Like with many things, once Aoshi Shinomori made up his mind he would pursue his course directly and without delay.

His first reaction to Kaoru's news was that Okina had done some foolish thing and had fallen off the roof while spying out the activities of various guests.

But as he read the letter she handed him, two things began to concern him. First - while the letter mentioned that Okina was injured seriously enough to be bedridden for a few days already at the time of the letter's writing, the letter made no mention of how Okina had become hurt. Second - it was odd that the letter was not written by Misao but by the hand of another Oniwaban. The letter did not give specifics, but Misao had left the Aoiya at the time the letter was written for reasons that went unexplained.

Okina's injury and her absence not only meant that he had to return to see how Okina was doing, but also that the Aoiya was without a leader with their full capacities.

Within an hour of reading the letter, he had left the Kamiya dojo. He had barely enough time to inform Kaoru that Megumi's search for her brother had hit a dead end and to ask her to see that to it that Megumi understood that he had to leave, but would contact her as soon as he knew anything.

He normally was not a person who jumped to conclusions, but with little else to do on his ride towards home he thought through several explanations for the turn of events. Okina could have been clumsy and hurt himself unintentionally, but to the degree where he'd be lying in bed for many days was simply not possible even considering Okina's advancing age. That he had been attacked by some random thug, also seemed unlikely. Misao's departure and Okina's injuries were not coincidentally timed but must be linked.

That thought spurred him on to go even faster. He rode through the night and late into the morning, stopping only when his horses needed rest.

He changed them the next morning at a town halfway on his journey to Tokyo where there were still many former Oniwaban out and about. They were glad to pay their former Okashira the courtesy of providing fresh steeds and promised to send the horses along when they were well-rested.

So it was again very dark when he found himself in Kyoto. Well into the early morning hours, there were no lights save in the more shadowy parts of town where businesses relied on the anonymity of night to provide cover for their guests.

But old habits died hard at the Aoiya, which never slept. The lights there were on.

Aoshi was relieved to hear the voice of Kuro at the gate. "Aoshi-san!" The large man looked both startled and relieved. "You've received our news?"

He nodded and allowed the man to latch the gate shut behind them before continuing. "Okina is .?"

Kuro looked exhausted, as if the last few days had taken its toll on him. "He was pretty knocked up by a gang of men. He's been bedridden for the last few days and ordered by the doctor to rest. "

Aoshi frowned, "Who would attack Okina?"

Kuro sighed, "Okina claims to not know. You know his habits. It could have been over a geisha, over some sake -- "

"--or an old enemy," Aoshi added. Kuro glanced down, acknowledging it as such.

"He claims he's fine, Aoshi-san," Kuro shook his head. "Nothing too serious, but everyone is quite alarmed. Okina is Okina. The very idea that someone would attack him has set off a lot of emotions. The letter was sent to you right after it had happened." Kuro looked towards the buildings that housed their quarters. "He was furious when he found out we had written you but said he wanted to see you as soon as you arrived.

Aoshi nodded. "Then, I shall leave you to your watch, Kuro-san."

The two men bowed and went their own respective ways.

Aoshi paused for a moment outside the sliding doors to Okina's room. At one dark point in his life, he himself had harmed Okina. The idea that he was entering the room like this out of concern seemed almost . . . hypocritical. Still the man had requested to see him immediately upon his return and so he quietly entered the room.

"A little later than I expected," Okina's voice spoke up softly in the dark. "Not that I really wanted you to drag yourself all the way here on account of me."

Aoshi took a moment to light a lamp and ponder the irony of the statement. So Okina didn't want him here, but was fishing for an explanation for his delay regardless? He looked back at the man, who was reclining on the floor. "Megumi-san was a bit difficult with her time. I had to retrieve her in order to decode your message, after which I felt I had to accompany her to the location you mentioned. Unfortunately, the mission did not go successfully."

He could hear the surprise in Okina's voice. "Is that so? I was quite certain that our contacts were correct on the matter."

"She questioned him herself," Aoshi answered. "She was certain."

"No," Okina frowned. "Perhaps we need to do a larger search of the area."

"Never mind that," Aoshi gave the older man a stern look. "Besides, Megumi- san asked us to stop looking. I'm concerned now about what happened to you and everything that has happened since then."

