Chapter 4
************
The strong sunlight beat down upon him as Aoshi headed once more towards the familiar rundown shack. The same old man looked up at him. The same question. The same answer.
Aoshi silently cursed at himself for his uncharacteristic impatience.
" Okashira what reply are you waiting so urgently for?"
He looked down at the old man looking feebly at him, throwing grain all over the floor.
" It's classified."
Despite an unusual vibe of discomfort, the old man pressed on.
" The former okashira's granddaughter is missing isn't she?"
Aoshi nodded, pushing the door open to the shack and walking out.
" How weird. You seem a little impatient okashira. I'll bring the message as soon as it comes."
Aoshi tensed, pausing slightly in his step before walking again. Though he wanted to see Misao again, to make sure she was alright, he wasn't entirely sure he wanted to bring her back for Yoshimura.
" Matte kudasai! Okashira!"
Aoshi turned and saw the old man hobbling towards him. A bird sat on his shoulder, a filled message tube still attatched. He held back the urge to grab the message and waited patiently for the old man to hand it over. He stared at the starchy piece of paper in his hands, his eyes moving rapidly over the written text. His eyes clouded over, as a pang of an emotion close to happiness hit him.
Misao wasn't in Tokyo. Then where was she?
And why in the world was he happy that she couldn't be found?
_____________
The ground trembled as the large man stepped forward, swinging down a wooden sword. The dust swirled around the man as the sword swung down again and again. Finally, he stopped, walking over to a nearby tree. Taking a deep breath, he moved his heavy body, his bulky muscles rippling as he swung downward quickly, the pressurised air cracking the ground and split the tree in half.
" Yoshimura-sama."
The man turned from the scene of destruction which he caused. A short and scrawny man stood before him, carrying a paper scroll.
" Tell me."
The small man bowed and unwrapped the scroll.
" According to the Oniwabanshuu your fiancee has not ventured near Tokyo."
Yoshimura grunted, tossing the wooden sword into the nearby bushes and unsheathing his own kodachi.
" What about our own?"
" We are currently searching the surrounding Kyoto area."
Yoshimura smacked the man's head with an open hand.
" Extend the search. We can't trust the Oniwabanshuu source either. Send a team down to Tokyo as well. Find my bride soon if you value your life."
The man bowed deeply, shivering in fear, and slunk away quietly to do his master's bidding. Yoshimura turned back to the split tree, cocking his head from side to side to loosen his neck muscles.
" Jyan."
A man appeared from out of the shadows.
" Yoshimura-sama what would you like me to do?"
Yoshimura smiled enigmatically, massaging his neck as he stared up into the sky.
" Keep an eye on that Okashira."
" Of the Oniwabanshuu?"
" Yes. Shinomori."
" Why...if I may ask Yoshimura-sama?"
" Because I know that man is up to something. I've heard rumours about him. Seems like there is something between him and my bride. Make sure he doesn't interfere."
" Hai Yoshimura-sama."
He listened for the footsteps of his master spy and grunted when he could not. Jyan was the best spy of the Yoshimura clan. If anyone could keep up with the best of the Oniwabanshuu, he could. Yoshimura smiled at the thought of possessing Misao soon. To possess her and her power over the Oniwabanshuu and nothing would stand in his way.
_______________
" Hey girl, get up."
A single deep blue eye opened. The light blocked her view as she sat up to look around. She was startled to find Hiko standing in front of her holding a bucket in her face.
" What time is it?"
" Sunrise. Go get water."
Misao climbed out of bed, her hands moving automatically in the ritual she did everyday, braiding the long tresses of dark hair before they became too unruly.
" Why don't you just cut it all off? It's annoying."
Misao let her braid fall behind her as she pulled her gloves on.
" It's always been there. Can't do it."
" Can't let go of your past?"
" What does my hair have anything to do with that?"
Hiko rubbed at the sides of his foreheads to try to relieve a headache.
" Never mind girl. Just go get the water. Down that path."
Misao looked out the window to see the path which Hiko had pointed to. She turned back to stare at the wooden bucket in the man's hands.
" Why do I have to get the water? I'm hurt."
" You want to eat?"
" What are you going to do then?"
" Cut wood."
Misao pumped one hand in the air and smiled at Hiko.
" How about I cut the wood." She said before poking a finger at the man's chest. " and YOU go and get the water."
" No. You get the water."
Misao jumped away, keeping her finger pointed accusingly at Hiko.
" Aha! You just don't want to go. I remember that you always made Himura get the water...there's gotta be a reason for it."
Hiko snorted and looked down snidely at the small girl.
" You think YOU can cut the wood? Be my guest."
Misao looked determinedly on as Hiko showed her the large trunk lying on the ground beside the small house.
" Alright weasel girl. You do it, I get the water."
