Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin isn't mine. It belongs to Nobuhiro Watsuki, and unless you ARE Nobuhiro Watsuki, It probably isn't yours, either.

"Women . . ."

". . . Are scary."

-Sagara Sanoske and Myoujin Yahiko.

XXXXX

Misao groaned. Her head still hurt, but it was nothing compared to when she woke up yesterday. Ugh, it hurt just to think about it. Misao looked to her right on the far side of the room, expecting to see Hiko's bed sheets to be all folded nicely. Actually, they were still on the floor, as if Hiko expected someone else to use them.

Hiko's futon was quite large. It looked as thought he had to sew two together to suffice his large body. Misao paused, thinking about what Hiko looked like when he slept. He always went to bed after Misao fell asleep, and woke up before her. She pondered over this when a soft breathing caught her attention. She looked over to her left.

Aoshi was sitting against the wall holding his kodachis against him. Misao didn't sure whether to feel guilty. She had a nice futon while Aoshi had the wall and his kodachis. It suddenly hit her why Hiko left his bed sheets out. Misao sighed; Aoshi was one of the lightest sleepers in the world. She remembered when Omasu had done the very thing of moving Aoshi into a more comfortable position without waking him up . . .

FLASHBACK!!!!

It was the third day of heading back to Kyoto from Tokyo. Okon, Omasu, and Aoshi came to pick her up. Misao had been helping Kenshin and the others – along with a boy named Yutaro – with a case involving the Sonata (spelling?) Ninjas and a "Divine Elixer".

Aoshi had refused to sleep the two nights before, saying something about 'keeping watch'. That's Aoshi for you. Anyway, Okon and Omasu finally convinced Aoshi that they were perfectly capable of 'keeping watch'. He slept against a tree holding –guess what? – his kodachis.

Okon sighed. "He's not going to loosen up, is he?" She hugged a sake bottle close to here. Omasu smiled.

"He looks so much like he did back then when he's sleeping, don't you think?"

Okon kind of shrugged. "I guess. But . . . I don't think that position's too comfortable. He's going to be tired in the morning."

"You're right . . . Misao-chan-"

"Don't call me that!"

"Misao-chan!! For the last time—YOU'RE NOT THE OKASHIRA!"

Misao pouted. Okon glared at Omasu.

"Not so loud. You'll wake him up."

"Now Misao," Omasu said again, being sure to not add the 'chan', "Can you lay a blanket down right over there?"

"Here?" Misao asked.

"Just turn it a bit- no, the other way. Perfect." Omasu said. She approached Aoshi quietly. She soothed her hand over to his kodachis and gave them a light tug. Aoshi tightened his grip subconsciously. Omasu place her hand over his, sort of massaging them has she moved her hands in a circular motion.

Misao watched in awe, cringing every now and then. Okon was grinning ear to ear. (assuming this was possible)

Aoshi's grip loosened and Omasu took the kodachis, promptly handing them to Misao.

'He's still sleeping!' Misao thought, gripping on to the kodachis as if her life depended on it.

Omasu slowly moved Aoshi down and laid him on the blanket. Then she covered him with another. Okon bundled up his meditation robe and stuck it under his head, using it like a pillow.

"How – How'd you do that?" Misao asked. Omasu smiled.

"When Aoshi-sama was young, he always trained so hard . . . Sometimes he fell asleep in positions like this. He'd be so tired, that it wouldn't be too hard to move him to a futon. Though, as he got older, we couldn't just pick him up and move him. All we could do was lie him down on some bed sheets. I've seen other Oniwabanshuu members do it before. I've done it once or twice myself in the past," she explained.

"Wow . . ." Misao gazed at Aoshi. She giggled at the sight of Aoshi sleeping – he looked so cute! Almost . . . child like . . .

END FLASHBACK

Misao shook her head. Back then, Aoshi hadn't slept for days. Plus, Omasu had been soft and soothing, something Misao was sure she couldn't do, especially with Aoshi. She shrugged, the least she could do was use the blanket. She crawled over, snatched it, crawled back, and place the blanket over him.

By then, Misao had noticed the book right next to him. There was a leaf sticking out of one of the pages. She didn't think that Aoshi would want any of the pages getting smudged because of it, so she took it out. She snuggled back into her/Kenshin's futon, and slept.

Aoshi stirred. It felt late . . . Aoshi hoped he didn't oversleep. He noticed the blanket on him and wondered who put it there. Misao was sleeping – she couldn't have done it. Leaving . . . Hiko. Aoshi mentally cringed. Why in the world would Hiko give him his blanket. Aoshi considered that Hiko was gay for a split second. The thought quickly erased. He was definitely one more to go after the ladies. CoughOkon!cough. Aoshi was then reminded of Kamitari. They met while Aoshi was staying at the hideout in Mt. Hiei.

