Obaasan was insistent on talking to every other person they met on the road or along the road. At their pace, Aoshi mentally calculated, they would make Aizu in approximately three months. He humored her slow thoroughness, knowing full well that the scouts would be much more efficient. For now, he would simply let Obaasan be Obaasan.

It seemed impossible that Obaasan would really find out anything. Although it was unusual for women to travel alone, Kyoto was big enough that people paid no attention to the comings and goings of strangers. Still, people were very willing to talk to the old lady.

To each she would ask politely, "Would you remember if a young woman passed here ten days ago with two horses?"

Most people would just shake their head. Some would kindly tell her that maybe she ought to go to the inspectors. All would wish her good luck in finding her friend.

When Obaasan tired, she'd ask him to do approach people. Aoshi rather would not, but he did so anyways, deciding to talk to an old couple that was coming down the road.

"Excuse me," he bowed respectfully. "I would like to ask you for your help."

"Yes?" the old woman peered up at him.

"Have you seen a young woman in a pink kimono pass through here in the last ten days?"

The old couple smiled and shrugged, "Many people pass here. How could one remember?"

"She was this tall," Aoshi indicated a height, "and wore a lavender smock on top of the kimono."

They gave him a puzzled look and screwed up their faces, trying to remember.

Obaasan grew impatient, "She had long hair which she wore down her back and was very beautiful. Carrying many bags."

"Ohhhh." The elderly woman nodded. "Of course we remember, for we thought it very odd that such a woman would travel alone. She definitely passed this way."

Obaasan looked relieved and thanked the couple profusely. "Aoshi," she scolded him, "You really are not observant are you?"

He was not certain what she meant by that, but as they continued on, Aoshi soon learned that Obaasan's descriptions were far more useful than he thought they'd be. They continued stopping every few miles to ask if the beautiful woman in purple had been there.

When Obaasan spied a woman gathering herbs, she was particularly keen on talking to the lady. Aoshi helped Obaasan off the horse and waited for her as she went over to talk to the lady.

Obaasan was very intrigued by the flowers in the lady's hand and kept gesturing to them. She hurried back to Aoshi a few minutes later.

"She said someone matching the description passed through here a few days ago."

Aoshi looked over at the woman, who studied them in return. He noticed her wary expression. He decided then that there was something more to this information.

Before Obaasan could stop him, he had already walked over to the lady and addressed her. "We come from Kyoto. The doctor we are looking for, Megumi Takani, was our houseguest in Kyoto. She supposed to have returned to Aizu days ago and the people that work with her in Aizu have asked that we try to find out where the doctor is."

The woman studied him then, and gave him a searching look. Obaasan finally stepped in between them. "Megumi-san was very good with herbs. She and I used to discuss them a lot. Please, we are worried for her. DO you know anything more?"

The woman paused, then decided to trust the worried expression on Obaasan's face. "I'm afraid I do." She averted her eyes, "She's gone mad."