Aoshi stepped into the Aoiya, dripping water onto the floor and shaking with cold. He had just opened his mouth to call for Omasu when a little girl came tripping down the stairs humming softly to herself. She stopped in shock, eyes going wide when she saw Aoshi. This was not the first time that he had met the young girl, but the last time she had seen him had been almost two years ago when she was only a small infant. Squeaking with fright Izumi turned and ran back up the stairs calling "Mama! Mama! There's a man downstairs!"

The tall man heaved a heavy sigh and leaned back against the doorframe. It had been a long journey from Tokyo and one not made any easier by the persistent memories that refused to leave him in peace. He closed his eyes and rested his head on the hard wood. He knew he needed to get out of these wet clothes soon but he didn't feel right walking into the Aoiya anymore, not since he had left to live in Tokyo. It was one thing to leave with the promise of coming back and yet another to leave and settle in a new house of your own in a new town. As much as he might want it to be, this was not his home anymore.

"Aoshi!" The man snapped out of his reverie when he heard Omasu's voice calling him from the stairs. "Izumi honey, stay upstairs with papa while I go talk to Aoshi." Something was wrong with her voice; she sounded...panicked?

"Aoshi, thank Gods you've come!" Omasu appeared in front of him with a face drawn in worry. "I don't know what to do! Where could she be? And in this rainstorm we will be lucky to see anything at all! I don't even know where to look anymore, she's been so secretive lately. I never thought she would just run off like this or I would have spent more time watching over her!"

Aoshi had been getting more and more worried as Omasu continued to rant and when it became clear that she was talking about Misao, his insides froze with dread. He gripped the panicked woman by her shoulders and shook her gently. "When was the last time you saw her?"

Omasu looked up, her face wan and tearstained. "This evening, she came down before dinner and got some rice and fish. She's been eating in her room lately and..." Her voice died away as she realized just how isolated the young ninja girl had become. "Oh Aoshi!" She buried her face in her hands, choking on a sob. "We have to find her."

Aoshi closed his eyes, willing his panic to subside and not take control of him completely. "Misao is a strong girl. She will take care of herself." He wasn't sure if he was convincing Omasu or himself at this point. "Did she take her Kunai?"

"Y-yes," Omasu stammered, "and it looks like she took her warmest cloak with her as well, I didn't see it in her room."

A shaky sigh of relief escaped from Aoshi's lips as he felt his panic begin to lesson. The fact that she had taken her weapons and her cloak ruled out a possibility for him that Omasu had not thought of; a kidnapper. But that left only the one other option and that was that Misao had left, run away of her own free will. Why? Why would Misao run away like that? What could have possibly been causing her so much pain?

Could it be...? No, not possible. He was not worthy of her tears, certainly not capable of making such an outgoing young girl so miserable. Was he? Was he...the cause of this? What if all that time that he thought he was doing the right thing by staying away, he had really been hurting her? Could that even be possible? Could it be possible that ... she loved...

"Aoshi?" He looked at Omasu, surprised to find that he still had a hold of her shoulders and that there was a tear running down his face. Even as he looked at her Omasu's face softened, showing compassion and fear. "Aoshi, you need to go to her. She has always needed you and now I fear it might... it might be too late."

Pain washed through his body at these words, compelling him to straighten and back away. "Do you have any idea where she would have gone?" His voice was quiet, but he couldn't keep it from shaking. He suddenly felt like he had been the biggest idiot in Japan, blind and a fool. Omasu shook her head sadly.

"I don't know Aoshi. It's possible that she headed for Tokyo, maybe going to stay with the Himura's. They are the only people that I know of who are friends of Misao's besides everyone here."

Aoshi shook his head. "No, I took the roads here from Tokyo, walking and on horseback. I would have passed her on the way." Both of them fell silent for a moment, each wracking their brain for answers as to where the petite ninja could have run to. A gasp broke the silence, Aoshi's face dawning with belated comprehension. "You said that she had been going out into the city by herself, did you not?"

"Yes," Omasu replied quietly, "but we don't know where she went. We wanted to respect her wishes and we did not follow her."

"Which direction did she take when she left?"

"Um... North I think. Why?"

Aoshi closed his eyes, trying to squeeze back vicious tears. Of course, why hadn't he seen it sooner? "I think I know where she is. I'll be back before sunrise." With that he turned abruptly and walked out into the rain.

Disclaimer: I still don't own Rurouni Kenshin or its characters. Of all the luck...

I think I figured out my formatting problem, a wonderful copy and paste box! I will update again soon!