"I'm sure you heard already," Okina sighed, clearly embarrassed. "I was wandering around rather late - and got careless. About a dozen men came after me, and I was too drunk on sake to notice them until it was too late."

"Why were you alone?" Something about Okina's expression was not completely open.

He laughed weakly, "I ditched the other men. They all wanted to go back home and I really missed Sachi-chan."

Aoshi frowned. Apparently Okina did go to visit the geishas.

"I hate that expression," Okina pouted slightly. "I know you disapprove, but I needed something pretty and distracting to console my depression over my old age. Without Miss Megumi-"

"I hardly think the comparison is appropriate."

"Oh I know," Okina gave him a sly look. "Like an excellent geisha, our dear Megumi has beauty, brains and culture -- but a bit of temper, that woman."

It was unclear to Aoshi where the conversation was now heading. Aoshi pressed forward, "So your attackers were just random thugs?"

Okina hesitated then. "Well. I was drunk, so I'm not sure. Nothing too distinctive about them except that they were rather stupid to let me get away. None of our old enemies would have allowed that."

Aoshi and Okina exchanged a look. Apparently both men had thought carefully about the issue of who these men were.

"Misao did go off to look into the matter, though."

"I see," Aoshi answered. "Misao went off alone?"

Okina was studying him then. "Initially, yes." When Aoshi frowned, he added, "Which in itself is perfectly alright considering she's no longer a child. It seems, though, she has since met up with some help. She's been wandering around looking into a few matters regarding some recent yakuza activity that's been occurring here in Kyoto."

Aoshi's face reflected his distaste for the yakuza. "They're getting bolder. You think they're behind your beating?"

"Perhaps," Okina shrugged. "At least Misao seems to think so. Of course that's after she knocked some sense into one of the thugs. But the trail runs all over Japan now. And we're not the only ones on the trail. She received a tip anonymously from a 'friend' who sent along two messengers as well. They've left from here.

"The messengers," Aoshi saw the small smile on Okina's face, "who were they?"

"Familiar faces to you. One young man by the name of Seta and the other Sawagejo."

Aoshi felt the warning bells go off in his head. Sawagejo Cho was no surprise, especially if the friend Okina mentioned was who he suspected it to be, but Seta Soujiro? The boy had literally disappeared after Shishio had been defeated, supposedly in agony over the path of life he was to choose.

Okina looked amused, "The young swordsman has gained some clarity in five years in terms of his priorities. I admit that at first I was a bit wary. It was too convenient for him to show up suddenly but the friend who sent him was none other than our Miburo wolf."

"Okina," Aoshi's face may have seemed passive except to those who knew him well. Actually, it would appear from his expression that he found the developments most alarming. That Misao would be taking up with former enemies was strange, but not unfamiliar. Such was the impact of Kenshin Himura upon lives of many. "You have said nothing of this to any of the others?"

"Of course not," Okina turned his head away. "That's why no explanation came to you when some foolish person here sent you that letter. You and I know we don't want the others to be dragged into this. Other than you, myself, and Misao, the rest are not to be involved in dangerous matters like this anymore. You know we agreed on it."

"Then I must go after them."

"I don't think so," Okina was looking uncomfortable again. "The instructions from Saitoh were very clear about this matter. You know that Saitoh's information is good, even better than ours. The task should not be difficult for them or too lengthy. Tell me," he abruptly changed his tone, "where is the doctor now?""

He could hear the tension in Okina's voice. "I left her at the hotel in Tokyo a few days ago. She'll be returning to Aizu shortly." He paused, "You are worried for her?"

"Perhaps it's nothing," Okina tried to give Aoshi an apologetic smile, "But I find all these coincidences lately to be odd." He coughed. "Nevermind. In fact, think nothing of it. Really . . . I just wanted to see her again. I hope she didn't think all those letters were completely in vain."

"Okina. That is exactly what she thought. And you know this ought to not continue. She wasn't exactly pleased by all the letters you sent. It created a lot of problems in Tokyo."

"Ohoho! Did it?" The man looked positively gleeful at the thought. "Did she scream at you for it?"

"That she did," Aoshi looked at the old man almost fondly. Okina rather liked creating domestic intrigue. "But," he said more seriously, "You had the entire dojo thinking all sorts of inappropriate things, as well as Sanosuke Sagara hounding me for the letters and my being there."

