~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—I want to take this opportunity to thank Midori Natari Himura, who inspired me to write this story. For if it had not been for her, I never would have ventured into the realm of this genre. I am eternally grateful to you, Mids. And for everyone who has traveled with me down the path of my story, thank you for tagging along. I hope that this ending is worthy of the journey and I invite you to accompany me into the sequel that I have planned. Until then, live happy and leave a review…

This version of "A Reason for Love" has been chopped to adhere to fanfiction.net's current rules. If you are interested in reading the complete version, it is posted at our site. www.wandering-samurai.com

A Reason for Love

Chapter 18: Reason for Love

Almost within sight of the Aoiya, Camilla stopped suddenly when she saw the police lining up men on the side of the road. Not wanting to seem out of place, she quickly joined in the crowd that stood staring at the scene. She discretely asked the usual questions while trying to find out just what happened, yet at the same time trying to see if one of the men was Aoshi. But she didn't see any sign that Aoshi was in the group of men that the policemen were arresting.

Her questioning didn't produce any useful information, so she would have to enter the Aoiya and find out for herself if Aoshi was involved and if so… She needed to find out if he was in jail or, no… he just couldn't be dead. She refused to even entertain that thought.

Circling around the crowd, she made her way to the garden behind the Aoiya. Sitting on the bench, she waited. The night was fast approaching and she needed information but protocol directed that she wait for the old man to join her. He would know that she was here; it was a game they use to play.

"You always seem to be attracted to trouble," the old man's voice sounded weary.

She stood to greet him but was surprised when he gave her a bear hug. "Hello, old man," she greeted him after he released her.

"How have you been?" he excitedly asked, "And how is your grandfather?"

She smiled, some things never change, she thought. "I am on my way to see grandfather. I just had to stop and see you first?"

"You think that you're going to make me believe that you are in Kyoto just to see this old man?" he asked, "I think that I know you better than that, but I won't ask except does it have something to do with a certain member of our clan?"

"Why yes it does? Is Misao here?" she smiled because she knew that he was talking about Aoshi and the startled expression on his face was precious.

"Ah, she is in Tokyo so you will just have to do with my company," he laughed, trying to grab her for another bear hug, which she deftly avoided.

"Ok, you were right, is he here?" she giggled, moving out of his reach.

He suddenly stopped and became very serious. "Yes, he is upstairs…"

Not letting him say anything more, she grabbed his arms and asked, "Is he all right? Please I have to know," looking into his face as if all her answers were written there.

He calmly took her hands and put them together in front of him. "Yes, he is all right. You may have noticed the police out front? Well those men tried to kill him and they just about succeeded."

"Can I sit with him?"

"Of course, follow me." Dropping one of her hands, he pulled her along with the other one.

Camilla followed the old man to the room upstairs where Aoshi lay, listening to him tell her what had happened out in front of the Aoiya and how bad Aoshi was wounded.

They quietly entered the room. Okon finished straightening the blanket that covered Aoshi and then picking up the tray that had bandages and medical supplies, she stood up facing them.

"How is he doing?" Okina quietly asked her as if a loud noise would wake him.

"He is resting at the moment but he will be sore in the morning," she replied, "I bandaged his wound and it will give him problems until it's completely healed." Noticing the girl standing next to Okina, she smiled and said, "Hello, Camilla, you certainly have grown."

"Thank you," Camilla said, giving the older woman a polite bow. Walking over to Aoshi, she knelt down beside the futon. She would have to wait for him to wake up to give him the news that Soujiro had left on the train to Tokyo. But for him, she would wait.

~ ~ ~

The first thing Soujiro did after he left the Tokyo train station was look for a restaurant to eat. I have to keep up my strength, Soujiro thought. Where most of the restaurants were either closed or closing, he finally found one that was still open.

After being seated, he asked for tea, giving him time to count his money, something he should have done before entering the establishment. With the money he had, there was enough for the tea and some miso soup.

