Deep Within

This chapter contains inappropriate scenes and is rated R. Please do not read if you are offended by violence.



Deep Within
By Jen

I'm all out of faith
this is how i feel
I'm cold and i am shamed
lying naked on the floor
illusion never changed
into something real
I'm wide awake
and i can see
the perfect sky is torn
you're a little late
I'm already torn

-Torn Natalie Imbruglia

Chapter 11- Bereavement: 'This is the Price of revenge.'

"Misao-chan! Time to wake up! Misao-chan?!" Kaoru and Megumi's voices drifted into her sleep as Misao begin to stir from her deep slumber. She opened her eyes to find Megumi, Kaoru, and Mei looking down at her. She sighed before she began to complain. "Nani?! I'm trying to sleep here."

"Too bad. It's time to wake up." Mei opened the window to her room to let the sunlight stream through.

Grumbling Misao obliged. Kaoru led Misao to the bathhouse. "Misao-chan, today's your birthday, remember? You have to be all nice and clean."

"Nani?! Why?!"

"Because Aoshi-san and the others are coming."

Misao became quiet, suddenly remembering her turmoil from the night before. It had kept her up most of the night. Misao was left alone with her thoughts as she bathed. Am I really ready to face them? It's been so long since I've seen them. We haven't seen each other since my attempted suicide. No use opening up old wounds. Even if it still hurts. Misao's eyes wandered to her wrist. She could still see the faint traces of scars and she looked away. "Come on Misao. Get a grip. Today's your birthday. You should be celebrating not brooding over bakas."

Leaving the bathing area, Misao returned to her room to find a beautiful kimono resting on her dresser. She found a note lying on top of it.

Misao-chan,

Today is special day for you and you should have something special to wear. The three of us made this kimono for you. We hope you like it. Happy Birthday Misao.

Love,
Kaoru, Mei, and Megumi

Misao smiled, a warm feeling crept over her heart ridding it of the dark ones from before. She smiled as she put on the beautiful kimono. It was a ruby colored kimono with golden leaves imprinted in the satin material. The hems were a beautiful pattern of golden roses. The obi was even darker cherry-colored. Misao sat down to brush her black hair back thinking of how to style her hair. Misao's face lit up when she remembered her mother's hair combs. Finding the one she wanted Misao pulled her hair to the top of her head into a simple bun and secured it with the golden comb. Misao looked at herself in the mirror, suddenly feeling somewhat special… pretty even.

She walked to the dining area, noting that her kimono was fashioned to allow her to run freely if needed to. Misao smiled. She entered the dining area where everyone was seated for breakfast. Everyone stopped what he or she was doing to stare at her. Misao could feel the blush on her face as she saw their reactions.

The others blinked in surprised at the beauty in the doorway. Misao, clad in the ruby kimono looked radiant. Her hair was no longer pulled back, just merely in a bun with loose curls framing her face.

"Misao-chan! You look wonderful!" Megumi helped Misao sit down.

"Arigatou minna. I love it."

"Your welcome Misao-chan. You deserve it."

Misao did not argue with Kaoru. She felt unworthy of such a present, but seeing that they wanted her to have it, she just smiled. After breakfast, Misao watched as Yu executed some combos, instructing him on his form. She watched as Sano taught Yu some more moves. It was good for him to learn more than one fighting technique.

"Sanosuke!"

"Nande jou-chan?"

"We're out of sake for tonight's party. I need you to get some for us and some other things too."

"Ehh? I have to help Mei-chan though."

"I'll go, Kaoru-san." Misao interrupted their conversation.

"Demo… the Oniwabanshuu are arriving soon."

"Daijoubu. It won't take long. I'm sure that I will be back in time for the party. You just need some things, ne? Nothing much?"

"Hai…demo…"

"It'll be fine."

"Misao-neesan! Misao-neesan! Can Su-chan come with Misao-neesan?!" Asuko raced outside into Misao's awaiting arms. "Hai, if you get permission from you okaasan first."

Asuko tuned to Kaoru her eyes pleading. "Can I 'kaasan? Can I?"

Kaoru laughed. "Hai, but you have to be a good girl and listen to Misao-neesan, ne?"

"HAI!!" Asuko begin to bounce in Misao's arm. Misao began to leave, but turned back, "Ne, Yu-kun? Do you want to come with me?"

Yu nodded. "Hai."

Sano and Kaoru watched as the three of them walked down the road into town.


