Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Honest Nothing ❯ Unfinished Business ( Chapter 9 )

Disclaimer: But, I do own PMK! *Grabs episode disks* SEE!!! I bought them! Fair and square! I'm not making money off of them though. I didn't create them, didn't think up the characters. Even the OC's aren't mine. Well, I've added a few quirks to their personalities, but that's it!

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Honest Nothing

Chapter Nine

Unfinished Business

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Untitled

Laughter lives behind a shroud,

Open eyes with a dark cloud.

To fight to suffer to loose

Not a life I want to choose

Dreams, who needs them

Dreams, who wants them

Give me something I can touch, feel

Not something that will fade, peel

Open-mindness is a joke,

Put that in your pipe to smoke.

This very world is closed

Empty headed and syphon hosed

But...I don't want ignorance nor sorrow

I already have enough to borrow

Give me joy and give me smiles

I'll take our friendship for miles

Life is nothing but game of minds

With secret words and hidden signs

Yet life is something very tangible

If only others knew how manageable

Put your foot forward, one step then two

You never know what you may come across or who

Keep you head held firm and high

Always move forward further or nigh

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Interesting, how she could leave his life so suddenly, only to return nine years later and fall back into the pattern of things. His heart ached for the lost time between them, and he wished that maybe this time around, things would turn out differently. Maybe she would stay with him and bring back the light that had been for so long hidden by dark clouds.

It was a silly thought he knew, as she had been the one to say she didn't love him and leave.

His head hung low dejectedly, successfully hiding his saddened eyes from her with his bangs. Their time together had seemed so perfect, that even he had to give a sardonic laugh to the fact that it had truly been to good to be true.


Evening was fast approaching and the clouds that had covered the sky last night came with it.

~ * ~


"Papa?"

A choked laugh came from Kondo as he opened his arms to his grown up girl. She wasn*t so small anymore; she had grown up tall and beautiful, just like her mother.


"Aiko."


Aiko took a hesitant step forward before launching herself into her father's awaiting arms. Her sobs broke free from their restraints when she felt herself become engulfed in a huge hug. In the kind of hug only a father could give. She wrapped her arms around his waist and gave a mental laugh when only her fingertips could touch. A sigh of contentment passed her lips before she breathed in her father's, her true father's, scent. For the past twelve years her life may have been a lie, but in the arms of her father she found comfort in the hope that now it would all be okay.


Two of the other occupants in the room watched with mild surprise, while the other nodded in understanding. Nariko's eyes grew misty with the warmth that spread through her body. This was how it was supposed to be, this was the way it was meant to be if Miame's father had never took her away. Kondo deserved having his daughter back in his life. And there wasn't anything that she would let come between his happiness with his daughter.


The rustle of clothing brought her attention to the other two as they stood up to leave. Obviously believing that they should not be witnesses to what was happening. Strange, she thought, that one was leaving with a frown and the other with a contemplative, yet oddly sad, face. After sending her brother one last smile, Nariko too stood up and began to follow Okita and Hijikata out of the room.

Once alone Aiko pulled out from the cover of Kondo's arms, her face streaked by the tears.

"What happened? Why wasn't it you that me and Takara grew up with?"

A sigh escaped his lips as he slumped his shoulders tiredly, an understanding air about him. "That, Aiko, is a long story and is best kept till another time." Kondo's shoulders suddenly straightened and a grin replaced his previous frown. Clapping his hands together in front of his face, he dismissed Aiko's question by asking one of his own.

"But until that time, how about we go and get some food. My stomachs telling me its lunch time!"

Aiko thought on this for a moment. She was hungry since she hadn't bothered to go scrounge for food, but she still wanted to know what had happened in the past. In the end, her decision was made up for her as Kondo had mysteriously popped up by her side, and was currently trying to drag her in the direction of food.


~ * ~


Three men, three smirks, and three knowing pairs of eyes watches as Kondo dragged the sex slave behind him.

Nagakura nodded to his two friends as he spoke what was written on their faces.

