Alright this is in dictation to those of us who have finished College finals and those of us who are getting out of school. (Twilght-kun is doing the victory dance, Ruroni-chan glares) I hate you so much right now. You know that, right?

Ask me if I care?

I already know that answer, and I hate you even more for it. (Cries) I don't get out of school for another month!!

Okay, Ruroni-chan is being a spas so Read, Review, And Tell her if you Enjoyed. She really does want to know.

Hiraru pulled her pack higher onto her shoulder and knocked on the door she was standing in front of. She did her best to wear the 'I'm important, so don't mess with me' face, going as far as to look down her nose at the men who walked past her. A young maid, not older than twelve, opened the door for Hiraru. "May I help you, Sir?" She asked.

Hiraru lifted an eyebrow, and using her priestess voice said, "Yes, you may. I'm looking for Korin of Samatsu house, I was told she and Mistress Hisacho were living here."

The maid paled, "They are the owner and her daughter, sir. I'm sure they're very busy, but if you'd like to make an appointment with Auntie…"

Hiraru set a look on the young maid, a full on glare. "They will see me now." Her statement left no room for argument, but still the maid stuttered as she pushed open the door and let herself in.

An older woman stepped out of the first room, "Dalli? Who is it?" This woman had the typical mother look to her. Her grayed hair was pulled back into a loose bun at the top of her head, and more laugh lines than worry lines. Her kimono was a fine bright orange with the prefect scene of a lake with embroidered lotus flowers and ripples.

Hiraru turned her head towards the woman as she pulled the maid in and pushed the door closed, "Hello, Fumi-chan," Hiraru called her one of her familiar nicknames, "It's been a while."

"Lord Tatsuo!" Fumimaru's hand went to her mouth as she took Hiraru in, in shock. "I never thought you'd come look us up."

"Actually, Tatsuo is about six inches taller," Hiraru smirked.

Fumimaru gasped, "Lady Hiraru… What are you WEARING? A lady like you should be wearing a fine Kimono."

Hiraru laughed, "How you read my mind while also chiding me is amazing…" Hiraru looked around, "Are Korin and Mistress Hisacho home?"

Fumimaru tilted her head to one side, slightly confused, "They are…" Her manners took over, "Would you like to come in and speak with them?"

Hiraru nodded, and Fumimaru ordered the maid to make tea and get sweets out. Fumimaru lead Hiraru to one of the more private tea rooms and sat with her until the tea arrived with another maid, "Tika, go get the Mistress and Korin-sama, tell them both a great guest is here."

Tika nodded and bowed her way out. After that Fumimaru began to chat idly about the tea house. She had gotten on to how the house was so busy ever since a new Geisha had begun to visit, when lean faced Hisacho walked in, "Fumi, how dare you speak of such things to just anyone!"

Hiraru had her back to the older woman but she knew that tight-mouthed anger so well. She turned around on her knees and looked up at the woman with grey showing in her hair line. "I don't consider myself just anyone Hisacho-san," She smiled politely, speaking to this woman was like dealing with a stubborn mule.

Hisacho's eyes widened, "Lord Tatsuo! Had I known you were here I would have brought a fine gift for you, to extend our good honor with your dear older brother." Despite her polite speech she looked utterly terrified and Hiraru could see the thoughts that ran through her head as though she were reading a book.

Hiraru laughed, she couldn't help it. Hisacho was the second person to mistake her for her twin brother, "Forgive me, Hisacho-san." She said when she was able to regain her breath, "As I said to Fumi-chan, I'm about six inches shorter than Tatsuo. Though I'm glad my disguise was good enough to fool you, Hisacho-san. It means I must be doing something right."

Hisacho's eyes got larger, "Lady Hiraru…" One could now tell exactly what color her eyes were, a deep brown, which in shadow looked black. The Kimono she wore, a light yellow with bubble like shapes on it that seemed almost like they might pop if she sat down, suited her eyes, but not the sickly color of her face or the deep wrinkles that sat in it.

Hiraru smiled, "It's good to see you too, Hisacho-san." The old woman stepped into the room her eyes only for Hiraru, and the sound of the screen door slamming closed resounded through the tea house.

Hisacho's eyes went from surprised to angry, "I'm not giving you Korin yet. She hasn't paid her debts yet."