Misao walked forward, her hands pulling out multiple kunai as she focused on her target.
" This is for calling me a weasel!...Kansatsu Tobi KUNAI!"
The kunai sliced through the air, deeply embedding themselves into the sides of the thick tree trunk. Misao's eyes filled with disappointment as she saw that her technique hadn't worked.
" All my practicing...it didn't pay off. I guess I'll go get the water then."
Misao winced in pain as Hiko poked her arm.
" Whaddya think your doing!? Baka!"
Hiko threw his cape behind him and smiled as he walked over to the solid tree trunk.
" Hurts doesn't it? It you hadn't sustained that injury weasel girl...you know..."
Hiko trailed off as he pushed one of the kunai gently, making it slide deeper into the wood. To Misao's astonishment, the trunk split, falling into equal pieces onto the ground, the kunai falling scattered all around.
" You could have done it. I guess I'll get the water."
Hiko pulled out his sheathed sword, using it to pick up the bucket. Carrying it dangling on the sword he held over his shoulder, he turned to Misao before walking down the path.
" Hey weasel girl."
Misao was still shocked she had done it, staring at the piles of logs on the ground.
" You know we can't use fresh wood right? Don't bother with those logs. Get the ones inside and start a fire."
As Hiko's words processed in her brain, her anger level grew.
" Baka yaro! Why'd you make me cut the tree then?!"
Misao picked up one of the kunai and threw it after Hiko as he disappeared down the water path. Kicking at the dirt, Misao bent to gather her kunai and headed back inside to grudgingly carry out her 'landlord's' request.
_________________
His hand moved to rub his arm, where Misao's single kunai had whizzed path. He looked at the kunai, firmly embedded into the tree before him before looking down at his hand.
" It's been awhile since I've seen my own blood. Not since my baka deshi scratched me."
Hiko smiled as his plan ran through his head.
" Looks like my life is about to get a lot more interesting."
**************
Author's notes:
Yeh I know the search for Misao seems to be moving kinda slow but you gotta look at the time frame here. It's been exactly one day. Hehe. Oh well! All the more fun to be had with Hiko and Misao. If Hiko is kinda OOC....well...it's a new thing. I don't think anyone knows what Hiko is like around teenage girls he knows he CAN'T flirt with!
Aoshi: ... *glare*
Hiko: ... *glare*
Tomoe: *sweatdrop* ^^
Until next time! Ja ne!
************
The strong sunlight beat down upon him as Aoshi headed once more towards the familiar rundown shack. The same old man looked up at him. The same question. The same answer.
Aoshi silently cursed at himself for his uncharacteristic impatience.
" Okashira what reply are you waiting so urgently for?"
He looked down at the old man looking feebly at him, throwing grain all over the floor.
" It's classified."
Despite an unusual vibe of discomfort, the old man pressed on.
" The former okashira's granddaughter is missing isn't she?"
Aoshi nodded, pushing the door open to the shack and walking out.
" How weird. You seem a little impatient okashira. I'll bring the message as soon as it comes."
Aoshi tensed, pausing slightly in his step before walking again. Though he wanted to see Misao again, to make sure she was alright, he wasn't entirely sure he wanted to bring her back for Yoshimura.
" Matte kudasai! Okashira!"
Aoshi turned and saw the old man hobbling towards him. A bird sat on his shoulder, a filled message tube still attatched. He held back the urge to grab the message and waited patiently for the old man to hand it over. He stared at the starchy piece of paper in his hands, his eyes moving rapidly over the written text. His eyes clouded over, as a pang of an emotion close to happiness hit him.
Misao wasn't in Tokyo. Then where was she?
And why in the world was he happy that she couldn't be found?
_____________
The ground trembled as the large man stepped forward, swinging down a wooden sword. The dust swirled around the man as the sword swung down again and again. Finally, he stopped, walking over to a nearby tree. Taking a deep breath, he moved his heavy body, his bulky muscles rippling as he swung downward quickly, the pressurised air cracking the ground and split the tree in half.
" Yoshimura-sama."
The man turned from the scene of destruction which he caused. A short and scrawny man stood before him, carrying a paper scroll.
" Tell me."
The small man bowed and unwrapped the scroll.
" According to the Oniwabanshuu your fiancee has not ventured near Tokyo."
Yoshimura grunted, tossing the wooden sword into the nearby bushes and unsheathing his own kodachi.
" What about our own?"
" We are currently searching the surrounding Kyoto area."
Yoshimura smacked the man's head with an open hand.
" Extend the search. We can't trust the Oniwabanshuu source either. Send a team down to Tokyo as well. Find my bride soon if you value your life."
The man bowed deeply, shivering in fear, and slunk away quietly to do his master's bidding. Yoshimura turned back to the split tree, cocking his head from side to side to loosen his neck muscles.