"Yeah, even he needs some time to relax in the simple pleasures of a woman."


"That*s so sweet! Who would have ever thought he of all people would take her in!" Todou smiled brightly after the retreating forms of Aiko and Kondo.


Harada and Nagakura sighed in disbelief as they watched with hooded eyes the imaginary hearts float around Todou's head.

~ * ~

She sat with the grace that she obviously never had, nearly falling over trying to sit in a kimono. Kondo gave a bark of laughter to her, it was painstakingly obvious of the lifestyle that she had been living for these past years. Clearly not brought up as a high-class woman as she deserved to be.

Reaching out to grab at her shoulders to still her tilting, he felt her shoulders stiffen at his touch. Not wanting to think on it, Kondo brought his hands back and crossed his arms.

The air seemed tense to her. There was so much she wanted to ask; she just didn*t know how to ask it. Leveling her eyes to her biological fathers, she decided to ask in the only way she knew how too.

"Are you Takara's father too?"


Kondo nearly choked on the bite of food he had just taken. That was a question he was actually waiting for, he just never imagined that it would be the first question for her to ask. Hurriedly he swallowed the rest of the food and washed it down with a big gulp of tea.

"Yes, you are both my daughters."

"So that would mean that mama would have had to have stayed with you for at least four years."

His facial features remained the same, but inside he wondered where she was going with this train of thought. Cracking a smile, he motioned for her to continue.

Aiko's eyes lowered as she appeared to become fascinated by her fidgeting hands. What she whispered then filled him with both happiness and sorrow. "Do you think I could also stay here for that long?"

How could he honestly answer that? He wanted her to, almost needed her to say with him so that he could see her grow and become the woman she was meant to be. But even so, even being her biological father, he knew that it was beyond his powers to keep her. The man that had replaced him in her life would surely do anything to get her back, and that was not a fight he was prepared to enter. No mater how cold it might seem of him to do so, he would eventually send her back home. Back to where she belonged, where she could be free to be herself and not confined in this world of politics.


But for the time being, he could allow himself to bask in the happiness that his daughter wanted stay with him.

"Of course! We don*t have any rooms open right now though . . . you can stay in Okita's room!"

Aiko raised a delicate eyebrow at him. She already was staying in his room. Even more, she was the one that had practically taken over his wardrobe. But he said it as though it was the best idea in the world that she had no choice but to grin with childish glee. And then it hit her; she was allowed to stay.


He felt reluctant to break the fragile mirth that surrounded them, but he felt as though she had to know the reason that he and Miame had been split apart. It would inevitably be the same reason that they would be split apart as well.

"There's something you must know though. The reason that your mother and I were separated was because she had already been betrothed to some one else. And that was the undoing of our life together."

All notions of a life free from the responsibilities she was doomed to face left her. Her mother had been betrothed? But, ninja's didn't do that . . . did they?


A broken voice full of confusion questioned him. "What?"

Kondo looked sadly into his daughter's eyes; this was the true reason behind her inability to stay here with him.

"You didn't know that? Aiko, your clan betroths the heir of their leader once they're born."


But wouldn't that mean that she too was betrothed? No one had ever mentioned that to her, never.


"I don't understand . . . I'm not betrothed. I can't be betrothed, he never told me I was!"


She shook her head in denial and hoped that her voice gave away none of the dread that her heart felt. It couldn't be true, there was no possible way that it could be.

Long suppressed anger flared to life in his veins when she mentioned him. Though not directly saying his name, he clearly understood whom it was she was talking about.


Kondo sighed as he watched his daughter stress over his words, felling unable to sooth her worries.


Aiko lowered her head and whispered in a desperate plea for his help.

"I don't want to be."

Heart-wrenching pain racked his body, there was nothing he could do. His hands were tied, but with the pain he heard in his little girls voice he wished beyond anything that he could make all her fears go away. That was what his parental instincts wanted him to do, but the part of him that was a leader, that had to command scores of men to their death, knew that he had to make her understand. What was meant to be, will be.

