A/N: Thanks for all the reviews, follows and favs! They make me feel most appreciated… and of course more than a little guilty for not updating. SORRY! I will punish myself for that… I'll burn myself with the iron… or something… I'll figure out later, maybe I'll just read a tragedy… I really hate those.

JMai: sorry for not getting back to you sooner; part of your questions will be answered here and the first couple episodes were supposed to be something like an Introduction, so that's why the major jump in time… sorry.

J Luc Pitard: same, same, sorry, and I did change a little bit too abruptly between POVs… sorry about the timeline fucked up shit… sorry u.u and yeah… poor Kenshin going to sleep with that creep's face on his mind XD

Compucles: Yeah, I had to look for many maps and historical data about that era and it was kind of difficult to pull of… that's why it's only partially following the structure of said timeline… XP

Atalaya86: "there was no retreating no one the wiser..." means there was no way he could leave unnoticed and perhaps you need to improve your vocabulary to understand my expressions… ;) just kidding… I'll work to make the reading better, thanks for your comments.

Today's POV goes to…. MISAO!

Disclaimer: No, no and for the last time, NO!

Please enjoy!

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Previously in A Chance Encounter

"Fall in love?" she repeated, despair in her voice "I don't believe it would be wise to try and play those games Misao… we might end up hurting both or one of them"

Annoyance bubbled in the back of her throat and she felt the necessity to complain tumble out barely contained.

"You don't know that and besides, if either one is in love the marriage will be easier… nicer, they won't be so reluctant, right?"

She didn't seem to be moved by the idea and it took her a while to digest what seemed to be Misao's plan and by the time she looked the slightest convinced Misao was about to burst.

"Deal?"

Against the ninja's sudden fear of refusal the girl looked back at her and with a fierce, set expression she gave the girl her hand in acceptance.

"Deal"

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CHAPTER 12

Innocence

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"Rue-san" a voice called from the other side of the paneled door. Misao recognized the voice to belong to young Suzume who was sounding slightly stressed. "Will you need our assistance in any way?"

Rue seemed to be confused for a moment as to what the other meant but soon her eyes opened in understanding, turning around to look at the light shadow on the door she smiled and said in a calm voice.

"Don't worry Suzume-chan, I'm fine, please wake up the lady without me and explain the situation to her, I must tend to Misao's requests for now, I'll be back later today"

"Ah… Uhmmm…" there was stress and anxiousness in the voice of the little girl and Misao easily felt for her; so young and working the hard life of a palace maiden and not just that but she was to be ready even to give her life for her mistress if the situation so required. Not even she, herself, had been treated that way. Remembering her younger years she could clearly visualize the garden in front of the house and the games she had played there, the pranks and toys, the friends… and more than anything, Aoshi-sama's smiling face.

Rue smiled tenderly and lowered her head to try and hide her laughter as she gave the young one the information she seemed to be missing.

"The lady will have breakfast with the lords this morning and probably take a mid morning tea with the ladies, please make sure she is dressed accordingly"

"Hai!" was her only response before her steps were heard moving away from them.

And with all information given Rue's attention was back fully focused on Misao.

"So…" Misao said with a sly smile on her face "You'll tend to my requests?"

Then Rue's tender smiled disappeared to show a completely different expression; a smile that showed as much darkness as Misao had only seen on an enemy.

"As long as they serve my own interests Misao-chan"

Perhaps she was dealing with someone she shouldn't be dealing with yet there was something else, something mischievous in her smile that spoke of adventures and crazy ideas… something, Misao agreed with 100%.

"Very well then… what's next?" the petite ninja said a little too eager.

Rue got up from her spot and walked over to a fake wall which she moved to bare a small closet like space from where she pulled out a servant's outfit extremely similar to those their servants wore around the palace grounds, actually, it wasn't similar but perfectly exact to a fault. From where had she gotten such a thing? It was even perfectly color coded to the combination they were using that week…

"Next" she said while putting the robes on over her light yukata "you'll join me for breakfast; we have little time since you seem to be pressed for it, right?"

"Am I?" said Misao with curiosity.

"Yes of course" Rue responded as if it was only natural "your lord wanted something else from you, didn't he?"

