By Fujifunmum
Chapter 20: Take Two in Aizu
Kenshin walked Aoshi and Megumi to the train station, Kenji in tow. Kenji had never been to the train station before and was full of curiosity and questions. Kenshin was so busy answering his son's questions, he was barely aware of the silence between the couple lagging behind him. Not that silence from Aoshi was anything remarkable. Yet there was something about this silence that seemed unusual or unwarranted. Aoshi's ki felt much as it had in Aizu, leading Kenshin to assume that he might be responsible for the agitation he was feeling from Megumi.
Ordinarily, the good lady doctor would be full of conversation on a trip to Tokyo. Even her recent escape from Kunisawa shouldn't have dulled her conversation now that the danger was past. He and Megumi had shared too many life-threatening situations for her current state of gloom and withdrawal.
Kenshin chuckled to himself. Maybe Aoshi had transferred his usual demeanor to her. When his light laughter drew their immediate attention he quickly coughed and began pointing out the arrival of a steam engine to Kenji. Kenji's awe was so great that he had forgotten his disappointment that his mom had not come with them. Kaoru had asked Yahiko to take her morning classes the previous evening at the Akabeko, intending to accompany them to see Megumi off to Aizu. It was only this morning that she had felt slightly dizzy, nearly fainting when she got up to wake up Kenji.
Kenshin had insisted that she remain at the dojo, resting until he returned. He'd also insisted on taking Kenji with him, to assure that she could rest undisturbed. Kenji had pouted a bit, but quickly acquiesced when Kenshin started telling him about the great iron horses they would see at the station. Kenji was entranced now that they were here, his small eyes taking in one of the larger symbols of the success of the Meiji Era.
The excitement of Kenji was evenly matched by the brooding silence between Megumi and Aoshi. Kenshin was watchful over Kenji, but mindful of the charged atmosphere between the tall former Okashira and the usually vivacious lady doctor. He was remote and silent; she was distant and nearly antagonistic. Only occasionally would she seem to realize that she was being rather inhospitable to those here to see her safely home. Then she would make a feeble and largely unsuccessful attempt to make light conversation.
They had arrived quite early for the morning train to Aizu, and Kenshin was currently wishing they had started off later, despite Kenji's obvious pleasure with the adventure of exploring the train station and seeing the engines, coal cars, and the bustle of activity of the passengers and loading and unloading of cargo. His eyes were constantly flicking from one scene of excitement to the next, and had opened so wide Kenshin feared they might tear in response. His little one was so entranced by the newness of the depot and the tableau of its flow of life that he couldn't help but view it a little differently himself. His own adult acceptance of the vast changes wrought by his own hands in forcing the new era forgotten in the wonderment in the eyes of his son. It was one of very few pleasant shared father and son experiences and made Kenshin realize the value of spending time alone with his son introducing him to the wide world that was the Meiji Era in Japan.
Shrugging off his concern for his adult companions, Kenshin took Kenji on a detailed tour of the depot, complete with introductions to every porter, conductor, ticket taker, laborer or worker who would take the time to speak with the smiling Rurouni and his small son. Let Aoshi and Megumi work out their own discomfort without outside interference. He and Kenji bid them a quick farewell as they set off to explore.
Kenshin was suddenly thankful that Kaoru had been unable to accompany them. Her curiosity about the prickly relationship between Aoshi and Megumi would have been insatiable. He cringed as he considered briefly how to answer her questions when they returned to the dojo. He had to find just the right note of disinterest and truthfulness without revealing his own suspicions and conclusions. That would be more of a challenge than keeping up with Kenji, who was currently running ahead of him on the platform, eager to closely examine the latest steam engine to arrive at the station.
Kenshin and Kenji were out of sight and hearing before either of the adults in question seemed to notice their departure. Aoshi, of course, took notice of everything around him at all times, but Megumi had been so preoccupied with her own turbulent thoughts that she had not really listened to Kenshin's brief comment about wandering off. She huffed in amusement. Wandering off was the last thing on Kenshin's mind these days. It was astonishing to her that she could even use that word in the same sentence with his name without a flashback to the pain his leaving for Kyoto has caused her.