His face tuned blank, not wanting to defy his words with the conflicting emotions he was feeling.


"You have no choice Aiko."


Even before the words had left his mouth, he knew that what he said was not what she wanted to hear. A cold fist gripped his heart when his little girl looked at him with such broken eyes, threatening to spill tears. He watched in silence as she stood and left him to eat the rest of his lunch alone, that of her own untouched.


~ * ~


The moon shined with its eerie glow across the silent compound, creating curious shadows where normally there would be none. It seemed an extra ordinarily cold night with a storm brewing in the distance, and with the wind a soundless breeze. Occasionally the dirt would stir from the little animals that were out scavenging for their supper to feast upon. This scene is what Aiko found herself watching, even as her consciousness replayed the events of the day over in her head. Nitpicking, if you will, to try and find what it was that she had missed.

"I just don't understand." Aiko sighed to herself in mock anger.


Clinching her hands into fists in her lap, Aiko found herself wanting to speak to Okita. The little man had become such a large part in her life in the short time that she had known him. After all, if there was anyone who would give her the answers that she sought, then it would surely be him.

Right?

Aiko pulled the blanket tighter around her shoulders when the wind suddenly picked up in speed and seemed to drop the world degree by a few notches. Her eyelids felt heavy and she knew she should head to bed, but at the rate her mind was working it seemed a foolish hope for sleep to find her. As it was, with the new information she had just acquired in the last few hours, she wasn't sure if it was even possible to ever sleep again.

"I wish . . . I had never came to this town." She whispered into the dying breeze. Too many things had happened in her life since she had came here to Kyoto, that it was hard to distinguish who she was anymore. Was she the clans' leader's daughter, next in line to become leader? Or was she the Shinsengumi's Chief's long lost daughter? But most importantly, who was it she wanted to be? Did she even have a choice in the matter?

Shaking her head roughly, Aiko decided that she really should just quit thinking all together. This whole mess was giving her headache, another one in fact.

"Are you happy?"

The sudden question that came from behind her jolted Aiko out of her internal musings and forced her mind to do a flip. Turning her head to look over her shoulder at the one who had asked her the question, she was faced with the man she wasn't sure if she really wanted to see. Moving her gaze back toward her surroundings Aiko answered as truthfully as she could.

"I'm not sure. I feel confused. I feel happy and yet at the same time sad. I'm angered at the knowledge that my life has been a half-truth, and yet I'm overjoyed that I know the truth. Why does it have to baffle me so much?" Her gaze traveled to the few stars that glittered in the distance and envied them. So bright and bold, Aiko silently wondered if they ever lost their way in life.


The big, jovial man, who had become her newfound father, situated himself comfortable by Aiko's side

"What happened to her, what happened to your mother?"

Aiko, for her part, didn't want to particularly share the memory of her mother's death with him. It seemed too personal, too meaningful, for her to give it away to anyone, no matter who that person happened to be.

Brown pools of barely concealed hatred stared into those of her fathers curious ones.

"They killed her."


It had never really occurred to her that Kondo may still have feelings for her long dead mother, but when she saw the look on his face after she spoke, it made her feel empty. At that moment, she hated herself for being so cold to the man.

Furrowing her brows, Aiko stared down into her lap. An urge that she at least tell him what he wanted to know formed in her throat, and yet her mouth seemed frozen shut as she continued to stare. Her sight became clouded by the unchecked tears that feel from her eyes as the scene of the arrow that had pierced her mother's heart, and ultimately ended her life, replayed over and over in her mind.

Speaking Softly, she gave in and slowly gave the information that he had a right to know.

"I was eight when it happened. Mother had been gone for so long, I didn't expect her to be back. I was off playing in the fields; Mother came and got me. We were on our way back when . . . when . . ." The bottle that she kept her emotions safely hidden in cracked and leaked out the pain and hopelessness that Aiko had kept silent from over the last eight years.


"Mommy?"


Sobbing, Aiko wrapped her arms around herself to try and protect her from the pain she felt. But even in her sorrow, Aiko's self-loathing shined like a beacon throw her next words.