The woman's answer made her freeze and a chill ran down her spine, it was there again, that peculiar, dark gleam in her eyes she felt like cowering from. Where did this woman come from? Who was she really? Too many question and those weren't even the reason why she was trying to get acquainted with her. What to do…

"Omoshiroi" she said in a whisper; then she smiled getting up and walking closer to her form standing by the door "Off we go then" Rue moved the sliding door aside and after opening the next door into the palace halls she said in a sweet voice:

"Please, Misao-chan, lead the way"

They made their way through the palace in silence which was for Misao, extremely difficult. There was a particular feeling of uneasiness whenever she was forced to remain in silence around a person she didn't really know. Silence made it easy for anyone to hide their true intentions and on the other side, the slightest little pip they emitted was more than enough to tell her what she wanted to know.

"A ninja has to learn to listen in silence and listen to the silence"

That was Aoshi's point of view in the matter but from Misao's point of view it was unnerving, not to mention it was way too easy for her okashira to maintain silence when it seemed he lived immerse in it… except… well… when he was with her.

It was true that they had always been very close and that Misao could read Aoshi extremely well; that was what had taken her to fall head over heels for the man and what really made it possible for Aoshi to fall in love with her at all. But that hadn't been easy, it took her long enough to open him up again after he returned with Kenshin and even longer to get him to accept her feelings for him and if she hadn't been so determined and… well… and… The memory brought a bashful blush to her cheeks. She definitely shouldn't be thinking such things in the middle of the morning but the months prior to her wedding were becoming longer and longer… mostly because Hiko had insisted on sending her on small, medium or big tasks of 'serious' importance… nothing someone else couldn't have done perfectly well. If memory served her right, even Hanya was there when the princess was attacked, he would've done an even better job at saving her than she did, after all, most of the saving had been done by the woman she was leading through corridors…

Conveniently thou Misao forgot the fact that Hanya's appearance wasn't the friendliest of all. Well, not that she had ever minded the mask or the face behind the mask… but then again, Misao knew him all too well to be disturbed by such insignificant things.

And… the memory came back again to her mind and she fought with all her might to ignore it even thought… it was a pathetically lost battle. It had been the beginning of her inferno, the starting point of every torturing night she had spent on her own. That night… the night she had clearly confessed her undying love to the tall man the Oniwabanshu called Okashira; it seemed as if until then, despite the intelligent, sharp mind of Shinomori Aoshi, he had not been able to understand her feelings and had mistakenly taken them as an infatuation that would soon die… something he should never act upon. But obviously… after she barged into his room, slightly tipsy and only wearing a light yukata, angrily explaining how she was not a kid anymore since she had been fantasizing about him enough to change her bed clothes every day, it was somehow too obvious for him to ignore or to mistake her emotions and well after so long hiding his own feelings from her he took her hand, pushed her down on the floor and kissed her senseless.

The room spun around her over and over and time seemed to slow down to 1 minute per second leaving her dizzy and fuzzy but with no trace of the alcohol in those feelings. No, the surprise had been enough to take those away and leave her conscious enough to lose common sense a second after she recognized her beloved's lips over her own. Yet, we all know the lack of such liquid's effect on our own bodies leaves you also to recognize the fault of your actions, not to forget… Aoshi was not drunk in any way so when he felt her tense he too reacted.

They were moving far too quickly, it was time to back up a couple steps. And so, Aoshi made it official, going to talk with Misao's only living relative Okina, asking his permission to court Misao, and eventually announcing their engagement to their group of friends and their lord. Misao couldn't be happier… except that… since that fateful night, their encounters had been reduced to holding hands, hugging or a light kiss on her temple. All that was sweet but the young woman couldn't help the desire that had being brought to life the moment she felt the tender heat of his desire. Every night she dreamt of his touch, of his lips, the caresses and what her innocent mind could make up of all she had heard happened behind closed doors.

And of course… there was also that thing… Megumi's words couldn't leave her alone and now the blush was gone from her face, it was gone to be replaced by a frown and the foul mood she had been found with that very morning.

"Tsubame!" she yelled approaching the kitchen "Tsubame! I will require 2 sets of breakfasts in the flower room!"

