DISCLAIMER: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin.

Hi all!

Well, another chapter. I'm rather surprised I'm getting this out now. I will warn you this was short, but I wanted to send a chapter to my beta reader before I went on a school trip. We went to a major theatre to see Les Misérables. It was great! I figured out what I'm asking for as a graduation present because of it. Lol. I'm very excited now. I have a beta reader. So, so, so helpful. Anyway, again, I apologize for the shortness. I have started a new chapter, but with involvement in a community musical (yes, again this year) and homework and other things I am a little busy. Which translates to I don't know how long it will be until I update again. Hope you enjoy!

midnight song

ps-replies to reviews are at the end!

8/15/04

Walking around the corner, Aoshi set Misao down beside a black Eclipse. Digging in his pocket, he found the keys and unlocked the door. After Misao was seated in the passenger side of the car and her bag in the truck, Aoshi jogged around to the driver's side and got in.

The car was filled with silence as Aoshi backed out of the parking spot and put the car into drive. Even the radio that was playing softly did not diminish the silence.

Glancing sideways at Misao, Aoshi questioned, "Where do you train at?"

"Ryuodoriko (1)," Misao quietly answered.

Nodding in affirmation, Aoshi returned his attention to the road.

Misao stared out the window watching the people walking on the street. All too soon, her eyes began to drift shut and Misao was asleep as Aoshi maneuvered the car down the road and onto a highway.

an hour later

Aoshi steered the car off the highway and down a long driveway lined with tall trees.

Approaching the mansion at the end of the driveway, Aoshi slowed the car and pulled to the side by the garage. When he had put the car in park and turned off the engine, he turned to Misao. 'What the hell am I supposed to do? I don't know if she wants waken up.'

Aoshi decided to brace himself and wake the sleeping female beside him. Reaching over to gently grasp her shoulder, he tenderly shook her, hoping to wake her.

Misao emitted a soft sigh and tried to turn on her side. Her head fell and hit the window, waking Misao on contact.

"Ugh, that hurts."

"Are you okay, Misao?" questioned Aoshi, causing her to jump.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. Wait, where are we!"

"Shhhh…" he hushed her, opening his door.

Climbing out, he walked to the truck and extracted to bags before helping Misao out of the car.

Grabbing her smaller hand in his, he led her down a pathway running around the left side of the house towards the back. The small stone walkway wove through the trees and into a garden full of blooming flowers.

Misao's mouth dropped in wonder. 'Where the hell are we!' Turning her head in every direction, she tried to take in the beautiful flowers, from the daisies to the roses to the other exotic plants, which she didn't recognize.

Aoshi gave her hand a small tug, leading her onward.

They exited the garden and came to the backyard. A small double swing hung from the tall oak tree off to the right side. Looking past it, she saw tall hedges that almost looked as if they belonged in a maze.

Aoshi stood beside her, watching her reaction. A small smile forced its way onto his face at her surprise.

Knowing better than to disturb her, Aoshi left her as he began to head towards the building behind the tree and swing. This drew Misao's attention to it for the first time. There were shoji doors that replaced the doorways. Apparently, this building was still traditionally maintained.

Misao hurried after Aoshi, reaching his side as he rounded the tree. Together, they reached the door. Aoshi reached in front of Misao and slid the door open. Inside was an amazingly maintained, authentic dojo. Weapons hung on the walls and the hardwood floors still shone. Cushions and mats were stacked to the left of the door.

Aoshi walked inside, reaching back to pull the stunned Misao inside with him. He led the way to the center of the room and set the two bags he was carrying on the ground.

"B-b-b-but how? What?"

Aoshi bent, leaning his forehead against Misao's. "Do not worry about how. Use this time to practice. Everything in this room is yours to use. I will be inside."

With a small kiss to her lips, Aoshi turned and left the dojo.

Misao stared after Aoshi looking lost. Slowly, she turned to examine the room once more. In one corner, a tray with a traditional Japanese tea set on it sat. In the adjacent corner, a screen stood. The hand-painted design on the front depicted a small river with a bridge over it surrounded by rolling green hills. A young girl in a kimono watched a red flower float down the river from the bridge.

Hesitantly, Misao tore her gaze from the screen and wandered around, running her fingers over the weapons on the wall. She spent long moments studying the handles of a kunai set. The metal felt cool and smooth under her warm fingertips while the shape was comfortingly familiar.

Leaving the kunai, Misao returned to the center of the room to grab her bag. She noticed Aoshi's bag was gone and dragged hers across the floor towards the screen. She disappeared behind the screen and reemerged ten minutes later dressed in a black sports bra under a light purple spaghetti strap tank and black track pants slung low on her hips. She padded across the wood floor barefoot, hardly making a sound, until she reached the middle of the room. There she sat cross-legged on the floor to meditate.

Relaxing, Misao sank into her thoughts, letting them consume her. One by one, Misao pushed each thought out of her mind until the only thing she had to concentrate on was her heartbeat.

Taking time, Misao relaxed her body until she was calm and at peace.

After twenty minutes, Misao started to let her thoughts return. She examined each thought as it reentered her mind. She spent plenty of time letting each thought settle before allowing in another.
After an hour and a half after Misao began her meditation process, she stirred for the first time and worked to wake her sleeping limbs. Slowly, she stood and stretched, cracking her back.
Stiffly, she padded towards a sakubata and removed it from the wall brackets. Sliding it from the sheath, she laid the sheath on the floor by the wall and prepared for her first kata.
A/N: 1) Dragon Dancer

5/24/07-Hello all who are still with me on this one. Sorry, but this is a rewrite, and of just the end, but I wasn't sure how much I liked the previous ending or how I'd work on from there. Anyway, I'll be working on the last chapter or 2 today and I hope to have them done soon.