A/N: This chapter was VERY painful for me to write in terms of what to write. I must have suffered from writer's block at least 50 times. I hope this satisfies any Meiji-timeline A/Meg fans...at least...temporarily. =P

Oh yeah, and my sister, Girlquinndreamer, is thinking of writing an RK fanfic...so wish her luck in what she does. *laughs evilly* You will be hooked to writing RK, sister dear.

Chapter 5: Unexpected

Megumi carefully adjusted the knot of her obi, occasionally sending glances out the window. The sun hadn't even risen yet. After running her brush through her long hair again, Megumi packed her final items in her purse and left the room, bag in arm.

She took a lantern with her as she moved away from the living quarters of the Aoiya. Instead of seeing her host waiting, she was surprised to see Misao standing in the hallway, a small square box held in her hand, obviously something for her Aoshi-sama to consume along the train ride to Tokyo.

"Misao-chan," Megumi greeted. "Good morning."

The younger woman smiled back. "Good morning, Megumi-san." Then her smile faltered slightly. "Isn't Aoshi-sama awake?"

"I think you would know the answer to that better than I," the older woman teased. She always thought Misao knew the answer to everything regarding Aoshi. Misao adored the man. It was only recently Megumi began to notice admirable qualities in the man. It was still amusing to see Misao's behavior whenever she was around him.

"I checked his room," Misao explained. "He wasn't there."

Megumi arched a speculative brow. "You're so comfortable around him, Misao. I find that surprising, given his disposition…"

Misao's eyes widened slightly. "Why does everyone keep saying that?"

"Saying what?"

"That! About him?"

Megumi smiled. "I don't know what you're talking about." She looked up to see Aoshi make his way from the back of the Aoiya, from the direction of his office, wearing a gray suit and blue tie. A briefcase was clutched in one hand, and a long bag slung over his shoulder.

The younger woman turned, her face instantly lighting up. "Aoshi-sama!"

He greeted her with a brief smile. "Misao." Then his eyes lifted to see Megumi. "Sensei."

Megumi nodded.

"I made some breakfast for you and Megumi-san if you need it…" Misao held up the box tray.

Aoshi accepted the package after shifting his bags. Megumi decided not to ask why the younger woman didn't give it to her, if the food was for the both of them.

"When will you be back?" Misao asked.

"I will only be in Tokyo for several days," Aoshi stated.

The three looked up to see Okina standing in the hallway. He came forward.

The old man said in a sincere tone, "Thank you for coming, Takani-san. It was a pleasure to be reacquainted again."

"Thank you. I couldn't have said the words better myself," the doctor's eyes warmed slightly.

Okina grinned, gesturing at Aoshi. "Be careful. He might intimidate several passengers."

Megumi smiled while Aoshi narrowed his eyes. "Oh, I'll sedate him if needed. But I doubt Aoshi needs looking after…" She smiled at Misao and Okina. "Thank you for hospitality. Give my regards to the others." She picked up her bag and exited the building.

Setting aside a stack of clean plates, Misao sighed and looked around her. She had gotten an early start on the Aoiya preparations for breakfast. Since Aoshi left, she hadn't been able to go back to sleep.

She missed him already. It would have been nice to go with him on his business trip. She glanced around before picking up the lantern and heading into his office.

Since Aoshi became the Aoiya's manager, he already told Okina that he planned to expand the business. In terms of what, she wasn't sure.

Misao settled at his desk, glancing around. She pulled out a drawer and frowned when she saw a stack of papers. Picking it up, she studied his precise handwriting.

Aoshi had created a detailed explanation of his plans to expand the Aoiya, including cost, profit, and possible reasons for failure. Several of Aoshi's ideas included another inn in Yokohama, sight-seeing tours for visitors, creating several large meeting rooms at the Aoiya to hold banquets, and a committee designed to make food for parties.

His ideas were backed up with research, including numbers.

Misao's eyes widened. He had spent the last three months coming up with the ideas and researching their success rates. Aoshi really planned to expand the Aoiya. Did that mean he was really ready to give up his old life? Granted, he never had to fight as much as he did...but he still used the Oniwabanshu for gathering information.

