Standard disclaimer applies.

A/N:

Mij- Here's more of present-day Aiko. What really got me interested in this pairing were those wonderful Ao/Meg writers. Hopefully, some of them would come back & post another fic once more. Thank u so much for the review. Highly appreciated.

Miss Hyuga – glad you're back. Heehee. Thanks for the update on your fic. Cant wait what's nxt, esp b/w Aoshi and Misao. honestly your fic is the only good Ao/Meg left here in FFNET w/the end of Miss Keishiko's fic. sigh. there's not a lot to look forward to right now, eh? oh well...

Kitsune-chan – as always…you're so loyal to this fic. Thank u. I love writing Kenji's perspective for some reasons. Heh.

Yvonne – c'mon, give Aiko a chance…plus, she's giving Meg more reason to accept her attraction to Aoshi, right? Hopefully u wont lose interest in this fic just coz of Aiko. Thank u for the review.

On to the story…

Chapter 11: The Setting Sun

(1867)

"Aoshi." Hannya came out of nowhere. Aoshi tried hard to mask his surprise. He was deep in thoughts about a certain young kunoichi that he had not the chance to realize his friend was nearby. If there was no mask at all, Aoshi could have seen the raising of the Hannya's brow. "Did I startle you," he rather stated it.

Hannya had been one of the few people Aoshi trusted the most. He was Aoshi's senior by three years. Out of everyone in the Oniwabanshuu, Hannya probably was the only one who can read Aoshi's mind and understand the younger boy's feelings. Their friendship only grew deeper once Aoshi started teaching Hannya the art of kempo, which Aoshi was still trying to perfect.

"I was just deep in thoughts, Hannya," Aoshi said as a matter-of-factly. "Have you got it?"

Hannya handed him a piece of paper. "Name, Yamamoto Aiko. Aged, 12. Birthdate, September 21, 1854. Occupation, Oniwabanshuu kunoichi," Hannya enumerated what was on the list. "Interests, Shinomori Aoshi."

Aoshi glared at him. "The last information I deem irrelevant and fictitious for your amusement."

"Sou desu ka? Then why did you request for an immediate report on the young girl? I do not think she is of threat, Aoshi. Unless a threat to your peace of mind?" he whistled.

"Hmph. I was simply curious about this person."

Hannya turned to go. "Well, I better go back to my post. Also, you might want to know that 'this person' is approaching you in about five seconds," with that, Hannya was gone.

Aoshi turned around and came face-to-face with the said person. He folded his arms, looking down at her coldly. "Are you here to ask for another spar?"

"Hannya-chan moved so fast, ne?"

She once again ignored his question. "Hannya-chan?" he winced at it. He had never heard anyone call Hannya with an honorific attached to it. "You seemed to develop a friendship with everyone now, Yamamoto," he remarked sarcastically.

She laughed. "He came to me after the training this morning. He asked for some of my personal information. He told me you asked for it."

Aoshi coughed. "Nani? I, I, I never asked him for such," he denied half-heartedly. Revenge on Hannya! That was the only thing he could think of at the moment.

Aiko looked around her, appreciating the wonderful sunshine glistening the surroundings. It was already midday and the sun had risen to its brightness. The day was neither too hot nor too cool. It was perfect. "I do not mind, Shinomori-san. But hopefully you find in you the will to trust me. I am not such a bad person," she walked towards the Imperial garden. Aoshi followed her automatically. Aiko sat down on the well-tended grass. A willow tree was shading the area. "It is such a lovely day today, ne?"

"Aa." Aoshi sat down beside her. He rested both his arms on his bended knees. "How long are you going to stay here in Edo?"

"I do not know. I am waiting for Okashira Makimachi's arrival in two weeks. From then, I will learn of his commands. Did you know that Okashira will bring his young granddaughter with him in Edo?"

Aoshi frowned. This was brand new information. "Misao-chan will be with his grandfather?" He mentally noted to inquire about it from Okina.

"Misao? You know of her?"

"Aa. I watched over her when I was still at the Aoiya in Kyoto. She was a rather – devious – child," amusement played in his eyes as he recalled the naughty and playful smile on the child's face. "She is only four but already has the heart of the warrior."

"You are very fond of her, I assume? Little children are always fun when they're around. I have always wanted to have a little brother or sister." Aiko drew her knees together to rest her head on top of it. She stole a look at Aoshi whose eyes had already softened from the coldness minutes ago.

"Misao is my little sister," he said, as if trying to convince someone who did not believe. "I was an orphan, with no knowledge of my family whatsoever. The Oniwabanshuu is my family now." Aoshi did not know why he suddenly shared the information to her. In the first place she did not even ask. The two stayed silent, staring blankly at the small pond in the garden. "Forgive me if I had not welcomed you to the clan."

Aiko beamed. "Arigatou, Shinomori-san. To be part of the Oniwabanshuu is an honour as well as pride to anyone." She took something from her uniform pocket wrapped in white handkerchief. She offered one to Aoshi. "I stole this rice cracker from the kitchen. I could not go on an hour without eating," she explained in sheepishness.

Aoshi shook his head but gave her a small smile. A warrior should never smile; it was an unmentioned rule to all. A smile would always be a weakness in the battlefield. A child, on the other hand, had the right to smile whatever the situation might be. And Aoshi? He was a warrior child. So all he could do was give a 'small' smile, not showing his weakness but exercising his right. "Tell me more about yourself, Aiko-chan," he wanted to know more about her.

(Present day Tokyo)

Aoshi gazed down at the woman walking beside him. The setting sun's beam had crowned a halo on her dark head, making her look innocent and younger, just like the night they first met. It amazed him how easily he found comfort in talking to her after all those years of not seeing each other. "It felt as if it was only yesterday that we met by the bridge," he said.

