Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin, Naruto, Peacemaker, Shinsengumi, Star Trek Voyager…or Star Wars. Yes people I said Star Wars now I hope you didn't really expect a Star Wars worshipper like me to not pay homage to George did ya! Well good anyways it's just a small but easily identifiable reference that totally fits and I was so happy I could stick it in here!
WARNING: I know you people can smell the lemons! Because this segment is very lemon-scented! There are NO LEMONS! But it is lemon-scented! So please if you are offended by such things then close this window right now. As I said in the previous chapter the story is pretty much over I just want to do a little more character development for Misao. So again the end of this chapter is lemon-scented so consider your self warned!
The link below leads to the most awesome RK crossover story I have ever read! It's called "Glint of Amber Stars" Please go and read it!
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Part 7: …and the rise of the new leader of the Oniwaban Clan
Aoshi woke well before the sunrise and was reluctant to leave his bed. The images from his last dream were still fresh in his mind and he was unwilling to abandon the warmth that they had created. The dream had brought back forgotten memories and he lay there thinking about them specifically the day Megumi Takane had run away from Kanryu's estate. He had returned early from an errand that day and had decided to practice his stealth techniques by sneaking up on the others. He had reached the entrance of their quarters and overheard an interesting conversation.
Hannya had been reporting to the others the status of something they called "The Plan"; a plan which consisted of knocking out Kanryu, taking his money and all his assets and returning to Kyoto to retire. He had been aware of Hannya's plans to stage a coup against Kanryu but during this conversation they were discussing a part of the plan he had not been aware of!
It turned out that the only reason Hannya was holding back on his plans was because they were waiting for Misao to reach marriageable age. Once her eighteenth birthday was near they would destroy Kanryu and all his illegal operations then take Aoshi back to Kyoto so they could all retire and he could marry their little sun. In their esteem there was no other man in the entire world worthy of her! He had been touched by this and remained in his hiding place listening to Hannya saying how she was well on her way to becoming a beautiful and strong woman!
"Just two more years!" Hannya had kept repeating excitedly. Apparently Hannya had to curtail one of Misao's recent efforts to find them because she had come way too close and the time was not right for a reunion. He had caught a glimpse of her then and he was very confident that this part of the plan would work because he was certain Aoshi would not be able to resist her. Plus it had been obvious to Hannya by her single-minded obsession with finding them that she still cared deeply about them, especially Aoshi! He was doing a very good job of conveying his excitement to the others.
Aoshi had smiled then one of his rare private smiles and allowed himself the hope that Hannya's Plan would succeed and he hoped Misao really would still care about him when they returned. He had decided then that he would go along willingly with their plans once the time came and do whatever it took to make it up to the little princess for leaving her behind. After all he had also been tired of that empty life and Hannya's plan gave him something to look forward to. He had left his hiding place quietly and let Hannya and the others continue planning privately.
But Fate was a capricious creature and it was later that very same day that Megumi Takane had decided to run away right into the Battousai's grasp. All thoughts and hopes for Hannya's Plan had been forgotten in the wake of the fateful events that were put into motion that day. He wondered whether anyone in the Aoiya had been aware of Hannya's Plan other than Omasu whom he had overheard was their accomplice in Kyoto. He doubted it though or Okina wouldn't have forced all those miai on Misao after her eighteenth birthday. In fact, he was certain Omasu probably gave up on the plan after she heard of Hannya's death and after what happened at the Place of Sight. He himself had forgotten about the plan until today.
'Hannya would be happy!' He smiled; the knowledge that Hannya's plan had come to fruition despite the delay and the different circumstances under which Kanryu was destroyed was comforting. He sighed contently he wanted to share this information with Misao but he knew that it was much too early for him to go to his princess and wake her, after all she hadn't been able to sleep well the night before and they would have a pretty full day today, she needed her rest. So he did something he rarely ever did, he rolled over and went back to sleep…
Misao knew she was awake, she knew it was morning and she knew where she was even though she refused to open her eyes…
'I am in my room alone and any minute now Okon's gonna be banging on my door telling me to get up! Well not today!' she promised herself firmly
'Today I'm just going to stay in bed!' she asserted. She doubted that even if she wanted she could've been able to move. Last night's dream had been a doozy! The Aoshi in her dream had even played kissing games and teased her in the way lovers do, he had even asked her to marry him! His arms had felt so warm and strong and his lips had been so soft and enticing.
'Damn it all of course they would have to be soft!' she cursed burying herself under her blankets. No, she knew she couldn't face her world this morning. Of course, she knew she would have to; Lord Aoshi would be miserable without his tea and he might want to go to the cemetery since he's off work today and they hadn't had a chance to make a proper visit. She could feign illness and Mrs. Kate would cover for her but she knew Lord Aoshi would worry and that was the last thing she wanted
'Well I could go take out my frustrations on Sutesuke and Kamo,' she wondered and as she contemplated demonstrating her Hiten Mitsurugi enhanced kenpo on those two idiots the prospect of getting up today was a little easier. She figured that at least that part of the dream had been real but she very much doubted that Lord Aoshi had come charging to the rescue! If anything he had probably come and waited by the front door until she was done then they had walked home in silence like always. Her stupidly disappointed girly ridiculous brain had just made up all the other stuff!
'Focus, Misao! You have a mission! Damn you!' she ordered herself sternly. She had long since given up on Lord Aoshi reciprocating any romantic feelings but all the same she had pledged herself to him. If she couldn't make him happy she could at least help him gain some measure of peace by attending to all his needs. She knew that the Aoshi of her childhood memories and the Aoshi that lived here now were two different people and she was mature enough now to know the difference between a girly daydream and reality.
But his pain had touched her heart and she had fallen deeply in love with the broken Aoshi as soon as she had gotten over her childish infatuation of the old one. That was something that she could not deny. If she couldn't rid herself of her feelings in the six months that she sent him away to the USA then she knew that she would always love him. Kaiba had been a convenient excuse to stop all the futile miai and even though it hurt to think that to most men she was just an elusive trophy she knew he would never treat her like that! None of those men had even an inkling of respect for her! That part she was certain she received from him; he respected her! And nothing those men offered could be better than that! None of those men would ever listen to her the way he did!