The clan was her heritage. Even though Okina wanted the clan to be disbanded so she could live a normal life...she didn't want that. Or what if...Aoshi really was ready to give up his old life but leave the Oniwabanshu's destiny to her? She still had so much to learn about being a leader...all the resources Aoshi used...

She'd have to remember to speak to him when he got back. She frowned slightly. Whenever he got back from Tokyo. She wondered what type of business he had there... 

And what about Megumi-san? Misao hadn't missed the teasing comment the older woman made in Aoshi's direction. Very few people could joke with Aoshi...let alone be comfortable doing so. What was the meaning behind all of that?

In the past, Megumi-san was very polite to Aoshi-sama...but that was all. Did what happened in Aizu cause Megumi-san to become more comfortable around him? If so, what had happened those few months ago? She knew that Aoshi had fallen ill, and that the doctor had been able to cure him. But what else? Was there even anything else?

Megumi's eyes fluttered slightly and she looked around the moving train, noticing that he was writing on a sheet of paper.

"I'm sorry…I'm not accustomed to waking up early…" Megumi covered her mouth to hide a yawn. Her eyes focused on his work. "What are you doing?"

"Thinking of ideas."

Her brow lifted. "For what?"

"The Aoiya," he replied. "One way to succeed in business is to offer something that not many others do."

"Oh?"

"My meeting in Tokyo...a very wealthy American is starting an import/export business between here, China, and America. He's positive that many people would like to travel between these countries, so he plans on using his fleet as a method of transportation. Depending on how our discussion goes, our businesses may be able to cooperate with each other. Passengers who used his company for transportation may stay at our inns for a special rate."

"Inns?" Megumi blinked. "You plan to build more inns?"

"Yokohama is the next location. I will be visiting that area on my way back to survey some land." He sat back. "And I have much more planned for the Aoiya."

Megumi leaned forward. "So what else do you have planned?"

"Tours...Parties...all related to the Aoiya itself. The changes will be slow...but I've projected that all the ideas will be implemented within three years."

Megumi said, "I never imagined all those years ago that you would be doing this." Then she smiled. "But it sounds wonderful. As if...the Aoiya is the one place which offers everything for the patrons."

He smiled briefly. "Now you're thinking like a businessman." He began to write on his paper again.

Megumi studied him briefly before suddenly saying, "You seem to really enjoy the business side of the Aoiya. I'm sure you'll do very well at it."

Their eyes held for several moments before he continued writing. "With all the work to be done in Kyoto and Yokohama...we will need a physician in case our staff injures themselves..." he murmured.

Megumi's eyes widened.

Aoshi glanced at her again and said, "It's something you and your brother can consider until the plans for Yokohama are finalized."

"I'm flattered that you would consider hiring us..." She cleared her throat.

"It comes from knowing personally both of your medical expertise," he said, a trace of amusement in his voice.

And he meant it. He could think of no better two physicians he'd wish to have on staff. She seemed content with her life in Aizu. But he wondered if she would enjoy working in Yokohama...or even Kyoto. But that was something that could be determined much later on. 

"Excuse me…I need to retrieve my medical journal…" she rose to her feet to reach for her bag stored above their heads.

Aoshi glanced out the window, so he could peer outside into the very early morning. His eyes widened at the sight of two dark figures who easily and quickly jumped off the train, breaking their fall by rolling onto the thick grass.

Odd...

Due to the hour, many other passengers were asleep in their seats, unaware of the situation. He moved over to the other side of the car, seeing that the train was traveling on a cliff, with the sea below. When he turned away, he saw that Megumi was staring at him, their luggage forgotten.

He glanced out the window again, feeling a rush of adrenaline. Their speed was too high given the curve of the track the train was on. Jumping into the aisle, Aoshi hurried through the cars towards the front, silently and swiftly moving to his destination. Throwing open the last door, only the car containing the coal for running the train separated him from the engine room. His eyes narrowed, seeing no one at the front controlling the train.