Now she only sighed with the remembrance. It was another time, another memory, and another cruel reminder of her lonely fate. Yet her mind quickly railed against that word, too. She wasn't the least bit alone now. She was nearly overcome by the wordless company Aoshi was forcing on her. She had been stunned to realize that he was accompanying her back to Aizu. She had assumed he might see her to the station, although she had no right to expect that, either. He had come to see her for what? A whim? He had found her in extreme circumstances and taken it upon himself to rescue her. She owed him her gratitude and a deep personal debt, but she had no reason or right to expect that he would even take the time to see her off to Aizu, let alone accompany her. What was he doing in Tokyo anyway? Why wasn't he meditating back in Kyoto as he had for so long?
Her musings were futile. They didn't help her clear her mind of its turbulence and doubt, nor did they unravel the mystery that was Aoshi in the slightest. Annoyed with her inability to analyze the situation more clearly as an observer, she finally noticed the absence her famous friend and his curious child.
"Where did Kenshin and Kenji get off to?" She mused, not really expecting a response from the stoic Omitsu.
"Himura is attempting to sell Kenji to some unsuspecting traveler who is not aware of his temperament."
Megumi's head snapped around to look directly at Shinomori, stunned by the cynical humor of his retort. Aoshi was undisturbed, staring directly ahead just as he had been the entire time they had been seated on a bench to wait for their train to arrive.
"Did you really just make a joke at Kenshin's expense, Shinomori? I didn't realize you even had a sense of humor, or the ability to understand Kenshin's, um, difficulties with Kenji."
"A blind man could see his problem at a glance," Aoshi responded, this time turning briefly to take in the good doctor's expression.
"You…..understand Kenshin's problem with Kenji?" Megumi tried to sound sarcastic, flippant and largely bored with the entire conversation, but her voice betrayed her incredulousness.
"Perfectly. He is so astonished to find himself with a wife and child that he cannot bear to risk their censure by disciplining or correcting either one of them."
"Astonished? Kenshin deserves all the happiness he can find in this Meiji Era."
"Indeed. All his friends may feel that way, but does Himura see it so? No. He is truly astonished and fears to jeopardize that happiness by even the smallest of criticisms, yet a child must be corrected."
"And Kaoru?" Megumi's eyes narrowed. She was not above making friendly suggestions to Kaoru herself, yet she bristled at the thought that Shinomori might feel her friend in need of "discipline or correction". A small spark in the back of her mind whispered that they might be speaking of more than Kaoru, Kenshin and Kenji.
"Kaoru does not see beyond Kenji's present need for her attention."
"And you do?" Megumi laughed lightly and flipped her hair to signal her dismissal of Shinomori's comments. Still, she could not keep her amazement at this conversation from showing in her eyes and voice. Her rapt attention awaiting his response was not lost on Aoshi.
Cryptically, he responded affirmatively, "Aa, at the moment I feel quite as astonished as Kenshin." Then he turned, finally, to look her in the eyes. His direct gaze bore into her pupils, forcing her to wonder if his words could possibly imply the farfetched meaning she was getting from the charged atmosphere between them. No. It was not possible that Shinomori should be making a veiled reference to their own situation. They had no situation.
Seeing the comprehension dawning in Megumi's eyes, Aoshi barely contained himself from expressing his inward sigh of relief. He needed to force her to consider his presence for what it was, not what it might appear to be. She was intuitive and intelligent enough to discern his meaning without direct expression. It was a measure of their compatibility. She might be resistant to it at the moment, but once the idea became ingrained, he hoped she would be receptive. She had the entire train ride to Aizu to reach an understanding with him; he was determined to give her something to set her mind in the right direction.
"I would not hesitate to offer my wife guidance, if I determined it was appropriate. Perhaps Kenshin will feel that way one day, too. Perhaps sooner than we all expect." With these cryptic remarks, Aoshi returned his gaze to the depot at large, allowing the words to settle between them and allowing Megumi to draw her own conclusions. She was a very sophisticated woman, a woman who could take his words at face value or choose to understand his intended meaning. The choice would ultimately be hers to make, but he intended to use his own skill to 'guide' her to a choice in his direction.
Megumi inhaled abruptly, shocked by the openness of Shinomori's statements and their potential underlying meaning. He couldn't possibly be saying what she thought he was saying, could he? If he was, could she respond in kind? Was she able to return his feelings, if in fact he had feelings for her?
Kenshin and Kenji made their way back to their unsettled friends, counting the wheels of the great steam engines as they made their way up the platform. Kenshin was pleased to feel that friction between the couple appeared to have settled. Aoshi's face was composed and unreadable, as usual, and Megumi seemed lost in thought, but more herself than she had been since she'd arrived in Tokyo. Kenshin wondered what that meant, but figured that he wouldn't find out until much later. He and Kenji had returned following the arrival of their friend's train to Aizu. They would be boarding soon and he might not see either of them again any time in the near future.
