Author's notes: Thank you for your continued support. I really appreciate the readers and those kind enough to leave a review. I will not be able to do this weekly, but I will do my best to update every other week or so. Thanks again, and Happy Reading!
Chapter 10: Departure
Aoshi awoke in a cold sweat, breathing heavily. He was curled up into a ball, clinging tightly to his blanket, with tears and sweat running down his face. Looking up, he saw an exhausted Okon nearly asleep at his side. He straitened himself upon the futon, lying on his back, staring at the ceiling. He placed his arm across his forehead, attempting to relax, pondering what it could mean.
It plagued him that Misao was leaving in a few hours for Yokohama, and strangely, so did the memory of Okira earlier in the day. The whole situation didn't settle with him in the slightest, but attempted to go back to sleep anyway.
He laid there for hours, tossing and turning. As first light appeared through the shoji, he finally drifted back asleep.
Okaita wandered up the hallway to wake Misao up. He slowly opened the door to see the young lady sleeping peacefully on her futon. "My lady Misao…." He called.
Misao slowly opened her eyes. "Is it time already?" she asked, wearily rubbing her eyes and straightening her yukata.
He smiled, nodding. "Yes, it is. The train leaves in about half an hour, so please get ready."
Misao shook her head. She had half a mind to lie back down to continue sleeping. However, her conscience reminded her that it was her duty to go on this mission. She sighed, and reluctantly started to fold her futon.
Okaita excused himself to allow for her to get dressed and ready.
Misao changed into her ninja uniform, and tied her long hair back into her long braid. She picked up her bag which she had packed earlier with extra kuni, reports, clothes and such, and walked down the hallway in a daze. She mindlessly packed a few snacks and met Okaita at the door.
"Are you ready?" He said.
She snapped awake, as if she didn't have a clue until now what was really happening. "Just a sec, I forgot something!" as she dashed back into the Aoiya.
She quietly opened the door to reveal Aoshi, sleeping soundly on his futon. She smiled, happy that he seemed to be doing better, it gave her a little peace about leaving for Yokohama. She closed the door behind her, and walked back to Okaita at the entryway.
He waited for her at the front door with the train tickets in hand. "Are you ready now, Misao?"
"Yes, I just needed to check on something real quick. Have you heard any recent news from Okira?" She said calmly as they started walking to the station.
"None since yesterday, and with Okira, there is two ways that you can take that: there isn't any or she is dead." Okaita joked.
Misao didn't know how to take the comment. "I hope it's the first one…."
Okaita laughed. "In all the years I have been around Okira, she knows how to take care of herself. You needn't worry about that."
With everything else plaguing her mind, the last thing she needed was Okira's death. Also, even though Aoshi was sleeping calmly, she still worried about his condition. "Don't kid around with stuff like that! That's the last thing I need!"
"I'm sorry, Okashira. I shouldn't be joking at a time like this. There is already too much on your young mind." He said grievingly.
"I am SIXTEEN years old, I'll be fine. I've grown up." She said in an irritated tone. He was lucky that he didn't get kunai flung at him for that.
A long silence came over them. Okaita thought it be best that he didn't say anything unless she asked him something. She was thinking about Aoshi, the mission, and seeing Okira again. This would be the first time that she saw her since she was running all over Japan looking for Aoshi. There was always a mutual jealousy between them. Misao had been jealous of Okira because she was extremely close to Aoshi from their childhood up until he had gone mad. She was Misao's link to Aoshi when she was looking for him. Okira was always jealous of Misao because Aoshi was sworn to protect her when she was a child. Misao had always wondered if Okira had told her the location only as they were leaving on purpose. Needless to say, there was tension between them. However, this was Misao's first mission working with Okira since she became Okashira, and she knew that she was serious about missions.
"All Aboard!" The conductor called, snapping Misao out of her train of thought.
"Can I take your bag, Okashira?" Okaita asked.
"Eh? Yes, thank you." She climbed aboard and took a seat next to the window.
Okaita joined her after he situated the bags. "Are you alright? You seem preoccupied."
"I'm alright. Just thinking about the mission, and what trouble we may run into." She stared out the window.
Okaita sat down beside her. "You know, she's looking forward to seeing you again. I realize there is tension between you, but Okira is too preoccupied with the mission. She will serve you well, despite the jealousy between you."
"Yeah, I suppose so." She responded in a daze.
"Anyway, try to get some rest. I'm sure that Okira will have a packet of tactical and mission information to read once you get there." He said smiling.
"Yeah, I'll bet" Misao said as she gazed back out the window.
