Chapter 9
A slither of moonlight peeked through the gap by the door, illuminating just enough for one to see in the darkened halls of the Aoiya. A young man sits, back against the wall waiting. Waiting for the sun to come so he could break through the physical darkness. However, his heart was shrouded with darkness, an unbelievable heaviness he simply couldn't pinpoint, no matter how many hours he had spent sitting there, trying to think it through. For this, he had no experience to fall back on. At other times, he had left her alone, with the ones she knew as her family, and at other times just simply out right avoided her. He wanted to run, not to face her ever again...but he couldn't, still drawn in by responsibility.
Aoshi couldn't remember the last time he had felt so bad about himself...when his best friends had died. No matter how strong his will power was, he couldn't shut out the sounds of muffled crying, echoing in his ears. He could still remember, years ago when Misao was a small child. When she was crying, he could easily comfort her with affection and soothing words. But that was then and this was now. Misao was an adult, she could no longer be comforted by words alone. He had also distanced himself from her, almost completely alienating her from his world. His world of depression and despair.
" Times like these...maybe it was a mistake to alienate her. We've grown apart so much...I can't even comfort her."
With a darkened scowl, he also realized that comforting Misao should be left up to her soon to be husband.
" Yoshimura."
Aoshi was surprised he had voiced his thought. What was more surprising was the agitated tone he detected in his own voice.
" Aoshi. Is she up? I thought she might like some food."
Aoshi looked up from his seated position to see Omasu shuffled along the wooden floorboards with a tray in hand. Many times that night, the same routine had happened and he didn't think that it would change.
" Aaa."
Aoshi stood to move out of the way, sliding the door open for Omasu. He sat back down, the door still opened. He couldn't help listening to Omasu's pleading sounds and Misao's obstinate silence.
Omasu set the tray onto a nearby table. She glanced at the lump on the futon, Misao buried in blankets. She knelt beside her, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder and rubbing it soothingly.
" Misao...please eat something...you haven't eaten anything since you got back."
Her eyes watered as the little girl she'd seen grow up refused to answer her, not even moving. Omasu gripped her shoulders, gently shaking her.
" Please...Misao. Answer me?"
Silence all around, letting the smallest sound seem amplified in her ears as Omasu sat back dejectedly. Omasu struggled to stop her tears, quickly wiping the ones, which had escaped, and moving to pick up the tray of food. She placed it near the futon, well in Misao's arms reach.
" Misao...I'm going to go now ok? Please promise me you eat something ok? For me?"
Omasu picked up another discarded food tray, one she had brought earlier before heading for the door. A muffled sob escaped Misao's throat, again making Omasu's eyes water. Taking a choked breath, Omasu walked out of the room, looking down at Aoshi in helplessness.
" Aoshi....I don't know what to do anymore...I can't stand seeing her like this."
Omasu slid the door closed, Aoshi's quick glance into the room not going unnoticed.
" Aoshi please do something..."
Omasu was shocked at Aoshi's expression of pain. His cheeks were sunken and his hair clung to his face limply. His usual smouldering eyes were now a dead lifeless luster, the sign of a broken man.
" What can I do?"
Omasu, in all her years of known Aoshi, had never heard him sounding so helpless.
________
Okon looked up when she heard the sound of the door being slid open. It was late into the night, a single candle illuminating her work. Paper was strewn all over the kitchen table, preparation on the wedding in now, after midnight, was one day away. Okon sighed when she saw Omasu enter with an untouched tray of food.
" Omasu...are you crying?"
Okon was shocked as Omasu set the tray down quickly and hugged her. Okon patted Omasu on the back, trying to sooth her.
" Whats wrong?"
" She just lies there, not eating...not talking. I don't think she's gotten up at all. Whats wrong with her? She used to be so lively. It seems like Aoshi never brought her home at all. He brought home an empty shell."
" Its really hard on her...I guess we have to give her time."
" But I'm afraid she won't recover at all. It seems she's lost her will to live. She won't talk to me! She won't talk to anyone."
" How's Aoshi?"
Okon quickly changed the topic, hoping she wouldn't have a hysterical Omasu on her hands.
" He just sits there, thinking to himself about god knows what."
" That man...sometimes he really infuriates me. He just doesn't seem to care about anything!"
Omasu took a seat next to Okon at the table, drying her tears and shaking her head.
