This story is set in my own ALTERNATE REALITY Rurouni Kenshin universe which I've called "The Nightwitch Tales" -- think of it as Rurouni Kenshin mixed with various supernatural and paranormal elements. Other stories in this alternate reality are: "Night Visitor"; "All in the Family"; and "Romancing the Wolf".
It takes place after the end of the Kyoto story arc. After that, all bets are off. Elements of the Revenge story arc may show up in the story.
WARNING: This story is "semi-dark" -- it has dark elements
(violence, profanity, etc.) but it's not a darkfic! Actually, there's
quite a bit of romance in it.... ^_-
As always, C&C is greatly appreciated! ^_^
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THAT WHICH LINGERS: A Rurouni Kenshin Fanfic by MadamHydra
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Part 12: THE DOWNWARD SPIRAL
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Disclaimer
All rights and privileges to Rurouni Kenshin belong to Nobuhiro Watsuki,
Shuiesha, Sony Music Entertainment, and associated parties. The characters
of these series are used WITHOUT permission for the purpose of entertainment
only. This work of fiction is not meant for sale or profit. Original portion
of the fiction included here is considered to be the sole property and copyrighted
to the author.
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Text Conventions
( ) are character thoughts
/ / and // // represent various sorts of mental dialogue
* ----- * ----- * marks the start/end of dreams or flashbacks
[ ] denote visual or time notes
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[the present, 11th year of the Meiji period, late summer]
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"KAORU!!!" shouted Aoshi. His cry was echoed by Misao who stood frozen in a doorway.
Torn between pursuing Kaoru and tending to Aoshi, she ran first to his side. A quick glance told her that although he was in obvious pain, he didn't seem to have any new injuries. Biting her lip, she turned to pursue Kaoru. However, she nearly fell on her face as Aoshi hastily grabbed her bedrobe.
"No, Misao! You can't handle her, especially with a broken arm!"
Still trying to pull free, Misao protested, "But... but... Aoshi-sama! I can't just let her...."
Aoshi refused to relinquish his grip on her bedrobe, which was perilously close to coming off her shoulders. Shaking his head, he gasped urgently, "Misao, please! It's too dangerous for you."
His tense plead stopped her dead. She stopped struggling and sank down beside him.
"You said... 'please'...."
He shifted uncomfortably under her wondering gaze and refused to meet her eyes.
The sound of rapidly approaching footsteps eliminated any chance for Misao to pursue the topic further, but she swore to herself that she WOULD discuss it with him later.
Sano ran over to Kenshin's limp body and yelled, "What the hell happened!?"
Megumi peered into the wardroom and shouted, "Kaoru's gone!" Noticing Kenshin lying unconscious on the floor, she exclaimed, "Ken-san!" and dashed over to examine him.
"How is he?" Sano asked worriedly.
After a quick, but thorough examination, she said, "He has a cut and a lump on the back of his head. Scalp wounds tend to bleed a lot so they always look worse than they actually are. Other than that, I can't find anything else wrong."
"I don't believe it! How did someone manage to sneak in here, knock out Kenshin, and grab Kaoru!?" Yahiko stared around wildly.
"Don't ask me! I don't know!" Sano jumped to his feet and turned to run outside.
Misao hastily grabbed the fighter's sleeve and yanked hard in an effort to get his attention, but with Megumi, Yahiko, and Sano all talking at once, no one was paying any attention to her. Finally, she shrieked at the top of her lungs.
"HEY!!! LISTEN TO ME!!!"
Sano, Yahiko, and Megumi fell silent and stared at her. Misao took a deep breath and said, "You don't understand what's going on! There wasn't any mysterious intruder!"
"What? Girl, you're making absolutely NO sense!" Sano snapped.
It appeared that all the shouting had managed to rouse Kenshin. His quiet groan cut through the raised voices. As everyone watched him with concern, he slowly opened his eyes and tried to sit up.
"Take it easy, Kenshin. You took one hell of a whack on the head." Sano tried to get his friend to lie down again, but Kenshin resisted. Grimacing at the throbbing pain in his skull, he whispered, "What... happened? Where's Kaoru-dono?"
The ominous silence that followed was like a dagger in Kenshin's guts. He stared at all of them and repeated very evenly, "Where's Kaoru-dono?"
In a flat voice, Aoshi said, "Gone."
"Gone? Where?"
"I don't know."
"Who hit me?"
"It was Kaoru."
The exchange of short, emotionless words was making Yahiko's skin prickle. It was like the lull before a big thunderstorm.
"What?"
Kenshin's voice was frighteningly soft and even. However, Aoshi didn't let that rattle him. He slowly rose to his feet, helped by Misao. Straightening with some effort, Aoshi said quietly but firmly, "I didn't actually see what happened. I heard a thud, then the sound of someone falling on the floor. When I went to check, I saw you lying on the floor. Kaoru was standing over you holding THAT in her hand." He pointed at the small stone statue lying on the floor.
Yahiko picked up the chunk of rock and held it up for everyone to see. From the fresh blood and reddish hairs stuck to the stone, it seemed pretty obvious that it was the weapon used to knock Kenshin out cold.
"Then what happened?" It seemed impossible, but Kenshin's voice became even colder.
"Kaoru dropped the statue and picked up the sword."
"You're not telling me that she's been taken over by that damned cursed sword!" Sano groaned.
Aoshi nodded.
"I thought you two said you wrapped it up so no one could touch it!" Sano glared accusingly at the two ninja.
"We did!" Misao protested.
"It WAS securely wrapped, but...." Aoshi hesitated before continuing. "But when she picked it up, it almost seemed to... unwrap itself...."
Megumi gasped and turned pale.
Yahiko snapped, "I don't get it! How the hell could Kaoru get taken over by the sword if she wasn't touching or holding it when all this shit started!?"
"I don't know," said Aoshi.
Grasping at straws, Sano blurted out, "But you said yourself that you didn't see her actually hit Kenshin! Maybe she just happened to pick it up after someone else...."
Both Misao and Aoshi shook their heads.
"I'm quite certain that it was Kaoru's hand that struck Kenshin."
"How so?" said Kenshin in the same terse, flat voice. By now, his eyes -- normally a warm, dark violet -- looked like shards of pale purple ice and were just as cold.
Aoshi looked steadily at the others. "It was the look in her eyes."
Kenshin blinked suddenly.
With an emotionless voice, Aoshi added, "She was perfectly aware of what she was doing... and she was crying."
Sano, Yahiko, and Megumi stared speechlessly at Aoshi.
Misao fell to her knees in front of Kenshin, who was still sitting on the floor.
"She was WEEPING... I mean, the tears were just pouring down her face... and the guilt and pain in her eyes.... Himura... Kaoru KNEW what was going on... she KNEW what she had just done to you... but... but it was like she just couldn't stop herself!" The ninja girl hung her head, her lips quivering as she fought back the impulse to burst into tears.
Kenshin's eyes darkened as Misao's words seemed to shatter the frozen calm slowly encasing his heart and mind.
Aoshi gave Misao a quick, concerned look and said, "Kaoru picked up the sword, then left a message for you before she fled into the night."
Megumi hissed angrily, "Why didn't you try to stop her!?"
Misao jerked her head up, but Aoshi forestalled the angry retort hovering on the girl's lips. "I tried to, but somehow... she did something with the sword. The next thing I knew, I was on the floor barely conscious."
Sano thought, (Whatever happened, it must have hurt like hell to stop him in his tracks like that.) Even Aoshi's extraordinary self-control couldn't hide the traces of pain in his face.
"You said something about a message?" Kenshin said softly as he reached out to gently grasp Misao's shoulder.
Aoshi took a deep breath and said, "Yes. She said, 'It ends where it began. The Battousai and the Mibu's Wolf will both pay dearly for their sins against Minobe Junichi.'"
"And... and it wasn't Kaoru's voice at all! It sounded completely different! It was all gravely and hollow." Misao added, wiping at her nose.