" Jyan."
A man appeared from out of the shadows.
" Yoshimura-sama what would you like me to do?"
Yoshimura smiled enigmatically, massaging his neck as he stared up into the sky.
" Keep an eye on that Okashira."
" Of the Oniwabanshuu?"
" Yes. Shinomori."
" Why...if I may ask Yoshimura-sama?"
" Because I know that man is up to something. I've heard rumours about him. Seems like there is something between him and my bride. Make sure he doesn't interfere."
" Hai Yoshimura-sama."
He listened for the footsteps of his master spy and grunted when he could not. Jyan was the best spy of the Yoshimura clan. If anyone could keep up with the best of the Oniwabanshuu, he could. Yoshimura smiled at the thought of possessing Misao soon. To possess her and her power over the Oniwabanshuu and nothing would stand in his way.
_______________
" Hey girl, get up."
A single deep blue eye opened. The light blocked her view as she sat up to look around. She was startled to find Hiko standing in front of her holding a bucket in her face.
" What time is it?"
" Sunrise. Go get water."
Misao climbed out of bed, her hands moving automatically in the ritual she did everyday, braiding the long tresses of dark hair before they became too unruly.
" Why don't you just cut it all off? It's annoying."
Misao let her braid fall behind her as she pulled her gloves on.
" It's always been there. Can't do it."
" Can't let go of your past?"
" What does my hair have anything to do with that?"
Hiko rubbed at the sides of his foreheads to try to relieve a headache.
" Never mind girl. Just go get the water. Down that path."
Misao looked out the window to see the path which Hiko had pointed to. She turned back to stare at the wooden bucket in the man's hands.
" Why do I have to get the water? I'm hurt."
" You want to eat?"
" What are you going to do then?"
" Cut wood."
Misao pumped one hand in the air and smiled at Hiko.
" How about I cut the wood." She said before poking a finger at the man's chest. " and YOU go and get the water."
" No. You get the water."
Misao jumped away, keeping her finger pointed accusingly at Hiko.
" Aha! You just don't want to go. I remember that you always made Himura get the water...there's gotta be a reason for it."
Hiko snorted and looked down snidely at the small girl.
" You think YOU can cut the wood? Be my guest."
Misao looked determinedly on as Hiko showed her the large trunk lying on the ground beside the small house.
" Alright weasel girl. You do it, I get the water."
Misao walked forward, her hands pulling out multiple kunai as she focused on her target.
" This is for calling me a weasel!...Kansatsu Tobi KUNAI!"
The kunai sliced through the air, deeply embedding themselves into the sides of the thick tree trunk. Misao's eyes filled with disappointment as she saw that her technique hadn't worked.
" All my practicing...it didn't pay off. I guess I'll go get the water then."
Misao winced in pain as Hiko poked her arm.
" Whaddya think your doing!? Baka!"
Hiko threw his cape behind him and smiled as he walked over to the solid tree trunk.
" Hurts doesn't it? It you hadn't sustained that injury weasel girl...you know..."
Hiko trailed off as he pushed one of the kunai gently, making it slide deeper into the wood. To Misao's astonishment, the trunk split, falling into equal pieces onto the ground, the kunai falling scattered all around.
" You could have done it. I guess I'll get the water."
Hiko pulled out his sheathed sword, using it to pick up the bucket. Carrying it dangling on the sword he held over his shoulder, he turned to Misao before walking down the path.
" Hey weasel girl."
Misao was still shocked she had done it, staring at the piles of logs on the ground.
" You know we can't use fresh wood right? Don't bother with those logs. Get the ones inside and start a fire."
As Hiko's words processed in her brain, her anger level grew.
" Baka yaro! Why'd you make me cut the tree then?!"
Misao picked up one of the kunai and threw it after Hiko as he disappeared down the water path. Kicking at the dirt, Misao bent to gather her kunai and headed back inside to grudgingly carry out her 'landlord's' request.
_________________
His hand moved to rub his arm, where Misao's single kunai had whizzed path. He looked at the kunai, firmly embedded into the tree before him before looking down at his hand.
" It's been awhile since I've seen my own blood. Not since my baka deshi scratched me."
Hiko smiled as his plan ran through his head.
" Looks like my life is about to get a lot more interesting."
**************
Author's notes:
Yeh I know the search for Misao seems to be moving kinda slow but you gotta look at the time frame here. It's been exactly one day. Hehe. Oh well! All the more fun to be had with Hiko and Misao. If Hiko is kinda OOC....well...it's a new thing. I don't think anyone knows what Hiko is like around teenage girls he knows he CAN'T flirt with!
Aoshi: ... *glare*
Hiko: ... *glare*
Tomoe: *sweatdrop* ^^
Until next time! Ja ne!