AN: Woah! So many people reviewed! I'm completely 'cite to say the least. Thank you all so much. I hoped that this chapter will help the story to reach 300 reviews. (crosses her fingers and shuts her eyes tight while chanting incoherent words)
Daemon: Please bear with my mistress as she is suffering from Hypertensive Fanfiction Writer's Trauma (HFWT…Just made it up people! (winks)).
Daemon: (coughs) Anyway, Wolf Sapphire would like to thank the following people for their reviews. She is sorry that she can not reply because she doesn't want to reveal anything that may possibly spoil future chapters. If you truly wish for her to answer your questions, please do not hesitate to email or IM her at Yahoo.
Special Thanks To The Reveiwers:
Jazze Pha; Jisusaken; kitsune; half-breed-demon-fox; Ruby27; reader00; samuraiduck27; inuyasha/kenshin gurl; Gohanzgirl; ghettotaku; bionne; GreenEyedFloozy; Reignashii; pnaixrose; Sagitarious Devil; saskia2; CrypticSorceress; Bradybunch4529; Moonmage; hotohori P; Avid RK Reader; Peachie-Chan; starrydreamz: Lauren1; SakK; erica6060; Triste1; arashi no sakura; kaoruchan87; animeLCgrl; battousai's number one; skydancer; tuts04; WolfGirl123; Vesca
If I had accidentally forgot to thank someone, please let me know. Also thank you very very much to Jazze Pha and starrydreamz who reviewed the same chapter twice in different time intervals ( In the words of the Rurouni, 'Ororo!').
Keep rocking people! As a prize for such the wonderful and deeply thoughtful reviews you have two prizes to choose from! (I'm feeling generous, okay? (smiles))
You have the choice to either pick; a.) A sneak preview of the next chapter of your favorite story written by moi sent to you personally by email. There are only two conditions: your email address and also, you cannot choose the next chapter of this fic. (Sorry!)
Or, if you want, you can choose b.) A scanned picture of your fave RK character and yes, you have to leave your email address.
Enough rambling, let's head on to the next chapter!
Note: Supernatural Love is already finished, just waiting for my beta while the last chapter to 'The Demon Child' is halfway done. Also, I have a new one-shot fic 'Meeting Hermano' that is already posted on the site. (Warning: It's not my best work…)
Undercover Geisha
Chapter Seven: The Plot Thickens
"Oi! Move your lazy bums and bring up them cargos!" A shaved-head man yelled. His beady eyes trained on the flock of moving men down at the pier.
"You call that fast? My great-grandmother can move faster than you turtles!" The man's heavily-accented voice boomed even louder.
Sano, Yahiko and Misao sported sweatdrops at the back of their heads, watching as the men fasten their pace to bring up the large boxes up the wooden plank to carry down to the storage room below deck.
Aoshi and Kenshin merely stood with blank expressions etched on their faces. His interest dwindling at the scene, Kenshin shifted his violet, a noticeable amber gleam in them, eyes to the man between him and Aoshi.
The said man was watching intently as his fellows worked. An amused grin twitched up his lips at something the man with the shaved head said, giving his heavily bearded-face a more youthful look despite the whiteness of his hair and the deep wrinkles that came with age.
To the far-away casual observer, the older man may be mistaken as a regular veteran sailor with his attire of a faded blue semi-loose sleeveless shirt that exposed bulking muscles that surpassed the cruelty of time and loose black pants tucked inside a pair of what was once black boots that looked worn-out from use. Yet if you look up-close at him, one could feel the authority and intimidation in his aura that seemed to seep right out of the man.
Captain Nadashiro knew both the wonders and sorrows of the seas like the back of his calloused-hands. He knew both the potential dangers and hidden treasures that lay beneath its' crystalline waters.
"Is it really wise to bring all of these?" Aoshi's cool voice penetrated the air. He was glancing at the much older man besides him with his usual emotionless blue-green eyes.
"Captain." He added as an afterthought.
Nadashiro shook his head, brushing aside the few remaining black strands of his hair away from his face.
"Of course not." He admitted. "But since I have to bring you all to Yokohoma, I might as well hit two birds in one stone and sell my wages there."
"Few merchants ever go to Yokohoma nowadays. What with the rumored pirate attacks in route to Yokohoma and all." The captain added.