She . . . he . . . Kamitari (and Soujiro) had first seen him walking down one of the hallways.

Yay, another FLASHBACK.

"Oh my! You're a new face around here! Oh, I bet you're taking Chou's place, am I right?"

Aoshi walked right past him.

"Hey!"

"Hello there, Shinomori-san! How are you today?" Soujiro asked. Aoshi ignored him, too. The kid kind of freaked him out.

After Aoshi had turned one of the corners, Kamitari whispered to Soujiro.

"Hey, Sou-chan? Who was that?" He asked.

"His name's Shinomori Aoshi. He's not really taking Chou's place, though. He's just working with Shishio-san to be able to fight with Battousai," Soujiro explained.

"I see . . . Shinomori Aoshi, huh? He certainly does look handsome. I'm sure Shishio-sama won't mind if I use my charm on someone other than him," said Kamitari. He hurried off around the corner. Soujiro sweatdropped.

"Oh my . . . I hope he doesn't get himself killed . . ."

Kamitari found Aoshi in Houji's room, doing some maintenance on his kodachis.

"Hello again!" Kamitari greeted with a genki-ish smile.

Aoshi's first thoughts: 'Kami, what a loser.'

"Sou-chan told me all about you. So, Aoshi-sama, what are you doing?" Aoshi froze in the middle of re-attaching the hilt to one of his blades. Aoshi-sama. Misao called him that. Even after Okina . . . Nevermind. Wait . . . why was this guy calling him sama? Oh, wait that's right . . . Soujiro told him: He's gay. Aoshi was (becoming) a victim of a gay man's flirting.

Kamitari waited for Aoshi's response. Nothing.

'I'm not going to let that get me down!' Kamitari thought.

"I'm Kamitari by the way," he informed Aoshi.

"I have no interest in other men," Aoshi blurted out. Then he mentally whacked himself. No, not whacked. Only girls whack. He mentally stabbed himself.

"I . . . see . . ." There was an awkward silence for a few moments.

"What's going on in here?"

Aoshi and Kamitari both looked over to the doorway; where Houji, Yumi, and Shishio stood.

"Oh! Uh, Hello Shishio-sama! Lovely day isn't it?" Kamitari asked.

Aoshi mentally whacked – er - stabbed Kamitari.

"I wouldn't know," Shishio replied. Houji looked . . . disturbed. Yumi looked delighted for some odd reason.

Aoshi sheathed his kodachis. On occasions like this, he would have simply walked out the door and pretended like that incident never occurred. However, the doorway was blocked, so Aoshi sat there like a moron.

Yumi cleared her throat. "Kamitari, may I speak with you?" Kamitari flinched from the break in silence.

"Of course," he replied and rushed out to the hallway with Yumi. Now only Houji, Shishio, and Aoshi were left.

They sat/stood there for a few minutes before Shishio turned and left; Houji followed.

This left Aoshi to one conclusion:

Shishio definitely had some screwed up people working for him.

Whatever. Aoshi just hoped Hiko didn't expect him to clean up.

He stood, brushing off wrinkles in his gi, snatched his book and kodachis, and went outside. The sun was hardly up, but it was still relatively light out. Enough to read, anyway. Aoshi had given up meditating while Hiko was around.

Aoshi picked a spot and opened his book. He began searching around for the leaf figuring it fell in between two of the pages. After a minute, Aoshi concluded that the leaf merely fell out. This aroused a problem, though. He really didn't have any idea of where he left off. He went to the page he thought he finished at. After a paragraph or so, he'd realize he already read this part, and would skim for another few pages, read a paragraph, and skim again.

Aoshi slammed the book down in frustration. He walked to his bag and rummaged through it. Didn't he bring anything besides a book? Paper, and lots of it.

Two cranes, a frog, and six flowers. Aoshi wasn't sure if he had ever been truly "bored" before. He didn't like this feeling. He fumbled around with a blue paper, making a rather lazily folded crane. Aoshi tossed it over in the 'pile'.

Aoshi wondered if he should name them. Right . . . he'd name the blue crane Sanoske, the yellow flower Kaoru, and – WHERE WERE THESE THOUGHTS COMING FROM!?!?!?

Aoshi groaned, having realized some very important discoveries that morning.

One, never use leaves as bookmarks.

Two, being bored sucked.

Three, people get very odd thoughts when bored.

