Disclaimer: Neither Rurouni Kenshin nor its characters belongs to me. Sigh.

AN: Hello all! Sorry for the delay. Work + World Cup + my (and others') birthdays + new babies being born (do those count as birthdays, too? I think yes?) + start of American football + soccer leagues (Premier League and Bundesliga, I'm looking at you) = no free time to write. It's killing me. Well, work is killing me, at the very least. Please forgive any typos?

Terms used:

Barouche – they probably didn't have these…exactly… but it's fiction and I realized I messed up in the previous chapter by mentioning using a carriage to go to the hot springs. Sorry!

Masugata – a double, right-angle turn built into a street for defensive reasons. Google it!

Wada-toge – one of the major checkpoints on the Nakasendo.

On a side note - bath houses WERE shared, right up until the Meiji period, when the trend towards gender separation started. Could you imagine sharing the same hot springs/bath houses with strangers of the opposite gender? I had a difficult enough time with just women, so to share with men, too... I don't know if I'd have the guts for it! Well, maybe I would, as a stranger in a foreign country at a bath house which I wouldn't be frequenting every week, you know? Well. Maybe.

– Neomiko

Chapter 8

Back at the waki-honjin, Kaoru and Aoshi sat together over a simple meal consisting of some of the local specialties.

"You know, Kaoru, if you want to spend more time here, we certainly can." Aoshi said.

"That is really tempting, but I think I'd like to keep going and see what else is ahead. I can easily imagine staying here for days, discovering everything. It's so beautiful! And the air is so crisp, it takes my breath away!" Kaoru exclaimed.

"Well, that might be because we're at a higher altitude. The air is thinner up here, so it can be a little harder to breathe, particularly for people with lung problems."

Aoshi's completely serious face dented Kaoru's enthusiasm, but only just a little bit. She wrinkled her nose, unsure if he was teasing her.

She was pretty sure he was teasing her.

"That being said, it's only for a little while, and the body gets used to these conditions quite quickly. There are a number of walking trails along the mountainside, as well as Kumoba Pond."

"Kumoba?" Kaoru asked, eyes wide.

"Yes, 'kumo' for cloud and 'ba' for place. Though the pond is fed by a stream, the water is often so still there that the sky is perfectly mirrored in its depths." Aoshi answered.

"I'll definitely have to see that on the trip home," Kaoru decided. "It gives me something to look forward to."

Aoshi nodded.

"The next major stop we'll make is Nagakubo, which we should reach by the end of tomorrow. First, we'll rendezvous with the same carriage we've been using in Oiwake, which I'm sure you'll be happy about. The one we used to go to the hot springs is acceptable, but rather small. More like a barouche."

Kaoru ducked her head in shame. Aoshi allowed a small smirk to surface on his handsome face.

"Ehehe…and what's next after Oiwake?" Kaoru asked.

"Next is Otai…and then we will cross the Chikuma River into Shionada." Aoshi replied.

"That sounds nice."

"After that, we'll go through Mochizuki and Ashita before stopping in Nagakubo."

"We've certainly got a full day ahead of us, don't we?" Kaoru said. "Think we have time to walk around a little this evening?"

Together, they left the waki-honjin and found a short walking path taking them along the edge of the trees. They admired the beautiful forest in silence, allowing Kaoru time to think about the day's events. As twilight descended, they turned towards the main street again. Shopkeepers and restaurant owners were out lighting lamps in front of their businesses, hoping to entice people into buying some last snack or trinket before retiring for the evening.

In the deepening dark, the buttery glow of the lamps seemed to beckon them to one shop or another. Kaoru flitted from storefront to storefront, eyes round with delight. Aoshi was content just to watch her, a few paces behind. Sometimes she asked for his opinion on some little thing she spied, to which he would intone some little answer. Watching the energetic young woman, Aoshi had a difficult time understanding why Himura would devastate such a vibrant, curious person like Kaoru.

As Kaoru gazed at a necklace in a jeweler's window, leaning forward to get a clearer look, a young man approached her. Aoshi's mouth fell into a tight line, observing silently.

"Hello, miss. You must be new here. I haven't seen you before." The young man was attractive enough, in a boyish sort of way. "I'm Hiroki. If you'd like, I could show you around."

Kaoru straightened up, turning to address the stranger, her back to Aoshi. "Oh… Hello. We're just traveling through."

"We?" The young man asked.

