"Where's Aoshi!" Misao demanded, kicking the kitchen door open. "I can't
find him anywhere." Noticing Yahiko's grim countenance and Kaoru's
tearstained face and puffy eyes, Misao immediately knew something was
wrong. "What happened? Did Kenshin run away again?" At Kaoru's shaky nod,
Misao exploded angrily, "That JERK! What happened to him this time? Don't
worry, as soon as I find Aoshi I will have him talk some sense into that
baka!"
"Aoshi is gone to…" Yahiko growled irritably, tossing Misao a sealed envelope. Misa, recognizing the emblem of the Oniwabanshuu instantly, immediately tore open the envelope and scanned the message. "Aoshi…" Misao whimpered before turning white and fainting.
"MISAO!" Leaping out his chair, Yahiko managed to catch the fallen girl before she hit the ground and gently laid her on the floor. Frowning, Yahiko picked up the letter and felt a keen sense of shock.
The Letter
Dear Misao,
If you are reading this message, that means that I have already left to take care of some private business that have just recently risen. I want you to take the others to seek out the aide of Kenshin's master, Hiko Seijuurou. He should be somewhere near Oskiwana by now, if he has not strayed from his trip after protecting our home. The enemy that we are about to face is far beyond anything we imagined and we shall need all the help we can receive. If Master Hiko agrees to aid us, tell him that our enemy is the Master of the Shadows and he will understand. If I do not survive this battle, promise me you will stay at the Kamiya Dojo and consider it your new home.
Love,
Aoshi
"So that's why you left us. Do not worry about them Aoshi, just take care of Kenshin and bring him back to us alive." Yahiko muttered vehemently, carefully folding the message. Shaking his head sadly, Yahiko left Kaoru in a depressed stupor and Misao on the ground, Yahiko left for the local carpenter with a small sack of yens. About half an hour later, he came back toting a wheelbarrow behind him. Retrieving a few large burlap sacks from the food shack of the dojo, Yahiko proceeded to go in each one of their rooms and fill the sacks with clothes and a few nonperishable foods.
After filling up the wheelbarrow, Yahiko dragged the wheelbarrow back to where the two women were. He gently lifted Misao and placed her on the wheelbarrow, marveling how fragile and innocent the girl appeared in her sleep (or rather faint), quite a contrast from her usually fiery personality. Carefully placing her on to the soft sacks of clothes, Yahiko gently brushed a loose bang back from her face.
When he was done seeing to Misao, Yahiko turned his attention to his sensei. Taking her gently by the hand, Yahiko drew her up. Taking out a piece of cloth, he wiped her tearstained face. "Do not cry. Let's go ask Master Hiko for help. I am sure he will aid us and then everything will be alright, ok?"
Kaoru hesitated for a second, hope warring with depression within her. After about a minute of pondering she slowly nodded.
Yahiko patted her shoulder and gave a grunt as he started to drag the now extremely heavy wheelbarrow.
After they reached a fair distance away from what was once their home, Yahiko finally called for a rest and collapsed against a nearby tree. "God…" he muttered, "How long can that girl sleep?"
Kaoru asked quietly, "Where are we going?" passing him a bowl of miso soup and some dried fish.
"Oskiwana."
Kaoru nodded then gazed at her strong-willed disciple in new light. Though she would never admit it, she admired him for his determination and courage, his ability to stand face to face with enemies who were in every way superior to him. He is like Kenshin, she realized and smiled softly as Kenshin's face came up in her mind.
A stranger lad in a long black coat stood in front of the Kamiya Dojo and brushed a stray bang back over his head. "Are you sure that this is where Battoussai resides, Soujirou?"
The ever-smiling fighting prodigy nodded and replied, "I stake my life on it, Master Kageno."
Yumi Kageno raised an eyebrow at his disciple and muttered, "If you do not care about your life, just how credible is it if you swear by it?" Ignoring Soujirou's innocent expression, Yumi shrugged and unsheathed a blackened katana from under his cloak. Pushing open the door, he strolled into a large arena. "Battoussai! The time has come to meet your death and let my father's spirit finally rest in honor!" Yumi called out loud. Yumi raised an eyebrow questioning as an extremely sleepy Sanosuke came stumbling in cursing. He turned to glare accusingly at Soujirou, "This bumbling fool is not Hitokiri Battoussai."
Soujirou nodded and replied, "That is Sakara Sanosuke, Kenshin's pet dog."
