These Changing Times
This fanfic series takes place two years after the Revenge Arc ends, in an alternate RuroKen universe. (Only because I started it well before the manga ended ^_^;;) Eighteen-year-old Makimachi Misao comes to Tokyo to stay with Kenshin and Kaoru... and to put her own troubles behind her. A newly attentive Sagara Sanosuke is more than willing to distract her. Then a certain Oniwabanshuu onmitsu turns up in Tokyo to help investigate a wave of vicious armed robberies sweeping the city...
Comments and constructive criticism are always appreciated. But be warned: this fic meddles with what seem to be considered the tried-and-true romantic pairings in RuroKen (in case I didn't already make that clear). So if you read further, please be kind and keep an open mind! ^^;;
Note: for those who are new to the language, go to http://home.netcom.com/~sakka/times/glossary.htm to get information on the Japanese terms and expressions used in this chapter.
Chapter 17 -- Breaking Wide Open
"You were right, Sano," Katsu said as he poured himself a cup of sake. "From what I've been able to gather from my sources, those thieves are forcing Tokyo's shopkeepers to pay them for what they call 'protection.' Those who refuse are cut down without mercy... like your friend Sekihara-san... as are those who are late with their money."
"The owner of the Kaiko-ya?" Sano asked rhetorically. Katsu nodded, continuing --
"You were right about something else. The few clues I was able to glean from my interviews point straight at that doujou you told me about." He leafed through his notes. "One neighbor says there are often lights burning well into the night there." He held up his hand to stop Sano from interrupting. "I know... that alone proves nothing. However..." He began reading from his notes. "The night the Kaiko-ya's proprietor was murdered, a man who lives next to the doujou says he was awakened by something rustling the trees outside his window. When he looked out, he saw a shadowy figure leap onto the doujou fence and down into the yard. He said the reason he's so sure he wasn't imagining things was because he heard a squishing sound when the figure hit the fence... like the sound wet shoes make when you walk in them."
Sano leaned forward in excitement. "I overheard some of the cops who chased the leader of the bandits that night say he dove into a canal to escape them," he said. "It's all making sense, Katsu. But it's still not enough to go on. I'd need more than some old guy saying he heard wet shoes on a fence one night to prove the Takashi Doujou is where these bastards are based."
"How about this?" Katsu fished something out of his pocket and slid it across the table. Sano stared at the fragment of paper and quirked an eyebrow skeptically.
"What the hell does this have to do with robbery?" he said impatiently.
"I picked this up from the Kaiko-ya," Katsu said with a small smile. "I did a little looking around after the police left. There were several documents in the bookkeeper's desk... all with that name on them... and when I skimmed one of them, I saw it was some kind of payment record." He frowned. "Unfortunately, that's all I saw, since the police chose that moment to return. Needless to say, I was showed the door... but I managed to tear the corner off the document I'd been reading and pocket it without anyone noticing."
Sano examined the writing on the scrap... and paled.
"Shit," he said in a low voice. "Takashi. It's got to be them."
Katsu nodded. "Somehow I don't think they were buying silk from that guy," he said. "From what I saw of that document, it looked like a record of payments made by the Kaiko-ya to the doujou... not the other way around."
Sano hastily stood up, his eyes dark with worry. Katsu grabbed his friend's arm.
"Mate, Sano. You have no idea how many of them you'll be facing," he said. "Better to go to the police with this."
"You don't understand," Sano replied in a rush, shaking his arm free. "Misao is training at that doujou right now. I'm sure the police found those documents you saw... what if they're headed there? All hell'll break loose... and she'll be right in the middle of it. I have to get her out of there!"
He handed the scrap back to Katsu. "Take this to Saitou... tell him everything we discussed," Sano said, clapping Katsu on the shoulder. "And thanks. You did all right, baka-yarou."
Katsu waved Sano away. "Be careful, baka-yarou," he said gruffly. "No woman's worth dying over."
"Don't worry... dying isn't part of my plan," Sano said lightly, flashing Katsu a grin as he headed for the door.
................
"Unmei-sensei!" Misao called as she crossed the doujou's quiet courtyard. Puzzled, she checked the sun's position. I'm a little early... but not by much. Where is everybody?
