Standard disclaimer applies.

A/N: I love writing this chapter, considering my love-hate relationship with the previous one. There's another humour ingredient in here. hopefully ppl would enjoy it as much as I've enjoyed writing it.

Chapter 9: Ohagi and Kenji Equals Crazy

"But Aoshi-sama, I want to stay here," the young woman begged her guardian, pulling the sleeve of his white shirt like a little girl.

Aoshi gently pulled away from Misao's tight grasp. She was wrinkling his shirt. The girl knew no reason but he would not give way. "Misao, you still have school. You've already missed a day of it." He gave her a look that stated his decision was final.

It was the afternoon after the horrible meeting-gone-wrong with Aiko. He still hasn't talked to her. He should, he knew that. But he was still not ready to face her yet. So he spent the rest of the morning looking for a possible lodging where he could stay while he was in Tokyo. He felt he and Misao had overstayed their welcome with the Himuras.

"You are soooo unfair, Aoshi-sama!" Misao pouted knowing she had lost the battle with Aoshi. "But the moment school ended, which is in two week's time, I'll be racing here from Tokyo. I'll even bring Okina just to show you my revenge," she pointed an accusing finger at him.

Aoshi desperately wanted to roll his eyes. As if Okina's presence could thwart his peace of mind. Well, Okina was capable of it, but Aoshi would not admit that, even to himself. "Understood. But tomorrow you'll be on the train to Kyoto. I would be inquiring about the women's college here in Tokyo, just to see if it was good compared to that of Kyoto's. If it were, I would consider transferring you here."

Misao jumped and squealed. Then she tackled Aoshi, jumping and squealing still. "You are soooo good, Aoshi-sama. The best oniichan and guardian, and ninja E-VERR! Ooh…Wait, I should tell the Himuras about my departure for tomorrow. Chibi Kenshin will be soooo disappointed," she skipped out of the room just like that.

Aoshi shook his head. The real purpose of his visit to Misao's room was to fill her in about their business, but the girl managed to divert his attention by asking if she could stay at the Himuras longer. Aoshi's attention was diverted into disagreeing with her. For all he knows, it was what Misao intended at the beginning: to escape his business lectures. He stepped out of the room and slowly closed the shoji door. It baffled him how he nearly collided with Megumi. He did not even realize she was approaching.

"Takani-san," he acknowledged.

Megumi offered her a big smile. "Aoshi-san! How was your morning?"

He mentally frowned at the question, but he couldn't take out the frustrating morning on her. "It was good, Takani-san. And you?"

Together they walked towards the kitchen. "Well… I was asleep all throughout the whole morning," she laughed sheepishly. "But it was good, considering I had a pleasurable dream," her eyes glinted.

Aoshi cocked a brow. Dream? What was her dream? It was not his business to inquire. Right? "And the dream was about?" He could not resist. Why couldn't he just control himself? It was not his business.

"So, you wanna know huh?" she poked him at the stomach. It perplexed him how she could easily feel casual around him now. "Well, it was a trip down to memory lane. I'm telling you Aoshi-san, when I woke up, it gave me a big smile."

She was being vague. He nodded. At least this dream was no nightmare. "I have something to tell you that might also bring you a smile," he stated in casualness. When was he ever concerned for her to smile? "While I was looking for a place to stay here in Tokyo, I happened upon Dr. Gensai. I mentioned you are here, if that's okay with you?"

"Of course. I should be visiting him and his granddaughters before I leave."

"He mentioned to me about a new hospital in need of highly skilled doctors. I mentioned, as well as his awareness, that you are most qualified," he told her. In all actuality, Aoshi had sought out the doctor; inquired about the hospital and implied about Megumi. The doctor agreed Megumi was a perfect candidate. "You should apply, Takani-san. In that case, you would be staying in Tokyo."

Megumi's eyes widened, but it had joy dancing upon her dark orbs. She stood motionless for a moment before uttering in a low voice, "Aoshi-san! That news is most welcoming. I, I… I think I should do as you say."

"Takani-san, you should think about it before you decide. Although, the hospital I believe has a good reputation even if it has only been around for the past three years."

She shook her head. "No, Aoshi-san. This was the opportunity I had been waiting for. I would apply. Will you tell me where this hospital is? I would go there tomorrow."

"Aa. It is nearby where the Oniwaban's new store will be. I will show you myself." There, I offered her my assistance.

"Would you like some tea?"

"Aa." Aoshi watched Megumi prepare the tea in a meticulous manner as if it was the most delicate thing. She might as well perform a chado (tea ceremony) with the way she was making his tea. He was so caught up watching her careful way when he unconsciously reached for a platter of ohagi on the table. Megumi's eyes widened in alarm. "AOSHIII," she sqeaked.

