Chapter 5: The Hidden Truth
The Tamabata festival is two days away, and finally they made it shortly to Kyoto. Neither each one is talking to the other, nor he decided it's best to give her a little thinking over so he let her agree that they stay in a nearby inn with two separate rooms just facing each other by the corridor. Remarkably, the spies hadn't reached there yet. Besides, the condition he and Yukina agreed: 1 week. Nevertheless, he will wait for two days more, then the Tamabata festival.
He shall propose.
He knows the custom very well, but it makes him feel wary. He fell in love at first sight and learned to rediscover himself in this long journey with this girl he knew means more than anything to him. It means a lot, which he doubt if he ever had to tell his dark secret. His dark past, his dark reputation.
She is strong enough, maybe she learned to like him, and maybe she'll accept the truth. Soujiro crossed his fingers at his back as he waved a friendly gesture to Misao who he had been watching struggling with her baggage. Well at least that is the old Misao, who gave him a pout as she shoved her shabby belongings to her room. Maybe it would be wonderful, if she dresses to something fancy: like a pink kimono. It would be wonderful if they'll have four kids, 2 boys and 2 girls. Maybe they'll teach them various martial arts and politics like their mother par with his astounding sword fighting skills, and they'll be the best-respected fighters/strategists in Japan. And them, they'll be a husband and wife, Soujiro and Misao Seta.
Soujiro realize that he is going far-fetched, Misao is just a year shy to young adulthood and he is only 21. Maybe he matured too much at his young life or probably the pangs of being in love are driving him with those kooky thoughts. Like any confused guy would do, he headed at the tavern near the inn. But his youthful looks gives the people a doubt he is over 21 so he decided just to hang around to get some fresh air. Unaware that anyone in Kyoto would recognize him.
"Looks like you're in love, eh?" A husky voice from the shadowy alley rung that made him reflex to a defense stance. The stranger is covered, dressed like a ninja that he fought much earlier at the first days of their travels. "Don't worry kid, I won't do anything. I'm here to warn you."
"He wants her back, does he?"
He was right, from what he concluded before Soujiro won't let go Misao that easily. Yukina's drastic change of plan to have the youth captured would be really something worth why he is even more defensive. "Maybe he can't accept the fact of having you as a Mukodono... it's just not like everyday someone would rush out of oblivion and try to claim a girl who he raised for several years... You got to know that."
"I know..."
"You still got two days though. But be cautious at the last one."
"Tell me about it."
"At the Tamabata, he will deploy another one of us. This one will be wearing black so be careful. He will be at the inn around late night, so if you confront him ahead much chances he'll never bother you again. "
Soujiro nodded and bowed in gesture. "Arigatou, but how can I know that I trust you?" The blind orbs glared aimlessly, "I just did." And the stranger disappeared in a slight gush of the wind. Ninjas, they are always good when they dispersing into thin air. He thought, and he looked cautiously around him. Maybe it's better to stay indoors, but he can't always hide forever. He looked over a small crowd near the center of the town, bustling with activity as they start preparing for the festival. Maybe he could "mingle" around there. With tents and small booths being propped up, and people already stocking some goods, maybe he could see once in awhile how the Tamabata festival would look like.
"Ohayo, good day! Is there anything you're looking in particular? " A young lady in a green kimono approached him. " Oh it's nothing really, I just happen to pass by.."
" I think it would be not be nothing if you're not staring quite so long." Soujiro realized that he is indeed standing a little too long over some clothing selection. He is just imagining what kimono Misao would wear if he invites her to the festival...if she got any. " Alright, I'm deciding what my significant someone would wear..." he want to shrink down any minute now. " She never gets to wear any of those, so I think of buying something like that."
The young lady seemed to be more interested. " For what occasion?"
He found himself speaking out without thinking, " I'm going to propose this Tamabata, and I want to make sure she looks beautiful in it."
Now the lady looked stunned, Soujiro is too surprised to think what he just said and proceeds anyway as the lady silently led him to vast arrays of designs and styles of female kimonos.
