Disclaimer: I do not own RK. I just like to write about them.
It is still Wednesday. The day hasn't changed.
Chapter 6. To move forward
Yahiko was beaten, literally. When Mei had told him that they would start, he had been overjoyed and totally clueless. He hadn't had any idea of what it truly meant.
First she had forced him to just sit down while she had done 'something' to test his ki, or something. Yahiko hadn't really understood, but it took two hour. He wasn't allowed to speak or to move. Mei's window was open and the sun shone brightly, making the whole room very hot. When she was finished doing what ever she was doing, he had been so stiff that he hardly could move.
At that point she told him that she had just tested his patience. That she hadn't really done anything. He nearly lost it there and then, but managed to hold himself still. *I will get my revenge, I will get my revenge...* was the only thought keeping him sitting. Mei had laughed at his efforts, but he didn't give her what she wanted. He could stand this.
And then...
Sweat and more sweat.
She had asked him if he knew a place where they could start training, maybe even spar a bit. He had told her about the training hall that was a part of the inn. Mei hadn't really been surprised, he knew it. It seemed as if she had know it all along. But since this was her first time here, she couldn't have known. And soon Yahiko had something else to think about.
Mei had asked him to leave her room for a while and he had done so. It was a perfect time to get his shinai. When Mei called him in, he hadn't believed his eyes. She had changed her white kimono into tight brown pants and a skin-tight brown shirt with loose sleeves. A wide brown belt circled her waist. Her hair was tied up and the cover over her eyes was now brown, like the rest of her clothes. Somehow she seemed like a different person. And this new Mei was dangerous. And sexy.
"What are you staring at?"
He had blushed. His whole face had been on flames when he had tried to stutter something out of his mouth. Mei had just shook her head.
"Let's go. Show me the way."
And they had left for the training hall. Yahiko had been too embarrassed to say anything on the way and so they had walked in silence. The few servants that they saw on their way, had looked at them strangely, but stayed quiet. Wisely.
Later on Yahiko almost wished that they wouldn't have reached the hall at all. Because Mei had beaten him and badly. She had said that she needed to know how skilful he was before she could start teaching anything new.
That had taken an hour. Hour of beating Yahiko. He had known that she didn't use all of her strength, but the strikes had still hurt him. After that she said that his training started, but Yahiko saw no difference between the first hour and the next two. After three hours she said that it was enough for now. It was dinnertime. They would continue after it.
Yahiko groaned at the thought, but he had to admit that something had changed in him. More precisely in the way he fought. He though more now. And it took him less time to move from one move to another, and if she needed three hours to make him this much better, what could she do if she had weeks?
He walked down the stairs his whole body throbbing with pain. He was going down to get Mei something to eat. And to himself later, but Mei first. He sighed in relief when the stairs ended.
"Yahiko."
A voice that cold could belong to only one person. Shinomori Aoshi. Yahiko feared that this had something to do with Mei. But not wanting to be impolite to one of his hosts, he turned. "Shinomori."
He looked colder than he remembered and his fear grew. *Can't you just leave her alone? What has she done to you?*
"We need to talk." Plain and simple. With a voice that had given orders to Oniwabanshu and no one had resisted.
"If it is about Mei-san, forget it. I don't want to listen to your warnings or -"
"I am afraid you have to." Okina said. Yahiko turned and saw him. He had used to seeing a kind and funny old man, but the Okina before him now was dead serious.
"There are things you need to know about and things we need to know about." Okina walked past him. "Follow me."
If the one asking him to follow had been the icicle, he wouldn't have moved an inch. But it wasn't him. It was Okina. And so Yahiko walked after him.
To his surprise Okina lead them to the garden, to the same place where he had sparred with Mei for the first time. Both other men looked around them, making sure that no one was near enough to hear them.
Okina sighed sadly. "I am sorry that I have to involve you in this, but you're the one closest to Mei, which means that you know her best."
