Epilogue

I watch Misao, my wife to be of nearly three years now run around in the back garden of the Aoiya with Sano and Megumi's daughter and Kenshin and Kaoru's son. Misao had blossomed into a beautiful young woman who was always smiling and always laughing. I had thought she was beautiful a couple of years ago but she still astounded me when her beauty grew as she matured with age.

I had vowed never to hear or see Misao cry anymore, especially over something I said or did. Misao hadn't shed a single tear since our last and final argument on the eve of Kenshin and Kaoru's wedding day.

"Auntie Misao, Auntie Misao look at this!" Kenji Himura spoke excitedly. He was rolling around in the grass doing forward rolls. I watched as Misao sat quietly in the grass, watching Kenji roll around her and plait Kome Sagara's hair while she was at it. She truly was multitalented.

I placed a small smile on my lips and leaned against the shoji frame watching the three of them play in the backyard once again, they not knowing I was even there. Misao lightly jogged around laughter escaping her lips as she had two very energetic and fast children racing after her. Her hands clasped the front of her semi dirty kimono lifting up its length so she wouldn't trip over it as she ran around trying not to be touched by Kome and Kenji. My hand came up, my lips parting slightly as Misao wasn't watching where she was going. Before I could voice I was even here, a small squeal escaped Misao's lips as she tripped over a rock and she tumbled to the grass landing heavily on her pert bottom.

"ITAI!" Misao spoke a little louder; her hands coming down to rub her butt as she sat up on her knees. I shook my head at her clumsiness but still silently watched Misao, this being one of the things I loved to do.

"Auntie Misao are you okay?" Kenji and Kome spoke simultaneously; both standing in front of her and looking a little worried. I watched as Misao stared into big violet and chocolate brown eyes and then she started giggling.

"What a clumsy Auntie you have." Misao placed on a bright smile looking down at the children as they jumped into her lap hugging her as tightly as they could and giggling a little as well.

"Auntie Misao where is Hannya?" Kome spoke her head lifting up to stare at Misao.

"He's having a sleep downstairs in Okina's study." Just as Misao said that I felt a small tug on my dark pants and looked down to see sleepy blue eyes looking up at me. A bright smile was on baby Hannya's lips and his hands lifted up wanting me to pick him up. I crouched down doing so and softly whispered to him.

"You're supposed to be sleeping Little Shinomori." All I received as an answer was a tired baby giggle and he stood wobbly on his feet wanting to show me he could walk…sort of. Hannya fell forward, but I caught him and stood up leaning his little body against my broad chest. I watched with a smile on my lips as his blue eyes closed and he snuggled in close, his tiny hands fisting my shirt holding it close to him. He has so many traits of Misao when she was a baby. I remember everytime she couldn't sleep she'd come to me for comfort and I would hold her just like this, her tiny hands fisting my clothes not wanting to let go. How ironic it was to now being holding our child in my arms.

I watched Kenji and Kome run around the side of the Aoiya, Misao chasing after them when there was a loud bellow, it being none other then Sano's voice indicating the married couples were back from town.

"Let's rest outside today Hannya." I spoke softly to my son and received a soft gurgle as though he were agreeing with me. I walked down the steps, not bothering about shoes and into the garden sitting under a large sakura in the lush grass leaning my back against the thick trunk. One hand rested under Hannya, holding him up while my right hand caressed his back softly making him fall into a blissful sleep once again. I too decided to follow my son in having a small rest and closed my eyes wanting to sleep.

xxxxxxx

"OH MY GOD! AOSHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!" I snapped my eyes open hearing my name being screamed like that. It was definitely Misao's voice and something was very wrong. Hannya squirmed in my arms a small sob escaped his lips at being so rudely disturbed. I bent my head whispering softly into his ear, my voice calming him instantly and he fell asleep, his tiny hands still gripping my top. I watched and heard the shoji door being torn open, nearly falling off the hinges as Misao raced down the steps heading straight for me once she located where I was.

