AN: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin.
Chapter Eight
XXXXXXXXX
Misao
JIIYA YOU IDIOT WHY DIDN'T YOU EVER TRAIN ME ON WHAT TO DO IF YOUR OPPONENT HAS A FRICKIN' GUN WHAT GOOD ARE NINJA FISTS AND MONSTER BIRD KICKS AGAINST A FRICKIN' GUN A KUNAI DOESN'T TRAVEL HALF AS FAST AS A FRICKIN' BULLET FROM A FRICKIN' GUN AND HOLY-CRAP-I'M-LOSING-MY-MIND-SOMEBODY-PLEASE-HELP-ME!
"Misao-san, no!"
Ami! The girl's cry instantly jolts me out of my stupid mental tirade and I watch, horrified, as the crazed intruder fixes his gaze on the girl cowering in the corner behind me.
"Heheheh, well go on then, girlie," he sneers at me, waving his shotgun just inches in front of my face. "Just step aside and I promise I won't hurt you. I'll just take your little friend and leave."
A growl builds in the back of my throat and my fear disintegrates, the need to protect Ami-chan overpowering everything else. "The heck I will," I snarl. "You're not touching her, you good-for-nothing …"
"Keep those hands up!"
"Eep!"
I gasp as the intruder shoves his gun right up against my forehead. Crap … crap, crap, crap … okay, stay calm, Misao, stay calm …
Mind you, I'm still frozen in attack position with both my fists way up over my head, which really doesn't do anything for you when you're staring down the barrel of a frickin' shotgun. My original plan was to swing my arm down, grab my kunai and fling it at the maniac before he can shoot, but seriously, there isn't a single ninja move I can think of now that wouldn't just result in my brains being splattered against the wall. I'm fast, but I'm not that fast! Not faster than a frickin' bullet!
"Not so tough now," the man snarls, cocking the gun in warning. "Don't think I won't shoot my way through you if I have to, girlie."
"No, stop! Please!" My heart cracks when I hear the Ami let out a pitiful sob behind me. "P-p-please don't hurt Misao-san. I'll … I'll go with you, just please let her go …"
"No, Ami-chan!" I yell out desperately. "Stay back!"
"Shut up!"
The gun presses harder against my skull and my whole body turns to ice. I can hear Ami screaming behind me. Holy crap, this is it …
And then there's a terrible smash of metal against bone followed by an explosion of blood as Aoshi-sama slams the hilt of his kodachi into the gun-wielder's head.
"Guns are meaningless if you cannot draw them quickly enough to use them," Aoshi says coldly as the brute falls lifeless to the floor.
"Aoshi-sama!" I gasp aloud and rush forward, my whole body quivering with pure relief. He saved me ...! Before I can throw my arms around my savior, two powerful hands reach out and grasp me firmly by the shoulders, forbidding me from coming any closer.
"Misao." Aoshi turns his face from me and fixes his glare down towards the other end of the hallway. "There are more intruders."
What … I quickly regain myself and focus my ninja-sensitive ears, immediately picking up the sounds of heavy footsteps and low, frantic whispers coming from the north side of the dojo.
"Three more …" Aoshi says after a moment. "They're trying to enter through the window. One of them has a gun." He releases my shoulder and stares down at me sternly. "You wait here."
I straighten up and grab a kunai out of my back pocket. "Let me go with you, I can fight …"
"Wait here!"
I freeze in shock. His furious shout hits me like a slap across the face. Aoshi-sama has never raised his voice to me … ever.
Before I can open my mouth to say anything, Aoshi is gone.
I stand there where he left me, hopelessly frozen, as the noises of battle echo down the hallway. Suddenly the kunai in my back pocket feel like heavy weights and my legs feel like nothing but feeble twigs as they collapse beneath me. I sink to the floor, feeling weaker and more useless than I ever felt in my life.
