A/N: Kindly beta'd by the fantastic Peppymint. Incidentally this is a plunnie adopted from Peppymint. I'm flying in the clouds, Peppymint has been my fanfiction idol and now is beta'ing this story for me! I'm back to school in a few days but I've ran into a major problem, my computer died and I've only borrowed a laptop for a few days but it belongs to my big sister who is pregnant with her first child!

The sake didn't taste very good, at least in her opinion. Himura Kenshin or at least that was her former name, she was Kenko not Kenshin. The redhead went back and forth between the two names for a bit, but in her slightly drunken state it just confused her. The sake was beginning to taste better. Why had she not found the taste to her liking before? She wondered.

The swordswoman shook her head trying to clear her clouded state of mind. A situation that been caused by the copious amounts of sake she had already drunk. Her kimono was reasonably attractive looking, small details but high quality, a katana or what seemed to be a katana was stowed away under her feet, on the floor and out of sight for most people.

The red haired woman didn't even flinch when a golden eyed, black haired, and rather wolfish looking man sat beside her carrying his own drink. It was then that she remembered why she was drinking her sorrows away in the first place. The stack of sake saucers was gaining quite a height, but that didn't deter the nineteen-year old from ordering more, slurring her words slightly as she did so.

'Shishou was right. Why did I feel the need to do the opposite of what he said? Why did I runaway and become the greatest murderer of the Bakumatsu? I'm an idiot.' After coming to a conclusion in her inward monologue, Kenko slammed her head against the table. A small part of her mind, the part that wasn't totally affected by her current drunken stupor was ringing in alarm at the nearby ki. But it was overcome by the larger and very intoxicated part.

Saito Hajime blinked at the awkward situation, sure the Meiji officials wanted him to sign up and wave a sword around with a bunch of idiots. That didn't really appeal to him. But, the Shoganate had lost. He had lost. He had failed and his fiancée to be had ran off with an Ishin Hitoriki, a criminal at that.

The Miburo had sat beside the red haired woman because she was drinking just like him. Saito figured that had to count for something. He now regretted his decision though as she slammed her head against the table. He vaguely thought that he'd seen her before. She looked familiar. However, the person he was thinking of was male. "Tough day?" He offered the question stupidly in his alcohol induced state.

Kenko hiccupped as she lifted her head up, her eyes blearily trying to focus on the face of the man. "I thi-thin-think so. What about yo-you?" She asked, trying to stifle an upcoming hiccup attack. Her befuddled mind flashed back to her confession to Katsura-san concerning her gender and she smiled suddenly, a faint giggle escaping her mouth. The look on her commander's face had been hilarious.

The red haired swordswoman groaned as she opened her eyes reluctantly. Where exactly was she? Her question was partly answered as she took in the fact a warm body was draped around her own. Her blurry memories of the night before came rushing back and her mouth formed a shocked 'O'.

Kenko stiffened as the body in question turned. She could now see his face, a fact she instantly regretted. The sharp features were not something she'd ever forget, and judging from her naked state, she had slept with Saito Hajime. Not good.

Easing her way away from the sleeping former Miburo, the redhead scanned the small room for her clothes. It took her a few moments to find them all, they were slightly scattered. After that, dressing was a fast and efficient movement. Grabbing her sword, Kenko took one last look around and tip toed out of the room. She just wanted to forget this had ever happened.

As the redhead left the small inn, the sleeping swordsman woke with a very bad head-ache and some confused memories of the night before. It would be years before he completely recalled the events of that evening.

The first month Kenko put it down to stress. The second she had known something was wrong, especially when she had thrown up halfway through her morning kata. After a few more days of this, the ex-hitokiri succumbed to the inevitable. She traveled to the nearest town and sought out a doctor.

The redhead stared at the older man in disbelief, her blood roaring in her ears. She resisted the urge to ask him to repeat his diagnosis. "Pregnant?" she stammered. But it had only been that one time! Her inner voice protested.

"Oh dear," the doctor said, taking in her stunned features. "You didn't know."

Silently, Kenko shook her head. Her menstrual cycle had always been a bit irregular due to her lifestyle. She hadn't even thought twice about the fact she hadn't had her period. Suddenly, she realized the man was still talking. Something about her husband.

"Husband?" the redhead repeated mechanically. It was only after this Kenko realized an unwed Mother would not be viewed kindly in this particular place. She panicked, her mind going into overdrive. "T-the Father," she stuttered. "The war."

Realization shinning in his eyes, the doctor patted her hand. "We have all lost loved ones," he consoled her face sympathetic.

Gratefully, the ex-assassin seized the explanation, lowering her eyes to the ground in order to hide her true expression. "Hajime fought well," she whispered. It wasn't a lie. He had fought very well, had in fact gone out of his way to kill her on a number of occasions, and now she was carrying his child. Kenko resisted the urge to laugh hysterically. Why did these things always happen to her!

"Do you have somewhere to go?" the doctor asked concerned.

Kenko paused. Originally, she had planned on just traveling around Japan for awhile. But that wasn't an option, not anymore. Slowly, her right hand slide down to rest over her stomach, her impending Motherhood beginning to sink in. There was only one option. She would not lose this child because of her pride. "Yes," she heard her own voice answer. "I do."

After picking up some supplies, the redhead began her journey to the one place in all the world where she felt safe. It took her a lot longer than she had expected. She needed to rest often. Something she noted with distain. She also ate a lot more and needed more frequent visits to the bushes to relieve herself. It was, quite frankly, embarrassing for someone of her skills. No, Himura Kenko didn't adapt to the expectant mother frame of mind easily.

By the time the young woman finally reached her Master's cabin she was completely exhausted. No one answered her knock, and after a moment of contemplation Kenko just let herself in. She was so tired, both mentally and physically. She curled up on the futon, not even bothering to take off her shoes. A moment later, she was out.

[Preview]

Hiko Seijuro scowled as he sensed the familiar ki situated in his home. Not only had his rude apprentice returned after years of being away, she had just let herself in and if what he could sense was true, she was fast asleep. Of course he was glad to know she was alive and had mustered the courage to return to him, but part of him was still angry? No, that wasn't the right word....irritated? He shook his head; he couldn't find the right word to describe how he felt.