"So what can I get you?" the young man asked, placing the tea service on the table before him.

"Just some miso soup," Soujiro said, smiling.

"Ok," the server replied, leaving to get the order.

Soujiro sat, wondering why Aoshi had not been there to make the train while he sipped at his tea. Quelling his worst fear that something had happened to him, he chose to think instead that Aoshi's friends had detained him enough so that he couldn't make it on time and he would see Aoshi in the morning.

"We are out of miso soup, so I brought you some rice balls and beef stew instead. I hope that's all right," the server said, noticing that the customers from the booth next to the one he was standing by were getting ready to leave, so he waited.

"Yes that's fine, but…"

"Oh don't worry about the price, I will settle things with Miss Tae," he said, sitting down across from him, "My name is Myojin Yahiko."

"I am Seta Soujiro. Is there something that I can do to help pay for the food?" he asked.

"You could help me clean the kitchen after your finished eating. Then I could get out of here on time for a change," Yahiko said with a smile. Picking up the dishes from the table that the diners had just left, he walked back to the kitchen.

The food was very good and Soujiro hadn't realized just how hungry he was until he started eating. He devoured the food very quickly. Standing up, he stacked his dishes like he had been doing it for years and took them into the kitchen. Going back he retrieved his travel bag and the Takara, returning to start cleaning the dishes. Setting his belongings in a secure corner of the room, he started washing the huge stack of dishes.

Yahiko came back into the kitchen, surprised to see Soujiro, standing in front of the sink, washing the dishes. Setting the pile that he had brought back on the counter, he picked up a towel and began to dry them. With both of them working, they soon had the restaurant cleaned and ready to close.

"Thanks for the help," Yahiko said, as they walked out the back door of the building. Locking the door, Yahiko turned to face Soujiro.

"It was the least I could do for the amount of food you served me," Soujiro said, smiling. Holding the box that held the Takara, his travel bag slung over his shoulder, he stood trying to decide where he should spend the night. It was already getting well into dark and he had no idea where he should go to get housing. He was just about to ask when…

"Say do you need a place to stay tonight?" Yahiko asked, waiting for an answer.

"Yes, I do" Soujiro replied, "Do you know any place where I could work for a room?"

"You can stay with me for the night, I'm sure they won't mind," Yahiko said, shrugging his shoulders, "They probably won't even know you're there. The wedding is creating quite a lot of craziness."

"I just need a place to sleep for the night," Soujiro said.

"Come on then, let's go," Yahiko said, walking down the alley toward the main road.

Soujiro followed.

They didn't make a sound when they entered the yard of the dojo but they didn't enter unseen. Kenshin watched as they slowly made their way to Yahiko's room. Something about the young man that walked beside Yahiko interested him. In the darkness, he couldn't quite make out the boys' features but the way he moved was very familiar. They were almost inside the building when he put a name to the young man, Seta Soujiro. He had often wondered how the young man had faired after he found out that he had walked away that day. Tomorrow he would find a way to talk to him.

~ ~ ~

In the early morning hours just before dawn, Aoshi stirred. A low moan escaped his lips before his eyes slowly opened. His first reaction was to try to sit up but strong hands were holding him down.

"If you move too much you will start bleeding again," Camilla whispered.

Resigning, he relaxed. "How long…" he groaned again.

"I put him on the train last night. He is in Tokyo."

Aoshi just lay on the futon, staring at the ceiling. "Thank you," he whispered, closing his eyes he drifted back to sleep.

~ ~ ~

Try as he might, Soujiro could not keep from worrying about Aoshi. He had lain down with the Takara and his travel bag next to his futon. But as he laid there the faint trace of musk drifted towards him and that was all it took to set his body on fire, thinking about his lover. As he remembered the time they had spent together, his body responded making him moan.

No matter what position he tried, the result was still the same. So after spending the greater part of the night changing positions, just before dawn, he got up and dressed. Thinking that maybe a walk in the cool morning air might calm the raging hormones flowing through his body, he left the building.

