A/N Hello Dear readers! I'm back! So sorry for the long break. But I should be back on track now. How is everyone? I'm well. It's finally starting to feel like Winter here in my neck of the woods.
I won't bore you with anymore talk. On to the story!

Chapter 10

Misao didn't much like eating in the great hall now that it was overrun with Fire's, but she was glad to share a meal with Kaoru again after having missed doing so the day before. But to be truthful, the girl felt far too nervous to actually do more than push her food around her plate. She only placed anything in her mouth when Kaoru turned to her. Misao hoped that she didn't sound too desperate when she agreed to become a spy for Kenshin. If the Red-head thought anything strange, he kept it to himself. Thankfully the Red-headed Lord was missing from the table. Kaoru and Misao took dinner a bit early, but even so, Kenshin should have been there by now.

"Where's that wandering Rurouni?" Misao asked casually as she sipped from a small glass of red wine.

Kaoru sat silently looking down at her plate of battered and fried vegetables Beside her Sano sat eating as though it had been days from the last time he tasted food. They had been introduced hours before and Misao didn't know why...but she liked this man. He was young, like themselves, funny and yet already, Misao could see how loyal he was to her cousin.

"He took his meal in the study. Apparently, he found some things that need attention right away."

Misao chewed and swallowed whatever it was she stuck in her mouth. "Odd, you're normally on top of things around the Keep. Did he say what it was?"

Kaoru shook her head, looking away from her plate and giving her cousin a reassuring smile. "He said it was something that was only important to him and that I shouldn't worry about it."

Misao felt that the man shouldn't keep things from Kaoru, but then again, she was planing on being a spy. Kenshin had told her not to breathe a word of it to Kaoru unless it was extremely important. Misao didn't like keeping things from Kaoru, but it was for her own safety. Kaoru had been like a sister to her, and though they had grown apart slightly as they got older, the love for each other was still there.

What made her even more nervous though was the idea that she would be working with that God of metal work, Aoshi.

"Are you alright Misao? You've hardly eaten anything. That's not like you." Kaoru reached over and set a soft hand on her arm.

Misao gave her the best smile she could muster up. "I'm fine, silly. I just have a lot on my mind right now."

Kaoru tipped her head slightly. "Is it about Kenshin?"

Misao bobbed her head slightly from side to side. "Kinda, but not really. It's my own issues Kaoru, please don't worry about me. You know once I get hungry I'm going to scarf down all the food in my reach."

Kaoru sighed, obviously wanting more of an explanation but she nodded and gave her arm a pat. "I don't mean to mother you."

"Naw you know I don't mind." Misao set her hand over Kaoru's on her arm and gave her hand a squeeze before letting her go.

"I'm going to church." Kaoru announced, dabbing her mouth with her cloth napkin. "You want to come?"

Misao shook her head. "I'm going to read a bit and get to bed early today, I'm a bit tired from the party last night." She lied...she never lied to Kaoru. Even though it was just a white lie, the weight of it was a surprise to Misao.

But Kaoru only smiled and nodded before turning to Sano to state her plans. The man drained his ale and jumped up to escort her out. Misao was glad that Kaoru had someone with her always now. Even though he was a bit of a stranger, it was hard for Earth fae to hide feelings, like Fires. Air and Water fae were much more shielded and mysterious. Once Kaoru was out of the Hall Misao shoved her plate away and downed the rest of the wine in her glass.

Instantly a maid was there to take her plate away. But as she gathered everything, the girl leaned in to whisper.

"Lord Himura said he would like to see you once you are finished with your meal, My Lady."

Here it was. She nodded to the servant girl and got up from the table and made her way as fast as she could through the halls and up stairs without actually running. She had tried hard not to think about this appointment all day. She never thought she would actually ever have the opportunity of talking to Aoshi. What kind of spying would she do? Would she have to report back to him often? Misao paused in midstep and gave her head a slight shake before continuing down the hall. She needed to stop thinking about it or she was going to freak out. That was the last thing she wanted to do in front of these men.

All too soon she found herself in front of the study door and watched as her hand reached up to knock.

"Come in.:" Kenshin said from inside.

For half a moment Misao found it amusing that she was again trying to calm herself before meeting the red-head. Like before she took a breath and entered the room. The sun was setting and the room was darker than it had been that afternoon, Oil lamps gave it a warm feel but cast dancing shadows in the corners that didn't help Misao feel at ease. But the girl hardly noticed any of this because standing at the head of the war table, right in front of the desk was the large, looming form of the Metal Fae.

Misao felt herself stop breathing at the sight of him.

