Aoshi-sama and I had been walking for hours and had finally sat down near a small stream for a rest and some food. We hadn't talked the entire journey either, not since we said our goodbyes to Okina and the others. I bit my lip looking down at my half eaten food and soon looked up to see Aoshi sitting on a large rock looking out into the flowing stream. His empty container sat beside him, his chopsticks as well. His trench coat fanned out around him as h had one leg drawn up resting his gloved hand on it as he stared off into space. He was so handsome...so beautiful and yet I couldn't tell him anything like that. He'd probably think I was nuts or something.

"Is something wrong Misao?" My mouth parted as he had not turned to look at me but he knew I was looking over at him. Does he really know my presence that well? I silently questioned myself.

"N-No…" I grabbed the container my food was in and began eating the rest of it slowly.

"But you want to say something right?" I narrowed my eyes at Aoshi-sama's persistence at being correct as always and spoke trying to cover up what I was really thinking about.

"I was just thinking about how large Kaoru would be. She's probably being teased 24 hours a day by Sano and Yahiko."

"I hope you will not follow them in teasing her Misao." My eyes shrunk in annoyance as he was speaking to me as though I were a small child. I watched as he turned his head towards me and he stood up jumping off the rock without a sound and began walking over and sitting a few feet in front of me and spoke again.

"It is not easy to carry a child within you and it sure isn't an easy job to make sure that they both stay healthy and fit."

"You sound like you know all about it Aoshi-sama." I spoke back with no emotion in my voice but stared straight into his eyes even though they were hidden by his long bangs.

"I was around your mother when she was pregnant with you Misao." My mouth parted at hearing him speak of her and I raised my head to the heavens wandering if she and my father could see me now, see us now.

"Kaoru-san and Himura have a lot of days, months and years ahead of them. Somedays they'll feel like nothing is going right while other days couldn't be anymore perfect." He was looking off into another far away place only he could see as though remembering something.

"Aoshi-sama?" I watched as he turned his head to face me, as I knocked him out of his thoughts and I spoke once more.

"Was I troublesome?" I suppressed a smile when he tilted his head slightly as though going back through his memories of when I was a baby and he young boy as well.

"Actually you were a little hell raiser for your parents, Okina and the others."

"What about with you?" I couldn't take my eyes away from him and he soon fidgeted around grabbing a rice cake and then spoke again with his head bowed slightly while munching on the cake.

"Never with me. I guess that's why everytime I showed up they'd thrust you into my arms. You would immediately stop wailing and crying and begin to giggle, you became very interested in me and the surroundings I took you. They really hated when I went away for days on end but you did as well. Actually I knew they all thought it strange that someone as cold and heartless like myself could be so gentle around a small child. When I found Hannya and the others they fell in love with you. You had so much energy, curiosity and innocence and they always wanted to play with you and help play tricks on the others. At first you cried when they were around but you stopped and began to giggle and play with them all the time." No Aoshi-sama! You aren't heartless! I wanted to scream at him. This just proved that Aoshi-sama did have a heart. He spoke quietly but passionately above Hannya and the others, as well as the other Oniwabanshuu. You are not heartless to me!

"Not until I found out you all left me." I watched as his head jerked up looking at me and I gasped realising what I had said.

"Aoshi-sama I'm sorry! I shouldn't have said that. You had your reasons and I apologise." MISAO NO BAKA! I yelled inside myselfI watched as he shook his head and soon spoke in a non-Aoshi manner.

"Its okay, you don't have to apologise for anything Misao." I was a little stunned about how soft and regretful his voice sounded and needed to change the subject fast.

"Did they really care for me? My parents, Hannya and the others? Did they really love me Aoshi-sama? " I spoke softly while looking at him. A wind had picked up and his long bangs blew around letting me stare into his intense eyes as they looked over at me.

"Why do you even ask such a question Misao? Of course they did." I bowed my head and knew I was lightly blushing at what he said. It wasn't the fact that now I knew my parents loved me just as Hannya and the others did, but the fact that Aoshi had said they loved me. I spoke while getting up and packing some things away.

"I've never heard anyone say they love me and I guess I just wanted to hear you say that somebody actually did. I'm sorry, that's probably silly." I grabbed my bag wanting to change the subject again and spoke.

"Shall we keep going?" Aoshi-sama had stood as well but soon nodded his head silently not saying anything and we were soon on our way.

xxxxxxx

It was late at night and the Kamiya dojo was in our sights. I couldn't wait to lie down on a futon. I was truly tired but didn't want Aoshi-sama to know. We had eaten some sandwiches while walking and never spoke a word to each other. My eyelids were feeling heavy and my muscles were slightly sore as well. I guess I didn't want Aoshi-sama to think I was weak. I tripped over some rocks but caught my footing again and kept walking. Minutes went by and I tripped again but still regained my footing, but I feared the next time I tripped I wouldn't be able too.

"Misao is everything alright?" Is Aoshi-sama showing concern for me? I silently asked myself. I brushed the thought aside only wishing that was true and replied back.

"Of course Aoshi-sama. I'm just a little tired that's all." MISAO! You weren't supposed to say that part, you idiot! I berated myself.