"RUN!"

"I couldn't save her! I couldn't save my mother! I ran away . . . I ran away."

"I love you, Aiko."

A soft and cool hand landed on top of her head, gently stroking her hair to sooth her hurt; much like a mother would do to a child.


"And it's because you ran away in your past, that you will never run away again in your future. You're a brave girl Aiko, even if you don't see it yet."


Her mother wasn't ever going to come back. . .


A choked laugh escaped Aiko's lips as she looked back at her new father.


"I'm not brave, I'm just too stubborn to do things any other way but my way."


Kondo turned a blank stair at Aiko before the implications of her statement hit him. His eyes narrowed in what would only be considered an angry glare, and Aiko silently wondered if she had said something to upset him before she suddenly found herself in a bone-crushing hug.

"Ah! You sound so much like your Mother. Stubborn as a mule, she wouldn't let anyone get the better of her. I practically had to hit her on her head just to get the chance for her to listen to me."

Aiko laughed with Kondo over his retailing of her mothers hard headed ways. She knew all too well how hard it used to be to change her mother's mind. But still, that was one aspect of her mother she wouldn't have had changed in the least, as her stubbornness was a side affect of her honor.


"Mama, your back!"


~ * ~


SMACK

CRACK

CRUNCH

Black and red dotted her vision the minuet the tree decided to get to know her in an aggressive way. Stumbling backwards she met with another evil creation of Mother Nature as her right foot landed lopsidedly on top of a rock. The slight drizzle didn't seem to help make matters any better by turning the solid rock into a slimy sponge. Her rear landed unceremoniously onto the cold, wet, unforgiving ground.

Crossing her legs and bringing one hand to rub at her forehead and the other to her rear, Takara fumed at all that surrounded her. She was wet, she was cold and she was hungry. Under normal circumstances that wouldn't bother her too much, but she now had a headache from limbo and a bruise probably the size of Japan on her butt.

Leaning forward she removed her hand from her forehead to grab at the betraying rock and toss it into oblivion.

"Stupid rock, that'll teach ya."

She felt a little better after that, but her head still hurt so she once again placed her hand on her forehead. This whole trying to find Aiko mess was turning out to be exactly that, a mess. She was only a day into her journey and she already wanted to call it quits and go back to beat up the boys once more. There was no way that was going to happen though.

Giving up on her head and rear, Takara crawled toward the tree that had just attacked her. It was raining after all; she needed some form of shelter. And besides, she hadn't seen any lightning yet so it would be perfectly safe for her to sleep there. Scrunching herself into a tight ball once she reached the tree, Takara closed her eyes and willed herself to sleep. She could give the tree a piece of her mind later; she was just too tired to do it right now.


Strangely, Takara would awake at the first rays of dawn and wonder why it was that she had thought she could find shelter under a dead tree.


~ * ~

Okita sat on the engawa gently humming the quaint tune he had recently learned from playing with the children. It seemed the only way to keep his mind steady since the occurrences of the afternoon. Why the girl had stumbled into his life, he wasn't quite sure of. And furthermore he wasn't sure if it was such a good thing that she had. He had feelings for her, what feelings exactly he wasn't quite sure, but he could feel them festering inside him somewhere. To know that she was Kondo's daughter put a hamper on any feelings he could have for her. And again, he felt his world begin to do flips around him.

Still humming gently, Okita turned bemused eyes to the sky and wondered what kind of lesson this was supposed to be. Control? Self-restraint? Perhaps even to find madness, and become so confused in that madness that he would never be able to see straight again and be forced to eat soba with out chop sticks ever again . . . perhaps. A dry laugh broke free through his tight lips as he realized that would be madness. Only, it would be madness for Saitou.

Heaving a heavy sigh, Okita swatted away the few insects that had gathered and decided to make his ears their new home.

Women, confusing creatures that caused the life of others to become enwrapped in their world.