XXXXXXXXX
Kaoru
Urggggggggh …
Still dizzy, still nauseous and still covered in puke, I stumble out of the bedroom with my bokken clutched in one hand and the other hand holding my swollen stomach. The floor seems to sway beneath my feet and the walls spin and tilt around me. I know I'm probably in no condition to fight, but I can't just sit back and do nothing while my dojo is under attack.
But by the time I reach the end of the hallway, the fighting is already over. Through my bleary eyes, I glimpse three lifeless bodies sprawled across the floor in a mess of blood and broken teeth. The victor, Aoshi, stands over his defeated foe and sheathes his kodachi silently. His eyes narrow as they fix themselves on mine.
"You shouldn't be up."
I reach out a hand and brace myself against the wall. "Aoshi …" I glance down at the bodies again. "You didn't kill them, did you?"
Aoshi shakes his head once. "No. They have merely been incapacitated. As long as I am your guest, Kaoru-san, I will honor your ideals. I will not kill beneath your roof."
I smile gratefully. "Arigato. I appreciate that, Aoshi. Still …" I wrinkle my nose at the bloody floor. "You made a real mess of my dojo."
He frowns, a perplexed look crossing his features. "I … apologize."
I jump when I hear the front door slide open behind me and whirl around to see my blissfully clueless husband standing there with a steaming pot of tofu in his hands.
"Oh, Koishii, you're awake? This one has brought you your …"
And then the pot falls crashing to the floor and the blood drains completely from his face.
"Wha … wha ... WHAT HAPPENED HERE?"
XXXXXXXXX
Misao
Well … this is awkward.
So of course poor Himura was beyond mortified when he came home to find his beloved pregnant wife standing over the bodies of three would-be intruders, her bokken in hand and a mess of vomit still dripping down the front of her sleeping yukata. After he'd gotten over his initial state of shell-shock, Himura ordered me and Aoshi to wait out for him in the hallway while he tucked poor Kaoru-san back into bed.
I avoid Aoshi's gaze as we stand there waiting, my cheeks still burning red with shame.
"I …" I swallow back the lump that rises up in my throat. "Arigato, Aoshi-sama. For saving me earlier."
He nods once. "Ah."
My mind flashes back to the earlier attack and I clench my fists, my whole body trembling in infuriation. Why … why did Aoshi have to be the one to come and rescue me again? I should be stronger than this, I'm the heir to the Oniwabanshu, dangit! I swore to protect Ami-chan from danger and I then just stood there and couldn't do a thing! Why am I so frickin' useless? Why can't I be strong enough to …
I gasp and turn my face away to swipe that one stray tear before Aoshi can see it.
Why can't I be strong enough to fight by Aoshi's side?
I jump as the shoji slides open and Himura steps out, shutting the screen firmly behind him. I quickly compose myself, but when Himura's eyes meet mine, I nearly flinch at their intensity. I've never seen him look so grim.
"Aoshi … Misao-dono … this one wants to help Ami-dono as much as you do, that I do. But …" He raises his head and a flash of amber streaks through his eyes. "But if it puts Kaoru or our child in danger … that is something I cannot tolerate."
The silence that follows is deafening.
"Himura." I take a step forward, my hands crossed in front of me meekly. I realize that I am the one who is truly responsible for all this.
"I … I understand, Himura. Gomenasai. I never intended for Kaoru-san or anyone to get hurt. I'll go find somewhere else to hide Ami for now, but …" I swallow. "I'll be going with her. No matter what, I need to stay with Ami-chan so that I can keep her safe." I lean forward into a bow. "Arigato, Himura. Thank you for your hospitality."
"Misao-dono …" Himura breathes. I glance up to see his now purely violet eyes widen in surprise. "This one …"
The shoji behind him slides open with a loud slam! "No, Misao-chan. You are not going anywhere."
"Oro!"
Himura whirls around, flabbergasted, as Kaoru-san steps out of the bedroom with her hands on her hips. "K-Koishii, you should be in bed …"
"Zip it!" she snaps before turning to face me. "Misao-chan, just ignore my husband here, okay? We're not asking either you or Ami to leave, and you don't have to. We can defend ourselves here just fine. You can stay. The both of you."
