"Omasu!! Shiro is already ready! Hurry up!"

"He is??" Omasu yelled in reply to Okon "that's not fair, he should have taken longer!!"

"Why would he want to do that??"

"It'd just be more polite! I wouldn't have to rush as quickly!"

"Arg! Just wear this!"

"That?? That would look--"

They had been like that for about half an hour now, leaving Shiro waiting outside in the orchard with Kuro and Okita. Shiro had asked Omasu if she would accompany him to dinner that night, so of course an hour afterwards everyone had found out about it, and made much more of hassle out of the situation then he wanted.

"Maybe I should call it off for tomorrow, do it tomorrow?" Shiro said nervously, he would have been able to handle this a lot easier if Okita hadn't insisted Kuro and him come for "moral support"

"Don't be silly" Okita said placing his arm around Shiro's shoulder "it's a good sign when a woman is having trouble picking out what she wears, it shows she wants to impress her man." Shiro looked over at Kuro, not being to sure if he should listen to the old man, Kuro simply nodded and gave him a reassuring smile. "Now I know you've been trained well in fighting being a member of the Oniwaban group, but you are very in experienced in how to work with the ladies, that's where I come in handy!" Okita said with his insessive laugh. Shiro's head fell over, this wasn't helping at all. Okita grabbed both Kuro and Shiro's heads, pulling them in close and spoke with a whisper "Now then, tonight it is likely to be raining, which can make for a very romantic setting, at the end of the date, when you are just about to get back to the Aoiya, you're going to want to.." Okita paused for a moment grinning to himself.

"OKITA!!" Shiro's loud screech could be heard throughout the Aoiya, Aoshi smiled behind his cup of tea, it was likely Okita was giving out advice on how to handle women again. Aoshi looked over at Misao, who had brought him the tea, she was smiling up at him and hadn't touched her tea. Aoshi gave her a very puzzled look, Misao shook her head whipping away the smile

"It's just.." Misao paused for a moment considering if it was ok to point out "You're smiling a lot more then you ever did before" which isn't to hard to beat seeing how you never smiled before Misao mentally added in, causing herself to giggle. Aoshi looked down at his tea, he hadn't noticed that, but she was right of course, perhaps she was having some effect on him.

"So desu ka..." Aoshi replied, even the way he talked sounded more open then it ever had before, it still had the same cold detached tone to it, but it seemed different then how it used to be. Misao had started visiting him much more frequently then before, staying in the temple with him for almost half the day, she had learned to be much more patient in the temple, hardly ever fidgeting in her seat anymore, she still tended to talk a lot, but that was to be expected. Aoshi and Misao both smiled drinking their tea as the same thought crossed their minds, it was almost as if they were switching places. Aoshi glanced out the temple door as he heard foot steps running up the stairs,


"Misao! Come on!" Misao's face lit up as she heard Okon's voice "they left! We've gotta go quickly if we're going to be able to follow them, I think they caught on." Misao jumped to her feet, almost spilling her tea as she did. Misao went about quickly throwing her things on the tray she had brought up, she paused as she saw that Aoshi hadn't finished yet.

"It's alright, I'll take it in later." Misao paused in her work and looked up at Aoshi, he had turned around in his seat and now faced the altar, Misao had a sudden urge to jump the man but her collar was grabbed by Okon and dragged from the temple.

"Come on Misao!! It's starting to rain they'll be that much harder to follow now!" Misao didn't give her much notice, ah Aoshi-sama... you're becoming so much nicer.. Misao giggled and it's all thanks to me, YAY!! Misao spun around out of Okon's grip and ran into the Aoiya grabbing an umbrella

"Alright then lets get going!" Misao gave Okon the victory sign, Okon caught on quickly nudging her a bit.


"Ah this is working out so well, you're going to get Aoshi, Omasu is getting Shiro, and I'm gonna get." Okon sighed heavily a dazed look gracing her face "Hikooo-sama" Misao and Okon both scurried out of the Aoiya giggling to each other.

Okita walked over to Kuro handing the larger man an umbrella, they had worked out that he would make sure Okon and Misao didn't make themselves to obvious that they were there, Shiro was having a hard enough time with this as is. Okita sighed as Kuro left, he was glad to see that they were becoming able to settle down now, it appeared that the past wars had finally been forgotten.

---------------------------------------------

Arei made her way down the street, both swords being carried at her side openly, she didn't have any need to conceal them with it raining this hard, most people would stay at home tonight and the police patrols would be very light, which seemed silly to her because this was the most important time to have them out and about. Arei reached the Aoiya, the rains had intensified greatly, making it almost impossible to see a few yards ahead, she liked fighting in the rain though, everything seemed so much more dramatic during the battle.

The Aoiya was unlocked, either by mistake or just they felt no reason to do so, she wasn't sure. Everyone had left earlier in the day besides Okita and her target Shinmori Aoshi, that was good though, she didn't feel like bothering with anymore people then she had to today, she had to save some energy to finish Heishin, not much she reminded herself, but some. She made no attempt to hide her presence, she was curious to see how long it would take Aoshi to figure out she was there. The Aoiya was actually a nice looking Inn, she'd have to come and rest here sometime if she was ever in Kyoto again, hopefully they wouldn't be to disheartened about Aoshi's death that they closed down. Arei was rather disappointed that Aoshi hadn't shown up when she reached the back of the main building, she had expected him to have already shown up.

