Disclaimer: The usual...

The final installment.

Chapter 16: Midori

How can I tell him I've lost his daughter? Tetsu groaned as he glanced at Saitou lying senseless on the futon. He has been unconscious for three days since his showdown. The former captain had suffered massive blood loss. One leg was fractured and he had been stabbed clean through the chest by Ran's sword.

Still, he breathed, clinging on to life. Is it for Midori? If so… the news will kill him… Tetsu crumpled the letter as helpless tears came to his eyes.

Kenshin came by. "No change yet?" He asked. Megumi had not been too optimistic about Saitou's recovery. By some miracle, the blade had missed his vital organs. Still… Megumi had been mistaken before.

Izumi Ichiro had died in his sweetheart's arms that Obon night. The young man had suffered fatal internal injuries as side effects of his Demon Sword. Megumi had dropped Kenshin a well-meant warning about his Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu. Kenshin looked at his own hand. He wouldn't be able to use his sword soon… he'll be an ordinary man like Tetsu. He has a loving wife and a lovely son…

"I miss the old man!" Misao sobbed as they were returning to Aoiya after the cremation. Aoshi patted her on the shoulder. She ran. Misao was so blinded by her tears that she knocked into a little girl. The girl fell. Aoshi spotted a silvery-gray flash. A dog? No, it was a wolf that watched them from the dark alley. The beast loped off.

Aoshi was unsure whether it was a trick of the sunlight or a figment of his imagination. It was too surreal.

"Are you hurt?" Misao helped the child up. The girl was very young and very dirty as if she had walked a long way. Dust clung to her kimono. Her hair was unkempt with leaves caught in it. She looked half-starved. Was she a street kid?

"Aoshi-sama, look!" Misao gasped. It was the child's eyes that caught her attention. They were large and a curious shade of amber. Like one former Shinsengumi captain they know. "Let's give her a meal. The poor thing must be starving!"

Before Aoshi could protest, Misao had taken the child's hand and guided her into Aoiya.

The child was silent. She looked at the onigiri without touching them. "Did Kaoru make them?" Misao asked. Kenshin shook his head. "I made them. Kaoru's still too weak after Kenji." The samurai stared at the child. There was a queer resemblance to someone he knows. She stared back, her amber eyes fearless.

Who are you? The girl got up and walked unerringly towards Saitou's room.

"Papa!" Tetsu almost jumped out of his skin when he heard that little girl's voice. Midori ran past him to her father. At the sound of his daughter's voice, Saitou's eyes flickered open. He raised a hand to stroke his daughter's head. "Midori-chan?"

Words failed him. Tetsu smiled and left both father and daughter alone whilst he wrote a letter to inform Saya of Midori's safety. On the hill overlooking the city, the nameless silvery-grey wolf paused to let out one last lingering howl. It then loped into the forest, free at last of its ties to humankind.

Two weeks later. Kamiya dojo. Kaoru was busy attending to their new son. Yahiko has yet recovered from his injuries so it was Kenshin's job to do the marketing. It was in the marketplace that he ran into Katsu.

"Himura-san, what happened to her? Sagara Rei, the girl with Ichiro…She told me she was turning herself in…" The young man asked awkwardly. "She never showed at the police station…" Kenshin replied.

Kaoru had told Kenshin about the bond between Ran and Rei. Will Rei decide not to turn herself in at the last moment and start a new life alone? Sagara Rei had vanished. Katsu was the last person to see her.

"I see." Katsu's face fell. Was she alive somewhere? Or had she…

Kyoto. Tetsu was buying some trinkets for Saya when he ran into Aoshi and Misao. The redhead raised an eyebrow as he saw the lacy pink parasol and assorted items in the tall man's arms. Don't ask! Aoshi gave him a stern warning look. Misao had gotten over her depression at the expense of Aoshi's pocket.

"Shinomori-san, I'll be leaving for home today. Arigato for your hospitality. About Saitou-san and Midori…"

"We'll take good care of Midori-chan! And Mr. Personality can take care of himself!" Misao chirped.

"Good to see you so genki, Misao…"

"Ji-ya would want me to continue smiling, right, Aoshi-sama?" Aoshi nodded with a slight smile tugging at his lips. "I'm gonna revamp Aoiya! New furniture! New yutakas for the guests! With our inn's name on them!" Misao happily sang as she danced about Aoshi and waved her fans. Tetsu grinned. Aoshi shuddered inwardly. She's worse than Okina. Stilll…

Okita, you're incorrigible! How could you bring my Midori here? Saitou chided his friend. He had been meditating in the temple when Okita's spirit appeared in his mind's eye.

Midori had walked most of the way, with the occasional hitchhike on the back of some wagon. She kept out of sight of any fellow-travelers. She quenched her thirst from streams and springs by the roadside and fed on fruits and nuts. It was too dangerous a journey for a six-year-old to make alone. If Okita weren't already a ghost, Saitou would have killed him.

She chose to come after you. I simply kept her out of trouble. Okita shrugged as he hovered like a silvery haze on the edge of Saitou's consciousness. Midori-chan has your stubbornness, determination and courage.

Before Saitou can think of a suitable rebuke, Midori burst into the room and threw her tiny arms around him. "Papa!" She squealed and hugged him. "Is Papa better?" She asked sweetly. Saitou smiled and ruffled her hair. She had recovered from her journey, just as he recovered from his injuries.

"Hai, Midori, let Papa take you out. There's a stall that sells really delicious ramee…" He tickled her. Midori squealed in childish delight. So much for meditation. Okita smiled as he faded away. Midori waved goodbye. Both father and daughter will be alright.

(End)

Author's notes:

Thanks for the reviews. Love having Saitou show a nicer side to his personality. The meditation/ chat with Okita bit is more like the PMK Saitou than RK Saitou, but hey... Okita does need a bit of scolding for letting Saitou's daughter go to Kyoto alone...

Leaving the question of Sagara's kid sister hanging in the air.
Suppose Okita-san can finally rest in peace now...

Here ends this story. Thank you for putting up with this poor author. Sayonara till we meet again.