A/N: Sorry for the delay, I've been busy!


"What happened in Kansai? Misao, you will speak first," Aoshi commanded in a business-like tone once everyone was settled and Megumi had gone to her room to do some reading.

Immediately, the faces of his comrades sobered from their previous jesting as they straightened their backs while sitting.

Misao nodded, clearing her throat before launching into her explanation. Misao was very specific in giving information. The women she and Omasu had been watching were treasure hunters, trying to complete the task their dead husbands had been unable to fulfill.

"You didn't perceive any threats from these people?" Aoshi asked once she was finished.

Misao shook her head. "No, Aoshi-sama. They took off on a ship not too long after Omasu-san and I got there. It didn't look like they're coming back."

Aoshi nodded his head. "Anything else?"

"No, Aoshi-sama. Misao has said it all," Omasu responded, smiling at the younger woman.

"Now that-"

"Sumimasen!" someone called from the Aoiya entrance.

Okon immediately got up to greet the visitor.

"One of our contacts in Tokyo is hearing rumors about an attack by Japanese citizens. They strongly oppose the Meiji government as well as Western society," Aoshi explained. He examined the expressions of his comrades, deciphering horror and curiosity. "The group is slowly increasing in numbers, and some may have established members in Kyoto." His eyes shifted as Okon entered the room.

As she took her seat, she placed a letter on the table to deliver it to its recipient after their meeting.

"Listen to your customers' conversations," Aoshi instructed. "Someone will know if those rumors are true or not."

"Do the police know anything about this?" Misao spoke up.

He shook his head. "The secret police may have confirmed this information and I am awaiting results on this. If this group were to make an attack, it could be at anything. Buildings, plays, people…anything related to the Meiji government or the West."

"Be careful when you go out," Okina said quietly.

Aoshi nodded. "I've sent word to our clan. They will inform us if any news comes up."

Smiling, Misao settled in her seat. "Okay, then. Guess we just wait..."


"Takani-san?"

Megumi heard Okon's voice outside her room door. She paused in brushing her hair.

"I have a letter from Kitaragi Hiroto-sensei," Okon continued.

Walking across the small room to open the door, Megumi was greeted by Okon, a letter in her outstretched hand. Megumi thanked her and opened the letter, reading its contents.

"When do you plan to return to Aizu?"

Both women looked up, seeing Aoshi standing in the hallway. Okon took it upon herself to leave, saying she had some last minute clean-up duties to do before the Aoiya's restaurant closed down for the night.

"That was rather abrupt," Megumi mused when the tall woman disappeared.

"It's a fair question," came his response.

Unlike most of the other guests, Megumi was given a room very close to the Oniwabanshu's own rooms. She was also free to use their bath house, not the one provided for the guests. Megumi studied his features in the dim light of the Aoiya living quarters. His hair was slightly damp, as if he had just finished his bath. The front of his dark yukata was slightly open, exposing a strip of tanned skin and well-defined muscle. His flint eyes studied her, as if trying to see delve into her thoughts.

You're staring, Megumi. She blinked. That was an unusual thought. It made her slightly uncomfortable. Since when did she start staring at Shinomori Aoshi, of all people? To cover her discomfort, she said teasingly, "Are you that eager to be rid of me?"

She wasn't surprised when he reacted indifferently. He stared down at her for several seconds, easily towering over her, before saying, "A letter from your brother arrived this afternoon indicating that you should take advantage of your free time in Kyoto."

That certainly dropped the act. "And you know this how?" she pressed.

"The letter was addressed to me."

Megumi blinked again. Now that was unusual. Granted, her brother didn't really care much for Aoshi when they first met - especially when he found out how she and Aoshi knew each other - but after that whole kidnapping incident and Aoshi rescuing her…her brother had been on better terms with him. But not so much to write to him suddenly. As far as she knew, Megumi was the only Takani in Aizu to communicate with Shinomori Aoshi.

"What did it say?"

"He asks that I look after your well-being…and persuade you to stay longer in Kyoto. He feels that if he were to tell you to do so, you would not listen to him."

Megumi rolled her eyes. It looked as if her brother wanted her to go on a vacation. Which was very strange. Her brother knew how much she loved working in the clinic. It didn't matter that she was constantly busy...or that she had very little personal time for herself. "Well, he's absolutely right about me not listening him. But he forgot that I don't like being told what to do by anyone. I will return to Aizu as soon as I feel it is appropriate to do so," she responded, turning away.

"Sensei-" Aoshi began, walking in her direction.

