Misao Makimachi chased Soujiro Seta around the Kamiya Dojo. Formerly a minion of Makoto Shishio, the young swordsman has been adopted by the none other than the former Hittokiri Battousai. But right now, he had pissed off a sixteen year old chick with throwing knives. Dodging another one, he managed to duck into the training hall and out the back door.
Misao slowed down to catch her breath. Oh, if Aoshi-Chan could see me now, he'd be very disappointed in how slow i've become, I can't even attack a guy younger than me, no matter how much what he says bothers me, She thought desperately. She went to her room in the front, set her knives back in the proper place and went to see Kaoru, maybe she has a solution to make up for all the training i've lost. Walking down the steps in front of the dojo, she followed the laughing voices until she saw Kaoru helping Yahiko with Kamiya Kasshin style.
Yahiko adjusted his aim and charged at Kaoru. She dodged, spun, and managed to hit Yahiko from behind. Tsubame was leaning against a tree, pushing her blue-black hair out of the way. Kenshin was hanging clothes out to dry and had dinner simmering in a pot near the tree. It was a great day for a barbecue. Yahiko swore when he saw Misao.
" Damn, how long have you been watching?" He shouted.
" Long enough to see you make a complete fool of yourself, but maybe you'll grow out of that, or maybe not," She laughed.
" Weasel girl!" He muttered. At an instant, Misao was at his side, grabbed the bokan and was beating him with it.
" Take-that-back-you-stupid-jerk!" She yelled while raising the bokan high above her head. Yahiko took that time and knocked her feet from underneathe her. Misao fell and landed in a mud pile at Yahiko's feet. Everybody laughed.
" what one can expect from a complete klutz," A voice coldly replied from the gate. Everyone turned to see Haijime Saitouh leaning against the gate, as usual, smoking a cigarette. Kenshin narrowed his eyes and stepped forward.
" What is it Saitouh?" He asked, his eyes growing cold, but he knew Saitouh meant no harm, but he was well disliked. Kaoru and Yahiko had a hold of Misao to keep her from leaping on him. Saitouh looked at Misao.
" Let her go, if she thinks she can take me on, then let her try," He said lazily.
" I would kick your sorry ass!" She yelled still struggling viciously to get out of their grip. Saitouh smiled.
" The day that happens, then I would be old and gray, and even then I doubt you would be able to defeat me in a battle of wits, face it weasel girl, you're just not that smart," He commented. This time, Misao managed to strike Yahiko in the face before taking off after Saitouh. In a flash Misao was on the ground, a narrow cut across her cheek and across her stomach. Kaoru rushed forward, picked the girl up, and carried her back into the house, the whole time Misao was thinking, i'm gonna kill him!
Misao would not stop the struggling as Kaoru tended to her cuts.
" You're lucky these are not deep Misao, he could have really hurt you," Kaoru replied.
" He wouldn't have dared kill me, though, would he?" Misao asked looking up at Kaoru.
" No, he wouldn't've, there are too many here who would avenge your death, even your Lord Aoshi," Kaoru smiled.
" No way, Aoshi-chan is way too involved with his meditating, he doesn't have time for me," Misao scoffed.
" Misao, quit being a child, Aoshi will come to his senses soon enough, wait, if you truly care for him, wait for him," She sighed before leaving. Misao flung herself on the ground and covered her face with a pillow. She began kicking and screaming in frustration. Something she hadn't done since she was a kid.
Sitting up, she smoothed back her hair and ragined her composure before going to dinner. Unfortunately, Saitouh had been asked to dinner.
" What's he doing here?" Misao snapped.
" Saitouh was just in Kyoto, Okina has asked that you come back," Kenshin said. Misao sat down.
" What did Jiya want with me?" Misao asked, helping herself to some fish.
" He has...something he needs to tell you, and he wants you back by morning," She said.
" But that means i'll have to leave by the time we're done with dinner!" She sputtered.
" I know, it's pitiful, especially if you're traveling with a weasel girl," Saitouh grimaced. Misao's mouth dropped.
" You mean i'm traveling with HIM!" She yelled. Kenshin smiled uneasily.
" That reminds me, Misao, where's Soujiro?" He asked.