" No...he does. He cares. None of us, who watched her grow up, can watch her bawling her eyes out without some sort of twinge."
" I guess he still...he's always had a soft spot for her."
" You know...when I was leaving Misao's room, he looked in on her. When I asked him something, he looked so helpless. He sounded defeated."
Okon grasped Omasu's shoulders and made her look her square in the eyes.
" You're not kidding right? This is AOSHI we're talking about."
" Of course I'm not kidding. I feel really bad for him. He has to sit there all day and listen to her cry."
" really?"
The two chatting women swiveled in their seats, staring in surprise at the women who stood at the doorway.
" Ano...Kaoru-san. What are you doing up so late?"
Kaoru walked in, anxiously playing with her braid. She clapsed her hands together in the bitter cold of the night and looked at the two women pleadingly.
" What Aoshi did...is that true?"
Okon and Omasu exchanged looks. Out of respect for their former okashira, they shouldn't say anything.
" Look...Kaoru-san. We can't say anything really..."
" Please. Just tell me if it's true. If it can make Misao happier..."
Okon gestured for Kaoru to take a seat as Omasu poured another cup of tea.
" Yes. It's true."
______
" Okina. Yoshimura-san is here."
Okina nodded to Omasu, who moved aside to let the well built and somewhat flabby man through. Okina rose to greet him but the man gestured for him once again to sit down as Okon opened a door to let in some sunlight before leaving.
" You have been informed of Misao's return."
" Yes. The wedding will be in two days. Is this correct? I want this out of the way as soon as possible."
" Right. The wedding is on as planned. However, with the signing of-"
" The alliance contract will be signed after the wedding. This is in honour of the new era."
Okina placed a hand on his knee and shook his head.
" We agreed on signing it before the wedding."
" I've changed my mind.It will be done after the wedding.I'm sure you won't have a problem with my suggestion."
" Yoshimura, be reasonable. The signing must be done before you are married into our clan."
The man slammed his fist on the table in outrage, his face red with anger.
" Are you insinuating something here?!"
" No. But try to be reasonable. We can reach a compromise."
Okina stroked his beard, watching the man in front of him relax. He was surprised that Yoshimura had acted so hot headed, his reputation was cool and calculating. He knew that Yoshimura had a front that no one could suspect wasn't his true self. He was clever.
" If I can't get him to sign it before, he might take over the Oniwabanshuu by using Misao. Since she is a woman, as soon as she's married, the husband will take over. I can't risk the Oniwabanshuu like that."
The old man squared his shoulders, not allowing his body language to display his emotions.
" How about we sign it during the ceremony? It will create some disruption, but we can keep it relatively low key."
" I can't exactly refuse."
Now that the marriage had been decided and once again the wedding had been set into motion, Yoshimura found no reason to be courteous. He hadn't been the cause of the postponement of the wedding. He was the one in power, he was the man and soon to be leader of the two most powerful ninja clans in the country.
" Or should I say one...when I combine them both."
Okina grunted in response, laying his hands on the table.
" So we agree."
" Yes. Now I'll take my leave. Tomorrow then."
" Tomorrow."
Okina sighed with relief when Yoshimura left. Deciding to take a look at the alliance proposal, he headed from his room. His footsteps echoed in his ears as he walked up the stairs, away from the hustle and bustle of the bottom floor. Okina's hand gripped the railing when he reached the second floor, not because of his old age. The only sound he could hear now was slow, even breathing and a muffled female voice.
" This is you're doing you know. You're causing this pain, for the both of them."
Okina shook his head, trying to physically rid himself of the annoying voice in his head. But the words hit home as he stared at Aoshi seated in the hallway. His even breathing displayed a demeanor of calm and collected. The slight hunching of his shoulders and slight twitching of his hands betrayed him. As Okina now clearly heard the sounds of weeping, he knew why Aoshi's hands were twitching. He had ordered Aoshi to guard Misao. Now even Aoshi, a person with great control, was unconsciously trying to put his hands over his ears, anything to try to shut out the sounds.
" I'm sorry Aoshi...but I can't go back now."
Okina whispered his thoughts as he passed the seated man. He hurried down the hall, wanting to run from the scene. He didn't want to see Aoshi's reaction. He didn't want to hear Misao anymore. His pretty Misao, his adoptive granddaughter was crying her heart out...but he couldn't do anything. Because he had instrumented the whole mess.