Saying their cheerful good-byes broke the pensive atmosphere of the departing couple, as Megumi scooped up Kenji to give him a quick hug and kiss – surprising him immensely. He blinked his wide eyes at her, tugging gently on the collar of her kimono. It reminded him of his mother and he turned to reach out reflexively for his father, asking to go home. A very pleased and surprised Kenshin retrieved the yawning youngster and was rewarded when Kenji snuggled against his shoulder, clearly tired from the excitement of the morning.
"We'll go home right after we watch our friends' train leave the station, OK?" Kenshin felt Kenji's nodded agreement against his shoulder and beamed his happiness at his friends. Megumi looked a little tearful as she bid them both a fond good-bye, entreating Kenshin to be sure to give her best to Kaoru. Aoshi merely bowed slightly as he and Kenshin exchanged the customary farewell of warriors. Neither knew when they might meet again. Both felt the approval in the other's ki. Aoshi quietly and briefly thanked Kenshin for his help in Aizu.
Megumi watched the exchange thoughtfully, wondering if it were possible to find a way to reach the level of ki reading abilities of the two masters before her without the prerequisite of a lifetime spent in the martial arts. Cocking her head to smile at them both, she remembered all the scars she knew they had garnered and decided that their ki reading abilities were some kind of reward for the abuse their bodies had suffered.
She couldn't help musing on and comparing their various injuries as she boarded the train and she and Aoshi made their way through the passenger cars to their seats. She had treated most of their serious injuries herself, although she had seen the myriad scars that Kenshin carried from the Bakumatsu. Rarely had he been seriously injured, but it was not unheard of. Since she had heard his sad tale of the cross-shaped scar he carried on his cheek, she had suspected that most of his old scars dated from his tenure in the Forest of Barriers before he'd lost his first wife in that most dreadful accident.
For Aoshi, she knew he carried a multitude of scars under the huge scar from the Amakakeru Ryuu no Hirameki suffered in Shishio's library. The scars from his year of traveling and fighting to throw everything away and become skilled enough to take Kenshin's title of "the strongest" away. His defeat had recaptured his sanity as surely as the Amakakeru Ryuu no Hirameki scar had obliterated the earlier ones. While they seemed very different, she could not help but see some similarities between them as well.
Kenshin had a much more outgoing personality, but that might have been the result of his more than a decade of wandering. Aoshi had only had a few years of meditation so far. It might take more time for him to completely recover from the debacle at Kanryuu's mansion and his resulting descent into darkness.
So far as she knew, he had not yet been able to rejoin the Oniwabanshuu. Would he ever be able to fully do so in the face of his battle with Okina? Megumi did not know where Aoshi stood on his path to his own future; he was too silent by nature to reveal enough for her to know, yet she knew he had recovered enough to leave his meditations and the Aoiya behind. He had also left Misao. She had not sensed any kind of lingering feeling or jealousy from him when he had seen Misao and Sanosuke together. Of course the same might be said of she and Sanosuke as well. She knew they had not been that close, but others had misinterpreted their relationship over the years, especially when they had been seen with Kenshin and Kaoru so often in Tokyo.
She had a lot to think about on the journey back to Aizu. Megumi glanced out the window and realized that Tokyo was far behind them now. Maybe it wouldn't be such a long trip after all. A furtive glance at Shinomori revealed nothing, as usual. His eyes were alert but his features divulged nothing of his thoughts. So, maybe it would be a long trip.
She sighed, gaining Shinomori's instant attention. He merely looked over to see if she had something to say. She shook her head to indicate she did not, and turned to fix her gaze out the window again. She'd have to keep her non-verbal communication to a minimum with this man beside her. She realized for the first time that despite his silence his stoic manner in no way indicated inattention to her. She had known Aoshi for years, and understood that his silence was not to be assumed as disinterest, but she had never felt that his attention was attuned to her personally.
Was he feeling like her protector? Well, of course he was. He was her protector, having just returned from saving her from Kunisawa. Megumi almost murmured aloud as she grimaced at that realization, catching herself before the wayward sound might draw Shinomori's direct gaze again. This trip was a continuation of that protection, completing the cycle to see her back home again and assure her personal safety at the clinic.
Now she couldn't help but sigh, her vocalization drawing Shinomori's attention. She felt it, as she kept her eyes on the window, even though she saw nothing of the surrounding scenery. Her entire focus was based beside her at this moment. Megumi she felt his attention continue, compelling her to turn around to face him in spite of herself.