She quickly turned around. He anticipated that, of course, and in reaction, he stepped away, nearly hitting his back against the wall. "Tomorrow, I'm meeting with a physician who teaches at the university." She smiled coyly and dropped her voice. "And if you can think of a way to extend my stay in Kyoto, let me know. I'm open to suggestions..."


He had just exited his office, pad of paper in hand when he caught sight of her. Takani Megumi wore a violet kimono and patterned obi in different shades of pink, and yellow. Her long hair was half-pinned on her head, the rest flowing down her back.

She certainly looked appealing. Odd…he never noticed. Until now. Before...when she was Kanryuu's prisoner, she was just that - his prisoner. When she was Himura Battousai's friend, she was just that - his friend.

From his vantage point just outside his office, Aoshi watched as she waved goodbye to Okina before heading in the direction of the university. He almost thought he heard Okina release a wistful sigh when she was gone. Mischief glowed in Okina's brown eyes as they turned to Aoshi.

"Beautiful morning, isn't it?" the old man queried, a grin widening across weathered features.

Aoshi stared at him for several moments before turning away.


"Do you think Shinomori-san received your letter?"

Kei looked up from his paperwork and smiled at his assistant. "He should have by now."

Ayu smiled back. "Megumi-sensei needs a vacation."

"So I keep telling her," Kei said wryly, sitting back in his chair as Ayu came forward.

His sister worked as much as he did. But she deserved some time off. His dark eyes studied his assistant for several moments.

Amazing how life worked. He had found Ayu six years ago. Times had been harsh. Her parents had drowned at sea. She had a younger brother to support and found herself entertaining men for a living. As fate would have it, she became pregnant but lost the child during delivery. Back then, he had been working with Kazumi-sensei as an assistant physician. Ayu had been devastated by the death of her child. And she didn't know what else she could do to support her brother. So Kei had suggested that she assist in the clinic, to which Kazumi-sensei agreed. When Kei was experienced enough to practice on his own, Ayu followed him, becoming his assistant. They had worked very well together over the years.

When he first heard that his sister was alive, he had been very anxious. Ayu had been his confidante. She had assured him that everything would work out. And it had. He was grateful for her presence, not just as an assistant, but also as a friend. Now she was also much more to him.

How come he never saw it coming?

"If Shinomori-san insists that she stay longer, I doubt she could resist. I know I wouldn't if I was in her position," Ayu added.

"Oh?"

She nodded. "Shinomori-san is an intelligent, attractive man. Who-"

Ayu yelped as Kei reached out, seizing her wrist and pulling her into his lap. She automatically wrapped one arm around his neck as his lips brushed her eyelids.

"Although I admit that I prefer physicians."

"I hope so." He smiled against her skin.

"I hope Megumi-sensei won't mind too much…"

"I think she'd be happy for us," he replied.

Everything was so new to them, yet an overwhelming sense of rightness existed. Just a day after Megumi left, they had performed a grueling surgery. The patient survived. Afterwards, he had kissed Ayu in relief – going against all codes of professional behavior. And she had responded. Now they were exploring their relationship and feelings, realizing their depths…and those feelings had been under the surface all along…waiting to come out.

"Not that…that you want her to stay away because you feel she should. Megumi-sensei doesn't like anyone else deciding her actions…"

"Mmm. Very true."

"Kei-sensei!" a call shouted from the clinic entrance.

He sighed, giving her a rueful smile. "Duty calls."

Ayu hastily got up, tugging at her kimono, attempting to rid it from wrinkles. He entered the clinic waiting room to find two young boys, one holding his arm against his body.

"Morning, you two," Kei greeted. "What happened?"

"Well, we were playing and my brother fell on his arm…"

Ayu smiled, watching from the doorway of Kei's office.


Megumi really liked Hiroto's class. His instruction dealt with human anatomy – the different parts of the body, where they were located, the names of the parts, and so on. His students were energetic, intelligent young people. Several of the students exchanged verbal banter with each other, and with the instructor, but it was all in good fun. They groaned aloud when Hiroto announced they would have a short exam in two days.

After the last student left, Megumi rose to her feet, making her way past the desks to sit near the instructor's desk.

"My students are very outspoken," Hiroto declared with laughing eyes.

Megumi smiled back. "But they respect you and your work."

He busied himself for several more minutes, gathering paperwork and other materials. "Shall we go to lunch?" he asked.

Megumi nodded. "Forgive my curiosity, Hiroto-san…but who is watching your clinic?"

"My partner," Hiroto answered. "You will meet him later."

"I look forward to it."

Once out of the university, they stopped by a small restaurant to have lunch. It was very crowded, and it took them a while to be seated.