" That's too long, she's petite.. Make it shorter...a little more shorter.."
" To intricate.. The bird designs would make her look bad, and those floral designs would make her look fat and..."
" The color is so bright, that one is too flashy.. No, she would look like a curtain with that ribbon.."
Looking for Misao's body type and color is sure giving him a headache that he wonders how long the members of the opposite sex do shop. The lady totally exhausted, finally pulled out a simple pink kimono.. With simple designs of periwinkle colored floral patterns peeking out at the lower portion and it's sleeves. The ribbon even had the two hues evenly mixed. " That's it! That would be perfect! I'll purchase that." She'll look lovely in pink..
" Young man, your fiancée sure had a body of a twelve year old." Soujiro sweat dropped at the comment, but don't say anything. He paid extra for the labor's fee since the poor woman seems to had gone through hell to get what he wanted. He was tempted not to look over by the section where they sold swords, and he was thinking if his nihontou has to be paired off with a *wakazahi. But then he came across some literature section and it strike his fancy when he overheard some reader browsing some Chinese legend of the universe of the four gods, matching the book are some hint of illustrations including that of the legendary priestess.. That idea struck him how Misao would put some fine things in her hair minus the boring braid and the more boring ponytail. He found himself doing some more shopping.. As if planning what he already had in mind.
Misao don't know if she's going to be miffed or curious, as Soujiro seemed to spend more time outside often.. It's been a couple of days. If he'll ever go back to inn, he does less talk and excitedly finishes his food or better yet locked up his room early. He seems to be enjoying something that she can't put a finger in it.
And she's very jealous of it.
It 's already Tamabata, she's wondering if he forgot all about it or maybe he starts seeing someone else.. Someone else? That's impossible; Soujiro is not very sociable with the opposite sex. But she finds herself snarling or getting steamed every time some group of young women would pass by trying to please them in front of him. Well, he is new in town and he got charming good looks.. And he is carrying a sword.
Maybe because the thrill of having a young ronin around is making those girls go following around him. Maybe too, he cannot be caught and he can walk about with the usual broad grin not worrying about it. Misao is tired of conclusions, and getting jealous after she realize that Soujiro got guts to entertain them after all.. And finally decided she'll make him go with her at the Tamabata. She had to look the darnest good... but unsure if it's really the jealousy is the love she feel for him.
The festival night of the Tamabata.
" Kuso..!! I can't find anything!!" she whined, as hordes of her clothes and belongings and furnishings turned are upside down, as she burrowed more mess as she searched for good clothes. No such luck, all her clothes are boy shorts and hakamas.. Forget the pink European dress she purchased, Sanosuke looked like he saw a thousand demons when she ogle him "how good" she looked in it. She is so busy that she didn't notice Soujiro came in. It was embarrassing, " you could've knocked at the door!"
The sight of the mess makes Soujiro want to laugh. " What are you looking for?"
" Clothes! I need something to wear for Tamabata, so I can go out with you."
Long silence, she wished she hadn't said that out loud. So I can go out with you... she repeated the statement at her head, wishing there is a nearby wall where she can bang her head on. Soujiro quietly approached, and put something down the floor. " No need to worry for that..." And he quietly walked out.. " I'll be meeting you outside, by the cherry blossom tree, okay? "
She nodded quietly, " okay." And she looked over by bundles of wrapped items and proceeds to open it.
It came to her astonishment for what could have been the most beautiful and simple kimono she had ever seen. The size was right, which is difficult to find. And it came out with other objects, even with the matching pair of footwear because she always wears flat sandals, there are couples of things she can put into her hair. He brought her the whole wardrobe. All those time, he brought them for her for that occasion and it all perfectly fitted to her taste. He really did spend time to know her better, no else would put up patience like he did. More or less buying her the whole accessories. She crinkled her nose, after she read a note that putting the accessories on means having to get rid of the boring braid. Hmmm, when is the last time did she let her hair loose anyway? Soujiro was already by a considerable distance by the tree, waiting.
