Watsuki owns them
I just borrow for a while
- No harm intended
Dreams I Dreamt Instead
Chapter 4: The Search Begins
Misao was completely caught up in her own thoughts once the two Hiten Mitsurugi masters were out of sight behind them. She and Sano walked quietly through the woods on the well-worn path to the village. It was a peaceful afternoon and there were bird sounds in abundance, with the added beauty of sunlight threading through the trees like spears puncturing a sheer net of green leaves and dark old growth trees of great age. Yet Misao noticed nothing of her surroundings. She was too occupied by her own jumbled misgivings.
The last time she had been on this path was with Yahiko and Kaoru. They had come to see Hiko on their search for Kenshin. It was on this path that Yahiko had mentioned Aoshi and Kaoru had related the Kanryuu affair and the last moments of her childhood friends and surrogate family. Kaoru had been as gentle as possible, but she knew that Misao deserved and wanted the unvarnished truth. Nor did she suspect her of duplicity, as Yahiko had. Kaoru had been honest with Misao.
Misao sighed. Kaoru was always honest. She wondered why Aoshi hadn't been as honest with her as a woman she had only known for less than twenty-four hours. Back then she had been sad about her friends, but excited about Aoshi, even as she feared for his state of mind. That may have been the beginning of the end, she thought now. When he had severed those heads, had he actually severed his ties to his past? He had been lost for so long, and then joined forces with the most evil man she had ever seen in an effort to hurt Himura, a man who had saved his life by intervening with Kanryuu.
Himura had kept his promise. He had brought Aoshi back to the Oniwabanshuu in Kyoto. But had Aoshi really been restored? He had suffered defeat at Himura's hands and still carried the scar of the Ougi on his chest as a reminder. During the failed vengeance of Yukishiro, Aoshi had seemed more of himself. It had been Aoshi who had discovered the truth behind Kaoru's "death", giving them all hope of her rescue. He had defeated Gein. He had defeated Heisen's henchman Suzaku on Yukishiro's island. He had even fulfilled his promise to have tea with Himura. But once they had left Tokyo and retrieved the remains of their fallen comrades, Aoshi had retreated within. Once they had been re-interred, they returned to Kyoto and he retreated further, behind his wall of meditation. He withdrew into himself and away from the remaining Oniwabanshuu, away from her.
Even Okina seemed unable to reach him anymore. Misao was certain that it had been Okina who had convinced Aoshi to accompany her to the picnic at Mount Ueno. He had probably used some sad excuse about Misao needing protection on such a journey to guilt him into it.
Upon reflection, maybe Aoshi's decision had not been as abrupt or as unexpected as she had originally thought. Had she just been too blind to read the telltale signs of his disaffection before their journey back to Kyoto?
Misao sighed again.
"Hey Misao. What's up with you? Your noisy breathing is scaring the birds out of the trees and you look like you just lost your best friend. Are you sick? Are you up to chasing down these bandits? I can do it myself, you know." Sano was loath to interrupt Misao's preoccupied thoughts. She was scowling so much he figured she might produce her kunai and nail him with them if she was as angry as she looked. But her response was mild and detached.
"Sorry Sagara. My mind was far away from here. We're almost to the village. How do you want to handle things? Together or shall we split up?"
"Naw, let's stay together. You'll give 'em something to look at while I quiz 'em."
Misao's mind snapped back to the present and she cast a sidelong glance at Sagara. Had he really just paid her a compliment? She must have misunderstood him. He probably thought she would distract them with her "weasel" face. God, she hated that name. But then, Sagara hadn't called her that since he'd arrived in Kyoto. Again, she was dwelling on the past.
They reached the village and began their trek to each building in town. They spoke to every soul who had the fortune to be in town today, and found out absolutely nothing that Hiko had not already told them. There had been many robberies, but always when the storekeepers or farmers had been away. No one had seen anyone or anything to indicate who the culprits were or where they were encamped. No one who had been robbed on the road or the footpaths leading to the village had lived to tell anyone anything.
