Standard disclaimer applies.

A/N: 10th chap yay, I guess? Still standing? Technically no. it has been deleted. Sigh. I was hoping that by the 10th chap I'll have about 25 or so reviews. Well…not anymore. But who cares. For those who still support this, I dedicate this chapter to all of you.

Story is slow, I know…10 chaps and still a span of hmmm 3 days in the story? I'll try to quicken the pace.

Nothin' bout love is less than confusing

You can win when you're losing, stand when you're falling

I can't figure it out.

Nothin' bout love can make an equation nothin' short of amazing

Wish I could explain it

But I don't know how.

- LeAnn Rimes' "Nothin' 'Bout Love Makes Sense"

Chapter 10: Nothin' 'Bout Love Makes Sense

There was a huge scowl painted on two children's faces. Well, technically, on a child and a young woman's face. Misao gave one last pleading look at Aoshi who was holding the hand of Kenji. "Please Aoshi-sama, for chibi Kenshin's sake."

Aoshi turned to the child. "Himura-chan, you understand that Misao-neechan needs to go to school right?" Kenji seemed baffled by the question but nodded his head anyway. Whatever his Aoshi-niichan said was right, even if it meant Misao-neechan had to leave.

" 'Sao-neechan back?" he directed the question to Aoshi-niichan. He only nodded.

Misao sighed out loud. "Okay fine. But I promise the moment school ends I'd be on the next train to Tokyo." The train conductor hollered the train was about to depart. Misao frowned to mask the sadness in her eyes. She was also traveling alone for the first time. She went down on her knees and hugged Kenji. "You remember the new trick I taught you to escape taking a bath, okay?" Mischief gleamed in her eyes.

Kenji raised a thumb. "Shinobi Kenji will not let otousan catch him," he said out loud causing squeals from Misao.

"Oh well sayonara." She gave them a wicked smile. If Aoshi-sama would not wield to her, then she would have the last laugh. Before stepping onto the train, she gave a rather loud comment, "Aoshi-sama, take care of your koishii," pointing to Megumi. "And your cute little son," she pointed then to Kenji, making sure many passer-bys will hear every single word. "Bye, Megumi-san." With that, she disappeared.

Megumi was blushing. Aoshi wanted to smack himself. Kenji, well, the child was more confused than ever. His question was never answered the previous day. He rather found it funny how his question made Aoshi-niichan choke and choke and choke. Now, Misao-neechan just called Aunt Megumi Aoshi-niichan's ko-i-shi.

"Son? Aoshi-niichan and Aunt Megumi has son? Where? Can I play with him?"

What is up with this child and his comments about me and Aoshi? Megumi was deep in thoughts as she gazed at Kenshin's firstborn. Kenji was the very first human being to ever think something was going on between her and Aoshi. He kept making these silly comments and questions that could simply shock her and catch Aoshi by surprise. Misao did even help making the matter worse. Maybe offering to baby-sit Kenji is a big mistake. But who would take care of Kenji? Both Kenshin and Kaoru had financial errands to take care. It was the least Megumi could do after the couple had so gracefully offered their home to her. She would just have to deal with it if Kenji made another silly – real silly – comments about Aoshi and her.

"Hospital is this way, Takani-san," Aoshi said staring after the departing train. All Megumi could do was nod, follow Aoshi to wherever he may lead her with Kenji in tow.

The newly built hospital was a few blocks away from the city market. It would only take about fifteen minutes to twenty minutes of walk from the train station to it. Aoshi and Megumi took about forty-five minutes before they reached their destination. Kenji was the main reason for the delay. The child consistently made stops at different stalls; especially the food stalls at the market. He was amazed by how so many had set up shop that day. It felt like Sakura Festival all over again. Kenji even managed to make Aoshi buy him a toy top painted with the colours of the rainbow.

But the visit to the hospital was not in vain, considering it took the trio a longer trek than the amount of their stay. Apparently Dr. Gensai had already referred Megumi to the hospital administration; and the fact that Megumi carried the same family name as the famous Takani doctors of Aizu was a major plus. She was offered a two-month internship at the hospital before the actual hiring. Megumi quickly accepted. She would start the next week.

"Aoshi-san, I must truly thank you for the trouble," she said, a new kind of cheeriness formed in her voice.

"No need Takani-san," Aoshi shrugged it off. He actually felt better knowing there was a bigger chance Megumi would stay in Tokyo. Not that it had anything to do with his delight or peace of mind. It was simply a friend being happy for a friend. Nothing. More.