Digging his hand into his pocket, Okita frowned when his fingers only managed to find cotton and air. That wasn't what his fingers were searching for. A low growl rumbled through his throat as his fingers continued to unsuccessfully find the elusive thing. Tearing his hand out from his pocket, Okita then brought his pocket up to eye level so he could look for what it was he was looking for. Close inspection reveled nothing more to him than what his fingers had found.

Pouting, Okita gave up on that pocket and tried his other one.

A bright smile lit his face and his world suddenly made sense to him again.

His candy was in that pocket, not the other one!


Popping one of his life saving candies into his mouth, Okita stood up and headed back to his room. His room, but for what seemed like lifetimes it was her room. Maybe now that it was known that she was Kondo's daughter, maybe she could get a room for herself and allow him the comfort of a good night sleep again.

~ * ~

Okita wanted to cry. All he ever wanted was a decent nights sleep, nothing more. Well, maybe more candy or free time to play with the children, but that was it. Honestly. The Gods must hate him.

With a heavy sigh Okita shut the shoji door and turned.

"Another night gazing at the stars," suddenly bouncing the small piglet in his arms he whispered lightly, "Ah well, it could be worse huh, Saizou."

Gracefully Okita sat down, his legs dangling over the engawa, his pet tenderly nestled within the warm folds of his clothing. Okita leaned to his side and rested his tired head against the support beam, his eyes turning up and watching the stars dance across the sky.

He really wanted his bed back.


And yet the young woman who had been sharing his room was wide awake and currently counting the blanks of her ceiling in the dim light.

Her mind would not let her sleep. Too much had happened over the past 24 hours for her mind to relax. And there she laid, wide awake counting the beams on a lumpy futon.

'I'm bored.'

With a groan, Aiko rolled from under her covers, stood and tugged on her borrowed haroi.

'Might as well as take a walk and quite my thoughts,' Aiko mentally muttered softly into the empty night.

Her bare feet padded lightly across the cold floor, stopping only briefly as she tugged the door aside. Her eyes snapped wide open with the sight that greeted her; sitting just before her, the pale moonlight shining off his dark hair was Okita.

~*~


'Sleep, sleep, sleep.' Even chanting it in his head wasn't working. His body was tired yet his eyes refused to shut and give in to the peace of sleep. Groaning irritably, Okita had just resigned himself to yet another long night without sleep when the door to his room slid silently open. His reaction was mere instinct, he leapt aside his fingers grabbing the tanto he kept hidden and prepared himself for an attack. Later he would realize how incredibly ridiculous his reaction was, he already knew who was in his room.

Aiko gasped and pressed herself against the wall, her own survival instincts thrown in high gear and she quickly reached inside her clothing looking for the small cluster of needles that were normally hidden there. Only her fingers brushed nothing but her bare flesh, which in this case was a very good thing.

"Okita?" Her breathless call ended the silent standoff between hidden ninja and samurai.

Okita's heart wasn't going to slow down any time soon; his narrowed eyes slowly came out of their haze and focused on Aiko.


"Aiko?"


Both parties quickly heaved twin sighs of relief.

"What are you doing up?" They both asked in unison.


Aiko scrunched up her nose and Okita chuckled softly.


"I couldn't fall asleep." Was their, again, shared answer.


Okita chuckled softly at Aiko's frown, with a raised hand and a twinkle in his eye he signaled for her to speak.

Aiko groaned. All she wanted was a long walk to calm her mind and put her rampaging thoughts to bed. She did not want to spend the evening sitting next to a man that sent not only shivers down her neck but a strange burning sensation within the pit of her stomach.

"I, ah, was going to take a walk because I couldn't get to sleep." Aiko mentally slapped herself, well wasn't that the most brilliant thing she could have said.

"I'll go with you. Maybe some good company will help you sleep."

'Wait, no! That wasn't part of the bargain! Go away! Shoo!'

Okita watched as Aiko's eyes widened and her hands clenched her kimono tighter. A look of alarm crossed his boyish features as he quickly explained, "Only a walk, nothing more. It will help the both of us sleep."

