Chapter 4: Reclaiming Innocence
No..stop...he is after me... she was running to vast darkness, she was running at the forest.. no she was trying to escape.. the place she grew to love was in ruins. The place was burning to the ground. " Omasu.. anyone.. grandpa.." They could have been all dead. She saw savagely wrought carcasses, a gruesome carnage on her wake. As she feared, she saw the familiar faces dead. Mark to their faces is not the terror of getting killed but the last will to defend the place with honor, they paid it dearly, with their lives. Where is Yukina... he is nowhere to be seen. "You must go, my angel! He is coming to get you..." his voice, seemingly distant. " Take her with you...leave." she tried to find the voice, but the clothed figure from behind grabbed her, it was Aioshi. " Don't be stubborn Misao." She can't recall but being dragged roughly and left to a place where she could be hidden. Aioshi went back, she can make another figure besides him. Yukina! He is there but he looks weak, stumbling. Suddenly, a swift figure cuts across the old man in a deadly arc that marked the air crimson. Noooooo!!! But she can't be heard... the figure that axed him to death is now approaching Aioshi. " It's too bad you don't got to join our group... Shi-Shi-o would be well pleased." Then it dawns her, hencheman of the Juppon-Gatana. One of the survivors. " I'm here to claim her, but I had to make sure before that, you'll follow this pathetic fools to their graves." The tone was cool and casual... as if among the smoke and ruins she can make out that the villain is smiling... yet the voice sounds familiar, it sounds like coming from a young man. As the figure emerged slowly from the shadows, she noted he was wearing a monochromatic blue kimono, tattered and splattered with blood of her comrades. The face has a sinister smile, and it's eyes.. violet indigo eyes.. looking terribly amused yet emotionless. Soujiro...
" Soujiro" she mumbled. It's no good, her fever is getting higher... Soujiro look warily with concern. She was already unconscious when he found a small cave nearby some woods, the fact they've dried up after few hours, but she is still shaking violently. He puts a palm over her forehead, she was scalding hot. He put enough layers and with his slightest touch she flinched. She is coming down with a terrible chill, she's already hallucinating. The fact she kept murmuring his name, she might be as well in throes of a bad dream. He had to do something to relieve her. He remebered a travelers advice on "survival hug " where one would share one's body heat. The only problem, he didn't know if he can do it with a woman, more or less Misao.
" I hope you wouldn't mind." He made her clothes lose enough to reveal nothing to the imagination, he didn't try to strip her too much. In turn, he took his two-layered kimono off, sighing deeply and he slowly crept over her. He held her tightly enough to make sure that their bodies are in a fit contact, his bare chest against hers, his hakama covered legs over her own. At first he found it strange and disturbing. But somehow it comforts him with the thought he didn't want to take advantage of her, he wants her to be well. Meeting Misao's face close dangerously to his own is unavoidable and he felt strange mixed emotions as she was caught in another fit in a dream. He hold her closely to ease her down, hearing her murmurs.
It wasn't something he doesn't want to hear, something he's afraid of. If he's not mistaken she's dreaming the family she had known being butchered by no else but his former wicked self. He can hear almost every word crystal clear.
" Hush, I would not hurt you." He whispered. He held her tight once again, he can feel her ease a little underneath the comfort of his protective care. The words were spoken from his at the very first time, but deep within his honest and wounded soul, he knows he did really don't want to hurt anyone. And what if she finds out? Her belief would ruin his chance, but sooner or later he had to face the fact. It's not because he swore a pact, but true redemption comes into terms of facing the evils of the past. But it's not yet the time to tell her, she had to be well emotionally balanced to hear it. Right now, her health is his worry.
Lucid green orbs fluttered open, she feel something warm and heavy over her and it moves. Obviously not a blanket, she makes out quickly a familiar shadow. Her consious alert eyes meeting his surprised indigo gaze. She was half-naked and so was he. " YoU!...Get off me before I'll..."
He caught her fist before he could receive a blow. His still sharp instincts tell him she's upset, and she was about to knee down under. " It's not what you think!" he said, blocking the knee before it hits him, he gave a reprimanding glare silently commanding her to stop " Look, you were shaking. I just do what I had to do, I had to keep you warm."
Misao quickly reached to cover herself up, she felt flushed and annoyed to see a half-naked man right now. It annoys her more that she's also at the same state. She opens her mouth to demand why, " I don't look while stripping you of course," he replied as if reading her mind. " It wouldn't enter my mind either, all I think is for you to get better."
Silence.
" Gomen... I kinda jump to conclusions, but I feel better now. Really." She felt sorry for him, after all she tried to kick his manhood and slap him at the face. He had gone to carry her all through the rain after a narrow escape, and then she remembered last is his piercing war cry.
The blue ninja. Of course, he must have met him. " Last time I remembered, you called out a war cry. You did met him am I right?"
He looked over the cackling fire, putting his clothes on " The matter of fact, yes."
" You finished him?"
" Fatally wounded, yes."
He sighed wearily, setting his nihontou aside at the cave wall. It look amazingly spotless and of good care. " I swore an oath to kill no one. I let the man live, but of course with that casualty he would retreat, just like the first one did."
It indeed sounds familiar, Needless to say, Misao is Soujiro's top priority now. She can imagine she looks like a drowned rat and she had been neglecting herself for sometime now. She heard the oath well, and she wondered if the youth in front of her had gone to a long emotional tempest and a dark past to conclude his strong will not to kill anyone and to protect the innocent.
She caught him giving her a quick going over, now she's sitting up and fully dressed. " You need to change to real clothes... Kyoto is not far away soon and..."
" I don't think there is anything wrong the way I dress!" she protested. Sometimes she didn't like the aloof attitude of his when he will frankly points out a fault or two. Serious or not, he always keep on bringing small things up. He shook his head warily,
" Not really, but you see we left some things way back at the inn and we couldn't go back there already." Much to his amazement, she quickly sprang to life fumbling over their drying things and she scowled and ranted to indicate she did left something. Her clothes, she hardly had any left. Her tent and blankets are lost too. " I lost several of my things!" she screamed, " What shall I do now?!"
Soujiro don't know wheter he would laugh or taunt her, he rather choose to laugh: it seems so ironic that this little weasel was just barely to her knees and was up quick the next minute like her behind is on fire. It was comforting though, that she starts recupirating at such a fast rate. " Misao, you baka. You still got me here... I know how it works so don't worry."
As if some cue, distant angry voices seem to scurry around the woods nearby. It cuts their conversation into dead silence, and he focused clearly to see many bobbing torch lights. The voices yet seem to sound familiar, as if he had heard them several hours ago. " I think they found us again," Misao cursed beneath her breath. It's the bonfire, obviously they know we can't make it that far by that storm... Soujiro assessed it all too quickly. Misao had finally made really sure she get all the things, " Where should we go?"