The two walked back along the crowded market much to Kenji's pleasure. The child was simply full of cheerfulness. No wonder he gets along with Misao. Something caught Kenji's attention. It was a Western sweet called chocolate. Aoshi had tasted one before, found it too sweet for his tastes.

"What is brown thing?" Kenji inquired.

"The gaijins (foreigners) call it CHOCOLATE," the vendor answered. "It is very sweet, little boy. You would like it." Kenji was easily convinced, giving his Aoshi-niichan the look. Aoshi nodded to the vendor, fishing in his pocket for the payment.

Kenji took one bite at it and a big smile formed on his lips. He loved it. "Aunt Megumi like tsoko-leyt?" he asked trying his hard to imitate how the vendor called the brown sweets. He flashed his teeth stained with chocolate. Megumi bent down, nodding.

Aoshi stared at the kid in amusement. He had always been comfortable around small children despite how people would think. He may be a hard, emotionless man but around kids like Kenji, he was a different being. He watched the interaction between Kenji and Megumi. Why did it suddenly occur to him that Megumi would be a good mother? That was a strange thought. He turned his gaze away from them. His eyes rested on a figure staring at them, rather at him. When it finally registered who it was, Aoshi's eyes narrowed. There in the middle of the street stood Aiko, simply gazing. She turned to walk away upon noticing Aoshi's stare.

"Takani-san, please stay here. I'll be back." He did not even let Megumi reply or react. In a flash he was standing beside Aiko. How he did that, well he did what he can do. He used his shinobi skill, which would be apparent to any bystander. A stupid action but he was desperate.

He reached for Aiko's arm to stop her from walking away. He needed to explain to her what happened the previous day. Why he reacted in a certain way. He just needed to explain. "Yamamoto-san…"

She looked up to him. She looked so small and frail. No one would suspect she was a ninja of admirable strength. "Shinomori-san."

"Yesterday… Forgive me," he whispered.

She halfway turned to him unable to meet his gaze. "You need not explain, Shinomori-san. I should be careful with my questions next time." The tone in her voice…what was it? It was neither biting nor sarcastic. Yet it was not gentle and soft. It was a mere business tone Aoshi had used so many times.

Aoshi turned to her fully. "It was wrong of me; and I intend to explain. But this is neither the place nor the time. Aiko-chan," he used the familiar endearment. "Please. Have dinner with me." Aoshi was surprised at his forwardness and at the tone of his voice. It seemed like he was begging.

She gave him a soft smile. "I do not think your wife would appreciate," she inclined her head. Aoshi did not need to look or ask whom she was referring to. It was obvious.

"Takani-san is a friend I escorted to the hospital. She is a doctor soon to work there," he explained. "Please, consider the dinner. Aiko-chan."

Aiko finally looked him straight in the eye. She missed gazing at those deep blue eyes. She gathered her courage to do what she longed to do. She touched his cheek. "Hai, Aoshi-san. Dinner would be lovely."

Aoshi closed his eyes as he felt the warmth of her hand on his cheeks. Usually he would scoff at this display of affection in public. But he didn't care. He missed that touch for Kami knows how many years. "I will be at the Hizashi Inn to pick you up." Aiko nodded. Aoshi turned to walk back to where Megumi and Kenji were. "Arigatou Aiko-chan," he mumbled, knowing full well her shinobi ears heard it.

"Takani-san, please stay here. I'll be back."

When Megumi looked up, Aoshi was already gone. She was puzzled at his urgency. He moved so fast she initially assumed there was an enemy attack. She pulled Kenji closer to her, making sure the child would be protected even if it meant she would be hurt first. It was a wrong assumption. False alarm. Instead, she saw Aoshi catch up with a woman, about ten feet from where they were standing. Who is she? Her curiosity was increasing every second that passed as she watched Aoshi talked to her. She felt her nails digging deeper in her palms. Why was her fists clenched so hard? Was she irritated because Aoshi was talking to a woman, who by no means was a very pretty woman? She was attired in a beautiful yellow kimono, with intricate flower patterns.

Megumi automatically straightened her rather plain kimono. She thought the blue kimono she had on was pretty, now it looked really plain compared to the other woman's. Megumi smirked. I'm taller than her though. So? Does that make a difference? Well, if I were to kiss Aoshi I wouldn't have to crane my neck so hard and I wouldn't have to stand tiptoes and… Megumi swallowed hard. What. Was. Happening. To. Her? First she was feeling a pang of jealousy towards the other woman. Then, she was imagining herself kissing Aoshi? Megumi rolled her eyes. This was the effect of Kaoru's ohagis. I'm sure of it. Sure, blame it on the innocent woman.

