Disclaimer: All of the characters from Fushigi Yuugi, and Rurouni Kenshin do not belong to me. They belong to whoever created and produced them. So, whatever you do, please don't sue me! I'm a poor high school student and don't have any money! Besides, I'm just writing this for the sake of fanfiction, not money.
*thoughts*
/what had happened in the past/
(time setting)
Ayame-chan says: *sigh* Confusing the last chapter was, ne? Weeelll, I got it, but maybe that's cuz I was the one who wrote the chapter. Anyhoo, let me explain:
The last scene in the last chapter happened a couple of years ago during the Bakumatsu. So, Kenshin was still Battousai, Isshin Shishi were fighting the Shinsengumi, etc, etc. Aiko is part of a group called the Riskbreakers, the group who didn't take any side during the Bakumatsu and remained neutral by placing any Riskbreaker who was available to their mission. (note to Nikay: yes, I did get the "your blood, my blood" part from Practical Magic. That movie rocks!) So, Katsura had relations with the Riskbreakers and had to return some favors that he had asked them which relates to how Aiko and Kenshin met. Now, Riskbreakers only work for a certain amount of time, depending on the contract that they have signed. So, once the contract was done, they (meaning the Riskbreaker) had to go on with other matters. Aiko's contract was fufilled, so she had to leave, leaving a broken hearted Kenshin back in the hells of the Bakumatsu. In the contract, however, she had the option to come back once done with other work and that's where Masaki comes in. He's her husband whom she ran into during a mission, but Kenshin doesn't know that until he meets both Masaki and a pregnant Aiko. And well, instead of Aiko coming back like she promised, she asked her husband, Masaki, to take her place and be Kenshin's partner. That's how we meet Masaki in the early days. *whew* Got it? I hoped that explains everything....
Well, I kinda stopped in the middle of a scene last chapter, so I'm going to finish it up and continue on to the present. Please R&R!
Chapter Five ~ Welcome Home
(1867, Mid Genji 3rd)
Aiko had one hand on her hip, the other triggering the gun she held at the crowd of soldiers and Tojo, her eyes cold as ice.
"Now, either you let us go, or I'm going to have to shoot one of you with the virus," she coldly explained as the soldiers nervously pointed their guns at her, beads of sweat falling from their faces.
"Baka!" Masaki whispered loudly to his wife. "You're going to get the both of you killed if you do this!"
But she ignored him, still staring at Tojo and his beloved mercenaries and the gun poised.
"Don't be silly!" Tojo shouted triumphantly after many minutes of deathly silence. "Do you think that I, Miyazuki Tojo, second captain of the Shinsengumi, will surrender to a woman?"
"Suit yourself," Aiko merely replied, locking the trigger. The mercenaries were taken aback a few feet. She smirked. "Let me repeat myself. Either you let us go with the virus or I'll shoot one of your men down with it. Either way, it's your loss."
Once again, silence.
"Masaki," Kenshin whispered to his partner. Masaki's attention was diverted by Kenshin. "Take Aiko out and leave. I'll be able to take care of the guns and will meet you at the cliff."
He thought for a moment, then remembered the look in Aiko's eyes when they locked. Masaki shook his head. "You don't need to do that. I have this in handy." A small pouch slipped out from underneath his sleeve. Kenshin eyed it warily as Masaki pushed back up to keep it hidden.
"What is that?"
"Don't worry, you'll see."
Tojo was getting weary of the standoff. Waving his arms wildly in the air, he shouted to his hired men, "What in the world are you idiots doing? Shoot her down!!"
The sounds of shotguns locking into place and the movement of bodies were heard throughout the area. Masaki took this chance to roll out the pouch that he had until it reached the middle of the room. Then he jumped to Aiko, pushing her out of the way and making her drop the gun, with Kenshin following behind when the pouch started to pour out a wispy black smoke. They left the room just when a loud roar and the piercing screams of men dying were heard.
Aiko was in Masaki's arms, a bit crushed. Possibly because of not being able to pull the trigger. But she didn't say anything and remained silent until the three reached to a safe distance.
"Don't...EVER... do that to me again!" Masaki panted slightly as he gently set his pregnant wife down to her feet.
"Do what?" she asked innocently.
"You know what I mean!"
"Anno..." Kenshin interrupted cautiously. "Aiko....how...how long...?" He trailed off.
But knowing him so well, Aiko simply answered, "Seven months, doushte?"
By this time, Kenshin started to go into a mild frenzy, the barriers he usually kept up so well gone. "You-you're pregnant?!? And-and, he's? And...you! Why...? ...How?...What? Pregnant, I said! Boy, girl, how many?!? How...what....when...." then he finally managed to put some words together: "Just what the hell is going on?!?"
Masaki was a bit clueless on what his comrade said, but Aiko giggled. "Kenshin, I'm carrying Masaki's child. We've been married for about a year and a half now. That's why I couldn't come back."/
(now back to the present...)
"Now, don't scare me like that again, Aiko, de gozaru," Kenshin concluded, shaking his head.
Aiko laughed out loud. "Oh, demo, you were so cute when you started to panic! Who would've known that the great Hitokiri Battousai panics when he hears the news that his twin sister was pregnant?"
Kenshin started to turn beet red, waving his arms frantically in order to keep her quiet. "Shhh, de gozaru! Sessha don't want the others to hear that, de gozaru na!!"
"Hear about what?" Kaoru's voice popped in behind them.
This time Kenshin just turned frozen solid as Aiko began to laugh even harder. Now all attention turned to Aiko and Kenshin, especially Kenshin because he was like a statue. The children, however, paid no mind and kept on playing.
Kaoru squatted down to stare at Kenshin, observing his face. "Kenshin, why in the world are you acting so weird?"
He had to avoid some eye contact, trying to think of a lame excuse. "Oro? Sessha...sessha not acting strange, de gozaru. You...you must be thinking about someone else, Kaoru-dono."
Her ocean blue eyes narrowed as she said in a warning tone, "Kenshin...."
"Oi, Kenshin, spit out whatever you have to say! It's possible to get away from Jou-chan here, but impossible to get past me!" Sanosuke grinned.
Ukiyou knelt down next to Aiko, whispering in her ear, "Ne, oneechan, what did Kenshin do back in the Bakumatsu with you?"
Aiko couldn't answer, however, her laughter dying into small chuckles as she still couldn't speak.
During all this time, a lone figure was walking up to the entrance of the home. The ruffled black hair covered his weary eyes, carrying a sack over his shoulder and a sword strapped to the side. Nobody noticed him until he got closer to the home, and Shunsaku diverted his attention to the figure.
"Otousan?" he murmured.
Only Yahiko was able to hear him and tore his eyes away from the hilarious interrogation. "Oi, Shunsaku, what's up?"
The children stopped running around and paused for a second. Then their faces beamed, recognizing the man, and ran to him.
"'Touchan! 'Touchan!"
The interrogation stopped when they heard the children's shouts and turned their heads in the direction that they were running. Masaki's weary eyes lightened up and smiled, happy to be home.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Okay, short chapter, yes? I'm very tired, so I'm just stopping here for now. Will write more soon, hopefully.