"What?" She intoned, imparting the impatience she felt. Her confusion at the emotionally charged nature of the air between them was mounting. They had not been close friends before, but their participation in the circle of friends surrounding the Kamiya dojo made them very familiar with each other and intimate with the details of each other's past crises. They had, in fact, been quite comfortable with each other over the past few years, so why was she feeling so on edge now?
Aoshi knew of Megumi's agitation. He could feel her unease in her ki. It was all he could do not to smile at her discomfort, especially when he remembered his own last train ride to Aizu. It appeared that Megumi was struggling with her own feelings just as he had done. In a way, he felt advantaged by being here with her while her internal struggle raged. He couldn't impact it directly, but directness was not his forte. He was fully cognizant of the effect his mere presence was having on her. He was also quite pleased by it. His intent to influence her feelings was conveniently enhanced by her captivity seated next to him on the train.
He dared not to intrude upon her, however, she was not a woman to be toyed with or manipulated. Instead, he chose only to express concern for her welfare.
"Are you all right?"
Megumi's irritation was hardly soothed by the innocent inquiry, but she was not one to reveal what she didn't want brought to light. She replied in the most calm and detached voice she could muster, "Yes. I'm fine, thank you."
To her relief, Shinomori returned to his impassive regard of the space in front of them, leaving her to her own inner turmoil. She reclined her head against the glass, feigning sleep in an attempt to divert Shinomori's attention. She had no real hope it would work, not with his close proximity, but she was determined to consider her own thoughts in her own time. If only those thoughts were not a jumble of mixed up feelings and memories.
Her love for Kenshin had been deep and wide, but had long since evaporated into an abiding friendship and platonic affection. She watched him live happily with Kaoru, continuing to struggle with his own venomous demons, without begrudging him his hard won happiness. She no longer even baited Kaoru; not since their wedding. After their union was public and official, it seemed too petty for her to pretend that Kenshin might have a lingering interest. No, that love, the love of her life, had gone unrequited, painfully so.
Musing on Kenshin led her to question why she was even thinking about love at all. Hadn't it long passed her by? Hadn't she gotten used to the abuses of the powerful men who had defiled her, body and soul? Apparently not. She had been distraught for years after Kanryuu's abuse, focusing her entire emotional life on the KenshinGumi, especially Kenshin, and her medical practice. That form of atonement had brought her more peace than she felt Kenshin had been able to procure for himself. As ever, she was grateful for his suggestion that she live on to atone with her healing. Practicing the medical arts was her vocation as well as her avocation. She had long felt that she needed no other lover. She poured her affection and feelings into the healing and care of her patients. They often rewarded her with their regained health and sincere gratefulness in a way that her love and affection for Kenshin had never been rewarded.
If she was honest with herself, and she tried to be brutally honest on this difficult journey, her diversion of her emotions into her practice had been one form of hiding. It enabled her to immerse herself into medicine without regard for the eligible men of Aizu. No one amongst them had ever caught her interest, least of all Kunisawa. Even had he not been married, she would not have given him a smidgen of her attention.
Did he imagine himself strong? How could he possibly fool himself like that? She was not blind to his self-delusion. He easily bested her in strength of body, but was no match for any of her far away friends. This thought brought her back to the undeniable gift her dear friends had just bestowed without even asking her. Aoshi, a man she had once detested, came unfailingly to her aid. Then Sanosuke and Kenshin had rushed to help her, again. She had no doubt that Yahiko had been charged with the safety of the women in Tokyo, or he would have traveled to Aizu with Kenshin and Sano.
So where did that leave her? She felt the irony of the circular nature of her thoughts just as she felt the steady rhythmic rocking of the train car, easing her physical tension and leaving her thoughts free to soar.
Returning to Aizu, she had been so hopeful. Now, after several years and Kunisawa's abuse, she had little hope of finding any of her scattered family members. It stunned her to realize that she had accepted their loss during the Bakumatsu. When had that happened? The only reasonable answer was over time. Over time she had accepted that if any of her family had survived, they would have found a way to contact her or someone in Aizu. Living in Aizu had solidified the loss in a way that being in Edo, now Tokyo, never could. While she was away, she could pretend or at least hope that someone, anyone, of her relatives had survived the bloody Bakumatsu. Now that she was living there day in and day out, there was no course but to accept the inevitability of her loss. They were gone. All gone. If not, they would have found her there.
