I don't own any characters.

Misao sighed as she stood next to the throne's her parents sat in. "Why do I have to be here?" Misao grumbled. She picked up her fluffy skirt, "These things are such a pain."

"My dear, darling, little daughter, you have to wear that dress today because we are expecting company." Her father stated.

"Not one, but two people." Her mother giggled. "Hmm, where is Sanosuke?"

"I don't think he'll be coming today, why?" Misao cocked an eyebrow.

"Hmm, I asked him to come here, I have a job for him." A smirk appeared on her face.

"Jeez, you and your schemes mother," Misao turned her back to the throne room trying to breathe.

The doors opened and Misao turned around quickly, gasping for air. Two men entered walking side by side, they parted as a woman came forward. Misao's eyes widened, "Megumi, it's been far too long, dear." Their mother spoke.

"I had planned on returning earlier, but the Aizu war held me over mother." Megumi replied with a sigh. "It's good to be home." Megumi smiled and walked past the two guards. The two guards left the throne room shutting the doors.

"You must be tired from you journey." Their mother said.

"Mmm, I am." Megumi smiled and bent to hug her mother. She stood once more to hug her father but the doors bursting open stopped her. She sighed tiredly and turned t look at the doors. She was shocked to see a young man standing there, instead of a guard. She blinked as she looked at him. His hair was spiky, his eyes were a chocolate brown, and a lopsided smile was on his face. She ran her eyes down the rest of his body quickly as not to gain his attention. Her wore white pants, and no shirt. She had to refrain from licking her lips at his muscular body. He was handsome to say the least, and had tanned skin.

Sano had thrusted the doors open, as he usually did, but he couldn't move. He'd only expected to see the king and queen, along with Misao. His eyes focused on a woman standing in front of the king. She turned around, a shocked look on her face. Her black hair cascaded behind her shoulders. Her eyes were weary from traveling, her small lips were parted in surprise, and her pink flower kimono showed off the curves she had. The only odd thing about her was their seemed to be something around her waist, over the kimono. He wasn't quite sure what it was.

Misao stared at Sano, 'Why has he yelled his greeting yet.' Misao blinked he was staring at Megumi, and openly. Misao looked to Megumi, who was staring as well, but not quite as openly. She quirked an eyebrow at the two and turned to her mother. She almost groaned aloud at the smirk that lay on her mother's lips. 'Not another matchmaking scheme.' Misao wanted to pound her head into a wall. Her father placed a hand on her shoulder and pulled her into a side hug.

"Your mother means well, and somehow I think this may prove to be somewhat...interesting." Her father whispered to her. "Let her scheme, besides you won't have time to worry about Meg..."

"Move it boy, there are others that need to get through the door." A male voice hollered. Misao looked to the door once more, recognizing the voice to be the captain of the guards.

"Shit," Misao breathed. She obtained a disapproving glance from her father, as he took his arm away and stood behind Megumi once more. A growl was heard as the captain used his used his arm to try and shove the boy out of the way.

Sano snapped out of his trance, and looked behind him, not moving an inch as the man used all his weight to try and push Sano forward. A wide smirk adorned Sano's face. Misao's eyes widened as she saw it. She turned her head as she heard him speak. "I owe you..."

"Sano, please don't..." Misao and Megumi's mother tried to stop him, but just placed her hand over her eyes and shook her head.

"That," Sano sneered as he'd punched the man in the face, making him fly backwards. The captain hit the wall with an 'oof' and then fell face forward to the floor. Sano turned once more and walked into the throne room.

Megumi wore a look of disgust as she looked to the captain. She did something that made everyone turn their heads to her. "Haaaaah! I've never seen him fly that far before." Megumi laughed, a hand covering her mouth. "He's always so arrogant to, he probably deserved it." Megumi wiped a tear from her eye and turned to her father finally embracing him.

"Hmm, well it seems both have arrived. Shinomori you may enter." Misao looked to her father.

"Both," She repeated.

