Summery; Warning; Disclaimer: See First Chapter.

Thanks to all who've reviewed! It took me a while to update, I know, but I've finally done it, so be happy! There's some ensuring tragedy and fluff in this chapter, but nothing too dramatic.You know, just as a side note, I didn't really mean for this to be Sano/OC - I wanted it to be Aoshi! But obviously, things took a whole new twist. If ya don't like what I do, let me know! Also, I've tried looking it up on numerous sites, but I could not find any ideas as to how long it would take to get from Japan to Romania. I looked at an atlas, and yes, you can get there by ship and land both, so I just took a wild guess. I like being as accurate as possible in fics like this, but I'm not able to, unfortunately.

Please review if you read. Comments, ideas, suggestions, and helpful criticism welcome.

Visibility couldn't have mattered less to the enraged Aiko as she stalked through the streets, her mind replaying the scene with Aoshi over again until she came to a halt and shook her head vigorously, unheeding of her hair that was loosely tied in a bun.

"That arrogant bastard," she spit out, catching the attention of a passing man.

"Man problems?"

"You can't imagine," she said in exasperation, beginning to walk again. He caught her arm with a grin and pulled her closer to him. Unfortunately for him, he had no idea what she was capable of – or that she was extremely pissed off to being with.

"Maybe I can help you out with that."

"Maybe I can teach you some manners!" With the last word she drove her knee into his groin, and he released her with a yelp. Backing up she pulled her sheath, with the sword still inside, from her waist and pointed it at him angrily. "Back off or you'll regret it."

"You little bitch!" the man growled, and lunged at her. Her sheath caught him in the stomach, and she spun it upward to land a blow to the back of his head, dropping him to the ground.

"Asshole," she muttered, hiding her sheath once more in her kimono. She whirled around when she heard quiet laughter, and expected to find Aoshi standing there, laughing at her. To her surprise, it was an older man – perhaps early forties, but still handsome – who was smiling at her calmly.

"I came to help, but I see I was hardly needed," he stated. She peered at him sharply, but something about him seemed familiar to her, putting her mind at ease.

"I appreciate the thought," she said, and offered her hand briefly. "I'm Aiko Sakajima."

"Souzou Sagara."

"Sagara?" she thought, and her mind quickly made the connection. Deciding to remain silent, and knowing she could trust the man, she shook his hand firmly. "A pleasure to meet you. You look like you're searching for someone."

"Well, I am," he said, taken a little aback. "But it's of no use to look here, I think. Are you traveling alone?"

Thinking back to Aoshi, she paused momentarily – an action not lost on the man – before nodding.

"Now I am," she admitted. "I'm making my way to Romania, back to my parents. I need to deliver something, and then I'm returning to Japan."

"I doubt the person I'm looking for is in Romania, unfortunately," Souzou said. "Or else I would gladly accompany you."

"You're the leader of the former Sekihoutai, aren't you?" she asked quietly, pulling him away from the main path. He started in surprise, but she rushed on. "How did you survive? Your body was seen."

"Ninja have their ways, and playing dead is one of my specialties," he said bitterly. "I regretted leaving the two boys alone, but there was no choice."

"My father is Taro Sakajima, one of your supporters during the war, and fled once the Sekihoutai was destroyed," she informed him. "He would be delighted to see you once more. He's near death, I'm afraid, but knowing that you're alive would ease his mind greatly. He spoke of you often before the disease affected his mind. Please, come with me and let him see for himself – it's the only way he'd believe the news. You can return to Japan with me and continue your search – I'll help, if you like. But please…"

"I see your father means quite a lot to you," he commented, and she nodded silently. Considering his options – and assuming he would be safer traveling with the daughter of Taro Sakajima – he nodded shortly, taking her arm. "All right, I'll go with you. I recall that your father was a just man. But tell me the truth – is he really near death, or is that just a tale to get me to come?"

"It's not," she shook her head, gazing directly in his eyes. "Mother fell into depression, and in one of his lucid moments Father ordered this made, to remind her of happier times. I volunteered to retrieve it for him, and now I'm heading back with it." She handed the paper to him and he inspected it sharply, and nodded once more.

