A.N: Sorry for the delay for both stories…arggg…school is driving me insane…

Kafei: Yes, I know what you mean. It’s orders from Hiko, but Kenshin had not fully gotten over Tomoe, if you know what I mean. I have much planned for this story, so don’t worry about this slight OOCness…it will overcome. I have plans for Kenshin, big plans…*evil grin*

Oh and yes, I know the Aoiya is in Kyoto, but let’s just say it’s in Tokyo for my story’s sake. Thank you.

Chapter Six

Misao sang softly to herself as she walked along the hall. She stopped by Kaoru and Kenshin’s study and slid open the shojo door. In the room, she found Kaoru sitting by the window reading a book in her usual fashion.

"Kaoru-chan!" Misao said, getting the other girl’s attention.

The girl closed her book and looked up, "Misao…"

"Gomen for interrupting your reading, but I was wondering if you would like to join us at the Aoiya today."

"The Aoiya?" Kaoru asked quizzically.

"I take it that Hiko-san did not explain the Aoiya to you?" The girl shook her head. Misao smiled, "It’s all right. As a friend that’s what I’m here for ne? To fill in all those gaps. To start off, the Aoiya is a popular restaurant in Tokyo, that’s about a half an hour carriage ride from here. It is also the headquarters and training ground of the Onibanwanshu."

"The ninja clan?"

"Hai. Aoshi-sama is the Okashira of the clan. Basically what happens is that the members of the Onibanwanshu gather information, and sometimes, though very rarely are they instructed to wipe out people."

"I see."

"It’s quite a nice place, I’ll show you around today. Aoshi-sama is the Okashira there, so he visits regularly to give new orders."

A deep voice cut into the girls’ conversation, "Sorry to disturb you two, but are you ready to go?"

Misao smiled as she saw Aoshi standing in the room. "Hai!" She stood up quickly and grabbed Kaoru’s arm to pull her up. As Kaoru walked out, she found Kenshin waiting by the shojo door, arms folded. Their eyes locked, but no words were spoken as she passed him.

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Tokyo was bustling with activity as the group arrived. Yahiko had stayed at home to receive his daily lessons from Megumi. Streets were filled with people shopping, as well as children running around playing tag. Kaoru looked out the window, and found herself in front of the Aoiya. It was near noon, and people were beginning to stream in for lunch. Two women, dressed in kimonos were waiting outside.

Aoshi was the first to leave the carriage, helping Misao out. The young girl immediately ran up to hug the two woman, "Okon! Omasu!"

"Welcome back Misao-chan," they greeted. They bowed at the three men in front of them. "Okashira, Sagara-sama, Himura-sama."

"This is the newest addition to the familiy! Kamiya Kaoru!" Misao introduced.

Kaoru bowed, "Konichiwa."

"Another pretty lady to add to the Hiko household," an old man said, coming out of the restaurant. He eyed Kaoru, "Mmm…very lovely, yes. Come here so I can have a closer look at you…"

"Okina-san," the red-head said, his voice cold as slipped an arm around Kaoru’s waist.

Revelation hit the old man, "Ohhh…gomen, gomen Himura-sama. I didn’t realize she was yours."

"Kenshin does tend to be quite possessive of his woman ne?" Sano commented with a grin, and earning in return, the fierce amber glare of the infamous hitokiri Battousai.

"Ne Misao-chan," Omasu murmured quietly, "is Hiko-san coming later?"

The other girl had a wicked grin on her lips, "Yes."

"Sigh…Hiko-sama," Okon said with a dreamy look on her face.

The group, led by Aoshi went into the restaurant, and went on there way deeper into the building, passing a few private tearooms where the wealthy were eating. "Aoshi-sama! I’m going to show Kaoru around okay?"

"Hai Misao-chan," the Okashira replied, giving her a small smile. The girl reached up to kiss his cheek quickly before pulling Kaoru to another part of the house.