Megumi backed away from her father and stood next to Misao. "Yes," A smirk still on their mothers face. "Sanosuke Sagara, and Aoshi Shinomori, are going to be guarding you both." Both girls sent glares to their mother, and then one to their father.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN?" Misao screamed, as Aoshi had yet to appear in the doorway.

"Misao, you sure haven't changed as brash as ever." Megumi retorted to her sister.

"I'm sick and tired of seeing you hurt, and having to watch as Sano rescues you in the nick of time, each time a suitor calls. You've been lucky, you haven't been injured worse, or been violated. You will be watched, and I will hear no more about this, do you understand me." By this time their mother had risen and was staring angrily at Misao.

"Megumi, I know you will want to go around the village and help the sick or injured, thus I have appointed a guard for you as well."

Megumi had never seen her mother so angry and nodded. "Which one is my guard?" Megumi managed to ask.

"I will let you know when the other arrives in the room." The next second a tall man entered, his face set in an observing state. "And here comes the other one." The tall man approaches the throne and stops at the staircase, which stand before it. He kneels on one knee and bows before them. "Aoshi Shinomori, you will be guarding our daughter Misao. Misao please step over here."

Misao looked at the man, in silver armor, and noticed the sheath on his back. 'A long sword?' She questioned herself as she moved next to her mother. Her mother took her hand and beckoned Aoshi to come closer. Aoshi walked up the stairs and stood in front of the queen. "How old is he mother?" Misao questioned.

"I am 20." Aoshi replied flatly.

"Now did that question offend you?" The queen questioned.

"No," Aoshi replied just as flatly.

"All right then, I would advise you, you watch over her and refrain from falling in love with her." A smirk was on her lips once more.

"I do not mean to be rude, but children do not interest me." Misao saw red at his statement. She growled and picked up most of her skirt in her left hand. She took the remaining three steps and now stood directly in front of him. She smiled up at him, with an eerily sweet smile.

"Men that act like stupid pigs, have yet to survive here." Misao snarled at slapped him hard across the face. He wasn't expecting that and fell backwards sliding down the stairs, and landing on his back.

Misao humped and pulled the rest of her skirt up, so her knees were showing and walked out the side door.

"My that went well mother." Megumi smirked and laughed. "I believe she's made quite an impression on him." Megumi had walked to her mother's side and whispered that. Megumi pointed to Aoshi, who was now bracing his weight on his hands and staring after her.

"Indeed she has, indeed she has." Her mother mumbled. "Now for you Megumi, this boy lives in town, so he can take you on a tour, since it's been so long since you've been here. He can introduce you to the people who are in dire need of a doctor and families that don't. You can once again familiarize yourself with the town's folk. His name is Sagara Sanosuke." Sano blinked and walked up the stairs, glancing at Aoshi, as he finally regained his composer and stood.

"This loaf is going to be my guard, I doubt he could guard a chicken coop let alone me." Megumi tried to be herself, and she almost screamed at his whispered words.

"It'll be fun to play to play with the fox, who'd want those chickens." A devilish smirk adorned his face. "Shall we go on that tour now milady." Sano bowed and extended his hand.

An evil smile was on the mothers lips as she watched Megumi take his hand, although reluctantly and they left the throne room.

"Now Aoshi, I do need to let you know of a few things. You weren't chosen just because of your record, to let you know."

"Aaa," Aoshi nodded as he fought the urge to touch his bruising cheek. His eye twitched with each restrained movement.

"My spit-fire of a daughter has a rather large cat who protects her as well, so I will warn you she may try and sick him on you, but under no circumstances are you to kill it understand me." Aoshi nodded. "Good, you will also be sharing the sane room, I'm afraid I've had suitors try and harm her in other ways, and she can not be harmed like that." A rather evil smirk appeared on her face as she spoke her next words. Aoshi was actually finding the woman very disturbing, she was hiding something. "I'm afraid even Misao is unaware of this, but she'll follow my orders. Under no circumstances will you make a complaint either. You both will share the same bed. That is all. You may go. My husband will show you to your new room."

Aoshi was shocked and horrified. He hadn't bedded with a woman in years, let alone shared a bed, and now he would have to share one with a child.