In fact aside from Mrs. Kate he was the only person that would sit patiently and listen to her rant pointlessly. At the very least she knew she had that! Lord Aoshi listened and that was no dream! She knew that he was proud of her…also not a dream. One day she would learn how to put her selfish feelings aside and help him achieve that ever elusive peace. But in the meantime she really had to do something to stop these dreams they were positively crippling! Unable to stop herself she began to cry. Embarrassed and ashamed for her childish tears she bit down on her blanket to keep her sobs from being heard by the others, especially Lord Aoshi…
"Don't cry leader! Today is not like before!" said a ghostly familiar voice and with great reluctance she pushed her blankets back a little and opened her eyes
"Hannya…" she said softly wiping tears away from her face. Yesterday at the base after the incident she had caught a glimpse of a ghost in Shinsengumi attire speaking excitedly to Saito. When she had asked Saito who the ghost was he had introduced the exuberant spirit as Soji Okita and he had explained to her that she had the rare ability to see and speak to ghosts. Saito himself was in fact a shaman, a person capable of connecting this world with the next and it was a secret he only shared with those who had the gift. She didn't doubt that she was seeing Hannya, he had come to her once before. She smiled at him…
"I miss you guys," she said softly her hand instinctively reaching out for him.
"We missed you too little sun! We're very proud of you! Mr. Okita told us what happened at the base," he replied as he mirrored her gesture "now get up today is a joyful day!"
"All right Hannya," she sighed, her limbs felt heavy and her lips felt slightly swollen. Weakly, she pushed herself up to a sitting position and gave Hannya a reassuring smile.
"I'm ok Hannya! Go rest, I'm all right," she assured him making the extra effort to smile for him as brightly as she could
"Yes you will be little sun as soon as you look over there!" Hannya countered cryptically pointing to something at the foot of her bed. Curiosity overrode her crippling depression temporarily as she moved to look at what Hannya was pointing at. Laid over her open journal was a beautifully made origami flower and she knew that there was only one person in the Aoiya who could work paper this beautifully. Her heart hammered in her chest as she picked up the little paper sculpture and looked down at the journal and realized that there was a short note written in it. The precise strokes of the hand writing were unmistakable, nobody in the Aoiya could write as brilliantly and as neatly as he could! She read the note again and again to make sure she wasn't misreading anything
"Oh Hannya!" she gasped joy choking back any other words she might have wanted to say
'It was real!' the girly voice in her head squealed in delight one hand reached up to touch her swollen lips and she blushed as she recalled the heated kisses that got them that way. She looked up and smiled joyfully at Hannya
"Be happy little sun!" Hannya said simply as he began to disappear
"Wait, Hannya! Don't go yet!" she pleaded there was so much she wanted to say to him.
"Don't worry little sun we won't be far! Take care of Aoshi; he needs you now more than ever. We're counting on you!" he replied, bowed to her and faded away. She smiled
"Leave it to me Hannya! I'll take good care of him!" she whispered fervently. Pure joy washed over her as she read once again what the note said:
A rose… for my beautiful Princess Misao!
Our story begins today.
Love, Aoshi
"Yep! No worries! You just leave it to me!" she whispered again to the empty room. She looked out the window up at the sky; a thin golden line far away in the horizon signaled that the sun was just about to rise. She no longer desired to stay in bed she was suddenly anxious for this day to begin, she got up quickly. Carefully she set her little prize on top of her little armoire, put her journal away and quickly tidied up her room. She pulled out the blue kimono that she got for her eighteenth birthday remembering that Aoshi had said the Shinsengumi had invited them to a party this afternoon and she wanted to look her best on her first day as his betrothed.
'I need a quick bath and I have to wash my hair first!' she instructed herself as she rushed down stairs remembering that Aoshi had said he liked running his hands through her hair and with the little incident with Sutesuke yesterday her hair didn't feel clean…
Aoshi woke again with a rush of excitement; he couldn't wait to get this day started. The power he had felt yesterday afternoon after the Shinsengumi party coursed through him again and made him restless. He was anxious to be near his princess again soon! He sat up quickly and rushed through his morning routines. As he went for his bath he realized that someone else had just been there and by the scent of berries left behind he could easily guess who it was! He smiled…
'She's awake…' he told himself as he hurried to get done happily looking forward to having breakfast with his princess. Especially since in addition to her special tea would come his morning kiss and he certainly didn't want to miss that!
'But there are other items on my agenda today!' he thought as he decided he'd wear his ninja uniform for now. First, there was dealing with Sutesuke and his friend; second: he needed to talk to Master Hiko about Misao's martial arts improvements, he didn't like the fact that she thought of herself as the weakest link in the Oniwaban chain and he had an idea about how he was going to prove to her that she was wrong and firmly place her in command of their ninja clan. Third: He wanted to tell Misao about the dream he'd had last night and the memory that surfaced in its wake.
Last but not least was the Shinsengumi party this afternoon and as he headed towards the kitchen where he was certain his princess would be he realized that the three Shinsengumi men had not returned but that came as no surprise. Legend had it that Shinsengumi men were notorious in both their sword skills and their partying stamina! He would have to talk to Shuhei and see where the man would stand now that things had changed. He had proven to be a beneficial friend to the Aoiya and if possible he wanted to avoid harming the relationship that the man had formed with them.
He walked into the kitchen and smiled. Her back was turned to him at first but as he stepped into the kitchen she turned around
"Good Morning Lord Aoshi," she greeted sweetly emphasizing the honorific ever so slightly as she smiled cheerfully and innocently up at him. He smirked in amusement
'So we're still playing this game, eh?' he thought happily willing to oblige as he took the last few steps towards her, sat next her and as he wrapped his arms around her and devoured her in a searing kiss all other concerns were temporarily forgotten.
Misao melted happily into her betrothed's embrace, her ninja senses perked up for a minute as she sensed the approach of the other members of her ninja family. They paused at the entrance of the kitchen but retreated shortly there after and that's how she knew they wouldn't be spying on them today!
They all returned a few minutes later and found Aoshi and Misao talking quietly their attention riveted on each other rather than on their untouched breakfasts. The usual cheerful chaos quickly ensued as everyone scrambled to get their breakfasts and the morning chores done. Seeing Aoshi in his ninja uniform Okina decided that Kuro and Shiro should wear their uniforms as well for their visit to the Haruno's this morning. Misao frowned
"You guys remember that this is Sakura and Saya's family so you need to go easy on them," Misao admonished worriedly
"Misao, I know you're worried about Sakura but neither her father nor her brother will learn anything if we don't deal with them as we would with any other transgressor," Okina explained patiently and then something strange happened Okon and Omasu paused in their tasks and frowned.