"Oh hell... that sounds bad... really bad," Sano whispered in dismay.
Yahiko muttered, "What the hell does she mean by 'It ends where it began'? Where what began?"
"I don't know the 'what', but there's no question about the 'where'," murmured Kenshin, his head bowed and his hair obscuring his eyes.
"Huh?"
Still on his knees, Kenshin whispered, "Kyoto. The dreams, the flashbacks, the memories.... It all goes back to Kyoto."
He slowly got to his feet and headed for the open front door, but stopped suddenly. Kenshin stared down at the splotches of moisture dotting the wooden floor. Crouching down, he touched a droplet. Kenshin stared blankly at the liquid on his fingers, then delicately tasted it.
(Salty.... Of course.... Kaoru's tears....)
Sano marched up behind his friend and said, "Kenshin, why are we just standing around? We've got to go looking for her...."
Kenshin closed his eyes as he struggled to maintain his calm, then he shook his head slowly.
"No, Sano. It's too dangerous for any of you to go hunting her down, especially at night. And I suspect it would be totally futile."
Aoshi said, "If she displays half the skill that Misao had when she attacked me, recklessly pursuing her in the darkness would be foolhardy at best. I wasn't exaggerating when I said that the sword apparently bestows its user with uncanny physical abilities and sword skills. At the moment, the only person capable of facing a person possessed by that sword is Himura."
"But... if she hasn't been taken over completely, maybe she'll be able to hold back...," Megumi said.
Rising to his feet and staring out into the night, Kenshin said quietly, "Perhaps... but I'm not willing to risk anyone else's life on that chance."
Sano stomped back and forth. "So we're just going to sit here and do NOTHING!? There's got to be a way to find her!"
Aoshi said in a cool voice. "Do you have any idea where to look?"
The fighter opened his mouth, then shut it abruptly.
"Exactly. She could be nearly anywhere in the city by now."
Kenshin added quietly, "We don't know where she is at the moment, but I know where I'll eventually find her... waiting for me."
Yahiko muttered, "Kyoto."
"How do you know that!?" shouted Sano.
"That sword -- or whatever entity's responsible for causing all these events -- doesn't want to simply kill me. It had a perfect opportunity tonight, but didn't use it. This enemy wants a confrontation, but only in Kyoto. Kaoru's probably long gone from this area."
"So you think that she's already on her way there."
"Yes."
"Then shouldn't we follow her? What if she gets hurt? A hell of a lot could happen to her along the way to Kyoto."
"I'm ... well aware of that." Kenshin was totally still, unmoving.
Misao muttered, "Sano... how can we follow her if we don't even know how she's planning to get to Kyoto? Besides the Toukai Road, she could be taking any of a dozen different routes."
The fighter muttered, "We could ask if people have seen her...."
Aoshi said, "Do you have the time to spare for such a search, especially if she makes an effort to hide her presence?"
"We can't just sit here! We've got no idea what that sword's doing to her or what it's going to make her do, damn it! Kenshin...!" But Sano's voice faded as he saw the stark expression in Kenshin's face. The fighter thought, (He knows... he knows all too well what could happen to Kaoru... what could be happening to her at this very moment....)
Kenshin took a slow, shuddering breath. "Our only hope is that the sword has an interest in keeping Kaoru relatively unharmed and in 'good condition'."
"I hope you realize that you're talking about this goddamn sword like it's got a mind of its own!" Sano complained.
"I think that's fairly obvious by now." Aoshi said coolly, "Sagara, before yesterday, the sword's influence was mostly random. But as soon as it became 'aware' of Himura and Saitoh, all that changed. It's as if that recognition has somehow 'awakened' whatever dark spirit is inhabiting that weapon. That sword now has a definite purpose and goal."
Misao added, "Personally, I think Kaoru was anything BUT a random choice of victim. Somehow, it must know what Kaoru means to Himura. It's basically taken Kaoru as a hostage and bait. It wants a confrontation with Himura and Saitoh in Kyoto and it's going to do whatever it takes to make sure Kenshin gets there."
Kenshin nodded. "Sano, the form isn't important. Whatever its shape, that thing appears to be a sentient enemy -- capable of deliberate, calculated action -- and must be treated as such. I can only hope that the sword will want to keep its 'hostage' in... reasonably... good shape. If not...." Yahiko gulped audibly as Kenshin looked away.
Sano ran his hand through his hair, then sighed. In a reluctant voice, he said, "Kenshin, I hate to bring this up, but... how can you be sure? What if you're wrong about this mysterious enemy wanting to keep Kaoru as a 'hostage', so to speak? What if something happens to her and she doesn't make it to Kyoto?"
Megumi sputtered, "Sano!"
The fighter gave the doctor a pained, but determined look.
"No, Megumi-dono. Sano is quite right to ask those questions." Kenshin put his hand against the doorsill and leaned heavily. In a whisper, he said, "No, I don't know if I'm right. For all I know, Kaoru... Kaoru could be already lying dead in a ditch somewhere. But... but my instincts tell me that this black sword possessed Kaoru deliberately for a specific purpose and that purpose involves Kaoru being in Kyoto."
Kenshin turned to look at Sano and the anguish in his violet eyes was heartbreaking to behold. "Sano, I want to do something... ANYTHING, but there's very little that can be done at the moment. I have no idea where Kaoru is right now. I can't find her. I can't follow her. All I have is a meeting place and a grim promise."
Sano took a deep breath and heaved a great, exasperated sigh. "Okay. If we're not going to look for her, just WHAT are we going to do?"
"Meet Saitoh at the harbor at dawn and take the boat to Osaka."
"So... we hop on the boat to Osaka, then trot off to Kyoto. And what do we do when we get there? Sit on our hands while we wait for Kaoru to show up!?"
The red-haired swordsman shook his head sharply. "No. We gather as much information as we possibly can on that sword and that man Kaoru mentioned... anything which can give us a clue as to what's going on and what this... thing... wants from me."
"Do you know anything about this Minobe character?" Yahiko said.
"Not the specific person, but the family name is familiar. An old Kyoto family fallen on hard times even before the civil war started. I believe they were aligned with the government forces and had ties with the Shinsengumi," replied Kenshin.
"In that case, I can understand why someone might be after you, but why Saitoh? Weren't they on the same side?"
As Kenshin stared at the bloodstains on the floor, he murmured, "That doesn't mean anything. The Shinsengumi itself was rife with personal and factional rivalry. The Black Hat assassin, Uduo Jine was formerly a member of the Shinsengumi. His fellow squad members turned on him and tried to hunt him down."
Kenshin turned to Misao. "You need to warn Okina and the others about... what happened to Kaoru. Tell them to keep an eye out for her, but... to be careful and... not to approach her."
Misao nodded grimly and glanced at Aoshi. He gave her a sharp nod in return.
"Right, Himura. I'll also let Jiya know that we're coming." She reached out and clung briefly to Kenshin's hand. "We'll find her and set her free, no matter what it takes."
"Thank you, Misao."
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After Misao left, Megumi firmly took hold of Kenshin's arm.
"Let me tend to that scalp wound. You may need stitches."
"It's not...."
"Ken-san! I'm the doctor, you're the patient, so just sit down and stay still." She then glared at Aoshi. "And you need to go back to bed!"
Aoshi was too tired to even make a pretense of resisting. He was appallingly weak from blood loss from his battle with Misao. Even more unsettling, the wounds inflicted by the black sword continued to throb and ache, although only mildly. He barely made it back to bed before passing out.
As Megumi dabbed away the blood and tended to his head, Kenshin murmured, "I hope Kaoru doesn't run into any trouble...."
Sano bit his lip. "You're afraid she might attack anyone who tries to interfere with her getting to Kyoto."
An attempt to nod get Kenshin a mild smack from Megumi. He grimaced slightly and said, "Yes. Even worse, the sword could possibly force her to kill with little or no provocation."
