Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Belonging ❯ 04 ( Chapter 5 )

Title: Belonging

Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin and all it's characters do not belong to me. I'm just borrowing them for a little while.

A/N: Minna! Domo Arigato! /bows/ Thanks so much for all the reviews and wonderful encouragements that you give me! It's nice to know that you enjoy this product of my twisted imagination /grins/. Also, this chapter contains a little bit of information about the Tea Ceremony. We know how much Aoshi loves those, neh? Now I kind of twisted some of the process in tea ceremony to suit the fic. My sources are the ff sites: http://www.holymtn.com/tea/Japanesetea.htm

http://www.japaneselifestyle.com.au/culture/japanese_tea_cer emony_detail.html

Chapter Four:

/Reikai - Takagi Estate/

A young woman wearing a kimono greeted Aoshi at the entrance of the estate. Her long silver hair was pulled back from her face and held by an ornament made with some kind of precious stone at the back of her head. She bowed to him and Aoshi's eyes noted the silver bangles on her wrist denoting her status as a servant. "My name is Miyuki. My lady thought you might enjoy a tea ceremony."

When he had received the invitation, he had almost not accepted but he'd been curious as to what the reason for this audience was.

o

/Flashback/

o

"How long will you run away from your responsibilities?" Okina demanded as soon as he caught sight of Aoshi.

"The Council is no longer my responsibility. I told you that I give up my claim to that position. Nothing matters except getting her back." Aoshi said coldly.

"Do you think Kaoru-sama would love what you've become? Makai is in chaos! Even after all these years of peace…the remnants of the war are still present. Something is going to happen Aoshi and we need you to unite all the Clan faction of the vampires."

"You were the leader before you relinquished your position to me Okina," Aoshi reminded the older man.

Okina sighed. "I am an old man. I wish only to die in peace. Will you not let me Aoshi?"

Aoshi lifted an eyebrow. "Do you expect me to believe that?"

Okina shrugged his shoulders, losing the `pity me' look. "It was worth I try."

"Why have you come here?"

Okina sighed, "I have received a request for your audience. It's from Reikai."

Aoshi's eyebrow lifted as he caught the parcel Okina threw at him.

"It is from Lady Takagi."

o

/End Flashback/

o

Aoshi followed the young woman as she led him to the waiting room where he washed his hands and rinsed his mouth from a small stone basin of water before he proceeded through a water sprinkled garden called roji /dewy ground/. He sat himself in the koshikake machiai or waiting bench and waited for the teishu, the host, to summon him.

He watched as a tall, elegant woman wearing an elaborate kimono come through the chumon /middle gate/ and bowed to him. He guessed that she was to be the teishu. His eyes went to the signet ring she had in her pinky finger and knew immediately that she was part of the high-ranking nobility in Reikai. In all probability, this woman was Tokio Takagi.

She bowed gracefully and led him to the teahouse, sliding the thirty-six inch high door open.

Aoshi and the woman remove their shoes before entering.

The room was large and bare with several Tatami mats covering the floor.

The aristocrat bowed to him, "I am pleased that you accepted my invitation. I had thought a tea ceremony would be appropriate for our first official meeting. I had heard you quite enjoy them and I'm sure you could use a little bit of relaxation."

"Just who are you?" Aoshi asked. "How do you know me?"

"Most everyone knows who you are. You are one of the greatest warriors your powerful family has ever produced."

Aoshi's face was unreadable as he continued to stare at her. "What is the purpose of this audience?"

"I am, Tokio Takagi. My family is related to the Kamiyas. Since the Kamiya bloodline has run a little thin and most hold positions of great import, my family has been relegated to help them. We are, after all, kin."

Aoshi opened his mouth to ask more questions but Tokio held up a hand to deter him. "Please, before we talk might we begin the ceremony? Everything we need to discuss, we shall, but in due time."

Aoshi looked at her but didn't protest.

One way or another he was going to get his answers.

Tokio nodded and bowed to him once more before gesturing for him to take a seat. After Aoshi had arranged him self properly, she bowed again before leaving to get the proper utensils for the ceremony.

