Watsuki owns them
I just borrow for a while
No harm intended
Dreams I Dreamt Instead
By Fujifunmum Chapter 8: Back to Kyoto?
By the time they reached Tohaku's cabin, Misao was so sound asleep that Sano hated to wake her. He deposited her on the futon Ichino had set out for her, raised her foot and left her to get some sleep. She was going to need it to make the long trek back to Hiko's tomorrow. And they needed to get a very early start to make this whole elaborate plan work. Sano made sure Misao was comfortable and went to speak with Ichino.
Ichino was only too happy to send messages to Okina for Sano and Misao. She was ecstatic at the thought that her daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren would be able to live in peace in Kyoto with the Oniwabanshuu. She was worried about Tohaku, but knew that Makiko would take very good care of her father. Hopefully Ishiji's blow to the head had not been too serious. She wanted to go to her husband, but knew her efforts were better spent here, seeing to the Okashira, Sagara and contacting the Aoiya. She left Sano to eat the meal she had prepared and ready for their return and went off to send the carrier pigeons off to carry their most important message.
The birds were restless tonight. They were used to Tohaku's gentle care, but familiar enough with Ochino that she knew they would respond. She took the messages that Sano had written for Okina and sent off two birds, this message was too urgent to risk it not getting through to Kyoto for any reason. Okina needed to send Kuro and Shiro off at first light or they would have a hard time finding Tohaku by nightfall. Hopefully he would be well enough with a full days rest to travel with them to Kyoto the following day.
Makiko and the children would already be at the Aoiya. Ichino smiled broadly at this thought. She didn't like the idea of the women and children traveling alone to Kyoto, but after what they had suffered during the last year, they would be much safer on the road then waiting. The sooner they were at the Aoiya, the better Ichino would feel. She had already decided to entreat Tohaku to move them back to Kyoto, too, as soon as this mess with Ishiji was behind them. She would be glad to adjust to the ways of the city if it meant spending time with her daughter and grandchildren. The Okashira seemed like a very sweet young girl; surely she would not deny Tohaku an opportunity to rejoin the main group at Kyoto.
Makiko haltingly shared her thoughts with Sanosuke. She was very unused to unfamiliar male visitors, and was loathe to speak so forthrightly with him in the absence of her husband, but the unusual circumstances of his visit compelled her to speak. They must leave as soon as it was light, perhaps before, and she might not have an opportunity to speak with the Okashira.
"The birds have flown toward Kyoto, Sagara-san. May I offer you more tea?" She refilled Sanosuke's plate and teacup as she made this offer, noting how greedily he had consumed the original portions she had given him. Tohaku and the Okashira were not eating, so she had plenty of extra food.
"Thank you, Ochino-san, this has been quite a day and I'm starving. When do you think the birds will reach Okina? This evening?"
She nodded as she placed some sake near the fire to warm. "Indeed, I believe the birds will deliver their news before midnight in Kyoto. Amon and Tohaku and the other remote Oniwabanshuu members keep in touch and rotate the birds to be certain that any message needed by the Okashira will be sent as quickly as possible." She hesitated, but continued haltingly, "May I speak openly with you of my concerns, Sagara-san? Will you do me the honor of sharing them with the Okashira? I am…concerned…that perhaps you must leave so quickly…."
"What is it? I am sure the Okashira would want to know if something was bothering you. And she would thank you for your hospitality if she were awake."
"Would it …..could you….when you reach Kyoto….could you please let us know that Makiko and the children are safe?" Her pleading eyes met Sanosuke's very uncertainly. He had done so much for her already, and yet she presumed to demand more.
"The Okashira will see to it. Don't worry. You're right; we must leave as early as possible. If it's OK with you, I'll get some sleep here now and could you wake us before dawn?"
"Our family cannot repay our debt to you, Sagara-san, please travel safely."
