True Gifts

Disclaimer: This fanfic is based on the story and characters of Rurouni Kenshin, created by Watsuki Nobuhiro. I’m just borrowing his creations for a spell, no copyright infringements were intended. I’m not getting paid for this Kiddies! This is my own private obsession!


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If you want to continue where this story left off for some juicy A/M action and angst chesk out the follow-up, my True Gifts Lemony Fresh Extra. This has become a new tale in it's own right and is still in progress. Also my Blanket Scenario: A/M for some chilly hotness. ^_^ I love comments, BTW.


If you don't know how to play Gin-Rummy you'll have a pretty good idea by the end of this chapter. It's kind of a quick closer cause I've got something even better planned as an afterward. Its gonna be a lemon so be prepared. All in all I was touched by this story. Its cute! And I wanted something for Aoshi to hold on to since he couldn't have Misao.


The last line of the story was mandatory for the RKFFDL Working Girl Challenge

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True Gifts 4b
By Miss_Led


Misao allowed Takahashi to lead her out of the noisy room, grateful for the quiet to be found once the doors closed. When she paused to look about the room, she was very surprised to see a low table set for two, laden with food and drink, before her. Her eyes found their way to his, silently questioning. Takahashi smiled at her then, and Misao’s heart skipped a beat; when he spoke, his voice was molten honey, "Will you do me the honor of sharing a meal with me, Misao-san?"

Misao stared at him with wonder in her eyes, her reply was a feathery whisper, "Hai, Takahashi-san." His smile brightened as he moved forward to guide her to an awaiting cushion near the table. Misao’s mind worked furiously, ‘He barely knows me, but look at the lavish things he has done to make me happy! These beautiful clothes and wonderful meal, all for me, he can’t be as bad as they say, he’s so gentle!’ A stray shadow of uneasy doubt latched onto the back of her conscience, ‘But looks can be deceiving.’

One of the now deceased members of the Oniwabanshu, Hanya, came to her mind. He had been a good friend and teacher to Misao as a young child. ‘Hanya was a master of disguise, but he taught me that people don’t always need masks to hide themselves or their intentions. Saitou said this man was dangerous, I have no reason to trust that poor excuse for a cop, but in this case I don’t think he’d lie. I’d best keep myself on guard.’

As he sat her down, Takahashi brought her hand to his lips. He turned it over to press a quick kiss to her palm. "Please, Misao-san, call me Ryu. I want to be your friend." Misao was a bit stunned from the feel of his lips burning into her palm. She didn’t fight Takahashi as he kissed her hand, merely regarded him calmly as he seated himself on another cushion diagonally across from her. Smiling in cheerful oblivion to the havoc he was wreaking on her senses, he picked up a pair of lacquered chopsticks. "Itadakimatsu!"

Misao recovered from her momentary shock to giggle at him. "Itadakimatsu, Ryu-kun." She eagerly grabbed the set of delicate wooden utensils next to her bowl of rice and began to partake of the delicacies laid out before her. Takahashi watched her fervor with silent amusement. His spunky little angel had a sin after all: gluttony. Before the night was through, he planned for her to have accumulated several more then that. Picking up a plate of moist, seaweed-wrapped sushi Ryu placed it next to her, inviting her to try one of the succulent morsels.

"Misao-san, have a taste of this. I had them prepared especially for you. I have a feeling you’ll find them irresistible!" Misao face glowed with anticipation as she reached out her chopsticks to raise one of the ornately prepared treats to her lips. Across from her, Takahashi’s eyes glowed in anticipation as well. ‘Eat up my angel. The drugs in that sushi should only make it easier for you to be mine….’

His face was deadpan as he commented on the attack she’d waged on the meal which had been so carefully prepared for her pleasure, "Ne, Misao-san, don’t eat so fast! You might eat the dishes by mistake!!" Misao froze and half-choked on her mouthful of sushi. She looked horrified and more then a little embarrassed. Takahashi couldn’t help himself and laughed heartily.

