Disclaimer: RK is not mine, I just want to have some fun, so don't sue me.
Till this chapter, I have used Misao's true name, but in this chapter she'll be Mei.
Chapter 4. Teach me, please
Not much had changed since the last time he had been here. Aoiya looked exactly same as it had before. Well, it was only one and half years since his last visit. The train had been on time and he had gotten to Kyoto faster than he had thought, hopefully they were prepared so that he wouldn't bother them.
Myojin Yahiko, 17 years old young man, stepped inside Aoiya and stared. It was full. Servants run around everywhere, people laughed and ate. What was going on? Whole Kyoto seemed to be full of people.
He looked around searching for a familiar face, when he saw something that seemed out of place. A young woman sat in one corner, alone. She seemed to be eating her breakfast, but the reason he gave her second look, was the bandage that covered almost half of her face, the rest was covered by her black hair. Something else also drew his attention. The way no one looked at her, her total isolation from this world was strange. Who was she? Why was she so alone that he could almost feel her pain? Almost touch it?
"Yahiko-kun!" Omasu's voice drew Yahiko's attention away from the woman and when he turned back, she was gone. Yahiko's eyes widened and he blinked couple of times. *How...?* The table she had occupied was empty, only her empty bowl was left.
Omasu reached Yahiko and followed his eye to the empty table Mei had sat at. "Okon! There is a table free in the corner!" Other woman nodded and walked to empty the table for new people.
"Yahiko-kun. I am sorry if you had to wait. As you can see, we're quite busy at the moment. Could you wait at the garden? I'll come when I have time." Omasu seemed out of breath and before Yahiko had time to answer, she had already left to guide more people inside.
Yahiko only shook his head and made his way through the crowd to Okina's pride, his garden. Even though the year was coming to an end, there were flowers in full bloom all over the place.
Yahiko dropped his small bag onto the wooden floor and walked to the beginning of a small path that run through the whole garden, never going straight ahead, always changing it's direction. In the middle of the garden there was a small clearing and Yahiko stopped there.
It was quiet there, the noises from the Aoiya were practically inaudible. The sun shone warmly, but it was clear that the year was ending. The clouds that covered the horizon told about upcoming rain. *Maybe that's why Aoiya is so full of people. They are all hiding from the rain.*
Yahiko stood still, gently wind touching his brown hair. He had grown. He knew that and he had seen the surprise in Omasu's eyes when she had spoken to him. He was already taller than Kenshin, not that it was much. His body was quit muscular after all the training and work he had done at the dojo.
He had also seen how girls looked at him. Sanosuke had 'kindly' explained it to him. He was good looking. But his body wasn't the only thing to have changed, he also thought differently. True, he still enjoyed teasing Kaoru, but it was harder now. She had two little boys. Sanosuke was becoming a father. Everything changed around him and it confused him, badly. And he had no one to talk to. He needed a break. That was why he had came here. To stop the changes and because not much had changed here.
He drew his shinai from his back and started performing a kata Kaoru had taught him a long time ago. Being concentrated on it, he failed to notice the arrival of the same woman that he had stared in the dining room. She stood there, listening to the wind Yahiko's movements disturbed.
After finishing the kata he turned and almost screamed out loud, but at the last moment stopped himself from doing so. *Where did she come from?*
He didn't know what to say, so he just stared at her. She had a dark blue kimono that swept the ground and a cover of the same fabric run over her eyes. In her hand she had some kind cane. Her hair was black and it barely reached her shoulder. The loneliness he had felt around her before was now gone and it made him think that he had imagined the whole thing.
The silence became slowly heavier and heavier. Neither one of them moved. Yahiko didn't know what to do. Something in this woman made him feel uneasy and something made him feel as if he were somehow inferior. He didn't know how to explain it.
But Yahiko didn't like the feeling. His fighting ki flared and he raised his shinai without even thinking that the _woman_ before him was _blind_ or exactly what he was doing. He stepped slowly closer, woman stayed still. Then he hit. It was never meant to actually hit her and it sure didn't.
Yahiko held his left rib. The woman had first defended against his hit and then stroked him in the ribs with her cane. But she looked like nothing had happened.
"Slow." she spoke. Yahiko looked at her amazed. For a moment he had thought that she was mute also. Her voice was firm and strong. The feeling of inferiority just grew inside Yahiko. And he attacked again, this time seriously.
For the next ten minutes Yahiko tried almost anything, but nothing broke her defence. Yahiko couldn't understand it. She was blind and she wore a kimono. How could she move so fast? After his anger subdued he actually started to enjoy sparring with this woman. She spoke only few words that he found to be his weak points.
Suddenly the woman backed of, bowed and turned to leave.
"Hey! Who are you?" Yahiko yelled after her, but she just continued walking away. Yahiko was just about to run after her, when he noticed that someone was approaching. It was Omasu. And when he looked at the woman again, she was gone. Again.
