Watsuki owns them

I just borrow for a while

No harm intended

Dreams I Dreamt Instead By Fujifunmum

Chapter 11:  The Former Okashira

Aoshi Shinomori dressed with great care.  It was his custom to be exceptionally well groomed, but today it was clearly a necessity in order to convey his intentions.  He took a deep breath and quietly closed his shoji door behind him.  The Aoiya was quiet, the halls deserted as he made his way to the reception area.  He stood at the juncture of the hallway and the reception area and paused to scrutinize his surroundings.  He had not set foot in this part of his home for nearly a year.  He strode purposefully ahead; looking to see whom of his small clan might be about.  If he expected a warm welcome, he was disappointed. This would be just the first of many disappointments that morning. There were only two people in attendance.  One was an unknown man dressed in Oniwabanshuu blue, and the other was Okon, dressed in a cheerful kimono ready to greet guests behind the reception counter.

Aoshi did not have time to fully register the idea that a person he did not know was wearing the uniform of his clan before a wave of anger he had thought never to feel within the walls of the Aoiya shook his ki to the core.  More surprising, it had come from Okon, a woman who had never shown him anything but the respect, duty and care owed her Okashira.  Even the infamous unfeeling blue eyes of Aoshi Shinomori briefly registered shock.  Okon met him with the barest of civil smiles.  Her eyes darted to assure herself that no customers were present to hear their exchange.  Aoshi reached the desk standing opposite her expectantly.

"Shinomori-sama," she said, her voice wrapped in honeyed sweetness.  It was a failed attempt to disguise the angry edge on the honorific.  She executed the slightest, least civil bow he had ever seen.  Again, his eyes gleamed with a brief and completely uncharacteristic display of emotion.  Okon had no problem seeing the anger he was barely concealing.

"Ah, I can see by your eyes that you are angry. Magnify that many times and you will understand my feelings toward you."

"Where is Okina?"  Aoshi demanded in an icy tone.

"Shinomori-sama," she repeated, in the same icy tone.  "It is only owing to your appearance before me in the uniform of my clan that I am willing to speak with you at all. You have betrayed the Oniwabanshuu.  Are you again loyal, that I can trust you with the whereabouts of my family?"

Aoshi could not restrain his audible gasp at her outrage.  "You speak thus to your Okashira?"

Without hesitation, she replied, "Your treatment of our Okashira has not gone unnoticed.  Your residence here is suffered only at her insistence.  You have betrayed us twice, Shinomori-sama, so again I would ask you, are you now loyal?"

Aoshi was beyond shocked.  How much had changed during his absence?  But again, he asked, "Where is Okina?"

"At the Gingko."

"And what, Okon, is the Gingko?"

"Our Inn on the other side of Kyoto.  Okina is spending today there to oversee its operations."

"Where is Misao?"

"The Crane."

And what, Okon, is the Crane?"

"Our newest Inn in Tokyo."

"Misao is in Tokyo without protection?  What are you thinking?"

"Misao is totally safe.  She is with our Chief of Security."

"Our Chief of Security?"

"Yes, I believe you know him."

"I know him?  Is it Shiro or Kuro?"

"No.  His name is Sagara-san."

"Sagara Sanosuke?  He is in Japan?  I thought he was in Mongolia."

"You're bound to miss a few things if you don't speak to anyone for months on end and spend all of your time meditating."  Okon's anger was finally dissipating.  She seemed to be enjoying the extreme discomfort her simple answers were inflicting on him.

"Who is that, Okon?"  Aoshi gestured at the other person in the reception area.  As he did, the man looked concerned and began to approach them.  Okon gave him a brief hand signal that Aoshi recognized as one indicating she was safe and did not need his assistance.

"His name is Akoto.  He has been a member of our clan for over six months.  If you have truly become Oniwabanshuu again, there are many new members you should meet."

"First, I would speak with Okina.  Please give me directions to the Gingko."   

Okon took her time writing down very specific directions for Aoshi.  As she handed him the slip of paper her eyes were blazing with barely repressed anger.

"Your first betrayal nearly killed Okina.  If you are deceiving me about your newfound loyalty, I will gladly repay you for it myself.  You are no longer free to hurt my family, Shinomori-sama."  If one's name could be used as an insult, Okon had just accomplished it.  Okon was the most mild mannered of his ninja family.  Aoshi began to be very troubled about the rest of the Oniwabanshuu.  Perhaps he had not dressed carefully enough this morning.

