What am I going to do?

A week later, Aoshi was still no clearer on how to solve the problem at hand. He knew it wouldn't go away by itself, but he didn't know how to fix everything either. Apologizing was not something he was any good at.

His first thought was to threaten Jishin into leaving Misao alone. But -there was always a 'but'- if he did that, she would just see him as insanely jealous and that would cause more problems. No, this was not the way to go.

He needed a plan that Misao wouldn't find out about. He needed a way to spoil all of Jishin's schemes. He needed something…

The most troubling part was the bit involving the crime lord, Kanawashi. Perhaps…Perhaps Aoshi could use what he had overheard to his advantage. The Aoiya belonged to Okina and would someday be passed to him. The only way the deed would ever come into Misao's possession was if both men died. This could prove beneficial in stopping Jishin.

Yes, the man decided grimly, I'll go see Kanawashi…

Misao had spent the past week trying to get her mind off Aoshi and having fun with Jishin. She knew that in order for anything to come out of her pathetic relationship with her former leader, he would have to change. A lot.

Jishin, on the other hand, was incredible. He treated her like a queen, buying her things, taking her to dinner, the theater, anywhere he thought she might enjoy. She had thought for a long time that this was the kind of man she desired Aoshi to be. But she was quite sure, now that she had a taste of being pampered, if it was what she truly wanted.

She was uncomfortable around the servants in the Kanemochi house. They were constantly doing things for her she was used to and had been doing all her life. In addition, Kanari Kanemochi, Jishin's mother, was so refined that she made Misao nervous. The woman was delicate and graceful, a picture of perfection. The young ninja was never quite sure how to behave around her.

But…He was so attentive of her needs and wants. He treated her right and she had fun with him.

The day Aoshi decided to pay a visit to Kanawashi, the young woman was helping the other two women of the Aoiya with laundry. Okon and Omasu seemed to do all their gossiping around the laundry, and Misao listened to them prattle on and on about people in the neighborhood.

Then, after a significant amount of time, they both turned simultaneously to look at her. She blinked. The way they were looking at her…This was not good.

"Misao…" Omasu tucked her hair behind her ear, smiling sweetly at the younger girl, "WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON WITH YOU AND AOSHI-SAMA??"

"Eep." Misao backed away, her eyes wide as saucers. Omasu was scary when she did that…"Nothing is going on with me and Aoshi-sama." She sighed.

"That's the problem." Okon was a lot calmer about the whole situation.

"Why is it a problem?"

"Because you and Aoshi-sama should be together. You love him, Misao."

Misao looked away, her face dark with anger. "I did love him. But he's been such a jerk lately; he ruined things on his own."

"You understand him better than any one. Surely you realize that he isn't as free to express what he feels as most people. You're going to destroy him if you don't forgive him."

"He ruined my birthday." She folded her arms, then realized her hands were dripping with soapy water and a dark wet spot was appearing on the front of her kimono. Sighing, she dropped her hands back to her sides. "I can't take much more of him; following me around, acting like everything I do should be his personal business. I'm still a child to him, Okon, and I won't forgive him until he realizes I'm grown up now."

"You're acting very childish."

"Aoshi-sama is too." Omasu agreed.

"What are you talking about?" The girl glared at them both.

"No one wanted to tell you this, because we thought you'd work it out yourselves, but you're both being so petty and stubborn. Aoshi-sama is upset by all of this. He thinks we can't tell, but he's losing his touch. That deadpan mask of his is cracking. You're killing him, Misao."

"I'm what?" She turned slowly to face the woman, "I'm what?! He did this to himself, Okon! It's none of your business anyway! I'm having a good time with Jishin and I'm going to forget about Aoshi-sama." She dried her hands and stormed away.

Omasu smiled broadly. "She still loves him."

Aoshi, meanwhile, was standing before Kanawashi, a grim look on his face. "I'm from the Aoiya." He said pointedly.

"The Aoiya? You mean the place I'll be gaining as one of my possessions at the end of the month?" The repulsive man puffed away at a cigarette.

"You had better tell Kanemochi that the deal is off." The former leader of the Oniwabanshu's voice didn't lose it's neutral tone.

"Why would I do a thing like that? My main goal is to control most of Kyoto. All, if possible." A gravely laugh rumbled from his throat, "And what are you going to do about it, pretty boy?"

Aoshi pulled back his jacket, revealing the scabbard he kept his kodachi in. "You have no clue who I am. I feel sorry for you." He unsheathed the sword in one swift motion, pointing the tip at the man's rat-like face. "Death will come swiftly if you do not tell him to pay you back in some other way."

Kanawashi's beady eyes widened slightly and he took a step back. "You wouldn't dare kill me."

"Tell him you won't accept the deed and I won't."

"It's too late for that. We made a deal."