Yahiko didn't bother to follow her, he knew they would meet again. He didn't know how he knew, but he did. And it filled him with anticipation.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Yahiko-kun." Omasu smiled. "I'll take you to your room now."
Yahiko nodded. "Omasu-san." His voice cracked a bit, not yet having found its final sound.
"Yes?"
They walked towards Aoiya and the closer they came, the louder it got.
Yahiko continued. "Do you have a blind woman staying with you here? I mean, she has some kind of bandage over her eyes and--"
"Oh, you must mean Mei-san. Yes, she is staying here, this is her third day. She said that she would stay for a week. What about her?" Omasu looked at the wondering look on Yahiko's face. *I wonder, what is he thinking about?*
Yahiko stayed quiet for the rest of the way. He almost forgot to take his bag from the floor. When they arrived to his room, he just thanked Omasu.
"Yahiko-kun." Omasu spoke when he was just about to enter his room. "The room next to yours on the left is Mei-sans, but please don't bother her. She is rather weak, I think."
*Weak?* Yahiko laughed to Omasu's surprise.
"She is not weak." He just said before leaving Omasu alone in the corridor.
Omasu looked at the closed shoji. *I wonder what he meant by that...* Then she just shrugged and went to help Okon.
Yahiko stood in the middle of his room. He had always stayed in this room and it always looked the same. "Good, at least some things don't change." he said out loud. After having stood thinking for a moment, he left the room. *The room next to mine on the left.*
He stood at the door for some time wondering if he should bother her when he hear a voice from the room.
"How long are you going to stand there? Be careful or soon you have spiders weaving their webs all over you."
Without another thought, Yahiko rushed inside. He was just about to speak when he noticed something. She was wrapping a bandage to her left ankle, which had swallowed badly. Every insult he had thought of disappeared.
"Are you hurt?" Had she twisted her ankle today while sparring with him?
"Not really, I just tripped in the stairs yesterday and twisted it. Don't worry, it doesn't hurt." she spoke calmly and finished. "There. Good as new."
Then she turned to Yahiko. "And now, what can I do for you?"
And Yahiko found his head empty. He really didn't know why he had came here. "I just... Well..." he rubbed the back of his hair.
"Came to talk with me about the little time we sparred? All right. But could you get me a cup of tea. I would appreciate it."
And before Yahiko understood what was happening, he was already asking for tea from Omasu. *She is amazing. I didn't know what I wanted but she did. And then she just asked for something and I moved to get it without hesitation. Without a fight like with Kaoru.
"Here, two cups of tea. I hope you won't bother Mei-san too much." Omasu said, a bit worried. Yahiko just bowed and then he already rushed back upstairs. He moved inside her room without knocking, but it didn't seem to bother Mei who just sat on her pillow. There was another pillow on the floor now.
"I hope you don't mind. I went to your room and got that pillow from there." her voice told him that whether it bothered him or not, it didn't matter to her.
Yahiko closed the shoji and sat on the pillow. Mei extended her hand and Yahiko gave her another cup. She sipped some tea before placing the tea on the floor. "Before we start, I would like to know your name."
Yahiko stared at her, didn't she know it? Of course, he had never told it to her. "I am Myojin Yahiko, from Tokyo."
"And I am Takahashi Mei. Nice to meet you, Yahiko-chan."
It took few seconds before Yahiko understood what she had said. *Yahiko-CHAN?* And automatically he attacked.
"No one calls me -chan!" he leaped through the air at her...
...And found himself on the floor. His right rib, his right arm and his right leg was on fire. She had thrown him on the floor _hard_.
"Then prove to me that you're worthy to be called with some other way." she said calmly and took another sip of her tea. She was as if nothing had happened.
Yahiko looked at her angrily. He was just about to launch another attack, when she turned to look at him. The smile on her face seemed to speak to him, 'Yes, attack me. Go ahead. I'll give the beating of your life.'
With an effort, Yahiko pressed down his anger and sat to the pillow again.
"Never attack when you're angry. That's the very first and very important lesson you have to learn." the smile had faded from Mei's face and she just sipped her tea.
Now when Yahiko looked at her, she really seemed helpless and weak, just like Omasu had said. But he knew better now and he knew also that she had intentionally allowed him to see her strength. So that he could see that her blindness didn't matter. She was able to beat him, easily, even though she had not seen him. He had automatically underestimated her like many had before, or so he doubted.
"This was not my first lesson, was it? The first was not to underestimate you." Yahiko said calmly, it had been a test. She had tested him. First she had made herself seem superior, which she was, and then when he had 'attacked' her, she had shown him that she shouldn't be taken lightly. Then somehow she had known that calling him -chan would make him angry and he had fallen for it.
"No, it was not. It seems, that you can think when you want to, Yahiko-chan."
This time he made sure that he didn't move a muscle. She had said that he would have prove himself worthy and that was what he was going to do. She smiled as if he would have done exactly what she thought he would do. Anger threatened to rise again, but he suppressed it.
