Chapter 10
Story by: Cessy Angel
"Brother! Please don't go!"
"Aoshi, I'll come back, I promise."
"Yushiro... Brother..."
Alone, again. All alone. But it wouldn't be that way for long. His throat ached, his hands stained with the lives of many men. But what was he to do? An unknown feeling lay in his chest, almost unsupportable, but why now? Because someone he truly cared about was in danger? It couldn't be, how could he care, how could he care if he had no emotions?
The building was deserted. No sign of Kanryu. Same as for all of his men. The absence of so many people made Aoshi a bit edgy. Although from his past experience, Kanryu could always go along with old methods. But... what if it wasn't only Kanryu?
"..."
He had passed two hallways, and as he continued walking, he couldn't get off the feeling that he was being watched, something he utterly despised. Yet he continued, and his hands grew tighter around the kodachis' handles.
"So you came."
The unknown voice
made Aoshi turn around in an instant. No one. But he was certain that he
had heard someone's voice. More likely a man's. That only made things worst.
If it wasn't Kanryu, who was it?
"Who's there?" His voice echoed throughout the seemingly empty building, while he kept turning, listening. The light grew dimer, and the chandelier rustled by the wind coming from the front door.
No answer.
His patience lay unmoved by the other's silence. He turned around again, and again. Still, no answer. Even though he lost no patience, his curiosity grew, asking questions at each second passing by. Who is this man? Did he take Misao? If he did...
The lids of his eyes closed for a minute, and only for a brief moment, he could feel Misao's energy flow throughout his body, but the feeling passed away quickly. His senses got sharper, cutting through the air, feeling with his own soul the energy flowing around him.
I know she's here.
He just knew it so badly, and so badly his chest hurt from not knowing
where exactly she was, not knowing if she was alive, or barely alive, it
hurt him immensely, especially mentally. Cold hands gripped the handle
of his sword as he trust his senses towards the one he was supposed to
save.
I can hear footsteps...
How long had it been since she had heard the sound of those footsteps? Indeed, she knew them well. The same ones that came back at the Aoiya every night, passing near her room. The softness of his effort not to make any noise.
Misao sighed. Begging to herself he would come save her. Yet the words would not come out of mouth. She only wanted to cry out to him so badly. Every creak in the floor made her wince, he was coming closer to her.
Her lower lip began to tremble. Now there were two pairs of footsteps. One was light, and made no noise, while the other one, probably on the other end of the house, were heavy and hasten.
Though all of this,
she did not notice that the being who had fallen from the stairs, was now
completely void of energy, and he gave away his last breath, his body growing
cold, his los of blood already scattered all around the cold floor.
Kimweri hurried, he didn't want to miss his guest's face when he saw his beloved Misao in the grips on his work, her body covered in blood. No, of course he wouldn't miss the moment. He was already thinking of what he would do, either attack Aoshi in his gaze of astonishment, or laugh at him and then fight fairly.
He grinned. Both ideas seemed good to him, but he would chose the second one. Taking his time in breaking the warrior's mental state before he would take his life. The simplest plan. Although there was one flaw. Hajime Saitou. He did suspect at first that the Tokyo police would be aware of Kanryu's escape, but he did not think of the possibilities of an ancient shisengumi captain to help Shinomori. Yet, although they were after the same person, both were solitary, but if they attacked him at the same time, he would have no chance.
Kimweri made the last corner and was face with a huge wall. His hands glided on the wall, gently feeling for the small handle hidden between a painting that hung on the wall. Almost immediately, a soft click could be heard on the other side, and he opened the path, and closed the door again.
"I can't wait to see
Shinomori's face, it will mean joy for me, for what was taken away from
me those long years ago. All I had was him, yet he was taken away. No one
would understand me. But he will understand me, he will..."
Author's note: Gomen for the delay! I got caught up in some books and some homework. Anyways, I didn't know how to continue this chapter, so I'll leave it there, and sorry for the previous chapter, it was only to give a quick glance at what the characters felt. Please review!