Hmm…I never told a story about my cousins, did I? Well, I don't really have one, since Rachel and I were at the mall for a good portion of the time in which they were here. I can tell you, however, that we got matching purple shirts that say "I DATE COLLEGE BOYS" on the front. We got them as a joke, since both our boyfriends are in college (Rachel's a sophomore in high school, but she and Jared -a college freshman like me- have been going out since last year…almost 14 months!).

@}--,--'---

"Mama, why dun we go see Aoi more?" Kietsu called over her shoulder as she skipped down the path leading from the Aoiroten-onsan. She was dressed nicely, wearing a little sky blue kimono and violet haori. Her hair had been combed neatly and Gesshoku hoped to the gods she would stay clean.

"It's a big trip, going to Kyoto, Sweetie." Her mother replied. Gessho saw fit to dress up for the occasion and donned a dark green kimono, embroidered with ivy leave, which seemed to darken the color of her hair. Her haori was midnight blue and matched her obi. She looked nice -dignified- the way her mother always wished she would and she actually felt comfortable that way.

"That's right." Kamatari agreed, taking Kietsu by the hand. She looked up at him, smiling fondly, and he smiled back at her. He looked quite nice too, dressed in plum purple and wine red, dark colors for dreary weather.

Sojiro walked behind his friends, thinking to himself what an attractive family they were. They all looked so much alike, with similar hair cuts, facial expressions and clothes. They fit together quite nicely, loved one another, and treated one another with dignity and respect.

He wished his family had been like that.

He thought of all the hell they had put him through, all the torture and belittling. He hated his family for destroying his life and starting him down the path to evil. Of course, they were already dead, but he didn't like to remember that. Every time he thought about it, he felt unworthy of Harusame's love.

Can I be good to her? Can I give her everything she desires? Can I put the past behind me like Himura-san? Can I do it? Or will it constantly haunt me, reminding me of all my wrongs? Will I cause her to suffer the way Gesshoku-san does? Every time I see Gesshoku-san without that light in her eyes…I wonder. Will I see the same thing in Harusame?

Will I cause her to cry? Or will I bring her joy? My past is stained with blood; so much blood. I willingly did these things, willingly killed people. I still suffer over this. Will it cause her to suffer as well?

"What's wrong, Sojiro?"

The young man snapped back to attention at the sound of Harusame's voice. "What do you mean, Harusame?"

"You're frowning." She pointed out.

"Oh, was I?" He smiled cheerfully, "I hadn't realized." She could tell something was wrong with him. This was a sign of intimacy and closeness. He colored slightly at this thought.

"So what's wrong?" She prodded him in the shoulder, "Something is bothering you."

"Oh, I was just thinking."

"About what?"

"…The past." He looked at her, taking in her pretty face, wondering what she was feeling about this. She knew every little bit of his past life; every dark moment of his past. How he'd been belittled by his family. How he'd met and helped Shishio. How he'd murdered his family. The sins he'd committed working for Shishio. She knew it all.

"Oh." A pause, "You okay?"

"Yeah." He smiled.

"Okay." She smiled vaguely, knowing it really was something which bothered him to think about. She bit her lip, wondering how she could be supportive of him when he kept all his feelings inside. He was walking right beside her. She glanced down. His hand hung at his side, dangerously close to hers. She hesitated a minute, then slid her hand into his.

Sojiro's eyes widened when he felt Harusame's hand in his. Then he smiled, twining his fingers through hers.

Sonomi, walking behind the two, noticed this and took note of it. Perhaps this was helping, their little getaway. The two of them seemed slightly more at ease with one another since they had arrived at the Aoiroten-onsan. This was good.

@}--,--'---

It was early afternoon when they arrived in Kyoto.

Kietsu was in her father's arms, half asleep. It was a rather long walk from Kobe to Kyoto and the little girl was tired. She was snuggled up against his shoulder, her arms around his neck. Harusame and Sojiro were still holding hands. Gessho was beside Kamatari, her strides evenly matched with his. He shifted Kietsu, putting an arm around his wife's shoulder. She smiled up at him, snuggling into his embrace.

All was well with the world.

The Aoiya was bustling with activity. It had become a quite popular restaurant over the past six years and people were always coming and going. Sometimes the same customers who came to the Aoiroten-onsan. Gessho and Misao actually got along quite well and recommended visitors to each other on occasion.

"Aoi! Aoi!" Kietsu slid from her father's arms and ran into the building.