"Oh hell! Just great. If Kaoru goes on some sort of crazed killing spree...," growled Sano.
Kenshin said, "But if that sword's got its mind set on facing me in Kyoto, then hopefully, it'll decide to play things safe by staying hidden and inconspicuous until it's ready for its confrontation."
"That reminds me. Kenshin, what the hell happened? I mean, what do you remember?" asked Sano.
The redhead shrugged and said, "There isn't much to say. I was sitting out on the porch with the door open. I though I heard Kaoru whisper my name so I walked inside to check on her... then something hit me. The next thing I remember was waking up on the floor."
After Megumi finished stitching the wound on Kenshin's head, she lightly touched Kenshin on the shoulder.
"Ken-san... I wish I could go with you but...."
Kenshin shook his head. "But you have people who need you here, especially with Dr. Genzai still away. It wouldn't be fair to them."
"I know... but still...," she murmured regretfully.
"Thank you for the thought, Megumi-dono. We'll keep in touch and let you know what happens." Kenshin glanced at Sano and Yahiko. "We need to go back to the dojo and get packed. We'll return here before dawn to get Misao and Aoshi."
"That's only a hour or so away."
Kenshin shrugged. "We'll have plenty of opportunity to get some rest onboard the ship."
Megumi smiled wistfully as she watched them walk away, but as she returned to her own room, she couldn't help but remember what had happened the last time Kenshin had gone to Kyoto.
(He had nearly died from all those injuries he sustained in all those battles... and that was just over two months go. He's still not fully recovered. I'm afraid to guess what might happen THIS time.)
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The walk back to the dojo was accomplished in near total silence, with everyone being caught up in their own thoughts. Fortunately, there were no strange phenomena along the way.
As soon as Yahiko left them to go to his own room, Sano shuffled his feet and muttered, "Kenshin... I'm sorry about giving you such a hard time about...."
"You have no idea how badly I wanted to go search for Kaoru. Part of me wants to go chasing after her, but another part of me knows that it's a stupid and useless thing to do." Kenshin's shoulders shook as he whispered, "Here I am, gambling Kaoru's life and sanity on my ability to predict the behavior of a thing which may not even be human... and if I guess wrong.... I don't know what I'd do."
Clenching his fists, Kenshin looked at Sano and cried, "I feel that I'm abandoning her, but I can't think of anything else to do right now! What kind of idiot does that make me!?" His voice dropped to a whisper again.
"I can't help wondering... is Kaoru expecting me to show up at any moment to rescue her? And when I don't, is she going to think that I've deserted her?"
Sano shook his head. "No way! Kaoru knows you way better than that! You're right. There's no point in wasting precious time and energy running around without a clue. The best thing for us to do is go to Kyoto, dig up as much information as we can on this Minobe guy, and get ready."
The fighter stuffed his hands in his pockets and mumbled, "I've got to get packed myself. I'll head to Megumi's and wait for you there."
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After Sano departed the dojo, Kenshin slowly made his way back to his own room and began packing. In the middle of folding a spare hakama, he abruptly froze. He stared down at his hands, then closed his eyes and shuddered as he remembered the sight of blood all over Kaoru's hands. Had that moment been some ghastly foreshadowing of the future? He desperately hoped not and pleaded silently to whatever gods might be listening.
(Please... give her a swift and safe journey... don't let the blood of the innocent stain her hands... not Kaoru... please....)
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Tokio gently slid out of Saitoh's arms. As soon as she rose from their futon, he frowned slightly and started to stir. Tokio smiled to herself. A light brush of her fingers across his forehead and he subsided back into a dreamless sleep.
Slipping on a bedrobe, she drifted through the house in utter silence, finally stepping out into the moonlit garden. She stood there for several minutes, listening to the soft rustle of leaves in the night breeze and thinking about Kyoto.
A small grey owl swooped down out of the dark sky and perched on a branch nearby. Tokio lifted her hand and the owl hopped onto her bare wrist. It stared at her, blinked twice, then started hooting very softly for a minute or so before stopping.
With a quiet sigh, Tokio gently tickled the owl's belly, causing the bird to make almost a purring sound. With a graceful gesture, she tossed the owl into the air and it headed off purposefully toward the south-east on silent wings.
She returned inside the house and went to one of the back storage rooms. Tokio opened a chest and removed a silk-wrapped bundle that was just about two feet long. She untied the binding strings and pulled open the wrappings. Moonlight glinted off of steel as she picked up one of the objects lying on the dark silk. She twirled slowly it in her fingers, then returned it to the bundle.
Tokio left the storage room and began preparing for the trip to Kyoto.
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An hour before dawn, Saitoh came downstairs to see his wife dressed, packed, and ready to go. As she set out a modest breakfast, Tokio said, "Do you think the others will join us on the boat to Kyoto?"
Saitoh sipped his tea. "Shinomori and the Weasel Girl, most likely. As for the others, who knows? But I suspect they will end up in Kyoto, one way or another."
Finishing the meal, Saitoh got to his feet. Taking advantage of the last few minutes of true privacy they were likely to have for at least the next several days, he put his arms around Tokio... and momentarily froze.
There was a brief instant of silence, then he said softly, "Ah...."
Tokio tipped her face up and gave him an innocent look.
He smiled ruefully at her. "I see that you really are... packed and prepared."
She shrugged. With a playful little smile, Tokio murmured, "Considering what happened at the clinic... well, just in case."
"I won't even bother asking you if you've stayed in practice."
"It's an useful way of occupying time when you're not home." She chuckled and took the opportunity to snuggle against him a bit. "I hope you realize that we'll be obliged to visit my family this time. They found out that you were in Kyoto only recently and they wanted to know why you didn't drop by to see them."
Saitoh winced at the mere thought of drinking tea with over ten eagle-eyed, cantankerous old harridans... and the less said about Tokio's younger female relatives, the better.
She gave him a quick hug. "Don't worry. I'll protect you."
He sighed and muttered, "Only a person like you could making dealing with your family worthwhile."
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The sun was just peeking over the horizon as Kenshin and his friends arrived at the harbor police station. Saitoh didn't miss the exceedingly grim and somber expression on all their faces -- particularly in Kenshin -- but he merely said, "You're late."
"You bastard! We've had one hell of a night!" Misao shrieked at him.
"Oh?" Saitoh lifted an inquiring eyebrow.
Kenshin said in a cold, tightly controlled voice, "Kaoru's gone. With the sword."
Saitoh blinked. "Hmph. So this time you've managed to lose both a cursed sword AND your woman at the same time. And how did this little catastrophe occur?"
It seemed that the policeman's sly provocation was too much for even Kenshin's exceptional self-control. The others tensely waited as the redhead gave Saitoh a long, bone-chilling stare before abruptly turning and stalking away toward the edge of the dock. Kenshin stood there and stared out at the water, leaving the others to do the explain the situation.
Tokio emerged from the police station and stood behind her husband as Aoshi, Misao, and Sano described the events of the previous night. When they finished, Saitoh smirked slightly and said, "So you're all now headed to Kyoto to 'rescue' her, hm?"
Sano shouted, "Don't be so damn cool about this, Saitoh! Don't forget, Kenshin's not the only person on this... this... THING's hit list. That message wasn't just meant for the Battousai, it was also meant for YOU, the goddamn Mibu's Wolf! And if it hadn't been for you dumping the damn sword in Kenshin's lap, maybe Kaoru wouldn't be in this mess! It could have easily been your own wife who's gone missing and how would you have liked THAT!?"
Saitoh's eyes narrowed for an instant, but he shrugged carelessly. "Hardly my fault. I didn't force him to keep the sword around."
"Damn you! You fucking well know that Kenshin would never endanger innocent people by throwing such a dangerous thing away!"
"Then it's entirely his decision, isn't it?"
"Why you...!"
