Again, thanks to WhiteRabbit5 for letting me know about this scene ) It would never have appeared in this story otherwise. I know you were hoping for an alternate Kyoto Arc (sorry about that), but I hope that these subtle differences would suffice.
Furtive Glances -- A Rurouni Kenshin Fanfiction
Chapter Three: Homecoming
The Aoiya.
He walked slowly, deliberately towards the place he once called home. Not quite as he remembered it, he noticed. But then, Okina had been bound to make some changes in the years that passed.
Okina.
Any other time in the years since he had left, he would have been certain of the welcome that awaited him when he stepped through those doors. Even in those years with Kanryu, he had been sure that had he returned to Kyoto, Okina and the others would have opened their arms wide in welcome and tucked him into their fold like a prodigal son. Clucks of disapproval might have surfaced in one of Okina's more grim moments, but despite all that, Aoshi was sure he would have still been welcome.
Now, as he walked the streets of Kyoto, the blood dripping from the side of his head was a constant reminder of his last battle. It was also a reminder to him (not that he needed reminding) of his unwanted presence here at the Aoiya. After all, he had just battled their precious Okina. More than anything, he was sure of the loyalty of these Oniwaban group to Okina. And Okina, at this moment, was lying in the floor in the pool of his own blood. Right where he had left him. Back there, with the child he had helped raise.
He stopped and observed the scene before him. The small crowd of the former Oniwaban group had gathered in front of the Aoiya. No doubt to discuss the current development of their particular situation. They hadn't noticed him yet, which was amazing given the wide berth that people in the streets had been giving him as he passed by. But this, this gave him the opportunity to watch the group's interaction with each other.
It had been such a long time.
They weren't dressed for battle, as he had expected them to be. Okon and Omasu had on the kimono they usually garb themselves in while working at the Aoiya. They, along with Shiro and Kuro, were gathered around someone hidden from his view. He caught the words "Okina" and "Misao" and of course, "Shinomori," from their group.
Clearly they were aware of the events that had transpired. Okina would not have kept it from them. Why then were they not ready to defend themselves? They should have anticipated his coming here and adequately prepared. Instead, he found them here gossiping about their troubles like children.
They should have been ready for him. It would have at least given them some sort of chance.
His eyes narrowed.
Or perhaps not.
With the same ending in sight, did it really matter that he had caught them unprepared? Their health was a small price to pay to find Battousai. If Okina had bled for him, then it would be just as easy to let these people bleed too.
He advanced a step, only to stop abruptly. Kuro had moved to one side, revealing the hidden persons in their group.
Kamiya.
And her student.
He should have known.
It shouldn't have surprised him, their presence here. After all, hadn't he been waiting, just waiting for her to reveal herself ever since that day he walked into Kyoto? Some intangible sense had told him of her presence in the city. He had known she was here just as surely he had known of Battousai's presence. And now, her presence here at the Aoiya served to reinforce his knowledge that these Oniwaban group knew where Battousai was.
He was close.
He knew it.
So close to fulfilling his promise.
So close to adorning the flowers of victory over his friends' graves.
He breathed in deeply, knowing that the freshness of her familiar scent would make its way towards him like it always did in the woods. With renewed determination, he approached them slowly, noting the dawning of recognition that flared in their eyes. But most of all, he noted the impending dread in her eyes as she took in his appearance with all its implications.
For one brief second when their eyes met, he thought he saw…disappointment. But he brushed it off as quickly as he could and turned his gaze to the Oniwaban group. They were his target. He would complete the unpleasant task that Shishio's minions could not and extract the whereabouts of Battousai from this group.
Again, his eyes wandered over to hers and he almost cringed at the look of reproach in them. His hand tightened on the sheath of his swords. What he was doing was right and just. His friends would be the strongest. Their deaths would not be in vain.
With renewed effort, he pierced his gaze towards the Oniwaban group.
"You know where Himura Battousai is," he told them tersely. "Answer me. Or I'll kill you."
Kaoru had ran to the Aoiya alongside Yahiko in an attempt to catch Misao. She knew they were far behind; the Oniwaban girl had been fast. Furthermore, the girl had been empowered by more than just her own strength and agility. In her eyes, Kaoru saw the same familiar desperate hope she herself had come to recognize. She could only pray that Misao would be strong enough to overcome this adversity.