As Sanosuke realized that there was in fact two strangers standing in front of him, he abruptly awakened. His eyes widened at the dully-gleaming katana in Yumi's hand and expanded twice the previous size as his eyes came to rest upon Soujirou. "Soujirou! What are you doing here? And who are you?" He asked, narrowing his eyes at Yumi. Yumi's amused face twisted in an evil grin that sent tremors down the street fighter's spine, "And so my vengeance begins…"
*Please write reviews. Whether positive, neutral, or negative, all reviews are extremely appreciated! (
"Aoshi is gone to…" Yahiko growled irritably, tossing Misao a sealed envelope. Misa, recognizing the emblem of the Oniwabanshuu instantly, immediately tore open the envelope and scanned the message. "Aoshi…" Misao whimpered before turning white and fainting.
"MISAO!" Leaping out his chair, Yahiko managed to catch the fallen girl before she hit the ground and gently laid her on the floor. Frowning, Yahiko picked up the letter and felt a keen sense of shock.
The Letter
Dear Misao,
If you are reading this message, that means that I have already left to take care of some private business that have just recently risen. I want you to take the others to seek out the aide of Kenshin's master, Hiko Seijuurou. He should be somewhere near Oskiwana by now, if he has not strayed from his trip after protecting our home. The enemy that we are about to face is far beyond anything we imagined and we shall need all the help we can receive. If Master Hiko agrees to aid us, tell him that our enemy is the Master of the Shadows and he will understand. If I do not survive this battle, promise me you will stay at the Kamiya Dojo and consider it your new home.
Love,
Aoshi
"So that's why you left us. Do not worry about them Aoshi, just take care of Kenshin and bring him back to us alive." Yahiko muttered vehemently, carefully folding the message. Shaking his head sadly, Yahiko left Kaoru in a depressed stupor and Misao on the ground, Yahiko left for the local carpenter with a small sack of yens. About half an hour later, he came back toting a wheelbarrow behind him. Retrieving a few large burlap sacks from the food shack of the dojo, Yahiko proceeded to go in each one of their rooms and fill the sacks with clothes and a few nonperishable foods.
After filling up the wheelbarrow, Yahiko dragged the wheelbarrow back to where the two women were. He gently lifted Misao and placed her on the wheelbarrow, marveling how fragile and innocent the girl appeared in her sleep (or rather faint), quite a contrast from her usually fiery personality. Carefully placing her on to the soft sacks of clothes, Yahiko gently brushed a loose bang back from her face.
When he was done seeing to Misao, Yahiko turned his attention to his sensei. Taking her gently by the hand, Yahiko drew her up. Taking out a piece of cloth, he wiped her tearstained face. "Do not cry. Let's go ask Master Hiko for help. I am sure he will aid us and then everything will be alright, ok?"
Kaoru hesitated for a second, hope warring with depression within her. After about a minute of pondering she slowly nodded.
Yahiko patted her shoulder and gave a grunt as he started to drag the now extremely heavy wheelbarrow.
After they reached a fair distance away from what was once their home, Yahiko finally called for a rest and collapsed against a nearby tree. "God…" he muttered, "How long can that girl sleep?"
Kaoru asked quietly, "Where are we going?" passing him a bowl of miso soup and some dried fish.
"Oskiwana."
Kaoru nodded then gazed at her strong-willed disciple in new light. Though she would never admit it, she admired him for his determination and courage, his ability to stand face to face with enemies who were in every way superior to him. He is like Kenshin, she realized and smiled softly as Kenshin's face came up in her mind.
A stranger lad in a long black coat stood in front of the Kamiya Dojo and brushed a stray bang back over his head. "Are you sure that this is where Battoussai resides, Soujirou?"
The ever-smiling fighting prodigy nodded and replied, "I stake my life on it, Master Kageno."
Yumi Kageno raised an eyebrow at his disciple and muttered, "If you do not care about your life, just how credible is it if you swear by it?" Ignoring Soujirou's innocent expression, Yumi shrugged and unsheathed a blackened katana from under his cloak. Pushing open the door, he strolled into a large arena. "Battoussai! The time has come to meet your death and let my father's spirit finally rest in honor!" Yumi called out loud. Yumi raised an eyebrow questioning as an extremely sleepy Sanosuke came stumbling in cursing. He turned to glare accusingly at Soujirou, "This bumbling fool is not Hitokiri Battoussai."
Soujirou nodded and replied, "That is Sakara Sanosuke, Kenshin's pet dog."
As Sanosuke realized that there was in fact two strangers standing in front of him, he abruptly awakened. His eyes widened at the dully-gleaming katana in Yumi's hand and expanded twice the previous size as his eyes came to rest upon Soujirou. "Soujirou! What are you doing here? And who are you?" He asked, narrowing his eyes at Yumi. Yumi's amused face twisted in an evil grin that sent tremors down the street fighter's spine, "And so my vengeance begins…"
*Please write reviews. Whether positive, neutral, or negative, all reviews are extremely appreciated! (