"Aoshi its Hannya! He's disa-" I looked up at Misao to see tears cascading down her cheeks and her eyes were wide open looking down at me.

"Misao what is wrong?" I spoke softly and watched as she fell to her knees in front of me her hands coming up to brush her fingers through our son's jet-black hair and then she leaned forward kissing his head.

"Oh thank goodness your okay…" Misao had whispered softly and I watched as her attitude changed quickly, her hands resting on her hips and she narrowed her ocean blue eyes staring over at me as she spoke.

"I can't believe you took him without even telling me. Do you know how worried I was? I nearly had a heart attack!" I stayed were I was not wanting to disturb Hannya's sleep but instantly spoke back defending myself.

"Hannya came to me Misao. He couldn't sleep and came to me for comfort. He escaped HIS cot and found ME. I know how much you hated it when I disturbed his sleep in the beginning because I just wanted to hold him but I finally stopped that letting you have peaceful rests at night." I watched her eyes soften as she stared at me and our son wrapped comfortable in my arms and sleeping peacefully. Then it finally hit me…

"Do you actually think I'd take Hannya away from you?" I spoke softly, almost hurt at her assumption. I observed as Misao shook her head her lips moving to explain herself but what she said hurt even more.

"No…that's not it at all…well its just that… I sometimes feel like I'm just the woman who offered myself to you and that's it. It's like…like I'm the mistress whom doesn't have any purpose in life but to sleep with you and provide a child. I've done both bu-" I leaned forward and pressed my lips to Misao's, kissing her sweetly, lovingly…passionately. I had captured her surprised gasp but only a split second passed before her smooth hands cupped my face, her thumbs stroking my skin as she kissed me back with all the same emotions. Had I really made her feel like that? Like she was some worthless whore? BAKA! A small voice screamed inside my head. I slowly pulled away from her lips, opening my eyes to stare at her as I placed one hand against her cheek, making sure not to wake our son.

"That hurts Misao…" I watched her eyes sparkle with tears at hearing me say that, my voice not the usual soft and powerful voice she always heard. Now it was edged with sadness. Misao parted her lips, to take her words back but I placed my fingers against them and spoke once more.

"Iie Misao, don't try and take the words back. You spoke truthfully…from the heart. I never in my life realised I made you feel like that. I'm sorry…so sorry…" I bent my head my hand dropping from Misao's lips as I brushed it over Hannya's forehead. His eyes opened up and I felt his tiny weight as his hands pushed himself away from my chest so he could look up at me. Happy ocean-blue eyes stared up into mine, gurgling noises escaping his lips as his tiny hands patted my cheeks lovingly. My eyes lifted up hearing a soft laugh escape Misao's lips seeing Hannya do this. I observed as he turned in my light embrace his hands reaching out, as he wanted to be held by his mother now. I deposited him into Misao's arms and watched her smile down at him, making all these ridiculous baby noises. Why not just speak to him? I knew, more or less felt that he could hear us and so I spoke normally. Misao threw him in the air catching him in her arms once more, Hannya giggling pleasantly, loving this very much.

"Never Misao…" I spoke looking over at her. She stopped playing with Hannya as she placed him on the ground, he being content in crawling around in the lush grass, sometimes trying to stand up but falling back on his butt and giggling all the while.

"Huh?" Misao replied intelligently. She was staring confusedly over at me; her eyes occasionally glancing down to make sure Hannya was all right.

"I would never take Hannya away from you Misao. The Aoiya is the place we grew up, the place we call home and Hannya too will call it home…I'll make sure this is the place he grows up in."

"A-Aoshi…" Misao whispered softly not believing what I was saying and so I continued…

"He may not voice it yet Misao, but Hannya needs his mother very much. He needs her like he needs oxygen. He loves his mother…I love his mother…and I need her VERY much." Tears spilled down Misao's cheeks as she thrust herself into my chest, her arms wrapping around my neck holding me close.

