A/N: Sorrie to those who were following my story.. I haven't updated this thing in over 2 years! I'm dreadfully sorrie about this but I guess I just lost all inspiration for a while. Oh well, better late than never… right?. So here you have it. I'll try to actually update the next chapter within the year lol. Thanks to all the nice people who reviewed and encouraged me to go on. I will certainly try my beset to finish this story asap.

Chapter Seven

Every day since his return, Misao has visited the royal barracks in order to be in the company of her beloved Aoshi-sama. She was relieved to see that he did not try and turn her away but instead, seemed just a little bit more sociable than before. She would have liked to believe that she was finally beginning to break through the rigid walls he held around himself, but Misao didn't want to set herself up for disappointment (just incase). The soldiers wouldn't be staying in the capital for too long, and Misao wanted to make the best use of her limited time with Aoshi. Between taking care of paperwork and dealing with the quibbles of the aristocrats in her court, she barely managed to squeeze out any time for personal matters. If it wasn't for her darling big brother by her side, she wasn't sure how she could ever have held up.

On this particular day, as she entered the gates of the royal barracks she immediately noticed the lack of the usual bustle of activity. She remembered immediately that every 15 days, the soldiers were entitled to one day of rest to themselves. There were very few soldiers in the courtyard and only one or two were actually engaged in training exercises. It was still early, the sun had not yet risen to the height of midday. Misao was quite lucky to have been able to break away from her ever daunting royal duties, as Kenshin had offered to relieve her for the day. She walked about slowly, wondering weather or not Aoshi had taken the day away from the barracks as so many of the King's men had. For fifteen days she had never once failed to wait on him during his usual lunch time respites and he had never failed to award her with his comforting presence. She hoped today would be no different.

Misao turned a corner and the dull thud of a blade being embedded into wood caught her ear. "Thud" There it was again. Misao followed the distraction as she was reminded of the game of throwing knives, one of her favorites. At last, she came upon a small courtyard where a large board was mounted on the wall of a building. Intertwining circles formed the intricate design of the target, a collage of shapes were painted elaborately, strewn across a large playing field. Her eyes now dated towards the man who stood before them. Misao knew who it was before he even turned towards her. His tall build, the short but messy black hair that shone in the sunlight, the distinctive tightening of the muscles in his arm as he tossed another knife towards the wall, who else could it be but her darling Aoshi.

She stood in relative silence as the knives in the small wooden box he held dwindled. She watched in awe and veneration as each small knife found their intended target almost with a whim of their own.

She watched, mesmerized by his fluid movements until the last of the knives had been tossed. It was a game that was dependent not only on the accuracy of each throw, but also on the strategy involved as the knives progressed across the board. Like a game of war, each knife was a pawn in grand scheme of the battle as its position determined the capture of territory, as a missed shot was much like the loss of a skirmish.

Misao knew this game well. It was through this popular past time that she had first learned to toss a kunai. She had seen her older brothers engaged in the sport one evening during a feast at the palace and became instantly drawn the praise and attention Kenshin had received at defeating one of the older generals. She was still a very young child then, and craved the attention and praise of the adults surrounding her daily life. From then on, she had prattled around her brother demanding they teach her to throw the shiny objects. If anyone knew Misao as a child, then one would know it was generally useless to dissuade her from anything she was so whole heartedly set on.

Her skills with weaponry were helped along by Kenshin and occasionally Soujiro, as Sanosuke was not as appreciative of the finer instruments of battle, preferring the more flamboyant weapons or his bare fists when it came to it. The strategy behind the game was taught to her by her honored father whenever he could spare a moment from his royal duties to spend time with his little girl.

Due to her persistent nature and her infatuation with the small knives, Misao quickly excelled at the sport. By the time she was 14, aside from her father, none of her regular acquaintances including her brothers were adept enough to best her hand. She rejoiced in the small triumph. Her brother being older and being male, were allowed to train as soldiers, allowed to learn the arts of combat, where as she had been given lessons in etiquette, in the proper manners of a lady. Later she had been thrown into the world of politics, and affairs of state, taught how to conduct herself when the day came for her to take the throne as queen. There was very little when it came to weapons of battle that she could even hold a candle to her brothers. It was only by Misao's insistence that she was finally allowed to train in a very limited area of martial arts. It was always thought to be too dangerous for the only heir to the throne, but she was adamant that her bodyguards could not be around her through all her waking, and sleeping hours, and for her own protection she learned to defend herself.