"I recognize your mother," he said finally. "All right, I suppose I believe you, Miss Aiko. But we better hurry if we're to make the train. Do you have anything to fetch?"

"I have money in my bag as well," she told him, gesturing to her waistline. "I hide it underneath my kimono for safekeeping."

"We had better hurry," he said, tucking her arm underneath his own. Aiko allowed him to lead her down the street, feeling as safe with this man as she did with her own father.

"Damn that woman," Aoshi muttered, searching the streets. He hadn't found a trace of her anywhere, and was at a lost as to where she would have gotten off to. "Hey, have you seen a woman in a blue kimono with pink flowers on it?"

"Oh, that woman?" the storekeeper grunted, and a bemused look crossed his face. "I'll say so. She beat up a man not far from here that tried to force himself on her."

"Where'd she go?" the ninja demanded.

"An older man – I'd say early forties, at the most – approached her after that. They talked for a few minutes and walked off together, her arm in his."

"Damn that woman!" Aoshi thought forcefully, stalking away from the amused man. "What the hell is she thinking, walking off with a strange man? Especially in this part of town…" His thought trailed off, his mind wondering if it was a stranger at all. He shrugged it off and stood still for a moment, thinking of his next moves. "I need a vacation anyway – though this is hardly relaxing," he grunted, deciding on his course of action and making his way to the train station.

"Are you running from someone?" Souzou asked her, when they were well on their way. She looked at him surprise, not aware she had given any clues that she had been with someone. "You paused when asked if you were alone, and I noticed you're more alert than people usually are when traveling – especially when a man passes. A former lover?"

"Hardly," Aiko shook her head in denial, well aware that her pink face insinuated something entirely different. "I knew him years ago – it's complicated, but I felt it was better not to travel with him. He practically forced me to go with him in the first place, leaving me no options," she shrugged.

"What is his name, if I may ask?"

"Aoshi Shinomori," she said reluctantly, and he nodded in recognition.

"I have heard the name."

"I'm not surprised," she replied dryly. "We were betrothed before the Meji Revolution, when Father had to flee. Father decided it was best that I not be tied to someone whose life was uncertain, and released me from it several years ago, telling me I was old enough to make up my own mind on marriage. As long as he approved," she added with a smile that quickly faded. "But I doubt that he considered the possibility that I would run into Aoshi while in Japan."

"Quite likely," Souzou agreed absently, gazing out the window. She fell silent as well, her hand resting on the sheathed sword she lay across her lap. Her fingers twitched occasionally, tugging at the fringe as she frowned. "You appear to be worried."

"Hm?" she blinked up at him. Glancing down at her lap she realized what she was doing, and tucked the sword away once more. "It's a nervous habit, I'm afraid. It was Father's, and I suppose that fact makes me feel safe. If I may ask, who are you looking for? You mentioned two boys."

"Sanosuke and Tsukioka were only children, but I took them into the Sekihoutai during the war and tried to protect them," he sighed. "For all I know they could be dead, but I need to know for sure."

"I've never met a man named Tsukioka, but Sanosuke seems familiar," she revealed, unwilling to say she knew where he lived out of fear he would leave her as soon as possible.

"Really?"

"Yes. I think he had taken your name – Sanosuke Sagara, it was," she nodded, feeling guilty for hiding the truth from the man helping her. In the next moment, however, all guilty thoughts left her head when he suddenly smiled at her.

"You know him, don't you," he said calmly, and she gasped.

"What…"

"You recognized the names."

"Y-yes," she admitted reluctantly. "I didn't mean to hide the truth from you – but my father really would love to see you again. And I know where Sano lives as well. When we are finished in Romania, I'll take you to him in Japan, I promise. How did you know?"

"Your face," he told her gently. "Something in your face changed when you spoke his name. You knew him well, if I might add." She realized with horror her face was turning pink and tried to force it to go back to normal.

"I'd rather not talk about it," she said stiffly, and he nodded.

"All right. It's none of my business, now that I'm sure you know him and have a promise you'll take me to him."

Aiko remained silent and stared out the window, her mind racing.

"Now I have to go back…and I don't want to. I don't want to see him again…"

"How long has it been since you were with Sano?" Souzou asked her calmly a few mornings later, and she choked on her breakfast. When she had cleared her airways out, she stared in amazement at him.

