A/N: Gosh. I had written up a nice set of responses to reviews a few days ago and lost it. If there is a question I haven't answered yet, please ask again. Working on this fic has me very majorly sleep deprived. Fanfic writing can be bad for your health.

  Carriages were still somewhat a novelty in Aizu. So as the dark Western- style carriage pulled up in front of the Takani clinic, many of the passersby took notice.

Mrs. Morimoto however, did not particularly care as she stood at the gate and waved excitedly. Her eyes widened slightly, though, when instead of the doctor a tall, regal gentleman stepped out of the carriage. She dropped her hand, and after taking one look at his unexpressive face recognized "Shinomori-san" and immediately bowed.

She had a more warm greeting for the elderly woman who emerged next, marveling on the lovely trees in front of the clinic.

However Mrs. Morimoto immediately forgot the two strangers when Doctor Takani poked her head out the door. "Megumi-san!" she exclaimed as she clasped her hands together in delight.

"Hello, Sakiko-san," Megumi smiled in return and started to step down from the carriage. As she took her second step, she faltered slightly and leaned forward. Before anyone knew what was happening, "Shinomori-san" had caught her and gently guided her off the carriage.

Mrs. Morimoto and Obaasan hustled over, with a worried expression on their faces. "Megumi-san, are you alright?" they both asked.

She nodded shakily, tucking her hair behind her shoulder. "My legs are a bit weak after the long ride." She smiled brightly at the two women, "But fortunately Aoshi-san has good reflexes. I'd have a nice sprained ankle or wrist to add to my problems if it weren't for him."

She looked up at his face to thank him, but those words died on her lips as soon as she saw his eyes. They glinted, as if he were . . . angry.

"Megumi-san, you were to wait until I could help you out."

"I know." She tensed up. "I forgot as soon as I saw Mrs. Morimoto."

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw that Mrs. Morimoto was frowning. She looked down and realized his hand had remained at her waist. "Please, let go."

He answered in a manner that told her that she should not argue, "You're still too weak to move around on your own."

Obaasan nodded her agreement, "I think it's best if you let him carry you inside."

Megumi opened her mouth to argue. She wanted to enter the clinic on her own strength, for many reasons, including for the sake of propriety. However, before she could utter a word of protest, Aoshi lifted her up and passed through the gate towards the clinic, leaving behind an amused Obaasan and a horrified Sakiko. "Aoshi-san . . . "

When he set her on a clinic bed in front of a surprised Mr. Morimoto, he looked at her, waiting for her to finish her thought. Instead of telling him off as she had wanted to, she ended up meekly thanking him. Aoshi then excused himself, presumably to go back outside.

Her mind went blank as she dutifully answered Morimoto-san's series of questions about the course of her illness and her progress to date. They paused only when Mrs. Morimoto came in to inform them that their Kyoto visitors had headed into town.

Mr. Morimoto sighed as he shut his notebook and turned back to her. "You know you're not recovered Megumi. Shinomori-san did not tell us how weak you were when he last wrote."

She made the effort to sit up on the clinic bed. "He was only following my request. I didn't want to continue on there at the Takehimas. I felt I was strong enough to make the trip back."

"You're a bit reckless, Megumi-san," he shook his head. "The trip could have set you back further in your recovery."

She smiled, "But it did not. I was well taken care of."

Mrs. Morimoto narrowed her eyes. "By that man?"

Megumi sighed. "'That man' and Obaasan have been watching over my recovery and have not allowed me to overtax my strength, Sakiko-san."

She shook her head, "Megumi I worry about you. You seem to fall into trouble without even trying, and that man seems to only bring it-"

"That is enough, Sakiko." Mr. Morimoto silenced his wife. "I do not want to hear anymore discussion on this. Shinomori-san did the appropriate thing in escorting Megumi here. He lent his own time and strength to such an effort."

Sakiko bit her lip and then dutifully apologized to the both of them. "I'm sorry. I do not wish to add to your worries. My apologies for my outburst. You should be resting now."

"It is alright, as I said before, I do not think there is anything to worry about, Sakiko-san" Megumi smiled graciously. "I'm sorry that I have created so much worry and trouble. "

Mr. Morimoto smiled at her kindly as he helped Megumi lie down. "Just get better and all of us will feel more at ease. So -- we'll leave you to rest until dinner."

Obediently she lay down and closed her eyes as they left, closing the door behind them. As the walls were thin, however, she could not help but overhear as they continued their conversation in the next room.

"Hodori, the neighbors--

"Never mind the neighbors."

"But, Hodori -- the former leader of the Oniwabun is in her house. Even though he does not quite have the same look about him, he will be recognized as such. "

"Former leader," her husband stressed as he interrupted her. "Never mind what he was, Sakiko-san. There were many people who have left behind a past and are trying to live a decent, honest life. He is now a businessman in Kyoto and a fair one at that. Megumi-san no longer appears to be afraid of him. With Obaasan here, what possibly could worry you or our neighbors?"