The girl with the long braid twirled around once, taking in a deep breath of crisp fresh air. There was a large garden separating the two buildings that made up the Aoiya. The building in the front being the restaurant, the one in the back being the living quarters and head quarters of the Oniwanbanshu. Kaoru could see part of the garden was used as a training ground, with targets set up for kunai. "It feels good to be back," Misao stretched.

"It’s quite nice here," Kaoru commented as she continued to look around.

"Uh huh." Misao took out a bunch of kunai from underneath her kimono. Her back from a target, she suddenly twisted her body and let the blades fly. Turning around her body completely she surveyed her throw: perfect. The kunai were in the centre of the target in a small group together.

"Nice throw."

"Thanks. I’m quite proud of that one myself," Misao replied.

"You seem to know this place well," Kaoru murmured when the younger girl continued the tour around the Aoiya. They had arrived at one of the training rooms indoors, and watched two students practicing with bokkan.

"Of course, I lived here for a long time before living with Hiko-san."

"Honto?"

"Uh huh. The Aoiya is pretty much the same around. So I’ll just show you the last spot, and then we should meet up with the rest of them." Kaoru followed Misao through a few hallways, and then somehow climb up to the roof of the building. "This is my favourite place in the Aoiya."

Kaoru looked around, her blue eyes taking in the spectacular view from her height. Far away she could see the tall mountains, with clouds circling around the tip. "Kirei."

"Hai."

"Do you mind me asking how you came into this household?"

"My grandfather led the Oniwanbanshu before. So my family was pretty much born into the clan. Aoshi-sama was somehow found by Hiko-sama. He seems to have this ability to find children that possess skills that can be cultivated to a high degree. He trained with us, and soon became the Okashira when my grandfather passed away. At that age he returned to living with Hiko-sama as well…" the girl trailed off, seemed to be lost in her memories of the past.

Misao’s normal genki attitude was tamed as the thoughts of the past flooded her mind. The Aoiya would always be her home, no matter what happened. Her happiest times were here, and so were the worst ones in her life. However ever since she remembered, Aoshi had always been on her mind. First it was Aoshi-niisan, following him around like a little shadow. He was always the one to save her from falling from a tree, or somehow tripping over her own feet. When she injured herself, he made the tears stop and made her smile again. Aoshi was also there when her mother passed away. Misao remembered quite vividly the sickliness of her face as she lay on the futon, breathing shallow, face sunken. Misao never met her father, he was killed on a mission just before she was born.

Her next phase, which she would never leave, was her falling deeply in love with her Okashira at the age of twelve. Some of her worst times in life were when he had left for the war, leaving a young Misao with no one around except for Okon, Omasu, and Okina. Those times in the Aoiya were dark and depressing, the place devoid of the usual hustle and bustle of Oniwanbanshu life. When Aoshi had returned, she latched on to him right away, but something had changed within her Okashira. The war had sucked his youth away from him, leaving a grim faced man in return. Oh how long it took to revert her Aoshi-sama back. He had finally admitted to his love last year, and this took place in the Aoiya as well. She had stayed late that night to work in the restaurant. Aoshi was working in the office, taking care of other Oniwanbanshu work. That was a lovely night…that lasted until the morning. Her Aoshi was wicked when he wanted to be.

"I’m sorry," Misao apologized when she realized she hadn’t spoken in the past few minutes. "I was kind of lost in my thoughts."

"I could tell…"

"Kaoru-chan," the other girl spoke again, suddenly remember something, "I wanted to tell you this earlier. I know it’s probably difficult to live with Kenshin at the moment. He’s quite quiet and does not reveal much about himself, and is as enigmatic as Hiko-san."

"I’ve realized that."

"That’s good. Just, there are certain things in Kenshin’s life that he needs to sort out right now. In due time he will tell you. I just didn’t want you to feel so lost near him. Like I did when Aoshi just came home," Misao didn’t say the last sentence, but thought it.