*This woman can teach me, she can show me what I need to know. Kenshin has no wishes to do so, Sano doesn't know how to teach and Kaoru doesn't know what to teach. But this woman can and I think she will. Why else would she have told me this much?* Yahiko looked at Mei carefully, thinking about all this. Then, since Mei didn't seem to be interested to say or do anything, he did.
"Please, teach me." he wanted to continue, to tell her why and what, when she rose to her feet. Without saying a word she just closed the window as first drops of water fell from the sky and touched the tatami. Then she returned to her pillow and sat down. Her teacup was already empty, there where Yahiko's was still full.
She sat down and her face relaxed. The position she sat in now was different from previous. It reminded Yahiko of something... *The icicle! Shinomori meditates in that same position. Is she also meditating?* he frowned, not knowing what to do. Somehow he felt like he would be an intruder now and so he rose and left. Just before closing the shoji he glanced at her for the last time. She looked peaceful, serene. He closed the shoji.
*What am I going to do now?* he walked to his room. *Darn, I forgot my pillow in her room! Well, no way I am going to go in there now!* So where and what to do. The answer came easily. *I am hungry.*
He walked downstairs and glanced into the dinner room. Some that had escaped from the rain early enough were dry, but the people who hadn't been so lucky were soaking wet. But never the less the room was full. So he walked to the kitchen. *Maybe I can snatch something to eat without bothering anyone.*
He failed.
He was noticed and instead of getting something to eat, he was asked to make food for others to eat. And since he couldn't do that, he did the running. Whenever someone in the room needed something, they called for him and his job was to get them what they wanted. Then he understood just how hard their jobs were. They had to be kind and all smiley no matter tired or hungry they themselves were.
"I am so sorry Yahiko-kun. You came here to rest and we have forced you to work. This is a shame for us." Okon looked just as worried as Omasu next to her. They had a few minute break and they ate something.
"No worries. This is a way to keep up my shape. And you allow me to stay here free, I have to make up for that somehow." Yahiko answered to them. He also had a small break and he had sat down on one of the chairs. Omasu and Okon had soon joined him.
"So what kind of person Mei-san is? I mean we hardly see her." Okon asked curiously. She and Omasu had talked about this mysterious 'Mei'-character many times since her arrival.
Yahiko thought for a moment. Then he shook his head. "I am not sure. The way she acts changes all the time. But, Omasu-san, what made you think she is weak?"
Omasu and Okon looked at each other. "But she is." Omasu started. "The air around her tells that she isn't used to hard work or hard life. And just yesterday she twisted her ankle."
Okon nodded. "That's it. Aoshi-san carried her to her room since she couldn't lay any weight on her ankle."
Yahiko thought about what they said for a moment and then shook his head again. "I can't agree with you. Her life must be hard, not seeing anything. And today, there was nothing wrong with her ankle, she walked normally. I did see the bandage, but she said that her ankle wasn't painful. There is also something else--"
"Okon-san and Omasu-san! More people arrived! We need your help." one of the servants yelled from the door. Both women sighed and placed their cups on the table. "Back to work then." said Omasu. "Could you wash our dishes, Yahiko-kun. Thank you." Okon said. And then they left.
Yahiko sat down for some time after they were gone before he also stood up. He gathered their empty bowls and went to help the washer. He was just finishing when he sensed something. He turned and saw Mei. She was talking with Shiro and then Kuro came to her with a tray. On the tray there was a bowl of food and water to drink. Mei bowed and was just about to leave, probably with Kuro, when Shinomori Aoshi stepped into the room.
He was wearing his brown yukata and looked just as cold as before. His eyes locked with Yahiko's for a moment and he felt a chill. *Man! That man is cold.* But he had to admit that he looked strong and Yahiko knew he was.
Then he noticed something else. Something in Mei changed. First she went absolutely still and then she seemed to shrink. She had never seemed as helpless and weak as she did now. Aoshi had his head turned into her direction now and he spoke something. Mei shook her head in denial. Then he spoke some more. Mei didn't move and Yahiko didn't see if she spoke or not, but the result was that Aoshi took the tray from Kuro and walked from the room, Mei just a step behind him.
*What did just happen?* He knew that something important had just happened, but he couldn't understand what. *I'll have to talk to Mei.* Now knowing what he would do, he finished the dishes fast and before any one had time to give him more to do, he slipped out of the room. Walking up the stairs he thought of different ways to ask her about what had happened. He was close to her room when he heard someone speaking. *The icicle.*
"Is your ankle all right?"
A small moment of silence before Mei answered with voice he barely heard. "Close to, but not quite."
More silence.
"I saw you in the garden today."
Yahiko gasped. *Did he see us sparring? But...*
"I know."
*Mei knew?! Was that why she had left in such a hurry? I thought it was because of Omasu.* Yahiko's thoughts raced through his head.