"I said no more tears Misao-mine, don't you remember?" I spoke brushing my hands over her back soothingly. A half sob/giggle escaped her lips as they brushed over my cheek softly and then Misao hugged me tighter, those words embedding into her heart forever. They eased her fear of me leaving, which was NEVER going to happen, unless I traveled to Tokyo to visit the Himura's, but Misao would travel with me anyway because no doubt it would be her idea to begin with.

"I'm sorry for being silly anata." I closed my eyes for a brief moment relishing Misao saying that to me. I had put off the wedding so many times, making up different excuses or disappearing for a few days until everyone gave up, but the main reason which I never voiced was…I was scared. This was after all the rest of Misao's life...all that time to spend with me and me alone. Misao would become my wife soon…I knew I couldn't put it off any longer and so I had invited our friends to join us, Misao not knowing this of course. Makimachi Misao would become Shinomori Misao very shortly…actually, that sounds really nice. I had a whole plan figured out about what I was going to do, but Misao had to ruin it after all.

"So…Mistress Misao…why do you think close friends of the Oniwabanshuu and the Himura's and Sagara's are here for?" I watched her pull away, her eyes narrowing at me for calling her that. She crossed her arms under her breasts, her head turning away as she began to ignore me. That was not possible however as I moved impossibly closer, my arms encircling her waist, my lips brushing hers ever so slightly as I spoke.

"They are here for a wedding after all…"

"Someone's getting married?" Misao replied slowly back, her eyes opening to glance over at my smiling face. Misao began to blush, finally reading the hidden message on my face. I felt her hands cup my cheeks once more as she whispered against my lips hoping it was true.

"Really Aoshi…today? Am I going to be your wife today?" I pulled away grabbing Hannya before he could crawl away, earning a cheerful giggle from his lips and I placed him in my lap looking over at Misao and answered her question.

"Hai Misao…WE want YOU to be a Shinomori too." Misao's hands were placed over her lips; a couple of tears escaping her eyes once more. Why was it that everytime I tried to show my feelings she'd end up crying? Because you don't show them enough and it still shocks her. A voice inside of me answered my question. A sort of a displeased groan escaped Hannya's lips as he stared over at his mother. Misao had leaned close wanting to know what was wrong but we both watched as his hand lifted up wiping one of the tears away from her cheeks.

"He knows something has happened." I spoke and watched Misao brush the tears away, Hannya smiling once more as his mother didn't look upset anymore.

"How do you know that?" Misao asked intrigued.

"His name sums it up for one thing…but he is half you and half me remember." Misao giggled at that and was about to take him from my arms when I pulled Hannya back against me and spoke once more.

"No son of mine is going to be present and watching three females getting ready for a wedding and talking about…whatever it is you talk about. He'll stay with me." I watched with a small smile on my face when Misao's face brightened once more and she replied back.

"T-That sounds like you want m-more children."

"Aa, but hopefully this time a little girl."

"Nani? I never agreed to any of this! What if I can't handle another birth, the first was painful enough." I placed my hand against Misao's cheek and realised I would have to revert to using other tactics.

"You are Makimachi Misao, family to the late Okashira of the Oniwabanshuu. You have strength and strong will power to get through anything. You'll soon be Shinomori Misao and become a part of my family, a very strong family at that. Misao is patient, kind and determined as hell. I know she can get through any mission…or pregnancy for that matter." I pulled Hannya up, letting him sit in my arms as I stared over at Misao through my long bangs, my eyes softening, melting her insides.

"Don't you think Hannya wants a little sister or brother? Don't you think he deserves to have a playmate?" I watched Misao's eyes soften as she stared over at her son and then looking into my…could I say…pouting eyes? I watched, a bright smile forming on my lips, although it was hidden behind Hannya's shoulder as she grumbled lightly and crossed her arms nodding her head in agreement. Ah, the old 'eyes softening' trick always worked with her.