He was far more massive than she had recalled. Quickly she stepped into the room and shut the door behind her. She made her way to the desk and stopped a few feet from the towering man. She had never seen Aoshi this close before. He was wearing clean clothes for once, not one's covered in soot. He wore a tunic but Misao remembered the thick corded muscles that stretched across his chest and back. His jet black hair was pulled back and what length of it he had was tied at the nape of his neck. With such a dark, earthy look his ice-blue eyes were startling in contrast. Misao wanted to gaze into those eyes forever, and yet it was almost too unnerving to look at him. Did he have to look at her so? But she forced herself to bow at the Lord, who had stood from his desk as she neared, and then she turn and bow to the Metal fae.

"Aoshi Shinomori, this is Lady Misao Makimachi." Kenshin introduced them. "Although it seems she already knows of you."

Misao winced, embarrassed.

Unused to bowing, the giant Metal fae stuck out his hand. Misao hardly paused as she took his hand, It wasn't so much a shake as it was a slight squeeze. Her smaller hand all but vanished within his rough, work- callused one. She was shocked at the heat and hardness of his flesh, but instantly it was gone as he released her. Misao took a moment to make sure her mouth wasn't hanging open, then also made sure she was staring right back at those shocking eyes. But, no, wait, was she staring too long? But he was watching her too. She wanted to prove she wasn't afraid of him, but she didn't want to be weird about it.

Kenshin cleared his throat and Misao whirled around to face him. Damn this man….Damn both these men.

"So, Lady Makimachi...do you have any suspicions on who may cause trouble?" Aoshi asked. His voice was deep and smooth and it flowed around Misao like the most life-giving water.

Misao dared to glance up at the Metal fae and then turned back to Kenshin. "Chou, Shishio, and Nori." Misao rattled off.

Kenshin blinked. "You have a list? You didn't say this before."

"I thought it would be best if we were all here." She stated. "I've been watching them for a while now. We grew up with Chou, and he's always trying to cause Kaoru problems. He never accepted the transfer of power and even fought Kaoru on her wedding day." Misao felt herself relaxing. "You might remember that."

Kenshin smirked. "Yes, I recall my wife being covered in mud."

"That story is true?" Aoshi asked. He turned and stepped beside Misao and pulled one of the chairs forward for her to sit.

Misao grinned as she turned back to Aoshi. Oh yes, one little toe in the water, now time to jump into the pond. "You heard about it?" She sat and watched as he took his chair beside her.

"Everyone has. It's pretty much the first story every Fire is told when they come here."

"Great." Kenshin muttered.

"So about that list." Aoshi leaned forward and folded his hands together on the desk. "I've my eye on Shishio as well, please tell us more, My Lady."

Misao continued on for a few minutes. She felt a little thrill each time Aoshi nodded in agreement with her words.

"Very good Misao." Kenshin said after she had given them all she knew. "Aoshi here recommended I ask you, seems you are good at poking around."

Misao froze. Gods….did that mean Aoshi noticed her spying on him in the foundries? She wanted to look over at him but couldn't bring herself to do so.

A knock at the door almost made her weep in thanks to the merciful Gods as Aoshi rose to answer it. No one was to know Misao was here.

Aoshi cracked the door and blocked it with his large form. But then he stepped back and allowed Sanosuke inside.

"Sano?" Misao looked puzzled, a glance across the desk showed that Kenshin too seemed confused.

"Where is Kaoru?" Kenshin stood from the desk.

Misao felt the tension rise instantly. Both Kenshin and Aoshi's Ki flared up. The power of it heated the room and sent the little Water fae's heart racing.

Sano held his hands out as Aoshi shut the door behind him. "S'alright man, she's in church prayin', she has a guard with her. I haveta tell you somethin'."

"Well spit it out! Jezz!" Misao jumped from her chair, unable to sit still any longer. She stepped from one foot to the other as Sano explained how Shishio had accosted Kaoru on the steps of the halls.

"I didn't hear everythin' the man said, but from what I did hear he's tryin' to plant doubt in her mind about you." Sano ended, punching his hand with his fist, wishing it was Shishio's face.

"That's nothing that Kaoru hasn't heard before." Misao stated. She glanced at Aoshi who looked deep in thought and then turned to her Lord who's purple eyes swirled with yellow. That was weird but perhaps normal for Fires. "It's pretty much what many people said when Kaoru was married to you. That once you become Lord there isn't anything really keeping you from turning this place into a weapons factory."

"First and foremost this is a place of healing." Aoshi said slowly, all three pairs of eyes swung around to him. "It is the purity of this Keep that we are able to craft superior weapons. We do ourselves no favors if we lose this purity."

