Aloha! Yes, I insist on posting this mindless story, but what the hell. I enjoy it. ^ ^ I hope that the first chapters haven't been too trying on you. All disclaimers apply, blah blah blah, * adudience asleep * ok! Moving on!

They stopped by to see Misao and, after a brief visit and explanation, were able to leave the children excepting Yahiko there. Kaeko had sobbed and Toshio nearly bit through his lip. Ayame and Suzume didn't mind; they had heard all sorts of stories about Auntie Misao and had wanted a chance to play with her.

The girls there had been very happy to see Hiko, less so to meet Tsukiyo. It was obvious when Tsukiyo poured sake for him, as the girls offered him all sorts of food, completely ignoring the other guests. Hiko basked in their infatuation, looking smug. Tsukiyo spilled sake all over him and inspected her manriki-gusari.

After they left, the remaining group went with Hiko into the mountains. Tsukiyo felt her breathing return to normal. The train had been an adventure of sorts, but she preferred the clean air and serenity of the woods.

They arrived at a small house. Hiko settled his shoulders comfortably, and nodded to Kenshin.

"Go get water from the river, deshi," he ordered. Kenshin opened his mouth to object, and then thought better of it as he caught the gleam in his master's eye. Hiko, the lord of all her surveyed, was back.

Yahiko looked at the wood and sighed unhappily. Hiko had set them all to work as soon as they had arrived. Tsukiyo was his partner, and she didn't seem to invite conversation. This wasn't warrior's work, he thought glumly. He was surprised when two slender hands came behind him and guided his hands on the small axe.

"Just think of it as practice. It takes a powerful strike to sever a log in one try. It's not so different from what you practice at the dojo. Just do a downward slash. Then you won't get so bored," Tsukiyo whispered in his ear. Yahiko blushed as she took the axe in one hand and tossed it in her hand. She squared her shoulders, and, one handed, cut the log. Yahiko's eyes bugged out of his head. Tsukiyo stood behind him and guided his arms through the motions slowly. She let him feel how her muscles shifted, and then set him to trying it. It got to a point where it took him three strikes. Tsukiyo would then mark the log in the exact center. His task was to hit the center all three times. She worked along side him, helping him when his strikes got sloppy. After a while, she took over and preformed them in one. He would mark a log and get two equal pieces in return.

Hiko watched from the shadows as she showed him how to get more power into a strike. She sat back and began shaping a jo in the wood, carefully carving out the staff, watching Yahiko for any mistakes. Yahiko looked at the log, and breathed deeply. He raised the axe above his head, and struck.

Two pieces of wood thumped the grass lightly. Tsukiyo picked up the pieces and, smiling, said, "Well, I think I might make these into something special. Congratulations, Yahiko-kun. You are not a little kid, and don't let anyone tell you you are."

Yahiko blushed as she clapped him on the back and then gathered all the wood with him. It occurred to him that perhaps, with her as his work partner, things wouldn't be so bad if she taught him how to do stuff like that every day.

Tsukiyo sat by the fire, carefully making an ornament for the hilt of a sword and a charm to attach to the circlet. She held her sharp knife, and slowly cut away the bark to get to the smooth white inner wood. Tenderly she cut out the shape, borrowing Kenshin's sword (without his knowledge, of course) to get an exact measurement. She stayed up late into the night, diligently adding detail where required. By midnight she had made the circlet for the hilt engraved with Yahiko's name and the name of his school. She lacquered the wood to keep it from decaying, and painted in the symbols for his name with black ink. On the charm she wrote the kanji for justice, truth, and honor.

Hiko interrupted her, bringing her food. She motioned for him to help himself after noticing two cups and plates.

"You taught the brat to split a log in one. Not bad for an amateur," he said, sipping tea. Tsukiyo noticed he didn't say which one of them was the amateur. She put down her finished pieces and examined them from every angle. Satisfied, she set them on a silk ribbon of hers and wrapped them up carefully. She then began to eat slowly, savoring the food that, untouched by Kaoru, tasted rather good.