"Curse you for doing that anata…" Misao spoke with a smile forming on her lips as she moved over placing a soft kiss on mine and then placed a kiss on Hannya's cheek. Another giggle bubbled up from his throat his little hands patting Misao's cheeks affectionately…this being his very own trait, nothing from Misao or myself.

"Are you going to tell the others about the wedding Misao?" I spoke and watched Misao stand up and race off towards the shoji door.

"Misao-mine?" I spoke getting her attention once more as I stood up ready to head in the opposite direction towards the bathhouse.

"Nani?" She turned around a bright smile crossing her lips.

"You will tell me your news won't you? I do want to hear you say it to me. Later on okay?" Her mouth hung open in surprise and she quickly nodded her head and raced up the steps and running down the hallway towards the main room were everyone was. I began walking off and could hear Misao's excited shouting from inside the bathhouse.

"MINNA GUESS WHAT? I'M GETTING MARRIED!" I chuckled lightly at Misao's voice. She sounded like an excited child receiving a fantastic birthday present. I guess Misao had every right to be like that…she had been waiting for nearly three years for me to decide when was the right time for myself to marry her.

xxxxxxx

I finished washing Hannya and myself and was hopping into the warm bath when I heard the shoji door open and Misao's angry voice bellow out to me.

"ANATA! They already knew!" I sat down in the bath, my legs bent, my knees coming out of the water and I placed Hannya on his back, the warm water rippling over his belly as he laughed lightly looking into my blue-green eyes as he could see them through my wet and spiky bangs. My larger hands held his tiny wrists as I was clapping his hands together completely ignoring Misao, but I finally answered her while never taking my eyes away from our son.

"What other reason could I use to get them to travel all this way Misao?" I swear I could here her grating her teeth.

There was silence in the room as I stopped clapping Hannya's hands together and moved to clapping his little feet instead. As I did that Hannya clapped his own hands following along with the small rhythm I created.

"I've never seen you look so happy?" I turned my gaze to see Misao sitting on the small bathing stool watching me play with Hannya.

"I'm always happy…I just don't show it so openly like I am now." Misao stood up and moved over to sit on the floor looking up at me as she spoke.

"How long have you been happy Aoshi?"

"When I came back from the forest and I saw you sitting on the fence at the Kamiya Dojo as though you were waiting for me, I was happy then, but I wasn't truly happy until you said you loved me. That meant…that really meant everything to me, because I was different…I am different…"

"So be it…you'll always be different from other men, but you always be my Shinomori Aoshi and that's all that matters to me." I looked over at sparkling blue eyes and returned the smile Misao had on her lips. There was a small silence between us as I began clapping Hannya's feet together and then Misao spoke.

"So do I get an invite?" I glanced my eyes at Misao and then down at Hannya.

"What do you think?" I asked him and received a gummy smile and clapping hands as an answer.

"I do say that is a yes Misao-mine." I watched with fond eyes as Misao took off her dirty kimono and washed herself, pouring cold water over her soapy body. Misao stepped into the other end of the bath resting on her knees, her arms crossing over my knees, placing her head on her arms as she looked down at Hannya. He giggled pleasingly thinking it was funny to see his mother upside down.

"He is very easily entertained." Misao spoke softly, her hand cupping some water and pouring it over Hannya's head getting his black hair wet.

"As were you Misao." Her eyes caught mine and she smiled once more before picking our son up and placing him into her arms rocking him slowly against her. I watched with an eyebrow raised as Misao turned her back on me, her petite figure moving back and parting my legs so she may sit between them and lean her back against my chest. I let her do so and wrapped my arms under hers as she held Hannya against her chest. Misao placed her head under my chin and spoke softly to me.

"I'm pregnant." I pressed a kiss into her neck my voice slightly muffled but I knew Misao could hear it.

