~Standard Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin or Rurouni Kenshin characters. This story was not written for sale or profit. Don't forget to review.

A/N-Thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed this story.



A Reason for Love



Chapter 5: A Reason to Love



~Walking down the streets of Tokyo, Aoshi disappeared into an alley. Old habit made him take the almost forgotten path, leading him to an old friend's house. His need to find out what Soujiro was doing in Tokyo out- weighted his inner feelings. The last time he had been down these streets was the day Kanryu had killed his four companions.

That day would be forever burned into his memory. Somehow he had managed to get the strength to take the four bodies outside, hiding them in the foliage and burying them in a secret place. Afterwards he had followed this same path, collapsing outside the wooden gate. His friend's father had taken him in, bandaging his wounds and took care of him until he was able to travel. It had taken him a long time to mend and in some way the scars from that day were still very tender. But time heals all wounds and his were mending.

Aoshi knocked on the door hoping that his friend's father still lived here. He had been out of touch with the world outside for a long time and was beginning to suspect that no one lived there, when the door slowly opened.

"Enter," a gruff voice commanded.

Aoshi quietly walked through the wooden gate, allowing it to completely close before moving forward. He couldn't see anyone but he knew that someone was there.

"Aoshi-san it has been awhile," the same voice exclaimed, while walking towards him.

"Yes honored elder, it has," Aoshi replied, giving the old man a nod of his head, "would you have some time to talk?"

"Come this way and we will have complete privacy," the old man said.

After tea was served and they were left alone, the old man sat waiting for Aoshi to start the conversation. When it became evident that the younger man was having trouble deciding where he wanted to start, the old man chuckled, then asked, "How are you doing Aoshi-san?"

Startled at the frank question, Aoshi automatically answered, "Fine."

"Well you don't look fine to me. What is troubling you? I heard that you locked yourself in a temple and yet here you are at my door."

"Mokuami-sama, I have a friend who..." Aoshi started, unable to continue. He could never figure out why but the older man had always made him nervous.

"You need to know where this friend is and what trouble they are in. Am I right so far?" Mokuami asked. Taking a sip of tea, he replaced the cup on the tray in front of him.

"Yes. I am worried," Aoshi admitted his hands balled into fists on his lap.

"Do you think that he is in danger?" Mokuami asked, popping a small candy in his mouth.

"Yes."

"My son loved you very much, did you know that? He told me about you the night he was killed," Mokuami paused, letting Aoshi absorb his words, before he continued, "We had a very long talk that night. I just want you to know that I never blamed you for his death."

"Thank you, Mokuami-sama. Please accept my apology for letting him get killed," Aoshi begged, lowering his head.

"There is nothing to apologize for Aoshi-san. My son knew what loving you would be like and he accepted the danger. But that happened so long ago, you must let go before it destroys your life.

"Four others died to save me the last time I was here and I won't let it happen again, there will be no more sacrifices to save me," Aoshi vehemently said, clenching his fists, he looked directly into the old man's eyes.

"I believe you. Now I need your friend's name and a description."



~The walk to Youhio's had been uneventful once Soujiro got past the men arguing in the hall of the inn. He was in no hurry to meet with Youhio once again. The last meeting had been when Chiko tried to leave Japan without her father's consent.

Soujiro walked past the front of Youhio's restaurant, opting for the back door. A knock on the door gave him entrance into the back rooms.

"I have come to see Youhio-san. Is he here Wagashi-san?" Soujiro asked, giving the man a polite bow.

"As polite as ever, I see. I though you got killed on that mountain with everyone else. Did you get scared and run away?" Wagashi taunted, deliberately trying to make Soujiro show some emotion.

Soujiro just smiled, making Wagashi growl in disgust. Soujiro remembered many times when he wanted to fight Wagashi but was not allowed to because of family, mainly Youhio. Wagashi was a couple years older, had a huskier build and was a head taller than Soujiro but that never bothered either boy. Wagashi still wanted to fight against the younger boy but Soujiro's fighting days were over.

"The boss isn't here yet. He said that if you got here before he returned, I have to make you comfortable. Follow me," Wagashi said, walking through the kitchen into the main lobby.

"You can wait for the boss here," he said, pointing to a small room, "The restaurant is closed but the waitress is still here and she can get you something to eat. It doesn't look like you eat on a regular basis."

"Thank you, Wagashi-san," Soujiro politely said, sitting down at the small table. He placed the box on the table, wondering what was in it. He had an idea but the box had been sealed so he couldn't confirm his suspicions.

Soujiro didn't realize how hungry he was until the food was placed in front of him and he could smell the wonderful aroma. Thinking back he couldn't remember the last time he had eaten at a restaurant. The food tasted wonderful, the spices tantalizing his tongue with remembered flavors. But he was unable to eat more than half what was served to him.