"Who are you?" his voice was now even colder.
"I am Takahashi Mei. That's all there is to know about me." There was some fire in her voice now.
*Ice and fire, fire and ice. Shinomori and Misao, Misao and Shinomori. Mei kind of reminds me of Misao, wherever she is. But Mei is much more mature than Misao could ever be. That weasel.*
Mei continued and Yahiko concentrated on listening. "I wish no harm to anyone in here. My friend asked me to came here for a vacation. Nothing more. You are one suspicious man, Shinomori Aoshi."
"How do you know my name?" For a moment Yahiko thought that just now he had sounded a bit curious, but over ruled the possibility. Shinomori Aoshi never revealed anything.
"Being blind doesn't mean being deaf. I can't see so I listen. Your name has come up. Now could you please leave me. I wish to eat." Mei's voice left nothing unclear. She wanted him out of her room and she wanted it now.
Yahiko heard no sounds and the sudden opening of the shoji scared him. Aoshi was almost out of her room already when he said his last words. "I'll be watching you."
"I wish I could return the favour." Mei's last words could easily be heard through the wall. And she was angry.
Aoshi looked at Yahiko sharply before walking past him without saying a word. Yahiko looked as he walked away before he went and knocked on Mei's door. He heard nothing from other side. He slid the shoji lightly open. "May I come in Mei-san?" She was silent. He could see that she was staring out from the window. When no reaction came, Yahiko stepped inside.
He closed the shoji. Mei hadn't moved at all, she just stared out of the window. Yahiko walked to him. "Mei-san." She didn't answer. Yahiko laid his hand on her shoulder. Then she sighed. "I can't remember him ever being angry at me."
What was she talking about? Shinomori? "What do you mean?"
"Nothing." she turned and walked to the tray. "Would you like to eat something? I noticed that you were in the kitchen."
She sounded empty and down. Totally different from the woman he had spoken with not so long ago. The change made him sad. How could the woman he had admired earlier turn into this? "What is wrong with you? You seem so different."
Mei had sat down and placed her hand into her lap. "Have you ever heard of something called 'ki'?"
"Yes, but does it have to do with this? With the way you are?" Yahiko sat onto his pillow before Mei. Somehow it seemed as if she was regaining some of her strength.
"Because just a moment ago I fought with Shinomori. Not with my hands or with any weapon, but with myself. With my 'ki'. You see, every living thing has a life force called 'ki'. It is a part of what we are. Part of your strength comes from it. Strong and skilful fighters can rise their ki and when they add it to the strength that lies in their bodies, in their muscles, they became much stronger." Mei drank some water, to clear her throat.
"Just now I battled with Shinomori using only my ki. It drains a lot of energy, I can tell you that. Especially when fighting someone as strong as he is."
So that was it. She was tired, just plain tired. Somehow it made him feel better. But something still bothered Yahiko. It was probably meaningless information, but he wanted to know. "You said that you fought, right? So which one of you won?"
Mei raised her head fast. "Which one won?" A sigh. "I can understand why you want to know. All right. I did. But that doesn't mean anything."
"Yes it does! It does mean! You are stronger than him."
"This time yes, but what about next time? Emotions affect your ki. The stronger your feelings are, the stronger you become. But a warning." She faced him and he could only think that if he could see her eyes, they would probably be on fire now. At least her voice was.
"Ki is needed to live. Without ki you are just a plant. Nothing more. That is why people rarely fight using only ki. It is always life threatening. Another thing, I'll tell why never to attack when angry. Anger makes it harder to use your ki in a battle. That is why a true fighter never attacks when he is angry. Remember that. There are other reasons too, but remember that."
Yahiko thought. If fighting with ki was so dangerous, hadn't she just been in danger. When he voiced his thoughts, Mei just shook her head.
"I know the dangers and so did he. He just tested me to she how strong I am. Many warriors do so when countering someone they consider to be a threat. But now I am kind of tired and would like to rest. I know it is not that late, but the fight I had took a lot out of my strength and I need time to regain it."
She didn't say it directly, but he knew she wanted him to leave. "Will you eat? I can take the tray with me if you don't."
Mei nodded. "Take it. I lost my appetite." Then she seemed to fall into some kind of trans. The only reason he could tell, was the way her every muscle relaxed. He picked up the tray and left.
He almost went down to give them the tray when he realized that he hadn't eaten since breakfast. *I am hungry.* He went to his room.
"Someone has to eat this, it can very well be me." he said before he started eating. *I'll take the tray done later.* he added in his thoughts.
End of chapter 4.
TBC
I used Mei because this whole chapter was from the point of view of people that know her as Mei and not as Misao.
Please, my muse! More Aoshi, make me write more Aoshi!
And give me strength to go trough the next days. This is going to be hard.
(By the way I have already written chapter 5, but I won't upload it just yet.)