"Hodori," she continued on as they moved towards the kitchen, "it's not what he will do but . . . "

Megumi wrinkled her brow as their conversation faded. She wondered. What exactly did Sakiko Morimoto fear?

        ~

Obaasan came to wake her a little later. "Megumi-chan," she gave her cheek an affectionate squeeze. "You should not sleep so much now. You will not be able to sleep later."

"I'm sorry," Megumi tried to sit up, but as soon as she did, she felt her head spin.

"No, no," Obaasan wagged her finger at her. "You must go slowly. Morimoto-san said you pushed yourself too much the last few days."

She smiled at Obaasan, "What would I do without you Obaasan?"

"Probably face Morimoto-san's wrath," Obaasan laughed. "Morimoto-san was pretty upset about how you supposedly were walking around a lot the last few days. He was determined to force you to stay in bed the next few days but Aoshi and I took the blame for it, and apologized to him. And now he's just ordered you confined to the house until he feels you're strong enough."

"He's too cautious, that man." Megumi shook her head. "Even if I'm confined to here, I plan to walk as much as I can now so I can recover quickly."

"That's what he thought you'd say," Obaasan was still smiling, "So he asked Aoshi-san to stay and keep an eye on you when he's away."

"He knows me too well," Megumi gave a disgusted sigh. "So, did Aoshi-san agree?" she frowned.

"We sent a message to Kyoto this afternoon. It was Aoshi-san's intention to stay when he wrote the Morimotos telling them you were coming back. He had said Morimoto-san wasn't strong enough to help you move around, Megumi.
        Morimoto-san was pleased that we were willing to stay for a while. He agreed that Aoshi is better able to manage you."

"Manage me?" Megumi looked indignant.

"Oh yes, he told Aoshi that 'Megumi-san doesn't listen to us as readily as she listens to you.'" Obaasan hid her smile behind her hand.

"The nerve of those men!" Megumi fumed. "Of course I listen to Morimoto- san! And to keep you from going back to Kyoto ."

"Ahhh," Obaasan looked worried for a second. "Megumi, you should not get so worked up. It's not good for you."

Megumi's expression suddenly quieted, but something about the way Megumi's eyes sparked worried Obaasan even more.

"Megumi-san." Aoshi entered the room suddenly. "It is time for dinner."

Obaasan felt something like a chill emanating from the doctor. "Oh dear!" She made her way to the door, "I just remembered that I need to go on ahead and help Mrs. Morimoto with dinner. Aoshi-san, please help Megumi back to the house."

After she had scurried out, Megumi slowly stood. "Obaasan tells me that you're staying longer."

"Yes, until you are stronger. " He paused, noting the odd expression in her eyes and the slight set of her jaw. "You do not agree."

"It's not that!" She exclaimed, but too embarrassed to repeat what Obaasan had said to her earlier, she turned her ahead and looked off to the side. "Never mind. I won't argue with you on that issue. I'm not going to fight you over something that I should have seen coming. I suppose I should have realized that my little request to leave the Takehimas was granted too easily. Anyways," she crossed her arms over her shoulders thinking more calmly. "That little spill today showed me that I wasn't ready yet to take care of myself. If Morimoto-san wants your help and you are willing to give it, I would be a fool to oppose both of you."

"But---" she took a step forward towards him, waving away the hand he automatically held out to support her. "Try to carry me now I'll box your ears. As long as I'm in my clinic, I set the rules."

He withdrew it then, and let her walk slowly down the corridor and to the back, where a fair-sized garden separated her clinic from the house. She sighed appreciatively as she took her first step into the garden. "I've rather missed all these plants."

Aoshi was one step behind her. He looked around and noted that it was a nice plot of land to cultivate the plants and herbs she needed for her work. "It is," he paused, "very useful."

"Useful?" she chuckled. "Yes, that would be something you would say."

"And what would you have said?"

"Perhaps, beautiful," she clucked, "or aromatic, or peaceful, or -"

"-in the way," he frowned. "Your path to the house is blocked by all these plants. You have to walk around them all the time."

"It makes it such a pleasant walk."

"It makes the walk longer."

Megumi sighed. "Ever so practical, aren't you? I suppose you would propose that we dig up a new path that goes straight from the clinic to the house?"

He shook his head. "I may be practical, but that is too much work. It is much easier to carry you."

"Carry me?!!" Megumi suddenly screeched as he lifted her up. "I told you earlier that I was to not be carried!"