The silence and lack of students only added to her growing sense of disquiet. Something is very wrong... I can feel it. Her expression grew determined. Demo... if everybody's out, this may be a good chance for me to do some looking around...
She slipped open the door to the doujou's training hall. "Unmei-sensei? Toushi-sempai?" she called, not expecting an answer. Her voice echoed eerily in the empty room. Another shiver ran up her spine. I must be careful... Unmei-sensei has trained her students as ninja... which means they're just as good at being sneaky as I am...
She scrutinized the walls of the training hall, taking in the list of instructors and students... the weapons stacked neatly against one wall... the hanging scrolls listing various tenets of the Takashi school...
A small sliding door in the far corner.
Misao's eyes narrowed. I've never seen anyone use that door...
Glancing around to make sure she wasn't being observed, Misao swiftly headed for the door and silently slid it open.
...............
Aoshi rose from where Umari's tattered body lay sprawled on the floor of his cell. "Kaiten Kenbu Rokuren," he said to Saitou, who stood cross-armed and glowering in the doorway.
"So we know what technique killed him," Saitou growled impatiently. "What I want to know is how the hell his murderer managed to get into his cell, kill him, and leave... all without making a sound or being seen... in broad daylight, and with more than the usual number of officers on duty." He fingered his jacket pocket absently, then turned away, muttering a curse.
"There's nothing more for us to do here," he said shortly. "We should get to the clinic before this seemingly invisible swordsman gets there first." Aoshi glanced once more at the lifeless, bloodied form on the floor and followed Saitou down the hall.
As Saitou and Aoshi walked out of the building and into the street, a man with long dark hair and wary eyes stepped away from the wall where he'd been leaning.
"I thought you guys would never finish in there," he said.
"Who the hell are you?" Saitou barked.
Katsu smirked slightly. "You don't remember me, Saitou Hajime? I'm hurt," he said.
Saitou pushed past Katsu. "I don't have time for games, ahou," he said.
"Don't you want to know where those thieves you're looking for are holed up?"
Saitou stopped in his tracks. "I remember you now... you're that moron Sagara's friend," he said irritably. "Well, say it. I don't have all day."
Katsu flicked the document scrap at Saitou. The inspector caught it as it fluttered through the air and examined it with narrow eyes. "Where did you get this?" he asked finally.
"My sources," Katsu said, his smirk widening. "The Takashi doujou apparently did quite a bit of business with the Kaiko-ya... or haven't your men made that connection yet?"
Takashi... Aoshi mused. A common enough name... but it seems so familiar to me...
Just as Katsu finished his last sentence, an officer raced up to Saitou with a packet of papers. "Fujita-san! We have a break in the Kaiko-ya murder! We need your permission to search --"
"-- the Takashi doujou... I know," Saitou replied with his usual superior air. "We'll need at least fifty men. Assemble them and have them meet me in front of Oguni Clinic in fifteen minutes."
"Hai, Fujita-san!" the officer said, saluting hastily before dashing into the police headquarters.
Saitou turned to Aoshi. "You're free to come if you'd like," he said with a feral smile. "You might get a shot at their leader... after I'm through with him, of course."
"I'll meet you at the clinic," Aoshi said. Saitou nodded and walked away, fingering the hilt of his katana.
Katsu chuckled briefly, shaking his head. "Sano was right... he is a bastard," Katsu said, glancing at Aoshi. "You're the Oniwabanshuu's okashira, right?"
Aoshi nodded. "How do you know of us?" he countered.
"I publish a newspaper... I make it my business to know things," Katsu said casually. "Like the fact that one of your onmitsu is training at Takashi doujou this very afternoon..."
Aoshi's eyes widened. Wait a minute... I do know that name... "Did you say... Takashi?" he said, his face paling.
"Yes, why?" Katsu replied.
"Take me there," the onmitsu ordered.
Katsu nodded and motioned for Aoshi to follow him. Gomen, Sano... I know you hate Shinomori Aoshi's guts... but I'll feel better knowing someone's helping you fight those bastards...
...............
Misao closed the door behind her and examined her surroundings. She appeared to be in a small, dimly lit meditation room... its floors bare except for two mats set in front of a low table. The table was set up as an altar for the dead, with an incense burner... a bowl of rice... and a sheathed sword on a black wooden stand. Misao slowly approached the table, her eyes riveted on the sword, which was shorter than a standard katana.