Bowing deeply, Ochino left Sano and cleared away the dinner debris, leaving him the sake. But Sano only had one small cup. He was exhausted, too, from the long day of travel, fighting, and excitement. He wanted to get to sleep as quickly as possible so he could get Misao down to Hiko's early. He would carry her if he had to. But he wanted her well enough to walk, well enough so that he could harass her. He smiled at the thought of her blushing under his words as he drifted off to sleep.
Sano awoke just before dawn. He went to awaken Misao and found her already up and checking her ankle.
"I think I can walk on it just fine, Sano. It's a little bit sore, but we need to get going as soon as we can, agreed?"
"Let me see it, Misao." Sano felt her ankle and tightened the wrappings a little since they had loosened during the night. "It feels OK. So let's get started as soon as you are ready. We have a lot to 'discuss' on the way to Hiko's."
"You mean you want to yell at me all day, baka. Well you can go ahead and yell all you want as long as you help me convince Hiko that this plan will work. And Himura, too."
Ichino had packed Sano and Misao a light pack of food for them to eat along the way, and they set out immediately.
As soon as the sun was full in the sky, they began to move more quickly. Sano insisted on carrying Misao over the scattered rough terrain in the higher altitudes, but they made very good time on their descent toward the villages below, stopping only once when they met up with Kuro and Shiro on the path. They gave them the map and a few choice words about the situation with Tohaku. Kuro and Shiro had left the Aoiya well before daybreak, being very familiar with the roads and paths up at least as far as Hiko's and generally familiar with the ones further away. They had met with the wives and children of the new Oniwabanshuu ninjas nearly to Hiko's – an indication that they had traveled difficult terrain well before daybreak.
They soon put the more challenging terrain behind them and Sanosuke began to interrogate Misao as they approached Hiko's.
"OK, Misao, get started on the explanations. First and foremost, why the hell did you go back to the bandits' cabins after we had reached the rim of the valley? Tohaku and I were frantic when we found you gone."
"Yeah, yeah, I know. It was stupid. At the time, I realized that I hadn't taken a count of the number of women and children in the camp and I thought I could sneak back, take a quick count and be back up to the rim before you missed me. Unfortunately, it took me a little longer than I thought it would. Looking back on it now, I realize it was a dumb move. So go ahead and yell at me for it."
"Well that's no fun. But you're right. It was stupid. Now let's get to the little matter of hand signals."
Misao cut him off. "Yeah, yeah, whatever. I'm the Okashira here Sagara, and I don't take orders from you." Misao huffed a little and scampered just ahead of him on the path.
Sano easily caught up with her by lengthening his stride to his regular steps and tugged on her obi to get her attention.
"Even you know that's a dumb argument. Hand signals are supposed to be used to communicate with each other, not for you to issue orders. And you know you should have stayed in that tree, ne?" He swept her up under one arm and kept their steady pace going. "Your ankle wouldn't be sore now if you'd been reasonable then."
"Put me down, Sano! I can walk just fine."
"True enough, but we're done walking for a while." And with that, Sano broke into a dead run, Misao still tucked neatly under his arm as he made his way back down to Hiko's. It was already mid-afternoon and they still had several miles to go before they would reach the cabin and kiln of the great swordsman. Misao rolled her eyes and crossed her arms across her chest.
"Now I really feel like a bunch of radishes. Is this really necessary, Sano?"
"Quiet woman. Just figure out how you're going to explain all this to Hiko." That snapped her into silence.
They came upon Hiko's cabin just in time to see the great man himself coming out of his door. Spotting them coming towards him, he stood arrogantly in front of the door, his cape flourishing around him. His ever-present scowl was there, but there was also a twinkle in his dark eyes that undercut the scolding impression he was trying to create.
"Back again, I see. And playing more games are you?"
Sano had set Misao down in front of Hiko, and stood beside her, breathing a little hard, but glad to have an excuse to let Misao do the talking with the over critical swordsman. Misao took a breath and began.
