And will no wizard search her out for me.
That even he may tell me where she is. - Shikibu


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"Dooshite Niichan? Can't you talk?"
Aoshi could do no more than produce a nod as he continued to stare at the little girl. After several moments, his senses somewhat regained, Aoshi's powers of observation began to return to him and he realized that the child before him now, although she shared similarities to Misao, was too old for Misao to have given birth to her in the two years since leaving Kyoto.
"Were you looking at the sea?" She asked and although he'd regained his composure enough to talk Aoshi remained silent, shaking his head in response to her question. "Were you looking at neechan then?"
"Neechan?" Aoshi queried and then followed the path of the little girl's gaze as it moved up the beach and settled on Misao.
I must be incredibly obvious for this little girl to have seen through me so easily. Aoshi thought to himself.
"All the men look at her." She informed him cheerfully and Aoshi's gaze snapped back sharply to the little girl in time to see her shrug her shoulders. "Guess 'cause she's so pretty."
Aoshi knelt down in front of the little girl and asked her name.
"Hiruka." She answered without hesitation and just as she felt no need to inquire after his name, Aoshi didn't feel the need to tell her.
"Do you love neechan?" She suddenly sounded hesitant.
Just as hesitant, Aoshi nodded to the forthright Hiruka whose beaming smile grew to nearly outside the proportions of her small face.
"Didya tell her?" She asked in an excited rush, all hesitation gone from her voice. Her smile disappeared, turning to a frown when Aoshi shook his head that he had not.
He felt oddly uncomfortable under her steady gaze, just as Misao's had been before she left Kyoto, this little girl's views were black and white, if you love someone you tell them so. He could blame no one but himself for teaching Misao otherwise.
"I have been away for a very long time." Aoshi offered as an excuse; it wasn't far from the truth. He had been away for a very long time; by his own means he had exiled himself from those who he had no idea meant so much to him. He only wished now that he had returned sooner, before Misao had gone away.
He watched her brows furrow as if she were deeply contemplating his dilemma, while Aoshi pondered over the fact that he must have spent too much time around Sagara Sanosuke to be carrying on a conversation such as this with a complete stranger. A child no less! He wondered briefly if stupidity could actually rub off onto another person, he certainly hoped not, otherwise...
"Kaachan says that you should tell people that you love them." Hiruka interrupted his thoughts with the conclusion she had drawn. "But if you can't, you should give them something that tells them the same thing."
This child is making far too much sense. Aoshi thought silently. That it! Sagara's a dead man!

-----

"AtssssCHOO!"
"Dooshite Sanosuke?" Megumi asked, her voice filled with concern as she halted her footsteps, waiting while he recovered from his a violent sneeze.
"I guess someone's talking about me." He sniffled a little as he spoke.
"Perhaps Ken-san and Koaru are wondering if you were brave enough to confess your feelings to me." She giggled lightly.
Sanosuke couldn't help but smile at her girlish laughter and nodded in agreement, on the inside however he was grumbling. More likely it's that damned Shinomori bad-mouthing me again.

----

"Are those flowers for neechan?" She pointed at the flowers in his hand as she spoke.
"Yes they are." Aoshi answered her looking at the bunch of blue and purple blooms he'd collected.
"You should give them to her." The little girl nodded as she spoke. "Then she'll know."
"I..." I, what? He wondered silently. I, want to give them to her but I fear... I, fear? Yes, that's it exactly, I fear. Aoshi nearly laughed at himself, how ironic that he who had courted death so many times should suddenly be afraid. Afraid he was, however and he was having difficulty moving beyond it.
"Can't you talk again Niichan?" Without waiting for a reply she reached for the flowers in his hand and as if he had no say in the matter Aoshi relinquished them to her.
Of course I can talk! What do you take me for, that buffoon Sagara Sanosuke? Is what Aoshi intended to say.

----

"SHINOMORI-ME!" Sanosuke shouted angrily.
Sano earned himself a look from Megumi, showing clearly that she thought he might have gone completely insane when after sneezing again he cursed the one he was certain was responsible for his sudden and sporadic affliction. He was certain she was thinking that perhaps her brother should look him over carefully for any signs of mental illness.
"Gomen Megumi." He whispered and carried on as if nothing had happened.

