The Best of Intentions: Chapter 14

Sanosuke watched with a heavy heart as Kaoru and Yahiko boarded the train with Shinomori and Yutaro. It hurt him to watch the two people he considered to be like his younger siblings leave under unpleasant circumstances.

He was well aware that Kenshin's odd behavior and attitude of the day before had broken not one heart, but at least three. He couldn't remember ever feeling so disappointed in someone before. Next to Captain Sagara, there was no one Sanosuke had more faith in and respect for than Kenshin.

"Captain, what would you have done?" He asked himself as he turned away from the departing train. He wasn't blind. Sano had seen how Aoshi and Kaoru were interacting and it only confirmed the suspicions he gained from Megumi's letters.

He wasn't up to returning to the palace yet to play guard. Instead of returning right away he walked through out the streets in the direction of the docks. It was hard to admit that just a few days ago he still had high hopes that his best friend and surrogate sister would confess their undying devotion to one another. It was a foolish concept really.

Sano was so deep in his own thoughts that he failed to notice the disaster on a collision course for him until the crash. "Hey!" Sano yelled when he felt a body crash into his chest. "Watch where you're going."

"Sano?" Misao asked, looking up at the towering figure she had crushed her nose into. She rubbed her smashed nose and her green eyes flashed with animosity. "Where are they?" She demanded, jabbing a finger into his chest.

"Stop trying to bruise my ribs," Sano warned knocking her finger away. "What are you blabbing about?" He couldn't keep the annoyance out of his voice at her untimely interruption of his musings.

"Where are they?" Misao repeated.

This time Sano didn't pretend to misunderstand. "They already left," he answered calmly.

Misao tried to push past him, but Sano grabbed hold of her shoulder to stop her. "Let me pass, you over-grown baboon," Misao hissed.

"They are gone, Misao. Let them be."

"She can't take him away from me," Misao said through clenched teeth as she continued to push against Sano to get away and follow the trail that was already growing cold.

"He wasn't yours to steal," Sano told her gently.

Misao stopped struggling against him and rested her forehead against his chest in exhaustion. "She can't take him away from me," she repeated wearily.

Sano wasn't sure what to do, but he certainly couldn't stand for females to cry. Even weasel females crying upset his disposition. Cautiously, he lifted his hand to pat her on the back absently. "It's not the end of the world."

Misao reared back, pushing away forcibly with enough power to send him stumbling a step. "You don't understand! Aoshi-sama belongs to me!"

Sano ran his fingers through his tussled hair and tried to figure out a different approach. "Look, why don't you give them some time to themselves. I'll see if I can't get you a job protecting the dignitary with Kenshin and me."

"I don't want to protect some stuffy shirt dignitary."

"I'm not letting you interfere with Kaoru and Aoshi. They both need to get away and they obviously decided to take this journey together." He decided Misao was a female that tact didn't work with. "They didn't invite you to tag along for a reason. And I'm not going to allow you to make Kaoru any more miserable."

"Miserable? Miserable? I'm the one who is miserable! Why is it no one can see this but me?" Misao shouted in near hysterics.

"You need to get out more, weasel," Sano told her with a smirk as he took her arm in his hand in a firm grip.

"Don't call me a weasel. And I get out plenty."

"Right. You need to meet more men, Aoshi isn't the only guy out there. And besides, he's not interested, Misao."

Green eyes narrowed dangerously as Misao reared back her free fist and slammed it against Sano's jaw. He shook his head at the sudden pain but didn't loosen his grip. "Don't hit me again, or I'll knock you unconscious and carry you like a caveman back to the palace."

"I don't want to go to the palace."

"How about if you go there for a few days?"

"No."

"Sanosuke?" A familiar voice called from behind.

Sano turned around while tightening his hold on Misao painfully. He felt some satisfaction when he heard her sharp intake of air. The person behind him certainly was a surprise. He didn't expect to see a former assassin standing behind him on the public streets of China.

Seta Soujiro walked closer with a friendly smile upon his face. It was a genuine smile; unlike the ones he sported to mask his emotions during his adolescence. "I didn't expect to run into you at Shanghai of all places."