"Oh yes. That night," she laughed. "I remember it clearly like the back of my hand. You interrogated me before letting me pass. I am glad, though, of how you behaved. If you had simply let me pass, I wouldn't get to know you." Aoshi led her to a clearing nearby the river. It was a peaceful night. "So are you going to tell me what are those?" she pointed to the bento boxes he had in his hand.

"I promised dinner, but I think it would be appropriate if we take it some place private. Any restaurant would have bystanders listening to our conversation."

"Still have the shinobi spirit in keeping secrecy and privacy, ne?"

Aoshi chose the exact same spot he had meditated at the previous day. The sky was of golden hue as the sun began its decline. Aoshi had arrived at the Hizashi Inn, where Aiko was staying, a little too early. If he was in great anticipation, who knew? The minute he got back at the dojo with Megumi and Kenji, he went to inform Kenshin and Kaoru of his dinner engagement and his plan to reside at another place. After that, he rushed to the Akabeko to order bento boxes for him and Aiko. "We forgot the blanket."

"Well, I can sit on the grass. I wouldn't mind. It's not wet," Aiko assured him. Aoshi actually felt bad because her kimono would be ruined. She looked pretty in it after all. She always looked pretty to him anyway. She sat down to show him it was really no bother.

Just when I left my coat behind. If he had it, he could have used it as a small picnic mat for her. Aoshi handed her one bento box. He was well aware of her fondness for food, picking out the items he remembered she loved.

With all the demureness and modesty Aiko had been reared of, she certainly went a bit wild when it came to simple pleasures in life, like eating. Maybe it was the first thing Aoshi admired of her. The two of them were children of war. Aoshi lived up to the label; but Aiko chose to be herself. Aoshi instantly noticed the big smile plastered on her face as she opened the bento box. She did not need to say anything for Aoshi to know she was delighted. The two of them began eating.

"Still fond of food, Aiko-chan?" he observed.

"I've said it before, and I'll say it now, eating is a passion. Life is too short if we do not enjoy the best foods life has to offer. What about you? Still the light eater? Don't tell me you rather drink tea than eat an ohagi?"

Aoshi coughed. He still could not forget the sensation he got from Kamiya's ohagi. "I think it will take me some time to enjoy an ohagi," he smirked, knowing Aiko would not comprehend with it. "Your father had mentioned the two of you had traveled to Europe. Did you enjoy it?"

"Europe is a beautiful continent, very interesting. My father once said that he wanted to retire there someday."

"And you?"

"I have not decided my fate yet. In fact, I have no vision of the future, specially of the day ahead."

Aoshi frowned. Where was the woman who preached nothing but optimism in life? Why did she sound miserable? He glanced at her from the corner of his eye. She was smiling though, even her eyes does not convey sadness. But why does she sound miserable? "I still want to apologize for yesterday," he said slowly. "You asked an innocent question. You did not deserve my outburst."

"It was not my place to ask about it," she looked away.

"But you have the right, for Hannya and the others had been your friends." Aoshi's jaw hardened. His forehead creased. Was he ready now to talk about it? "They died – protecting me," he closed his eyes, trying to block the pain.

Aiko put down the bento box, ready to listen to whatever tale Aoshi would relate. Aoshi turned to her. "Many things have happened, Aiko. Many things I am not proud of. It caused many people pain and suffering… and all because of poor judgement. I was never the good okashira the Oniwabanshuu had envisioned me to be."

She took his hand and held it close to her. "I do not know what happened. I may never know how it felt. But one thing for certain, you had been a good Okashira the short time I served you. Whatever happened will not thwart my respect for you."

"I think not," was his only response. The opium and his cruelty to Megumi, the revenge and Battoussai, the alliance with Makoto Shishio, the assault on Okina and the pain bestowed on Misao… would she still respect him? "I caused their deaths because of my obsession to claim the title of the strongest. You had been right all along. It is not for me to claim and prove it."

Aiko bowed her head down. He knew she does not know how to respond. How could she? Did she not convince him, long, long time ago that the particular title was useless? What mattered was the belief and faith in one's self. But Aoshi had been too stubborn to comply. In due time he will tell her. Not. Right. Now. He was still too wounded. He was still unready.

"Makimachi Misao is now the current Okashira of the Oniwabanshuu. She has a new vision for the clan, and Okina and I are willing to see that vision push through," Aoshi informed her. Well, whatever that vision may be, Aoshi will support him. For a brief moment he felt amused at the thought of Misao. She had never acted like she was the Okashira. Often, she would use the title to get her way around Okina and the others. Thank Kami for Misao. She was Aoshi's only source of contentment at the moment.

"Okashira Makimachi's granddaughter?" Aiko brought him back to reality. "Misao-chan? The last time I saw her; she was a mere six-year old. A child with the heart of a warrior as you had said long time ago."

Aoshi stared at her in amazement. He had said that, did he not? She had remembered what he said? He wondered if she remembered every single conversation they had. He thought about it everyday before his obsessive revenge on Kenshin took over. Heck, she was on his mind before all the tragedy happened. Now, she was back in his life. He picked up the now untouched bento box. "Eat Aiko. I wouldn't want you missing these simple pleasures." Aiko accepted it gladly.

The two stayed by the riverside until the sun has finally submitted itself to slumber. The night sky was ornamented with delicate jewels of the sky and the bright moon cast its light upon the streets. The river glistened with its soft murmurs. It felt like before, their conversations. Aiko and Aoshi. Two friends who found comfort and love from each other on the verge of war. If only things were still that simple now…

Next chapter Megumi meets Aiko…finally!