It didn't take long to exhaust all avenues in the village. The proprietor of the village store had been most forthcoming in seeking their assistance. He was desperate to be able to get supplies to restock his store without endangering any of his long time suppliers in Kyoto. He was clearly anxious about the bandits and had lost several friends who were attempting to bring him goods when they had been attacked.
Sano quizzed him closely about any supplies he had sold to strangers. But the man had been insistent that no stranger had been to the store to purchase staples in months. When pressed, he had even pulled out his records and compared them with the calculations on his abacus. Nothing had been sold to anyone unknown to him in at least six months. When Misao asked him who his regular customers were, he laughed derisively and said, "Everyone who lives around here. All of 'em shop here, miss. There's no where else to go unless they are making the trip to Kyoto."
Sano irritated him even further by asking if there were local tiffs or arguments between neighbors amongst the small community. "There's got to be a reason these thefts began six months ago! Think man! Did someone feel cheated? Did you try to collect an outstanding debt? Argue with anyone? It's your suppliers being hit the hardest."
Misao gave him an incredulous look. Sagara was asking a shopkeeper about collecting debts? She had thought him the most expert man at avoiding payment in all of Japan. But she just shrugged and shook her head. Who would know more about it than him? At least he had thought to raise the issue.
Unfortunately, the shopkeeper was adamant that there had been no new argument. There had been no debt collection issue. There was little dissension in the small community except for the usual neighborly disagreements, which were bound to occur wherever there were more than two people. None of these were more than minor and none had arisen within the last six months.
Sano and Misao sat on the front porch of the village store. It was mid-afternoon and they had learned nothing new. No one was on any of the paths or the road that led into town, most of which were visible from their vantage point. Sano was starting to feel frustrated at their lack of progress.
Misao got out the map that Himura and Hiko had given them. She looked it over and made a suggestion for their next course of action. "Sagara, if there had been anything to learn here, Hiko would have learned it long ago. We knew that before we came into town. All we can do is make sure we ask everyone. Let's go visit each of the farms that surround the village." She showed him on the map how they could circuit the village, visit all of the five surrounding farms and end up back at Hiko's. "If they know as little as the villagers, we'll be back to Hiko's by dark and we will have spoken to everyone in the village vicinity. It's not progress, but at least we will have ruled out the village and farms for more information and we'll be able to start on the forest grids Himura laid out for us tomorrow."
"Yeah. That sounds like a plan. I don't want to listen to these folks telling me how scared they are and how they don't know anything for more than one day. I'll go crazy."
Misao kept the map and they headed for the first farm. Sano was walking much faster now, and Misao had to practically run to keep pace with him. He was taking his frustration out on the road.
"Oi, Sagara, slow down just a little, will ya? I don't want to run to all of these farms. Getting there faster won't make the answers any different."
"Yeah. Sure." Sano paused and then continued, his voice edged with anger. "Why don't they do something about these bandits, Misao? Somebody has to know where they are hiding. Somebody must be helping them."
"They're farmers, Sagara, not fighters. They don't know how to fight or who to fight."
"My dad was a farmer. He knows how to fight." Sagara sounded disgusted. Misao had never heard him mention his family before. She was about to pursue it, but she decided against it when she saw how his eyes blazed with hidden fury. Maybe she wasn't the only one with the past on her mind today. She decided to ask Sagara about his family another time, when his mood was milder.
The first farm they reached was deserted. The house was closed up and no one seemed to be around. They didn't see anyone in the fields, either. Maybe they had spoken to this family in town. Now they regretted not asking everyone where they lived and keeping track of their conversations better. There was nothing for it but to continue. Perhaps Hiko would be able to tell them more about the individual farmers. He had to be more familiar with his neighbors than they would have expected. He had known all of the boundary lines for the maps, and also had indicated which farmers had new outbuildings, children, or visiting family. They had been amazed at how much this "hermit" had known about the village and its inhabitants when Kenshin had added his specific information to the map.
