Dreams I Dreamt Instead
By Fujifunmum
Chapter 15: Flight"He must love you very much to allow you the mark in such a place." Aoshi wondered if it was possible that he had misread Megumi. He'd made so many mistakes; maybe this was yet another error.
"There is no love in force." She steadily held his gaze again as she lowered her arm, once again hiding the tattoo. But before she had the opportunity to rearrange her sleeve to its former elegant drape, Aoshi was standing by her side. She looked up at him and continued, "The cost to me to place this detestable mark out of the view of my patients was high indeed."
Aoshi's face hardened to a stony frame for his explosive eyes. He extended his hand to her and brought her rather forcefully to her feet. Not again. This time he did know. This time he would not permit it.
"We're leaving. Now. Do you have a michiyuki? If not, get another haori and a shawl, we must obscure your identity and beauty as much as we can." He began to attempt to lead her away, but she resisted.
"And where will we go? There is no escape from the Yakuza. And my patients need me."
"There were no overnight patients at your clinic, those in need will have to look elsewhere for a short while. I will handle things here while you are safely hidden away in Tokyo."
"Would you have me bring the Yakuza down on Ken-san, Kaoru & Kenji? Never. My connection with the Kamiya dojo is well known."
"You, protecting Himura? Ridiculous. Even without his Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu there are few who could challenge him. "
"But without a sword…"
"There is a new sakabatou at his side. But he won't need it. You are not going to the Kamiya dojo, you are going to the Crane."
"And what, pray tell, is the Crane?"
Aoshi's lower lip curled at the flicker of déjà vu that statement brought him. "The Oniwabanshuu have expanded their Inns. They now have two in Kyoto, the Aoiya and the Gingko. Their newest addition is the Crane in Tokyo." He paused. "Perhaps Aizu will be next."
"Ah, you didn't see Misao and Sanosuke at the dojo."
"No, they are at the Crane. Apparently you will be going to see Sanosuke after all." Aoshi glanced at her clock. "No more delays, Megumi, we must leave now in order to be sure you are on the last train to Tokyo tonight."
Megumi nodded and ran to her bedroom to put on her longer, and more concealing three-quarter length Michiyuki. It was in very dark colors with little ornamentation. She kept her hair beneath it and it covered most of her kimono. She also grabbed a dark shawl that she wound loosely around her head and shoulders. Then she ran back to the main room, her eyes searching Aoshi's for more assurance.
"Can I really escape, Aoshi?"
"It is the only choice, if you wish to be free of him. I wish it, but it is your choice."
"Let's go." She preceded him out the front door and locked it and the gates behind them. Then she handed him her keys. "When he comes and everything is locked, he may assume I am busy in the clinic or at a patient's home and that will keep him from searching for me until tomorrow."
"And if he makes a different assumption?"
"Then we will be running from the Yakuza tonight." She turned toward the train station, but Aoshi took her arm and steered her in the opposite direction. She gave him a questioning glance, but did not argue.
"Does he have you watched?"
"I don't think so. He did at first, but now I believe he thinks I have no choice." She could not help but give him a smile. He had given her this choice. "What do you want to know about him?"
"Nothing. From you, nothing." Aoshi hurried them along through the streets for several blocks. Then, he abruptly turned her into a neighboring side street and put her in a dark doorway. "Stay here. Don't move. I'll be right back."
Aoshi disappeared before she could take another breath. She should know where she was; she should recognize this place, in her hometown. But she was frightened. She was dizzy with fear. Then she had to suppress a nervous laugh. It was actually quite ironic. The last time she had escaped from her captors it had been Aoshi that she ran from. Now it was Aoshi that she ran with. Or was it Aoshi she was running to? Events had taken over her life tonight. Events that she had little if any control over. Yet in her fear were the seeds of hope. Hope for a better future. Aoshi was rescuing her. She had fallen in love with the last man who rescued her, one of them anyway. If she was honest, maybe she had loved both of them. How did she feel about her new rescuer?
Aoshi returned after only a few minutes. With him was a man she didn't recognize. How could she not know someone who lived this close to her? Aoshi quickly explained the reason to her.