Tokio returned with the chawan, the tea bowl, which held the chasen or the tea whisk. She also had a bleached white linen cloth called chakin, the tea cloth that is used to dry the bowl and the chashaku, the tea scoop, a slender bamboo scoop used to dispense the matcha, which rests across it.

In silence, he watched as she gracefully arranged them next to the water jar, which represents the sun (symbolic of yang); the bowl is the moon (yin). She left once more, returning with the kensui, awaste-water bowl, the hishaku, a bamboo water ladle and a futaoki, a green bamboo rest for the kettle lid. Using a fukusa, a fine silk cloth, which represents the spirit of the host, Tokio purified the tea container and scoop. Hot water is ladled into the tea bowl, the whisk is rinsed, the tea bowl is emptied and wiped with the chakin.

Tokio lifted the tea scoop and tea container, and placed three scoops of tea into the tea bowl. She ladled hot water from the kettle into the tea bowl to create a thin paste with the whisk. She added more water to the paste and whisked it into a thick liquid.

Quietly, she passes it to Aoshi who bowed and accepted it just as silently.
The two of them sat there quietly listening to the silence around them.

The difference was that Aoshi could not lose himself in the calmness of having a tea ceremony. He tried, but thoughts of Kaoru and how she'd tried so hard to perfect the art kept invading his mind.

o

/Flashback/

o

"Mou Aoshi…how come I can't eat until the third course of chakaiseki? That seems rather unfair…" she complained.

Aoshi smiled slightly at her incensed tone, "As the hostess, it's your duty to put your guests first. Besides, it's not really about the food. It's all about the atmosphere."

Kaoru sighed and flopped down on his lap and planted a light kiss on his lips. "You put me through so much trouble just to please you."

"I never told you prepare a tea ceremony for me," he reminded her as he arranged her more comfortably across his lap.

"I know. I just want to be perfect for you. I'm sorry I can't…" she whispered.

Aoshi kissed her forehead and pulled her more securely against him. "You know what I'm afraid of?"

"My father?" Kaoru teased.

Aoshi chuckled, "Besides him."

"I don't know…I've never really know you to be scared of anything."

"There is one thing that terrifies me the most."

Kaoru tired to look up so she could see his face but his hand on her head kept her firmly pressed against him. "What are you scared of anata?" she asked laying her cheek against his chest and feeling his heartbeat.

"I'm scared that I am not good enough for you," he said quietly as he stroked her hair. "I'm scared that I am ruining your life just by being in it…oomph!" Aoshi exclaimed, more surprised than pained when Kaoru's fist landed on his stomach. He looked down at her in shock and saw that her eyes were narrowed up at him. "What?"

"Don't you ever say that!" she exclaimed angrily.

"Kaoru…"

She punched him in the chest.

"Hey!" this was getting ridiculous.

"How can you even think that you are not good enough for me?" she exclaimed as her blue eyes started to tear. "I want you to believe in us anata. I want you to believe in our love. This is our destiny," she told him as she tried to dash away her tears.

"Don't cry Kaoru…I'm sorry I hurt you…"

"I'm not hurt baka. I'm angry at you," Kaoru said glaring at him.

She was still sitting on his lap, which was a good sign, so Aoshi pulled her closer and wrapped his arms around her. "I won't do it again Nakama. I love you and I believe that the two of us together is fate"

"Aoshi, watashitachi wa otagai ni jûyô na sonzai desu." / Aoshi, we are meant for each other./

"Hai, anata dake desu." /Yes, no one but you./

o

/End Flashback/

o

After drinking the thick tea, koicha, Tokio served Aoshi the thin tea, or usuicha, which is served in the same manner, to rinse the palate.

Tokio was silent as she watched him drink. It was clear he was nobility from his mannerisms and the way he carried himself. She could well understand how Kaoru could fall for such a man and give up the light of Reikai to live in Makai.

Oh yes, Tokio could truly understand Kaoru a lot more than the others could. It was probably the reason why she'd been requested to be the one to deliver the news. "Shinomori-sama, I am sorry for keeping you waiting for long," she said softly.

Aoshi lifted an eyebrow and studied her, waiting for her to speak.