---

"I can take the flowers to neechan. "Hiruka offered cheerfully. "You can wait here and I will tell her they are from you!"
Aoshi nodded his compliance and watched as Hiruka skipped off down the beach toward Misao. He saw when she turned toward him, a sign that the little girl was calling to her, he watched her brush her long hair back and hold it, keeping the wind from sending it wildly about her face. A face he had not seen for two years, until now and the yearning that had built in the time during her absence had grown to uncontrollable proportions.
He swallowed hard and fought to control the trembling that started in his fingertips and was quickly spreading through his entire body. He would soon be close enough that he would be able to smell the flowery scent of her hair. See the smoothness of her pale skin; close enough to touch her pale skin.

---

Misao turned when she heard her name called, the wind picking up her hair and sending it flying about her face, she gathered it in her hand and held it as she watched Hiruka make her way toward her. She smiled at the little girl; they spent quite a bit of time together since Megumi had returned to Aizu. She had accompanied her to the beach yesterday afternoon and today as well; her parents were always so busy running the inn. The little girl had a life that was not unlike Misao's own, growing up in an inn as she did; they found a great deal to talk about.
"Hiruka." Misao called, her eyes narrowing on the object in the little girl's hand, which she could not quite make out. "Where have you been and what have you got there?"
"Flowers Neechan!" She held them out and Misao could see as she came closer that they were indeed a bouquet of wildflowers, most of them blue.
Like his eyes. She thought silently to herself and noticed the rest were made up of different shades of purple and her silent thoughts continued. Like the color he so often wore.
Shaking her head slightly she relegated those thoughts to the back of her mind. She'd been thinking about him too much today and could feel the ache in her heart grow heavier. She forced a smile as the little girl approached.
"Those are beautiful Hiruka." She greeted the little girl. "Your kaasan will love them."
"These are not for Kaachan." She shook her head and giggled a little before thrusting the flowers at her. "These are for you neechan."
"Atashi?" Misao asked surprised and at the little girls enthusiastic nod she took them from her, bringing them to her nose she inhaled deeply of the heady fragrance. "Thank you very much Hiruka."
"No." Hiruka laughed and Misao watched her shake her head. "They're not from me."
Misao was surprised again and wondered where they could have come from if Hiruka didn't pick them herself. She did not have to wait long to find out.
"Over there." Hiruka turned and pointed back toward the trees that lined the beach and Misao's eyes followed in that direction, seeing no one. She turned to watch Hiruka who seemed at a loss to find no one standing where she pointed, she shrugged her shoulders and turned back to Misao. "Niichan picked them for you. Because he loves you."
Surprise number three! Misao didn't think she could take many more surprises without getting dizzy. Niichan? Because he loves you? What did this kid think? That she was just born yesterday and couldn't see through to the truth enough to know that it was in fact Hiruka that picked the flowers and then brought them to her under the pretense of delivering them for a secret admirer? It was kind of sweet of the little girl, not to mention devious enough for Misao to have done something just like it when she was Hiruka's age.
"Where did he go?" Misao asked playing along with Hiruka's game.
"I don't know where he went, he was just standing right there." Hiruka looked back to the trees. "He said he didn't tell you that he loved you because he was away for a very long time."
"Away?" Misao questioned as she turned and slowly began making her way up the beach toward the inn, Hiruka beside her. This didn't sound like some child's made up explanation for a game she was playing.
"Un." Hiruka agreed.
Misao remained silent, as did the little girl who trotted beside her as they made their way back to the inn. Hiruka's mother gasped at the flowers Misao held and rushed off to get her something to place them in, returning a few moments later with a glass bowl. Misao thanked her and moved off to the room that she'd been staying in since coming to the inn with Megumi what seemed like an eternity ago. She could hear Hiruka telling her mother about the 'niichan' that picked the flowers and gave them to Misao, their voices disappearing as she moved further down the hall.