Just before Sano was about to pounce on the infuriating policeman, Tokio stepped forward and said in a very polite but firm voice, "The ship will be leaving soon. Perhaps we should go onboard?"
Aoshi said coolly, "Sagara, we have more important things to do than to nurse you back to health if you get hurt fighting with Saitoh."
"Grrr...." Sano glared at the smirking policeman. "FINE. Come on, Kenshin!"
The red-haired swordsman did not immediately reply. He stood near the edge of the dock, staring blankly out into the harbor as he rubbed at his temple. As they watched, he shook his head sharply as if trying to clear it.
"Kenshin?" Yahiko called out worriedly.
Misao muttered, "Maybe that knock on the head was worse than we thought."
With their attention all focused on Kenshin, only Tokio noticed that her husband also had an alarmingly vague and confused expression on his face -- vague and confused for him, that is. Most people wouldn't have even suspected that anything was wrong, but Tokio knew her husband too well. She briefly touched his arm and murmured, "Hajime?
He blinked, then shook his head sharply before giving his wife a quick, uneasy glance.
"Is there something wrong?" she discretely asked.
Saitoh scowled slightly. "For a moment there...."
In the meantime, Sano walked up behind his friend and said, "Kenshin, we need to get on the boat to Osaka!"
"Osaka....why TO Osaka...?" Kenshin scanned the harbor in bewilderment as if he couldn't quite figure out what the hell he was doing there. The stiff breeze from the water whipped his long red hair, still gathered in that high ponytail, into his face.
Misao and Aoshi exchanged decidedly worried looks.
Yahiko yelled, "Yeah, to Kyoto! Remember, we're going to Osaka so we can get to Kyoto and find Kaoru?"
Kenshin turned and stared at them with an aloof, if mildly confused, look in his pale violet eyes. In a perfectly calm and coherent voice, he asked a very simple question.
"Kaoru? Who's Kaoru?"
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(end of part 12)
******************** Author's Notes ********************
Next part: Things definitely start getting 'edgy'! =^_^=
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THAT WHICH LINGERS: A Rurouni Kenshin Fanfic by MadamHydra
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Part 13: REMINDERS
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[the present, 11th year of the Meiji period, late summer]
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Yahiko yelled, "Yeah, to Kyoto! Don't you remember!? We're going to Osaka so we can get to Kyoto and find Kaoru!"
Kenshin turned and stared at them with a cool, if mildly confused, look in his pale violet eyes. In a perfectly calm and coherent voice, he asked a very simple question.
"Kaoru? Who's Kaoru?"
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He might have sounded detached and calm... but he was certainly feeling otherwise. He kept his emotional turmoil from showing only by sheer willpower... but then again, by this time, he'd had plenty of practice.
(Kaoru....)
He rolled the name around in his mind. He couldn't consciously recall anyone by that name... and yet, another part of him knew it very well. The person and the memories associated with that name were desperately important to him. He knew that for a certainty. But why and how... there were simply NO details.
His memories were crystal clear up to a certain point... and after that, they seemed to lose all sense or coherency, like leaves blowing in the wind. He could catch glimpses... fragments, but the whole picture utterly refused to come together.
He glanced at the other people who stood on the dock, staring worriedly at him. He couldn't remember their names, but they were familiar to him. He knew how he felt about them. The tall young man dressed in white pants and jacket... the young boy in yellow and brown... they were his friends. He trusted them with his life. Behind them stood a teenage girl dressed in a rather skimpy blue outfit. He liked her. She was trustworthy... to a certain extent.
His eyes narrowed warily as he noticed the tall man who stood next to the girl, holding a sword. Although the man was obviously weak from injuries, it was obvious to him that the man would still make a dangerous opponent. While he felt cautious about the tall man, there didn't seem to be any hostility against him, either. He respected the man and, like the girl, trusted him in certain ways.
His musings were interrupted as the man in white grabbed him by the collar and hauled him into the air.
"KENSHIN!!! What the HELL are you talking about!? You damn well know who Kaoru is!"
"Put me down."
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There was no anger in Kenshin's voice, but his words were spoken in a way that made it very unwise to refuse. Sano blinked, then slowly lowered him back to the ground. Releasing his grip on Kenshin's clothes, the fighter took a wary step back and stared at his friend. There was some sort of recognition in Kenshin's gaze as he looked at him, Yahiko, Misao, and Aoshi. On some level, the swordsman knew them... but there was also painfully clear that there was much he DIDN'T remember about them.
Yahiko was nearly jumping up and down with anxiety. "Kenshin, c'mon, snap out of it!"
"Himura! You've GOT to remember Kaoru!" Misao yelled.
Kenshin frowned, the look of confusion growing.
(Yes! It's like he's trying to remember....) Sano thought.
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The obvious worry and concern on his companions' faces echoed Kenshin's own chaotic feelings. Somehow, their physical presence made it much easier to remember what little he could about them. But Kaoru... there was joy, contentment, hope... and then there was fear... pain... loss....
It was the same sort of patterns of emotions he had experienced when Tomoe died. He desperately wanted to remember more about this Kaoru, but at the same time, he dreaded the pain of reopening old wounds.
(What am I doing here? I should be in Kyoto. What's going on!?)
His head ached. Reaching up, he felt a painful lump. He had been struck on the head, but it didn't seem that serious. It certainly didn't feel severe enough to scramble his memories so badly.
"Where am I?" he asked softly.
Sano took a very deep breath and said, "The Tokyo city harbor."
"Tokyo?" The name felt both familiar and unfamiliar to him.
Aoshi said quietly, "Tokyo's the new name for Edo."
As recognition dawned in Kenshin's eyes, Sano thought, (Hold it... if he doesn't recognize the new name for the city of Edo, that means that he's lost nearly a decade of memories... which means that I'm not talking to Himura Kenshin... I'm probably talking to Himura Battousai! Oh shit! I'm lucky he didn't pound me into the ground for grabbing at him! But... that could be a good sign. On some level, at least, he DOES recognize me as a friend.)
The fighter scowled. There was something he forgot... something very important about the fact that Kenshin's memories had apparently reverted to the time where he'd been Himura Battousai.
(What is it...?) Both Sano and Aoshi abruptly stiffened as they simultaneously remembered one very important fact -- they weren't the only people standing on this particular dock. There were two other people nearby and one of them was....
"SHIT!!!" yelled Sano as he smacked himself on the forehead.
But it was too late. Kenshin suddenly crouched and froze, his hand automatically going for his sword.
-----------------------------------
As he struggled to make sense of the scattered fragments of his memories, he glanced around the area, seeking anything else that could give him some clues to his current predicament.
And in the tall, lean man with the cynical smile and narrow amber eyes... he found it. The man might have cut his hair... he might be wearing something other than the familiar pale blue uniform... but the Battousai would never forget his most formidable opponent.
"Saitoh."
-----------------------------------
The captain of the third troop of the Shinsengumi turned as someone said his name.
A mocking smile appeared on his lips as he murmured, "Battousai. Imagine running into you here."
"Are you responsible for what's happened to me?"
Saitoh snorted and said, "I have no idea what you're babbling about, but you won't have to worry about it for too long," as he leisurely drew his sword.
-----------------------------------
Sano bellowed, "Saitoh, what the hell are you doing!?"
The policeman glanced briefly at the fighter and frowned slightly before returning his full attention to Kenshin... or rather, the Battousai.
Misao whispered in an appalled voice, "I... I don't think he recognized you...."
"Oh shit... not BOTH of them," muttered Yahiko.
Tokio swiftly stepped to her husband's side and grabbed his right arm as she whispered urgently into his ear.
-----------------------------------
"Hajime! Listen to me. Remember who you truly are. This isn't Kyoto. You are no longer a captain of the Shinsengumi. Himura is no longer Ishin Shishi. Those times have long passed."