"Yeah it would be like declaring open season on our Okashira!" Kuro added. Aoshi cast a few worried glances to each woman. None of them liked these explanations he turned to signal Shiro to not add fuel to the fire that was brewing in these women but he was too late.
"Uh-huh! It'll invite every punk in the city to just jump in and see if he can get lucky 'cause they'll think they can get away with it!" Shiro put in indignantly. Aoshi shook his head. He knew from his conversation with Kate-sensei yesterday that Misao often dealt with attacks like the one perpetrated by Sutesuke and from the look on Okon and Omasu's face he could tell so did they.
His conversation with his princess last night had yielded the disturbing real reason for Misao's training with Master Hiko. On her way back from an errand after he'd gone to the USA she had run across a couple of guys that she just barely managed to beat and she had gone to Master Hiko because he was the strongest guy she could think of who could help her get stronger fast and would have time to teach her. The reason she had given Kate-sensei was true but it was the second reason and she didn't think she came even close to that goal.
'I have a bad feeling about this…' he thought as Misao and the other two women glared at them
"Yeah and while you're charging in to get revenge for your bruised male egos it'll be Sakura who will have to put up with the reprimands!" Misao shot back. Okina opened his mouth to reassure Misao
"And I know you think you might be able to influence your old friend but your wrong! The second you leave he's gonna lean on Sakura and the next time I go visit her she'll be locked up in her house enduring a long and undeserved grounding!" she spat out before Okina could say anything. In an attempt to restore the peace Aoshi interceded
"Leader, tell us what you would have us do?" Aoshi asked solemnly. Misao smiled at him but she looked troubled
"Kamo…well I don't care how you deal with him but as far as Sutesuke is concerned I can only deal with him as I always do. Until Sakura gains the self-confidence to stand up for her self there is no permanent solution," Misao explained her usual cheer absent replaced by a troubled expression. That was enough for Aoshi to wish Sutesuke a thousand painful deaths but in an effort to be more sensitive to Misao's thoughts and help her establish her authority he kept his anger in check.
"How do you usually deal with him?" he asked trying not to think that there had been other incidents similar to last night's she smiled brightly a touch of mischief making her eyes sparkle again and his jealous rage receded somewhat.
"I beat the crap out of him and his buddies and steal their money!" she replied full of bubbly cheer again eyes sparkling with mischief and Aoshi allowed himself a short chuckle of amusement thinking how Hannya and the others would laugh if they heard this. Okon and Omasu giggled conspiratorially which told Aoshi they probably did the same with their attackers. It made sense, after all, no man cowardly enough to try and press his advantage on a woman would dare to go to the police and admit he was beat up and robbed by a girl!
"Very well if this is how you wish for this situation to be handled then that is how it will be done," he agreed solemnly.
"But perhaps you'll agree to bring Sakura in for training, our martial arts would help in boosting Sakura's confidence," he suggested and she cheerfully agreed adding that she had taught her a little but perhaps if he taught her she'd do better.
"Very well," he agreed grimly. He wasn't satisfied with it but that was just the offended boyfriend part of him that didn't like this ruling and he would discuss that with his betrothed in private. Right now she was the leader and he would follow his leader's instructions whether he liked it or not he would not challenge her authority in front of the others. Judging by the sparkle in her smile he knew that this was just the right attitude to take. However, the frowns on Okina and the other two told him they hadn't gotten the message
"Still Misao we must do something we can't just let this insult pass!" Okina interjected refusing to back down Kuro and Shiro nodded in agreement. All three women rolled their eyes and threw their hands up in exasperation.
"You know to hear you three you'd think that kind of stuff never happens to us!" Omasu retorted
"Yeah, what's with all the righteous indignation all of a sudden?" Okon asked irritated "at least Aoshi gets it!" she added pointing at him with her thumb. The other two women nodded their agreement solemnly. Aoshi intervened again
"Okina, transgressions like the one perpetrated by Sutesuke are not uncommon for Misao, Okon and Omasu to deal with. As it was pointed out to me yesterday women with no fathers or husbands are often considered prey for uncivilized men who allow their baser instincts to take hold of them. To Misao, Okon and Omasu it seems hypocritical for us to interfere now since we have never done it before," Aoshi lectured calmly, Misao gazed at him adoringly and the other two smiled approvingly. The men just stared at him dumbfounded.
"So in lieu of our neglect they use such instances as a way to test their strength and practice their martial arts," he concluded calmly realizing as he did that the girls spent more time in the training room then any of the guys including him. They scratched their heads and looked away remorsefully this new information forcing them to re-evaluate the situation. He calmly sipped his tea and glanced next to him where Misao was sitting and there was a blazing look in her eyes that caught him by surprise. He suddenly wished there weren't quite so many people in the kitchen. His wish was granted as everyone suddenly got up and went back to their duties. They all filed out and the kitchen was suddenly very quiet.
He had just finished his tea and put his cup down when suddenly he was attacked! Misao's arms wrapped around his neck and he had barely enough time to put his hand behind him to keep him self from slamming down to the floor from the force of her display of affection. His lips automatically responded to her "assault" and he adjusted his position so he could bring both his arms around her.
"Thank you for agreeing with me! I know you're not happy with what I'm asking," Misao whispered dreamily as she cuddled up against his chest it had become her favorite spot.
"No I'm not happy. Misao I will not challenge your authority in front of the others but I can't help how I feel," he began seriously
"I can't forgive myself for letting this situation go on for as long as it has but I intend to make it clear from now on to every man in this town that further transgressions against any of the women in this house, especially you, will not be tolerated," he stated gravely. She giggled and he looked down at her puzzled by this reaction
"Mrs. Kate told me last night that you would say something like that!" she explained her eyes sparkling with amusement
"Ah," was his simple reply it didn't surprise him that Kate-sensei would make such an accurate guess. In fact nothing she said surprised him anymore
"She said that because you're a guy you would be angry with any guy trying to help him self to what's yours!" she clarified and giggled
"And she is quite correct. I'm as jealous and selfish as any other man and I will not allow anyone to even think that I will share you!" he declared in that purring tone that made her insides twist in a knot of excitement and of course he followed it up with one of those blazing kisses that she was certain would never stop making her weak at the knees. Breathlessly they parted from their kiss and Aoshi suggested that if she was going to take the matter into her own hands she had to at least let him come along to watch. She happily agreed and they were about to resume their kissing when Okina's hurried steps heading back towards the kitchen interrupted them.