"Hiko-sama, we are glad to be back and hope you will be pleased to learn that we have found the bandits…"
Hiko held up his hand to stop her from continuing. "So you have found the bandits, have you? But you did not dispose of them, I see. Your naiveté is going too far, Okashira. You may very well live to regret your reticence, Misao." Turning to Sano, his scowl deepened as he continued, "I thought you would have done something about some of her naiveté by now, Sagara. Are you as slow as my baka deshi?" He rolled his eyes and exhaled the deep sigh of the superior master being extremely tolerant of his very slow students.
Turning back to Misao, he asked, "Two questions, Okashira. Have you stopped the robberies and murders? And will my sake be delivered on time?"
"Yes and yes," Misao responded.
"Then don't let me keep you. I have already placed your belongings in front of the shed. I told you I need the room for my pottery. The pottery of Niitsu Kakunoshin needs the appropriate space for drying and storage. I'm sure you are needed in Kyoto, Okashira. And someone, someplace else must need you, Gangster. Although I can't imagine who." With that, Hiko Seijirou, the 13th Master of the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu turned with another flourish of his cape and disappeared into his cabin.
"How does he DO that?" Sanosuke snapped, as he stomped off towards the shed to collect their meager belongings.
"I'd say 'Ask Kenshin', except you sound just like him when he says that." Misao was very amused by Sano's frustration around Hiko. Although she did wonder what all that stuff about her naiveté was about. She determined to ask Sano later; maybe he could figure it out.
They sat down in front of the shed to rest briefly while they packed up their gear. There wasn't much left, and it easily fit into Misao's original backpack, which Sano shouldered.
"Kuro and Shiro must have taken our other supplies with them early this morning. I hope they find that valley before nightfall, but I shouldn't worry, they both are familiar with this area and they have our map." She peeked into the shed. It was already filled with Hiko's pots in varying stages of completion. She closed the door and shook her head.
"Let's get going back to Kyoto. I don't think I can stand any more of Hiko's warm hospitality. Now this is exactly what we don't want to do with our customers at our new Inn in Kyoto. We want them to feel welcome and at home with us."
"Then don't bother asking Hiko for help with your new business Misao. That guy should be a hermit. Who can stand to be around him? Let's get out of here."
"Right. If we make good time, we can make it back to the Aoiya before nightfall."
Sano and Misao started down the path back to Kyoto immediately. The sun was still high enough to give them hope that if they hurried they could be back before dark. Even with the bandits under control, they wished to arrive back at the Aoiya before dark if possible.
Sano and Misao were not the only ones rushing towards the Kyoto. A dark figure in black began to track their movements as they hurried along. Wisps of gray escaped from his hooded figured as he moved silently in the trees behind them.
Misao's thoughts turned towards home and her new business ventures. She and Sano began discussing the various protection and security strategies of travelers in Kyoto, just as they had when they traveled this path going to Hiko's all those weeks ago.
"I know you are anxious to go to Tokyo, but I hope you will stay in Kyoto for a few days Sano and talk over some of your security suggestions with us. We want to set up security and protection services for our current clientele at the Aoiya, and have those services ready to offer at the new Inn, too. Especially now that we have more clan members to draw on. We will be able to put our new experienced members to work right away."
"You're a sneaky little Okashira, aren't you?" Sano smirked at Misao, glad that their comfortable repartee had returned now that the danger from the bandits was behind them. "I'll stay for a little while, just to help you out. I can see that you just can't get along without me Misao. How did you manage while I was traveling all over the world? Oh, wait, I remember, you and the Oniwabanshuu just sat around in Kyoto waiting for me to return. See, I knew you couldn't get along without me."
Misao was gradually blushing under Sanosuke's mild teasing, and getting ready to smack him one for his arrogance, when her trained senses picked up a subtle movement behind them. Sanosuke sensed it, too. They both froze and turned to look behind them when a dark figure blasted towards them.
The large black clad figure seemed strangely familiar to Misao as time slowed in front of her. A figure in black was approaching and leaping with a ferocious kempo kick towards Sanosuke's head. She turned in time to see Sanosuke trying to step aside to dodge the oncoming attack. He managed to avoid the kempo strike, but Misao saw a glint in the black ninja's hands during the final approach that made her heart stop.