"I know…and thank you…" Misao giggled lightly knowing how much I cherished hearing her say that to me. It was after all our miracle, a life we created together with our love and that was the best thing of all…besides the two people wrapped up in my embrace of course.

xxxxxxx

Time passed and the water was growing cold so I hesitantly woke Misao up, hearing her light grumble of 'go away' but her eyes opened, her head moving back even further so she could look up at me. A fond smile graced her lips as she raised an arm, her hand brushing the back of my neck as I bent down placing my lips softly against hers. Himura and I would have to be the luckiest men alive to have had two young girls grow up and wait patiently for us to realise that what we couldn't live without…was right in front of us. Misao pulled away and I watched as she got out of the bath wrapping Hannya in a thick cloth warming his slightly chilled body. Misao placed him on the bench for a few moments not worry about him falling off, as he was fast asleep. I silently got out of the bath, my arms wrapping around my short wife holding her possessively close to me. I watched with amusement racing through my eyes as Misao stood on the bathing stool to gain more height so she didn't have to crane her neck back so far to look up at me.

"I love you Aoshi."

"I know… We really have to get married now or else I'll be murdered by Okina for getting you pregnant without being married again." I spoke with a smile on my face watching Misao's eyes widen in surprise.

"Oh my gosh! The wedding! I must get ready!" Misao practically flew out of my embrace, placing on a robe and picking up Hannya placing him in my arms, quickly kissing him and running out the bathhouse. I looked down noticing Hannya was awake and watched his mother leave the bathhouse in a frantic rush. His blue eyes stared up at me and I placed a croaked smile on my lips earning another opened mouth smile from him. I sat him on the bench drying myself off and dressing into black pants and a black summer yukata top. I kneeled on the ground facing Hannya and spoke once more.

"So shall I marry your mother?" I watched slightly intrigued as he tilted his head, his hands reaching up to brush through my messy hair. I started chuckling lightly when Hannya shook his head negatively. So maybe this was one thing he didn't understand.

"Aoshi?" I stood up, picking up Hannya as he was still wrapped in the towel and opened the shoji door to see Kenshin waiting for me with his usual smile on his face. I placed Hannya in his arms, he wanting to be hugged by his 'uncle'.

"UNCLE AOSHIIIIII!" I turned around, my hands lifting up to catch the young girl who was thrown at me by her father. Sano gave me a small salute and sat on the verandah leaning his back against one of the posts and chewing on a piece of grass. Some things never changed.

"Uncle Aoshi are you going to marry Auntie Misao?" Kome spoke, her big brown eyes staring up at me waiting for an answer.

"Aa…" I replied and watched a bright smile form on her lips as she spoke once more.

"Can I be in it too? Please Uncle Aoshi?" I placed a small smile on my lips, my right hand brushing through Kome's brown hair and replied back.

"Why not ask Auntie Misao?" Kenshin and I watched as Kome jumped out of my embrace landing in a small crouch on the ground. Kome got up racing towards the steps, diverting away from the opened doorway to kiss her fathers cheek then running inside calling out for her mother and Auntie Kaoru and Misao.

"Are you ready Aoshi?" Kenshin spoke and I nodded my head heading for the Aoiya.

"Can't make her wait any longer." I glanced my eyes down at Kenshin to see his smile widen and I spoke once more heading into the Aoiya and up to my room.

"Don't you utter a word." I knocked on the door indicating I was coming in but it already swung across as I stared down at Misao. She was dressed in a pale blue kimono, her midnight blue hair falling freely down her back and a white crown of flowers rested on her head. She held a bright smile, her eyes emitting complete joy at finally being able to marry me. Her creamy hands clasped mine as she stood on her tiptoes and I bent down placing a soft kiss on her lips. There was an audible clearing of the throat and I pulled away from Misao looking into the room to see a smiling Megumi and Kaoru. I wrapped my arms around Misao and whispered into her ear.