While still keeping a cautious eye on the Battousai, Saitoh glanced at the woman staring up at him with dark brown eyes. The face was more mature than he remembered -- and even more beautiful, if that was possible -- but the eyes were the same. Even as a teenager, she'd had those unforgettable eyes... the gentle, teasing eyes that saw things in him that no other person ever had... the eyes of the girl... no, the WOMAN that made him feel... whole.
Her words and her gaze were like a swift breeze shredding the mental fog that had been clouding his mind for the last several minutes. For a brief instant, he HAD thought he was back in the streets of Kyoto, facing off against the Hitokiri Battousai... and swore silently at himself.
(Hell, not again!)
-----------------------------------
Sano, Yahiko, and Misao heaved sighs of relief when Saitoh gradually began to lower his sword as Tokio continued to talk to him.
In a flat voice, Kenshin said, "Get out of the way, woman," as he stared at Tokio with icy, pale eyes.
Misao gasped quietly. This was definitely the Hitokiri Battousai, the lethal swordmaster assassin she'd seen in the dream with Aoshi. She had no doubts whatsoever that he would go THROUGH Tokio to get to Saitoh, if necessary.
Saitoh's eyes narrowed hostilely at the Battousai's unmistakable threat. He started to lift his sword again when Tokio gently touched his arm and shook her head. Turning to face Kenshin, she stepped in front of her husband and said quietly, "Himura-san, I have something to give you."
Kenshin tensed slightly as she slowly reached into her sleeve. He had no idea what she might be pulling out. It could easily be a weapon such as a shuriken or a throwing dart. It had occurred before.
With slow, graceful movements, Tokio removed her closed hand from her sleeve and held it up in plain sight. She then gradually opened her hand....
....and a blue ribbon spilled from her fingers.
It didn't look like much -- a simple strip of dark blue, watered silk which fluttered in the stiff breeze off the harbor -- but Kenshin was utterly mesmerized by the sight.
....and the memories of the past ten years returned in a rush and fell into their rightful places with a thud....
Tokio said nothing. She simply stood still, Kaoru's favorite hair ribbon trailing from her slim fingers.
"Kaoru...," Kenshin whispered in a choked voice. That ribbon had been his very first gift to her... a replacement for the ribbon stained and ruined during his battle with Udou Jine, the Black Hat assassin. It was the same ribbon she'd been wearing last night as she was tucked into bed... practically last time he saw her.
Tokio quietly approached Kenshin and reached out to touch his unresisting arm. As she gently wound the blue silk around the wrist of his sword hand, she said, "I accidentally put this in my pocket last night. I was planning to return this to Kaoru the next time I saw her... but I think it would be better if you gave it back to her yourself. And... perhaps it will help you remember what you're truly fighting for."
"Thank you... very much... Tokio-dono," said Kenshin, his head bowed.
She gave him a gracious nod in return, then returned to her husband's side.
Kenshin gently stroked the blue silk wrapped around his right wrist, then glanced at his friends who all heaved a deep sigh of relief as they saw the clear recognition in his eyes... even Aoshi.
As he looked at them, he mentally recited their names. (Sano... Yahiko... Misao... Aoshi....) All the memories were there, neatly in their proper place.
"Hmph. If you're coming, you'd better hurry up and get onboard now," snapped Saitoh as he sheathed his sword.
Kenshin gave the policeman a cool glance and got an equally cool one in return. Saitoh stalked off toward the ship without another word, Tokio easily keeping pace a few steps behind him.
"Kenshin?" Sano asked.
The red-haired swordsman nodded grimly. "Come on. We'll... talk... once the ship is underway."
-----------------------------------
As the steamship left the harbor and headed out to sea, Kenshin and his companions found an isolated spot and settled down to discuss the incident at the dock.
"Kenshin... what just happened to you?" Sano asked.
"I... don't know. I could clearly remember everything that happened in Kyoto over ten years ago, but everything since then... the memories were there, but disjointed... scattered. I knew all of you... but not clearly. And...."
Misao said, "And... Kaoru?"
Kenshin was silent for a few moments. Finally, he whispered, "I knew there was someone... very important to me... someone I couldn't remember.... You were right there in front of me. I could match bits of memories to the image of specific people... but... but Kaoru wasn't there."
"And then you saw Saitoh," muttered Yahiko.
Kenshin sighed quietly. "Yes. When I saw him... old memories and old habits took over. If it hadn't been for his wife...." As his voice trailed off, his gaze returned to the blue silk ribbon that Tokio had so carefully put around his wrist.
Misao said quietly, "Kenshin, you weren't the only one who somehow... forgot things."
"What do you mean?"
Sano growled, "I mean I'm pretty sure Saitoh had a flashback of his own. I mean, he looked right at us, but I don't think he recognized us."
Leaning against a nearby wall, Aoshi said, "Don't forget about his little memory lapse yesterday evening."
Kenshin cocked his head slightly. "When did this happen? I wasn't aware...."
"This happened right after that... vision thing we all experienced at the clinic... you know, how you got part of your scar," said Sano.
The redhead's hand unconsciously drifted up to his left cheek.
"You were really out of it so you wouldn't have noticed, but Saitoh made some really weird comment to his wife about being acquainted for only a few days. That must have thrown the lady for a real loop!"
"Yeah! But Saitoh snapped out of it as soon as she reminded him that they'd known each other for nearly fifteen years and been married for eight years," added Yahiko.
"Fifteen years.... he must have known her in Kyoto...," Kenshin murmured thoughtfully.
"I guess so."
Aoshi said, "That's probably why she managed to talk him out of attacking. Even if he'd had a memory slip similar to Himura's, he would still remember her clearly."
Yahiko said angrily, "All these weird dreams and images from Kyoto... Shinsengumi ghosts prowling around in that city... both Saitoh and you forgetting nearly everything after the Bakamatsu no Douran.... Aw hell, it's like the past is coming back to life!"
The boy abruptly stopped as everyone suddenly stared at him. A long silence followed.
-----------------------------------
In their own cabin, Saitoh was leaning against the wall. He glanced at his wife and said in a detached voice, "How did you know?"
"Hm?" she murmured absently.
"How did you that I was... caught up in my memories of the past?"
Tokio stopped unpacking and sat down on the bunk. With a gentle smile, she said, "There was a certain... glint in your eye that I remember from those days back in Kyoto."
"Really?" Saitoh sounded a bit startled.
She chuckled quietly. "Oh yes. I remember everything little about you... even back then."
He walked over to his wife and lifted her chin. Staring down at Tokio, he asked with mock severity, "So... are you saying that I've lost a bit of my fire since then, hm?"
"On the contrary. You've lost nothing over the years, my husband. You've just become more patient... and more cunning as time passes." And the twinkle of laughter in her eyes seemed to indicate that she didn't mind the change at all.
-----------------------------------
In Kyoto, at the Aoiya restaurant, Okina and the others were struggling to make heads or tails of Misao's most recent message from Tokyo. The message had been so long and involved that it had taken two carrier pigeons to carry.
Shiro asked, "What does she say?"
Okina frowned. "Misao says that they'll be leaving Tokyo by first available ship. Shiro, check to see when it's due to arrive in Osaka." As the Oniwabanshuu nodded, the old man continued, "She also says that Kaoru is... is...." He reread the code group several times just to make sure.
"What happened to Kaoru-san!?" Omasu said worriedly.
"Misao said that Kaoru has been apparently been... possessed."
"WHAT!?" shouted the four other ninjas.
"And that she's on her way here to Kyoto. We're to watch for her, but under no circumstances to approach or contact her. Misao also wants us to dig up any information we can on a man called Junichi Minobe."
Okina glanced around somberly at his subordinates. "Well, don't just sit around! Get moving!"
-----------------------------------
"Uh, guys.... Uh... was it something I said?" Yahiko muttered as his eyes shifted uneasily.
A pale-faced Kenshin whispered, "That may be exactly what's happening. If that black sword's vengeance involves something that happened during the civil war, it may be that the sword -- or the entity controlling the sword -- isn't content to just force me to return to the place where I supposedly committed this... 'sin' against Minobe Junichi...."
