Under the Crystal Moon

By Charmed Wolf

My disclaimer still stands; I don't own Rurouni Kenshin at all.

Raising crystal moon.

10 days before Aoshi's ordination.

Aoshi was sitting in his room, trying to meditate to clear his mind. 'Why am I taking on this role?' Aoshi thought within his mind, Misao wanted to play with Aoshi. Okina didn't want Aoshi disturb when he has to get ready for the ordination, the ordination wasn't until 10 days of the next full moon.

Aoshi wasn't ready to be okashira; he was still just 15 years old.

"Okina, are you sure that Aoshi can do the job of being okashira?" Omasu asked, Okina told her that he was sure of it and that meant no second thoughts.

Okon checked on Aoshi to make sure he's fine; Aoshi knew he didn't have a choice but to take the role of Okashira for the Oniwabanshu…Okina knew that Aoshi was smarter than he looked, Omasu and Okon were trying to get Misao for her bath and she wanted Aoshi.

The ordination.

10 days past as the ordination came, Okina looked nervous with the ordination. Aoshi looked fine with the ceremony, yet Aoshi was calm through the duration of the ceremony. "Okina, perhaps you should go sit down," Aoshi said looking at his mentor through his reading glasses, Okina never forgot that Aoshi hadn't been able to see very well up close.

Okon sat some tea for Aoshi to drink; it was time for Aoshi to prepare himself for the roll as okashira.

"How would a 15 year old assume the roll as Okashira?" Okon asked, Aoshi knew what he was going to do when he is Okashira. Misao still looked up Aoshi as an old brother; of course he did care for her.

"The others should start coming in soon," Okina said, the others soon came for the ordination.

Aoshi adjusted his yukata getting ready his ordination; he wished that his parents could see him now getting ready to become okashira. "Okina, it would be better if my parents were here," Aoshi said with an expressionless look, Omasu knew that Aoshi missed his parents.

Misao saw Aoshi come from his room ready to be ordinated as Moto Oniwabanshu Okashira, every member saw Aoshi not as their fellow Oniwaban member, but their Okashira.

"Okina, how long does this go on for?" Okon asked knowing full well that the ordination would last for 3 days. Aoshi didn't like having his things gone threw, Omasu and Okina had started to move his things into the 'Okashira's room' because now Aoshi was the new okashira…"Okina, what happened to my things?" Aoshi asked in a low tone, instead of telling Aoshi, Okina showed him what happened to his things. The larger room was now Aoshi's room, it was going to be some time to get use to.

"Aoshi-kun, you're 15 and you are already okashira," Okina said, and Aoshi knew that already…

Misao saw Aoshi sitting alone the bench in the garden; she went to sit with him for awhile to keep him company, giving him a cute innocent kiss on the cheek.

"Oh, Misao-chan, I didn't know you here," Aoshi said, the little girl just shrugged and plopped herself down into Aoshi's lap. Aoshi took some paper that he had with him, his hands started the motion of folding the paper into a crane for little Misao, who was sitting on his lap.

"Aoshi-sama, for me?" Misao asked, Aoshi just handed Misao the paper crane.

Okina knew a fight was coming and it was going to be Aoshi's first fight as okashira, Aoshi didn't want to make Misao worried because of some stupid fight…

"Aoshi-kun, are you sure about the fight?" Omasu asked, Aoshi just simply nodded to answer the young konoichi. It looked like Misao has to stay because she was something special to the young Okashira, Aoshi would be just be devastated if something happened to that little girl.

Flashback

Makimachi Ryu, the proud Okashira of the Oniwabanshu, was waiting anxiously for the arrival of his granddaughter. "Okashira, your daughter-in-law, she delivered a baby girl!" one of the other ninja exclaimed, Okashira Makimachi was excited and almost forgot that he was training the 10 year old Shinomori Aoshi in the way of the sword and kempo.

Ryu looked at Aoshi, who was practicing very diligently, a smile graced his face he watched the young boy practiced. "Aoshi-kun, 2 more reps and we'll take a break," the old Okashira said, Aoshi just did what was told of him.

The bokken was put away with care; Okashira Makimachi took Aoshi with him to wash up. And after all, a child's room was a clean place; it didn't bother the old okashira to introduce his new little granddaughter to Aoshi. "Okashira, where are we going?" Aoshi asked, Makimachi told Aoshi that they were going to going to see the new member of the Makimachi family.

"Aoshi-kun, in one year you will be going on your first mission and I think you are ready," the old okashira said, he was right, that January will bring bitter winds and Aoshi's first mission. And the problem was Aoshi's uncle—a heavy drinker and very abusive to Aoshi.

End of flashback

Aoshi started to make up the stragedy for the fight, Okina was glad he made the right choice to make this young man Moto Oniwabanshu Okashira. "Excellent, we'll ambush them," Okina said, Aoshi handed everyone there assignments. He knew full well that this was dangerous and the risk was very great, and he was used to taking great risks at a great time.

"Okina, I suppose you know what to do," Aoshi said, and of course, Misao came to mind.

Misao played in her room knowing that she has to stay behind to keep out of danger; Okina went to make sure the setting was right before the Oniwabanshu could leave the Aoi-ya. "Okashira, they're coming," Shiro said, Aoshi knew full well most of them had gun and it was against Oniwaban rules to any firearm at all. Aoshi's hand gripped the hilt of his kodachi waiting to strike, in his mind, the image of little Misao giving him that innocent kiss on the played in his mind and he had to focus on that.

"Alright everyone, get ready for this fight," Aoshi said with that authoritative voice, and it happened as Aoshi planned it.

Just one the happened that Aoshi didn't plan on was him getting terribly hurt, he collapsed thinking of his little Misao with him losing a lot of blood…

"Kuro, quickly get our okashira inside!" Okina exclaimed as he saw Aoshi collapse, Kuro did as he was as told by Okina. Okon and Omasu ran around getting hot and cold water to wash the wound, bandages were scrambled for as Omasu tried to peel away his shirt.

"Aoshi-sama?" Misao asked in her innocent voice, Okina didn't want the little girl to see how badly hurt Aoshi was. Aoshi refused to scream in pain as they treated his injuries, he knew fully that warriors never cried out in pain for any reason. 'I sure got myself into a mess this time,' Aoshi thought, Omasu felt his forehead and it felt hot.

She dipped a cloth into the cold water and laid it on Aoshi's forehead, Okon knew that Aoshi had a high fever from losing so much blood from that fight. "Here, Okashira, drink this tea down," Okon said sitting Aoshi up to give him the tea, the young okashira slowly drank the tea down. Before long, he fell asleep in Okon's arms; she laid Aoshi back on his futon so he could sleep.

To my reviewers:

LuvHaru7: YAY! I'm so glad you reviewed my story, so kind act deserves another, feel free to review my story as many times you like:D

Harrypottersaks: Thanks for the review of my 1st chapter; it means a lot when someone does review, so it didn't offend me at all, I was in the midst of getting a new computer.

Sachiya: YAY! I like it when you review my stories; it really makes me feel so good to see that review saying something good about what I wrote!

Please read and review, people; it is that bluish purple button!