Yahiko shook his head furiously. "If you think that I am just going to tell you every little thing I know, you are wrong. She is helping me, I won't betray her."
"Listen to what he has got to say before judging." Aoshi looked at the boy before him steadily.
Yahiko didn't even look at him, he stared at Okina. "Well. Are you going to brain wash me or what?"
"This is not a game, Yahiko-kun. There is a ninja clan called Yaminobu. They have declared a war to us. It is obvious that Mei has been or is a ninja. They could have sent her and in that case, she may be very dangerous to us."
Yahiko stared at him eyes wide. *A war? Yaminobu... Why does it sound so familiar?*
Aoshi continued from where Okina had ended. "We don't know exactly why the war was declared, but we have no doubts that Yaminobu ninjas are dangerous. Long time ago there were fights between us and them, both sides wanting to be superior to the other. It ended when the leaders understood how useless it was. No matter how many battles took place, neither one the sides survived as a winner. So a peace was made. Yaminobu ninjas rule the west and we the east. Now they are threatening the balance that has existed for centuries."
A realization dawned on Yahiko. "Wait a second! Yaminobu ninjas are the ones Kenshin fought in Kekkai forest to get Tomoe back!"
Okina and Aoshi glanced at each other's. Okina nodded. "During the Bakumatsu we just as well as Yaminobus fought against Ishinshishi. But even in the midst of all that violence, Yaminobus took no action against us. Nor we against them."
"Then why now? And what makes you think that Mei-san has anything to do with it?" Yahiko stared at them furiously. He had finally found a person who understood him and cared for him. He wasn't going to give up on her so easily.
"Why now? We are not sure. It may have something to do with their new leader, Shimabara. And what comes to Mei, Okina already told you that. She is a ninja and I am sure that she isn't one of us. That means that she can be Yaminobu investigating and that way threatening our safety. Yours as well." Aoshi stared into Yahiko's eyes down his nose and noticed the daring look in his eyes. *This is useless. We can't change his opinion of her.*
Aoshi looked at Okina and shook his head. Okina nodded his understanding. They wouldn't be able to change his mind, the only one that could was Mei. Now all they could do was to watch her and try to figure out what she was after.
"That's all? Then excuse me, I have things to do." Yahiko knew that he shouldn't have spoken as arrogantly as he just had, but he just couldn't help it.
Yahiko walked back into the Aoiya in top speed. He didn't want to hear anymore of this. The rational part of him understood all that they had told him, but something in his heart told him that they were terribly wrong. He couldn't explain it, but he knew that Mei could be trusted. Why else would she help him? And if she was here to collect information, why did she stay in her room all the time? None of it made any sense.
He walked to the kitchen and the looks Kuro and Shiro gave him told him that they were on the same side as Okina and Aoshi. Again a part of him understood, but a part of him disagreed with them. Mei could be trusted, he knew it. But of course he had no proofs so trying to convince them was useless.
He walked the stairs, the aching he had already almost forgotten returning. The tray felt heavier than ever and couple of times he almost dropped it.
*Mei-san is not the enemy, I know it!*
He walked to her room, barely being able to open the shoji. Mei was sitting in one of the shadowed corners eyes closed. Yahiko placed the tray on the tatami and saw Mei move.
"That took some time." was all she said. No questions, no complains. She merely stated a fact. She walked across the room and no matter how hard Yahiko tried, he couldn't hear her footsteps.
*She may be a ninja-*
Mei sat down just as silently.
*-but she isn't bad. She is not here to destroy Oniwabanshu.*
She held out her hand and he gave her chopsticks. Then she moved her hand over the tray in some strange way and took her bowl.
"How did you know where the bowl was?" Yahiko couldn't stop himself from asking. Then he looked at her, afraid that she might get mad at him.
But instead of showing any scary face, she smiled. Her smile was soft, happy and very beautiful. Not a smile of someone out to kill anyone. *Misao had a smile like that. Well, hers was more carefree, but still. Happy and soft. And forgiving. To think that she forgave Shinomori in a second for all that he did.*
"Want to know how?" Mei's word interrupted his thoughts. *Now what did I ask...* He just nodded, not remembering his question. Then he remembered that she couldn't see him and said yes out loud.