"But also to return you to the TIME of that 'sin'," said Aoshi. "And not just you, but Saitoh as well."
"Then... then.... Himura! If you go to Kyoto, whatever's happening to you guys is probably only going to get worse!" Misao shouted.
"I know. But I don't have a choice." Kenshin's grip tightened on his sakabatou. "And even if Kaoru wasn't involved, I... would still have to go...."
"Why!?" she sputtered in confusion.
Aoshi said sharply, "Because it's very unlikely that these manifestations will just stop on their own. Whatever this enemy is, it won't be satisfied until Himura and Saitoh return to Kyoto to confront it."
Kenshin's bangs shaded his eyes from view as he said quietly. "Yes. I know this. Saitoh knows this. And we both know that whatever's happening in Kyoto must be stopped at any cost."
"Saitoh?" Misao blinked, then said, "Of course. That 'Aku Soku Zan' thing of his."
The red-haired swordsman mutely nodded.
"Well, Saitoh might be an evil, psycho bastard, but I've got to admit he's got dedication," Sano muttered reluctantly.
Yahiko stared at the deck. "But... is it really that dangerous? I mean... ghosts and illusions can't really hurt people if...if you don't pay attention to them, right? I mean, they're not real... things...." However, his voice trailed off uneasily as he remembered Kenshin's scar bleeding and the bloodstains on the swordsman's hakama after the vision at the clinic.
Misao and Aoshi exchanged uneasy glances.
"Ghosts and undead spirits are very real. They can do a lot more than just startle and scare, boy. In certain situations, they can wound and even kill," said a familiar, cynical male voice from overhead.
They all turned to stare at Saitoh who was hanging over the rail on the deck above them.
"That... sounds like the voice of experience," said Aoshi. "First-hand experience."
Saitoh shrugged away the unspoken question and walked away.
-----------------------------------
(end of part 13)
******************** Author's Notes ********************
Next part: A leisurely cruise and plenty of conversation. ^_^
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THAT WHICH LINGERS: A Rurouni Kenshin Fanfic by MadamHydra
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Part 14: ON A SLOW BOAT TO OSAKA
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[the present, 11th year of the Meiji period, summer]
-----------------------------------
Sano soon realized that there were both good things and bad things about boat travel. The good thing was that it was really easy. You didn't have to do a damn thing. The bad thing was that boat travel was boring as hell. Except for some casual gambling games, there wasn't anything to do. That gave Sano and his traveling companions way too much time to think... and worry.
The fighter was especially concerned about Kenshin. Sano and the others had developed an unspoken policy of never leaving their friend totally alone even as they tried their best to give him as much privacy that they could. Of course Kenshin was aware of what they were doing, but he didn't say anything.
The red-haired swordsman spent most of his time staring out over the water, the very picture of patience. Sano would often see Kenshin tenderly fingering the blue silk wrapped around his right wrist. The fighter knew what that meant -- his friend was thinking about Kaoru.
-----------------------------------
After lunch on the second day, Sano was up on deck. He was doing nothing in particular when he caught sight of Tokio standing by the deck rail. Sano stepped back into the shadow of the deck house and silently watched her as she smiled at the gulls as they swooped and squabbled over bits of food.
One of the gulls landed on the railing a few feet away from Tokio. It cocked its head and stared at her, then hopped closer. Finally, after a moment or two, it pecked audaciously at her kimono sleeve.
Tokio turned at the tug on her arm, then chuckled softly. The sea gull started to squawk enthusiastically at her, hopping from foot to foot.
Sano jumped as someone jabbed an elbow into his ribs.
"Hey! I don't think the psycho cop's going to be happy if he catches you ogling his wife. And what about poor Megumi, huh?" hissed Misao, her eyes bright with mischief.
The fighter turned bright red with embarrassment. Waving his hands in denial, he blurted, "No! You've got it all wrong! I wasn't doing that!"
In a skeptical voice, she said, "Really? Then WHAT are you doing? You've been staring at her constantly!"
Sano raked his hand through his hair, rumpling it even more and mumbled, "I admit she's a good looking woman...."
"Beautiful, you mean," Misao muttered back.
"Yeah... but that's not why I keep thinking about her."
"Oh?"
"I just don't understand how a woman... especially one as... as... ladylike as Tokio could stand being married to a guy like Saitoh. The man barely looks at her, has hardly a kind word to say to her, doesn't seem to care that he nearly pinned her to the wall like a damn bug...."
Instead of agreeing with him, Sano was astonished to see a thoughtful, almost envious look on Misao's face.
"Hey, Weasel girl?"
She barely reacted to the insult as she thought about yesterday evening and that brief exchange of touches she'd seen between Saitoh and his wife. She turned to him and said quietly, but with total confidence, "Because he loves her."
Sano stared at her blankly, then sputtered, "What!?"
"You wondered how she could stand being married to Saitoh. He loves her. She loves him. It's all so simple."
"You're kidding! I think you've got romance on the brain, girl! That's ridiculous! Saitoh in love. HA!!!"
She scowled. "I might've agreed with you, except... last night, I saw them talking in the back after Saitoh had that weird memory slip...."
"You mean like the one Kenshin had on the dock."
"Right. Anyway, I caught a peek at them." She sighed wistfully. "They were so... so together. I can't explain it any better. It makes me sort of jealous...." Misao then perked up. "But it also gives me hope. After all, if Saitoh can fall in love like that, then certainly Aoshi-sama can!"
Sano was wondering when Shinomori was going to show up in Misao's conversation. The guy always did, sooner or later.
"Let me guess. You're wandering around the ship looking for him, right?"
"No matter how he tries to hide it, he's still in pretty bad shape." Misao shrugged carelessly, but Sano saw the raw pain and guilt in her eyes. "I really hurt him, Sano." Her lips quivered. "I nearly killed him. If I hadn't run into you guys on the trail, he could have bled to death before I got back with some help."
"Nah, he's tough, girl. He wouldn't have...."
"He wouldn't have said what he did to me if he didn't think he was going to die!"
Sano took a few seconds to puzzle through Misao's tangled words. With a curious look, he said, "Uh... just what did he say to you?"
She simultaneously blushed and sniffled. "He said he... cared about me."
"Hell, he's always cared about you. Any idiot could see that!"
Misao glared at him furiously. "It wasn't that sort of 'care', you jerk! He smiled at me... I mean, REALLY smiled at me!"
Sano blinked. "O-kay...."
"Oh hell! Why am I trying to explain this to you? I don't think you'd recognize love if it jumped up and bit you in the butt!"
"Now wait a minute here! Leave Megumi out of all this!"
"Megumi? Did I say anything about Megumi?" She gave him a mock innocent look.
"Oh, shut up, brat! That's none of your business!"
Misao abruptly went very quiet. She stared down at the deck and shuffled her feet. "I... I feel so responsible for getting you guys caught up in this whole stupid mess. If I hadn't picked up that sword... then Kaoru and Aoshi-sama wouldn't have been hurt... and that sword wouldn't have awoken up... and Kaoru would be safe back in Tokyo... and Himura...."
Sano grabbed her shoulders and gave her a sharp shake. "Hey, stop that! It isn't your fault, okay? That sword-thing screwed around with your mind so it's to blame, not you. Things like... like curses and stuff... they don't just go away by themselves. That sword would have crossed Kenshin's path eventually. It probably would've been just a matter of time."
Misao stared up at him. "Sano, I'm really frightened. What's happening with Kaoru? What is that sword doing with her... TO her this very minute? And what's going to happen to Himura when we get to Kyoto? It was scary enough when he had that memory slip in Tokyo, but what if he has one in Kyoto where the memories of the Battousai are so strong? What if he completely loses his memories of the last ten years? The Himura we know could disappear... forever!"