The neighboring four farms were all inhabited by families and most of the farmers were easily found in their fields. Misao kept careful notes of the names and members of the households as Sano quizzed them on their losses or knowledge of the robberies or the travelers who had been killed. Nearly all of the families had been robbed, but none of them had been at home at the time. Only one of the families had lost a visitor from Kyoto to the killers. An unfortunate brother had come bearing goods from a neighboring village when he had been attacked.
Sano and Misao left the last farm in relief. They were tired of the lack of progress. They were tired of the fear and apprehension they saw in the local faces. And they were tired. At least they had accomplished the first phase of the search. They believed they had spoken to everyone who lived in or surrounding the village. Tomorrow they would start on the first of the forest areas targeted by Kenshin and Hiko. Searching for the bandits themselves and seeking to uncover their hiding place sounded like a better plan than interviewing local people with no knowledge and only fear to offer them.
"What kind of welcome do you think we can expect from Hiko-sama, Sagara? I've never seen him without Himura or Kaoru." Misao let an edge of worried concern leak into her voice. She was a little apprehensive about spending time with the 13th Master of the Hiten Mitsurugi style of swordsmanship. If he treated Himura so badly, how might he treat them?
"Who knows? I never met the guy before today. And he has the nerve to call me a gangster like he knows all about me. If I didn't know he was Kenshin's master, I wouldn't have believed Kenshin would put up with such a conceited guy. He must be really something."
"No doubt about it, Sagara. We told you how he defended the Aoiya and fought with Fuji. The man is the most powerful swordsman in Japan. And that includes Himura. Especially now."
"Yeah, I wonder how much Kenshin's skills have deteriorated. Do you know? And do you know how his health is? Jo-chan insisted we take the train."
Misao laughed. "Of course Kaoru wants him to take the train. She wants him back in Tokyo as soon as possible. You haven't seen them together since their marriage, Sagara. It's so sweet it makes your teeth hurt. She misses him."
Misao paused as they approached Hiko's cabin as the sun fell beneath the tree line. She was backlit with a blaze of red, pink and orange sunset colors as she turned to face Sano, taking his arm to turn him towards her. He looked worried.
"I really think his health is fine, Sagara," she said, smiling gently to ease his mind. "Kaoru and I exchange letters every week and I visit them as often as I can. I have seen no evidence that he is weaker at all. I think we can assume that the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu is mostly unusable by now. But remember, Megumi told him he would continue to be a formidable swordsman." Sano returned her smile, his face softening. They resumed walking to Hiko's and Misao continued.
"Still, I am glad we decided to take on this task ourselves. Himura deserves to be at home with his family – even if little Kenji does try to make his life as miserable as possible."
Sano laughed. "So I hear. Do you have any idea why? Kenshin has always been so good with kids. It's unbelievable that his own son doesn't take to him."
"You think it's unbelievable now, wait until you get to Tokyo and see it for yourself. I don't understand it at all. Kenshin gives him nothing but love and Kenji makes his feelings very clear, especially if Kaoru is out of the room. If it weren't so sad it would be hysterical."
"What about Yahiko? Kenshin and I only spoke briefly about him. How is he doing?"
"You'll be surprised there, too." Misao smiled as she looked over at Sagara. He was smiling broadly at the thought of Yahiko. Her smile broadened. "Or maybe you and Kenshin both knew what a good man he'd become all along?"
Sano quickly glanced at Misao, wearing his most innocent expression. "Who me? The brat used to chew on my head. Who'd have thought he'd become anything but taller." He increased his stride to avoid Misao's eyes when he couldn't hide his smile. The only thing he regretted about doing this for Hiko was that it would postpone his reunion with his adopted family at the Kamiya dojo.
Of course, he didn't fool Misao for a minute and he could hear her chuckling behind him.
Hiko was again out in front of his cabin as the pair approached. This time he was carrying a load of pots into his front door. He deposited the pottery inside and came out as they reached his door.
"I've emptied my storage shed for your use while you search out these bandits. It's not much, but then this isn't a pleasure trip. And I want you to find these guys in a hurry; I need that storage space for my work. The pottery of Niitsu Kakunoshin is renowned all over Japan, you know. And I don't appreciate interruptions."