Megumi's eyes widened a bit. The woman was touching Aoshi's cheek. Such display of public affection. Who was she whom Aoshi would allow such an act? A cousin, I bet.

"Ouchie, Aunt Megumi," Kenji cried. Megumi did not even realize she had tightened her grasp on the child.

"Gomen nasai, Kenji-chan. Aunt Megumi did not mean to hurt you," she bent over to kiss the reddening wrist of the child. Was she that disturbed by what the woman did to Aoshi? Megumi averted her eyes from the couple ahead.

Kenji was enjoying the tsokoleyt Aoshi-niichan had bought. He was so happy. In his pocket was the toy top his oniichan had also given him. In fact, he was so happy he was willing to share his tsokoleyt to Aunt Megumi. He offered it to him. He heard his Aoshi-niichan tell Aunt Megumi to stay. He was gone in a blink.

Kenji blinked. Where did he go? Wowie. It fast. Like what 'tousan showed Yahiko-niichan when sword playing. Aoshi-niichan really good like 'Sao-neechan said. Oro. A girl? Who is she? Aoshi-niichan's ko-I-shi also? He looked up to his Aunt Megumi. Will she hit Aoshi-niichan with bokken like 'kaasan do to 'tousan? Oro.

Aoshi-niichan talk long with her. Ano... She touch Aoshi-niichan cheek. Is that KISU (kiss) like what Yahiko-niichan said? Oro.

Ouchie. Ouchie. Ouchie. What wrong with Aunt Megumi? My hand hurt from her hold. She is mad. Ooh. She is mad at Aoshi-niichan. Uh-oh. Bokken to the head.

"Gomen nasai, Kenji-chan. Aunt Megumi did not mean to hurt you."

"It okay Aunt Megumi. Aoshi-niichan KISU the woman. You is mad. You is Aoshi-niichan ko-I-shi. Aoshi-niichan KISU you, not her," he gave Aunt Megumi a loving pat on the back. He will have a nice talk with Aoshi-niichan so Aunt Megumi will not be mad anymore. Especially now that Aunt Megumi was all red and choking. Kenji gave a stern look to his Aoshi-niichan as he inched closer to them. He tapped his foot on the ground, one hand gently patting Aunt Megumi's back, the other firmly waving a finger at Aoshi-niichan.

Megumi straightened out once Aoshi approached. She brushed off the last silly comments the child made. How does she react to him now without sounding so unnatural? She thought of a foxy remark to him. Hmm. Umm. "She your sister, Aoshi-san?" What the heck?

Aoshi cocked a brow. "Gomen if I did not have the chance to introduce you. She is the business partner I told you."

"Oh. She is very beautiful," she remarked trying to sound as normal as possible. She slightly pulled Kenji who was still giving an oblivious Aoshi some stern glares. Aoshi only nodded, in agreement or simply for a reaction Megumi does not know.

"We should head back to the dojo, Takani-san. I have a dinner engagement to attend to."

Megumi hid her frown. Why did she have the feeling this 'dinner engagement' had something to do with Aoshi rushing to the small, pretty woman's side? "Sure, sure," she answered which came out in an irritated manner. If Aoshi noticed he chose to ignore it. She wanted badly to pinch herself from all that was happening. Nothing about love really made sense in the first place. She stopped dead in her tracks.

"Whaaaat?" she exclaimed.

"I beg your pardon, Takani-san?"

Megumi did not even realize she talked out loud. She did not care. Her first concern was the last thought that entered her mind. She stayed unmoving for a full minute. "Oh nothing, Aoshi-san, nothing at all. I was just thinking of something…"

The three resumed walking. Megumi would have to have a nice long talk with herself before she sleeps. She would need to clear her mind. Aoshi and love should never be in the same sentence when it came to her. It should never be. Should. Never. Be. Then why was she unconsciously smiling?

Well, this is as far as I can go, or write, at the moment. I had been fortunate before this fic's been deleted that there are few ppl who support this. Right now? Well, I'm very grateful to kitsune-chan and Yvonne for the continued support. Next chapter will take a little longer. I'll try to find another inspiration.

Reviews would really help, as it can point out the hi's and low's of the fic.

If you happen to read this, a review, even a one-liner would help. Heehee. Till next time…