"I believe that I must be frank with you. I requested this meeting not for a personal matter, although I had always been curious as to what manner of man Kaoru fell in love with. The Family has decided that it is best if you were to leave her be."

"Her?"

"Yes. Kaoru."

Aoshi stared at her, his face impassive. "Is that so?"

Tokio could feel the coldness of his eyes and it made her uncomfortable. She was sitting in front of a predator and her instinct was to throw up an energy shield to protect herself. She ignored it and carried on with the conversation even though she did not want to. "She is living a normal life. Our Watcher says that there seems to be no need to awaken her as of yet. The Lamia is still asleep. Awakening Kaoru might only trigger his own awakening."

"So you know where she is."

It was a statement.

Not a question.

Each perfectly enunciated word sent a shiver of fear through Tokio but she kept her features in a neutral mask. "We have always known. She is one of us."

"Tell me where she is."

"I am sorry, I cannot do that," she said.

One minute he was in front of her across the table and the next minute there were two swords crossed against her neck, each blade treacherously close to her skin. "Tell me where she is or I will cut your head off," he said softly, his gaze never wavering from hers.

In that moment, Tokio knew he would not hesitate to kill her.

"I suggest you sheath your weapons." Saito drawled as he stepped away from the shadows. His stance was casual but the tautness of his muscles showed his rage at having his wife threatened.

Tokio sagged in relief when she saw her husband appear.

Aoshi turned to Saito. "What are you doing here?"

Tokio blinked. He moved so fast she did not even catch him sheath his weapons. One moment they were in his hands and the next, they were gone.

Saito inserted a cigarette between his lips and lit it. "I wished to protect my wife. I no longer know of your temperament and I never did trust any of your kind."

"Wife?" Aoshi turned to look at Tokio for a moment before turning back to Saito with a smirk on his lips, "Isn't it a bit unnatural for a werewolf to marry someone from Reikai?"

"Just as unnatural as a vampire marry a Momban."

Aoshi waited.

"Instead of terrorizing my wife, why don't you try and control your people? They are overstepping their bounds."

"The Clans are no longer my people."

"They share your blood, they are your people. Your kind." Saito said as he took a long drag of his cigarette. "You know we've always considered you Kyuketsuki as the infection of the earth."

"And we've always considered you werewolves as mere dogs. Now it seems you have found your master."

Saito lifted an eyebrow. "At least dogs are loyal and are aware of what is going on around them. You are blinded by your love and your hate."

Tokio watched the two men stare at each other. She knew werewolves were sometimes considered just as strong or stronger than vampires; it all depended on the individual. After the war when rogue types of vampires Kara No and Hoki Suru ran rampant, werewolves were among the Youkai's tasked to eliminate them. Saito's clan of werewolves the Shinsengumi, were firm believers in the natural order of things and fought for their ideal of Aku Soku Zan, Slay Evil Swiftly.

He was a very honorable man, which was why Tokio loved him. But she also knew that he followed a code of his own and he might see it as justice to fight and kill Aoshi for threatening her and insulting the werewolf clan in general.

Tokio trusted in her husband's strength but she also knew that Aoshi was a powerful warrior. She did not know which man would win and she didn't care. All she was certain of was that she did not want them to even try and kill each other.

Ever.

"Shinomori-san," she said softly, drawing the attention of both men to her self. "What I discussed with you, it was not a request. That is the decision the Family came up with. Kaoru's parents also agreed that it might be best for you to stay your hand for a while. If nothing else, please respect their wishes."

There was a moment of heavy silence after her statement.

Finally Aoshi responded.

"Because they are Kaoru's parents I will obey their wishes. But only up to a point," he said coldly as he turned and walked away.

Tokio went to her husband's side. "I pity him. I cannot even begin to imagine the magnitude of his suffering. He loves her so much."

"He loved her too much," was all Saito said.

It is bittersweet torment to love someone so deeply

That it feels like the other part of your soul resides in them

To know a kind of love so completely

Will drive you insane with its intensity

Tokio had never fully understood its meaning, until now.

o

Another person was found dead.

