Yue had no clue why Yurien was frantically trying to drag her towards the main hall, but decided it would be best to see what had worked up the little girl so much. Thinking it was probably an insect, at worst, she mentally prepaired herself for the task of disposing of it in some way. She'd probably have to get it to come onto another object, then set it outside in the cold, where the poor thing would have to fend for itself in the winter. But she could not kill it or leave it because Yurien then would never ever be able to sleep again. If only Akane was there, she'd be able to sooth the little girl and actually be able to get her to make friends with the insect, no matter how many legs it had. If only Akane. . .

She froze when she saw what Yurien was so upset about, because never in a million years would she have guessed that it was Akane, along with another black haired girl, collapsed in the middle of the main hall. The door was still open, the cold wind blowing in, the two girls lying spraled on the floor, extremely flushed, a cloak laying over them because it was probably what was keeping them warm as they walked. . .

"RIRIKA! RYUU! REI!" She cried the names of all the servants that would possibly be of help to them at this situation, including Miaka's name, because her specialty was illnesses and making people better, although she would never be able to top Akane, who always seemed to make someone better by just a smile or a kind word. . .but now she was the one who needed help, and Yue felt so helpless. She didn't know what to do. . .and so she just sat down next to the person who was her best friend in the world, and took her cold hand, affraid to flip her over incase she was injured .

"Akane. . .hold on. . ."

"It's gonna take more than a lousy snow storm to keep me down. . ." Akane's surprizingly weak voice said as she stirred, her body moving slightly so that she could look over to Yue. "Hey, Blondie. . . as loud as ever, I see. . ."

"Akane!" Yue exclaimed in relief, joy, and worry as Ryuu and Miaka rushed into the room shortly followed by Rei and Ririka. The four people didn't waste anytime and also quickly kneeled next to the two girls who were lying on the floor. It was Yurien who finally shut the front doors at Yue's command, as Ryuu and Rei dragged the two girls out of the way.

"Akane, are you alright?!" Ryuu worriedly demanded, as Miaka began to feel around her back to make sure she wasn't hurt there, or anywhere else, Ririka doing the same for the unconcious black haired girl who hadn't even stirred yet.

"Besides the fact that I still feel like I'm at the North pole in a bathing suit? Sure, I'm just peachy," she forced a smile, obviously trying her best to stay concious, and keep her shivering in check at the same time.

"Oh man, you must have been out there in that weather for a long time!" Miaka exclaimed, ignoring Yue's "well duh" expression. "Didn't you find somewhere to stay?"

"I did but. . ." she trailed off then instead of finishing the sentence, she sighed then asked, "Could I please have a warm bath or something before I get frost bite?"

Yue eagerly nodded instructing Miaka, in a overly haughty tone, which Akane didn't have the strength to argue with her about, to make Akane a bath and help her into it. ". . .she's obviously not strong enough to do it herself, and we can't have any of the men doing it." she had concluded, causing Rei's, who already had the mental picture in his head, nose to start gushing blood which he quickly tried to stop.

"What about Misao?" Akane weakly asked as Ryuu walked over to her and gently picked her up for his sister, so she wouldn't have to carry Akane all the way to the bathroom. Yue looked over to "Misao" who was done being inspected by Ririka, and ordered that Ririka do the same to Misao as Miaka was to do to Akane. Hopefully the warm water would awaken her and thaw her out.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"If I know Akane, which I do," Yuuchirou said in a proud tone as he walked down one of the snowy paths with a highly aggitated Soujirou behind him, "she would head home because she has no where else to go."

"Well there was the cottege, she could have decided it was stupid for her to leave like that and come back," Soujirou said, keeping his voice calm, hiding the anger and annoyance that he felt at that moment. For some reason, the way this Yuuchirou guy talked about Akane infuriated him. It was like he was rubbing it in that he new Akane more than him, almost as if he was trying to prove something, jealousy obviously fueling this attitude, though he didn't have anything to be jealous for.

"Why would she do that if she purpously left the cottage?" Yuuchirou then smiled to himself as if winning another small victory. "Once she puts her mind to something, she goes through with it. . . besides, the mansions not to far from here, we should stop wandering around aimlessly and head there."

Soujirou had no clue why he was looking for Akane, or why he was actually doing so with her "boss" who was obviously feeling more for her than a master/servant type of thing, but it just happened to be where he had ended up that day. . . only a few days ago, he would never have thought he would be this connected with one person, but with the way Yuuchirou talked about Akane, it seemed she had a way of worming herself into anyones heart. She was one of those people who had a way to make friends with almost anything. . .and on top of that was Shi Shi O's sister. . .

Soujirou had always thought that Shi Shi O's family was all dead. . .he never imagined that he had a sister, and even if he did, he would never think in a million years she would be like Akane. They were so different, but then again, she did resembled him quite a bit when she tried to kill him. The look in her eyes, and the tone her voice took as she spoke to him. . .it was eerie how much she was like her older brother, and frightening.

Now that he thought about it, it was painful to see her like that. Her normally cheerfull self fighting like no other girl he had ever seen before. . .I guess this is real friendship. . .

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Akane soaked in the hot bath water, taking in the beautiful scents of the expensive "bubble bath" Miaka so graciously placed in her water for her. Maybe she should go out into a blizzard more often. . .if it meant this kind of treatment, hell, why not? She was being treated more like a Hino than a servant, and this kind of luxury could easily be gotten used to. . .heh, like it would ever be perminent. . .