When they arrived at the Aoiya, it was to find Misao had left in haste once more. The Oniwaban group was gathered outside with their thoughts. She could clearly see the worry that furrowed their brows as they discussed the situation ahead of them. One name caught her attention.
"Aoshi Shinomori and Okina?" she exclaimed, passing a look of trepidation to Yahiko. "You don't mean to tell me that Misao—"
"Has gone to stop them," Omasu told her solemnly. She looked beyond the horizon. "She's fast, but probably—"
"It's been awhile since Okina left," interrupted Shiro. He bit his lip. "Most likely, it's probably already been settled."
A heavy feeling gripped Kaoru's chest.
Aoshi Shinomori against that kind old man. It would be slaughter! She knew not what skills Misao's Okina possessed, but she had an inkling of Shinomori's. If he had come here to fight Kenshin, then that must mean he had trained. He must be better than the last time she had seen him fight.
And that last time, he had already been a formidable opponent. Now, he had all his hate and bitter anger to twist him, to drive him. She could only imagine his skill.
Her hands went to Yahiko's shoulders, almost as if to steady herself. If Misao had gone to see Aoshi Shinomori, if Misao saw Aoshi kill Okina, what would become of her?
She blinked, her eyes straying towards the watch Shiro had taken out of his pocket. The sun had reflected its rays against the gold, momentarily blinding her as she raised her hand to shield her eyes. But, as she stared once more at the dangling watch, a familiar figure appeared reflected on its surface.
"Aoshi Shinomori," she muttered softly, in so low a voice only Yahiko heard her.
Yahiko glanced sideways at her before they both looked up to see the man approach them, his trench coat flapping against the wind.
As he stood before them, his eyes glinting in the sun, she felt the tension grab hold of her, of Yahiko and of the whole Oniwaban group.
If Aoshi Shinomori was here, that could only mean that Okina…
Her eyes met his. How could you? her heart cried. How could this be the man that four people gave their lives for?
"You know where Himura Battousai is," the words were harsh and unfeeling, coming out of Aoshi's mouth. She winced at the sound.
Beside her, she could here the mumble of the Oniwaban group. She could feel the conflicting emotions that ran through these people. Despite all that Aoshi Shinomori had done, he was their leader. The man they had followed long ago since the days of the Revolution. Behind his mask of indifference and in spite of Okina's dire warnings, they had to have still held up a small piece of hope for him.
"O…Okashira," murmured Kuro, his eyes disbelieving. Kaoru knew he noted Aoshi's bloodied appearance and knew that most of the blood were not his own.
"You're here," Shiro said quietly, his eyes torn.
Next to her, she heard a choked sob. She looked at Omasu and noticed the dread that filled her eyes as her hands clamped her mouth. "Okina," she murmured, like a child crying out into the night.
If Aoshi Shinomori was here, then Okina was…dead, the thought repeated in her mind once more.
"Answer me," Aoshi's voice spoke once again, "Or I'll kill you." This time, the underlying menace was clear.
She felt the tensing of the shoulders beneath her hands. She looked down at Yahiko, at the fire that burned in his eyes and at his determined stance.
"What do we do?" Okon asked, her question directed at everyone as her eyes bored holes at their former leader.
"Even Okina couldn't stand up to him," Kuro interjected, almost despairingly.
"Maybe, if we all attacked at once," Shiro's suggested under his breath.
Kaoru looked up to meet Aoshi's eyes, certain he had heard the comment.
It wouldn't be enough, his eyes cautioned her. Not nearly enough.
Breaking eye contact, Kaoru looked about her at the people that surrounded her. He was right. It wouldn't be enough. The Oniwaban group's heart would not be into it, despite Aoshi's actions. They were crippled by grief for the death of Okina and the loss of their leader. And as for skill, she looked around her once again and looked down at her own weaponless hands as well as Yahiko's shinai.
They were no match for Aoshi Shinomori.
But, if they attacked all at once, perhaps…perhaps they could injure him enough to postpone his mission against Kenshin. The fate of Japan was what's important now. Not his silly ideals of vengeance.
Try it, his eyes almost taunted her and she knew, knew, that he could almost read her thoughts as they danced one after the other upon her head.