A kodachi?
She stood over the table, not wanting to disturb anything... and felt the cold shock of recognition hit her once more as she studied the sword. Her stomach churning, she slowly drew her own kodachi, holding it next to the sheathed blade on the stand.
The hilts were a perfect match.
Misao backed away a step, her blade's sheath falling out of her trembling fingers as Jiya's words came back to her --
// ... It used to have a twin... I'm not exactly sure what happened to it... Many times I had the privilege of watching Akihito-sama wield both in battle... //
Her mind reeling, she wondered aloud --
"Who the hell are these people?"
A savage voice replied --
"We are your death, Oniwabanshuu bitch."
Misao spun around to face a furious Toushi, who was standing by the now-open door, his swords drawn. He was wearing a variation on the Oniwabanshuu uniform, only in black, with red trim... and spattered with fresh blood.
Misao barely got her sword up in time to meet Toushi's attack. She managed to parry one blade... and Toushi twisted the other aside, punching her in the face. The force of the blow knocked Misao backwards, but she managed to stay on her feet.
"Pathetic," he sneered. "You aren't fit to wield that sword, little girl." He raised both swords as Misao watched him through narrowed eyes, clutching the kodachi close to her body. She tasted blood, but struggled against spitting it out, not wanting to show weakness to her opponent.
"Come," he said, his eyes glittering. "I'll make this quick."
Misao's temper flared at being so easily dismissed. He's right to taunt me, though... I'm definitely overmatched. But I won't just give up. I'm smaller than he is... maybe I can use that to my advantage... She spat out a mouthful of blood and took an offensive stance.
"Here I come," she said, charging. Rather than meeting Toushi head-on, she tried to duck underneath his flashing blades, aiming for his legs. But Toushi anticipated her move, twisting his body around to avoid her attack and ending up behind her.
"Haaah!" he yelled, aiming his next swordstroke at Misao's exposed back. Misao attempted to spin away... and tripped over her discarded sheath. Her clumsiness saved her from taking a hit -- Toushi's blades met empty air as she fell forward. Reflexively, she opened her hands to catch her fall, dropping her sword. It skittered to the side as she landed flat on her face.
"Chikusho!" Misao swore. I'm humiliating myself!
Toushi snorted, indicating he'd had a similar thought. Ignoring the pain and her bloodied nose, Misao grabbed for her weapon... but Toushi kicked it away.
"Playtime's over, Misao-chan," he said, sheathing his swords. He grabbed Misao's braid, yanking her back and up toward him. She cried out in pain as he twisted her head around and grabbed onto his hands, trying to break his grip. She felt her nails scrape against his wrist and dug them into his flesh as hard as she could. Toushi let out a surprised squawk and released her braid. Misao then sprang up toward him with a snarl, using the top of her head to butt him in the chin. Misao couldn't help smiling grimly as Toushi staggered backward, grimacing... though her own head was throbbing with the force of her blow.
"Don't underestimate me," she panted, throwing a Kecho Geri at his right shoulder. Her foot never met its target -- Toushi deflected her blow with almost casual ease, catching her foot and shoving Misao away. She landed hard on her backside. Before she had even caught her breath, Toushi was upon her, grabbing her by her shirt and pulling her off the floor.
"Bitch," he spat, slapping her so hard across the face that she saw stars, then delivering a crushing blow to her ribcage with an upthrust knee. "Ignorant brat," he taunted, pushing her against the wall as she gasped for air. "You never stood a chance against me."
Misao's eyes were tearing as she fought to regain her breath, her struggle made more difficult by Toushi's hands pressing against her throat. Gods... can't breathe... hurts... but I won't... I won't let him win!
As she tried to wedge one hand between Toushi's and force them away from her throat, she slid the other inside her sash, pulling out the three kunai she kept hidden there. With the last of her fading strength, she drove them into Toushi's abdomen. He howled, dropping her... and staggered away, clutching his stomach. Two of the kunai clattered to the floor, having only nicked him... but Misao had managed to push one deep into his lower abdomen, just below his ribcage. He dropped to one knee, his face tight with pain.