Megumi was pleased to realize that she had accepted this fact of life and assimilated it to the point that it no longer pained her physically to think of her family as all lost to her. It was still painful, but the pain had dulled into an ache that never left, but never overcame her. Somehow her presence in Aizu eased the ache of their loss. Here was where her family had lived and died. Here was where she was meant to live and practice her medicine, tending to the same inhabitants her father and grandfather and all of her relatives had tended. In some ways, it was her last connection with her family.
Should she give it up? There was no longer any reason to bind herself to Aizu. She could easily move her practice to Tokyo, Kyoto, Yokohama or Osaka. For that matter, she could go to Hokkaido, the last rugged frontier of Japan. The thought of moving had never crossed her mind before. But now, now she was free of Kunisawa and could escape the scene of her captivity. Did she want to leave?
It was her last thought before sleep claimed her, the incessant rocking of the train car persuading her tired mind to rest at last.
Kenshin carried Kenji back to the dojo after Aoshi and Megumi's train had left the station. His little boy fought sleep the same way all toddlers do, with irritable crankiness. He gave up on trying to keep Kenji from pulling his hair, and got used to the pathetic little voice whining, "I want Mommy," in his ear at near ear-drum bursting volume. Fortunately, the dojo was not too far from the train station, so he picked up his pace and did his best to get his little tyrant back home quickly.
Kenshin was actually surprised when Kenji fell asleep just before he reached the familiar dojo gates. The new silence gave him time to notice what a headache he had developed on the way home. Carefully, he tucked Kenji onto his futon for his nap. He held his breath as he slid the shoji door closed, praying fervently that his little son would stay asleep for a while.
He crept back to his own room, listening first to the quiet sounds of his son sleeping and then to the muted training thuds and cries coming from Yahiko's class in the dojo proper. He and Kaoru's room was the furthest away, giving them the most privacy and quiet. By the time he reached the doorway, the only sounds he could hear were some birds perched outside their bedroom window. The pair of starlings had given both Kenshin and Kaoru the melody of their life. First there were the delighted bird songs while building their nest, then their joyful twittering at the discovery of eggs within the nest. Now, the bird parents were feeding some chirping little hungry mouths within that nest. The family was a welcome addition to their dojo. Kenshin smiled at the chirping sounds, all the while hoping his own little chirper would stay asleep for a while longer.
Opening the shoji door, Kenshin glided into the room with his customary silence. Kaoru was still cuddled into their bed, a sensuous figure of repose, her dark hair nearly hiding her face. He knelt by her side, trying to decide if she was really asleep. Her ki, so warm and familiar, was at rest, but seemed to be brighter than if she was truly asleep.
"I'm awake, Kenshin." Kaoru spoke quietly to her husband, reaching back and slowly turning over to face him. He simply watched her, admiring her languid movements and allowing her to settle before reaching out to take her hand in his.
"Are you feeling better?"
"Not really. I never felt this tired with Kenji. You don't think this baby will be even more active than he is, do you?"
"Not possible!" Kenshin chuckled lightly, caressing her hand in both of his as he spoke. "Do you feel up to eating? I'll go fix you some lunch." He made a move to stand, but Kaoru grasped his hand tightly to keep him near her.
"Stay. Tell me about the train station. Did Megumi get off all right?"
"Aa, yes. The train was on time and Kenji had a lot of fun at the station." His eyes shone so brightly, his enjoyment showing so clearly, that Kaoru was almost too happy and distracted to ask any more questions.
Kenshin cringed internally when she stopped smiling so sweetly at him and asked, "Did you help Megumi find a decent seat? Did you make sure she was comfortable? I wish she had stayed in Tokyo longer, I didn't have enough chance to be certain she was recovered from that awful man."
"I'm sure Aoshi made certain she was comfortable and safe."
"Aoshi?" Kaoru sat up so quickly she had to reach out and steady herself on Kenshin's arm to keep from keeling over. Her dizziness was still with her.
"Oro! Kaoru!" Kenshin gently steadied her with his hands on her arms and carefully eased her back down into the bed. "Not so fast, Kaoru, just stay here until you're feeling better, and don't concern yourself with Megumi or Misao; you need to concentrate on yourself. Get some more rest; I'll take care of Kenji this afternoon. I'll bring him to see you after he gets up from his nap. He's exhausted from the train station, so take advantage of this time to get some more sleep."