"I really admire your work, Hiroto-san. It must be difficult to remain a practicing physician as well as an instructor."

"It has its moments," he admitted, smiling. "My students are just as important as my patients." He leaned forward slightly. "Women physicians are very rare all over the world. There were only…I believe two, including yourself, at the seminars."

"Only?" she echoed. "I didn't even see the other one…"

"She only attended two classes," he replied. "Regardless of the number, we're very glad to have you."

"Thank you."

They chatted throughout lunch. They chatted about how they first came to be physicians, when they decided their career path, and who they worked with. Megumi was very vague in her answers. Several of her years weren't pleasant memories. She would always remember the sorrow she had felt working for Takeda Kanryuu. But there had been a ray of hope during those times – the wish to see her family. She had her family now.

The conversation took a more personal tone when Megumi discovered that Hiroto wasn't married. He lost his fiancée years ago to a severe case of pneumonia. Megumi's experience with men was limited. She had met someone years ago…before she became Kanryuu's prisoner, but that was the infatuation of a young girl, barely a woman. Then after her time as Kanryuu's prisoner, she felt a deep connection to Himura Kenshin. And of course, she had known Sagara Sanosuke had been interested in her. But he never said anything. She suspected he never did because it wouldn't have worked. And he was right. Not that the idea was repulsive. Her life had been so complicated as it was…she would have wanted things to settle down first before she became seriously involved with someone. And now, she found that she enjoyed her independence so much, she was glad that her relationship with Sanosuke never went beyond friendship. He was far better as a friend than anything else.

Hiroto was pleasant company to have. He would have gotten along very nicely with her brother. Or Genzai-sensei.

Tokyo. She hadn't been there in such a long time, it seemed. She briefly wondered how the Kamiya dojo residents were doing. Kaoru-san. Ken-san. Yahiko-kun. Sanosuke. Wherever he was.

After lunch, Hiroto took her to his clinic where she could watch him work.


"Aoshi-sama!" Misao bounded down the steps of the wine cellar, tea tray balanced in one hand. Jiya said that he had been taking inventory all day. He had to be tired. Right?

"In here," a reply came, deep enough to be recognized as his voice.

As if she'd ever forget his voice. There were a lot of things she'd never forget about Aoshi. He had changed...slightly...over the past few months. It all started when he managed the Aoiya. For the longest time, she wondered if all he would ever do is sit around the Aoiya.

Aoshi-sama only meditated when he was injured or sick. He had left the temple long ago. She remembered how difficult it had been to pull him out of his shell. She still wasn't quite able to associate the man he was now with the man who had raised her. Back then, he was...different. Granted, he was different now, too. Gentler, even.

She supposed it's because he found a purpose in life...not necessarily an aspect worth living and dying for...but her Aoshi-sama was a smart man. A mind with nothing to do just died. That was probably why he wanted bigger responsibilities with the Aoiya. Everyone had welcomed the idea. To them, it meant that Aoshi was ever so slowly turning back into his old self.

Misao didn't think he'd ever change. That was his way. She could respect that. There were times she would stomp her feet in frustration, wondering when he would see her more than just a child. Didn't he see that she was growing up?

She took consolation in the fact that Aoshi trusted her. On occasion, he'd tell her about his latest findings across the country from his contacts. He did tell her that if the Oniwabanshu was still needed, she would be his successor. And he spent quite a bit teaching her all aspects of the position...not just the fighting (although there was plenty of that), but the research...and even the interrogation methods.

Okina had wanted the clan to officially disband. Maybe if it did, it would give everyone a chance for a normal life. But the clan was her legacy. Aoshi's legacy. Her grandfather's legacy. How could she just let it go? Aoshi had embraced his position as business manager. And he was very good at it. Deep down, Aoshi probably enjoyed his job. And maybe she'd find something else as well…when peace was fully established…when the government wasn't full of corrupt officials.

She spotted a ring of light coming from a lantern between two wine racks. Aoshi sat on the floor, pad of paper in hand, inspecting a wine label carefully.

"I brought tea, Aoshi-sama," Misao spoke up."I...thought you might like some."

He nodded his head to indicate his thanks.

The teenager poured him a cup before handing it to him. Aoshi usually liked to work alone. She wished she could assist him, but she enjoyed being around him. Something about his presence was very comforting.

"Um...Aoshi-sama?"

"Yes?"

Misao carefully pulled out a bottle from the rack. "When you purchase these...do you taste them first for quality?"

Silence. "Sometimes," he finally admitted. "But even then, the taste in wine varies."

