Chapter 2
The afternoon sun shone brightly, penetrating the thick canopy of the forest, to which it seemed to Misao, only served to make her hotter and more sweaty than she already was. She dragged the sleeve of her top across her forehead to wipe her sweat as she panted with exertion, making herself climb the somewhat mountainous terrain of the forest. Cursing under her breath, she kept moving, weaving her way around the shrubs and tree roots that upset the forest floor.
" Why in the world didn't I just follow the damned path!?"
Misao kicked the tree trunk in frustration and anger, hopping about afterward before taking a seat on the ground.
" You just had to be crafty...You had to make sure no one would see you on that path. Who would look for you here! They expect you to go to Tokyo damnit!"
Misao winced as her mind screamed at her. Sighing, she got up again and began to make her way back to the forest path.
______________
Maintaining his tight grip on his kodachi Aoshi ran, his usually cold expression gone as it was replaced by one of fear. Misao had never disappeared on him before, never without some indication that it was a game. It was highly unusual. He knew that it could be some childish prank, a last ditch effort to hang onto her childhood before leaving it all behind for her wedding. But something told him it went deeper than that. She was seriously missing. Spotting an all familiar shack, he walked towards it, his exterior image looking calm and collected. Inside, insecurity and agitation reigned supreme as his mind conjured up irrational thoughts and worst case scenarios.
He couldn't lose her again. Not again. He wouldn't.
He nodded at the old man seated inside the pigeon house. The old manlooked up from the grain in his hands as the pigeons swarmed around him.
" Where to?"
Aoshi's hair blew in the gust of wind made by the pigeon's fluttering wings.
" Tokyo. An urgent message."
The old man stood up, throwing the grain into the hatches before wiping his hands free of the dust. He pointed to the paper and ink on the little makeshift table as he reached inside his chosen hatch. Aoshi reached forward, quickly writing a note to the battousai of Misao's possible arrival. Handing it over, the old man nodded and rolled it into a thin tube, slotting it into the carrier case and strapped it securely onto the bird before allowing it to fly off.
Without a word of thanks other than a slight inclination of the head, Aoshi took his leave. It would be useless to run all the way to Tokyo. Though Misao was headstrong and reckless at times, he knew that she could have gone anywhere. However he had no clue of where else she would run to. The sun was definitely setting now, his trenchcoat warding off the cool breeze that swept through the village. If he hurried back to the Aoiya, it would take him all night. Perhaps it might be best to wait there until the morning. Then he would set off into the other direction.
The Aoiya. A small smile stretched his lips as he remembered what was supposed to have happened that day. The joining of the Yoshimura and Makimachi households had not taken place. Considering how hot headed that Yoshimura man could be, enough for even him to notice and be annoyed, it would not have been a pleasant job to tell the man of Misao's disappearance. He shook his head of the thoughts and focused back on the task of looking for any trace of Misao and heading back for the Aoiya.
______________
Omasu sighed as she slumped onto the table in the sitting room. Today had been a rather hectic day. The knowledge of both the disappearances of both Aoshi and Misao did not look good in the eyes of Misao's bethrothed Yoshimura. Having trained in the ninja ways had made her ears extra sensitive. Her ears still rang with Yoshimura's loud boasts and angry remarks. Obviously he had not been happy. He had accused Misao of being unfaithful, having run off with " that bastard Shinomori". Having spoken of their both former and current okashira in that way had gottem him a severe reprimand. However, Okina had managed to convince Yoshimura to delay the wedding. But after the way Yoshimura had acted, Omasu wasn't exactly sure that she wanted Misao to have anything to do with the man.
" They're finally all gone."
Omasu looked up to see Okon slump down beside her. The turning away of all the invited guests had taken up pretty much the whole day and all their energy.
" Misao better have a good excuse for this."
Okon spoked bitingly as she reached for the lukewarm tea and sipped it. Omasu shrugged and reached for her own cup.
" Okon...why do you think Aoshi-san is gone as well?"
" Perhaps he went out to look for Misao?"
" Do you think he..."
Okon laughed at Omasu's hint.
" No...our former okashira? His reputation as the icicle of the Oniwabanshuu is quite becoming."
Okon's laughter infected Omasu and they both laughed heartily as Okina dragged his tired feet into the room.
" What are you two laughing about?"
Okon poked Omasu as they both stifled their laughter.
" Okina...um...why don't you go and get some rest?"
" Yes. It's been a long day Okina."
Okina took a seat and retied his pink bow to his beard.
