Deep Within

Deep Within
By Jen

Calling out your name
Your face is everywhere
I'm reaching out to you
To find that you're not there
I wake up every night
To see the state I'm in
It's like an endless fight
I never seem to win
I can't go on as long as I believe
Can't let go when I keep wondering
-Where Are You Now Britney Spears

Chapter 5: Journey's End: 'Misao's Return'

"YAHIKO!" Kaoru's voice rang out through the dojo as she chased around her first student around the yard. Asuko watched her mother run after her niisan laughing when her father joined the chase trying to calm his wife down.

Yahiko ran for his dear life, but kept his insults coming, "Is that all you have? Che, you are an old hag."

"Yahiko! Come back here!" Kaoru ignored her husband's protests as she ran after Yahiko.

"Maa maa. Kaoru, calm down." Kenshin reached out to his wife and managed to grab her around her waist. Kaoru let out a loud squeak as she suddenly fell over on her poor husband. "Kenshin…"

She stopped when she heard her daughter's voice, "WAI! WAI! Do that again!!" The little girl was jumping up and down laughing her head off. Yahiko appeared again and scooped the little girl up in his arms. "Your 'kaasan is pretty funny, ne?"

"Hai! Hai!" Yahiko laughed at her enthusiastic nod. "Aiko-niisan is funny too!"

Yahiko blinked remembering that despite her impressive vocabulary, Asuko still couldn't pronounce his name right. He looked back to see Kenshin helping Kaoru up from the ground as she laughed quietly. He hadn't really meant to piss her off, but she had been to space out lately, worrying herself over Misao's disappearance. Truth be told, they were all worried about Misao. Kaoru however was pale with concern and had hardly slept for the past months. He just wanted her to go back to normal, so he did the only thing he could think of… insult her. Yahiko was relieved the old hag was back to normal, even if it was only for a few moments.

He looked over to see that Sano and Megumi had joined Kenshin and Kaoru. The adults talked for a few moments. He saw the troubled expressions on Kaoru and Megumi's faces and knew that they were talking about Misao. Where did that weasel girl go? She was supposed to be here six months ago! Don't tell me she got lost or something. What about the Oniwabanshuu? Why aren't they answering us? His thoughts were cut short when Kenshin walked up to him and Asuko, picking the latter up in a bear hug. "Does Su-chan want to go to the Akabeko to eat?"

"Wai! Wai! Akabeko!" Asuko's enthusiastic reply made Kenshin smile.


He came out of the shadows when he saw his savior collapse on the ground. He ran over to the fallen figure. "Oi! Are you alright?! Oi!"

He shook the prone figure. His hand made contact with the person's skin and quickly withdrew when he felt how cold the man before him was. It came to him suddenly "He's dying… I have to get help."

He got up and ran as fast as he could back into the city, the rain hindering his progress as he ran blindly through it.


The Kenshin-gumi said their farewells to Tae and Tsubame and left the Akabeko. Staying under their umbrellas for protection against the pouring rain. Kenshin felt uneasy as he walked along the path, he looked around to find any signs of danger. Kaoru, sensing her husband's uneasiness, turned to him and asked, "Kenshin, what's wrong?"

"I don't know. I have this very unsettling feeling that something bad just happened-"

A boy's voice interrupted their conversations with a plea for help.

"Someone please help me! Anyone! Onegai?!" Kenshin and Sano saw a young boy run out from the forest nearby screaming for help. He ran up to them and begged them,

"Onegai, help me! There's a body in the road, and he's almost dead! Onegai you have to help him!"

Kenshin's eyes narrowed. "Where?"

"Over there! On that road! Hayaku! Hayaku!" The boy ran off leading the way with Kenshin and Kaoru and the rest of them racing behind him. They arrived on the road and saw the body faced down under the pouring rain. The boy ran up to the prone figure with Kenshin. Kenshin took the body into his arms, his eyes widening as he recognized the person's face.

"Kenshin! Daijoubu ka?" Kaoru knelt next to him with Asuko in her arms. Her eyes widened and she gasped when she saw the person's face.