Aoshi helped her up and together they began to clean up the kitchen. Okina arrived then looking slightly worried
"What is it Gramps?" Misao asked puzzled by Okina's worried look
"A servant from the Haruno's just arrived he brought this message for you Aoshi!" he announced seriously. Surprised, Aoshi took the letter Okina was carrying explaining to Misao that the servant looked pretty freaked out and was waiting outside for Aoshi's reply. When questioned, the man just would not say what was going on.
"What does it say?" Misao asked worriedly as Aoshi frowned while he read the short note
"It's from Sakura and she wants me to come to her house as soon as I can," he replied handing the note to her. She quickly read it
"Please go now Aoshi! Take Kuro and Shiro with you!" she said her concern for her friend plain to see. Aoshi reached down and gave her a light kiss assuring her that everything would be alright. He rushed out of the kitchen and called for Kuro and Shiro. The servant was told that they would go on ahead of him. Ninjas can travel faster then the average Joe after all!
Misao watched them go and resisted the urge to fidget and whine instructing her self that it would be unbecoming of a leader to do so especially after Aoshi was making such efforts to help her establish her authority within the Oniwaban. From the corner of her eye she noticed that Okina was watching her as though he was waiting to see what she would do.
"We'll wait for them to return and go from there," she declared confidently turning to smile up at him. He smiled back
"Ok…" he replied sadly. She looked up at him puzzled
"What's the matter Gramps?" she asked worriedly and he smiled
"Children grow so fast, if you blink you miss it!" he replied enigmatically patting her on the shoulder
"Cherish every moment Misao…" he added wistfully. She smiled brightly up at him and hugged him
"I always do Gramps!" she announced happily. Omasu and Okon joined them at the door for a moment and Misao fended off Okon's attempts to coif her hair in some elaborate style and Omasu's insistence in trying to get her to wear makeup by telling them Aoshi preferred her usual style of keeping her hair loose and face clean. They demanded that Misao give them details about what had happened last night. Misao teased them by telling them that they didn't have quite the attention span required to listen to one of her stories.
Finally they begged and pleaded so much that she caved and Misao blissfully recounted what had happened by the side of the river on the way back from the party last night. To her happy surprise by the time she was done she realized they had actually been listening the whole time! Misao knew from that day her life would not be the same, a little part of her regretted the end of the carefree days of Misao Makimachi but she looked forward to the challenges and rewards of being Mrs. Misao Shinomori leader of the Oniwaban group of ninjas…
The three set out for the Haruno's taking the short cuts that only ninja agility allowed the three men of the Aoiya to take. Aoshi glanced behind him and was pleased to see Kuro and Shiro keeping pace with him though it looked like it was a great effort for them to do so. He stopped a few meters away from the front gate to allow his companions to catch their breath. He suggested that if they were going to keep up with the girls they ought to step up their training; especially if they were going to be more chivalrous with them. Breathlessly they agreed and straightened up as they walked towards the Haruno's.
As they walked into the courtyard a strange sight greeted them. Sitting in the entrance was Naruto in a cozy slightly intimate position with Saya who blushed and giggled happily at whatever it was he was whispering in her ear. Sasuke and Sakura were nowhere to be seen.
"Good Morning Lord Aoshi!" he greeted cheerfully. Aoshi gave him a perplexed look as he returned the greeting
"Good Morning Naruto, what's going on?" Aoshi asked. Naruto just smiled happily and Aoshi marveled at how much he and Misao were alike. Naruto cheerfully pointed him in the direction of the storage shed in the back. Aoshi nodded and walked away
"Ok, that was different," Shiro said softly
"Yeah, I thought Naruto had a crush on Sakura, what's going on?" Kuro added. Aoshi shrugged
"I suspect we'll find out as soon as we get to the storage shed," Aoshi guessed as the small building came into view. Sasuke was standing outside it pacing back and forth just a few feet away from the door. He stopped and looked up as the three men approached. To Aoshi's surprise he looked both confused and excited for a moment and it looked like it took him a considerable amount of effort to school his face back into his usual stoic expression. He turned to knock on the door as Aoshi and the others stopped and greeted him. He was about to ask what was going on when the large door swung open and Sakura stepped out.
"Oh! Good Morning Lord Aoshi! Shiro, Kuro Good morning to you too! Thank you for coming so quickly!" Sakura greeted cheerfully as she stepped out to greet them. Aoshi blinked in surprise and returned the greeting cautiously. The girl before him sounded just like Sakura but she sure didn't look like her! Her long hair had been cut to shoulder length and held back away from her face with a simple strip of black cloth.
"Please come with me!" Sakura requested cheerfully and walked back towards the shed. Instead of her usual expensive and beautiful kimonos she was wearing a simple ninja outfit that Aoshi recognized as one of Misao's uniforms. He reasoned Misao must've given it to her when she began teaching her martial arts. In her hands was a shinai and to the three Oniwaban men's further shock she turned and ordered Sasuke to go and tell her father that he could go on his errand now then stepped back inside the shed. Sasuke blinked in surprise but said nothing and ran back in the house to follow her command. Aoshi opened his mouth to ask her what was going on but stopped. The sight that greeted him was quite a shock!
"Whoa!" Kuro whispered in awe as they took in the sight. Sutesuke and Kamo's arms were tied to their sides by a rope coiled secure around their torsos. The end of said rope extended up toward the ceiling where it went over a large beam in the center of the ceiling and back down where the ends were tied to a couple of hooks on the back of the room. Sutesuke and Kamo were hanging in the center of the room and at the moment it looked like they were asleep.
"This is even better than what we were planning," Shiro commented sounding impressed and from the corner of his eye Aoshi saw Kuro nod slowly in agreement. The room looked like it had just been cleaned but there was a distinct scent of bile and urine that clung to the room. It wasn't difficult to see that the smell was coming from the two men swinging in the middle of the room. Sakura put her shinai down; picked up a bucket of water; stepped forward and threw the water in their faces yelling at them to wake up. They woke with a start and began begging desperately for Sakura to let them down.
"SHUT UP YOU WORTHLESS RATS!" she yelled in reply and both men immediately complied sniveling pitifully
"Sakura, why did you call me here?" Aoshi asked still feeling a little shocked on how the usually demure and elegant Sakura had reduced her brother and his friend to a pathetic whimpering mess.
'Misao taught her well!' he thought surprised, he couldn't wait to tell Misao. Sakura turned to him with fists on her hips and a serious look on her face.