Kaoru looked for a moment like she would resist Kenshin's attempts to treat her like an invalid. Then she caught sight of the genuine concern in his eyes and gave in to her overprotective spouse. She relaxed back into the futon, cracking one eye open just enough to give him a lopsided smile as she said, "There's really only one way you can be sure I'll stay here Kenshin." Then she giggled as she turned over letting the covers fall away from her shoulders and baring most of her back as she turned. Smiling, she whispered, "I'm only dizzy when I try to get up."
Kenshin watched, mesmerized, as her inky black tresses dripped away from her body towards the futon. Bit by bit, the blackness fell away, revealing the pale skin, the outlines of her shoulder blades, her spinal column, and finally, the nape of her neck.
"Hmm, I'm feeling a little dizzy myself, that I am."
Aoshi very gently took her arm, jostling her gently as he tried to wake her without startling her. "We're here," he said.
"Where?" she muttered, shaking off the unsettling dream she'd been having.
"Aizu?" Aoshi raised an eyebrow in patient expectation, waiting for her to open her eyes.
"Oh! Forgive me. I must have fallen asleep. I was dreaming." Megumi blinked and remembered where she was at once, and with whom. His eyebrow went a little bit higher when she blushed slightly. He couldn't help but wonder what she had been dreaming.
Megumi shook her head slightly and dabbed at her moist eyes with her gloves. Then she stood up to gather her few belongings. Shinomori stood and moved towards the door of the train car, making sure she was close behind him in the aisle way. She followed him to the door, allowing the conductor to help her depart the train car, and allowing Aoshi to assist her to the platform. Goro was there to meet them, and Megumi gave him her warmest smile in greeting.
Goro immediately spoke in low and hushed tones to Shinomori, speaking too low for Megumi to make out the words. He was brief, but his speech seemed to also be accompanied by hand signals. What was Shinomori planning? He had already seen to the downfall of Kunisawa and many of the local Yakuza, what more was there to do in this place?
As soon as they finished speaking, Goro bowed briefly to Shinomori, and then to Megumi and the two travelers from Tokyo were alone again.
"I'll see you to the clinic."
"Yes, it will be good to get home."
They walked in comfortable silence, Shinomori slightly ahead of Megumi, but watchful of her safety and mood. Aoshi was on the lookout for any Yakuza stragglers who might wish to make Megumi pay for their leader's downfall. He was also mindful of her emotional turmoil. He didn't want her to be the object of public scrutiny or disdain if he could help it. He knew her misuse by Kunisawa had been well known in the community. Hopefully his presence here with her would stop any ill-advised remarks from the local shop owners, her patients, or her neighbors. He had some other plans to put a stop to her notoriety shortly.
Megumi seemed oblivious to the possible ramifications of her unfortunate social position. She knew her patients would keep coming, they had little choice for medical care in Aizu and she was renowned for her healing abilities. For now, she was preoccupied with the sudden trepidation she was feeling as they turned onto her street, her clinic coming into view.
Suddenly she stopped in the middle of the street, Shinomori taking several steps before he felt her abrupt departure from his shadow. She was repelled by the idea of going 'home'. The house she had been forced to share with Kunisawa no longer felt like her home. The clinic where the Yakuza had overseen her every word and act disgusted her. The force of her feelings humbled her, making her acknowledge to herself for the first time how weak and alone she had felt, how very cruel Kunisawa's brutality had been.
Aoshi turned to watch her, the play of emotions across her face a revelation to him of her inner strife. He had not expected her to recoil from returning here, but that should not have surprised him. She had suffered in this place and she wished to flee from it just as she had from Kanryuu's mansion. His genius for planning and countermeasures would not fail in such circumstances. He took several steps to stand closely in front of the shaken woman, blocking her view of the clinic. He stood ready to support her should she start to fall, but was unwilling to touch her, particularly in public and in this place. He was determined that his touch should be totally unconnected with her misery at Kunisawa's hands. He was equally determined to keep her from any more public censure.
"There is no need, Megumi."
Her eyes snapped to his in a flash. What was he saying? What did he mean?
"What?" Her confusion was readily apparent.
"There is no need for you to return to this place. The Koi Inn has been acquired by the Oniwabanshuu as its next project. I will be here to supervise it, assisted by Goro."
"The Koi?"
Aoshi could see that his words were not registering with her yet, but he continued. "Yes, the Koi. I believe there is a suitable building adjacent to the Koi that could be used as your clinic. Staying in the Koi would offer you the continued safety of the Oniwabanshuu protection."
"Staying? At the Koi?"
"Yes, with me."
"Under your protection?"
"That too."
December 11, 2003