"He's eager and talented for his age," she said, blowing on her rice. Hiko reached for the tea. She unconsciously poured it for him. He eyed her, and then smiled.

"Sanosuke's in the bath, but there's a hot spring near by," he said suggestively. Tsukiyo looked at him and ate her rice. When she finished, she cracked her neck.

"That's nice. I could use a bath," she said, standing up. Glancing over her shoulder she said carelessly, "Oh, would you mind cleaning up for me? Thank you."

Hiko looked at the mess of wood shavings and spilled lacquer, and, blinking slowly, growled, "You have got to be kidding me."

Tsukiyo had been, in fact, kidding him. She was already bringing a bucket of water and a brush. She made short work of it all and then went to take her bath while Hiko dealt with the dishes.

The springs were everything a girl could hope for. She rinsed her hair and scrubbed her hands, removing the occasional splinter. She leaned against cool stones and got out. She dressed slowly, combing out her hair with her fingers until it was dry. She was about to put it up when she decided against it. Her hair slithered around her shoulders. She pushed it back and followed the trail back to the house, sighing as the wind lifted her hair. Stars peeked through the leaves, moon gilding them with silver. She smiled, and quietly returned.

Yahiko's eyes were wide as he handled the ornaments. They wouldn't fit on his shinai, but for the time he could wear them on his belt. Once he got a sword, or graduated, which ever came first, he could place them on the hilt. Tsukiyo smiled and got up to help with the laundry.

Sano cocked his head to one side. "Is there something different about her today?"

"Her hair's down," Yahiko said, staring after her. Sano watched Yahiko's glance, and smirked.

"Got a crush on her, Yahiko? What ever happened to your friend from the Akebeko? Or the cannon girl?"

Yahiko glared at Sano and started biting his head. "Shut up, chicken head!"

"YOU LITTLE PUNK! STOP THAT!!"

Yahiko glared at the house. Hiko was making more pottery while they worked. Misao and Sano had gone into town to gather information on Kogasu.

"Why does he get to do arts and crafts while we chop wood and clean up around here?" he muttered rebelliously. A finished piece came flying out of the house and smacked him in the center of his face. Hiko retrieved the projectile, glaring at Yahiko.

"I have a living to make, brat. You expect me to ignore this just because a few otherwise freeloaders stop by my house? You aren't paying to stay here, so I only get poorer!"

"We didn't make you work when you visited us," Yahiko snarled.

"Of course not. One can't expect an important guest to work," he said smoothly. Yahiko was about to charge when Tsukiyo picked him up under her arm and started walking toward the river, buckets in her other hand.

Yahiko was dumped unceremoniously on the bank. Tsukiyo started filling buckets. He steeled himself for some rebuke, but none came. Instead, Tsukiyo was watching him closely. She shook herself and picked up her buckets, passing him two.

"We'll have to come back for more. Kaoru's cooking, and you know how long that will take," she said conversationally. Yahiko jerked, and then nodded, smiling a little.

"This is training too. It strengthens the shoulder muscles and can help you balance. Try not to spill any, and see how far you get," she said. Yahiko nodded, and walked forward as if on eggs.

Tsukiyo was doing the laundry when Megumi tapped her shoulder.

"Sano and the others are meeting in the woods. They want you there, too," she said. Tsukiyo looked at the laundry. Megumi smiled. "I'll do it."

Tsukiyo smiled her thanks and left.

The fighters were gathered in a small clearing. Kenshin sat at the base of a tree, Sano sitting on a stump. Hiko was standing, leaning on his sword sheath. They nodded when they saw her. She leaned against a tree, and cocked her head.

"What's the news that was so important I couldn't finish the laundry?" she asked, slightly peeved. Laundry was perhaps the only quiet time she had gotten that entire day, what with Yahiko trailing her like a lost puppy and Kaoru cooking.

