Chapter Ten
Back at the Aritomo Manor, two figures settled under the sakura tree after the days work. They leaned on its sturdy trunk, gazing at the stars. The blanket of silence surrounding them didn't bother them much because both were in deep contemplation.
When a series of clouds had gone by, the usually genki girl kept a blank face as she asked seriously, "Are you really Genzai-sensei's nephew?"
"What do you mean?" came a cold voice.
"You are a good liar, you know that?" she responded keeping her voice casual yet assured.
"I beg you pardon."
"I've seen you…" she began, still not looking at her companion's frigid eyes. "I've seen you observing things, investigating, spying. Tell me. Who are you really?" At that, she turned around to face him. "I deserve to know the truth, you know," she finished softly.
Aoshi kept his face stoic as he continued to stare at the sky.
Trying to keep her fleeting calmness, Misao took a deep breath. "I trusted you, let you in, gave you a room and fed you. I am not asking for anything in return just the truth."
"..."
Narrowing her eyes, she snapeped, "Answer me, dammit! I am not fooling around! I need to know what is happening!"
"You are right. I am not Genzai-sensei's nephew," he stated coolly as if it were no big secret.
"Who are you then?" she pressed.
Aoshi didn't know why but he wasn't surprised at all at her interrogation. In fact, he was expecting her to question him for days. Still not meeting her inquisitive gaze, he replied. "I am Shinomori Aoshi. I was sent here by one of Kaoru's masters to investigate."
"Why?"
"I am not in the position to tell you that."
"You don't know either, do you?" she huffed.
Aoshi glanced at her with cold eyes, looking at her for a brief moment.
Going straight to the point, Misao inquired, "So, what have you found out?"
"It's none of your concern."
"None of my concern?" she spat out, wide-eyed. She placed her hands on her hips, looking at him incredulously. "Do I need to remind you that I am one of the occupants of this estate, therefore, I. Am. Concerned."
Feeling terribly irritated, he snapped, "Shut up woman! You are just a peasant in this house! You don't have any right to be concerned!"
Misao's eyes widened at his harsh comment. Gathering the little dignity she had left, she rose from her position, motioning to leave. Before leaving, she muttered under her breath, "Better that than a dishonorable bastard like you."
"You think I care what you think of me? You don't even know me," he gritted through his teeth.
"Neither do you." With that, she walked away.
Aoshi stared at her retreating figure, inwardly smirking. He crossed his arms in stubbornness to his inner scolding but he gave in. He didn't know why, but for the short span of time he had stayed there, he felt a certain fondness of that young woman. A fondness he shouldn't get used to, not to mention accept. Suddenly, he jumped out of his seat. "Wait!" he called out, running after her.
"What!?" she turned around as soon as she felt his grip on her arm.
"About what I said earlier, that was completely out of the line. I..." he trailed off.
Misao raised her eyebrow, waiting for the young man to continue where he left off. "I…"
"…I'm sorry, okay!" he yelled. "Happy!!!" he growled. Aoshi did not like what she was doing to him. Not once, even in his wildest imagination did he think that he would ran after a woman and apologize to her. His insides were boiling but then…
…she smiled, "That's alright. I understand."
He did not like what was happening one bit.
"Most samurais like you are arrogant pigs," she grinned, giving him a teasing wink.
"Whoever said that I was a samurai?" he smirked.
Misao shrugged. In a split second, she took out one of her kunais, throwing them directly at him.
Aoshi caught each one of them in between his fingers, inches away from his face.
Misao gave him an I-told-you-so smile. "See?"
"I am not a samurai. I am an onmitsu," he stated matter-of-factly.
"A spy, eh. So tell me, what have you found out?"
Sighing in resignation, Aoshi explained, "Shishio had gathered himself a group of samurais. According to my investigation, he is planning to assemble ten of the most skillful samurais in Japan. His plans are not yet fully disclosed but I am sure of one thing. Aritomo's land is just the beginning. He is planning to take over the whole shogunate."
"Is he crazy? He'll never succeed!"
"He is pretty confident for a lunatic."
"Why? Why would he do that?"
"Don't you think that the power and wealth of being a shogun is enough motivation?"
"You're right," she nodded. Pausing for a moment, she twitched her mouth in thought. Just then, she burst out, "Wait a minute, he can't overthrow the shogunate by challenging each one of the daimyo…" Looking back at him, she asked in a soft voice, "…can he?'
"I don't think he is planning to do that."
When everything sank in, Misao clenched her fingers, snarling, "That dishonorable bastard! So that is why he is gathering men! To enforce the army he is building!"
Aoshi inwardly smiled at her deduction. "You are a very unusual woman, do you know that?"
"Should I take it as a compliment?" she asked, flipping her braid to one side.
"Take it as you will."
Misao motioned them to return to the house with Aoshi walking in front of her. Misao stared at his back, silently deliberating whether she should ask the question rattling her mind for days. Finally, she spoke up, "Don't you ever smile?"
"I have no reason to," he replied flatly.
"Maybe you should find one."
Maybe I have, he smiled, glancing at the special woman walking behind him using the corner of his eyes.
~~~~~
After a couple of days, Kenshin and Kaoru's relationship returned to normal. They had thought it best to put the kitchen incident behind them. Despite Saitoh's, and probably Hiko's, knowledge on the matter, Kaoru still continued to sleep inside Kenshin's quarters. She had to prove to them that there was nothing going on between her and her so-called best friend. And, she had to prove to herself that she was there not as a woman but as a training samurai in need of company.