~Tiian~
(ps. That ki-fight thingie is all my imagination.)
Till this chapter, I have used Misao's true name, but in this chapter she'll be Mei.
Chapter 4. Teach me, please
Not much had changed since the last time he had been here. Aoiya looked exactly same as it had before. Well, it was only one and half years since his last visit. The train had been on time and he had gotten to Kyoto faster than he had thought, hopefully they were prepared so that he wouldn't bother them.
Myojin Yahiko, 17 years old young man, stepped inside Aoiya and stared. It was full. Servants run around everywhere, people laughed and ate. What was going on? Whole Kyoto seemed to be full of people.
He looked around searching for a familiar face, when he saw something that seemed out of place. A young woman sat in one corner, alone. She seemed to be eating her breakfast, but the reason he gave her second look, was the bandage that covered almost half of her face, the rest was covered by her black hair. Something else also drew his attention. The way no one looked at her, her total isolation from this world was strange. Who was she? Why was she so alone that he could almost feel her pain? Almost touch it?
"Yahiko-kun!" Omasu's voice drew Yahiko's attention away from the woman and when he turned back, she was gone. Yahiko's eyes widened and he blinked couple of times. *How...?* The table she had occupied was empty, only her empty bowl was left.
Omasu reached Yahiko and followed his eye to the empty table Mei had sat at. "Okon! There is a table free in the corner!" Other woman nodded and walked to empty the table for new people.
"Yahiko-kun. I am sorry if you had to wait. As you can see, we're quite busy at the moment. Could you wait at the garden? I'll come when I have time." Omasu seemed out of breath and before Yahiko had time to answer, she had already left to guide more people inside.
Yahiko only shook his head and made his way through the crowd to Okina's pride, his garden. Even though the year was coming to an end, there were flowers in full bloom all over the place.
Yahiko dropped his small bag onto the wooden floor and walked to the beginning of a small path that run through the whole garden, never going straight ahead, always changing it's direction. In the middle of the garden there was a small clearing and Yahiko stopped there.
It was quiet there, the noises from the Aoiya were practically inaudible. The sun shone warmly, but it was clear that the year was ending. The clouds that covered the horizon told about upcoming rain. *Maybe that's why Aoiya is so full of people. They are all hiding from the rain.*
Yahiko stood still, gently wind touching his brown hair. He had grown. He knew that and he had seen the surprise in Omasu's eyes when she had spoken to him. He was already taller than Kenshin, not that it was much. His body was quit muscular after all the training and work he had done at the dojo.
He had also seen how girls looked at him. Sanosuke had 'kindly' explained it to him. He was good looking. But his body wasn't the only thing to have changed, he also thought differently. True, he still enjoyed teasing Kaoru, but it was harder now. She had two little boys. Sanosuke was becoming a father. Everything changed around him and it confused him, badly. And he had no one to talk to. He needed a break. That was why he had came here. To stop the changes and because not much had changed here.
He drew his shinai from his back and started performing a kata Kaoru had taught him a long time ago. Being concentrated on it, he failed to notice the arrival of the same woman that he had stared in the dining room. She stood there, listening to the wind Yahiko's movements disturbed.
After finishing the kata he turned and almost screamed out loud, but at the last moment stopped himself from doing so. *Where did she come from?*
He didn't know what to say, so he just stared at her. She had a dark blue kimono that swept the ground and a cover of the same fabric run over her eyes. In her hand she had some kind cane. Her hair was black and it barely reached her shoulder. The loneliness he had felt around her before was now gone and it made him think that he had imagined the whole thing.
The silence became slowly heavier and heavier. Neither one of them moved. Yahiko didn't know what to do. Something in this woman made him feel uneasy and something made him feel as if he were somehow inferior. He didn't know how to explain it.
But Yahiko didn't like the feeling. His fighting ki flared and he raised his shinai without even thinking that the _woman_ before him was _blind_ or exactly what he was doing. He stepped slowly closer, woman stayed still. Then he hit. It was never meant to actually hit her and it sure didn't.
Yahiko held his left rib. The woman had first defended against his hit and then stroked him in the ribs with her cane. But she looked like nothing had happened.
"Slow." she spoke. Yahiko looked at her amazed. For a moment he had thought that she was mute also. Her voice was firm and strong. The feeling of inferiority just grew inside Yahiko. And he attacked again, this time seriously.
For the next ten minutes Yahiko tried almost anything, but nothing broke her defence. Yahiko couldn't understand it. She was blind and she wore a kimono. How could she move so fast? After his anger subdued he actually started to enjoy sparring with this woman. She spoke only few words that he found to be his weak points.
Suddenly the woman backed of, bowed and turned to leave.
"Hey! Who are you?" Yahiko yelled after her, but she just continued walking away. Yahiko was just about to run after her, when he noticed that someone was approaching. It was Omasu. And when he looked at the woman again, she was gone. Again.