"Hey, you're going to have to teach me to make those sometime."

Four, you don't pay attention to things when your bored.

Five, you get annoyed really easily when your bored.

"What?" Aoshi responded angrily. Hiko smirked.

"It's only your third day here, Shinomori- bored already?"

Aoshi almost threw Sanoske at him.

"What do you want?" Aoshi asked.

"Your worshipper washed to know where her Aoshi-sama was, you've been gone for 3 hours."

Six, time goes faster if you're bored, not just when you're having fun . . . or when you're watching a duel to decide the future of Japan.

Seven, I make origami really slow.

"Where is Misao now?" Aoshi asked. Hiko smirked again.

"I sent her down the mountain. She has some merchandise to sell for me," he said.

"Rather cruel, don't you think?" Aoshi asked skeptically.

Hiko shrugged. "I don't see anything wrong with it. Anyway, come back to the hut, you're probably hungry. And bring your little projects."

Eight, I have pity for Battousai.

Aoshi followed Hiko inside, where Hiko handed him a fishing rod.

"What . . .?"

"You were hungry right? So go get lunch."

". . ."

"What? Don't know how to fish?"

Nine, I can't fish.

Aoshi stared at Hiko, then the fishing rod in his hands.

'He tricked me . . .'

Ten, I hate Hiko Seijurou.

(Warning: Sketchiness up ahead!)

X

"Fine pottery! Get your fine pottery right here!" Misao shouted. This really stunk. First, she had to climb down the mountain carrying all that junk. And NOW no one was buying it. She wasn't allowed to come back up until she sold all of it, too.

One lady had come by and saw Misao. She bought the cheapest thing out of pity. But that was about it.

"Get your stupid pottery right here . . ." Misao grumbled.

"What are you doing, itachi?"

Misao cringed. She knew that voice. She hated that voice. She hated the person who the voice belonged to. Still cringing, she slowly looked to her right.

Saito Hajime was watching her, looking as smug as ever.

X

Aoshi sighed, wondering what Misao was doing. It must have been fun, being back in the city selling pottery as if you were gaining the money yourself. However, Aoshi was not in such a position. He had been sitting on his arse waiting for a fish to tug on the line of the fishing pole for what seemed like days. Eventually, Aoshi got sick of holding it and stuck it in the ground, supporting it with rocks.

Then he just watched the water go by . . . It was like fire. It never really ceased . . . you could just watch it forever . . . Then again . . . water and fire were so different . . .

Aoshi paused. He must be bored again. Suddenly, something tugged the fishing line. Aoshi grabbed the pole and pulled. And came flying out . . . was some algae. Aoshi examined the pole. One of its more sensitive areas had snapped.

Kuso. And Kuso again.

X

"What do you want?" Misao asked through clenched teeth. Saito smirked.

"I was just wondering why you were selling pottery and why you weren't out the Aoiya. They kick you out?" he asked.

"NO! I'm doing this for-"Misao froze. What was she going to tell him? The truth? Pfft, yeah right. "- a friend."

"Is that so? And—which 'friend' would this be?" Saito asked again.

"Uh . . . Nobuhiro . . . Watsuki . . ." Misao muttered. Saito smirked again.

"Why couldn't HE sell this pottery?"

"Sick, of course. 'Came down with a bad fever," Misao lied.

"Then, shouldn't you be helping your friend back to health instead of selling pots?"

"Yeah, well. That's what I say - but – his work is everything to him. He insisted I go sell these for him." Misao was getting good at this. Lying, that is.

"So . . . Where does this Nobuhiro Watsuki live? I'd like to have a word with him."

"Would you stop asking these questions!?" Misao screeched, garnering the attention of close bystanders, watching a young girl arguing with a police officer.

"Then tell me the truth, itachi. If you stole these I'm going to have to put you under arrest, and Shinomori isn't around to bail you out, either," Saito said.

"Stupid fake cop out to get me . . ." Misao grumbled under her breath.

"I heard that."

Misao groaned.

"Fine! I'll tell you . . . You'd better not laugh . . ." Misao REALLY wanted her kunai.

X

'Stupid . . . broken . . . fishing pole . . .'

The bamboo had been tied back together with of string.

Aoshi still hadn't caught anything.

'THAT'S IT.'

Aoshi removed his shoes, rolled up his pants knee high, grabbed the longer of his two kodachis, waded out into the river, and stabbed at the first moving thing he saw, which happened to be a fish. Aoshi repeated this three more times and tossed all four fish into a bucket. He put his shoes on, rolled his pants back down, sheathed his kodachi, grabbed the bucket and fishing rod, and marched back up to Hiko's hut.