"How so?" She placed the item back.

"Rainfall."

"Oh." Misao fidgeted slightly.

His eyes studied her for a moment before saying, "Do you know how many sake jugs we have?"

"I think there are five in the kitchen right now and five in storage," Misao replied.

He wrote that down. "Who did we purchase those items from?"

Misao smiled slightly. It looked as if he needed her assistance after all.


It was past nightfall when the Aoiya closed down. Aoshi glanced at his watch. Megumi had been gone all day. And as far as he knew, she hadn't returned yet. He had spent most of the day doing inventory with Misao's help. Well, as much as she could help. He smiled briefly. She'd stay with him and count for an hour before leaving to do something else for a few minutes. He was accustomed to being in quiet, cramped quarters. But apparently, it didn't suit Misao. He hadn't thanked her once. He'd remember to do that…her help was appreciated.

He carried his lantern to the entryway of the Aoiya, knowing that Megumi would come that way. Someone had to let her inside. He waited patiently, his eyes narrowing as the soft sounds of voices filled the air. He recognized one as Megumi's. The other…was her new acquaintance?

He slid open the door just as Megumi was planning to ring the bell for entry.

"Aoshi!" she gasped in surprise before shooting him a look. "I wish you wouldn't scare me like that…" Then she smiled slightly at her companion. "Kitaragi Hiroto-sensei, this is the Aoiya's business manager, Shinomori Aoshi. Aoshi, Hiroto-san is an instructor at the university as well as a physician nearby."

Hiroto bowed his head in acknowledgement and Aoshi did the same. He appeared to be in his early thirties, radiating confidence and trust. It was easy to see why Megumi had become friends so easily with the physician.

"Shinomori-san. I remember you were at the university several months ago…I never had the opportunity to thank you for your presentation…" Hiroto mused.

"There is no need for gratitude," Aoshi responded.

"Still, thank you." He then turned to Megumi with a slight incline of his head. "Megumi-san, thank you for your assistance. If you ever decide to take up medicine in Kyoto, please do not hesitate to contact me. You have my address information."

"Hai."

"I look forward to hearing from you, then," he responded with a smile.

"Goodbye, Hiroto-san."

"Goodbye, Megumi-san. Shinomori-san."

"Kitaragi-san." Aoshi nodded. When the physician disappeared, Aoshi focused his eyes on her. "It is late."

"I'm aware of that," Megumi declared as she stepped further into the Aoiya. "Hiroto-san and I were dealing with several patients…we weren't finished until before I arrived."

Aoshi opened his mouth to reply, shutting it once she spoke again.

"I'd almost think you cared, Aoshi," Megumi teased.

"Our guests' safety is another part of my job," he replied easily.

He closed the door behind her, locking it. While he considered Megumi a friend…though he'd never tell her that…there were just some things that could not be said for fear of misinterpretation. Although why he felt that way, he wasn't sure…

"I leave for Tokyo tomorrow morning on business," he said quietly. "You can always ask for Misao or Okina's assistance if you need anything."

"Do you plan on visiting the dojo?" she asked. "Ken-san and Kaoru-san would enjoy seeing you again…"

"If I have the time," he answered. Between he and Misao, she was the one much closer to the residents at the dojo. Visiting them was no problem for her. They were practically another family to her.

"I was planning to go to Aizu tomorrow…most of my belongings are already packed…Perhaps I can go with you halfway before transferring to another train," she commented, interrupting his thoughts.

She planned on leaving already. Of course…with the seminars over…there was no other reason to stay in Kyoto, was there? Not when she had work to do.

"The first train leaves just after sunrise," he announced.

She blinked. "If I go with you, I have to wake at dawn?"

"Yes."

"Very well. Dawn it is…"




A/N: Sissi - sorry for the confusing dialogue, I'll watch that next time around.

JadeGoddess – Okina is funny. As for the circus sabotage leading to something else, wait and see…

Leila Winters – Technically, that's Aoshi and Meg's 2nd date. And they are pretty cute together, I'm having a great time writing them. Although it can be frustrating with the writer's block.

Kongykun - Okina as a comic relief. Who knew? ^_^

Azaleafaye – School can be stressful, I know I'm stressed and with finals. Eeek! As for Okina playing matchmaker…wait and see. =P

Sanosuke – Thanks.

Next! Aoshi and Megumi's train ride…an interesting journey lies ahead…

(I think I'm suffering from Aoshi/Meg writer's block. Character interaction can be so difficult at times, if anyone has any suggestions, review or email me on how you get over block - I could use a kickstart. ^_^)