*Disclaimer* I do not own Rurouni Kenshin. My imagination is not that good. This is for entertainment purposes only.

Note: This one way how I see that Aoshi and Misao finally may have come together. It contains fluff, some violence, and a lemon at the end, so if you don't like naughty stuff, don't read it! If anyone still reads fics about this fandom, please read and review! This is my first story I've ever published though - so be gentle with me, it's my first time :D

Chapter 1

It was springtime in Kyoto, which is one of the most famous places in the world to take the season in. The days were bright and pleasant, and the intoxicating fragrance of thousands upon thousands of cherry blossoms carried in the breeze. It was evening, and many proprietors were closing their businesses for the day.

Makimachi Misao rushed down the street, holding a letter. Her blue-black hair was bound into a long, elaborate braid. Her wiry frame was dressed in a blue onmitsu gi, and she was running as fast as she could, visibly excited. She ran straight into the inn she lived at with her extended ninja family - the Oniwabanshu.

She ran right through the entrance, out to the courtyard, where an old man was sitting, sipping a cup of tea. Skidding to a halt, she sat down before him, grinning hugely.

"Jiya! You will never, ever guess who just sent me a letter and what it says!" She bubbled excitedly.

The old man studied her for a moment, before deciding what to say. "It couldn't possibly be the lady proprietor of the ceramics shop, inquiring as to when we plan to pay her back for the shelf of vases you knocked over last month, could it?"

Misao made a face at him. "We both know that wasn't my fault. Her bratty son pushed me into them."

The old man looked thoughtful for a moment. Then his face lit up a bit. "Hmmm... well the only other guess I have is that you've received some sort of good news from our friends Himura Kenshin and Kaoru, from Tokyo."

"You got it!" She grinned, and said, "I am pleased to announce that Kenshin and Kaoru are expecting their first child sometime in the coming weeks! They're very excited!"

At this news, Okon and Omasu rushed in the courtyard. "A baby! How sweet!" "Oh, how darling!"

"That is pleasant news indeed," said Okina. "After the events of these past few years, those two deserve some happiness. But I can tell from the look on your face that you have more to say."

Misao could hardly contain her excitement. "Kaoru-san has requested my company for the next month. She wishes me to be present when the child is born, and to help her manage her house for a while afterwards. Of course Kenshin is helpful, but Sano and Yahiko know nothing about babies, and probably wouldn't be much use even if they did. And of course, Megumi is busier than ever as a doctor."

"Well, I can't imagine that she would find you very useful in helping her give birth! You don't know much about babies yourself, Misao-chan!" teased Okon, who regretted it immediately after seeing her face. "Oh, I'm so sorry, lamb. I forgot." She bit her lip.

"It's okay, Okon, I know you didn't mean it. It's true, I don't know anything about babies, but I certainly love them. Maybe, if I'm very lucky someday, I'll have one of my own, though it's very unlikely.

"Jiya, I have come to request permission to go to Tokyo. I would not go if you deemed that my absence will hurt the Aoiya and the Oniwabanshu. May I?"

The old man took his last sip of tea, put his cup down, and looked at Misao, preparing to answer her. But before he could, a low voice came from the doorway.

"You should not go."

Everyone turned around, to look. Shinomori Aoshi was standing in the door of the courtyard, looking at everyone through his narrowed eyes. He was dressed in his temple robe, coming back from his daily meditations, when he overheard the conversation. Misao immediately flashed him a glance that held more than a hint of defiance, though it was veiled.

"Okina, you know as well as I do that there is a group of very dangerous Yakuza roaming the borders of Tokyo."

The old man gave him a glance, nodded, and said, "That is true, Aoshi. I've heard they have been getting drunk, starting fires, and distributing opium. They also have a bad reputation as to how they treat women in particular." He gave a meaning look at Misao, who at 19, was most definitely past the general marrying age and considered to be a woman.

"Oh, Jiya, you know that I am careful and capable! Yakuza! Really? You think I can't handle a few renegade thugs?"

"Well, Misao, you've improved immensely, but 20 on one is a fight only our friend Himura could hope to win. Not just that, but traveling lone women are a target."

"Well, I must go by myself. You need Okon and Omasu here, and the last thing Kaoru needs is more men around," she said, shooting a sidelong glance at the impassive Aoshi. "I would take the train, but it's so expensive! Please, Jiya, consider it!"

The old man sighed. He got up, very slowly, and very lightly re-arranged some of the decorative rocks by the pond. "I'm not so sure, Misao. What Aoshi says is true. There have been many reports of people being caught, robbed, and beaten by these men. People have been poisoned, and left to die. And," he paused, trying to find a way to put it delicately, "Young ladies like yourself have had their purity compromised by these men."

Misao gave him a quizzical look, not understanding, when Aoshi said quietly, "They were raped, Misao." She looked horrified for a second, but set her face into a stubborn line. "Normal women, maybe, but I bet none of them were trained in martial arts. Jiya, Kaoru needs me!" She gave him a pleading glance.

"She may very well, Misao, but I am sure she would prefer you alive and unharmed in any case. Megumi is a doctor, and that is all she needs to safely bring her child into the world. Now I haven't said no, yet," declared the old man, looking at the tears gathering in her eyes.

Aoshi stepped up to him, starting to say, "Okina-" but the old man waved his hand, and gave him a meaningful glance. "You and I will discuss this later," he said. "For now, I say that Misao may go tomorrow - if she manages to get past you, that is," he smiled at Aoshi. Misao's face fell.

"Not fair, Jiya! You know I haven't a prayer at defeating Aoshi-sama right now!" Misao said, somewhat trembling. Even speaking about Aoshi was still difficult for her.

He was so very distant and unapproachable, as always. He went to the temple, and came home. Misao still always brought him something to eat at midday, but he was like a ghost to her. He never acknowledged her presence. The love she held for him was still as deep as ever, but it wasn't much different from loving a tree. Sure, it was living, strong, and vital to life, but it couldn't love you back. At least, that's how Misao felt.

It also occurred to her that because of her letter, she had not met Lord Aoshi at the temple to walk home with him. She wondered if he even noticed. Probably not, she thought.

The sun was setting, and it was time for dinner. She trudged slowly into the kitchen with everyone else, trying to figure out how to beat Aoshi. Everyone else except Aoshi and herself chattered wildly about the exciting news, but Misao only answered direct questions and largely ate in silence, which no one noticed. That is, no one except Aoshi himself.

For the first time in a long time, she noticed that he was stealing glances at her. He seemed like he was trying to guess what she was thinking, so she made her face as deadpan as possible. In most people, this would at least help them to appear unreadable. Unfortunately for Misao, she was an open book, as always.

She finished first, excused herself, and went toward her room, thinking. She wasn't paying any attention and turned the corner to her room, running headlong into Aoshi's chest, and falling backwards on her rear end with a crash.

Oh my goodness! Not now! She thought. Turning red as a cherry, she looked up to see him staring down at her.

"I still think you should not go, Misao," he said. "You overestimate yourself and you underestimate your danger. You could be hurt, or worse."

Suddenly, all the emotion that Misao had been holding in flared up in an instant. "What do you care! You never even notice that I'm here! I mean nothing to you!" She ran off to her room, in tears. How could he, of all people, dare to preach to her about her safety, when until recently, he couldn't have cared less whether she lived or died? She cried for a good half-hour, feeling sorry for herself, before she remembered that she needed to figure out a way to defeat him in battle. That was when an idea went off in her head like a light bulb.

"Of course! It's too easy!" She smiled, hugged herself, and then thought, well, as long as I can pull it off, anyway.