"Listen, Lord Aoshi I called you here because I wanted to explain to you about last night! Misao has worked very hard to gain your respect and I'm not going to let my pathetic waste of a brother damage what she worked so hard to achieve!" she declared confidently. Aoshi blinked in surprise and he almost smiled but his smiles were reserved for his ninja princess. He was glad Misao had friends like Sakura
"I know that, Sakura. Misao and I had a long conversation about our feelings last night and believe me I know how strong Misao is because I trained her and I know she holds back with your brother for your sake and that only increases my respect and admiration of her," he reassured her. Sakura breathed a sigh of relief and relaxed somewhat
"Well then while we're on the subject of feelings I'm gonna ask you straight out! She told me last night that you love her like a little sister but I've known her long enough to know this does not make her happy! So, I need to know if that's how it really is and if so than I need to know how we can change that," she ordered him. The direct tone in her voice and the hard look on her face demanded a straight answer. Yes, he was indeed glad Misao had friends like her!
"I am honored that my leader has such a loyal friend like you Sakura. So I'm glad that you will be the first of her friends to know this: Yes, I do love her and no, not like a little sister. In one month's time she and I will be married and we will be honored if you would join us in our celebration," he answered seriously. Sakura just stared for a moment and then squealed in girly delight.
"Yay! Yay! YAAAAY! Hear that you worthless rat!" she exclaimed happily turning to whack her brother on the leg with the back of her hand he just whimpered miserably and Aoshi's highly trained ears caught a frightened whisper of congratulations from him. She jumped around whooping with delight. Naruto and Saya came into the room then asking what was going on and Sakura happily told them the good news and the two joined Sakura in her impromptu celebration. Shiro and Kuro laughed happily.
"Hey! We should all go to the Aoiya and congratulate her!" Naruto suggested and Saya smiled in agreement but Sakura frowned
"Ugh! I can't Kamo's dad wants him to hang there until sunset!" Sakura informed him whacking Kamo absently with her shinai
"Who's going to watch these worms while I'm gone?" she informed him. Kamo's father had gleefully gone along with Sakura's chosen punishment once she told him what had happened. Misao's translation services and foreign contacts had saved the textile business owned by Kamo's family from ruin and he was more than happy to show his respect towards her by approving Sakura's judgment. In fact the man was busy at home preparing a gift along with a sincere apology to be delivered to the Aoiya this morning. This is what Sakura's father was doing as well at this very moment as a matter of fact!
"We'll stay!" Shiro offered cheerfully
"Yeah! No problem! You can go and visit with Leader for however long you want!" Kuro added gleefully looking forward to watching Sutesuke and Kamo suffer, the two men cringed and whimpered pitifully in response. Again Sakura whooped joyfully and handed Shiro her shinai.
"What about you Aoshi? You gonna go back or stay?" Shiro asked. Aoshi thought about it for a moment and stepped forward. The two men hanging in the middle of the room cringed and whimpered fearfully at Aoshi's approach. Without the inebriating effects of the Sake they were painfully aware of the damage Aoshi could rightfully inflict on them. He leveled them both with a thunderous glare his hands reached out for Sutesuke and Kamo's throats
"Sutesuke, Kamo! I want you to know that I don't easily forgive the liberty you took with my future wife. Be aware that Sakura has saved you from far worse retribution in my hands. You would do well to remember this because next time I will not be so forgiving!" he warned grimly and squeezed their throats ever so slightly just to let them know what would happen to them if they strayed again. The two captives whimpered and begged for forgiveness. Aoshi released them and turned away from them
"No, I won't stay here I'm satisfied with what Sakura has done and I'm sure Misao will be too," he replied to Shiro then turned to Sakura
"I will go back to the Aoiya with you," he informed her seriously. She smiled and asked him to wait while she changed and instructed the servants to bring Shiro and Kuro anything they needed and to not listen to anything her brother and his friend said "or else!" she warned and ran out of the room . Saya followed her back into the house leaving the men in the storage shed to pick on Sakura's prisoners…
Once back at the Aoiya Aoshi found that Mr. Haruno and Mr. Yamanaka (Kamo's father) were still there. Misao had already spoken with them and they were now in Okina's study talking and having tea with Kate-sensei and Master Hiko. Omasu had brought out the bridal kimono telling Misao that Hannya and the others had sent it with the hopes that she would wear it on her wedding day and she excitedly showed it to her girl friends. The boys were excluded from the "girly" show and tell!
Misao informed him that the three Shinsengumi men staying at the Aoiya had returned almost as soon as he'd left but after a quick and light breakfast they had taken baths and collapsed into their beds, so he resigned himself to waiting until the afternoon to talk to Shuhei. After a warm welcome from his princess he decided he'd go to the kitchen with Naruto in search of Sasuke and some tea.
They found Sasuke sitting in the kitchen alone. That confused-excited look on his face again and an untouched cup of tea in his hands that looked like it had long since gone cold. He spoke very little as Aoshi and Naruto talked, Aoshi let him be, something was weighing heavily in his mind and Aoshi guessed it was most likely Sakura or rather the sudden shift in her behavior. Naruto was so happy he could barely contain himself! He happily explained the circumstances under which he and Saya had gotten engaged nearly six months ago. Aoshi found it amazing how much he and Misao were alike.
Once the three Shinsengumi men were awake they invited everyone to the party. Okina and the other elders respectfully declined, Okon and Omasu decided to stay with Master Hiko and Aoshi finally got a chance to talk to Shuhei privately. Shuhei was not at all surprised by what Aoshi told him and he did request that Aoshi – if possible – not tell Misao what he had told Aoshi because he was sincere when he said that just her friendship was worth the time and effort and he didn't want to jeopardize that. Aoshi was impressed by the man's ability to lose graciously it was more than he could say for himself.
The girls cooked a large batch of chirashi sushi for the party and Aoshi and the other men carried large jugs of Sake from the Aoiya's stores and some of the jars of soy sauce provided by Sakura's father and had a grand time in Mibu with the other wolves. Those wolves of course had no trouble adding Misao and Aoshi's engagement to their list of things to celebrate. Shuhei explained to him that to a Shinsengumi wolf any excuse is a good excuse to party! Once Sutesuke and Kamo were released from their confinement Kuro and Shiro joined them too.
And it was a sign of the times that despite Naruto being the son of a Choshu clansman who was killed by the Shinsengumi during the Ikeda-ya incident was welcomed warmly by the old wolves. Naruto on his part harbored absolutely no ill will and enjoyed himself thoroughly! When Harada had asked him why Naruto had cheerfully explained that this was the Meiji era and that there is no room for hate when you're trying to build a new world. From then on the remaining wolves cared for Naruto as if he were one of their own.