_____
" I'm sorry Aoshi...but I can't go back now."
Aoshi lifted his head in surprise, in time to see the old man disappear around the corner. What had Okina meant by those words? Sorry for what? His thoughts were cut short by a particularly loud sob floating into his ears. He tightened his fists, struggling to keep from punching something.
" Am I missing something? Is there something I haven't caught onto yet?"
Okina had obviously been referring to the wedding...but why was he sorry for him? Why not Misao. How would the wedding affect him? He just had to stand by and watch. Watch Misao marry someone else.
" Someone else." He said, voicing his thoughts.
" What did you say Aoshi?"
Aoshi looked up at Kenshin and Kaoru. His entire body tensed as the Himura's young son climbed onto his lap and began to pat his hollow cheeks.
" Aoshi-nii chan looks tired! Bad boy...no sleep! Kaa-san always makes me sleep"
Every time he saw this child, he was amazed how much he resembled his father. He could remember the days when Kenshin was always alert, always ready for battle. Seeing him now, he seemed more laid back, relaxed with his new family. He would never achieve happiness like that. He had teetered on the edge of darkness for too long and he was struggling to hold onto the edge.
" Aoshi...daijoubu ka?"
" Aaa"
Aoshi stared at Kenji as he began to hug his neck, rubbing cheeks and laughing happily.
" Aoshi-niichan is very cold?"
Kaoru stepped forward cautiously, never forgetting the day Aoshi had stared at her so angrily to touch Aoshis forehead. Aoshi, out of reflex, grabbed Kaoru's hand before she could touch her.
Kaoru drew her hand back quickly, smiling with understanding.
" Would you mind if we talked to Misao for awhile?"
Aoshi stood, with Kenji still clinging onto his neck before handing the child over to Kaoru. His slid the door open wordlessly, allowing the family to step through.
" I wonder what good this would do."
_____
Jyan leaped, his feet landing soundlessly onto the sun warmed tiles of the teahouse. Ever since his unfortunate incident with the master swordsman, he had been instructed by his okashira to spy on him. It was probably for the safety of the wedding that he should spy on the man, but he figured that just spying wouldn't keep the man away from the wedding.
" I'm obviously no match for him. But if I can surprise him, maybe I can hinder him"
Jyan felt disgusted with himself for being falsely optimistic as he watched the tall man enter the teahouse. He quickly dropped off the roof, using his feet to hold himself in a precarious position as he slid open a window on the second floor of the teahouse. He hurried along the halls stealthily until he reached the stairs. He peeked through the railings at the man handing over money in exchange for a large jug. As the man picked the jug up off the counter, the words sake were written prominently.
" So where you headed Seijuro? You haven't ventured out in a long time!"
The manager asked his question quite loudly, smiling broadly at his best customer.
" Just for a wedding."
" Oh well I wish them all the happiness in the world."
Jyan watched Hiko turn his back on the manager and smiled enigmatically over his shoulder.
" Well. I don't."
Jyan gulped as Hiko left the building. Now that he knew that the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu master had definite plans to screw up the wedding, it would be even harder for him. He could have been optimistic before, hoping Hiko would be nice and quite. But his job to keep the wedding running smoothly would soon be over. He could already imagine the thrashing from his Okashira. Now all he had to think about was whether a thrashing from his Okashira or from Hiko Seijuro would be worse.
_____
" Matte Kenji!"
Kaoru reached out to the boisterous, energetic child but was too late to stop him. Kenji jumped onto the crying form of Misao underneath all the blankets. Misao rolled over, sitting up to take Kenji off her. She almost didn't have the energy as she felt her arm begin to slacken.
" Play with me Misao nee-chan! Play with me!"
Misao fell back on the bed, pulling the covers over her head and rolled over to ignore the child's request.
" Nee-chan no like Kenji any more?"
Kaoru picked up her son before he could begin to cry hysterically as he had done in the past. She quietly took him to a corner before explaining to him why his 'nee-chan' wouldn't talk to him. Kenshin hesitantly stepped forward. The remorse was clearly evident in his eyes.
" Misao...I'm sorry for giving you away."
Kenshin took a seat next to Misao's futon, wringing his hands anxiously. What scared him was the fact that Misao gave almost no reaction. No furious barrage of fists or kicks like she used to, when the slightest thing ticked her off.
