Disclaimer: RK, not mine. U2 lyrics, not mine.
A Sort Of Homecoming
Love rescue me
Come forth and speak to me
Raise me up and don't let me fall
No man is my enemy
My own hands imprison me
Love rescue me
Okon had that same smile plastered on her face all day long. She had to attend customers, prepare food, she even made some errands to the Shirobeko managed by Sae, but even if she kept herself busy she couldn't keep her mind on her job. She kept thinking about Mitsuko.
…….
"It's not practice time, Mitsuko." The sound of a sword cutting thru the air was her only answer. A soft sigh escaped Okon's lips asshe made her way across the dojo, "would you like to talk about it?"
"…"
"Or maybe just some company?" Okon's voice was soft and gentle.
Mitsuko for the first time lowered her sword and acknowledged Okon's presence with a nod. Okon knew enough of her to just slip to one of the dojo's corners and keep quiet. If she wanted to talk she would do that later.
Mitsuko once again lifted her sword and kept going on her katas. Fat sweatdrops rolled down her cheeks and neck, a few strands of her hair didn't quite fit in her braid and her bangs were matted to her face, which kept an expression of concentration.
After a while of her silent and practiced movements she lowered her sword again. She took the few steps towards Okon and accepted the drying cloth she offered.
"You know…" she finally spoke, patting dry her face. "That sword is too heavy for me to make my movement of fluidity…"
Okon kept silent.
"…Maybe I should get a smaller one, like a kodashi, or…just smaller"
"Maybe you should." Okon finally spoke; she knew something was definitely happening with her.
"I'll ask Grandfather to tell his sword smith to make on my size."
"I'm not really sure about you asking him or if he will agree to that but you should know him better than I do."
"Yes, I know what you mean. You're right I shouldn't ask him. He would say that it's just another weakness only to be found in me. And keep on babbling on that I should be strong enough to handle THIS sword." Mitsuko answered, her voice full of that sarcastic tone Okon had learned to discern.
"And what else would your grandfather say?" Okon asked looking at her profile, she knew enough of her to know something more concrete was happening to her than just a little sword inconveniencing her.
Mitsuko turned to face her, surprised to see Okon had managed to read her between the lines… once again. She brought her eyes to the sword laying on her lap, "he would also say that making a new sword for me would be a waste, since I won't be needing further training… or at least not priority training."
"Hn."
Mitsuko got up and gave the sword to Okon, which she unsheathed slightly and took a glimpse of the blade. Okon resheathed it.
"I'm not his successor, I will not become Okashira." Mitsuko said in one breath, so softly her voice was barely heard over the sound of the sword being put away.
Okon just as slowly looked up at the younger girl, somehow she had pictured her as their leader in the future, despite her being a woman. In this Land of the Gods, ruled by men, conquered by men… destroyed by men… I really thought she would become our leader…
Okon didn't say a word, didn't know what to say.
"In some way, it's the right way to go. Name some other MAN to be the future leader, but… you know… I'm rightfully his heir." Mitsuko said with her eyes focusing on the very interesting tatami.
"Do you know who will be appointed?" Okon finally managed to say.
"I… don't know…" she sat once again crossed legs on the floor next to her friend and stared into nothingness, thinking of all possible leaders within the ninja group, any possible candidates to fill her grandfather's shoes.
There are no more Makimachis on his line to follow, if he says he doesn't want me… then… Okina is far too old… well, maybe not so, but a new Okashira would rather be younger than the one actually leading us. Hannya maybe, he has the right age to be Okashira, but there are better prospects within skills and techniques, besides I don't see him leading a ninja army. There is Grandfather's good friend, Kitabashi-san but he's been his friend since forever and his right hand… he's the best of all choices, but I wonder how it most feel to lose your reign to your one rival, even if it is just a friendly type of rivalry, or so they say. I'm sure he would be a great leader but the rivalry between Grandfather and him would make Grandfather think it twice before leaving him as successor. He's a bit old, but not as Grandfather, able to carry on longer than him, if it is his karma. Dammit, I feel so left out, and the worse part of it, I'm left out within reason.
