Watsuki owns them

I just borrow for a while

No harm intended

Dreams I Dreamt Instead By Fujifunmum

Chapter 9: A New Relationship?

"Tell me about Aoshi."

She stared at him sadly for more than a few long moments, trying to decide what to say, whether to say anything at all. Then she gathered up her courage. Where could she start? How could she do it? Why should she speak to Sanosuke about the man who had dominated her life and her future until the previous summer?

She looked Sano directly in the eyes and began to speak.

"We missed you last spring at Mount Uneo, Sano," she said quietly. "That was the beginning of the end. The only other person I have shared this with is Himura. But for some reason, I feel I can tell you."

As she related her sadness at Aoshi's revelations on the road back to Kyoto, Misao was surprised by her lack of tears. Was she all cried out? Had she finally recovered from the initial pain of the experience? Was she finally grown up enough to realize that her disappointment in love was not the same kind of tale as the stories of Shishio and Kanryuu they had just shared with each other? Why did love hurt so much more?

Sanosuke watched her wide blue eyes in alert silence. His mind and his thoughts had totally cleared now. He was tired, and his head ached and throbbed from the blow he had endured, but he could feel his senses sharpening and his disorientation was gone. For the first time, he felt like he was home. He remembered Kenshin's "Tadaima" to Kaoru after their first trip to Kyoto, and smiled at the memory. He believed that he understood Kenshin better now than he ever had before. Maybe it was the wandering, or just maybe it was looking into beautiful blue eyes.

He took Misao's hand as she spoke, gently caressing her palm with his thumb, offering such comfort as he was able for such a painful topic. He wondered even now, despite their closeness, that she had agreed to speak of him.

Misao felt only sorrow as she completed her summary of her pain last summer. It was the sorrow of a healed wound, she realized. She could remember how it hurt when it was fresh, but it didn't feel that way now. Now, she felt only the comfort of the surroundings. She was in an Oniwabanshuu place, surrounded by her family and she relished the peacefulness of the night and the warmth of Sano's hand on hers. She looked down in surprise. When had he taken her hand? When had they become close enough that for him to do so was so natural that she hadn't even noticed?

As she finished speaking, sighing with relief and fatigue, Sano pressed her further. "How do you feel now, Misao?"

She was taken aback by the question. She hadn't asked herself that question for quite a long time. She closed her eyes and exhaled, searching her feelings with her overly tired mind. Sano missed the light in those beautiful eyes as he patiently waited for her to speak. He was surprised when she softly smiled and opened her eyes to look at him.

"I'm a woman with a past now, Sano." She was too pleased with herself to elaborate, as she yawned and leaned her head on his shoulder. She was exhausted and her ankle was starting to ache. She hadn't noticed that before, either. She reached down to absently rub it. She was having a hard time keeping her eyes open. Had it been 10 hours yet? It felt like weeks...

"No, you're a woman with a future," he replied. But she was asleep.

Okina stuck his head in the room to let Sagara know that his room was ready, but Sano stopped him before he had a chance to say a word.

"Shhhh," he whispered, placing his index finger to his lips. "She's done in. It's been 10 hours now, so let's let her get some rest."

"Your room is ready. Do you want some help with Misao?" Okina offered, but he didn't really expect Sano to accept the offer. There was something about the way they were sitting together, him holding her hand, her asleep against his shoulder that looked very natural. Misao was smiling in her sleep. That was all that Okina needed to see to know that Sagara would take good care of her. It had been far too long since Okina had seen any kind of smiling peacefulness surrounding her.

Sano just shook his head and reached down to retrieve his tea. Okina left, closing the door after him and Sano finished his tea, frowning at the tepid liquid. Then he gently eased Misao down onto her futon and gave only momentary thought to resisting the urge to hold her.

When Okina made one last turn through the Gingko to check on things before retiring, his surprise at the emptiness of Sagara's room was only exceeded by the sight he found in Misao's. There was his beautiful Misao, spooned up against Sagara, the both of them sleeping the peaceful sleep of young children.