"It must always stay a place of healing." Kenshin said firmly. "That man's name has come up one too many times for me to be comfortable keeping him here."

"He's a fine worker, his swords are works of art and are deadly." Aoshi informed. "However, we just filled a large order for the Fire Army. It won't be suspicious if we send him with the order to assure it's safe recovery. Once there, we'll just fill in his place and have him stay in his homelands."

Kenshin didn't look convinced. "Do you think he would agree to that?"

"It doesn't matter, it's your order." Aoshi said with a shrug.

Kenshin huffed. "I should have thought of that before. I'm not used to giving orders off the battle field."

"Well get used to it, Hot-head." Misao said, her arms folding across her chest.

… . . …

"Agrimony ….it will save lives."

Megumi looked upon the group of young students kneeling in the dirt. Each hung on her every word while at the same time worked furiously in the dark earth. The Medicinal gardens were being planted now that spring was upon them. In much of the Fire lands the heat was already growing, but up North...warm temperatures only recently settled. Normally she was the one in grubby garden robes with her hands in the dirt, but this year taking on a class was one of her responsibilities as Master Apprentice.

Ebony black hair hung thick and straight down her back. Her white apprentice robes were immaculate and glowed ethereally in the sunlight. Despite her time in the gardens, her skin was pale, although dusted with faded freckles to show her childhood had been spent getting dark under the sun.

"Can anyone tell me why?" Megumi continued as she slowly walked around the gardens.

A young woman with caramel skin straightened up and raised her hand. "Because it can stop diarrhea."

"Yes, that is important, especially in children where dehydration is a real danger. However, there is a more important task this plant can do." Red-brown eyes roamed her class. Many of the students where only a year or two younger than her, it felt odd teaching them. She was working to be a healer, not a teacher.

A young man popped his head from behind the nettle bushes. "It can stop bleeding!" He called over.

"Yes, very good. Agrimony is wonderful at slowing blood flow. You can place it directly on the wound for immediate effect. A good army always has a supply of these in the battlefield."

The lecture on this plant continued as the students finished their task. There were many questions and pausing in digging to take a note. Megumi felt accomplished when the whole garden was finished and the students knew everything about this precious herb.

"Tomorrow we're working on the South Gardens." She called as the students stood and removed their gardening robes. One by one they tossed their robes in a laundry net that hung by the side door entrance to the University.

"Riveting." said a voice.

Megumi turned to find her friend, Sparc. Being the first Water fae in the University did little to help Megumi find friends. Mostly she found cold indifference and a few enemies. Sparc had been the first to treat her with any sort of kindness. The young man was the same age as her, with short messy hair the color of desert sand. His skin was dark, but not from spending any sort of time in the sun. Sparc spent all of his time in the library, as he was a scholar. He didn't take well to the sight of blood but still wanted to help out the sick and wounded. Megumi took to the library often to absorb as much information as possible. The two became good friends simply because they were always around each other. Sparc treated her well and Megumi didn't tease him for wearing spectacles.

Megumi raised one delicate eyebrow at her friend. "It's basic knowledge to you, don't tease."

Sparc's warm golden eyes widened. "I'm not teasing you." The lanky man looked like he was flailing in his oversized robes. "I never studied herbs as much as one of your students. I hardly know any of this." He swept one arm to indicate the massive gardens. "It really was riveting to me."

"You still know more than I do." Megumi returned as the pair of them followed the last student inside. The large hallways branched out into various different areas. But the pair took the path to the far right, toward the dormitories.

"Useless history and dead languages." Sparc countered. "Nothing that could actually save a life."

Megumi flashed her white teeth. "Unless the information in those dead language will help us save a life. Your graduating report was on some obscure little book no one else could really read that explained tracheal intubation. Do you know how many people have been saved by the information on your paper?" Megumi turned to look at her friend. "Who would have known some ancient healers had this knowledge. How did we ever forget?"

"Wars." Sparc informed. "Wars with each other pushed medical advancement to the wayside."

"What a waste." Megumi muttered as they turned a corner. The woman froze, causing Sparc to nearly trip over himself.

Confused, the man looked up to see a simple wooden crate sitting at Megumi's door. "Oh. You got a delivery."

Megumi rushed forward and crouched to inspect the box. She had to be careful. Once she was announced as Master Apprentice, she had made many enemies from her peers. Only one apprentice could become Master every year. A Master Apprentice were the only one's allowed to study to become Master Healers. And Masters could practice where ever they wanted. Most had the goal of being Healer to a King or some high Lord. But Megumi didn't have that in mind. She didn't want the title, but none of her teachers would budge. She was the best of the best and deserved the name Master Apprentice. She had made many enemies from her peers. But the crate seemed safe. She found a leather pouch and opened it. There was a letter, she turned it over and caught sight of the blue wax and smiled brightly. "Sparc, help me with this?"