Yahiko stiffened. Pirate attacks? He didn't know about that. Sure, he knew that, lately, ships had cancelled their trips to Yokohoma, even the traders' ships. What he didn't know was the reason why. Yahiko thought that perhaps it was because of the murders of the underground's leaders that forced Yokohoma to close down its harbors.
Yokohoma is one of the chief ports in the country so there had to be a good reason why it was temporarily shut-down.
The fourteen-year-old glanced at the others to see what their reactions to the Captain's new revelation.
All of them, even Nadashiro, sported frowns in their grim faces. Strangely though, they didn't look the least bit surprised.
"I have heard of rumors about these attacks but I never thought that they were true." It was Misao who broke the tensed silence of the group.
"There are other rumors as well." Nadashiro continued. "That the killings of some of the biggest and most influential leaders in the Black Market have some sort of connection with the pirate attacks."
Seeing the alarmed looks sent his way, Nadashiro shook his head. "Do not worry. Most people just think that they're rumors. Nothing more. My men and I made sure of that."
Misao sighed wistfully. "These rumors just keep popping up it's getting hard to tell which ones are fact and fiction."
Nadashiro smiled mischievously. "That's the point."
Aoshi narrowed his eyes in suspicion at the much older man. "Regardless, you know too much of these 'so-called' rumors. How is it so?" He took a step closer to Nadashiro and had reached a hand to his kodachi's hilt when Kenshin stepped in between the two men, his own hand touching the hilt of his sakabatou.
Icy blue-green pierced into dark violet as both legendary swordsmen stared at each other's eyes.
"Step aside Himura." Aoshi commanded. "I know that he's a friend of yours but I am not willing to take any more chances of trusting a person who is still a complete stranger to me."
Kenshin shook his head negatively. "I cannot let you hurt this man Aoshi. While I believe in what you say about trusting a stranger, I assure you that you can trust this man."
Aoshi narrowed his eyes, as if scrutinizing the whole situation. Misao had walked towards the ebony-haired man and gently touched the arm closest to the kodachi's sheath.
To everyone's relief, Aoshi's stature seemed to relax and let his arm fall limp to his side as he took a step back, unconsciously making him mover closer to Misao. It was a gesture that failed to attract the attentions of all but a certain fourteen-year-old unruly-haired boy.
Yahiko mentally smirked. He couldn't wait to tell Busu about this. In his mind, Kaoru is still the loveable and sometimes annoying hag that he knew and trained under. Despite the recent revelations about her jaded past.
Suddenly, the sound of a ship's horn snapped them out of their reverie. The shaved-head man who was shouting orders earlier had started to walk towards them.
"We'll talk about this later inside my cabin." Nadashiro managed to whisper to the others just before the shaved-head man came within earshot of the group.
The deeply-tanned man gave a one-hand salute, his feet inches apart like that of a military's soldier. "Captain. The cargos are piled and stacked below deck and everything's seems to be in tip-top shape. I'd checked three times to see if I had missed anything."
Nadashiro nod his head. "Yes, yes. We shall set sail then. Man the stir for me, Kiro. I have something important to talk to my guests."
Kiro nod his head and turned on his heel so that his back faced them and walked away in brisk, quick steps.
Nadashiro shook his head once Kiro was out of sight. "Nice lad. Though he takes things too seriously."
Sano smirked in Aoshi's direction. "Sounds like a certain someone we know."
Aoshi tossed the brown-haired young man a narrow-eyed glare.
x-o-X-o-x
Kaoru brushed her long raven hair as she hummed softly to the lyrics of a song tuning softly in the radio near her desk. Sunlight filtered through her half-opened window, enveloping the whole room with its warm, golden radiance.
A stray ray of light touched her hair, casting an illusion of it to be a midnight blue color instead of gossamer black.
Kaoru let a small smile tug up her lips as a short relapse of last night sparked in her mind's eye. It appeared for a mere fraction of a second but it was enough for her to remember.
Setting down her brush, she peered into her vanity mirror with blank eyes as she let the soft music and the warm air resurface memories of last night's party to cloud her vision.
-flashback-
Voices of men and women talking and the cling of tea and/or sake cups resonated as Kaoru and the others headed for the private room where the party was being held. The sounds grew louder as they got closer.
Nervously, Kaoru unconsciously gripped her fingers on Ojita's arm. She was worried. What if she makes a mistake and somehow reveals herself in the process? Oh why couldn't Saitou find some other girl to play 'geisha spy' instead of her? Why did he have to dig up a part of her past that she would rather choose to forget then relive again?