Himura's eyes widen, his jaw opening and closing and squeaking like a rusty hinge.
"But … but Kaoru-san …" I whisper, swallowing hard. As much as I want to stay here in the dojo with everyone, Himura is right. Ami's presence here is putting everyone in danger, and I can't leave Ami. If Kaoru-san or her baby gets hurt …
"Misao."
As always, Aoshi's voice arrests every molecule of air in the room. When I turn to face him he merely stares straight ahead with his arms crossed over his chest.
"I do not think it is likely our enemy will stage a direct attack on this dojo again, not after tonight," he says. "Not after we have shown them we will defend the girl despite their weapons. And even if they were so foolish, I agree with Kaoru in that we are more than capable of protecting this dojo. Our strength is sufficient, so there is no need to fear a second attack."
"There, you see?" Kaoru huffs proudly. "It's settled. You're staying." And with that she grabs her stupefied husband by the elbow and yanks him back towards their bedroom. "Come on, Kenshin. Time for bed."
Himura lets out a half-dead squeak. Not an "Oro." Just a squeak.
"Wait, Himura," I interject, stepping forward. "Please wait. I do want to stay here with you and Kaoru-san. I really, really do. But I'm not going to force us on you. If you want us to leave … then we will go."
Kaoru's eyes widen. "Misao-chan …"
"No, Kaoru-san. Please, let me say this." I turn to face Himura and wait until his dazed violet eyes meet mine before I continue. "This is your house, Himura, and it is your responsibility to keep it safe. I don't want to put anyone in any further danger …"
"Misao-dono." Himura holds up a hand, stopping me. After a moment, he lets out a heavy breath, exhaustion and resignation settling deep into his features. "We do not wish for you or Ami-dono to leave. You are both still welcome to stay for as long as you wish."
It takes a moment for his words to fully sink in. We can stay …
I step forward and throw my arms around the former rurouni.
"Arigato," I whisper. "Arigato gozaimasu, Himura."
I feel him nod weakly against my shoulder before he pulls away and turns back toward the bedroom.
"You all should get some rest," he says softly. His back is to me and his shoulders are slumped. "Come, Kaoru-koishii. Let's go back to sleep."
"Hai anata." Kaoru spares me a small, encouraging smile as her husband disappears. Aoshi and I bow to her goodnight before she steps back and shuts the shoji behind her.
Ami is already waiting for me when I step back into the guest bedroom. I can clearly see the shimmer of her tear-stained cheeks and her wide, fearful eyes through the dim moonlight spilling in through the window. Megumi-san had given me a small bottle of the sedative before we left the clinic this morning and it was a great help in calming the poor girl down after her ordeal. But I can still see her trembling as I slip back onto the futon beside her.
"Ami-chan," I whisper, pulling her into my embrace as she whimpers pitifully. "Shhhh … they're gone. They won't come back again. Alright? You're safe now."
After a few moments, I feel her quivering body grow still and relax as she succumbs to the sweet blessing of sleep. I feel my eyes also begin to droop, but something stops me. Something feels off in the room. I raise my head slowly, my skin prickling from a faint, peculiar chill. I nearly jump right out of my skin when my eyes meet Aoshi's.
He's staring directly at me, seated with his back against the shoji screen as erect as if he were standing guard, his kodachi in one hand. My mind reels in confusion. Why is he here? His room is on the other side of the dojo!
My voice comes out in a breathless whisper. "A-Aoshi-sama?"
He does not respond immediately. "Do you object to my presence here, Misao?"
"Um … no, but …" I turn my face away so he doesn't see me blushing. "W-w-why are you …"
"I wish to stand guard in the event of another attack."
"B-b-but you said there wouldn't be another attack …"
"One must always be prepared, Misao, even for the event of the unlikely."