It was quite odd that the girl wouldn't answer to her call, for a moment Misao begun to worry but upon entering the kitchen she found the small thing standing in a corner nervously trying to serve tea.

"Tsubame?" Misao questioned and the other trembled slightly before turning around to face her. Her face was completely red and there were even darker spots below her eyes, whatever she had been doing had to be quite shameful to have such expression. Feeling now even worst, angry and on top of that embarrassed Misao's frown got even deeper. "Tsubame, remember to answer when I call you girl, I shouldn't have to repeat myself every time"

"I'm so sorry Misao-sama…. I just… didn't listen"

Now that's weird

"What…?" Misao asked and the little girl cowered even more.

"I… uhmmm…"

"Ah…" The picture she made was pitiful and Misao now felt terrible for making her feel so upset, so she sighted and looked at her with a calmer expression "Forget it kid… I'm not mad at you" moving back to the entrance of the kitchen she continued to talk giving her the instructions "Just… bring 2 sets of breakfast to the flower room and be quick at it, the lords will be down in a moment and I don't want to be given their spoils"

"Hai! Misao-sama!"

Having given the order and having her order being listened too she motioned the woman following her steps to continue their way through another corridor, it had only 1 direction to turn to when they reached the corner but after a slight movement of Misao's hand a door opened on the side through which both disappeared.

"Most interesting palace you live in Misao" Rue mention offhandedly.

"Yeah… it's cool in the beginning but the novelty wears off when you begin to use this passages for what they were made for"

"Aah"

They entered the small room and sat down immediately one in front of the other. Rue was sitting comfortably over her knees and something told Misao she was actually good at keeping herself in such an uncomfortable position for a very long time. Misao herself had never been one to sit formally when eating or talking to someone… or almost in any occasion, it was just one of those things she was not good at. The pain afterwards would be unbearable if she tried.

"How old are you, Rue?" she said after a moment to disperse her thoughts a little "If you don't mind me asking"

"Uhmm… nah, that's fine I guess… I'm 18 years old"

"Huuh… you're not that much older than me then"

"How old are you?" The conversation was turning nice and amicable, the maid entered with their meal and left just as she came in, in total silence, all the time they didn't stop talking.

"I'm 16"

"Well, between 18 and 16 there are a lot of experiences to be lived"

The other responded with a calm tone that had a dark whisper in between lines, it made Misao think of those actions she wanted to be doing but shouldn't be doing until she was married.

"Aah…"So she answered weakly with a dark blush covering her cheeks and to make matters worse Rue began laughing; first it was something like a giggle but after a sort of snort like sound she was clearly laughing behind a well poised hand.

"WHAT?!" Misao screamed immediately "Why are you laughing?"

"I wasn't talking about that kind of experiences Misao-chan" the other said while still giggling a little. Misao was beyond embarrassment.

"Eh…"

"It's true that all of us are maidens you know" she said while she took a sip of her soup "we haven't done anything with anyone…" then she seemed to think for a moment "well… maybe a kiss or two but nothing more than that"

"Really…?" Misao tried to take their conversation away from her embarrassing reaction "Do you have a boyfriend or anyone special?"

Sapphire eyes opened big and a slight blush dusted her cheeks prettily but to Misao's disappointment her expression did not show something she would regard as interesting; the girl only smiled calmly and looked down with sympathy.

"No, of course not Misao… my life is given entirely to my lady, it's my lady's happiness what I seek, not my own" now Rue's response was lame to Misao's point of view so she had to bit her tongue to avoid saying something she shouldn't.

Don't go there Misao, Aoshi-sama did insist I didn't meddle on ANYONE'S love lives. Still… that didn't mean she could try to hint just a little…

"Uhmmm… can you truly believe that when you say it?"

"I believe it every time I do"

Gah! Bullshit!

"How can you…?" at her question Rue looked confused for a couple seconds before she turned sympathetic again and smiled as she answered.

"It's not an easy feat… in reality I often dream of what my life could've been… but if it hadn't been for my lady I wouldn't be here… I would have probably died a very pitiful death"

"But… What about your future happiness?"