Once in her room Misao placed the flowers in the bowl and set them beside the screen that opened up into the garden, which Misao had pretty much to herself since this was the off season for Hokkaido visitors. She often slid the screen aside and left it open to enjoy the view and the fresh air drifting through her room. Today was no exception as she slid the shoji back and stepped over the bowl of flowers, then sat down close to the edge where the house gave way to the garden.
Glancing back to look at the flowers Misao sighed. So it would appear that Hiruka was not merely pretending and Misao actually did have an admirer. Misao knew that she had more than this one, there had been several, painfully obvious, interested young men back in Aizu. She had remained politely unaware of their admiration however, for no other reason than she still clung to that small thread of hope. That he would come for her, that he would finally accept...
"No." She whispered and again pushed her thoughts of him aside. Knowing that thoughts of him would intrude again, Misao quickly changed into a comfortable yukata and made her way to the kitchen. Pleading a headache, Misao shunned all attempts by Hiruka's parents to coerce her into eating dinner, finally conceding to accept a small bottle of sake to help her get to sleep. She found the bottle and a cup on a small tray outside her room once she returned from getting cleaned up for the night, it was warm and she could feel the effect of the alcohol almost immediately. Not long after, she climbed into bed and fell quickly to sleep, her head filled with dreams of Kyoto, of returning home and basking in the joy of seeing all those she loved again and the joy that they felt at seeing her again. Except him, he did not come to greet her upon her homecoming; he was indifferent; even worse, he was oblivious and completely unaware that she'd ever been absent from their lives. She could not bear it and rather than face that painful truth she turned and fled from their lives once more, never to see him again.
---
"Niichan!" Aoshi cringed at the shrill scream that erupted from the little girl's mouth as soon as he turned the corner. She bounded up to him, resolutely interrupting his task of returning the breakfast tray to the kitchen. "You came back!"
He nodded once expecting this to be sufficient enough to answer her without encouraging further conversation. Something about the little girl bothered him and he was not wholly convinced that it wasn't that big mouth of hers that so resembled the chicken head that he'd finally gotten rid of.
"You're voice didn't come back though." She pointed out her brows coming together in a frown at the dilemma of his disappearing voice.
He hoped with the continued shaking and nodding of his head answers, the little girl would eventually get bored and move on to someone who produced sound. Aoshi was resolved not to utter a sound; he'd gotten really good at that. He really should have known better having raised Misao.
"Neechan keeps your flowers by the garden shoji!" She told him.
"Does she?" Aoshi asked his resolve not to speak forgotten.
"She likes them very much." Hiruka replied. "She said they are beautiful."
"Did she?" Damn it, I sound like an idiot! And what am I doing talking to this kid in the first place, I'm only supposed to nod and keep walking. Aoshi berated himself in silence halting only when little Hiruka began to rattle on about 'neechan' rising early and forsaking the sea in favor of climbing the hill behind the inn to swim in the river.
"Will she be back soon?" Aoshi asked.
Hiruka shook her head and Aoshi almost smiled. Almost.
"Kaasan made lunch for her to take 'cause she said she would be out all day. She asked me to make certain her flowers had enough water and said that we would have dinner together tonight since it was going to be her last night here and... and..."
Aoshi stared wide eyed as Hiruka elaborated without drawing a single breath and then his look turned to near panic as it appeared that the little girl was about to start crying. He was certain of it, the trembling chin, the protruding bottom lip and the eyes that seemed to grow larger and fill with liquid. He had seen Misao produce that very look when she was Hiruka's age and although he'd not been averse to comforting a weeping Misao as a child, that had been many years ago and this little girl was not Misao.
"I don't want neechan to go." She sniffled a little and wiped at the one tear that she couldn't hold back.
"You can always visit each other Hiruka." Aoshi crouched down in front of her and set the tray aside. "I am certain Misao will return to Hokkaido again."
"Will you come with her niichan?" She asked a semblance of her smile returning bringing a sigh of relief from Aoshi while he nodded in reply.
"Yes." He agreed. Whether she wants me to or not. "I will come with her."

