Hi I again hope you like it.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters except for Yuke

CHAPTER 3

"Yuke why don't you go over there and wash up" She said pointing at the river to her left. Yuke, forgetting about her question runs over to the little river. Misao watches Yuke for a moment, before turning to look at me. Our eyes looked together for a second before hers lower to the ground.

"Are you going to tell her about her family?" Misao's head shot up at my words. She slowly nodded her head, and then turned to look at Yuke who was now splashing around in the water.

"Yes I have too. But it will break her heart." She said sadly, looking at the little splashing girl.

"It will be better then than letting her believe they are alive." I offered. My words seemed to given her the courage she need as she started off towards Yuke. She stopped suddenly and turned back to me with a small smile.

"I am... happy to see you again after all these years." She turns back "I've missed you" She walks off.

"I missed you too" I confessed to myself. Misao walked up to Yuke and knelt down beside her. Her hands reached up and removed her hood for the first time. Pulling out a very long braid of silk, raven hair. She pulled it over her shoulder while her fingers nervously played with it. Yuke looked up from splashing around in the water with a big smile. That smile faltered when she saw Misao's troubled face. They started to speak but I was unable to hear because I was to far away. I knew when Yuke throw herself into Misao's arms she had been told about her family's death.

Misao just held Yuke for a while before she cried herself to sleep. She stood up and carried Yuke over to where she left the blanket borrowed from Kanryu. She wrapped yuke up in it but it was still to cold for her so Misao took off her coat and wrapped Yuke in it. Yuke stopped shaking and Misao brushed some stray hair that had fell into Yuke's face. Misao stood and walked over to the fire I had made earlier. She took a set across from me on the other side of the fire. She had defiantly grown, I admit as I admire her body.

"Where are the others" She asked breaking the silence. I knew she was talking about the other members of the oniwabenshuu.

"Kanryu sent them on a mission they should return tomorrow." I answered her. She flinched at Kanryu's name.

"What were his orders, Lord Aoshi" She asks boldly knowing I was not just here for myself, but I find myself reluctant to tell her.

"He wanted me to kill the child and take you back." I look up at her to see her reaction to my answer. Her hands were clinched tightly at her side as she gazed at yuke.

"Hasn't that monster taken enough away from that poor little girl" I watch as she realized what she said, her hand reached up to cover her mouth.

"Forgive me lord Aoshi I did not mean to speak rudely, but I knew that family they were so kind to me and now she is all that is lef..." I could tell she was near tears as she got up and walked over to the little river. She leaned over so she could see her reflection in the water. I was not setting to far from the river and saw the little ripples as her tears fell into the water. I felt greater anger towards Kanryu then ever before at site of Misao's tears. Before I knew what complied me to do it I was standing behind Misao. I kneeled down beside her, my hand reached out to lie on her shoulder.

"You were right to call him a monster for he is one." the silent tears that fell turned into full fledged sobs. She hurled herself into my arms much like yuke did to her earlier. Her whole body shook from the sobs. My arms, almost on there own accord raised and wrapped around her body pulling her closer. This reminded me of a time when Misao was little and had a nightmare.

Flashback

"AOSHI" a six year old Misao woke up from a nightmare. She was crying when Aoshi walked in. The hurled herself into his arms and cried herself to sleep.

End Flashback

I looked down and found her asleep once again, but this time she was not a little 6 year old girl, she was a 19 year old woman. I walked her over to where Yuke slept. When I laid her down she started to shake from the cold. So I removed my trench coat and laid it down over her in hopes of keeping her warm.

I gaze down at her peaceful face while she slept. She looks a lot younger when she sleeps, most likely it is because she has let her guard down. I walked over to the fire, and sat where I was sitting before. I will not, could not even think about killing that little girl, nor will I ever leave Misao in Kanryu's hands. I will just have to make up an excuse that is believable.

Well there it is hope you like it. Read and review.