"Yes. I'm here with…now where did he go?" Kaoru started to turn around, only to nearly run into Aoshi, who had come up directly behind her to stare at the man over Kaoru's head. Laughing, she clasped Aoshi's arm to regain her balance. Aoshi steadied her gently.

Turning back around to face the young man, Kaoru gestured to the tall ninja behind her. "As you can see, I think we're fine."

Nodding dejectedly, the young man bid them a good evening. Kaoru smiled brightly in response, waving. She looked up at Aoshi, who still stood towering over her.

"Hey, what was that?"

"What was what?" Aoshi turned to look at the necklace Kaoru had been admiring in the store.

Kaoru arched an eyebrow at his elusive answer, but let it go. Following his eyes, she sighed and said, "That's a lovely little necklace, right? But completely impractical for me."

Aoshi looked the necklace for a little longer, catching Kaoru's wistful smile out of the corner of one eye.

"Kaoru, are you hungry at all?" Aoshi gestured towards a nearby yakitori stall. "That stand seems quite popular. Perhaps you'd like to try it?"

"That's a nice idea," Kaoru's attention was diverted to the crowded booth. The delicious aroma of grilled chicken teased her nose. She frowned a little, eyeing the number of patrons. Sighing, she said, "I guess we'll just have to join the crowd."

Pushing forward into the crowd, she didn't wait to hear Aoshi's response.

After a few minutes of making huge puppy dog eyes and subtly elbowing her way to the front of the stall, Kaoru's mouth started watering at the sight of the rows of grilled chicken and vegetable skewers. Smiling, she ordered two skewers, one for each of them. As she reached into her sleeve for her wallet, an arm reached past her nose, handing the vendor enough money for the food. Surprised, Kaoru tracked the arm back and up to Aoshi standing behind her like a wall. Huffing a little, Kaoru took the offered sticks, holding one out to Aoshi.

"Thank you," Aoshi accepted the skewer as they walked away from the stall.

"I should be thanking you," Kaoru answered. "You paid for them."

Aoshi only smirked a little in response.

Shrugging, Kaoru took a bite of some freshly grilled chicken. "Oh! These are really delicious!"

Aoshi took a bite of his own skewer. "Yes, they are quite good."

"Wow, I wasn't that hungry but these are great!" Kaoru chewed happily. "That was some crowd, wasn't it? But now we know why. I'd gladly wait for these anytime!"

Aoshi smiled a little, somewhat mysteriously, and didn't say anything.

Finally, the duo found their way back to the waki-honjin. The sky was completely dark, stars glittering brightly in the inky tapestry above them. Aoshi proceeded to walk Kaoru to her room to retire for the evening.

"That was fun!" Kaoru exclaimed, standing in front of her door.

"Remember, tomorrow will be an early day. I will come get you for breakfast."

"Yes sir!" Kaoru saluted him playfully.

"Good night, Kaoru." Aoshi tipped his head.

"Good night, Aoshi. See you tomorrow!" Kaoru bowed slightly before entering her room.

Aoshi stood there watching until the door was completely shut. Reaching into a hidden pocket, he pulled out a little box and cradled it gently in one hand. He took the lid off to reveal the necklace Kaoru had been eyeing earlier in the evening. Aoshi stared at it for a long moment, half-questioning why he had felt compelled to buy it. Tracing the edge of the box with a thumb, he took a deep breath and exhaled sharply through his nose before putting the lid back on and tucking it away on his person. He turned and walked to his own room to retire for the night.

# #

# #

Kaoru was ready for the knock at her door the next morning. Together, Aoshi and Kaoru had a small breakfast before setting off in the barouche.

Kaoru observed the subtly changing landscape. The trip to Oiwake was a steady, gradual descent, and Kaoru was impressed to see how trees could grow at angle but still be vertical. They stopped in Oiwake just long enough to get into their old carriage. While the barouche was fun, the open front made them quite vulnerable to the day's weather and flying insects.

It was a short trip to Otai – just a few miles. As they approached the Chikuma River, she could see two little bridges spanning the river, arching down and meeting on a small island in the middle.

"The Chikuma forms the headwaters of the Shinano River, the largest river in Japan," Aoshi explained, as they rode over the river.

As they neared Shionada, it was getting close to lunchtime. Aoshi told Kaoru that they would be stopping to eat in nearby Mochizuki. Only about a mile away, this section of the trip took longer because of the masugata – negotiating the carriage through was difficult, and they often opted to walk through them and allow the carriage to circle around from the outside.

