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 22 -- Arrivals and Departures
Sanosuke stepped back to survey the framework of what would soon be a row of shops. He grinned at Genji, who handed him a rag to wipe the sweat from his face."Not bad," Sano said, swabbing his face with the cloth.
"Nope," his beaming friend agreed. "Doumo, Sano... we've been able to take twice as many jobs since you starting working with us. With all this extra work, shutting down for the winter won't be a hardship."
Sano's grin grew wider. "I should be thanking you. It was about time I got a real job," he said with a wink. "Paying off my Akabeko tab last month wiped my winnings out... and I never had much luck at dice anyway."
Genji chuckled. "You were born lucky at other things," he smirked, jerking his thumb in the direction of the street, where they could see Misao running toward them.
"Aa," Sano agreed heartily, slapping Genji on the back. "I'll be back in a minute."
Sano picked up his jacket and shrugged into it as he jogged toward Misao, his eyes narrowing as she slowed to a walk, clutching her side. It had been more than a month since the trouble with the Takashi family, and both Megumi and Misao insisted that Misao had fully recovered from her injuries. But Sano still found himself hovering protectively over Misao, scolding her when he caught her hefting a heavy rice bundle... or sparring too enthusiastically with Yahiko... or performing her ninja acrobatics to amuse the kids.
Che... I'm acting more like Kenshin every day, he thought ruefully. Love does strange things to a man...
As he met Misao in the middle of the street, she grabbed his hands and squeezed them, her eyes shining with excitement. "Sano... it's time!" she said breathlessly.
"The babies...?" he gasped. Misao nodded, pulling him after her.
"C'mon..."
Sano shouted an apology back to Genji, who waved him away. "Heiki," he shouted back. "I'll see you tomorrow!"
Sano and Misao set off for the doujou at a brisk jog. "Isn't it still a little early?" he asked anxiously. "Will Jou-chan be okay?"
Misao nodded. "Kaoru-san's struggling a bit, but Megumi-sensei says she'll be fine," she said. "But still... it's hard to hear her crying out from the birthing pains and not worry. Himura's going crazy, too... Genzai-sensei told him he had to wait outside, and he's been pacing himself into the ground ever since."
"So... you want me to help distract him," Sano said with a brief grin as they approached the doujou's gate.
"Not just that," Misao admitted as they entered the yard. "I need to you distract me, too." She embraced Sano fiercely, murmuring into his chest --
"I'm scared, Sano... what if something --"
"Shh," he whispered soothingly as he held her. "Jou-chan's one of the strongest women I know. She'll pull through. And those babies... they're a mix of Kenshin and Jou-chan. How can they do anything but survive?"
He could feel Misao's smile against his bare skin. "You're right," she said, reluctantly pulling away from him, but not before giving him an extra squeeze and a murmured --
"Aishiteru."
Sano kissed her forehead. "Tell me what you need me to do, kirei, and I'll do it," he said, running his fingertips down her jawline.
"I'll make us some lunch... you go see to Himura," Misao said, heading for the kitchen.
.....................
A thin wail jerked Sano out of his fitful sleep. He jumped off the porch and sprinted toward the room where Kaoru had been sequestered with the doctors since before lunchtime the previous day. The sky was beginning to blush with the first faint light of dawn. I've been asleep for a few hours, then -- but where are...
His grogginess disappeared as he caught sight of the small group huddled outside Kaoru's room. Sano's stomach twisted. "Oi, what happened?" he said gruffly, trying to mask his sudden fear.
The crowd broke apart, and Sano sighed with relief when he caught sight of the beaming faces of Tae, Tsubame, Yahiko, Yutarou and Ayame. He smiled in return, scratching the back of his head.
"So... it's done," he said.
Yahiko slapped Sano on the back. "Baka," he grinned. "It's been done. Kenshin just brought the babies out for us to see... a boy and a girl... they're kinda wrinkled and ugly like their busu mother --"
Tsubame swatted Yahiko's arm. "Yahiko-kun!" she admonished, making everyone laugh.