Aiko merely narrowed her eyes and Okita couldn't stop the wry smile that came to his face as he added as an afterthought, "or we could simply sit here and watch the stars?"

With a jerky nod, Aiko stepped forward and sat down, her head resting on the beam that Okita had previously used.

With a heavy sigh, Okita sat down next to her only after he quickly tucked the tanto back into place; an action that did not go unnoticed with Aiko.

"You truly are a dangerous man, Okita Souji." She murmured softly.

Stunned, Okita fought to relax his expression before he turned to her and laughed lightly. His laughter, however, didn't reach his eyes.

"Not dangerous Aiko-chan, merely prepared."

She nodded before she let the silence of the night come over her again. Okita Souji, she had seen him kill, she had seen him covered in his own blood, hell, she had both attached him and tried to rescue him in one night. And yet he continued to wear this mask before her. She couldn't blame him really; she was doing the same. Appearing innocent, and keeping the evil within her quiet.

"How do you do it, Okita? How are you able to hold on to your mask and still keep your mind?"

If her previous comment hadn't stunned him, this one certainly did. Struggling to keep his so called mask in place, something that seemed to be increasingly difficult with her, Okita answered somewhat gruffly, "we do what we have to, to keep those we love safe."

Aiko frowned. To keep the ones she loved safe was that what she doing? Was that why she had run away from her duties? To learn about the world so that she could in the long run keep everyone safe? No. That wasn't what she was doing; she was merely running away; away from her obligations to the clan, away from her obligations to her step-father, away from the obligations of her possible fiancée.

"I'm tired of running away." Her voice was soft and Okita barely caught the soft drift of her words. An understanding smile touched his lips as he leaned to his side and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"We all are, Aiko-chan, we are all tired of hiding."

She laughed. A strangled laugh, a laugh that was full of grief of anger and of desperation. Her life wasn't her own, it would never be her own, and she had far too many obligations to everyone for it to be her own. But right now, at this very moment, her life was only ruled by her actions. She wanted, just for once, to do something of her own choice. Everything that had led her so far had been circumstance, her rescue, her room and her history. Right now she simply wanted to be the woman Aiko, not the ninja.

And to Okita's utter disbelief she turned and wrapped her arms around his waist in a hug. Her face settled in the crook of his neck, her soft breathing doing nothing but reminding him how long it had been since he had held a woman.

'Breath Souji, breath! She is only seeking the comfort of someone's arms, not the comfort of something entirely different.' His thoughts froze however when he felt the gentle press of her lips against his throat.

'Damn it, damn it, DAMN IT!'

Aiko really had no idea what had encouraged her to press a tender kiss to his throat. And she nearly jumped out of his arms when she felt him freeze against her. Blushing, Aiko leaned back to apologize.

"Okita, forgive me I shouldn't have done" her words froze in her throat when his eyes opened and locked on to her own. Her throat suddenly dry and the warm tingle back Aiko licked her suddenly parched lips, her own eyes widening when that action captured Okita's gaze.

"Ano..Okita?"

Okita was fighting an internal battle and was quickly loosing. Would she just stop trying to seduce him with her obvious innocence! Quickly he stepped away, pulling from her arms and standing in the shadows his voice was harsh when he spoke.

"Aiko-chan, you said I was a dangerous man. At this moment I am quite dangerous, it would be best if you retired to your room this instant before your simple kiss turns into something you are not yet ready to handle."

Heat flooded her body, and anger suddenly captured her mind as she spoke, "I'm not a child! I can handle whatever I get myself into."

Not even a second had passed since the words left her mouth than Aiko found herself pinned against the engawa, Okita's warm body pressed tightly against her own and his eyes glaring down into her startled ones.

"I will give you one more chance, Aiko, go to bed."

Aiko's heart fluttered within her breast, realization of what he had been talking about hit her full on. A softly uttered moan escaped her throat and her body twitched upwards and against him. Her eyes were startled and yet very curious and she again moistened her dry lips watching in fascination as Okita's eyes snapped shut and his body tensed. He was holding something back; the realization dawned on her.

