Tales from the Meiji Ward

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Aoshi made his way into the 'Meiji Ward' and silently waved at Shiro who was currently walking around the large living area with a clipboard and paper as he scribbled down some notes. He headed into the office, closing the door with his foot and sat down at the desk. Turning on the computer he waited for it to load up before beginning to type up his own personal report on how things had gone on his first day while constantly taking a sip from his cup of tea that he had brought from the cafeteria.

This morning he of course had been rudely awaken by Eclipse butting his head with her nose and purring loudly into his ear. God she could be annoying, but when his grumpy eyes finally opened to look into bright green ones he remembered he had not fed her last night. Slowly getting out of bed with Eclipse nearly making him fall over in his half-awake state as she ran in between his legs towards her bowls, he brought out her dry biscuits, milk and tin food for the day and fed the once again happy little cat. Aoshi recalled the day his friend Hannya had bought her from a pet store, almost laughing in mirth as his stoic quiet best friend buying a kitten, but after several visits he had grown a soft spot for her as well. And these days, because of something that happened one fateful night eight years ago, he was now Eclipse's owner. Though Aoshi was certain that Eclipse was the one that owned him as a mere nudge of her head to his cheek and she was instantly in his lap and purring loudly as he pet her while watching something on television or reading a book.

Typing quickly away on the computer, eyes occasionally darting out the window to make sure someone wasn't causing too much trouble, Aoshi stopped immediately when he saw Misao walk past, head tilted to the tiled floor as she continued on her way and out of his range of sight. Sighing at the lack of interaction he had with her last night Aoshi began to type up what he thought of Misao in the report and then sent it via email to Dr Takani. He knew she wanted updates once a week but Aoshi thought it best if there were responses, analysis done or patients leaving his ward then she needed to know what was going on. Hearing a knock at the door Aoshi watched it open to see Shiro poke his head inside.

"I'm not interrupting anything am I?" Aoshi shook his head logging out of the computer system and finished off his tea before throwing the cup into the bin.

"I'm very impressed Shinomori-san, you've made an amazing change even though it has only been one day."

"Oh, why do you say that?" Aoshi questioned the man and sat back in the office chair while Shiro took up the other.

"Kamiya-san has not raised her voice or tried to attack Sagara-san and Yukishiro-san hasn't spoken about his sister yet."

"I'm quite sure that Yukishiro's behaviour is because of Saitou-san not I, but Kamiya-san only changed because I was firm and direct with her and the fact of the matter is that there is no more brooms lying around here to hit Sagara-san with. If you take a little bit more time to perhaps talk to them, try to get into their heads to find out what they are feeling then you will get a little bit closer to helping them in the end."

"Oh, by the way, I found this lying folded up on the floor near the door." Shiro spoke while lifting up the blanket and placed it on the desk. Aoshi quirked his lips lightly.

"So, she can hear me. That is very good news."

"She who Shinomori-san?"

"Makimachi Misao."

"She spoke!?!" Shiro gasped in surprise but watched Aoshi shake his head.

"I found her last night sitting in that chair she always sits in during the day and got her this blanket. I told her because it is cooler during the night that she needs to bring a blanket with her if she is to stay up. I am glad that she can hear what I am saying even if she does not voice anything. By the way Shiro-san, do you know why she sits at that window?"

"I'm not sure, but I noticed one evening it is the best place to have a look at the stars, so I thought she liked looking at them."

"Or she's looking for someone in them."

"What?"

"Nothing, just talking to myself. Well I suppose I should make myself known to them now." Aoshi remarked and got out of the chair to head for the door.

"If you do have trouble Shinomori-san, please call for me alright?" Aoshi made an affirmative noise before closing the door and glanced around the room. As usual Yukishiro sat at a table by himself and stared down at a book not being able to turn the pages. Not too far from him was the scrutinising gaze of Saitou and sitting beside him reading quietly was Tokio. In the middle of the room sat Kaoru and Kenshin chatting quietly about something and not too far from them Yahiko was remembering the strokes he, Kenshin and Saitou had helped him correct from yesterday. Further to his right Sanosuke Sagara was leaning against the wall and chewing on the end of another pencil and Hiko hadn't even made it into the living room yet. Moving his green-grey eyes once more he found Misao sitting curled up in the seat that just looked too big for her petite form and staring lifelessly out the window as usual.