Still, time was moving at a snails pace as she vainly tried to scream a warning to Sano, stark fear in her wide blue eyes. It was to no avail. As Misao watched in horror, the black figure proceeded to execute an Ensatsu Goukoukon. The ninja was using a technique just like Okina's Ensatsu Goukoukon on Sanosuke. He had one modified tonfa and released it with all his strength just he realized that Sano was going to avoid his kempo attack. Unfortunately for Sano, the modification to the tonfa was fierce. It had a sharpened edge.
The tonfa slammed full force into the side of Sanosuke's head, the kempo leap of the ninja magnifying the force of the blow. A terrified scream finally loosed itself from Misao's throat as she felt time begin to flow quickly past her again.
Years of preparation and practice came into play as Misao whirled toward the attacker who had just sped past her. Her kunai at the ready, she executed a perfect Sankatsu Tobikunai. The hurled knifepoints of her kunai drove a deadly pattern in the black ninja's chest, and Misao was left the lone standing figure in the deadly quiet forest. Two bleeding men lay at her feet, one in familiar blue, and the other in the now familiar black.
Misao gasped as she realized the sudden course her life had taken. Her training was effective, but had not prepared her for the shock of realization that she had taken the life of another. Her glance darted between the two men at her feet as her mind struggled to catch up with her actions.
The blood surrounding Sanosuke's still figure commanded her attention. She knelt beside him and began calling to him, grasping at him and shaking his shoulders in a failed desperate attempt to wake him. He made no sound. She burst into tears as she saw the gash on the side of his head. Blood was coursing from the wound at an alarming rate as she tore furiously at the trim on her ninja top and the fabric of her obi. She pressed the ties of her obi to his head to apply pressure to stop the bleeding as she frantically used the strips of trim to try to form a wrap to hold the blood soaked ends of the obi in place.
It was frighteningly awkward work, and while it only took her a few moments, each second seemed to drag as the blood continued to spread over the cold hard ground beneath him. Finally she had the blood flow staunched with the tightly held fabric. She brought Sanosuke's head into her lap, pleading with him to awaken, urging him to cling to life, as her tears mingled with the blood on his unmoving features.
When Sanosuke groaned as he lay in her lap, Misao exhaled a deep sigh of relief. Her tears continued to wash over both of their cheeks as she leaned down to hold him closer and caress his face with her hands. All she could do was cry and call out his name repeatedly, willing him with every fiber of her being to awaken and open his eyes to her.
"Sano, please wake up, Sano, please be OK, Sano, can you hear me? Sano, don't leave me alone here!" She was becoming more hysterical as he did not answer, did not open his eyes, and no further sounds came from him. The longer he remained silent, the more fearful she became for his condition.
After long moments with her insistent urging, he moaned again. Misao leaned over further, hugging him to her and whispering encouragement in his ear, her tears warm on his neck. When he exhaled deeply, she sat back a little to look at him, willing his warm brown eyes to open and laugh at her again.
His eyelids, fluttered, and the look in his eyes as they opened was glazed and dazed.
"Are you OK, Misao? Did he hurt you?"
"No, no, I'm fine." Misao assured him between choking sobs as she held his head, his hands, and hugged him to her in relief.
"Stay still, Sano, he opened a dangerous gash on your head with his tonfa. I've bound it as well as I can here in the forest. Don't move around or you might loosen it."
"What about the other guy?"
For the first time, Misao looked at the body that lay just beyond where she and Sano sat. Her kunai buried deep in a still chest covered with blood.
"I'm pretty sure I killed him with my kunai. He hasn't moved since he landed there." She paused, looking at the still figure with dread. "I think it's time I retrieved my kunai and dealt with him. Stay still for a bit, then we'll try to get back to Kyoto."
Sano watched silently as she tentatively approached the body, checking for any signs of life. Finding none, she removed his mask and gasped in shock.
"It's Ishiji!"
"Damn! I told those guys to make sure he didn't escape. I hope no one else got hurt today."