Yahiko didn't bother to follow her, he knew they would meet again. He didn't know how he knew, but he did. And it filled him with anticipation.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Yahiko-kun." Omasu smiled. "I'll take you to your room now."
Yahiko nodded. "Omasu-san." His voice cracked a bit, not yet having found its final sound.
"Yes?"
They walked towards Aoiya and the closer they came, the louder it got.
Yahiko continued. "Do you have a blind woman staying with you here? I mean, she has some kind of bandage over her eyes and--"
"Oh, you must mean Mei-san. Yes, she is staying here, this is her third day. She said that she would stay for a week. What about her?" Omasu looked at the wondering look on Yahiko's face. *I wonder, what is he thinking about?*
Yahiko stayed quiet for the rest of the way. He almost forgot to take his bag from the floor. When they arrived to his room, he just thanked Omasu.
"Yahiko-kun." Omasu spoke when he was just about to enter his room. "The room next to yours on the left is Mei-sans, but please don't bother her. She is rather weak, I think."
*Weak?* Yahiko laughed to Omasu's surprise.
"She is not weak." He just said before leaving Omasu alone in the corridor.
Omasu looked at the closed shoji. *I wonder what he meant by that...* Then she just shrugged and went to help Okon.
Yahiko stood in the middle of his room. He had always stayed in this room and it always looked the same. "Good, at least some things don't change." he said out loud. After having stood thinking for a moment, he left the room. *The room next to mine on the left.*
He stood at the door for some time wondering if he should bother her when he hear a voice from the room.
"How long are you going to stand there? Be careful or soon you have spiders weaving their webs all over you."
Without another thought, Yahiko rushed inside. He was just about to speak when he noticed something. She was wrapping a bandage to her left ankle, which had swallowed badly. Every insult he had thought of disappeared.
"Are you hurt?" Had she twisted her ankle today while sparring with him?
"Not really, I just tripped in the stairs yesterday and twisted it. Don't worry, it doesn't hurt." she spoke calmly and finished. "There. Good as new."
Then she turned to Yahiko. "And now, what can I do for you?"
And Yahiko found his head empty. He really didn't know why he had came here. "I just... Well..." he rubbed the back of his hair.
"Came to talk with me about the little time we sparred? All right. But could you get me a cup of tea. I would appreciate it."
And before Yahiko understood what was happening, he was already asking for tea from Omasu. *She is amazing. I didn't know what I wanted but she did. And then she just asked for something and I moved to get it without hesitation. Without a fight like with Kaoru.
"Here, two cups of tea. I hope you won't bother Mei-san too much." Omasu said, a bit worried. Yahiko just bowed and then he already rushed back upstairs. He moved inside her room without knocking, but it didn't seem to bother Mei who just sat on her pillow. There was another pillow on the floor now.
"I hope you don't mind. I went to your room and got that pillow from there." her voice told him that whether it bothered him or not, it didn't matter to her.
Yahiko closed the shoji and sat on the pillow. Mei extended her hand and Yahiko gave her another cup. She sipped some tea before placing the tea on the floor. "Before we start, I would like to know your name."
Yahiko stared at her, didn't she know it? Of course, he had never told it to her. "I am Myojin Yahiko, from Tokyo."
"And I am Takahashi Mei. Nice to meet you, Yahiko-chan."
It took few seconds before Yahiko understood what she had said. *Yahiko-CHAN?* And automatically he attacked.
"No one calls me -chan!" he leaped through the air at her...
...And found himself on the floor. His right rib, his right arm and his right leg was on fire. She had thrown him on the floor _hard_.
"Then prove to me that you're worthy to be called with some other way." she said calmly and took another sip of her tea. She was as if nothing had happened.
Yahiko looked at her angrily. He was just about to launch another attack, when she turned to look at him. The smile on her face seemed to speak to him, 'Yes, attack me. Go ahead. I'll give the beating of your life.'
With an effort, Yahiko pressed down his anger and sat to the pillow again.
"Never attack when you're angry. That's the very first and very important lesson you have to learn." the smile had faded from Mei's face and she just sipped her tea.
Now when Yahiko looked at her, she really seemed helpless and weak, just like Omasu had said. But he knew better now and he knew also that she had intentionally allowed him to see her strength. So that he could see that her blindness didn't matter. She was able to beat him, easily, even though she had not seen him. He had automatically underestimated her like many had before, or so he doubted.
"This was not my first lesson, was it? The first was not to underestimate you." Yahiko said calmly, it had been a test. She had tested him. First she had made herself seem superior, which she was, and then when he had 'attacked' her, she had shown him that she shouldn't be taken lightly. Then somehow she had known that calling him -chan would make him angry and he had fallen for it.
"No, it was not. It seems, that you can think when you want to, Yahiko-chan."
This time he made sure that he didn't move a muscle. She had said that he would have prove himself worthy and that was what he was going to do. She smiled as if he would have done exactly what she thought he would do. Anger threatened to rise again, but he suppressed it.
