When Misao finally woke many long hours past noon, she wished fervently that she was dead. Her head was absolutely POUNDING and it HURT especially when it throbbed in correlation with her heartbeat. The pain seemed to intensify to an excruciating extreme at those moments. She burrowed painfully underneath the light shielding barrier of her blanket.

She winced as she heard the very LOUD footfalls outside her door, and groaned when a shaft of light came into the room when the door opened.

If she had her kunai on her she didn't know if she'd have thrown them at the person, used them to take her own life, or not have the stamina to do either.

She sighed gratefully as she heard the door slide shut and the shadow of her visitor loomed over her, further blocking light.

She heard the rustling of cloth next to her as her visitor settled beside her, a cool and soothing hand, cautiously stealing beneath the futon to gently caress her forehead before slowly removing the blanket back enough to reveal her painstricken faced.

"mau... what do you want.." Misao moaned softly in great head pounding distress.

"I thought so. The others are more or less in your condition. Here, drink this."

Aoshi whispered gently, as he moved, shifting an arm around her to gingerly and slowly bring her into a sitting position, despite her irritated complaints.

"It's a herbal tea. It's good as both a blood purifier and a pain killer, and the honey makes it more palatable and helps with the hangover as well."

Misao, wanting the pain to stop, drank it in a greedy gulp despite how her head spun, and fought stubbornly not to cough it up.

Aoshi took the now empty cup from her, and handed her a small bowl of rice.

"I know you probably don't want to, but eat. It will help."

Misao looked at him, suffering written over her face, and grimacing ate as directed, trusting that her Aoshi, was right.

Misao handed the now empty bowl back to Aoshi who took it quietly, and gently lowered Misao back to the bed.

"Rest some more. I'll be back in a bit to check on you, after I deal with Okina."

Misao moaned "all his fault" she muttered under her breath.

Aoshi nodded his head.

"He'll get no sympathy from me, I had to suffer through his off-key, out of tune, obnoxiously loud and croaking singing last night."

Misao smiled, "You're talkative lately. And you're right, but it was fun for those participating."

Aoshi recognized the barbed note of that comment and nodded his head understanding that she was still upset that although he had been present he had not joined in on the... festivities.

"Thank you Aoshi."

Aoshi nodded his head again as he left, with a tray in hand.

"In the future Misao, you should keep better track of how much you drink. If you can't remember, then that's a sign you should stop."

Misao muttered something about "mother" under her breath as he left, groaning in pain as the light came in through the briefly open door.

* * * * * * *

Aoshi had been sympathetic with Misao, and if not to the same degree as kind to the others, still kind. Okina was a whole other issue.

Aoshi opened the door, and then all the windows.

"Okina, it is long past when you should wake up."

Okina glared at Aoshi, and wished fervently his eyes would focus long enough so he could TARGET Aoshi.

"Get out."

Aoshi stood there, if no smirk graced his face, it exuded from his posture.

"I don't think so. I have the hangover remedy... or do you not want it?"

Okina was now grinding his teeth in frustration, and forcefully polite "yes, I want it."

"Ah."

Aoshi knelt beside Okina, and jerked him into a sitting position handing him the tea roughly.

Okina glared in the general direction of Aoshi the blur as he drank the tea.

"Okina you endangered Misao last night."

Okina looked up sharply in surprise, wishing he hadn't when he felt impossibly tall and spinning.

"What do you mean? She's old enough for the sake."

"That's not what I meant. Those... 'guests' of yours..." his voice dripped with just a hint of venom at the mention of those guests.

Okina was glad he felt to bad to smirk Caught you... Jealous, are we? Then I DID kill two birds with one stone with that idea...

"She is the Okashira. She can take care of herself. It got some things out of her system."

Aoshi inwardly flinched at the way Okina SPAT out the word Okashira, full of palpable contempt towards Aoshi.

"That is irregardless of the point, with the amount of sake she had drunk, things could have easily overwhelmed her."

He waited as that sunk in, seeing a momentary glimpse of guilt pass over Okina's face.

"Things?" he inquired.

"Ah. Things. As much as she may be a bouncing ball of energy, and fairly open with her feelings, certain things she still bottles up. Specifically frustration and pain not wanting anyone else worried. I gave her an outlet."

Aoshi looked piercingly at Okina.

Okina glared back, "Why do you even care?"

Aoshi's eyes narrowed with cold fury, before he quenched the physical betrayal of his emotions and sighed.

"Let's not hide behind formalities, you and I. There have been things needed to be said between us for a while."

"Oh. So you had noticed."

Aoshi's jaw clenched, "Yes. I. Had. Noticed."