Misao held Asuko's hand with one hand and the other held the sake. Yu held the rest of the items in his arms and walked beside to the two. As they walked along, Misao heard comments about such a lovely mother she was. They probably thought that Asuko was hers. Sensing the familiar longing, a need to be fulfilled in her heart, Misao suppressed it beneath all the other painful memories, which she soon forgot was there. Misao led them into the road that would bring them back to the dojo, the road that led into the forest.


"Okashira! Okashira!"

"Nande, Gen?"

"Our target is in the forest. She's walking back to the dojo."

"Is anyone with her?"

"Only that street rat and Battosai's daughter."

"Perfect. Get the men ready, and trail her. Do not let her out of the forest. I will be there in a moment. I have a few preparations."

"Hai, Okashira."

Just wait. I will have my revenge. You will pay for your family's sins. Silver eyes gleamed dangerously as he followed his men on his own horse.


We're being followed. Misao could feel it within every bone of her body. They were being followed, but by whom? She glanced cautiously around as she held Asuko closer.

"Misao-senpai? Daijoubu ka?" Misao looked at Yu who had tensed when he felt her tension.

"Ehh? Daijobou, Yu-kun." Misao smiled, but inside she could feel a sense of foreboding.

"Are you sure? Is something wrong?"

"Iie, noth-" Misao cut her sentence short as she saw several arrows flying towards them. Misao dropped her packages and grabbed Yu, before she dodged the arrows. Several more came at them and again Misao dodged. She placed Asuko down behind her and threw her kunai in the direction their attackers were coming from. Each kunai missed their target as the figures in the trees dodged them. Misao took a hold of Asuko and Yu's hand and began to run blindly through the forest. She ran deeper and deeper finally entering a small clearing with four stone monuments in the middle. Coming closer, she felt four familiar spirits. She gasped letting go of Yu's hand as her own flew to her mouth. This is… these are…. Hannya-kun and the other's…this is where they're buried…

The thoughts saddened and comforted her. She couldn't think of any other place that she would feel safer. She grabbed Yu's hand again and they hid behind the stones. She heard the silent footsteps as they neared their hidden spot.

"Makimachi. I know you're there." The leaders voice came out to fill her ears. "I suggest you surrender without any trouble." She peered out to see a man with mahogany hair and silver eyes staring straight at her hiding place. Behind him, hidden in the trees were at least twenty highly trained and agile ninjas.

"I'll give you to the count of twenty…. 1…2…3…"

Misao knew that she would not be able to stand a chance against all of them, especially since she had a limited number of kunai, for she wasn't able to fit many between the folds of her kimono. She glanced sharply at Yu and Asuko before making her decision. Misao placed Asuko in Yu's arms, earning a questioning look from the young teen. Misao took off her shawl and quickly wrapped it around the two of them. She saw Shin flying high in the sky and was relieved. She knew what she would have to do. In a hushed voice she instructed Yu.

"Yu-kun, I want you to take Su-chan and run far away from here. Do not turn back no matter what. Follow Shin to find the way out. Do you understand? Don't stop running until you're back at the dojo."

"Senpai? What about you?"

"I'm going to try to hold them off for as long as I can. Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. Just get yourself and Asuko out of here."

"Demo.. I want to help Senpai. Let me stay. I can help you fight."

"With what? You are not ready for a real battle. Just go back to the dojo. Don't look back. Promise me that you will get Asuko to safety. Promise."

"Hai. Senpai, I promise."

"Good. Goodbye Su-chan. Yu-kun is going to take you back to otousan and okaasan."

"I want to stay with Misao-neesan. Let me stay!"

"Shh… be a good little girl and follow Yu-kun. If you promise, I will tell you a story later, ne?"

"Demo…"

"Promise me."

"Hai."

"Good. When I tell you to… run."

Misao suddenly flipped into the air onto the top branch of one of the trees, arching her hand to send a dozen kunai flying at the ninjas. One of the ninjas caught her and pushed her out of the tree. Misao landed hard on the ground coughing up blood.

Yu watched and tried to go help, but the look in Misao's eyes told him to run even before she even shouted the order.

"NOW! YU GET OUT OF HERE!!"

Yu ran with Asuko in his arms, running faster than he had ever run. He could hear Misao's screams of agony ringing in his ears as he ran away, but he promised not to look back. He wasn't even sure if he wanted to.


Misao threw kunai at the ninjas who tried to follow the children. They hit their targets, causing the ninjas to call out in pain. She watched their retreating back, a memory resurfacing.

