"Aoshi-sama!"

He turned, wondering what on earth could make Misao-chan shout so gleefully.  And why was she holding that scroll like it contained the secret to enlightenment?

"Look, Aoshi-sama!  Look at what Tsukoika-san painted for me!  Look!"  She held the scroll out to him, practically trembling from excitement.

More than she normally was, he meant.

He unrolled the scroll slowly, more humoring Misao-chan than out of any curiosity to see how good of an artist they had housed a few nights ago.

Because he wasn't curious as to what any artist could paint that would make Misao-chan glow so brightly.  Not at all.

It was good to see his little sister so happy again, though.

The scroll unrolled fully, and momentarily struck all thoughts form Aoshi's mind.  Well, all save one: perfect.  It was perfect.

They were all there.  Hyottoko, Beshimi, Hanya, Shikijou, as well as Omasu, Okon, Shiro, Kuro, Okina, Misao-chan, and himself.  The entire Oniwabanshuu was there, in that painting.  Together – like they hadn't been for years.

He noticed, with an offhand look, that everyone in the picture looked as they did today; old Okina still old, Misao-chan almost grown, even he did not wear his once-signature trenchcoat.  He wondered if that meant anything, and decided it did.

He figure out what that was later, though.

Aoshi looked at his old friends, who looked as though any minute they might step off the paper and tell him no, it was all a joke, or course they weren't really dead, and they couldn't believe he'd fallen for it so easily.

They were smiling.

"This is …"  Aoshi looked up at Misao, whose eyes were shinning and almost suspiciously bright.  She smiled even wider, and he knew he didn't have to say anything.  He wouldn't have known where to begin.

"Isn't it?  TsukoikaTsukoika-san said it was to thank us for letting him stay here for free, and on such short notice.  He gave it to me to give to you."

"He is a very good artist," Aoshi murmured, more to make a noise than for any real reason – an almost unheard of happening.  "This would more than cover any expenses owed if sold."  But again, that was pure noise.  Aoshi had no intention of ever letting this painting out of his possession.  Still, one thing bothered him … "How did he know what they looked like?  Not even the best description could account for this degree of accuracy."

"He asked me if I had a picture,"  Misao replied, surprising him even more.  Misao-chan had a picture of Beshimi, Hyottoko, Shikijou, and Hanya?  "But … I never imagined he'd be able to make something like this – they're not even in the positions they were in in my picture!  Isn't he amazing?"

"Yes."  Aoshi studied the picture, memorizing every detail before rolling it back up.  It would be on a wall in his room this night.  He would have to thank TsukoikaTsukoika if he ever saw him again.  "He is."

They were smiling.  Beshimi, Hyottoko, Shikijou, and Hanya were smiling.  At him.

For him.

Misao-chan was smiling too.

Aoshi was too amazed, too grateful, too happy to smile.

But he felt like laughing.

*********************

Yay!  We're finally getting somewhere!  (I know it doesn't seem like it, but trust me, the picture is important – if only symbolically so.)  I'm not really satisfied with this but … it'll do.  I guess.

Lychee2: yes, Aoshi as a big brother is much better for Misao than Aoshi as a lover ever would be.  She will figure this out (*cough*grow up*cough*), eventually.  And yes, she will have two brothers eventually.  It'll take her a little time to cope with that fact, but it will happen.  (And it won't be Katamari, so you can relax.  In fact, pretty much none of the Juppongatana (sp? Who cares?  What's in a name – for this one, too many letters!) appear in here.  Well, I don't plan for them to.  What actually happens may be different.  Thanks for making this a fav!