"Kit?" Little Shinomori Aoi looked up from where she was sitting on the floor, playing with a rag doll. Aoi was a tiny, frail-looking little girl; pale skin, dark, shiny hair falling over her forehead in bangs, ice blue eyes like her father. She was dressed in a dusty pink kimono spattered with cheery blossoms, her hair pulled back into a loose ponytail. A serious smile lit her face when she realized it was indeed her beloved friend.

She rose to her feet, calling over her shoulder, "Mama, Kit's here!" She yelled excitedly. It had been a long time since they'd seen one another.

"Aoi! Almost my birthday!" Kietsu exclaimed, "I'll be this many." Brandishing three fingers, she beamed at her friend.

"Ooo…'M three!" Giggling, Aoi held up three fingers as well.

Kamatari and Gesshoku looked at one another, smiling. They were glad Kietsu had a friend her own age, even if she only saw Aoi once a month or so. It was rare that a family came to the hot springs, so the little girl was often surrounded by adults.

"Kietsu. Hey, Kiddo, how's it going?" Misao had appeared in the doorway, donning an apron, a towel over one arm.

"Misao-san! Almost my birthday!" The child exclaimed proudly.

"That's great. How old will you be?"

"Three!"

Misao smiled. She remembered when Kamatari and Gesshoku had returned to the springs before Kietsu was born. It was in December, just in time for their wedding anniversary, and they had stopped at the Aoiya on the way home. It had surprised her to see Gessho pregnant; she never would have expected the two of them to have a child. But there they were, the three of them.

"Hi, Gessho." She said cheerfully to the older woman. She liked Gesshoku well enough, but wasn't quite sure why. She wasn't the prettiest thing to walk the earth, or the smartest, or even the most amiable. In fact, she was downright nutty. But Misao couldn't help but like her.

"Hey, Misao." Came the good-natured response.

The young Okashira's cerulean gaze slid over to Kamatari. A light frown crossed her face; she had never liked the man. She tolerated him solely because of Gessho and Kietsu. There was, of course, no real reason to dislike him any more. Shishio was dead, Kamatari was sort of straightened out, and he was passionate about his family, instead of killing people to win love. She just couldn't stop hating him.

She said nothing to the man and he looked slightly hurt. Then she turned her attention to Harusame, Sojiro and Sonomi, tackling each of them in a hug and prattling on excitedly. It had been ages since she'd seen any of them and this was a thrill for her. Same old excitable Misao.

Kamatari stared down at his feet, wondering why Misao had ignored him again. He hadn't done anything to her, not since he fought her six years ago and he was always apologizing for that. He saw her on a semi-regular basis, she was always frigid towards him, and it made him feel terrible.

Gessho took notice of his downcast expression and laced her fingers through his. She knew Misao had feelings of distaste towards Kamatari, though she didn't quite understand it all, what had happened between them in the past. She wished Misao would put the past behind them, for she hated to see that hurt look in Kamatari's eyes.

He looked at her, taking in that face so like his own; those brown eyes full of sadness. He swallowed, wondering how he could ever love any one but her and wishing to the heavens that he didn't. He had room in his heart to love only one person fully and he wanted that person to be Gesshoku. "Dai suki, Koishii." He said softly.

She smiled forlornly. "I know."

@}--,--'---

"So, are you two, like, an item now?"

Sojiro and Harusame both blushed a brilliant red at Misao's question. She had sat down to eat with them, dragging Aoshi out from his study and forcing him to join the company. He sat silently beside her, having hardly said a word to any one, which was not unusual for Aoshi. Aoi was sitting on the other side of her father, listening as Kietsu chattered about small girl things, not saying more than two words the whole time. She was so like her father.

"Well…" Harusame hemmed and hawed over what to say. There was a mutual attraction between the two, but nothing seemed to be coming of it. What could she say? She looked to Sojiro for help, but he shied away, not wishing to say anything for fear of digging himself into a hole.

"Oh, they're just good friends." Sonomi jumped into the conversation, knowing she was about to get herself pummeled for saying what she was about to say, "Both of them are too shy to just get over themselves and say they want to be together."

Sojiro turned very pink and Harusame glared daggers at Sonomi. She would have leapt across the table to kill her then, had Gessho not grabbed her by the arm. "Chill out, Harusame." She said calmly.

"Let me go! She needs to die for that." Harusame struggled a little bit, then realized both of the little girls were staring at her, their eyes wide. Blushing, she settled herself back in her seat. "I'll kill her later." She mumbled.

"Mama," Aoi tugged on Misao's sleeve, "She's not really gonna kill Sonomi-san, is she?"