Hiraru folded her hands in her lap, "In no way am I here to take Korin," She said clearly. Then she added with a lift of her eyebrows, "Yet. I would, however, like to remind you that we would like to hear from her every now and then."

Hisacho laughed, "Oh, of course. I'm sure Korin could come up with a letter for you to take with you this very afternoon, of course that's if she has any feelings at all left for your wonderful brother Shiro."

Hiraru's eyes narrowed, "Oh, I'm sure she does…"

At that moment Korin chose to walk in, "Mother, Auntie, the maid told me we had a vis… HIRARU!!" Her eyes fell on Hiraru sitting at the center of attention and screamed her name in joy.

Hiraru turner to look up at her and smiled. Standing she held her hands out to embrace the other woman, "Korin! You look wonderful, as usual. Oh my gosh, look at your skin… it's even more perfect than it was five years ago."

"I've missed you so much, I sent so many letters but Shiro never returned any of them. I thought Shiro might not care for me," Korin replied.

"Oh, really?" Hiraru quirked an eyebrow. The two women held each other at an arms length, the family like connection between them was not missed by the other women in the room. The way Hiraru's sky blue happi faded into the dark purple sleeves of Korin's kimono as it went from red to purple. The sight of the two having a sisterly moment made Hisacho's eyes narrow in disgust. "Korin," She called sharply, "Come and sit down."

It wasn't that Hisacho hated Hiraru or her family. It was that one of them wanted to marry her ex-geisha, and the rest of them whole heartedly accepted it, almost forcing Hisacho to give up her money maker. Korin bowed to her adopted mother, and quietly took her place next to the elder woman. Hisacho looked to her adopted sister, "Fumi, go make some fresh tea for our guest." She ordered like a noble who was use to getting her way. The younger of the two older women bowed and stepped out of the room. Hisacho then went to business, "Well, Lady Hiraru, if your not here to kidnap my dear daughter, why are you here?"

Hiraru put on her emotionless, polite smile, "I'm here to see if you would like to lessen your debt to us?"

Hisacho raised an interested eyebrow and Korin tilted her head in a confused angle.

"As you both know," Hiraru continued, "Korin-chan remained with my family for the duration of half a year, exactly five years ago. We asked for nothing in return from her, and allowed her to refine her skills as a geisha. The debt of her remaining with us would be the equivalent of three years with you, working as a geisha, five as a maid. Before she began to earn you money she'd racked up the cost of nine years working as a full geisha, not partnered with the payment she would receive from her… 'lover'. According to the contract you and my brother made as long as Korin-chan paid for her six earlier years and did not take a lover in that time, Shiro would take her as his permanent wife and the matter of her debt would be considered paid."

Hiraru took a deep breath, "However since you took up this business of a tea house, with Korin-chan also working here, you've raked in more money than you would have earned with your last business, therefore cheating Korin and Shiro out of at least a year of their happiness."

Fumi entered with more tea and the missing sweets she'd ordered from the maid earlier. She served all of them before Hiraru spoke again. Hiraru looked from Fumi to Hisacho, "If you are willing to take me in for the next week, my family would consider three months removed from that debt. If you were also willing to pay for a wig fitting, and the rental of one of your apprentice Geisha Kimono, for one day, I would have another six mouths removed, there for leaving you, Hisacho-san in only a three month debt."

Hisacho smiled, a sly smile, "You must be confused, Lady Hiraru. We have only had this tea house fully open for a year. It has been earning us twice what we use to earn, but considering the time and amount we've earned we are only six months ahead of schedule, meaning Korin would be free to return to your brother in three months. However I am not an unreasonable woman. The lodging of you here would only cost us two weeks of savings, to turn a profit I suggest you give us one month in return for the stay. That is much more reasonable than your three months would you not say? The wig and fitting however is three months saving, to revive our profit we'd require at least five months… that would mean you would give us six more months. Yes?"

Hiraru kept her eyes calm and her face expressionless.

Hisacho took Hiraru's silence as ascent, "But the borrowing of a Kimono, especially an Apprentice Geisha's, that would be at least a month and a half, and if it were damaged… well that would be another half a month. And to turn profit I would require four months. That would mean that from this day Korin would remain at my side for… another year and four months."

Hiraru's calm stare turned into a glare, "You want to keep Korin from Shiro for another sixteen months?"