Misao drew in ragged gasps of air, her vision blurring as each breath sent stabs of agony through her abdomen. Dimly, she realized Toushi was steeling himself to pull out her kunai, and that she would only have a few seconds to attempt to escape. She struggled to her feet, head spinning and legs trembling. Gritting her teeth, she stumbled toward the door as Toushi wrenched the knife out with another anguished howl.
C'mon legs... work... just a little further... Misao yelped as Toushi tackled her just outside the open doorway, their momentum propelling them onto the floor of the training hall. He flipped her over, pinning her hands above her head, his flushed face contorted with rage.
"I'll kill you for that," he hissed, pressing his knee into her gut. "Slowly... and painfully... the way I almost killed your friend Sekihara..."
Misao coughed up blood... and spat it in Toushi's face. I've no strength left... but if I can get him angry enough, maybe he'll get careless... leave me an opening, she thought, knowing deep down that it was hopeless.
Toushi bared his teeth in a mirthless grin. "Keep it up, bitch," he said, grinding his knee into her ribcage. Misao cried out in agony, her legs flailing helplessly. She felt something in her chest gave way with an almost audible crack and a wave of sickening pain washed over her, blackening her vision. Just like that time with Kamatari...
Toushi emitted a low, cruel chuckle, his eyes glimmering. "Beg me for your life... and maybe I'll spare it," he said, holding her wrists in one hand and drawing his sword with the other.
Tears streaming down her face, Misao gave the only answer she felt she could --
"Go... to... hell," she gasped.
Toushi's evil grin widened. "You first," he said, raising his sword.
Misao closed her eyes and braced herself for the death-blow. Images of her family and friends floated through her mind...
Gomen, Aoshi-sama... Jiya... minna... I failed you all...
A single sob escaped her as Sano's smiling face rose before her... his brown eyes warm... his red silk headband fluttering in the breeze...
Sano... I'm so sorry... I'll never get to tell you...
A sharp command rang through the training hall --
"Enough, Toushi! Release her immediately!"
Toushi exhaled sharply, cursing... but sheathed his sword. Misao felt herself sinking into blessed darkness, finally overcome by the beating she'd taken. Before she lost consciousness, she heard Toushi argue --
"But obaa-san... I thought we agreed. She abandoned her blood and allied herself with our family's destroyer! Such betrayal deserves death!"
Misao passed out before she heard Unmei's cold, resolute reply --
"A traitor she may be, but she is still my granddaughter. And I will give her a chance to redeem herself."
...............
Sano skidded to a stop in front of the Takashi doujou gate. Che... locked, he thought, eyeing the lock. I could shatter that with my Futae no Kiwami... but I'd better save it. No telling what I'll be facing in there...
He scanned the fence for a good place to climb... and froze as an infuriatingly familiar calm voice intoned --
"You'd be better off waiting for the police, Sagara. They're on their way now."
Sano whirled to face Aoshi. "Fuck the police," he snapped. "Misao's in there, and I'm getting her out before things get ugly. So, either help me over this fence or get the hell out of my face."
Aoshi stepped between Sano and the fence. "Misao's safe as long as she doesn't know what's going on," Aoshi said, lowering his voice to a near-whisper.
"She won't be safe once the police show up!" Sano retorted in a furious whisper. "Those thieving scum'll take her hostage... or worse. For all we know, they have already." He clenched his fists. "Get out of my way, Shinomori... or I swear..."
Aoshi's eyes narrowed slightly. "That's your problem," he said, a hint of exasperation seeping into his even tone. "You go barging through life with no forethought... trusting your fists to make everything right."
"You know, I don't give a damn what you think of me," Sano said, not bothering to lower his voice. "You may be Misao's okashira... but you're not mine. So you can take your orders and opinions and shove 'em." He took a menacing step toward Aoshi. "Now are you gonna help me, or am I gonna have to rearrange your face?"
Aoshi stared silently at Sano for a few seconds, then linked his hands together and bent down on one knee.
"I'll catch up," he said.
Sano grinned triumphantly. He took a running leap toward Aoshi, planting one foot firmly into Aoshi's linked hands. The onmitsu lifted his arms high, sending Sano soaring through the air. Sano landed easily on top of the fence, balancing carefully as he lowered his jacket for Aoshi to grab onto. Sano was reminded of the time he and Katsu had performed a similar move during their abortive attack on the Meiji government.