"Leaving so soon?" Kenshin asked from the shadow.

"No, just taking a walk," Soujiro answered, "It's hot inside the building." He was grateful that it was still dusk so that Kenshin couldn't see his face.

"Yes, sometimes it gets hot for me too," Kenshin commented, smiling when he understood what the boy was saying, "Would you like some company?"

"Yes, then at least I could find my way back," Soujiro quickly said, hoping his comment didn't sound forced.

Leaving the dojo, they walked down the path that ran beside the creek. Soujiro felt better that morning than he had felt in such a long time. His anxiety about why Aoshi didn't make the train was waning and he just knew that today would yield many good things.

"How have you been Soujiro?" Kenshin quietly asked as they walked onto the bridge.

"All right," he answered, stopping he looked down into the water. "Searching for answers has proved to be a very difficult task, especially when you're not completely sure what the questions are."

"Yes, that does make it more difficult. But not impossible," Kenshin said, watching as a leaf floated down the river, disappearing under the bridge. "Did you find any answers?"

"Yes, but then there are more questions to be asked," he said, "I am beginning to think that it will be more than a lifelong quest if I want all the answers."

Laughing, Kenshin replied, "Yes I think you're right."

"Himura-san?"

"Yes" Kenshin replied, leaning against the rail, he turned to face Soujiro.

"Thank you." Two simple words were all that Soujiro could say.

Kenshin smiled and nodded.

~ ~ ~

Although the train ride to Tokyo was boring and long, the second such ride that Aoshi had embarked on in the space of two days, he was grateful that they were riding the train instead of the carriage. The injuries that he had gotten from the fight with Wagashi were a bit more than bothersome. If it weren't for the fact that he had agreed to have Megumi look at his wounds when he reached Tokyo, his friends at the Aoiya would not have let him leave. He knew that Camilla would make sure that he would see the doctor as soon as they arrived.

Aoshi sat by the window halfheartedly listening to Camilla drone on about some experience she had while at her boarding school. His thoughts were going over their departure that morning from the Aoiya. The four members of the clan that lived in and ran the Aoiya had all shown their concern for his safety.

Okon had told him to leave his arm in the sling that she had made him wear, her concern was that too much movement would reopen the stab wound he had gotten just before he passed out. As he looked at the faces of the four remaining members of the clan, he had not known what to say, so he had settled for simply saying "Thank you". And as he walked away with Camilla, he turned back to see them waving at him, sending him good wishes, something that he had not expected. It had left him feeling very humble, knowing that they still accepted him as part of the clan. But his real trial would be in Tokyo.

"You're not listening to me, are you? In fact, you haven't heard a word I have said." Camilla stuck her lower lip out, crossing her arms.

"I'm sorry," Aoshi said, turning to her, genuinely sorry that he had not been listening.

"Now don't you start that wound bleeding again or you will be flat on your back until the doctor says it's all right," she reprimanded him.

"Yes." Aoshi knew that Megumi would do just that, so he carefully moved his arm letting the sling hold it in place. The painkilling effect from the tea he drank that morning had helped but it was starting to wear off, making it uncomfortable to be in a sitting position. But he could endure it until they arrived in Tokyo and then he would be sure to get some more from Megumi.

Camilla watched as Aoshi's skin color lightened. Men, she thought, they all need someone to take care of them. Standing up, she placed her knapsack where she had been sitting. "Lay down," she softly commanded of Aoshi.

"I'm all right." He turned to look at her, the pain showing in his ice blue eyes.

"That wasn't a request," she said, pointing to her knapsack, "It isn't the softest thing to lay on but it will do."

Giving in to her demands, Aoshi laid against her knapsack taking the pressure off his shoulder.

Once she was sure that Aoshi was asleep, Camilla turned to look out the window. It would be awhile before they reached Tokyo and she needed a breath of fresh air. Laying her jacket over Aoshi, she checked to make sure that he was resting before walking down the aisle to the door.