He didn't know if he is going to rehearse something to say, he feel a little nervous.. And he met some strange old woman who sold him a ring. The ring is adorned simply with small graved diamonds, and was sold to him at a very cheap price. It was said that in most customs, that if one proposes he shall present a ring and wear another.. Some sort of symbol of getting engaged. He knew that Misao is much fascinated with western customs. The week is over, this is it: either she accepts or she decline.. He sighed; he got himself to wear the same old thing.. Only this one is least worn than the rest. He wonders how she would look..
" Ne, Soujiro! " she called out, with her usual tone of confidence. He turned around and was render speechless for what he saw: Her locks cascaded to the length of her waist, wavy and shining in rich hue. The simple adornments in her hair are perfect accenting her looks, though she's not wearing any make up. The kimono looked great and she looks breathtakingly feminine in the color of pink and it set off her green sparkling eyes. He then noticed she is not used in wearing "normal" clothes as she nearly stumbled by a rock.
"Hey, easy there." He said softly, as he catches her easily as a falling feather. " You don't want such beautiful dress to be stained for the occasion, wouldn't you?" there is an unmistakable glint in his eyes, some warm aura that increases at her presence. " You are worried more about the dress?" she said flatly, as if summoning a tomboyish behavior again. He shook his head, " No, you look so wonderful in it. Like a transformed woman, and I don't want to change that for this night."
No, he couldn't be serious. Misao's eye's widened. Then why would he put time and money purchasing her clothes and materials for this evening? It is the feast of the Tamabata after all. But she felt terrible to confess her feelings for him, to this enigmatic youth who put up to her childish demeanor as an adult. Sometimes she thinks she sees the shadow of Himura- san in him. And probably she would be like Kaoru, now married and she has heard of the rumors the child look so much like Himura's and its a bouncing little boy. She shook off the thought immediately
Misao noticed that Soujiro is clutching something tightly in hand, she is curious and for the first time she is silent, she gave a questioning look to him, for whatever he is going to do and why he summoned her to dress so elegantly for the Tamabata. Her green eyes are waiting for an answer, and its skinning Soujiro alive, he hopes it will works. Then the truce will be over, he quickly forgot the pact he and Okina made, now that he is beneath the moonlit gentle slope under the cherry blossoms. Silently, he opened the small red box and took out the diamond ring; he took Misao's hand and gently placed it to her finger. Misao is now really curious, although she seemed familiar of the western custom much; she was really trying to figure out what this is.
Soujiro took a deep breath, he sighed, "Makamachi Misao.." and he looked up languidly on her with his indigo gaze to meet her own. "..Would you marry me? Be my wife?"
For Misao, it comes in a slow flood of shock. Something she hadn't expected, but deep inside she secretly wishes. Her yearning for him is not in vain, but it happens so fast that she didn't know he harbor some feelings for her too, she finds herself saying "yes". And she felt that tears seem to involuntary seeping down to her face
"anou.. You're crying.."
"It's nothing.." she wiped it off, showing him a bright expression. " I just never thought that someone would take me seriously, when all everyone knows that I act like a little girl."
The fireworks explode at the dimly moonlit sky, interlacing the reverie of that magical moment; the festival is about to start. The feast of the tamabata: "Where lovers became engaged." Little orange lanterns line up the streets and people carrying them in sticks seems like dotted fireflies floating at the streets down below in a distance. Rhythmic pudding of drums and Japanese music starts in it's lively yet engaging crescendo.
"Like a little girl, yes. But deep inside you are a headstrong woman." Soujiro whispered, his soft features played at the multicolored lights that played in the sky. He reached out to Misao's chin. He smiled, a lonely yet that of pride. " I never seen someone so strong and not even lost her innocence, that rarely happens to someone."
