Author's Note: Yeah…well…the last chapter was…different…I didn't mean to throw in Keiichi at y'all, but…yeah…and if you people are confused as to exactly why Keiichi lied to Aoshi and Nakago…well…all I can say is that you people will find out soon enough…

Disclaimer: o.O I can't believe you people actually EXPECT me to write one of these!!! OF COURSE I own Rurouni Kenshin!!! How could you think otherwise? Okay…FINE…I DON'T and probably won't anytime soon…

Chapter 3

A friendship is destroyed

By a petty thirst for power

Look for the truth there

And you may find it.

Misao flung the kunai, each one hitting a target directly in the center.

"Good. I think that shall do," Aoshi said stiffly.

"Really, Aoshi-sama?" Misao asked hopefully.

"Aa…Now…I think you've trained enough."

Misao nodded, and happily skipped out the training room, not noticing that Aoshi hadn't come out after her.

Aoshi gripped his kodachis tightly, and began moving about gracefully, the two swords flashing menacingly in the light. Now to begin…First I must train…and then, I must seek the truth, since it is the only way out.

Misao stared in disbelief at the empty container before her. "They're all GONE?!" She had spent forever training and killing herself, and now all the yummy pastries were GONE? She looked back down at the empty container angrily.

Okon walked into the kitchen grumpily, along with Okina and Omasu. "What are you yelling about now, Misao?"

Pointing to the empty container, Misao stared accusingly at Okina. "How do you explain THIS?"

Okina looked innocently bewildered. "What do you mean?"

Misao glared. "Yesterday, this was FULL! Now, it's all EMPTY!!! I spent a WHOLE afternoon killing myself, and now there's not a single pastry left!"

Omasu sighed. "I suppose it was Kuro…"

"BUT I WANT SOME PASTR—"

"Oh hello, Aoshi," Okina said, interrupting Misao.

Misao abruptly shut her mouth, and ceased to hop up and down. "A-Aoshi-sama?"

Quickly, Misao turned in the direction in which Okina had spoken to. There was no one there. Misao turned back, to find that the kitchen was deserted. "OKIIIIIIINAAAAA!!!! YOU LIAR!!!!!!" Misao yelled angrily.

"You idiot, now she's after us!" Okon hissed to Okina. They were out in the garden, where they were only temporarily safe.

"Well, it DID get her to stop hopping and screaming for pastries! Well…at least for a minute…" Okina said. He shrugged.

Okon glared, kicking a nearby daisy viciously, deciding that it was better to vent her anger on daisies instead of old men.

Nakago slowly relaxed. So what if Shinomori was a traitor? He was going to die soon…anyways, it seemed that Keiichi was a better friend than that idiot. "Keiichi?"

"Yes Nakago?" Keiichi said, as he walked calmly up to Nakago. Keiichi was the only one allowed to call Nakago by his first name.

"Thank you…for being a better friend than Shinomori…and thank you for not abandoning me when all the other men of the Oniwabanshu did so." Nakago said roughly. He wasn't used to being nice anymore. He was a long time ago…but not now…

"You're welcome…" Keiichi said.

He turned away from Nakago and began walking away, when Nakago's voice stopped him.

"You would never betray me or abandon me, would you Keiichi?"

"No…"

Nakago smiled a true smile, which was very rare nowadays. He used to smile all the time, but now…he found that he couldn't. But Keiichi had just made him feel happy. I have finally found a true friend…Keiichi is not like Shinomori.

In thinking this, Nakago was correct, but not in the way he had thought. In fact, he had everything switched. Aoshi was the true friend, while Keiichi was the fake.

Keiichi walked away. Nakago is such a fool. He doesn't know that he's going all the dirty work for me. He doesn't even suspect that I lied to him! Once Shinomori and Nakago are badly injured from their fight, I can kill them both off, leaving the Oniwabanshu at my mercy. According to the rules, whoever kills the Okashira will become the Okashira. That girl, Misao, will be no problem…I can beat her in a fight. After all, she is just a little girl. When she is dead, the Oniwabanshu will be MINE.

And that was where Keiichi made his mistake. He had underestimated Aoshi, Misao, and Nakago. He had no idea what he had gotten himself into.

Aoshi sheathed his kodachis, and ran his fingers through his hair. He had forgotten how exhilarating training could be. He had spent so much time meditating at the temple that he had forgotten what it was like. Perhaps what added to the exhilaration was the fact that Misao was there.

Aoshi shook his head. Such thoughts were…inappropriate…

He slowly walked out of the training room. But having Misao there wasn't bad. In fact, I kind of li—

Aoshi didn't have a chance to finish that thought, as something, or rather someone had unexpectedly run into him, taking him completely by surprise (WOW!!! A rare Kodak moment…).

Misao growled. Okina and the others were so going to pay. She was running through the hallways, the door of the training room coming into view. They're probably hiding somewhere around h—

A tall figure was walking out of the training room, and Misao didn't have any time to stop, so the only thing she could do was smack into it…or him…And it wasn't even comfortable. It felt like she hit something rock hard. Probably Aoshi-sama's abs or something…

Misao squeezed her eyes shut. Please, please, PLEASE don't be Aoshi-sama…

Unfortunately, Misao didn't have any luck at the moment. When she opened her eyes, she was staring into familiar ice-blue ones. "A-Aoshi-sama…"

They were in a very awkward position, with Aoshi's arms around Misao's waist, and Misao's head rammed into his chest. "Aa…" was all that came from him.

At first, neither Misao nor Aoshi knew exactly what to do, so they stood like that for a while, as if they were frozen in place. Of course, things like these don't happen without consequences, so predictably, Okina, Okon, and Omasu showed up right at that moment.

"MISAO?! AOSHI?!" Omasu giggled. "I didn't know that you two were so…er…attracted to each other…"

They broke apart, Misao blushing furiously. "I-It's not what you think, Omasu…I just ran into Aoshi-sama…"

Okon winked. "Suuuuuurrrrreee…whatever you say, Misao…" And with that, Okon pulled both Okina and Omasu out of the hallway, leaving Aoshi and Misao alone.

Aoshi remained silent.

"Aoshi-sama?"

"…"

"Was that an accident?" Misao asked.

Aoshi looked deep in thought. "I'm not…sure," he answered finally.

Misao peered timidly up into Aoshi's eyes.

Those pools of emptiness looked just a little less empty…

Author's Note: Whoa…sorry…I think I made this chapter a little…less serious than the last chapter, ne? At least I think I did…oh well…so…what are you people just sitting there for? REVIEW!!!!!

Thanks to all who reviewed!!!!!