Sano sighed wearily. "I know that. And not to be mean, girl, but I'm sure Kenshin knows better than anyone else just what's at stake... after all, it IS his head. But... like he said, he's got no choice. It's our only hope of getting Kaoru back."
She shuddered. "I can handle a physical fight, but how can we fight something like this? Something that gets inside your head and twists it all around...."
Sano muttered, "Hell if I know. But I don't think that fighting is our real job this time around."
"What do you mean?"
"Oh, I think we're here to fight all right, but not physically. Our job is to remind Kenshin of who and what he is now... to remind him of what he's gained since he left the Hitokiri Battousai behind all those years ago. We're like his anchor to the present, especially since Kaoru isn't here. But it won't be easy."
"Like that's a big surprise," Misao muttered.
"No. I mean it. Saitoh's a lucky bastard in this instance. If I figure right, he met his wife at the very beginning of the civil war. If you're correct about how he feels about her, that means it's pretty likely he'll recognize her AND believe what she tells him no matter how shaky his memory gets."
Misao groaned. "But we don't have that sort of past history with Himura."
"Nope. Kenshin met all of us long after the Douran. That means that if he really gets trapped in his memories of the past... well... we can be shit out of luck."
"Surely Himura would have some old friends from those years in Kyoto... someone he could recognize and trust."
Sano shook his head. "Recognize, maybe. But trust? That's the big question. We're not talking about little things here. Tell me, girl, how many people would YOU trust and believe if they walked up to you this minute and told you that half the stuff going on around you isn't real, that you're actually thirty years old, and that your worst enemy is now your ally?"
Misao sighed quietly and whispered, "If it was Aoshi-sama... yes. Probably Hannya or Jiya, too." She fell silent, then said, "There's one person that Himura's bound to recognize and trust."
Sano and the ninja girl looked at each other and simultaneously said, "Hiko Seijuro."
"IF we can find him... and that's a big 'if'." Misao sighed, then turned to leave. "Well, we can't do anything until we get to Osaka. See you later. I've still got to track down Aoshi-sama."
-----------------------------------
Sano watched Misao head off in her search for Aoshi and shook his head ruefully. (I think the poor guy's days of freedom are numbered. Now that she's sure that he returns her feelings, there'll be no stopping her.)
As he rounded the corner of the deckhouse, Sano froze as he saw Saitoh leaning against the wall, cigarette in hand. The fighter started to sweat nervously.
(Oh HELL! Just how long has he been standing there!? How much of my talk with Misao did he overhear? Shit... what if he heard us talking about his WIFE!?)
The inscrutable little smile on the policeman's lips gave Sano no clues. The man didn't appear the least bit angry or upset. Of course, this was Saitoh so who could tell what the guy was really thinking?
Saitoh glanced at Sano and his smile widened just a fraction. That made the fighter even more nervous. The policeman then pushed himself away from the wall and walked past Sano without so much as an insult or a sneer.
-----------------------------------
Misao stepped out onto the deck and peered around. Aoshi was nowhere in sight. She wandered over to Tokio and said, "Excuse me...."
Tokio turned and said, "Good afternoon, Misao."
"It would be a better afternoon if I could find him," the girl muttered irritably. "Where did he run off to? He should be resting."
"Sorry, I haven't seen Shinomori-san today."
The sea gull on the rail eyed Misao with disapproval and let out a raucous squawk.
The girl glared at the noisy bird and tried to shoo it away. It hopped aside, then gave her a sharp peck in retaliation.
"Why you...!" She went for one of her throwing knives.
Tokio chuckled, scooped up the gull, and gently tossed it into the air. The bird circled overhead twice, then nearly hit Misao on the head with a parting gift before it soared away with a triumphant cackle.
"You stupid BIRD!!!" Misao shrieked. She slowly turned red as she realized how silly she must look, yelling insults at a brainless sea gull.
Tokio murmured, "A little exercise won't hurt Shinomori-san."
"I suppose, but...." After a moment's silence, Misao glanced at Tokio. "Do you think I worry too much about him?"
"Hm? Oh, he undoubtedly appreciates your concern, but.... If you'll forgive me for being so blunt, you shouldn't allow yourself to get carried away by guilt."
"You think I'm pestering him." Misao's shoulders sagged.
"No, but I'm under the impression that Shinomori-san is a rather... reserved person by habit, if not by nature. Displays of obvious emotion tend to make such people uncomfortable."
"How else am I supposed to let him know that I care about him!?"
Tokio lifted an eyebrow. "You're asking me?"
Misao muttered, "Like who else am I supposed to ask? I don't know that many people who are happily married or have experience in this sort of thing! Besides, if you managed to deal with someone like Saitoh for so long...." She abruptly clapped her hand over her mouth.
The older woman giggled at the embarrassed look on Misao's face.
"Uh... I... that is... I didn't mean to...," the ninja girl babbled in a flustered voice.
Tokio chuckled gently. "I understand. My husband is a bit... um, unique. I may not be the right person to ask for advice about male-female relationships."
"Oh." Misao's voice sounded a bit wistful.
Tokio sighed, then said, "Misao, just remember that you really should fall in love with a man as he is, not as you hope him to be. If he desires to change, that's one thing. Expecting him to change is a different matter altogether."
"Aoshi-sama can act so cold, but he's not really like that! He's kind and caring, but he keeps it buried so deep inside. I wish I could set him free so he could show people...."
The older woman stepped closer to Misao. "Set him free... or deprive him of what little protection he has from a harsh and difficult world?"
"What's THAT supposed to mean?" asked the bewildered girl.
"Oh dear. This IS difficult to explain." Tokio took a deep breath, then gave the girl a sympathetic look. "Misao dear, you're a young, exuberant girl. That's just the way you are. The problem is you have very little to hide from the world while Shinomori-san has a great deal to hide."
"To hide?"
Tokio nodded. "You see, Shinomori-san and Himura-san are men of deep feelings. But it's very dangerous for men like them to express those emotions freely, so they develop masks or personas to protect themselves. And after a while, those masks or personas take on a life of their own. It becomes very difficult, sometimes even impossible, to put these masks aside... even if they want to."
"You mean... like for Himura, the Hitokiri Battousai was a sort of... mask?"
"To handle a difficult and almost unbearable task, he developed the persona of a cold, relentless assassin. When he tried to leave that persona behind, he took on the persona of a mild-mannered wanderer."
"Oh... and Aoshi-sama...."
"I imagine that taking over as the leader of the Oniwabanshuu at the age of fifteen was no easy task. To maintain his authority, especially over the older ninjas, he had to appear calm, mature beyond his years, and in complete control at all times. It's a habit that he's obviously retained to this day."
"Oh great!" Misao rolled her eyes and slumped against the rail. "Now what do I do?"
Tokio smiled. "I think you've already had a glimpse of how Shinomori-san really feels about you. The question now is whether you'll be satisfied with that knowledge or do you want him to tell the entire world how he feels, too."
Misao snapped, "I don't care WHAT everyone else thinks! I just want him to be... happy." She sighed. "So... you think I should stop pushing him so hard and back off?"
Tokio said gently, "Oh no. Make sure he knows how you feel and let him know that you're aware how he feels. Just don't try to force him into... uh, gushing about how much he loves you in front of an audience. He won't do it." She giggled. "Or if he does, he'll be very, very embarrassed."
Misao attempted to picture Aoshi making some sort of passionate declaration of love in front of Jiya and the other Oniwabanshuu... and burst into giggles herself.
Tokio patted the girl on the arm. "I'm not saying that something like that will never happen. It's simply going to take time. He has to learn that it's safe to put his mask of control aside. Persistence and patience, my dear."
With a mischievous grin, Misao said, "Is that how it is with your husband? You know how he feels about you, even though he never lets it show in public?"
Tokio's only reply was a soft chuckle.
-----------------------------------
Aoshi found Saitoh on the stern of the ship, smoking. Without turning to look at him, Saitoh said, "Hmph. Managed to slip away from your keeper, eh?"