He stroked his beard, rolled his eyes, and quietly closed the door. Maybe his Misao would find happiness again. She could do far worse than Sanosuke. Maybe she already had.

Even after the severe blow to the head that Ishiji had inflicted, Sano was still awake before Misao. It was not morning, however. Both of them had slept well into the afternoon. As soon as Sano awoke, he carefully extricated himself from Misao's futon, leaving her sound asleep. It was no easy task. Getting up was a much slower process than usual and even taking his time he got very dizzy. He was forced to consider that this injury might be enough to slow him down, for once. He took his time getting to the door and making his way downstairs. It was irritating to him in the extreme to be unable to navigate the stairs without a lot of time and effort. He stumbled into the main rooms of the Inn looking for Okina or some food, preferably the later before the former.

The place was bustling with workers putting the final touches on the Inn. Fresh flowers were being placed in vases, and both Okon and Omasu were there, dressed in beautiful kimono's befitting the occasion of the rebirth and expansion of their clan. He ran into Okon first. Or rather she almost ran into him, carrying a large vase filled with a gorgeous flower arrangement she had just completed for the entryway.

"Sagara! What in the world are you doing up! You should be resting. Go back upstairs immediately and I'll bring you some food as soon as I set this down. How are you feeling? Is Misao awake, too?"

"Naw, she's out like a light. She had quite a day yesterday so let's let her get some sleep. Where's Okina?"

"I'll find him and send him to you. Please go back upstairs and rest. The Okashira will be very irate if she finds you aren't taking care of that head wound. Let me see that bandage...." Okon set the vase down on the floor and forced Sano to sit while she examined his bandages for signs of additional bleeding.

"Looks OK, but we need to change those bandages. Please go upstairs and I'll get bandages and food and bring them to you. Okina, too." She began pushing him back towards the stairs. "Do you need help getting back upstairs?"

"Forget it, Okon. It was too much trouble getting down here. I don't want to be cooped up in a room all day. Just tell me where Okina is and point me in the direction of the kitchen."

Okon frowned at Sagara, hands on her hips, trying to decide how forceful she could really be with the large man in front of her. He might be wearing her colors, but he was not of her clan, and she hesitated just enough to give him an opportunity to turn around and begin to walk down the hallway. It wasn't a pretty sight. He was forced to hold himself up with the wall and his steps were anything but quick or even. Without the bandage he would have appeared severely inebriated.

Okon was about to go after him to try to convince him to rest when she felt Okina's hand on her shoulder.

"Leave him to me. Take care of your flowers; they are too pretty to be left here on the floor. I'll see to Sagara." Okon shook her head as she bent to pick up the flowers and resume her path to the entryway. Okina caught up with Sagara in just a few steps. Sano was moving slowly enough for a kitten to catch him.

"I see you're awake, Sagara. How do you feel?"

"Like shit. And my head feels even worse. But I need to speak with you Okina. It had better be in private." Sano weaved a little when he tried to turn around to face Okina too fast. Okina grabbed his arm to steady him and together they went into the sitting room where Misao and Sano had spent much of the last evening.

It had been a pleasant room then, but now was much changed in appearance. There were many Western style chairs, sofas and tables in evidence. The tables had elaborate flower arrangements on either end of the sofas and there were Western style large landscape paintings on two of the walls. Very little in this room would indicate you were in Japan.

Sano surveyed the surroundings and observed that the Oniwabanshuu were probably catering to Western visitors and were shrewdly making the "comforts of home" available to them. He imagined that for their Japanese clients or those Westerners wishing a taste of Japan that there were other rooms outfitted in more traditional Japanese style.

Okina helped Sano ease onto one of the Western chairs, and sat next to him on the nearby sofa. He saw Omasu go by in the hallway and signaled to her for tea and food. He wanted Sano comfortable and their opening reception wasn't to begin for another hour.

"Is there something more I need to know about last night? Something Misao did not tell me?"

Sano shook his head slightly to clear it, and then took a minute to focus on Okina. His alertness was fading fast. The injury must have been worse than he feared.