He quickly beats down the fire and instantly swept Misao off her feet to his arms. Wheter he expected she will complain and put up a fight like a falcon, she didn't. He can just imagine a picture of an annoyed Misao hidden within the darkness unable to complain. " Just hang on." And he plunged to deep skipping fast paced footsteps.
The pace was fast and quick, she can make it that he'll either stop to leap up a branch or to plunge down the ground silently without a thud. Obviously, he is making a distraction so the enemy would have a hard time keeping up pace. But the skipping up and downs is starting to make her air sick, plus his remarkably astonishing speed makes her imagine that some force is just catapulting her and not a being holding her in his arms. She resisted the urge to throw up, she huddled her face tightly to his kimono before she shortly do.
" They would surely not find us here." Soujiro inquired, making himself comfortable as he settled down nicely at a wide tree branch. The tree is some sort of hundred years old and it was tall, big and wide and very capable to handle a whole camp within it. " You sure had to keep your balance, Misao."
" Of course! I'm no Oniwabanshu leader for nothing." She exclaimed, " We ninjas are trained to keep on good balance!". Soujiro chuckled lightly, it was pretty obvious she doesn't want to be taken care like a hapless maiden but he knows that there is something she must be pretty afraid of. He tapped the branch he is resting on, " You can sleep beside me, there is enough space!"
She flushed crimson. "No!"
The fact she's flying from branch to branch like a grasshopper, Soujiro could tell it was indeed something with sleeping on trees that is bothering her. She takes the final hop, a branch a feet away from where he was sitting. " I think it's something about sleeping on trees worries you."
" There is not!" she stomped, making sure she will finally settled to the spot. There is some sort of twitching sound after, and Soujiro noted her face changed colors of the rainbow as few spiders spring about from above. "S-Spiders!!!" squeaking, she was about to scream ,but out of sheer shock she lose her balance instead. Soujiro's quick reflexes saved her from falling down below, catching her by the right arm. His face had a malicious smile curved to his lips and his indigo eyes nevertheless can't hide it's amusement. " So, the headstrong leader of the Oniwabanshu is afraid of spiders!"
" Don't even think of laughing about it!" she steamed, knowing very well she was either flushing out of embarrassment or anger. Soujiro helped her up the branch, both of them facing each other. I could strangle him if he tried laughing right now! She thought, for it seems the kawaii swordsman is trying his best to contain himself. All the emotion and action going on starts to make her giddy again, almost forgetting she's still sick.
" You can't keep balance if you are still sick, you had to come here." He outstretched his grasp, nudging her to reach. " Don't be stubborn now, cm'on."
She sighed heavily, " Alright." Besides she got no choice. Having him to hold her is like therapy, she feels much better and secured knowing she's in wrapped and protecting arms. It's the way he looks at her, seemingly so peaceful and tranquil.. that she can't read his thoughts if it's a deeper relationship he is looking. Nah, she moved out the notion as she nestled like a cat in his arms and snuggled close enough at his chest. The warm air of earth was his scent and makes her at ease and she closed her eyes. He is much but a reliable friend, who would like someone who looks likes a 12 year old boy?
Leaning back at the tree, half resting and Misao quickly fast asleep in his arms, Soujiro looks at the sky, the tempest seemed over and he could finally see the stars, he saw the mariner star and recalled seeing it means the weather would turn out fine. It seems it would turn out to be a fine night for the time being.
The morning came without the signs of impending bad weather, hopefully. Misao was quick to recover, with just a slight fever she promised not to run into some cold springs again. Soujiro was less excited at this particular morning, usually waking up ahead always he found out easily what's wrong from the moment he stretched out from his resting place. His neck and back are aching sorely. He rubbed one palm at the back of his neck, Misao was right.. maybe if he tried sleeping like a normal person he wouldn't catch something that would affect him later. A nasty pain at the neck, and one wrong arm swing he would be dislocating a nerve or a vertebrate. And even now, considering Yukina's assassins are now posing real threat. Kuso...of all the days of the week. He cursed lightly. Misao is taking again eons to pack and the nagging sore is starting to make him impatient. Maybe if he grabbed Misao by the leg, (who's still up the tree) and carry her by his shoulder would make everything fast and easy.
It's a wrong move.
Misao shrieked like a captured fowl as Soujiro closed in his hands to about the calf of her leg and instead she tumbled down, roughly. She fell down sitting on poor Soujiro's head, who fall face down the ground.. not knowing that Misao would put up a shriek like that. " I can't believe it!! You per..."
Then an amazing thing happened, his neck and back was not aching badly as it seems. And besides Misao's rantings, he waited for her to stop. "Arigato ne, I finally get rid of that pain!" He lifted himself up, dusting a little here and there and to see Misao's quizzical look. " Is it just me or did you just been heavier?"
Misao scowled, he knows how much women were defensive when questioned on that sensitive matter. He is going to enjoy this playful banter for awhile and make the most of it before that time comes. He didn't know how to break the news to her for he had 3 days remaining.
And for those three days remaining she had to be his wife. It wouldn't be easy when Yukina's motive is pretty obvious already, dispatching spies everywhere and sending assasins to nail him down. Pretty obvious too, he would have a hard time if ever, taking him as a mukodono (son-in-law). And it hurts the thought because all for his former reputation. He don't know how long will he be a lonely vagabond and search for his life's meaning and truth, to some it may take years, even decades. He was lucky, for it took him just as less to seek that truth and meaning. It seems like his destiny the first time he spotted that little weasel who stalled him the moment she stepped on his face. Misao is not that eye catching, and if to honest she does had the body of a twelve year old boy and throughly lacks the feminity of a common japanese woman. Geishas or willowy women never strikes his fancy, and having a commitment is far off among his goal. But yet the moment of their encounter turned his well- ordered universe turned upside down, the mischievous free-spirited and even stubborn 19 year old is all he could think of. Admittedly he had hard time expressing his feelings, because of the tradegy of his young life, that a picture of innocence like her make him pierce of such longing to feel such unamed emotion.
Then he remembered the old woman from Edo.
" Kuso....." he muttered in shock, recalling the old hag. Misao gave him the quizzical expression as they trekked about the valleys, the winding roads.. and he absentmindedly just cursed out loud. " You forgot something? " she said, wondering what will trigger Soujiro to say just that. No sense keeping it, Misao would badger him if he does not tell. He can recall from past experience the best way to deal with it. " Misao, can you recall some sort of old woman this short with thick white hair and annoying laugh?"