He seem to see Misao blush, for the first time she seems not to say anything, probably the silence is taken as a yes, " And Misao..I..aishiteru.." and he leans over to give her again that kiss, the heated passion he restrained for a few days before that finally cave in at that day they tumbled in a dry swamp. Misao took a step closer holding his hands tight, slowly surrendering to the seducing invitation of his mouth.
And a big firework exploded beneath their feet.
" G-Gomen nasai!" A young boy called out, guiltily scooping out some of the unused fireworks, and accidentally had already threw one near their direction. " I don't see you people closely, gomen!" and he scampers along which seems with another playmate. Misao let out a nervous laugh and Soujiro gave a big sigh of disappointment. I was just so near to it! But Misao let goes of Soujiro's hands, and starts heading down the slopes. " Nani..Where are you going? "
"Let's have fun, you baka!" she smiled broadly, having full command on the body wrapped long kimono. " It's the Tamabata festival, hadn't you have fun in your life?"
That's because I never did, not until now he said to himself. " Y-yes I'm coming down." He replied, " I'm not used in celebrations like these." The swarming crowd, the music, everything seems to be a carnival. " We had a reason to celebrate, Sou-chan!" Misao replied, her green eyes beaming. They do, they have to celebrate. Soujiro stretched his other hand and reached over Misao's as she lightly tugged him along down the slope, to the streets and they glide swiftly like once when Misao gave him a chase of his sword few days ago. She had innocence, and she made him found it again. His lost innocence, and how much he nearly wasted his youth for a meaningless oath of slaughter. Now he confronted the evils of his past, and is preparing for the bright future ahead of him. Him and her, together.
The festival is wonderful, Misao almost forget she was wearing womanly clothes as she participates in small contest booths; purchase food from stalls and watched a dazzling array of performers perform their art. She was enjoying herself, and she watches how many lovers seem to look so full as promise as they are now. One favorite spot she wants to go to is the souvenir sections, where rows of much larger stalls are by the sides of street, all attached by similar white tents for cover. She was tempted to buy western items, and was disappointed in not finding any. Soujiro laughed when she whined about it, and instead treat her by buying her some food she's starting to crave again. She find it disturbing, Soujiro brought all the pretty little things she's wearing and letting her enjoy the celebration with his cost. She decided to give him something in return; she went to a weaponry stall, looking for a sword. He had been protecting for her the past few days, and she'd noticed that his sword is starting to wear, as if he had been using it for sometime, undoubtedly a professional. First she thought of buying the pair of swords reserved for professional assassins since it's no joke, that it sets Soujiro perfectly, his moves are very much of a great swordsman for his young age. The merchant named a few digits and Misao gaped that the price is high, the swords do had quality, as if the last of sword makers work's are collected to be sold in much higher commission.
She then noticed the nihontou.
He carries a nihontou, she recalls. And since the last one is worn out, she decided it would be a great gift from him. The price is much lower, thank goodness, and with the sword wrapped around gingerly in wrappings she headed out where Soujiro is waiting.
" For me?" he seemed to be surprised, as he examined the sword, gleaming and very smooth, as it's reflection basked in the moonlight. " Oh, Misao you shouldn't.. I mean, I swore myself not to fight again."
" Yes, Soujiro. You need it to fight." She said, "A sword is not meant to kill. But to fight, you fight for the people you swore to protect, ga marimasu " She seem to avoid his questionable look as looked at her. " You had been protecting me for sometime, I trusted you with my life. It's at least what I can do for you."
She looked up at him, her gaze seemingly outpouring with pride and love, " When you defend me, I see it in your eyes that you want to fight, not for the honor not because.."