"Takeda-san, can we have that chat now?" Aoshi questioned and watched as she pulled down the book from her face and turned her dark eyes to his. She wasn't the only one who stared over at him as golden eyes did as well. Watching as Tokio excused herself from Saitou's presence, she then headed his way and stared up into his eyes, as she too was a short petite woman much like Misao was.

"So after what I let slip yesterday, how do you feel?" Aoshi found it amusing as she lightly blushed, making sure she was not facing Saitou who was continuously watching their conversation unfold even though he could not hear it.

"I was definitely shocked when you voiced that he resembled a wolf, I thought…I was the only one to see it." She broke off at that and shuffled in her standing position.

"I know you suffer from many hallucinations, but do not be afraid about this one, he is in fact quite the mean and cunning wolf I believe."

"He is not always like that honest!" She voiced louder and then quickly slapped a hand over her mouth. Aoshi's semi hidden eyes moved over Tokio's shoulder to see Saitou leaning back in his chair, but with one eyebrow raised. Obviously he had heard that confession.

"Does he know that you like him?" Watching her blush made Aoshi smirk. He truly was good at reading in between the lines. His smirk was lost as he silently blamed Hiko once more for his self-compliments and then turned his eyes back to the large brown ones looking up at him.

"Iie…I can't…"

"Oh…and why not?" Watching her shrug, Aoshi began to form a plan.

"Have you ever thought about testing Saitou-san?"

"What?" But before Tokio could question the newest intern into the ward she gasped lightly as his strong arms quickly wrapped around her slender body bringing her towards his firm chest.

"Shi-Shinomori-san!" She whispered and then everything went quiet when there was the sharp scrapping of a chair before it fell over and echoed as it hit the floor. Quickly pulling away Aoshi placed his hands on Tokio's shoulders and bent down so he was eye level with her blushing face.

"Ah, I see the wolf is very angry when it comes to someone invading his territory and property."

"What?" Tokio voiced still trying to analyse what the hell had just happened, but her large brown eyes had now been turned to the standing Saitou as Aoshi had turned her around to face his tense form. She gasped lightly as she noticed he was heading towards the both of them with his hands fisted at his sides. It was evident that Hajime Saitou had no idea at how he was reacting right now. Before Saitou could even say anything Aoshi piped up as though nothing was out of the ordinary.

"Ah Saitou-san you are here just in time. Tokio-san is not feeling well today and I thought that perhaps a hug would help. I'm sure you know that hugging is a good remedy for stress relief but I fear she is too tense in my arms and perhaps yours would be better." At the sudden push in between Tokio's shoulder blades she stumbled forward and of course straight into Saitou.

"Maybe now the wolf will not be so stupid." Aoshi taunted the narrowed-eyed Saitou before heading off, but not before catching Tokio's apologises as she broke from the light embrace, face blushing profusely as she did so.

"It is quite alright Tokio-san…and its Hajime." Her deep brown eyes had widened at his words before she nodded her head and a smile graced her lips. Moving further away from Saitou and his "territory" Aoshi made his way towards the quiet Yukishiro Enishi and sat in the opposite chair to him.

"Have you finished staring at that page Yukishiro-san?"

"Eh? Oh yes." He replied back and turquoise eyes widened as Aoshi moved his hand over the desk and opened the book for him.

"Have you always wanted to read this book?" Aoshi questioned the man who was now reading the first page of the picture book. It wasn't exactly an adult book and Aoshi wondered if perhaps Yukishiro had a mental problem of still thinking he was a child more then anything.

"This book…was the last book my sister ever read to me. She is…dead now." He mumbled while his eyes briefly lifted to green-grey as though telling Aoshi he had finished. Aoshi remained silent as he continued to flip the pages for the man in the straight jacket until the end of the book came.

"I can hear her voice, hear the softness within it as she sits by my bed and reads to me. I also see as she takes her own life because she loves a man that doesn't love her back. I was too young to understand the pain she was going through, but now that she has gone, I begin to understand what pain feels like."

"Besides her voice what do you see?"

"Hatred towards the man that did not ever love her." Aoshi finally took notice that turquoise eyes were watching as Kenshin and Kaoru walked passed.

"Aa, I see now." Came Aoshi's mumbled reply before making Enishi turn his eyes back to him."

"You know you might not believe me when I say this, but I too know what it's like to loose a sister. I had two once, both younger then myself."

