No one has questioned what Aoshi's gift is yet ('Cept Becca…). That surprised me. As an incentive to see what people think, I'll offer a reward to any one who guesses right. Wanna know what the reward is? Get guessing!!

Also, congratulations to Nikki, lucky reviewer #50. I'd never before received so many reviews and wanted to do something special, so I sent her a piece of art as a reward. Hope you liked it, Nikki!

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Misao! Misao…Are you okay?? I'm coming…Aoshi's footsteps echoed off the street as he ran in the direction of the Kanemochi house. I will not lose you now, not without telling you what you want to hear first.

Grim reality had set in. Jishin was dangerous. He cared nothing about Misao, only paying off his own debts. She was in trouble. Men trapped in a corner turned to desperate measures. If he so much as harms a hair on her head….if he touches her in any way…He's a dead man.

He scaled the wall surrounding the large house easy enough and darted stealthily up to the door. Slipping in undetected may prove to be a challenge…It has been two years since I had to do anything like this…But for you, Misao…I'll try my best.

What happened…? Misao's eyes were heavy with sleep. She blinked, struggling to sit up. …Where am I…? Her body ached. What happened? She thought hard…Jishin…She had gone to his house. That must be where I am….But why was I asleep? He had asked for that ridiculous pin back after she said she loved Aoshi. So she'd gone to take it to him. He invited her in for tea…Why can't I remember anything else?

"Ahh, so you're awake now. Very good, My Darling."

She peered through the darkness, trying to figure out from where Jishin's disembodied voice had come. Her mind was a jumble of thoughts, but one thing was clear. I'm not his darling! She recalled well enough that she had been planning on talking to Aoshi when she got home. Had she mentioned that to the rich boy? Was he so jealous that he'd try to force her to stay?

"This will be a lot easier if you're conscious." He appeared from somewhere in the shadows.

Misao, still feeling groggy and disoriented, sat up weakly. Jishin loomed over her, a crazed gleam in his eyes. She stared at him, a feeling of great doom washing over her. "What did you do to me?" She asked suspiciously.

"Oh nothing. Just paralyzed you, that's all." He patted her on the head and it was then that she realized he -or some one else- had not only unbraided her hair, but also changed her clothes.

She shivered involuntarily. She had been wearing pink and purple, but was now dressed in a gray yukata. Had he been touching her? Had he taken advantage of her? Her eyes welled with tears. How would she be able to face Aoshi-sama if she were no longer pure? What would he think of her?

"Don't worry, I haven't hurt you and I have no intention to." He sat down on the edge of the bed, a twisted smile on his face.

"Why are you doing this?" She whispered. He had to be insane. He had to be crazy…There must've been some reason…Tears came unbidden. …Aoshi-sama…rescue me…

"You really don't know…I need money. A lot of money. Dear old Dad is tired of paying off his baby boy's debts. I'm on my own now. The man I have a loan from is quite insistent on getting what I owe him."

"I can't give you any money…I have nothing, Jishin." She was terrified. What was he planning on doing with her?

"I want the Aoiya, Misao. Kanawashi is interested in acquiring as many properties as possible. Or at least," The heir's smile melted into a scowl, "He was interested. Seems your man Shinomori was threatening him a bit. He must've been spying on us that day we went to the market; otherwise there was no way he could have known what I had planned."

Will you just listen to me? It's- Aoshi's voice, frantic and strained, echoed through her mind. He had been trying to warn me…And I hit him. More tears, they came swifter now. She buried her face in her hands.

"Originally, I was going to get the deed from you and give it to Kanawashi. I didn't intend for you to ever know what I did with it. Once the old man croaked, I was going to pay off the debt and buy back the Aoiya. Then you told me you didn't want me and Kanawashi informed me the deal was off."

He paused for a moment, a contemplative look on his baby face. Then he went on, "I figured that Shinomori, since he loved you enough to follow you around like some sort of dog, would be willing to trade the deed for your safety."

"It's not his to give you!" She looked up, her eyes burning with hatred. She had trusted him. She had even considered loving him. "Okina owns the Aoiya." Her arms folded across her chest and she jutted out her chin, "Not Aoshi-sama."

"You mean to say he wouldn't do anything for you? He wouldn't steal the deed to bring you back safely? He doesn't love you that much?"

Oh, he was clever, toying with her heart like that. But she wouldn't buy it. Aoshi would come for her. He must love me, to try to keep me safe from harm. He must…He'll come and save me. And I'll tell him how sorry I truly am…"He loves me, Jishin. That's why he was following me around. That's why he bought me a gift. And that's why he's going to come for me without giving the Aoiya to you."

"You seriously think he'll be able to? He's old and washed out, Misao. What use do you have for that sad excuse for a man? He can't even tell you how he feels about you."