The table had been cleared and a pot of tea set before him. When he finished the second cup of tea, Soujiro was about to call the waitress when Wagashi reappeared.

"The boss will see you now, Come," Wagashi commanded, walking away from the booth expecting Soujiro to follow him.

Standing up, Soujiro clenched his chest as pain started under his rib cage, spreading throughout his upper body. Taking several deep breaths, he managed to pick up the box and follow Wagashi.

They retraced their earlier path leading them to the back rooms of the restaurant. By the time they reached Youhio's office, Soujiro was able to stand without pain. Entering the room Wagashi stood off to the side, waiting, watching for any reason to attack Soujiro.

"Soujiro-chan, it's so nice to see you again. I guess you did make it safely out of that mountain," Youhio greeted the young man, "and you brought the box."

"Yes Youhio-san," Soujiro said politely, "and you have a similar box?"

"Of course," Youhio said smiling. Sitting at his desk, Youhio opened a bottom drawer, pulled out a box that was the same size but without the same intricate designs, and placed it on the desk.

"But first I must examine the contents of yours, and then you may examine mine. Agreed?"

Soujiro nodded his head.

Youhio stood up, taking the box from Soujiro, the excitement clearly evident on his face. Breaking the seal, he popped off the lid.

"What is the meaning of this?" Youhio yelled at Soujiro, "Rocks? Where is the Takara?" Youhio bellowed, picking up a rock out of the box, he held it in his hand shaking it in Soujiro's face.

His suspicions confirmed, Soujiro could only shake his head saying, "I don't know. The last time I saw them, they were in this box." Soujiro knew that he was in trouble.

"You were loyal to my brother and now you are trying to keep me from having them. But I will find them even if it's over your dead body, so you better start talking," Youhio threatened, walking around the end of the desk.

Before Soujiro could take a step, Wagashi pinned his arms holding him in place. He couldn't believe that he had walked into a trap. Chiko what have you done to me, he thought, when the wind was knocked out of him, sending him into a hazy darkness.

"What's the matter with you boy? Are you going to die on me with just one hit?" Youhio jeeringly asked, throwing water on his face.

"I didn't know there were rocks in the box. You should know that by the seal on the box," Soujiro managed to say, shaking the water off his face.

Going back to look at the seal, Youhio slammed his fist through the top of the desk, small splinters sticking up around his hand.

"Where is she?" Youhio growled, pulling his hand from the top of his desk, his knuckles already starting to swell.

"I don't know... but I can find her... and get the Takara for you," Soujiro said, the pain in his chest now a dull throb.

"Now why would you do that?" Youhio jeered at the boy.

"To save her life," Soujiro said without hesitation.

"Ok, you have three weeks to get the Takara on my desk. After that I will personally take great pleasure in killing both of you," Youhio said, holding his swollen hand, "get him out of my sight."

Wagashi disappeared long enough to deposit Soujiro outside the back door of the restaurant.

"Are you sure that you checked his hideout thoroughly. You left nothing untouched?" Youhio asked, as Wagashi entered his office.

"Yes, I searched his study several times. I even made friends with one of the police who were guarding the area and nothing like that was found."



~Aoshi returned to the dojo, feeling somewhat relieved. He knew that Mokuami would find Soujiro and then he would be able to at least talk to the young man. He tried to sleep but something kept him awake.

Feeling a presence outside his door, Aoshi quickly donned his ninja uniform. Soundlessly he left the room to find no one out there. He was about to leave the dojo again when he spotted Kenshin.

"A messenger was sent," Kenshin simply said, walking toward Aoshi.

"Yes," Aoshi replied.

"Be careful, Aoshi. We want you to attend our wedding," Kenshin whispered, standing next to the ninja.

"Take care of Misao for me, Ba... Himura," Aoshi asked.

"Yes," Kenshin replied, watching as Aoshi slipped through the gate.

Locking the gate, Kenshin turned to go back to bed when he noticed Misao standing on the porch.

"It's ok Himura. I understand him better than what he thinks," Misao smiled.

"How about we have a nice hot cup of tea?" Kenshin asked her.

"That sounds wonderful."



~Aoshi followed the ninja, almost loosing him on a dark street corner, vowing that he would start practicing again once he found Soujiro. It took all his muscles to keep in sight of the ninja who was leading him.

Reaching a dark alley in the lower class part of town, not to far from a restaurant, the ninja stopped. Waiting for Aoshi, he looked to the ground and then disappeared into the night.

Aoshi looked down to see Soujiro sitting on the ground, leaning against the building. While checking the young man for blood, he looked around the area to get his bearings.

"Aoshi?" Soujiro whispered a pained look on his face. He tried to stand up but he didn't have enough strength.

Aoshi reached down and gently pulled the young man to his feet. Letting Soujiro lean into his embrace, Aoshi reached down, putting an arm under his knees. He picked the young man up, surprised at how little he weighted. Soujiro snuggled his face in Aoshi's chest, both fists grabbing his clothes.