"Mou! Ryu-kun!! It’s not nice to tease me so!!" Misao’s small mouth was pressed into an indignant pout. His gaze raked over her fragile features, devouring the sight of her rosy blush and angry eyes greedily. His inner voice shouted with glee, ‘Feisty! Oh, she’ll be so fun to break!’

His laughter died down to a smile as he apologized, "Sumen ne, Misao-san. I didn’t mean it as anything but a joke. This food is for you, after all. I want you to enjoy it! I couldn’t help but tease you, though; you’re even more beautiful with that angry spark in your eyes." The flush on her face darkened as she looked down at the rice bowl in her hand.

‘Wait until she realizes what the real surprise I have in store for her is. Just a few more bites of that sushi…'

"Arigatou, Ryu-kun. No one has ever told me anything like that before." Her hands clenched as her mind registered the words /No one/ as /Aoshi/. ‘Baka! Get that frozen lout of a man out of your mind before you get distracted!’ It appeared to be too late however, during her momentary lapse, Takahashi had edged closer to her. Elsewhere in the building, in a darkened hallway, Aoshi reached up to rub his itching nose.

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For the most part, Misao’s evening with Takahashi had been very enjoyable. His conversation was intellectual and engaging, utterly charming her as they ate. The food was delicious and Misao was unable to get enough of the tender rolls of sushi. She laughed freely, the sound ringing through the room. For the time being, they were cocooned in their own bubble of uninterrupted bliss.

Takahashi paused in their conversation and reached for a small white bottle in the center of the table. He picked up a matching white saucer and poured a clear liquid into the shallow dish. He handed the saucer of sake to Misao and poured another for himself. Raising the cup, he grabbed her hand, squeezing it affectionately and spoke, "Misao-san, I’d like to make a toast. To you and your beauty, which lights up the room. You are every man’s dream incarnate. Kappoi!"

"K-KK-Kappoi!…"Misao blushed again, in order to cover her embarrassment, she downed the sake in one scalding gulp, coughing as the burning liquid traveled to her stomach.

"Oi! Oi! Drink up Misao-san! You don’t want to waste good sake, do you?" Takahashi took the saucer from her hands and filled it again. Returning the dish to her, he smiled, "Misao-san, now you’re obligated to make a toast in return!"
Needless to say, Misao wasn’t exactly thrilled with the idea, but she felt compelled to honor his hospitality.

She raised her cup to be filled and forced a bright smile, "Hai, Ryu-kun! To delightful company and good food!" He laughed and downed his drink with one backward toss of his head. Misao followed suit, smiling as she slapped her empty cup onto the table. Takahashi’s eyes narrowed at the action, it was one used by competitive drinkers, not demure young ladies. Misao flushed realizing her faux pas and giggled nervously, stifling a yawn as she did so. ‘All that food must have made me drowsy, I’ll have to pay even more attention.’

Holding up another small bottle, he motioned to her empty cup. Misao smiled enthusiastically, raising her cup for another round. She dearly hoped that Takahashi hadn’t caught the action. Ryu began to think that he’d gotten more than he’d bargained for as he regarded the zealous look on Misao’s face. It was time to back off and change tactics… maybe slow things down to a more manageable pace as the drugs set in.

After finishing another drought of the clear liquor, Takahashi pulled open a small drawer in the table. He reached in to retrieve a small metal box then held it up for her inspection, "Misao-san, do you know what this is?" She regarded the slim, rectangular container in silence. The knowledge finally dawned upon her as he opened the box, showing her the stiff, decorated pieces of cut paper inside.

"Hai! They are used in some sort of gaijin game. Karudo’s, as least, I think that’s what they’re called. I’ve never actually seen anyone use them before, but many of the stores in Osaka have them in the windows. "Do you know how to use them?" she inquired quizzically. ‘Yatta! If he shows me how to use them, I could get a deck of these things for myself and kick Jiya’s butt gambling! Wait! What am I thinking? Focus, Misao, focus…Get the stuff you need and leave, make Aoshi happy on his birthday. Ack! I’m thinking of HIM again!!!!’

