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.


Chapter Eight:

He smelled her on the cold draft that blew into the temple hall, that
sweet cherry blossom fragrance she favoured. All the time he had
wondered when she would come to him and Aoshi realised that he had
wasted an entire morning trying to meditate. The thought made him chuckle.

"What's so funny?" She raised a fine brow at him, appearing at the
entrance and leaned one saucy hip against the doorway. He greeted her
with a kiss that was wholly inappropriate, considering their
surroundings before they descended the steps.

"Okina received a letter and medallion from the shinobi whose life you
spared. He also apologised to me via the letter as well." Aoshi nodded.
"Somehow I think you knew things would end this way."

"Kenichi is a good man, honourable. I knew he would see that things
turned out right."

"I find that rather hard to say, especially given his utter willingness
to sacrifice me on the altar of 'justified' revenge," Megumi replied
dryly. She yelped when Aoshi wrapped his arms around her waist and
pulled her behind a large tree.

"Which is why I knocked him out with one blow. I didn't have to hit him
that hard to render him unconscious but as you say, he was rather
willing to see you dead." Aoshi smiled wickedly before he kissed her
long and hard.

When they parted, both their faces were flushed with passion and their
clothes were somewhat rumpled. Dragging his mouth over hers once more,
Aoshi brought both of them to the ground, one hand fisted in her hair
while the other slipped under her skirt.

"Aoshi, don't. Not here," she protested half-heartedly against his lips,
trying to stop him. Her own hands were already underneath the robe he
wore, running over warm skin, feeling the beating of his heart accelerate.

Then they both heard it. Footsteps, fleet and light. At once they both
got to their feet, brushing off their clothes and hair. Aoshi was about
to whisper to Megumi that they slip off when whoever it was passed them
when he heard the familiar call.

"Aoshi-sama, I'm back!"

"Misao." Her name slipped from his lips unconsciously and with almost
uncanny hearing, Misao zoomed in on them.

"Aoshi-sama, what are you ...doing ...there?" She slowed to a halt,
confusion written on her face as she made out a second figure almost
behind him. "Me-megumi-san?"

Calmly, Megumi stepped out, her face wreathed in a welcoming smile as
she took Misao's hand. Not one hair was out of place, save for a few
unsuspicious wrinkles on her clothes. "Misao, welcome home! Aoshi and I
were discussing some things," she said vaguely but casually. "Have you
seen Okina yet?"

"Oh yes, he's in great shape, Megumi-san. I really must thank you and I
bought something for you. Actually, I bought something for everyone,"
she added hesitantly, wide blue eyes looking at Aoshi.

"Well, then, let's go see what you have for us then." Megumi linked her
arm around Misao's as the younger girl eagerly chatted about her time
spent in America.

Aoshi walked some distance behind them, eyes on both women. Misao was
eighteen now and her time in America had done her good. She was a little
tanner, taller and from the looks of it, she would need a new uniform
soon. But it was Megumi who troubled Aoshi. She had played her part
perfectly, covering up any stunned reaction on his part that would have
caused Misao to suspect them. But why would she want to hide their
relationship from Misao? And throughout her whole performance, not once
had she looked him in the eye.
...........

Dinner was an ironically funny affair. While Okina, Okon and Omasu had
exchanged secret worried glances between themselves and at Aoshi and
Megumi, Misao and the other two Oniwabanshuu, Takeshi and Kimura, seemed
utterly oblivious to the tension in the air.

Takeshi was obviously smitten with Misao and Megumi approved of him. He
was good-looking, sensitive to Misao's needs and was a perfect
gentleman. And from what Okina said, he was highly skilled as well.
Megumi smiled throughout the affair and said all the right things. But
the rice in her bowl was hardly touched and Takeshi commented at one
point that she seemed rather pale. Okina had coughed heartily then and
sent everyone into a fit of panic before he croaked that he had merely
choked on a piece of fish.
..........

Aoshi breathed calmly and stopped himself from glaring at Kimura,
choosing instead to focus on the conversation. But if that man touched
Megumi's sleeve one more time ... after an indefinitely long and painful
hour, dinner was over. Megumi pleaded fatigue and retreated to her
bedroom after she received her gift. Somehow or another, time passed and
everyone said their 'goodnights' and retired. Except him and Misao.

"Aoshi-sama, I saved your present for the last." Her eyes sparkled like
sapphires, just like her mother's had.

A gentle tug on the silver ribbon and it parted. Lifting the lid, Aoshi
saw a silver locket with a long chain attached to it. It was real
silver, he noted with surprise, wondering how Misao had gotten the money
to buy this for him.

"Open it," she urged and he did. "Do you like it?"

For some reason her gaze had turned sharp and speculative. Aoshi exhaled
softly, staring at the picture of her inside. "Of course I like it,
Misao. It's a lovely gift." He meant every word of it but his heart was
heavy. So she had not moved on. And judging from Megumi's behaviour
tonight, it seemed likely that if Misao were to pursue him once more,
Megumi might very well back out of the way. He rebelled instinctively at
the thought. She wouldn't do that. He knew she wouldn't.

"You'd better like it. I gave one to Jiya too. This is all you'll have
to remember me for a very long time."

"What?"

She laughed merrily at his surprise before explaining. "I've decided to
move to America, Aoshi-sama. You are all welcome to visit anytime you
want. I'll be dropping in on Kaoru-san and Himura as well before I go back."

"Why would you want to live there?" He must have sounded so discouraging
that Misao frowned rather indignantly.

"Why not? I happen to like it there. The Oniwabanshuu there are
extremely nice as well. I help out at the inn and when I'm not working,
I do other stuff as well."

"Like?" He knew that cheeky tone of voice. It meant that Misao was doing
something she wasn't supposed to.

"Well, Kimura and Takeshi help the local police catch robbers and
sometimes they prevent train heists. Of course, they know how to shoot
with guns as well. Anyway, in return for our help, we get to keep some
of the recovered loot."

"Does Genkaku know about this?" He was the man in charge of the
Oniwabanshuu there.

"Of course but he turns a blind eye to it. Don't worry Aoshi-sama,
Takeshi would never, never let anything happen to me," she insisted
emphatically even as her eyes shone a little brighter at the mention of
his name. So, there was a mutual interest between the two youngsters.

"He'd better not or he'll have to answer to Okina and me."

"Hai, Aoshi-sama!" Suddenly, Misao reached out and hugged Aoshi
impulsively. "Thank you for looking after me Aoshi-sama. You'll always
be my onii-chan and my teacher. And also, thank you for making me go to
America," she said softly. "I have had a wonderful time there."

As she was slipping off to her room, Misao suddenly turned around and
flashed Aoshi a bright smile. "By the way, you'd better go and explain
things to Megumi-san. She seemed a little worried today so you go assure
that your feelings for her are for always. I'm not blind, Aoshi-sama. I
too was busy keeping an eye on Takeshi. Good thing he was only polite.
But if you want, I'll box Kimura's ears for you, neh?"

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