The former leader of the Oniwabanshuu ignored the silken malice in Saitoh's voice. Somehow, thinking of Misao as 'his keeper' didn't seem to sound all that... bad. He briefly pondered the idea, then put it aside for a later moment.
"I could say the same thing to you. After all, that's why you asked your wife to come along on this trip to Kyoto, isn't it. You wanted her to keep an eye on you."
Saitoh said nothing, but continued to leisurely work on his cigarette. Finally he said, "It's probably going to get worse. Much worse."
"Meaning?"
"It's not a matter of 'if', but a matter of 'when'. The situation in Kyoto needs to be stopped now, while it affects only a few people. If we wait, it's just going to grow in magnitude like a damned tsunami... one that liable to drown the entire city of Kyoto. Maybe more."
Aoshi glanced at Saitoh. "You seem to know a lot about this sort of thing. Not exactly what I would've expected from such a... pragmatic... person like yourself. Are you talking from personal experience?"
The policeman shrugged. "Oh, there's nothing more stubborn than the dead. They don't give up. Instead, they just grow in strength until they get what they want. That stupid sword would've happily killed half the population of Tokyo trying to locate either me or the Battousai." Saitoh turned to Aoshi and gave him a sly look. "So I'm rather glad that Weasel Girl and that Kaoru female ran into that sword before too many people died."
"You can hardly expect me or Himura to agree with you about that."
Saitoh snorted. "Don't tell me you think the brat's delicate. She'll recover from the experience. Besides, if Weasel Girl wants to hang around with you, she's going to need toughening. She's much too sheltered."
Aoshi glared at him and snapped. "Really? And what about your wife? Don't you think SHE needs more 'toughening' to deal with someone like YOU?"
Saitoh stared at the younger man for a second or two, then flung his head back and burst into loud, hearty laughter.
"Hahahaha! Tokio... toughening? Hahahaha!!!"
Aoshi gave Saitoh a startled look. It took a minute or two before the policeman eventually subsided into quiet chuckles.
Looking over Aoshi's shoulder, Saitoh chucked his cigarette overboard and said in a terribly amused voice, "Shinomori here was worried about you. He seems to think you're too delicate and fragile to be my wife."
The former leader of the Oniwabanshuu turned with a start, surprised that he had totally missed Tokio's approach. She stood several feet away, looking as serene as ever. With a faint sense of embarassment, he said sharply, "Now wait a moment. I did NOT say anything of the sort...."
Saitoh smirked evilly. "No, but that's what you were implying, wasn't it?"
Tokio blinked once at her husband's words, then gave Aoshi a polite bow.
"Thank you for your concern, Shinomori-san, but I've always been in the most robust of health." She hesitated slightly, then murmured, "Misao's looking for you."
Aoshi give Tokio a polite nod, then glared at Saitoh one more time before stalking away from the stern.
Tokio glanced at her husband and said mildly, "You were teasing him."
Saitoh smiled slowly, but said nothing for the moment. They stood at the railing and watched the foaming water pass by.
"Minobe Junichi. What an idiot."
Tokio murmured, "If it wasn't for Minobe, we wouldn't have had the opportunity to know each other better."
"Hmph. Perhaps he did me a favor, but he's still an idiot. Or was an idiot."
"Do you know if he's alive or dead?"
"He disappeared after he was crippled during that bridge fiasco with the Battousai. Whether he's alive or dead, who knows? I hope my men will have some information by the time we reach Osaka."
Tokio said thoughtfully. "Something must have happened recently. The murders associated with that black sword didn't start until just over a week ago."
"I know. Something happened to trigger this chain of events. But what? And what are we going to do about it?" He scowled thoughtfully. "Tokio, do you know someone in Kyoto who's an expert on the occult?"
"My great-aunt Asuko...."
Saitoh grimaced.
"She keeps an extensive library. And I'm sure she knows other knowledgeable people in Kyoto."
"Well, that settles it. I suppose we'll end up staying with your family while we're in the city." Saitoh didn't seem at all happy with the prospect. "Don't look so damn pleased about it," he muttered.
His wife merely gave him a placid little smile.
As he stared over the water, he said somberly, "Tokio."
"Yes, Hajime?"
"The important thing here is my duty to halt whatever that sword's doing in Kyoto. The manifestations and apparitions have to stop before they get any worse. The last thing I want is have the city plunged into chaos just because of some idiot's personal desire for revenge."
Tokio nodded quietly.
"If that point slips my mind for any reason -- especially memories of the past or the Battousai -- remind me of it. By whatever means necessary."
"As you wish, my husband."
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Yahiko was on deck, practicing. Normally, someone wielding a shinai would have attracted curious observers, but something about the boy's intensity and fierce concentration made people uneasy. They left him alone.
Yahiko finished the last series of strokes, then took a deep breath. He turned and jumped a bit to see Kenshin silently watching him. The boy was relieved to note that Kenshin had returned to tying his hair back at the nape of the neck like he usually did.
The swordsman smiled slightly. "You've been practicing almost constantly since we've been onboard."
Yahiko shrugged. "Well, it's not like there's too much for me to do. Sano usually finds a gambling game or something. Misao's always bugging Aoshi. And you're crazy if you think I want to hang around Saitoh!"
Kenshin sighed. "I'm sorry for ignoring you...."
The boy glared at him. "Don't give me that! You've got a hell of a lot to worry about. I don't need a baby-sitter, okay?" Yahiko noticed Kenshin absently stroking the blue ribbon wrapped around his wrist.
"Uh... Kenshin?"
"Yes?"
Yahiko struggled to find a tactful way to ask, but soon gave up. He bluntly said, "How are YOU doing? I mean, how are you feeling?"
"I'm fine for the moment, but...."
"Yeah?"
"If I let my thoughts wander, I tend to find myself thinking about those years in Kyoto...."
"Kenshin...." Yahiko couldn't hide a twitch of alarm.
The redhead looked at the worried boy. (He's the future... the promise of things to come, of a time free of the death and violence that ruled in years gone by. So many lives were lost trying to give birth to a new future. I won't allow Kyoto to drown in blood and darkness again.) His gaze drifted down to the brilliant swatch of blue silk on his wrist.
(Kaoru.... I almost wish that I'd never met you. You would've been safe... content. If I'd had any idea of the dangers I'd put you in... the pain I'd cause you... I would have taken you home after your first run-in with Goheh and left, never to see you again. And when you asked me to stay, I should have known better... but I was tired... and lonely. If I could do it all over again....)
(Turning back time.... That's what this is all about, isn't it? My enemy's turning back time just so he... it... can relive a moment of the past. But that's not right. No matter how wrong, no matter how painful, the past is just that... the past. You learn from the past, make the most of the present, and live for the future. That's what both Saitoh and I are both doing, in our own very different ways... trying to build a better future.)
(I almost wish that I'd never met you, Kaoru... but I'm so glad I did. I'm sorry that I never told you what you meant to me while I had the chance. And now this enemy is trying to make me forget you... forget that you ever existed. I won't let that happen. Because if I forget you, that makes everything you've endured to keep us together totally worthless... meaningless. I promised that I wouldn't leave you. And I won't.)
He lifted his dark violet eyes and glanced at Yahiko.
"Uh... what is it, Kenshin?"
The boy was startled to see a sad, yet beautiful smile appear on Kenshin's face.
"I was just thinking of a promise I made to Kaoru."
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In the late evening, three days after leaving Tokyo, the steamship entered Osaka harbor.
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(end of part 14)
******************** Author's Notes ********************
Next part: A chance to meet a group of people capable of intimidating Saitoh... his in-laws! =^_^=
Never fear! I'm continuing work on this story, but the rate of posting will decrease a bit. I need to work on the next part of my Final Fantasy VII story CONFLICTS OF INTEREST before I get lynched by some of my more impatient readers. ^_^;;;
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