Ojita obviously thought that Kaoru nervous for a different reason and so, he took her hand in his own and squeezed it gently.
"You'll like my friends and I'm sure that they'll love you. You'll enjoy the party as well." He spoke to her softly.
Kaoru turned her head to flash the ebony-haired man a smile.
"I hope so." She said, managing to keep her voice steady and lovely. "And, if they're half as charming as you, then I'm sure that I'll enjoy their company."
Ojita grinned. "I have the sudden impulse to turn about and not let my friends meet you." He admitted.
"Why is that so, Ojita-san?" Kaoru asked in an innocent voice. "Don't you think I'm pretty enough for your companions to see?"
She let her lower lip pout a little, masking a mock-hurt look in her face as she did so.
The slightly older man let out a short, gruff laugh. "My dear, no one is as deserving as to peer upon your lovely face."
On cue, Kaoru's cheeks flushed a pale pink. Flipping her fan opened with her free hand, Kaoru covered her mouth with it and giggled. "You are a very suave person Okita-san. Well, you've may managed to talk your way out this time. But…"
Snapping her fan shut, Kaoru tapped it lightly on the young man's shoulder in a playful manner. "I will relish in the day that I'll finally get to see you tongue-tied." She tossed him a playful smile to show that she didn't mean any harm.
"Well then, you won't mind if you have to stay by my side for a long time then." Ojita answered. He winked at her teasingly. "Not that I do not enjoy your company. On the contrary, I find it pleasurable and highly entertaining."
"Mou! Ojita-san! You speak so highly of me yet we've only known each other for a few minutes. I certainly hope I can fulfill your expectations." Kaoru murmured.
A small cough prevented Ojita from replying. It was Tomao.
"As much as I enjoy spending time with you Ojita-kun." The brown-haired girl deepened her voice to give emphasis on the 'kun' part. "We have to go inside now. The hallway is indeed chilling compared to the vibrancy of the party."
Ojita frowned at the use of his name without consent. His grey eyes hardened as he turned, a bit reluctant, away from Kaoru's face to Tomao.
"Tomao-san, I would gladly appreciate it if you stop calling me with such informality." He said blandly, keeping his voice light despite the small anger embedded in his words.
Tomao stood still for a moment, deep in shock, before she recovered. "Yes, I understand. I am deeply sorry Sukenami-san." She apologized and even gave a little bow.
Kaoru got to hand it to Tomao. She looked a cool as a cucumber, managing to conceal her true emotions perfectly.
Out of the corner of her eyes, Kaoru could see both Azami and Okiko trying to stifle their snickers (not giggles) with the sleeves of her respective kimonos. Sakura, on the other hand, sported on her cheeks a pink shade of embarrassment on her fellow geisha's behalf.
A tug on her entrapped arm made Kaoru face Ojita, who smiled with mirth at her.
"Let's go inside, shall we?" He asked, all traces of anger in his voice vanished.
Kaoru simply nod her head in reply. Turning to face the door, she barely noticed Ojita reaching out his free hand to slide the rice-paper door open.
She hadn't entertained anybody since she was seventeen, for goodness' sake! That fact alone made her want to go into anxiety-attack mode.
Kaoru swallowed a sigh as the door finally opened and a view of the party could be seen.
She hadn't forgotten everything she was taught but still, two years of no practice could make anyone a bit rusty. Kaoru only hoped that she wouldn't have to do anything except engage in conversations and maybe pour a cup or two.
Forcing a smile, Kaoru let Ojita guide her inside along with Tomao with Sakura, Azami and Okiko bringing up the rear.
-end flashback-
"Mizumi-san." A soft voice shook Kaoru from her reminisce. Shaking her head, Kaoru glanced at her mirror to see Kiara's reflection standing behind her own.
"What is it Kiara?" Kaoru asked, fixing her gaze on the reflected Kiara instead of the real one.
The black-haired maid bowed and when she stood upright once more, said in her shy voice. "Yamaguto-sama requests for your presence, Mizumi-san. She says it's very urgent that you must see her right now before breakfast is to be served."
Kaoru wrinkled her nose and bit her lower lip, a sign that she was deep in thought. Perhaps Reiko-sama wanted to speak to her about last night's party. Or rather, Tomao told her of the events of that night and wanted to apprehend and scold her or something.