"I got the guy's address, and a list of his hang outs," Sano said, passing a list to Kenshin. Kenshin passed it to Hiko, who passed it to her. She read it, nodding slightly.

"He hangs out at the most expensive places in Kyoto. Likes his tea, but not sake. Inherited his money from his father, who can make or break anybody in Kyoto. The guy's reputed to be decent, but it seems lately his father's been putting him up to some dirty work."

Tsukiyo nodded, and Sano looked straight at her. "The question is, what would he want with a spy's kid? I mean, your father, just how important was he?"

Tsukiyo bit her tongue, and smiled painfully. "He was an Imperial spymaster during the revolution. He ran a few squads, trained some, did jobs himself. He was good at his work," she said tightly. Kenshin's eyes flew open, and then lowered slightly.

"Kazeno…your last name was Kazeno… so that would make you the Kazeno Ryu's daughter," he said softly. Tsukiyo nodded slowly, and looked at all of them.

"I would ask that you don't talk about this outside yourselves. I enjoy my life, and I don't want to risk anyone's safety. Thank you for helping. But now you should return to Tokyo. There is no need for you to get involved…" she said, turning to leave.

Kenshin watched her go. Sano looked at him, and asked, "How important was this guy anyway?"

"Important enough that who ever wanted him dead wants his daughter as a trophy," Hiko said. Kenshin nodded. They all watched the retreating figure materialize into shadow, her thin chain glinting after she herself disappeared.

Tsukiyo sat by the river, swishing her feet in the water. She was surprised when a blanket draped itself around her shoulders. She looked up and saw Kaoru standing there with Megumi. They helped her up. From the look on their faces, they had listened to the conversation. Tsukiyo smiled slightly. Kaoru saw the other woman's lips tremble, and she patted her back. Tsukiyo smiled, and walked back to the house with them, a silent agreement hanging in the air between them.

Hiko threw another piece at Yahiko, demanding, "Where is my breakfast! Where is that lazy woman!" Normally he woke up to smelling Tsukiyo at work, and was served promptly. She also supplied him with tea, somewhat taming him in the early morning hours. This morning, having received neither tea nor food, he was somewhat testy.

Yahiko ducked the bowl and said, "She went into town with Kaoru and Megumi. Apparently they had to go shopping…" Yahiko's voice trailed off. He would never understand the woman's mentality that caused them to shop under times of stress.

Tsukiyo looked at the soft kimono. A sheer silk shawl hung from her arms. Megumi tightened the obi until she couldn't breathe. Kaoru was combing her hair, newly washed with scented oils. Tsukiyo looked at herself in the mirror, and smiled. Make up had been lightly applied. Her kimono was a brilliant sapphire, glittering from crystals sew into it by Megumi and Kaoru. Misao stood guard at the door, making sure no one in the Aoiya knew she was there. She stood up, tottering slightly on her new shoes that added an inch to her height. She grinned; you couldn't tell her eyes were gray. They looked a light blue now. Misao grinned as Tsukiyo strung her manriki gusari inside her obi. She rolled her shoulders and, with there help, began to walk out to the tea house. The others were decorated in finery, but they had wanted Tsukiyo to appear the wealthiest of them.

Kenshin looked around uneasily. He felt very out of place in this expensive place. Hiko had maintained that if the women wanted to get decked out in frippery that was their problem; the men could more than take care of business without their nonsense. When Yahiko had pointed out that Tsukiyo was at least stronger than Sano, Hiko's reaction was to ignore him while Sano began delivering swift justice to the ignorant pupil.