" No, why?" Even a vivid description of the old woman is no use,. Misao had never seen or known an old lady with that description. She might be a traveler or gyspy, but Soujiro knew very well the strange woman is too old to go on her own to Edo. The thought of the mysterious stranger having accurately foretold his destiny gave him the shudder. Superstitions, he calmed himself. Probably it's sort of coincidence, he hoped. But he recalled, After a year the day he sets off to his lonesome journey is also the day he "accidentally" met Misao. He thought his skills had gone rusty after he was stalled with a smack of foot to the face.
" Whatever is inside your head Soujiro-san, just say it! " Soujiro blinked back from his deep thoughts and fixed his violet stare and saw a quite furious little weasel inspecting him closely. " Well, I..."
" Don't get me wrong but it looks you had a hard time expressing your feelings."
He flashed his usual smile, eyes closed happily. " Yeah, you're right.....what?!" he came into realization he wasn't even paying attention, and the term " expressing your feelings" set his face flared up like with crimson and his violet orbs wide with surprise. Misao guessed she hit the sensitive spot of the young swordsman. " I got you there didn't I? " Soujiro's shot her a look and can feel his heated cheeks grew hotter, Misao is liking the moment he would go embarrassed like this. If he told her everything it would be too complex, and he will reveal his identity during the process. "You are so straightforward." He sighed, rubbing his neck and tilting his head. Obviously trying to hide the fact his face had a color of a ripe tomato. " We are still under contract, so stop personal questions aside."
They rode again at one of the passing truck carts carrying hay. The journey to Edo would be counted to three more days. It seems so fast, and dangerously near. If Yukina dispatched more allies it would make the trip more rocky. " Soujiro-san, I recruit you under MY contract, so I have the right to know!" Misao demanded.
Maybe he would act a little more authoritive around Misao by now, he thought. She had been stubbornly pushing him so far and he is growing tired of joking around already. " I don't know why you had to recruit me." He muttered absentmindedly. " What confuses me right now, is if you're able and strong enough to go to Kyoto yourself. You can have a less time getting all the trouble I had gone through." Aware he sounded like taunting, the type of cruel tongue the old Soujiro would do. He would see how far Misao would go, that it is not easy to keep on judging someone if life is personally at stake.
" Are you saying that I could do this all by myself? Even at the mercy of the assasin of Juppon-gattana."
" I can say that I might be wasting my time if you could do it yourself. You are able to fled to Kyoto on your own before to fight the Juppon-gattana..."
" You talked to Yukina, didn't you."
" No." He snapped, " I've wandered Edo to know those things." He lied. " I'm not saying that you're a burden Misao, but if you had to depend from others eventually you had to learn you'll also end up on your own."
" What is your point, do you want to end up the deal right now?"
She seems to take this a step seriously than he expected. " Misao, ever since I swore to protect you, bad things start to happen. Your men are after my head. If I continue to go through this, fine. But it pays bad to get you hurt at the process. I don't want any bloodshed to happen, So if I just leave and....."
"No! I won't let you!! " Misao gripped him tightly at the arm to his surprise, like a stubborn little girl that wouldn't allow her mother to leave. " We've gone this far and I'm not letting that happen, do you understand? "
It's about time he had to stop and get serious, " Look Misao, I got no choice. I don't want anyone of us to get hurt..."
" That's why I trusted you, maybe I was wrong..." she continued, her green eyes ablaze gazing him as if he is an important possession. " the moment you swing that sword at the inn, I know you are skilled enough to protect me. Protect me from the lethal mercenary."
He can't tell he was the same lethal mercenary sworn to protect her.
" You...you trusted me?" He can't believe Misao was indeed serious about it, she mentioned the same word the moment at their first night camping out of the woods. " But all this danger. Don't you think you're also risking yourself, Because I won't let you... "
" I don't care what happens! It's because I like you!" she cried out loud, enough for the chickens resting at the cart to squawk out loud. Both were in verge of shock as the words hit them like splashed water. Misao realized too late what she had said, Soujiro was dumbfounded to hear what he would least expect from her. " Misao!" he called out, as she jumped out of the cart and ran. She didn't know if he'll ever try to touch her with a 10 foot pole after what she just said. Its so stupid, she thought. He looks to her as a younger sister to be always protected nonetheless and he got his own problems to share, she also concluded. He is but a far-distant wanderer, who had known no family, compared to her sheltered life surrounded by the Oniwabanshu who raised her as their own. But it couldn't be helped still to fall from him. He is arrestingly good looking at the moment she they first met, even after she stepped him at the face. He looks youthful for someone who's turning 23, delicate features and a warm reproving smile making him a perfect mukodono (son-in-law!) that would melt even the hardest of in-laws. It seems he is picture perfect of innocence, or so it looks. His quiet violet gaze that flared to a hint of smoldering deep blue if triggered with strange emotion, mystifed her. They seem to draw a look of a pained past trying to search for something that was lost, and she swore the moment they met his eyes shone a strange hue of light blue.
"Misao! Come back!" he leaped out, calling her and keeping up with her pace. Women, they are so complex. Maybe it was wrong when he tried to be honest about their situation. He didn't know that she felt the same way like for him, and it is making him even more confused. Yukina was right, it wasn't easy playing with Misao's feelings. If he is going to rehearse his apology he had to catch up with her fast. The early afternoon's heat starts to sweat his brows and he starts to get exhausted. How could she ran those many miles? She would not be that far away.
She was totally at lost and hadn't noticed that she is dangerously running among the ravines, where they might be small slippery slopes and probably also muddy. It's not that dangerous, if isn't it just the vines and dead branches sprawled over the moss covered ground. The rocks, the ground is a little edgy by sharp rocks. I will get myself to an accident if I keep this on, she veered around and was astonished to see Soujiro just a few feet away, panting. " Misao! Just stop it before you..." fall. Misao was so surprised at Soujiro's sudden presence that she slipped backwards to the rocky slopes that who knows how deep. Reaching out to her grip is a far option. He had to do it the fast way. He lunged forward, plunging downward to the deep. His nimble feet took hold swiftly to the vertical ground, and run across it defying the law of suspension and gravity. His moves are more astounding than Himura-san, if not mistaken, much more professional as Misao had noticed. He moves better than any well-trained ninja she had seen. A wave of nausea hits her, any moment she will hit the ground head -first! With one quick leap, Soujiro advanced a step down on stable ground and caught Misao in the nick of time, exacting it to the moment he took a pressure from the ground to be able to leap himself high up.
That moment leave her breatheless. He made a quick step to the higher ground where she slipped. " Misao be more careful next time. You had me worried there! " his voice having a hint of grave concern. " Ne, Soujiro- san. I forgot, don't step at the ground where I slipped. It's full of moss."
