A/n Hi everyone! Thanks for the reviews. I'm happy to see this story doing so well. It's only my second Aoshi/Misao fic. I know many of you are waiting to find out the fate of poor Kenshin, so I'll leave you to read the story.

Disclaimer. I don't own R. Kenshin

Misao was up before the sun.

She slept, but not very well. She dreamt of Kenshin, of Takeda and of wolves. Leaping out of bed, Misao rushed to get dressed. She was assaulted by the smell of fresh baked bread as soon as she opened her bedroom door. "Mother?" She said softly as she walked into the main room and into the kitchen. There was bread, on the table, in baskets. Overfilling the bread box. Her mother must have been up all night making it. Suddenly, she was there, dressed in her best with a long blue hood and cape.

"Good, you're up already, here." She took up a basket of bread and shoved it into her hands. Misao scrambled to keep hold of it. "Take this with you when you go fetch your grandmother. It's for her. If anyone asks you, tell them you're taking fresh bread to your grandmother. You are not to tell them anything about what's going on with Kenshin do you understand?"

Misao backed away, already reaching for her red hood and cape where it hung by the door. "Yes, I understand. I'll be back with grandma Gensai and fast as possible!" And with that she snatched up her hood and cape and rushed out of the house.

"Where are your stockings!" Megumi cried after her, noticing that Misao was bare legged, what was worse…"You're not even in a dress! Take that awful ninja uniform off, it's not fit for a woman to wear!"

"Sorry! No time!" She called and was already running down the front lawn, past the chicken pen and down the road to the forest. The sun was hardly up, giving the sky a soft dove purple cast. The clouds were thick but not dark and it was dry, the storm never hit them in the night. Misao paused, setting her basket down to set her cape on her shoulders. In truth she didn't like stockings, they were white, so they got dirty too fast, and they were itchy and always getting torn when she went exploring. Better to forget to wear them than to wear them. She tied her cape on tight, added the metal clasp for extra strength and flipped the hood up over her hair.

She took up the basket and picked up her feet. Grandmother's house was a good two and half miles into the woods. 'Nothing like a good stretch of the legs at the crack of dawn.' She thought

… . . …

Megumi waited until one of the guards pulled open the large wooden door to the great hall. Takeda sat there, dressed in his finest silks and velvets. A feathered hat sat lopsided on his head. He glanced up and broke into a wide smile at the sight of Megumi walking up to him.

"Good morning Lord Takeda." She said brightly, holding her hand out to him as he reached for her.

"Isn't it? My Lady." He said in return as he placed a kiss on her fingers before letting her go. "And what do I owe the pleasure?"

Megumi held out her basket which Takeda took with honored reverence. "I made some bread this morning. I thought I would bring you some hot from the oven." She smiled softly.

"Fresh bread." Takeda brought the basket close and smelled in the sweet smell of honeyed, soft bread. His eyes closed for a second and a smile curled his lips. He looked up at her while setting the basket on his lap. "Something tells me the reason you're here is not to give me your baked goods lady Megumi."

Megumi clasped her hands in front of her, relaxed and still smiling. "True Lord Takeda. I've been up all night consoling my maid, whose brother you've seen to have thrown in your dungeon, apparently you've decided to kill him."

Takeda didn't even try to look sheepish. In fact his smile faded and his eyes lowered. "The fool didn't know how to watch his mouth."

Megumi never lost her smile. "What good will come from executing Kenshin, My Lord? His farm will fall into disorder. Then there will be less to tax, less food in the stores and one less family. And what good is that?"

"I have to keep the people under my thumb, My Lady. You know this. I can't let the people think I'll allow them to speak to their betters in such ways and think they can escape taxes just because the crops fail."

"Lord Takeda…you know that you can't possibly expect people to make taxes if the weather's been bad." Her tone switched to that of a disproving mother, but her smile was just as sweet. "It's just not possible. Even you can't sway the gods and the weather."

Takeda scoffed slightly, a tiny smile twitched his lips upward then it was gone. "You want me to spare Kenshin Himura?"

Megumi clasped her hands in front of her and bowed low. "It would mean a great deal to me, My Lord."

Takeda closed his eyes for a moment and silently cursed his weakness for the woman in front of him. One finger rubbed at his temple before his eyes opened again to the woman still bowing before him. He made her stand there for only a second longer before he stood. "Alright Megumi. I'm only doing this because it's you. But you will stay and watch his punishment be handed out."

Megumi stood. "His punishment?"

Takeda smiled, and it was a smile that reached both ears. Megumi forced herself not to shiver at the sight of it. "You didn't think I was just going to hand him over to you without punishment for his loose tongue."

Megumi pressed her lips together. "I understand."

"You had courage enough to face me; I was dead set on seeing that man's head roll at my feet. For you I will let him live, but in payment, you will watch the thrashing he will receive." He should of demanded she stay at court with him, but he knew when to fight his battles.