"Yes. You need to know a couple of things that I doubt Misao told you. First, you need to send someone up the pathway to Hiko's to make sure that bastard who attacked us is well hidden. Misao dragged him off to the south side of the path, about the length of this room plus the hallway. But that's probably not far enough. She covered him with leaves, but that's probably not good enough either."

"And why do we care if this scoundrel is found?"

"Well, aside from the possibility that he might be connected to your new members, I don't want anyone to connect him to Misao. And I was in no condition to take care of it yesterday." Sano paused, his eyes were blurring a little. His head was throbbing. "Unfortunately, I don't think I can do it today, either."

"Why would anyone connect him to Misao?"

"Her kunai wounds are all over his chest." Sano looked Okina directly in the eyes, speaking the bitter truth without words. "Check to make sure there are no shreds of her obi, or other pieces of her uniform to connect her or any of you with that damned bastard. It needs to be done today."

"And it will be. Consider it totally handled, Sagara. And thank you for taking such good care of our Okashira. We are in your debt."

"Nope. She was the one who took care of me this time."

Okina rose to leave, but Sano stopped him. "One more thing, can you send word to Ichino that the women and children are safe? Have you heard from Kuro or Shiro? We don't know how Ishiji escaped and whether anyone else was hurt yesterday." Again, Sano's eyes blurred with the effort of staying upright and conscious. He hung his throbbing head in his hands, swaying with the effort of staying upright. He was more tired than he could believe.

"I'll see to it. And I'm sending you back upstairs with some food and tea. Our opening reception is going to start soon. You don't want to scare off our guests, do you? We can't have you as the prominent prone fixture in the entryway."

With that, Okina coaxed Sano to his feet and began inching him towards the door. Omasu was just coming down the hall with their food and tea so Okina enlisted her help. She set down the tray and between the two of them they hauled a barely coherent Sanosuke back up the stairs.

Just at the top, they met a very concerned Misao coming out of her room. She replaced Omasu at Sano's side and told Okina to help her get him back into her room. It was closer and they were having trouble supporting the much larger Sanosuke. He was only barely awake by this time.

They deposited Sano on Misao's futon and Okina left to get ready for the reception, telling Misao that Omasu would be along with food and tea. Okon was already at the doorway with fresh bandages and ointments for his would. Misao took over for her, complimenting her on the beautiful new kimono and urging her back downstairs to greet their new customers for the grand opening of the Gingko.

Misao sighed, she was still tired, and her clan was taking the biggest step in renewing their numbers and efforts without her. But she took one look at Sanosuke and her displeasure evaporated. He had been hurt and he needed her. There was no place she would rather be than here, kneeling at his side, changing the bandages on his head. As she worked, she tried to keep from waking him; he must be even more tired than she was to be sleeping so soundly. Then it occurred to her that she had not seen him sleeping before. Not last night, not at Hiko's, not at Tohaku's, not at the hot spring, nowhere. How could that be true? She had just spent several weeks with him and it wasn't possible that he had awakened before her every day, was it?

She finished wrapping the nasty wound the tonfa had left on Sanosuke's scalp. The jagged tear in his skin wasn't bleeding anymore, and he would have a large scar to show for the last encounter with the Sanada ninja, but it would be completely hidden by his wild hair. He slept through all her careful attention, nor did he awaken when Omasu brought their food. Misao asked her if she and Okon could check on them every hour to see if they needed anything. She was still too concerned with his condition to leave his side.

She sat beside a slumbering Sanosuke drinking her tea and enjoying some miso soup while she contemplated the events of the past few weeks. Her reflections confirmed that she had not seen Sano asleep before this. That continued to astound her. Her previous impressions of Sagara had been favorable, of course. Once Himura had told her there was no one he trusted more than Sano, she and all of the Oniwabanshuu had immediately accepted and trusted him. However, none of that blinded her to his less than sterling reputation in Tokyo as a gambler and slacker who enjoyed drinking sake but not paying for it. She'd seen evidence of his shortcomings when she had visited Tokyo after Jinchuu, not that she had ever spent much time with him.

