A/n! Hello to my reviewers out there! I'd like to thank Miharu Kawashi, mandella-sama, Gothic-Romantic99, Lusosos103, moonlightrurouni and rinny for reviewing my last chapter. I know it's been forever from the last update hopefully it won't be so long for the next one. On to the story!

Disclaimer: I don't own R. Kenshin BTW: the story Gensai tells in here was from a movie (though I don't know what it's called at the moment.) It just really stuck in my head to work into this chapter.

Takeda paced; his hair in disarray, his feathered fat clutched in his hand. "So you didn't see anything abnormal?"

Shishio shrugged. "Nothing more than an old woman rubbing salve into his wounds like anyone else would do." He was already bored with the situation.

Hard eyes swiveled over to Aoshi, whose face was blank, but his eyes were wandering his memory. "And you?"

"If the child knew anything, she wouldn't tell me. She had no trust in me yet." Aoshi stated flatly.

Takeda hardly looked satisfied with his servants. "Could you ever earn her trust?"

"In time." He was sure of it.

The wolves glanced at each other as they could see the gears turning in the head of their master. He went back to pacing back and forth, muttering to himself. "Shishio, we'll keep an eye on the village, you," he turned to Aoshi, "will keep an eye on that family, especially that girl and her grandmother."

Shishio was less than thrilled, but Aoshi was suddenly looking forward to Takeda's cracked-up plan for once. Was it because he would be able to stay away from his master and even Shishio for some time, or was it because he would have a reason to spend time with Misao? Why would he even want to spend time with the young woman? She was too trusting, too innocent for him to be around. He was a monster. She wouldn't be safe with him around. And it was just those reasons he couldn't keep away.

… . . …

"Kenshin looked much better." Misao mused as she and her Grandmother walked back to her secluded cabin. There was no rush this time, so the two women took their time and hiked in leisure.

"Mmm-Hmm." Her grandmother agreed with a slight upturn of her lips. The old woman changed the subject. "Seen any fairies?"

Misao instantly forgot about Kenshin, her head snapped around to the old woman, her eyes wide. "No, not yet, have you?"

Gensai smiled to herself. It didn't take much to draw the girl's attention away. "A few signs." She offered and Misao nearly gasped as she clutched at the fabric of her cape.

"Oh you haveta show me!"

"The seasons are going to turn soon. It's in-between seasons that's the best time to catch sight of them." The old woman said in a wise tone.

"Gah, I've looked for fairies forever." Misao's lips pouted.

Gensai laughed. "That's the problem, Love. You can't look for them; you have to only see them. They will not show themselves to those who are looking for them." She smiled as Misao continued to pout. She changed the subject again. "You will come to see me again soon? Before the fall?"

Misao nodded, "Of course Grandma."

"And you take care about making friends with men you hardly know." Her grandmother shot her a look from the side of one eye.

"Yes I know, pretty face and all."

"No this is more than that my dear. Men can get you into a lot of trouble, remember that story I told you long ago?" the old lady didn't even wait for Misao to reply.

"There was a grand wedding. Rich folk type of wedding, you understand. Silk clothes, snow white tablecloths on every table, large cake enough to feed half a village even though there were only a handful of close friends and family. The young groom was handsome, fair; with the pale skin and delicate bones of the rich. He doted on his new bride. She was a lovely young thing, with milky white skin and ebony hair curled in ringlets. Each guest had at least one manservant tending to them. They feasted and drank and celebrated the new couple.

"But around midday there can an uninvited guest. A woman in commoner's clothes. She was barefoot, hair dull tan and tangled. She was also very heavy with child. The wedding party fell silent as the strangers eyes landed on the guests one by one. It didn't take long before the father and mother of the groom recognized the girl as a maid that vanished months ago when they had announced the wedding.

"So I see you are happy." She said to the groom as she eyes his pretty young bride who was clutching his arm. "You have no room in your life for us now." She added, her hands going to her belly. "You told me you loved me, but laughed when I asked you to marry me for the sake of our child." She ignored the outraged gasps coming from the guests. The mother of the groom looked about to faint. The father of the bride was red in the face from anger, or indigestion, who knew.