"He won't hurt anyone else now." Misao removed her kunai, cleaning them with the mask. The she began to drag him off into the forest. Sano made a brief motion to try to help her, but she hollered at him to stop, and the dizziness he felt at the slightest movement made him stay where he was.
It took quite an effort for the slight Okashira to drag the dead ninja to his undignified silent resting place to the side of the footpath, but with the onset of winter, it was unlikely that anyone would ever find him once she covered him with fallen leaves.
Returning to Sano, she took the rest of the trim from her ninja top and added another layer to the ties on his head, assuring herself that the bleeding was stopped and the bandage would hold for the rest of their journey.
"Let's try to get you up, Sano." Misao carefully lifted Sano's head and shoulders into her lap. Sano's eyes glazed with the dizziness and blackness at the edges of his consciousness from even that movement.
"We need to get you up. You can lean on me and we can walk the rest of the way to Kyoto. It's not that far now. We have to do this Sano. We can't stay here any longer, it's getting cold, dark, and you need to stay awake."
She moved behind him and gently pushed him up into a seated position. He groaned and held his head in his hands. But Sano knew she was right. They had to get out of here and back to Kyoto. Then he could collapse. When she stood before him and held out her arms to help him stand, he pushed himself up and wavered on his feet before he felt her arms go around his waist. He threw one arm over her shoulders and tried to steady himself. It was hard to focus through the black and dizzy haze, so he stopped trying.
"Just don't let me fall, woman. I'm not sure I could get back up again. We'd better make this the quickest trip we can before I pass out on you."
"Hang on to me, Sano. I've got you and I won't let you fall."
Sano's hand fell on bare skin as he hugged her to him to help him balance and walk better. He managed to look down and saw that her entire midriff was bare where she had torn away the trim strips to bind him. Her obi was gone and her top was gaping open, giving him quite a view, if only his eyes were working better. Her shorts were already ripped and shredded on the bottom where she had torn off their trim to bind up Tohaku's wounds. Both of them had streaks of his blood everywhere.
"Woman, it's a good thing I'm nearly unconscious or you'd be in big trouble right now. We look worse than the street ruffians I used to fight. How far is it to Kyoto? Can we really make it?"
Misao saw the direction of his gaze and blushed. She tried to keep her ripped up kimono top closed as much as possible, but she was more concerned with making sure Sano stayed upright and stumbling on the path beside her. She was almost dragging him down around her as she urged them forward on the path. It was slow going, but they were making good progress. Sano was leaning on her heavily, but she kept on going, bolstered by the fear that if he fell or if they didn't make it back to Kyoto soon he might lose consciousness and never wake up again.
"I can see the lights of the city ahead, Sano. Stay with me just a bit longer. If we can't make it to the Aoiya we'll get help just as soon as we reach the city." She kept moving constantly as she spoke. "And watch your eyes, buster. I can't drag you along and keep worrying about my clothes, too."
After almost an hour of trudging through the twilight into the outskirts of Kyoto, Misao constantly talking to Sano to keep him awake, they came to the first commercial area. The Aoiya was on the other side of Kyoto and Misao was sure she would never make it there, when all of a sudden she saw a very familiar figure just in the road in front of them.
"Okina! Jiya!" She shouted, praying her hardest that her eyes were not playing tricks on her in the fading light. Okina had been headed towards an Inn on the road just up ahead.
"Misao! Sagara! What happened to you?" Okina rushed to her side and took Sano's other arm. They supported him more easily between them and Okina directed them towards the Inn up ahead.
"We just purchased this Inn, Misao. It's the Gingko. Okon is here too, and we have a crew helping to set things up. Let's get Sanosuke inside and take a look at his injuries. Whatever happened? The women and children are safely hidden in the Aoiya and we expected you there this evening."
"We were attacked on the way home. I patched Sano up as best I could, but I don't know if it was enough. He got hit on the side of the head with a sharp-edged tonfa. There was so much blood, and all I could do was bind him up with my obi. What more can we do for him Jiya?" Misao began to cry again. Now that help was here and more on the way, the stress of the afternoon and dragging Sano into Kyoto was upon her. As the tears coursed down her cheeks, Sano spoke to her.