" Misao?"
" Please leave. I don't want to see you or anyone else."
" Are you sure Misao? We're here for you if you need us."
Something inside Misao snapped, her tolerance for these types of questions had long disappeared. She sat up quickly, keeping on fist clenched at her side and another furiously trying to dry her tears.
" I'm sorry I ran away. It did nothing but bring me even more pain. I should never have acted out of hope. It was useless. So why should I try anymore? I know you're all here for me. But what can you do for me? You can't free me!"
Misao breathed heavily, her voice reaching a high pitch as she screamed out her last words. Her tangled hair spilled down her back. The darkness of the room served to highlight how much skinnier Misao had gotten, the shadows underneath her cheeks and her jaw gave her a haunted look. Tears spilled over once again, as she slumped over from over exertion.
" ...Misao...I don't think you should give up like that."
" If my dreams can't come true...then I won't dream anymore."
Kaoru held a scared Kenji to her chest for comfort. She felt she needed comforting as well, not just physical comfort but peace of mind. Misao was so troubled.
" Kenshin...take Kenji and go outside please."
Kenshin obeyed his wife, quickly picking his son up and walking out the door. Kaoru approached the futon, where Misao sat holding her hands up to her eyes to try and stop the tears. Kaoru placed a comforting arm around the young girl's shoulders
" Misao-chan. What would make you say something like that?"
Misao shrugged Kaoru's hand off, shifting away from her.
" I can't do what I want. After I become a wife, I'll be nothing. I'm nothing but a pawn in this game. A hand is moving me, I can't move of my own free will. I have to marry out of political alliance, not out of love. I can't even train in my martial art. You have all of those things. You would never understand."
" But...You are marrying into the Yoshimura ninja clan. You should be able to train. Isn't marriage the thing a girl wishes for most?"
Kaoru was at a loss of what to say. True, she had all of those things. She could only offer the only comfort she could think of.
" Marrying Yoshimura...I can't even marry the one I love. They've taken away the most important person in my life and turned him against me! What can I do?!...Nothing. I can't do anything. My life is over."
Misao's voice fell from a loud pitch to a soft, defeated voice. Kaoru hated to see her friend like this. Her own tears fell to join Misao's endless supply.
" Misao...do you mean Aoshi?"
" ...It doesn't matter anymore. It won't help. Nothing will."
Kaoru grabbed Misao by the wrist, forcing her to look her in the eye.
" Makimachi Misao. Look me in the eye and tell me you don't want to marry Shinomori Aoshi. You have a day left until the wedding. You still have time. Do something and don't let someone else force you to give up your dreams!"
Misao wrenched away, picking up her pillow and throwing it with all the strength she could muster at the wall. The pillow fell to the floor with a dull thud, leaving the wall cracked. Kaoru drew a sharp breath. It was surprising that Misao could damage the wall, much less cause a giant crack down the middle.
" Don't make it sound like you understand! You can't! You have EVERYTHING. You have Kenshin, he would never do this to you. We are in totally different situations. You can't say anything that would ever make it feel any better. You've never felt this heartache and you never will. Kenshin loves you too much for that."
" But Misao-"
Misao's shoulders visibly slumped as she shifted her gaze from Kaoru to the floor.
" But nothing. They've taken away the most important person in my life and turned him against me! What can I do?! Nothing. I can't even leave because he is the one who keeps me here. I can't escape because of him. It's over. My dream for 18 years is over."
Kaoru let out a muffled sob, Misao's despair becoming hers as well. She couldn't stand that her friend was in so much pain, and that she was right. She couldn't do a thing for her besides temporary physical comfot. Kaoru pulled Misao into a comforting hug, facing the window. Misao's limbs seemed limp and her cold and clammy skin felt uncomfortable against her own. But she ignored it, placing a hand on Misao's back, rubbing it soothingly.
" You know...I told him I love him. But to love Shinomori Aoshi is hopeless. I know that now. It was hopeless from the very beginning."
Kaoru's ears rung from Misao's loud voice, but it didn't keep her from hearing the sound of the door open. Misao looked up slowly, wondering why Kaoru tensed so suddenly. Through her teary eyes, she could see Kenji standing there, hugging his father's leg in fear. Her eyes moved upward, past Kenshin to a much taller man. As her eyes met his, she knew instantly that he had heard it all.