"What happened?" Aoshi was surprised that the man in his 20's was interested in his story. Perhaps if he worded it correctly then it would make this man understand his feelings and frustration's a little bit more.

"My parents argued constantly and so when they divorced my sisters went with my mother and I stayed with my father. Though they are not dead I have not seen them in three years now."

"Why so long?"

"They returned here for our father's funeral."

"Did you cry for him?" How weird it sounded when a man asked if another cried, but Aoshi shook his head negatively and watched as turquoise eyes narrowed as though ready to curse him for not grieving.

"I grieved in my own way, but I knew that if I cried my sisters would have cried and wouldn't have known why. They were too young to understand what death meant even though they now know their father isn't coming back, but being strong for them was something I had to do. If I weren't strong for them my father would have been displeased. If he was here now and ever heard the words 'my fault' and 'why could I not do anything to stop it from occurring' leave my lips he would have been sad for me. I do not want the memory of my father being a sad one."

"So…you became stronger…for your sisters?" Enishi softly questioned and watched as Aoshi took the book from his side of the table and closed it shut.

"Do you think Tomoe-san would be happy to see you like this?" Not voicing anything at Aoshi's question Enishi got up and headed back down the dark corridor as he once more headed towards his room.

"Is all that really true Shinomori-san?" Aoshi moved in the chair at hearing Tokio voice that question to him as he saw that she and Saitou had been listening in. Not that it wasn't hard or anything…

Smirking at the both of them he heard a chuckle escape Saitou's lips.

"You lying bastard."

"I merely twisted the truth to become a bit more dramatic to see if it would affect Yukishiro-san a bit more."

"Oh, how so?"

"I have no sisters." Aoshi retorted back before rising from the chair and headed for the one he desperately wanted a response from. Moving to crouch at the foot of the chair, Aoshi peered his green-grey eyes up at Misao.

"Thank you for returning the blanket." Aoshi lightly spoke and watched as Sagara walked on by, cinnamon eyes glancing hopelessly at him for trying to communicate with the supposedly "mute" girl.

"What is it that you see out there Misao?" No response as he thought and so he sat on the floor, hands resting on his raised knees while he continued to have a one sided conversation with himself.

"Are you wishing to get out of here or are you searching the skies for something more…perhaps reassurance?" There was a blink but no reply.

"Do you search the skies for him, for your grandfather Misao? I know slightly what happened, but do not know what you truly saw so I cannot begin to perceive what you are seeing within that fragile heart of yours. Do you wish to reach out to him, to try and save him from death? Perhaps you wish to see his face once more. A shape of him in the clouds during the day and a twinkle from a star at night as though he is trying to reach you from up there. Is that why you sit here day in and day out, longingly waiting for a vision of him to come to you and yet you are disappointed each time when you cannot find him up there?"

"Excuse me Shinomori-san?" Aoshi moved his eyes from Misao's and noticed Shiro was waving him over. Getting up from the floor Aoshi brushed off the back of his black trousers and glanced down at Misao's face.

"We shall speak later." He remarked and then headed for Shiro to see what he wanted.

Unbeknown to the both of them, Aoshi having headed off towards Shiro never seeing what had transpired and Misao so lost within herself never even felt the tear that glided its way down her porcelain face. Somewhere deep within her lifeless body there was someone crying out to be heard, but as expected she remained seated in that very chair and continued to stare her ocean orbs up at the blue sky.

# Hours pass by #

Day turned to night as Aoshi made his last rounds of the Meiji Ward before knocking off and stared green-grey eyes over at the occupied chair. His lips twitched however when he noticed that Misao had a green blanket wrapped around her form. As he stood near the double security doors, pondering whether to head on over to her or leave her be, Aoshi thought it best to leave her be. He had spoken so much to her in one sitting and perhaps she needed to think over his words if they had sunk further enough into her mind and heart. If a simple gesture of a blanket had made its way into her mind to actually bring one with her this time, then perhaps many more of his thoughts, suggestions and personal opinions would sink in as well.

"Good night Misao." Aoshi once more spoke but as usual never received a reply. He shook his head, but at least he could be glad that she had a blanket this time and swiped his card through the machine as he let himself out. He would continue to talk with her, even if it was once a day, but knew that persistence would always pay off in the end. And with that he could only wait and hope and give her what he thought were three very important factors in life.

Guidance,

Patience,

And most of all…

Time…

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To be continued…

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