She gripped the rails and leaned her head over the side allowing the breeze to whip her long curly hair. When she stood back up, she hit something hard.

"You really should be more careful."

Turning around she grabbed a handful of his shirt and tried to shake him but only managed to give her self a good shaking. Giving up, she said, "I'll keep that in mind."

"What are you doing? You know that you were suppose to stay in Kyoto," he calmly said, taking her into his arms until some passengers had passed by.

"You won't tell, will you?" she asked, giving him her best puppy dog look.

"No but if you get killed, I will find you in hell and give you the worst whipping that you could ever imagine." Giving her a kiss on the forehead, he slipped back into the train.

She smiled, thinking that she may need a good place in hell to hide.

~ ~ ~

After returning to the dojo, Kenshin talked Soujiro into staying for breakfast, telling him that as a wanderer that he needed to eat when he could. But Soujiro would only eat if he could work for his meal, which Kenshin agreed, telling him that he could help him later that day.

Soujiro delivered the Takara without any trouble. Papa had been overjoyed at receiving the Takara and had offered Soujiro some money in compensation, which he refused. With the money safely in Chiko's possession, he helped her to make the necessary arraignments to leave Japan.

Soujiro stood on the dock watching as Chiko boarded the boat, the boat would be sailing with the tide the following day but getting her on today seemed the safest way. One final wave and he headed back to the dojo to do the work for his meal and get his travel bag.

Finding the Akabeko on his return to the dojo, Soujiro stopped in to say hi to Yahiko.

"Hi Soujiro. Say if you're not busy, we could sure use some help," Yahiko said rushing past to serve the food on his tray.

"Sure what do you want me to do?" Soujiro said, following Yahiko.

"If you can clean the tables off and help with the dishes, I can serve the food," Yahiko quickly said, "Miss Tae is really busy with getting everything ready for the wedding and an extra pair of hands…" Walking into the kitchen, the rest of his sentence was cut off.

Soujiro had turned back and picked up the dishes from an abandoned table. Taking them back into the kitchen, he gasped at the pile of dishes that were stacked there. Rolling up his sleeves, he tackled the dishes. At least this way I won't be worrying about Aoshi, he thought, picking up another dish.

~ ~ ~

For the rest of the train ride to Tokyo, Camilla sat quietly on the bench opposite Aoshi, staring out the window. Sometimes she thought herself a fool to go on this quest but her stubborn personality wouldn't let her back out now that she had started. Sighing, she changed into a more comfortable position. A couple of days, he had said. She would give him that time then beg, plead and grovel to get him to help her.

As the train pulled into the station, she watched as Aoshi pushed himself up with his left arm and then very discreetly held his right arm. There was no visible sign that he was bleeding and from the way he was acting she couldn't tell if he was in pain or not. Favoring his right shoulder, he adjusted his position.

She was starting to reach for her knapsack when the train came to a stop. Loosing her balance, she tumbled to the ground with her backside sticking straight up in the air. "Ooof," she growled, among other things that weren't audible.

"And you wanted to be a ninja," Aoshi quietly said.

By the time she turned to face him, he was looking out the window. The anger that had welled in her, dissipated instantly. "I'm sure he's all right," she said, guessing at what he was thinking.

"Aa." Standing up, he waited for her to retrieve her knapsack and then handing her jacket back, they departed the train.

With the train station behind them, Camilla walked with Aoshi to the clinic.

"I'm going to be staying at grandfathers. You can stay there if you want, I'm sure that he would love to see you again," she said, nervously adjusting her knapsack.

"Yes," Aoshi said, pausing he watched as Camilla turned to leave. Getting her feet twisted, she teetered, did a little dance to get her feet back underneath herself and then caught her balance.

"I better go," she smiled and then quickly walked away.

Aoshi turned and entered the clinic where Megumi stood with her hands on her hips. Biting back her curiosity, she said, "I didn't think I would see you again for awhile."