"What are you…"

"You haven't eaten much food for a few days, and turn green every time you smell it," he reprimanded her. "I may be a bachelor, but I'm not a fool, Aiko. I repeat, how long has it been since Sano and yourself shared a bed together?"

Aiko almost choked again, but tried to remain calm. Quickly counting her head, she blanched.

"Almost a month…Please don't tell me you think I'm preg…it was one time!" she blurted out, before clapping a hand over her mouth in mortification. He laughed easily at her expression before becoming solemn.

"I'm afraid you're displaying a classic case of pregnancy, Aiko."

"They'll die…" she moaned, hiding her face in her hands. "I can't face them now…"

"I see," he mused. "Are you sure he is the father?" At this question Aiko sat straight up, now more angry than embarrassed. "Don't worry – your gestures are subtle, but a man can tell when a woman does that for a living. We need to be sure."

"Damn ba – yes, I'm sure," she managed calmly, interrupting her swearing. "I'm very sure," she added for emphasis, but he was already lost in thought. "And please don't suggest we pretend we're married," she said, cutting off his musing. "That's even worse. I'd rather face my parents."

"If that's what you want," he said gently, only wishing to spare her the embarrassment and shame. But she was a grown woman, and he certainly had no standing to enforce his opinion on her. "Now, I think some miso soup would be good for your stomach," he said thoughtfully, and waved to a server.

"This is unbelievable," she moaned, burying her face in her palms as Souzou cheerfully ordered for her, ignoring the knowing smirks of the server.

"Riding the train is not going to harm your health – not this early, anyway," he added thoughtfully, as they sat in their cab. Aiko was growing restless, coming down with a case of cabin fever, and Souzou had to admit that he too missed being outside on his own two feet.

"Would it be quicker to find transportation on our own?" she asked, and he shook his head.

"No – and we would still have to ride," Souzou told her. "Now, why don't you tell me what you know of Sanosuke, please."

"Uh…actually, I know next to nothing," Aiko admitted, taken aback momentarily. "He used to be known as Zanza, a fighter-for-hire, but he quit when he met Kenshin Himura. He lives with Himura and the others in a dojo run by a Kaoru Kamiya. That's all, I'm afraid."

"I see…" Souzou nodded, and watched as she nodded off, her head resting on his shoulder. Shaking his head at the state of things, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders protectively as he gazed out the window, deep in contemplation. "I never imagined I would find things like this."

"You have a very nice place here," Souzou remarked, as they stepped out of the carriage. A pair of iron gates blocked entrance to the grounds, as the lush grass sprawled against a walkway that led to a rather-large building.

"Father was able to regain much of his lost fortune when we escaped from Japan," Aiko informed him. Her slender fingers pressed against a spot, and the gates sprung open. When they had crossed into the property they swung shut once more, and Aiko led him up to the building. "We only have a few retainers now," she continued, already slightly out of breath. "Father prefers it like that, and so do I. The ones we have are old family friends, so it makes it more like a family than usual."

"I see," he nodded, and inspected her sharply as she rang the bell. Her face was flushed from the chill in the air, but she was panting slightly and her abdomen had grown a little larger than whey they had first met – a barely noticeable change for anyone else, but the sharp-eyed ninja had watched her change as they traveled to Romania.

"That's odd…" she thought, frowning a little as no one answered. "Usually someone answers by now…maybe they went out? But with Mother like she is…I didn't think she'd improve so quickly." Souzou noticed her clutching the fragile paper in her hand, and covered her clammy fingers with his own cool hand easily.

"Let's go in, then," he suggested, and she looked up at him in surprise. With a little surprise of his own, he realized she looked apprehensive, even scared. Closing his hand over the doorknob he pushed, and the door yielded to his touch.

"Something's wrong," Aiko choked out, her blade sliding into her hand instantly. Souzou followed as she inspected the rooms, reluctant to let her in front of him but unable to navigate the building himself. "The electricity's been cut…and the phones as well," she noticed with a glance, and gripped her hilt tighter than before. "Someone knew the layout of this place well…Kayo, you bastard."