"Aoshi." From behind him, Megumi called over the sound of iron wheels.

He heard her call his name again before an explosion deafened his ears.

Creeaaak. Eeeee.

"Megumi-san."

She shifted slightly, fighting to open her eyes. Her head felt heavy, limiting her motions.

"Megumi-san." A deep voice resonated in her ear as if trying to pull her from whatever darkness she fell into.

Slowly, her head moved and her eyes opened, focusing on the first thing in her line of vision - a man's strong jawline. Her eyes traveled up, looking into the blue-gray depths of Shinomori Aoshi's eyes. Was that…concern that flickered in there?

"Aoshi?" she whispered. "What-?"

"Are you hurt?" he asked immediately.

"I don't think so…"

"You are certain?"

"Yes…" she was slowly becoming conscious of the position they were in. She was half-lying next and on top of him, one of his arms wrapped around her waist. Megumi shifted her head, unable to prevent a groan of pain at the twinge she felt in her neck.

"So you are hurt."

"No, I…I think I moved too quickly…" she slowly turned her head, the pain already gone.

"Move your arms and legs. Slowly," he instructed.

She obliged, first moving her right arm, then her left, and moving first her right then left leg as much as she could in her kimono.

"See?" Megumi braced her hands against his chest so she could push herself off. "You can let go now, Aoshi."

But instead of loosening his grip around her waist, his arm tightened, and he said, "I cannot release you, Megumi-san."

Her eyes widened. He had spoken in his typical calm voice, but the speed of his reply told her something was wrong.

"Aoshi…?" She shifted again, but he held fast. "What's going on?"

"An explosion occurred, causing the front of the train to move off the track. The car we are in is hanging from the cliff above."

"What?!" she gasped.

She looked over her right shoulder to see that he was telling the truth. The car was tilted at an angle, causing her legs to dangle in the free space formed by the open door, above the raging waters and rocks below. Aoshi had used his feet and his other hand to brace himself, preventing himself from falling. If it wasn't for his hold on her, she would have slid out of the car. Immediately, she snatched her legs inside, swearing that the car must have wobbled ever so slightly at her action.

"Oh my…" she whispered, her fingers digging into the crisp linen of his shirtfront.

Feeling her head spin, Megumi reached up, bracing her hand against her head.

"You're afraid," he stated.

A strangled laugh escaped her throat. "What gave me away? Are my knees shaking that badly?"

"We'll be all right, Megumi-san. The rest of the train is preventing us from falling…as long as the connectors between the trains hold-"

"Aoshi, you're not making me feel any better," she interrupted.

"I was only-"

She looked up at him, giving him a shaky smile as her hold on him loosened. "I know. But thank you, anyway." She took another breath to calm herself. "So…" She tilted her head up to look at the back of the car, and he followed her gaze. "I suppose we're going to climb up?"

"I could make the jump easily from here...but that would involve carrying you."

She just had a thought. "Over your shoulder?" Like a sack? she almost said.

"Correct."

"With my head facing down into nothing?"

"You could always close your eyes," he replied.

Was he silently laughing at her? Traces of warmth or amusement in Shinomori Aoshi's voice were very rare. It helped. A little. She took a breath. "All right."

"I need to release you first."

She nodded. As his hold loosened, she grabbed onto the first stationary object she could grasp.

And within a few minutes he was holding her again, while she fought to keep her eyes closed. Aoshi was able to make it to the top in just several jumps without disturbing the car. Once at the back of the car, she pulled herself into a sitting position on the doorway, her eyes nearly closing as the ocean wind whipped around her, her hair whisking against her face. Aoshi poked his head through the doorway, examining their surroundings. They were several meters from the top of the cliff wall.

As Megumi climbed out of the doorway, a raspy sound filled their ears. The car beneath her shifted, causing her to lose her balance. She let out a startled sound as she fell, her eyes widening as she slid across the car. Aoshi had tried to grasp her wrist, missing by just a few inches. 

Wildly, her hands reached out to grasp anything that would prevent her from falling over the edge of the car and into the water below...