"Why didn't you tell me to stop so you could rest?" Oh shit! Quick think of something fast! I cleared my throat and replied again.

"I'm so excited about Kaoru and Kenshin I guess I just wanted to get here faster that's all." Please let him believe this! A small voice inside of me spoke.

"Oh…" And with that not another word was spoken as we finally stood at the main doors and I knocked hoping they weren't sleeping. I heard some rustling coming from inside the house and the door slide open to reveal a semi awake Yahiko. I smirked amusingly at him as he tiredly waved us in and walked off yelling to anyone who was in ear range.

"Weasel girl and Aoshi-san are here!" And with that he walked to his room and slid the door closed going back to sleep. I shook my head as he was probably run ragged by Kaoru. We walked into the dining area and found Kaoru getting up with Kenshin's help to come greet us. I smiled looking over at the both of them and spoke, my tiredness leaving me for a few moments.

"I bet you thought we weren't coming." Kaoru rushed over hugging me awkwardly, as her stomach was rather huge. I looked down at it and soon back up to her eyes and she spoke narrowing hers slightly.

"Don't even start Misao-chan, I've heard thousands of snide jokes and remarks from Sano and Yahiko, I really don't need anymore." I smiled at her and patted her stomach lightly and spoke.

"Actually I really admire you Kaoru. You have real strength and determination in doing this and I hope one day that this will happen to me as well. You're really lucky and I'm heaps proud of you." I watched as her eyes teared up and she soon sobbed softly on my shoulder as she hugged me again.

"Oh Kaoru I'm sorry! I didn't mean to make you cry, honest!" I was puzzled when she pulled way as she began to giggle a little.

"Oh Misao-chan you really are a tomboy. Have they not taught you anything? I'm happy not sad and thank you for saying that, it really meant a lot to me." I suppressed my anger about the tomboy remark but let it slide and nodded my head. She stepped away and walked over to Aoshi-sama. I watched surprised as he bent down and kissed her on the cheek congratulating Kaoru-san on her upcoming baby and wedding. I frowned at seeing Aoshi-sama do that to her as he'd never kissed me before but soon smirked as a deep blush came over Kaoru as she placed one hand over the cheek he had kissed and looked up at him with wide blue eyes. I watched as she swatted his arm a little caught off at his sweet gesture but she smiled and spoke happily that he was going to be alright and not the cold Aoshi she first meet him as. I felt a hand rest on my shoulder and turned to see Kenshin. I hugged him as he did me and he kissed my cheek telling me how happy he was that I was here and that I actually brought Aoshi with me. Now I felt like Kaoru as Kenshin had done what Aoshi did and I knew a light blush crossed my cheeks. I still couldn't believe Kenshin was once the Hitokiri Battousai though, he was just so gentle and sweet.

"Misao it is rather late, perhaps we should talk about everything tomorrow and get some much needed rest?" I left Kenshin's embrace as Kaoru moved over to take his hand and lead us to the spare room. We stood in a small room with two futons on the floor and a cupboard. There was a large window but the shutters were closed. I hungrily eyed the futon wanting to fall on it right then and there.

"I'm sorry about the sleeping arrangements but Sano passed out drunk and is occupying the other room. I hope you don't mind."

"As long as there is a futon, I'll sleep anywhere." I absently spoke back still eyeing it.

"Well I hope you two rest well and we shall see you in the morning." I smiled and watched as they left the room sliding the door shut behind them. The room fell silent as I sat on one of the beds grabbing my small bag while Aoshi opened up the shutters to let in the cool breeze. I found my sleeping yukata and left the room to go to the bathhouse and change.

xxxxxxx

I entered the room minutes later with some hot tea in my hands for the both of us and found Aoshi-sama placing his coat on a hook and placing his kodachi on the floor near his futon. Old habits die hard I guess. That was exactly what I was going to do with my kunai. I watched him pad softly across the room as he had taken off his socks. Aoshi-sama was dressed in a pair of thin pants and yukata top that I'd never seen before but then again I'd never seen his sleeping clothes anyway. I closed the door behind me and placed the tea on the floor between the two futons and watched as Aoshi-sama sat down cross-legged on the other futon and sipped the tea. I diverted my gaze not being able to look at him, shyness coming over me. Shyness? When the hell was I ever shy anyway? I cursed inside myself. I silently stared into my tea my head bowed looking at my reflection as candles flickered throughout the room. Has Aoshi-sama been like this before? Has he slept in the same room with another woman before? I took a deep breath and spoke.

"A-Aoshi-sama?" Misao what the hell are you doing? Are you seriously going to ask him that? I gulped trying to come up with something to say next.

"What is it Misao?" I bit my lip gulping down the tea, feeling the heat flow down my throat and got up blowing some of the candles out and spoke not looking at him.

"N-Nothing, just goodnight, I guess." I brought the last candle over to my futon and slipped into it and then blew it out. The room had a blue glow to it coming from the moonlight.

"Goodnight Misao." I turned my head to my left in hearing Aoshi's voice and saw he was facing away from me. I closed my eyes turning my back on him as well and fell asleep.

Xx TBC xX