She smiled again and her voice was gentle. "Since I can't see, I have to get the knowledge of the surrounding world in other ways. I smell things and hear better that normal people, I feel ki and that's how I know where people are. And last I have my sense of touch. I feel the change in the wind as someone goes by me, I feel cold and hot. Just now it was the sense of touch I used."
She put the bowl back down and placed her hand over it. "The food is hot, so when I move my hand over the bowl, I can feel the heat from the bowl. That's how I knew it was there. That simple." She took the bowl and started eating.
Yahiko thought about what he had just heard and nodded. It all made sense. "It must be hard though. Never finding out what everything looks like, never seeing any colours." he spoke absentmindedly mainly to himself. But he didn't fail to notice Mei's reaction.
She winced as if she would have been hit and she seemed sad. And angry. Her mouth was a thin line and her hands clenched. "Oh, I do know what colours look like, I know what things really look like. Sometimes I wish that I wouldn't, but I remember. I remember the clear blue sky that is like a sea. White clouds like ships sailing across it. I remember the brown trees with green leaves, I remember garden full of flower of all colours. I remember faces of people smiling, crying. "
Her voice changed, it was sad now. So sad that it touched his heart and almost made him want to weep. "I remember what crying felt like. Water running from your eyes, the cleaning and calming effect it had. I miss crying. Of all things that is what I miss the most."
She fell silent. Yahiko didn't know what to do. He realized now that this woman had not always been blind. She had once seen all that this world had to show, she had lived a life full of colours and then it had been taken away from her. She had been forced to live in a world of darkness.
He bowed his head. He had had no idea what he had said. "I am sorry." Plain and simple. He didn't know what more there was to say. Nothing he could say would make his previous words unsaid.
Mei shook her head. She smiled a sad smile. "Do not worry about it. It happened years ago. I'll never stop missing seeing, but I have learned to accept it. I am just happy that I was able to see as much as I did. I have my memories and my dreams. You see, there I black becomes coloured. There everything is as it used to be."
Her voice changed into pure steel. "But life goes on. Everything changes and the only way to move forward is to accept each and every change, good or bad. I have moved on, I accepted the loss of my sight. Can you? Can you accept the changes happening to you and around you?"
Yahiko looked at Mei and somehow he felt like somehow she would be sharing her strength with him, making him stronger. And he knew. No matter what happened he would not give up, no matter how much would change, he would get over it. He would move forward.
He nodded. "I can and I will." And the sound of his voice was different. It was deep and strong. He was no longer a child, he was a young man. An adult. Person who could take care of himself and those near him.
And once again Yahiko found more respect for the woman before him. He knew now that no matter what would happen, even if she turned out to be Yaminobu, he would always respect her strength. During the short time they had known each other, she had already successfully taught him a lot.
"Mei-san." he said. He knew what he wanted.
"Yes?" she smiled.
"Will you be my friend? Not only my teacher but also my friend." Yahiko held his breath. Mei tilted her head to the left and pursed her lips.
Then she smiled again. "I thought we already were. Yes, I'll be your friend."
Yahiko smiled. He knew that Mei couldn't see it, but he also knew that somehow she would know. *How can they even think that Mei-san is an enemy? No way!* His heart seemed full of respect. Had he really known this woman only for less than two days?
"Now go. Take this tray down and get something to eat for yourself. Then come back and we'll continue training. There is very little time."
Yahiko got the tray and walked outside, but not without a last glance at the woman sitting on the floor. Smiling a smile that spoke of such a strength to live that he couldn't even understand. He had never seen such a spirit as she had.
*If she would smile like that for Shinomori and Okina, they would know not to doubt her. Would she show this side of her to them, they would know. They would know who she is.*
Then he turned and walked out of her room to get something to eat. He knew that he would spend the rest of the evening sweating in the training room, but it didn't matter. She would be there, teaching him. She would be there sweating with him.