Takahashi Ryu was silent as he watched Misao’s thoughts play across her face. It was amusing to say the least, he just wished she’d share some of them with him. "Ne, Misao-san…What are you thinking about?" Misao face-faulted as she was abruptly jerked out of her thoughts by the intrusion of his voice. What she saw in front of her made the air whoosh out of her lungs in a silent sigh.

Ryu was turned to face her, one elbow was on the table and his head rested in the palm of his hand. His eyes had taken on a half-lidded, sultry look as if he were deeply engrossed in the sight of her. "Ryu-kun," the words were soft, "I-I was thinking that you could teach me how to use these things so that I might one day entertain my husband by playing the game with him." As her words came to an end, one corner of Takahashi’s mouth slid upwards.

"I can teach you many things, Misao, but there are some I think it best you not show anyone else. I think the man you chose to wed will find himself somewhat… surprised by them..." There was a wry smile on his face as he spoke. Misao’s heart pounded in her chest. ‘Why? Why is it hard for me to breathe with him looking at me like that? Why can I hear my blood rushing through my veins?’

Takahashi seemed to be very aware of the feelings coursing through Misao. Reaching out a hand, he cupped the side of her face in a soft caress, drawing his fingers along her jaw to hold up her chin. Misao’s eyes closed as the heat of his touch burned a path along her skin, "Ryu-kun…..Watashi wa….I…" One finger reached up to seal her lips shut and Misao’s eyes opened again only to be captured by his as he began to lean in towards her. ‘Oh no! What do I do?! I can’t move!!!’ Panic overtook her in the space of a second.

Misao closed her eyes tightly, trying to regain her balance from the dizziness that had begun to overwhelm her. Takahashi dropped her chin and retreated to his earlier position in the meantime. He didn’t want to frighten away his prey before he even got a taste of her. He’d just have to take it nice and slow. Pulling out the deck of cards he began to shuffle them, looking at his hands intently as he did so. This gave Misao a few minutes to regain her composure.
She took advantage of them willingly, mentally forcing her sluggish body to obey her commands. She wasn’t about to let the situation get out of hand.

Across from her Takahashi regarded the table pensively, "Hmm, I think we’re going to need a bit more room on the table if you want to learn how to play cards the right way. Let me call someone to take away this mess." Picking up an ornately carved wooden whistle from the table, he blew upon it gently sending a low quavering sound through the room. Within seconds two servants appeared and began to clear empty dishes off the table, a third entered with a tray of small sake bottles and fresh saucers. The servants bowed to Takahashi as one and backed out of the room, the last rising to her knees to pull the rice-paper door closed behind her.
"Now then, let’s get down to business!" Takahashi shuffled the cards one more time before turning the stack face up on the table. Let me explain how these work. Each card has a number and a suite, the highest cards in a suite, the ruling cards, are given honorific names, the Samurai is the lowest, the Empress comes next and lastly but most important is the Emperor. Each suite in the deck runs from Ichi, Ni, San, Yon, Go, Roku, Nana, Hachi, Ku, Ju, Samurai, Empress, to Emperor. The different suites are Kappu, Sao, Kahei and Katana." He pointed to the different cards and suites as he laid them on the table.
"Wakkatta, Ryu-kun. But how do we play?" Misao was unable to keep the thread of eagerness from her voice. The cards were beautifully ornate and the designs upon the crown cards depicted characters of the Tokagowa Shogunate and opposing Ishin Shishi leaders, it was all very exciting to her.

"Matte, matte! There’s one more card to explain!" He spread the remaining cards on the across the table sifting through them until he came upon a card that looked quite unlike the rest. "This last card here is the Baka." Misao giggled and took the proffered card from his hands. Looking down upon it, she realized, with more than a little shock, that it depicted a young man with red hair and a cross scar on his cheek who held a katana.

"The Hitokiri Battousai, ne?" Takahashi smiled as she held the card up.

"So, you are familiar with the Bakumatsu no Doran? Only fitting that the legendary Battousai be the Trump card, but there are two Trumps in every deck" Sifting thought the cards a bit more, he finally picked up another card. This one also had a young man with a sword depicted upon it, but in this case, he had dark hair and angelic features. "The Shinsen Gumi’s lackey, Okita Souji, I believe. I’m glad to hear that you know of our country’s past."