"It's OK, Misao. You did good. I'm sure I'll be fine, you just have to let me sleep. Don't cry."
"No sleeping for you, Sagara!" Okina was firm with his injured friend as they dragged him to the entrance. "Sleeping is the absolute worst thing with a head injury. Once we get you inside we'll clean up the wound and call our local doctor. But I'll make sure there were no poisons on that tonfa. Only another ninja would use a tonfa. Misao, do you know what clan the attacker was from?"
"It was a Sanada ninja. One of the bandits we captured escaped and attacked us on the way back to Kyoto."
By now the three had reached the porch of the Gingko and Okon was coming out to help them. Together they hauled Sano into the nearest private sitting room and made him as comfortable as they could on a western style chair. Okon grabbed some clean linen to use for bandages and began to remove the blood-encrusted obi and shreds of Misao's uniform trim from Sanosuke's head. She was very careful not to re-open the wound.
Okina sent for the doctor and began to examine the wound and the bloody bandages for any signs of poison or broken pieces of the tonfa.
"You're fortunate that the renegade Sanada's did not use poison, Sagara. There would have been no antidote if they had. It was the northern group that took the knowledge of the herbs and poisons with them. If this Sanada had had access to the secrets of his clan, you would already be dead."
"Instead, I just feel like I'm dead. All I really want to do is sleep, so would you guys just let me lie down for a while."
"Nothing doing, Sano. I didn't spend all my energy getting you here just to let you lay down and die. Sit up and stay awake. Maybe I should have Okon poke you while she's cleaning your wound, that should keep you awake!"
"You're a cruel woman, Misao. … Won't even let an injured man rest." Sano's speech was a little too choppy to pull off his usual good-natured banter.
Okina showed the doctor into the sitting room and Misao took a moment to sit down while he examined Sanosuke. Okina approached her and put his arm around her shaking shoulders.
"You're so tired you are shaking. Why don't you go rest? Okon and I will take good care of Sagara."
"No! I promised Himura and I will see this through. I can't leave him while he is still so badly injured."
"Then at least put this on. You're looking very injured yourself with your uniform in shreds, covered with blood. I'll have someone bring you more clothes later." Okina handed her a haori and Misao was glad to put the loose jacket over her brief kimono top, tying it to secure her modesty. Okina sent one of their hired crew to the Aoiya to bring back clothes for Misao.
"Please have them bring clothes for Sano, too. I think we should stay here until he recovers. I can help you guys with the Inn when he's resting, and keep an eye on him when he's awake."
The doctor came over to speak to Okina and the Okashira. "His injury is bad enough, but there's no telling if it is serious just yet. And he's lost a lot of blood. Keep him awake for another 10 hours. Then let him sleep and hope for the best. Change the dressings on the wound to keep the area clean, and don't let him drink any sake until he is recovered. Talk to him and keep him talking. If we are very lucky, the wound is superficial and will heal quickly. He can have tea and water and he can eat if he wishes after the 10 hours are up."
Misao turned to Okina, "I'll stay with him. Where is the best place for us to go?"
"Stay here. We'll bring you tea and supplies and check on you. We can stay with Sagara from time to time to give you a break. Don't you want to bathe and change?"
"Yes, that's a good idea. Let's clean up Sano, too. Help me take him to the bath house."
Sano was a bit surprised to be rousted by Okina and Misao to go to the bathhouse. But he was very disoriented and just kept asking them to let him sleep. Misao helped Okina remove some of Sano's clothes, and then went off to the women's bathhouse to get rid of her own blood soaked clothing. She hurried through her cleansing ritual, wanting to get back to Sano as soon as she could. The last thing he could stand was a soak – it would put him right to sleep. By the time she was finished, a fresh yukata was waiting for her.
She met Okina back at the sitting room, helping him get Sano comfortable for a while. He was still disoriented, but at least he wasn't covered with his own blood anymore. She gave Okina a quick hug, thanking him for his help. At least now he looked better, more like himself. His glazed eyes were disconcerting, she was so used to the deep brown pools of light that greeted her with his smirking laughter. But she was so relieved that he was awake and safe, that she welcomed the task of making sure he didn't sleep for now.
