Chapter 9

Kaoru sighed, standing again to comfort the crying child in the crib in the corner of the room. Megumi had left not long ago, saying she needed to get back to her clinic. Kenshin was still unconscious, his magic healing his body according to Kyla. The birth canal had closed up not long after Kenji's birth, while Kenshin was unconscious, and the rurouni seemed to be healing.

Kenji was the most beautiful thing Kaoru had ever seen, and she was more than proud of Kenshin. He had brought her son to her, and she was happy. She just couldn't wait until he woke up so he could hold Kenji too.

Kaoru rocked Kenji gently, cooing to him softly. There was nothing she could do to help his discomfort, he was hungry, and for that she needed Kenshin. Yes, Kenshin would have to feed little Kenji, as Kyla had laughingly explained. The redhead would have to nurse the baby just as a woman would, and Kaoru just knew that he would not be happy with it.

She thought about waking him, but she knew that he needed his rest. But it was enough now, Kenji needed his first meal or he wouldn't last very long. Especially in his premature state. He had been born 2 weeks early, so he was a little small, but Megumi was sure he would survive just fine.

Kaoru finally settled Kenji back down, setting him in his crib. She knew it wouldn't be long before he started crying again, so she went to where Kenshin slept and shook his shoulder gently. "Kenshin. Anata, wake up."

Kenshin stirred, and then opened his violet eyes. "Kaoru?" He stifled a yawn and sat up tiredly, rubbing his eyes. "What is it?"

She sighed. "Well Kenshin, I didn't want to wake you, but Kenji's hungry, and you need to feed him."

He blinked. "Feed…him?"

She smiled slightly. "Hai anata, you need to let him nurse."

Kenshin flinched at these words. "Demo…I'm not a woman."

Kaoru giggled. "Iie, you're not, but since you bore Kenji you have to feed him. And yes, according to Kyla you very well can."

Kenshin groaned, putting a hand to his forehead and looking down. He put a hand to his chest, and then gasped, flinging his arms away from himself. "I-I've got breasts!"

(A/N: I was laughing so hard right here I had to run away from the computer for a bit… -snort- I can just see it…)

Kaoru struggled to hold in her giggles, but was saved as Kenji started crying again. "Anata…"

Kenshin sighed. "Oh alright. Just give him here."

Kaoru snorted as she turned around. She just couldn't help it, seeing her husband in this strange position was just too funny. She picked up a wailing Kenji and carried him back to Kenshin, who took him almost reluctantly. Kenji kept crying as Kenshin rocked him, his 'motherly' instincts coming into play. As Kenji was pulled in towards Kenshin's chest he stopped crying and latched onto a nipple.

Kenshin yelped at the unfamiliar sensation, and then his face calmed as Kenji suckled happily. Kaoru giggled. "What is it Kenshin?"

He shuddered slightly. "It just feels…weird." He suddenly looked with slightly angry eyes to the door. "I know you're there Kyla, stop laughing at me!"

The woman came into the room, clutching her sides at the sight of her younger brother. "G-Gomen otouto-chan…" She dissolved into another fit of giggles, and Kaoru joined her about a second later.

Kenshin glared at them both, but was distracted as Kenji squirmed in his arms, pulling away from his chest. He looked up at Kyla and Kaoru helplessly. "Now what?"

Kyla snorted, and then took Kenji from the bewildered redhead. She put him over a shoulder, taking a small cloth from her pocket and spreading it over her shoulder beneath Kenji. She patted his back gently, and then Kenji let out a burp and Kyla pulled him back into her arms, wiping his face and rocking him. "There you go little guy…" she murmured, handing him to the waiting mother as Kaoru held out her arms for him.

Kenshin sighed. "I don't know if I'll ever be able to get this…"

Kaoru laughed, kneeling beside him. "You'll get it eventually anata, don't worry about that. What you'll need to worry about is getting used to it."

Kenshin nodded with a snort. "Yea, that's true." He looked up at Kyla. "Where are Yahiko and Sano?"

She shrugged. "Around here somewhere. They were out doing some chores earlier, but I think they've gone to bed. It's pretty late Shinta."

Kenshin yawned. "Well I'm still tired, so let's get some sleep."

Kyla said goodnight and left the room, and Kaoru placed Kenji in his crib. She lay beside Kenshin as he snuggled into the blankets, obviously still exhausted. Kaoru tucked herself in beside him, kissing him gently. "I'm so proud of you Kenshin…"

Kenshin kissed her back, pulling her close. "Arigatou koishii. Just one thing. I'm never doing that again."

She laughed, settling back onto the pillows. "Just wait until a few weeks from now. You'll be so tired of getting up in the middle of the night to feed him that you'll want to get rid of him."

Kenshin groaned, and buried his face in her shoulder. "I don't want to hear it…"

Kaoru giggled, and then closed her eyes to sleep. "Aishiteru Kenshin."

He kissed her forehead. "Aishiteru mo Kaoru."

Sano couldn't stop laughing. It was just priceless. Kenshin was currently sitting on the porch, tiredly feeding Kenji when the tall man came outside. The instant he had seen the redhead he had started laughing, and he just couldn't stop.

Kenshin finally glared up at him. "Mou Sano, could you stop laughing? It's not that funny!"

Sano wiped tears of mirth from his eyes, clutching at his stomach. "Gomen Kenshin, I just couldn't help myself." He came closer as Kenshin put the baby over a shoulder, burping him and then settling him back into his arms. He grinned at Kenji. "Cute little guy though. Look just like you Kenshin."

Kenshin smiled. "Arigatou Sano."

"Have you showed Aurora and Yahiko yet? They're around here somewhere, and I'm sure they'd both want to see him." Sano suggested.

At that time Aurora flew down into the yard, Yahiko riding comfortably on her back. Kenshin gasped. "Yahiko!"

Yahiko leapt off the black dragon's back, landing lightly on the ground. "What? I can take care of myself, and besides, it's not like Aurora would have let me fall."

Aurora snorted indignantly. I would never harm the boy little one, and you know that. Now then, let's see this hatchling of yours.

Kenshin ignored the way she said hatchling, it was only natural for her. She was a dragon after all, and she couldn't help the way she referred to Kenji. Kenshin stood, going to stand beside the dragon.

She put her head down, examining the baby with one big cobalt eye. Kenji just looked at her, and then yawned widely, snuggling closer to the warm body that was holding him. Aurora chuckled lightly. A very nice child little one. You've done well.

Kenshin grinned. "Arigatou Aurora. And you were right, my magic is already returning. I feel better than I have in months."

Aurora nudged him affectionately, and he patted her nose with a free hand. Yahiko was trying to peek at Kenji, and Kenshin turned slightly to give him a better view of the child.

Yahiko looked at him, and for an instant his eyes locked with Kenji's startling blue eyes. And then Yahiko grinned. "Cute kid."

Kenshin chuckled. "I think that's the first time I've ever heard you say 'cute.'"

Yahiko blushed and mumbled something, and then walked off. Kenshin shook his head slightly, and then looked down at Kenji. The baby was fading fast, his eyes falling shut in sleep. Kenshin kissed his forehead gently, turning to go into the house. "Aishiteru my son…"

Sure, Kenshin would never go through this again, but he wouldn't trade the experience or the child he now held in his arms for anything in the world.

The end! I must say, I'm proud of this story, and I've gotten more responses than I thought I would. I'm somewhat glad to get this off my arsenal of stories; it's really been bugging me with writer's block and such. Hope you like this, and please review this final chapter!