A/N: Eriesalia, here, are you happy? Although…I had this finished by New Year's Eve…I just wasn't sure if it was ready for posting. I didn't get to it until now. Surprise, surprise.

ChisaiLammy, thanks for the review. In the beginning, I always tried to make the relationship deep and dynamic. And there's much more to explore.

Sissi, I try to add as many twists as possible. Hopefully I'll keep rolling.

Daiji, as always, thanks for the comedic reviews.

Jade Goddess, mij, Lady Tsukya, Leila Winters, hope this answers a little bit of what's happening…

And to anyone else who reviewed, thanks, I appreciate your time and effort.

And one more thing…I HATE MS Word…

**

Chapter 8: News

Aoshi was gone for a good portion of the day. The inn was quiet. The innkeeper and his wife were making preparations for the dinner that they would prepare for the guests, while Megumi, having done her patient rounds early that morning, was left to watch Naoko. Who knew where the other guests were. She suspected that they were making sure that they hadn't overlooked anything…any missing belongings, reporting their witnessed accounts to the police, and sent letters to expecting relatives or friends. Naoko had been under the care of the inn for several more days. Her aunt would be arriving soon. Megumi and Aoshi had discussed with the innkeepers that they would not leave until the girl was in the proper care. With the innkeepers so busy, and the current guests slowly trickling out of the inn, there weren't many left to watch young Naoko. Megumi's nature wouldn't allow her to abandon the child.

"Drink, Megumi-sensei," Naoko requested in her soft voice as Megumi combed her fine hair and assembled it into a ponytail.

"You're thirsty?" Megumi laughed softly. "You had lunch not too long ago."

"Drink," Naoko repeated stubbornly.

"All right…let's get you a drink, Naoko-chan," Megumi responded, taking her hand and leading her out of the room.

Once they got to the guest dining area, Megumi heard a muffled sound and a scream from the kitchen. Her women's intuition shouted that something was wrong. Reacting quickly, Megumi snatched Naoko and ran towards the door, stopping short once she saw a strange man standing guard near the front. Megumi quickly hurried in the other direction.

"Sensei?" Naoko called out worriedly.

"Shh, Naoko-chan. It's okay," Megumi assured quietly, tucking the toddler tightly against her as she frantically searched for a place to hide. Her heart was racing as adrenaline kicked into her system.

She wasn't the fighting type, and she had no idea how many were in the house. Megumi quickly headed to the back area. Her eyes skimmed the area for a place to hide, seeing a small break in the fence. The innkeeper had been trying to repair the fence for the last two days. Megumi hurried over to that gap in the fence and set Naoko down.

"Run, Naoko-chan," she commanded softly.

"Sensei," Naoko whined.

"You must run, Naoko-chan," Megumi insisted. "Hide by the tree. I'll be right behind you."

"Tree," Naoko echoed, nodding.

"Good girl."

Megumi watched as Naoko disappeared. The child had disappeared by the time she loosened the boards to create a wider space for her to go through.

Suddenly, Megumi felt a hand snatch her shoulder and shove her aside.

"Where's Naoko?!" a gruff voice demanded.

Releasing a sound of pain, Megumi clutched her shoulder, staring up at a man probably several years older than her. His eyes were dark and angry, his lips curled in a sneer beneath his beard and moustache.

"What are you talking about?" Megumi stared back defiantly.

"Don't lie to me! I know she's here!"

Megumi clenched her teeth as the man hauled her to her feet, gripping her upper arms painfully.

"Where is she?!" he roared.

Never one to back down, she'd never let this vicious man take the child away…no matter who he was. Megumi remained silent. She didn't even make a sound when he shoved her roughly against the fence, causing her head to bang against it.

~

Aoshi glanced at his watch as the inn slowly came into view. He had spent the day meditating, and composing business letters that he sent out to the appropriate receivers. It had been a fairly uneventful day.

At least until he saw Naoko running towards him, her arms waving wildly.

"Aoshi-sama!" she called out.

He pocketed his watch, staring at her. "Naoko-chan-" The second before he could continue, he could feel…it. Strange ki. One far more hostile than the other…

"Megumi-sensei gone," Naoko announced, trying to jump into his arms.

"Not yet," Aoshi murmured. He scooped up Naoko and hurried over to the flower shop several buildings away from the inn. He instantly remembered that Yuriko had mentioned in casual conversation that the owner was a friend of hers…and that she used her flowers to decorate the inn.

Hana…was her name. And how appropriate. Aoshi turned the corner of the building to see an elder woman trimming the branch of a small potted tree.

"Hana-san?" Aoshi prompted.

"Yes…and you are?" the woman asked, clearly confused.

"Shinomori Aoshi. I don't have much time," Aoshi responded quickly. "Watch over Naoko…" he set the girl on a chair. "There's trouble at Yuriko's inn…I'll be right back..."

"But…" the shocked woman trailed off.

"Stay here, Naoko-chan," Aoshi commanded gently.

The girl whined slightly, but by then, Aoshi was gone.

~

"Now. Where is Naoko?" the man demanded.

Megumi shook her head, biting her lower lip. The back of her skull was throbbing with pain. And her arm felt as if it had been torn out of its socket. Not to say that she was the only one harmed. She had certainly left a couple scratches on him…which had only infuriated him more.