How did her previous perceptions fit with the Sanosuke she had just spent the past few weeks getting to know? She shook her head and finished her tea. Sano's travels had changed him. He had matured. And she was the one who was always insisting people treat her like an adult. She laughed aloud at that thought and quickly slapped her hand over her mouth to muffle the sound. Too late, Sano was stirring and she laid her hand on his forehead to check for fever and try to still his waking.

He sighed at her touch, murmured her name softly and went back to sleep. She was still smiling down on him, her hand caressing his temple to ease his pain, when Okon came to check on her.

Okon stood in the doorway watching Misao gently stroking the sleeping Sagara's brow. As she watched, stunned at the comfortable closeness of the scene in front of her, Sagara reached up and took Misao's hand. He briefly held her hand, sighed, and appeared to fall deeper into sleep. Okon was amazed at the familiarity and closeness of the scene. Her mind was quick to jump to some very surprising conclusions about the pair in front of her. She narrowed her eyes, quickly thinking about what she knew of Sagara from Kaoru. Twenty-three, she reckoned. And Misao was twenty. She smiled at the course her thoughts were taking. Her Okashira deserved to be happy and if Shinomori was not going to leave the temple long enough to become a human being again, then Misao could do far worse than Sagara. Anyone who was best friends with Battousai had to have strengths and hidden resources she had never seen. She knew he had a great sense of humor from when he had stayed at the Aoiya after the Shishio fight. Now if his predilection for sake had moderated, he might be acceptable; if he would become Oniwabanshuu. The Okashira would never leave the clan. Of this much Okon was certain.

She shook off her reverie and cleared her throat to let Misao know she was there. Misao looked over at the sound and put her finger to her lips indicating she should be silent. She reluctantly left Sano's side and came to whisper in Okon's ear.

"I think he's doing better. I changed his bandage and the wound looks nasty but is no longer bleeding. He does not seem to have a fever, although I am sure he must have a huge headache. Should I wake him up to eat?"

"No," Okon whispered back, "I will come back later. We'll feed him after he's rested. Do you want me to stay with him so you can have a break?"

Misao looked surprised, but then she thought it over and shook her head. "No, I'll stay with him." She turned to go back to his side, then hesitated and looked back over her shoulder at Okon. "Maybe some more tea when you come back?"

Okon just shook her head in agreement and closed the door behind her. She shook off her racing thoughts of Misao and Sagara and went back downstairs to help Omasu with the guests. The reception was very busy and the opening of the Gingko was rewarding the Oniwabanshuu's efforts warmly.

Misao looked out the window before she resumed her seat by Sano's side. This part of Kyoto was bustling with activity and commerce, even now that it was evening. She looked off into the foothills towards Hiko's kiln and shivered. This time yesterday she had been dragging Sano back to Kyoto. And she had killed a man. He had been a bad man who would have killed both of them, but she was still troubled by the realization that she had taken a life. Her feelings were in turmoil. Was it the violence of yesterday? Or was it the new feelings she had uncovered today for the man behind her?

"Misao?"

She jumped, and turned to face Sano with a start. "Did I wake you? I thought you were asleep."

"I seem to be drifting in and out of sleep today. Are you OK? You looked sad a moment ago, standing by the window." Sano looked at the small woman shadowed by the dim light coming in from the window. It was dark outside, but there was much activity abroad in the street below them and the lanterns cast occasional light in their direction. She stood in shadows, but the shadow play on her features was alluring. Sano struggled to keep his eyes in focus to see her more clearly as she crossed the room to light some candles and came back to his side.

As she sat beside him, again resting her palm on his forehead to see if there was any sign of fever, he reached up and captured her hand.

"Are you OK? I can't stand to see you looking so sad. Do you miss me so much that you're sad when I'm asleep?"