The young man hurried forward as Megumi unlocked her dorm room door. She pushed it wide open and stepped inside. Sparc picked up the crate and nearly staggered under it's weight. His jarring steps rattled the contents and he could hear glass clinking inside.

"Oh, careful!" Megumi hissed as she shut the door firmly.

Sparc had never really been inside Megumi's room before. He took the opportunity to look around. Small bed and wardrobe were shoved against the far wall. The one and only window sat over the bed, at the moment it was partially bathing the bed in warm light. Most of the room was taken up by two long tables, one held pots of plants, and cases full of glass bottles filled with powders, resins, and dried leaves. The other table was covered in neatly stacked books and parchment. A thin leather bound booklet sat in the center of the table. Sparc couldn't help himself. He set the crate on the floor.

"Is that the paper for your Mastership?" He asked, nearly in awe. People worked for years on their papers. He had known Megumi had started hers but was uncertain how much she had written.

Megumi glanced down at the booklet. "Yes." She said. She broke the wax seal and opened the letter. She pulled the chair out from under the table and sat in it.

Sparc watched emotions play across her face, from shock to happiness. He looked down at the crate. "Would you like for me to open it?" He asked, wanting to feel useful.

"Yes please." Megumi said over the letter. By the time he had the lid removed, Megumi was finished with the letter and set it carefully aside. Inside the crate was a dozen bottle of water.

"More?" Sparc looked up at his friend. "Don't you have enough?" He asked, indicating to the pile of crates in the other corner."

"This water is extremely special." Megumi said softly as she carefully pulled one out of the crate. They had been packed well, as always, not a single one broke. "Most of those over there are empty anyways. I was getting ready to send the empty bottles back." She stood up and held the bottle up to the sunlight streaming in. "My paper is about the Healing Waters."

"Hmm." Sparc thought a moment. "Not many studies of that nature. Not around here at least."

"I know. Being the first Water fae in this university….trust me, I am told every day." Most of the time in a not so very nice, but not so very mean as to get kicked out anyway. "It's something different, not often seen. I'm hoping it will give me a leg up and better my chances of healing the sick and deathly ill. Many of my teachers are excited, believing this alone will earn me the Master."

"You don't think you can earn It from skill alone?" Sparc wondered out loud.

Megumi waved a delicate hand dismissively, "I got Master Apprentice on skill alone. Now I have to show them something else if I want to be a Master." She set the bottle down on the desk and sat back in the chair. "Truthfully though, this water is wondrous. Heals wounds, pulls out poisons and infections, calms fevers and eases pain. Along with many many other things I'm still discovering." Bright eyes turned to the man. "I've been watering these plants with this." She indicated the rows of potted herbs. "They grow remarkably fast and lush and I've proven that their healing strength is double that of herbs grown in the garden." She tapped on the booklet where all the information was stored. "Although I am unsure is it is worth using the water for plants rather than on the person."

It all seemed amazing to Sparc, he couldn't wait to read it when it was archived in the library. "You're so clever, Megumi. I've no doubt that you'll blow those old men away with your research. You'll do great things." He smiled at her.

Megumi's face flushed the color of a ripe peach. "Thank you, Sparc." She reached out and squeezed his hand. "I think you're only the third person who ever had good things to say about my work."

"I don't believe that" Sparc countered gently. Even though he wouldn't be surprised if it was true.

"Only my mother and Grand Master Orin have been positive about my research. You three are the only ones who believe in me and push me to go as far as I can. Teachers don't count, it's their job to push me and be positive."

Sparc didn't know what to say, so he only nodded as she spoke. The younger students adored her. Those born without the prejudice against Water folk. But her peers, and anyone older only saw an intruder. "I know it's been hard." He said, struggling to find words. "I was there with you, when I was helping you in the library." They were painful memories. While their peers found bulling to be their choice, the older members used straight intimidation and thinly veiled threats. But in time most of those people dropped out or moved on, Megumi stayed strong and true to her craft and look at her now.

The emotion that flowed across her face proved they were painful memories for her as well. "I'll never forget my first year here. I was the only Water with a bunch of Fires, not even an Earth fae enrolled that year."

Sparc sniffed, wanting to end the subject, he knew it was hard for her. "Yeah but you showed all of them. Look who's near the top now."

Megumi nodded and looked down at her perfectly manicured nails. "I swore to myself that I would show the Fire's that I was just as strong and as passionate as any of them. That I would beat them all." She added softly. She winced. "I never told anyone those thoughts."