He looked at his footing and noticed he is standing at an edgy rock of moss.
This time she saw the wide-eyed look of surprise at his face as the ground they are standing gave way, and both were rolling and sliding to the mossy rocks and the muddy slopes to down below.
Unhurt, Misao ended up with her back in a puddle at the base of the rise, but before she could catch her breath, Soujiro landed with a thud on top of her, knocking the wind from her body. She opened her eyes to see his face above hers, the morning dews sprinkling around them everywhere, dripping to his face. His dark hair hung in wet ribbons, his violet gaze focused intently on her.
With vague surprise, he found himself spring to life against her belly. He looked down on her, and felt something indescribable.
Soujiro closed his eyes against the realization that he would rather deny, but formed nonetheless: he wanted her. He wanted her with a fierce desire that astonished him from its intensity. His head felt as if the blood was rushing from it, and like a man dazed, he moved against her. The tantalizing press of her body against his groin made him hot as flame.
Misao thought he was crushing her, just as she opened her mouth to protest, however, she realized he shifted his mass somehow.. allowing her to gulp in some air. He was up on his elbows, but still lying upon her. With the recognition came the discovery that his body extremely feel good just where it was. She shut her mouth. Rather bewildered, she looked up at him, and Soujiro caught her gaze, his violet orbs damp and compelling. Neither of them breathed as whatever strange forces worked between them sprang to life. With her humors rising feverishly while he hovered over her, his own slender figure covering her much smaller one. Soujiro's eyes darkened to a shade of deep indigo, unfathomable.
" This time for the reckoning between us, Maramachi Misao", he whispered. And then he lowered his head.
Soujiro's mouth came down upon hers, fierce yet passionate. Her memory now intact, Misao knew she had never been kissed like this before, and this was hardly she expected. Soujiro, true to his nature, was ardent yet demanding. She felt a tingle of fear of Soujiro's side she never felt before.
She parted her lips to protest, but swallowed it in shocked surprise when his tongue thrust into her mouth. It swept over her teeth, searching, marking, and claiming, until Misao was stunned, not only at his actions, but at her own reaction. Her body tightened, and her thighs lifting, as if endowed with a will of their own, towards his. The morning dews over the tree high leaves starts raining down, slucing around her in it's own wild fury, but it was nothing compared to the raging tempest between them. Soujiro felt as if he spent his entire life sleepwalking, unaware of this whole world of passion and feeling, Misao felt that a mutual consent passed between them, and now she is alive, every inch of her wet skin is animated and seeking his.
Heat welcome and wonderful, seeped through the water to rouse her body to a frenzied pitch, and Misao reveled in it. She clutched at his kimono, hanging on for her very life as he swept her away on a maelstorm of liquid fire. A moan escaped her, and he answered by pressing his lower body into hers. His hands wound into her hair, forcing her head back so that he could thrust more deeply into her mouth. Tentatively, Misao ran her tongue along his lips, and he responded with a feral growl of pleasure that sent her reeling with breathless excitement. Lost in the tumult of sensation, she did not even notice some the heavy rustling of high shrubs caused by some shocked passer bys. Just as she heard the strangers scamper hastily away, Soujiro tore off his mouth from hers and looked up above from where they had fallen in. It's no use chasing the innocent passer bys, too late for that.
" G-Gomen..I..." he stammered, finally coming to realization what had just happened that lasted for like several minutes. He lost it, he lost his own control and took advantage of the position landing on top of her. He never had possessed some one with such strong desire, and he knows Misao would hate him for that. But she responded, he swore he felt her arms wound around him willingly before it's cut short by the "brief interruption".
He didn't revert back to his fake sunny disposition that he always shows if don't want to let people know what he is thinking. He stood up, and dust himself and with a hint of seriousness looked again at the spot where they had fallen through. "... we had to go now, it would be embarrassing if someone would see us.." he remarked in an imperative tone, he give Misao a quick going over and it aches for him to see her staring just like that, like someone blew her with a force of a hurricane. He had to distance himself, however. " Well, cmon.. we could be in Kyoto any sooner if you don't get up there! "
Misao whimpered, bereft at the loss of him but anyway followed suit and climbed up back to the top of the slippery rocks of the ravine. Soujiro's sudden stiffness is predictably understood. But nonetheless, what happened several minutes ago is so strange and disturbing.. and yet she find it fascinating. She never knew what's coming, when he trapped her like a wild bird with his slender form and his eyes shone from it's dull indigo to a smoldering haze of blue as the youth said those words she thought he'll never say, and the moist kisses that came hot and frantic like he pinned for such longing for that moment. A one look at the enigmatic young swordsman, and it seems his soft facade had little to do with his fierce and passionate caresses, nor the look to pin someone for a moment of uncontrolled passion. Misao felt she is thinking so much that she felt her face flush crimson, and to make sure that Soujiro does not see it she scampered ahead quick and even if it means stomping him off at the process.
The previous passer-bys, two kids: one is a red head in an European get up and the other in a traditional Japanese in a dusty chrome yellow & spotted kimono with spiky black hair, happen to be just usually bickering who's better in kendo, had scampered off a mile, still pale in shock and even forgot their weapons in the process.
" Damn! I can't believe what I just saw! I swore that is Misao!" the spiky haired one said out loud as he and his companion stopped after literally speeding off for a considerable distance. " Misao? But who's that young swordsman hitting off with her?" the red head quipped as a flash of the scene came vividly to their minds.
" Why should I KNOW? " The spiky haired one yelled, The sight of Misao making love out of nowhere is giving him the creeps. The strange swordsman, he knows he never seen before.. even at her residence in Edo. If he get it quite right, they are really making passionate love and is not strangling or something like he thought it is ( or so he wish ).
" Hey! Why don't you ask your sempai ? Maybe he knows who the samurai boy is." The red head inquired.
The spiky haired one tried to connect the dots. You hardly seen anyone that young who wear a full assassin get up. The youth is wearing hand protectors and customized sandals. Plus he is carrying a Nihontou. After he recalled Kenshin's exploits during Shi-Shi-o's battle, about one Juppon- Gatana escapee that they described as the skilled swordsman "who looks like a boy" and carried a nihontou. " Kuso.. I hope it's not him! "
" What do you mean HIM?"