No time for reminiscing now... Misao's in danger. I can feel it...
Aoshi nimbly swung himself on top of the fence, scanning the seemingly empty courtyard. It may seem empty... but I sense fighting ki nearby. Looks like Sagara might be right... they could already have been tipped off about the police...
He caught Sano's eye and motioned toward the doujou's training hall. Sano nodded, and both men dropped to the ground.
...............
Misao awakened with a muffled groan. Ohh... I feel like someone dropped Mt. Hiei on top of me... everything hurts...
She tried to move her hands, but discovered they were bound behind her. Her feet were bound as well, she realized, as she wriggled her legs experimentally. Even that slight movement set her entire body keening in pain. She groaned again, becoming aware that a wad of cloth was tightly bound between her lips. She opened her eyes, wincing at the late afternoon sunlight flooding the training hall.
So... Toushi didn't kill me after all. That's right... Unmei-sensei stopped him.
As her vision cleared, she could see her wizened old instructor sitting cross-legged across from her... watching her with those black, birdlike eyes. She held her breath and managed to roll herself up to a kneeling position, despite the merciless throbbing in her head and the burning in her chest. When her vision cleared again, she met Unmei's gaze directly. The old woman smiled sardonically.
"I'll remove the gag, Misao-chan," she said matter-of-factly. "But if you scream or shout for help, I'll have Toushi cut your tongue out. Do we have a deal?"
Misao glanced over at Toushi, who lounged against the far wall, giving her a poisonous glare. She felt both frightened and furious. So I'm to be a hostage? Well... if I go along with them, I might find out more about their organization... and how the hell they ended up with the twin to ojii-san's sword...
Misao nodded, earning a more benevolent smile from Unmei.
"Good girl," she said, removing Misao's gag, then returning to her seat. Misao feebly licked her dry lips, wishing for a cup of water. Unmei's eyes narrowed and she motioned to Toushi.
"Get her a cup of water, Toushi," she said imperiously. Toushi opened his mouth to argue, closed it, and stomped over to a bucket in the corner. He dipped a teacup into the bucket and brought it to Unmei. The old woman jerked her head toward Misao. With a sharp sigh, Toushi knelt next to Misao, tipping the cup to her lips. Misao trembled as she drank, expecting Toushi to strike her at any moment. She could feel the waves of rage emanating from him... rage that was only partially directed at her, she realized with a start. There's someone else... someone he's hated for a long time. Who could it be?
After she emptied the cup, Toushi set it down and returned to his position against the far wall. Unmei then reached behind her and pulled out what appeared to be Misao's kodachi, laying it carefully in front of her.
"So this is where it ended up," she said. "I should have guessed... though I couldn't be sure. I thought that Akihito might have given it to that bastard Shinomori Aoshi instead."
Misao studied Unmei silently. She tried to use the calming deep-breathing technique Aoshi had shown her last winter, but every inhale sent fresh stabs of agony through her abdomen, forcing her to return to short, shallow breaths. Shit... definitely a broken rib... more than one, from the feel of it. Even if I manage to slip free of these ropes, I'm in no shape for a fight...
"I apologize for Toushi's... rough... treatment of you," Unmei said, her sharp eyes softening slightly. "I wish there had been another way... but what's done is done." She pulled out the twin to Misao's kodachi and set it on the floor alongside the first sword.
"Surely you must be wondering who we are, Misao... and why we have this sword. I'll be happy to tell you, if you'd like. It's a fascinating story."
Misao glared at her instructor without replying. Unmei laughed delightedly.
"My! Such an evil look," she cackled. "You have the infamous Makimachi temper all right. Akihito would be pleased, I think."
"What do you know about my grandfather?" Misao finally burst out. "And why do you have his sword? Did you steal it?"
Unmei's smile turned wicked. "I suppose you could say that," she said. "Though I did keep it in the family. And as for how I know your grandfather... I was married to him. I fought beside him in the earliest days of the Oniwabanshuu. I birthed and raised his sons and kept his house and trained his onmitsu."
