Authors Notes: Oh right, yeah, so it is an AU, but just using around the Meiji Era…but its still difficult to do! Well from my point of view that is. I'm trying to keep Aoshi-sama in character, which is damned hard…and well Misao isn't genki Misao in this, not just yet anyway. There's a lot of hidden stuff Aoshi has to "discover" about her as well.

As to the whole "Is it Aoshi's baby" well I though the sentence structure of how he gave himself willingly to Misao was reason enough to suspect…and then confirm it was his with the whole "her swollen belly was evidence of this…" and so on. So please, think real hard before asking me again okay? ^_~

Now this is back in the past, so yeah that's about it. I'm sure the next chapter (chapter 4 when it comes out) is more in the past as well. I'll get back to the present from chapter two when I'm done with that and then it'll swap and change, but I'll warn you about that as the chapters roll on.

Oh, 'Hi Tori Ichizoku' means Fire Bird Clan and 'Kuru' means come. Enjoy! (^_^)

Burning Desire

~~~ Not so long ago (When Okashira met mysterious young woman) ~~~

He awoke to the soft chirping of summer birds. The cold winter days over now since the birds had come out so early. The young man had been up most of the night, working on reports concerning certain cases he and his men were involved in. The young man arose from his futon and padded over to the already opened window. No matter how cold it was during the night, he was one to sleep with his window open. It was as though he never truly slept because somehow, in some way he was always on alert making sure no intruders stepped foot into the Aoiya grounds.

The sun had not yet risen in the sky; this was just whom he was, late to bed early to rise. He had been that way for many years now. He turned his head to look into his dark room; a basin and a cold jug of water lay waiting to be used on his wooden desk. He now kneeled on the wooden floorboards; the water making swishing sounds as it filled the basin. Stripping himself of his night yukata top, he placed a clean cloth into the basin to drench it and then freshen himself up for the day. Scars aligned his body, just small puckered ones that had not been tended to properly enough. If they had been then hey wouldn't be so visible to the naked eye. He cupped his hands in the water, bending over slightly and splashed the chilled contents on his face while dampening his long bangs in doing so.

Footsteps leading up the stairs of the Aoiya home and then turning down the corridor could be heard. The semi clothed man grabbed a dry cloth and proceeded to dry himself of excess water. He stood up, dumping the water contents out the window and heard the footsteps stop at his shoji door. He knew those footsteps off by heart and before his subordinate could state he was here, his leader beat him to it.

"What is it Hannya?"

"Okon received this note by pigeon Shinomori-sama. It is addressed to you." Aoshi's eyes flicked over to his shoji door when it slid open but a crack and the folded paper slipped through, Hannya closing the shoji once more trapping the crisp paper within its grasp.

"Thank you Hannya. That will be all." He spoke in a low monotone of voice. His subordinate bowed and then disappeared leaving Aoshi to walk silently towards his shoji and pluck the paper from its place. His eyes scanned the crescent pressed into the paper by stamp and wax.

"Hi Tori Ichizoku ka?" He mumbled to himself before heading towards his desk, lighting a candle and peeling the folds back to read the contents of the letter. The candle flames danced in his steel green-grey eyes as they scanned over the contents. They narrowed as he continued to read and then his eyes shot to his weapons of choice, hidden in one sheath were two kodachi's, leaning against the wall close to were he had once laid in his futon. He had been sent a challenge and the Okashira of the Oniwabanshuu would never cower from any challenge no matter whom it was sent by. Aoshi dressed quickly into his deep purple uniform, a long white sash wrapped around his waist holding the uniform top closed as he slid open his shoji and headed downstairs with the note and his kodachi's in hand.

"Ohayoo gozaimasu Shinomori-sama."

"Ohayoo Okina." The man replied to the elderly ninja's greeting, but only kept walking as he headed for the front shoji to place on his shoes and head to the destination he had been "summoned" to go to by his challenger. As though all his other subordinates sensed something was up they had appeared in the large foyer area of the Aoiya home.