"...ahhh.. nothing!" The spiky haired kid shook his head hard to dismiss the thought. How on hell would a cold blooded assassin like that would end up with that weasel woman? He laughed out loud uneasily and still looked like his face color is blue as he tried to trek down almost as naturally with his red head friend beside him.. " I think WE really need to head back to Kyoto.. I think I'm gonna have a headache! "
No..stop...he is after me... she was running to vast darkness, she was running at the forest.. no she was trying to escape.. the place she grew to love was in ruins. The place was burning to the ground. " Omasu.. anyone.. grandpa.." They could have been all dead. She saw savagely wrought carcasses, a gruesome carnage on her wake. As she feared, she saw the familiar faces dead. Mark to their faces is not the terror of getting killed but the last will to defend the place with honor, they paid it dearly, with their lives. Where is Yukina... he is nowhere to be seen. "You must go, my angel! He is coming to get you..." his voice, seemingly distant. " Take her with you...leave." she tried to find the voice, but the clothed figure from behind grabbed her, it was Aioshi. " Don't be stubborn Misao." She can't recall but being dragged roughly and left to a place where she could be hidden. Aioshi went back, she can make another figure besides him. Yukina! He is there but he looks weak, stumbling. Suddenly, a swift figure cuts across the old man in a deadly arc that marked the air crimson. Noooooo!!! But she can't be heard... the figure that axed him to death is now approaching Aioshi. " It's too bad you don't got to join our group... Shi-Shi-o would be well pleased." Then it dawns her, hencheman of the Juppon-Gatana. One of the survivors. " I'm here to claim her, but I had to make sure before that, you'll follow this pathetic fools to their graves." The tone was cool and casual... as if among the smoke and ruins she can make out that the villain is smiling... yet the voice sounds familiar, it sounds like coming from a young man. As the figure emerged slowly from the shadows, she noted he was wearing a monochromatic blue kimono, tattered and splattered with blood of her comrades. The face has a sinister smile, and it's eyes.. violet indigo eyes.. looking terribly amused yet emotionless. Soujiro...
" Soujiro" she mumbled. It's no good, her fever is getting higher... Soujiro look warily with concern. She was already unconscious when he found a small cave nearby some woods, the fact they've dried up after few hours, but she is still shaking violently. He puts a palm over her forehead, she was scalding hot. He put enough layers and with his slightest touch she flinched. She is coming down with a terrible chill, she's already hallucinating. The fact she kept murmuring his name, she might be as well in throes of a bad dream. He had to do something to relieve her. He remebered a travelers advice on "survival hug " where one would share one's body heat. The only problem, he didn't know if he can do it with a woman, more or less Misao.
" I hope you wouldn't mind." He made her clothes lose enough to reveal nothing to the imagination, he didn't try to strip her too much. In turn, he took his two-layered kimono off, sighing deeply and he slowly crept over her. He held her tightly enough to make sure that their bodies are in a fit contact, his bare chest against hers, his hakama covered legs over her own. At first he found it strange and disturbing. But somehow it comforts him with the thought he didn't want to take advantage of her, he wants her to be well. Meeting Misao's face close dangerously to his own is unavoidable and he felt strange mixed emotions as she was caught in another fit in a dream. He hold her closely to ease her down, hearing her murmurs.
It wasn't something he doesn't want to hear, something he's afraid of. If he's not mistaken she's dreaming the family she had known being butchered by no else but his former wicked self. He can hear almost every word crystal clear.
" Hush, I would not hurt you." He whispered. He held her tight once again, he can feel her ease a little underneath the comfort of his protective care. The words were spoken from his at the very first time, but deep within his honest and wounded soul, he knows he did really don't want to hurt anyone. And what if she finds out? Her belief would ruin his chance, but sooner or later he had to face the fact. It's not because he swore a pact, but true redemption comes into terms of facing the evils of the past. But it's not yet the time to tell her, she had to be well emotionally balanced to hear it. Right now, her health is his worry.
Lucid green orbs fluttered open, she feel something warm and heavy over her and it moves. Obviously not a blanket, she makes out quickly a familiar shadow. Her consious alert eyes meeting his surprised indigo gaze. She was half-naked and so was he. " YoU!...Get off me before I'll..."
He caught her fist before he could receive a blow. His still sharp instincts tell him she's upset, and she was about to knee down under. " It's not what you think!" he said, blocking the knee before it hits him, he gave a reprimanding glare silently commanding her to stop " Look, you were shaking. I just do what I had to do, I had to keep you warm."
Misao quickly reached to cover herself up, she felt flushed and annoyed to see a half-naked man right now. It annoys her more that she's also at the same state. She opens her mouth to demand why, " I don't look while stripping you of course," he replied as if reading her mind. " It wouldn't enter my mind either, all I think is for you to get better."
Silence.
" Gomen... I kinda jump to conclusions, but I feel better now. Really." She felt sorry for him, after all she tried to kick his manhood and slap him at the face. He had gone to carry her all through the rain after a narrow escape, and then she remembered last is his piercing war cry.
The blue ninja. Of course, he must have met him. " Last time I remembered, you called out a war cry. You did met him am I right?"
He looked over the cackling fire, putting his clothes on " The matter of fact, yes."
" You finished him?"
" Fatally wounded, yes."
He sighed wearily, setting his nihontou aside at the cave wall. It look amazingly spotless and of good care. " I swore an oath to kill no one. I let the man live, but of course with that casualty he would retreat, just like the first one did."
It indeed sounds familiar, Needless to say, Misao is Soujiro's top priority now. She can imagine she looks like a drowned rat and she had been neglecting herself for sometime now. She heard the oath well, and she wondered if the youth in front of her had gone to a long emotional tempest and a dark past to conclude his strong will not to kill anyone and to protect the innocent.
She caught him giving her a quick going over, now she's sitting up and fully dressed. " You need to change to real clothes... Kyoto is not far away soon and..."
" I don't think there is anything wrong the way I dress!" she protested. Sometimes she didn't like the aloof attitude of his when he will frankly points out a fault or two. Serious or not, he always keep on bringing small things up. He shook his head warily,
" Not really, but you see we left some things way back at the inn and we couldn't go back there already." Much to his amazement, she quickly sprang to life fumbling over their drying things and she scowled and ranted to indicate she did left something. Her clothes, she hardly had any left. Her tent and blankets are lost too. " I lost several of my things!" she screamed, " What shall I do now?!"
Soujiro don't know wheter he would laugh or taunt her, he rather choose to laugh: it seems so ironic that this little weasel was just barely to her knees and was up quick the next minute like her behind is on fire. It was comforting though, that she starts recupirating at such a fast rate. " Misao, you baka. You still got me here... I know how it works so don't worry."
As if some cue, distant angry voices seem to scurry around the woods nearby. It cuts their conversation into dead silence, and he focused clearly to see many bobbing torch lights. The voices yet seem to sound familiar, as if he had heard them several hours ago. " I think they found us again," Misao cursed beneath her breath. It's the bonfire, obviously they know we can't make it that far by that storm... Soujiro assessed it all too quickly. Misao had finally made really sure she get all the things, " Where should we go?"
