Watsuki owns them
I just borrow for a while
No harm intended
Dreams I Dreamt Instead
Chapter 5: Training and Recreation
Misao and Sano were up early the following morning to get started on the search. Misao had wondered if Sano would be resistant to getting started early; she thought of him as a late-night party kind of guy. But he was up before her, and had packed a portion of food for their lunch, dividing up what Hiko had left them for the day. He was looking at the map when she came out of the storage shed.
"Kenshin wasn't kidding about there being a lot of ground to cover. Even if we make a thorough search, these guys could avoid us if they know we're looking. And if someone from the village is helping them, they'll know we're looking."
Misao came to stand behind him, grabbing a bite to eat while they looked at the map. "I have a suggestion for today's search. I expect that Okina will have our supplies and Hiko's sake sent up today. So, why don't we try to cover the closer portions of these two grids today and end up back here tonight? We can organize our supplies tonight and head out for a few days tomorrow, leaving the rest of our supplies here."
"That could work. If the bandits were this close to Hiko he probably would have seen and disposed of them, but we still need to check out the area."
"Yeah, but that will make for two frustrating days in a row, are you up to that?"
"As long as I don't have to put up with those chicken-shit farmers, it won't be a problem."
"Don't be so hard on them, Sano. We were strangers looking for thieves, not exactly folks they were going to warm up to, especially with you scowling at them."
"Shit, woman! They couldn't hide the fear in their eyes. They didn't even try to hide it. How can they live like that?"
"Still, they could surprise you. People often do."
Sano just scowled at her, gathered up the remaining food to put it in the storage shed. Misao put away their futons and tied the lunch package to her obi, securing the map within it.
They started off without a Hiko sighting, which was a relief to Misao. She wasn't sure if Sano would really tolerate another word about the Sekihoutai. She knew that Sano was one of the few survivors of that group, and despite their reputation as a false army, he had reacted as if Hiko had insulted his family. She was curious enough to hope that Sano would share the truth of his past with her, but she didn't want to raise the matter. If he were going to share it, it would have to be his choice.
Fortunately, the weather was extremely mild for late September. It was well into fall, but still felt like summertime. That would both aid and hamper their search. It would help them because they could cover a lot of ground quickly with the temperate weather. But the dry terrain would not be easily read. The trees were not yet shedding their leaves, but soon the forest floor would be blanketed with them, making tracking more difficult. The fallen leaves would also make their own footsteps more audible.
"I have to admit that I am glad you are still wearing my colors, Sano. We need to be as inconspicuous as possible and your trademark bright white clothing would not have blended so well into the landscape. Have you had any training in stealth? Himura is masterful at it, of course."
"Nope. But I learned the Futae no Kiwami in one week. Why don't you give me some of that ninja training of yours while we search? I've never needed stealth moves, relying on my strength. Besides, a big guy like me is harder to hide than a little thing like you." Sano smiled, expecting the glare Misao was giving him at that description. "Oh right, you're a full grown woman. So how about if I call you the 'little woman'?"
"Right and I'll call you the 'big jerk'."
Sano laughed, might as well enjoy this search. He felt at home here walking in the woods of Japan. He'd done a great deal of traveling and running in just this kind of place, it felt more familiar than any place he had spent time in for at least several years.
"Don't get excited, Misao. Our relative sizes could be an advantage on this trek. If we need to escape from something I'll just tuck you under my arm and run us out of there. Done that before."
He gave her a sidelong glance to see how she was taking this latest volley. But Misao was busy studying the map again.
"What's up woman? We already planned out the search for today. What are you looking at?"
"Just checking for where the forest ends and the foothills begin. I want to start you off with some easy stuff in the forests. Open spaces are harder to deal with, kinda like the space between your ears, jerk." Misao didn't even look up at Sano until he laughed at this last. When he had her attention, he spoke again, smiling broadly at her.
"Lighten up, woman. We have a lot of ground to cover today, without much hope of advancing our search, so figure out some reasonable training, and let's get to it."
Misao returned his warm smile. "You're right, Sano. It will be way more fun to train you that to insult you. Here's the deal. We're going to play hide and seek. You turn your back for, say, two minutes, and I'll go ahead into the woods. You try to find me. Sounds simple, but you'll be lucky if you find this little ninja's dust, big guy. If you don't find me within about a half an hour, I'll come out and it'll be your turn. Fair enough?"
"Child's play, eh? Well, maybe I'll pick the next kid's game we'll play, woman. But fair enough. It should help us search and will keep us moving through the area without getting bored. Your two minutes starts now."