"Tell me Hannya, what is it that we know of the Fire Bird Clan?" All eyes silently peered between the okashira and Hannya, whose face was blocked by a white mask.

"Not much Shinomori-sama, they've never been discussed or even seen in Kyoto. Do you think they wish to take leadership in this very town Shinomori-sama?"

"Perhaps…" Aoshi spoke bluntly and slid the door open, placing on his shoes and then stood to his full height turning to gaze back at his small clan. There were only but ten members in the Oniwabanshuu in Kyoto, but each member knew that ninja's across Japan would come willingly to sacrifice their lives for the clan…if needs be that is. They had posts in every small village situated near Kyoto and even a large well-hidden clan in Edo.

"Begin the duties of opening up the restaurant front, I shall be back just as the sun rises." His ninjas watched him head silently towards the forest, the note now slipping into the front of his uniform top.

"You all heard what Shinomori-sama said, lets get to it." The old man spoke as he walked towards the kitchen with Shiro and Kuro close behind him. They all knew that a so called "challenge" from a clan that hadn't started terrorising the local folk in town weren't something to worry about…yet.

"Omasu, perhaps it is wise to place out the futons today. It appears summer has finally arrived."

"Hai, I was thinking the same thing Hannya." Omasu replied and headed upstairs with Okon whom was going to help her take them downstairs and then air them out on the bamboo posts near the bathhouse.

Hannya stood outside the main entrance, his head cast in the direction his okashira went, but turned away and headed towards the training hall instead. He knew it was pointless to keep an eye on his okashira as the young man would think of it as an insult rather then for his own good. To the okashira no one needed to protect him because his skills surpassed everyone else's, but still, his ninja's would die for their okashira's causes. His subordinates had each taken a silent oath amongst themselves: Protect the okashira, no matter the costs. Little did the Oniwabanshuu know that someone else would protect the Okashira soon enough.

*

Aoshi silently and calmly walked towards the clearing where a short man with his sword already raised stood. Aoshi glanced over at one of the Hi Tori Clan members and his eyes narrowed, as he knew this young boy was no match for himself.

"I have come to answer your challenge boy." Aoshi spoke in a deadpan voice, his eyes flickering over every inch of the short man in front of him. Though any normal man would not see, small sweatdrops began to appear on the base of his challenger's neck and his hands clenched the handle of his sword, this being a sign of nervousness.

"Kuru…" Aoshi spoke and a loud cry from the man in front of him erupted from his throat as he leapt forward, sword raised high above his head like an amateur. Aoshi swiftly dodged the attack; his kodachi's coming out of their sheath and with one swift move his challenger…had no head.

A cold breeze swept leaves through the partially shadowed clearing, Aoshi staring down at the decapitated body. The sharp blades of his weapons gleamed bright red, small droplets of the unknown man's blood staining the green grass.

"…A waste of my time…" Aoshi mumbled, but his ears picked up the sound of faltering footsteps. They had stopped dead in their tracks, breaking a twig in doing so, but before anything could be said or done he was behind the witness and his smaller kodachi pressed against their neck.

"You saw didn't you? I should kill you right now." Aoshi bluntly spoke in a deadly tone of voice. This person was short, about two heads shorter then himself…and quite frail as well. He had been waiting for pleads of mercy, for any struggles, but nothing came. The leader of the ninja clan peered sceptically down at his captive and noticed with surprise that it was in fact a young girl probably around 14 or 15 years old. He silently wondered why she had been walking in the forest by herself. Shaking his head of such stupid thoughts he pressed his kodachi even closer to her neck, almost piercing her skin, but not quite. His own steel eyes narrowed when he found hers were closed and her weak chi showed no signs of fear towards him. He finally knew why. She wanted to die.