A wicked glint came to her eyes; this may be the only chance she may get to torture the man that had been in her thoughts ever since she met him. Willing her expression to that of a doleful woman she whispered, "Okita, I can't get up with you on me."

Lavender eyes opened lazily, his expression unreadable as he spoke, the husky timbre of his voice tickled her nerve endings and her hair stood on end.

"Will you concede and go to bed?"

Aiko nodded quickly. Let him think whatever he wants, but I am not going to bed anytime soon.

His eyes narrowed and gazed deep within her own, Aiko was almost afraid he would be able to read her very thoughts with the look he gave her. She heaved a grateful sigh when he rose, yet her relief was only short lived and she found herself staring down the edge of a blade. Her eyes wide with shock darted up and met with Okita's dark orbs.

"What are you..?" her question was left unfinished as he pressed the blade closer to her neck.

"Do not play with me, woman. If you wish to learn the lesson that only your husband has the right to teach you, then by all means continue what you are doing. But I repeat, if you are not: Go. To. Bed."

Aiko smiled. She had made up her mind long ago that she would not be ruled by men, her point to this mission had simply to point out to her step father that she was as much a woman as her mother had been. She, like her mother, was strong, coy, open-minded, and when needed as heartless as any man in the world. Okita had simply reminded her of her goal; the prize or lesson that her husband owned rights for belonged firstly to her. At it would be by her choice who took that from her. Her innocence was her own to give, and Aiko knew that above all Okita would be the man that could treasure a gift of that sort. A man, who had lost his innocence so long ago to war, would be given the innocence of a woman who had no need for it when she returned home.

Cold steel met with warm flesh as Aiko lifted her hand against the blade of the tanto, with careful steps she moved forward, the blade tearing into her flesh and leaving a thick trail of blood in its wake. One long cut creased her hand and blood poured from her self-inflicted wound. Her eyes never left his even as her hand rose away from the blade and cupped his cheek, blood dripping from her palm.

"No man as any right to anything that is first my own. It is mine to give and therefore I give it to you, Souji. Take my innocence as a replacement of the one you lost so many years ago." Aiko's voice was gentle as she cupped both his cheeks in her hands and leaned forward for a kiss.

Okita just knew the world had ended. He had given her several quite blunt warnings and yet she still persisted. The hand holding the lethal dagger fell to his side, the dagger thrusting itself into the ground with the momentum of its fall. She was giving herself to him!

All logical thought processes ended with the touch of her lips against his, her kiss tender and inexperienced flamed his passion to new heights and he soon copied her motions and led her into a deeper kiss. His lips moved over hers in an erotic dance, leading her, coaxing her deeper in her own newly discovered desire. Between gasps and heavy breaths Okita soon became only aware of her body and his. His tongue tangling with hers and his hands quickly finding delight with her curves.

A week ago Aiko would have fought venomously against his bold advances. His hands were everywhere, waking up areas of her body she never knew existed. From her neck to her breasts to her waist Aiko was simply awash in sensation, never had she known the simple pleasure of touch.

A started cry tore through her throat when he found one area she had never before touched. His soft chuckle landed on deaf ears as she struggled to manage the mind- blowing pleasure that came from the center of her being. Her knees gave out from beneath her, her fingers curled painfully in the thick fabric of his kimono, Aiko simply collapsed beneath the expert guidance of his fingers.

Gently he lowered their bodies to the ground, one hand tangled within her clothing and pressed agonizingly against her moist center. His other arm, that had been keeping her upright, relaxed before snagging her wrists and pinning them above her head. He was painfully aroused and growing more so every minute he watched her writhe beneath him. He grinned a wicked little grin before snapping his hand away the moment before she fell over the edge. Her needy cry echoed in his ears as he quickly moved their clothing aside and lay above her, pinning her with his weight. His eyes dark and reflecting the desire that built inside him, he needed her.