---

After carefully glancing around the area again Misao was positive no one was about. She quickly pulled her hair free of the ribbon that held it, stripped out of her kimono and dove into the river, surfacing again once she was out of breath to fill her lungs and dive beneath the water again. She was grateful to Kami-sama or whomever had dredged this one part of the river deeper and wider than the rest, creating a swimming hole that she and others could enjoy without being swept away by the fast current that moved the rest of the river downstream to the waterfall. She swam for an hour, possibly longer, feeling her limbs growing heavy with exhaustion she moved to the shore and climbed out. Toweling off quickly she slipped into her kimono and sat on the blanket she had spread out on the grass, her eyes roaming the countryside that seemed to go on forever. She really loved it here and thought, on several occasions that if Megumi ever got tired of her, or had no more need of her assistance, Misao might possibly find a doctor in Hokkaido that could use her assistance.
She shrugged her shoulders as she thought of that stupid chicken head Sanosuke. When would that man ever get up the courage to come to Aizu and demand that Megumi become his wife? Misao was certain that he was the one Megumi needed. She knew of her friend's feelings for Himura-san, however, she could not deny the chemistry that came to life whenever the chicken was with the fox. Misao lay back on the blanket, lifting her damp hair out from under her it fell heavily as it fanned out around her head. She picked up a lock and absently twirled it around her index finger as she thought of her friend and hoped that someday she would find love and happiness.
With or without that stupid ass Sanosuke. She thought as she closed her eyes against the bright sun, relaxing to the tune of hundreds of songbirds. What the hell was taking that stupid chicken so long anyhow?

"AtssssCHOO!" Sanosuke met Megumi's narrow eyed stare from where they sat in her brother's garden, basking in the morning sun and the silence, which he'd just broken and was about to do so again as he felt the onslaught of another sneeze. "AtssssCHOO!"
He offered her a sheepish grin, attempting to pull off Kenshin's famous look of incomprehension that served his friend so well. It appeared to be working, or so he thought at Megumi's comment that followed.
"You would appear to be quite popular Sanosuke." She told him sweetly. "To be in the thoughts of so many."
Sanosuke had never followed the advice of all those wiser and more worldly men that had so often told him he needed to learn how to keep his mouth shut. Regrettably, as was so often proved to him when upon not bothering to heed that advice and learning to do so, he would continually open his mouth and let fall whatever came to mind, suffering the consequences of it, great or small, afterward.
"My many deeds have made me famous." He chimed in gleefully, thinking that Megumi would follow his train of thought and chose to remember those selective events that were not utterly selfish. Like stopping her from taking her life at Kanryu's mansion, helping Kenshin in the battle against Shishio and taking on one of the Shijin at Enishi's island.
"Infamous is more like it, Sagara-san!" Her voice turning scathing as she envisioned all the unpaid bills from the Akebeko dancing before her eyes, a drunken Sanosuke stumbling out of the gambling hall and Sanosuke's bloody fists after getting into yet another street fight. She could only hope that he didn't do something like dance naked in front of the government buildings in Tokyo before coming to Aizu. Most of his past deeds were forgivable but if he'd done something like that just to smite the Meiji government. Well... they would be in for a long, serious talk.
"What are you thinking Megumi?" Sanosuke's tone turned teasing as he watched her eyebrows move comically, no doubt envisioning him dancing naked in the middle of the street, he chuckled a little before continuing. "Are you being perverted again?"
"Sanosuke!" She gasped in outrage and lifted her fist to bonk him on the head; before she could connect however, Sanosuke grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward him, off balance she landed exactly where he wanted her, in his arms.
"I prefer it that way." He whispered as he leaned down and kissed her, halting any further protest she might have voiced. Shinomori and... whoever else was bad-mouthing him could go right ahead, as long as he was able to do this with Megumi.
Poor bastard Shinomori. Sanosuke thought with malicious humor. He's probably still staring from afar at Misao. Sanosuke almost wanted to laugh at the other man's stupidity.

"Atschoo." Aoshi sneezed quietly turning to look back down the trail wondering what could have prompted that. It was spring so he supposed the heavily pollinated air could be affecting him some. Shrugging his shoulders he turned back and continued his climb up the hill. It really was beautiful here, he had passed a hot spring a bit ago and was half tempted to climb in; maybe later, now all he wanted to do was get to Misao. He was fast approaching the top of the hill and could sense her not far from there. The nervousness was filling him again but he was determined not to bolt away, as he had yesterday at the beach. He had no flowers for her, no Hiruka to hide behind, this time he had only himself to present to her. As he made that last step that brought him to the top of the hill, where he had full view of the grassy meadow he thought to himself, I only hope it is enough.
Aoshi scanned the countryside, his eyes that missed nothing soon spotted her, he felt his heart constrict as he stared at her, lying on a blanket, her long dark hair fanned out around her as she dozed in the mid morning sun. He moved stealthily forward until he was standing beside her. She was asleep and with eyes thirsty for the sight of her, he roamed leisurely from one slender leg, exposed from the shifting of her kimono, over the soft curves that were hidden by the same and upward to the pale skin of her forever youthful face. He was startled to see a tear slip from beneath her closed eyes and race down her cheek.
Aoshi could not bear to see her cry; not as a child, not now, not ever. Compelled by the need to comfort her he knelt beside her and whispered, 'Why are you crying Misao?' Then, keeping his touch as light as he could, he brushed the tear away from her face. If the single tear that he'd brushed away was like a knife in his chest, the little sob that escaped her lips was the twisting of it.