I was going to end it there but I want to write more for this chapter so on it goes

SLAM

Aoshi heard the door echo as it was shut. He'd been warned of the queens scheming mind and to watch himself and keep in her good graces, or she'd find other ways to punish him. He gulped at the thoughts.

"What are you doing here?" Misao sneered as she sat at her vanity, brushing her long hair. Aoshi watched her turn around and almost showed surprise, as she looked much older with her hair down. Misao glared at him.

"I was told we were to shared the same room." Aoshi responded.

"I wasn't told and they haven't put another bed up yet." Misao responded dryly and turned back to her mirror. Aoshi sighed as she turned away; it was going to be difficult to keep his cold act up.

"We are to share the same be as well." 'Did my voice just crack?' Aoshi questioned and then heard her scream.

"WHAT!"

Time seemed to fly by as she stood ran past him and opened her door, she returned a few moment later seething and mumbling to herself. She refused to look at Aoshi. "Are you going to make this difficult?" Aoshi asked, his voice remaining normal this time.

"No, I will not." Misao grounded out. "Do me one favor and step outside so I can change.

"No," Aoshi responded. Before she could rant and rave he continued. "I will turn around, but I have been instructed not to leave the room.

"Fine," Misao threw her hands into the air in frustration and Aoshi turned around. Aoshi couldn't stand the rustling of clothing. He wanted to turn around for some odd reason. "You can turn around." Came her short reply. Aoshi did so and almost chocked, that fluffy dress she'd had on, had made her far to skinny, and now he could see she'd been wearing something to make her look skinner. She didn't have very many womanly curves, but to say she wasn't attractive to the eye was far mistaken.

If she would try she could probably have any man she desired. Aoshi shook his head and slowly unbuttoned his shirt. He removed it, knowing Misao had been watching. He placed it on a chair next to him and then slowly walked to the bed.

"Do you not have any bed clothes?" Misao asked as she saw him approach the bed.

"I sleep like this each night, I have never worn them." Aoshi responded standing at the end of the king sized bed.

"It gets rather cold here at nights, perhaps you should..." Aoshi glanced at her and shook his head. "You can have the right side, its closer to the windows and the door." Misao mumbled. She been staring at his muscular for, sure she'd Sano, in less than what Aoshi was in, but Aoshi seemed different to her. He was far more attractive, and he had muscles that fit his frame, so to say. Sano didn't have huge muscles, but they bulge a little too much for her taste. She gulped as she walked to her side of the bed and got under the covers. Aoshi did the same on his side.

Aoshi lay back, his body was exhausted, and he closed his eyes and sunk into the sheets with a sigh. Misao watched him; his face never seemed to change. Slowly she lay back on her side and turned away from him, she fell asleep after awhile of thoughts running through her head. Aoshi fell asleep moments after he sense Misao had fallen asleep.

Misao pulled the blankets over her head and snuggled into the warmth that surrounded her. She groaned as she was moved, but relaxed as the movement stopped. She sighed and fell back into a peaceful sleep.

Aoshi had been surprised, he awoken when the birds started chirping, that was about the break of dawn. He'd stiffened and wanted to get out of her embrace, but found she seemed to hold on tightly to things in her sleep. He didn't need another slap to his face. The one from yesterday made his cheek sting, and he knew it would bruise, but it would be a light bruise. Thinking about it made his cheek hurt.

Aoshi had drifted into a light sleep half an hour later, and now he lay awake once more when she groaned from the suns light coming through the window. It had to be about 7:30 in the morning. Misao had fallen back to sleep once more, and mumbled something Aoshi couldn't understand.

Half an hour later Misao awoke blinking, she was so warm, and she didn't want to move. She felt arms tighten around her and knew it was Aoshi's embrace she was in. She didn't really despise him, but the child comment hurt more than he would ever know. She smiled to herself as a thought came to her mind.

'Operation get Aoshi to fall for me, would commence after breakfast.'

Writers Mistakes that I found funny: She picked up her fluffy squirt. Squirt oooooh how did they get a squirt in that time and how could it be fluffy? hehe