Author's Note: I've been reading rk fics for over 4 years but finally I had a reasonable idea for a fic. I don't know if there are other fics with similar ideas. If there is, please do tell because I don't want to be accused of stealing ideas. English isn't my native language so I apologize in advance for any grammatical errors that you may find. Thank for your attention. I hope you will not be bored with the story.
Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin. Never in a million years! I only own the RK episodes that I taped. But… ^.^ I can dream, can't I?
Summary: AU, K&K, B&K, present day; You said you love your husband! But how can you really love a man that you barely know? Kaoru Kamiya Himura, you don't know your husband.
Prologue
"You have been married for 2 years for heaven's sake!! You should have a kid by now!" A green-eyed woman shouted.
"Hey Misao, could you say that louder? I don't think that the people sitting back there in the restaurant heard you."
"Uh… Sorry Kaoru. I guess I…" The green-eyed woman tried to apologize, bowing her head in the process to avoid looking the raven-haired friend, sat across her. After a moment of surprise and speculation the lively and spacious restaurant returned to its routine.
"There is no need to apologize but there are certain things that you know that I don't like to talk about and that is one of them." Explained the raven-haired woman while looking with a sudden interest to her cup of coffee.
"I want you to know that whenever you want I will always be there to help. If you have a problem you can call me in the middle of the night, even if it is just to talk, okay?"
"Okay Misao. But calling in the middle of the night it isn't a good time." A wicked smile appeared on Kaoru's red lips. "You might be busy, I don't want to provoke Aoshi's wrath by interrupting your… nightly exercises…"
"Damn you Kaoru! You don't lose a chance, do you?!" It was always easy to embarrass Misao, Kaoru had to agree with that.
"Nope! Calm down Misao, it was just to break the ice." Kaoru said while looking to her watch. " Time flies! I've to go. Do you want to drop you at home?"
"Nice try, I'm not an invalid woman, I can walk you know." Answered Misao while she tried to get up.
"Misao, you are my best friend, it would be a crime if I let you go alone… Besides, Aoshi would kill me."
"Will you be requiring anything else, ladies?" Interrupted the polite voice of the waiter.
"Only the bill please."
"Right away. It will be just a minute."
"Kaoru, can I ask you a question?"
"Yes."
"Did Aoshi talk with you?"
"About what?"
"About me. Did he ask you to be my nanny?"
"I don't know what you are talking about." Kaoru tried to evade from the question by paying the lunch and heading towards the exit door.
"Kaoru! He did, didn't he?! I knew it. Damn that man! Sometimes he can be so… so… so…"
"Over protective?" Kaoru opened the exit door to allow Misao to pass. "In case you haven't noticed, one more month and you will be as large as Santa Claus…"
"Kaoru!" Shouted an irritated Misao that embraced tenderly her swollen belly, quite visible through her heavy winter coat.
"Just relax Misao and try to understand Aoshi's position. "She" And pointed to the belly "is your first child. It is natural that he is over-protective. He loves you beyond reason."
"I know Kaoru, but sometimes it's difficult with his stubbornness. I'm entering in the 8th month, he already settled the rules: no more sex for the next months."
"Don't be a child. He is just thinking about your welfare. I do believe that the next months will be painful for him as well on that particular area."
"Hey I never thought about that…"
The bip of the car alarm is heard and Kaoru opened the passenger door of her red commercial Opel Corsa and helped an unusually large Misao to sit down. Although petit in features, Misao's pregnancy really suited her. The thought crossed Kaoru's mind while taking her own seat behind the steering wheel.
"You know, you and Kenshin have a confortable financial life. Why don't you sell this old car and buy a new one?"
"No way Misao. You sound like Kenshin! I love this car too damn much! It was a present from my parents." She turned the key in the ignition and the car's engine roared into life.
"You know, I… Well… I can't wait to tell. It was supposed to be a surprise but…"
"Come on Misao…"
"Aoshi and I, we are thinking about inviting you and Kenshin to be this little girl's godparents. What do you say?"
Kaoru looked to Misao in honest surprise.
"You are serious Misao?"
"Yes I am."
"As for Kenshin I don't know but… as for me, it would be an honour Misao Machimachi Shinomori."
"Thank for being my friend."
"Okay now, let stop with this sentimental wave or I won't be able to give classes this afternoon. What would my students say?"
"By now I would be bored of giving classes. No offence Kaoru."
"Not taken."
"You had so many dreams, dreams that could become true. I don't understand. Why did you give up of them?
"I didn't give up, I just had to postpone them in sake of my marriage."
"Well I'm honest friend, I don't see you giving classes or doing paper work for the rest of your life. It doesn't suit you. And you know what? It is time for to be a m…"
"Stop Misao!" Kaoru interrupted in a rash way. "I'm perfectly happy giving classes at the University and for the time being there will be no small Himura. Got that?!"
"Okay, okay… But… Why?"
"Misao!"
"Just tell me way why and I will leave you alone."
"You don't give do you?"
"I'm as persistent as my love."
"You promise?"
"I promise. I swear by the life of my little girl."
"It is serious then. Mark my words, I do want to be a mother, and if I could it would be right now but…" Kaoru hesitated while she paid attention to the traffic.
"But?"
"Kenshin says that… Well he doesn't want to be a father, at least for the time being."
"So it's Kenshin, uh?
"Not a word Misao."
An uncomfortable silence settled between the two friends. Misao spaced out while Kaoru commanded her car to leave the busy streets and enter in Misao's quiet neighbourhood.
"By the way Kaoru, where is Kenshin today?"
"In a boring lawyer's Convention in Lisbon. He called me this morning."
"Boring uh?"
"To be honest Misao, I don't blame him when he stays a bit upset because I ignore his amazing retellings of his adventures inside a courthouse. There isn't a better way to fall asleep, after 10 minutes of his stories, I'm sleeping as a baby."
"That's bad Kaoru."
"I know but I can't help it. I do love my husband but I'm the first to admit that the sparkle has gone out."
"Not even the bed saves it?"
"Not even the bed. He hasn't touched me for a month."
"What?"
"He is always too tired."
Misao looked to her friend with an understanding expression. She can't see her friend's sparking dark blue eyes but she can tell her sadness.
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2nd Author's Note: I've just revised this chapter! (17/04/2005) If you see any mistake, please inform me! Thank you!