Misao looked down at her daughter, taking in her worried expression, her creased brow, the serious look in her eyes. Her little girl was so solemn, it almost caused her to laugh. "Oh, no, Sweetie. Harusame isn't going to kill any one."

The child sighed in relief, then turned back to Kietsu, who immediately began babbling again. This time, Misao couldn't help but laugh. She prodded at Aoshi with one finger, "She's too much like you." She smiled.

Aoshi looked at his wife and she could see his icy eyes dancing with laughter. It warmed her heart to see some emotion in Aoshi, a man every one once considered to be nothing more than a frozen wasteland. She had opened him up, thawed him out, got him to express his feelings. And she couldn't have been happier with the results.

"And the two of you…" Misao's gaze traveled to Gessho, "Anything new with you?" She would politely inquire after Kamatari, but not much more than that.

Gessho shrugged. "Just the usual. Mama's giving us orders and bossing us around. Nissho hasn't been home in months. We spend all our free time together as a family." She wanted to express her desire for a second child, but not before she discussed it with Kamatari first. She knew it would be hard on him and put a lot of pressure on him. He did his duty as her husband, but she knew he was reserved and hesitant about it.

She also knew he enjoyed it.

Aoshi watched as the friends chattered amongst one another. He was perfectly comfortable with them, but saw no need to say anything. He just observed the gaiety around him, drinking his tea, keeping an eye on Aoi. He loved Aoi and watched her like a hawk. She was his baby, his joy in life. He never regretted having her, not once over the past four years.

He looked at Kamatari. He had met the unusual man only once back in the time of Shishio and distinctly remembered him as a woman. He'd seen Kamatari more over the past three years and wondered constantly if he really was the same man he had met in Shishio's stronghold. That Kamatari had worn a kimono, simpered over Shishio and told Aoshi himself he was a hunk. The Kamatari sitting at the table, however, was nearly the exact opposite.

He was telling some story about Kietsu, waving his hands around for dramatic flare as he spoke, chatting a mile a minute. The girls were completely enraptured in what he was saying, laughing and questioning him. Gesshoku shook her head at her husband's dramatics, then glanced over at Aoshi.

"How have you been, Aoshi-san?" She asked pleasantly. Her mother had attempted to groom her for society when she was younger and the training had not been lost on her.

"Very well, thank you." He replied, "And yourself?"

She grinned. "Wonderful. We're happy with one another and with the little lady. But, um, I was wondering…"

"Oh?" His eyebrows went up.

"Have…" She glanced over her shoulder, making sure Kamatari was distracted, "Have you and Misao ever thought about having another baby?" Her face flushed slightly red, but she continued to meet his gaze.

"Of course we've thought about it. But we haven't really tried for it and it hasn't happened yet, so…" He sort of trailed off, blinking, then looked at her seriously. "Why? Do you want a second child, Gesshoku?"

"I don't know. I don't know how to talk to him about it or anything. How would you want to be approached with this subject?"

He paled a little, wondering what in the heavens she was asking him this for. His train of thought could be nothing like Kamatari's; how could he possibly know how that odd man would react? "I'm afraid I can't help you there. He and I are completely different and I have no idea how his mind works."

"Right…"

She looked a little lost. Aoshi wished he could help her, but wasn't sure he could. He did feel bad for her, married to that wacky okama, but this was such an odd situation. "If you want my advice, Gesshoku, I'd suggest you talk to him about it as soon as possible and see what he says. This is something for you to discuss with him, not me."

"I know…But I don't know what to say to him. I mean, I didn't want Kietsu when I was pregnant. I didn't want her at all. I don't know how to tell him that I want to do it again."

"Why are you telling me this?" He was a little curious about the reasons why he was discussing it with him; they barely knew each other.

"I knew you would listen." She looked away, staring at her hands where they rested in her lap, "I'm sorry to bother you like this. Just forget about it. I'll talk to him later."

Aoshi nodded, wishing to say more to her, but not knowing what or why. This was not something he dealt with on a regular basis and he was at a loss for words. He hoped everything would work out for her.

He hoped she would be blissfully happy like he was.

@}--,--'---

Ahhh…'nother chapter finished and it feels so good! n_n Now I have two separate plots in one story…Sojiro and Harusame getting together and Gessho's quest for another baby. Of course, the latter of the two is a side-plot revolving around the former, but I get to have some fun writing both mush and angst. And I really think Aoshi is the kind of person you could ask for advice. He's so pensive and, well, smart. ^^