Hisacho smiled sweetly, "Never." Hiraru could see right through Hisacho's kind smile and sweet look on her face, "I merely state the facts. I am in a business, I must make money to survive."

Hiraru closed her eyes trying to calm her racing emotions, it was several moments before she spoke again, "Make it just one year."

Hisacho raised an eyebrow, "You really think you are in any position to bargain?"

"If you don't want me to take Korin home, here and now…" Hiraru replied

"Let's compromise, fourteen months?" Hisacho tilted her head.

Hiraru took several very deep breaths, "Korin… I need these things, from your false mother. Would you be willing to remain here for another fourteen months, before you could see Shiro again?"

The young woman in the Kimono smiled gently, like Hiraru's grandmother, "I would be willing to wait for Shiro-kun as long as was needed."

Hiraru sighed, "Then with Korin's approval I accept the agreement, but if nothing happens to the kimono I'm borrowing, you will cut off one whole month from the deal."

Hisacho's smile changed again, "Deal." She looked at Fumi, "Fumi, would you mind Lady Hiraru staying in your room? I would put the sister-in-laws-to-be together, but we don't want anyone thinking that my honorable daughter is coercing with a… laborer…" Her eyes looked Hiraru up and down in slight disgust.

Hiraru raised an eyebrow, "Be careful what you say… my family has kept their honor and good will among our people because we were willing to work to pay debts. Your daughter will be part of our family, she will learn to cook, clean, and ladle food to the poor." Hiraru looked at Korin, "And your daughter knows this."

Korin nodded to Hiraru, acknowledging the statement as though it was a question.

Hiraru stood, "If you'll excuse me I would like to settle into my shared room, and do a few things before you get too many more guests."

Hisacho waved a hand, "Of course, please, go, go."

Hiraru bowed.

"Oh and Lady Hiraru?" Hisacho stopped her before she came up from her bow, "I hope you'll understand if I treat you like a hired hand… I mean since you cut so much of your hair off, you look like a boy…"

Hiraru smiled at her, "That's why I need a wig before I go visit a friend of my grandfather's. A man called Saito Hajime."

Fumi's jaw dropped, "The Wolf of Mibu? Your grandfather knew that monster?"

Hiraru bowed her head and looked at Fumi from an odd angle, "He wasn't a monster back when Grandpa knew him. He was just a young boy."

Hisacho had paled, she waved a hand as though she were warding off a bad smell, "I'll save you some time, Saito Hajime is dead. He died a long time ago."

Hiraru let a smirk pass over her face, "No, I know exactly where he is and that he's not as dead as some Kyoto citizens believe. For your own sanity I won't tell you where." She walked out at that moment, forcing Fumi to follow after her.

Shortly after being settled into her room, Hiraru went out to buy a bento box for her dinner. When she returned she pulled her hair down, put on an extra kimono and helped the other women serve the guests. By midday she was out with Korin and Fumi to visit the wig maker. Korin was decked out in her lovely kimono, and Hiraru was practicing moving in her borrowed kimono. It had been a long time since she'd worn such long garments, but proper movement was coming back quickly.

Out of the three women, Fumi was the plainest, and Korin was the most brilliant but only because Hisacho had insisted that Hiraru not wear anything that outshined Korin. For business sake, Hisacho had said. Korin looked at Hiraru from the corner of her eye, "You've grown since I last saw you…" She said, her bright red lips curved into a smile, "You could pass as a princess in a finer kimono, and you must know, I've never seen that dress pulled up like a lady's kimono."

Hiraru blushed lightly, "I'm no princess. I'm a rebel-rouser and I'm abandoning my family."

"I don't think what you are trying to do is abandoning them. They just don't see what you're doing," Korin said, placing a hand on Hiraru's shoulder.

"I' rather not speak of it. Do you suppose that wig maker can really pull together a wig that long in two days?" Hiraru asked quickly changing the subject.

Fumi snorted, "If he wants to keep the business we bring in he will."

Korin giggled, "He is a very good wig maker, he will have a wig that is to your specifications. He did seem very excited about making something so difficult."

Hiraru blew her bangs out of her face a little, "Yeah, right. Hey, Fumi-chan, I was wondering if you would mind helping me go through the kimonos this afternoon to find a nice one to wear?"

Fumi nodded, "Of Course, I'm shocked that Hisacho would insist on you paying for staying with us and using our resources, especially after all you did for us."