Misao could hardly hear Unmei's words through the roaring in her ears. "You... you're..." she said weakly. "No... it's impossible..."
"It's true, Misao," Unmei said quietly. "I am Takashi Unmei... wife of Makimachi Akihito..."
"Your grandmother..."
................
Aoshi and Sano crossed the empty courtyard... and suddenly found themselves surrounded by about a dozen masked men in black uniforms with red trim. "I'm sorry, but we're closed today," one of them said. "We'll have to ask you to leave."
"Heh. They dress like you, Shinomori," Sano said, cracking his knuckles in anticipation. "If they fight as half as good as you do, this'll be fun."
Ahou, Aoshi thought, his eyebrow twitching. He drew his kodachi, eyeing the ninja who had addressed them.
"I'm afraid we can't do that," Aoshi said politely.
"Then you'll die," the ninja said flatly, drawing his own katana.
"We'll see about that," Sano said gleefully as he charged toward the three men nearest him.
Five minutes later, only two of the twelve were left standing. Sano head-butted one of the two, who slumped to the ground. He glanced at Aoshi, who was locked in fierce combat with the ninja who had initially spoken with them.
"Oi, Shinomori, need any --" Sano began, then froze as he heard a familiar yell coming from the direction of the training hall.
"Misao!" Sano sprinted toward the building. Cursing under his breath, Aoshi took a deep breath and launched his succession technique --
"Kaiten Kenbu Rokuren!"
It was over in the time it took Aoshi to exhale, his blades tracing lightning-quick patterns over and through his victim. The soldier collapsed, blood spurting from dozens of wounds. "No... Toushi-sama... must... protect," he gurgled before his eyes glazed over. Feeling a small stab of regret, Aoshi flicked the blood from his swords and ran after Sano.
...............
"Uso!" Misao shrieked. "My grandmother is dead! She's been dead for years!"
"Who told you that... Okina?" Unmei said, her voice rising. "Then he's the liar! That old fool... he would do anything for Akihito-sama... and to protect his precious Aoshi... even lie to an innocent little girl."
Misao shook her head, feeling as if she might throw up. "Jiya has never lied to me," she said, her strident voice belieing the questions and doubts whirling through her head. "I know him. I believe in him, not you... a total stranger who pretended to be my friend... but is nothing more than a kidnapper and a thief!"
"How dare you, you little bitch!" Toushi shouted. He started toward Misao, but Unmei held up her hand.
"No, Toushi. She has a right to question me," the old woman said with a frown. She addressed Misao again. "Do you know who Toushi is, Misao? He's your cousin. Surely you must remember him a little... he often played with you when you were both very young."
Misao stared at the young man whose expression held such anger and hate it made her tremble. "I don't remember that," she said, but as the words left her mouth, she could hear her own voice rising from the dim recesses of her earliest childhood memories.
// ... Tou-nii! Tou-nii! Wait for Misao-chan ... //
// ... Tou-nii! Misao-chan picked these for you... pretty, ne? //
// ... Tou-nii... we should be in bed... Hannya-kun'll be mad ... //
She gasped, remembering the gruffly friendly dark-haired boy who faintly resembled the seething onmitsu standing nearby. "Tou-nii?" she asked incredulously. "You're Tou-nii? I remember now..."
"So do I," an icy voice interjected.
Misao twisted her head toward the familiar voice, her whole face alight with joy at the sight of the two men framed in the now-open doorway.
"Sano! Aoshi-sama!" she cried, straining toward them.
"Misao!" Sano shouted, clenching his fists as he took in the ropes that bound her and the bruises and dried blood that marred her lovely face. He had never felt such elemental fury. That black-haired bastard hurt her... how dare he touch her... I'll tear him apart!
In the blink of an eye, Toushi was standing next to Misao, pressing the flat of his unsheathed sword against her neck. "One more step, Zanza, and I'll cut her throat open," he said flatly.
"Teme," Sano snarled, enraged. "You fucking coward! Hiding behind a hostage!"
"Sagara!" Aoshi's voice was whip-sharp. "Control yourself."
"Fuck you, Shinomori!" Sano shouted, turning to the calm-faced onmitsu standing beside him. "Look at Misao... at what they've done to her! Don't you even care?"