'Iie! Otousan! Let me go back Eiji-niichan! We have to help him! Onegai…one..gai."

Misao arched her hand again, this time using her poisoned tip kunai. They hit a few more, making them drop dead as the poison flowed into their bt>

Misao's eyes widened as she kicked harder trying desperately to break her bindings. The leader laughed and took out a knife. He ripped her kimono down the center leaving a trail of blood where the knife had cut. He ripped the rest of her kimono as he gazed down at her hungrily. "Such a beauty… heir attacks. There was about ten of them left, and she ran out of kunai. Kuso…what do I do now? Suddenly she felt the ground shaking and she jumped away from the graves just as they burst into pieces. She saw the destruction of her friends' graves and angrily shouted. "Bastards!"

She launched herself into the strongest combo she knew and attacked the leader. Before she could hit him, he was behind her, holding her hands together behind her back. "Such spirit. Too bad you're going to die."

Misao struggled to get herself free from his hold, elbowing him in the face. He dropped her to the ground as he yelled out angrily. She tried to run away again, but one of the men grabbed her. The okashira recovered and walked towards her purposefully, and evil sneer on his face. "You'll pay for that one Makimachi."

The venom in his voice caused her to shiver slightly. He grabbed her struggling form and hit her hard with the hilt of his katana. A bruise began to form on her face as he pulled her close for a rough kiss. Her eyes widened as she tried to push him away, but he was just too strong. He moved away leaving her in breathless anger. "You BASTARD!!" Her hand lashed out to slap him. He caught her arms and threw her against the debris of rocks. Her head hit the stones and she could taste the blood. He slapped her before he motioned one of his men to tie her down.

"What are you going to do with her okashira?"

"Kill her of course, but not before I have a little fun with her."

Misao's eyes widened as she kicked harder trying desperately to break her bindings. The leader laughed and took out a knife. He ripped her kimono down the center leaving a trail of blood where the knife had cut. He ripped the rest of her kimono as he gazed down at her hungrily. "Such a beauty… pity you'll die after this."

He kissed her brutally again, enjoying her agony. She cried out in the kiss biting his bottom lip. He drew back and tasted his own blood. "Bitch!" Striking her face again, he forced himself on top of her body. His hands coursed her body roughly, bruising her. Misao cried out in pain and in helplessness.

"Somebody help me! Onegai!! STOP!! Onegai!!"

Her cries did nothing but encourage him. "This is the price of revenge."

"ONEGAI!!! STOP!!! AOSHI-SAMA HELP!!! ONEGAI!!"

She felt a needle dig into her arm and she looked to her right startled opening her eyes for one quick moment. One of his men had stuck a needle into her, probably some sort of poison. She could feel the darkness overcoming her senses as her body writhed in pain. She cried out in anguish as he roughly entered her. She could feel him thrusting into her over and painfully over again as her muddled mind began to slip into the welcoming darkness, her cries were thrown into the background.


"Okashira, what do we do with her?" Gen pointed to Misao's prone body. She was bleeding all over and her blood stained the graves she lay upon. She was bleeding mostly from between her legs. The kimono was barely covering her body.

The okashira looked at him for a moment before answering. "Throw her body into the stream."

Gen nodded and picked up her body as he headed for the stream, a trail of blood flowing through the air behind them, landing gently on the ground leaving a trail of crimson. He reached the stream and glanced down at the body in his arms, her blood already stained his hands. Without another thought he threw Misao's body into the cold, pure waters of the stream. Almost immediately her blood blemished the untainted water.


Author's notes: Gomen nasai! Gomen nasai!! I know I'm torturing her, but this was planned since the beginning. Gomen nasai again. Eh heh... you might be mad at me now because I'm going to leave you hanging for now and work on all my other neglected fics. ^_^;; Send comments, ne?

Preview of next chapter (yes, there's more):

"We were on our way back when these ninjas jumped out from nowhere and attacked us. There were at least twenty of them. Misao-senpai made me take Asuko and run. She wouldn't let me say… she wouldn't let me say. Onegai… Kenshin… Sano please you have to save Senpai! She's in a lot of danger. She didn't bring many kunai with her, only a little. Onegai they're going to kill her!" Yu's frantic voice made them react quickly.

"Where?" Yu stared intently at the stranger wearing the trenchcoat. "Where?" His icy tone repeated.

"Where is she Yu?" Sano's voice cut in.

"In that forest, over there. Hayaku you have to help her!"