Okina smirked inwardly, the signs of Aoshi's anger was evidence of how Aoshi was indeed healing.

"You have not answered my question, why do you care?"

Aoshi glared at him, sighed, and closed his eyes, his hands resting lightly on his knees.

"Misao is family, this is my home."

Okina smiled "I'm glad you finally realized that, you can be pretty obtuse."

Aoshi CHOSE to let that comment slide.

Okina sobered, "For her sake, for all our sakes don't forget that. She has suffered enough this life."

Aoshi did not reply. No reply was needed. He was very much aware of the fact that he had caused her great suffering on top of the many hurts she had been forced to endure. He was amazed that despite that she was still essentially the same Misao.

Aoshi quietly "you have suffered too."

Okina smiled bitterly, eyes softening. "That I have. But unlike me, she has not been jaded by it."

"I bear guilt as well Aoshi, I harbored pride for you as a teacher and father both do and refused to see that I had erred or that you needed the sense knocked into you before things were too late."

Aoshi had been about to interrupt but Okina shook his head.

"No... it's true. I wonder if I had not let the five of you leave so easily, had maintained better contact, persuaded you otherwise, if much of what latter resulted could have been avoided. However, I realize well the futility of living in the past and reliving past mistakes. Nothing is accomplished besides the further aggravation of old wounds that not only do not hear but grow worse with passing time. When we fought Aoshi, it was the confrontation I should have had earlier with you, but it was also with myself for allowing so much to slip by. The Aoshi that sits before me now is a man made anew, I have no quarrels with him."

Aoshi nodded silently.

"I think we understand one another, yes?"

"Ah." Aoshi replied very quietly yet full of respect. It was easy to see why Okina had been considered as the Okashira, and why he was an excellent spy master. His expert way of handling matters so that past issues were resolved without anyone having to actually apologize. And for them to be both on equal footing was something Aoshi appreciated and admired.

Okina nodded. "Good. Now get out, and shut those damn windows. I'm sure you have something better to do than to deal with a lecherous old fart."

Okina smiled and shooed Aoshi out.

Aoshi bowed his head in a silent acknowledgment of thanks, and left making sure to close the door and windows after him.

Okina smirked, as he sank back into the bed with a grateful sigh.

* * * * * * *

Aoshi silently padded into Misao's room, using his omnitsu training to proceed silently for Misao's comfort.

He settled down beside her, hearing to his dismay a small moan and muttering about noisy visitors, before she peeked cautiously from underneath the protective covering of her blanket.

"This might help," he whispered softly motioning to a small basin of cool water and a damp cloth.

Misao smiled softly as she uttered her thanks slithering her head out from underneath the blanket with great trepidation.

Despite the brightness making her wince, it wasn't nearly as bad as it had been when Aoshi last visited a little over an hour ago.

Aoshi dipped the cloth into the basin, rang it, and placed it gently on her forehead and Misao sighed with relief.

"This feels great."

Aoshi nodded "I'm glad."

"How did I get here last night... did I make it up here by myself?"

"Iie, you curled up around me."

Misao's eyes flashed open in mortification and she moaned with embarrassment, "I didn't!"

"You did. Just like you did in the garden when I would read to you when younger."

"oh no... I'm sorry" she muttered sounding positively mortified.

"Iie, don't apologize. It reminded me of my Misao-chan, my little sister."

Misao blinked and smiled, "honto?"

"Honto."

"Does that mean I have my Aoshi nii-san back?"

Aoshi nodded his head slightly in the affirmative.

Misao positively beamed somehow knowing that even if Aoshi never returned the feelings she had for him, she would now at least be secure in the knowledge that he cared for her in another way: family.

Aoshi took the cloth and rehydrated it before replacing it on her forehead.

"I'm going to clean up the mess you guys left. Hopefully, you should feel like getting up and moving around in another hour or two..."

Misao nodded.

"Thank you."

"It's the least I can do," he replied simply, and before she could reply, had quietly left the room.

* * * * * * *

The End of Part 4
To be continued

Part 5: Misao's Plan for the Future of the Oniwabanshu

Notes: It is a scientifically proven fact, that HONEY does in fact combat hangovers. ^_^ It acts as a purifier and helps rid the bodies of the alcohol related toxins faster than usual. ^_^ So for those of you that party... You might want to keep honey available. ^_^

You know... I had intended this to be the end part... But somehow this decided it WANTED to be written. SO... I guess that means the Tempering will finish somewhere around Part 5 or 6. Wow I'm productive Today. Both a new installment for Stranger From the Past, and The Tempering. Wow... ^_^ Feedback welcome!