With Soujiro safely in his arms, Aoshi headed for Megumi's clinic.

Standing at the front door of the clinic, Aoshi used his foot to pound on the door.

"That better not be you Rooster-head, waking me up at this unearthly hour of the morning. You can just go home and sleep it off," Megumi's voice resonated from the back of the clinic.

Waiting for Megumi to appear, Soujiro moaned, trying to get closer to Aoshi.

The door opened with a swish, Megumi's surprised face appeared in the doorway. "Come in," Megumi said, closing the door once they were inside.

Leading the way to the beds, Megumi asked, "is there any bleeding?"

"No," Aoshi replied.

Megumi lit an extra lamp, and washed her hands while Aoshi gently laid Soujiro on the closest bed.

"Hold the lamp, while I examine him," she said, handing the lamp to Aoshi. She lightly touched Soujiro's forehead, felt under his jawbone, and then she looked directly at her patient and asked, "When was the last time you had a decent meal?"

"This evening, about two, three hours ago," Soujiro weakly replied.

"And before that?" she asked a scowl on her face.

"I'm sorry, I don't remember," Soujiro whispered.

Aoshi let out a low growl.

Megumi looked at Aoshi, and said, "Take him out back and see that he gets bathed, and then I will give him a complete examination. I'm sure that you can find everything you need. I'll make some tea for us and some special broth for you, young man," she said, turning her gaze to Soujiro.

Aoshi watched as Megumi walked out of the room grumbling, and then he helped Soujiro to stand. Reaching to pick him up, Soujiro stayed his hand.

"I can walk... with your help," Soujiro said, holding Aoshi's arm.

Holding Soujiro's shoulders, Aoshi directed the young man to the bath house. Making him sit on the bench, Aoshi lit a lamp before he began tending to the preparations for Soujiro's bath.

After checking the temperature of the water, Aoshi gently helped Soujiro take his clothes off. Helping him to walk over to the rinsing area, Aoshi took a pitcher and carefully doused the young man with warm water.

Using the only soap available, Aoshi started with his hair, taking extra care to work the soap down to the roots.

With a wet soapy wash cloth, Aoshi delicately started at the young mans neck, working his way down the left side of his body until he reached the floor. Repeating the process in reverse for the right side, he threw the wash cloth aside.

Soujiro stood silently, his eyes closed, enjoying the attention that Aoshi was lavishly bestowing upon him. He could still feel the dull ache in his chest, but the other feelings that his body was experiencing at the moment overshadowed the pain.

Using a clean soapy wash cloth, Aoshi tenderly scrubbed at Soujiro's back and then turned him around to do the front. He hissed when the light shone on the young man's chest, freezing his movements. For there was a diagonal line on Soujiro's chest that matched Aoshi's perfectly. But where his had healed long ago, Soujiro's still had a red tone coloring it, the indent wasn't as pronounced as Aoshi's but the line was definitely distinguishable.

Soujiro opened his eyes and slowly looked up into the older mans face. Puzzled at the emotions that were splayed across the man's normally expressionless features, Soujiro's eyes opened wide.

Aoshi quickly finished soaping Soujiro and then using the water pitcher, he thoroughly rinsed the soap off. Coaxing the young man over to the tub, Aoshi helped him step into it.

Soujiro sank into the warm water, totally relaxed, the warmth spreading throughout his entire body. He couldn't remember when his body had felt so good. Since his departure from Shishio, his body had rebelled against him with various aches and pains. Now, laying here in the warm water, he let his mind wander to how Aoshi had found him and why?

"Aoshi?" Soujiro softly asked, looking at the ceiling.

"Nn," Aoshi responded, settling himself on the floor beside the tub.

"Are you angry with me?" The words, a bare whisper, managed to reach an area deep down inside Aoshi where he didn't think anyone could go, but Soujiro had made it there.

"No," Aoshi replied leaning back against the tub.

Soujiro closed his eyes, truly happy for the first time in his life.

Under normal circumstances Aoshi would have let him soak in the warm water until he chose to get out, but these were anything but normal and Megumi would have the tea ready soon.

So he stood up and his heart melted as he gazed at the young man in the tub, his face serene and angelic. Bracing himself with his left hand, Aoshi reached down with his right hand, tracing Soujiro's jaw ending under his chin. Tilting the angelic face up just enough, he slowly leaned down, their lips lightly touching.

Pulling back, Aoshi looked at Soujiro waiting for his reaction.

Soujiro slowly licked his lips as if someone had coated them with sweet candy. Opening his eyes to look directly into Aoshi's, a genuine smile appeared on his face.

"Kirei," Aoshi whispered and standing up, he reached for the towel.



TBC...

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Japanese words used:

Kirei - beautiful

Takara -- treasure