He then realized that Himura's mantra had made that moment to make him know that Misao trusted him. It had made Misao fall for him, and he don't feel the lifeless lonely wanderer anymore. The emptiness in him and having filled that void but she completed him. " Hush.." he whispered, "Arigatou.." arigato gozaimasu. . And he brushed his lips to her own, and with mutual consent to each other, their mouths parted and they kissed underneath a small porch, with a dimly lit orange lantern nearby. First she seem to stiffen at the deep much passionate kiss than the last one before in the woods, but as Soujiro wound up his hands gently to her back, then she slowly relaxed inexorably and melting in his arms. She found her own arms cradling him to his neck, begging him to pull closer, as if she does not want this moment to stop, this dream. His thoughts are in the same, and his reverie enticing him not to let her go. The moment of touching and feeling, he rediscovered again, as his hands felt up her long silky cascading locks of black setting against her smooth pearl-white skin with her green misty eyes. They are half-closed, dazed by the slow sensual surrender against his smoldering gaze of desire. Time seems to stop forever, as tender caresses and sweet murmurs where exchanged, soft sounds secretly drifting unnoticed at the carnival like atmosphere.
Soujiro almost forgot the last warning.
At the corner of his eye, he saw a black clad figure, a ninja. The man was about to throw a weapon of some kind, but Soujiro's mercenary like skills still caught up with him, he tore himself from the passionate ardent kisses and drew his nihontou from its sheath. Probably out of sheer anger for having disturbed for the night, the weapon sliced into half with his sword and managed to strike one part to the middle. It is supposed to be a sleeping gas of sort. " It's too late, go away!" he said coldly, Misao was surprised that even spies was deployed during to the Tamabata, more or less..That special night. The ninja was about to challenge him yet again but was thrown aghast with shock when he noticed who seems the young lady Soujiro is sharing a passionate moment with!
" You're a real bastard aren't you?" the man lets out more of a guttural cry of disappointment rather than of taunt. " Even the our dear leader has to be dressed up like some geisha for your own selfish desires!!"
Soujiro felt inflamed when the ninja mentioned Misao a geisha, and him a bastard. But before he could do a threat, Misao stepped forward. " Tell master Okina that to stop this insane act!" she cried out, " This would be over, this is what I choose. I choose to be with him." Her strong remarkable words leaved the ninja looking crush and upset. He looked at the young swordsman, his eyes filled with defeat. " You will be glad to know, I'm the last sent to track you down. It seems that she firmly decided for her choice." Soujiro nodded curtly, the ninja stood up and added " But we don't completely trusted you, a truce is a truce." And he absorbs backed into the shadows, with an aura of loneliness surrounding him.
" He is the last one." Soujiro sighed. The truce, he recalled. He almost forgot the truce. It gives him a confused feeling; he starts to feel his hands run cold. He must let Misao know, who he really was. He is Soujiro Seta, the cold-blooded mercenary known for his capability not to register any human kind of emotion, the one who has to track her down to claim her his wife. But why would Misao accept his proposal? The same way he did, they felt true love to each other. But besides that, it dawns in him that what Misao saw that he is an able kindhearted wanderer out to protect her, that she trusts with her life, even if the worst comes to worst. He is happens to be that "worst."
" Misao, tomorrow we would be near to the Kamiya residence. We had to find a safe place this night to be sure if anything might happen."
She mutely nodded in consent, and he rendered himself speechless through out the short journey. It is not just the right time to tell the truth.
1 Midnight
It seems to after all, the lovers happen to find a local restaurant/ inn to stay for the night. Soujiro's trouble was then again slowly smothered away for the consummation of the engagement, like mostly of the couples do when they answer their lovers at the Tamabata. It's such an irony, when not so long ago he taunted the tradition. It seems again he was lulled into senseless excitement, and so was she, as the spark from the previous kiss at the festival is still fresh from their minds. The ignited passion easily melted their inexperienced novice nature in the ways of lovemaking, as they eagerly reveled and exchanged warm moist kisses and shed each other's clothing hastily in the dark. Misao never knew such pleasure, and shuddered at his eager caresses of his mouth and hands feeling and tasting her body's erogenous zones. He feels every moment alive as he let his body sensually cover her own, feeling every curve and crevice. Her hands clung on to his back, feeling how incredibly smooth and immaculate his skin is, how his youthful façade is so deceiving to his fierce passionate nature. The foreplay went from soft and sensual to a wild and bacchanal ride, as their strong intense passion collided. His eyes glowed with feral excitement of light blue and he gripped Misao's hands underneath his own, " I must have you." He whispered roughly, " If there is anything I want in my life, I want to have you."