"Do you think our Okashira would leave the group to Kitabashi-san? He seems the most suited for it, but his bloodline would blur into nonexistence…"
"I won't let that happen. But if you ask me, I would do the work very well. I've been training under my granfather's command all my life, he's my sensei, I've mastered HIS sword style like no other person here. I've followed his ideals, will always follow them, and I've kept bushido in my heart since I have use of conscience."
"But you know you have to obey no matter what he decides, right?"
"So you think he's right too, ne?"
"He must be, there is some reason why he is the Okashira. But what I'm really worried about is that you are still his heir, you keep his name and his line alive and so does Misao, so… if Kitabashi-san becomes Okashira, Makimachi-sama must have thought of someway to keep his family alive… so I would warn you again."
"What do you mean?"
"I ask you again Mitsuko, will you obey him no matter what he decides?"
Finally it dawned on Mitsuko, "you mean… that he would …"
"As any other liege lord would with his household, he would choose to whom you will marry." Okon cleared out for her.
"I guess… I must…"Mitsuko closed her eyes for a brief moment, "… but… never mind. The Okashira is the Okashira. We're in troubled times and… never mind"
Okon slowly got up leaving her friend to her musings.
"I know…" came Mitsukos voice. "I know that at this troubled times a man to take charge of the leadership is the best of options but I sincerely believe my grandfather isn't planning on leaving us any time soon, I'm sure I could be able to handle things after all this rebellion and unrest is over. We're the greatest group of fighters and spies there is, we protect that which is of most importance in Edo Castle. I've been training to become a leader; I know you have to obey before you can command, but if the sense that has been implanted on my brain is to argue… I would rather become… I would rather… not obey."
As much as Okon trusted the Okashira's judgment, she could see the solid reasons in Mitsuko's argument, but why was the Okashira appointing an heir at this time. "Mitsuko?"
"Hm?" her eyes were still closed, just as they were while she spoke, her face a bit gloomy.
"Why would the Okashira want a successor? I mean, why right now?"
"Bites me." She finally opened her eyes. Her smile some kind of bittersweet mixture. "I think he's trying to make everything official for the Aizu-sama"
"Oh. So it's Matsudaira-sama's request?"
"I really don't know. But what angers me so is that I'm not taken into consideration."
"OH FOR KAMI'S SAKE, MITSUKO. You're making a storm about nothing. If it were only for officials I wouldn't bother myself with all that. I think he's just doing it for the Aizu lord. HE wouldn't like a woman in as Okashira. Besides, I'm sure it would be long before another Okashira is needed."
The mode lightened up by degrees.
……
We were wrong. She was wrong and I was wrong. Everything the Okashira did, he did with a purpose.
"OKON, I'm talking to you." Okon was brought out of her reverie by Omasu's Voice.
"Ye… yes?"
"Okon, would you mind bringing some more sake and tofu, we seem to be running out."
She was out the door even before Omasu could finish.
"You know what's wrong with her? She's been walking like a zombie since she got here." Omasu turned to Misao.
"Yeah, I know what you mean. But it's not only her, Aoshi-sama's been weird too. You should've seen his face when he came from the temple. And you know, the last person he talked to was her before I saw him like that."
"Really? And what did she want to talk to you about earlier today?"
"At the temple?"
"Yes. You told me she was waiting for you there."
"I found it strange too. But what surprised me was her face when I got there, pretty much like Aoshi-sama's, you know? Something's going on and I have to find out."
"HEY!! YOU TWO!! I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR MY FOOD FOR HOURS! HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE? HUH??!!"
Many strangers have I met
On the road to my regret
Many lost who seek to find themselves in me
They ask me to reveal
The very thoughts they would conceal
Love rescue me
A/N: OK, I know how some people hate made up characters, but I just couldn't resist it.
Yes I'm warning you, a little late, I know, but Mitsuko will be an important character in this fic, and because of my lack of knowledge in some parts of RK (OAVs mainly) I'll try not get all mixed up with the timelines and stuff or OOC.