Part 18
---------------------------------------

Shinomori Aoshi sauntered down the tree-lined road leading to the Kamiya Dojo, a faint smile on his normally serious face. Finally, after several botched attempts, he had managed to sneak out of Kyoto, *without* the brat following him. He shook his head in wonder. It still amazed him how he, a master swordsman and former Oniwa Banshu leader, could have been so frustrated in his attempts to leave by one small, skinny girl. It boggled the mind, it truly did.

He drew in a long breath, letting it out in a long sigh of satisfaction. Aahh, freedom at last. He ruefully thought over the reason he had hightailed it out of Okina's residence. He would have settled in quite nicely, if it hadn't been for one thing: Misao. The former leader's granddaughter had developed quite an unhealthy fixation on him. If only he'd seen it sooner--! He'd been flattered at first, by her unabashed hero worship, especially after his ignominious defeat at both Kenshin and Shishio's hands. But soon, the constant way she kept following him and staring at him with those dreamy eyes had palled his enjoyment of the situation. He had almost *seen* the wedding kimonos and what-not floating around in her head everytime she looked at him.

Marraige to the brat. He shuddered. What a revolting thought.

It frustrated him that he, Shinomori "the Heartless" Aoshi, couldn't seem to find it in him to shatter her dreams by telling her that all her fantasies about living happily ever after with him were doomed to fail. How could he have told her that all he saw when he looked at her was the little kid he had taken in so long ago? Besides, she just wasn't his type. Now the Battousai on the other hand... He sighed, firmly squashing that line of thought. He didn't swing that way, really he didn't. It just wasn't fair that the ex-hitokiri was blessed with an overabundance of long, silky red hair and a slender, graceful body. He'd always been partial to that type. Too bad Kenshin wasn't a girl. Then he'd be perfect.

Oh well, if he couldn't have the Battousai for a girlfriend, he could at least have him as a sparring partner. With quickened steps, Aoshi continued on his way, clutching at his kodachi with an expectant gleam in his eyes.

* * * * *

"Anou, Himura-san?"

The hesitant note in Kurama's voice caught the rurouni's attention. Kenshin turned around to look at the young man in Sanosuke's arms.

"What is it, Kurama-dono?"

"I was wondering...how are you going to introduce us to your friends? I don't think they'll take well to the truth..."

Kenshin chewed thoughtfully on his lower lip. He hadn't considered that.

He stole a look at Sano, hoping for some inspiration. His taller friend however, paid him no mind, preoccupied as he was with staring at the redhead he was carrying. There was a decidedly goofy grin on his face. Kenshin quickly smothered a surprised gasp. He recognized that particular expression. It had graced his own face when he'd been with his wife so long ago.

It appeared as though Sano had developed quite a crush on the strange boy. Kenshin *knew* that Sano wasn't inclined in that direction, so that meant... An evil grin quirked his lips. Oh, this was going to be fun--! A glint of mischievous gold glimmered briefly in his eyes.

He cleared his throat, drawing the others' attention. "Kurama-dono, I think that the best thing to do would be to introduce you as..."

"As...?" Kurama was beginning to get worried. That look in Himura-san's violet eyes made warning bells clamour loudly his brain. He had a sinking feeling that he wasn't going to like what the other man was going to say.

Kenshin smiled beatifically. "As...", he paused dramatically. "My sister."

"Nani?!?"