*This woman can teach me, she can show me what I need to know. Kenshin has no wishes to do so, Sano doesn't know how to teach and Kaoru doesn't know what to teach. But this woman can and I think she will. Why else would she have told me this much?* Yahiko looked at Mei carefully, thinking about all this. Then, since Mei didn't seem to be interested to say or do anything, he did.
"Please, teach me." he wanted to continue, to tell her why and what, when she rose to her feet. Without saying a word she just closed the window as first drops of water fell from the sky and touched the tatami. Then she returned to her pillow and sat down. Her teacup was already empty, there where Yahiko's was still full.
She sat down and her face relaxed. The position she sat in now was different from previous. It reminded Yahiko of something... *The icicle! Shinomori meditates in that same position. Is she also meditating?* he frowned, not knowing what to do. Somehow he felt like he would be an intruder now and so he rose and left. Just before closing the shoji he glanced at her for the last time. She looked peaceful, serene. He closed the shoji.
*What am I going to do now?* he walked to his room. *Darn, I forgot my pillow in her room! Well, no way I am going to go in there now!* So where and what to do. The answer came easily. *I am hungry.*
He walked downstairs and glanced into the dinner room. Some that had escaped from the rain early enough were dry, but the people who hadn't been so lucky were soaking wet. But never the less the room was full. So he walked to the kitchen. *Maybe I can snatch something to eat without bothering anyone.*
He failed.
He was noticed and instead of getting something to eat, he was asked to make food for others to eat. And since he couldn't do that, he did the running. Whenever someone in the room needed something, they called for him and his job was to get them what they wanted. Then he understood just how hard their jobs were. They had to be kind and all smiley no matter tired or hungry they themselves were.
"I am so sorry Yahiko-kun. You came here to rest and we have forced you to work. This is a shame for us." Okon looked just as worried as Omasu next to her. They had a few minute break and they ate something.
"No worries. This is a way to keep up my shape. And you allow me to stay here free, I have to make up for that somehow." Yahiko answered to them. He also had a small break and he had sat down on one of the chairs. Omasu and Okon had soon joined him.
"So what kind of person Mei-san is? I mean we hardly see her." Okon asked curiously. She and Omasu had talked about this mysterious 'Mei'-character many times since her arrival.
Yahiko thought for a moment. Then he shook his head. "I am not sure. The way she acts changes all the time. But, Omasu-san, what made you think she is weak?"
Omasu and Okon looked at each other. "But she is." Omasu started. "The air around her tells that she isn't used to hard work or hard life. And just yesterday she twisted her ankle."
Okon nodded. "That's it. Aoshi-san carried her to her room since she couldn't lay any weight on her ankle."
Yahiko thought about what they said for a moment and then shook his head again. "I can't agree with you. Her life must be hard, not seeing anything. And today, there was nothing wrong with her ankle, she walked normally. I did see the bandage, but she said that her ankle wasn't painful. There is also something else--"
"Okon-san and Omasu-san! More people arrived! We need your help." one of the servants yelled from the door. Both women sighed and placed their cups on the table. "Back to work then." said Omasu. "Could you wash our dishes, Yahiko-kun. Thank you." Okon said. And then they left.
Yahiko sat down for some time after they were gone before he also stood up. He gathered their empty bowls and went to help the washer. He was just finishing when he sensed something. He turned and saw Mei. She was talking with Shiro and then Kuro came to her with a tray. On the tray there was a bowl of food and water to drink. Mei bowed and was just about to leave, probably with Kuro, when Shinomori Aoshi stepped into the room.
He was wearing his brown yukata and looked just as cold as before. His eyes locked with Yahiko's for a moment and he felt a chill. *Man! That man is cold.* But he had to admit that he looked strong and Yahiko knew he was.
Then he noticed something else. Something in Mei changed. First she went absolutely still and then she seemed to shrink. She had never seemed as helpless and weak as she did now. Aoshi had his head turned into her direction now and he spoke something. Mei shook her head in denial. Then he spoke some more. Mei didn't move and Yahiko didn't see if she spoke or not, but the result was that Aoshi took the tray from Kuro and walked from the room, Mei just a step behind him.
*What did just happen?* He knew that something important had just happened, but he couldn't understand what. *I'll have to talk to Mei.* Now knowing what he would do, he finished the dishes fast and before any one had time to give him more to do, he slipped out of the room. Walking up the stairs he thought of different ways to ask her about what had happened. He was close to her room when he heard someone speaking. *The icicle.*
"Is your ankle all right?"
A small moment of silence before Mei answered with voice he barely heard. "Close to, but not quite."
More silence.
"I saw you in the garden today."
Yahiko gasped. *Did he see us sparring? But...*
"I know."
*Mei knew?! Was that why she had left in such a hurry? I thought it was because of Omasu.* Yahiko's thoughts raced through his head.
