Author's note: I'm sorry I haven't been able to come out with a new chapter… my computer died on me all of a sudden, while I was writing it. So, instead of the Kenshingumi being reunited, we'll take a small detour.

Disclaimer: I do not own this series.

Chapter 11: Aftermath of the Aftermath

Shinomori Aoshi let out a relaxed sigh. Life was steadily getting better. Months and months ago, he'd ceased being soulless, found a good life at his old home, and begun his Zen training. And this most recent ordeal involving Himura's brother in law had been a good break from that, allowing him a short bit of battling. After all, at heart he was always a fighter. Nothing could change that.

Still, he did not find he could smile. He hadn't been much a smiler before… the incident, and the deaths of his comrades still weighed heavily on his mind. But, perhaps soon he would smile… thanks to Misao. She would always stay by him, and in recent times, learned when her beautifully energetic soul was on the irritating side. They had been spending more and more time together, and even though he did not smile, he did engage in conversation freely with her. She'd made serious efforts, he recalled…

"Aoshi-sama?" her unusually soft and careful voice called.

"Yes?"

"I brought you some tea, in case, you know, you get thirsty while you meditate…" she shyly set down the cups.

"Thank you," he automatically responded, his manners having never once left him.

"No… trouble," she stood nervously for a moment, then clenched her fist and asked, "Aoshi-sama, may I… may I meditate with you?" she quickly looked away after seeing his surprised face, "I mean, only if you'd want to, you know…"

In a lighter voice than usual, Aoshi replied, "Yes. That would be fine."

Her face lit up at this. Struggling to contain her excitement, she knelt down next to him, taking the same posture and form. Though they remained silent, minus the occasional sips of tea, they both felt as though they were communicating better than they had in ages.

"It's really pleasant with her…" he wished sorely that he could express it to her. As cold hearted as acted, he really did enjoy her presence a lot. But the guilt he felt for knowing that he'd made her shed tears… it overcame him any time he would attempt to say it to her. Life was good with her… she helped his heart heal greatly. He remembered the day they had gone to see his comrade's graves…

They arrived in the clearing, the path etched in his mind. Climbing out of the forest, Aoshi stopped dead in his tracks, staring at the four white stones. Misao quickly clambered out after, also stopping at the sight. "This is where they are…" Aoshi said suddenly, "This is where my four most trusted men lay, forever." Misao remained silent. She hadn't even begun to scratch the surface on the pain he felt. Her pain alone at finding out they were gone was immense… to have watched it happen and have been helpless to do anything… it must have been torture for him.

Aoshi's head turned from right to left on each of the stones, pausing for a moment to announce the name of its owner. "Beshimi… Hyottoko… Shikijo… Hanya…" a wave of sorrow ran through his body. In anxiety, he gripped the hilt of one of his kodachi, his knuckles white from the pressure. "Justice has been served to Takeda Kanryuu. The government has avenged you…" his voice weakened, as he choked out, "But I have failed you. I became a demon, killing easily, making your deaths an excuse for outright murder, only ceasing because the Battosai was so kind to help me. I desperately hope and pray that your spirits remain intact, not evil as mine was. And still… still I have not brought you any glory, and I never can. I'm sorry…"

Misao was, for once in her life, at a loss for words. Never had she heard Aoshi speak so much, so emotionally. He did not turn to look at her, but merely stood there, watching the stones, as if waiting for their response. Just then, for only a few moments, Misao could have sworn she saw the souls of the deceased Oniwabanshu rise from their graves and speak to her.

"Misao-sama…" said Hanya, "I am glad Aoshi-sama came to see you," he saw her trying to speak, but raised his hand with a smile one his mutilated face, saying, "Do not trouble yourself with speech, we have little time. We are all very happy with him… he has regained the dignity that he had before we arrived at the mansion."

"But y'see, we can't tell him, cause we're, you know, not here," said the spirit of Shikijo.

"So we need you to do it," Hyottoko told her.

"The Okashira really likes you, even though he doesn't show it," said Beshimi.

"But his shame he feels at what he as done gives him a veil of unhappiness constantly," said Hanya, "So Misao-sama, we need you to bring him happiness, so that he may once again smile. Please, for us."

"Y-yes," Misao was able to choke out, "I will…" she said quietly.

"Thank you, Misao-sama." After those words, the four disappeared.

"Did you say something?" Aoshi asked, turning. He saw that Misao was on the ground, tears running down her cheeks. "Misao?" He rushed to her, kneeling down and asking, "What's wrong?"

"N-nothing," she said to him, "I'm just so glad you're finally back…"

"Back? But I was back long ago…"

"I know, but even so, I'm so happy you're with us… with me." She leaned over and hugged him tightly. A tad confused, he slowly returned the embrace, running his fingers over her smooth braided hair.

"I'm glad too," he whispered, so softly only he could hear it.

"Misao has become quite a woman…" Aoshi thought. It was true. The kunoichi had matured greatly. It wasn't only mentally, but also… (Aoshi gulped) physically, too. More and more her body developed, becoming more and more beautiful as time went on. Aoshi couldn't help but notice. And he liked what he saw. His feelings for her grew from simple admiration to full-blown romantic attraction. Aoshi desperately wanted to tell her… But if anyone had as much control as Himura, it was the Okashira.

"Ohayo, Aoshi-sama!" said a cheerful Misao as she entered the room.