"B-b-but …" I grip the blankets in my fist, absolutely flustered. "This is most … improper." Psh, as if I'd ever cared about that before …
I hear Aoshi let out a long sigh. "If you wish me to leave, then …"
"No!" I gasp, and then quickly remembering that Ami's sleeping beside me, I lower my voice. "N-n-no. You can stay, Aoshi-sama. If … you really want to."
He nods once. "Ah."
Uh … okay …
I can't even begin to describe the mix of emotions that runs through me as I lay back onto the futon – awkwardness, confusion, self-consciousness and a strange sense of warmth and security. I glance back at Aoshi one last time before I bury myself beneath the blankets. I can still feel his eyes fixed intently on my face as I drift away to sleep.
XXXXXXXXX
Kaoru
Sigh … so much for my tofu.
I flop back down onto the futon, causing my enormous stomach to bounce upon impact and its inhabitant to kick back furiously in protest. I groan and rub a hand over the spot. Look kid, I know you're hungry, but you're just going to wait 'til breakfast, alright? Sheesh.
"Kenshin?" I turn to face my husband, wondering why he hasn't already lain down next to me. My heart sinks when I see him seated at the very edge of the futon, his body hunched forward and his expression one of utter desolation.
"Kenshin?" He does not respond. With some effort, I wiggle closer to him until our bodies are touching. "Kenshin … anata, please. Come sleep."
He does not say a word. I let out a grunt as I lift myself up halfway and place a hand upon his shoulder, rubbing along his arm gently. "Kenshin, it's alright. I'm okay, they didn't hurt me. Aoshi and I took care of them. I even got to take out one of those thugs myself, remember?"
"You don't understand," Kenshin says almost inaudibly. When he lifts his gaze to me, there is so much brokenness in his eyes that it makes my heart crack. His eyes shift from my face down to my stomach, and then back to my face, and then to my stomach again. He takes my hand and presses his scarred cheek into my palm, clenching his eyes shut. He's trembling.
"Kaoru …" he gasps. "If you … if something had … what would I … I couldn't …"
"Shhhh …" I wrap my arm around his back and pull him down onto the futon beside to me. In an instant he has wrapped me tightly in his arms, crushing me to him in a tight embrace as he buries his face into my shoulder. His anguish washes over me like a wave and I ache to comfort him. I reach up and gently stroke his hair, running my fingers through the silken flames over and over. He shivers against me, his ragged breathing gradually growing softer.
I am still stroking his hair long after he has already fallen asleep.
XXXXXXXXX
Misao
By breakfast, everything that happened last night seems to have been forgotten. Kaoru-san's been stuffing her face and talking animatedly in between bites all through the meal, and Himura – though strangely quiet – has been smiling and nodding along with her. Ami's been just as enthralled with our breakfast as she was with dinner from the Akabeko last night, and Yahiko's been shoveling rice into his mouth nonstop ever since he sat down.
And Aoshi … well, what do you think? Silent and unresponsive as usual.
I clear my throat and set down my half-finished bowl. "Kaoru-san? Do you by any chance have a punching bag here that I could practice with?"
"A punching bag?" Her forehead wrinkles in thought. "Um, yeah. I think we do. We just don't use it very often. It should be in the storage shed. Yahiko, can you go get it out of there for her?"
"Hrmph?" Yahiko grunts through a mouthful of rice. He swallows it down. "I'm still eating here."
"Oh, for crying out loud! It'll take you five minutes tops to get out to the shed and back. Now get off your lazy butt and go!"
"Grrr, alright." Yahiko stands to his feet begrudgingly, obviously knowing better than to push Kaoru's buttons after last night.
"Misao-dono," Himura says. "Are you sure you've finished? You haven't eaten very much."
"Oh, I'm fine Himura," I say, stretching out my muscles as I stand to my feet. "It isn't good to eat too much before a serious training regimen. Arigato, Himura. Breakfast was delicious."
I bow to everyone and follow Yahiko out the dining room … shivering slightly from the feel of Aoshi-sama's sharp eyes on my back as I exit.