It was only when Aoshi turned around to face her that she had snapped herself out of her musings and smiled at him.

"May I join you?" Misao inquired though not truly needing an answer to the question.

As usual, " Aaa…" was the only reply she received.

She ventured towards the game board and removed a few of the small knives from the wood and then turned to face her soon to be opponent. "How about a game Aoshi-sama?"

"A Challenge?" Aoshi voiced with interest.

"Do you accept?" Misao answered with her own question and a mischievous gleam in her eyes, while she suggestively swung her long braid over her shoulder. "Or are you afraid of loosing to a girl?"

Aoshi looked at her for a long moment, and Misao wavered under his gaze. Just when she was beginning to think that he had been offended by her comment…

"I'm not afraid." He said simply as he walked to the wall and began collecting the small knives.

"Good!" Misao exclaimed excitedly, then after a few moments added, "I'm sure you wouldn't mind if we placed a small wager then."

She surprised even herself with this declaration. Misao was definitely becoming bolder around Aoshi as their acquaintance drew on. Although Aoshi never once voiced for her to leave him be, he really hasn't encouraged her continued presence either.

She often fancied that he cared for her. Sometimes, when she rattles on, she'd catch a ghost of a smile on his lips, but the moments are so brief, she would often be left wondering if she really saw it. On rare occasions when she was near him, serving him tea and perhaps some small snacks, she would find him looking her way with an almost pleading look, or perhaps that too, was something she wanted to see, but was not really there. When he realized that she had caught him looking he would voice a "Thank you, Misao…" which always sent butterflies fluttering into her stomach to know that her actions were appreciated.

Misao knew of Aoshi's reputation with women. Dispite his cold exterior, his gorgeous features were always attracting women to his side. On occasion, he would accept their offerings. It was somewhat common knowledge that Aoshi had lovers who come and go, but never before could anyone associate Aoshi, a commander in the Royal Guard, with having one woman whom he loved. Misao was determined to be that one.

Their relationship however was nowhere near where she would like it to be. It had been months now, and she had hardly made any progress with the ever stoic commander, she may be patient, but as her father had said, she has responsibilities to uphold. No time to wait forever, she needed to take the next step

Her suggestion of the wager had undeniably caught Aoshi's attention. He stopped in his labors and turned to look at her as if calculating her motives. "What kind of a wager?" he finally asked.

"Oh nothing major," She let out a small laugh, "If I win… then you must give me an afternoon of your time. You, will belong to me, and therefore must do what ever I ask of you."

"And if I win?"

"The you may ask what ever you wish of me for an entire afternoon. Within reason of course," She added right away but immediately began fearing what Aoshi would come up with. After all, she really didn't know the guy all THAT well.

He agreed. But did not further elaborate on what he would like from her. Misao didn't know whether to be relieved or worried. And so, they began their match.

Flash Back

The sun was just setting over the horizon and the blue sky, now fading to grey, was splashed with shades of pink and purple. It was truly a lovely site to behold if one would stop and gaze upon nature's eternal canvas. The sky held no sorrows, indifferent to the sufferings of man.

Aoshi gazed intently around the bloodied battlefield. He could not afford the grace of the darkening sky. His senses were alert, the battle for the day was almost over, but still, sounds of metal against metal could be heard not so far in the distance. The air hung stale with the heavy smell of iron, the scent of spilt blood. He silently motioned for his men to follow as they stealthily made their way towards the tree line.

They were to meet a spy from the enemy's main camp. Their informant was to hand over important battle plans that could very possibly change the outcome of the war. This mission had to be completed with the utmost competence and efficiency. Aoshi had brought with him, three of his most trusted men.