"Fine, fine... they're kinda cute, okay?" Yahiko grumbled, his cheeks reddening as he rubbed his arm sullenly.
"They already have hair," Tae marveled. "Red like their father's. It's hard to tell what color their eyes will be, but..."
"Damn, I miss everything," Sano said, sulking for a moment before asking --
"Where's Misao?"
"Kaoru-san asked to see her," Tsubame said as Yutarou teased Yahiko in the background. "She's been in there awhile..."
Just then the door slid open, emitting a procession that included Misao, Genzai, Megumi and Tatsuya. Kenshin stood at the door, thanking each doctor in turn. He clasped Megumi's hand with a grateful smile.
"I can't thank you enough, Megumi-dono, for taking such good care of Kaoru all these weeks. I'm truly in your debt."
Megumi smiled as she squeezed Kenshin's hand, then released it. "Seeing those babies safely into this world was enough payment," she said. "Arigatou, Ken-san, for allowing me the privilege."
Sano couldn't help grinning at the exchange, especially when he caught Tatsuya closely watching the two with a possessive gleam in his eye. That must be how I look whenever Shinomori's around, he thought uneasily, turning his attention to Misao. He was stunned to see her wiping her eyes on her yukata sleeve.
"Doushita, Misao?" he asked, taking her gently by her shoulders.
She raised her tear-streaked face to his, and the glow he saw there nearly knocked the wind from him. "Nothing," she said softly. "It was just... they're so... beautiful. Perfect. And Kaoru-san... she wants to name the girl... Misako. For me."
Sano wrapped Misao in his arms, his love for her flooding his being with tender warmth. She snuggled close to him, murmured his name sleepily... then went limp in his arms. Alarmed, Sano looked up at Megumi, who wore a small smile.
"The poor girl hasn't slept all night," she explained. "You should probably put her to bed."
"Aa. Oyasumi," Sano said distractedly, gathering Misao in his arms and heading for her room as the others made their way toward the front gate, exchanging sly grins and knowing looks.
.....................
Misao woke just before lunch, rolling over and stretching luxuriously. Kenshin had insisted she get as much sleep as she needed, and that she take her time getting up. "We'll all be fine, Misao-dono," he said, beaming as he held his tiny newborn son and daughter. "We have plenty of help coming in the morning... so don't worry about us..."
Misao grinned as she remembered Kenshin's proud expression... Kaoru's tired smile... the adoring way she looked at her babies. They have reason to be proud, Misao thought, remembering the powerful emotions she'd felt as Kaoru had handed her newborn daughter to Misao, saying --
... Misao-chan... having you here all these months has been a blessing for our family... and has made you part of us forever. So I want to name her Misako... to honor that bond ...
Misao felt tears sting her eyes at the memory. After the disaster with Unmei and Toushi, she'd been depressed for awhile... focusing on what she'd lost in her life rather than what she had now. But the day she had been released from the clinic, Aoshi had walked her back to the doujou, and she was met at the gate by Sano, Kenshin and the children. Kaoru was there, too, despite her discomfort and the effort it had taken her just to walk outside. She smiled as she remembered the joy she'd felt, and vowed again -- as she had that day -- never to think of herself an orphan again.
She rose and dressed quickly, leaving her braid hanging down her back rather than pinning it up. As she headed for the kitchen, she caught sight of Aoshi talking with Kenshin in the front yard. Misao's eyes widened as she saw that Aoshi was holding Kintou. Keeping to the shadows, she crept closer to observe them.
"He's about a year old now?" Aoshi asked as Kintou gurgled and tugged on Aoshi's shirt.
"Just about," Kenshin said. Misao couldn't see his face, but she could hear the touch of amusement in the swordsman's voice. "He took his first steps last week... soon he'll be giving Kaoru and me a lot more exercise. He seems to be curious about everything..."
"An explorer, are you?" Aoshi asked the baby solemnly. Kintou squealed and grabbed a handful of Aoshi's bangs, pulling hard.