Aoshi's arrival at the Gingko was met with quite a different result.  There were other patrons visible in the reception area of the Inn, along with a very nice looking young lady in a brightly colored kimono behind the reception desk.  Again, a man he did not recognize was stationed in the area and wearing Oniwabanshuu blue.  The man nodded politely to him, a salute to the uniform if not to the man, and he approached the desk.  Here he was welcomed by a very warm smile and greeting.  He politely inquired after Okina and was shown to where he was working after a brief wait.  Aoshi had not given his name, apparently that was not a requirement if you were appropriately attired as a fellow clansman.  He wondered briefly if Okina would be angry or pleased to see him, especially to see him wearing their colors.

"Please follow me, sir.  Okina-sama will meet with you shortly."  The friendly young lady led him to a nearby sitting room and left, admonishing him to "make himself comfortable."  Aoshi felt like he had entered into a playhouse halfway through a play he had never seen.  He had no idea what was going on and felt very uncomfortable.  How had this happened?

Okina opened the door to the room, and Aoshi noted that he gave a brief hand signal to an unseen person behind him.  That was the most familiar action that he had seen here at the Gingko.  And he was more used to being on the receiving end of the motion.  Being the unknown quantity amongst his own clansmen was very unsettling.

"What brings you here, Aoshi?  And have you run out of clean clothes that you stoop to wear our colors?"

Aoshi didn't even try to hide his irritation or dismay from Okina.  Okina had known him for nearly his entire life.  It was Okina who had given him the Okashira position to begin with; didn't he understand Aoshi's intent in wearing his uniform?

"Where is Misao?"

"Why?  Have you come up for air from your meditations and decided you have more hurtful things to say to her?"

"My intent, Okina, was to comply with her wishes.  She had asked me some time ago to resume the Okashira position, and I have finally reached a decision to do so.  I believed she and the rest of the family would be pleased."

Okina's laugh would have insulted Aoshi in the best of circumstances.  Coming as it did after his confrontation with Okon, Aoshi was incensed.  He took several deep breaths to calm himself and forced his turbulent emotions to sense Okina's ki.  Okina was, if possible, more furious with him than Okon.  Given a choice, Okina would not only oppose his restoration as Okashira, he would do violence to prevent it.

Okina's bitter laughter died away, and he spoke very softly and quietly.  "Not a chance in hell, Aoshi.  Our Okashira is Misao.  She has served us faithfully for many years now.  We love her.  We respect her.  She has given us new life, new hope and her very life's blood.  Why would we trade her for a man who has betrayed us not once, but twice?"

Aoshi was incensed, but determined.  He knew he needed to find out more about his fall from favor and Okina was the most likely person to tell him, despite his current attitude.  He bit back his own anger, swallowed his pride and turned questioning eyes on his former mentor.

"Okina.  Please tell me why you are so angry.  Okon was also furious with me this morning.  She questioned my loyalty, treated me rudely and was not at all forthcoming about your whereabouts or Misao's.  Tell me what is going on with the Oniwabanshuu."

"Well, you are bound to miss things if you reject all of us, tell us you wish to have nothing to do with us, refuse to wear our uniform, speak with us, eat with us or even greet us civilly in the hallways of our mutual home and then turn up one fine day wearing blue and expect that nothing has changed."

"Agreed.  What has changed?"

"Everything, Aoshi.  Just for old times sake I'll give you the short list.  Pay attention, I doubt if the others will even share tea with you."

Aoshi swallowed his pained expression and was increasingly glad that he had not brought weapons with him.

"First and foremost, we are no longer interested in having our former Okashira restored to us.  In fact, it is only by the insistence of the current and much loved Okashira that your presence in our home is even tolerated.  Are you getting this, or should I speak slower?"

Aoshi closed his eyes.  He had clearly earned some very bad karma to be facing this level of anger.  He managed to stammer out, "Please continue," without biting off the tip of his tongue.

"Second.  My Misao did not tell us whatever painful words you unleashed on her last spring after I foolishly begged you to accompany her to Mount Ueno.  I'm such a silly old man, I thought you were going to be visiting old friends and it would be a pleasant trip for you both.  Instead she merely cried for four months straight inconsolably.  Not being your ordinary family of ninjas, we took it upon ourselves, Okon, Omasu, Shiro, Kuro and myself to use our skills to determine the cause of her distress.  We agreed that the cause was our former Okashira who had not only refused to resume his former position, but also broken her heart by rejecting her personally."  Okina paused meaningfully.  "I am entirely confident that our conclusions were correct, but if you should wish to refute this assumption, now would be the time."  Again he paused, scrutinizing Aoshi carefully.

Aoshi, to his credit, did not hesitate.  "You assumed correctly."