They ate sparingly, watching for the Kogasu that was reputed to come there everyday. Yahiko noticed out of the corner of his eye a tall, broad shouldered man that walked in, ashy hair tied back in a low ponytail that tickled his shoulder blades. Kenshin followed his glance and nodded slightly. He nudged Sano, who had gone temporarily dumb. He was staring, open mouthed, at four women who had entered the tea house, laughing quietly and smiling the secret smile that women of prestige and power smile. One of them noticed him and under the make up smirked. Megumi passed right by him, fabulous in scarlet, a silk tip of her kimono running over his shoulder.

Yahiko was surprised to see Misao dressed up; her kimono was black and trimmed in sea green fabric. Kenshin was watching Kaoru, his eyes gentle. Kaoru blushed under his gaze, and the fourth lady kicked her slightly, reminding her that they were single and didn't fall for wanderers. Collectively the group swallowed hard as they looked at Tsukiyo. It seemed that out of her binding she had a modest figure, and, when dressed as a girl, could look good. Really good.

They sat down slowly at a private table, laughing softly among themselves as they saw the men in the teahouse craning their necks for a better look at them. Megumi was already flirting with those who came close, causing Sano, who had a clear view of them, to scowl. Megumi hid a laugh behind her hand and winked slightly at him.

 Misao shifted uncomfortably in her kimono. She wasn't used to all these people staring at her so hungrily. Tsukiyo patted her arm and passed her the tea.

"Well, I am a very rude host. It seems I have ignored four of the most priceless jewels in Kyoto," a voice said behind them. It belonged to a tall man with very blue eyes. Tsukiyo's lips curled up slightly at one side, her opposite eyebrow rising in a question.

"Forgive my abruptness. I am Murazaki Kogasu. I own this teahouse," he said, bowing very low. Tsukiyo bowed from her position, a fan snapping out in her hand to hide her face.

"I am Sakari Sakunazo. These are my friends Yoake," she said, nodding to Kaoru, "Natsuko," she said toward Misao, "and Yugure," she finished with Megumi. If he noticed that she didn't give them last names, he chose to ignore it as a point that she was the one with the highest status.

"Well, Sakari-dono, I am very pleased that you and your friends have chosen to come here this afternoon. Perhaps you would like to join me and some of my personal guests in a room more befitting of those of your rank?" he said politely, though his eyes were examining her closely. She smiled, shown by her eyes crinkling slightly.

"We do not wish to be any trouble. We only stopped in because we heard that the tea was superb. Having done so, we can only pay our due and say that what we heard of this establishment is not describable by mere words," she said, rising slowly. Kogasu offered her a hand, and bowed to her.

"You give my staff and me too much credit. Please, allow me to pay for your tea. It would be a shame for you to pay for your first drink here," he said.

Tsukiyo had gotten out her purse and was carefully counting out coins.

"Nonsense. If you are so polite to all your guests, it is a wonder you are open! I wouldn't want you to lose money on my account," she said, placing the coins on the table.

"Sakari-dono, I must insist…"

"And so must I. Perhaps I will stop by again sometime. Until then, I will pay," she said, and bowed. Megumi, Kaoru, and Misao all did the same a second later, perfectly synchronized. The allowed Tsukiyo to pass them, and followed her out.

Back at the Aoiya, Tsukiyo washed her face fervently, trying to erase all signs of her escapade. Kaoru and Misao were laughing themselves to tears at the image of Sano cracking his knuckles as men had come up to Megumi, who had flirted with them shamelessly, sending them away with their heads whirling. Megumi was sipping her tea quietly, a mischievous smile on her face as she remarked about how Kenshin had been staring at Kaoru. Kaoru blushed furiously, and Megumi took that opportunity to make a few other pointed remarks about how if Misao wasn't careful, she would be in demand by all the local boys and how Aoshi would have to be drugged to keep from murdering them all.

"Oh all of you shut up!" Tsukiyo moaned, sitting down next to them. Her hair was still down and lightly scented. "We did what we meant to do. We have made contact. Kogasu now thinks there are four beautiful, rich women in Kyoto. Now he will send people to check us out. We make a few more appearances here and there, go to a few parties of his, and get some information in doing so," she said, stretching.