"Kami-sama! It's-" Kaoru's face paled as she clutched Asuko closer.

"Jo-chan? Kenshin? Who is it?" Sano, Yahiko, and Megumi walked over to the little group. Megumi gasped when she saw whom it was. "Misao-chan!"

Hearing Megumi's voice, Misao slowly opened her eyes. "…minna?…"

Her eyes snapped closed again and she fainted.

Her medical instincts took over, and Megumi began to examine Misao. First she checked for a pulse and found a slight one, and then she checked for a heartbeat, receiving a minor thump.

"Hayaku Ken-san! Bring her back to the dojo! Sanosuke, go get my medical bag at the clinic. Hurry! Hurry! Her heartbeat is weakening!"

Kenshin held Misao's prone figure into his arms and began to run back to the dojo. Megumi and Kaoru ran after him. Yahiko and Sano started to run to the clinic.

"Matte!" The boy's voice stopped them. Yahiko studied the boy, who was about his age. "Nande?!"

"Will he be alright?"

Yahiko blinked. he?! Is he talking about Misao? She did look like a guy for a minute.

"We'll find out when Megumi gets her supplies. We have to go get them from the clinic."

"I'm coming with you."

Yahiko looked at Sano who shrugged showing that it didn't matter and that he was leaving. Yahiko looked back at the guy. "Ok you can come too."

The boy nodded and the three of them ran to get the supplies.

"What's your name anyways kid?" Sano asked as they ran.

"Yu."

"Name's Sano and that's Yahiko."

Yu said nothing and they continued to run.


"Ken-san place Misao down on the futon." Megumi ordered as she begins to unpack her medical equipment.

Kenshin gently lay Misao down on the futon before turning to leave. Kaoru and Megumi made quick work of stripping Misao and placing a blanket over her. Kaoru placed a wet towel down on Misao's burning forehead while Megumi began to mix some medicines. She forced the medicine down Misao's throat. "That should bring down her fever a little."

Kaoru helped Megumi as they stripped Misao of the drenched clothes. Megumi removed her hand, and Kaoru gasped when she saw the blood that stained Megumi's hands.

The woman quickly removed the blanket that covered Misao's shoulder and saw a long gash on her right arm.

Kaoru tried to stop the bleeding with a cloth as Megumi grabbed some ointments and bandages. She quickly rubbed the medicine onto Misao's arm and tightly wove the bandages around her arm.

Kaoru took another towel and began to clean Misao's face, wiping away the dirt from her face and hair. Megumi found a sleeping yukata and dressed Misao in the light cloth. The woman secured the blanket tightly around the sleeping girl and left the room to meet with the others.

For the first time Kaoru noticed Yu was still with them. "Who's this?"

"His name's Yu. Misao-dono saved him from a gang of thieves earlier in the evening."

Yu bowed in greeting. "How is she?"

"We managed to get a steady heartbeat and a strong pulse, demo… she is still threatened by death. Her fevers are really high."

They were all quiet for a moment, before Kenshin spoke again. "Yu-kun was just about to tell us what happened."

Yu nodded and began his story.

"Earlier this afternoon, I saw a man with mahogany hair with silver eyes and this beautiful woman with long blackish-silver hair with gray eyes. They looked so strange, surrounded with so many guards. They carried weapons and wore dark clothing. I followed them because I was curious. They met with the people who were trying to kill me and begin to make a deal."

'Murder?!'

'Aa. I want you to murder her.'

"They wanted the thugs to kill someone, a woman. I listened for a name, but they didn't say it again until a little later. So I listened to what they were supposed to do. I know I should have left, but I was too interested in this. The leader was supposed to spread something on his knife, a liquid of some kind."

'Pour this on the blade of your knife and strike her with it. Even if it is a small cut, it could kill her.'

"He said something about her being too weak and having not recovered from her attempted suicide. Then he described her. If this person uses kunai or kenpou then it would be her. That was the description, nothing more. He gave the thieves a large amount money. Then the leader questioned him, demanding to know who he is. Before I could even blink the leader was already dead. They left again and I heard something about revenge for his clan."