*************
A slither of moonlight peeked through the gap by the door, illuminating just enough for one to see in the darkened halls of the Aoiya. A young man sits, back against the wall waiting. Waiting for the sun to come so he could break through the physical darkness. However, his heart was shrouded with darkness, an unbelievable heaviness he simply couldn't pinpoint, no matter how many hours he had spent sitting there, trying to think it through. For this, he had no experience to fall back on. At other times, he had left her alone, with the ones she knew as her family, and at other times just simply out right avoided her. He wanted to run, not to face her ever again...but he couldn't, still drawn in by responsibility.
Aoshi couldn't remember the last time he had felt so bad about himself...when his best friends had died. No matter how strong his will power was, he couldn't shut out the sounds of muffled crying, echoing in his ears. He could still remember, years ago when Misao was a small child. When she was crying, he could easily comfort her with affection and soothing words. But that was then and this was now. Misao was an adult, she could no longer be comforted by words alone. He had also distanced himself from her, almost completely alienating her from his world. His world of depression and despair.
" Times like these...maybe it was a mistake to alienate her. We've grown apart so much...I can't even comfort her."
With a darkened scowl, he also realized that comforting Misao should be left up to her soon to be husband.
" Yoshimura."
Aoshi was surprised he had voiced his thought. What was more surprising was the agitated tone he detected in his own voice.
" Aoshi. Is she up? I thought she might like some food."
Aoshi looked up from his seated position to see Omasu shuffled along the wooden floorboards with a tray in hand. Many times that night, the same routine had happened and he didn't think that it would change.
" Aaa."
Aoshi stood to move out of the way, sliding the door open for Omasu. He sat back down, the door still opened. He couldn't help listening to Omasu's pleading sounds and Misao's obstinate silence.
Omasu set the tray onto a nearby table. She glanced at the lump on the futon, Misao buried in blankets. She knelt beside her, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder and rubbing it soothingly.
" Misao...please eat something...you haven't eaten anything since you got back."
Her eyes watered as the little girl she'd seen grow up refused to answer her, not even moving. Omasu gripped her shoulders, gently shaking her.
" Please...Misao. Answer me?"
Silence all around, letting the smallest sound seem amplified in her ears as Omasu sat back dejectedly. Omasu struggled to stop her tears, quickly wiping the ones, which had escaped, and moving to pick up the tray of food. She placed it near the futon, well in Misao's arms reach.
" Misao...I'm going to go now ok? Please promise me you eat something ok? For me?"
Omasu picked up another discarded food tray, one she had brought earlier before heading for the door. A muffled sob escaped Misao's throat, again making Omasu's eyes water. Taking a choked breath, Omasu walked out of the room, looking down at Aoshi in helplessness.
" Aoshi....I don't know what to do anymore...I can't stand seeing her like this."
Omasu slid the door closed, Aoshi's quick glance into the room not going unnoticed.
" Aoshi please do something..."
Omasu was shocked at Aoshi's expression of pain. His cheeks were sunken and his hair clung to his face limply. His usual smouldering eyes were now a dead lifeless luster, the sign of a broken man.
" What can I do?"
Omasu, in all her years of known Aoshi, had never heard him sounding so helpless.
________
Okon looked up when she heard the sound of the door being slid open. It was late into the night, a single candle illuminating her work. Paper was strewn all over the kitchen table, preparation on the wedding in now, after midnight, was one day away. Okon sighed when she saw Omasu enter with an untouched tray of food.
" Omasu...are you crying?"
Okon was shocked as Omasu set the tray down quickly and hugged her. Okon patted Omasu on the back, trying to sooth her.
" Whats wrong?"
" She just lies there, not eating...not talking. I don't think she's gotten up at all. Whats wrong with her? She used to be so lively. It seems like Aoshi never brought her home at all. He brought home an empty shell."
" Its really hard on her...I guess we have to give her time."
" But I'm afraid she won't recover at all. It seems she's lost her will to live. She won't talk to me! She won't talk to anyone."
" How's Aoshi?"
Okon quickly changed the topic, hoping she wouldn't have a hysterical Omasu on her hands.
" He just sits there, thinking to himself about god knows what."
" That man...sometimes he really infuriates me. He just doesn't seem to care about anything!"
Omasu took a seat next to Okon at the table, drying her tears and shaking her head.