"So we've noticed," said Sano, rolling his eyes at the Hiten Mitsurugi master.
Hiko just scowled back at him and turned to Misao.
"Any progress to report?"
"None. As expected. We spoke to everyone in the village and visited all of the surrounding farms. Nothing new there. We will start on the grid you and Himura suggested tomorrow."
"Waste of time talking to farmers who won't fight. What's the matter with them, anyway? I've known lots of farmers who were willing to fight to protect their families and their land. What's up with these people? Are they too used to relying on your protection?"
"The Sekihoutai was a most unusual group. Are you so sure they were committed idealistic patriots? In the dangers of the age, in the passion of violence, quietly laying down your life is utterly insignificant in the ever- flowing passage of time." Hiko ended this statement with a hard look at Sano and turned immediately to go into his cabin.
He called out over his shoulder; "I've left food for you at the doorway to the shed. Find those bandits and stay out of my way." Then he slammed the door behind him.
Misao turned to look at Sano fuming in Hiko's wake. Just what she needed were two temperamental men to deal with. She took Sano's arm to get his attention.
"Come on, Sagara. Let's go get something to eat, I'm hungry."
Sano shook off his anger at Hiko. He wasn't here to fight with the great man; he was here to do a favor for Kenshin. With any luck they would not have to spend much time with the guy. How had Kenshin become such a good guy with this pompous jerk as his teacher?
"Hiko-sama is a hermit for a reason, Sagara. Himura has told me many times that he hates people. He probably said the one thing that would make you mad enough to keep you away from him. Ignore him. Let's go find the food."
Sano's mood lightened immediately. Why be mad at Hiko when he had a pretty girl like Misao to talk to? Besides, the prospect of rousting those bandits was very appealing.
"Yeah, let's find the food, Misao. Good thing you're such a little thing, that means more for me."
"Don't call me little, Sagara! I'm a grown up woman and it's about time everybody treated me that way. Including you."
"Settle down. I can see you're quite the grown up woman. Looks good on you. And call me Sano, Misao. We'll be spending too much time together for any formalities."
Sano and Misao found the shed, the food, and two futons set out for their use. The pottery shed was not very big, but would give them shelter and keep out the elements. They found the food, which was simple fare but in ample portions. They sat out under the stars to eat their dinner.
"Tell me about your family, Sano. I didn't know your dad was a farmer."
"Yeah, he raised daikon radishes before the land was ruined by Ishin Shishi opportunists. Now he and my sister and brother make hats out of rushes. The last time I saw him was just before we went to Yukishiro's island. I took care of a bunch of bandits for him before I left."
"I've handled my fair share of bandits, too. In fact, the night I met Himura I had just taken care of a few myself." Misao related the story in great detail to Sano, sensing that talking about his family was not doing anything to lighten his mood after Hiko's hurtful words. She would have to ask him about that exchange another time.
Sano relaxed as he listened to Misao talk about trying to rob Kenshin, and actually taking his sakabatou from him as repayment for the kunai damage to her cloak. He couldn't help laughing at the thought of Kenshin trading her all of his spare change for the return of his sakabatou. By the time she had told him about returning the bandits money and confronting the Yakuza on the bridge, he was back in his usual good mood.
"So, Kenshin finally showed you his talents by taking out a bridge full of Yakuza?" Sano shook his head. "Sounds just like him. Said he got tired of fights on bridges? I bet he did."
"He really just doesn't think like other people, does he?"
"No. He comes off as such a simple guy, but that is not him at all." Sano paused as they finished up their dinner and took pleasure in admiring the fall night sky. "He's better off in Tokyo, although we would have had a good time here, too. I'm glad we decided to do this for him."
"Let's start early tomorrow morning, Sano. I want to get these guys as soon as we can. We've got a big job of looking in unlikely places ahead of us."
"Sounds good to me. Let's call it a night." As they went into the shed and laid out the futons, they realized just how small the shed was.