The insistence of Misao appeared to have an effect on Rue's comfort since she readjusted her position in front of the low table after which she placed the bowl she had on her hands with a slow movement down over the wooden surface. She looked somewhat displeased but there was also determination on her expression, it felt like a calling to Misao, something good was about to happen, perhaps.

"Well, I won't lie… my lady and I have an agreement"

Now we're talking…

"What kind of agreement?" Misao moved herself to the front, propping her elbows on the table to support herself closer to her.

Rue only laughed and smiled at the eager youngster looking at her with curiosity "That my friend… it's a secret"

Misao was about to pout when another thought crossed her mind and her smiled came back unbidden "So… we're friends?" The question came out quickly and without reserves, even Misao was surprised by it but didn't mend it or anything, instead she waited for Rue to respond which she did after the first reaction of surprise wore off and for what she could see; the girl was taken aback but was also pleased.

Good, because I thought the mood was about to be spoiled.

"Uhmmm… yeah… why not?"

"Brilliant!"

Misao took her own bowl of soup and begun to sip lightly the still warm broth. "Then my friend… please enlighten me about your lady"

Rue smiled back at her, then feeling slightly more comfortable she begun to eat her fish and rice.

"Well… ask away and I will answer what I can"

"Uhmmm, first then… how is her father?"

"Shogo Amakuza-sama?" she thought for a moment her words "He's quite serious but also very passionate… he would probably die for his people and he would definitely die for his daughter, she's the most precious person in the world for him, he would do anything for her"

"Wow… well… that's a little obvious with all that happened"

"I guess, you could say so…"

"How did you meet your lady?"

"Uhn" for a moment she appeared distressed by the question but soon let go of it and answered calmly "Amakuza-sama brought me to her"

"Ah… okey?" Misao was about to freak out when her newly found friend understood the wild ideas going through the youngsters mind.

"He didn't purchase me or anything… if that's what you're thinking" she laughed a little and then continued "We found each other by pure chance; I was probably to die a slave or worst when he rescued me, said I was special because of my abilities…"

"Your fighting skills…" Misao completed and Rue was lost for a moment in what felt like confusion before she was back on board, or so it seemed. "Yeah" she muttered and bit down on a piece of a stir fried vegetable "Then he said he would take care of me if I took care of his daughter" she was serious then as she said the next but there was also a sound very much like regret at the back of her words "Let's say I didn't have anything better to do at the time so I followed him" saying this Kaoru's grip on the chopsticks tensed a little but then a memory seemed to pass by her and her expression changed completely to a softer one "I remember the first time I saw her… she was everything anyone had ever said about her; delicate, beautiful, a lady… and she trusted her life to me from the first moment we met… so… I trusted my future to her and my lord"

"Have you ever regretted your decision? I know you said you would've died and all… but…"

"I do think of what my life could've been but I cannot regret the decision I took, I saved lives you know? I mean… I've saved lives with this job I've been given that are worth thousands of times the life I could've chosen for myself before. My mistress is my reason for existing now and I don't think I would be happy with anything different"

"Not even if you never get to meet your one true love?"

"Uhmmm…"she acted as if she thought for a moment then smiled relaxed "one cannot miss what one doesn't know, right?"

"Ah… I…"

"It's only my way of thinking Misao-chan, do not bother yourself with that since I'm perfectly happy the way I am" her smiled widened only slightly and Misao felt depressed.

"Uhmm…"

How can anyone live without love? Without ever knowing true love… then again… how do you know its true love?

"Rue-san"

A non committal sound was her response as the other ate without reserves.

"Have you ever kissed anyone?"

"Yeah" she said between bites.

"How many… have you kissed?"

"Aag" it was done, the woman in question chocked on her food and coughed for a moment before drinking her entire cup of tea in hopes of redirecting the misplaced vegetable after which she turned to look stunned eyes at Misao which after a moment begun to turn upset.

"Do not be angry with me… I've never had a sister or friend to talk these kinds of things… the only one here is Megumi and she's… well… I don't think she's the kind of person I would trust with the details of my love life…"

"And you would trust me?" now she was looking at her as if she had grown another head.

"Humor me, please?" Misao then pleaded with a gleam in her eyes she knew worked perfectly well with most of her friends.