" No...he does. He cares. None of us, who watched her grow up, can watch her bawling her eyes out without some sort of twinge."
" I guess he still...he's always had a soft spot for her."
" You know...when I was leaving Misao's room, he looked in on her. When I asked him something, he looked so helpless. He sounded defeated."
Okon grasped Omasu's shoulders and made her look her square in the eyes.
" You're not kidding right? This is AOSHI we're talking about."
" Of course I'm not kidding. I feel really bad for him. He has to sit there all day and listen to her cry."
" really?"
The two chatting women swiveled in their seats, staring in surprise at the women who stood at the doorway.
" Ano...Kaoru-san. What are you doing up so late?"
Kaoru walked in, anxiously playing with her braid. She clapsed her hands together in the bitter cold of the night and looked at the two women pleadingly.
" What Aoshi did...is that true?"
Okon and Omasu exchanged looks. Out of respect for their former okashira, they shouldn't say anything.
" Look...Kaoru-san. We can't say anything really..."
" Please. Just tell me if it's true. If it can make Misao happier..."
Okon gestured for Kaoru to take a seat as Omasu poured another cup of tea.
" Yes. It's true."
______
" Okina. Yoshimura-san is here."
Okina nodded to Omasu, who moved aside to let the well built and somewhat flabby man through. Okina rose to greet him but the man gestured for him once again to sit down as Okon opened a door to let in some sunlight before leaving.
" You have been informed of Misao's return."
" Yes. The wedding will be in two days. Is this correct? I want this out of the way as soon as possible."
" Right. The wedding is on as planned. However, with the signing of-"
" The alliance contract will be signed after the wedding. This is in honour of the new era."
Okina placed a hand on his knee and shook his head.
" We agreed on signing it before the wedding."
" I've changed my mind.It will be done after the wedding.I'm sure you won't have a problem with my suggestion."
" Yoshimura, be reasonable. The signing must be done before you are married into our clan."
The man slammed his fist on the table in outrage, his face red with anger.
" Are you insinuating something here?!"
" No. But try to be reasonable. We can reach a compromise."
Okina stroked his beard, watching the man in front of him relax. He was surprised that Yoshimura had acted so hot headed, his reputation was cool and calculating. He knew that Yoshimura had a front that no one could suspect wasn't his true self. He was clever.
" If I can't get him to sign it before, he might take over the Oniwabanshuu by using Misao. Since she is a woman, as soon as she's married, the husband will take over. I can't risk the Oniwabanshuu like that."
The old man squared his shoulders, not allowing his body language to display his emotions.
" How about we sign it during the ceremony? It will create some disruption, but we can keep it relatively low key."
" I can't exactly refuse."
Now that the marriage had been decided and once again the wedding had been set into motion, Yoshimura found no reason to be courteous. He hadn't been the cause of the postponement of the wedding. He was the one in power, he was the man and soon to be leader of the two most powerful ninja clans in the country.
" Or should I say one...when I combine them both."
Okina grunted in response, laying his hands on the table.
" So we agree."
" Yes. Now I'll take my leave. Tomorrow then."
" Tomorrow."
Okina sighed with relief when Yoshimura left. Deciding to take a look at the alliance proposal, he headed from his room. His footsteps echoed in his ears as he walked up the stairs, away from the hustle and bustle of the bottom floor. Okina's hand gripped the railing when he reached the second floor, not because of his old age. The only sound he could hear now was slow, even breathing and a muffled female voice.
" This is you're doing you know. You're causing this pain, for the both of them."
Okina shook his head, trying to physically rid himself of the annoying voice in his head. But the words hit home as he stared at Aoshi seated in the hallway. His even breathing displayed a demeanor of calm and collected. The slight hunching of his shoulders and slight twitching of his hands betrayed him. As Okina now clearly heard the sounds of weeping, he knew why Aoshi's hands were twitching. He had ordered Aoshi to guard Misao. Now even Aoshi, a person with great control, was unconsciously trying to put his hands over his ears, anything to try to shut out the sounds.
" I'm sorry Aoshi...but I can't go back now."
Okina whispered his thoughts as he passed the seated man. He hurried down the hall, wanting to run from the scene. He didn't want to see Aoshi's reaction. He didn't want to hear Misao anymore. His pretty Misao, his adoptive granddaughter was crying her heart out...but he couldn't do anything. Because he had instrumented the whole mess.
