Disclaimer: Everything belongs to Watsuki-sama except for the baby. I invented him.

Author's Note: This next installment focuses on Aoshi and Misao. A major spoiler alert for the end of the Megumi arc and also the Kyoto arc. Read and Review if you want but I'll ignore Flames. Thanks!

Blind Trust

"Here Aoshi, why don't you hold him for a little while?"

Shinomori Aoshi looked uncertainly at the tiny baby in his wife's arms, "How do I Misao?" he asked, trying to mask the anxiety in his voice.

"Like this." Misao showed him how her arms were positioned and he mimicked her.

She nodded her head in satisfaction and carefully transferred the child into Aoshi's arms, "Here Han'nya, meet your Touchan."

Touchan. It sounded strange hearing himself referred to in such a way. Other men were called "Touchan"but not Shinomori Aoshi of the Oniwaban. He had been called "Okashira", he had been called "Sama" and he had been called a demon but he had never been called "Touchan".

He looked down into the blinking black eyes of his son as the boy yawned, his tiny face twisting to follow the new muscle movements. Aoshi watched his son fall asleep, completing trusting in the man without knowing him. It was also something strange to Aoshi.

People didn't trust him easily; even people he had known for years still were slightly cautious around him. And he didn't blame them. After all he had betrayed them, nearly killed Okita and had turned a blind eye when Shishio had sent his trained soldiers to the Aoiya to kill everyone there. They had every right to be nervous around him.

But this baby, his son, wasn't.

This baby trusted him completely, without having to see proof of Aoshi's loyalty. What if the darkest part of his soul took him over again, turning him back into the demon he had been before his fight with Himura? Did he even deserve to be trusted by his own son?

"Aoshi what's wrong?" Misao's worried voice broke through his thoughts and he looked towards her. "Nothing Misao," he replied evenly but Misao still frowned, "You look sad."

Aoshi knew he had lost. Misao knew him better then anyone and she could see through his masks, even his best ones. "I was just wondering how Han'nya can trust me so easily."

His soft voice echoed through the room and Misao watched him carefully, her chin nestled in her hand. Finally she spoke, "Han'nya-kun trusted you, why shouldn't his namesake trust you also?"

Aoshi blinked and looked back at his son. Han'nya had trusted him. He had trusted him enough to die for him. It would be wrong for his namesake to trust Aoshi any less.

Misao leaned closer to Aoshi, gently touching her son's face, "He'll never understand why we gave him a girl's name of course."

"I think he will once he hears the story." As Aoshi spoke he made a promise to himself and his old friend.

He would tell Han'nya the story as soon as the boy was old enough to understand. The story of a man, who stayed at Aoshi's side when others abandoned him, who obeyed Aoshi's orders even when it meant nearly dying, who loved Misao as a daughter and Aoshi as a brother, and who ultimately gave his life to save Aoshi's own.

"I'd better put him to bed." Misao said softly as Aoshi handed Han'nya back to his mother.

Suddenly removed for the safety of his father's arms, Han'nya woke up and started to cry, a surprising loud sound from such a small body.

Aoshi settled back slightly as he watched Misao begun to sway slowly, singing a soft lullaby, feeling his anxieties melt away.

His son would always trust him, and Aoshi would never, never do anything to betray that trust.

Han'nya was his witness to that fact.

Fin.

Touchan: a term that is equally to "Daddy"

Sama: An honorific title equal to "lord"

Okashira: The leader of the Oniwaban

Kun: A term of endearment.