"2, only 2" her head down, staring harshly at the bowl in front of her, she spoke and didn't look up, still Misao saw clearly a rusty red coloring her cheeks.

"Does it feel the same when you kiss a person than when you kiss another one?"

Now Rue did look up with curiosity at the childlike question the ninja had asked and smiled a moment later when she answered "No?" then breathed for a second before she continued "I would say both kisses were completely different… like worlds apart"

"Like… better and worst?" the other added.

"No, I wouldn't say that… they were both good kissers" now Rue was clearly blushing "It was more like my heart was closer to one than it was to the other so the kiss was different"

"Aah…" now that makes sense… althou… I've never kissed another guy and I would never do such thing… I mean… I'm engaged now…

"Why does something like this concern you Misao-chan, are you not engaged already?"

"Uh" shit… how do I answer this one…? after a moment of pondering her reasons for asking she decided to go with the truth, even if it wasn't the entire truth.

"Just… something someone said about love at first sight"

This made Rue smile with her teeth shining brightly on her face. "Aah… you fell in love at first sight and now you doubt your love to be real" her smiled didn't seem to be going anywhere as she pushed herself closer to the table and closer to Misao who in turn moved even closer to the point of nearly rubbing her nose against the other girl's cheek.

"I will put your heart at ease then" she said then winked at her secretively "You see, when you love someone and that person is the right one for you the kiss you share will be particularly especial, a kiss that will change your life completely, that will make you drown and fly at the same time… you don't need to kiss someone else to know it is real, you just need to look at the other person's eyes and see your desire reflected on his own, your future and the future of your love in them"

"My desire?" now she really did feel childlike, innocent and stupid, but Rue didn't seem bothered by her trouble and only turned her own smile a tad warmer.

"Of course Misao-chan, true love comes with desire, to be together, to live forever in love, to show that love, have kids, have a home…. many things we desire when we are in love"

Something inside the girl suddenly clicked and warmed her up. Memories of her encounters with Aoshi and their moments together, those kisses they had shared and the way he would look at her as if there were no barriers covering her soul from him. No, there was doubt, now she had no fear… now… she could definitely meet with him at the altar and say her vows with conviction and without conflict. He was her destiny, after all and now, she was certain of that.

Then something else clicked and she remembered Rue's speech from before making her return her eyes to face the blue pair in front of her with confusion.

"How can you know all this?" she said in a whisper.

"I… I have seen it before" Rue stuttered

"You're lying!"

It was obvious for her, now that she saw the obvious red tint on her cheeks Misao knew the truth behind her words, the one sitting so comfortably before her, speaking of undying vows of devotion to another woman and man whom she didn't love or a greater good for the whole world was completely head over heels for a guy.

"No! I'm not"

"You most certainly are!"

"No...! I…!"

There was an awkward moment of silence as one faced the other with extreme seriousness. Misao was not about to give up her newly discovered secret and Rue didn't appear to be about to give in and tell her the whole story, well… until she realized Misao would never leave it down, then she lowered her eyes to the table in front of them and after a moment gave a very heavy sight.

"Does it hurt then… that you cannot be with him?" Misao asked.

"No"

"Lier"

It was obvious… right?

"He can only live within me Misao-chan" Rue spoke with gravity and sadness in her voice "the one I love is no longer in this world"

"What?" panic entered her as the knowledge of her friend's pain registered inside her, now, it also made sense why she would so openly and freely give herself to a lady and lord thinking of a greater good.

"I received word yesterday night… they found him dead somewhere in Aizu, behind enemy lines"

"Rue… I'm so sorry" tears were threatening to fall any time soon.

"It's alright, once my lady is safe and the war is won, I will go find him and be with him"

"Rue…?" she said panicking again

She's not thinking of committing suicide, is she?

Then the black haired woman composed herself, her back straight in a set line, shoulders back and her hands now resting over her lap, the rest of her meal forgotten.

"My lady is also in love with someone else"

"Huh?"