"So that roosterhead is back is he?" the man mused. "Was he jealous of you?"

"Jealous?" Aoshi raised his eyebrow.

"Well . . . the doctor is an attractive and available woman. You're a pretty good catch yourself."

Aoshi's face registered his annoyance. "Just because you're an invalid does not mean I have to put up with your teasing."

"I'm an old man, Aoshi." Okina closed his eyes and sighed loudly, "Humor me. I've been sitting here in bed the last week trying to keep myself entertained. Five years ago, this little beating wouldn't have put me down. The fact is that I'm getting old and that I'm starting to realize that none of my wards have a life. If my teasing pushes my family to realize that sad truth, then it will not have been in vain."

"So you've decided on the doctor for me, have you?"

"So you are a genius after all," Okina opened one eye to look at him. "You have worked well with her in the past. After one's looks, respect is a good basis for marriage. Unless there is someone else-"

"Someone else?" Aoshi frowned, "You mean Misao?"

"She worships the ground you walk on," Okina was still looking at him carefully. "Not a bad start for a relationship."

Okina's suggestion surprised him. He had always known Misao was devoted to all the Oniwaban and Himura had spoken of Misao's strong attachment to him. However, she was young and he thought of her as a child. Even now though as she was of age to marry, there were still ten years and a much wider gap of understanding between them.

"No," Aoshi spoke after a moment. He loved Misao, but as one would love a member of his own family.

"I thought so," Okina nodded.

"So is that why you sent her away?" Aoshi paused, considering carefully that Misao's mission threw her together with two men. Soujiro Seta and Misao were nearly the same age. The other possibility-that of Sawagejo Cho - was so ridiculous as to be dismissed immediately.

"Perhaps," Okina grinned, "But if that doesn't work, I have a matchmaker ready in the wings. Very good lady, she is. And she has plenty of prospects for you as well."

Aoshi cringed. "Neji -san--," Aoshi warned Okina, using Okina's proper name; he only used it when he felt Okina to be out of line.

"The doctor is a good prospect," Okina added breezily. "She is on the matchmaker's list."

"Neji-san," Aoshi now stood up and towered over the man. "You will make things extremely complicated."

"You don't like the idea?" Okina looked worried. "I mean, I thought you two were rather compatible. Of course I didn't mention the whole Kanryuu thing to the woman. She wouldn't have understood. It would have seemed rather insane if I did - but on paper, you're both well matched. The matchmaker just had to admit that my idea was better than some of the other candidates she had in mind. Of course she didn't like that Megumi-san didn't have any family, but I'm sure her other friends won't mind much vouching for her."

"Okina, if it weren't for the fact that you were lying there right now- - "

"I know. You think you'd squash me." Okina looked a bit smug. "But I know you well enough to know that expression on your face. You actually are blushing, it seems. Why not admit that the idea doesn't revolt you entirely and hurry along back to Tokyo or Aizu or whatever and wait for her response."

"I will do nothing of the sort," Aoshi turned his back. "I will wait here until we have news from Misao and write a letter of apology to the doctor for your incredible behavior. You obviously are very tired and not thinking clearly. Good night."

"Good night!" Okina much too cheerfully for someone who was supposed to be tired. Aoshi took the lamp with him anyways, leaving the man in the dark.

By the tone of the voice, Aoshi had a feeling that the man had not understood a single word he had said to him. In fact, he probably would persist in his ridiculous behavior if he didn't watch him more carefully.

He resolved to straighten things out as soon as possible.

He found more evidence of Okina's apparent mischief in the morning. As he cut through the kitchens on his way to the dining area, he noticed a number of pots of various shapes and sizes standing outside the door. He thought little of it until he went to his books later and noted that Okina had allowed a significant sum to spent acquiring them.

Before he questioned Okina on a matter as simple as this, he returned to the kitchen where he found Okon, Jiyu and a number of other women preparing the day's delicacies.

He picked up one of the pots and approached Jiyu, who as one of the youngest women was the least indirect when it came to answering most questions. "These are new, aren't they?"

"Oh yes," her eyes moved away from the radish she was chopping and fixed on the pot momentarily. "Okina ordered a whole bunch of them when we changed our menu. They're very good for storing things at cool temperatures. He also put in an order for some for more decorative use. He wants to trade them with some of Western guests."

"They're rather," Aoshi paused for a moment as he attempted to politely find a word to describe the overly ornate objects, "delicate."