Correction, she would have to prove to herself that, if only she hadn't proven to herself days ago that she was in love with him.
But she would never accept that fact.
At least her mind wouldn't.
Kenshin on the other hand, remained caring and considerate when it came to Kaoru. However, there was something about him that changed. Something that was driving Kaoru irritatingly insane because in the first place, she shouldn't have noticed and second, she mustn't let it get to her.
"Kenshin, are you alright?" she asked, sitting across him.
"Yes, Kamiya-dono. Why do you ask?" Kenshin looked back at her, placing the brush he was using moments ago aside.
"You seem… I don't know, distant, perhaps?" Shrugging to herself, she continued, "You had changed in the past couple of days."
"I don't know what you are talking about," he stated, giving her an innocent grin.
Not knowing what else to do, Kaoru stood up and sat beside Kenshin. Upon instinct, Kenshin shifted to the right, giving her some distance. When Kaoru saw that, she placed her hand on his shoulders and pouted, "See?"
"Oh."
"What's wrong?" she pleaded in utter frustration.
Kenshin looked away, searching his mind for the right words to say. Putting his hands on his lap, he began with his explanation, "I just realized that even if we are best friends, I should still respect and honor you. After all, you are still a daimyo's dau- son and I am still a samurai."
"Screw that!"
Kaoru burst out, clenching her fists.
"Oro?"
"Come on, Kenshin. You shouldn't think that way! Wealth doesn't matter to me!!" Lowering her head to hide her blush, she continued in a more subdued manner, "I mean, in terms of the sword, you are far better than me." Smiling inwardly, she turned the tables. "Would you like me to call you Himura-sama?"
"Huh?" He looked at her quizzically.
"We are in a samurai training ground and you are obviously superior than me in that aspect," she stated matter-of-factly, narrowing her eyes as a challenge for him to rebut.
Smiling sheepishly, he asked, "So what do you want me to do?"
"For starters, just call me err… Kamiya."
"Alright, Kamiya. And then?"
Kaoru's heart paced rapidly as she said, barely whispering, "Don't distance yourself from me, you are all I have in here…"
Kenshin's heart melted. Please don't say that!
"…Do you understand me?" she murmured, looking deep in his violet pools.
I understand more than you'll ever know, hime-chan, he smiled at her as a sign of understanding as he tucked in a stray hair on her ears.
"Good." Looking down, she picked up the paper Kenshin was writing on earlier. "Now, let me see your kanji."
Kenshin watched, biting his lips, as his professor scrutinized his work.
"Wow! You are really good at this now!" She smiled at him widely and exclaimed, "See, I told you! You can do it! I told you so! I am so proud of you." In her sudden outburst, she threw her arms around him.
Kenshin froze in shock but in seconds, he eased up and stroked her hair, "And it is all because of you." At that, he inhaled deeply, taking in her intoxicating scent.
When Kaoru felt both of their hearts beat rapidly, she pulled back, blushing at the end of her roots. She turned around and muttered, "Oops, sorry for that. My fault."
At that, Kenshin sighed sadly, I knew it wouldn't last…
After a long stretch of silence, Kenshin smiled, beckoning her to site beside him again. "I'll write your name for you."
Kaoru smiled back, feeling her heart's pace return to normal. "Okay."
"What is your whole name?" he asked as the dipped the brush on the ink.
"Kamiya."
"Come on, Kamiya. People from the upper class don't have a single name," he looked at her knowingly, waiting for her response.
Kaoru panicked. She didn't want to lie to him but she also didn't want her identity to be revealed. Especially now that their man to man best friend bond had been sealed. Kaoru rolled her eyes to one side as she deliberated on what to say.
Meanwhile, Kenshin just watched her, waiting patiently.
Not knowing what else to do, she stammered, not turning to face him, "Kamiya Kaoru." She closed her eyes, praying silently that Kenshin wouldn't ask her about it.
With divine intervention, he didn't press on the matter. Instead, he just said in a soft voice, "Kaoru, beautiful name."
Kaoru blushed at that, slowly turning around to see his skillful hand write her name. She had never seen her name written so beautifully. Either it was his legible penmanship or simply the fact that it was Kenshin who had written it. She accepted the paper, bowing slightly. "Thank you very much! I will always keep it near."
Kenshin bowed back, "You are welcome."
Kaoru turned around, taking something from her side of the room. "Here I brought you a book. These are haikus and poems made by the famous Bansho. It is a good starting point for your reading."
Kenshin accepted, glancing at her expecting eyes. "What? Now?"
She nodded, "If you want."
"Alright."
Kenshin and Kaoru leaned on one wall, carrying a candle with them. Kaoru sat beside him, gently leaning her arm against his as she peered at the book. She looked up at him, motioning him to begin.
Kenshin smiled, opening the book on its first page. He leaned on her a little closer, wanting her nearer as he took a deep breath and began.
Kaoru listened intently to the poem he was reading. But then, she felt her heart froze as she heard the following lines…
Even in my dreams
I must no longer meet you.
Each day more clearly
my mirror offers
a face I am ashamed to show.
At that, the brick wall she was hoping to establish in her heart shattered immediately.
How she wanted to tell him the truth that time.
Author's Notes:
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Happy chibi-angel dance…