"He has... quite a grip," the okashira said, wincing.
Misao doubled over, shaking violently as she struggled not to laugh aloud. Kenshin chuckled audibly, gently extricating Kintou's chubby hands.
"Sorry about that," Kenshin said as he took Kintou from Aoshi. "He's fascinated by hair..."
"Indeed he is," Misao said, stepping from the shadows, her eyes dancing merrily. "He's done that to me more times than I can count. Ohayou, Aoshi-sama."
"Ohayou," Aoshi replied in his calm way, though Misao could see the faint smile he wore. Kenshin bowed to them as he and Kintou took their leave.
Misao escorted Aoshi into the tiny sitting room where the Himuras received guests, then left to prepare the tea. It was a ritual that had become familiar over the past few weeks... one that she and Aoshi had often shared in Kyoto as well. It made her feel homesick for the Aoiya and her family there, though she wasn't quite ready to leave Tokyo yet.
Aoshi-sama seems different today, Misao thought as they sat sipping their tea in silence. It wasn't just his uncharacteristic familiarity with Kenshin -- there was something important he needed to say to her. She could feel it in the air between them.
"Misao," Aoshi said finally, setting his cup down. "I am returning to Kyoto tomorrow."
So that's it. Misao lowered her eyes, bracing herself for the next question.
"Will you be coming with me?" he asked.
Misao raised her eyes to Aoshi's, her voice steady as she answered --
"No."
Aoshi's face betrayed nothing. "I see," he said.
Misao's hands tightened around her knees. In all the weeks since Aoshi had regained consciousness, they had yet to address the issue of Sano. Several times, Misao had worked up the courage to initiate such a conversation... only for her resolve to crumble in the face of her fear of upsetting the peace she'd finally achieved with her okashira.
Besides, what can I tell Aoshi-sama? It's not like Sano and I have any plans for the future...
A prickle of irritation accompanied Misao's thoughts on that matter. She and Sano hadn't been spending much time together since her release from the clinic. Between his new job and her duties at the doujou, she only saw him in the evenings... and then only for a few hours before he would head home, pleading exhaustion. And when they were together, he treated her with obvious affection... but also with the utmost restraint, stealing no more than a chaste kiss at the end of their evenings together. As much as Misao appreciated his efforts to be more respectable, she ached for the days when both of them were competely unguarded with each other... exploring each other's minds and bodies with unbridled relish.
Maybe I'm wrong... maybe his interest in me is cooling, and that's why he's acting this way.
Misao closed her eyes tightly against the growing fear she hadn't yet voiced. What if... Sano doesn't want me anymore? I love him so much... but if he doesn't love me... I just can't. I can't go through this again. Maybe I should go back to Kyoto...
"Is something wrong, Misao?"
Misao's eyes flew open at Aoshi's gently spoken question. "N- not at all," she said, forcing a smile. "I'm still tired from last night, I guess."
Aoshi studied Misao closely. He knew she was lying... and normally his nature would be to let her be until she was ready to talk to him. But he was running out of time -- there were matters in Kyoto that needed his attention. And he didn't want to leave Misao like this, with so much unsaid between them. He was done with watching and waiting for things to unfold.
"Misao... tell me why you're staying in Tokyo," he said.
Misao's breath caught. "Ano...I..." she stammered. "Eeto... Himura and Kaoru-san..."
"No," Aoshi said quietly. "The real reason."
Misao swallowed, her face flaming. "I'm... staying because of Sano," she admitted shakily. Giving herself a mental shake, she straightened her posture and continued in a stronger voice --
"I love Sano, Aoshi-sama. I'm staying to be with him."
Aoshi felt a curious, bittersweet mixture of relief and loss. "I suspected as much," he said.
Both fell silent. Aoshi contemplated a point on the wall just behind Misao, trying to find the right words to properly convey his hopes and fears for her. Misao finally lifted her gaze from the tatami underneath her and tried to meet Aoshi's eyes, which were obscured by his thick bangs.