"Hm?" Souzou blinked, but she ignored him as she made her way up the stairs. He kept close behind her – so close he tripped over her when she abruptly stopped in front of a doorway.

"This is Father and Mother's room," she said quietly. "I'm…scared to go in. Souzou, can you…"

"Of course," he nodded, and pushed the doors open.

"Aoshi? What are you doing here?" Kenshin asked in surprise, as the ninja strode into the dojo.

"I need to speak to Sagara," he said calmly, and Sano came out with a frown.

"What do you want? Where's Aiko?" he demanded, and Aoshi turned to him coolly.

"We had a problem. She left, and is apparently traveling with a strange man she met at the port. I suggest you go to Romania as quickly as possible. She has a brother, correct? Kayo?"

"Yes," Kenshin nodded. "Why?"

"I've heard rumors concerning him as I came back. He's supposedly headed to Romania as well – he left before, actually, and is most likely there and back by this point."

"Damn it!" Sano muttered, and raced past Aoshi to the road.

"Sano? Where are you going?" Kaoru called, but he ignored them.

"Romania," Aoshi replied, and turned around.

"Aoshi."

"…"

"Why did you come here?" Kenshin demanded. Aoshi remained silent for a moment before a small chuckle escaped him.

"Aiko obviously loves that man – and he loves her. They need each other, and if my guess is correct, she'll need him desperately soon."

"Oh god!" Aiko cried, and Souzou pressed his palm into her lower back as her knees wobbled. A woman resembling Aiko lay in the bed, her white gown and sheets stained with dark crimson. Blood was spilt across the entire room, and another man lay by the door, a knife in his hand. She rushed over to the bed and grasped her mother's hand tightly. "Mother…" she choked out, lowering her face to the cold hand. She suddenly looked up when a noise reached their ears, and stumbled to the other side of the room to see another man, sword in hand, laying face-down on the rug next to the bed. Blood seeped from underneath him, and his right arm was almost severed.

"Sakajima…" Souzou murmured, inspecting the other man's wounds.

"Father! Oh no, Father!" Aiko prayed, kneeling next to the man. Gently turning him over, she rested his head on her lap, and jumped when his eyes suddenly opened.

"Ai-Aiko…?"

"Father?" she blinked back her tears in surprise, her voice trembling. "Don't worry, Father. I'll get a doctor, and we'll get you patched up and you'll be better in no time…"

"Aiko, I've taught you better than this," he said faintly, and she broke off her rambling.

"Father…who…"

"Kayo."

"No…"

"He certainly has grown skilled," he admitted, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. "Aiko…I'm so glad you came back in time. Kayo left us hours ago…"

"Father…you've been here, alone, all this time?" she realized, and held his head to hers. "Oh, Father!"

"Aiko…please, do not cry."

"But, Father…you and Mother will never be grandparents…I never got to give her the picture…"

"G-grandparents?"

Aiko's eyes widened uncertainly, and her father realized what she meant in an instant. His gaze suddenly hardened, and she found it difficult to meet his eyes.

"You're not married, and yet you're bearing another man's child?"

"Father…Father, it wasn't…it's not what you think…" she tried to protest, but the elder man gave no sign of hearing her.

"Your mother would die of shame. It's better she's been killed, and spared this knowledge."

"Father…!"

"You've brought great shame on this family, Aiko," he continued harshly. "I taught you the way of the sword, a way of honor and truth, and you return home like this? You're not worthy of bearing the name Sakajima – the same as your brother in the end, it seems. I'm grateful to your brother…in killing me, he spared me the pain of living with your shame…"

"Father! Father, please…don't die like this…" Aiko begged, cradling his head tearfully. "Please…don't die hating me! Father!"

"Aiko," Souzou pulled her away from the body gently, her kimono and hands stained with his blood. "Aiko…"

"He hates me," she sobbed, turning to the elder man for comfort. "He died hating me…how can I ever bear it? My father's last words were ones of hate…" Souzou held her trembling form comfortingly, trying to offer some semblance of love that she was unable to receive the man who had raised her with fatherly care.

I am NO freaking good at death scenes or tragedy scenes, am I...oh well. Plesae review!