"Hai!" Inside her mind, Misao was laughing with near hysterics. ‘Himura as the Baka? Oh this is too rich! How fitting! I must tell Aoshi-sa…..Mou! Concentrate Misao!’ Her next words were mumbled around an escaping giggle "I think the choices of the trumps are very accurate to our country’s history, Ryu-kun, but how do we play????" Misao’s eyes were wide with keen anticipation.

"Hai, hai!" There was a smirk on Takahashi’s face as he collected the cards into a deck and began to shuffle them. Next to him, Misao was beginning to sway back and forth, it was barely noticeable but the sign was enough to alert Takahashi that the drugs he’d had put in her food were beginning to take affect. "Now that you know all of the cards let me explain the logic of the game. There are several different card games we could play. The one I like most is called Rummy."

"Hai…" Misao’s response lacked the enthusiasm of the prior one. She was beginning to feel even wearier as he spoke in a calm even tone. ‘Misao! What’s wrong with you Baka! Now is not the time to fall asleep!’ She ignored the inquiring look on her companion’s face and reached across the table to the tray of sake. She snatched up one of the cool bottles and poured herself another round of chilled alcohol. "Sumimasen, Ryu-kun, but it’s beginning to feel very hot in here!"

"Misao-san, I think it’s just your imagination." He watched as she flushed and fidgeted with her obi. ‘Just a little longer…’ The cards hit the table with a loud thwap as Takahashi proceeded to shuffle them for the second time. "Now, each player gets seven cards to begin with. You lay them down in groupings of three or more like cards, say three Samurai, or four twos. Got it?"

When Misao nodded he dealt the cards one at a time. "You can also lay them down in rows from one suite, say the Ace, Two and Three of Sao, or the 9, 10, Samurai and Empress of Kahei, understood?"

"Hai! So you mean I can’t….." Misao paused as a yawn escaped her covering her mouth politely with her hand. "Gomen, but you can’t lay down filler cards from different suites? They all have to be from the same one, ne?"

"I think you’ve got it! Now pick up your cards and count them to make sure I dealt right." Misao collected her cards and counted while taking a look at the hand she had been dealt. She noted that she held one of the Bakas. ‘Well at least I have Himura on my side tonight, I think I’m going to need all the help I can get!’

"Ne, Ryu-kun? What do we use the Bakas for?" Takahashi paused in the task of flipping the top card of the deck face up to look at her.

"Did I not explain them?" His face was a laughable blend of curious doubt.

"Iie, not even a word other than to say the Bakas are Trumps. You haven’t even told me what a Trump is!!!" Misao’s face was lit by silent amusement for the perplexed man before her.

"Sou ka? I guess I should explain then. A Trump is a wild card or one that is a helper. In this game the Trump is used to replace any other card in the deck. Say you have a 4 and a 6 of Sao but you don’t have the 5. If you have a Trump it can act in the place of that five in the deck." He paused as Misao swallowed back another yawn. ‘Shimatta! I hope I didn’t give her too strong a mixture of drugs. She’ll be of little use to me asleep!’ Takahashi forced his hand to relax around his cards before they were crushed.

Misao tapped her head as understanding dawned. "Oh! So that’s what they’re for!!!" The wheels of her mind started to lazily plot a strategy of defeat. ‘Hummm….*Yawn* 7 cards. One is a Baka….but I don’t have anything else! How am I supposed to play when I don’t have the right cards!!!!’ It seemed that Takahashi read the confusion on her face. Reaching out he clasped her free hand, drawing it to his lips.

"Don’t look so desolate, Misao-san. There’s more to playing games than meets the eye. You will let me show you, ne?" The soft croon of Ryu’s voice drifted over her skin like the brush of exotic flower petals, both foreign to the senses and intoxicating all at once. Strong fingers began to work against her palm, soothing the tiny strains of her uneasiness.