"This is Goro. He is Omitsu and will see you safely and secretly to the Crane in Tokyo."
Before Megumi could even begin to thank him, Aoshi was gone.
Kenshin, Kaoru, Kenji, Yahiko, Tsubame, Misao, Sanosuke, Makiko and the children were having dinner in the family dining room of the Crane. Sanosuke took the opportunity to sit next to Kenshin so the two old friends would have a real chance to catch up. They'd seen very little of each other since he'd returned to Tokyo. And the last time Kenshin and Kaoru had come to see him had turned into a very short visit.
"So what's with the sword, Kenshin? It looks good on you."
"Yeah, I like it, too. I got it from Shishou. He gave it to me after you and Misao left for the village."
"Geez, that guy is such a jerk. How did you put up with him for all those years? He started off calling me "gangster" until I told him to call me Sagara. Somehow he managed to make my name sound just like yours – 'baka deshi'."
Kenshin just laughed. "That's Shishou. He must like you if he treated you as lousy as he treats me. Jerk isn't the right name for him. How about arrogant jerk?"
"Yeah, that fits him. So why'd he give you the new sakabatou?"
"He said any Hiten Mitsurugi master needed a sword, even me. Of course, he also reminded me that I didn't return the last sword he gave me."
"So what'd you do with that sword?"
"Left it on the battlefield at Toba Fushimi.."
"So the famous sword of the Hitokiri Battousai belonged to Hiko Seijuurou. That's pretty funny, considering you left without his permission to fight in the Bakumatsu."
"Yeah. It is." The two friends made eye contact and then burst out laughing.
"He probably knows." Kenshin said with a sigh.
"Yeah, I should've looked for it while I was there. The sneaky arrogant jerk probably got it back after you abandoned it."
"Maybe. Shishou does like to keep his secrets. Even from me," again he laughed and added, "Especially from me!" Kenshin's eyes fell on Kaoru. She was happily chatting with Makiko, and keeping vigilant watch over Kenji, the youngest of the wild children treating the dinning room as their playground. He was trying to ride Misao like a pony at the moment. "Misao seems happy. You are no longer angry with her for going to see Saitou?"
"Naw. She meant well and it turned out OK. She solved my problem, didn't make a deal with the Ishin Shishi or Saitou, so I guess it wasn't so bad. She had her reasons."
"Oro?"
Sano flashed his friend a quick smirk. "Hey! If it makes her happy to keep me around, who am I to argue?"
"Who indeed, Sano, who indeed." Kenshin merely smiled knowingly at him. "You seem happy, too. Will you become Oniwabanshuu?"
"Don't know. Haven't given it much thought. The last group I joined didn't do so well, you know."
"On the contrary, Sano," Kenshin's tone turned very serious now, "the last group you joined saved my Kaoru from Enishi. It turned out very well indeed, that it did."
Sano raised an eyebrow at this last comment, but did not respond. He really had not considered joining the Oniwabanshuu. Misao had never mentioned it, but it was clear to him now that he did think about it that she would never leave her ninja clan. If his relationship with Misao were to continue, he would need to decide whether he wanted to commit to one or both of them. It surprised him to realize that he already felt committed to Misao. What about the Oniwabanshuu?
Sano was thinking about this issue when he noticed Akoto in the doorway. Akoto was stuck minding the entryway of the Inn and overseeing the guests and staff. But if he felt left out of the boisterous family gathering he didn't show it. He had come to make sure the noise and mayhem that leaked into the stately front hall of the Crane was under control. Sanosuke gave him a quick hand signal to indicate that everything was fine. It wasn't long before he was back. Sanosuke examined his features more closely this time. He could see it wasn't that he was feeling left out. Akoto's eyes were filled with concern. He was concerned that his family might be disturbing the Okashira's peace. On his third trip to the dining room within an hour, Sanosuke finally met him at the doorway to reassure him and to make sure their laughter wasn't disturbing the guests.
He drew Akoto in where he could more closely observe the actions of his Okashira. At the moment, she was down on all fours chasing Kenji and Akoto's kids around the room.
"As you can see, the Okashira is a very special woman."
"Good thing she likes kids, eh?"
"Huh?"