"Third.  The surviving members of the original Oniwabanshuu, save Misao who was not consulted on this matter, subsequently agreed that this amounted to a second betrayal of our clan.  I doubt I need to remind you of your first betrayal.  I could, of course, show you my scars."

"No.  I fully accept your accusation.  I did not intend my actions as a betrayal, but I do accept that you would interpret them as such.  In fact, I thought that the Oniwabanshuu was a dying organization and should be totally disbanded."

"For your safety at the Aoiya, I won't share that lapse in judgment with the others.  To continue, the Oniwabanshuu has been revitalized.  Misao and the remainder of our little family have worked extremely hard during the past year to grow our Inn-keeping business and to add new members to our clan.  We have been successful beyond our own hopeful expectations.  We have two new Inns, here and in Tokyo, with plans for more.  We are also offering protection and security services to our wealthier clients.  Handling that area for us is our new Chief of Security, Sagara Sanosuke.  He has not yet agreed to become a full member of the clan, but the Okashira is hopeful of his full commitment."

"Okon had advised me of Sagara's involvement.  I thought him still in Mongolia."

"He returned in September of last year.  As it is now May, I believe you have a lot of catching up to do. He and Misao are in Tokyo setting up the Security Services there.  The new Tokyo Inn, the Crane, is already in full operation."  Okina gave Aoshi a very hard glare.

"I believe that is enough information for one so arrogant as you.  To assume that we would be sitting on our hands pining away for your return is quite the most glaring insult you have paid us yet, Aoshi."

"So I see.  It is clear to me that my meditations were not as effective as I perceived them to be.  And thank you for not mentioning Himura's visit to me last fall.  I am sure that you surmised the purpose of his visit and are well aware that I ignored his words, just as I have ignored my only family and clan."

"What do you propose to do, Aoshi?  And if you tell me you are going to go back to meditating I will throw you permanently out of the clan and the Aoiya myself, with or without Misao's permission."

"No.  I believe it is time for me to take a trip to Tokyo to see the Okashira.  I assume I will not be missed."

"See her if you must, Aoshi, but know this.  If you bring her more pain, it will not be forgiven.  Her life has continued.  You made your choice, now you must live with it."

"Agreed."

As soon as Aoshi had left the Gingko, Okina had urgent messages sent to Misao and Sano warning them of his imminent arrival in Tokyo.  The last thing Okina wanted was for his Misao to be surprised, disappointed or hurt by Aoshi again.

Karou and Kenshin were to meet Sano and Misao at the Crane for lunch. Tsubame was going to watch Kenji at the dojo, with Yahiko's help.  Sano and Misao were sitting in the Oniwabanshuu dining room at the back of the first floor.  The ninja's had acquired the Crane the previous week and the grand opening festivities had been the previous weekend.  Sano and Misao had been totally occupied with the preparations for making sure the new Inn would be successful in Tokyo.  All of their friends in Tokyo had attended, but neither Sano nor Misao had been able to spend more than a few minutes with any of them.  The luncheon had been arranged to give the old friends a chance to catch up after the whirlwind weeks following the dinner at the dojo. 

Misao was discussing the inquiries they were already receiving from their wealthier clientele regarding the security services.  As with the Inns in Kyoto, once they quietly put the word out that bodyguard and protection services were discretely available, the demand was steady and growing.  The wealthy merchants and visiting foreigners were delighted to find that the Oniwabanshuu could protect them without any obvious interference. Of course, if the client's needs would be served by visibility, then Sano was well able to provide that, too.

"Misao, you can't accept more work than I can personally handle until someone arrives from Kyoto to help us or we recruit some new members here in Tokyo.  I have some suggestions for you on that score.  I haven't had the time to check some of my old contacts, but there are some of them that would be excellent.  And I suggest we ask Kenshin and Kaoru for their suggestions as well.  Kaoru may even know of some well trained students from other dojos that might be available."

"OK, I'll stop taking requests for this week.  But can we accommodate the ones we have so far?"

"Nope.  I'm the most talented guy you know, but even I can't be in two places at once."

"You're not the only ninja here, Sano.  I could help out on these assignments, too."

"No way.  You're the Okashira, but I'm the Chief of Security and there's no way you're doing any of these jobs.  If you can get someone here to help, fine.  Otherwise we'll need to refuse these last two requests."

"If Shinomori intends to show up, I wish he'd do it.  At least he could be useful."  Misao stopped speaking, stunned by her casual interjection of Aoshi into her conversation with Sano.  She turned to face him directly, looking deeply into his soft brown eyes.  Sano was waiting for her to continue, but the longer she paused, the more concern showed in his dark eyes.  He gently took her hand and quietly asked.

"Are you worried about seeing him again?"