"What are you doing here?" Sano demanded, not sure if he was happy to see the reformed murderer or not. He certainly had grown up some since their last meeting. Soujiro actually looked like the seventeen year old he was. He was still rather short, but significantly taller than Misao. A couple of light bulbs blinked on inside Sano's mind.

"I had heard a rumor that you and Himura-san were working as guards for the local dignitary. I thought it might be nice to offer my services," Soujiro explained. He smiled charmingly at Misao.

Sano felt her pulse jump, and the light bulbs went a few watts brighter.

"You must be Makimachi-san. You are lovelier than I imagined." Sourjiro had already charmed the girl stupid. No one had ever really complimented her before.

"Um…thanks," Misao replied somewhat shyly.

"Well, Misao was just about to leave," Sano interrupted as he released Misao's arm.

"What are you talking about? I was also about to see the dignitary about serving as a guard." Misao informed Soujiro. He was a cute guy and the perfect solution. She would simply make Aoshi jealous. Once he saw that she was desired by other men then he would realize his mistake and come begging for her hand in marriage.

oooooOOOOOoooooOOOOOooooo

It was a long day. Sano was glad that Soujiro had shown up when he did. The kid was alright after all, especially if he kept Misao pre-occupied. He had doubts about Misao's intentions. If he knew anything, he knew she was planning to use Soujiro as a means of gaining Aoshi's attention.

He could only hope that it backfired and they ended up falling for one another.

However, Sano knew Soujiro was no fool. And if Misao wasn't careful she may end up with her heart broken twice.

He was annoyed when he walked into his room and noted that Kenshin was absent again. He hadn't spoken with his red haired roommate since the disastrous dinner.

Something caught his eye.

There seemed to be a piece of paper sticking out from the corner of Kenshin's mattress. After a cursory glance over his shoulder he shut the door to their dormitory and lifted the mattress.

Shock.

Absolute shock.

His breath whooshed out of his lungs as he looked at all the folded letters.

Cautiously, he reached down for one.

After reading it, he reached for another. There really wasn't a point to continue reading. He already knew they were all addressed to the same person and after realizing it he felt his heart ache for his friend again.

All bitter feelings towards the Rurouni vanished as he felt the sorrow begin to overwhelm him by the despair he read in the letters. He sat upon the floor, cross-legged as he continued to read the mournful words.

He didn't hear the door open. "What the hell are you doing, Sano?" Kenshin asked softly.

oooooOOOOOoooooOOOOOooooo

Was he concerned? Certainly. Would he be able to sit back and do nothing? It didn't look like it.

They had taken their first leg of the trip after China. The train ride had landed them in St. Petersburg, Russia. The scenery had been breath taking. The tension, however, made the journey less than pleasant. One could cut through the sorrow with a knife.

Currently, they were walking around in the grand cathedral of the Orthodox Church. The architecture was astounding. Yahiko and Yutaro had taken off towards one of the massive organs whose pipes stood at least twenty feet vertically.

Aoshi walked at a sedate pace beside Kaoru as she wandered to look at the stain-glass windows. The art was magnificent, but Aoshi found it difficult to enjoy when the woman beside him was tenser than a string on a violin.

Kaoru paused in front of a scene depicting the angels in heaven. Her vibrant sapphire eyes were a dull shadow of their usual beauty. Aoshi ran his fingertips along her arm gently, until he reached her hand. He linked fingers with hers and was ridiculously pleased when her grip tightened around his.

He watched her reaction from the corner of his eye while pretending to focus on the angelic scene. His heart pounded against his ribcage when he noted with satisfaction that her eyes were no longer dull. She looked up at him, her expression reflecting her uncertainty.

"Aoshi?" Kaoru asked, searching his profile.

"Hm?" Aoshi answered, refusing to turn his gaze from the window. He wasn't about to admit, even to himself, how his heart raced with joy now that she was speaking. It had seemed like ages since she spoke.

"Is something wrong?" Kaoru asked in concern. She knew she had been withdrawn since leaving Kenshin and Sano, but she couldn't help it. Her mind was in turmoil. She had always assumed that a future with Kenshin was her path in life. As of late, since June anyway, she was questioning that fate.