It wouldn't be enough, his eyes warned her again for what she felt was the last time.
She licked her lips and felt the tension of the Oniwaban group go up. They were poised to attack, she knew, all of them waiting for just one signal. She braced herself to help them, knowing that it would useless, knowing that Aoshi could very well slaughter them all.
We have to try, she tried to relay to him with a look. She saw a fleeting look of regret pass before his eyes as his hand tightened its hold on his sword.
"Aoshi Shinomori, you've hit a new low!" broke in Yahiko's livid yell.
Kaoru gave a yelp of surprise as Yahiko jerked away from her. The silence that followed his declaration was palpable. Daringly, her student advanced towards the intimidating figure, his shinai raised and ready.
Her heart on her throat, Kaoru followed Yahiko, her hands hovering protectively over him. She could feel the sheer outrage pulsating beneath her fingertips as Yahiko insistently approached the former Okashira.
He looked at the boy, recognizing the determined set of his mouth and his stubborn stance. "You've got guts, at least," he told him indifferently. "Foolhardy at this time, but that is not my concern." His eyes hardened as he stared the boy down. "You know where Battousai is too," he said softly, threateningly. He pushed his sword out of his sheath just a little.
And right in front of him, he saw the rapid movements of Kamiya as she snatched the shinai from her student and raised it against him. He stood still, reading her attack. He stood still, knowing that he could have avoided the blow. He stood still…but just for her. Right now, he wanted to make a point. He wanted her to understand the futility of attacking him.
He felt the full impact of the length of wood against his left shoulder. Her angry eyes met his in that moment of impact and he watch realization sink through in their blue depths. He had allowed this. In fact, he had braced himself for it. And while the blow was hardly comparable to ones he's received before, he would have to admit that it was stronger than he had anticipated. Various gasps of disbelief from the Oniwaban group and from the child followed her actions and he noted the protective hover the Oniwaban group formed around her.
He looked at her impassively as she shoved the boy behind her. Nervous energy emanated from her body; he knew she noted his lack of reaction to her hit as well as the fact that he had permitted her to strike him. He noticed her sudden pallor as she considered her options.
"Don't you dare threaten him," she said furiously under her breath, her face full of bravado, fueled by her protective instincts towards the boy samurai.
"Kaoru!" shouted the boy behind her as he bodily attempted to push her away so that he could stand in front of her. "I'm the one who's supposed to protect you, Ugly!" he muttered indignantly to his master, as he forcibly stood between him and Kaoru. The boy's face was a mixture of affronted male pride and sheer frustration before giving him a glare. "Yeah, I know where Kenshin is," he revealed with a stubborn set in his jaw. "But I won't tell you, even if you kill me." The boy then threw him a knowing smirk, as if he knew a secret. "You don't have to go looking for him—he's coming back to settle with you. And he'll finish you too!"
He could see Kaoru's hands move slowly towards the boy's shoulders once more, as if trying to absorb the righteous anger with her touch, before facing him fully.
"Just as Yahiko says," she stated softly and yet defiantly, her eyes glittering with unnamed emotions. "You have no need to waste your sword until then."
His eyes looked beyond her and towards the whole group. If Battousai will come for him, there was really no need—
"You said you needed no hostages to defeat your enemy," she reminded him, a touch of reprimand evident in her tone. "Neither do you need to fight these people."
He gazed at her icily. "You have no idea what I need," he informed her coolly, ignoring the familiar scent that assaulted his nose. Always, always, that flower would remind him of her. Looking once more at the group behind her, he gave her a parting shot, "I'll be waiting at Shishio's lair. Tell Battousai that."
He had taken all but ten steps away from them when he felt the imperceptible touch against his arm. He should have been ready for it; he had heard the rapidly approaching footsteps behind him, after all. But he never expected the touch. He turned back swiftly, his stance ready, when he almost ran into Kamiya.
She was closer than he had expected, barely a foot apart, staring at the drying stain of blood in her fingertips.
"You reek of blood, Aoshi Shinomori," she said, her voice quivering.
He stared down at her, noting her bowed head and her entranced stare at the hand that touched him.
"What have you done?" she whispered, finally looking up at him. Her eyes, her eyes asked him to deny what she considered truth.