Misao took his hand in both of hers and replied simply.  "No. I'm not."

Kenshin and Kaoru arrived in the doorway at just that moment and exchanged significant looks before moving into the room to greet their friends.  Once they had exchanged greetings, Kaoru insisted that Misao give her a complete tour of the entire Inn, immediately.  As she nearly pushed the smaller woman out of the room, she glanced back at Kenshin with a determined scowl.

"What's up with Jo-chan, Kenshin?  She couldn't get Misao out of here fast enough."

Kenshin sighed and decided he might as well get this over with by doing as Kaoru had demanded.  "She wants me to talk to you about Misao."

"OK.  What about her?"

"About you and Misao."

Sano took one glance at the miserable look on his friend's face and laughed.  "We never talk about anything we don't want to talk about.  So how did the little missy get you to agree…..Wait!  I know!"  Sano slapped his friend on the back, nearly knocking him over.  "She's holding out on you unless you talk to me, isn't she?  I didn't think the little missy had it in her!"

"Well you're the one who suggested we have another child.  So stop laughing at me and let me talk."

"OK, OK.  Get it over with.  What's so important she has to blackmail her own husband to do it?"

"I wouldn't have agreed, but she is going to talk to Misao and I thought you should know.  She's worried about you.  She doesn't want you hurt and she's afraid that Misao is not over Shinomori."

"I'm a big guy, Kenshin.  I can take care of myself, especially where Misao is concerned."  Sano paused and turned suddenly towards the back garden.  "Did you feel something Kenshin?  I think someone is here."

Sano sped to the back window, his eyes searching the grounds for any sign of an intruder.  Kenshin took his time coming around behind him.

"It was Aoshi.  I felt his ki as soon as we got here.  I think he was watching you and Misao before we came in."  Kenshin turned to go back into the room, "He's gone now.  Maybe he had seen or heard enough."

Aoshi had seen more than enough.  The inquiry by Himura had just irritated him after seeing Misao and Sano behaving so familiarly in the dinning room.  His frown deepened as he remembered Misao taking Sano's hands in hers.

He had no right to complain.  He had no right to interfere.  But maybe he knew someone who did.

Sano and Kenshin went out to sit in the back garden.  It was a warm May day, so the garden was very pleasant and fragrant with spring flowers and blooming trees.

"The White Plum scent doesn't bother you, Kenshin?"

"Its everywhere in Tokyo this time of year, Sano.  I am used to it.  Not all my memories of Tomoe are unpleasant.  Without her I would not have been fit to rebuild my life with Kaoru.  Which brings me to the real reason I wanted to speak with you."  Kenshin paused and looked over at the surprised look on his friend's face.

"Sheesh!  Blackmail from Kaoru and advice on women wasn't enough for one day?  What's up?"

"Chief Uramura came to visit me last week.  It was more of a social visit as he had business near the dojo.  When he left I walked him out to the gate and he had some news about you."

"What?  I have been keeping a low profile since I returned to Tokyo.  I haven't cleared up the mess with Tani yet, so I didn't want to run into him.  Is that what this is about?"

"Yes.  Tani is dead.  And the warrant against you has been totally cleared up.  Chief Uramura wanted me to know.  I'm sure he wanted you to know, too."

Kenshin watched Sano scowling over this new piece of news.  It was clear that he had not known about either Tani or his own change in status.  He turned a dark look on Kenshin.

"Did you pull some strings with your Ishin-Shishi friends?  I didn't ask you to do that!"

Kenshin immediately held up his hands in supplication.  "No, no, Sano!  It wasn't me.  I just wanted you to know that the way has been cleared for you to stay in Japan, if that is your wish.  I knew you did not want my help, that I did."

Sano went back to scowling, looking off at the trees in the garden trying to decide how such a thing could have happened.  He counted off the people who knew about his trouble.  Kenshin, Kaoru, Yahiko, Dad and the authorities.  If Kenshin hadn't done anything, then who had?

He rubbed his head in preoccupied concentration, absently fingering the scar, which was nearly gone.

He jumped to his feet and headed into the house.  "I hope Jo-chan is finished with Misao because she's got one hell of a lot of explaining to do to me right now.  If she's the one behind this, and I think she is, she's going to wish she never left Kyoto."

Sano headed into the Crane bellowing for Misao at the top of his lungs and covering the distance quickly with his long legs.

Author's Note:  Thanks for reading and reviewing to Midori Natari Himura, Susan, Firuze Khanume, AutumnFire, Akin Siuin, Gochan, Misanagi, lizzie, BladeRy sarah, Eternitys End JadeGoddess, K-chan and Sano.