They would both move forward in their lives.
****************************************************************************************
Aoshi walked in the corridor towards the training hall. One of the usual servants that helped them when they were busy had told him that she had seen the woman and Yahiko going there. He also knew that they had trained there before, in the morning. Now he wanted to see her in action.
Takahashi Mei.
Now that his first anger had dimmed he was back in the beginning. When he had seen her for the first time, sensed her ki for the first, something had changed in him. He had wanted to protect her. She had seemed weak and he had wanted to shelter her from the pain of the world. The last time he had felt that was when Misao was a child.
When he had seen what she was capable to, his opinion of her had changed.
The possibility that Takahashi Mei was an enemy was very clear. He had sent carrier pigeons to other members of Oniwabanshu, but not many had returned yet. And the ones that had, had held the same message. 'We have never heard of a woman with that name and description.' The fact that no one knew her didn't speak for her.
He reached the hall pretty soon. The door was slightly open, but Shinomori Aoshi didn't peak in from it. He would not be caught eavesdropping like a little child. Instead he threw the door open.
He saw how Yahiko collapsed to the floor in relief. He was red and sweaty. He looked like he would happy to lie down there forever. Any kind of disturbance and he was glad.
Mei on the other hand turned to face him. Aoshi looked at her, noting the change in her clothes. In her hand she held her walking cane he had seen in her room. She didn't look as red or exhausted as Yahiko was. For some time the two of them just looked at each other and then Mei did the last thing he expected her to do. She placed the cane onto her side as if it had been a sword and bowed to him, deeply.
Yahiko noticed this too. Aoshi looked how for a moment a look of surprise flashed on his face and then he started laughing. Mei and Aoshi both turned to his direction, but he just continued his exhausted laughter.
"That is so like you, Mei-san." he finally managed to speak. "Showing him your respect even though he has done no such thing to you." Then Yahiko understood where he was and who was with them. He turned his eyes on Aoshi. Unlike Yahiko had thought, he didn't look angry. For a moment he thought that he had caught a glimpse of wondering in his eyes, but it had been over so soon that he wasn't sure if he had just imagined the whole thing.
"Why should I not show? He is strong and I respect people with strength such as his. What does it matter if he doesn't show the same to me?" She shook her head. "You have got a lot to learn."
"Now Shinomori-san." she turned to him. "What do I own this honour to?" She spoke peacefully and calmly, but a bit of her strength found itself a way to her voice. Aoshi noticed it too.
"I am not here to challenge you again. I came to ask you how long are you going to continue. Omasu and Okon would like to clean this room." They truly had told him that. They hadn't asked him to anything about it, but now it became a good reason for him to be there.
"They should have told us and we would have left. I am sorry if we bothered you in anyway. Come now, Yahiko-chan. This is enough for today." she nodded her head to Aoshi before walking out of the room. Yahiko followed her a bit more slowly. His whole body was aching, it was worst than before.
But Yahiko had noticed something. Not once had Mei smiled. During their sparring she had smiled quite often, but the moment Aoshi had stepped inside of the room, her smiles had vanished.
End of chapter 6.
tbc
Announcement!
Author wants to say something!
"If you are wondering how Yahiko can spot the similarities between Mei and Misao, then listen to me. If not, you can skip this.
Aoshi and Okina are worried about the future of Oniwas, so they look at Mei from a different point of view than Yahiko. To them she is a threat. And besides they don't really spent so much time with Mei. Also, they are waiting for Misao to come back home. You know, the weasel girl. They don't consider the fact that she might have changed.
Yahiko on the other hand spends more time with her and he is more open to changes, having to go through them himself. And he has got a clever mind, we all know that don't we.
And like Yahiko said, would she show them her other side, they just might know..."
"There. If you have questions, feel free to email me and ask. Or leave your question to reviews along with your email and I'll contact you. That's a promise. My email is on the author page."