"Since you and the Okashira have been getting in extra practice, it won't be too long before you have some of your own, eh? Omitsu women, Sagara, you and I are the luckiest men in Tokyo," he said, slapping Sanosuke on the back. When Sanosuke gave him a questioning look, he continued, "Omitsu women know the dangers we face and understand us, they make sure we have a damn good reason to come back, alive." He gave Sano a knowing grin, oblivious to Sano's confusion, "I'm glad you were approved, Sagara, the Okashira seems happy."
"Approved? Are you saying that other Oniwabanshuu members know about our, um, you know, um…?"
"You're joking, right?" He laughed. "A clan of spy ninjas? They may keep everything from the outside world, but within the clan there are no secrets."
"Damn. Everyone?"
"Well, maybe not Ebisu in Hokkaido. His pigeon probably won't arrive until tomorrow. I'll take a guess at the message:
"No tears in her bed
Just blood and laughter at last
She is Sagara's"
"They fucking communicate in fucking Haiku?" Sanosuke was incredulous.
"Heh. Don't you mean they communicate about fucking in fucking Haiku?" Again, he slapped Sano on the back for emphasis. "It's short and practical for the birders. They're very proud of their verses. And they're also very competitive."
Sanosuke shook his head. It was a bit overwhelming to think that the entire clan knew about him and Misao and was spreading the news in poetry. He still didn't know everything about the Oniwabanshuu. "How do you know they approve?"
Again, Akoto laughed and turned back to return to his duties at the front of the Inn. "You're alive, aren't you?" He gave him a last conspiratorial wink and was gone.
By the time he returned to the table, Akoto's kids had adopted Kenji as their own favorite pet and the kids were chasing each other around the room. They were behaving too wildly for an indoor dinner, but they were not destructive, just entertaining. The adults took the course of least resistance and agreed that since the children were clearly finished eating, they might as well adjourn to the outdoors. Misao got up, arching and stretching her aching back. The little tykes had been climbing all over her.
They all went into to the back garden that had many plantings the kids could use to hide behind and run around. Makiko and Kaoru kept a close eye on them, comparing motherly notes as they supervised the outdoor mayhem.
Misao and Tsubame collapsed exhausted on the back porch. They had been "playing" with the children to keep them occupied during dinner. A more accurate description would have been that the children had used Misao and Tsubame as entertainment until they were too exhausted to be interesting. Yahiko came to Tsubame's rescue immediately, taking her back to the Akebeko where she could get some rest.
Sanosuke just laughed at Misao. She leaned against the porch and watched as the kids made their next run by her in an effort to catch each other. Every time, a different child was in the lead. If their game had rules, she couldn't figure them out. She leaned her head against the porch and Sano took pity on her and went over to sit next to her. He'd spent the dinner chatting with Kenshin, and he knew they would be taking their little wild one home soon.
"Defeated already, woman?"
"Not defeated. OK, maybe a little defeated, but mostly just tired. I haven't been able to practice my kunai and ninja forms since we came to Tokyo. I must be out of shape."
"Well, save a little energy for later, Missy," he said for her ears only, giving her a smirk and a wink. "Did you know we're the talk of the clan?"
"Figures. The birders use clan gossip when they trade pigeons to keep the lines of communication open." She was pensive a moment, then laughed and said, "Hah! I'll bet they had a hard time keeping their haiku fit to read on this one. I already asked Jiya what they said, but he wouldn't tell me, so I'll just have to find out on my own. Want to hear it when I finally get my hands on their grubby poetry about our sex life?" Misao's eyes were dancing with mirth. After the long time when there had been nothing to joke about in the clan, the revitalization, the new members, and now her love life were reminders of the importance of the communication lines to their clan and the bright future ahead of them.
Kenshin came over to the porch to join them. The three old friends watched the kids run by again. Misao and Sanosuke looked at each other and reached an unspoken agreement.
"Hey Himura, You know what that reminds me of? Kaoru and Yahiko at the dojo."
"And you, too, Missy. Seems to me the two of you used to go after each other, too." Sano chimed in.
"What! Well, maybe so, but you weren't exactly an innocent bystander either."
"Yeah, the brat used to chew on my head."