"Hm?" he asked upon biting on the ohagi. He swallowed hard which was probably the stupidest thing he did. Immediately his whole face turned a slight pink then into a deep red. His eyes watered. His mouth and throat felt dry. He choked. He coughed. A horrible sensation shot from the pit of his stomach to his head. Was he dying?

Megumi rushed to his side to pat his back while he was subjected to a fit of coughing. "I tried to warn you…" she snorted, trying to prevent herself from laughing.

Aoshi was able to muster his voice to speak. "What – was – that?" he croaked, blue eyes turning into a deep grey.

Megumi took his tea and brought it to him. "Here, drink this first. It'll make you feel better." Aoshi did as she told him. "That was Kaoru's first batch of ohagi. I was teaching her how to make them. Instead of sugar she put salt," she sighed. "She managed to put sugar in the second batch. I told her to rid of these ones," she pointed at the platter, which hold about twenty ohagis. "Guess she just doesn't want to waste food."

"I thought I was dying," he muttered under his breath. The coughing had subsided. His eyes had turned back to its shade of blue yet the depth of its hue was still missing. He drank the rest of the tea in one gulp.

Megumi laughed. "You crack me up, Aoshi-san. Was this your first experience with Kaoru's cooking?"

He shook his head. "Iie. I have tasted Kamiya's sashimi before. I thought it rivalled Omasu's sashimi."

Megumi choked. "What? Are you sure it was Kaoru's cooking? Well I guess she's starting to improve gradually. Then again, sashimi is raw fish or seafood," she clicked her tongue. "More tea?"

Aoshi handed her his cup. "Please." He needed more drink to drown away the lingering taste of the ohagi from his tongue. Also, Megumi's tea preparation was a sight to see.

Misao, carrying Kenji, suddenly barged inside the kitchen. "Is there something wrong? I heard some coughing and squealing from here."

"Aoshi-niichan, is you okay?" Kenji asked, noticing the slight reddening of Aoshi's face, remnants of what he had gone through minutes ago. Misao approached him, examining his face carefully.

"What happened to you, Aoshi-sama? You're all flushed. Have you been crying?" she asked with a look of innocence. Aoshi clearly knew she was teasing him. He simply ignored her.

"Your Aoshi-sama took a bite from one of those ohagis," Megumi filled her in as she handed the teacup to Aoshi.

Misao laughed hard, clutching her stomach. She set Kenji down. Aoshi was coughing once more. "Was the ohagi that bad?"

"Kaoru put four cups of salt," Megumi shrugged her shoulders in an understatement. She was still standing beside where Aoshi sat. She automatically patted Aoshi's back as if it was the most natural thing for her to do. Misao was too busy laughing her head off to notice this unusual interaction between the doctor and the shinobi. Except for one person in the room.

Kenji wrinkled his eyebrows. He was confused with what was happening. His Misao-neechan had run to the kitchen to find his Aoshi-niichan looking like he was sick. Then Misao-neechan was laughing at Aoshi-niichan after Aunt Megumi mentioned the bad ohagi his okaasan made. His eyes stayed on Aunt Megumi patting gently Aoshi-niichan's back. He needed to know something.

"Aunt Megumi," he said in his loudest voice. What was the word he heard his otousan call his okaasan? Ah-hah! "Are you Aoshi-niichan's KO-I-SHI?" he shouted the question out loud because his Misao-neechan was laughing so loudly. He gave them a big smile as everybody stared at him. Goodie. Even Misao-neechan stop her crazy laughing.

Aoshi choked on his tea. Megumi's mouth dropped open. Misao stopped laughing. The room was silent. Kenji was looking at them with the biggest, most innocent smile a child can produce. All. Were. silent. No one stirred, not even when Yahiko entered the room, reached for an ohagi, popped the whole thing in his mouth, and cursed and screamed his head off.

Nope. No one moved. Except for Yahiko who ran to the well for water.

A/N2: for all those Kaoru fans, sorry if I'm using her as the obj of humour in this chapter. I'm no Kaoru fan, I like her don't get me wrong, and I don't despise her (as much as I despise Kagome from Inuyasha). Please forgive me, heh. At least Aoshi loved her sashimi! w/c is a big thing since Ao's the type of person who seemed not to eat meat but not necessarily a vegan.

Also, I'm ff the manga in this fic not the anime; but I want to include the granddaughters of Dr. Gensai.

If I'm making any mistake in my Japanese, pls. Let me know…

Sashimi- thinly sliced raw seafood or fish. Haven't tasted one but a friend of mine loves it to death.

Ohagi – sweet rice balls

Chado – tea ceremony

Koishii – dear, darling