It must have seemed like the perfect idea in his mind. Megumi didn't care what she had to see, as long as she could take Kenshin back safe and alive.

"Come then." And in a surge Takeda moved from his chair and stalked across the room, forcing Megumi to pick up her hem and rush after him.

… . . …

Misao ran.

She was glad she was in her training uniform and not her skirts; they would have only got in the way and slowed her down. Although the morning was cold, her cape kept her warm. Running also got her blood pumping and soon she was thoroughly heated. Misao hoped her mother was alright. She hoped her mother didn't do anything stupid by going to Takeda's castle. Once there he could grab her and lock her away and she would never see her mother again. The girl paused to catch her breath and she looked around. The morning fog was already starting to burn off; there was bird song and the gentle rustle of the trees in the breeze. It was cloudy though, but they were light grey and high in the sky, not heavy storm clouds, not just yet.

… . . …

Aoshi followed with lazy strides. His paws hardly making a sound as he moved from tree to tree, bush to bush. He always kept the girl in his sights yet made sure to stay out of hers. He was a little surprised to see her in such clothes. A uniform for boys to wear when training for combat. Most of her legs were bare far up past the knee. It was as scandalous as it was practical. Of course a girl wouldn't want to wear skirts bolting through the forest like she was. But even so, the sight of long, smooth, cream colored legs strangely mesmerized the wolf.

Brilliant red of her cape snapped at her heals as she took off running again. Aoshi followed . Takeda would want to know why Megumi sent Misao out to fetch her grandmother. Aoshi had no idea as he didn't hear Megumi give a reason, only to fetch her and to say nothing about Kenshin Himura. No matter, he would find out for himself. Breaking away from Misao, Aoshi bolted ahead. A half mile more and Misao would stumble across a rarely used road. He knew she would cross that road to continue on to her destination. That road would make a perfect place for him to run into her.

It took him only a minute for his legs to carry him there and he quickly transformed back into his human form. He could hear her coming and suddenly was a tad bit unsure of how to go about extracting information from the girl. He'd rather not be violent, besides that would only give him away. No, he had to be like Shishio and slowly work the information out with a smile. Shishio would gladly woo the girl, but he hardly had the right emotions for unlocking a female's heart.

There she was, he spotted her red cape and hood as she rushed up to the road. Aoshi strode out around the bend of the dirt path and she caught sight of him instantly and froze. He pretended to notice her and faked surprise at seeing her out here. He raised his arm and called a greeting.

"Good morning!" he called, a smile plastered on his face.

Misao's heart hammered loud, he could hear but he could also see the relief in her large eyes.

"Good morning." She called back as she slowed, her chest heaved for air, but she smiled anyway. She knew this man…she had seen him in town. "I've seen you before, but I don't know your name." She said, keeping a respectable distance from him. He was tall, broad shouldered and dark. His face was passive, a slight smile on his lips but his black eyes were slightly flat and mask-like. He wore black, a strange type of uniform. For what, she had no idea, but it showed off his height and his lean form. "I'm Misao." She offered first. She was surprised when the man dipped his head low in a bow.

"Aoshi." He said simply. "Nice day we're having." Aoshi wanted to bite his tongue off the moment the words left him.

"Yes, now that the fog's burned away." She answered without missing a beat.

Against his will his eyes were drawn to the bare legs of the girl. A quick flick of his eyes and he took in the gentle curve of her hips, flat stomach and swell of breasts pressing against the too small uniform. Startled at his sudden revelation that this was no girl and rocked at the fact that he even took notice and cared, he yanked his gaze away, his head snapping as if he'd been slapped. Luckily the girl didn't notice as she had turned to gaze down the path.

"Are you lost?" she asked. "I can help you."

Aoshi gathered himself quickly. He smiled. "No, I'm not lost. I'm coming home in fact. Had a very early start. If I follow this path I should reach town eventually, right? I haven't been here long." his eyes wandered to the rope of hair he could see peeking from the hood and he chastised his wandering eyes. What was wrong with him?

Misao nodded. "Yep. Though if you just walk in a straight line that way." She pointed the way she came. "You'll hit the outside farms just outside of town. It'll take a mile off your walk." She smiled.

Again Aoshi bowed his head. "Thank you. I may just do that, I like to walk in the forest." It was the perfect thing to say. Misao's smile grew brighter. He took a step closer, she allowed it. "What are you doing way out here so early in the morning?" he pretended to just now notice her basket. "Going on a visit?"

Instantly he could see her dark blue eyes shutter over. He crossed the line.

"Going to see my Grandmother. I should be going now, she's expecting me." Misao walked backwards across the street in front of him.

He knew he wasn't going to get anything out of her now. He pressed too hard on a girl that was already suspicious. But she was friendly, so it wouldn't take much to win her over. "Be careful out here." Generic warning any male would give a child. "Someday we should go on a walk out together, when we're not in a rush to be somewhere." He added as he turned to follow her trail back into town.

"Yeah!"

Her enthusiasm made him turned around. She was smiling again.

