The carriage jolted as it hit a bump in the road, Saitouh had lit another cigarette and was watching the village we wre passing through as it thundered and poured outside the carriage. Misao fianlly gave up waiting for Saitouh to say anything about what Jiya wanted.
" Well!" She snapped making him look at her with impatience.
" What do you want, girl?" He asked.
" What does Jiya want, what did he tell you, why does he want me home so soon?" She fired question after question at him until he held up his hand for silence.
" I don't know what he wants, I just happened to be in Kyoto, and Okina asked me to fetch you the Battousai's, I had something to ask him anyway, so it worked well for me, now no more talking, is complete silence to much to ask?" He ended asking. Misao fell silent. Why did Jiya want me home so early? Is he ill? Is he sick? Oh, Kami, I hope he's alright? Misao at thinking to herself. Leaning bck against the leather seats of the carriage, Misao pulled out the book she had been reading: The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter. It had been her favorite book since she had been a child, Lord Aoshi used to read it to her, before he left with Hannya and the others. He's not ever going to love you, you know, you should just give up on him, why waste your time and energy on something you can't fix? Soujiro's words rang in her ears. Was he right? Am I seeking a lost cause, or is that I just think too much, and place opinions are other beliefs?

The carriage came to a holt as Misao finished reading the final page. Saitouh opened the carriage door and stepped out, then he moved back so she could get out as well. Slipping the book into her fighting kimono, she opened the doors to the Aoiya where she found Okon and Omasu taking orders from customers, Omasu smiled and pointed to the back room before going back to her job. Misao slipped into the back room and saw Okina looking over papers at his desk. He looked up and smiled.
" Welcome back, Misao, how are you?" He asked pushing the papers aside. Misao stared, he seemed healthy enough.
" I'm alright, what about you, you're not sick are you, Jiya?" Misao asked settling herself down in a chair beside the desk.
" No, Misao, I am not sick, why would you think that?" He gave a puzzled look. Misao sighed.
" Well, you called me back on such short notice, I know there had to be an urgent reason," Misao explained, helping herself to one of the candies on the desk. Okina sighed.
" Yes, Misao, this is of some urgency, in less than a year's time, you will take your place as the rightful Oniwabanshuu leader, but no one can be a leader unless they are bound in matrimony," Okina answered. Misao swallowed the candy whole and began choking, Okina had to get up and help her before she killed herself. Okina then sat down as Misao caught her breath and gave him a quizzical look.
" So, what you're telling me is that, you need me to find a husband?" She asked. Okina shook his head.
" No need, I have already found the perfect husband for you," He replied. Misao was fuming, she had never met this guy and yet she was to be married to him, sometimes Okina really was senile.
" Well, do I get to know anything about him, if i'm going to be married to the creep, at least tell me something!" She demanded standing up. Okina just chuckled.
" I don't know why you need to know anything else about him, you already know his life story," Okina said. Misao glared.
" Not Soujiro Seta, please not him," She begged.
" No, not him, i've heard you two don't get along at all, I wouldn't have you marry him, for marriage is bond of trust, friendship, and companionship, if not love," Okina said.
" Then who the hell is it?" She asked getting nervous know. Okina braced himself, this was going to come as a shock.
" His name is...Aoshi Shinomori," Okina spoke quietly. Misao sat stunned. It appeared like the world froze in that moment. Misao stood and left the room and the Aoiya, and made her way to the dojo. Sliding open her bedroom door, she closed it behind, flung herself down on her futon, and cried all the tears in her she had to cry. Trust, I understand, I would trust Lord Aoshi with my life, but friendship and companionship, Jiya what were you thinking, Lord Aoshi doesn't even notice i'm there, how can I hope for him to ever become my friend and companion? With her final tears drained from her body, Misao fell into a deep sleep.

She woke a couple of hours later to see it to be mid-afternoon, she had made up her mind, she had to talk to Lord Aoshi, he was the only one who could make Okina see some sense in his decision. Misao walked out the back door of the dojo and walked silently across the yard, to the temple. Silently sliding open the doors, Misao walked in the room, unsurprised Aoshi was sitting there, meditating. His back was to her, but Misao walked up to him. But before she got too close he turned.
" What do you need, Misao?" He asked, his eyes never leaving hers.
" Umm...has Jiya told you anything yet?" She asked. Aoshi stared then placed his hand beside him.
" Have a seat," He ordered before getting up for the tea jug.
" Tea?" He asked.
" Yes, thank you," she answered. He poured them both a cup and sat down beside her.
" Okina has told you his decision then?" He asked. Misao nodded and took a sip of her tea. She stared down into its murky depths.
" What do you suppose we do?" Misao asked. Aoshi looked a little confused.
" I suppose it's Okina choice, are you worried?" He asked in his mono voice.
" I just want to know if you can handle marriage," Misao explained.
" What you really want to ask is if I can handle being a true husband," He answered. Misao flinched.
" I can't make no guarantees, Misao, but I will try to be a husband," He replied, taking a sip of his tea.