"Errrrrrrgh …" Yahiko grunts as he drags the enormous punching bag across the training hall and lifts it up to attach it to the hook sticking out of the wall. "Crap! I forgot how heavy this thing is. Well, it's the only one we got, so I hope this is good enough for … woah, hey! Wait 'til I get out of the way first, Weasel! Hey! Watch it!"
But I can't hear him. I can't hear anything but the furious pounding of my own fists against the bag as I swing my arms in a manic frenzy, striking from the right, then the left, then the right, the left, over and over and over again. My swings become faster, my punches more deadly. My arms are burning like fire, but I don't care.
With a cry of rage, I smash my foot into the bag and send it flying across the training hall floor.
I will get stronger.
XXXXXXXXX
Ami
Three days pass …
"Well, you seem much better today, Ami-chan."
I smile shyly at the kind lady doctor as she takes a seat beside me. "Arigato, Megumi-sensei. I do feel better. Himura-san and his wife have been treating me very well here."
"Yes, well it looks like your fever's broken. Kaoru tells me your appetite's been very good too."
I blush, slightly embarrassed. "H-h-hai."
The woman smiles before opening up her medical kit and gesturing for me to lie back on the futon. "Now, I'm going to have to examine you again before I can say you're well enough for travel, alright?"
I nod, trying to ignore that twinge of anxiety as I lean back and raise up my knees. "H-hai, Megumi-sensei."
The lady doctor leans forward to rub along my arm reassuringly. I let out a shaky breath and close my eyes, trying to be brave, but I can't help but let out a whimper as Megumi-sensei begins.
"Shhh … I know, Ami, I know. Just try to relax."
I grip the sheets beneath me and bite my lip, trying to do as I'm told. Oh, but it hurts. I know the doctor's doing her very best not to hurt to me, but I can't stop the tears from leaking out from my eyes. What's worse is that I feel so exposed. And so filthy. I know she's doing this to help me and she's being so kind, and yet …
I try to yank my mind away from what's happening and think instead of my two Onee-sans. Mayu-san. Misao-san. They would want me to be strong. To be brave. I try to take even breaths and keep my thoughts on them.
"Alright." I let out a sigh of relief as Megumi-sensei steps away and wipes off her hands, finished. She reaches over to help me back up to a sitting position, but I remember her injured arm and try to lift myself up without her help. The action prompts a tiny pinch of pain in my stomach, but I try to ignore it.
"Well, it looks like things aren't getting any worse," Megumi-sensei says. My heart rises slightly in relief only to sink back down into despair at her words. Not any worse … but not any better. It's still there. It's still killing me. I'd already resigned myself to the fact that I'll never be cured, but a part of me had still dared to hope.
"If you feel up to it, Ami-chan, I think you're ready to continue on to Amakusa with Sano," she continues. "He says you can both leave tonight if you want to."
Amakusa. In an instant, my mind is flooded with thoughts of home and my heart swells with the hope of being with my family at last. But at the same time … I almost do not want to leave. I've been so happy here …
"But … what of Misao-san?" I whisper. "Do you think she will come with us, Megumi-sensei?"
The lady doctor shakes her head thoughtfully as she began to pack away her medical kit. "I'm not sure, Ami-chan. She wanted to be here for the birth of Kaoru's baby, but I think her loyalty to you is greater than her wish to stay here at the dojo. I think that if you and Sanosuke were to leave tonight, she would choose to go along with you as well."
A shadow of grief suddenly falls over the lady doctor's features and she quickly turns her face away.
Oh … I open my mouth to say something, but I stop myself. I know Megumi-sensei would rather I pretend I didn't see that. I know why she's sad. It's because she's in love with Sanosuke-san. When I go, I would be taking him away from her. Just as I would take Misao-san away from all her friends here …
My heart seizes with guilt as I stare down at the tight bandages wrapped around the lady doctor's arm. The blue scarf about her neck has also slipped without her realizing it, revealing the narrow red scar beneath. I shut my eyes, unable to bear the sight of them any longer. Those wounds were because of me. She got hurt by the people who were after me. And then Misao-san almost got shot to death trying to protect me!