‘It would be so easy to just let myself melt into his hands……’ Misao’s eyes closed as she swayed ever so slightly. The pressure of Ryu’s fingers increased as they moved up her forearm inside her sleeve, pulling her closer. "Ryu…" The word was a sigh drenched in newfound emotions for Misao and it rolled of her tongue like thick honey. Beside her Takahashi eased ever closer, his cards discarded as he began the real game of the evening.

Misao’s eyes flickered open as Takahashi leaned in toward her. She blinked once before gently tugging her arm free of his grasp. "Ryu, aren’t you going to show me how to play? Or are you too afraid that once I learn you’ll lose?" Misao’s coy smile and challenging words seemed to have the opposite of the desired effect on her companion. Takahashi smiled ferally and leaned back, her determination to preoccupy him from his goal was more of a chase than he’d had in quite some time and Ryu was enjoying it thoroughly.

"Misao, I do believe that was your way of saying you think you can beat me? If so, I want to know what you’d like to wager that you can, I’m willing to offer 1,000 sen. What can you give me if I win?" Under his intense gaze Misao began to squirm. He’d just offered to give her more money than she’d see in the next five years if she beat him at his own game. On the other hand, she had to wager something of her own in return.

Misao lifted her chin into the air and steeled her back, "Fine, I accept your terms. If you win I give you the pleasure of my company for one week straight. Please note, I said my company, nothing more, after all, I am an honorable young woman." Ryu’s grin seemed to stretch with satisfaction. Reaching to the tray in the center of the table he poured two shots of sake.

Handing one to Misao he spoke, "To seal out wager. It will be bliss to have you at my disposal for a week." He winked, giving her a devastatingly handsome smile that made her heart thud with something other than nervousness. ‘Misao, what have you done? You’re supposed to be here getting evidence on the guy not making bets with him!!!! Oh, I have to get out of here before I do something else wrong!’ As the thought ended, Misao stifled yet another yawn.

"Ok, this face up card here on the table is going to be like a well of cards, you can pick this card up if you need it but you have to use it as soon as you do so. If there is more than one card here in the well you can pick up as many as you need." He tapped the cards on the table to emphasize the next rule, "You MUST, however, use the bottom-most card you pick up right away and you have to take all of the cards which lay upon it into your hand. If there is nothing here you need then you have to pick up a card from the deck. At the end of each turn you pick a card from your hand and throw it into the well. Is that all clear?"

"Hai, I think I’ve got the gist of it. The game ends when one of us runs out of cards?" Takahashi nodded approvingly. Misao took a good look at her cards then back at her opponent. "Ryu-kun? Is it my turn?"

"Aa.." Takahashi watched as Misao picked up a card from the stack. The hand that held her cards reached up to hide another yawn behind a fan of stiff paper as she looked at the new addition. Pulling two cards out of her hand, Misao laid the two, three and four of Kappu on the table before her.

"Is this right?" Ryu’s eyebrow twitched as he regarded his own measly hand and Misao’s new set on the table.

"Aa…. You catch on quick. I think you might have beginner's luck on your side tonight. Let’s see if I can’t find some of my own, but first you have to discard." Misao blushed and hastily picked a card to throw into the well. Ryu saw it as one he needed and snatched it up to lay three of a kind down on the table. "I think I just found my luck." Looking up he gave her a gleaming smile before settling back to await her next turn.

Misao groaned inwardly, ‘Luck? That’s the last thing I need cause all of mine looks like it’s going to be bad for the rest of the evening…..’

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A few turns later Misao was still holding her own, albeit just barely. She and Ryu were only a few points away from each other with her opponent in the lead. Though Misao was playing well, she found that it was getting harder to concentrate on the cards. The flush she had felt earlier had intensified and spread down from her forehead to the tops of her shoulders, which now seemed as if they were on fire. Several more droughts of sake had done nothing to soothe the problem. Now as she stared at her cards, it was becoming much more difficult to focus on the numbers.

"Misao-san, it’s your turn. Aren’t you going to play?"