~*~

Kondo hummed his favorite tune whilst he finished the last couple of pages to the story he was reading. The last couple of days still very fresh in his mind, he had found his little girl. The daughter he was never meant to have. His baby girl, who was more than likely curled up in the next room dreaming of happy things.

A frown marred his aged features, Aiko deserved some joy. If he could keep her with him, living here with the shensingumi, he would. But he knew better, he had learned the hard way with her mother. Her clan needed her, and she; weather she knew it or not, needed her clan. He would only be able to enjoy the times he shared with her right now; he knew that he more than likely would never see her again. And though the thought saddened him he promised himself he would be happy that he had met her at all.

Setting the book down next to his futon, and blowing out the light, Kondo settled in for a long night of sleep. And though he could feel sleep trying to take him, he simply couldn't relax long enough to fall asleep.

With a heavy sigh he tossed back the covers and moved to stand when a strange noise caught his ear.

"Eh?"

Cautiously he stopped and listened to the silence of the night, and after several minutes when he had assumed he was simply losing his mind, he heard another sound. Standing quickly, he pressed his ear to the rice-paper wall and listened.

Several different moans sounded from the room next to his.

'Ah, Okita has found a lady-friend to warm this cold night. Good for him, that boy needs all the relief he can get.' Kondo spoke mentally with a good natured grin in place.

Then it vanished. And something clicked into place. Okita was no longer staying in his room, Aiko, his daughter was.

In a flash Kondo had his haroi on, katana drawn and the door to his room flung open, stomping to the room his daughter was staying in he again tossed the door open and glared into the inky darkness.

It was empty.

~*~

Okita barely had enough time to close his kimono when Kondo's door flew open. Okita froze, his hand pressed hard over Aiko's. Their eyes locked onto the engawa and both flinched with each loud, booming step her father took.

If they got caught heads were going to roll.

There was a lull of silence were both youths froze and waited, then his voice.

"Aiko! Where have you gone girl!"

Survival instincts running on full and passion still coursing through her veins, she quickly flipped Okita over on to his back and grabbed his tanto. Then with an over exaggerated victory cry she called, "Over here, father! Look what I managed to do! I've pinned down Okita Souji."

Okita managed a crocked smile and innocent look the moment Kondo peered over and looked down at the two of them. He was suddenly very happy Aiko was resting above his groin, Kondo looked ready to kill.

"Aiko, what is going on here?"

Aiko managed a nervous giggle, "I, ah, am a bit jumpy. And well Okita-sama was passing by, well I thought he was an enemy and well attacked."

Okita winced, hoping to look stunned and innocent.

Kondo didn't look like he was going to fall for it as he asked, "you mean to tell me that there has been no philandering? That the two of you were not in fact in the middle of the throes of passion?"

Both Aiko and Okita had the decency to blush, and Aiko glared a bit for effect.

"Father! How course!"

"Kondo-kun, Aiko merely attacked me as I was heading to bed." Well that's about the truth, she did kind of attack him.

Kondo remained quiet then stunned them both by tossing a beaming smile, "I knew I could trust my daughter's virtue with you, Okita!" With a sudden yawn he stood and headed back to his room, "be a good lad and see to it that Aiko returns to her room at a decent hour."

Both waited on baited breath as Kondo's door shut with a slight clink, only then did Aiko break into a fit of giggles. Okita watched awestruck as the woman above him laughed, a smile coming to his lips at the ironic last words Kondo had spoken before returning to bed.

"Oh my, I can't believe we were almost caught." Aiko laughed, "protect my innocence, pfft how ironic don't you think Okita" And once more her voice was cut off by Okita's hungry kiss.

"I believe we have some unfinished business, Aiko."

Tbc!

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Woohoo! Gimmie some action hunny!

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Next Chapter

Insert the little ninja! No, not Tetsu, not Naruto, but Takara!

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To the Reviewers!

Ione_girl: Some how…I feel discouraged…lol. Glad you like!

Inca_dove: Who is actually NOT me, but lillithan! Lol, I'm sure you liked this here chapter! (giggles)