"Pathetic…" He mumbled once and then took his blade away and instead hit her on the base of her neck once and only once. He watched her drop to the forest floor with a soft thump, his eyes taking in all of her as she had landed on her side. Her kimono was a faded green in colour, but one that seemed quite expensive at that. It was made to perfection with the finest silk and etched with sakura's. The obi was a deep green; contrasting perfectly with the sakura's which had been sewn into the kimono with the same colouring. However, it was old and dirty, bits of mud caked near the edge lining of it. One of the young girl's hands clasped a pair of deep green getas as well. Her kimono and under-kimono had parted open at her legs showing him the scratches and bruises lining her once pale skin.

Aoshi brought out some slips of crisp white paper, removing the blood from his sharp blades and resheathed them once more. He bent down picking the young girl up and swung her over his shoulder. He watched the getas fall from her hands to the forest floor and picked those up along with a small bag she had dropped near the tree line of the clearing. He had not noticed that until now. He calmly headed towards the Aoiya, the sun starting to peak over the horizon. As he kept a good hold on the unconscious girl, his mind reeled in the fact of why did he let her live. He shook his head of any thoughts and opened the gate to the Aoiya and stepped inside knowing one simple fact that was true to him: He would not kill an innocent.

"Shinomori-sama?" His eyes peered up as Okon and Omasu spoke his name, watching as he came closer, their eyes growing wide as he dumped the young woman on the porch near the bathhouse. It was then that his other ninja's began to emerge from their respected places, silently shocked that their leader had brought back an outsider.

"She was unconscious in the forest, clean her up and place her in a spare room upstairs. I shall attend to her once you are finished, understand?" He spoke sternly and watched Okon and Omasu take the limp girl from the porch and head for the bathhouse.

"Hannya, a word if you don't mind." He contorted once more and headed for his downstairs office with his most trusted spy following him. He opened the shoji, flicking open the shutters and proceeded to sit down at his wooden desk, his hands deftly picking up his paperwork from last night and storing them away.

"The challenger was but an amateur Hannya, so I wish for you to find out as much information as possible about the Hi Tori Ichizoku. I am confident that you can do this on your own, so please report to me once a day on your findings. Now tell me, what do you think I should do with our new…guest?"

"That is only a question you can answer Shinomori-sama. I may suggest many things, but only you can do the right thing, which I might add you have done so already." Aoshi quirked an eyebrow at Hannya's response. Yes, he had done the right thing hadn't he? He had after all let her live. She now owed him a debt…a life debt.

"I shall speak with her once she awakens and find out as much information as I can, perhaps… That will be all Hannya." Aoshi had died off and waved his spy out of the office; he now left alone with his thoughts once more.

*

(Upstairs in the Aoiya)

A rustling from the futon could be heard. It was then accompanied by a groan, which made the hidden man straighten up in his posture since he had been slouching against the wall waiting for the young girl to awaken. The window was opened, casting a warm sunlight glow over the young girl. Her hair was now unclasped from its bun and pooled behind her in a ruffled mess. The make up she had been wearing was gone and she was now placed in a white yukata, Okon and Omasu having bathed and dressed her.

"You awoke quickly, I am impressed." He spoke from the dark corner of the room, watching as the young girl did not flinch and instead turned her sea coloured eyes towards his hidden figure. Aoshi headed towards her, his bare feet padding softly on the floorboards until he was beside her. He crouched down, resting on the balls of his feet as he stared impassively at her.

"You…you're from the forest…" Her soft voice fluttered to his ears, his steel eyes glancing back into her eyes, crystal clear in understanding. They were wide and innocent, trying to comprehend what was happening all the while moving around the room trying to decipher where she was.

"What is your name?" Aoshi responded and watched as her eyes fell upon his once more.

"I am called Misao as that is all I have ever been referred to as." Aoshi's eyes gazed over her once more, they noticing the cut lip she supported, the bruises on her throat, not to mention the cuts and bruises on her legs he had seen in the forest. She seemed to have been tormented in some way and obviously she ran away having had enough.

"Where are you travelling to? Do you have some place to go?" Aoshi watched as she bowed her head and shook it negatively.

"I have no home to go to Sir." He raised an eyebrow at her words and stood fully to his height, her head jerking back to gaze up at his tall lean form.

