Disclaimer: I do not own Kenshin.
Chapter has been revised.
"Who?" Yahiko trailed off as Beshimi flew through the doors open, poison darts in his fingers. But halted.
"Misao?" The midget of the man had to blink twice, then looked towards his leader.
Aoshi was thunder struck. He couldn't even blink. At first unable to recognize the girl, with gentle curves. But she was so familiar. Her eyes the same green blue, and the hair.
She could not be the little girl that they had help raise in Kyoto. The seven year old that fell over when she kicked too high. But the braid was the same, longer and wild now wrapping around the slim body that had the slightest of curves showing she was no longer a child. But there was blood. Crimson glistening around her, he didn't know if it was all hers or that monster of a man who laid immobile a small distance away.
"Okashira?" Hannaya had been the one to speak, his eyes intent on the fallen girl.
All Aoshi could do was nod. His eyes searching, assessing the damage around the room, Shikijou laid unmoving before him, his chest packed with bullet holes. Hyottoko was an unpleasant sight, the gruesome damage that the machinery had on his head. Beshimi was by his side, attempting to do something for his fallen comrade. And the man Kanyruu was dead, Aoshi would have rather killed him himself. The Battousai and his companions had already disappeared to fetch the lady doctor.
"She's alive." Hannaya voice lifted some of the sinking shock that surrounded Aoshi.
This. The clear memory of years ago flickered. He had left Misao at the Aoi-Ya to prevent this.
"Do not move her." Ignoring the pain that shot up through his legs, Aoshi rose leaning Shikijou on his shoulder. "Beshimi stay with her until the Battousai arrives with Takani, and see to it that she receives their aid. Hannaya take Hyottoko and come with me." His men deserve to have the proper rites of passage. And Battousai would not let someone like Misao go without treatment, knowing that he could convince Megumi Takani to treat Misao.
Glancing back, Aoshi could barely distinguish the rise and fall of Misao chest. So fragile.
Without hesitation, he proceeded to the secret passage way, Hannaya tolling Hyottoko behind him. Misao would be alright. There was no other option. She was always strong spirit.
It had taken a night and a day, to lay Hyottoko and Shikijou in proper graves. He never knew it would come to this. They had deserved the proper battle that was denied them, not a death by that insane man. The clearing did have a beauty in the gentle glow of moonlight across grass, with the swaying of the trees.
The three of them stood before the unmark graves, keeping a silent vigilance. A question, not meant to be said. What now?
They had fought Battousai and lost. Lost two men, for a moment of glory.
Aoshi faced the matter of Misao. Stunned by her nearly miraculous appearance, if not for her…He did not think on it. But glanced at Hannaya and Beshimi, who were craving names in the stones.
His eyes were open, his mattered calm, as he looked over the graves. An emotion rose stark within. How he wished he could give them that title. The title that they would have earn. The strongest. Yet, Battousai was a man of principle. He cared nothing for the title, but Aoshi couldn't simply take it. Aoshi would not lie to himself, nor his men.
There was one matter before. Someone whom they all loved. He would honor his men, and bring the little girl they left behind so many years ago, to her home. How old was she now? The years had been hard to follow, yet he still remember her birthday. And why had she been alone?
Motioning for Hannaya and Beshimi to flow, he turned away from the stones. A last farewell fluttered in the wind.
It was moments, long after they had travel far from the clearing, before he broke the silence.
"Hannaya," Who perhaps had the friendliest relations with the former samurai, "look in on Misao."
"Hai, Okashira." Aoshi nearly felt Hannaya's smile.
AN: Revising chapters, please review if you see something that needs to be edited/change or if you want to!