His two younger brothers, Beshimi and Shikijo had been serving under his command for a few years, following his own footsteps in finding a suitable position in the army. Aoshi had been against their decision in the beginning, but they soon proved themselves eager to learn and very capable in their respective skills. When Aoshi became commander of the scorpions, he had asked that they be placed under him, if only to keep an eye on his family and protect them if he could. The last of the three members was Hannya, his second in command. Growing up together under Okina's care, the two were so close, they may as well be blood kin. These three men were his family. There was no one else he could depend on more.

The group reached the trees and headed towards the small clearing that was to be their meeting place for the night. They hid behind the leaves of some large bushes and waited. Minutes passed like years as the forest muffled them with its silence. The sky had darkened into night. There was no moon in the sky. Even the stars did not shine as brightly as usual. The lack of light would do well to hide their movements in the forest. The seconds trickled by as all four men continued to wait in earnest anticipation. Then, finally, they heard the owl's call. Aoshi answered back with this reply, and they watched as a single figure dressed in dark clothing stepped into the small clearing. He motioned for his men to stay hidden while he left his refuge in the trees and walked towards their contact.

"Izuka," Aoshi voiced in greeting.

"Shinomori," Izuka replied as he thrust a leather pack into Aoshi's hands. "Hurry, I may have been discovered. These must go back to the king at all co…." He couldn't finish his sentence as an arrow struck him from the back of the neck.

"Izuka!" Aoshi shouted as the man before him collapsed to the ground.

He could hear the whizzing of arrows all around him now, as he tried to make his way back to the shelter of the trees. He deflected as many as he could but the clearing seemed so much bigger then it had moments ago. They had been discovered and it wasn't going to be easy to get out of this one. He could just barely make out in the moonless night the shapes of his men trying desperately to find the bowmen hidden in the trees.

As hard as they tried, there were just too many. Aoshi felt a sharp pain in his left leg as an arrow finally caught him. His step faltered and his knee collided with the soft grass. Another one caught him in the shoulder, Aoshi couldn't hold back as a groan escaped his throat. He was going to die here, he was sure of it. It wasn't as if he minded, Aoshi had been ready for this day since his first battle when he truly learned the meaning of being a soldier. His life was not his own. Aoshi's only comfort was to know that at least his brothers, having the shelter of the forest may be able to escape back to their camp. Moments passed and then he felt another sharp stab of pain in his back. It all blended together now, his nerves were throbbing, 'Hannya…' He couldn't move his legs anymore, and as he tried, he felt his body keel over and fall onto his hands. 'Beshimi…' The impact jarred his injured shoulder and a blinding pain spread through his entire being. 'Shikijo…' Darkness was taking over his already blurry vision as he struggled to stay conscious. 'Mina… Gomen…' With those last thoughts, Aoshi knew no more.

He found out later from Hannya what happened afterwards during that fateful night. His brothers had tried to save him and in doing so, sacrificed their own lives. Shikijo was the first to fall. He shielded Aoshi's limp form with his own body, buying time for the other two to locate and disable the bowmen. Beshimi had used the last of his poison darts in order to immobilize the swordsmen on the ground but he too had fallen to the enemy's superior numbers. Hannya had been the last man standing and he managed to finish off the last of them but not before sustaining heavy injury to himself as well. How he ever managed to drag Aoshi's prone form back to their own camp was anyone's guess.

Aoshi had woken up after 5 days of sleep with his body completely covered in bloody bandages. The doctors told him he was very lucky to have had all the arrows miss his vital organs. Hannya on the other hand was in a comatose state for over half a season. His injuries should have been fatal, but somehow he pulled through. The information retrieved from their mission had indeed turned the tide of that battle but did not end the war.

After that incident, Aoshi had withdrawn into his cold exterior. He kept everyone around him at a distance and even his second in command could not find a way into his defenses. He blamed himself for not being able to protect his family and instead he was the one who needed protecting. Because of his weakness he had lost his two younger brothers and almost lost his best friend. He vowed on their graves that he would become stronger, the strongest perhaps, and avenge their deaths.

whoot. End chapter seven. A bit of insight into Aoshi's past. Of course it's all gotta be similar to the original… but I cut out Hyottoko. I thought 3 was too many brothers to have