Her eyes narrowed to slits, but she said nothing, just kept her cool. "He's probably already inside, baka." She said calmly, "I told Okina where I was going. I should have been back long ago. He's probably worried sick about me." Please, let me be right about this…

Aoshi was indeed inside the house. He crept along down one of the halls, trying to blend into the shadows. It was a big house…Where could he be keeping her? Misao…Hold on…I'm coming for you…Don't let him touch you…I'll be there soon. I swear on my life, I'll bring you home.

Undoubtedly, that skunk Kanemochi would be keeping her in one of the bedrooms. All lowly men thought alike. He was probably trying to have his way with her. Unfortunately for Jishin, Misao would not go down without a fight. She would do everything in her power to get Jishin away from her. Aoshi wondered if she happened to have any of her kunai stashed in her obi. The rich boy wouldn't know what hit him.

He systematically searched the house for a staircase. Upstairs…Have to find my way upstairs…Misao is counting on me…

Upstairs, Misao was trying to figure out how she could get her clothes back. She did indeed have a few kunai stashed away in her obi, but was unsure where it was or if he had found them. They were pretty well concealed, but he was pretty devious…Suppose he had pawed through her clothes? She shuddered.

"Are you cold, Misao?" Jishin's voice was syrupy sweet and he edged closer to her, a perverse smile on his face, "I could keep you warm. I do love you, you know…"

"You don't love me." She said quietly, "You couldn't love me if you tried. You know nothing about me. You love the girl you think you know."

He regarded her. She looked so tiny, lost in her mass of dark hair. It pooled around her, a swirling mass of blackness, darkening her features and heightening her beauty. He quivered with desire. All that can still be yours…One of his hands moved towards her.

"What's wrong with you?" She backed away, "Don't touch me!" If he tried anything, she would break his hand. No, maybe she wouldn't. She was still weak from his poisoning her. She frowned. This just went from bad to worse…

"Can't move very much, can you?" He leered at her, "Perhaps I can help you forget your dear Aoshi-sama, ne?" He placed two fingers under her chin, forcing her too look him in the eye.

"I'll never forget Aoshi. And I certainly never would in exchange for you." She looked away defiantly, her tone one of the utmost contempt.

He drew her back to him, forcing a kiss upon her lips. Her skin crawled and she longed to push him away, but didn't have the strength. His tongue ravished her mouth. Hot tears ran down her cheeks. He couldn't do this…He couldn't…Yet she could not stop him. Aoshi…I'm sorry…

He drew back abruptly, taking in her terrified expression. She was so innocent…He wanted her all the more. "Will he still want you after you've been ravished, Misao? Will he want a tainted girl?" His voice was breathless with longing and his emerald eyes stared into hers.

Her cerulean eyes were wide pools of unshed tears, her hair a wild tangle around her face. Her very expression seemed to be begging him to stop, but he couldn't. She was so beautiful. He had to have her.

"Be a good girl." His voice came in her ear, heavy and full of lust, "Stay still and it will all be over soon." He pushed her down onto the feather comforter, his hand caressing her tear-streaked cheek.

"You can take my body…" She whispered, her tone insolent, "But you will never have my heart." She knew there was no way out of this. He would steal away her innocence and Aoshi would have to take her as she was, if he still wanted her. If he truly loves me… She squeezed her eyes shut, fresh tears welling up from inside. Aoshi…Help me. I'm scared…

The ninja was now sprinting up the stairs, taking them two at a time. Something was telling him he had to hurry; a sense of doom had washed over him. Itachi…please be okay…I'm coming…Hold on; I'll be there soon…I don't care what he did to you, as long as you're okay. I just want you back safe…

He ran down the hall, searching for any clue as to where he might be and where he could have her hidden away. It was after he passed the room that he noticed it. A faint glimmer of light -a candle perhaps- had leaked out under the door. That was it. That was the room. He stopped and pressed his ear to the door.

A slightly muffled sound of some one sobbing came from within, followed by a snarl of "hold still!" Aoshi's heart skipped a beat. Misao…What was that skunk doing to her? Well, now was as good a time as ever for a dramatic entrance.

The sight that met his ice blue eyes made him far more enraged than anything else ever had. Misao, pinned down on the bed, wearing nothing but a flimsy yukata and Jishin looming over her, bare from the waist up.

He froze in the doorway, taking all of this in. His little Misao…she looked positively terrified. Her face was red and wet from crying and her eyes were wide with fear. Jishin, on the other hand, looked utterly deranged.

"Misao…" Aoshi's heart twisted. Had he harmed her? Was she okay? What had he done to her?? "Misao!"

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Dun dun duuun!! And there's a cliff hanger if I've ever seen one! Bwah hah hah!! I'm so cruel!! *laughs evilly*