Disclaimer: Standard disclaimers apply. None of the characters from
Rurouni Kenshin belong to me. They belong to Nobuhiro Watsuki and I
acknowledge all his rights and the rights of the various companies
associated with RK.

Author's Note: The only things that are mine are the imaginary children,
the nameless ninja group and members. I actually am a staunch
Misao/Aoshi supporter but it occurred to me that Megumi and Aoshi are
rather similar. Hmm ...simply pursued the story from that angle. This
was my very first fanfic. Be merciful. *bows*

Btw, Mir-san at Tales of The Meiji Era is kind enough to host my stuff
and a vast array of others. Go and VISIT, especially now that the new
version is up. I dunno if I'm allowed to write out the link but TFME is
part of the Rurouni Kenshin Fanfiction webring. You can find it there!

Synopsis: The Oniwabanshuu are ill and Aoshi sets out to Aizu for our
resident famous doctor. But a few sneak attacks convince both of them
that something more is afoot. Also, mystery is not the only thing
brewing in the air as Aoshi discovers that Megumi and he have a lot more
in common ...

Note: Flashbacks indicated by ***


SOUL MATES

"Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same ......"
(Wuthering Heights, Emily Bronte)



Chapter One:

A chill wind rustled the long grass, slapping it against the temple
gates and walls. Autumn was fast fading, like the rich golden leaves
that were turning a pale yellow. The days were shorter too, the nights
longer and colder. Ensconced inside the meditation hall, Shinomori Aoshi
calculated that it would be a month before the first snow fell. Before
Japan's first winter without Misao would arrive.

The wind blew sharp and harsh, tugging at Aoshi's hair, piercing the
thin garments he wore.

She had been gone for almost five months now and he wondered how she
would find the American winters. Would they be like the Japanese ones,
clear and crisp, natural and unforgiving Nature in all her resplendent
white glory? Would she like the Oniwabanshuu members who had settled
there? Aoshi knew that there were at least four young men amongst the
ten members. Good, he thought, perhaps she would forget all about him in
time. After all, that had been her main purpose in leaving.

She had come to him the last night before her departure, with tea in her
hands and a hidden but visible hope in her heart that he would ask her
to stay. And she had looked so beautiful, Kami-sama forgive him for
almost faltering.


***
"I don't understand Aoshi-sama." Misao looked at him, naked misery in
her eyes. "I've done everything I possibly can, been as understanding as
I can possibly be and still you won't let me in."

"Misao, I already told you a long time ago, nothing will ever change the
way I am. Or the way things stand between us." He had turned the cool
force of his gaze upon her deliberately, watching her shrink from the
lack of feeling in them. "I did tell you."

"But it's been almost two years since--"

"Misao, stop. I won't change my mind."

***

At that point he had looked away, pointedly closed his eyes and resumed
meditating. The discussion was over. Misao silently gathered the teacups
and pot onto the tray before rising to leave. For a moment Aoshi sensed
her waiting, standing there. Whether she was hoping for a last minute
reprieve or whether she was deciding to dump the leftover tea on his
head, he was never certain. But the next day when she left, she didn't
say good-bye. Okina had looked at him coldly as well, some of his
devastation at Misao's leaving translating into anger at Aoshi.

But what else could he have done? Aoshi debated even now as he descended
the steps of the temple, eyes sweeping the surroundings out of habit and
a caution that was ingrained as instinct. If he had left the Aoiya and
wandered Japan, Misao would simply have done exactly what she had done
before: hunt him down. No, as long as both of them were on the same
island or continent, neither one would be able to make any progress. By
forcing Misao to leave, he was giving her a chance to escape him and the
memories of all they had weathered together. Always as mentor and
student, the protégé and the Okashira she had taken the reins of
leadership from ...but never as lovers. If they had been, he would never
have let her go.

To his surprise, Aoshi realised that he was already inside the Aoiya
grounds. About to proceed to his room, he was distracted by the sound of
severe coughing, the kind that raised one's hackles. It was Okina. The
old man was nearly bent double as he pressed a hand to his mouth. When
he removed it, his eyes widened but a movement from Aoshi alerted him to
the unseen watcher.

"Aoshi," Okina casually brushed the tips of his fingers over his white
beard, looking for all the world like nothing had happened. The wily old
man could have fooled anyone else but Aoshi knew what he had seen.
Striding forward, he caught Okina's wrist before the latter could dodge
and he got a good look at the bloodstained palm before Okina snapped his
hand closed.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Aoshi demanded quietly.

"I've been to see the doctor. No," Okina said almost dismissively. "Make
that three doctors. None of them have been able to cure me but I've been
diagnosed with what the gaijin refer to as consumption."

A sickness of the lungs that caused the person to cough and bring up
large amounts of blood, resulting in certain death. Okina was somewhat
in the middling stage, judging from what Aoshi had seen. Just then, Okon
and Omasu passed by. Okon's normally clear golden complexion was pale
and wan. Omasu was coughing slightly.

Okina's grim expression confirmed what Aoshi suspected. "I should have
left and confined myself in the clinic," he muttered angrily. Okon and
Omasu had screeched and almost physically forced him to remain at the
Aoiya where they could personally care for him. Now they had caught it
as well. "Aoshi, I would advise you to leave the grounds as soon as
possible. Please notify the resident doctor and leave things to his
discretion. In the meantime, we three shall remain here. Kiro and Shiro
won't be back until two months from now and I will write to inform them
of the situation when that time is up."

The young man looked calmly down at him, blue eyes and fine features
moulded into a perfect model of impassiveness. When Aoshi spoke, it was
with the decisive air of a leader, his leader, Okina acknowledged within
the secret confines of his heart. "I will do as you have asked. However,
I am not going to stay away and leave you, Okon and Omasu to die of this
disease. I will journey to Aizu and bring back Takani Megumi or her
brother. In the mean time," Aoshi turned and stared at Okina, "you stay
alive. That's an order."

Within half an hour he was gone, Okina watching him from the doorway.
Just whether or not Aoshi would be successful this time in saving his
Oniwabanshuu followers, Okina was not certain. But one thing he did
know. Like Hannya, Shoujiko, Beshimi and Hyottoko, he would be damned
first before he let Aoshi down. Besides, Misao was likely to come back,
exhume his grave and slap him into resurrection. Okina chuckled at the
thought as he headed back into the inn. Yes, they would be able to hold
on for at least a while, thanks to years of martial arts training and
discipline. But a strong body was still made of flesh, bone and blood.
Sooner or later it would give out. The question was whether Aoshi could
find them a cure in time.

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