'I am dreaming again.' Misao was able to acknowledge to her self-conscience. The warm sun against her skin, the rushing water of the stream and the peaceful chirping of the birds had lulled her to sleep. The sounds now part of her dream as she strolled down a long empty road that led to nothing, nothing but more emptiness.
Would she really never see him again? Not even one more time, just a glimpse, something to take with her while she followed that path to her lonely future. She felt a tear escape from under her closed lids but it was okay, she was dreaming, the tears were not real.
"Why are you crying Misao?" She sobbed as her dream produced the sound of his voice, so soft and quiet, just as if it were really him and not her dream.
She shook her head, afraid to answer, afraid her own voice would wake her up and he would be gone. She would be alone and would not feel the soft brush of his fingertips wiping away the warm tear that streaked down her cheek.
"Won't you tell me?" His gentle voice coaxed again and after several moments she gave in; dream or reality, she could not refuse him.
"You never realized..." She hesitated trying to fight back the tears that choked her voice even in her dream.
"... and I will never see you again."
The confession she'd given voice to in her sleep was more than she could bear. Misao gave way to her tears, knowing that they were not imaginary, that they were not merely a product of her dream, as they slipped down her cheeks.

"I have realized Misao." He leaned closer and whispered, his fingers brushing at the fresh tears that fell. He noticed her stiffening immediately and knew that she was now no longer certain if she was dreaming or not. "I am here to tell you that I have realized your feelings and my own. Anytime you want to see me just open your eyes. I will be here until you send me away."
He kissed away the last tear that still clung to her cheek and when he lifted his face away from hers he watched her eyes slowly open and he was trapped in the two liquid pools of blue.
"Aoshi-sama." She breathed his name in wonder and then, as if she needed to prove to herself that she was no longer dreaming, Misao lifted her hand up and pressed it lightly against his cheek. He reached up and covered her hand with his own, pressing her palm firmly against his skin before he loosed his hold and turned his head to press his lips against her palm. His eyes closed, Aoshi offered a silent prayer to Kami-sama for putting her on this earth and allowing him this moment with her.