In Mochizuki, Kaoru was grateful to get something to eat. Over lunch, Aoshi told Kaoru a little more about Mt. Asama; particularly the fact that it is a still-active volcano.

"What? You mean that mountain could have erupted while we were on it?" Kaoru gasped.

"Well, yes, I suppose that it would have been possible, but we would have seen warning signs long before an actual eruption, like earthquakes."

Somehow, Kaoru wasn't terribly comforted by Aoshi's words.

"Well, where do you think the heat for the hot springs comes from?" Kaoru looked at Aoshi in surprise.

"The volcano? I guess I never thought about that…" Kaoru frowned a little.

"Nature's internal heating system." Aoshi stated.

Kaoru laughed. Changing the subject, Aoshi said, "I should tell you, the area we are in now is known for their sake. There are many breweries nearby, including a very popular family-run one."

"Too bad I don't drink much sake." Kaoru laughed. "Though I've been known to have a drink or two at parties, apparently I don't hold my alcohol well."

Aoshi laughed a little. "Come, let's take a walk to stretch our legs before returning to the carriage. We should get to Nagakubo soon so that we can give the horses ample time to rest. The Wada-toge can be challenging, even though we'll be descending."

As they strolled around the small village, Aoshi told Kaoru a little bit about sake in general.

"Beyond Mochizuki but before Nagakubo, just out of the way a bit in a town called Motai, is the Ozawa Brewery. Did you know, sake was originally cloudy? There is a popular story explaining why it is clear now. Nearly 200 years ago, an unhappy employee of the Konoike, a sake brewing family in Osaka, threw ashes into a sake fermentation vat. Instead of destroying the sake, the ashes settled out the cloudy particles, leaving the liquid clear. The Konoike enjoyed unsuspected success as a result."

"That's…surprisingly interesting. How do you even know this?"

"You hear many stories when you travel as much as I do."

"Traveling…" Kaoru's brow wrinkled as her mind drifted to the other travelers she knew – Megumi went back to Aizu, Sano off to who knows where, and Kenshin on the road again, the sky his ceiling and the road his home now. Not with me. Shaking herself a little bit, she offered a small smile to Aoshi's inquisitive gaze.

They headed back to the carriage, ready for the rest of the trip to Nagakubo. As they continued on, Kaoru fell asleep thanks to the rocking motion of the carriage. She tipped sideways, Aoshi catching her softly. He repositioned himself and let her lean against his shoulder. Closing his eyes, the two stayed that way for the rest of the ride.

# #

# #

Hours later, their carriage rumbled to a stop in front of their next waki-honjin in Nagakubo. Kaoru sleepily blinked awake. She sat up slowly, trying to remember where she was. Glancing up, she caught Aoshi looking down at her with an unreadable expression on his face.

"Good evening, Kaoru. Did you have a nice nap?"

"I fell asleep again?" Kaoru rubbed one eye groggily.

"Yes, well… perhaps you are not used to such traveling…?"

"I suppose not. Still, what kind of company am I, sound asleep while you're stuck with me in a carriage?" Kaoru mumbled, shaking her head a little to clear it.

"You're perfect company enough, Kaoru." Aoshi smiled lightly.

Kaoru stopped rubbing her eye, squinting at Aoshi to see if she could tell whether or not he was joking.

Sighing, she said, "You're just saying that because when I fall asleep, you don't have to talk."

"Kaoru, even if you were awake, I would not feel obligated to talk. I talk to you because I want to." Aoshi answered.

Surprised and flattered, Kaoru couldn't stop her cheeks from flooding with color. "You…you…" Kaoru sputtered, not knowing what to say.

"Yes, me, Kaoru. Unless there is someone else in this carriage I am unaware of?" Aoshi was definitely teasing now.

Kaoru laughed a little, her face breaking out in a huge smile. "You exasperating man!"

"I have no idea what you are talking about. I have been nothing but a perfect gentleman with you."

Kaoru burst out in full laughter, the carriage echoing with her merriment. Aoshi could not deny the infectious nature of her mirth and smiled in response.

"Come, Kaoru. Let's stretch our legs a little and give you your first look at Nagakubo."

Kaoru nodded, watching Aoshi climb out of the carriage. He turned and helped her down. She had become quite comfortable touching Aoshi, she realized. Well, I guess being constant traveling companions can do that. Or maybe it was that trip to the hot springs… NO Kaoru! Bad thoughts! She cut that train of thought off quickly, lest her face betray her to the man holding her hand as he helped her out of the carriage.