Kaoru couldn't stop the blush from staining her cheeks at that thought. Mentally, she shook her head to rid herself of more memories of the party from surfacing.
Instead, Kaoru nod her head to Kiara. "Alright. Tell Oka-sama that I'll see her as soon as I finish getting dressed." She said; motioning a hand to the evening yukata she still wore.
Kiara gave a little bow of her head and turned to exit the room. Soon, Kaoru heard the soft sound of two wooden objects clicking together, indicating that Kiara had closed both the inner shoji and outer wooden doors.
A faint smile touched her lips as Kaoru settled her gaze on her reflection once more.
"Now, what kimono should I wear today?" She murmured softly to herself.
x-o-X-o-x
Nadashiro closed the door behind him after he ushered the group of three men, a child-woman and a teenage boy inside the cabin. It was a cozy place that was furnished beautifully with both Western and Japanese artifacts to add a touch of elegance and comfort to the not-so-large room.
He coughed deeply, easily catching the attention of everyone else in the group. Particularly the young emerald-eyed girl who was staring in awe at some of the Western styled tapestries.
"To answer your earlier question Aoshi, I know of such things because I was once a spy for the government the last decade since the beginning of the Meiji Era. Understandably, everything was unstable and chaotic with the end of the Boshin Civil Wars, so the government had hired me, a former samurai who was neutral during the war, to 'check' up on things." The captain started.
"During those times, I had gained friendships in people who were involved in the underground's workings. Most of them are willing to let me in a few 'details' in exchange for a lighter prison sentence. Even now, I still have a few contacts here and there." He continued.
Nadashiro gazed at them intently with his dark eyes. "I trust all of you with this information on account that you are friends of Battousai." He said simply, ignoring the stunned looks on the group's, except for Kenshin and Aoshi who had raised both of his eyebrows, faces.
"How?" It was Sano who asked, speaking for the others.
"Nadashiro and I met during the Bakumatsu." Kenshin explained. "I was assigned in his area for an ordered assassination. Since he was neutral, neither of the two gumis had to kill him as long as he doesn't get in our way."
Nadashiro nod his head. "But that doesn't stop others from trying. Himura helped me when I was cornered by a gang of rogue samurais."
"I saw the x-cross on his face and I knew then that he was the Battousai. In exchange for my silence, Himura saved my life. Even still I felt that I owe him a favor."
He and Kenshin exchanged looks before he continued. "And that favor has finally been repaid after more than a decade since the war ended."
"I have a question." It was Yahiko who spoke up. Sensing all eyes on him, Yahiko continued. "What you said earlier; how is it that no one else has yet to believe these are real and not rumors?"
"It's simple. My men and I will spread yet another rumor to counter-act it. That way, no one would believe them because there are too many versions of the same 'rumor'."
"To create confusion so that no one except the police and those involved will be the wiser." Aoshi gave his two cents.
Nadashiro nod his head. "Yes, that is correct."
"The police didn't want to raise a panic between the civilians. If the mass population of them knew, people would be at each other's throats and accusing one another, causing pandemonium which is the last thing the government wants to deal with right now. I get it now." Sano spoke.
Noticing the surprised stares given to him by Misao and Yahiko, Sano grew frustrated. "What? It's actually pretty obvious once somebody explains it. I'm not stupid, you know." He grumbled.
Misao and Yahiko exchanged looks. Both blinked. "Well I guess there IS a first time for everything." Misao muttered.
Yahiko nod his head. "Yeah. I'd never thought Rooster-head could actually use a brain."
Misao tapped her chin, a thoughtful glaze in her eyes. "Come to think of it. I didn't even know Sano has one."
The tick-mark on Sano's forehead could be seen prickling in his temple as he closed his eyes. "Why you two little…"
Making a choking motion with his hands, the irked rooster reached for the first of the two he could grab. Namely, Yahiko's neck.
What followed was a fight between a rooster, a baby rooster and a weasel with the older rooster trying to strangle the kid rooster ala 'Homer Strangles Bart Simpson' style while the weasel tries to break them apart and, thus, got herself tangled in a large dust cloud with arms, legs, and even faces poking out of the cloud every minute or so.