"I have given my word that I would have you look at my wounds. So here I am. But if you are busy, I can come back later,"

"No I can see you now. Come in," she led the way to the exam room and pointed to the bed for him to sit on. She untied the sling and helped him remove his shirt. Noticing that the dressing on his wound was soaked with blood, she slowly unwound the gauze from around his chest while checking his back for a wound, and finding nothing she said. "You are lucky that the knife didn't go completely through. But you do need to rest for a few days. Do you plan to stay at the dojo?"

"Yes,"

"Lay down," she commanded, helping him to lie on the bed. "You may think about finding somewhere else to stay for a few days or at least until the wedding is over." Slowly pulling the dressing from his wound, she asked, "How is Soujiro doing?"

"Until a few days ago he was all right," he started, taking in a sharp breath when she touched his wound. Recounting the events just before he left Soujiro to return to the Shingetsu Village, and how Kamatari had given him the candy to pull him out of the state he was in, Aoshi finished with asking, "Do you know what could cause that?"

"It sounds like he has a condition that Yutarou wrote me about. The Doctors in Germany are doing research and are discovering that our bodies need a certain amount of a substance called insulin to function properly. Most people can produce enough insulin out of the food they eat and don't have a problem but there are a few that have a problem with their bodies producing the proper amount and when the amount is either high or low then they could go into shock and die,"

"Ah, I see."

"So it's very important to make him eat or at the very least make sure that he has candy. His body should be able to tell him when he needs it," she paused to help him get into a sitting position, "Now for you, leave the arm in a sling and stay out of fights." She waited for him to sit up before she finished dressing his wound, and then helped him to put his shirt back on.

Leaving the clinic with strict instructions to not overexert himself, Aoshi started walking towards the dojo and his inevitable meeting with Misao.

~ ~ ~

Between washing dishes and cleaning tables, the rest of the afternoon flashed by for Soujiro. Once the dinner crowd was over, Yahiko dished out a couple of bowls and motioned to Soujiro to sit with him at a corner table and eat.

The two boys finished their meal in silence, eating until their bowls were empty. Leaning back Yahiko asked, "You're a good worker, Soujiro. Are you going to stay in town long?"

"I'm not sure yet," he replied, taking a drink of tea and then popping a piece of candy into his mouth, "Would you like one," he offered.

"No thank you, I'm full," he said, "But if you want to you can stay at the dojo as long as you are in town. I don't mind sharing my room.

"Thank you but I have to find Aoshi before I can make any plans."

"Shinomori Aoshi?" Yahiko asked, stacking the bowls, "I saw him walking towards the dojo…"

Before he could finish his sentence Soujiro stood up, apologized, gave a polite bow and was out the door.

~ ~ ~

Aoshi stood at the gate to the Kamiya Dojo, hesitant to enter. Facing Misao would be one of the hardest undertakings that he had to endure in his life. He had taken responsibility for her when she was just a child and his love for her was immeasurable. But he wasn't worried about the love they shared, his worry was the hurt he had inflicted on her when he had rejected her at the cabin after his fight with Okina. He had been so focused on his own primal needs that he had lashed out at her when she had reached out to him. They had never talked about that day and he would accept his fate if she refused to talk to him now, but he had to make the effort.

Entering the yard, he was accosted by several young boys all dressed in hakama and gi, running towards him. Standing steady, he waited until they were past him and out the gate before noticing that Kaoru was standing off to the side, watching him.

"Hello, Aoshi. Welcome back," she said, smiling, "Sorry for the impatience of my students but this is the last class before the wedding," her smile fading when she noticed his arm in a sling. "Are you all right?" she hesitantly asked.

Aoshi stood, looking at Kaoru as if seeing her for the first time. "Yes, I am all right. Is Misao busy?" he quietly asked, surprised when Kaoru just stood wide-eyed not saying anything. Fearing that she may have misunderstood what he asked, he re-stated his question, "If Misao isn't busy, I would like to talk to her. Do you know where I can find her?"