She looks like she's in total daze, giddy and even lightheaded with green eyes half-closed and she was breathing heavily as he was, their faces inches apart and their hot slick bodies entwined. But nevertheless she's still in track, she smiled sweetly "And if there is anything I want in my life, is that someone would treat me like a woman." And with her eyes having a look of consent, " Soujiro-kun, you can have me."
"Oh, goodness" the old man managing the inn retorted as he noticed that his wooden ceiling is having one of those "shaky" aftershocks. He called for Tei, one of the waitresses in the restaurant/ inn to check it out. "Must be a bunch of honey mooners from last night." The old man grumbled, "and look how excited they could get."
"honey mooners?" Tei questioned,
"hai. A young girl with long black hair and a young boy that looks like a ronin has indigo eyes, They said they're like 19 and 21 years of age but I don't believe it." The man look at her blearily, " try to be polite and ask them to slow it down, I don't want to scare the other guests away. You had my permission."
It was already morning, and Soujiro never felt drained in his whole life. What happened last night is something remarkable for both of them (aside from losing both their virginity). He recalls when Misao whispered she is still a virgin and that he'll try to be gentle, at first it hurts for her that she cried. But sooner or later, it starts to feel good that they keep doing it until they went limp with exhaustion and they could have climaxed several times already. So much for being young and ruthless, he thought. They just made love 2 hours ago. And he can't count how many intervals already, if he does it again it might be good enough to induce a coma.
He looked over beside him, leaning over one shoulder and he looked at her, very much asleep. She looked like a princess, he thought. A fairy child, with her eyes so wild.. Goes poetry he recalls hearing off from somewhere. There encounter leaves her looking dewy and fresh, Her hair thrown messily from the recent coupling and her face flushed lightly by the cheeks with her small mouth is slightly parted. He seems to feel like he want to take her all over again, his indigo gaze languidly observed her lithe and slender features and most of all, he cant take his eyes off her face, with those lips begging him for a kiss. He leans over and delicately gave her a soft kiss; it felt like a feather brushes her lips and her eyes fluttered open.
Before either one of them could say something to each other, there came a tumulus crash coming from the door. It is already open, and it looks like little Sanjou Tsubame is doing her housekeeping duties that she was in total surprise when she came upon the two. "G-gomen!" she stuttered, her eyes went round in recognition when she realized the woman huddled naked between the covers is Misao.
"Tsubame?!" Misao exclaimed out loud that she sprang up and desperately tries to get herself covered, Tei realized the commotion of the clattering objects and astonished voices coming from above that she followed suit, "Tsubame you should.. oh my!" her own chinky eyes went wide open, gasped as a half dressed Misao met her. So they were the honeymooners.. "Tsubame, you go down now. This is too much for you."
"Hai!" and flushing profusely, she rushed downstairs.
"Nani?!" Tei exclaimed, "you're already "married"?" her eyes still open aghast. As Misao offered her best explanation at her messy state, Tei caught at the corner of her eye a very good looking youth falling down the bed as he clumsily staggered into his hakamas. "Besides, it's natural for engaged people.. To do it." Misao said, as she seem to signal Soujiro to start dressing faster before anyone outside could see them both half-naked.
"How long had you known him?"
"One week."
" Only one week? Misao, you don't have to.." Tei pleaded, Misao is a little too young to get married. She's 19, but the young stranger she's in bed she had only known for one week. She doesn't want to jump to any conclusions. "It's a long story, Tei." Misao sighed, " I owe him my life."
Tei noticed the gleaming nihontou, " he is a swordsman?"