The sun rose from the horizon, painting the sky with hues of pink and orange. The train ride would get them in Yokohama in time to actually make a plan of action. Misao eventually fell asleep while listening to the chugging of the train. Okaita was re-reading over Okira's last note, trying to prepare himself for the additional information that she gathered on the mission he sent her on the previous night.
Yokohama was bustling and full of activity. Misao was asleep when they pulled into the station. Okaita gently shook her. "Okashira, we're here."
Misao wearily opened her eyes. "We're there already?"
"Yes. Come on, I'll get our bags." Okaita reached for them overhead, and guided Misao off of the train.
"Okira should be around here somewhere..." Okaita said, looking around for her.
Misao didn't know if Okira was in disguise or not, but she walked around the station with Okaita in hopes of finding her.
The station was as busy as could be expected, and it was difficult to try to locate one person in such a crowd.
"Hello Okaita! Nice to see you!" A young man said standing on the street waiting for them. "And who's that with you?!"
Misao looked at the man. He stood at five foot, eight inches or so with jet black hair and brown eyes. 'Okira...?' she thought. Okira was a master of disguise, but she never knew that she could impersonate a man.
"Hello Shinpachi!" Okaita called out. "How are you doing this fine day?" He said with a smile. He sensed there was something wrong for Shinpachi to come instead of Okira, but continued as if nothing was amiss. Shinpachi led them as they walked down the busy street
"Just fine. Who is with you Okaita?" He asked. "Pretty girl, you always have the luck!"
Misao was confused. It didn't sound like Okira, nor act like her.
"She is my niece, here to visit for a little while. Be nice to her." Okaita said.
Misao knew that Okaita telling Shinpachi that she was his niece was a security measure. Yokohama was a hot spot for foreigners and spies, and thus with the drug problem, it was wise to keep her true identity quiet in public.
"Oh, I will" Shinpachi said with a sly smile as they turned down the ally way.
"Hello Okashira, Okaita. I am here on Okira's behalf." He said once they were in the ally.
"What has happened to her?" Okaita said. "She wouldn't send anyone else unless something was wrong." He said with a hint of hysteric panic laced within his voice. Okira had been like a daughter to him, and he didn't want to see her hurt.
"She's alright, but exhausted. She ran into some of the drug lord's goons last night. She has mild injuries, but should recover in the next couple of days. She has a report on the counter in the back for you Misao."
Misao hadn't seen Shinpachi in years, and didn't recognize him. He had found a nice living working in construction after the revolution. However, he had always kept his ties with the Oniwaban, working with Okaita and Okira when it was absolutely necessary.
When they reached the door of the shop, and Shinpachi excused himself. Okaita had beads of sweat on his brow, worried about Okira. Misao followed, finding the packet of information that Okira had left for her. Okaita showed Misao to the office where she could review the information. Misao looked into the packet to reveal names, places, targets, and objectives of the group that is known as the Kenjindan. They were revolutionaries that never gave up hope of expelling the foreigners. Their targets were restaurants frequented by foreign council members in the area. They were running experiments on normal citizens to make sure that they received the desired affect. She finally understood the full meaning of Okira and Okaita's desire for her to be there. Times were dire indeed.
Okaita went to check on Okira before he went to work in the shop. Opening the door, he revealed her, wearing a sky blue kimono, and writing at a small desk in the corner of the room.
"I'm glad to see that your injuries aren't keeping you from doing your job, Okira." He said with a smile.
"Why would they? Just because I have a few slight scratches, doesn't necessarily mean that I am unable to work." She said as she turned toward him, with her bright green eyes looking at him, with a smile on her face.
"Never knew you to be such a workaholic before." He stated. Even though she paid close attention to detail, once she was finished writing a report, she would worked on her skills for her aliases or in the shop.
"I'm usually not this particular about writing things down. I prefer to just give an aural report instead of writing one." She said. "Besides, I completed that last night. I am actually writing a letter."
"Ah. I see. Who are you writing to?" He inquired.
Okira paused, and looked back at the letter, quietly answering "Aoshi."
Okaita froze, she hadn't said anything about him since the previous spring. "Has he written you?"
"No. I wrote a letter a while back, but I never sent it because he needs to heal from all that has happened to him." She answered within her hushed tone. It was her way of coping with her last memory of him.
"That's wise considering the situation." He commented. "Is that why you're wearing your sky blue kimono?" The kimono was a gift from Aoshi from several years ago, and she only pulled it out on rare occasions.
"I suppose so." Her smile returned for a brief moment then began to fade once more. "The physical scars from the last time I saw him must've healed, but I fear that his mind hasn't."
"He was ill when I arrived. Misao basically clung to his side." Okaita told her. Anyway, she is here and is currently looking over the report."
"I can see that..." She said as she nodded her head and smirked. "...She hasn't changed much..."
