Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin.

Installment Three: Stargaze

Misao swooned at the paper crane Aoshi held in his hands. He'd skillfully and quickly folded the light green paper into the adorable shape, much to Misao's awe. She'd after all, only seen him do it thirteen other times, and each time, the crane came out perfectly, without wrinkles or unintended creases.

As she grabbed Aoshi by the hand and rushed to add the crane to her collection located in her room, which Hannya noticed was getting untidier by the day, Shikijou gulped down another cup of sake.

"Look at her run," said Shikijou with a fond grin on his face. "She's so fast, she can out run me."

"It isn't that challenging of a task," said Hannya, crushing Shikijou's ego.

The gatekeeper ignored him and went on, "If things were different, I bet she would have made a fine kunoichi." He sighed and tossed the cup aside, deciding instead to drink by the jug.

"Hey Shikijou! Don't finish all the sake before the night's over!" shouted another voice. Beshimi, followed by Hyottoko, walked toward them with a large sake jug in his hands, while Hyottoko carried two, curled under each arm.

Shikijou only replied, "Well, the gang's all here now, no need to be shy," and started guzzling the clear liquid, his throat bulging between gulps.

Beshimi plopped down on his side and popped the cork from the top of the jug. Hyottoko sat cross-legged and did the same to both his jugs. He tossed one to Hannya, who caught the jar without a single drop of liquid spilling. 'There's no room for skills to get rusty," he thought to himself.

"Have a drink Hannya. You probably can't even see the beautiful stars out there with that mask on." Hyottoko stretched himself out on the ground and gazed at the night sky. "This is gonna be our last night here, with people that don't give a damn about what we are or who we are, so let's breathe in the fresh air." With that he took a deep breath and exhaled loudly.

Hannya took his mask off and counted the number of constellations he could form. "Hmm… It looks like Hyottoko is missing tonight."

"What? My star's gone?" Hyottoko sat up suddenly and frantically looked for his star. "Wait… No, there it is. It's just really dim." He sighed in relief. "Scared me for a moment."

"Idiot. The first thing you should do every night is make sure your stars still shining," scoffed Beshimi, who pointed to his own. "Good old Beshimi is there every single time I look. Look's like he's getting dimmer too though…"

Shikijou then proceeded to point out his own star, while Hannya tipped his jug to his burnt lips. 'Even the heavens seem to be telling us that our time is ending…'

"Oh, are you guys stargazing? Me too, me too!" Misao ran to Hannya and sat down next to him. Aoshi followed her and sat down formally behind her.

"Can you find your star, Misao?" asked Beshimi.

"Uh… Oh yeah, there it is! Right next to Aoshi-sama!" She pointed excitedly at the two heavenly bodies.

Hyottoko sighed. "The two of your stars are still as bright as ever. I'm jealous."

Misao started to laugh, but her curved mouth soon turned into a round one as she yawned.

Okina seemed to be waiting for that to happen. Immediately after her mouth closed, he called to her from Aoi-ya's door. "Misao, it's time for you to go to bed."

"But Gramps, we just started stargazing!" she pouted.

"Listen to Okina, Misao," said Aoshi. "It's time for bed." He stood up and Misao quickly followed his lead.

Hannya smiled at the two of them, both people he would unhesitatingly give his life for. He looked around the circle his comrades had formed, thing the same for them. He took another sip of sake, and shook the jug to measure how much alcohol was left: barely more than half. 'That's odd, I don't remember drinking that much…'

Beshimi sighed. "That Misao. She's growing up so tall, soon she'll be even taller than me."

"That's not that challenging of a task," Hannya replied.

Beshimi ignored him and rested his eyes on the star named Misao. "Soon, the only thing we'll have to remember her by is her star."

"You know the path we've chosen will be lonely. We all do," stated Hannya indifferently. "It's painful, but for the best."

The other three members of the Oniwabanshuu nodded.

"But you know…" said Beshimi thoughtfully. "Okashira shouldn't be going with us. It's not like he has to, I mean."

"Yes he does," said Hannya. "He doesn't need to for us, but for reasons only he knows about. That probably makes leaving the hardest for him."

The four were silent for a moment, each taking a swig from their jug. Beshimi, the smallest member by far, already looked like he was going to pass out. "Am I out of sake already?" he asked the jug, and dropped said jug onto the ground, snoring peacefully.

Hyottoko shook his head disapprovingly. "Pathetic," he said, and picked up his foster brother by the leg and held him upside down. Despite being held upside down three feet in the air, he remained unconscious. "I'm gonna toss this mouse into bed."

Hannya nodded, and Hyottoko walked off with Beshimi swung over his shoulder toward the main building. Moments later, Shikijou was frowned at his upside down jug. He shook the stubborn jug, which refused to relinquish more sake. "Damn," he said. "Looks like I finished all the sake before the night's gone after all."

"Don't go and get more," scolded Hannya, "Just turn in. You're probably going to have a head ache in the morning."

"Why in the world would that happen?" Hannya only rolled his eyes, an action that was only noticed because his forehead wrinkled slightly. "Well, whatever. G'night."

Then Hannya was left alone. His supply of alcohol had long disappeared, its strange but soothing effects worn off long ago. He wasn't sure how long he'd sat outside, gazing at his friends' stars. The moon was rolling down the sky, and the stars he knew were Misao's and Aoshi's. His had long disappeared.

He slid his mask back on and walked into Aoi-ya.

The End

A few notes:

1) The writing and speech were very informal, I know.

2) I hope it wasn't too corny.

3) No, Hannya is not going to sleep with his mask on.

4) Thanks for all your support. I really appreciate it.

5) Please tell me what you think.