"I'm only going to say this once, Misao, so listen up. Keep your hands to yourself. I know that you're not used to sleeping next to a big handsome guy like me, so try to control yourself." He was already laughing by the time her fist connected with his arm. He knew she didn't have the space to use her kunai so he figured his life wasn't in danger.
"Don't be a jerk, Sano. We're going to be spending a lot of time together. Don't make this harder than it has to be."
"You're even prettier when you're mad. Good night, Misao."
Sano just chuckled and turned over to go to sleep, feeling Misao's confusion behind him.
Kenshin reached the Aoiya just after nightfall. It had been a lonely but uneventful walk back to Kyoto. Okina met him at the doorway, his eyes full of concern when he looked beyond Kenshin for Misao without finding her.
"Welcome back, Himura. Where did you lose our Okashira?"
Kenshin laughed, and proceeded to tell Okina that Misao and Sano had taken on the task of finding the local bandits for Hiko. He also related her request that Okina send supplies and sake to them, taking care not to run afoul of the bandits themselves.
"I can do more for her than she realizes. We have many contacts locally. I will inquire as to knowledge of these bandits here in Kyoto and near Hiko. Are you satisfied of her safety?"
"Without question. Sano is quite capable of undertaking this task on his own, but Misao can help him and he will be certain that she comes to no harm. I thought the distraction might even help her."
"Then come and dine with me tonight. I was awaiting Misao's return, so keep an old man company and give me news of Tokyo."
"With pleasure, Okina. But may I ask a favor of you afterwards?"
"If I am able…"
"I wish to meet with Shinomori. Will he agree to it?"
"Not if you give him a choice. But after dinner, I will take you to where he is hiding and you can request an audience yourself. No one here has any influence on him at all anymore. To be honest, I am near to asking him to take up residence elsewhere. If Misao hadn't specifically asked us to let him stay, I would have already done it."
"She seems determined to recover and completely focused on the Oniwabanshuu."
"Yes, and for now that is fine. But it can't continue, Himura. I love her too much to allow her to spend her entire life in service to our clan. I want her happy. And I want it sooner rather than later."
"Agreed. But my sense of her is that she will be happy again, Okina. So please try to support her in her plans for your clan. A very knowledgeable man advised me today that she may find happiness sooner than she knows." Okina just looked mystified in response.
After dinner, Okina showed Kenshin to Aoshi's room. He was known to have returned from meditation before dinner and eaten in his room, as was his custom. Okina left Kenshin at the doorway, and Kenshin paused to allow Aoshi the opportunity to sense him before he overtly announced his presence by knocking on his door.
Aoshi slid open the shoji door and gestured for Kenshin to enter. His room was bare but for a futon neatly folded in the corner and a small cabinet to hold his belongings. There was no decoration to speak of, only Aoshi's kodachi displayed on the top of the cabinet. They were dusty from lack of use.
Aoshi gestured for Kenshin to sit and they sat facing each other in the center of the sparse room.
"I apologize for disturbing you, Shinomori."
"Why are you here?" Aoshi kept his face mild, but Kenshin could feel his irritation. He felt the truth of Misao's statements. Aoshi had shut her and the rest of the Oniwabanshuu out of his life. And he resented Kenshin's intrusion.
"I am only here to advise you of the foolhardiness of your actions, Aoshi. I feel I must due to our shared past. If you continue to shut Misao-dono out of your life, she will be gone from it irretrievably soon. Consider how you will feel then. Her tears are at an end. She will not put her life on hold as both you and I have. It is not in her nature. She is building a new life now even as you seclude yourself here. Be certain of your path before she is lost to you forever."
Kenshin bowed to his former nemesis, got up and quietly left the room.
Okina met Kenshin downstairs, showed him to his room, and the next day Kenshin returned to Tokyo on the early train.
Author's Note: Thanks for reading and reviewing: Susan, Midori Natari Himura, Firuze Khanume, Lizzie, Prudence-chan, Crystal, Rurouni, Hana Himura, marstanuki, mae, Unseen Watcher, and Misanagi.