Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin. But I do own this story so don't even think of stealing it.

' ' thoughts

" " dialog

Finding You

By: Kayla Thurston

Chapter 21: Kenshin Departs

Life at the Aoiya had been grim and quiet since Misao left. Misao was the life of the Aoiya, with her cheerful personality and contagious smile. Everyone was worried. None of them had been able to find Misao. It had been a month since she had left; there had been no word from her or her whereabouts. Their Misao, their leader was in great danger, by facing the Shinamagi Yakuza on her own.

Aoshi still hadn't returned either; he'd been gone for a month, with no word on whether he had found Misao. Everyone knew he wouldn't return until he found her. Aoshi was the strongest and best of them, if anyone could find her and bring her home safely, it was him.

Kenshin, Kaoru, Yahiko and Sanosuke had arrived two weeks ago. Okina had filled them in on the whole situation, concerning the Shinamagi Yakuza and Misao's disappearance. Kenshin and the others had also gone out to look for Misao, but they hadn't had any luck either.

Kenshin sat in the training hall with Okina, drinking tea. "Still no word from Aoshi?" Kenshin asked, before taking a sip of his tea. They were all worried. Okina had told Kenshin about the five highly skilled assassins working for the Shinamagi Yakuza and that one of them could easily go head to head with him in a fight.

"No, not yet. But if anyone can find her and bring her home safely its Aoshi." Okina replied, a grim expression on his face.

"We can count on Aoshi, that we most certainly can." Kenshin said, trying to make the old man feel better. "He cares a lot about Miss Misao, that he does. He won't let anything happen to her." Okina gave him a small smile.

"Yes he does, more than he lets on." Okina said, before taking a sip of his tea. They sat in silence for awhile, just sipping their tea, each lost in their own thoughts.

'Shinamagi Yakuza and Izo Matsumoto.' Kenshin thought to himself, trying to make a connection, he knew the name from somewhere, but where? Kenshin and Okina were pulled from their thoughts when they heard someone running towards the training hall, not one person but several.

"Okina! Okina!" Omasu called as she ran into the training hall, a letter clutched to her chest. She was followed by; Okon, Shiro, Kuro, Kaoru, Yahiko and Sanosuke. "It's a letter from Aoshi! It just arrived by messenger pigeon from Toyonaka in the Osaka Prefecture." Kenshin and Okina quickly stood as Omasu and the others stopped in front of them. Okina took the letter from Omasu and opened it. He began to read.

Okina,

I have found Misao in Toyonaka. She was injured but is on the mend. I request that you send a carriage to transport us back to Kyoto, since she is unable to travel on foot. She wasn't alone when I found her. It seems she had some help from the most unlikely person imaginable. The Tenken, Shishio's former right hand man. I don't trust him, but Misao said that he saved her life.

From Toyonaka,

Aoshi

Okina sighed in relief, he'd found her. He knew he could count on Aoshi, but he had said she was injured. How badly injured was she? Everyone looked at Okina, waiting for him to tell them what the letter had said.

"Well what is it? Has he found her?" Omasu asked, her face creased with worry as well as hope. Everyone shared her expression.

"Yes, Aoshi has found Misao." Replied Okina, everyone sighed in relief at his words. "She was injured, but is going to be alright. Luckily she had some help before Aoshi got to her and she is alive because of this person, the most unlikely person imaginable." He looked at Kenshin. "Someone you know Himura, better than we do.' Kenshin looked at Okina.

"Who?" he asked, wondering who this unlikely person was.

"Shishio Makoto's former right hand man, Tenken no Soujiro." Everyone's eyes widened. The Tenken had been the one who had assassinated Secretary Okubo during the Shishio incident.

"You mean the strongest member of the Juppongatana? Kenshin isn't he the one who gave you that scar on your back?" Kaoru asked.

