Readers: It wasn't my intent to give the impression that Megumi had recovered. Hopefully this next section clarifies that.

Megumi's symptoms are similar to those who suffer from some kind of encephalitis - typically a more severe symptom or complication of infection. Confusion, nausea, vomiting, seizures, etc. are all possible symptoms. Depending on what the actual cause is, these symptoms can resolve after a while with complete recovery taking place in a few weeks. In worse cases, though, these can persist for months to years and there may be permanent effects.

General note - You know, I was looking at the actual distances of these cities and I'm very confused about what must be a strange wormhole operating in the RK universe. The distances between Kyoto/Tokyo/Aizu are rather large. Hmm.

 
She looked quietly out of the window of the carriage, and remembered the last time she had passed this way. She had ridden that last leg to Kyoto with a fading Aoshi Shinomori seated at her back.

It had only been a few weeks ago, hadn't it? And how the tables had turned.

Their departure this morning almost hadn't happened. If Aoshi had not insisted that they leave very early, she would have had to face every single person's scrutiny. Even so, Mrs. Takehima had looked her over carefully (as one could that early in the morning), and had been convinced by Megumi's cheerful smile that she was in fact okay.

Obaasan wasn't so easily fooled. Until this point, she had not been completely pleased with Aoshi's interference on her behalf and their plan to leave. She continued to say so until this morning, but she checked Megumi and said nothing. She simply shook her head and waved her off.

Obaasan had, despite her earlier threats not to, stepped into the carriage and was now sitting next to her snoring softly. Megumi covered a smile with her hand; Obaasan had stayed up late chatting with the Takehimas. What those three found to discuss until the wee hours of the morning she had no idea.

Aoshi sat across from her, his eyes closed. If he were any other man, she would have been tempted to test whether or not he really was sleeping. But knowing him, he was closing his eyes to either avoid conversation or to meditate.

She turned her attention to the bouquet of flowers in her hand and brought it to her face to inhale the fragrance. Aoshi had placed it in her hands after they had gotten into the carriage. "From Kyu," was all he had said.

She kept her eyes closed as she thought of the little boy who had cried last night when she told him she was leaving. She had to console with a promise to see him again soon.

When she looked up from her flowers, Aoshi was watching her.

For some reason, she felt as if she had been caught doing something that she wasn't supposed to be doing. Aware of the awkward silence, she spoke the first thing that she thought of.

"When did Kyu find time to gather these?" She smiled blankly, "He was barely up this morning."

"Last night," Aoshi answered in his usual short way.

"Last night?" Megumi puzzled. "He's not allowed to go out at night alone."

"We went after you had gone to sleep. Kyu insisted."

She smiled at that. "I'm surprised that he would ask you."

The corner of Aoshi's mouth moved slightly. "I was the only one who would go. Everyone else absolutely refused."

"Kyu's father isn't one for such gestures." Megumi laughed softly. "Mrs. Takehima complains a lot about that."

"Men do not usually express themselves that way." Aoshi responded.

"No, I suppose not," Megumi answered, "I suppose that's a Western thing isn't it?" She continued on breezily, "Instead Japanese men write some obscure verse or haiku in complete secrecy to their beloved and admire them from afar."

He shrugged.

Megumi realized that her sarcasm and feminine wit was lost on the man. Again, she changed the subject. "Do you think there are wolves out there? Like the ones we met a few weeks ago?"

He looked out the window. "They have been seen from time to time, but traveling alone."

"I would like to see one again," she paused. "Not a pack, but just one. I would like to understand what it is you understood about them, Aoshi-san."

When their eyes met, she could tell that her answer had somehow impressed him. "The fact that you do not fear them shows that you understand them already."

His smug answer irritated her. Again, she shifted the topic. "Does Morimoto-san expect us?"

"I sent a letter a few days ago."

"I hope Aizu has not been plagued by as many cases of sickness as Kyoto." She realized immediately her error in bringing up Kyoto. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to bring up -- I mean . . . "

"It is not something you should apologize for. You did not bring that sickness to Kyoto."

"But I did not try hard enough," she looked down, thinking again of those who had died shortly after she had arrived.

"The families of those who did recover do not think so. Obaasan and Okina do not think so."

There was a pause. "What I said to you that day you left was wrong."

Megumi looked up, surprised. Had Aoshi Shinomori actually just apologized to her? She felt the relief well up inside her. Too embarrassed to let him see her feelings, she buried her face in the flowers and composed herself. When she looked up at him, her face was smiling. "Thank you."

That smile was the first genuine smile Megumi had given Aoshi in a long time. He nodded and quickly looked away. "You should rest, Megumi-san. Your face is flushed with fever."