The fact that it only took ten minutes to stab the fish compared to the hours of waiting for something to pull on the fishing pole made Aoshi even angrier.

X

Saito smirked, and then he smirked some more.

"Stop smiling like that!" Misao yelled. "I told you not to laugh!"

"I didn't," Saito replied. "Well, I should be going, itachi. Have fun."

"You . . ."

"Excuse me? Miss?"

"Hey! You're Arai Seikuu, aren't you?"

Saikuu looked at Misao for while. "Yes! I remember you. Misao. You were Himura-san's friend. How has he been? He still has the sword, yes?"

"Yeah! He's been great! That's some awesome sword all right . . . Oh, right! What can I help you with?" Misao asked.

"That vase . . ." Saikuu started, pointing at one of the pottery pieces, "Would make a very fine gift for Azusa. You see, her birthday's coming up, and . . . well, you know. And the one that looks like a rabbit would do well in Iori's room.

Misao smiled and nodded. "I see. Well, I couldn't possibly make you pay . . ."

Saikuu shook his head. "No, it'd be best if I paid. I'll even give you a tip."

"I-I couldn't . . ."

"It's all right . . ."

"If you insist . . ." Misao, was getting VERY good at lying. (just kidding.)

Saikuu began to walk off with the vase and rabbit when he turned around.

"Didn't you work at an inn? Why are you selling pottery?"

"Well . . . I lost a bet, you see . . ."

"Ah."

X

Hiko examined the fish's 'stab wounds'.

"You cheated," he stated.

"I did not 'cheat'," Aoshi retorted, "You never said specifically that I had to use the pole."

Hiko put the fish down and looked over the fishing rod. "I liked this one. You're going to have to pay for breaking it, you know."

". . ."

"Well, better go cook these." Hiko said, taking two of the fish.

Later on, when the fish were cooked, Hiko came out with a sake bottle and two cups.

"I told you. I don't drink. I have no tolerance for it," Aoshi said promptly.

Hiko sat across from him. "And what's that supposed to mean? Can't hold your sake?"

Aoshi didn't reply.

"I'm just kidding," Hiko said. "You've never had a sip of the drink even once in your life, have you?"

". . ."

"I know about you. The grand Okashira of the Oniwabanshuu."

Aoshi knew where this was going. Another one of Hiko's psychology sessions.

Hiko continued. "When you were younger, you saw what alcohol could do to a man. You thought if other members saw you drunk, they'd see you as weak. And you didn't want that, did you?"

Aoshi's right hand eased over to his kodachis.

"Well, do you think that anyone would think you were weak if you were drunk now? It sounds a bit self conscious if you ask me."

Aoshi silently gripped one of the hilts.

"I wouldn't try that. I did teach the guy who beat you, right?"

". . ." Aoshi let go.

"That's better. Now, we're the only ones up here. The itachi's not coming back for a while. Half of the items I gave her were my worst. Nobody's going to even look at those unless she gives them away for free. She wouldn't dare try that. She thinks she has to get money for every item, even though I never said that.

"You don't have to worry about here seeing or hearing anything. Just one drink. In the case that you do get drunk, anything you say will stay strictly confidential. Unless the Okashira's a coward, of course."

Aoshi scoffed. "Little insults aren't going to work."

"So you're afraid then. What kind of man is afraid of a sip of sake? My baka deshi's probably more of a man than you'll ever be."

That crossed the line. That no killing, long haired, pink wearing, laundry doing, rurouni was manlier that Shinomori Aoshi?

"One drink," Aoshi said. Taking the cup from Hiko's hand.

Hiko hid his smirk and poured some sake into Aoshi's cup. Aoshi immediately took a large sip. One second later, his eyebrows furrowed.

"It tastes bad."

"That's what all first-timers say. You'll get used to the taste. Want another?" Hiko asked.

"No. The agreement was one drink." Aoshi quickly finished the rest of his fish and left.

Hiko sighed. "Stubborn isn't he? Well, there's always tomorrow . . ."

Later that afternoon, about a few hours later, a disgruntled Misao came stomping back up the mountain. "I . . . HATE you . . ." she growled to Hiko, before marching inside.

"Doesn't everybody?" Hiko asked himself.

X

"Darn . . . Hiko . . ." Aoshi threw another barrage of kicks, punches, and slashes midair.

(A/N I was originally going to have Aoshi curse here, twice, in fact, but that would be rather uncharacteristic of him. Besides, the story's PG)

He'd been going none-stop ever since lunch. He'd practice with his swords, then he'd practice kempo. He repeated this over and over . . . and over until . . .