Sano turned back to face in Hiko's direction as Misao shot off into the trees. She hadn't bothered to mention to Sano that she trained in the woods every day and that her stealth ninja skills were the absolute best in her small troupe. Let the big jerk see how hard it was to find her. She had no doubt that she could move through the entire area without him seeing or finding her. He biggest worry was that he might get lost. She figured she would have to hide from him, yet keep him within a reasonable distance so she could keep track of him. He was right about the game helping the search, though. While she was keeping Sano in range, she would also be scouting out all of the possible hiding places, newly formed paths, or unusual features in the forest. She only hoped that she could teach Sanoske the barest beginnings of her ninja training. They might need it before this search was over.
Sano used his two minutes to check out the area on either side of the path behind them. He didn't have any training in moving quietly or unseen in either forest or town, but his skills as an observer were finely honed. He scanned the area to be sure they hadn't missed any indication of recent activity, then turned and looked casually into the forest ahead. He knew Misao wouldn't go too far ahead. She was too afraid he would get lost to go out of his sight lines. She and Kenshin had been careful not to say anything, but not much got by him. The only question was whether he commented on it or not. For now, he might as well let Misao continue to believe he'd get lost in the Aoiya. His travels had taught him many things, and a decent sense of direction had been one of them.
Sano didn't immediately spot Misao or any sign of her trail. Nor did he expect to see her right away. He began walking down the path they had been using, keeping watch on either side for anything out of the ordinary. He added the lower branches of the surrounding trees to his search pattern. Knowing Misao, he figured the most likely place for her to hide would be in a tree. Sure enough, about a hundred yards into the woods, he spotted a likely tree approximately ten feet off the path. He purposefully kept going without paying any special attention to the area. He wanted to get a look at the back of the trunk before Misao could suspect he might have an idea where she was. Sure enough, he took a quick glance behind him and spotted a flash of blue as she leaped to another branch on the opposite side of the tree, out of his sight.
She said she would give him a half an hour, and he had found her in about ten minutes, so he decided it was time for him to get "lost". The range of this portion of the grid was not that deep, so he went to the very edge of it, just to the edge of the forest they were searching. That gave him time to complete the search of this small section and begin the next as he doubled back towards her, but at least a hundred yards further towards the next grid.
He was actually more interested in what she would do than in the game by this time. The search was going as planned and he might learn more about Misao by whether she stayed where she was or moved. As he approached her original location he started through the woods to return to the original path. He walked directly under the tree he had seen her in, but she was long gone. Fair enough. He doubled back and continued his search. He had found her once; he could do it again.
Misao was mystified by Sanosuke. She knew he was a formidable runner and an expert with his fists. But he was searching the forest grid as if he had undertaken the search for the bandits by himself. Once he left the area she could see from the low branch of the tree where she was perched, she followed him. He extended his search to the edge of the forest and then started back in the next quadrant, detouring only to go back to the tree she had been in, then returning to the next quadrant. It had now been a half an hour, and she knew he had found her. Time to catch up to him and see if he had any stealth skills at all. At least now she knew that those deep brown eyes missed little.
"Oi, Sanosuke!" Misao stepped into Sano's personal space and poked him in the ribs. "I'm impressed. You found me and then went back for me. These bandits aren't going to be able to hide from the two of us for long."
"No shit. I liked your hiding place, though. You look cute in a tree."
"Yeah, well, I won't be so easy on you next time. Your turn. Your two minutes starts now." Misao turned where she stood and Sano was suddenly taken with how near she was to him, standing with her back to him, her head didn't even come up to the height of his collarbone. Her hair was really beautiful, dark and shining in the sunlight filtering through the trees around them. Shaking off the momentary distraction, he stepped away from her and looked for a likely place to hide.
Misao felt his momentary pause, and then his absence, as she kept her eyes to the opposite direction, searching the forest for possible clues while she waited out the lead-time, just as he had done.
Sano had seen a particularly large tree off to one side of this section of the forest. It was the obvious place for him to go, so he looked for a more nondescript tree in the nearby vicinity. It had to have enough girth to hide his slender form, and be close enough for him to surprise her after she didn't find him in the expected place.
Misao turned back around and surveyed the area. She began walking the same path through the grid that Sano had begun, looking for a likely place for a guy of Sano's size to hide. She didn't think he was much of a tree climber or jumper, so she looked for a larger than usual size tree trunk. Ah yes, there was one with his name on it. Just as Sano had done, she continued the search back to the edge of the forest closest to Hiko's, then turned to start the next area. This would give her a look behind the trees without giving away her suspicions. Once she began to approach the larger tree, she could see there was no one there. He had to have chosen a less obvious place. She was pleased. He might be trainable. So she focused her skills as if she were hunting for Kuro.
