Wolves
This story is rated PG-13 for sexual situations
Chapter 27 - Just an Ordinary Day
Kaoru got up early like she did every day. The birth of her second child was a month away and she was already huge but not like she was with Kenru. With Kenru, her weight had been more distributed, but this time she looked like she had swallowed a big round jar. Her stomach was completely distended and her belly button had flattened out. Sleeping was hard, even though Kenshin did his best to make her comfortable. Either she slept on her side, with Kenshin pressed against her back, arms encircling her, hands folded over the baby as if protecting him, or she slept on Kenshin's shoulder, her stomach propped up on his side. But no position was truly comfortable, and she had a month to go! She couldn't imagine getting any bigger!
After breakfast, she asked Kenshin if they could go for a short walk. They slowly walked to the foot of Miroku's favorite hill, but Kenshin refused to let her climb up it. Instead they sat under a tree, talking about every day things. Mostly about Tekku and Kamara. Tekku was their grandson. Time passed so strangely in Otherworld for them. They both looked and felt exactly the same age as when they arrived in Otherworld, but Kenshin was now 70 and Kaoru was 59 years old, and they had a grown and now-mated grandson! After a rest, they continued with their walk, going further down the path, and into the forest that surrounded the village. Little glens dotted the forest, filled with soft grassed, looking very much like little sleeping nooks. Perhaps the wolves used these to sleep in? They were comfortable and private, with tall ferns and trees screening each one. Kaoru went to the one of them and sunk down to the ground. Kenshin moved to her side, slipping his arms around her. She lifted her face to his and their lips met for a kiss. Kaoru lay down on the soft grasses and lifted up her hands to her husband.
"Is it alright? I mean you're very pregnant."
"Kaede says that we can as long as you don't put much weight on my stomach." Kaoru answered her husband.
He smiled and bent to kiss her. Her hands searched through his voluminous clothing for the opening, and then she pushed down his underwear. He sprang free, already partially at attention, and her hands finished the job. When they had first made love, it took her months to be able to touch him, but years of familiarity had made her bold. He kissed her harder and his hands opened her kimono, freeing her full breasts. His head moved downward to them as his hands pulled her skirt upward, over her hips, just below her swollen tummy. He pulled his clothing open completely, revealing himself; he was very ready.
"You're sure?" He asked again, not wanting to take any chances. Kaoru looked at her husband and gave a small giggle. "What would you do if I said no? You look very ready to me!"
"I would go behind that tree and use my own hands. Are you saying no?" Kenshin answered seriously, his brow knitting.
"I was just teasing. I assure you it is okay." She pulled him downward on top of her. He carefully positioned himself so that his weight was on his arms and legs and not on his wife. Then he slid inside.
For 43 years he had made love to Kaoru. For 43 years, his length had found its home inside of her body, and he loved the feeling each and every time. Kenshin would never get tired of joining with his Kaoru. She had saved his life and given him peace. Every time he made love to her, he remembered the feeling that he experienced when the Princess had allowed him to sense the depth of Kaoru's love for him. He would never forget the intensity and purity of her love.
It was late afternoon when the pair finally made their way home. Their clothing was a bit askew and there was grass in their hair. When they got to the dojo, Sanosuke and Katsu were sitting on the porch.
"Where have you two been? You've been gone all day."
"We just went for a walk." Kenshin replied.
Sanosuke stood up, towering over the diminutive pair, and pulled a piece of grass from Kaoru's hair. "Really? If I didn't know better, I'd think you two had been rolling in the hay."
Kaoru blushed bright red and excused herself to make dinner. Kenshin smiled and sat down next to Katsu. "It was a nice day."
Katsu looked up and smiled. "She is very special."
"Are you sure it's okay to...you know? She is awfully big." Sanosuke asked.
"Kaede said it was alright." Kenshin said. "It felt okay."
"I'm sure it did!" Sanosuke laughed.
Kenshin shook his head and went to help Kaoru. Miroku and Sango had been invited for dinner and he was going to prepare the main course. After years of practice, Kaoru finally learned to cook a decent meal without burning up the kitchen, but she would never be a good cook. Kenshin ground almonds into a fine meal and mixed the meal with seasonings and the added chicken broth, then poured the mixture over cut-up and skinned chicken pieces. He would put them into oven so the chicken would cook tender while the almond mixture cooked down. It was a very simple recipe, but resulted in a very tasty dish. While Kenshin was doing that, Kaoru was preparing vegetables which would be stir-fried just before they were served.
A little after dusk, Miroku and Sango walked over, bringing a jar of apricots canned in homemade brandy. Sango and Serafin had put up a number of jars a few months ago and this was the last of the batch. But there were ripe peaches on the trees and Sango had already promised preserves to the Wolves in return for picking them. Miroku had already made the brandy that would go on them. Everyone loved their canned fruits. After an excellent dinner, the two couples were sitting on the bench under the cherry tree.
"Have you thought of a name for your son?" Sango asked.
"Yes, his name will be Kenji. We are not going to put our names together this time; I think it depends on the names on how good the combination turns out. Kenru is okay, but I wish we had named her something a little prettier."
"It seems that Otherworld is beginning to discard that custom." Sango agreed. "You are so lucky to be having another child."
"I don't remember you going to the Human World." Miroku mused.