--- Epilogue ---

Aoshi pulled his knees up and locked his arms around his legs, keeping his eyes trained on the slow moving water of the river, upon who's grassy banks he sat. He wished Misao would return with the others, she'd been gone for over fifteen minutes.
He wasn't worried about her safety; Misao could take care of herself and besides Kenshin was with her. It wasn't because even after four years together he could not bear to be without her company for more than a few minutes. There were several occasions that business had prevented him from returning home for more than a day. Not that either of them liked it very much; it was just an unavoidable evil that came with being a restaurateur. No, he wanted her to return to his side as quickly as possible because...
"Yo Okashira-san!" Aoshi cringed at the bellowing of Sagara Sanosuke's voice... because Misao kept Sagara conveniently occupied and away from Aoshi when she was present, answering his questions and fielding his comments. Aoshi could only hope that if he ignored him, Sagara would get the hint and speak to him no more. Aoshi silently continued his vigilant watch over the three children that preferred the sun warmed water on their feet and ankles, to the cool shade provided by the large maple tree their parents had claimed by placing their mats beneath it.
The Himura boy was definitely the leader of the three children; he was older, taller and it seemed to the other two, carried a vast wealth of knowledge about the things within the world of a child. In that world Aoshi supposed, young Himura Kenji did know a great deal. He was a fine boy, polite like his father, with the same flame red hair and violet eyes; on occasion he could also be loud and boisterous, like his mother. Not that Aoshi would ever say such a thing to Koaru, he'd seen her let loose her anger on Himura, Sagara and the young man who had once been a student of hers, she was frightening and Aoshi had carefully avoided anything to make her angry. The Sagara boy looked exactly like both of his parents, it was hard to say if he looked more like one than the other, the hair was definitely his fathers, as was his big mouth. He had inherited his mother's beautiful eyes and at times displayed her intelligence, unfortunately he would also display his father's, or lack there of. As Taketo was only five; Aoshi supposed there was still some hope for the child. Then there was the youngest of the trio, his daughter Hitomi. From the time Misao's stomach had first started to swell his daughter had fascinated him. He often stared at her in wonder, not knowing how it was that she could make him love her, make him feel such joy, simply by being. She was so beautiful and so...
"Ho--- Shinomori!" Sagara interrupted his thoughts and Aoshi found himself scowling at the other man, who did not miss the look. "I see you staring at Hitomi-chan and I know what you are thinking."
Aoshi narrowed his eyes at Sanosuke, letting him know that comments about his daughter were not tolerated by anyone. He certainly hoped that Sagara would catch the warning in his eyes because he really didn't want to kill the man in front of the children. Sagara smiled then closed his eyes and lay back on the mat, his head resting on a rolled up blanket.
"I was thinking the same thing myself." Sagara mumbled absently as he yawned.
Aoshi really didn't have a clue what that idiot was talking about, his brow furrowed in concentration as he watched the children play. There is no way that I was having the same thoughts as that idiot! He heard the other man let out a small chuckle and glanced over to see Sagara watching him through nearly closed lids, the same stupid smile on his face as before.
Stay calm, stay calm, stay calm. Aoshi repeated to himself silently. Misao will be very upset if you kill him so... just... stay... calm...
"Come on Shinomori." Sanosuke sat up again as he spoke. "Don't deny it."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Aoshi demanded. "I do not deny anything."
Sanosuke sighed as if what he'd said made sense to the entire world and Aoshi was the only one that wasn't able to understand. He gestured toward the river where the children were still playing and Aoshi again had to tell himself that even if Sanosuke said something about Hitomi, it didn't make it okay for Aoshi to kill him.
"Your daughter and my son." Sanosuke again gestured toward the children and spoke as if Aoshi were a dimwitted child; he then closed his eyes and lay back down. "A union."
"WHAT?" Aoshi nearly shrieked. Is that idiot really incapable of having an intelligent thought? Does he really believe that for one moment, I would consider something that would irrevocably make Sagara Sanosuke a part of my family forever? The man really needed his head examined and Aoshi made a note to speak to Megumi about it.
"You've got to admit." Sagara's cheerfulness grating on Aoshi's last nerve. "They certainly make a handsome pair and Hitomi-chan is smitten with Taketo."
Aoshi shifted a narrowed look at Sanosuke, indicating without words that the man was either blind, stupid or completely insane. Quite possibly it was all three. For the last hour and a half, Aoshi had witnessed his daughter pointedly ignore the Sagara boy, call him a 'baka akachan', which he and Misao would speak to her about later, and turn her nose up at the pink flowers he offered her. She much preferred the single blue one that grew on the opposite bank, which Himura Kenji swam gallantly across the river to retrieve for her.
"I have to disagree with you." Aoshi informed Sanosuke. "It appears that she prefers Kenji-kun."
"Stop being so hard headed Okashira-san." Sanosuke complained. "You can admit that your daughter finds my son irresistible."