Another ninja wouldn't choose an obvious place, nor would he choose to climb a tree with only a two-minute lead. No, he would choose a tree that did not stand out in the forest, one nearby the obvious choice if he wanted to trap her. She smiled broadly and tried not to laugh out loud. This was fun. And Sanosuke was playing with her. He was much better at this than she expected. So time to get him. She was still the ninja, after all.
Sano was keeping her in sight and pleased to see that she didn't fall for the obvious choice, either. She must be a better trapper than he thought. She completed the circuit he had begun, starting on the next. Suddenly, she simply disappeared. He couldn't see or hear her anywhere. He was about to step out from his secluded space when she was just as suddenly beside him, so close he felt her breath on his arm.
"Found you," she whispered. Then she laughed. "You're much better at this than I had thought. I won't underestimate you again, Sanosuke. Let's finish this grid together and discuss stealth strategy as we go. You would have made a decent ninja, with my expert help, of course."
"Yeah, now there's my life long dream come true, to be Oniwabanshuu. Maybe it's the uniform, woman."
Sano and Misao took their time walking the remainder of the grid, Misao pointing out some of the less likely hiding places that she or Sano could have chosen. They found nothing to indicate anyone beside them and the local wildlife had been in the area in recent weeks. They stopped at the edge of the forest for a brief lunch along a quiet stream, and then completed their search of the grid area before returning to Hiko's.
Hiko met them at the storage shed just after sunset as they returned to their base camp. He had prepared a warm but simple dinner for the three of them, and was clearly in a much better mood than the previous day.
"Shiro and Omasu brought you quite a load of supplies today, Okashira." Hiko indicated she and Sanosuke should take seats around the rudimentary eating area he had set up in front of the shed. "They brought my sake, and lots of supplies for you and the gangster. Be sure you put everything away carefully, or the wildlife will help themselves while you are gone. I assume this means you will be off for several days beginning tomorrow."
"Hiko-san," Sano began, "My name is Sagara Sanosuke, not gangster. And we will be gone for the next few days so you can enjoy your sake in peace. We found nothing today, nor did we expect to. Perhaps tomorrow will be better. We all hope this search will be quick, but none of us really expects that, do we?"
"So, you and my baka deshi are both rude ingrates, eh? Well, I knew you had to have something in common. At least the Okashira knows how to treat a host. The sake is most welcome, Misao."
"It is the least we can do to repay your help to our clan, Hiko-sama."
"I'll leave you two lovebirds to your rest. Find those bandits and take care of them for me. I need that shed back."
"Lovebirds?" Sano and Misao said in one breath looking first at each other, and then at Hiko's receding cape.
"Geez, what is with that guy? He has to be the most arrogant, obnoxious son of a bitch on the face of the earth!"
"Well, duh. I told you, he's even more skilled than Himura, if you can believe it. And with his body type, his Hiten Mitsurugi moves haven't waned at all. I'll bet he doesn't have Himura's aversion to killing, either, although he did not kill anyone at the Aoiya during the fight there. It was mostly over by the time he got there – except for Fuji, of course."
"Yeah, well, he's the big jerk around here if you ask me. Let's eat and call it a night. I want us to get an early start tomorrow."
After dinner Misao and Sano again scrutinized the map. Misao pointed out a particular spot on the far side of the furthest grid to Sano. "Let's make our base camp here. We can store several day's worth of food hung in the trees and make a better search of this farthest area if we stay there for a week."
"Sounds okay to me, but wouldn't someplace more centralized make a better spot?"
"Normally, yes. But Hanya used to bring me up here to train and picnic. There's a good reason to make our camp there, Sano. I'll show you when we get there tomorrow night. You'll like it, I promise."
"Hard to believe there's anything that remote that would be worth finding, but we'll do it your way. This better be good, Misao, or I'm making you carry the supplies on the way back."
"I've spent lots of time on the road Sano, that's no threat to me. How about you?"
"Naw, I mostly run to where I'm going. I'd rather be with people than in the woods alone." Sano paused, then looked over at Misao who seemed lost in thought. "What were you doing in the woods, Misao?"
"Mostly, I was looking for Shinomori. I used to go off on every rumor I heard to see if I could find him. I would camp in the woods if I didn't have enough money for an Inn. Sometimes I would steal from bandits I met along the way. I figured they deserved to be robbed and I was just the one to do it since they always underestimated me. Himura convinced me that was wrong, damn him."