"Remember when we went to Miss Megume's funeral?" Kenshin said. "Katsu and Sanosuke also went with us. We were gone for nearly a week."
"Oh, now I remember. I guess we were still dealing with the Tala's at that time."
"Sango…" Kaoru asked, "the way you said we were lucky … do you want another child?"
"Yes, I would like a baby, but so far no luck. Now that Taiki is mated, it leaves us with only one grandchild unmated, Kain but we don't see him too often. He rarely leaves his father." Sango answered.
"I hear he is becoming just like Kaiba." Kenshin added.
"Yes, he definitely inherited his father's healing power." Miroku said.
"I still can't picture Taiki with a Bobcat. He is so sweet and gentle, and everything I've heard about Bobcats is just the opposite. Kenru is a good match for Tekki, she was never a sweet little girl, always a tomboy." Kaoru mused.
"Do you realize that we are related now by, well, Otherworld's idea of marriage. Taiki is your grandson and Tylee is the sister of our son-in-law, Tekki." Kenshin said.
Miroku laughed. "Isn't everybody in Otherworld related in one way or another?"
"It certainly seems that way!" Kenshin agreed.
Miroku and Sango didn't stay too much longer; Kaoru looked tired. Once they were home, Miroku asked Sango about a baby.
"I didn't realize you wanted another child, Sango."
"Well, I've been thinking about it. What do you think?"
"You know I love children, Sango. And I want anything that will make you happy." Miroku said earnestly.
"Then I think we should start right away!" Sango said with a smile, trying to tease, but ended up blushing instead.
Miroku laughed gently and took her in his arms. "My sweet Sango ... don't ever change!"
Back at the dojo, Kenshin told Kaoru to leave the dishes for tomorrow and he would do them in the morning. Kaoru climbed into bed and Kenshin curled around her, his hand pressed against her stomach; soon they were fast asleep.
"Kenshin! Kenshin!"
He woke up sleepily to his wife's voice. "Kaoru?"
"You need to get Kaede."
All semblances of sleep evaporated when he heard her words. He sat up, trying to see his wife in the dim light. "What's wrong?"
"I think the baby is coming."
Kenshin ran to wake up Sanosuke and sent him to get Kaede. This was too early! The birthing tub was not set up. Nothing was ready! Katsu led him back to Kaoru, trying to calm Kenshin down. The room was still dark; Kenshin had not even lit a lamp in his panic! Katsu lit all three lamps, filling the room with light. Kaoru was on her side, holding her stomach, gritting her teeth against the pain. A few minutes later, Kaede arrived and shooed them all outside. A short while later, she came out and told Katsu to boil water and Sanosuke to get Mirago. The baby was coming, and fast! There was no time for the birthing tub; Kaoru's contractions were already less than a minute apart.
"Kaede, is this my fault? I mean, Kaoru and I ... we ... ah, we..." Kenshin began, and then turned bright red.
"Nay, that had nothing to do with it. Babies will be born when they want to be born." Kaede assured him. "And anything that ye left behind was washed out when Kaoru broke her water. Now hurry up with ye!"
Kaede dragged a pale Kenshin into the bedroom, and instructed him to sit behind Kaoru, using his body to prop her up.
Kaoru tried to remember the breathing techniques but the pain was too intense. She screamed when the next contraction hit, digging her fingers into Kenshin's arms. He winced but said nothing, only held her tighter. Mirago came into the room, her arms filled with clean cloths for the new baby, while Sanosuke went to the storage room to find the Kenru's old bassinette and get it ready.
Another contraction hit. "Push hard!" Kaede commanded and Kaoru pushed with all her strength. "Again!" She gritted her teeth and pushed. The baby was out! Mirago took him to clean up and check while Kaede attended to Kaoru.
"Go outside for a while, Kenshin. I will call ye."
Kenshin went outside, with Sanosuke and Katsu trailing behind. "Well?"
"I think they are okay. Kaede told me to leave." Kenshin said, his voice filled with worry.
Long minutes passed and finally Mirago came out and told the men that they could come in. Kaoru was in bed, wrapped in warm blankets, smiling but looking very tired. In her arms was their son. "Kenji, meet your father."
Kenshin took the baby in his arms and the baby snuggled against him. Dark blue eyes looked up at him and dark hair covered his head. He had Kaoru's coloring. "He's beautiful!"
He showed the baby to Sanosuke and Katsu and they both agreed that he was indeed a beautiful baby. Sanosuke went to get the bassinet, and clean blankets were placed inside of it. But when Kenshin started to put Kenji into it, Kaoru reached for him. Sanosuke clapped him on the shoulder and then said goodnight. Kaede and Mirago also left, promising to come by in the morning. Once alone, Kaoru opened her nightgown and Kenshin watched his new son feed at her breast, brushing away tears of joy.
"He is a little small because he is a month premature, but Kaede says he is healthy and should grow quickly."
"He is wonderful, Kaoru."
When Kenji finished, she handed him to Kenshin who put the baby into his bassinette, then he turned out the lights and got into bed, with Kaoru settling on his shoulder. "What a night!"
"The perfect end to a wonderful day!" Kaoru murmured as she fell asleep.
"It sure was!" Kenshin agreed, and then he settled down to sleep, his wife in his arms and his new son sleeping beside him. His was indeed a wonderful life!