"Hey, I'm not offended." The man shrugged.

Megumi raised one delicate bow. "Are you sure you don't have Earth in you? I don't see any of the pigheadedness and general makings of an Ass as I do in most Fires."

… . . …

Kenshin glanced around. It was early in the morning, he had left his Lady Wife still asleep in their bed be he dressed and left. Although it was still early, the Keep was alive with activity. Maids and servants scurried about here and there. Early workers in the Main Hall were being fed and deliveries were loaded and unloaded. Kenshin wandered from the Main Hall to the great front Entrance. From here he stopped a maid dressed in stark white.

"Is it too early for this side of the Keep to accept visitors?" He asked. The question surprised the middle-aged woman.

"You are Lord, you can go anywhere in this Keep at any time, M'lord." She bobbed a curtsy and continued on her way.

Right, he could go anywhere. He still felt like a stranger. He had only caught a small glimpse of the healing side of the Keep when they rushed Kaoru to the Healing waters. He was more than a little curious about this more secluded place. The floors were white washed and pristine, Kenshin feared he would leave soot covered footprints in his wake.

The Main Hall on this side of the Keep was not as large as theirs but it had the largest windows Kenshin had ever seen. Glass stretched across the whole of the room. Already there were people there eating and some just sat, watching the wildlife through the windows. A small pond was set up right in the center so that birds, and all kinds of forest creatures would visit. The lush vegetation provided shade and homes for the creatures. In the corner, he saw a woman with a young child. The child was covered in bandages but even so, laughed in delight at the sight of a frog hopping across the ground. The child placed its hands on the glass and pressed in for a closer look.

Kenshin smiled softly and wandered over. The mother, a classic looking Water Fae with blue-black hair and powder blue eyes stood as he approached.

"My Lord." She bowed low. Her simple blue Kimono seemed a bit large on her slightly frame, and she clutched at its front as she moved.

Kenshin nodded at her. "Morning. I'm just exploring this side of Keep. It's my first time getting a good look at it, that it is."

The woman looked almost stricken. "We're very grateful for the Keep. M'lord. Please don't remove it."

Kenshin blinked. "There are no plans to ever remove the Healing waters from this Keep. I assure you." He glanced over at the child who was still watching the frog.

"This is my daughter." The mother indicated. "She fell into the fire when she was traveling with her father and older brother. They took their eyes off her for a moment and she tripped and fell."

Kenshin winced. As a Fire, burns were rare, but he understood that a to a Water fae, damage from a burn could be extensive. The child was so very young. Perhaps only three summers. "Will she scar?" he asked gently.

The mother looked unsure. "Perhaps." She said softly. "She is young and the Healers say that she is strong and that any scars should fade by adult hood. The water is helping her skin return quickly. The healers feared she would die of infection before the week was out. But it's been a month now and she is no longer in pain, even though she must stay bandaged."

Kenshin nodded and thanked the woman for speaking with him. He gave the child one last long look before turning away. His feet carried him up many steps. There were many, many more rooms on this side of the Keep. Kenshin understood that they were all private rooms for people to stay while they got better. They didn't charge much, if anything for the people to stay. But as Kenshin understood it, they paid in various other ways. Kaoru explained that many of them were farmers, they paid in goods. Milk, meat, eggs, wheat, fruit, wool. Others were in the trades and carved amazing furniture, glass work, candles, clothing. Some repaid them by coming to serve and volunteer. Only the extremely rich seemed to pay in actual coin.

Soon he found another large open room where assistant healers in their white robes helped various people. He saw one reading to an old man, and another helping a young man keep his balance as he walked on a splinted leg. In a chair looking out the window, he saw a lonely looking woman who seemed very pregnant gaze out the window. He wondered if she was ill, or had a bad fall, or if perhaps the baby was at risk. So many possibilities with everyone here, but here they were safe and cared for. Here they had the best hands healing them, and the best water to help with nearly everything. Having seen enough for now, Kenshin turned and headed back to his side of the Keep.

For the first time he understood, he really understood why the Water's seemed obsessed with keeping the healing waters intact and unpolluted. And in turn, understood Kaoru a little bit more.

A/n Well good for Kenshin. Seeing how much good that comes out of the Keep proves that Kaoru's fears are founded. She loves her people and loves helping people and the healing water helps so many very sick and hurt people. It's in her nature to help.
Misao already seems well suited for the spy life.

We also got a taste from Megumi again. I hope no one mines the jumping around from one character to another. Sometimes characters are in a completely different part of the world.

My question for today is...Do you think Shishio will take the news of his new assignment well?

Thank you for reading! Reviews are much loved.