Arei pushed the cloth door aside at the back of the Aoiya and froze abruptly, blood was dashed across the wall in front of her. Arei sighed shaking her head, it was likely that Heishin had intended to plant a trap for her in front of the Aoiya, but whoever he sent was discovered and therefore engaged in a battle, he was to predictable. Arei walked towards the temple, random splotches of blood leading her to it. Arei caught sight of a body lying at the foot of the temple, she couldn't tell if it was Aoshi or not until she was right up to it, because fresh blood ran over his face. She sighed, it wasn't, it was Okita, he lay there, eyes open, motionless, a deep gash likely from a katana across his chest. Arei placed two fingers on Okita's eyes, closing them, it was such a pity when old people died an unnatural death especially since they'd already made it that far. Arei stood up and walked away, rolling her eyes at her own stupidity, you'd have likely ended up killing him anyways.

Arei grew more solemn, if Aoshi was dead... she quickly ran into the temple and found him pinned to the ground by a katana through his stomach. Arei winced at the sight, both of his arms were covered at least halfway up to the elbow in blood. Whoever had attacked him hadn't gotten away unscathed. It was likely more than one person by the looks of it. She'd have to remember to look for them later.

She examined his face closely, his eyes were closed, that was odd. She stared closer at his face. He was actually rather handsome, he was a little more towards pretty than her Enishi sama looked though. She thought absentmindedly of Enishi's face as she reached her hand out to touch Aoshi's hair. She pulled it back abruptly as she realized what she was doing, but not before she felt how soft it was. It was a little thicker than Enishi's but not as coarse as most, the blood matted in it added an interesting texture, she half smiled.

Arei frowned at his battered body. There was more than just the Katana wound, which was to be expected, she didn't think something so simple could fell him. He had numerous cuts all over his body, many seemed to be made by smaller weapons than the Katana that had been left in his stomach. She narrowed her eyes as she saw a throwing needle in the base of his neck, almost more towards the shoulder. This was very suspicious.

She pulled the needle out, it clung stubbornly for the first inch, but the rest slid easily out, slick with blood. It hadn't hit anything vital, except for a pressure point that is. She eyed Aoshi. He was breathing again, very faintly. Whoever had attacked must have taken off when they sensed her. They likely did this to make it appear they had completed their mission. They probably figured he'd die soon enough if he was disabled. She looked him up once more. It was likely true, he'd lost too much blood to live. No matter, he'd live long enough for her to get the information she needed.

"Aoshi.." Arei moved her face down to his as she spoke so that he could better hear her. "Aoshi" she repeat more firmly, the man finally opened his eyes and glanced over at her, then up at the ceiling, it appeared that he had intended to lye there and die.

"Misao?" He asked rather easily, he seemed to have amazing control over the pain. Arei shook her head, smiling at him, asking about her, that was cute.

"She's not back yet." Arei had learned about the two of them and the "situation" they had from the information the syndicate provided her, it was rather sad Aoshi would never get a chance to tell her, it was almost the same as what happened with her and.. Arei shook the thought away, there was no evidence that Enishi sama was dead

Aoshi, tell me" Arei paused to make sure she had Aoshi's full attention "where did Enishi go?" Aoshi was really her last hope besides going to Kenshin, being a member of the Oniwaban group it was likely he kept tabs on Enishi's position. Aoshi glanced over at her studying the girls face for a moment, she was likely just a few years older then Kaoru, her hair fell about her face to just below her chin like light brown silk, but when the light hit it, it may have almost been red. In front of her face was a small spray of shorter hair that seemed to have a will of it's own, barely falling above her pale blue eyes. She was rather thin, but despite her appearance, she was likely little taller than Misao. She was older than Kaoru for sure... but something in her eyes was that of a haunted child. He winced in pain.

"Enishi..." Aoshi paused taking in a large breath of air, talking was obviously becoming more painful to him "We didn't bother trying him... he's no longer a threat to anyone." Arei understood this, it was unlikely Enishi would ever seek revenge against Kenshin again. She stood to take her leave, she would let the man die in peace now, "What makes you think.." Aoshi closed his eyes as he spoke "What makes you think Enishi wants to be found?"

Arei closed her eyes smiling to herself, she had considered this before, but was always able to ignore it seeing how it was just her thinking that. Having it pointed out made it weigh much heavier on her heart. She had no reply for the man, she didn't have one for herself either, it was very likely Enishi didn't want to be found by the syndicate, wanted to leave his life behind him and start anew.... Arei shook her head, no, that wasn't her Enishi sama, he wouldn't do something like that.

Arei stood in the shadow's outside the Aoiya, she waited for the other residents of Aoiya to return. As she did she pondered about the recent events, she found it odd that Aoshi so easily talked to her about it, it was as if there was no surprise she was asking him about Enishi. Heishin really needed to learn when to mind his own business, now there was no way around it, Heishin would die.

She didn't have to wait long for them to arrive, three members of the Oniwabanshuu, Misao Okon and Shiro came trudging through the muddy ground laughing about how they had "almost gotten caught". Two girls, by their looks she guessed them to be Misao and Okon quickly entered the Aoiya, Shiro paused glancing over in Arei's direction who retreated a bit farther into the darkness, he was more perceptive then his looks let on. He didn't act on his suspicion like she thought he should have, he entered behind the two, loud laughter could be heard, followed by silence... and then a young girls screaming out to the world, as if she'd lost everything in an instant.