"I would go greet her, but I am to rest, and stay off of my feet for a bit." She slid her kimono up her leg so Okaita could see the wound that she had on her left leg. The wound wasn't as deep as it could have been, running diagonal from right to left up her shin. "I should be up and going as early as tomorrow." She said, placing the kimono back over it.
"I understand." He said as he stood in the doorway. "I'm just going to let you rest."
Okira thanked him, bowed and instead of returning to the letter, went back to meditation.
After going over the reports again, Misao stood from the desk and went in search of Okira. Upon her arrival in Yokohama, she had been somewhat relieved that she wasn't required to see her, but in going over her report, she realized that she had to put away her childish jealousy that she had to overcome the situation at hand. She wandered down the hall to find a door that was open just about an inch. She opened the door to find Okira meditating, with her back to the door. She spoke to the figure "Geez, you're just like him…" for she was in the same position on the floor that she had seen Aoshi in for months on end since his return.
Okira, without skipping a beat simply said. "Your hands have never been stained with blood. Innocence is lost once one takes the life of another. This is how we deal with such a weight upon our hearts." She said coldly, and then turned to face Misao. "It's a burden that neither of us ever wants to be placed upon you." She said with a smile.
Misao thought about it for a moment, and then entered the room, sitting down beside her. Okira was right, but she couldn't think about that at the moment when the mission was more important. "When would be a good time to make our move?" she asked, looking over the tactical report once more.
Okira was a bit surprised by this since it was all in the report, and the date was clearly stated within them, in addition to the urgency of Misao's arrival in Yokohama. "The best day would be tomorrow, for the following day is when their shipment comes in, and if they can be stopped before the shipment arrived, then they would have control of the disposal of the drugs. Thus why the urgency of your arrival."
Misao nodded in agreement. "It certainly would be the best day." She sighed, wondering how Aoshi was able to lead the Oniwaban at such a young age. "Make the preparations and report back to me." She said as she stood to leave.
Okira continued to sit on the floor, but turned her body to face the teenager. She was slightly confused since all the preparations were already complete. "Are there any more that you would require?"
"Huh?" Misao returned the confused expression.
"The preparations are complete." She said. "Okaita and my gear are fully ready, and Shinpachi is going to be waiting back here to dress any wounds and such. We also have a black uniform for you, and sharpened kunai…"
Misao looked in wonder at her. Aoshi had always had faith in her, and she was starting to realize the reason why. Jealousy coursed through her for a brief moment because she saw how Okira had developed into a true kunoichi. Aoshi never allowed Misao the same privileges as he allowed Okira in terms of missions and assignments. She had gained Aoshi's tactical knowledge and was able to work with it. Misao was always kept from the battlefield by Aoshi, and she wondered why. She eventually convinced herself that it was because he cared about her enough to not put her into danger. She sighed as a happy smile creped across her face.
"Misao…?" Okira asked as she watched Misao's thought process.
Misao snapped out of her thoughts. "That's all." She said as she walked toward the door.
Okra nodded and watched Misao move toward the interior door.
Misao continued to think until she reached the door. "Wait…!" She turned and faced Okira. Something Aoshi had said before her departure dawned upon her. "Can I ask you a question?"
Okira turned back to look at her. "Matters on the question as to if I can give you an answer to it."
She understood where she was coming from since her missions were a strict secret. "What happened between you and Aoshi?"
Okira froze as the memory played over in her mind. The coldness of Aoshi and the rain chilled her to the bone, his curse rang in her ears, the taste of blood soaked thread filled her mouth, the feel of damp swords weighted her hands. She regained her composure and simply said "Ask him." As she turned around and asked that she be left alone.
Misao had watched her, and wanted to ask more, but given her reaction, it wasn't wise to push for an answer; she never dodged questions before which showed her that the memory was much deeper than she had originally thought. Whatever happened was too painful to both of them to tell her about it. She was starting to put together the picture that no one knew about it, and wither Aoshi or Okira was going to indulge her in the incident. However, she found it odd how they told her to ask the other. She walked out of the room and down the hall to the spare room where she was staying to unpack and relax a little bit.
Okira continued to stay motionless in her room. The memory she had attempted to block out for the last five months. Since Aoshi's return, she had been able to put it aside, but knowing Aoshi as she did, she gave him the space that he needed to finally mourn the loss of the four men because of the Kanryuu affair. She had hoped that eventually he would remember her, and write her when he was ready, but it had been nearly a month and a half since his return, and hadn't heard anything from him. She began to wonder whether or not he forgot about her, or their last encounter. She closed her eyes and began to meditate once more, trying to block out the memory and preparing for the mission.
A/N: To Be Continued...