Oh… it's true, we came to talk about her…

"He was nothing but a fighter she met a long time ago but she was smitten by him the moment they met and even thought we don't know what his feelings were for her she still pledged her love to be his and only his" Misao could feel a lump forming inside her throat "She hasn't loved anyone else after him"

"That's why you were so reluctant to pair her up with Himura…"

"I fear for her heart Misao-chan, she may be healthy now but her heart was left so weak, sorrow like the one love provokes may be enough to break it and kill her… it is my duty to protect her from that"

"Rue…" if we fail and she suffers from heart break I may as well be killing her with a knife… "I understand" but I will not fail… either they get together or I'll find that idiot of a fighter and marry them off for good. "I think Himura was in love once too but she's no longer in his life and he no longer feels anything for her so…"

Only for a moment Rue seemed pleased and confident before her face turned to stress and her lips tensed in a tight line "Would he abandon the princess if she were to return?"

"Ah" that I hadn't thought about… but, I think she's dead, he mentioned once about visiting her wife as in a cemetery… so I guess she's gone for good… uhmmmm… not to mention is Himura we're talking about… he would never do something like that, which is why I have to make him fall in love with the princess. Train of thought completed she smiled calmly at her friend"Himura would never back down on his word; he'll marry the princess either way"

That didn't give peace to the older girl still "I guess that scares me anyway"

"Me too… which is why they have to fall in love"

"Uhm" again a non-committal sound was her response.

After a moment of a seriously thinking things over (or so she looked like she was doing) Rue turned around to face Misao as she addressed her asking her the question she had wanted to ask since the beginning.

"What about you? How did you meet him?"

Grabbing her long tresses and fiddling with the end of her braid, brilliant blue eyes laughed as she giggled in remembrance. "Oh… well… I was tracking down my Aoshi-sama when I found Himura and since he seemed to know a thing or two about him I followed Himura everywhere and time… and adventures followed us until we became friends"

"That's awfully peculiar"

"I guess?" I think she wants to say stalker… or creepy… (Mentally she kicked herself for sounding weird)

"How can you follow a lord without him noticing you or his entourage for that matter?"

"Oh… he wasn't a lord back then, he was but a vagabond looking for someone; his master… actually… which I later found out was Hiko-sama disguised as an old hermit so… eventually I met him and apparently he liked me enough to assign me as a part of the elite special forces"

Now the other one was pushing her body forward again, her arms over the table as a brow lifted in curiosity and doubt "Uhmmm… would you clarify that whole… lord thing for me?"

"How he became a lord?"

Yeah… not such a good story… the other woman nodded.

"I think it was all Hiko-sama's doing" more like meddling, destroying and conquering… "This is what I know about him so don't go divulging it to anyone, alright?"

"My lips are sealed" she promised and made a motion of closing her lips magically with her fingers.

"So, like I said Kenshin was a wanderer before, he got caught up in battles in Tokyo so they started saying he was the battousai but instead of stopping him they wanted him to fight, specially the forming 'police' squadrons, they wanted him to stop the war and more than anything, stop Makoto Shishio who was growing in power back here in Kyoto so he came back to find his master in order to perfect his fighting technique"

"Hiko Seijuro" Rue completed.

"Who was hiding under another name and profession, said he didn't want anything to do with him but after a couple weeks he took him in and in the end he did train him so Kenshin went to fight Shishio and his men along with others who wished to help… for a moment I thought they wouldn't come back but they did"

"What about others?"

"Well, I don't know really how many went to fight that day but after the fight was done all of them came back bloodied… there was a lot of confusion… especially with that wolf in the middle…"

"Wolf?"

Aaaaaand I side tracked her again…. Aaah…

"An idiot… forget him… uhmmmm… well, Himura was in a coma-like-state for quite a while before he woke up and by the time he did his master had spoken to most of the people living in Kyoto, who somehow were asking for Hiko-sama and Himura to remain there as their protectors. The forces Shishio had awaken were only lurking in the shadows back then but it was enough damage done for that devil to conjure fear and awe in everyone"

"So he forced them into submission?"

Yeah… that's pretty much how it was…

"You could say… they were all alright with the decision, you know? It wasn't like they were displeased and as time went by and Himura proved himself capable and reliable no one argued with his position as lord"

"Heh" Rue said as she moved back to sit properly in her cushion.