"Not just a swordsman," Misao added. " A very good one, almost surpassing Himura's"
But there is no swordsman alive that can surpass Himura, not unless..
"Tei," Misao said, as she starts fixing her hair in it's usual braid, " you got to promise me not to tell anyone. I had to tell this myself. Sore wa himitsu desu!"
Tei nodded
At the Kamiya Residence
"Something is wrong with Yahiko, he hadn't touched his food for almost three days!" Kaoru exclaimed, talking to the red head samurai as she carries up their bundle of joy, their son, as they peacefully stroll by the porch. They watch as Sanosuke mercilessly finished three dishes of the meal as Yahiko observed his own with strange silence. Seeing he had no interest, Sano grabbed it and was to gobble it down when Kaoru hits him at the head. "You baka, stop that! Why don't you just let him eat?"
" He won't like to." He said, and was able to successfully snatch the dish off Kaoru's hands. " I think he saw something that gave him such a shock."
"What did you see, Yahiko?" Kenshin said, finally surfacing from the outside stroll carrying his young child. " You are not telling about us anything since three days ago."
Yahiko looked up, " It's very disturbing!" he cried out. " Even (his friend) don't know what happened at the nearby swamp when we are practicing together."
Kenshin sat in front of him; his aura seems to comfort the agitated Yahiko. " You can tell us what you saw that day, Yahiko. We will surely understand."
" You had witnessed a conspiracy?" Kaoru said,
" You had witnessed a gruesome murder?" Sanosuke inquired, everyone gave him a sharp look. " Well, if it is not a murder, then what the hell is it?"
"Kenshin," Yahiko looked up from his dish, " had you seen a young man, probably around 15-20 years of age, dressed like a ronin roaming Kyoto? "
" A lot of young men here dressed like that Yahiko."
" Iya, this is no ordinary looking one. He carries around a sword, you see. Just like you. But I think it's a longer one, I think they call it a nihontou."
Kenshin carried his young son away from his lap, and placed it to Kaoru's bosom. He starts to take the conversation seriously. " A nihontou? What else?"
Yahiko gulped a cup of water, " He is wearing a matching blue kimono/hakama get up. He had a short black hair, and his arms are wearing this sort of arm protectors, something that you use for battle."
Now, even Sanosuke had looked up from his food, both him and Himura are seriously listening to Yahiko. They seem to mutually agreed to each other silently, to what and who Yahiko had saw. Seta Soujiro, could it be? He journeyed from Edo a year ago; probably his traveling had made him reach Kyoto.
" Doushita? What did I say? Why are you two looking at me like that?" Yahiko said, who sound more irritated with the sudden silence.
" Yahiko, you know who you had seen?" Kenshin whispered seriously, but Yahiko raked his head, since he can't think of whom he really saw and if that mysterious swordsman is so important. He forgot what scared him those three days ago.
" How should I know?" he said out loud, " I didn't see his face properly because I saw that guy making love with Misao near a forest clearing 3 days ago!"
" You WHAT!!!" Sanosuke screamed, pounding his fists into the table that it nearly broke into two. Kenshin is far from shocked; his eyes are wide opened like saucers and his mouth jaw dropped. Kaoru even nearly dropped their baby.
" anou.. Are you sure?" Kenshin squeaked, his eyes still gaping wide. At the background, Sanosuke is cussing out loud how the possibility that Misao suddenly get into to the picture. The baby starts to cry from the commotion and Kaoru hits Sano for making too much noise, everything starts to be in chaos.
" Wakaranai!!!" Yahiko cried out loud his reply to Kenshin, enough to silence everyone in the room. " I don't know why Misao is there, but that is what I saw!"
"Are you sure there are no reports of a missing body?" Sanosuke quipped, " She might have been raped then.."
"Urusai!" Kaoru and Yahiko yelled in unison, " You're making us nervous, continue Yahiko. Are you SURE on what you saw?" Kaoru huddled her little precious Kenji, hushing it to sleep.