Just then Akoto and Makiko's kids, being chased by Kenji, blew by again. He might have been smaller than the older two kids, but he was faster by far.
"And now there's a new brat at the dojo." Sano and Misao said at exactly the same time and began to giggle.
"Oro! That's my son you're speaking of here. I wouldn't let my Karou hear you call him a brat, that I wouldn't." And the three laughed a little harder, until Karou's motherly radar kicked in from across the yard. Kenshin blanched as his wife's eyes narrowed and she excused herself from Makiko to head purposefully in his direction.
"Don't worry Kenshin, we'll cover for you."
"Oro. Now I'm worried."
"Hey, what are you three laughing about over here? It sounded suspicious all the way across the yard."
"We were just talking about Hiko, Jo-chan. You know Hiko is always good for a laugh, usually at Kenshin's expense. But your spoiled Kenji just blew by here looking to do bodily harm to those lesser mortals who were not totally spoiled by Makiko. You'd better keep him from pissing off the kids he should be playing with every day."
Kenshin cast a wide-eyed glance over at Sanosuke. He'd just done it again. He'd just stated a very obvious way to help them with Kenji, and it hadn't even occurred to either of his parents that a little more contact with kids his own age might be good for him. Kenshin gave a quick nod to Kaoru and she was off like a shot to gather up the little angel.
She parked him on Sanosuke's lap, "Here Kenji, it's time you got to know your Uncle Sano better. He seems to know you pretty well already. I'm going to say goodbye to Makiko and see if she and the kids want to come visit us tomorrow for lunch. Isn't that a good idea Kenji?"
Kenji was still startled from landing in Sanosuke's lap. The large man barely held on to him, and didn't seem at all excited to see him. Misao was always happy to see him and almost as much fun as his Mom was. He looked up and saw his mother waiting for a reply, a glance told him his dad was looking at Sano, not paying attention to him. "Yes, Mommy," he said, like the angel he always played for his Mom.
"So Kenji, playing with those other kids was fun, wasn't it? And you were faster than they were even though you're the youngest. Like I told you, you really take after your dad." Kenji didn't look too thrilled by Sano's remarks but sat quietly on the big man's lap and thought that over. He was tired from running around with his new friends, and it had been fun.
Karou was back in just a few minutes, and retrieved Kenji from Sano. "I'm taking my tired little man home." Kenshin got up off the porch to join her, but Karou held up her hand to stop him. "No Kenshin, you stay and visit with Sanosuke. It's been too long since you guys have had a chance to talk."
"Sano, I will see Kaoru and Kenji home and then return, that I will. Is that OK with you, Misao?"
"Sure. I've got Okashira business I need to attend to," she gave Sano a quick wink, "come back and keep Sano out of trouble. It's cheaper than a baby-sitter."
"Hey, woman, you're the one who needs watching between the two of us. And don't forget it!" But Misao had already gotten up and was headed back inside the Crane. "See you soon, Kenji, Kaoru," she called behind her as she left.
Kenshin left to walk Kaoru and Kenji back to the dojo and Makiko took the kids back in the Inn to get them ready for bed. Sanosuke asked her to see if Akoto needed his help for anything. If not, he'd be out here in the back yard enjoying the warm late spring evening.
Kenshin returned a short while later to find his best friend sitting in the same spot where he had left him. He joined him and the two friends sat silently together for a while.
Sanosuke broke the silence as the moon rose to shed a little light on them. "I hadn't even considered joining the Oniwabanshuu until you asked me about it this evening, Kenshin."
"I hadn't considered that Kenji might benefit from playing with other children until you suggested it, Sano."
"The Oniwabanshuu are writing haiku to each other about Misao and I."
"Yeah. I know." After a few more minutes of comfortable silence, he added, "Karou and I hope we're going to have another baby."
"Yeah. I know." After another pause, Sanosuke got up and said. "Damn. Life is good. Let's have some sake." He returned shortly with a small carafe and 2 small sake cups.
"It's not warm, do you care?"
"No."