This time the victim's blood had been sucked out.

David Takahashi ran his hand through his hair in frustration.

He didn't want his mind to follow the path Ame obviously wanted him to go to.

It just wasn't logical!

This was exactly why their relationship hadn't worked out!

He ran his hand through his hair again.

"You're going to go bald if you keep that up," Makoto pointed out.

"Mind your own hair," David growled out.

Makoto ignored him and yawned. "So, did you dig up any interesting dirt yet?"

"Can you be any more useless?" David gritted out in annoyance.

Makoto rolled her eyes, "Just because you haven't gotten any for heaven knows how long, you don't have to relieve your frustrations on me."

"Ugh!" David exclaimed, shoving away from his desk and stalking outside.

Makoto shook her head. He sure has been acting weird since they came from the morgue the last time.

The chief had assigned them to the `weird animal attacks' cases that were springing up around the city and several towns. So far they still couldn't figure out if humans or animals did the murders.

After a few moments, David busted into the office again, an irritated look in his eyes.

"What is wrong with you?" Makoto growled at him, annoyed as well. Oh what she had to put up with!

"Get your coat, we're going to visit Ame."

o

Soujiro bowed, "Kashiwazaki-san."

"Come in, you are quite formal still aren't you Soujiro?"

Soujiro smiled slightly.

"Aoshi has gone to Reikai, did you know that?"

"I only know what my master allows me," Soujiro averred.

Okina sighed. "You have always been wise and I am grateful you have stayed with my grandson all these years Soujiro."

"You honor me too much, Kashiwazaki-san."

Okina waved a hand, "Call me Okina. It is what Aoshi and you have called me since the two of you were young boys. There is no reason to change it now," he said as he motioned for the young man to stand up and take a seat. "The Clans are in chaos Soujiro. The war has been over a long time but there are still those who do not agree to the treaty. Do you know who Shishio Makoto is?"

"One of the great Hitokiri. He was supposed to have become a Kara No if I'm not mistaken. He had to be eliminated."

Okina nodded tiredly. "We thought we had succeeded but there is talk that he is still alive and amassing great power…still, nothing is as of yet confirmed. My contacts at the Oniwabanshu tell me that some rogue Youkais are causing problems in Ningenkai as well."

Soujiro nodded, "I've read some of the news. The humans don't know what to call the murders and are tagging them as `bizarre animal attacks'. Still, it has not really garnered much attention since the deaths are quite few and far between."

Okina nodded and stood up. "I want you to keep your eyes open…and take care of that grandson of mine."

Soujiro stood as well and bowed respectfully, "Of course Okina-san. I shall accompany you out…"

Okina waved Soujiro away. "No need. I'll be visiting that lovely Megumi before I go."

Soujiro smiled a few moments later when a very loud Megumi yelled, "GET OUT OF HERE YOU PERVERTED OLD LOON!"

It was good that some things never changed.

o

Kaoru was gathering her long black hair up into a high ponytail as she made her way into the suspiciously quiet kitchen. By some miracle, she and Kenshin were alone and Kaoru decided to make the most of the situation. A smile lit her face, "Ohayo Kenshin! I'm so hungry! Is the food ready?"

"Hai, so desu."

"Asagohan wa nan desu ka?" /What's our breakfast?/

"Pan to tamago desu." /We have bread and egg/ Kenshin scooped the egg from the pan and transferred in on a plate.

Kaoru sat down on the kitchen table and smiled watching him go about the kitchen. In a way, it was almost like they were married, wasn't it? She blushed, berating herself for her foolish thoughts. Since the time she'd admitted to herself that she felt more than just `friendship' for Kenshin, she had tried very hard to make it known to him how she felt.

The thing was…she was very old fashioned and could never be the one to make the first move.

It just wasn't done.

And so she tried to show him in a million little ways how she truly felt.

So far, it wasn't working.

Silently, she watched as Kenshin put a plate with two eggs and toast in front of her, a freshly squeezed glass of orange juice before he filled his own plate and sat down opposite her across the table.

"Itadakimasu." They chorused before starting to eat.

"Kenshin, is something wrong?" she asked finally.