Misao made sure she and Sano had fresh tea, and then Okina went back to helping Okon direct the workers in the final preparations for the opening. It was scheduled for the following day, and Misao did not want her clan to delay their plans. The activity around the Inn would help to keep both of them awake.
"Sano, you've got to stay awake. I'll keep you company and talk to you, but you've got to try to talk to me, too. What should I talk about – you know I can ramble forever…"
"Geez Misao, is that you? You look cute in a yukata. Yeah, no one's ever accused you of being too quiet. I don't know….I'm pretty out of it…talk about whatever you want….tell me about your family, the Oniwabanshuu, …hell, tell me how you got that weasel-girl nickname…"
"Yeah, you look cute in a yukata, too. You would ask me about that lousy name. I can't tell you how glad I am you haven't been calling me Weasel-girl since you got back. Only Yahiko still calls me that now. I really hate it. And besides, your very favorite person named me that….Guess who!"
"Megumi? That doesn't seem her style…"
"Megumi! Sheesh, Sano. I was talking about Saitou, everyone's favorite Shinsengumi wolf policeman. And is Megumi really your favorite person?" Sano was too dazed to see the crestfallen look on Misao's face. And Misao was already regretting asking him as she mused silently about why the sudden mention of Megumi's name had her feeling so forlorn.
"Naw, the fox lady left Tokyo without looking back. I was just trying to think of who might have been mean enough to name you that. Megumi's got a mean streak in her, look at the way she tortured Kaoru over 'Ken-san'. It drove Kaoru crazy."
"It was Saitou, the jerk. The first time I met him, before Himura and I made it back to Kyoto that first time, walking the Meiji Toukai Way. It was after Himura and I had met. We found two brothers in the forest, one dying to protect the other, Eiji. It led to our first meeting with Shishio, Yumi, and Seta. It eventually led to the principal forge sakabatou. Did Himura ever tell you about it?"
"Only a little, you know Kenshin. He's not much for talking about himself. Tell me about it." Sano was seated and comfortable, but holding his head as if in pain and clearly having a hard time focusing on her and staying wake.
"This is a great story Sano, so please try to stay awake. I won't leave out a single detail!" Misao pleaded with Sano for his attention, as she took hold of one of his hands and began a very detailed, extensive and complete retelling of how she and Kenshin had found the village, Saitou, the hot springs, Shishio, and Himura's first battle with Seta, including the breaking of his sakabatou. She knew it was a good story on its own, but also one that should hold Sano's attention better because he knew all of the participants. She ended the tale, at least two hours later, with the disturbing news of Saitou's marriage.
"You're joking. That wolf can't possibly be married. Who would marry him? And he has kids? And took Eiji to his own home to be with his own kids? That doesn't sound like the cruel bastard I know." Sanosuke noticed that while he was having a hard time remembering the details of what happened with Eiji and his family, the battle with Seta had struck a chord with him, and he felt like the fog had lifted a bit.
"Did Kenshin tell you about the second fight with Seta?"
"Just the basics, you know Himura. Tell me Sano! But give me a minute, I'll get us some fresh tea…"
It was another couple of hours before Sanosuke finished telling Misao the details of Kenshin's fight with Seta, which led into all the details of the fight with Shishio – except for when he'd been out cold. He carefully excluded Aoshi's battle with Kenshin before Seta, wanting to spare Misao. As he wound down the details with the walk back to the Aoiya that fateful evening, Misao paused only a few moments before asking him to tell her more.
"I know you're trying to make it easy on me, Sano, but please tell me about Himura's fights with Shinomori. Both of them. I think it's time I faced all of the facts about my clansman, don't you?"
Sano took a deep breath, finding his mind clearing with each passing hour. "Are you sure you want to hear this? It's not very flattering to the Oniwabanshuu."