And please, review!
~Tiian~
It is still Wednesday. The day hasn't changed.
Chapter 6. To move forward
Yahiko was beaten, literally. When Mei had told him that they would start, he had been overjoyed and totally clueless. He hadn't had any idea of what it truly meant.
First she had forced him to just sit down while she had done 'something' to test his ki, or something. Yahiko hadn't really understood, but it took two hour. He wasn't allowed to speak or to move. Mei's window was open and the sun shone brightly, making the whole room very hot. When she was finished doing what ever she was doing, he had been so stiff that he hardly could move.
At that point she told him that she had just tested his patience. That she hadn't really done anything. He nearly lost it there and then, but managed to hold himself still. *I will get my revenge, I will get my revenge...* was the only thought keeping him sitting. Mei had laughed at his efforts, but he didn't give her what she wanted. He could stand this.
And then...
Sweat and more sweat.
She had asked him if he knew a place where they could start training, maybe even spar a bit. He had told her about the training hall that was a part of the inn. Mei hadn't really been surprised, he knew it. It seemed as if she had know it all along. But since this was her first time here, she couldn't have known. And soon Yahiko had something else to think about.
Mei had asked him to leave her room for a while and he had done so. It was a perfect time to get his shinai. When Mei called him in, he hadn't believed his eyes. She had changed her white kimono into tight brown pants and a skin-tight brown shirt with loose sleeves. A wide brown belt circled her waist. Her hair was tied up and the cover over her eyes was now brown, like the rest of her clothes. Somehow she seemed like a different person. And this new Mei was dangerous. And sexy.
"What are you staring at?"
He had blushed. His whole face had been on flames when he had tried to stutter something out of his mouth. Mei had just shook her head.
"Let's go. Show me the way."
And they had left for the training hall. Yahiko had been too embarrassed to say anything on the way and so they had walked in silence. The few servants that they saw on their way, had looked at them strangely, but stayed quiet. Wisely.
Later on Yahiko almost wished that they wouldn't have reached the hall at all. Because Mei had beaten him and badly. She had said that she needed to know how skilful he was before she could start teaching anything new.
That had taken an hour. Hour of beating Yahiko. He had known that she didn't use all of her strength, but the strikes had still hurt him. After that she said that his training started, but Yahiko saw no difference between the first hour and the next two. After three hours she said that it was enough for now. It was dinnertime. They would continue after it.
Yahiko groaned at the thought, but he had to admit that something had changed in him. More precisely in the way he fought. He though more now. And it took him less time to move from one move to another, and if she needed three hours to make him this much better, what could she do if she had weeks?
He walked down the stairs his whole body throbbing with pain. He was going down to get Mei something to eat. And to himself later, but Mei first. He sighed in relief when the stairs ended.
"Yahiko."
A voice that cold could belong to only one person. Shinomori Aoshi. Yahiko feared that this had something to do with Mei. But not wanting to be impolite to one of his hosts, he turned. "Shinomori."
He looked colder than he remembered and his fear grew. *Can't you just leave her alone? What has she done to you?*
"We need to talk." Plain and simple. With a voice that had given orders to Oniwabanshu and no one had resisted.
"If it is about Mei-san, forget it. I don't want to listen to your warnings or -"
"I am afraid you have to." Okina said. Yahiko turned and saw him. He had used to seeing a kind and funny old man, but the Okina before him now was dead serious.
"There are things you need to know about and things we need to know about." Okina walked past him. "Follow me."
If the one asking him to follow had been the icicle, he wouldn't have moved an inch. But it wasn't him. It was Okina. And so Yahiko walked after him.
To his surprise Okina lead them to the garden, to the same place where he had sparred with Mei for the first time. Both other men looked around them, making sure that no one was near enough to hear them.
Okina sighed sadly. "I am sorry that I have to involve you in this, but you're the one closest to Mei, which means that you know her best."
Yahiko shook his head furiously. "If you think that I am just going to tell you every little thing I know, you are wrong. She is helping me, I won't betray her."