Kenshin looked up, "What do you mean?"

"Well…I don't know. Things have been a little strained between us lately and you seemed so on edge most of the time."

Kenshin smiled. "I just have some things on my mind."

"Mou…Kenshin, you know you can trust me don't you? We're family." Kaoru said, reaching across the table to touch Kenshin's hand. She may be shy about showing the `romantic' side of her love to him, but she was never one not to tell him how important he was in her life.

Kenshin looked at Kaoru for several heartbeats, his expression unreadable. His head dipped a little and his bangs obscured his eyes as he looked at her hand over his.

Kaoru waited with bated breath feeling something in the air shift.

"Kaoru-chan?" Tae called out from the front of the house, breaking the silent tension in the air. "Genzai-san ordered some things to be delivered!"

Kenshin looked up and smiled at Kaoru. "Thank you," he said, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. His hand withdrew just before Tae came into the kitchen with Tsubame carrying some containers of food Dr. Genzai had ordered for them. He too knew about Kaoru's cooking disasters.

"Oh!" Tae said surprised when she saw that Kenshin and Kaoru were alone. Her eyes sparkled knowingly as she looked at Kaoru's pink cheeks. "Gomen! Did I interrupt something?" she asked innocently.

Both Kenshin and Kaoru sputtered and hurried to assure her that she hadn't.

"That's too bad then," Tae said, disappointed.

"He's not here right now but I'll make sure to tell him you dropped by when I see him," Kenshin said when he noticed Tsubame looking around to see if Yahiko would show up. He smiled when Tsubame's cheek colored and she ducked her head murmuring an embarrassed, "Thank you."

"Kaoru-chan, there's this festival at Toyotama High School to celebrate its foundation day or something like that. Why don't we go there to celebrate your birthday? There's going to be games and booths and all sorts of fun stuff!"

"Great idea Tae-chan!" Kaoru enthused her eyes glittering excitedly. "We can wear our kimonos and dress up!"

"You are coming with us of course Ken-san," Tae said, leveling Kenshin with a glare. She had taken it upon herself to be the cupid of these two and help their relationship along.

"Of course, I would enjoy that very much. That I would." Kenshin nodded empathically.

"Can I go too?" Tsubame asked.

"Of course! Yahiko would love it if you were there!" Kaoru couldn't help but tease. Tsubame smiled, pleased, but she was embarrassed as well. Tae grinned. "I shall invite Dr. Genzai and Ayame and Suzume as well. We'll all have dinner first and head out afterwards," she announced, rubbing her palms together. She could just imagine Kaoru and Kenshin alone under the fireworks display. She would make sure to herd everyone away from the couple at the festival.

Kaoru and Kenshin looked at each other warily. They had noticed the scary glint in Tae-chan's eyes.

o

Megumi sighed and flipped her hair over her shoulder as she and Soujiro walked to the shopping market. She would have preferred to use the car but Soujiro had some sick fascination about observing the humans. In any case, it never ceased to amaze Megumi how clueless the people of Ningenkai were.

She knew that some of them could sense something different about Soujiro and her…but they never could quite figure it out. The curious stares she and Soujiro were getting always made her laugh.

If there was one thing she didn't mind that much about living in Ningenkai, it was the shops. It was too bad that the place was full of humans but she supposed nothing in life was really perfect.

Soujiro glanced at her and smiled. "Come on, its not so bad is it?"

"I suppose not. But don't think I've forgiven you for letting that perverted old coot into my room."

"I didn't let him in Megumi-san. He entered without your permission."

Megumi sighed. "Okina is a batty old pervert. I can't imagine Aoshi sharing the same bloodlines with him."

Soujiro smiled. "Kashiwazaki-san is a great and powerful warrior."

"With the libido of a horny teenager who's never gotten any!" Megumi huffed.

Soujiro shrugged, amused.

"Soujiro…"

"Yes?"

"There's so many people here isn't there?" Megumi said as she took in all the different faces going in and out of the mall. This was just one small part of Ningenkai.

"Does it bother you to be surrounded by humans?"

