'bout bloody time. Sorry! I was plagued by the all horrible writer's block literally all summer and I had to read over all my Kenshin manga about 50 times before I could get some form of inspiration. And still no inspiration came to me. Then my internet died. (I'm posting this from my school as I can't from home.) So then I watched both Samurai X OVA's. I was crying all over the place. So here it is. An update. So sorry for keeping everyone waiting.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

For a week, nothing happened. It was almost enjoyable. To be able to breathe without great worry weighing on their chests. Misao slowly began to improve. She ate more and Aoshi noticed that she didn't cry as much in her sleep. But he knew it would be awhile before she was going to truly smile again.

Megumi Takani came over from time to time to help cook for everyone (as Kaoru "failed to provide anything edible") and comfort Misao. But in the end, her efforts seemed to work just as well as everyone else's. All the used-to-be energetic girl did now was eat, sleep and stare at the wall.

'It's more than just Okina's death that has her like this.' Aoshi reasoned one night as he watched her, huddled in her blanket. 'When she learned the fate of Hanya and the others, her reaction was not as.....severe. She didn't go into a shock like this and for this long. Something else is plaguing her mind. I wish she would share it, and maybe then she will recover from this depression.'

As an idea to help lighten the gloomy mood that hung around the dojo, Kaoru decided to treat everyone to the Akobeko. Tae and Tsubame were full of smiles and cheer that they gave to them in their own efforts to lighten everyone's spirits. It seemed to work a little. Kaoru was almost certain she saw Misao hide a giggle when Yahiko went on a rant when Tsubame called him "Yahiko-chan."

After the wonderfully filling meal, they went out into the marketplace. Kaoru sold another ink painting that she had unearthed from her closet, left by her grandfather, and taking Misao by the hand, she and Megumi went to look at kimonos. Kenshin and Sanosuke were ordered by her to buy some fish for the evening meal. Aoshi, with nothing to do, decided to go with them and leave the girls be.

"Oh! Look at this pattern!" Kaoru exclaimed, holding up the lavender silk cloth that had maple leaves embroidered on it. Megumi laughed at the over energetic teen age girl but Misao remained silent. "Misao-chan!" said Kaoru abruptly. "What do you think of this one?" and she held the maple leaf kimono to the girl's shoulders. "I think it would look truly beautiful on you!"

Misao wordlessly took the soft cloth from Kaoru's hands and looked at her self in the mirror, holding it up to her chest, imagining herself in the garment. At last she said quietly: "Do you really think so?"

Megumi, seeing what Kaoru was up to, decided to help in her cheering up of Misao. "Of course, you silly. All you will need with it is the perfect ribbon for your hair." She leaned forward and with a teasing smile whispered: "I wonder what Aoshi would think of it."

Misao tried to hide her blush from them using the kimono, but both girls saw it and laughed playfully. Even Misao cracked a small, embarrassed smile when her blush had faded.

They met back up with Kenshin and the others after paying for the kimono and ribbon for Misao, who clutched it in its paper wrappings to her chest. She didn't look up at Aoshi when he asked her what it was and only answered in a small voice that it was a gift from Kaoru and Megumi. But Aoshi spotted a slight of pink dancing on her cheeks, and he didn't press any further. Even he had a small smile on his lips by the time they had returned to the dojo.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

A.N. Whoooo! And that's it for today folks! I'll try to get more up quickly. Please be patient with me though. I'm sorry for keeping you all waiting for sooooo long.

-Setren