Chapter 1 – Mystery Calls

Misao smiled as she looked at the Kamiya dojo, impatient to walk through its doors. It had only been a month since they had last been to Tokyo, but it had seemed like a lifetime when she had been at Kyoto, where she had been nothing but bored.

But now she was back, and it wouldn't be long before everyone in the dojo knew it.

She sighed as she hoisted her satchel higher on her shoulder and turned to look Aoshi. He didn't meet her gaze as he helped Okina carry the few belongings they had brought with them.

He hadn't changed much since they had last left Tokyo. He was still the same silent, brooding man, often meditating at the temple. Everyday she would watch him, sitting motionless, his back straight, his eyes closed in concentration. Secretly, she wished that he would turn and just once catch her stare. But he never did.

"Hurry up, Gramps!" she called. "What's taking you so long?"

She turned back towards the dojo, tapping her fingers against her bundle impatiently. Then, with a huff, she stepped towards the dojo doors, deciding to go in without them.

"Misao."

She froze, her heart doing a leap inside of her as she heard Aoshi say her name. She knew her face was flushed as she turned to him.

"Listen," he had said softly as he took her wrist and pulled her away from the front gate, setting the bags down beside him. They both glanced at Okina who stood behind them, but he was busy practicing his new move he wanted to use on Kenshin.

"We don't need you stirring up any trouble. Not with them involved." Aoshi nodded towards the dojo. "Give the money to me and I'll take care of it."

Misao was taken aback. He had never spoken to her about what she did. Not like this.

And how had he known about the money? She was sure she had hidden it well.

"And if you want to hide something," he continued. "be sure to conceal it somewhere where your sewing can't be recognized." Something like amusement sparked in his blue eyes. But only for a moment.

All surprise was gone as it liquidized into indignation. With an angry jerk, Misao yanked her wrist from his grasp.

"What I do is none of your beeswax," she snapped, tossing her braid behind her shoulder, gripping her satchel harder. "And so what if I can't sew?" She blushed a little.

She had actually sewn the money on the underside of her travel sack, not really caring how sloppy and hastily made stitches were. Or that the material she used as a cover up was flower-printed cotton and not beige canvas.

"But if what you do does anything to bring trouble to the Battousai or his 'league', I suppose it could be called, then I have no choice but to make it my…beeswax." Aoshi stared down into her eyes, unblinking.

Misao looked down at the ground, berating herself inwardly. Baka! How are you supposed to be leader of the Oniwabanshuu when you do things like this? And…how is Aoshi-sama ever going to look at you as an equal?

Taking a deep breath, she looked up. "Go ahead and take the money. It shouldn't be hard to pluck out the stitches."

She smiled at him before turning to go through the gate of the Kamiya dojo.

"Come on, Gramps!" she called over her shoulder. "I can't wait to see to see Kenshin kick your butt!"

Kenshin looked up from mending his gi.

"Someone is here," he said.

Kaoru, who was still struggling to get thread through a needle, glanced at him.

"How do you know?"

"This one hears footsteps."

Frustrated, she threw down the needle and thread.

"You and your chi," she muttered as she went to the dojo door.

Kenshin smiled slightly as he bent over his sewing.

As soon as Kaoru's hand touched the latch, there was a sharp knock on the door. She looked at it in surprise, then turned to Kenshin.

"That's just not right," she declared before she slid open the door.

"Hello!" Misao shouted in her face as she shouldered her way into the dojo. "Hi, Himura! Nice to see you again!"

"It has been a while, Misao-dono," the redheaded rorouni said as he stood in greeting.

"Too long," said Okina as he stepped through the doorway. "It is a pleasure to see you again, Himura-san."

"And you, Okina-san," Kenshin replied, bowing slightly. "And you too, Aoshi."

Aoshi nodded his head as he too stepped into the dojo.

Kaoru looked uncomfortable as she looked between the group, clasping her hands in front of her, not knowing what to do next. She turned desperately to Kenshin, who caught her eye.

"Would you all like some tea?" he asked cheerfully as he led the way to the sitting room. "After such a long journey…"

"Tea would be great!" Misao said as she flopped onto one of the cushions. "I'm parched!"

"Yes please, Himura," Okina said, giving Misao a fierce look that she ignored.

Kaoru was quiet as she felt a twinge of apprehension when she saw Aoshi follow Kenshin down the hall to the kitchen, his face dark.