Aoshi reversed his kodachis and used Kaiten Kenbu Rokuren on another tree, making a total of six trees. Well, technically, he punched one down and kicked another, but, same difference.

He continued this until his legs finally gave out. He collapsed to the ground, panting heavily.

'Darn it, you stupid body! Get the hell up!' Aoshi mentally screamed at himself.

'Darn it . . .' Aoshi closed his eyes, drifting to sleep.

X

Misao had thought it weird when she saw the fish stabbed. Hiko explained that it was Aoshi's doing. Then Misao got angry at Hiko for making him fish.

"Aoshi-sama didn't have to do anything!" she had said.

Hiko shrugged. "What's the big deal? He wasn't doing anything anyway . . . Except for making these." Hiko showed Sanoske, Kaoru, the other two cranes, the other five flowers, and the frog to Misao.

"Aoshi-sama . . . made these?" She asked, cradling the paper in her hands.

"He was bored, all right."

Misao took a bite out of her fish. "I can't believe he still knows how to make these . . . even after all these years . . ." She shook her head. Misao definitely didn't want to get mushy around Hiko. She watched the sun go over the horizon. "Do you think I can have some more sake today?"

Hiko smirked. "Sure why not." He handed and poured Misao a cup.

She nodded in thanks. "Just- make sure that I don't have too much." Misao took a giant sip and asked for more.

"Only five," Hiko said.

"Okee dokee . . ."

-Three hours later-

"Hey! Wake up!"

"Nggg?"

"Get up, already!"

"Mmmmfff . . . dun wanna . . ."

"ITACHI!!"

Misao sprang up "DON'T CALL ME THAT!!"

"There."

The young ninja groaned. "I passed out again, didn't I? Ow . . ." She grasped her head.

"Three hours," Hiko told her.

"Three hours . . . Hey, where's Aoshi-sama?" Misao asked.

Hiko shrugged. "He's been out since lunch."

"It's really late out, though . . . Shouldn't he be back by now?"

"How should I know? He's probably fine."

Misao shook her head, causing her head to throb; she grasped it again. "I'm going to look for him. Can I borrow a lantern or something?"

"Sure. I'll give you your kunai, too, in case you run into a wild animal."

"'kay."

X

Aoshi hadn't moved since he passed out on the forest floor. In fact, he was dreaming . . . dreaming that Misao had woken up the day he left the Aoiya.

"Right then . . . Let's go," Aoshi said. Beshimi, Hyottoko, Shikijo, Hanya, and himself had begun to walk down the road when they heard a cry.

"Aoshi-sama!! Don't go!"

"Misao-chan?" Aoshi and the others turned around to see Misao chasing after them.

"Don't go, Aoshi-sama!"

Aoshi crouched down to be eye level with Misao.

"Gomen, Misao-chan. I can't take you with us. It's too dangerous."

"That's why I wanna come with you! Aoshi-sama! Please don't leave me here alone!"

Aoshi stood and turned, beginning to walk away.

"NO!! Aoshi-sama! Aoshi-sammaaaa!!!!"

"Aoshi-sama! Aoshi-sama!!! Please! Wake up!!"

"Misao . . . ?"

"Open your eyes!"

"Ahhh . . ." Aoshi cracked open one eye, then the other, eventually fully opening them both. He was in Misao's lap . . . She was . . . crying.

"I was so worried! I found you unconscious on the ground and you wouldn't wake up and – and . . ." Misao started sobbing on the spot.

"Misao . . . It's all right. I passed out. It'll be alright . . ." Aoshi hugged the weeping girl in a tight embrace.

'So . . . this is what he meant . . .' Aoshi thought.

"Then here's something you're not aware of. When I told that strong girl that I'd find you and bring you back to them she was so hopeful she couldn't control her tears. No matter how strong you say she is, she's only a sixteen year old girl. I understand she's had a hard life and used here wits to take control of her situation, but she's desperate for your guidance. You are the only one in the world she trusts to answer her questions and dry her tears. Will you abandon this girl for the sake of your pride!?"

"It's all right . . ." Aoshi whispered.

Misao let backed up sniffing and nodded. "Right . . . We should go back now. It's late."

Aoshi began to stand up. Pain erupted throughout his entire body.

"Aoshi-sama!"

"It's nothing. I'm just a little sour."

"Okay then. . ."

XXXXX

Yay. A fluff ending.

Quote Note:

Sanoske and Yahiko say this when they find a bunch of gangsters beat up by Misao, Kaoru, Okon, Omasu, and one by Megumi in episode 89.