Megumi was washing linens in the back of the compound when one of the women found her.

"Takani-sensei," the woman was out of breath, "Obaasan begs you to come and keep Shinomori-san from going out."

"Kiiko-san," she put her soap down. "The men watching Shinomori-san should be able to keep him there."

"He got past them!" She gestured frantically, "Obaasan thinks you might be able to talk some sense into him."

Megumi followed reluctantly; the tone of Aoshi's voice before she was forced to sedate him was too fresh in her head.

Okina's plan had consisted of placing several men to both tend and "restrain" Aoshi should he try to leave again before he had recovered. The scene that greeted Megumi looked like the aftermath of a small battle. Men were scattered all over the courtyard, either knocked unconscious, or quietly nursing bruises and the like.

Okina glared from his position between Aoshi and the street. Obaasan stood off to the side, anxiously watching Aoshi. When Obaasan spied Megumi, she looked relieved.

"Doctor," Obaasan inclined her head, "Aoshi-san means to go out."

"Aoshi-san," Megumi stepped between Okina and Aoshi, who was busy rewrapping his trademark coat around his body, "You are still not well enough to go out for long."

He brushed past her and continued towards the entrance that would take him to the street. Several of the Aoiya staff who were milling around watched as Megumi, with Obaasan at her heels, followed after him, trying their best to keep up with his long strides.

"Aoshi!" she clasped his arm.

He stiffened at the sound of his name. Then, he shrugged her hand off. "My health is not your concern any longer, Takani-sensei. I do not care what happens now."

Megumi was struck by his sudden formality. "Shinomori-san," she said more softly, "To the people here, you are what remains of the heart of the Aoiya. Your health is their livelihood. Would it not be best to wait a little longer?"

He turned then and gave her a cold stare. "You always counsel waiting, but that counsel always costs too much."

Megumi took a step back, her breath caught in her throat as if he had just hit her.

"Do whatever pleases you, finish your work, but take care that I do not see you, Takani-san."

At those words Obaasan gasped, "Aoshi-san!"

As he disappeared out into the street, Obaasan and Okina exchanged a glance and with a nod of acknowledgement, Okina disappeared as well.

"Okina will keep an eye on him," Obaasan turned back to Megumi. "He knows that when Aoshi-san is like this, he can not be reasoned with."

Megumi simply looked away.

"Megumi-san. What Aoshi-san said...He didn't mean that," Obaasan said aloud, not only for Megumi's benefit, but for those who had also been standing in the courtyard watching the entire scene.

"No," she turned back and gave Obaasan a chilly smile, "I think he did. In his mind, I am more to blame than anyone for Misao. She was the entire reason for my coming here. I was here to relieve her of the burden of caring for them. I was here to tend to her if she fell sick. I failed to take care of the sole treasure of Shinomori-san. I should have found her earlier. Instead, I let her die!!"

"Megumi-san!" Obaasan led her away into one of the rooms. "You can not talk that way, it is completely wrong. You did not make her sick. You did not choose for her to continue to work even when she knew was sick. You did not know or could not know what she was doing while you were trying to save Aoshi-san himself."

"It doesn't matter, Obaasan." Megumi shook her head, "Shinimori-san was right in some ways. My cautious ways meant I did not get here in time to save Misao-chan. I understand why I am now dead to him, and why I must leave."

"Meg -- "

"Obaasan. He and I are fated to be this way. Leave it at that." She raised her hand, as if to stop anymore discussion on Shinomori-san the man. At this point, she could only speak of him as her former patient. "He will come back sick, Obaasan. He was already winded when he left. You know now what to do with this illness. There is nothing more I can teach you or your staff and clan. It is clear that I will be more useful elsewhere."

Obaasan looked at the resolute expression in her face, then nodded reluctantly. "I will gather your other things Megumi."

Megumi nodded, and then automatically returned to the courtyard to tend the bruises of the men who Aoshi had easily defeated. Thankfully he wasn't at full strength or had really intended to hurt them; not one required anything more than a few bandages. She then found Kiiko and returned to look over each of the recovering patients one last time and carefully dictated notes on when to give each of them their medicine.

With that, she found she had nothing more to do. Like any good doctor, her bags were alreadly mostly packed. She only had to gather the herb- flower mix that she had discovered here in Kyoto from the storeroom.

"Megumi-san," Obaasan and several of the women stood with the horses when she brought her final things down. "Our thanks to you for coming. I can only apologize for the way in which you have been treated today."

"It was no matter," Megumi responded with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. Better that she smile and try to ease their guilt, than bring more tension between Aoshi Shinomori and the Aoiya. She bowed to each of the ladies. "I am thankful for the opportunity to have stayed here and have been some help to you."

Obaasan pressed a bundle into Megumi's hand then, looking rather unhappy. "For you during your journey. I am sorry it is not a banquet as you deserve, but we will share one someday. Please, send word when you have arrived."

"Obaasan-san," Megumi's eyes watered slightly as she smelled the food, wondering how Obaasan had found the time to make it for her. She stepped forward, touched by the woman's motherly concern, and allowed Obaasan to hold her. "If something changes, please send word to Aizu. I will find some way to help you."

"May the winds favor you, Megumi-san!" the ladies all waved as Megumi mounted her horse.

And in a manner more elegant than her arrival, Megumi rode out of the Aoiya and back towards Aizu, her heart weary.