Naruto's carefree attitude didn't surprise Aoshi at all, he was very much like Misao and just like she didn't hate Kenshin for defending himself and doing his duty Naruto didn't hate the wolves for doing theirs. But what did surprise Aoshi was the wolves' main reason for getting together. The celebration was in honor of Saito! Harada had said it was because he continued to carry the flag! It sure did surprise the hell out of Saito! Ogata had in fact made a speech recounting the day Saito had pledged that he would continue to carry the flag and live by the ideals of the Shinsengumi no matter what. Saito had looked ready to kill but Aoshi and the other wolves knew it was mostly out of embarrassment. Saito had never liked attracting attention after all!
Shuhei asked him and Misao for help in re-acquiring his family's dojo. The current owners wanted to charge him three times what it was worth on account of him being the only Tani still around and that he was the Kondo heir. Misao outraged by this prejudice immediately offered her assistance. No surprise there! He wanted it for sentimental as well as practical reasons. He could use it to establish a permanent base for his export company in Kyoto.
He also wanted to lure his brother Mantaro out of hiding; he explained he hadn't seen his brother since he escaped from the Shinsengumi over thirteen years ago. The strict laws of the Shinsengumi demanded seppuku from anyone trying to leave the group without permission thus his eldest brother Sanjaro had been killed while trying to escape and his middle brother Mantaro had disappeared. The laws of the Shinsengumi had long ceased to apply and he hoped that by again owning his family's dojo he could reunite with his brother.
Shuhei was the youngest of his brothers and he had stayed behind in the Shinsengumi because he had truly believed in Bureau Chief Kondo and wanted to be a worthy heir to his name. He returned to Tokyo the next day inviting him and Misao to stop by the Shieikan and meet his mother Tsune and his little sister Tama. Misao of course had happily agreed and Shuhei extended the invitation to the Himuras. Kaoru had always been welcome as an assistant instructor at the Kondo dojo but hadn't been seen very often since she got married.
And that was just one of the many interesting things that he learned that day about them. Those who survived didn't mind sharing stories about the Shinsengumi with those who asked. They were more than happy to answer Misao's questions and Misao loved sharing with them what she knew about the Battousai. Of course, they didn't call him that around Saito because he was just not happy with Kenshin being called by that name!
Later that night Aoshi and Misao were again cozied up in her room looking up at the stars. His ninja princess surprised him yet again with the intensity of her kisses. Her willingness and trust made for a great test of his self control! The day had been full of surprises and happy news. He told her then about the dream he had last night and the memory it had dredged and that's when he made the most interesting discovery!
"So that's why he came to me this morning…" Misao said softly
"Who Misao?" he asked truly perplexed by this answer
"Hannya," she answered simply. For an instant he thought she was joking but the serious look on her face told him otherwise.
"Misao, how is that possible?" he asked cautiously his mind telling him that this statement couldn't be possible and yet at the same time his heart wanted desperately to believe that she could communicate with Hannya somehow beyond the mortal veil.
"I know it's hard to believe but Saito told me yesterday that I'm a medium. I can see and talk with ghosts! I even met Mr. Okita! He follows Saito around a lot," she explained cheerfully
"Saito in fact is a full-fledged shaman! He doesn't just see them he can actually physically interact with them! Pretty cool, huh?" she added cheerfully. Aoshi just stared in astonishment and nodded slowly his brain kept telling him it wasn't possible but his heart had already accepted it.
"What did he say?" he asked softly dismissing his mind's complaints that it was not possible to see the dead…much less talk to them. He had after all had his own mystical encounter yesterday when he had heard his Master's laughter. He smiled
"He said: "Be happy little sun" He asked me to take care of you and told me they wouldn't too far away!" she replied gently and looked up and returned his wistful smile with one of her own bright ones. He held her tight against his chest
"You have done an awesome job of taking care of me. I think it's my turn now to take care of you!" he countered fervently. She giggled happily. He loved hearing the sound of her laughter
"How about this: We take care of each other!" she suggested cheerfully. He laughed
"Sounds good!" he agreed and kissed her lightly
"I think Hannya would like that," he added feeling like he was finally beginning to live again. She smiled and pulled him into a deeper kiss…
The next day before Master Hiko left he talked to him about Misao's new martial arts. When asked how strong she had become Master Hiko had merely smirked mysteriously and said that if she had been his student instead if his "idiot apprentice" Kenshin he wouldn't have to worry about the future of Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu. Aoshi had swelled with pride at Master Hiko's compliment and asked him if he could come back in two days to oversee a test. Master Hiko agreed…
The ministry gave him a couple of days off to get ready for the trip to Tokyo and he made good use of them. Misao for her part was more than happy to go to Tokyo with him so she could visit with Kaoru and Kenshin and deliver the news in person. She wrote a letter to Megumi that was carried by Kate-sensei to Aizu who happily agreed to be the bearer of good news. The day before they left on their pre-wedding side trip to Tokyo Master Hiko returned and Aoshi gathered everyone in the training hall asking them to wear their ninja uniforms.
Okina figured out what Aoshi intended to do and declined his participation in the exercise
"Okina, I need everyone to participate otherwise this won't work," Aoshi reasoned calmly trying to talk Okina into joining them. Okina laughed merrily and shook his head
"Oh, that won't be necessary Aoshi! You defeated me already so as long as you participate you can represent us both! It'll work just fine don't worry," he explained smiling mischievously
"But I do look forward to watching! Ah, Mrs. Kate there you are!" he added turning way from Aoshi and skipping towards the old foreign woman who smiled and handed him a cup of tea from a small tray she was carrying. They headed to the training hall together chatting amicably. It amazed Aoshi how quickly Okina turned into an excited love-struck teenager when in the presence of his teacher. He shook his head and followed; even more amazing was Kate-sensei's ability to fend off an advance before it actually became one! He wondered for a moment what she must've been like when she was young.
'Bet she would've made a great ninja,' he thought as he walked into the hall to find everyone else already there waiting for them. Mrs. Kate and Okina went to sit with Master Hiko, who was being fawned over by Okon. His princess hopped up from the spot where she was sitting with Omasu and the guys and skipped over to him.