"Listen to what he has got to say before judging." Aoshi looked at the boy before him steadily.
Yahiko didn't even look at him, he stared at Okina. "Well. Are you going to brain wash me or what?"
"This is not a game, Yahiko-kun. There is a ninja clan called Yaminobu. They have declared a war to us. It is obvious that Mei has been or is a ninja. They could have sent her and in that case, she may be very dangerous to us."
Yahiko stared at him eyes wide. *A war? Yaminobu... Why does it sound so familiar?*
Aoshi continued from where Okina had ended. "We don't know exactly why the war was declared, but we have no doubts that Yaminobu ninjas are dangerous. Long time ago there were fights between us and them, both sides wanting to be superior to the other. It ended when the leaders understood how useless it was. No matter how many battles took place, neither one the sides survived as a winner. So a peace was made. Yaminobu ninjas rule the west and we the east. Now they are threatening the balance that has existed for centuries."
A realization dawned on Yahiko. "Wait a second! Yaminobu ninjas are the ones Kenshin fought in Kekkai forest to get Tomoe back!"
Okina and Aoshi glanced at each other's. Okina nodded. "During the Bakumatsu we just as well as Yaminobus fought against Ishinshishi. But even in the midst of all that violence, Yaminobus took no action against us. Nor we against them."
"Then why now? And what makes you think that Mei-san has anything to do with it?" Yahiko stared at them furiously. He had finally found a person who understood him and cared for him. He wasn't going to give up on her so easily.
"Why now? We are not sure. It may have something to do with their new leader, Shimabara. And what comes to Mei, Okina already told you that. She is a ninja and I am sure that she isn't one of us. That means that she can be Yaminobu investigating and that way threatening our safety. Yours as well." Aoshi stared into Yahiko's eyes down his nose and noticed the daring look in his eyes. *This is useless. We can't change his opinion of her.*
Aoshi looked at Okina and shook his head. Okina nodded his understanding. They wouldn't be able to change his mind, the only one that could was Mei. Now all they could do was to watch her and try to figure out what she was after.
"That's all? Then excuse me, I have things to do." Yahiko knew that he shouldn't have spoken as arrogantly as he just had, but he just couldn't help it.
Yahiko walked back into the Aoiya in top speed. He didn't want to hear anymore of this. The rational part of him understood all that they had told him, but something in his heart told him that they were terribly wrong. He couldn't explain it, but he knew that Mei could be trusted. Why else would she help him? And if she was here to collect information, why did she stay in her room all the time? None of it made any sense.
He walked to the kitchen and the looks Kuro and Shiro gave him told him that they were on the same side as Okina and Aoshi. Again a part of him understood, but a part of him disagreed with them. Mei could be trusted, he knew it. But of course he had no proofs so trying to convince them was useless.
He walked the stairs, the aching he had already almost forgotten returning. The tray felt heavier than ever and couple of times he almost dropped it.
*Mei-san is not the enemy, I know it!*
He walked to her room, barely being able to open the shoji. Mei was sitting in one of the shadowed corners eyes closed. Yahiko placed the tray on the tatami and saw Mei move.
"That took some time." was all she said. No questions, no complains. She merely stated a fact. She walked across the room and no matter how hard Yahiko tried, he couldn't hear her footsteps.
*She may be a ninja-*
Mei sat down just as silently.
*-but she isn't bad. She is not here to destroy Oniwabanshu.*
She held out her hand and he gave her chopsticks. Then she moved her hand over the tray in some strange way and took her bowl.
"How did you know where the bowl was?" Yahiko couldn't stop himself from asking. Then he looked at her, afraid that she might get mad at him.
But instead of showing any scary face, she smiled. Her smile was soft, happy and very beautiful. Not a smile of someone out to kill anyone. *Misao had a smile like that. Well, hers was more carefree, but still. Happy and soft. And forgiving. To think that she forgave Shinomori in a second for all that he did.*
"Want to know how?" Mei's word interrupted his thoughts. *Now what did I ask...* He just nodded, not remembering his question. Then he remembered that she couldn't see him and said yes out loud.