"Let's go get married." I clasped Misao's hand and headed downstairs and towards the training hall. Hopefully Kenshin had gotten things organised as well as Okina, Okon and Omasu.

Misao and I kneeled behind the table listening to the priest. Well I was only half listening. I knew what he was saying because of Kenshin and Kaoru's wedding and so I glanced at Misao all the while. She was intently listening to the priest, taking everything he said in, and her smile grew wider and wider as he continued. We were getting ready to drink from the same sake cup when we were rudely interrupted.

"MAMA!" Misao and I turned to stare at each other and then turned to face our close friends and the other Oniwabanshuu members. Kenshin, who was holding Hannya, was smiling down at him, as he was the one who spoke that. His chubby arms were out wanting to be held by Misao as he spoke once more.

"Mama, mama, mama!" He giggled happily, his hands clapping together for saying that. I watched Misao's eyes tear up as she crawled towards him, her hands coming out to take him from Kenshin and hug him close. She moved back over towards the table, Hannya sitting quietly in her lap for a few moments. The ceremony went off with no more interruptions and so Makimachi Misao was now…

"Congratulations…Mr and Mrs Shinomori." I closed my eyes for a brief moment listening to that. Shinomori Misao…Shinomori Misao…yes, it suited her well.

"Tochan!" My eyes snapped open looking down at Hannya as he stood up in Misao's lap looking at me. His tiny hands came up, my face moving down as he patted my cheeks speaking once more.

"Tochan…" Hannya turned around to see Misao's face streaked with tears at finally seeing him talk. His little hands wiped the wetness away, what he could reach anyway and he spoke once more patting Misao's cheeks.

"Mama…" We both watched as Hannya burst into fits of giggles, two words over exciting the little boy. Misao couldn't help but join in, as did the others and so I watched my family and friends with a smile crossing my lips.

xxxxxxx

"Misao-mine? Are you coming to bed?" I spoke looking over at Misao as she was still kneeling at the cot Hannya slept in. Misao finally turned around crawling over towards our futon and snuggled in close, her hands resting against my chest, Misao's head dropping onto it as well and a pleasant smile crossed her lips.

"Misao?" She replied with a soft mumble, her mind and body requesting rest and yet I wasn't let her.

"Aishiteru…" I observed as Misao slowly opened her eyes and whispered softly against my chest.

"Honto Aoshi?"

"Really, really…" I replied back and placed a kiss to Misao's forehead.

"A-Aoshi…Aisheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee… OH MY GOD!" I chuckled lightly into Misao's hair as she had turned abruptly over, her back against my chest, her heart pounding as she stared into innocent blue eyes that had scared the living daylights out of her. Hannya sat on the bed a gummy smile crossing over his face once more at nearly giving his mother a heart attack. Truthfully, I'd never seen Misao move that fast before. Hannya crawled closer to Misao, his tiny hand patting her cheek as he spoke the two words he only knew.

"Mama…tochan…" I shook my head, burying it into the back of Misao's neck, smelling her sweet fragrance. She still smelled like spring flowers and fresh rain.

"Hannya…" Misao grumbled lightly as he kept repeating mama and tochan over and over again. After about five minutes of him repeating this over and over again I too grumbled out his name, my voice overpowering and turning the room silent.

xxxxxxx

Time passed and I looked down to see Hannya snuggled close to his mother, one of Misao's hands wrapped protectively around him, her eyes closed as she too was fast asleep.

I placed my left arm under Misao's head, making sure my fingers could brush through our son's thin jet-black hair and my right lay against Misao's stomach. We had another member joining our family in about eight month's time and I was already excited. I knew and I have this small feeling Misao knows as well that I'll ask her again…to have another child. Even though our family isn't complete at the moment, a few children missing, right now at this very moment holding my wife and my son, my darkened life had turned to light, turned to happiness…I was finally complete.

THE END