"So are you gonna tell us what's going on?" she asked sweetly taking his larger hand into both of her small hands. For a moment he doubted him self and wondered if this was a good idea after all. Master Hiko sensing Aoshi's doubt spoke up
"Come on Shinomori! I don't have all day!" he called out testily. He nodded solemnly and shook away his doubts
'Kenshin had been just as small after all!' he told himself sternly; Kate-sensei had told him once that an old teacher of hers had once taught her that 'Size matters not!' and in Kenshin's case that had definitely been true. He hoped that with this exercise he would be able to pass that wisdom to his princess. The idea was to pit all the active members of the Oniwaban in a four-to-one battle against Misao.
The last one standing would then challenge Aoshi to a one-on-one fight and he was sure that it would be his princess. The succession gauntlet wasn't a commonly used practice for ascension to Okashira and normally only involved the top ranking ninjas. When an Okashira is chosen under unusual circumstances it was a good and quick way to demonstrate to all the top ninjas in the clan who was suited for the position. In Aoshi's case because he was so young it had served to gain the confidence of the highest ranked ninjas that wondered whether Aoshi was really up to the task. In Misao's case he hoped to provide her with proof that she was not the weakest link in the chain.
The other difference was that in his case he had not been able to challenge Misao's grandfather (Aoshi's predecessor) because he had died on a secret assassination mission and Okina had been named Okashira of the chapter in Kyoto several years before and was not in Edo to be challenged in Lord Makimachi's place. He had won every battle of course but he'd always felt frustrated that he could never challenge his mentor and fighting with Okina at the Place of Sight had left him just as empty despite his victory.
'I should've done this a long time ago!' he scolded himself. He was glad though that Misao would get a chance to challenge him and ascend to the rank properly. Hiko stood and gathered all the ninjas to him
"All right! It's simple!" Master Hiko began giving each ninja a hard look
"You four will fight Makimachi!" Hiko instructed directing himself to Okon, Omasu, Shiro and Kuro.
"Hey this is a succession gauntlet, isn't it?" Shiro piped up worriedly obviously not liking the idea of subjecting Misao to such a harsh initiation. His protective big brother instincts were echoed by Kuro
"Yes it is! And if I catch even one of you holding back you'll have to fight me!" Hiko warned giving Shiro and Kuro a hard glare. The two men shrunk away embarrassedly they had been thinking exactly that. A quick glance at Aoshi who was glaring at them from behind Master Hiko and they could tell same went for him.
"That goes double for you Makimachi," he advised her sternly. She smiled nervously at him as she piped up her agreement as he turned and went to sit by the wall with Okina and Kate-sensei. She glanced up at Aoshi and he answered her nervous smile with a proud smile. She pursed her lip nervously and he leaned down to give her quick light kiss then stepped aside so the combatants could take their places.
With glowing pride he watched as she ducked, weaved, kicked and punched all the while staying well out of Kuro and Shiro's grasp who had thrown themselves wholeheartedly into the fight rather than face retribution from Master Hiko or worse Aoshi! Aoshi decided that he would have to step up Kuro and Shiro's training if they meant to keep up! Okon and Omasu were far more dangerous opponents however. After only a few seconds they all realized that Misao wasn't going down that easy and that they would have to work together if they were going to last long; but despite their concerted efforts Kuro and Shiro were soon eliminated.
That feeling Aoshi had gotten when he learned that the Battousai still lived fluttered in his chest again making his heart beat wildly. The girls did much better but Aoshi could tell that both Okon and Omasu would soon be out of the game. His princess was doing oh so much better than he'd even dreamed! She had greater focus and control over her emotions in battle these days. She could see where the attacks would be coming from and sneak past any defense. It was no wonder Saito had been so impressed! She was fast!
'Like a good thief! Hannya would be proud,' Aoshi thought as that power coursed through him again making him anxious for his turn. He deeply regretted not being involved with her training these past three years. Fascinated, he watched as Misao landed a kick on Omasu's stomach that sent her flying towards the wall and slamming at full force at the same time she dodged a kick from Okon, crouched and swept Okon's legs out from under her. Okon managed to roll out of the fall but as she came up Misao's foot connected with her head painfully and she went down.
Misao maintained her stance for a moment scanning the room quickly looking to see where the next strike was coming from; but it quickly became evident to her that her four comrades were out of the fight. Mrs. Kate had already moved Kuro and Shiro out of the way and examined them and now she was examining Omasu who was holding her stomach and groaning. Okon moaned slightly and held her head as Hiko declared the match over. Misao hurried towards Okon profusely apologizing for hitting her as hard as she had as she helped her sit up.
"Okon, are you going to be ok?" Misao asked looking a little guilty. Okon just smiled and hugged her assuring her that she would be ok. Hiko stepped over to where Okon had fallen and helped the young woman up.
"Well done Makimachi! Get ready! You have one more contender to deal with!" Hiko instructed gruffly as he pulled Okon away from the center of the training hall to give room to the next two combatants. Misao stood up and looked around. Aoshi stood at the end of the room. He looked relaxed as he patiently waited for her to be ready. She dusted herself off a bit and assumed her usual fighting stance and Aoshi mirrored it. She swallowed hard as she saw a change suddenly come over Aoshi. His usually bland expression was altered by the slightly predatory look in his eyes and a tiny smirk that looked almost feral.
'Oh boy! How in the world did I get him to do that?' Misao wondered feeling both giddy and excited. Hiko signaled the beginning of their bout and at first it was all Misao could do to keep out of his reach and keep that smirk from distracting her. Occasionally he would leave her openings in which she thought she could get a hit in but as she took the first one and barely blocked a hidden punch she realized they were traps. She ducked, weaved and skittered out of his reach wondering how in the world she would create her own opening. Then it hit her…
Aoshi's heart beat wildly with excitement. His princess was doing an awesome job of keeping out of his reach! As their battle went on he finally realized that no sooner had he gotten rid of one demon than a new one had taken its place. He deduced that the power he had felt since that fateful party with the Mibu wolves at the Otafuku was merely the birth of the new demon. One whose goal was to possess his princess completely and share her with no one! This was the demon that had responded to Sutesuke and Kamo's disrespect and made it increasingly difficult to restrain him self during their evening conversations. This demon was potentially more dangerous but as long as Misao continued to be only for him it could be easily controlled.
He occasionally would leave her an opening to see if she would take his bait and come within his reach. She did once but as she managed to dodge his hidden hit the demon growled happily. He knew she wouldn't fall for that a second time! Suddenly the bout wasn't about seeing how far Misao had advanced in her martial arts training, for him it had become a race to catch his little thief and make her his! His speed increased to match hers but like a good little thief she kept slipping out his grasp until finally she was cornered. The new demon growled happily and reached out to take his princess. But as his hand reached to touch her she disappeared!