He quickly beats down the fire and instantly swept Misao off her feet to his arms. Wheter he expected she will complain and put up a fight like a falcon, she didn't. He can just imagine a picture of an annoyed Misao hidden within the darkness unable to complain. " Just hang on." And he plunged to deep skipping fast paced footsteps.
The pace was fast and quick, she can make it that he'll either stop to leap up a branch or to plunge down the ground silently without a thud. Obviously, he is making a distraction so the enemy would have a hard time keeping up pace. But the skipping up and downs is starting to make her air sick, plus his remarkably astonishing speed makes her imagine that some force is just catapulting her and not a being holding her in his arms. She resisted the urge to throw up, she huddled her face tightly to his kimono before she shortly do.
" They would surely not find us here." Soujiro inquired, making himself comfortable as he settled down nicely at a wide tree branch. The tree is some sort of hundred years old and it was tall, big and wide and very capable to handle a whole camp within it. " You sure had to keep your balance, Misao."
" Of course! I'm no Oniwabanshu leader for nothing." She exclaimed, " We ninjas are trained to keep on good balance!". Soujiro chuckled lightly, it was pretty obvious she doesn't want to be taken care like a hapless maiden but he knows that there is something she must be pretty afraid of. He tapped the branch he is resting on, " You can sleep beside me, there is enough space!"
She flushed crimson. "No!"
The fact she's flying from branch to branch like a grasshopper, Soujiro could tell it was indeed something with sleeping on trees that is bothering her. She takes the final hop, a branch a feet away from where he was sitting. " I think it's something about sleeping on trees worries you."
" There is not!" she stomped, making sure she will finally settled to the spot. There is some sort of twitching sound after, and Soujiro noted her face changed colors of the rainbow as few spiders spring about from above. "S-Spiders!!!" squeaking, she was about to scream ,but out of sheer shock she lose her balance instead. Soujiro's quick reflexes saved her from falling down below, catching her by the right arm. His face had a malicious smile curved to his lips and his indigo eyes nevertheless can't hide it's amusement. " So, the headstrong leader of the Oniwabanshu is afraid of spiders!"
" Don't even think of laughing about it!" she steamed, knowing very well she was either flushing out of embarrassment or anger. Soujiro helped her up the branch, both of them facing each other. I could strangle him if he tried laughing right now! She thought, for it seems the kawaii swordsman is trying his best to contain himself. All the emotion and action going on starts to make her giddy again, almost forgetting she's still sick.
" You can't keep balance if you are still sick, you had to come here." He outstretched his grasp, nudging her to reach. " Don't be stubborn now, cm'on."
She sighed heavily, " Alright." Besides she got no choice. Having him to hold her is like therapy, she feels much better and secured knowing she's in wrapped and protecting arms. It's the way he looks at her, seemingly so peaceful and tranquil.. that she can't read his thoughts if it's a deeper relationship he is looking. Nah, she moved out the notion as she nestled like a cat in his arms and snuggled close enough at his chest. The warm air of earth was his scent and makes her at ease and she closed her eyes. He is much but a reliable friend, who would like someone who looks likes a 12 year old boy?
Leaning back at the tree, half resting and Misao quickly fast asleep in his arms, Soujiro looks at the sky, the tempest seemed over and he could finally see the stars, he saw the mariner star and recalled seeing it means the weather would turn out fine. It seems it would turn out to be a fine night for the time being.
The morning came without the signs of impending bad weather, hopefully. Misao was quick to recover, with just a slight fever she promised not to run into some cold springs again. Soujiro was less excited at this particular morning, usually waking up ahead always he found out easily what's wrong from the moment he stretched out from his resting place. His neck and back are aching sorely. He rubbed one palm at the back of his neck, Misao was right.. maybe if he tried sleeping like a normal person he wouldn't catch something that would affect him later. A nasty pain at the neck, and one wrong arm swing he would be dislocating a nerve or a vertebrate. And even now, considering Yukina's assassins are now posing real threat. Kuso...of all the days of the week. He cursed lightly. Misao is taking again eons to pack and the nagging sore is starting to make him impatient. Maybe if he grabbed Misao by the leg, (who's still up the tree) and carry her by his shoulder would make everything fast and easy.
It's a wrong move.
Misao shrieked like a captured fowl as Soujiro closed in his hands to about the calf of her leg and instead she tumbled down, roughly. She fell down sitting on poor Soujiro's head, who fall face down the ground.. not knowing that Misao would put up a shriek like that. " I can't believe it!! You per..."
Then an amazing thing happened, his neck and back was not aching badly as it seems. And besides Misao's rantings, he waited for her to stop. "Arigato ne, I finally get rid of that pain!" He lifted himself up, dusting a little here and there and to see Misao's quizzical look. " Is it just me or did you just been heavier?"
Misao scowled, he knows how much women were defensive when questioned on that sensitive matter. He is going to enjoy this playful banter for awhile and make the most of it before that time comes. He didn't know how to break the news to her for he had 3 days remaining.
And for those three days remaining she had to be his wife. It wouldn't be easy when Yukina's motive is pretty obvious already, dispatching spies everywhere and sending assasins to nail him down. Pretty obvious too, he would have a hard time if ever, taking him as a mukodono (son-in-law). And it hurts the thought because all for his former reputation. He don't know how long will he be a lonely vagabond and search for his life's meaning and truth, to some it may take years, even decades. He was lucky, for it took him just as less to seek that truth and meaning. It seems like his destiny the first time he spotted that little weasel who stalled him the moment she stepped on his face. Misao is not that eye catching, and if to honest she does had the body of a twelve year old boy and throughly lacks the feminity of a common japanese woman. Geishas or willowy women never strikes his fancy, and having a commitment is far off among his goal. But yet the moment of their encounter turned his well- ordered universe turned upside down, the mischievous free-spirited and even stubborn 19 year old is all he could think of. Admittedly he had hard time expressing his feelings, because of the tradegy of his young life, that a picture of innocence like her make him pierce of such longing to feel such unamed emotion.
Then he remembered the old woman from Edo.
" Kuso....." he muttered in shock, recalling the old hag. Misao gave him the quizzical expression as they trekked about the valleys, the winding roads.. and he absentmindedly just cursed out loud. " You forgot something? " she said, wondering what will trigger Soujiro to say just that. No sense keeping it, Misao would badger him if he does not tell. He can recall from past experience the best way to deal with it. " Misao, can you recall some sort of old woman this short with thick white hair and annoying laugh?"