At such a comical sight, even Aoshi had to sweat-drop. Kenshin looking undecided as to stop the three (his Rurouni-half) while crying 'Oro' over and over again or as to laugh boisterously or at least smirk (his Battousai persona). In the mean time, Nadashiro was content enough to laugh out loud for the three of them (including Aoshi).
x-o-X-o-x
Ojita Sukenami had been an orphan as long as he could remember, which was fifteen years ago when he was seven. Usually, at such an age, a child could be able to keep memories before that but Ojita wasn't as lucky. He couldn't even remember his real name.
Even when he was adopted by the childless Sukenamis and was given a name and a home, Ojita still felt that something was missing. His past.
When he was younger, he would often try to remember to the point that he would faint from the pounding pain in his head. But it was in vain, for he couldn't fathom anything more than blurry figures of people and grey eyes much like his own. During nights when he would doze off, he would dream of nothing more than the color of angry red-orange and, in rare occasions, thought that he could even smell smoke and hear the sounds of people crying.
There had been so much he wanted to know, wished to know, that he often neglect his present time with his adoptive parents to dwindle in his shady past. Only when he had given up remembering did he at least tried to show the Sukenamis his gratitude for them. By that time, however, both of them were struck with an unfamiliar sickness. Yet, he continued to care for them, letting them know the appreciation he felt towards them for his upbringing.
Unfortunately, Kami had decided that it was their time to leave. Ojita was barely nineteen when they died, their deteriorating conditions prevailing over their strong will to live. Luckily, the Sukenamis is a rich family and since he is the sole heir, they left all of their lands, wealth and everything else to him.
Ojita sighed and ran a hand through his messy, uncombed ebony hair. Indeed, he was very grateful to the kind Sukenamis for choosing him out of all the other potential little girls and boys. The orphanage where he had been taken in was not so 'loving' as they portrayed themselves to be. In fact, the people there were cruel and the other children always stayed away from him, jeering him at a distance, because he was different from the rest.
Often, the other kids would call him names, especially the other boys. They made fun of him because of his unusually-colored eyes.
(AN: Please be noted that the italicized words in this segment are that of children between the ages of four-eight so naturally there'll be wrong grammar.)
"What a weirdo."
"Yeah, did you see his eyes? They looked like mushy stuff Mrs. Mikami would make us eat."
"Nah, they look more like someone had sucked the color right out of them."
"Do you think?"
"Of course! Nobody has eyes like that. And he's such a weirdo too. Can't even remember his own name."
"Really? That's terrible!"
"You know what I think? I don't even think he has a family."
"Maybe he was dropped here by a demon!"
"Yeah! Or maybe he is a demon and he ate his own parents!"
"That's horrible!"
Crack!
Ojita opened his eyes slowly to see that he had gripped the water cup he was holding too much. Blood dripped down his clenched fist, leaving a trail and staining the cuffs of his suit.
Biting his tongue to prevent profanities from escaping his lips, Ojita put down the cup and slowly released it. He would dispose of it later.
Ojita held his injured hand up to see tiny pieces of broken porcelain stab deep in his palm, cutting his skin. Thankfully, none were too deep to consider surgery.
Ojita stood up from his chair and headed for the bathroom. There, he opened the medicine cabinet and took out a pair of tweezers. With precise care, he plucked out every broken piece one by one, putting them in a spare container he founded. Beads of sweat dripped down the side of his face as he continued his horrendous and painful task. He didn't cry out though, he was too proud to do that for such an insignificant problem. (AN: Snort. Well I don't know if I'll feel the same way if I was in his place…)
A contented smile touched his lips as he plucked and dropped the last bit of porcelain onto the container.
Setting down his blood-encrusted tweezers on one side of the sink, Ojita used his un-injured hand to twist the faucet open. Slowly, he brought his bloodied hand to meet the rush of the tap's water.
He gritted his teeth in pain as the jet of water came in contact with his injured skin. He let it cleaned itself for awhile until the pain nearly subsided. Then he took a bottle of antiseptics, dabbed a few drops in a clean rag (AN: I don't think they have cotton balls yet…Hohoho! (winks)) and began to pat it on his cuts.
After a few minutes of enduring the stinging pain of the liquid medicine, Ojita was finally finished with his self-treatment. Seeing that he didn't have any spare bandages in his cabinet, he dug into his pockets in a search for a makeshift one.
His hand touched something that felt somewhat silky and drew it out. It was a white handkerchief with embroideries of multicolored butterflies sown on it.