"Aoshi-sama... gomen nasai," she said tremulously.
Aoshi's eyes narrowed. "What do you have to be sorry for?" he said, a bit more sharply than he'd intended. Misao cringed. Cursing himself silently, he continued in a more mild tone --
"Misao... I won't pretend to be happy about your choice. Sagara is beneath you in many ways... a fact of which he is well aware."
"I know that," Misao snapped. "And I don't care. To hell with class and background and what people think... we love each other and we'll make our own way --" She paused as the second part of what Aoshi had said hit her. "What do you mean... he's aware?" she asked, her face darkening. "You've already spoken with him about this? Without talking to me first?"
"He came to see me while I was in the hospital," Aoshi said, inwardly preparing himself for Misao's impending tantrum. "He made his intentions toward you very clear... and I merely reminded him of his place and the obstacles he would need to overcome to win your consent."
"He made his intentions..." Misao repeated, her mind whirling with a mix of fury at Aoshi's meddling and astonished glee at the meaning behind it. Sano intends to marry me! That's why the job... the sudden distance... he's trying to prove he's a worthy suitor... and that he'll be a good husband to me...
A worthy suitor...
"Aoshi no baka!" she cried suddenly, springing to her feet so quickly she knocked her teacup over. Her face was crimson with rage. "So this is your doing! You made Sano feel like a loser... like he doesn't deserve me. Like I'm some kind of princess or something that he has to treat with deference and work like a dog to support! Who the hell do you think you are, to treat him that way?"
Aoshi watched, outwardly unmoved by Misao's rage, though his brain was working furiously to come up with a defense for his actions. Misao advanced a step, resting her fisted hands on her hips and tossing her head defiantly.
"You may be my okashira," she hissed. "But you're not my father. You have no say in whom I choose to marry."
"Perhaps not," Aoshi said placidly. "But Okina is your guardian... and he heeds my council above all others when it comes to matters concerning you." A note of steely command entered his voice. "Now sit down. I'm not done speaking with you."
"Go to hell," Misao spat, spinning on her heel and storming toward the door. With cat-like speed and grace, Aoshi rose, grabbing her arm as he blocked her path.
"Please," he added.
Misao glared at Aoshi. She could see the plea in his eyes, even as he tightened his grip on her arm. Damn him... he's the most frustrating, infuriating, confusing man I've ever known... why I love him, I'll never guess...
She slowly returned to her place, picking up her cup and setting it back on the tray before kneeling before Aoshi again. The onmitsu struggled not to show his amusement as he observed Misao's sulky, defiant countenance... a look he'd seen her wear a thousand times in the time they'd known each other.
"Misao, I have only your best interests at heart," Aoshi said gently. "You must know that."
Misao raised an eyebrow at him. "Do you?" she inquired.
"Of course," he said. "You are my family, after all... I love you as I would my own flesh and blood."
Misao gaped at Aoshi as her mind registered his words. "You... love me?" she squeaked.
Aoshi's eyes glimmered. "I've always loved you, little one," he murmured. "Since the day you were born. Surely you know that as well."
Misao's throat was so clotted with emotion that she could hardly speak. "But... you never said..." she choked. "I mean..."
"It is... hard... for me," Aoshi said slowly. "I was raised to believe such feelings were weakness... something that should be tucked deep inside and never spoken of." He trembled slightly as he continued --
"And my silence was partly because I was so afraid to hurt you. I knew how you felt about me... and I didn't want to encourage what I thought was a youthful crush. And later... when I realized... I didn't want to break your heart." His tone turned regretful. "But I did anyway..."
"Oh, Aoshi-sama," Misao whispered, tears rolling down her cheeks. Aoshi opened his arms and Misao hurled herself into his embrace, emptying her heart of its last vestiges of grief over her lost love. Aoshi lay his cheek on top of her head, murmuring --
"Misao... forgive me... for not loving you the way you wanted. And for leading you to believe I felt nothing for you at all. That was a lie..."