The two friends were comfortable with their silence, but began to speak of many things. Fights of the past, former enemies, old friends, new friends, and finally family members held their attention. Then Sano spoke a bit of his travels and Kenshin spoke a bit of his life at the dojo the last few years. Finally they turned to the topic they most wanted to discuss, the topic they had avoided from their deep understanding of each other.
"So what do you want to do now Sano?"
"Yeah, that is the question, isn't it?" After another sip of his sake, Sano had a question for Kenshin. "So what do you want to do now, Kenshin, besides laundry, that is?"
"Yeah, that is the question, that it is." Both men sighed and sipped at their sake. Again, Kenshin broke the silence. "I can't go wandering again, nor do I feel the need to do that. I am happy with Kaoru and my family and life at the dojo. But there is more to do, I feel it."
"I understand. Part of me wants to make a life here with Misao. I feel very committed to her and I'm happy about that, too. But there is more for us to do, I feel it, too." More sighing and sipping ensued, observed only by the moon.
Goro treated Megumi's transport to Tokyo as the most important assignment he had ever been given by the Oniwabanshuu, even if Shinomori was no longer the Okashira. Shinomori had recruited him long ago, and he had stayed closely connected to his clan members in Tokyo and Kyoto for all the years he had been a member. His position in Aizu had always been one of stealth. Originally, when it had been a Shogunate stronghold, his main assignment had been reconnaissance. But the Boshin wars had brought that to the bloodiest of ends. It had been a miracle that he had even survived it. The Shinsengumi had died all around him in desperate duels that became battles to the death. As far as he knew, only he and Saitou Hajime had survived the bloodbath. Saitou had fled and reinvented himself as Fujita Gorou. He may have become a policeman for the Meiji, but Goro knew that stealth was his real calling, too.
It was inevitable that he would muse on the Boshin wars and the Bakumatsu tonight, as he guided the last surviving member of the Takani family to safety in Tokyo. The Takani healers were famous in Aizu, and while not aligned with the Shogunate, had died along with them in the Wars. They had treated the fallen of both sides without regard to politics and belief, dooming them to being targeted by both sides. Some died while treating Shinsengumi; some died treating Ishin Shishi. But all had died save Megumi.
Now Shinomori Aoshi, his former Okashira in the Bakumatsu, had called him into desperate service again. They spoke briefly as they returned to Megumi. Shinomori had sequestered her in a dark doorway near Goro's home. His questions as they ran to her side did not surprise him. It was his nature and his occupation to know about all of the seedier parts of Aizu. And he knew all of their despicable secrets. His connections with the Yakuza went back decades. Stealth required knowledge of crime and he had known everything about the local Yakuza since before the Bakumatsu. As soon as he heard that his responsibility was to protect Takani Megumi, he had anticipated Shinomori's every question.
Takani Megumi had returned to Aizu from Tokyo some years ago and been very well received and welcomed. She had become an accomplished healer during her stay in Tokyo and the community welcomed her with open arms. She established her clinic easily and the local residents were very happy with her services. All that had changed about a year ago, coincidental with the succession of a new head of the Yakuza. Kunisawa Umaro had taken the reigns from his father after his father had died a sudden and suspicious death. Although there were secret grumbles, it had been a smooth passage of power. The only casualty had been Takani Megumi, done in by her own kindness and beauty.
Kunisawa had been a rising star in the Yakuza when Megumi returned from Tokyo. His father had known her father before the Bakumatsu. No Takani ever refused medical treatment to anyone; it was anathema to them. The Takani's had treated the local Yakuza for years, and the elder Kunisawa had honored her father's treatment of his soldiers with his distance. She treated the Yakuza, as her father had before her, but she only knew them by their tattoos; to her they were like any other human being that came into her clinic.
That had changed immediately upon the younger Kunisawa taking control. To say he was smitten with Megumi was not strong enough. It was lust. It was control. It was obsession. She had felt it in her bones on the few occasions they had met since her return to Aizu. He had actually reminded her of Kanryuu. Not in appearance, but in the look in his eyes on those few occasions when she had seen him. She avoided him and kept to herself. She had not foreseen the unfortunate turn of events shortly after she had returned from Tokyo the previous spring.