" No. I want to talk to you both. What do you think Misao is up to?"
Omasu poured Okina a cup of tea before settling back into her former position.
" Do you think she's afraid of marriage?"
Okon shook her head in answer to Okina's question.
" No...I think she's more afraid of ending up with anyone else but Aoshi."
" But that's just a crush."
" Okina...if it was a crush she would have gotten over it. I think we underestimate Misao. If she wants something, she'll get it eventually...I think that's what is scaring her."
" Besides the fact that Yoshimura isn't the best guy in the world."
Okina looked sharply at Omasu as her muttering reached his ears.
" What do you mean by that?"
" You can't blame her. Besides the fact that Aoshi rarely talks and seems to be utterly devoid of emotion, he's better than Yoshimura in more ways than one."
Okina looked utterly bewildered. His lovely Misao had disappeared without so much as a note. This signaled that she was gone for good, or at least until she wanted to show herself again. He knew that Misao was in love with Aoshi, heck everyone in the Oniwabanshuu knew. But he had dismissed it as a crush as many girls had a crush at some level with the icy cool warrior. Aoshi, to some degree had always been protective towards Misao, a point Okina had not let slip his attention.
With a resigned sigh, he stood, not noticing that the bow he had hastily tied to his beard had slipped to the floor.
" ...Oyasumi Okina."
With a half hearted nod, he left the room too wrapped up in his own thoughts to notice Okon and Omasu exchange worried looks. He smiled bitterly, gripping the handle of the sliding door and pausing to allow his resolve to solidify. He knew it would hurt his pretty Misao.
But to defend the honour of the Oniwabanshuu word, Misao would have to marry Yoshimura. Whether she liked it or not.
____________
Misao sucked in a fast breath as she caught sight of 3 pairs of glowing yellow eyes in the darkness.
Wolves.
Tightening her grip on her bag, she ran as fast as her tired legs could carry her. Her sensitive ears picked up the sounds of the paws of the wolves crunching against the dried, dead vegetation littering the forest floor. Dead like she would be if she didn't get away soon. She sense them coming, hunting in a pack coming at her in 3 different directions. She leapt up, jumping from tree to tree trying to escape. The only light came from the moon, which was having trouble penetrating the leafy forest canopy. The cold air and lack of light was slowing her down as the wolves scampered to catch up to catch their dinner.
" Oh no."
Misao whimpered in fear as her foot caught a particularly large tree root hidden by the darkness. She closed her eyes as the ground rose to meet her. The growling of the hungry wolves neared, she had to keep moving. Dragging herself onto her feet, she came crashing back down to the floor as her left ankle gave way. Touching it tentively, she knew it was twisted, she couldn't run anymore. She reached for her kunai and prepared to throw it at any attacker. She watched the coat of the wolves shine in the moonlight, the glimmers of the reflection helping her detect where the predators lurked. Backing herself up against the tree trunk, ghe gasped in terror as one wolf leapt at her, it's powerful hind legs giving it immense air to pounce on her. Steeling herself quickly, she threw her kunai at it. The animal whimpered in pain as the two other wolves attacked her at both sides. Again they pounced, again and again until she was all out of kunai, all but one. Brandishing it like a small dagger, she held her arm up to deliver a blow at the wolf which came at her again. She plunged it into it's back as the other wolf began to sink it's teeth into her upraised arm.
" That's it...I'm gone."
Her eyes flew open at the splash of warm blood which hit her in the face. The pressure of the wolf biting her lessened as a loud whirring of a sword slicing through the air was heard followed by loud thuds of heavy objects hitting the floor. She wiped her face clean of the warm and sticky liquid before cradling her other arm with her hand.
" You. You're weasel girl."
Misao hazily looked up at the towering man and smiled.
________
Hiko looked down the the bloodied girl. His hand flicked his sword clean of blood before sheathing it.
" You. You're the weasel girl."
The small girl smiled in answer before closing her eyes again. Poking her gently with his sheath, he grunted when she gave no reaction.
" Where does that baka deshi find these people?"
Picking up the stray bag which was obviously the girl's, he flung her over his shoulder before walking along the forest path again, his ever present jug of sake still by his side. He looked back over his shoulder at the bloody scene. The fallen wolves were scattered all over the floor, the smell of their blood mixing in with the cold night air. It had been awhile since he had smelt such a heavy ardent scent of blood hang in the air, whether it was human or animal. Not since that night he had found a young boy named Shinta.
" This girl will surely be more trouble than she's worth. Just like my baka deshi."
