I Cannot Return
Misao sat across from Ochika and Omasu, two of the most elite women of the Oniwanbanshu. They had helped Aoshi raise Misao since her father died, and it was nice for Misao to have two sisters to look up to for feminine advice. But the girl that sat before the two was somehow different. Misao had lost some weight since she left Aoi-Ya. The brightness in her eyes had dimmed as well, but she still had the will to fight. Both of them knew why Misao had become this way, and that was why they were there.
"Ochika, Omasu, it's good to see you," Misao stated. "How are things at Aoi-Ya?"
"Everything is good," Ochika answered. "Almost nothing has changed."
"That's true," Omasu said. "Okina is still as lecherous as always. I've never seen him so active." Misao laughed at the comment. In fact, she hadn't laughed in the month she had been in Tokyo.
"And…how is Lord Aoshi?" Misao asked. The two women were taken aback by the question. They knew she would ask, but it was her saddened tone that surprised them.
"Well, he's doing all right," Omasu answered. Misao nodded and took a sip of her tea. When she sat it down, there was a cold look on her face.
"So then, why are here?" Omasu and Ochika looked at each other for help, but they could only stare at their folded hands in their laps. "Come now. We all know you two didn't come here to discuss how everyone is doing at the Aoi-Ya. What do you think you will accomplish by coming to see me?"
"Listen, Misao," Ochika started. "We want you to come back to Aoi-Ya. We need you there."
"It's true," Omasu continued. "As the future leader of the Oniwanbanshu, you have a duty to be with your comrades." Misao looked back into her tea cup as she responded.
"I cannot return. I am not welcomed there anymore."
"But that's not true!" Ochika yelled. "You are our beloved leader. Everyone is waiting for you in Kyoto." Misao took a brief pause before giving her answer.
"Everyone…except Lord Aoshi." Both ninjas gasped at the girl's response. It was as cold as Aoshi's, but the girl that sat before them appeared to have lost all hope that she could return to her love. "Did Lord Aoshi send you, or did you come on your own accord?" The two couldn't answer the question. They knew it would hurt Misao too much to tell the truth. "Do you know what Lord Aoshi told me before I left? He said he would kill me if I returned without learning what maturity was. Until he comes to me with his blessing to return, I can never resume my roll as leader of the Oniwanbanshu. I can never see his face again."
Ochika and Omasu looked at each other in defeat. Nothing they could say would bring Misao back to them. They gently got up and made their way to the door.
"Are you sure you won't reconsider?" Omasu asked. Misao looked at her and shook her head. The eyes of the girl had seemed to age into a mature woman in a matter of minutes.
"I am sorry, but I cannot return to Aoi-Ya."
"Then we will leave you alone," Ochika stated as they got ready to fly over the Kamiya Dojo fence. Misao's final words reached them as they disappeared into the night.
"Please give my regards to everyone, and tell Lord Aoshi I miss him."
A man ran down the halls of a hidden fortress. He expected the worst out of his master. He had always been a man to be afraid of. He always acted calm when he was truly in rage, which made him even more terrifying. He was known for torturing his victims slowly before killing them, enjoying each scream for mercy. What he did to his women was even worse. He beat them within an inch of their lives. He would then give them enough food and water to give them enough energy to barely survive and recuperate, only to beat them to a pulp again and again. The servant was afraid of what his master would do to him if he was the bearer of bad news.
The man slowly entered the room, which looked like a throne room. Every inch was decorated with Japanese art, weapons, and even devices of torture. The man walked forward and kneeled before his master, bringing his head to the ground in respect.
"Master Katsu," the man whimpered. Katsu Yurimaki smiled as he watched the man quiver in fear. "I have a report from Shinki."
"Well," Katsu said venomously, "Give me the report." The man gulped as he collected his thoughts and then went on.
"It appears that the Meiji Government has made another attempt on your life. Lord Shinki was captured. He is in jail now." Katsu sighed as if he had scuffed his sword on something.
"Shinki was somewhat important to the slave trade. Now that he has been captured, he is a danger to this enterprise. Send one of the men to exterminate him."
"Yes, master." The servant bowed and got up to leave. He was grateful that he was getting away, but fate was not on his side.
"By the way, who was it that captured Shinki?" The servant shuddered as he turned around.
"It was the Oniwanbanshu. Luckily they were misinformed. They could have done some damage if they found you." Katsu nodded and walked toward the servant.
"Yes, this is true. But no one should have known where Shinki was, should have they?" The servant fell to his knees in fear. "In fact, I believe it was you who was supposed to protect his whereabouts." The servant bowed to the ground as he sobbed.
"Please, m-master. I promise I didn't do anything to betray you. I would never betray you." Katsu was now kneeling next to the shaking man. He leaned forward to whisper in his ear.
"I know you wouldn't do that. You are very loyal. Now tell me. How many attacked Shinki." The man tried to answer as best as he could, though most of his words came in stutters.
"A g-girl, M-Misao M-Makimachi. S-she is supposedly in T-Tokyo." Katsu smiled and tapped the man's shoulder. He then drew his sword and hit the servant's pressure points and then the stomach. The man screeched out in pain and rolled around the floor as blood squirted everywhere.
"I hit you in those certain spots so you would feel pain in every single nerve in your body. You will be like this until dawn, when you bleed to death. You failed to tell me that this girl is only sixteen and that she is the leader of the Oniwanbanshu. You are useless as an informant. I bid you farewell." Katsu Yurimaki walked out of his fortress and made his way to Tokyo. "Misao Makimachi, the girl that is underneath Aoshi Shinomori. I will enjoy making you scream in the name of your leader."
Sorry it took so long, you guys. I hate writer's block. I hope you can have some patience with me. Please forgive me. Cya.