She smiled again and her voice was gentle. "Since I can't see, I have to get the knowledge of the surrounding world in other ways. I smell things and hear better that normal people, I feel ki and that's how I know where people are. And last I have my sense of touch. I feel the change in the wind as someone goes by me, I feel cold and hot. Just now it was the sense of touch I used."
She put the bowl back down and placed her hand over it. "The food is hot, so when I move my hand over the bowl, I can feel the heat from the bowl. That's how I knew it was there. That simple." She took the bowl and started eating.
Yahiko thought about what he had just heard and nodded. It all made sense. "It must be hard though. Never finding out what everything looks like, never seeing any colours." he spoke absentmindedly mainly to himself. But he didn't fail to notice Mei's reaction.
She winced as if she would have been hit and she seemed sad. And angry. Her mouth was a thin line and her hands clenched. "Oh, I do know what colours look like, I know what things really look like. Sometimes I wish that I wouldn't, but I remember. I remember the clear blue sky that is like a sea. White clouds like ships sailing across it. I remember the brown trees with green leaves, I remember garden full of flower of all colours. I remember faces of people smiling, crying. "
Her voice changed, it was sad now. So sad that it touched his heart and almost made him want to weep. "I remember what crying felt like. Water running from your eyes, the cleaning and calming effect it had. I miss crying. Of all things that is what I miss the most."
She fell silent. Yahiko didn't know what to do. He realized now that this woman had not always been blind. She had once seen all that this world had to show, she had lived a life full of colours and then it had been taken away from her. She had been forced to live in a world of darkness.
He bowed his head. He had had no idea what he had said. "I am sorry." Plain and simple. He didn't know what more there was to say. Nothing he could say would make his previous words unsaid.
Mei shook her head. She smiled a sad smile. "Do not worry about it. It happened years ago. I'll never stop missing seeing, but I have learned to accept it. I am just happy that I was able to see as much as I did. I have my memories and my dreams. You see, there I black becomes coloured. There everything is as it used to be."
Her voice changed into pure steel. "But life goes on. Everything changes and the only way to move forward is to accept each and every change, good or bad. I have moved on, I accepted the loss of my sight. Can you? Can you accept the changes happening to you and around you?"
Yahiko looked at Mei and somehow he felt like somehow she would be sharing her strength with him, making him stronger. And he knew. No matter what happened he would not give up, no matter how much would change, he would get over it. He would move forward.
He nodded. "I can and I will." And the sound of his voice was different. It was deep and strong. He was no longer a child, he was a young man. An adult. Person who could take care of himself and those near him.
And once again Yahiko found more respect for the woman before him. He knew now that no matter what would happen, even if she turned out to be Yaminobu, he would always respect her strength. During the short time they had known each other, she had already successfully taught him a lot.
"Mei-san." he said. He knew what he wanted.
"Yes?" she smiled.
"Will you be my friend? Not only my teacher but also my friend." Yahiko held his breath. Mei tilted her head to the left and pursed her lips.
Then she smiled again. "I thought we already were. Yes, I'll be your friend."
Yahiko smiled. He knew that Mei couldn't see it, but he also knew that somehow she would know. *How can they even think that Mei-san is an enemy? No way!* His heart seemed full of respect. Had he really known this woman only for less than two days?
"Now go. Take this tray down and get something to eat for yourself. Then come back and we'll continue training. There is very little time."
Yahiko got the tray and walked outside, but not without a last glance at the woman sitting on the floor. Smiling a smile that spoke of such a strength to live that he couldn't even understand. He had never seen such a spirit as she had.
*If she would smile like that for Shinomori and Okina, they would know not to doubt her. Would she show this side of her to them, they would know. They would know who she is.*
Then he turned and walked out of her room to get something to eat. He knew that he would spend the rest of the evening sweating in the training room, but it didn't matter. She would be there, teaching him. She would be there sweating with him.