She smiled softly to herself as she just decided to relax and enjoy the scent. . .her brain had been clearing since the moment she stepped one foot in that tub, and right now it was as clear as it was going to get. . .and that's why she all of a sudden had a moment of extreme duh.

"Shimatta! Soujirou!"

Without another thought, she jumped out of the warm comfort that had soothed her frozen limbs, grabbed what the Americans called a bathrobe, hurriedly put it on, and ran out of the bathroom in a rush to tell someone about her friend that was probably freezing to death in that lousy cabin in the middle of the woods.

In a desperate hurry, she didn't notice any of the servants who turned to watch her as she ran, she didn't notice Rei who's nose once more started to bleed, and she didn't notice the two men who where walking down the hall towards her, which is probably why she crashed head on with them, causing both her and the one she ran into to fall backwards. She not being as skilled as the lucky one she ran into, sprawled out on the floor as she collided with it, where he just fell on his but. All she could think as she propped herself up was that she was glad her bathrobe was still tied, even though it was showing a little more thigh than she would have liked. . .

"Sumimasen. . .I wasn't watching where I was going," Akane said in a polite and demure voice as she stood in unison with the man she ran into, for the first time actually looking up to see who it was. If you haven't guessed already, it was a certain brown haired wanderer who was at present dusting himself off saying that it was all right. Aparently he didn't even assume it was her, with her voice being weak and not being able to see her before, because he wasn't cringing or having any response like that. And that's also probably why he was extremely shocked when she lunged forward and hugged him.

"huh?" was his main reaction as he froze, still not getting who this still soaking wet girl was.

"Soujirou! I am so happy your all right! I just remembered that you were still out there and was going to send someone to get you!" By now he guessed who this girl was and loosened a bit, not hugging her back, but not pushing her away either. "Oh your so cold! We have to get you warmed up and quick!"

She pulled back a bit to look at his face, smiling brightly as she was about to drag him off to where she left her bath, but was delayed by finally noticing the other person that was there. . .

"Oh, Yuuchirou-sama! When did you get there?" A vein popped on Chibi Yuuchirou's forehead as he began to walk away. "What's with him? It's not like he was out in a blizzard or anything. . . by the way, Soujirou, how'd you get here?"

"Luck." Soujirou replied, not knowing why he didn't just say that Yuuchirou lead him there. Akane just smiled, nodded, and lead him to the bathroom where he could have a nice bath.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

*Jessi rushes out onto the middle of a stage. She clears her throat then speaks*
Over the course of the next week, all those who were out in that blizzard got really bad colds and were nursed in the Hino Mansion, Soujirou and Misao being aloud to stay only because they helped Akane survive out there, and they stayed because they were too sick to leave. Time passed, they all got better, and then, once more, it was time for Soujirou to go on his journey.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Are you sure you have to leave? You could still take that job. . ." Akane said to Soujirou as he slung his bag over his shoulder, not meeting her sad eyes as she talked to him. "I mean, I'm sure the Hino's wouldn't mind. . .I mean. . ."

"That's quite all right, Akane, you and the Hino's have done enough for me," he replied as Akane tried her best to keep somewhat cheerfull, good byes always making her depressed because of that one time when she was four. . .

"Will you ever come back?" she blurted out, in an effort to keep the even thought of crying out of her head. She really didn't need to let Soujirou see her cry. . .he had no clue how attached she had gotten to him over the last week. . .there was just something about him that made her want to be by him. . .to be near him. Maybe it was the fact that both of them were close with Shi- her bro- or the person who. . .who ever that person was. . . but there was a connection there that she was sure only she felt, Soujirou definantly not appearing to pick up the same vibes.

"If fate leads me this way, I will be sure to stop by," he assured to her, probably to make her feel better, which it did, her face brightening up as she once more gave her that patented Akane smile that made your insides feel warm and turn into jelly.

"So this isn't good bye. . .right?" she eagerly asked him as she took a step forward, and the moment he concented she lept forward and hugged him, holding him tightly, but keeping in a friendly embrace. "I'm glad. . ."

Soujirou just patted her on the head as he pulled back and smiled faintly at her, with genuine warmth there for the first time and turned to leave, pausing briefly as she said, "So until the next time our paths cross!" He then turned just enough so he could see her and nodded.

"Until then"

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Only an hour later, Akane was in the same situation with Misao, who was packed, ready to go, and standing at the front door.

"You could stay longer if you like," Akane stalled, trying to get the younger woman to want to stay for a while longer, a solid friendship being formed between them over the week.

"No, I have to find that one I told you about before," Misao smiled as Akane nodded understandingly, trying to be as cheerful as she could once more, which was a very tiring thing.

"Where do you think you'll be heading next?"

"Probably Kyoto, to check back at the Aoiya, and then to Tokyo. While I'm there, I'll probably stop in with some friends," Misao smiled, then added, "You might have heard some about them from Soujirou or some other gossipers."

"Oh, really? Who are they?"

"Himura Kenshin-" The moment Akane heard that name, she froze, all other names melting into complete babble as Misao went on. . .could it possibly be that this Himura Kenshin could be that Himura Kenshin? The one that Soujirou barely talked about when asked by Yuuchirou if there was anyone that had ever bested him . . .the one that had. . .

"Wait-" Akane stopped Misao's babble urgently, "this Himura Kenshin couldn't possibly be that one that fought Shi Shi O, could he?"

"The one and the same, why?"

"I have a proposition for you. . ."

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