Kaoru smiled again for the care that Misao had. Misao was more mature than she seemed. Kaoru turned her eyes once more at the scenery before her. Liking the serenity that the roof of the Aoiya was able to give. After a few more minutes, the two girls climbed back down, Misao leading the way into Aoshi’s office.

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"Four girls have been found dead. We think they are local brothel girls from the way they were dressed, but we cannot say for certain at the moment," Hannya said, going over what had happened the night before again with Aoshi, Kenshin and Sanosuke.

Aoshi looked at his friends. Kenshin remained passive, while Sanosuke was shaking his head sadly at the thought of four innocently murdered women. "Tonight send out a few members to go closer to the camp. We need more information about their plans. I don’t want any of you to initiate any fight. Remember whom we are dealing with."

"Hai Okashira. There is also something else that happened last night."

The tall raven-haired man didn’t like the sound of Hannya’s voice.

"What happened?" Kenshin asked.

"Amano is missing."

Aoshi raised an eyebrow. "Amano is missing?"

"H-hai."

"That’s not good…" Sanosuke muttered as he chewed on his fishbone. Amano was one of the best spies that the clan had.

Soon, two men burst into the room without even knocking. "Okashira!" one with long dark hair cried. They were both panting for exhaustion.

"What is it?"

"Amano’s dead."

"Sou da…"

"Chikuso…they already know," Sano hissed as he took out the fishbone from his mouth. "We’re in so much shit now."

"There was also a note when we found the body," the other man said handing a sheet of paper to Aoshi. The note read:

You made a big mistake getting involved,

We know who you are.

Aoshi crumpled the piece of paper and threw it on the floor. "They know. We’re going out tonight. Ignore my first orders and keep all the Oniwanbanshu inside. Stay alert and on guard in case anyone tries to attack."

"Hai," Hannya replied as he bowed and left.

"Looks like we have something to do tonight," Sano muttered. "Normally I would love to take on a job, but this is the exception." The first time they took on the Underground, it was Megumi that almost perished. They had somehow gotten a hold of her, despite the tight security around the house. It had been a hellhole for two weeks for him, and he did not want to relive that again.

"We better get going, I need to inform Shishou," Kenshin said as they headed for the door. The ex-hitokiri almost bumped into someone when he walked out. His reflexes were fast and he quickly caught a hold of the person before he or she fell. His violet eyes saw Kaoru nearly hitting the floor heavily if it wasn’t for his hold on her wrist. "Gomen Kaoru."

"Kenshin," she replied not looking at his eyes.

He pulled her up gently and held her close to him. "Daijabou?"

"Hai…"

"Misao-chan," a deeper voice murmured behind Kenshin. "I know you probably want to do some shopping, demo…we need to get home."

"It’s fine," she replied. There was a slight tone of urgency in his voice, and she found the rest of the men to be equally tense. "What happened?"

"I’ll tell you when we get home," he replied taking her hand and pulling her along quickly.

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As the five young adults exited the Aoiya and into their carriage, they were being watched by two hooded people close by.

"Ba…kas," one murmured, stretching the two syllables of the word, "you would think after the first time they would learn not to meddle in other people’s business."

"Hhmph…some people never learn," a feminine voice replied, as she wiped her katana clean of blood.

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That night Kaoru was restless. Kenshin and the other two had left the house as soon as it turned dark outside. She paced around the study room as she waited for him. She sat herself down on the chair in front of desk and looked around absently. There was nothing she could do right now.

She had begun to train Yahiko today, and what an experience that was. "That little brat," she muttered wrinkling her nose as she went through her first lesson with him. They had spent the first half an hour arguing. Yahiko had flatly refused to listen to Kaoru, calling her busu, which initiated the argument with the repeated "busu" and "Yahiko-chan" being yelled back and forth. That was until Hiko-san had come in and smacked the boy on the head, shutting him up finally. "He should do five hundred more swings tomorrow just for that," she thought to herself.