"Please. I want to hear about it from someone who was there, and you are the only one to witness both of those fights. Maybe someday I'll ask Yahiko to give me his account, too. But for now, can you please tell me about all of my friends and Kanryuu?"
Sano took his time to explain how he and Kenshin had met Takani Megumi, and her involvement with Kanryuu and his employment of the Oniwabanshuu. He spared no detail of the fights between the Kenshingumi and Kanryuu's forces, even as he tried to focus on the self-sacrificing nature of the last battle of her childhood friends, especially Hanya.
Misao's eyes glazed with tears even as Sanosuke's cleared. Kaoru had given her the basic facts, but Kaoru had not been there. Aoshi had never spoken of that day, never let her share his pain or the sacrifice of her closest guardians. Her tears slid down in silence at the telling. At the end, she was grateful to Sanosuke for sharing it with her, giving her a gift of knowledge as only one who had been there could. She was glad that she had become friends with Himura. She wondered how differently Aoshi must view this tale of self-sacrifice to have made it the tragedy of his life. She was distressed by the Oniwabanshuu involvement with opium manufacture, yet even as she had that thought, she heard Hiko's voice in the back of her mind saying " naiveté".
Okina came to check on them one last time before retiring. It was long past midnight, but the preparations for the opening tomorrow were complete except for the room she and Sano had been using. Okon was preparing two rooms for them upstairs just over the porch. Misao smiled, she knew he had given them the rooms least likely to be requested by their new customers. Too much noise would drift in from the Kyoto street front.
She and Sano made their way slowly up the stairs. Misao was quite exhausted from the exertions of the day. It seemed like years since they had been at Hiko's, not hours. She spread the futon in her room and they settled there, with yet another fresh pot of tea. There were two more hours to go before she could safely allow Sano to sleep. Okina was off helping Okon prepare Sano's room, so they sat together on her futon, leaned against the wall, side by side. It was completely dark and soundless outside now, and very quiet upstairs at the Gingko. They had only one candle in the room, near the teapot and their steaming cups.
Misao saw that Sano was more aware now, but his eyes still looked pained and he held his head in his hands from time to time. She wanted to distract him for the rest of the time and keep the conversation going.
"Where were you before we went to Enishi's Island, Sano? By the time I got to Tokyo with Tomoe's journal, you were gone."
Sano looked over at Misao and knew she was only trying to make innocent conversation. She was searching for something to keep him awake and distracted from his pain. He couldn't remember ever telling any of his friends about his family. Maybe it was time he shared his past with someone. It was many years since he had even spoken the family name of Higashidani.
"I was very angry with Kenshin for giving up and going to Rakuminmura…"
"I understand, I saw him there, too. It made me mad, sad and heartbroken all at once."
"I had to get out of there. So I just started walking, and I found myself home, in the village where I lived until I was 10. "
"Tell me the whole thing, Sano. I don't know anything about your family, and I'd like to."
Sanosuke told Misao the entire tale. All about his father and his younger sister and brother. The family's spoiled daikon radish fields, the area's silk production and the treachery by Tani against the village. He understated his own resolution of the area's problems with Fudozawa and his gang of bandits. He did tell Misao about his final visit to Tani and his connection with the wanted posters which forced him to leave Tokyo shortly after Jinchuu. It was a long and diverting story, one which greatly interested Misao for several reasons. She wasn't exactly sure why she had such a great interest in Sanosuke's family, but she was very relieved to hear that he was on good terms with them. Perhaps he would tell her about the Sekihoutai someday.
Looking around the room, Misao thought how comfortable the room was, what good work her clan had done in refurbishing the Inn while she and Sano had been off chasing bandits. The Inn should do well. Her heart was full of pride in her clan, both the members she had lost so long ago, and the dear friends she lived with now who were her family.
They sat in comfortable silence for a few minutes, and then Sanosuke presumed on their new closeness. "Tell me about Aoshi, Misao."
Author's Note: Thanks for reading and reviewing to Midori Natari Himura, Misanagi, Gochan, lizzie, Firuze Khanume, Akin Sijin