Hiraru smiled remembering how life had been when Korin had been staying with them. A friend of Hisacho's had known Hiraru's grandmother, and asked it they would mind letting a young geisha stay with them while there was danger in the larger cities. When Korin had shown up, Hiraru had thought she was far too modest to be a Geisha. Her hair had been pulled up into a bun, she'd worn a simple golden yellow Kimono, and a scarlet obi, and she'd arrived on the back of an ox cart. She hadn't been wearing any make up, except lip stick, and had talked a town's boy to carry her large bag up the stairs to the main temple then up to the guardian's house.

Originally Shiro hadn't trusted Korin. They were about the same age, eighteen, and when Shiro hadn't been working Hiraru's grandmother had set them to doing things together, because Shiro hadn't spent enough time around young people his own age. At nights, when Hiraru and Korin had been laying in the same room talking before they fell asleep, Korin had told her no man had ever looked at her with such calm steady acknowledgement

Within days the entire family had figured out how useful Korin was. She couldn't sew, cook, pray, garden, clean, or mix herbs. The only things she could do were the tea ceremony, dancing, playing her shamisen, serve drinks, and act as a good hostess. Other than that she was pretty much useless. Hiraru's grandfather ended up allowing Korin to practice her shamisen, and Jikata, "songs of plays' and Tachikata, "traditional japanese dance".

Two months passed before Korin, while exploring, had found Shiro's secret place, the water fall a few miles from the house. As it was inevitable, Shiro eventually visited the waterfall and pool, while Korin had been bathing. Korin had come up from a dive to find Shiro stripping, not ten feet away and been shocked. Hiraru hadn't been told any other details, but Korin had said things got interesting.

Three months later Shiro had asked their grandfather if he could take Korin as a bride and sent a letter to Hisacho with the same request. Hiraru's grandfather had quickly agreed to this, with the requirement that Korin remain faithful. Hisacho was more difficult, she had made the requirement that Korin finish paying off her debts, and then she could do as she pleased. Within that month, Shiro had given Korin an engagement present and Korin had accepted, but a week later she was called back to Hisacho. The two had not seen each other for five years, nor had they been able to send letters.

"Hiraru?" Korin touched Hiraru's arm and before Hiraru realized it, she'd put the other woman into a arm lock.

"HIRARU!!" Fumi screamed.

Hiraru blinked at the bright colored kimono, the mass of black hair that had come lose, and the pale scared face of Korin. Hiraru released her, and stepped back several feet. Korin righted herself and watched Hiraru, shocked. Hiraru bowed deeply, "Forgive me Korin-san. You… surprised me."

Fumi put her hands on her hips, "That's some kind of surprise! You nearly ripped her hand off!"

"I can only apologize, Fumi-chan," Hiraru bowed to her as well. "There's nothing else that would be appropriate for me to do but apologize."

Korin placed a hand on Hiraru's shoulder, and Hiraru looked up at her, "I forgive you, Hiraru-chan. Your grandfather did that quiet a few times when I woke him up from a nap."

Hiraru stood straight again and looked down on her. Wait, looked down on her? Hiraru blinked in surprise, when had she gotten taller than Korin? Granted every time they'd been together one or the other had been sitting, but Hiraru could have sworn Korin had been taller than her. "Time passes oddly to those who do not change, and even stranger still is how it passes for those who do change…" She said to no one particular.

Fumi and Korin led the way back to the tea house, Hiraru behind them, thinking deeply. Remembering, this time an older memory, one that had happened ten years ago. When she'd first met Sanosuke, he probably didn't remember it.

So Hiraru and Sano where thinking about the same thin at the same time. Dun, Dun, dun.

Over dramatic, Ruroni-chan. Bite me, Twilight-kun. I'd rather not.

You two are both children.

Yes, Gerry…

You're not my parent, OLD MAN!!

(eyebrow Twitch) WHAT DID YOU CALL ME, YOU LITTLE F-BLEEP-!!

Oh, dear… (turns away)

(Loud noises follow)

(Twilight-kun is now tied up, gagged, and beaten senseless) Okay, getting away from the dangerous subject of Gerry's age… I hope you all liked it. Remember, YOU MUST REVIEW ME FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER, unless you want to wait a month…

REVIEW!!