement, and Kenshin hastily bent his head to hide the broad smile spreading across his face. Excusing himself once he'd gained control of his features, he rose to his feet to follow his wife and child. As he slid the door shut behind him, leaving the couple alone -- the other Oniwabanshuu had already quietly departed -- he thought he heard Aoshi say, "All you had to do was ask, Misao-mine," and choked back another surge of laughter, shaking his head as he climbed the stairs. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- "Already asleep?" Kaoru smiled to hear Kenshin's soft-voice question, touched with just a hint of disappointment. She'd known he wouldn't wait long before coming to check on his little koneko-chan, to tuck her in and kiss her goodnight. "Hai. She had a busy day." He moved to stand behind her, his hands finding and massaging her shoulders. "It sounded like it; shopping and cooking and plotting . . ." Kaoru had relaxed under his touch, and he hesitated a moment -- not wanting to disturb her -- before asking, "My shishuu?" She laughed. "I suppose that sounds fairly close to her ears. I told her we were going to see your shishou tomorrow." The face she turned to him was earnest and set, obviously expecting him to disagree, but determined to win the coming argument. "I think we -- you -- should pay our respects while we're here. Hiko Seijuurou-san was more than just your master; he filled the role of father and parent as well, and . . . and . . ." ||I want him to see that you're finally happy . . . I think he would be glad for you.|| Strong-man exterior or not, Hiko Seijuurou cared for his student the same way any teacher did -- more, having raised Kenshin from an early age. He deserved a chance to see how his pupil had "turned out". "All right." Kaoru blinked as Kenshin's calm agreement interrupted her train of thought, derailing her attempts to phrase her reasons and arguments logically. "Na . . . nani?" she stuttered. His eyes crinkled at the corners with careful amusement, his mouth curving in a tender smile as his gaze shifted to their sleeping daughter. "I'll go. I want to. It'll give me a chance to thank him." He bowed his head slightly, red hair falling forward to hide his eyes. "I never have, not once in all the times I've returned here . . . yet . . . for that one thing, for that one skill, if not for any of the others . . ." the violet eyes were slightly moist when he raised his head, "I would." ||Oh, Kenshin.|| She didn't need to ask what he meant, he'd expressed this willingness -- or almost willingness -- during her pregnancy. Her hand slid over his, giving it an understanding squeeze. "That's a relief! I was afraid I'd have to drag you along with me," she teased, wanting to dispel his sudden solemnity. "Iie." He shook his shaggy mane, willing to be cajoled, willing to give as good as he got. "I want to see his expression when you scold him for his obi joke." His innocent expression did little to mask the mischief-maker lurking within. Kaoru's eyes widened in surprise, then narrowed assessingly. This was something she hadn't previously considered. "Sou da ne . . ." Kenshin chuckled as she pursed her lips thoughtfully. "If anyone can coax an apology out of him, koishii, I'm sure it's you." He dropped a kiss on the mouth she'd so obligingly -- if unwittingly -- raised for him. "Just remember to bring your bokutou." "Kenshin!" She glared at him for implying she forced people into behaving themselves. He spread his hands placatingly. "Maa maa . . . I'm just saying that shishou is a little more stubborn than most." "With you as a student, that's not surprising." She stuck her tongue out at him as he rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, forced to admit he was only slightly less hard-headed than Hiko, and at least as stubborn as she. Deciding against pressing the issue of who was more stubborn than whom, he resumed his earlier massaging of her shoulders, feeling her body turn boneless and drowsy beneath his hands. She sank onto the futon as his careful ministrations moved further down her back, and was asleep before he even thought to persuade her into her night clothes. "Maa, ii de gozaru," he whispered, gently pulling the ribbon from her hair and loosening her obi to make her as comfortable as possible. Exchanging his own clothing for a yukata, he curled himself around the two already settled in the bed, and drifted off, never realizing he'd forgotten to ask Kaoru about her earlier upset. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Index of Japanese terms: 1.. aa -- yes 2.. arigatou -- thank you 3.. baka -- stupid 4.. bokutou -- wooden sword 5.. che -- mild curse, similar to "shit!" 6.. chibi -- little, little one 7.. daisuki -- to like very much, to love; literally "big like" 8.. demo -- but, however 9.. deshi -- pupil 10.. genki -- vigorous, lively, cheerful 11.. gomen/gomen ne -- I'm sorry 12.. hai -- yes 13.. honto ni -- really, truly 14.. iie -- no 15.. kawaii -- cute 16.. kitto -- surely 17.. kiwotsukete -- take care 18.. koishii -- darling, beloved 19.. koneko -- kitten 20.. konnichiwa -- good day; good afternoon 21.. maa, ii de gozaru -- well, it's probably all right 22.. maa, maa -- similar to "now, now" 23.. minna -- everyone 24.. mou -- exclamation of dismay or mild annoyance 25.. nani -- what 26.. ne -- rhetorical question; "isn't that so?" 27.. ohayou -- good morning 28.. oi -- hey 29.. (o)kaachan -- mommy 30.. (o)neechan -- big/older sister 31.. onigiri -- rice balls 32.. (o)niichan -- big/older brother 33.. (o)touchan -- daddy 34.. oyasumi ('yas'mi) -- good night 35.. shishuu -- embroidery 36.. sou da ne -- that's true, that's right 37.. tabi -- split-toed socks 38.. tadaima -- I'm home 39.. usagi -- bunny, rabbit. 40.. wai -- pleased exclamation; hurray, yay, good, etc. 41.. yukata -- a light cotton kimono Author's notes, questions, comments, and random babbling 1.. This is for Risu-chan, whose writing keeps me interested in Kiriko, despite the fact that she's a character I made up myself. 2.. The title comes from the song Baby, Baby by Amy Grant, inspired by her daughter's baby face. The line referenced is: "Baby, baby, I'm taken with the notion to love you with the sweetest of devotion." Sappy? Overly so? 3.. Kiriko calls herself "Kiriko". It's my understanding that this is a common mode of speaking for young children in Japan. 4.. Saitoh is the first to call Misao "weasel-girl", but it seems to catch on fast. Looking in the dictionary, I can see why Misao would get upset . . . not only is itachi the word for weasel, but it also means skunk! 5.. For anyone interested in time lines: Misao's birthday is in November. When she's first introduced -- in the spring/summer -- she says that she's sixteen. I don't expect Kenshin to mess around for too much longer once Revenge is finished, so I'd place Kenshin & Kaoru's wedding sometime between November-February -- Misao would be seventeen. I'd hate to have Kaoru become "in the family way" immediately . . . so Kiriko's birthday is the following January. That gives the happy couple a few months before they need to start family planning. It also means that if Misao is twenty, Kiriko is two. This story is taking place in late spring, so she's actually closer to two and a half. 6.. I needed a reason for everyone to be in Kyoto. Misao's birthday? Misao's wedding? Okina falls ill? Then I remembered what Kenshin said when he was in the graveyard, and voila. 7.. Usagi-onigiri: Kenshin made bunny-shaped onigiri in the first episode of the anime, supposedly to amuse Ayame and Suzume. It sounds like something that would appeal to a child, so I think it's safe to say he's probably made them with/for Kiriko. 8.. Language note: It's normal for children to mis-hear words, and to mispronounce things. In this fic, Kiriko has a habit of dropping the "o" on words -- okaasan, otouchan, oniichan -- which she has grown out of in Strengths. 9.. In Risu-chan's All That Matters, Kenshin mentions that he could almost thank Hiko for teaching him how to read and sense chi. If you want to know why . . . read the fic! (^_~) Similarly, Hiko's obi joke is explained in Lessons. 10.. I've discovered that there's a lot of ground I want to cover in this story, most of which I wasn't aware of until I started trying to finish it. Gomen for the multi-parts. ^_^;; Kiriko's meeting with Hiko -- which isn't going the way I'd like -- will be in part two. Sekihara Tae tae@sekihara.dreamhost.com First Draft: February 21, 1999 Revised: July 19, 1999 --------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ---------------------------- Get great offers on top-notch products that match your interests! Sign up for eLerts at: Click Here ------------------------------------------------------------------------