Disclaimer I don't own Rurouni Kenshin.

Please enjoy, read, and review! . THANK YOUALL FOR ALL THOSE REVIEWS! PLEASE KEEP THEM COMING! LOL So sorry that it took me so damn long to update. -- I have been getting writer's block lately.

Chapter 9

"See you tomorrow Taeya-san."

"See ya," Taeya called back to Yahiko and then turned around to walk towards the direction of the temple.

"Oi, where you walking off to kirei?"

"The temple," she said simply.

"I told you no training and no training means you can't train in the dojo, outside, or in the temple."

"I am not going to train in the temple, baka. I am going to clear my head," she said as she turned and smiled at him.

"Clear you head…of what?" he said, slightly concerned.

"Just…things. Do not worry about me, I'll be fine and back for dinner, okay?"

Sanosuke nodded his head in understanding, "Sure, but…do you want me to come with you?"

Taeya shook her head, "Iie, but you could come get me for dinner if you would like."

"Hmm, sounds good to me, see you then." Sanosuke waved to her then turned and walked into the Aoiya.

"Sano, where is Taeya-san going?" asked Misao as she watched Taeya walk away from the Aoiya.

"Said she's going to the temple."

"Aoshi-sama is at the temple. Maybe she wanted to talk to him…or…"

Taeya opened the door and saw Aoshi sitting near the balcony. "I knew you would be here today, Taeya-san. Would you like me to leave and give you some privacy?"

"Arigato for the offer Aoshi-san but…I have always allowed you to hear my conversations when I speak to them," she said as she kneeled before the large statue of Buddha. Taeya took in a deep breath and slowly let it out as she began to speak, "Today makes it fourteen years, does it not? I almost can't believe it myself. I hope that I have not disappointed you in anyway, that is the last thing that I would want to do. My hands are stained with the blood of countless men and women I killed during the Revolution. Do you still see me the same way? Otou-san, okaa-san, I believe that I have finally found peace after all these years of torment. A man, Sagara Sanosuke, has unleashed the bright little girl I was before the Imperialists took you from me. He has made me feel so happy and…I think that I have finally fallen in love. Otou-san…okaa-san…ashiteru. Ashiteru… Always."

Taeya covered her face with her hands when her eyes began to water and Aoshi's voice reached her ears. "Daijobou?" he asked softly as he sat down behind her. He saw Taeya nod her head slowly as she wiped away her tears.

Taeya turned to Aoshi; "It is just so hard to try not to think of what could have been if they had not died. I-I…" she wrapped her arms around Aoshi's waist and rested her head just below his shoulder.

"I know, I know," said Aoshi as he gently cradled Taeya in an effort to comfort her tormented soul.

"I love you so much Aoshi-san. You and Misao are the brother and sister I never had the chance to have. A-arigatou gazimasu for being there for me when I needed you the most," Taeya said shakily.

"Taeya-san, Misao and I will always be there for you when you need us. We will never leave you alone."

Taeya slowly pulled away from Aoshi and stood back up as she smiled down at him, "I know you will not leave me alone." She extended her hand out to him and helped Aoshi up when he took her hand. "Should we return to our meditating or should we eat?"

Aoshi was about to answer Taeya when he heard her stomach growl lightly. A light smile appeared on his lips, "Aa." Taeya smiled and let a giggle escape her lips as she and Aoshi turned to leave the temple in search of a place to eat.

"Oi, where are you going in such a rush, Sano?" asked Yahiko when he saw Sano hurriedly put on his shoes and open the door.

"Where does it look like I'm goin' to you little brat? I'm goin' to go get Taeya over at the temple so she can have some dinner."

"Ummm…actually Sano, Taeya-san is with Aoshi-sama and I am positive that Aoshi-sama took Taeya-san out to eat at a restaurant," said Misao in a voice that was in between a serious and nervous tone.

"What you talkin' 'bout itachi? Taeya asked me to go get her. So if she was going to go eat with Shinamori then why would she ask me to go get her for she can eat dinner here at the Aoiya?"

"Kuso," she mumbled as she walked over to Sanosuke. "She probably forgot what day it was or something. Aoshi-sama always takes her out to eat once a month and this happens to be the day he said he was goin' to take her out. She forgets things all the time Sano, so don't be mad at her, ok?"

"Mad? Why the hell would I be mad at her for forgetting? Besides, why does Aoshi take her out to eat once a month anyways?"

"Uh…e-eeto…I think that you should let Taeya-san answer that one when she and Aoshi-sama get back."

"Misao!" yelled Okan and Omasu as they entered the dining room area. "What the hell are you doing down here? Hurry up and get back to helping us upstairs. Do not forget this was your idea, Misao-chan."

Misao rubbed the back of her head, "Gomen nasai Omasu-san, Okan-san. I'll be up in a minute, ok?" Okan and Omasu nodded their heads and walked back up the stairs. "Well then, I better get going."

"Oi, itachi, what was your idea?"

"I-I can't tell you."

"Why not?'

"'Cause you might tell Taeya-san about it and then it wouldn't be a surprise, would it?"

"So who says I'm gonna tell her the surprise your planning? What's it for anyways?"

"Okay, okay! It's going to be her birthday next Friday and we were planning a party for her. You know, to show her how much she means to us."

"See, that was all ya had to say. No worries, itachi, I won't tell her anything."

"So then what are you going to get her for her birthday?" asked Misao as she crossed her arms over her chest and raised an eyebrow.

Sanosuke blinked as he thought about it, he didn't have any money…at least not enough for a decent gift. He thought for a few more seconds before and idea hit him, "I'm gonna give her the best birthday present I could possibly give her."

"Honto ni? What is it?" asked Misao excitedly.

"Calm down, it's not for you and I highly doubt you would even want to think about me giving you Taeya's present. Shinamori would hang me from a tree or somethin'. 'Sides, it's nothing little kids should hear."

"I am NOT a little kid! I am only three years younger than you are tori-atama!"

"Well, I'm still not goin' to tell you," said Sano with a wicked grin.

Aoshi and Taeya walked back to the Aoiya on a full stomach. "Did you enjoy your dinner, Taeya-san?"

"Mmmm…I did! It was delicious! You sure do know how to pick your restaurants," she said as she rubbed her stomach with content.

"Hn, I got it from all the years I've spent around you. Taeya-san…does Sagara know that you are with me?"

"Sano? Yeah, I told him…" Taeya stopped walking and froze. "…I told him to pick me up at the temple for dinner." Taeya put a hand on her forehead as she shook her head side to side, "I can't believe I forgot to tellum that you were taking me out to at tomight! Argh! How in the seven hells could I forget? Do you think he'll be mad at me?"

Aoshi slightly smiled at her, "Maybe he will be a little mad but he will not stay mad at you for very long. You and Misao are the same way, easy to get mad at but hard to stay mad at."

"Well…I guess you are right. Let's head back to the Aoiya then."

Yeah okay I know! Not a long chapter compared to the others and I am sorry but I have been so busy lately that I barely had time to even type up thesefive pgs for you guys. I just hope that you can just wait a little longer for me to put up the next chapter and I PROMISE that the next chapter will be MUCH MUCH LONGER! AT LEAST 12 pgs long! I have the last chapter of my Inuyasha story called: Sesshoumaru's True Love that I have to finish writing and typing up. I am working on ANOTHER RK and IY story.

The pairings for my RK are Misao and Sanosuke. And the pairing for IY are Sesshoumaru and Kagome, and Inuyasha and MOC named Katara. . When I put them up, check them out, k?

Bye for now!