"Of course it does…but…" Megumi started walking, knowing Soujiro would follow her. "With so many people, do you think we'd ever find her?"

"Lady Kaoru?"

"Yes," Megumi said. "I was with him that night when the sign of her arrival flashed in the sky."

"Chi-Tsuki."

"Yes." Megumi nodded. "I know he loves her very much…but I'm afraid of how he'll react to her after so long. I'm sure she will be different in some ways and similar in others."

"I know."

"And Ningenkai is such a large world, how will we ever find her?"

Soujiro was silent for a long moment before he answered. "I believe in their destiny," he said softly. "I've known lord Aoshi since we were children and I knew him before, during and after Lady Kaoru. I witnessed their love. It wasn't easy for them to be bonded as life-mates. They came from different worlds. There was a war. Everything seemed to be against them…and yet somehow they did it. Lady Kaoru always believed in destiny. In Reikai, she said it was called en, a karmic bond lasting forever. In Ningenkai I believe they call is soul-mate."

"Soul mate?"

"The humans have a theory that each soul, each essence of being is created for only one other person in the world. That even when they die and their souls are reborn into different countries and bodies and lives, they would still find each other because the bond would pull them together until they are once more complete. There is a human story I read that states that human beings started out with four legs, four arms and two heads. Now for some reason, they were separated and that they spend their entire life looking for that other half of themselves."

Megumi arched an eyebrow. "What a quaint notion."

Soujiro smiled.

"But Soujiro, realistically speaking, it's not easy to accept two people from two different worlds sharing a bond. It's like saying a dog took a monkey for it's mate, don't you think?"

Soujiro laughed. "Or a fox and a chicken?"

Megumi smirked, "What a weird idea."

"It might not be as weird as you think."

Megumi arched and eyebrow and let out a surprised sound when she felt her bag snatched from her hands. Her eyes narrowed and she would have attacked but she felt Soujiro's hand restraining her. "We're in the middle of a crowded area, it wouldn't do to rip off his head here."

"This is why I hate humans," Megumi muttered.

o

"So what are you getting Jou-chan?" Sano asked Yahiko as the two of them trekked to the mall.

"I was thinking of getting her another bokken," Yahiko said, "You know how her last one got broken when she hit you over the head the last time…"

"Yahiko you idiot! Do you want her hitting us again with her bokken?"

"Well it sure as hell beats having her foot in my face when I call her Busu!"

Sano sighed and shook his head, "No. I think we should buy her something feminine…Tae says a girl's eighteenth birthday is supposed to signify her arrival as a woman…or some such nonsense…"

Yahiko rolled his eyes. "Can you really imagine Kaoru as a woman?"

"I'd rather not," Sano said dryly. "Maybe we should get her one of those lingerie things."

"With your tastes you'll probably end up giving her something gross and perverted," Yahiko said with a roll of his eyes. "How about chocolates and flowers?" he'd seen them given often enough on TV and the girls seemed to like them.

"What are we, asking her for a date? Besides, that's cheesy and too overdone. We have to give her something nice to celebrate the occasion…"

"Oh hey look, that guy grabbed the woman's purse!" Yahiko pointed out to Sano as the `robber' headed towards them with the stolen bag in hand. He grabbed the man but was pushed off, sending him splattering to the ground.

No one hurt his friends! Sano made a move to intercept the robber, grabbing the guy's arm.

"Get off me asshole!" the robber gritted out as he pushed Sano off of him.

Sanosuke regained his balance, grabbed the man's collar and slammed him against the wall. "Jerk!" Sano bellowed into the man's face. "Don't you ever hit a kid asshole!" he punched the man for good measure. "Yo Yahiko, are you hurt?"

"I'm fine," Yahiko said standing up and kicking the man's shins.

The robber growled his eyes narrowing. "I know your faces you idiots. You're going to pay."

"Oh yeah, say that to the police!" Yahiko said as he picked up the stolen handbag. He saw the lady approach and gave her the bag. "Here you go," he said, backing away when he got a good look at her face.

Wow, was she a movie star or something?

"Thank you," Megumi said accepting the bag and promptly hitting the robber's face with it.