'Damn it!' he cursed silently and turned as quickly as he could. This trick had been used against him already by the Misao in his dream and he scolded himself for not being ready for it! The ninja art of substitution would definitely help her escape from his grasp if he didn't move quickly! Too late did he realize that the trick had been used to cause a simple distraction because as he turned he realized she was not there! Misao had hardly moved from her spot and she was now behind him…
Misao could scarcely believe her luck! She had successfully pulled off her bluff and Aoshi had fallen for it! The idea had been to trick Aoshi into thinking she was cornered and using the substitution trick to slip away from him but it was merely a ruse to get him to turn around and leave himself open for her assault. He barely managed to turn slightly and shield his ribs from her kick. Because he was so much bigger than her she decided instantly that even if she put all her strength in the kick she probably wouldn't hurt him so she really let him have it!
She watched in amazement as Aoshi hit the ground hard and rolled back up to his feet. She hadn't thought she hit him that hard! He assumed a low almost crouching stance; his eyes blazed with that light she'd seen the night he'd first told her he loved her. She froze in her spot as he smiled that feral smile again. Misao wondered if it was that strange look and smile or the exhaustion of the back to back fights that was making her knees weak.
'Maybe it's both!' she thought excitedly feeling like her heart was beating so wildly it was careening out of control! She was vaguely aware of Master Hiko declaring the match to be over and the victory to be Misao's because she scored the first clean hit. His eyes pinned her to her spot and it was only this last bit of information that snapped her out of his hypnotic hold for a moment.
"But…" she began to protest
"We're not done yet…" Aoshi interjected in his trademark calm serious tone. Inside him the demon roared desperate to be released so he could claim her
"I'm not going to sit here all day waiting for you two to finish chasing each other around the training hall! I have better things to do with my time!" Master Hiko gruffly countered cutting them off and in one fluid motion he was on his feet and pulled Okon up with him. Suddenly everyone seemed to have somewhere else to be!
"If you want to keep at it…by all means don't let me stop you!" he called back as he walked out with everyone else. Mrs. Kate was the last one to leave and she left without saying a word sliding closed the doors as she left tossing Misao a quick wink and mischievous smile. Misao looked back to where Aoshi was and was not surprised to see him still smirking mysteriously at her.
"Shall we?" Aoshi purred seductively and she blushed prettily making the new demon purr contentedly
"Umm…" she found her throat constricted for a moment then remembered what Mrs. Kate had said yesterday: '…it won't be long before he makes an effective demonstration!' she giggled and blushed
"Ok!" she agreed cheerfully "but only if you can catch me!" she teased. This comment caught him off guard and he blinked in surprise. Misao was letting him know she had guessed his intention and given her consent. He suppressed the growl building in his throat preferring to use all his energy to catch the little thief of his heart! She squealed in delight and jumped out of the way as he launched himself forward. He growled happily and this time he moved so fast she was unable to escape.
In the blink of an eye she was pinned to the wall! His arms cushioned her as his lips assaulted her. She didn't resist as she felt herself lowered gently towards the ground and Aoshi's hands and lips roamed freely. She uttered a soft whimper of disappointment as he stopped. One ray of reason penetrated the fog of desire that had all but obliterated his judgment: The floor of the training hall wasn't the best place for his princess' initiation! She hugged him and let him know that she understood and appreciated his consideration.
There was no doubt in his (or anyone else in the Aoiya's) mind that she was well experienced and capable of command of the Oniwaban but it was obvious to him that in the mysteries of men and women she was a novice. A situation that suited him just fine! He couldn't stomach the idea of anyone else but him touching his princess. But he was a perfectionist by nature and wanted to do things right! Everyone was surprised to see them emerge so soon from the training hall. Okina in fact looked disappointed but Kate-sensei nodded approvingly.
'Best to wait when there aren't any witnesses,' he thought unwilling to share such an intimate moment as his princess' initiation with anyone though he resigned himself to the reality that Misao would go straight to Kate-sensei. She was the closest any of the women in the Aoiya had to a mother and she had proven to be very good at keeping secrets. And Aoshi was sure she would need female advice in these matters anyway.
'I can wait,' he added to himself as Misao handed him a cup of tea, ignored the demon's unhappy growl and listened contentedly as everyone offered their compliments on her dramatic martial arts improvements. He rolled his eyes as Okon and Omasu handed all the credit to Master Hiko and fawned endlessly over him. Misao just giggled mischievously and curled up against Aoshi
Sakura and Saya arrived again that afternoon. Saya and Misao had insisted on having a double wedding. It made practical sense to Aoshi to have just one celebration since they all had the same friends. So the plan would be to close the Aoiya down for the day of the festivities and the day after. So Saya and Sakura spent a lot of time at the Aoiya helping with the plans for the celebration.
But he should've known that his princess wouldn't leave well enough alone! Very late that night after everyone (including himself!) had gone to sleep Misao sneaked out of her room. He woke with a start! He hadn't sensed her presence until she was almost right at his door! The demon inside him awoke and growled in surprise and joyful anticipation. He absolutely loved it when she did something to demonstrate how good a ninja she'd become! He sat up and moved quietly towards the door. She slid the door open quietly but started in surprise as she realized he was already awake. With feline grace he moved towards her and pulled her into his room closing the door behind him.
'Perfect!' the new demon thought happily as he carried his bride back to his bed. The wind blew fiercely outside but its direction would carry sound away from the main house. The fact that his room was so far away ensured that no one but the two of them would be witness to the important event taking place in his room. At this hour no one would be awake so they took their time and he relished every gasp and pleasured moan that he elicited from her as he made Misao his wife…
Ok people I did say it would be lemon-scented didn't I! Ok you were warned!
Animefan a.m.1: I am so glad you enjoyed my story! I hope you enjoy this chapter!
NonameJane: I'm so glad you enjoyed chapter six! In fact, the dream sequence at the end was the reason why I started this story in the first place! I asked myself: what if she had gotten to the cabin where Okina and Aoshi were fighting before Aoshi used his Rokuren? Aoshi had threatened Okina and the other four in the Aoiya with death if they didn't cooperate but never did he even think to threaten Misao! So the dream sequence was the first thing I wrote and developed everything else around it!
Thank you all for Reading and Reviewing!