**********
The afternoon sun shone brightly, penetrating the thick canopy of the forest, to which it seemed to Misao, only served to make her hotter and more sweaty than she already was. She dragged the sleeve of her top across her forehead to wipe her sweat as she panted with exertion, making herself climb the somewhat mountainous terrain of the forest. Cursing under her breath, she kept moving, weaving her way around the shrubs and tree roots that upset the forest floor.
" Why in the world didn't I just follow the damned path!?"
Misao kicked the tree trunk in frustration and anger, hopping about afterward before taking a seat on the ground.
" You just had to be crafty...You had to make sure no one would see you on that path. Who would look for you here! They expect you to go to Tokyo damnit!"
Misao winced as her mind screamed at her. Sighing, she got up again and began to make her way back to the forest path.
______________
Maintaining his tight grip on his kodachi Aoshi ran, his usually cold expression gone as it was replaced by one of fear. Misao had never disappeared on him before, never without some indication that it was a game. It was highly unusual. He knew that it could be some childish prank, a last ditch effort to hang onto her childhood before leaving it all behind for her wedding. But something told him it went deeper than that. She was seriously missing. Spotting an all familiar shack, he walked towards it, his exterior image looking calm and collected. Inside, insecurity and agitation reigned supreme as his mind conjured up irrational thoughts and worst case scenarios.
He couldn't lose her again. Not again. He wouldn't.
He nodded at the old man seated inside the pigeon house. The old manlooked up from the grain in his hands as the pigeons swarmed around him.
" Where to?"
Aoshi's hair blew in the gust of wind made by the pigeon's fluttering wings.
" Tokyo. An urgent message."
The old man stood up, throwing the grain into the hatches before wiping his hands free of the dust. He pointed to the paper and ink on the little makeshift table as he reached inside his chosen hatch. Aoshi reached forward, quickly writing a note to the battousai of Misao's possible arrival. Handing it over, the old man nodded and rolled it into a thin tube, slotting it into the carrier case and strapped it securely onto the bird before allowing it to fly off.
Without a word of thanks other than a slight inclination of the head, Aoshi took his leave. It would be useless to run all the way to Tokyo. Though Misao was headstrong and reckless at times, he knew that she could have gone anywhere. However he had no clue of where else she would run to. The sun was definitely setting now, his trenchcoat warding off the cool breeze that swept through the village. If he hurried back to the Aoiya, it would take him all night. Perhaps it might be best to wait there until the morning. Then he would set off into the other direction.
The Aoiya. A small smile stretched his lips as he remembered what was supposed to have happened that day. The joining of the Yoshimura and Makimachi households had not taken place. Considering how hot headed that Yoshimura man could be, enough for even him to notice and be annoyed, it would not have been a pleasant job to tell the man of Misao's disappearance. He shook his head of the thoughts and focused back on the task of looking for any trace of Misao and heading back for the Aoiya.
______________
Omasu sighed as she slumped onto the table in the sitting room. Today had been a rather hectic day. The knowledge of both the disappearances of both Aoshi and Misao did not look good in the eyes of Misao's bethrothed Yoshimura. Having trained in the ninja ways had made her ears extra sensitive. Her ears still rang with Yoshimura's loud boasts and angry remarks. Obviously he had not been happy. He had accused Misao of being unfaithful, having run off with " that bastard Shinomori". Having spoken of their both former and current okashira in that way had gottem him a severe reprimand. However, Okina had managed to convince Yoshimura to delay the wedding. But after the way Yoshimura had acted, Omasu wasn't exactly sure that she wanted Misao to have anything to do with the man.
" They're finally all gone."
Omasu looked up to see Okon slump down beside her. The turning away of all the invited guests had taken up pretty much the whole day and all their energy.
" Misao better have a good excuse for this."
Okon spoked bitingly as she reached for the lukewarm tea and sipped it. Omasu shrugged and reached for her own cup.
" Okon...why do you think Aoshi-san is gone as well?"
" Perhaps he went out to look for Misao?"
" Do you think he..."
Okon laughed at Omasu's hint.
" No...our former okashira? His reputation as the icicle of the Oniwabanshuu is quite becoming."
Okon's laughter infected Omasu and they both laughed heartily as Okina dragged his tired feet into the room.
" What are you two laughing about?"
Okon poked Omasu as they both stifled their laughter.
" Okina...um...why don't you go and get some rest?"
" Yes. It's been a long day Okina."
Okina took a seat and retied his pink bow to his beard.