Misao sputtered at that remark and smacked him lightly with the back of her hand. "Hardly, big guy. I was only trying to stretch out my poor back muscles. Dragging you back to Kyoto yesterday wasn't easy, you know!" She fell back into their easy banter gratefully, but her eyes smiled and sparkled as she spoke. And her voice was soft and low. "Go back to sleep. I'm tired and I'm not the one who was hurt. You must still be exhausted. Or I'll get you some food if you're hungry, are you?"

Sano squeezed her hand, searching her eyes for signs of her former sadness. Finding none, he laid it back on his temple and said, "My head doesn't hurt so much when you touch it. It must be because you're the Okashira. Did you get some special healing powers with the title?"

"Don't be ridiculous, Sano!" Then Misao laughed as she saw the smirking smile on Sano's face. "You must be hungrier than I thought. I'll go get you some food."

Misao turned to get up but Sano grabbed her hand and tugged. She lost her balance and fell on top of him. Mortified, she tried to squirm away, making sure she didn't get anywhere near his wound. But Sano had his arm wrapped around her waist and held her tight to keep her from leaving. She was nose to nose with him when he spoke.

"You forgot to ask me what I wanted to eat. Of course, now that you're here," he paused and looked down the front of her gaping uniform, "I can't seem to remember what I wanted. To eat that is."

Misao's eyes were as big as saucers at his firm hold on her and appreciative leer. Had she ever been this close to a man before? She blushed furiously and squirmed to get away. Laughing, Sano released her and started to get up. He sat up quickly, then groaned and winced.

"Stay here, Sano! I'll go get you food and some tea. You obviously shouldn't be getting up if you're in that much pain!" Misao was kneeling beside him in a flash, urging him to lay back down with her hands on his chest. He grabbed her wrists and pulled her nose to nose to him again.

"Just can't stay away from me, can you?"

Misao's eyes widened again with shock. "Don't be ridiculous! I'm worried about you Sano! What's gotten into you?"

Sano just gave her one of his lopsided grins as his hold on her wrists changed from firm to gentle, his fingertips caressing the fluttering pulse he felt underneath. She was again blushing furiously, but making no attempt to break away.

"I'll go downstairs with you, I'm fine." His smile held her eyes, but she was very distracted by his stroking touch on her wrists. She felt warm, and not just from her deepening blush, but also from his closeness. They were inches apart and she was reacting with an unaccustomed nervousness. What had gotten into her?

Sano watched her wide-eyed surprise change to blushing embarrassment and then into questioning wonderment. He moved closer and would have tried to get up, but her hands again pressed on his chest to stop him.

"Please don't," she whispered. "You shouldn't be up yet, I'll get whatever you want, just stay here and let me take care of you."

"Whatever I want, eh?"

Misao's eyes widened in shock again and she was out of his grasp and on her feet in a flash. She bolted for the door and heard him laughing behind her as she fled into the hallway.

The next few days were a constant trial for Misao. Sanosuke continued to sleep a lot, and would threaten to get up whenever he awoke. Misao's attempts to keep him still long enough to heal became a game between them. Whenever she got up to go get him food or tea or new dressings for his bandages or anything, Sano would attempt to get up and threaten to go downstairs to help himself. She would cajole him into co-operation with promises of special treats to eat she knew he hadn't had during his long years of travel. If that didn't work, she would threaten to sit on him to keep him still. That always got a rise out of him, usually one of loud laughter as he tried to grab onto her to pull her down to his level. She used her ninja nimbleness to stay just outside of his reach when he was awake, only going close to him when he was asleep. Finally at her wits end, she resorted to locking the door behind her to keep him in her room and prevent him from going downstairs. He just laughed behind her, but her efforts kept him from reopening the wound for the next week.

During that time, only Okina would help him to the bathhouse to bathe or to take care of his physical needs. The rest of the time he spent in Misao's room, under her watchful care. The Gingko opening was so successful that they had rented out Sanosuke's room on the second day, realizing he wasn't going to be using it. The Oniwabanshuu were mystified by Misao's relationship with Sano, but said nothing to her, content to observe her protective happiness with him.