" No, why?" Even a vivid description of the old woman is no use,. Misao had never seen or known an old lady with that description. She might be a traveler or gyspy, but Soujiro knew very well the strange woman is too old to go on her own to Edo. The thought of the mysterious stranger having accurately foretold his destiny gave him the shudder. Superstitions, he calmed himself. Probably it's sort of coincidence, he hoped. But he recalled, After a year the day he sets off to his lonesome journey is also the day he "accidentally" met Misao. He thought his skills had gone rusty after he was stalled with a smack of foot to the face.
" Whatever is inside your head Soujiro-san, just say it! " Soujiro blinked back from his deep thoughts and fixed his violet stare and saw a quite furious little weasel inspecting him closely. " Well, I..."
" Don't get me wrong but it looks you had a hard time expressing your feelings."
He flashed his usual smile, eyes closed happily. " Yeah, you're right.....what?!" he came into realization he wasn't even paying attention, and the term " expressing your feelings" set his face flared up like with crimson and his violet orbs wide with surprise. Misao guessed she hit the sensitive spot of the young swordsman. " I got you there didn't I? " Soujiro's shot her a look and can feel his heated cheeks grew hotter, Misao is liking the moment he would go embarrassed like this. If he told her everything it would be too complex, and he will reveal his identity during the process. "You are so straightforward." He sighed, rubbing his neck and tilting his head. Obviously trying to hide the fact his face had a color of a ripe tomato. " We are still under contract, so stop personal questions aside."
They rode again at one of the passing truck carts carrying hay. The journey to Edo would be counted to three more days. It seems so fast, and dangerously near. If Yukina dispatched more allies it would make the trip more rocky. " Soujiro-san, I recruit you under MY contract, so I have the right to know!" Misao demanded.
Maybe he would act a little more authoritive around Misao by now, he thought. She had been stubbornly pushing him so far and he is growing tired of joking around already. " I don't know why you had to recruit me." He muttered absentmindedly. " What confuses me right now, is if you're able and strong enough to go to Kyoto yourself. You can have a less time getting all the trouble I had gone through." Aware he sounded like taunting, the type of cruel tongue the old Soujiro would do. He would see how far Misao would go, that it is not easy to keep on judging someone if life is personally at stake.
" Are you saying that I could do this all by myself? Even at the mercy of the assasin of Juppon-gattana."
" I can say that I might be wasting my time if you could do it yourself. You are able to fled to Kyoto on your own before to fight the Juppon-gattana..."
" You talked to Yukina, didn't you."
" No." He snapped, " I've wandered Edo to know those things." He lied. " I'm not saying that you're a burden Misao, but if you had to depend from others eventually you had to learn you'll also end up on your own."
" What is your point, do you want to end up the deal right now?"
She seems to take this a step seriously than he expected. " Misao, ever since I swore to protect you, bad things start to happen. Your men are after my head. If I continue to go through this, fine. But it pays bad to get you hurt at the process. I don't want any bloodshed to happen, So if I just leave and....."
"No! I won't let you!! " Misao gripped him tightly at the arm to his surprise, like a stubborn little girl that wouldn't allow her mother to leave. " We've gone this far and I'm not letting that happen, do you understand? "
It's about time he had to stop and get serious, " Look Misao, I got no choice. I don't want anyone of us to get hurt..."
" That's why I trusted you, maybe I was wrong..." she continued, her green eyes ablaze gazing him as if he is an important possession. " the moment you swing that sword at the inn, I know you are skilled enough to protect me. Protect me from the lethal mercenary."
He can't tell he was the same lethal mercenary sworn to protect her.
" You...you trusted me?" He can't believe Misao was indeed serious about it, she mentioned the same word the moment at their first night camping out of the woods. " But all this danger. Don't you think you're also risking yourself, Because I won't let you... "
" I don't care what happens! It's because I like you!" she cried out loud, enough for the chickens resting at the cart to squawk out loud. Both were in verge of shock as the words hit them like splashed water. Misao realized too late what she had said, Soujiro was dumbfounded to hear what he would least expect from her. " Misao!" he called out, as she jumped out of the cart and ran. She didn't know if he'll ever try to touch her with a 10 foot pole after what she just said. Its so stupid, she thought. He looks to her as a younger sister to be always protected nonetheless and he got his own problems to share, she also concluded. He is but a far-distant wanderer, who had known no family, compared to her sheltered life surrounded by the Oniwabanshu who raised her as their own. But it couldn't be helped still to fall from him. He is arrestingly good looking at the moment she they first met, even after she stepped him at the face. He looks youthful for someone who's turning 23, delicate features and a warm reproving smile making him a perfect mukodono (son-in-law!) that would melt even the hardest of in-laws. It seems he is picture perfect of innocence, or so it looks. His quiet violet gaze that flared to a hint of smoldering deep blue if triggered with strange emotion, mystifed her. They seem to draw a look of a pained past trying to search for something that was lost, and she swore the moment they met his eyes shone a strange hue of light blue.
"Misao! Come back!" he leaped out, calling her and keeping up with her pace. Women, they are so complex. Maybe it was wrong when he tried to be honest about their situation. He didn't know that she felt the same way like for him, and it is making him even more confused. Yukina was right, it wasn't easy playing with Misao's feelings. If he is going to rehearse his apology he had to catch up with her fast. The early afternoon's heat starts to sweat his brows and he starts to get exhausted. How could she ran those many miles? She would not be that far away.
She was totally at lost and hadn't noticed that she is dangerously running among the ravines, where they might be small slippery slopes and probably also muddy. It's not that dangerous, if isn't it just the vines and dead branches sprawled over the moss covered ground. The rocks, the ground is a little edgy by sharp rocks. I will get myself to an accident if I keep this on, she veered around and was astonished to see Soujiro just a few feet away, panting. " Misao! Just stop it before you..." fall. Misao was so surprised at Soujiro's sudden presence that she slipped backwards to the rocky slopes that who knows how deep. Reaching out to her grip is a far option. He had to do it the fast way. He lunged forward, plunging downward to the deep. His nimble feet took hold swiftly to the vertical ground, and run across it defying the law of suspension and gravity. His moves are more astounding than Himura-san, if not mistaken, much more professional as Misao had noticed. He moves better than any well-trained ninja she had seen. A wave of nausea hits her, any moment she will hit the ground head -first! With one quick leap, Soujiro advanced a step down on stable ground and caught Misao in the nick of time, exacting it to the moment he took a pressure from the ground to be able to leap himself high up.
That moment leave her breatheless. He made a quick step to the higher ground where she slipped. " Misao be more careful next time. You had me worried there! " his voice having a hint of grave concern. " Ne, Soujiro- san. I forgot, don't step at the ground where I slipped. It's full of moss."