He looked away and stared beyond her where he could see one of the Oniwaban group restrain the boy who so obviously wanted to follow Kamiya.
"Why have you followed me?" he questioned her instead, still unwilling to meet her gaze.
Her hand reached out, towards his sword perhaps, he never knew. All he knew was the quick response of his own hand as it gripped her wrist to stop her from further…touching him or his own.
"The sword you swing now is a cursed sword," she told him, her voice almost saddened. "It makes everyone unhappy, with every swing."
"Cursed sword or not," he replied, thrusting her hand away from him as if it burned, "my only goal is to kill Battousai." Finally, he dropped his eyes to meet her gaze. "Everything else is incidental."
"This is not what your men would have wanted," she stated, her control of her emotions growing stronger. "They would not have condoned your…your murder of Okina," she finished hurriedly.
"You know nothing of my men," he hissed as he leaned down on her, feeling the sudden surge of fire in his veins, "or their wants." He grabbed her shoulder and stared at her blazing eyes. "Do not presume that the time you have spent paying your respects have given you some special insight into their hearts."
She flinched away from him as if struck, her eyes carrying the heavy burden of disillusionment. At her inadvertent gasp of pain, he let go of her abruptly, some would say almost clumsily. It broke something in him, that look in her eyes. For a moment, he hated himself. That he would abuse the one person who visited the graves of his friends. He wished he could take the words, and yes, even his actions against her, back. He ran his hand through his hair and shook his head. What was it about this female?
"You have betrayed your people by joining up with Shishio," she told him so low and raspy in volume, only he could hear. "But to go so far as to kill Okina—" her voice cracked as she stared up at him, vibrating with fury.
"He's not dead," he told her abruptly, almost defensively, before turning away and cursing his unruly tongue. What was he doing? He had seen her mouth drop open in surprise and he could hear the strangled sounds coming from her throat. He almost congratulated himself. The woman was speechless for the time being. He glanced back to look at her, taking no small amount of petty delight at her flabbergasted expression. "Yet," he felt the need to add, before resuming his departure. "It is Battousai's well-being you should be more concerned about."
Kaoru felt her knees collapse from under her as she continued to stare at the retreating figure of Aoshi Shinomori. What had just happened?
"Kaoru!" Yahiko's voice penetrated her stupor. "Are you alright?"
She looked up to see her student staring down at her, his enraged posture hiding the worry in his eyes. She gave him a half-hearted nod, her mind still busy processing the implications of Aoshi's words.
"What did you think you were doing following him like that?" he demanded once he was certain she as unhurt. "And having Kuro hold me down so that I couldn't follow?" He squatted down to her eye level. "You could have been hurt," he whispered furiously. "What am I supposed to say to Kenshin when he gets back if you're hurt?"
She looked at her student, noting the concern he tried so hard to hide under his tough exterior. "I'm sorry, Yahiko," she replied gently. "I was just worried about you," she tried to explain, albeit inadequately. She gave him a small smile. "What am I supposed to tell Kenshin if you got hurt under my watch?"
"Stupid!" he yelled, but without much heat. "I'm the guy so I protect you, Ugly!" He stood up and offered his hand to let her up.
Surprised at the gentlemanly gesture, Kaoru accepted and turned to face the Oniwaban group. They seemed to have all gathered around her and Yahiko, actively listening in on their exchange.
"We need to get Okina and treat his wounds," she told them, her eyes glistening with relief. "Misao would need our help." She ignored the strange look Yahiko gave her at this news and focused on the Oniwaban group.
"Kaoru—" he began, his tone cautious.
"You mean—" Omasu interrupted, her voice trembling.
"He's alive, but hurt, I believe," she qualified. "We have to hurry."
"Of course," they murmured to each other, their eyes shiny with moisture.
She watched as they held one another in support, and briefly met the look Shiro threw at her.
Are you sure? his eyes asked, worry evident in their depths.
She nodded lightly, knowing that Aoshi Shinomori would not have lied. Shinomori was many things, but in this case and this information, she trusted him.
Okina was alive.
And slowly, she felt the tight knot in her chest loosen for the first time since she had discovered his presence here in Kyoto.
Maybe…maybe there was still hope after all.
Next Chapter: After taking on Kenshin and Shishio…a reunion at the Aoiya