"I'm the one who should be sorry," Misao said, her voice muffled against Aoshi's shirt. "Whatever you feel for me is enough. It should have been then... and it is now..."
She gulped back another sob, adding in a small voice --
"I love you, Aoshi-sama..."
Aoshi kissed the top of her head, smiling into her hair. After a few more moments, Misao self-conciously drew away from him, wiping her eyes on her sleeve.
"I should be going," Aoshi said, rising and extending a hand to Misao. "Are you sure you don't want to return with me?"
Misao nodded. "I'm still needed here," she said as Aoshi helped her to her feet. "Tell Jiya not to worry... I'll be home before the first snowfall."
Aoshi studied Misao, his lips twitching briefly. "Is there anything else I should tell Okina?" he asked.
Misao blushed. "Not yet," she said. "I'll be in touch."
.....................
Sano trudged toward the public bathhouse, feeling the full weight of his fatigue for the first time that day. He'd only slept a couple of hours before Genji woke him for work, but Sano had cheerfully refused his friend's offer of another day off to recover from the vigil he'd kept the night before. Genji had gone out of his way to convince his father to hire Sano, and Sano wasn't about to take further advantage of Genji's generosity.
Too bad he woke me up when he did, though, Sano thought with a lascivious grin. He'd been having another delicious dream about Misao... standing naked under a waterfall... her hair loose and flowing around her body, mingling with the pounding water. She'd caught him spying on her and smiled, holding out a slender, dripping hand...
Chikusho! Shouldn't think about that before a bath... it could get embarrassing...
Sano managed to calm himself by the time he reached the bathhouse. He whistled cheerfully as he scrubbed the day's sweat from his skin, eagerly anticipating the meal Misao would have waiting for him when he reached the doujou. He dressed carefully in the new clothes he'd bought the week before -- a chestnut gi patterned with faint gray lines and white hakama bordered with black. He normally went for flashier colors, but the seller talked Sano into the more sedate gi, saying its color deepened the brown of Sano's eyes. "Your lady will be very impressed," the proprietor said, elbowing him playfully.
Sano continued to whistle as he headed for the doujou, but his thoughts took a more serious turn. During the weeks since Misao's recovery, he'd made good on his promise to show Misao he was capable of being industrious and well-mannered. He hadn't missed a day of work... he had cut back his evening activities to once a week or so... and he hadn't done more than kiss Misao at the end of their dates, despite his ever-present, aching desire for her. His self-restraint had resulted in a not-wholly unpleasant side effect -- he dreamed of Misao almost every night, acting out in imagination what he denied himself in reality. Though he often woke up frustrated... and sometimes sheepish in his body's inadvertant release... he figured it was better than the alternative.
I can do this... it won't be much longer. I'll have enough set aside by the summer to ask for her hand...
But the months until then stretched before Sano like a colorless landscape... an endless succession of hard work, friendly dinners, careful conversation and restrained kisses while he constantly battled his libido. He grew even more tired just thinking about it.
Then he thought of Misao, whose cheerful manner and ardent attention had appeared to flag somewhat over the past week. At first, he'd worried that her thoughts were turning back to Shinomori Aoshi, especially since she'd been spending an hour or so with him every morning drinking tea -- or so she said. But when he'd angrily asked her a few nights ago whether that grumpy old bastard was looking for something sweeter than tea from her, she'd laughed at him.
"Don't be jealous," she'd said, tweaking his nose playfully. "You know you're the only one for me, tori-chan."
She'd kissed him then in a way that left little doubt as to the truth of her statement. It had been the closest he'd come to breaking his pact with himself, so fierce was his hunger for her. So he deliberately lost his footing on the riverbank and fell in head-first, the chilly autumn waters effectively dousing his burning lust. And Misao had laughed so hard that he'd dragged her in after him to get even with her. He chuckled to himself, remembering the way they'd wrestled and spashed each other, shrieking like children. It had been the most fun they'd had together in weeks.