"Here we are at the tip of the Wada-toge." Aoshi swept an arm across the wide vista. "From here you can see the rice fields stretching out across the horizon."

"Oooh, rice. What's for dinner?" Kaoru's hand shot up to cover her mouth in embarrassment. How could the first thing I ask about in a new town be food?

Aoshi laughed suddenly. Kaoru, startled out of her embarrassment, gazed at Aoshi in wonder. His laugh was rich and low, rumbling down her spine, igniting a weird fluttering in her stomach.

"Whatever you want, Kaoru. I'm sure we can find something suitable. This area has many agricultural festivals throughout the year. Perhaps there may be one going on now."

Kaoru's face lit up.

"I love festivals! I hope there's one."

"well, let's go find out." Aoshi held his arm out for Kaoru to take.

"Let's," Kaoru agreed, sliding her hand in place.

After a few instructions from Aoshi to the carriage driver and the waki-honjin attendant who came out to receive their carriage, they walked, arm in arm, down one of the many rather pleasant footpaths in search of a festival. As they walked, Aoshi pointed out the expansive, beautiful Wada Bridge, silently arching gracefully over the river. They continued on, eventually finding more densely packed streets lined with shops, produce booths, and what was clearly the dinner crowd in search of a meal.

The restaurants in Nagakubo featured menus heavy on local vegetables due to its proximity to the mountain and fresh fish from the river. Aoshi let Kaoru pick which restaurant they would try, so she chose a little place a short distance away from one of the main streets. It seemed quiet, but they would still be able to see people walking down the street.

Entering the establishment, a pretty woman greeted them enthusiastically, menus in hand.

"Welcome! Such a handsome young couple to grace our humble restaurant. Please, let me give you one of our best tables." With brisk efficiency, she ushered Aoshi and Kaoru to a booth near the front, giving them a perfect view outside but slightly sheltered from view itself. Her eyes flickered to Aoshi once, twice; her smile growing wide.

Seating them, she winked at Aoshi, saying, "I'm sure you and your ladylove want a bit of privacy."

Kaoru coughed a little bit. "Uh…it's not like that…"

Suddenly, the woman's eyes gleamed as she gazed at Aoshi. She leaned against their booth in what Kaoru could only think of as a provocative manner. "Oh my, am I mistaken? Is this handsome man available?"

Kaoru's mouth dropped open in dismay. Was this woman serious? "Excuse me?"

The woman cut a glance at Kaoru, her expression devilish. Before she could say anything else, Aoshi interrupted her, taking Kaoru's hand in his own.

"My ladylove is simply shy about public displays of affection. Please let us peruse the menus, and we should be ready to order soon."

Nodding stiffly as she stared at their linked hands, the woman left to fetch their server. Kaoru turned wide eyes to Aoshi. "What was that?"

Aoshi did not look up from his menu, squeezing her fingers slightly before letting go.

Sighing, Kaoru picked up her own menu to decide what to eat.

# #

# #

After dinner, the walk back to their waki-honjin was slow but pleasant.

"I'm stuffed!" Kaoru exclaimed happily, rubbing her belly. Aoshi gazed at her indulgently.

"There's still enough light. Shall we walk around a little more?"

"That sounds great," Kaoru replied. "It'll give me some time to digest."

They walked in silence for a while, admiring the darkness blanketing the world around them. Instead of seeming ominous, the buildings and trees they passed seemed magical and otherworldly. Kaoru laughed suddenly.

"Can you believe that woman?" Kaoru asked. She didn't need to specify.

"She was rather brazen, I must admit," Aoshi answered. "But at least she left us in peace, more or less."

"More like less! Even after you called me your ladylove." Kaoru didn't look at Aoshi, knowing that she was probably blushing.

"What she doesn't know won't hurt her, and it reduced her interruptions at our table a bit." Aoshi reasoned.

"I suppose you're right. Makes me wonder what she's like with obviously single men. Perhaps she's the terror of the town?"

Aoshi smirked. "Perhaps."

"So, what's after Nagakubo?"

"We'll head to Kiso-Fukushima, which will roughly mark the halfway point of our journey. If we make good time, we may continue on to Nakatsugawa, unless you want to explore."

Smiling a little, Kaoru replied, "I guess we'll just see how it goes, huh?"

Aoshi simply nodded.

To Be Continued...