"Yes, he's the young man that is the master of the Tenbu no Sai Niyoru Ken style and Shikuchi." Kenshin replied and then he smiled. "It would seem that Soujiro has turned away from the teachings of Shishio. We owe him a lot, Miss Misao is alive because of him, that she is."

"Oh come on Kenshin, you don't honestly believe he changed just like that, do you? I mean, it's only been eight months." Sanosuke said, a look of disbelief on his face.

Sano had been there during their second fight. The Tenken had given Kenshin a hard time. He had been fast enough to get behind Kenshin and get him in the back something no one else could ever do. On top of that Kenshin hadn't been able to read him because he had had no emotions, making it impossible to read his next move.

If Kenshin hadn't had the affect he had on the Tenken, reawakening those long suppressed emotions… Sano didn't want to think of what could of happened, the thought that Kenshin could… no he would have lost, if he hadn't had that affect on the Tenken, it was too much.

Kenshin turned toward Sano and smiled. "Everyone deserves a chance to change Sano, that they do. If Soujiro hadn't changed, then why did he help Miss Misao? If he was still the Tenken and still believed Shishio's philosophy, that the strong live and the weak die, then he wouldn't have saved Miss Misao, he would have killed her."

"But Kenshin…" he began to protest, but shut up. Kenshin had a point. People can change, I mean look at Kenshin. He was once the feared legendary Battosai the manslayer during the Revolution and now… he was a wanderer who has taken a vow to never kill again, to repent for his sins. Had the Tenken done the same?

"Aoshi has requested that a carriage be sent to Toyonaka to bring them back to Kyoto. Misao is unable to travel on foot. Shiro go rent a carriage and have them come here for instructions." Okina said, Shiro nodded in response and exited the room without a word. Misao was coming home.

"Sir Okina, I will be going to Toyonaka, I have some things to discuss with Soujiro, that I do." Kenshin said.

"Very well Himura, you will go and the rest of us will stay here." Okina replied. Sano crossed his arms and sent a glare at Kenshin.

"Hey Kenshin, don't think you're leaving me behind, I'm going too." Sano said. Yahiko had a determined look on his face as he stepped forward.

"Yeah I'm going to." Yahiko chirped. Kenshin could understand them wanting to go with him, but…

"I'm sorry guys, but there wouldn't be enough room for Aoshi and Misao on the return trip, it will just be me, that it will." Kenshin replied. Sano and Yahiko were about to protest, but saw Kenshin had a point. With that Kenshin left the room to gather a few things before the carriage arrived. It would be about a two day trip by carriage.

Everyone left the training hall; feeling like a great weight had been lifted from their shoulders. Misao was coming home, she was injured but she was going to be alright. But they were worried about her "companion". He had been their enemy eight months ago, the most deadly next to Shishio at that. They were worried, but thankful because he had saved Misao's life.

The carriage arrived about an hour later and everyone came out to say goodbye to Kenshin. He'd only be gone for three or four days. Okina walked up to Kenshin.

"Himura, if the Tenken is still there, bring him back with you. He may have been our enemy once not so long ago, but it's because of him that Misao will be coming home alive." Okina said. Kenshin smiled.

"I will do that, that I will." Kenshin replied. Kaoru and the others walked up to them, each saying their goodbyes. Kenshin said goodbye to everyone in return before walking over to the carriage driver and giving him instructions. Kenshin then opened the door to the carriage and climbed in and once the door shut the carriage was off, heading in the direction of Toyonaka.

Kenshin sat lost in his thoughts as the carriage moved over the road, it was bumpy and uncomfortable, but it was the fastest way to get there. This would be the first time Kenshin had seen Soujiro since their fight on Mt. Hei. He wondered if Soujiro had finally found the answer he was looking for.

To be continued...

Author's Note: Yay! Chapter 21 is FINISHED! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE REVIEW! I'm giving you puppy dog eyes! PLEASE! Your reviews keep this story going! Chapter 22 will be up soon. It's half way done! I hope everyone is having as much fun reading this story as I am writing it! See you all next chapter!!