"In dew time I shall find out every piece of information about you as I can, for now though rest and decide whether you wish to stay here at my place."

"Y-Your place…" She spoke softly, watching as the unidentified man headed towards the shoji.

"You are residing in my place called the Aoiya in Kyoto. I want you to decide by noon as to whether you wish to pay off your debt to me or be on your way to nowhere. Know this, someone will always be watching you for you have no trust in this place, but I shall be back to hear your answer." Misao stared at the shut shoji, not even being able to pick up the man's retreating footsteps.

"Pay off your debt…?" Misao mumbled to herself, her eyes finally widening when she realised that she was in fact still living and breathing when she had seen him decapitate another man. She proceeded to curl into a tight ball, grimacing at the ache in her stomach but still she lay that way and faced the shoji. She had seen him kill someone…and yet he let her live. Why had he done that? Was he…a hired killer or perhaps a samurai? Her thoughts dropped that issue from her mind as more important ones began to float into her head. Paying off a debt of life…or run away to head for nowhere just like he spoke.

What would she choose?

*

Her eyes snapped open when there was some rustling in the room. She had slept soundly for a long time, something that she hadn't done in many years. She had always felt to be on her guard when in Edo, but as she had laid her head down on the pillow, the covers of the futon warming her body, she could do nothing but resist into the temptation to fall deep asleep. Was this place…a sanctuary for her?

"You sleep lightly for a young girl." That voice again. Misao sat up, the warm covers falling from her rumpled yukata as she stared over at the sitting figure near a small table. He had a calligraphy set and some crisp white papers beside himself, almost as though he'd been watching over her the whole time she had been asleep.

"Have you decided?" He spoke quietly, watching as the young woman sat on her legs and bent down to the futon as she still rested upon it.

"I do not know whom you are good Sir, but I assure you that whatever task you set for me I can hopefully fulfil for you to the greatest desire. As I said before, I have no place to go so please Sir, I wish to stay at the Aoiya, at your home and pay off a life debt to you as best I can." Again he quirked his eyebrow at her words. She was not a peasant girl that was for sure. She spoke in a soft voice, laced with gentleness and politeness, something that would have been taught to her at a very early age. Her methods of gratitude and her postures were precise. She almost seemed like a professional in some way.

"You will refer to me as Shinomori-sama that is all. If you have any matters concerning your duties you shall bring them up with me alone. I suggest you pay close attention to your co-workers, as they know more then you about everything. Do you understand?"

"Hai Shinomori-sama." Misao agreed still in her bowed position.

"You may rise." Aoshi responded and stood up when he watched her do so. He headed for the door where he knew Okon was situated behind. He had told her to stay outside while he spoke with the girl, even though her excellent hearing would have heard everything. Misao peered over at the two of them, watching as Aoshi stepped away from the entrance to let Okon in whom was now holding a set of clothing for Misao to wear.

"Okon will be your teacher. She will teach you the ways of becoming a waitress. Now if you'll excuse me." He slid the shoji closed with a definite gesture of his hand. Okon turned to look down at the young girl who was still staring at the closed door. Her clear blue eyes finally gazed up at the pretty hostess and found kind dark eyes looking down at her. A smile spread onto Misao's lips, almost making Okon's eyes widen in shock as to how happy she seemed even when she'd just come across the most icy cold person you could ever meet.

"Now Misao-san, lets get you dressed shall we?"

"Ah, hai!" She spoke abruptly and stood to her full height, not even bothered as she stripped the yukata from her petite frame. Okon's eyes had widened once she saw the bruises and scratches even more after she had been cleaned. Misao stood there in her naked glory waiting for any comment to come from Okon, but nothing came. She was soon helped into her undergarments and then an expensive kimono. Okon tied the obi for Misao and placed her hair up into a bun just like hers and Omasu's was placed. His would be the first time in four years she wouldn't have any make up on.

"Now, you are ready to be introduced to the others. Come let us go."

* * * *

To be continued…

* * * *