Kunisawa came, not to the clinic, but to her house. She was alone, unprotected, and paid the price that women have always paid to men who insisted. It was he who installed the locks, he, who kept her in her own house, his virtual prisoner. He had subjected her to careful surveillance at first, knowing of her connections with Battousai in Tokyo. Her mail was screened, her visitors watched, her conversations overheard, and travel outside Aizu was totally out of the question.
Now all these months later, Kunisawa's scrutiny had lessened. He had chased away most of her friends, embarrassed her by his presence; and she had become an unwilling captive in her own town. The patients still came to her clinic, but always there was someone there, someone with a tattoo. It was only after all her patients were gone for the day and the ever present danger of a cry for help that might be heard or a carefully passed note that might be taken was gone, only then was she alone.
Shinomori heard Goro's tale of Megumi's woe and wondered. Why didn't she tell him about this immediately upon his arrival? His ruthless intellect easily gave him the answer. She believed he had known about her similar circumstances all those years ago and done nothing. What had he done in the intervening years to indicate to her that his answer might be different now? Nothing. And his inquiries tonight had all been regarding himself, Misao and Sanosuke. He had not even extended her the courtesy of a friendly inquiry into her health and happiness. Not even as an insincere greeting.
She might not have told him, even then. But at least he could have consoled himself that he had given her the opportunity. Perhaps the social graces he treated with such disdain had some use after all.
Berating himself over yet more missed opportunities was futile. She had told him, finally, after he had communicated care and concern for her. He could take comfort in that. And he would not rest until she was free again. She would be free and protected by him. He would see to it.
Carefully, he instructed Goro on the situation at the Crane. If she were not seen in Tokyo they would not find her and his clansmen and Misao would not be at risk. There was even a chance that Goro was talented enough to get her out of Aizu without being seen. But it would be difficult. Aoshi introduced her to Goro and disappeared.
Goro took her elbow, leading her away from the doorway where she waited and towards the train station in a most round about manner. He had already determined that if he could not get her on the train without being seen he would hire a carriage to take them farther south and they would catch a later train farther down the tracks where she would be just an unknown woman traveling with a protective man, probably her husband. That was a secondary plan, however, because they would be forced to catch the earliest train the following day and he had to assume the Yakuza would be looking for her by then.
It was not cold, but it was not a warmer night than usual either. Goro had arranged for someone else, someone she never saw to purchase the tickets. They avoided any source of light, including moonlight. They approached the station from the opposite side of the tracks, having crossed the tracks many blocks away in the unseen darkness. The train station was not very busy this late at night, which was both a blessing and a curse. There were not many people to see them, but they would stand out starkly alone on the platform when the train arrived.
Goro was not about to allow her to get on the train from the platform in any case. In low whispers, he made it clear to her that if her presence was noticed it could lead to certain death, not only for the two of them, but also for Shinomori. However skilled he might still be after years of neglecting his kodachi, there would be too many Yakuza with too many guns. Neither Goro nor Megumi even knew if Shinomori was armed. He might have abandoned his weapons along with his uniform and traditional clothes. Neither had seen him draw a weapon of any sort while wearing his western clothes. Of course, no Omitsu was ever really unarmed. He was certain to have at least a knife of some description. But would he have his kodachi? And if he did have them, after years of a life spent in solo meditation, would he still be a proficient practitioner?
If they were discovered at the station, it wouldn't matter. They would all be dead. If Goro was able to get her out without discovery, then they all had a better chance. Especially Aoshi. Kunisawa would come, and he might even have bodyguards, but they would not be expecting Shinomori.
Megumi did everything and anything that Goro asked of her without question or comment. She knew that to be overheard was also to be discovered. Finally, as they waited a short distance away from the tracks, in total darkness and alone in a sideyard that was only used during the harvest season, she chanced the one whispered question she could not restrain.
"Is Kunisawa a skilled fighter; a match for Aoshi?"
Author's Note: Thanks for Reading and Reviewing! Firuze Khanume, AutumnFire,Gochan, Midori Natari Himura, BladeRy, lizzie, MightyMightyMunson, Darkhorse, Conspirator, Eternitys End, Shadowfox, kongykun,Cherie Dee, K-chan, sarah, scorpion05, JadeGoddess, Akin Sijin and rizu.