" No. I want to talk to you both. What do you think Misao is up to?"
Omasu poured Okina a cup of tea before settling back into her former position.
" Do you think she's afraid of marriage?"
Okon shook her head in answer to Okina's question.
" No...I think she's more afraid of ending up with anyone else but Aoshi."
" But that's just a crush."
" Okina...if it was a crush she would have gotten over it. I think we underestimate Misao. If she wants something, she'll get it eventually...I think that's what is scaring her."
" Besides the fact that Yoshimura isn't the best guy in the world."
Okina looked sharply at Omasu as her muttering reached his ears.
" What do you mean by that?"
" You can't blame her. Besides the fact that Aoshi rarely talks and seems to be utterly devoid of emotion, he's better than Yoshimura in more ways than one."
Okina looked utterly bewildered. His lovely Misao had disappeared without so much as a note. This signaled that she was gone for good, or at least until she wanted to show herself again. He knew that Misao was in love with Aoshi, heck everyone in the Oniwabanshuu knew. But he had dismissed it as a crush as many girls had a crush at some level with the icy cool warrior. Aoshi, to some degree had always been protective towards Misao, a point Okina had not let slip his attention.
With a resigned sigh, he stood, not noticing that the bow he had hastily tied to his beard had slipped to the floor.
" ...Oyasumi Okina."
With a half hearted nod, he left the room too wrapped up in his own thoughts to notice Okon and Omasu exchange worried looks. He smiled bitterly, gripping the handle of the sliding door and pausing to allow his resolve to solidify. He knew it would hurt his pretty Misao.
But to defend the honour of the Oniwabanshuu word, Misao would have to marry Yoshimura. Whether she liked it or not.
____________
Misao sucked in a fast breath as she caught sight of 3 pairs of glowing yellow eyes in the darkness.
Wolves.
Tightening her grip on her bag, she ran as fast as her tired legs could carry her. Her sensitive ears picked up the sounds of the paws of the wolves crunching against the dried, dead vegetation littering the forest floor. Dead like she would be if she didn't get away soon. She sense them coming, hunting in a pack coming at her in 3 different directions. She leapt up, jumping from tree to tree trying to escape. The only light came from the moon, which was having trouble penetrating the leafy forest canopy. The cold air and lack of light was slowing her down as the wolves scampered to catch up to catch their dinner.
" Oh no."
Misao whimpered in fear as her foot caught a particularly large tree root hidden by the darkness. She closed her eyes as the ground rose to meet her. The growling of the hungry wolves neared, she had to keep moving. Dragging herself onto her feet, she came crashing back down to the floor as her left ankle gave way. Touching it tentively, she knew it was twisted, she couldn't run anymore. She reached for her kunai and prepared to throw it at any attacker. She watched the coat of the wolves shine in the moonlight, the glimmers of the reflection helping her detect where the predators lurked. Backing herself up against the tree trunk, ghe gasped in terror as one wolf leapt at her, it's powerful hind legs giving it immense air to pounce on her. Steeling herself quickly, she threw her kunai at it. The animal whimpered in pain as the two other wolves attacked her at both sides. Again they pounced, again and again until she was all out of kunai, all but one. Brandishing it like a small dagger, she held her arm up to deliver a blow at the wolf which came at her again. She plunged it into it's back as the other wolf began to sink it's teeth into her upraised arm.
" That's it...I'm gone."
Her eyes flew open at the splash of warm blood which hit her in the face. The pressure of the wolf biting her lessened as a loud whirring of a sword slicing through the air was heard followed by loud thuds of heavy objects hitting the floor. She wiped her face clean of the warm and sticky liquid before cradling her other arm with her hand.
" You. You're weasel girl."
Misao hazily looked up at the towering man and smiled.
________
Hiko looked down the the bloodied girl. His hand flicked his sword clean of blood before sheathing it.
" You. You're the weasel girl."
The small girl smiled in answer before closing her eyes again. Poking her gently with his sheath, he grunted when she gave no reaction.
" Where does that baka deshi find these people?"
Picking up the stray bag which was obviously the girl's, he flung her over his shoulder before walking along the forest path again, his ever present jug of sake still by his side. He looked back over his shoulder at the bloody scene. The fallen wolves were scattered all over the floor, the smell of their blood mixing in with the cold night air. It had been awhile since he had smelt such a heavy ardent scent of blood hang in the air, whether it was human or animal. Not since that night he had found a young boy named Shinta.
" This girl will surely be more trouble than she's worth. Just like my baka deshi."
**********