'When Makimachi Misao steps into Tokyo, she will pay with her life for all of her family's sins against our clan.'

"I was about to follow them when one of the thugs grabbed me. They cornered me and were about to kill me. I closed my eyes waiting for death, but it never came. When I opened my eyes again, I was alone in the alley. I ran into the streets to see a small person fighting all of the criminals. He suddenly threw a bunch of knives and I realized that this person was the one they were to kill. Apparently so did the new leader as he drew out the tainted knife. I saw him slash the other guy's arm. After the fight I followed the person who saved me because he seemed to be feverish. I caught up with him to see him in unconscious in the road. Then I ran into to you. And you know what happens next."

Kaoru took a moment before talking. "So someone is after Misao-chan?"

"It would seem so. Everything seemed to describe Misao-dono, except for the attempted suicide part." Kenshin thought aloud for a moment. "Not only Misao-dono, but Aoshi too. I don't understand what they meant about Misao's suicide... she wouldn't try to commit suicide."

"It's true."

Everyone turned to Megumi who spoke softly, "When I was bandaging the gash on Misao's arm, I noticed some other cuts on her body. They were too small to be cut by the thug's knives. Only one weapon could slice her skin like that…"

They waited for her to continue, and the bluntness of her tone told them it was true. "Aoshi-san's kodachis."

"Nani?!" Kaoru cried out. "His kodachis?! You don't think he did that to Misao-chan, do you?"

"I'm not going to jump to any conclusions, but that's the best one I can think of."

"…Or perhaps Misao-dono used his kodachis to hurt herself…?"

"Nani, Kenshin? Why would weasel do something as stupid as that?"

"We can't be sure. Not until Misao wakes up. Even then, I doubt we would find out. " Kenshin stated calmly, his voice filled with sorrow. A silence crept over the room as everyone thought about the ailing ninja.


"Okashira."

"What is it Shizu?"

"They've failed. Makimachi is with the Battosai."

"Daijobou."

"What of our revenge?"

"We will have our revenge. In the end, Makimachi will wished that she had never crossed us.


Mei entered the Aoiya, tired from her latest travels, and was greeted by Yuri, who had taken over Misao's spot as a waitress.

"Mei-sensei! You're back! Look at you! So tired and dirty. Let me fix a nice bath for you." Before Mei could protest, Yuri had dragged her off to the bathhouse. After Yuri left her alone, Mei sighed annoyed. Where does she get off acting like my mother or friend? Truth be told, Mei never liked Yuri. She was always the cause of Misao's pain, but Misao never blamed her or hated her. Mei believed that if Yuri had not come along, that icicle would have fell in love with Misao instead. But Mei couldn't change the past. It was all too late. Misao was missing and they may never see her again. Mei shook her head. She wouldn't lose hope now, not like the others did. Misao needed her, she wouldn't lose hope, not now, not ever. Misao can you hear me? Come back to us onegai. We miss you.

Mei finished her bath and left the area to go look for Omasu or Okon. As she neared the front gates of the Aoiya, she saw a familiar figure running towards the restaurant. Sa-kun! He's the messenger from Tokyo! Could it be? Is Misao finally there? Mei began to run to him. "Sa-kun!"

He saw her and ran towards her. "Urgent message from Tokyo!"


Author's Notes: Nothing much here either. Just more character building and story building, you know what I mean? Don't worry. It's going to get more angsty soon. If you don't like angst then I would stop reading from here on. But stick it out, you might actually like this story despite the angst. Hated it? Loved it? Send comments or flames.


Preview of the next chapter (sorta)

"Megumi-sensei!" Yu called out frantically and ran out of the room in search of Megumi. "Megumi-sensei! Hayaku!"

He found Megumi with Kaoru in the dining room having tea. The women looked up when he burst through the door. "Yu-kun? Daijobou?"

"It's Misao-san!" The women jumped up and hurried to Misao's room to find her tossing around convulsively. Megumi immediately forced some herbs into Misao's mouth, making the latter's movement stop. Kaoru wrapped another blanket around Misao's shivering form and tears slipped from her eyes. "Misao-chan... what happened in Kyoto?"