They would both move forward in their lives.
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Aoshi walked in the corridor towards the training hall. One of the usual servants that helped them when they were busy had told him that she had seen the woman and Yahiko going there. He also knew that they had trained there before, in the morning. Now he wanted to see her in action.
Takahashi Mei.
Now that his first anger had dimmed he was back in the beginning. When he had seen her for the first time, sensed her ki for the first, something had changed in him. He had wanted to protect her. She had seemed weak and he had wanted to shelter her from the pain of the world. The last time he had felt that was when Misao was a child.
When he had seen what she was capable to, his opinion of her had changed.
The possibility that Takahashi Mei was an enemy was very clear. He had sent carrier pigeons to other members of Oniwabanshu, but not many had returned yet. And the ones that had, had held the same message. 'We have never heard of a woman with that name and description.' The fact that no one knew her didn't speak for her.
He reached the hall pretty soon. The door was slightly open, but Shinomori Aoshi didn't peak in from it. He would not be caught eavesdropping like a little child. Instead he threw the door open.
He saw how Yahiko collapsed to the floor in relief. He was red and sweaty. He looked like he would happy to lie down there forever. Any kind of disturbance and he was glad.
Mei on the other hand turned to face him. Aoshi looked at her, noting the change in her clothes. In her hand she held her walking cane he had seen in her room. She didn't look as red or exhausted as Yahiko was. For some time the two of them just looked at each other and then Mei did the last thing he expected her to do. She placed the cane onto her side as if it had been a sword and bowed to him, deeply.
Yahiko noticed this too. Aoshi looked how for a moment a look of surprise flashed on his face and then he started laughing. Mei and Aoshi both turned to his direction, but he just continued his exhausted laughter.
"That is so like you, Mei-san." he finally managed to speak. "Showing him your respect even though he has done no such thing to you." Then Yahiko understood where he was and who was with them. He turned his eyes on Aoshi. Unlike Yahiko had thought, he didn't look angry. For a moment he thought that he had caught a glimpse of wondering in his eyes, but it had been over so soon that he wasn't sure if he had just imagined the whole thing.
"Why should I not show? He is strong and I respect people with strength such as his. What does it matter if he doesn't show the same to me?" She shook her head. "You have got a lot to learn."
"Now Shinomori-san." she turned to him. "What do I own this honour to?" She spoke peacefully and calmly, but a bit of her strength found itself a way to her voice. Aoshi noticed it too.
"I am not here to challenge you again. I came to ask you how long are you going to continue. Omasu and Okon would like to clean this room." They truly had told him that. They hadn't asked him to anything about it, but now it became a good reason for him to be there.
"They should have told us and we would have left. I am sorry if we bothered you in anyway. Come now, Yahiko-chan. This is enough for today." she nodded her head to Aoshi before walking out of the room. Yahiko followed her a bit more slowly. His whole body was aching, it was worst than before.
But Yahiko had noticed something. Not once had Mei smiled. During their sparring she had smiled quite often, but the moment Aoshi had stepped inside of the room, her smiles had vanished.
End of chapter 6.
tbc
Announcement!
Author wants to say something!
"If you are wondering how Yahiko can spot the similarities between Mei and Misao, then listen to me. If not, you can skip this.
Aoshi and Okina are worried about the future of Oniwas, so they look at Mei from a different point of view than Yahiko. To them she is a threat. And besides they don't really spent so much time with Mei. Also, they are waiting for Misao to come back home. You know, the weasel girl. They don't consider the fact that she might have changed.
Yahiko on the other hand spends more time with her and he is more open to changes, having to go through them himself. And he has got a clever mind, we all know that don't we.
And like Yahiko said, would she show them her other side, they just might know..."
"There. If you have questions, feel free to email me and ask. Or leave your question to reviews along with your email and I'll contact you. That's a promise. My email is on the author page."
And please, review!
~Tiian~