"The groom tried to speak but the woman silenced him with a wave of her hand, angry flashing eyes pinning each man and woman to their seat. "You said it was impossible for you to marry one such as myself, the hired help, even though I carry your bloodline. Laughable you said. You are a beast!" She cried, pointing at him. She swept her finger across the wedding party. "All of you are beasts! Beasts!" she cursed."

"What happened?" Misao asked in a soft voice, her eyes riveted to her grandmother and not where she was walking.

"Grumbling and groaning, twisting muscles and cracking bones, each and every guest burst from their clothes as they grew fur and their faces exploded outward into a muzzle and teeth. Beasts is what she cursed them, and beasts is what they became. For the young maid was a witch, and being stranded in her condition had angered her. For she thought the man loved her, but he did not. The servants fearing for their lives ran, leaving the laughing witch with the pack of large wolves. The beasts tore into the wedding feast, knocked over the grand cake and bolted from the tent and into the forest. But they couldn't go far, for they were under the control of the witch. And as time passed and she birthed her baby, she would laugh when the wolves howled at night."

"Why would she laugh Grandmother? She was alone with her baby now."

The wrinkled face smiled. "Ah, but hearing the howls reminded her that the wolves followed her, and she was not alone." She turned her eyes to her granddaughter. "Now you are not a witch, but that man could put you in the same predicament if you are not careful."

Misao rolled her eyes at this. "I know Grandma."

… . . …

Days past as normal as any other. The village was quiet, filled only with the happy voices, the sounds of livestock and the chopping of wood. In the country just outside the village it was time to harvest more wheat. All the neighbor men were there, their wives spread blankets out in the shade and had various foods and drinks set out for their men and friends. Children played, chasing each other, catching small bugs startled as the men moved through the field. Everyone here was happy.

Misao could only smile as she and her mother joined them. They carried baskets of bread and they helped to arrange them on the blankets. Misao detached herself from her mother as soon as she could and wandered into the field with the children. Being older, she helps gather the wheat behind the men, stand them up and tie them into large sheaves. In the field, Misao spied bright red hair. Kenshin it seemed had made a full recovery. In fact the man laughed loudly with his friends and moved swiftly, it was as if he had never been injured at all. But Misao had never known the truth about the extent of his wounds. Perhaps it wasn't as bad as first thought.

… . . …

"Misao sure is growing into a beautiful woman, Megumi." Kaoru said as the older woman sat beside her. Both turned to watch the girl in her red cape work alongside the other children.

With fair, smooth skin, bright eyes and dark hair weaved into decorative ropes, Megumi had to agree. "She sure is. I dread the day the men will notice this. It will be any moment." She smiled at Kaoru as the young mother watched her son toddle his way to the group of other children his age. The small group was being watched by two young women just slightly older than Misao, each eager to learn the ways of caring for children. This way, the wives could work and not have to worry about their youngest being underfoot.

"I'm glad to see that you're getting better." Megumi added, looking at Kaoru more closely.

Kaoru turned and smiled. "Yes, the medicine your mother gave Kenshin worked wonderfully. This is my first day out of the house."

"Make sure you don't over do it." Megumi warned.

"Oh I won't. I just got tired of seeing the inside of my house." Bright blue eyes gazed upward at the sky. "I wanted to enjoy the nice weather before winter sets in. Then I'll have no choice but to look at the inside of my house."

Megumi shrugged and smiled. "As Grandma Gensai told me… 'Winter is a good time to work on another baby.'"

Kaoru flushed a shade of red before both women laughed out loud.

… . . …

Kenshin glanced up at the sound of laughter and smiled at the flushed color of Kaoru's face. Megumi must have said something to bring on such blush. Kenshin shook his head as he bent back to the field. Handheld sickle in one hand, wheat in the other, Kenshin and the other men made good time cutting the grain and dropping it behind them. They slowly advanced through the field as the kids behind them gathered it up.

"Life is good." Said one man after a moment.

Kenshin glanced up at his neighbor and smiled. "Yes it is." With the weather good, children laughing and the women breaking into a song. Life was good.

… . . …

A song broke out, an up-beat song normally saved for the spring planting, not the autumn harvest. But things were going so well, the women couldn't help themselves. Misao sang along as she and the first group of kids took a break from the field. Another teenager and more children took their place. Misao skipped, she and the children sang the song about blue skies, and happy children and rustling trees and other beautiful things. Children laugh as they skip along after Misao as she led them to the other side of the field where some of the mothers sit in the shade. Here apple trees with their branches heavy with fruit sway in the breeze. The children first went to their mothers' then bolted into the small orchard eager to climb the trees to gather fruit. Misao scooped up a basket one lady held out to her and she too wandered out into the trees.