"Kaoru-chan," Megumi murmured as she saw Kaoru sitting in the study room by herself, only one dim lamp lit.

"Megumi-chan," she said, seeing the older woman.

"It’s getting late, aren’t you usually in bed by now?"

"Hai, but I can’t seem to fall a sleep…why are you up so late?"

"I needed to make some medicine, in case any of them, especially that rooster-head, comes back with an injury. Don’t be worried about Ken-san. He always makes it back safe," the woman replied, seeing the worry in Kaoru’s face. "They should be home soon any ways, at least that baka better get his sorry butt back home," she sighed. "Go take your bath before Misao uses up the hot shower."

"Hai," Kaoru replied as she began to walk upstairs to retrieve her clean clothes.

After her bath she arrived back into her room. She was surprised to find Kenshin lying on top of the blankets on the futon with his upper body exposed, his lower chest had bandages wrapped around it. He looked delicious laying there, the soft light of the lamp casting a slight glow on his body. His red hair had been released from the usual ponytail and now spilt all over the pillow. Kaoru put away her clothes and knelt on the futon beside him. He looked a sleep, so she reached out a hand to touch his injury gently.

"Koishii…" he murmured, causing Kaoru to withdraw her hand quickly. However Kenshin caught her hand, and brought it to his lips to kiss her knuckle. She was surprised to hear that word coming from his lips. He always called her by her name, never by that…

"Are you all right?"

"I’m fine. I heard you were worried about me."

"Aa…"

A smile graced his lips, "Are you going to bed yet?"

"Yes, if you get off the top of the bed. Have you had your bath?"

"Yes, I used Shishou’s bathroom."

"Good."

Kenshin rolled off the futon and crawled underneath, he then watched her, his eyes beckoning her to come. She obeyed, turning off the lamp and slipped in beside him, her body instinctively cuddled up to his. "Koishii…" he spoke up moments later.

"Hai?"

"You need to protect yourself. They know you are new…"

"The Under…" she was cut off by Kenshin’s finger to her lips.

"Hai…and they know you are mine. Be careful of who you talk to. I don’t want to lose you like…" he trailed off.

"Like?"

"Tomoe…" he whispered before letting her body go, keeping a distance between them.

"Who is she?"

"My wife…"

Kaoru eyes widened. "You…were married?" she barely managed to say.

"Once, five years ago, during the Bakumatsu. I found her because of that war, and I lost her for the same reason as well." His voice was bitter as he spoke those words. "I never wanted another woman after, feeling the guilt of her death on my hands."

"Kenshin…"

"Hence I never wanted you. I loathed the idea that my Shishou had found another woman for me." There was a moment of silence. Kaoru could not meet his eyes after hearing his words. They were so cold and hard. He reached a hand to cup her chin, forcing her to lift her eyes and look at him. "Yet," he said, "there was something about you that drew me to you."

"What are you trying to say?" she asked.

"Take care of yourself, and don’t let me make that same mistake again with you," he replied before he let go of her. He turned around, his back now facing her. He wondered why he even bothered to let that slip and tell her of Tomoe. It would only upset her. He had seen the tears that shone in her eyes from the moonlight, but never slid down her face.

"Perhaps this was a test, and you want to see if she would accept you as who you are," an inner voice mused, "because you feel something else for her other than care." Kenshin sighed and tucked the blanket closer around his body.

However, he soon felt Kaoru’s soft warm body against his back, one arm slipping around his waist to hug him to her. "Kenshin, I don’t mind that you loved another woman. I just hope that your hurt will be healed the future, and you will be able to love again."

Kenshin turned around to face her again. He stroked the back of her hand over his cheek, and watched her eyes flutter close. Tilting his head lower, he kissed her gently, tasting her sweet lips. She curled up closer to him and sighed contently. Soon, he heard her breathing become slower as she fell a sleep.

He had new motivation now to keep his hitokiri side in check. He now had something to protect that was close to his heart.