He looked at his footing and noticed he is standing at an edgy rock of moss.
This time she saw the wide-eyed look of surprise at his face as the ground they are standing gave way, and both were rolling and sliding to the mossy rocks and the muddy slopes to down below.
Unhurt, Misao ended up with her back in a puddle at the base of the rise, but before she could catch her breath, Soujiro landed with a thud on top of her, knocking the wind from her body. She opened her eyes to see his face above hers, the morning dews sprinkling around them everywhere, dripping to his face. His dark hair hung in wet ribbons, his violet gaze focused intently on her.
With vague surprise, he found himself spring to life against her belly. He looked down on her, and felt something indescribable.
Soujiro closed his eyes against the realization that he would rather deny, but formed nonetheless: he wanted her. He wanted her with a fierce desire that astonished him from its intensity. His head felt as if the blood was rushing from it, and like a man dazed, he moved against her. The tantalizing press of her body against his groin made him hot as flame.
Misao thought he was crushing her, just as she opened her mouth to protest, however, she realized he shifted his mass somehow.. allowing her to gulp in some air. He was up on his elbows, but still lying upon her. With the recognition came the discovery that his body extremely feel good just where it was. She shut her mouth. Rather bewildered, she looked up at him, and Soujiro caught her gaze, his violet orbs damp and compelling. Neither of them breathed as whatever strange forces worked between them sprang to life. With her humors rising feverishly while he hovered over her, his own slender figure covering her much smaller one. Soujiro's eyes darkened to a shade of deep indigo, unfathomable.
" This time for the reckoning between us, Maramachi Misao", he whispered. And then he lowered his head.
Soujiro's mouth came down upon hers, fierce yet passionate. Her memory now intact, Misao knew she had never been kissed like this before, and this was hardly she expected. Soujiro, true to his nature, was ardent yet demanding. She felt a tingle of fear of Soujiro's side she never felt before.
She parted her lips to protest, but swallowed it in shocked surprise when his tongue thrust into her mouth. It swept over her teeth, searching, marking, and claiming, until Misao was stunned, not only at his actions, but at her own reaction. Her body tightened, and her thighs lifting, as if endowed with a will of their own, towards his. The morning dews over the tree high leaves starts raining down, slucing around her in it's own wild fury, but it was nothing compared to the raging tempest between them. Soujiro felt as if he spent his entire life sleepwalking, unaware of this whole world of passion and feeling, Misao felt that a mutual consent passed between them, and now she is alive, every inch of her wet skin is animated and seeking his.
Heat welcome and wonderful, seeped through the water to rouse her body to a frenzied pitch, and Misao reveled in it. She clutched at his kimono, hanging on for her very life as he swept her away on a maelstorm of liquid fire. A moan escaped her, and he answered by pressing his lower body into hers. His hands wound into her hair, forcing her head back so that he could thrust more deeply into her mouth. Tentatively, Misao ran her tongue along his lips, and he responded with a feral growl of pleasure that sent her reeling with breathless excitement. Lost in the tumult of sensation, she did not even notice some the heavy rustling of high shrubs caused by some shocked passer bys. Just as she heard the strangers scamper hastily away, Soujiro tore off his mouth from hers and looked up above from where they had fallen in. It's no use chasing the innocent passer bys, too late for that.
" G-Gomen..I..." he stammered, finally coming to realization what had just happened that lasted for like several minutes. He lost it, he lost his own control and took advantage of the position landing on top of her. He never had possessed some one with such strong desire, and he knows Misao would hate him for that. But she responded, he swore he felt her arms wound around him willingly before it's cut short by the "brief interruption".
He didn't revert back to his fake sunny disposition that he always shows if don't want to let people know what he is thinking. He stood up, and dust himself and with a hint of seriousness looked again at the spot where they had fallen through. "... we had to go now, it would be embarrassing if someone would see us.." he remarked in an imperative tone, he give Misao a quick going over and it aches for him to see her staring just like that, like someone blew her with a force of a hurricane. He had to distance himself, however. " Well, cmon.. we could be in Kyoto any sooner if you don't get up there! "
Misao whimpered, bereft at the loss of him but anyway followed suit and climbed up back to the top of the slippery rocks of the ravine. Soujiro's sudden stiffness is predictably understood. But nonetheless, what happened several minutes ago is so strange and disturbing.. and yet she find it fascinating. She never knew what's coming, when he trapped her like a wild bird with his slender form and his eyes shone from it's dull indigo to a smoldering haze of blue as the youth said those words she thought he'll never say, and the moist kisses that came hot and frantic like he pinned for such longing for that moment. A one look at the enigmatic young swordsman, and it seems his soft facade had little to do with his fierce and passionate caresses, nor the look to pin someone for a moment of uncontrolled passion. Misao felt she is thinking so much that she felt her face flush crimson, and to make sure that Soujiro does not see it she scampered ahead quick and even if it means stomping him off at the process.
The previous passer-bys, two kids: one is a red head in an European get up and the other in a traditional Japanese in a dusty chrome yellow & spotted kimono with spiky black hair, happen to be just usually bickering who's better in kendo, had scampered off a mile, still pale in shock and even forgot their weapons in the process.
" Damn! I can't believe what I just saw! I swore that is Misao!" the spiky haired one said out loud as he and his companion stopped after literally speeding off for a considerable distance. " Misao? But who's that young swordsman hitting off with her?" the red head quipped as a flash of the scene came vividly to their minds.
" Why should I KNOW? " The spiky haired one yelled, The sight of Misao making love out of nowhere is giving him the creeps. The strange swordsman, he knows he never seen before.. even at her residence in Edo. If he get it quite right, they are really making passionate love and is not strangling or something like he thought it is ( or so he wish ).
" Hey! Why don't you ask your sempai ? Maybe he knows who the samurai boy is." The red head inquired.
The spiky haired one tried to connect the dots. You hardly seen anyone that young who wear a full assassin get up. The youth is wearing hand protectors and customized sandals. Plus he is carrying a Nihontou. After he recalled Kenshin's exploits during Shi-Shi-o's battle, about one Juppon- Gatana escapee that they described as the skilled swordsman "who looks like a boy" and carried a nihontou. " Kuso.. I hope it's not him! "
" What do you mean HIM?"
"...ahhh.. nothing!" The spiky haired kid shook his head hard to dismiss the thought. How on hell would a cold blooded assassin like that would end up with that weasel woman? He laughed out loud uneasily and still looked like his face color is blue as he tried to trek down almost as naturally with his red head friend beside him.. " I think WE really need to head back to Kyoto.. I think I'm gonna have a headache! "