It was quieter here, Misao's singing turned into humming as she picked the fruit and kept one eye on the children at the same time. Every so often, she glanced out at the field, watching the men work. The men fell in time to the beat of the song, they laughed as they worked. It was a good day.

Suddenly Misao felt a hand wrap around her arm, just above the elbow. Misao jerked her head around and was greeted by the dark eyes of the stranger from before. "Aoshi!" She gasped in surprise.

Aoshi stepped from behind the tree and gave her what he hoped was a good smile. "Hello again Misao." He looked out at the men working, then over at the women who broke into a different song. "Nice day."

"Yes it's a beautiful day." Misao agreed in a breathless whisper. She did not expect to see him again so soon. She looked him up and down, just a flicker of the eyes. He was in dark pants and a light blue, long-sleeved shirt and a dark blue vest over that. He was striking. Much different than the drab colors the men were wearing. Of course they were out working the field.

Aoshi took in the sight of Misao from afar. He watched as she danced with the children, skipping in her dress, Aoshi caught sight of legs incased in white stockings, and with every movement the thick material of the red cape flared out around her like fiery wings. A crown of thick black braids wrapped around her head and her cheeks were flushed from the recent activity. Aoshi felt a strange tightness in his chest. "I saw the gathering from afar, I was wondering what was happening here." He said lamely. But it must have ringed true because the girl only brightened.

"It's the harvest. Everyone gets together to help with the harvest. With a field this big, even the women and children come. Farmers are a close community." She rested the basket of apples against one hip.

"Yes, I can see." Aoshi said and he looked out at the gathering of people. He quickly spied the Lady Megumi, watching them closely. He was a stranger after all, talking to her daughter. "It looks like fun." Did his voice sound as fake as it sounded to him? Must not, for the girl's eyes never darkened and her smile never faltered. Guilt was already planted in Aoshi. He needed to be honest if this was going to get anywhere. He couldn't fake emotions; he could hardly handle real ones. "I'm not used to being around people."

Misao blinked, but kept her smile as she looked up at him. "What? Don't like people?"

"No,…no I like people." At least he did, long ago. "I guess I'm just shy, I don't know how to act around them." His mouth snapped shut, his spine straightening. He was more honest with this girl than he had been with himself. More importantly, he just gave up something personal about himself to a stranger. He wasn't even this open with Shishio, and he was in the same boat! The girl's smile grew sweet and soft, her head tipped to the side ever so slightly and again a feeling hit him in the chest that made him feel as if he had to gasp for air.

"That's alright. You just act like yourself."

"But…they might not like me." Again he was astonished by the words just pouring out of his mouth. Words that were completely true. Feelings that he had to smother to survive in such a strange form.

"Well, it's better than someone liking you for someone you're pretending to be." She lifted both eyebrows. "Right?"

Her innocence hurt him, yet he was drawn to it. He had to take her…somewhere…anywhere away from the eyes of anyone; he had a sudden and strong urge to be alone with her.

Suddenly the women around them fell silent; the men working froze and stood up straight. Both Misao and Aoshi turned to find Lord Takeda lounging on a horse. He was leaning forward, his arms resting on the back of the horse's neck near the saddle, and he leveled his gaze at the field of men. Aoshi glanced over in time to catch the man Kenshin slowly move to stand behind one of the larger men. The man threw out his chest and held his arms at his sides, working to hide Kenshin behind him. Obviously this man shouldn't be out in the field working if he had been whipped a couple of days ago. He should be in bed, burning with fever and in pain. Takeda's gaze moved across the field and Aoshi felt himself move. He grabbed Misao by the arm and pulled the startled girl towards him as he stepped forward. The girl was thrust behind him. Takeda's gaze crossed over Aoshi with hardly a blink of acknowledgment, before continuing over to the women and the children that were quickly rushing to their side.