"I know all sorts of great places. If you like to hunt I can show you a whole meadow full of animal trails." She seemed truly existed at the idea of a companion.

"Well then I must come find you again, Misao." He waved and walked off the path. "Bye!" he called.

"Bye!" She called back before turning and bolting into the tree line. Aoshi didn't have to follow. He knew she would be coming back with the ever strange and elusive grandmother Gensai. He would wait for them at the farm house.

… . . …

Megumi took care to keep her blue cape wrapped around the silk of her dress as she let Takeda and two guards lead her down a maze of stone steps. There were only a few prisoners there, but Megumi didn't get to take a good look that them. She was ushered past the little stone nooks as fast as the men's long legs could move. Megumi hurried, not wanting to ask the men to slow down. Her hood fell from her head revealing the shiny ebony locks, half of them braded and wrapped about the crown of her head. Then suddenly they stopped and Megumi almost plowed into the back of one of the guards.

Takeda stood slightly behind her and to the side as the guards moved forward. Here, there was a small nook, narrow and long like a hallway. And at the very end of it was Kenshin, chained. His wrists were chained to his ankles so he was forced to bend over. His head was locked in a stock that was set between two pillars so the poor man was forced to stay on his feet at this bent angle. Megumi had to look away. All she could see was the mass of red hair draped across the filthy floor. At the sound of them, Kenshin's head twisted slightly in the wooden stock and she could just see the glint of one purple eye through the mass of red hair.

"Miss Megumi. What are you doing here?" His voice rasped slightly from lack of water but his tone reassured her that he was fine.

"I've come to take you home." Megumi swallowed.

"I worry for Kaoru." He said. His voice broke at the name of his wife.

Megumi instantly felt tears prickle at the back of her eyes but she blinked them away and squared her shoulders. "I don't mean to take your body back home you fool. My Lord Takeda is going to let you live."

Takeda held his hand out in front of Megumi and she held her tongue. "You will no longer be executed, but you will get twenty lashings for your words and being late on your taxes. I fully expect you to pay your taxes next year or you'll receive twice as many."

Kenshin didn't get a chance to say anything because the two guards were already unlocking him from the stock. He groaned as his chains were lengthened and he was forced to stand up straight. His muscles screamed and cramped from being held in such a position for so long. He was turned to one of the pillars and his arms were wrapped around it and his chains attached to the wall behind it to keep him from sliding down.

Megumi watched as one of the guards pulled a small dagger from his belt and used to the slice up the back of Kenshin's gi. They pulled the dirty and ruined fabric from his body, letting the torn shreds hang from his arms and hakama pants. Takeda took her by the elbow and quickly moved her out of the way as the guards backed up and pulled the coil of thin leather braded into a whip. Kenshin had just settled into his new standing position when the whip sang.

Megumi winced, her eyes slamming shut as Kenshin gave the first cry. It was filled with both anger and pain. The muscles in his arms tightened as he pulled himself up and forced his legs into stance and he was ready the second time the whip bit into him. This time he only grunted when the whip welted his back.

"Eyes open My Lady. You must watch" Takeda hissed into her ear before taking a step back.

Megumi forced her eyes open just as the whip lashed Kenshin's back a third time. One by one the lashes came and Kenshin started to grow weaker as they went on. He could no longer hold back his pain. His grunts turned to yelps toward the end. Megumi had to turn her heart to stone and stand there with a flat expression, for she knew Takeda was watching her.

Finally they unchained him and he slumped to the ground. His back was a red, bleeding mass. Strips of skin hung from the muscles, and his pants were quickly becoming soaked as his blood trickled down onto them.

"Take him out of here Megumi." Takeda said. His tone was cold, uncaring as he motioned the guards with a jerk of his hand. The two guards hauled Kenshin to his feet and together they made their way out of the dungeon and the castle. Megumi took Kenshin from then as they reached the front gates of the court yard. Just past these gates Tae waited and she rushed to help Megumi with Kenshin. People stopped and watched, most couldn't believe that the red-headed farmer survived his death sentence and they knew it was the work of Megumi that had saved him.

"We must take him home, Ma'am. Kaoru is worried so." Tae stated.

"No, we must take him to my house." Megumi stated firmly. "My Mother-in-law will help him. It would do Kaoru no good in her weak state to see him like this."

Kenshin himself was weak from the pain and blood loss. He was hardly conscious but he nodded in agreement to Megumi. "I trust you." He said softly, not able to raise his head to look at her. "That I do."

a/n Yay! Misao saved Kenshins life! I'm not sure if many of you remember that in the R Kenshin series that Dr. Gensai had a sister who looked a lot like him. That was who I modeled grandmother Gensai after. In the next chapter we'll get to see her. As for the first meeting between Aoshi and Misao, it was simple and short; but do not worry, they will meet up many, many more times. Next chapter. Aoshi watches out for the return of Misao, and we'll see if Grandmother Gensai can help Kenshin.