"Ami-chan?" I open my eyes to see Megumi-sensei staring at me worriedly. "Are you alright?"
"H-hai, Megumi-san. I'm alright."
But I'm not.
I'm a burden to everyone.
I feel another small wave of queasiness suddenly overtake me and I wince, leaning forward and pressing a hand against my stomach.
"Ami-chan?" Megumi's eyes widen and she's at my side in an instant. "Are you alright? Are you in pain?"
I shake my head. It doesn't hurt that much. "I'm alright, Megumi-sensei."
"Wait here." She rises to her feet. "I'll brew you some tea to help your stomach feel better."
After she's gone, the nausea swells and overwhelms the entire lower half of my body. I let out a soft moan. I'm beginning to feel hot and dizzy. And while this is nothing compared to the attacks I've had before, it still makes me want to cry. I was just getting better!
I rise unsteadily to my feet. Maybe some fresh air is what I need.
I step out of the room and into the hallway, easily finding the door that leads out into the main courtyard. Stepping onto the veranda, I blink at the sudden brightness before my vision clears, revealing a perfectly cloudless blue sky and the soft pink of the sakura trees. The sweet scent fills my nostrils and sweeps into my lungs, reaching in and clearing out the queasiness like a healing potion. I let out a sigh of contentment and take a seat, allowing my feet to dangle over the edge of the veranda.
Much better.
I feel a soft pang of sorrow as I gaze about these well-kept grounds. It's such a beautiful house. I'm so sad to leave it. Himura-san and his family have been so kind to me. The days I have spent here have been some of the happiest of my entire life.
But ... I have to go back to my family. I have to see them one last time before …
THWACK!
I cry out as an arrow suddenly whizzes by my head and strikes the wooden beam next to me. Shrieking, weeping, I dive facedown onto the veranda, covering my head with my arms and waiting for more arrows to rain down over the courtyard and kill me. I wait a few moments. Nothing happens. I hear nothing. Feel nothing. Trembling violently, I raise my head and blink through my tears to see the lone arrow sticking out of the beam with a small envelope attached to it. My eyes widen, clearing to reveal the single name penned onto the envelope.
My name. Ami.
"Ami-dono?"
I reach up to yank the arrow from the beam and I rip the envelope free, tossing the weapon into the nearby bushes. I whirl around, whipping the envelope behind my back just as Himura steps onto the veranda.
"Ami-dono? Are you alright? I heard you screaming, that I did."
I nod shakily, trying to keep my voice steady. "H-h-hai, Himura-san. A … a squirrel popped out of the bushes and startled me, that's all."
"Oro?" The man blinks. "Oh, alright. But what are you doing out here? Weren't you with Megumi-dono?"
"H-h-hai. She just went to get me some tea and …" I force a smile. "It's such a beautiful day. I just had to be outside."
"Ah …" A warm, genuine smile spreads across his face. "Alright. Well … I'll let Megumi-dono you're out here."
"W-wait, Himura-san," I say as he turns to step back inside. "I …" I swallow, lowering my eyes. "I just wanted to say … gomen … gomenasai …"
"Ami-dono." I glance up to see his violet eyes are gentle. "There is nothing to apologize for. We are very happy to have you here with us."
He grants me one last smile before he bows and steps back into the house.
My knees are shaking as I collapse onto the veranda and pull the envelope out from behind my back. I gasp for breath, trying to keep my hands still as I rip open the envelope and pull out the folded parchment inside. Up until a few years ago, I couldn't read a single word of kanji. No one ever taught me. I learned while I was in Singapore, and now I wish I didn't. Then maybe it would be so much easier just to rip this up or hand it over to Himura-san.