"You did say that," his mouth moved ever so slightly into a smile, "but we are no longer in the clinic. You said that as long as we were in your clinic -"

"Aoshi-"

"And this is much easier." He willfully continued down the path towards the house. "If we continue at your pace, your dinner will get cold, Mrs. Morimoto will be upset, and Obaasan won't stay awake long enough to give you her present."

"Aoshi-san," her expression grew dark. "I may be weak, but I'm not an idiot. For heaven's sake put me down and let me walk into my own home instead of being carried like a child."

Something about the sudden fierceness in her face made him take notice. She kept her eyes fixed on him until he had fully lowered her onto the wooden floor outside the house. He slid the door open for her and watched with something akin to admiration as she haughtily turned her back and went through.

        ~

After a satisfying meal, the Morimotos helped set up the rooms for guests, and bid their goodnights. They would return to the clinic in the morning.

Obaasan left Aoshi and Megumi sitting at a table for a moment and disappeared into her room. When she returned, she held out a small wrapped parcel. "When we were out walking earlier, I found this and thought this might be something you would enjoy reading in your free time."

Megumi raised her eyebrow, and then took the parcel and slowly unwrapped it.

She turned the dark green book over in her hand and opened it up. As she scanned its contents, her eyes began to light up in amusement. "Let's see," she said slowly as she flipped through the pages. "Folk tales. Legends. Ballads. Poems." She slowed as she neared the end of the book. "Oh and now what do we have here at the end?"

She held it out to Aoshi and said very sweetly, "Aoshi-san, I think I am having some trouble reading it in this poor lighting. Can you make out this part?"

Ever the gentleman, he ignored her pretentiousness and took the text. His brow wrinkled slightly as he read, "1000 collected quotes from Chinese and Japanese scholars."

Megumi started to laugh then, along with Obaasan. ""I rather like this gift, and intend to study it as much as I can, starting now."

Aoshi did not put the book back in her outstretched hand. "Certainly you should not strain yourself. Perhaps it would be better if you allowed me to read it for you."

She sounded irritated. "As I said earlier, you do not need to do everything for me."

"Ah," Obaasan coughed politely. "Megumi, did it ever occur to you that Aoshi-san may be right in this case? It is late, and you should be resting. Perhaps you mistake kindness for condescension."

Aoshi shrugged, "I am not so easily offended by this woman's comments."

Obaasan smiled at the both of them and stood. "Well that's good to hear Aoshi-san, but I trust Megumi-san to be much nicer to you now. I would like to be able to leave you two here and not worry that I'll find both of you in pieces tomorrow morning. Goodnight."

"Goodnight," they both answered.

"Aoshi-san," Megumi spoke softly. "I would not mind taking you up on your offer, perhaps tomorrow when I'm more congenial you would be kind enough to read from the book."

As he had said to Obaasan, he was not particularly fazed either by her teasing remarks, verbal attacks, as that was to be expected from such a strong character. Her attempt at an apology was uncharacteristically indirect. "Tomorrow then," he responded. "Shall I help you to your room?"

She laughed weakly. "That nap earlier today worked too well. Would you mind staying here for a little while?

He shook his head slightly. He did not mind. "I do not sleep much."

It was quiet for a few moments. Megumi sighed and rested her head on the table. "You don't really like conversations do you? " She thought for a moment, trying to think of something that he could or would answer. "What do you think everyone is doing at the Aoiya right now?"

The Aoiya? An interesting question. "By now," he mused, "they've all eaten dinner and are entertaining themselves. Okina is probably reading the newspaper and then will look at the books. The kids are playing games in the courtyard, and the older women are talking and mending linens and clothing. The young men are practicing some sport or game."

She sat there smiling as he continued to describe the various activities, including the ones that the residents of the Aoiya did not know he knew about - including apparently the young men's affinity towards sake. Even though he was not overly descriptive, what he told her was completely novel to her. As she had only been there in time of crises, she had no idea of what it was like to be with a large group of people otherwise.

When he had stopped she spoke up again, "It sounds like a very busy place indeed. You must miss it."

"I suppose I do," he thought aloud. "There is always something going on there."

"Aoshi-san," her thoughts had settled now more clearly and she clearly felt something needed to be said. "I should not be so insensitive as to what you could be doing now instead. It has been a long time since I've had this many people in my life like this, telling me what I should do and shouldn't do. Earlier, I fought you, teased you, and was very rude to you when you were looking out for me. I am thankful for the kindnesses Obaasan and you have given me."

"I understand," he replied. "I have understood for some time, Megumi-san, something of who you are. What I do and say does not mean I do not respect you. I do what I do not because you are weak, Megumi-san, but because it is simply what two friends must do."

She smiled at him then, pleased by what he had said. "Aoshi-san, I promise that I will do my best to not complain. I will let you and Morimoto-san have your way then and be a much more cooperative patient." She held out her hand to him, "Will you help this invalid to her room?"

Without a word, he took her hand and carried her away.