"H-h-hai." Misao reached a shaking hand over the width of the table to draw a card from the ever-decreasing deck. As she moved to retrieve it, the card fell from her feeble grasp and landed face up on the table. A man, with eyes like a wolf, stared up at her in the form of the Ace of Spades from the lacquered tabletop. Those menacingly condescending eyes were the last thing she saw before the world went black.

Takahashi rose to his feet with a quick motion, reaching out to catch Misao’s limp form before she hit the table face first. Shifting her weight against him, he hefted her into his arms and strode the far side of the room. Tugging a heavy silk tapestry aside, he revealed a large oaken door which had been masterfully concealed by the ornate decoration. He leaned a shoulder against the heavy door and it slid open soundlessly to reveal a chamber decorated in western fashion.
Dominating the center of the room was a raised dais upon which a European style four-poster bed with an intricately carved wooden canopy awaited it’s owners comfort. To the left was a dark mahogany desk with lion claws for feet, behind which sat a formidable leather chair, studded with brass and accented in the same rich wood as the desk. To the right was a tall dresser, a silver candelabra gracing its wide surface. The light from the eight burning candles gave the room a soft flickering glow.

Without pause Takahashi walked up the dais to the bed. He carefully placed the unconscious girl onto the soft velvet coverlet. Leaning over her, he reached out a hand to check her temperature. Swearing softly under his breath he retreated to a corner of the room to duck behind an oriental paper screen. He reappeared a few moments later carrying a pitcher of water and a towel. He wet the towel sparingly before setting the pitcher down next to the bed.
Using the damp corner of the cloth he began to dab at the heat of Misao’s forehead and cheeks, pausing to run a hand along the graceful arch of her neck. The sleeping girl twisted into the gentle coolness of his touch before becoming still on the bed once more. Takahashi sighed deeply and went back to his thoughtful exploration of Misao’s features.

"Misao, my angel, you are so beautiful, I'm going to take it upon myself to make sure you make me see heaven." He leaned down to kiss her with a twisted smirk. His lips had almost reached hers when he felt a sharp object pressed to his neck. He stopped suddenly realizing he was no longer in control.

"Iie, not tonight, Ryu-san. My lips are not meant for you." Misao forced him back with her kunai. She sat up and watched the room spin for a second before she regained her equilibrium. Ryu was before her trying not to breathe, the kunai having already made a small knick in his neck when she had sat up. She smiled at him and moved off the bed. She spied a western style chair in the corner and pointed him towards it with her free hand, they move backwards a pace at a time until Ryu was in the chair. Misao pulled off the sash of her obi then, tying the man up.

As soon as she was done she walked haphazardly over to the bed, laughing softly. She promptly passed out in an ungraceful sprawl, her kimono just barely covering her.

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Aoshi was just about to follow the sound of Misao’s laughter when all hell broke loose in the house. It appeared to be some sort of raid. People pushing past him trying to flee out the back entrance of the building, there was chaos everywhere. Aoshi struggled against the tide of bodies rushing past him in the narrow hallway. At that moment, a familiar face came into view.

"Saitou!!!!!!!!!" Aoshi yelled his name over the noise. The officer looked up sharply. Swearing, he turned around to walk the other direction. Aoshi forced his way through the haphazard crowd and stopped near Saitou. The man turned around to face his pursuer, in his arms was a limp Misao.

Aoshi didn’t even stop to think. He grabbed Misao out of Saitou’s arms. Laying her on the ground, he ran his hands over her body to make sure she had not been hurt. He felt her kunai hidden under her clothes and her chest moved as she breathed. Misao was unconscious but that seemed to be it.

He promptly stood and took a swing at Saitou. The other man braced himself for the blow, knowing he wouldn’t be able to avoid it. He took the blow fully on his left cheek, his face turning with Aoshi’s fist, but he still stood. Aoshi ignored Saitou after that, going back to Misao. Saitou stretched his jaw and massaged his cheek with a gloved hand.

‘That son of a bitch, the girl did all of this for him. Wait until he realizes how much of a fool he’s been for so long by ignoring her feelings and his own.’ Saitou smiled to himself, thinking that fate was funny. He didn’t envy Shinomori, from the look of it, by the time he figured out what he had it might be too late.