After a week, Sanosuke was insistent that it was time for him to be up and about and Misao reluctantly agreed to take him downstairs after their physician had visited and assured her the wound was healing properly. He recommended that Sanosuke stay quiet for at least another week, but the rolling eyes and disgusted grunt of the patient in question argued against it. She helped him slowly down the stairs and they made their way to a sitting room the family kept in the rear of the Inn looking out on a small garden. It was now full on winter and New Year's was just around the corner. Misao and Sano sat in comfortable silence enjoying the out of season garden view, when Okina came in to discuss business.

"I see you are on the road to recovery, Sagara. I am pleased to see it. You took quite a blow to the head, but the doctor confirmed it was healing properly."

"Did you take care of the unfinished business we discussed, Okina?"

"Long ago. There will be no evidence of the attack for anyone to discover."

"What of Tohaku, Kuro, Shiro and your new members?"

"They are all safe. Kuro and Shiro helped Tohaku turn over the last two weasels to the authorities. Without their leader, their attempts to incriminate the others were meager and disbelieved. In fact, an old friend of yours personally took them into custody. It seems he had an interest in the renegades."

"An old friend of mine? I can't think of who you could mean..."

"Surely you remember Fujita Gorou?"

"Saitou! That bastard is here in Kyoto?" Both Misao and Okina were barely able to restrain Sanosuke from leaping out of his seat.

"You didn't tell him I was here, did you? I still have some unfinished business with the Tokyo authorities and that bastard might know about it."

"Sagara, we're a secret society of ninjas, remember? I wouldn't tell Saitou Hajime anything without a very good reason. Settle down. Can we help you with this unfinished business?"

Misao quickly interrupted Okina before Sano could answer. "What about Tohaku? You didn't finish telling us what happened when Ishiji escaped, Jiya."

"Just that, pretty Misao." Okina said to the now blushing Misao. "Ishiji escaped before they could drag him back to Kyoto. He chose to go after Sagara rather than attacking Shiro and Kuro. He left the other two without a backward glance."

"And Tohaku's blow to the head?"

"He's on the mend up north. In the spring he and Ichino hope to join their family here in Kyoto. If the Okashira will permit it." Okina turned to look expectantly at Misao, who was completely preoccupied with her own thoughts at the moment.

Sano interjected, "And Kuro and Shiro?"

"They have returned with our newest members to the Aoiya. The promised amends have been made, and they are beginning to train our newest recruits into the better ways of the Oniwabanshuu."

"Will you baby-sit with Sagara for me Okina? I have an errand that cannot wait and maybe you can keep him from having a total relapse. I'll be back as soon as I can." Misao left the two men gaping at her abrupt departure.

Okina took the opportunity to bring up a subject he had been wanting to discuss with Sagara. "Can you stay with us for a while longer? Misao has shared your thoughts on the bodyguard services we hope to offer and we are nearly ready to bring those new services to our clients here and at the Aoiya. We have recruited others besides the Sanadas, but the Sanadas are eminently suited for this kind of specialized protection work by their life long ninja training. We could really use your help and I think the Okashira would be happy if you stayed."

Sanosuke just shrugged. He was anxious to get to Tokyo, but he knew his extended dojo family was safe and happy; there was no pressing rush.

Okina took this as agreement and the two men spent a long day in discussions of the initial phases of bodyguard and protection services. Misao's absence was forgotten in the bustle of the busy Inn and the discussions of the upcoming offerings, as well as preparations for the New Year's celebration. By the time she returned, they had already planned out personnel assignments for their first potential clients. Okina had agreed to have all of his suggested ninja's come to the Gingko for Sanosuke's personal assessment and advanced training.

As soon as they both assured Misao that all of his training would take place from a chair until he was completely healed, she agreed and actually seemed very pleased. At least he would have something interesting to occupy his time while he recuperated.

The New Year found the two new friends together watching the fireworks above Kyoto. Each was a little uncertain of what to wish for in the coming year.

Author's Note: Thanks for reading and reviewing to Midori Natari Himura, Misanagi, Gochan, lizzie, Firuze Khanume, Akin Sijin, BladeRy, sarah & Susan.