"What-"

"Shh." Aoshi said over his shoulder, his hand still on her arm, his body sideways. He didn't understand this behavior. Was he hiding Misao? Protecting her? From what? Takeda wanted nothing to do with her. Two guards sat on horses, one on each side of Takeda. They looked bored, but alert to the gathering of villagers. No wolf could be seen. Shishio wasn't nearby. So why was he so edgy? His sharp eyes trained on Takeda, a low growl rumbled from deep in his chest.

Yes…Takeda was a threat. He wasn't sure what had shifted, but Aoshi realized he was about to disobey his master. Again a growl issued from his throat, a soft rumble that no one could here, no one except Misao.

… . . …

Misao's eyes went wide at the sound emanating from the stranger. A growl like a dog, only far more frightening rumbled deep within him. Misao inched over and looked upon his face. His expression was set like stone or a mask. She double checked, yes his eyebrows didn't meet. So where had the growl come from? His hand on her arm burned her skin, a tingling sensation shot from her arm to her chest and down her legs.

"What-"

"Shh." Aoshi hushed her softly, then as everyone's attention turned to Takeda, he seized his chance. "Follow me." He said suddenly, pulling Misao with him to melt deeper in the orchard of apple trees. Misao resisted for only a moment before he saw how she suddenly made up her mind and let him lead her further away from spying eyes.

… . . ….

"We'll aren't we all having a great time." Takeda said from his perch on his horse. His eyes quickly caught sight of Aoshi vanishing like magic into the trees with the girl in tow. Now he would soon know if Aoshi could work some of that magic on her. In the meantime he let his eyes scan the crowd. He didn't see sign of Kenshin Himura, even though he was sure he had spotted a flash of blazing red hair. He could see Lady Megumi sitting in the shade not far from his right. She looked lovely as always, but even as her large eyes drew his attention, he did not drop the air of danger that radiated from his scowl. "Seems my warning with Himura didn't dampen any spirits." He continued.

… . . …

"Where are we going?" Misao asked as she struggled to keep up with the long legs of Aoshi as he pulled her through the maze of apple trees until they plunged into the real forest and even then he didn't stop.

"Away from them." Aoshi finally answered.

"Who?"

"Everyone."

Misao jumped a log, her wrist still trapped by his hand. "Why?" she gasped.

All at once Aoshi came to a stop and Misao nearly plowed into him. Why was he dragging her through the forest?

"You were growling." Misao reported once she realized he wasn't going to answer her.

Oh yes, that was why. "You did?" His ignorance didn't ring true, not even to Misao.

She pulled at her arm and Aoshi dropped her wrist. "Don't pretend." She said, her big eyes narrowing as she looked him up and down quite a few times. Enough times that Aoshi started to feel uncomfortable under such scrutiny. "Why were you growling?"

Horrified, Aoshi found his brain disconnect from his body and he blurted the god-awful truth. "I'm a wolf." He expected Misao to laugh, scoff….something that proved he was now the village lunatic in her eyes.

"But your eyebrows don't meet." Misao said gazing closely at his face. Her lack of surprise and the fact that she was even humoring him was so unexpected he had no answer.

"I…I beg your pardon?" He finally stuttered.

"My grandmother told me that men whose eyebrows meet are werewolves." Suddenly she reached up and ran her thumb across the space between his eyebrows, but above his nose. "Nope, they don't meet, not even a little."

Her touch sent an electrical shock though Aoshi. Stunned, he could only stand there as Misao finished her observations. He blinked and grabbed her hand and pulled her away at arm's length. "Aren't you afraid?" This made the girl pause and for some ridiculous reason, Aoshi was the one who was afraid.

"Of course not…you're not really a werewolf." She smiled brightly. "Did Sano put you up to this?"

She didn't believe him. A part of him was relieved…a larger part of him was shocked and a little irate. He didn't know why, but it seemed important that she know the truth. He was an idiot.

Stepping back he watched her as he willed his body to change. He could see her smile instantly fade away as he shrunk down and then fell forward onto all fours. It only took a moment, but there he was, a large wolf.

He could hear Misao struggle for breath, the basket of apples slipped from her hands and the fruit rolled towards his paws. When he glanced down at them Misao bolted.

'Shit.'

A/n well he wanted to prove that he was a wolf and now he's gone and chased her away. And you know what a wolf does when something is running away from him right? Thanks for reading everyone! Reviews are loved!