A twitch of a smile crept up his lips as he thought of the owner of this very special cloth.
-flashback-
"Oh I'm so deeply sorry Sukenami-san! Please do pardon me, it wasn't intentional at all I swear it!" Tomao cried out as she accidentally spilled tea on the ebony-haired man's lap, staining his grey pants and turning it into an obvious shade of ugly brown.
Ojita looked at her disapprovingly. He knew that she was getting back at him for indirectly insulting her outside. He was about to put the brown-haired young woman in place when he felt a light tap on his shoulder.
Turning his head, he saw that it was Mizumi. She smiled and held out something small and white to him. It was a handkerchief, her handkerchief.
"Here," She said in her sweet voice, sending involuntary shivers coursing down his spine.
Lowering it to a whisper so that only he could hear, she continued. "Use this or the tea will stain your pants further. Also, when you have the chance, dab it with water and then soap and rub it carefully in one direction so as not to damage the fabric."
Nodding his head at her, Ojita graciously took the piece of clothing. Luckily, by this time, no one was looking so he was able to dry some of the still wet splotches of tea in his pants. It was only after he was done did he forget to mention something to Mizumi.
Turning his head back to where Mizumi was, he was disappointed to see that she had moved to sit besides one of his acquaintances who had called out for her to come over.
Sneaking one more glance at the beautiful girl with the midnight-colored hair and brilliant sapphire eyes, Ojita turned to listen half-heartedly with Tomao as she once again assaulted his ears with her insincere apologizes and fake tears.
He had wanted to thank her.
-end flashback-
"Maybe I should see her this afternoon." Ojita said thoughtfully. "Then I could return this to her."
Ojita held up the white cloth for a closer inspection and frowned when he noticed the brown spots scattered over it, marring it's perfection.
'But certainly not before cleaning it.' He said to himself.
Having made a decision, Ojita tucked back the handkerchief in his pocket. He could not dare to dirty it even more.
Remembering his earlier predicament, Ojita rummaged through the bathroom cabinets for another look, hoping to find a spare roll of bandages.
He smiled in relief when he finally managed to dig one out of the less-used cabinets. Unclasping the lock at one end of the roll, he wrapped it around his injured hand with as much care to evenness and spacing as a well-experienced doctor or nurse would have done.
Yes. He would see Mizumi this afternoon. Perhaps bring her a small gift as a token of last night.
x-o-X-o-x
Misao had decided to browse inside the Captain's cabin. Sano and Yahiko were taken by Aoshi to the sick-bay to take care of the multiple bruises and cuts they received from each other. Kenshin was talking to Nadashiro, about what Misao didn't know.
Her eyes scanned the room, and when they drift to the right, Misao spied something that sparked her interest. Walking in silent-footed steps, Misao moved closer to what caught her eye. It was a small gravestone made of white-powdered marble with characters written on it.
"What's this?" She murmured, mostly to herself, as she picked it up. She peered through the calligraphy, trying to decipher the words.
"That is my family's gravestone." Nadashiro's deep voice nearly made Misao jump in her feet.
Misao looked back and nearly bumped her nose to the captain's hard chest. She titled her chin up and saw the sadness dwelling in Nadashiro's dark eyes.
"Oh I'm sorry…" Misao regretted that she even asked.
Nadashiro shook his head. "Don't be. It has been a long time since they've died. I had got over them."
"If you don't mind me asking, how did they die?" Misao knew that she should drop the subject but her curiosity got the best of her.
Nadashiro shut his eyes and sighed. Misao thought that he wasn't going to answer when he suddenly spoke in a monotone voice.
"I was out of town that night. My wife had become ill and I went there to get some medicine. When I came back, my home was burnt to the ground. The neighbors had put out the fire but tendrils of smoke continued to rise from the ruins. They told me that they didn't see them get out alive."
He paused, as if to recollect his wavering emotions. "But I couldn't believe them, I didn't want to believe. So I searched through the debris. I found my severely burnt wife's lifeless arm sticking out from underneath a piece of blackened wood. That was all that was left of her."
"I gave up trying to find my daughter and son after that. I could not bear the pain anymore. When we dug up the bodies, the only thing that we could find was my wife's arm. The neighbors hypothesized that the heat must've been so strong and hot that it cremated them." (AN: Wow! That's a very strong fire!)
"If I may ask, what are their names? I can't depict this language. It looks Japanese yet I am not familiar with the characters."