"How will we get information when he's with people?" Kaoru asked, curious.

"Rumors are often slanted. By observing how he interacts with other people, we can pick apart his personality. And I've been reading people before I could walk, so there's no reason to worry that he'll pull the wool over our eyes, either," Tsukiyo said, yawning. Megumi and Kaoru stood up, thanking Misao for her cooperation. Tsukiyo smiled tiredly and bowed to Misao.

"Hopefully we'll be able to play dress up sometime soon," she said, yawning again. Misao smiled; Tsukiyo had been up early sewing the kimono's finer details on. The three women left as quietly as they had come, unnoticed by anyone other than Misao.

Sano was about to open his mouth when Megumi stuck a rice ball in it.

"Before you get mad, let me say that it was entirely my idea. Megumi went along with it only because she thought it would make it so you could save your strength for a more deserving opponent," Tsukiyo said as he choked on the rice. Megumi pounded his back, trying to open his airway.

Kenshin was smiling gently at Kaoru. "You looked very pretty in that kimono, Kaoru-dono, de gozaru yo," he said. Kaoru blushed feverishly. Yahiko nudged Kenshin in the side.

"Now tell her you love her, Kenshin!" Kenshin turned bright red.

Hiko looked at Tsukiyo, who was still trying to get the eye shadow off.

"Did you find out anything useful?" he asked. Tsukiyo shrugged.

"Maybe. We know he owns that teahouse now. That could help later on," she said through droplets of water. She rubbed her face frantically, and then splashed water on it again.

He nodded. Tsukiyo wiped her face and looked at him. He was looking at her lazily.

"What? You've been quiet every since we got back," she said. He shrugged his shoulders, and then laughed slightly.

"You gave us a little surprise, that's all. Seeing all of you dressed up like that," he said, still watching her. Tsukiyo raised an eyebrow and sighed, grabbing a knife. He stopped her.

"What do you plan to do next?" Everyone paused, listening carefully.

"Watch. Wait. We'll see what he does. If he makes the first move, then I'll make the second," she said.

A week later, he made the first move. The night before, the four women had attended a party of his. Tsukiyo had looked fabulous in a black kimono with a jade dragon studded with the actual stones sew into it. Her only worry was that her eyes were slightly less blue than before. It seemed that was the only tip he needed. The next morning, as Misao was walking in the market, an assassin had attacked. When they caught him, he took a sip from a vial. It had smelled of bitter almonds. He had died almost instantly. He carried a message.

Kazeno Ryu's daughter:

Reveal yourself or pay for your mistakes. I await your reply.

Tsukiyo tossed the note in the fire, watching it burn. She toyed with her long knife, sharpening it. No one had gone near her in several hours. She went over her options in her mind. She couldn't get innocents involved. She needed something that was precious to him that the destruction of which wouldn't endanger any others.

An open attack was out of the question. He would undoubtedly have guards everywhere. He knew she wouldn't dare do something so foolish…

Tsukiyo sat up straight. That was it. He was banking on her doing a spy technique of some kind. An open attack was the last thing he expected her to do because it was the first obvious choice, and her father had been reputed for striking from the shadows. She bit her lip. Timing would be critical. A good response would be needed as well. She didn't want to charge in and cause a bloodbath. She sighed. She couldn't charge in without a reason.

Footsteps rapidly approached. Tsukiyo looked up. Hiko grabbed her by the arm and started dragging her outside. She fought him for a moment, and then felt the tension in his body.

"What happened?" she asked, voice trembling a little in spite of herself. What ever it was that had been enough to shake Hiko must have been bad indeed.

            BUM BUM BUMMMMMM!!! What happened? Who did it? What is Kogasu  such a bastard? Why does Yahiko bite Sano's head? Will Hiko EVER get over himself? I'm not sure if I will ever answer these questions, but I might! Aloha oi!