She brought her hand to her face and dropped her eyes. "Yes, you're right." She held out the bouquet, "Would you watch this for me?"

He took it and nodded. Megumi closed her eyes and lulled by the movement of the carriage, soon fell asleep, her head on Obaasan's shoulder.

And as always, Aoshi sat and watched them both.

        ~

It would take several days to get up to Aizu, using a combination of trains, horses, carriages and whatever other means were necessary. It was not the most direct of routes - but it was necessary in order to spare Megumi and Obasaan too much fatigue.

Normally, this type of roundabout way of traveling would have taxed even Aoshi's patience. His preference was to be direct when possible. However, with two mostly cheerful women, it would seem to the impartial observer that the man actually found the situation tolerable.

Obaasan particularly enjoyed their stops at some of the larger towns along the way. Not having been much out of Kyoto and the south, she was enjoying the scenery considerably. She would walk around slowly, looking at the buildings and shops, hanging back as Aoshi and Megumi walked slowly ahead.

They made a handsome pair, Obaasan noted. It had not even occurred to her as such until Mrs. Takehama had taken her aside one time and asked her about 'Shinomori-san.' "The old women still think he's cold, Obaasan," she had wagged her finger, "But Kyu seems to think of Shinomori-san as a potential rival, even though Megumi-san insists that she is waiting for some baka wanderer."

Soon after that Obaasan had decided that Megumi needed to get out more. Not only because Megumi was chafing at her confinement to the house, but also because she wanted to see if giving Aoshi the task of caring for her could repair the rift between them. It seemed to have worked, but beyond that, there were no promises. Still, at least she could enjoy the pretty picture the two of them strolling arm in arm down the street created.

Before they retired for the evening, it had become a habit to take tea together. This particular evening Obaasan had wanted to wander over to a tea garden. "For business research," she had stated, with a twinkle in her eye. "Okina will want something out of all this journeying, won't he?"

They sat companionably, the three of them. Megumi and Obaasan did most of the talking - mostly about the town and the things that they thought interesting.

"We should be in Aizu tomorrow afternoon," Aoshi suddenly spoke up from his tea.

"Yes?" Megumi had been watching a child across the room stuff his own face with various pastries for the last few minutes. She looked back at her companions and smiled. "It will be very nice to not have to sit in another train car or carriage or boat or whatever other form of transportation exists in Japan."

Obaasan laughed. "Ah, my backside can not possibly stand any more sitting, Megumi-san or any more tea houses or tea gardens. There is only so much bean cake I can eat before I become one."

You won't be the only one becoming one," Megumi laughed as she carefully pointed out the little boy still eating his pastries while his mother was chatting away with her other companions. "His mother has no idea that her little angel is such a bean-pastry monster."

The little monster toddled over then to Megumi and gave her a curious stare. With something of an impish look, Megumi slyly handed the child another bean cake.

"Megumi-san!" Obaasan gave her a stern look.

"One more won't hurt him," Megumi sniffed, "I'm a doctor, I should know. Besides - it's good for his digestion."

"Spoiling a child is not good medicine." Aoshi spoke up as he reached over and coaxed the cake away from the child.

As the child's eyes threatened to tear up, Megumi quickly placed another cake into his hands and shooed the happy child away. "Aoshi-san, sometimes you are too sensible."

"A sensible man lives longer than the fool." He replied calmly.

"A man who lives according to what's most safe does not live at all," she retorted.

"Indulge now, pay later," he answered automatically.

"Better happy today, sad tomorrow," she leveled back.

"Only fools fight a battle they can't win." Obaasan placed her tea cup firmly on the table to quiet this strange battle of wills. "I admire your display of proverbs but I'm too old for these games." She bowed, "Good night."

They sat quietly for the next minute before Megumi spoke up. "I think that's the first time I've made Obaasan upset."

"She dislikes fighting." He tapped his fingers on the table. "That and she hates proverbs."

Megumi smiled mischievously. "Oh does she now?" Her eyes took on a faraway look then, "Perhaps when I return to Aizu I will ask Morimoto-san to lend me some of his philosophical books. I must learn a few more to share with Obaasan."

"You're incorrigible." Aoshi sighed. "And disrespectful."

"I was trying to just be clever."

"You are not making sense, Doctor," he gave her a faint smile, "I think that it is time for you to follow Obaasan." He picked up the last tea cake in one hand, then stood offering his other arm for support.

She took it gladly, for by day's end she was very tired. As they passed the table of the now sulking little boy, the boy was startled when a little cake found its way on to his plate. Before his mother could stop him, he greedily shoved it into his mouth.

Aoshi's hand, now free, opened the gate outside for Megumi and they walked back to their quarters.