Sano, Yahiko and Soujiro blinked.

"That should teach you to rob a lady," Megumi said.

The robber's nose was bleeding with the force of her hit. "All you freaks are going to pay for this. You just watch your backs."

"May I speak with him for a while?"

Sano pried his eyes away from the gorgeous girl to look at the smiling guy beside him. "Sure," he said with a shrug.

"My name is Soujiro, you are?"

"Sano."

Soujiro smiled and took hold of the robber's elbow. "You may release him now Sano, I'll need to speak with him privately."

"But…" Sano protested looking at Soujiro's lean physique.

"Don't worry, Soujiro won't let him get away," Megumi said with a lift of her eyebrow.

Sano shrugged and released the robber. He was more than happy to concentrate his attention on the gorgeous babe. He flashed her a smile. "My name's Sanosuke."

Megumi lifted an eyebrow, "I heard."

Sano brows rose.

Yahiko snickered.

Soujiro returned still with a smile on his face.

"Where's that guy? Shouldn't we take him to the police?" Yahiko asked when he saw that the robber was nowhere to be seen.

"Don't worry. I had a talk with him. He won't be bothering anyone again."

Yahiko stared at the smiling guy and every part of him believed.

The smiling boy bowed. "It seems my companion and I owe you our thanks. My name is Soujiro by the way and this, is Megumi."

"My name is Yahiko."

"Sano."

"What can we do to repay you? May we treat you to lunch?" Soujiro asked with a small smile as he looked from Yahiko to Sano.

"Lunch? For Free? Alright" Sano said with a grin.

Yahiko elbowed Sano. "Can we discuss it for a moment?" he asked Soujiro.

Soujiro shrugged. "Sure."

O

"What do you think you're doing?"

"Dispensing our debt," Soujiro answered Megumi.

She sighed. "Do you seriously expect me to socialize with humans? How disgusting, Soujiro!"

"Relax. They seem nice enough. Besides, didn't you tell me that we could always use a little harmless fun?"

Megumi pouted. "And what did you do to that man?"

"The robber?"

"Yes…no never mind. I don't think I want to know."

Finally, Yahiko and Sano returned.

"Have you made a decision?" Soujiro asked.

Yahiko nodded. "Yeah. See since you offered and all…we don't really need you to treat us to lunch. My older cousin is having her eighteenth birthday in a few days and we don't really know what to get her."

"Ah, so you want us to buy her a present?" Soujiro asked.

Yahiko shook her head. "Oh no, she'd kill us. No, we were just wondering," he glanced at Megumi, "since your friend is a girl and all…maybe she could sort of help us since we don't know what to get for her."

Soujiro smiled at how nice the boy was. He glanced at Megumi. What do you think, are you up for it?

I suppose…the kid seems nice enough, if a little bedraggled. But keep the tall oaf away from me.

Sano?

An oaf by any other name…

I thought you didn't read human literature?

Shakespeare wasn't human…with all his talk of witches and fairies I figured he's probably from Reikai…

Soujiro's grin widened as he noticed the perplexed look Sano and Yahiko were giving Megumi and him.

"Fine, I'll help you find a gift for your cousin," Megumi said to the boy.

Yahiko grinned. "Great!"

" It's the least we could do…" Soujiro said.

O

A/N: So destiny's threads are bringing our players closer and closer to each other. In Aoshi's flashback where Kaoru is complaining about not being able to eat until the third course of chakaiseki, it's the first meal served in a tea ceremony comprised of three courses. It's only at the third course when the hosts can eat. If you want to find out more just check out those links at the start of the fic. Also, Tokio Takagi really is Saito's wife, I have no idea what she looks like though so if anyone has an idea, please enlighten me. to all those who gave me reviews and supported me, thank you so much. Please tell me what you think of this chapter. Thank you! /Mwah!/

Kaoru lives in Reikai. She is part of the Kamiya family known as the Momban, which are the `Wardens of the Gates'.

Aoshi is a Youkai that lives in Makai. There are many types or races of Youkai, but Aoshi is a vampire. He is part of the Shinomori Clan, the most powerful vampire family that leads the Vampire Council.