_____
" I'm sorry Aoshi...but I can't go back now."
Aoshi lifted his head in surprise, in time to see the old man disappear around the corner. What had Okina meant by those words? Sorry for what? His thoughts were cut short by a particularly loud sob floating into his ears. He tightened his fists, struggling to keep from punching something.
" Am I missing something? Is there something I haven't caught onto yet?"
Okina had obviously been referring to the wedding...but why was he sorry for him? Why not Misao. How would the wedding affect him? He just had to stand by and watch. Watch Misao marry someone else.
" Someone else." He said, voicing his thoughts.
" What did you say Aoshi?"
Aoshi looked up at Kenshin and Kaoru. His entire body tensed as the Himura's young son climbed onto his lap and began to pat his hollow cheeks.
" Aoshi-nii chan looks tired! Bad boy...no sleep! Kaa-san always makes me sleep"
Every time he saw this child, he was amazed how much he resembled his father. He could remember the days when Kenshin was always alert, always ready for battle. Seeing him now, he seemed more laid back, relaxed with his new family. He would never achieve happiness like that. He had teetered on the edge of darkness for too long and he was struggling to hold onto the edge.
" Aoshi...daijoubu ka?"
" Aaa"
Aoshi stared at Kenji as he began to hug his neck, rubbing cheeks and laughing happily.
" Aoshi-niichan is very cold?"
Kaoru stepped forward cautiously, never forgetting the day Aoshi had stared at her so angrily to touch Aoshis forehead. Aoshi, out of reflex, grabbed Kaoru's hand before she could touch her.
Kaoru drew her hand back quickly, smiling with understanding.
" Would you mind if we talked to Misao for awhile?"
Aoshi stood, with Kenji still clinging onto his neck before handing the child over to Kaoru. His slid the door open wordlessly, allowing the family to step through.
" I wonder what good this would do."
_____
Jyan leaped, his feet landing soundlessly onto the sun warmed tiles of the teahouse. Ever since his unfortunate incident with the master swordsman, he had been instructed by his okashira to spy on him. It was probably for the safety of the wedding that he should spy on the man, but he figured that just spying wouldn't keep the man away from the wedding.
" I'm obviously no match for him. But if I can surprise him, maybe I can hinder him"
Jyan felt disgusted with himself for being falsely optimistic as he watched the tall man enter the teahouse. He quickly dropped off the roof, using his feet to hold himself in a precarious position as he slid open a window on the second floor of the teahouse. He hurried along the halls stealthily until he reached the stairs. He peeked through the railings at the man handing over money in exchange for a large jug. As the man picked the jug up off the counter, the words sake were written prominently.
" So where you headed Seijuro? You haven't ventured out in a long time!"
The manager asked his question quite loudly, smiling broadly at his best customer.
" Just for a wedding."
" Oh well I wish them all the happiness in the world."
Jyan watched Hiko turn his back on the manager and smiled enigmatically over his shoulder.
" Well. I don't."
Jyan gulped as Hiko left the building. Now that he knew that the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryuu master had definite plans to screw up the wedding, it would be even harder for him. He could have been optimistic before, hoping Hiko would be nice and quite. But his job to keep the wedding running smoothly would soon be over. He could already imagine the thrashing from his Okashira. Now all he had to think about was whether a thrashing from his Okashira or from Hiko Seijuro would be worse.
_____
" Matte Kenji!"
Kaoru reached out to the boisterous, energetic child but was too late to stop him. Kenji jumped onto the crying form of Misao underneath all the blankets. Misao rolled over, sitting up to take Kenji off her. She almost didn't have the energy as she felt her arm begin to slacken.
" Play with me Misao nee-chan! Play with me!"
Misao fell back on the bed, pulling the covers over her head and rolled over to ignore the child's request.
" Nee-chan no like Kenji any more?"
Kaoru picked up her son before he could begin to cry hysterically as he had done in the past. She quietly took him to a corner before explaining to him why his 'nee-chan' wouldn't talk to him. Kenshin hesitantly stepped forward. The remorse was clearly evident in his eyes.
" Misao...I'm sorry for giving you away."
Kenshin took a seat next to Misao's futon, wringing his hands anxiously. What scared him was the fact that Misao gave almost no reaction. No furious barrage of fists or kicks like she used to, when the slightest thing ticked her off.