Kenshin said nothing as he boiled the tealeaves, waiting for Aoshi to speak. The former leader of the Oniwabbanshuu leaned against the doorway of the kitchen, his arms crossed, his eyes following his every move.

"It is strange to see the Battosai serving tea," he said finally.

Kenshin glanced up as he placed cups and saucers on a circular tray.

"This one finds pleasure in serving others."

"Even old enemies?"

Looking askance at him, Kenshin moved to the teapot over the fire, slowly stirring the tealeaves with a wooden spoon.

"This one has never considered you as an enemy, Aoshi."

"I have tried to kill you twice."

"Both those times are forgotten."

The two of them were silent for a moment as Kenshin poured the liquid into the small clay teapot on the tray, wisps of steam curling into the air.

"But you didn't come to discuss the past," he said as he straightened to look him in the eyes. "You would not come all this way to speak of meaningless things that cannot be changed."

Aoshi's mouth twitched as he regarded Kenshin. "You know me well."

Kaoru sat on the cushion on the floor and had opened her mouth to speak, when there was a loud bang from the door being shut in the front entryway.

"It's all your fault, Sanosuke!" came Yahiko's angry voice.

"My fault? How can it be my fault?" Sano yelled back.

"It's your fault I got laid off from my job, 'cause you never pay! How can they afford to keep me working if you're freeloading all the time?"

"I think you're upset just because you won't have an excuse to see Tsubame anymore."

"Shut up!"

The voices got louder until the two stood at the doorway of the sitting room and froze.

"Uh…hi, guys," Sano said, smiling broadly. "When did you get here?"

Yahiko said nothing as he glared at him.

"Okina-san and Misao just arrived," Kaoru said, giving him a hard look. "And we were just going to have tea-"

"Well, then," said Sano as he plopped down on a cushion beside her. "I guess I'll stay for a while."

Both Kaoru and Yahiko muttered the word at the same time.

"Moocher."

Aoshi reached inside of his coat and pulled out a piece of paper. Kenshin couldn't help but lift his brow in some surprise when he glimpsed the hidden kodachi sheath hanging at his hip.

Aoshi didn't seem to notice as he unfolded the thin white paper and handed it to him.

He spoke in a low voice. "I received this two days ago at the Aoiya."

Kenshin read the few lines.

Forgotten blood waits

As autumn winds whisper:

Follow the unknown.

-Misuteri

"Misuteri…" he murmured.

"You have heard that name before?" Aoshi asked, stepping towards him.

Kenshin shook his head, handing him the paper. "It's not really a name…it is the character for 'mystery'. This one can't really say he has."

Aoshi stared at the paper. "I don't know who it is," he said in a quiet voice. "Though I wonder what they want me to do…and what will happen if I don't."

"You are concerned about other's welfare?" Kenshin looked knowingly towards the room where the group sat.

The other man's face only hardened as he looked at Kenshin, then back down at the haiku's three lines.

"Forgotten blood…but whose?"

"Hey, Himura, where's our tea?"

Kaoru winced at piercing quality of Misao's voice.

Okina looked reprovingly at her, but of course, Misao didn't notice.

"So…what brings you here to Tokyo, Okina-san?" Kaoru asked, casually stimulating conversation.

The old man stroked his gray mustache. "Nothing much really…we were all rather bored in Kyoto and I was invited to visit an old friend of mine here. And I just really wanted an excuse to get out of town."

"And of course I wasn't going to let him leave me behind!" Misao interrupted, jutting her thumb towards herself.

Sano rolled his eyes. "Of course not," he muttered.

"And when Aoshi made it known that he too wished to come, I couldn't say no. So we all came, though I am very sorry that I didn't send any warning of our arrival."

"Oh, it's no trouble at all," Kaoru said politely as Kenshin came in with a tray laden with a teapot and cups.

"I will be staying at an inn, though Misao expressed a wish to stay here…"

She didn't hear anymore of Okina's words as she watched the two men enter the room, a sickening flutter passing over her heart. Both of their faces were grim, but when Kenshin caught her troubled eyes, he grinned reassuringly. She feebly smiled back, but that didn't ease the sense of uneasiness that came over her. Whatever they had talked about in the kitchen, it was something serious that brought Shinomori Aoshi to Tokyo.