Nadashiro shook his head at Misao. "It's normal that you wouldn't know. They're not written in Japanese but in Chinese. My wife was a refugee from China though few people know about it."
Misao bit her lip. "Their last names here aren't written in Chinese but they don't look to be yours."
"That's because 'Nadashiro' isn't my real name…"
"His real name is Otushiro Nadashi, former squad leader of the 'Watchers'. They are a small group of neutral samurais who served to protect the civilians during the Bakumatsu." A cool voice said from behind them.
They turned and saw that it was Aoshi who spoke. Behind him were Sano and Yahiko with Kenshin leaning against the wall facing them, the bangs of his red hair hiding his gaze.
"I thought there was something familiar about you." Aoshi said in monotone, his eyes narrowing into stilts.
"Otushiro? Isn't that the name of Kaoru's Older Sister?" Battousai spoke in Kenshin's mind.
"Maybe it's a coincidence. After all, more than two non-blood-related families share the same name, isn't it?"
"Rurouni, you know as damn well as I do that there's no such thing as coincidence."
"Ma, ma, Battousai. Calm down, we will ask Nadashiro-san when the time is right."
A grunt echoed in Kenshin's mind, signaling that the Battousai reluctantly agreed with the Rurouni.
His eyes were that of the wanderer's violet color yet the smirk etched on his lips was clearly that of his hitokiri persona.
Yes, there'll be plenty of time for small interregation. But in the mean time.
Kenshin pushed himself off the wall. "I'm going to practice at the deck."
"We'll go with you Himura. I need to brush up with my kunai-throwing anyway." Misao chirped; glad to have an excuse to leave the room.
"We?" asked Sano and Yahiko, wondering who Misao was talking about. Their question was answered when the genki ninja grabbed both of them by their uninjured-arms and dragged them to follow Kenshin who had already exited the cabin by then.
Giving Nadashiro one last emotionless look, Aoshi too turned to follow the others. He shifted his gaze once more as he opened the door.
"You do know that I'll still be keeping an eye on you, right?" He asked the much older man.
Nadashiro chuckled, his dark eyes glistening with challenge.
"I wouldn't expect anything less from the Okashira of the famed-Oniwabanshuu."
Aoshi cocked his eyebrow but made no response to correct Nadashiro. It's best to keep Misao's true identity as the new Okashira what it's meant to be.
A secret.
Aoshi nod his head in goodbye and stepped outside, closing the door behind him.
Unbeknownst to him, a pair of eyes watched from behind the shadows of a stack of water barrels as the ebony-haired male walked down the hallway.
A frown etched on the stranger's face. Something was up, he could feel it.
The figure waited until the tall man with the icy eyes gone outside to the deck. Then, soundlessly, he stood from his hiding place and sprinted for the stairs leading to the men's quarters below deck.
x-o-X-o-x
"You wish to see me Oka-sama?" Kaoru's voice drifted in the air as she stepped inside the office. It was styled just liked that of the Westerners. The walls and floor, which is covered with a large carpet, of the place were constructed from mahogany wood. The setting was completely that of the foreigners, from the desk that the older woman was sitting behind of, to the hand-crafted chairs that scattered throughout the room. Only the tea set placed at one corner of the room along with a few paintings dribbled in scrolls are the only objects that speak of the Japanese culture.
The middle-aged woman looked up from her pile of papers to notice the younger woman.
"Yes, yes. Sit down Mizumi-san. I'm afraid that this is very important." With a wave of her hand, she motioned with a wave of her hand to a chair at the other side of her desk.
Kaoru lifted the skirt of her kimono. She had chosen a black kimono with tiny silver stars on it, imitating a moonless night sky. Light grey edgings are smeared on it in random cycles, giving an impression of dark clouds. An even lighter shade of white-gold was silhouetted on one area where the clouds gathered, as if the moon was trying to peek through them. Both her under-robe and obi were the same light grey color, though the obi had embroideries of white-gold that are knitted in random, yet beautiful, shapes.
Kaoru flipped her long dark hair behind her shoulder, free from its' bind. There were no visitors to the teahouse/okiya that morning so the women were allowed to let their hair loose.
Reiko cleared her throat and let a serious expression mark her features as she said.
"Mizumi-san, it has come to my attention that you have done something dishonorable for a geisha."
Kaoru raised a slender eyebrow. She had done nothing wrong, that she is sure of. So why was she being accused?