Aoshi lifted her hand to his mouth and brushed his lips across the back of her fingers. He shifted his gaze to look her in the eyes. With gazes locked, he smiled while holding her fingers to his lips.

The feel of Aoshi's mouth curving against her skin caused Kaoru to flush from her neck up. She knew that she should draw her hand away from him, as such actions in public where obviously out of place. Not to mention, Aoshi acting that way to her in public or private was inappropriate.

"Nothing is wrong now," Aoshi assured her, letting their hands fall between them but keeping a firm grip. He gestured with his chin towards an area lit with many candles for prayer. "Let us light a candle for our journey."

Kaoru followed along side him. "But, Aoshi, this isn't our religion. We really shouldn't be lighting candles here." She bit her lower lip and her eyes darted back and forth searching for someone to come and yell at the Japanese people invading the church.

"This is sanctuary, Kaoru." Aoshi explained once they reached the candles. He lit one and then handed the lit candle to Kaoru for her to do the same. Together, they kneeled before the prayer candles.

"What now?"

"I think we are supposed to pray."

Kaoru shifted, closed her eyes, and gave it a shot. When she finished she opened her eyes and looked over at Aoshi. He was watching her carefully. "What?"

A slow smile spread across his lips and Kaoru felt her heart melt right then. The sound of the organ faded into oblivion, the mingling of visitors was forgotten, and every single thought that was in her head causing her silence of the last few days vanished.

"Let's step outside," Aoshi replied as he rose to stand his full height. He extended his hand to Kaoru and she accepted without hesitation. Aoshi caught the look that Yahiko sent them as they walked past and towards the exit.

The brisk evening wind of St. Petersburg stole the warmth right out of you, even in the summer months. Aoshi led Kaoru to a water fountain and sat beside her on the edge of it. He continued to hold her hand and turned his attention to the waterworks as he collected his thoughts.

"Aoshi?" Kaoru inquired, concerned when the silence dragged on. It reminded her of how quiet Aoshi could be when he was meditating. "Are you meditating?"

Aoshi turned towards her and blinked. "I wanted to talk with you. You need to hear this, really hear what I have to say."

Kaoru nodded and squeezed Aoshi's hand. "I'm listening."

"The past is over, the future doesn't exist. The present is a gift, so let us enjoy it with one another." Aoshi lifted his free hand to run through the dark curtain of hair flowing down Kaoru's shoulders. He cupped the back of her head and brought his lips down to hers slowly. He gave her plenty of time to stop him.

She didn't protest.

Aoshi lightly pressed his lips to Kaoru's and when she sighed he took the kiss deeper. He released her hand and placed it at the small of her back to press her close against him. He watched her with his eyes half-closed. Her eyelids had drifted slowly down so that her dark, thick lashes brushed against her cheeks.

He pulled back, not willing to overwhelm the young woman. He pressed his forehead against hers and waited for her eyes to drift open once again. The dreamy look she sent him turned the key in his heart the last few notches to seal the deal. "Kaoru?"

A slow smile spread across her lips, "Wow." Aoshi rubbed his nose against hers playfully. "I think I could get used to living in the present."

"Good," Aoshi lifted his hand to tweak her nose before he released her and stood up. "Don't feel guilty about this either," Aoshi warned when he started to see her biting her bottom lip, recently swollen from his affections.

Kaoru's lips twitched. "What makes you think I feel guilty? I'm single. You're single. Why should I feel guilty?"

Aoshi offered his hand to her once more to help her rise. "We both know that there is no logical reason for you to feel guilt. But we both know you well enough to realize that doesn't mean you won't feel guilty."

"Whatever happened to the silent, stoic Shinomori we all know and love?" Kaoru teased as she smiled up at him, feeling light hearted and adventurous. She was in another country, with Kenshin's blessings, traveling with a man she cared deeply for that made her feel butterflies in her stomach.

Aoshi sent her a sly look. Never in his life had he felt more carefree than at this very moment. "He decided to be the devastating handsome and irresistibly sexy version that you see before you."