Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin. Trust me on this one.

Warnings: None really. Except, this will take place after Shishio's fortress but note that while I DO know the outcome of the Kyoto arc, I DON'T know how Okina reacts to Aoshi coming back to the Aoiya. Cartoon Network hasn't gotten that far yet. So, for now that is entirely made up. Spoilers for Kyoto arc. Oh yeah, pairing: Aoshi/Misao

Author's Note: Meh. This idea came to me at three in the morning. It's now three thirty in the morning, and this idea won't let me get my must needed sleep, so here it goes. There are never enough A/M stories anyway. But, consider this fair warning; I may start to babble incoherently. Bear with me please.

And so...

Koori no Kaji

Chapter 1: Hosoku (The Capture)

He stood on the porch of the temple, his hands on the railing, eyes seemingly unfocused as he stared into space. It was winter and the icy winds bit through his clothing, though the expression on his face never changed. If anything, he was glad to have the pain. It proved he was still human. Mostly human anyway. It didn't matter though. He was waiting. He watched the road intently as if any second missed could be the vital one. Aoshi Shinomori was waiting for the girl that brought him his tea, and nothing else mattered at the moment.

He found it... odd that someone as non-human as him could be worried over a boyish sixteen year old girl who could take care of herself. Maybe he wasn't worried over the sixteen year old Misao. For him, time stopped. Not at the Kanryuu estate, but before then; when he left the Aoiya. When he had seen Misao for the first time in ten years, he had fully been expecting to see the hyper active six year old Misao he had left, not the graceful, if hot tempered sixteen year old girl, no woman, that had stood before him. It had come as a shock, yes, but he was adjusting. He even found himself developing certain...feelings toward her. Feelings he did not want. While her body had grown, she was still the same innocent Misao, and he would not risk destroying that. He tried desperately to dismiss them, but they would not leave. He promised himself he would not concern himself he would not be concerned with her well being.

All the same... Aoshi Shinomori found himself out side on that cold winter's day waiting for Misao Makimachi.

He was so lost in his inner debate, that he did not sense the ki of someone sneaking up behind him.

~*~*~

Misao cursed herself under breath. She had just dropped the tea cup as she sneezed. Sighing, she gathered the porcelain shards, through them away and grabbed a new cup. She set it carefully on the tray and prepared to leave. She was late as it was, and she did not want to be any later.

She was, of course, bringing tea to Aoshi. She picked up the tray and carefully exited the Aoiya. She smiled, listening as her feet crunched in the freshly fallen snow. She like the snow, even if it did make wearing her onmitsu outfit impractical. The snow reminded her a lot of Aoshi. It was cold, but beautiful in its own way. Her smile faded. Yes, Aoshi was beautiful. She found that the hero worship she had held for him over the years had left, replaced by something she could quite describe. She had fallen in love with him, and she knew it.

The walk to the temple was not long, but it seemed to take forever. She hummed softly as she walked, and then began to sing.

iOmoi de wa itsumo kirei dakedo

Sore dake ja onaka ga suku wa

Honto wa setsunai yoru nanoni

Doshite kashira?

Ano hito no egao mo omoi dasenai/i

She paused as she reached the temple. Something was very very wrong. Carefully, she made her way up the temple stairs. What she saw made her drop the tray with a clatter. The porcelain shattered and flew everywhere. The temple was a wreck. Paper littered the floor, and there were obvious signs of a struggle. In the middle of the floor was a small pool of blood, and next to it was a letter. She knelt, picked it up, and began to read.

iOkashira-

We have kidnapped this member of your clan. If you ever wish to see him again, meet me here at nightfall tomorrow night. I wish to challenge you for your title as Okashira. If you win, you get the information needed to find him.

-Haku/i

And with that, she ran full speed back to the Aoiya.

~*~*~

"For the last time, I said no!"

"But Okina! He's a member of the Oniwaban too! We can't just-"

"We can and we will! He ceased to be a member of the Oniwaban the day he tried to kill me."

Misao shot Okina a glare that would have sent Shishio running for cover.

"Well, I am the Okashira, and therefore I will answer this challenge with or without your support. Lord Aoshi is a member of the Oniwaban still and I can't abandon him."

"Then you will go after him alone."

A/N: The lyrics are the Japanese romanji of "Sobakasu" or "Freckles." Roughly, they mean:

Memories are always beautiful

But with only them you cannot live

Tonight should be a sad night

But why?

Actually, I can't remember his smiling face.