"I… no… I mean… yes… Misao is in the training hall," she said, the shocked expression on her face softening, "Do you want me to get her?" she asked, pointing to the building behind her.

"Thank you for the kind offer but I can go to her," he said. Giving her a polite bow, he walked past her towards the training hall.

Misao was standing just inside the door of the training hall, listening to Kaoru talking to Aoshi. Moving over a few paces, she rested her back against the wall and nervously waited for Aoshi to enter, prepared for almost anything.

Aoshi walked into the building, staring straight ahead. He was not surprised when at first glance the training hall was empty. Without turning, he said, "I know you are in here."

"Yes, you would know that," she said from behind him.

"Misao, I want you to know that…" he stopped unable to say anymore.

"That?" she softly questioned, holding her breath.

"I am going to take a government job and I will be leaving next week," he said, wishing that he could have eased into the statement.

She slowly let her breath out. The emotions that ran their course through her body made her dizzy as she sorted through them and then realized that the most important thing to her was… "Will this decision make you happy?"

"It is something that I must do," he simply said.

"Aoshi all I want is to see you smile and to know that you are happy," she said, opening her eyes, she glared at his back.

Turning around to face her, he said, "My smile would be empty and I cannot be happy until I know that you have forgiven me."

Her eyes pierced into his, frozen in time then she realized just what was needed. "There is nothing to forgive but if my saying the words will release you from your guilt then I forgive you." Lowering her eyes, she noticed his arm in the sling.

Before she could ask, Aoshi said, "Its nothing to worry about."

Scrunching up her face, she shook her small index finger at him, her other hand poised on her hip and angrily asked, "Now just who will be taking care of you?"

"I will," Soujiro softly said, standing in the doorway.

Turning her wrath on him, she continued to shake her finger, "And you had better take care of him because if you don't and I find out, I will have to hurt you." Soujiro just stood and smiled at her.

She slowly let her hands drop to her side unable to resist smiling back at him. But his smile faded when he looked past Misao and saw Aoshi. That was when she realized that he didn't know about Aoshi's injuries.

With his good hand, Aoshi picked up Misao's hand and said, "Someday I will smile for you but I can't promise when and as for being happy…" Leaving his statement unfinished, he squeezed her hand before loosening his grip.

She looked at her hand and then at Aoshi's face and said, "I understand," and for the first time that she could remember she noticed a sparkle in Aoshi's eyes as he looked at Soujiro. Turning to face Soujiro, she softly said, "Please make him happy."

Nodding his head, he waited until she was gone before asking, "Did that happen because of me?"

"It's nothing," Aoshi nonchalantly said trying to dismiss it as if it had not happened.

"We can't keep things from each other," Soujiro said, pressing for an answer.

"Yes you are right," Aoshi responded, giving him a brief description of what happened then waited for a reply.

"He won't give up easily," Soujiro said, closing the distance between them.

"Neither will I." Reaching behind Soujiro's head, Aoshi pulled him close and said, "You are the bright light in the shiny darkness that surrounded me," before capturing the young man's lips with his.

Responding to the kiss, Soujiro knew that one of his questions had just been answered.

~ ~ ~

Yahiko graciously moved in with Kenshin so that Aoshi and Soujiro could share a room together. With night falling fast, the shadows fell over the dojo lulling everyone to sleep.

"I missed you," Soujiro said, snuggled up against Aoshi's left side.

"You just missed a warm body."

"Aoshi?" Soujiro softly asked.

"Go to sleep," Aoshi said, a small smirk on his face.

As the two occupants in the room fell asleep in each other's embrace, they were unaware of the four apparitions that floated around them and then stopped in a protective circle around them.

"Live a happy life, Leader," Hannya's voice softly drifted in the air.

"Yea, for us," the other three agreed.

With Aoshi once again participating in life, their duty to their Leader was now fulfilled, and they were no longer needed. So with one hasty glance back, they left, never to return to Aoshi's dreams again.

~ to be continued, in the sequel ~