I unfold the paper and begin to read. It's a letter ... one addressed only to me. By the fifth line I can't read anymore because my hands are shaking too hard and the tears are streaming down my face. The words all blur together in an inky mess and the parchment falls from my hand. I fall forward, burying my face in my hands as I break down weeping.
XXXXXXXXX
Misao
"Ho!" Thwack! "Ha!" Thwack! "Hiyah!" Thwack! "Ha!" Thwack!
"Misao-dono …"
"Arrrrgh!" I swing around with my fists raised to punch out my unseen enemy.
"ORO!" Himura cries, stumbling backwards. "D-d-don't hit me, Misao-dono!"
"Oh, Himura!" I drop my fists quickly. "G-gomen! I … I thought you were an attacker."
He laughs sheepishly, showing me the small jug he was holding in one hand. "This one is not an attacker, Misao-dono. This one just came to see if you needed some water, that I did."
"Oh." Now that I've stopped punching for the first time in three straight hours, I'm suddenly aware that my throat feels like sand and that there are purple spots bursting in front of my vision.
"Haha, yeah. Water would be great. Arigato."
I grab the bottle eagerly and chug down the refreshing liquid. I hear Himura chuckle. "You should be careful not to train too hard, Misao-dono. This one does not want you to hurt yourself."
I wipe off my mouth with the back of my hand. "Oh don't worry about me, Himura. I'm a top-class ninja! Besides, I have to train hard so I can protect Ami-chan."
"Ah yes," he says. "Megumi-dono says Ami is well enough to continue on to Amakusa if she so chooses."
"Oh." I smile sadly. "Well … that's good. So she can be with her family again."
"And what about you, Misao-dono? Will you be going with Sanosuke and Ami-dono when they leave?"
I swallow and nod resolutely. "Yes, Himura. As much as I would like to stay here at the dojo, I need to stick with Ami-chan. I can't abandon her. Not now. I need to see her through to the end. I just have to."
"Ah." Himura nods understandingly. "Kaoru and I will miss you, that we will."
I smile sadly. "I'll miss you too."
I lean up, stretch my muscles and try to brighten the mood. "Well, I guess our journey will give me more time to work on that challenge, Himura. That way I can brag to you about it when I get back."
"Oro?" The ex-rurouni stares at me perplexed. "This one's challenge, Misao-dono?"
"To make Aoshi-sama smile, remember?" I let out a frustrated groan. "Yeah. Still working on it, I'm afraid."
"Oro? But, Misao-dono …" I look up to see Himura's eyes widen in surprise. "You mean … you don't … when you left this dojo two years ago, you didn't see …"
"Ken-san!"
We both whirl around as the lady doctor suddenly barges into the training hall, her face pale and flustered.
"Misao-chan!" she cries, panicking. "Have either of you seen Ami? She's not in her room!"
"Oro?" Himura steps forward. "Ami is just outside sitting on the veranda, that she is."
"No, I just checked there. I checked every room. I can't find her anywhere! She's gone!"
"Now calm down, Megumi-dono. This one is certain that Ami is just … Oro! Misao-dono! Wait …!"
It can't be … I race outside first. I call out her name. "Ami!" I race all the way around the courtyard, yelling for her. I bypass Yahiko and Kaoru-san, who are sitting out enjoying the sun. They call after me but I ignore them.
The bathouse. I kick the door open. Empty. I call her name again and rush back into the house. The washroom. The dining room. The kitchen. Even Himura and Kaoru's bedroom. I rip open the shoji screen leading into Aoshi-sama's guest room. He's seated alone on the floor, meditating.
His eyes open. "Misao."
I rush on to the next room. The last room. Our room. Megumi already said she wasn't there. I refuse to believe it. I scream out her name one last time and tear the screen open.
No one. Empty.
I crumple to the floor.
"Misao-chan!" I hear Kaoru and Yahiko come scampering up behind me. "What's wrong?"
I just kneel there, unmoving, staring down at the empty futon. When I finally speak, my voice doesn't even sound like myself.
"Ami is gone …"