Saitou looked about at his men as they rounded up various politicians, mobsters and high-priced geisha. ‘The little weasel girl has done her job well. She deserves her reward.’ Saitou’s eyes narrowed as two of his officers dragged Takahashi out from the back room. Misao’s obi, which she had artfully used to bind the man, was hung over his shoulder. Saitou walked forward and plucked it from its perch and turned to lay it over the unconscious Misao. Aoshi gave him a sinister warning look as the fabric covered Misao, but Saitou really didn’t care. He smirked at the protective action and turned on his heel to give orders to his men.

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Misao woke up in her bed at the Aoiya the next morning with a raging hangover. When at last the throbbing pain had subsided enough for her to open her eyes, she saw Aoshi sitting in front of her. His eyes were colder then normal, she knew instantly that he had found out about her job with Saitou. And he was furious with her. His face told her none of this, but she knew him well enough to know when he was angry. In his lap he held a package. It was wrapped in brown paper and flat.

Misao’s eyes opened wide as she realized what it was. The package looked like it had yet to be opened. She sat up but was overwhelmed by nausea. Aoshi snaked out a hand, pushing her back into a prone position on the futon. "Baka, what do you think you’re doing trying to get up!" His tone was harsh and she flinched at the sound. Aoshi took a deep breath, calming himself.

"Misao, promise me that you will come to me from now on in the future whenever you have a problem. Please." This time the words were soft, a balm to smooth the hurt the first had caused. Aoshi’s eyes lost their icy sheen as Misao’s teared over. "I was worried about you after we got that note, so I followed you and when I found you at the Ageya, unconscious in Saitou’s arms, I thought we’d lost you. I don’t want to have to go through that again. Do you understand me?"

Misao smiled up at him, rejoicing in the fact that he CARED for her well being. She was happy with the knowledge, it warmed her inside and out. ‘Aoshi-sama was worried about me! Maybe this whole escapade wasn’t such a bad idea after all!!!’ Misao smiled to herself.

"Oh, and one of Saitou’s men brought this by for you. He said it was yours." Aoshi held out the package to her. Misao took it from his hands to hold it tightly against her chest for a moment. Then to his confusion she handed it back to him. "Happy birthday, Aoshi-sama." She smiled lightly then and yawned, Her eyes closing softly as she snuggled down into her covers. Misao was asleep within minutes, the smile still tugging on the corners of her mouth.

Aoshi looked down upon her with an emotion that could be called tenderness in his eyes. ‘She got something for me? A gift…’ The corner of Aoshi’s mouth tilted upwards as he remembered her words from a few days ago while she had been sleeping. So, she wanted to get me something for my birthday. I didn’t think anyone had remembered. Leave it to Misao.’

Reaching out, he drew the string binding the package, then proceeded to fold back the flaps of the brown wrapping to uncover his gift. He lifted the leather-bound book throwing the wrapping to the side carelessly. His eyes widened as he realized how expensive it must have been for her, not knowing what a trial Misao had gone through for the gift. He opened the cover and the text made a slight cracking sound as do all books when they are new. He looked at the white pages in wonder, he noticed a few that were brown at the edge but dismissed it as a flaw in the pages. The crisp sheets finally fell back to reveal the plaque at the front of the book.

It was inscribed with one small phrase, "True gifts come from the heart." The words were simple but their effect on Aoshi was poignant, for the first time in his life he felt choked up, his eyes stung at the corners. He took a deep breath, then another before he could quelch the intense surge of emotion that had just overtaken him. Next to him, he heard Misao sigh.

She hadn’t been quiet asleep yet, but as she heard his ragged breaths next to her, she knew she had done the right thing. It had been worth the effort after all. One last thought whispered across her mind before she succumbed to sleep, ‘The things I do for Aoshi-sama…..’


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Owari!!!


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Author's Notes: I actually finished it!!!! It's taken me over 4 years to grind this thing out with all the bugs and stuff. I know it's very abrupt in some parts but that's because my greater efforts have been focused on writing the True Gifts Lemony Fresh Extra! You're going to love it!