Misao felt her heart swell with feeling for the frustrated street fighter. "Sano," she entreated. "Please... I'm all right... don't worry about me."
Sano stopped his tirade and stared at Misao, who was looking at him with a a mixture of fear and concern. But there was something else in her eyes... a tenderness that warmed him from the inside out. No one's ever looked at me like that before...
Aoshi interrupted Sano's brief reverie. "Let Misao go," he said firmly to Unmei. "It's me you want."
"Huh?" Both Sano and Misao gaped at Aoshi, whose face remained unreadable.
Unmei regarded Aoshi silently for a full minute. Then she threw back her head and laughed... a long, evil laugh that sent chills up Misao's spine.
"Yes," she hissed, fixing her hard, spiderlike eyes on Aoshi. "It's you I want, Shinomori Aoshi. For 13 years I've waited for this moment to take my revenge... to make you pay for the pain and humiliation you caused my son and my family. But I'm afraid I can't release her. She's my assurance that you'll stay to meet your fate."
Aoshi's eyes narrowed to slits of blue fire. "You would use your own granddaughter as a pawn?" he said, his tone dripping with contempt. "I would expect no less from a woman who has betrayed everything her husband stood for."
"Shut up!" Toushi shouted. "You're the traitor here, you son of a bitch! You destroyed my father... disgraced my grandmother... ruined my family and stole the Makimachi birthright!"
Aoshi regarded him coolly. "You must be Makimachi Taki's son Toushi," he said evenly. "You look... and sound... like your father." He glanced at Unmei. "So, Takashi Unmei, what lies have you been feeding your grandson these past 13 years? The same lies you tried to feed the Oniwabanshuu about what an honorable warrior Makimachi Taki was?"
Misao felt her stomach quiver at Aoshi's scathing tone. Taki... I think I remember him, too. He was my father's brother... and Tou-nii's father. But he disappeared when I was very young, taking Tou-nii with him. No one ever really told me what happened... and I was so little that I eventually forgot about both of them...
"Silence!" Unmei growled through gritted teeth, her eyes flashing. "I've told Toushi nothing but the truth... which is why his is the hand that will deliver my vengeance. It's his lifelong wish to repay you for the misery you left him in after you robbed his father of his birthright."
"You keep using those words... 'robbed'... 'birthright,' " Aoshi said calmly. "You've obviously forgotten it was your own husband who chose to deprive Taki of his 'rightful' place. He's the one who chose Okina to lead the Oniwabanshuu when he was on his deathbed."
"Bah! Anyone with eyes could see you were the one who put him up to that," Unmei scoffed. "You hardly left his side in the weeks before his death... and Akihito's mind was failing then. He would have easily been persuaded by you."
"If that's so, why didn't I tell him to choose me from the first?" Aoshi said. Misao could swear she heard a touch of bitter amusement in his voice.
"Because the rest of the Oniwabanshuu knew Akihito was fading... they would've questioned his sanity if he named a 15-year-old stripling as okashira," Unmei retorted. "Coming from Okina, no one would question it. Your plot worked beautifully, Shinomori... and it cost my son his honor and, eventually, his life."
Toushi dropped the sword he was holding on Misao and grabbed the twin kodachi from the floor, unsheathing them in the process. He then stepped forward, assuming a fighting stance. "I'll make you pay for every day of misery you caused my family," he said. "I will make you beg for mercy... the way you made my father beg 13 years ago. And like you, Shinomori Aoshi... I'll show none."
Misao's eyes widened. Beg... for mercy? And Aoshi-sama refused him? That's not right... the Aoshi-sama I knew then would've never refused someone mercy... especially the son of the Oniwabanshuu's founder... no matter what the circumstances.
"Oi, Shinomori," Sano said in an undertone. "What the hell are they blabbing about? Don't tell me you killed that guy's father?"
"No," Aoshi said, turning his gaze to Misao. The sight of her pale, battered face... the sound of her shallow, ragged breathing... made him yearn to draw his swords and slice Toushi in half.
No... I mustn't lose my composure. It's the only advantage I have right now. Takashi Toushi's obviously the one who used the Kodachi Nitou Ryuu succession technique on one of his own men... which means we're likely evenly matched in terms of sword skill. But his lack of emotional mastery could prove his undoing...