"Who are you?" his voice was now even colder.
"I am Takahashi Mei. That's all there is to know about me." There was some fire in her voice now.
*Ice and fire, fire and ice. Shinomori and Misao, Misao and Shinomori. Mei kind of reminds me of Misao, wherever she is. But Mei is much more mature than Misao could ever be. That weasel.*
Mei continued and Yahiko concentrated on listening. "I wish no harm to anyone in here. My friend asked me to came here for a vacation. Nothing more. You are one suspicious man, Shinomori Aoshi."
"How do you know my name?" For a moment Yahiko thought that just now he had sounded a bit curious, but over ruled the possibility. Shinomori Aoshi never revealed anything.
"Being blind doesn't mean being deaf. I can't see so I listen. Your name has come up. Now could you please leave me. I wish to eat." Mei's voice left nothing unclear. She wanted him out of her room and she wanted it now.
Yahiko heard no sounds and the sudden opening of the shoji scared him. Aoshi was almost out of her room already when he said his last words. "I'll be watching you."
"I wish I could return the favour." Mei's last words could easily be heard through the wall. And she was angry.
Aoshi looked at Yahiko sharply before walking past him without saying a word. Yahiko looked as he walked away before he went and knocked on Mei's door. He heard nothing from other side. He slid the shoji lightly open. "May I come in Mei-san?" She was silent. He could see that she was staring out from the window. When no reaction came, Yahiko stepped inside.
He closed the shoji. Mei hadn't moved at all, she just stared out of the window. Yahiko walked to him. "Mei-san." She didn't answer. Yahiko laid his hand on her shoulder. Then she sighed. "I can't remember him ever being angry at me."
What was she talking about? Shinomori? "What do you mean?"
"Nothing." she turned and walked to the tray. "Would you like to eat something? I noticed that you were in the kitchen."
She sounded empty and down. Totally different from the woman he had spoken with not so long ago. The change made him sad. How could the woman he had admired earlier turn into this? "What is wrong with you? You seem so different."
Mei had sat down and placed her hand into her lap. "Have you ever heard of something called 'ki'?"
"Yes, but does it have to do with this? With the way you are?" Yahiko sat onto his pillow before Mei. Somehow it seemed as if she was regaining some of her strength.
"Because just a moment ago I fought with Shinomori. Not with my hands or with any weapon, but with myself. With my 'ki'. You see, every living thing has a life force called 'ki'. It is a part of what we are. Part of your strength comes from it. Strong and skilful fighters can rise their ki and when they add it to the strength that lies in their bodies, in their muscles, they became much stronger." Mei drank some water, to clear her throat.
"Just now I battled with Shinomori using only my ki. It drains a lot of energy, I can tell you that. Especially when fighting someone as strong as he is."
So that was it. She was tired, just plain tired. Somehow it made him feel better. But something still bothered Yahiko. It was probably meaningless information, but he wanted to know. "You said that you fought, right? So which one of you won?"
Mei raised her head fast. "Which one won?" A sigh. "I can understand why you want to know. All right. I did. But that doesn't mean anything."
"Yes it does! It does mean! You are stronger than him."
"This time yes, but what about next time? Emotions affect your ki. The stronger your feelings are, the stronger you become. But a warning." She faced him and he could only think that if he could see her eyes, they would probably be on fire now. At least her voice was.
"Ki is needed to live. Without ki you are just a plant. Nothing more. That is why people rarely fight using only ki. It is always life threatening. Another thing, I'll tell why never to attack when angry. Anger makes it harder to use your ki in a battle. That is why a true fighter never attacks when he is angry. Remember that. There are other reasons too, but remember that."
Yahiko thought. If fighting with ki was so dangerous, hadn't she just been in danger. When he voiced his thoughts, Mei just shook her head.
"I know the dangers and so did he. He just tested me to she how strong I am. Many warriors do so when countering someone they consider to be a threat. But now I am kind of tired and would like to rest. I know it is not that late, but the fight I had took a lot out of my strength and I need time to regain it."
She didn't say it directly, but he knew she wanted him to leave. "Will you eat? I can take the tray with me if you don't."
Mei nodded. "Take it. I lost my appetite." Then she seemed to fall into some kind of trans. The only reason he could tell, was the way her every muscle relaxed. He picked up the tray and left.
He almost went down to give them the tray when he realized that he hadn't eaten since breakfast. *I am hungry.* He went to his room.
"Someone has to eat this, it can very well be me." he said before he started eating. *I'll take the tray done later.* he added in his thoughts.
End of chapter 4.
TBC
I used Mei because this whole chapter was from the point of view of people that know her as Mei and not as Misao.
Please, my muse! More Aoshi, make me write more Aoshi!
And give me strength to go trough the next days. This is going to be hard.
(By the way I have already written chapter 5, but I won't upload it just yet.)
~Tiian~
(ps. That ki-fight thingie is all my imagination.)