Aoshi frowned, inching closer to the man. "He cannot give you the Aoiya. Misao will never possess the deed. She doesn't even know where Nenji keeps it. And I'm next in line to own the place any way. You'd have to wait for me to die before Misao would take over. And I don't plan on dying any time soon."

"Suppose I have my men kill you?"

"You honestly think it would be so easy?" He pulled the second kodachi from the sheath, "I can handle two as easily as one."

Kanawashi's face, if possible, paled even more. Who is this guy? How could he possible have two kodachis in his possession? Even his own men didn't have real swords. They weren't permitted any more. The government banned them.

"Now what's your pleasure? Tell him no? Death? Or something else?" The ice man glowered down at him. Aoshi, when angry and bloodthirsty, could be quite intimidating.

Kanawashi sighed. He knew when he was beaten. "I'll tell him the deal's off. Now get out of here."

"I'll be back to make sure." He re-sheathed both swords and sauntered out of the room, leaving Kanawashi cowering in fright.

He strode down the street, thinking. Jishin wouldn't be happy when Kanawashi told him the deal was off. What would he do to Misao? He would try to use her to pay off his debt in some way, Aoshi was certain of this. He wouldn't let Misao suffer. He would rather die than see her unhappy.

Oops.

I've already made her very unhappy…His frown deepened. Oh, the pain in his heart. Misao…I'm so sorry…I never meant to hurt you…I just can't tell you…You mean so much to me. He sighed heavily, a sinking feeling washing over him. And I'm incapable of saying it.

Misao wandered into Aoshi's study, looking at all the things that had reminded her of him every time he was gone. She had a lot on her mind and being around all of these familiar things was somewhat soothing.

She settled herself in his desk chair, her knees drawn up to her chest. The chair smelled faintly like Aoshi. She rested her cheek against the cool leather. What am I doing? I'm supposed to be forgetting about him. She sighed wearily, But I can't…I have loved him all of my life. How could I just give up on him?

He hurt you. He hurt you; he made you cry.

When you love some one, you forgive them. You keep on forgiving them, whether you want to or not. I don't want it to be like this. I want to be happy. I want to love Jishin. But I cannot…

She looked around the room, taking in the sight of all those things that reminded her of Aoshi. As a child, she had gone in there every time he left, feeling somewhat comforted by the closeness the room presented. The whole room simply gave off his aura. Being in here, I feel as if you are near to me, Aoshi-sama…

A sudden noise jolted her from her reverie. Footsteps could be heard out in the hall. Footsteps which stopped outside the room. If he finds me in here…There was nowhere to go. She had to hide somewhere.

As the door opened, she scuttled into a closet in the corner of the room. She sat tense on the floor, peering through a knot in the door to see what he would do. Aoshi-sama…What's on your mind?

Aoshi strode into the room and stopped to remount both kodachis on the wall. Misao watched silently as he unsheathed one, then the other. Where had he been with those? It had been two years since…He hadn't touched them at all in a long time.

Then he sank down into the leather desk chair. His back was to her, but she knew his face held a very serious expression. He was thinking hard about something.

Aoshi was indeed thinking very hard. Jishin would become desperate now that his plan was ruined. All men like him took drastic measures when it concerned debts. And there was no doubt in the ninja's mind that what ever Jishin would try would somehow involve Misao. He had to stay one step ahead of Jishin. The only problem was, he couldn't come up with a single thing that the skunk could think of.

I'll think about this later…He shoved thoughts of Jishin's gambling debts out of his mind. Weighing heavier on his conscience was the matter involving himself and his itachi. He had to clear things up with her. And he had to do it soon.

How do I fix what's wrong? I have to approach her at just the right time; she has to be in a good mood. And this…He pulled open the drawer in which her gift sat and removed the small box. Setting it in the middle of the desk, he studied the gift. And this…I'll give it to her. That way, she'll know how I feel even if I still can't say it. A hint of a smile crossed his face. She would be so pleased with him when he gave it to her.

What's in the box? She blinked her cerulean eyes. Is that…It looks like a present. Who would he…? Oh no…He bought me a birthday gift and I screamed at him. Why didn't he give it to me though? He had all day…But then, this is Aoshi-sama…He's not very good at dealing with his feelings. Jishin showed up and did all the things Aoshi-sama never does for me…That must have been quite the blow to his self-esteem.

Noiselessly, she drew back from the door. She was stunned. All along, he had been planning on doing something nice for her and she had gotten angry. I'm terrible! Poor Aoshi…How could I? And how do I make it up to him? I can't just say 'I'm sorry.' I was downright awful.

Moreover, there was still the matter of Jishin. He had seen her everyday for the past week and a half and was still insisting he loved her. She would need to put a stop to this before it got out of hand. Tomorrow, he's coming again. I'll have to tell him the truth. It won't be pretty, but it needs to be done…