The older woman coughed before she continued. "A fellow geisha has informed me that you had spilled tea in a customer's lap with the intention to humiliate him in front of his peers."
Kaoru felt her mouth gaped open as shock coursed through her body. It wasn't long though before anger replaced the sensation.
Atop her lap, hidden by the sleeves of her kimono, Kaoru tightened her hands into fists. She fought to keep off the waves of rage from breaking to the surface.
'Tomao.' Kaoru mentally hissed, her sapphire eyes darkening to a navy blue.
x-o-X-o-x
In the breakfast table, a geisha with light brown hair and blue eyes suddenly smirked mysteriously.
"Tomao-san, are you alright?" Another geisha sitting besides the brown-haired woman, asked in concern.
Tomao glanced at the other woman. "Oh, it's nothing. I just remembered a very funny joke."
Her blue eyes glittered with smug satisfaction just as the other woman turned away.
Oh yes, it won't be long now. Mizumi would soon learn that Tomao isn't one to be insulted and not get back at the one who wounded her pride.
Ah, vengeance is such a sweet, sweet feeling.
x-o-X-o-x
"Boss, reports from the spy have just arrived."
"What is it then?" A figure, his face masked by the shadows, asked. From the sound of the voice, the figure is a male. A very masculine one at that, if one is to judge by the deepness of the pitch and the power embedded in his words.
"Battousai is on a boat heading for Yokohoma shores. Alongside him are the Oniwabanshuu Okashira and his surbordinate; the infamous Zanza, and a former 'Watcher'." The first voice, light and feminine, answered.
A deep chuckle echoed in the dimly-lit room. It was deep and masculine.
"My, my. The plot just keeps twisting, does it not?" The male voice asked.
"Get me a piece of paper and a pen. I want to contact Sukenami." He ordered.
The first figure with the female voice bowed. "Yes, my Lord."
x-o-X-o-x
A woman wearing a red and gold kimono that hugged her petite frame was reading the letter her 'younger sister' sent her. The woman was gorgeous, not hinting the fact that she was already thirty years of age. Her long inky black hair was set up in a bun like that of a traditional geisha.
As her eyes scanned a particular page of the letter, they widened in shock. Then they suddenly narrowed into slilts as her evenly-plucked eyebrows furrowed together. Not long after, they smoothened as a smile began to twitch up her lips. It was not a friendly smile though, and thus it ruined the angelic features of her face.
A laugh soon erupted from her painted lips. It was so evil and full of triumph that even the fearless of men would cower.
One of the maids heard her mistress and shuddered. Glancing at the butler beside her, she murmured.
"Something horrible must have happened, Kirei-sama sounds extremely pleased with the letter."
To Be Continued
AN: Well? How was it? Did you guys like it? I sure hoped so.
Okay, recap time. For those who are very loyal to the story, you would remember that "Kirei" is the last name of Kaoru's aunt. "Otushiro" is the last name of Kaoru's 'older sister'.
Also, we see that new characters are introduced (some informally) such as Nadashiro. Don't think that he's a one-chapter type of character, he plays a much bigger role in this fic. (spoiler!) And as you can see, Sukenami's past isn't exactly sunshine and roses.
(Spoiler!) And don't think that Kaoru's father is going to be left out in the dark. His death will be explained in due time, as well as another part of Kaoru's past. 'Till then, you'll just have to ponder on it, won't you? Hohoho! (grins evilly)
And, if you're really keen on the details, you may noticed some hints of relationships between different characters. If not, then I won't spoil your fun by mentioning it.
To end my AN, here's my Creativity Demon to tell you a few words.
Daemon: Please be so kind as to leave a review. Sapphire has worked her fingers to the bone writing this chapter (Unfortunately, her mind had just warmed up so now she's typing yet another chapter like crazy) and has endured whiny complaints from both her parents for using the computer all-day long, just to satisfy her readers which she hoped she had achieved.
Daemon: Also, to those who had dared to flame her before even reading her piece. I have something to say. (The following sentences were deleted by Sapphire due to mature and extremely violent contents that would leave readers feeling scandalized and risk the author of the deletion of her membership on the site.)
Daemon: (glares at Sapphire)
Sapphire: (whistles innocently) Well, until next time then. Keep the spirit of fanfiction (aka imagination and creativity) alive in your hearts! Rock on!