Misao locked eyes with Aoshi... and was shocked to see something akin to fury lurking in their blue-gray depths. He's angrier than I've ever seen him... though he hides it well, as always. Is it because of me? Or because of the accusations from Unmei-sensei and Toushi
"Misao," Aoshi said, his gentle voice a sharp contrast to the cold tone he'd been using. "Gomen nasai. It seems I've been the cause of more pain for you."
"Iya," Misao said, her throat thickening. "It was my fault, Aoshi-sama. I should have come to you first." She swallowed, and continued in a rush --
"Aoshi-sama... what's going on here? What does Unmei-sensei mean, saying you destroyed her son?"
Unmei sneered at him. "Tell her, Shinomori," she said. "Tell your little disciple how you really earned your title." She turned to Misao. "Your beloved Aoshi-sama may have told you he was appointed okashira without incident... but it's not true. I challenged Okina's decision... as did my son, Taki."
Misao watched as Aoshi's face darkened. She felt as if someone had punched her in the gut again. She's telling the truth? All these years... Aoshi-sama and Okina kept this from me? Deceived me?
"What she says is true," Aoshi said, his eyes never leaving Misao's. "As Akihito's only living son, Taki insisted it was his right to lead the Oniwabanshuu. He was a relatively skilled swordsman... probably as good as your father was. But he was... wild. Undisciplined. Self-centered. Because of these things, your grandfather felt he wouldn't make a good leader."
Unmei snorted. "Akihito always favored your father," she said to Misao. Her fierce gaze softened briefly. "Understandably so, since Sorata was the eldest... and a fine warrior." Her mouth hardened again. "But that favoritism blinded him to Taki's true nature."
Misao felt as if her body had turned to water and her mind to fog. She stared numbly at Aoshi as he started to reply... then stopped as they heard a furious pounding outside --
"Open up, Takashi Toushi!" someone shouted. "This is the police! You have two minutes to open this gate... or we're coming in after you. Which will it be?"
"Dammit!" Toushi roared, turning to Misao. "Well, they're not getting me without a fight." He pulled Misao roughly to her feet. "Obaa-san, cut her feet loose... I'll use her to get us past the police."
"You will do no such thing, Toushi," Unmei said calmly.
Toushi stared at his grandmother incredulously. "But obaa-san..." he protested.
Unmei gazed at him, her face warm with affection. "Go, my grandson," she whispered. "You can sneak past those inept fools. Let me handle the police. Better you survive to take our revenge at another time."
"Obaa-san!" Toushi whispered, gripping the old woman's shoulders.
"Maa, maa... no fussing now," she said briskly. "Go... remember... I'm counting on you!"
Toushi sped toward the door to the meditation room and disappeared before anyone could react. Aoshi glanced at Misao, his eyes flickering with uncertainty.
Unmei cackled. "You'd better hurry, okashira," she said derisively. "My Toushi is a speedy one... you'll lose him if you don't leave now."
Aoshi's mouth tightened. "Take care of Misao, Sagara," he said quietly.
"Aa," the fighter replied soberly.
"No! Aoshi-sama..." Misao cried, tears springing to her eyes. "You don't know what he's like! His hatred of you... it gives him such strength..." I'm so afraid he'll...
Aoshi turned to her, a slight smile on his face. Misao's heart skipped a beat as he approached her.
"I sought strength from hatred once... and Himura defeated me," he said, his eyes locked on hers. "This time, I will draw my strength from the same source as he." I will protect her, Sorata-san... this time, I will *not* fail...
"Aoshi-sama..." she said softly, a lone tear sliding down her cheek. Aoshi brushed it away with his fingertips.
"Misao... I'm sorry about that night in Kyoto," he whispered. "I wanted you to know that... just in case I don't return..."
"No!" She shook her head emphatically, ignoring the pain it caused her. What does he mean? Why is he telling me this now? What does he want from me?
Distraught and confused, Misao reached for the first response that came to her mind --
"I forgive you, Aoshi-sama," she said, forcing a smile, though her eyes continued to glisten. "Go now... before you lose him. We can talk more when you return."
Aoshi nodded, swiftly crossing the room and disappearing through the far doorway.
-- End of Chapter 17 --