"Yeah, Kenshin knows how to wreck all your fun. He got me out of the fighter for hire business."
"Didn't he ever object to your gambling?"
"Hell no! Didn't you know I used to take him gambling with me?" When Misao shook her head indicating she had not known that, Sano continued. "He used to predict the dice for me. God it was great. He could call 'em perfectly with that Hiten Mitsurugi training of his, anticipating just which way the dice would fall. I made some money, but then he refused to go after that. What a shame. And a dreadful waste of good gambling talent."
"Humph! I bet that was the only time you ever won!"
"Nope. I used to win a lot." He glanced over to see if this surprised Misao. She was looking at him with a very suspicious look on her face. Her eyes were delving into his, trying to read him. He felt unnerved for a moment.
"I bet you kept on gambling until you lost it, right?"
"Maybe." Now her eyes were laughing at him as she shook her head. "You're right, that's why I don't gamble much anymore. It was just a way to pass the time in Tokyo."
Now he had surprised her. "You're kidding! I thought you were dedicated to it. That and free meals from the Akebeko."
Sano laughed out loud at that. "Tae was a treat. She always fed me, but did you know she kept a tab on me? I imagine if I settle in Tokyo I'll have to actually pay her off."
Now Misao's was blinking in disbelief. Had Sano just said he was going to pay his debts? She must be more tired than she thought.
"Come on, woman, let's get some sleep. You look like you could use it and we need to get an early start if we are going to get to your favorite spot tomorrow night." With that, he dragged her to her feet by the arm and steered her gently into the shed. Giving her arm a quick squeeze, he winked at her and said, "Just let me know if you get cold, Okashira, I'll be glad to keep you warm."
Misao just didn't know what to make of his late night remarks, so she laid out her futon and went to sleep. She was relieved that out here in the woods with Sano she had been too tired to dream. Her dreams since the spring had all been sad ones about losing Aoshi-sama. Here, she slept very peacefully. If she dreamed at all, she didn't remember them.
They got an early start and took as many supplies as they could carry. Misao's clan had provided them with the basics for outdoor travel and living, packaged as lightly as possible. They had a long walk and an uphill climb to the area she had chosen, with a lot of space to be searched along the way. They quickly traversed the forest they had searched yesterday, giving it a cursory second look as they passed. They didn't expect to find anything, and they didn't.
Once they left the forest, the terrain began to rise. There were still lots of trees, but they were in the foothills of the mountains and the going got rougher as the elevation rose. Their searching was more painstaking here. There were gullies and out-washes of old streams that could provide shelter to a small band of thieves, so each one had to be checked. And the area was well known for caves, so each potential entrance had to be explored. That meant they had to check behind even low growing bushes to be certain they didn't miss anything.
They double checked the map and decided to carefully search the remainder of the grid lying beyond the forest behind Hiko's, but to defer the remainder of the search along their path for the next day. That would get them to the campsite by nightfall.
They found and searched several secluded valleys lying between the ever rising foothills, but found no signs of inhabitation. Only a few caves were present in the upper reaches of the foothills, and these were empty, too. Only wildlife appeared to be in this grid.
As they reached the end of the grid, it was nearly sundown. They increased their pace and headed directly for the proposed campsite, Misao leading the way. She led them through trees, rock outcroppings, and craggy paths up the hills and into the night. Finally, they reached a small plateau with trees and the sounds of nearby falling water. They made their way past a small waterfall to a steaming pool just as the sun set.
"This is your surprise?"
"Yep." Misao looked extraordinarily pleased with herself. She put down her share of the supplies and looked around her at the pool and the familiar clearing.
"I have such fond memories of my Hanya in this place. It's wonderful to see it, but a little sad, too." She paused, her eyes mirroring the sadness she was feeling at the loss of Hanya, and more recently, Aoshi.
"He was a fine man, Misao."
Sano startled her. "You knew him?"
"I was there when it happened, at Kanryuu's."
"I didn't realize that, Sano. I knew Himura and Yahiko were there, so, of course, you would be there, too." She stopped. The sadness of that long ago loss was overcoming her warm feelings about the hot springs.
"Why don't we take turns? You take the first soak in this hot spring and I'll have some dinner, then you can eat and I'll warm up. Sound fair?"
"Sounds great, Sano. But you have to agree to give me my privacy. Go find yourself a spot in the woods while I enjoy this hot spring."
"Don't be an idiot. I'm not going anywhere. You think I'm leaving a pretty woman like you alone when bandits might be around and you're naked? Not likely. I'm staying right here. But I will respect your privacy. I promise I'll keep my back turned. That way we can keep each other company and I'll know you're safe."