"Ohayogozaimasu " he replied, turning to see her. But he was greeted with not the vision of Misao in her street clothes, but in… a kimono. It was a beautiful indigo, with small orchids in a pattern all over it. The obi was a light turquoise, wrapped tightly around her slender form. Aoshi's eyes widened, taking in the full sight of her. "Misao… your clothes…"

The girl blushed deeply, her smile faltering in nervousness. "I… got it last week… Omasu got it for me. I had asked for it because…" she trailed off. There was a silence. Aohi looked away awkwardly. Suddenly, Misao looked directly at Aoshi and said, "I wanted it because of you!" Aoshi turned, matching her gaze. "I thought that maybe if I dressed nicely, you might look at me as a woman instead of a little girl!" The Okashira, who was very brief with words normally, was now in a stunned silence. He attempted speech, but all that came out were weak wheezes.

"Ever since the Oniwabanshu took me in, I've looked at you with such admiration… it wasn't long before I… I fell in love with you!" tears were now welling up in her blue spheres, "After a while… Omasu and Okon told me that it may have just been a… a girlish crush!" the droplets began spilling down her cheeks, flowing faster and faster. "B-but I knew as I got older, that I really did love you…" she jabbed a finger at Aoshi, "So when you left, and as soon as I was old enough, I went searching for you! I did everything I could to find you… even things like stealing and deceiving people using what you and Hanya had taught me… just so I could see you!" Her tears now spilling at a full flow, her eyes were so puffy she was forced to shut them. "But throughout it all, I knew in the back of my mind that you couldn't love me! You never could, I was just a little girl to you, nothing more, just little kid you'd watch over and-"

"NO!" Aoshi yelled, finding his voice. Misao was so shocked at this; he'd never spoken louder than an intimidating growl. "That isn't true," he told her, "I do not just think of you as a child. I can't express it because I don't smile, but I know you are the most beautiful woman in the world. Yes, a woman, not a girl, not a kid, a woman. And I also know that I love you, and have loved you for a great deal of time. But I was a demon, a cruel, heartless man… I thought you wouldn't want me…"

"Wait…" Misao breathed quietly, "You're telling me that I've loved you for all this time, but thought you wouldn't love me, and you've loved me for all this time, but thought I wouldn't love you?"

"Yes, that's about it," he said, standing to face her.

"Aoshi-sama, for such a brilliant tactician, you sure are stupid." She smiled through her tears at him.

And then, something incredible happened. Aoshi took Misao's hands gently, looked deep into her eyes… and smiled. For the first time since his taunting of Takeda Kanryuu within his own mansion so many years ago, the Okashira of the Oniwabanshu smiled. It wasn't a smile to inspire, nor was it a cynical smile. It was a smile of true, pure, bliss. "I love you," he said, his face approaching hers, "regardless of what my face may say, don't ever forget that."

As he wiped her tears, she told him, awed, "Aoshi-sama… you're smiling."

"Am I?" he asked rhetorically, "Well, it's been so long, I couldn't tell," his mouth was so close to hers, she could feel his breath meeting hers, "And by the way," he whispered softly, "It's not '-sama' anymore," he was barely an inch away, "it's '-koishii'," he finished, closing the gap between them.

Misao had been preparing for this moment for a good portion of her life. Days and weeks and months and years, she had fantasized about this very instant. Now, she was ready. Eyes closed, she leaned into it as she parted his lips and entered with her tongue, eliciting a surprised, "mmph!" from her love, followed quickly by a pleased "mm…" He struck back with his own tongue, causing Misao to release a moan. Their tongues battled for a while, in a heated duel that only increased the passion.

A few seconds later, they were still locked in the embrace. Distantly, they heard Okon's footsteps and voice approaching the room. "Okashira, Misao-chan! I've got a letter for you from Himura and his friends…" The footsteps neared the door, "Okashira, Misao-cha-" but her words ended as she opened the shoji. "Woah!" she exclaimed loudly, which made Aoshi and Misao snap out of their daze and part. "Oh! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to… uhm, h-here's the letter…" she quickly slipped out, but not before adding, "Congratulations, Misao-chan!"

The two were silent for a moment, a bit stunned from the events that just transpired. Smiling, Misao said brightly, "Well! Let's see what Himura and the rest sent, shall we?"

"Yes, let's." Aoshi grinned. They opened the letter and pulled out the contents, which read:

Dear Misao-dono and Aoshi,

It's been a while since your last visit. Why don't you come over for a while? It's beautiful in Tokyo this time of year, and we've been missing you very much.

Expecting your reply,

Himura Kenshin, Himura Kaoru and Myojin Yahiko.

After reading, Misao's brain realized something. "Wait a minute… Himura Kaoru? That means…" she smiled brightly in excitement, "they got married! Isn't that great, Aoshi-sa…koishii?"

"Indeed it is. What do you think, should we go?"

"Yes! Definitely! Let's send a message right away!" Taking his hand, they rushed to use one of the carrier pigeons. When they arrived, the entire Oniwabanshu and Okina greeted them. All of which had large grins on their faces.

"Okon told us the news…" said Okina.

"I'm so happy for you, Misao-chan!" exclaimed Omasu gleefully, causing Misao to blush once more.

"Nice one, Okashira," said Shiro, "we party big tonight."

Aoshi smiled, responding, "That sounds good. But first, could you allow us the use of one of the carrier pigeons?" Everyone looked thunderstruck. "What?"

"Aoshi… m'boy…" Okina said slowly, "You're smiling!"

He grinned slyly, "Yes, I am," then, taking his arm around Misao said, "You have this wonderful woman to thank." Misao's blush ran deeper.

Everyone cheered for them. Afterwards, Okina rounded up a pigeon for them to use. Quickly, the wrote their response and instructions for its sending, tied it to the bird's leg, and let it fly. "Y'know," said Misao, leaning on Aoshi's shoulder, "I bet Tokyo is really nice this time of year."

"It shall be even nicer with you."

"Oh, Aoshi…"

Well, that's it. Short chapter, I know. But once I get my computer up and running, we'll get back to everyone else. Leave a review, if you please!