"Yeah," Jiyu frowned for a moment, "That's what I thought, but you know Okina likes attractive things. And well, Omasu and Okon really liked them."

Aoshi glanced over at Okon, who could not help but overhear their conversation. She was slightly red in the face. Suddenly a thought entered into his head and he turned the pot over to examine the mark on the bottom. "Of course, vessels crafted by Kakunoshin Niitsu* are not to be dismissed so easily. Has the master himself delivered these?"

"No," Okon spoke up finally, a bit sadly. "He has always left them by our doors at night."

"I see," Aoshi looked at the woman sharply. It appeared that not everything Okina conspired to do was turning out as he expected. He had bought quite a quantity of pottery from the pottery master also known to him as the man who had taught Kenshin Himura everything about the Hiten Mitsurugi style, hoping to lure the man out to the Aoiya. But this master was not to be coaxed out of his self-imposed solitude.

It became also clear that Okina had apparently decided to try his hand at matchmaking throughout the entire Aoiya. Aoshi saw through Okina's ruse of hiring more people to "allow their workers to have more time." Okina's desire to "spice up life" however, was creating an inordinate number of personal dramas, which if not reined in would result in a large number of depressed people in a matter of weeks.

Aoshi tended to his letters later than he intended to. With Misao and Okina out of the picture, many of the daily decisions fell to him. After a day or so, he was able to finally write to the doctor. He did not mention anything about a matchmaker, assuming that the doctor would just ignore any scheme that appeared to have Okina's stamp all over it. Instead, he made certain to mention to her that Okina was incapacitated and that there was no new information on her brother. But he told her to be patient; he was working on rechecking Okina's sources and notes and, in another day or so, he hoped to find something that could offer her hope or clearly close the chapter on her brother.

He wanted to resolve the matter for her as he had promised weeks ago before she made any sort of decision whether to leave Japan. Although, after what he had witnessed in the dojo, he was certain that Sagara would persuade her otherwise.

Okina's teasing did not cease in the ensuing days. He bore it as patiently as he could, knowing that it was one of Okina's few sources of amusement. He felt certain that the matchmaker would soon come back and inform Okina that the doctor was otherwise engaged.

So when the summons came from Okina to hurry from his office to see the matchmaker, Aoshi wasn't surprised to walk in and see the matchmaker screaming at the man. However, he was surprised as to why.

It appeared that Megumi Takani had left for America, without a word to anyone save a letter to her respected Gensai-sensei.

She had left simply without saying goodbye to anyone.

He pondered the news for a moment, ignoring the furious exchange between the matchmaker, who had wasted time and money in Tokyo and Aizu, and Okina, who was convinced that the matchmaker had allowed an opportunity to slip on by.

It occurred to Aoshi that this was somewhat strange. Megumi was known to be abrupt. Her past departure from Tokyo five years ago had been as such. But even then, she had made her intentions known.

He thought back to the last day he had with her, in the countryside outside of Tokyo. She had not given any indication then of her intention to leave. But - the way she had withdrawn had puzzled him then.

And then he understood finally.

Megumi had run away.

= = = = =

A/N: *The name used by Hiko. Okina would know this because his sources found Hiko for Kenshin during the Kyoto arc.

I had thought about putting Aoshi on a boat, but who knows how long he'd have to wait around for one? It just seemed to be such an inconvenient method of going somewhere if you were in a huge hurry to leave. Kyoto /Tokyo distance is 516km/300 miles. Horses can go fast , but for long period of time. uhh. not sure. I don't know how many times honestly Aoshi would have to switch horses. He could be riding with 2 to help him and switching off. I based my travel time on average distance covered =15 miles an hour with some padding to help. If you are in the know, please let me know so I can fix this. .

I have read the manga translations by maigo-chan because I have somehow missed the new Kenshin eps on CN on Saturdays. The Jinchuu arc rocks Nice to see Megumi used quite well there and yelling at everyone. Gotta love a woman who just tells men off. (Nice to see her call Aoshi an idiot. OF course later, she has to eat those words when he turns out to be fight.)

Your reviews are great. If you guys aren't in the habit of reading other people's reviews you should. Leila especially cracks me up this time with her suggestion that Aoshi kidnaps Megumi. But, of course, you guys should write that into your own fics.