"First of all, Hitomi is only four years old." Aoshi's shackles began to rise as Sagara refused to act like a rational, competent adult and see the complete idiocy of his suggestion.
"What's your point?" Sanosuke did not even open his eyes; he merely shrugged his shoulders, irritating Aoshi even further.
"My point is..." it is not okay to kill him, it is not okay to kill him, not okay to kill him, okay to kill him, kill him, kill him.... Aoshi's murderous thoughts were well hidden as he spoke through clenched teeth, trying his utmost to remain calm and in control. "At four years old, she also finds the toads she captures in Okina's garden, irresistible."
"Toads?" Sanosuke repeated as if that had become the point of their conversation. Aoshi rolled his eyes and took a deep, calming breath before continuing.
"Second of all." Aoshi spoke while he prayed that Kami-sama would speed the return of Misao, Kenshin, Koaru and Megumi so that he would not have to speak to this idiot any longer. "I don't believe your son would be willing to accept anyone that made him cry."
"Nani?!" Sanosuke sat up and scanned the riverbank for his child and just in time to see Hitomi rip the bunch of pink flowers from Taketo's hands and hit him over the head with them. Sending a shower of broken blooms over his shoulders and provoking a downpour of fresh tears from his eyes. Aoshi was barely able to hide the smile that the whole scene prompted
Aoshi's smile grew as Sanosuke climbed to his feet and stomped off down the hill to where the children were, mumbling about spineless boys and letting his son know that girls were something to look at, not listen to. Aoshi could not help but chuckle a little at hearing that.
"It always makes me nervous when I hear you laugh." Misao announced her return from the dojo. Aoshi turned and saw that she, Megumi, Kenshin and Koaru were all carrying dishes, blankets and baskets of food. He climbed to his feet and hurriedly took several things from Misao's too full hands and set them down, then took a few items from Megumi and set them down, receiving quiet 'thankyous' for his assistance.
"Where is Sanosuke?" Megumi asked as she searched the area. "Did he head back to the dojo?"
"No." Aoshi answered helping with the arrangement of the food. "He's down at the river explaining to your son why girls are to be looked at and not listened to.
Aoshi could not keep from smiling as Megumi's eyes narrowed to dangerous slits and she turned toward the riverbank intent on discussing a few things with her husband. They all watched as Megumi descended the riverbank and they did not miss the smile Sanosuke wore at seeing her, quickly fade as she drew near and he could no doubt read the look in her eyes.
"You should not have said that to Megumi-dono." Kenshin spoke quietly as he moved to stand next to Aoshi. Misao and Koaru soon mumbled an agreement and although they could not hear what she was saying to him, it became very obvious how severe it was when all three of the children scampered up the hill, two of them toward their parents, one of them away from his.
"Otouchan! Okaachan!" Hitomi launched herself at him and Aoshi easily caught her and lifted her up in his arms. "Megumi-san is very mad at Sano-niichan. I hope she doesn't hit him with a kobachi."
"Eh?"
"Nani?"
"Oro?"
"Everything looks delicious!" Aoshi attempted to change the subject and sounding almost too cheerful even to his own ears. "Shall we eat now or wait for those two?"
"Let's eat! Let's eat!" The three children chorused in unison.
"They will probably be a while." Koaru stated waiving a hand absently in Sanosuke's and Megumi's direction. Taking the initiative, she sat down and began to fill rice bowls, effectively brushing over Hitomi's slip.
Aoshi still holding Hitomi, Misao and the others sat down as well. Hitomi insisting on sitting between her father and Kenji.
"Don't think you're getting away with that." Misao whispered to him discretely. He looked at her sharply but she had already turned away smiling and talking to Taketo, as if she'd not uttered a single threatening word to her husband.
"Otouchan!" He turned toward his daughter as she cheerfully called him. Ah well, even if he was in the doghouse with his wife, he could always count on being number one in his daughter's eyes. "Kenji-niisan is the smartest, bravest man in the whole world. I'm going to marry him!"
Aoshi nearly choked on his tea and then felt the greatest sadness filling him at the idea that his daughter had so easily replaced him with someone else. He felt a small, delicate hand covering his and turned to see Misao staring up at him, her gentle blue eyes smiling at him.
"Don't worry Otouchan." Misao whispered. "She's only four years old, she won't be going anywhere for a while yet. Besides, she'll forget all about Kenji-kun once her brother or sister arrives"
"Brother or sister? Misao, what are you talk...ing...?" Aoshi's confusion turned to shocked surprise as he realized what his wife was telling him. She nodded at the question in his eyes and then nearly keeled over from shock at the sudden crushing arms that were wrapped around her. Misao knew her husband to be an extremely affectionate man but never, absolutely never, had he displayed any of it in front of others.
"Yo Okashira-san, you and Misao shouldn't be doing that with an audience." Aoshi loosed his hold from Misao and felt the humiliating sting of being reprimanded by that rooster-headed idiot as both he and Megumi returned to the crowd.
"Don't worry Sano-niichan, Otouchan and Okaachan are always doing that." Hitomi informed them all and Aoshi's humiliation grew to epic proportions.
"Oro?"