"Idiot! I don't need you to keep me safe! I'm the Okashira of the Oniwabanshuu for crying out loud! Besides, how can I be sure you won't look?"
Sano was laughing pretty hard by this time. "You can't, woman. But I promise that unless you ask me to wash your back I'll keep mine turned until you come out. Deal? Of course, I want you to wash my back. And I'll let you look all you want. How's that?"
"Geez, I am cursed with jerks this year. Listen Sano, I am taking my kunai with me, and if I even suspect that you are feasting your eyes instead of your stomach I won't hesitate to put some new holes in your head. Not that you don't have enough already. Got it?"
Sano just kept laughing, but he held up his hands to indicate his agreement. Then he turned away walking over to his pack, settling in and getting out some food for dinner. He kept himself strictly facing away from her as he held up his food and called back to her, "See, it's just innocent me sitting here eating my dinner not paying any attention to you at all. Will this do?"
"Remember I just sharpened my kunai, Sano. Don't make me use them."
With that, Misao arranged her pack on the other side of the hot spring, as far away as she could get, and began to disrobe, watching Sano intently. After she had taken off the last of her clothes and unbraided her hair, she slid into the warm water and sighed. She rinsed off her face and ducked under to rinse off her hair.
"So how is it, woman? Warm enough for you? Want me to wash your back? The offer's still open."
"Keep your distance, perv. And it is heavenly. The warmth is so soothing I'm not even mad at you anymore." She relaxed into the spring and then called out to Sano. "So keep me company, Sano. Tell me about yourself, your travels, whatever."
"Well, let's see. I told you about Kenshin helping me gamble, but I didn't tell you about the party I threw at the dojo, did I?"
"No. I never heard about it from Kaoru or Yahiko, either."
"Well, you couldn't very well hear about it from Yahiko, since he was passed out from too much sake for nearly all of it. Kaoru shouldn't really drink either, now that I remember her performance, but Kenshin was the real surprise. He and I got into a drinking match, you know, one on one sake, a guy thing."
"Sounds like a stupid guy thing, to me."
"Whatever, anyway, both of us had a great deal of sake, neither of us wanted to let the other one win. At least that's what I thought. By the time I left, I thought Kenshin was sleeping it off against the wall. You know how he always used to sit with the sakabatou against his shoulder like the soldier he was."
"Yeah, he looked cute that way."
"Well, not when he's really drunk and passed out. At least that's what I thought. So I left the party and was off to go somewhere. And when I got there, who is there waiting for me, but Kenshin. All sober and ready to fight as usual. The guy can out drink anyone, I tell ya. If I didn't know better, I'd think that's why they called him the strongest."
"So where were you headed that Himura felt compelled to beat you there?"
"Oh, that's another story. But aren't you done yet? Time to share the warmth, woman. It's colder up here than down by Hiko's."
"OK. Keep your back turned and I'll be out in a minute."
Misao was feeling warm and very content. Tired and hungry, but content. She had just stepped out of the spring when she heard a rustle in the nearby bushes. She looked around with her eyes piercing the darkness, but didn't see anything. Just as she reached down for her uniform, she saw a large shadow dance across her pack in the moonlight and she gave a quick gasp. Sano was beside her in an instant, in front of her and looking off into the woods and around the bushes for signs of an intruder. Finding none, he turned around to face her.
"Yep, you sure have become a fine looking woman, Misao." He said with a sly smirk and a very direct smile, looking her directly in the eyes, eventually.
Misao shrieked as she grabbed her uniform and hugged it to her. She was about five shades redder by the time she had the presence of mind to squeak out, "Turn around, Sano! Let me get dressed!"
Sano chuckled but complied. "That's a pretty silly request considering I've already seen you. Hey, I know what will make you feel better. You can watch me undress then we'll be even. How's that?"
Misao smacked him on the back as she walked back around to the other side of the spring and made for the pack with the food.
"Don't be an idiot! Go ahead, the last thing I need is to see another naked man. I still haven't recovered from seeing Kamatari." Then Misao gasped, realizing what she'd said, and turned even redder.
Sano turned around and began to undress. "Well, I guess I know what story you can tell me while I'm soaking. By the way, have I mentioned that I've decided this campsite was worth the walk? The spring is nice, but the scenery is better than I expected."
He sank into the spring just as her kunai whizzed over his head.
"I'm not helping you find those in the morning, Misao. Now come over here and tell me all about your adventures with the naked Juppon Gatana."
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, Akal-Saris, tenshineko,K-chan, Noa, and Misanagi.