But after that, Sano had renewed his vow to keep things chaste between them. He thought she would appreciate his effort to be a gentleman... but sometimes he caught her looking at him wistfully after he kissed her good-night... like she was expecting something different.
Something more...
He shook his head briskly. Nah... that's wishful thinking. She hasn't said anything... and I know Misao. She would tell me if I wasn't pleasing her...
He hopped over the back gate and strode toward the kitchen to see if he could help Misao with the cooking. He waved at Kenshin, who was taking down the last of the laundry.
"Ah, Sano," Kenshin said, smiling broadly. "Misao-dono is expecting you. She's..."
"...in the kitchen," Sano finished with a smile. "Thanks, Kenshin."
He made his way there, lingering in the doorway for a moment to admire the way the late afternoon sun outlined Misao's slender, kimono-clad form as she chopped a daikon. She set the knife down and stretched, arching her back and pushing her breasts into prominent view. She's not as... well-endowed... as the fox-lady, but there's plenty enough there to please me, Sano thought with an appreciative leer. He remembered how he had touched Misao's bare, wet breasts in his dream the night before... how they had felt and smelled and tasted as he'd knelt before her and --
Gods... get a hold of yourself, baka-yarou!
Sano swallowed heavily -- and realized that during his reverie, Misao had turned around... and was now eyeing him greedily, as if he were the next item on her menu. Her eyes met his... her gaze a hot blaze of blue that made Sano think of a bonfire at its peak. Her luscious full lips parted, her tongue flickering out to moisten them. Sano felt his own lips curl back from his teeth in anticipation.
They remained that way for one heady instant, reveling in the awesome sensuality that pulsed in the air around them. Then, as one, they crossed the room and met in its center, joining in a frenzy of devouring mouths and groping hands. Sano dimly remembered the open doorway... pulling Misao along with him, he backstepped toward the shoji, then reached behind him and roughly yanked it shut, his mouth never leaving hers.
Misao pushed Sano against the closed door as she delved into his mouth with renewed vigor. Desire, thick and warm as fresh honey, spread from her loins to her toes, then back up to the roots of her hair. Oh, Sano... how I've missed this... She moaned as Sano ran his hands over her clothed breasts, cupping and squeezing them gently... then repeated the action with her buttocks. She pressed closer to him, wanting more of him, needing it like she'd never needed anything else in her life.
"Sano no baka," she growled as he kissed her neck.
"Mm?" It didn't even occur to Sano to protest as he nibbled the soft, fragrant skin at the base of her throat.
"Letting... Aoshi-sama... get to you... like that," Misao scolded breathlessly as Sano's hands wandered over her back. "Denying me... us... this..."
"I know," Sano agreed, his tone gruffly apologetic. "But Misao... I want to be a better --"
"There's no one better than you," Misao interjected in a tone that brooked no argument. "You don't need to change for me... I love you as you are."
She kissed him before he could reply. After several minutes more, as Sano was fumbling with Misao's obi, they both heard Kenshin calling them --
"Misao-dono? Sano?"
Reluctantly, the couple separated... Misao cursing so colorfully that Sano burst out laughing.
"Shit... I'm probably a mess," Misao muttered, finger-combing her bangs while Sano straighted her obi, tickling her ribs playfully.
"Not really," Sano said, grinning as Misao slapped his hands away. "You look well-kissed, is all... and Kenshin's a discreet kind of guy. He won't mention it if you don't."
"But what about dinner?" Misao wailed.
Sano winked. "There's always the Akabeko," he said. "We can bring back takeout for everyone. Less work for you... and less clean-up afterward." He eyed her meaningfully.
Misao responded with a slow, sensual smile. "There is that," she said, her body continuing to throb with arousal as she realized what Sano was intimating. Yes, Sano... it's time. Past time...
"Shall we go?" he asked, holding out a hand to her. Misao took it as Sano slid the door open, and they stepped into the waning sunlight together.
-- End of Chapter 22 --