"You certainly have more willpower than the old man and his wife," her assailant commented, obviously referring to the innkeepers.

Megumi moved to the side, only to have him shove her back against the fence, a large hand at her throat. Wildly, she tried to dislodge his grip, but to no avail. Her eyes opened to slits, her eyes focusing on something behind him. She lifted her hand as if pointing at something.

"What? You'll answer now where-"

Crrack! Her assailant slumped to the ground while Megumi collapsed, coughing, her hand over her collarbone.  

"Megumi-san," Aoshi's voice rang clear in the air. What an incredible sound. "Are you all right?"

Coughing, she nodded twice, feeling Aoshi grasp her forearms and pull her to a standing position. Then he released her, stepping back slightly, only to be stopped by her death grip on his shirt.

"Naoko-chan…" she whispered.

He understood. "She is in a neighbor's care. I told her that I would return once everything is settled here."

"How…How did you know…?"

"Ki."

"Masakazu-san…Yuriko-san…" Megumi managed. "Kitchen…"

He turned away.

"Aoshi!" Megumi's voice had nearly returned and she took several calming breaths. "There's one more guard-"

"He has already been taken care of," the onmitsu responded.

Megumi swallowed. "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

~

The next few days passed quickly. The strange man who had invaded the inn had been Naoko's father. Naoko's mother had not married the man, and he had come to claim what had been rightfully his. The local police had taken him and his accomplice away and the innkeepers assured them that the girl would be taken care of…her aunt, who was supposed to be watching over her, had arrived to pick up the child.

Masukazu and Yuriko's injuries had long been taken care of. Once Kisho-sensei returned, he insisted upon examining Megumi and her injuries. The doctor was not a happy man to find out what had happened once he returned.

Nevertheless, normalcy had returned. All those at the inn had said goodbye to Naoko, who had insisted on giving everyone a hug. Aoshi had one last paper crane piece made for her, which she cheerfully accepted before going on her way.

Aoshi glanced through one of his notebooks of his plans for the Yokohama inn. He had memorized everything that was written in that particular journal, yet seeing it in writing was a different story. He had just finished his tea, and he was waiting for one of the neighbors to arrive. The neighbor had offered to lend him a horse for his trip to Yokohama, where the animal could be returned to his brother-in-law, who would be taking care of it from then on.

He looked up, seeing Megumi standing just several feet away, offering him the briefest of smiles before she settled on the floor.

"I hope everything goes well with your business venue," Megumi spoke up.

"Thank you. Have you made arrangements to go home?" he asked.

She nodded. "My brother has arranged a carriage for me."

Silence. He wasn't exactly sure what else could be said. If anything. She didn't seem to mind as much. But…there was something in the air that he couldn't quite understand. Tension, almost. Why, he wasn't sure. He and Megumi resolved their differences already. She had made it clear that she was no longer uncomfortable in his presence. So why…

"Aoshi-san!" Masakazu's voice called out. "Your horse is here!"

Megumi glanced in the direction of the voice, before her eyes came to rest on his. "Have a safe trip." Then she added with a careless shrug, "I've never been fond of saying goodbye to someone, so…"

"I'm sure we will see each other again soon."

"Of course. Between Misao-chan and Kaoru-san…one of them is bound to issue an invitation for everyone to meet up again. And who knows…I may attend another conference in Kyoto."

"Seasonal gatherings or meetings at the university do not have to be the only occasions," Aoshi said slowly. "Besides…my offer still stands."

"You mean regarding a physician to watch over your staff?" Megumi prompted. At his nod, she responded, "That is something I will consider. Thank you…"

~

Megumi was incredibly happy to be home. She had barely set her bag down when her brother and Ayu bombarded her with questions about her trip…Kyoto, the Aoiya, the train incident…

She must have talked for nearly two hours when she finally was able to stop.

"I have an announcement," Kei spoke up once her stories were finished.

The lady doctor didn't miss the speculative glance between her brother and their assistant. Her curiosity piqued.

"We're getting married," Kei said quickly.

Megumi's gaze flew to Ayu, who smiled, eagerly anticipating her reaction. She must have not reacted at all, because Kei and Ayu's happy expressions immediately fell.

"Megumi-chan?" Kei prompted.

"I…I'm sorry…" Megumi stammered.

"I told Kei you wouldn't like the idea," Ayu murmured softly.

"No…that…that's not it…" Megumi waved her hand. "I…I'm shocked. I…I didn't think you ever planned to marry, that's all…"

Kei frowned. "What made you think that?"

"You…You never mentioned anything about starting a family or…" Megumi glanced at the two of them before smiling. "Although…something tells me that you only recently started thinking about settling down…"

She was genuinely happy for her brother. But she couldn't help but feel a brief sense of loss. Whether she was losing her sibling…or if she was alone once more…she wasn't entirely too sure…

**

A/N: Okay, so it isn't much. I have plans for Aoshi, Megumi, and Misao later on, and to be quite honest, I'm kinda in a hurry to get to those, as you can see by this chappie. =P But I do apologize for the sporadic updates…it seems that my AU muse has been monopolizing most of my creative time.