"Obviously after the battles against Shishio's followers and some crazy dudes, other lords talked to Hiko-sama about joining lands and the creation of a unified force with other samurai lords. Most of them were attracted by the strength both father and son represented but some others were just as scared from us as they were of our enemies, it hasn't been something easy" she unconsciously scratched her arms as she remember night after sleepless night, waiting for Aoshi to return from his missions, traveling farther and farther away from him while she knew he was putting his life at risk for the sake of a greater good she couldn't give a damn about. "We had to fight to keep the borders protected even from other lords that were supposed to be our allies…"

"Amakuza-sama was no different" Rue commented sympathetically

"It wasn't easy for any of them but what they did saved many lives, like you said" Misao continued and now they both smiled, proud of what their masters had done and their own purposes in life.

"Yes" she agreed.

"Hiko-sama said their position was only temporary but after Enishi brought up the emperor thing Hiko-sama started talking about the engagement, probably to ensure some sort of security for the lands, you know… for food or something… I really don't know what he thinks"

"Me neither…"

Now her guest was back at her food, picking pieces of fish and biting on them with gusto.

"You seem to get along with him somehow" Misao added trying to sound relaxed and nonchalant.

"Oh… we… we've met before, he knew my father I think… or my grandfather"

"Wow… talk about connections"

"Yeah well… he is not the kind of connection I would like to pull off for any type of support or help"

"Yet here you are" another offhanded comment yet one Rue did not take so lightly, she looked up surprised and a little insulted.

"You think I have anything to do with my lady's engagement?"

"Not that I wanted to insult or anything" Misao felt panicky again "it was more like if he trusts you, maybe that's why he trusts your lady… that's a good thing, right? Besides who knows… with that old fart? …maybe that's why… maybe not."

For a moment Rue was quiet and Misao thought she hadn't made it clear she wasn't trying to be disrespectful but when she brought her head up from her own plate she noticed the expression facing her was not one of discomfort or insult but instead she was between giggling and trying to feign reproach.

"We don't have to be so respectful when they are not around, right?" she tried, hoping her friend wouldn't betray her verbal aggression towards lord Hiko.

"Uhm… If you don't mind Misao-chan, I rather be respectful than risk a political issue that might transcend servant to master" she was laughing but Rue's response was still diplomatic and sort of serious.

"You're probably right… but…" she made an i-don't-care-movement and was about to continue when Rue got up from her cushion and pushed down her clothes to fix them a little as she moved around the table to the door.

"It's about time, Misao-chan, I believe lord Hiko awaits us"

For a moment again Misao felt lost about her knowledgeable friend but quickly recovered to answer "Ah… that's true" she moved up from her placed and opening the sliding door in front of them she motioned her to go through it "Let's go"

First they had to go back to Rue's quarters so she could change her attire, which she insisted was necessary since she was required during the war meeting as a formal guest of their lord. After a few minutes she came back out wearing a silk kimono-like dress with a delicate piece of silk covering her head and another lighter and a little transparent fabric covering her lips. Once she was ready to go they parted walking quietly again through the corridors, until they reached the double doors that would lead to the war conference room.

"Misao-chan, I have only one favor to ask of you for now"

"What is it?"

"Do not spy on my lady, it is unbecoming of you"

The double doors opened to reveal the great space filled with high ranking people ready to cut any intruder down. Misao didn't feel one bit scared but she felt concern about the reasons her lord would have to ask of Rue's presence during the meeting.

God only knows what he's thinking…

As she moved closer to Aoshi to give her report she saw the other woman walking without any sort of gesture towards the rest of the men surrounding the table and only gave a small bow to Hiko who moved barely a centimeter to reveal a cushion already prepared for her beside him.

Omoshiroii…

She thought as she left the room to go carry her next assignment. She was to ensure that the safety precautions for the lady were carried out and to clear the expanse of the lord and lady's part of the palace as per ordered by the princess. If she wanted seclusion, that she would get, but Misao would still place some internal security just in case. Only a couple ninja, who would swear secrecy about any intimate detail they might come to face during their time serving the bride to be. Apparently her new friend knew about the night before when she had mistakenly walked into their bathing house and into a very private conversation.

.

Next episode... chan chan chan...!

Kenshin will meet in the garden with his lovely fiancee ^^ and perhaps... he'll be able to see Rue again that night... we'll see...!