" Misao?"
" Please leave. I don't want to see you or anyone else."
" Are you sure Misao? We're here for you if you need us."
Something inside Misao snapped, her tolerance for these types of questions had long disappeared. She sat up quickly, keeping on fist clenched at her side and another furiously trying to dry her tears.
" I'm sorry I ran away. It did nothing but bring me even more pain. I should never have acted out of hope. It was useless. So why should I try anymore? I know you're all here for me. But what can you do for me? You can't free me!"
Misao breathed heavily, her voice reaching a high pitch as she screamed out her last words. Her tangled hair spilled down her back. The darkness of the room served to highlight how much skinnier Misao had gotten, the shadows underneath her cheeks and her jaw gave her a haunted look. Tears spilled over once again, as she slumped over from over exertion.
" ...Misao...I don't think you should give up like that."
" If my dreams can't come true...then I won't dream anymore."
Kaoru held a scared Kenji to her chest for comfort. She felt she needed comforting as well, not just physical comfort but peace of mind. Misao was so troubled.
" Kenshin...take Kenji and go outside please."
Kenshin obeyed his wife, quickly picking his son up and walking out the door. Kaoru approached the futon, where Misao sat holding her hands up to her eyes to try and stop the tears. Kaoru placed a comforting arm around the young girl's shoulders
" Misao-chan. What would make you say something like that?"
Misao shrugged Kaoru's hand off, shifting away from her.
" I can't do what I want. After I become a wife, I'll be nothing. I'm nothing but a pawn in this game. A hand is moving me, I can't move of my own free will. I have to marry out of political alliance, not out of love. I can't even train in my martial art. You have all of those things. You would never understand."
" But...You are marrying into the Yoshimura ninja clan. You should be able to train. Isn't marriage the thing a girl wishes for most?"
Kaoru was at a loss of what to say. True, she had all of those things. She could only offer the only comfort she could think of.
" Marrying Yoshimura...I can't even marry the one I love. They've taken away the most important person in my life and turned him against me! What can I do?!...Nothing. I can't do anything. My life is over."
Misao's voice fell from a loud pitch to a soft, defeated voice. Kaoru hated to see her friend like this. Her own tears fell to join Misao's endless supply.
" Misao...do you mean Aoshi?"
" ...It doesn't matter anymore. It won't help. Nothing will."
Kaoru grabbed Misao by the wrist, forcing her to look her in the eye.
" Makimachi Misao. Look me in the eye and tell me you don't want to marry Shinomori Aoshi. You have a day left until the wedding. You still have time. Do something and don't let someone else force you to give up your dreams!"
Misao wrenched away, picking up her pillow and throwing it with all the strength she could muster at the wall. The pillow fell to the floor with a dull thud, leaving the wall cracked. Kaoru drew a sharp breath. It was surprising that Misao could damage the wall, much less cause a giant crack down the middle.
" Don't make it sound like you understand! You can't! You have EVERYTHING. You have Kenshin, he would never do this to you. We are in totally different situations. You can't say anything that would ever make it feel any better. You've never felt this heartache and you never will. Kenshin loves you too much for that."
" But Misao-"
Misao's shoulders visibly slumped as she shifted her gaze from Kaoru to the floor.
" But nothing. They've taken away the most important person in my life and turned him against me! What can I do?! Nothing. I can't even leave because he is the one who keeps me here. I can't escape because of him. It's over. My dream for 18 years is over."
Kaoru let out a muffled sob, Misao's despair becoming hers as well. She couldn't stand that her friend was in so much pain, and that she was right. She couldn't do a thing for her besides temporary physical comfot. Kaoru pulled Misao into a comforting hug, facing the window. Misao's limbs seemed limp and her cold and clammy skin felt uncomfortable against her own. But she ignored it, placing a hand on Misao's back, rubbing it soothingly.
" You know...I told him I love him. But to love Shinomori Aoshi is hopeless. I know that now. It was hopeless from the very beginning."
Kaoru's ears rung from Misao's loud voice, but it didn't keep her from hearing the sound of the door open. Misao looked up slowly, wondering why Kaoru tensed so suddenly. Through her teary eyes, she could see Kenji standing there, hugging his father's leg in fear. Her eyes moved upward, past Kenshin to a much taller man. As her eyes met his, she knew instantly that he had heard it all.
*************