" Well, it looks like Misao is actually enjoying it.." Yahiko replied, " And the young man does not look like he is lusting after her either."
" Actually, Yahiko. I'm not quite sure of the young man you saw that day. But you gave a perfect description who he might be possibly was." Kenshin concluded, nodding at Sanosuke.
" Then why did it have to scare you guys? Is he some assassin of sort? What?" Yahiko's intuitiveness gets the better of him. He is theorizing, now that he remembered, that the young man must be the notorious right hand of shi-shi-o. But he is only playing about the idea, he never thought seriously about it.
" You're pretty close, you little squirt." Sanosuke grumbled, " I don't know how on Buddha's name that Misao got into the picture, but the young man you had described is the relentless assassin called Seta Soujro."
No sign of Misao. Okina ventured, along with the other oniwabanshus heading towards Kyoto, they took the shorter route. None of the ninjas he sent came back either, except for one, the blind one. If maybe that they do tracked them down, Soujiro might have defeated them and they gave up trying to convince for their leader to go back. Aoshi insisted in coming up with them, having a slight caring motion to know what happened to her, but no one else told the whole story. Okina want to keep it a secret, all that has been told to Aoshi is she ran away from a fearful enemy to seek refuge to Kamiya's residence.
They took a short stop at the inn, hoping to take some rest and presumably, Okina could get some information. Besides, he gave the swordsman a deal: one week, after that he shall confront him and all is settled. Aoshi didn't speak throughout the journey, and he wished he'll be kept as that. But at the beginning of their little sojourn he starts being inquisitive, unusually so.
" I don't see why she had to ran away, she knows better that she can take care of herself." He said stoically, taking a sip of the warm tea being served. His blue gaze watched the green fluid catch a gleam as he solemnly stared at it.
" It is something not worth knowing," Okina added curtly, " she know how in deep danger she is, that is when she'll call Himura for assistance.."
" Then she should have been back from now, why is that not so?"
" She might have taken a longer route.." Okina replied, Aioshi is starting to grill him questions and he just would like to stand up and leave. It was his fault in letting Misao get into this, he don't know whether it is fear or the different aura Soujiro has when he walked unarmed to the dojo and begged Okina for Misao's hand for marriage. If Aoshi were there, there would be a treacherous showdown.
" How deep is the trouble is she in?"
Okina noticed that the other oniwabanshus didn't feel threatened by their former leaders interrogation; he sounds more like a concerned mother for a child, asking curiously. And he noticed Omasu trying to restrain an urge to laugh, it's because that Aoshi never spoke in such spontaneous lengths before.
He look blearily to Aoshi, and he can tell there is a hint of concern at his sharp blue eyes, they seem to look kinder and seems he won't stop until Okina will give him a complete answer. " Look Aoshi, I-need-to-eat. The meal is starting to go cold now if I don't eat it. I'll answer it later as soon as we resume our journey." He replied sarcastically, pointing his chopsticks to his warm noodles.
" She's my concern, now if anything happens.."
"Daijoubou.. Alright then.." Okina sighs, and dropped his hands wearily at the table. The other members seem to look all-straight to Okina as if on cue. " Misao is being tracked by a merciless ronin who wants her hand in marriage, it sounds ridiculous, but this man came up to me and told me he spotted her one day gaily walking around the village and felt an urge to claim her whether I like it or not. I told her, and she made her own decision to go." Before Aoshi would ask again, he added, " she's a grown woman now Aioshi, she knows how to deal with this kind of situations." The other members seem to sigh in relief, Okina happens only to tell the half- truth. These four are the only one who've known, the truce Okina and Soujiro had made.
" Marriage? To a ronin, I can't imagine of any." Aoshi seems to sound more surprised than upset, he took it with a long pause. " I think it could be Seta Soujiro." And the rest of them seem to turn white. " I supposed I'm right."
"Well. How can you know?" one of them called out, Aoshi looked up, " The only ronin I could think is almost Misao's age, older ronins don't have time for puppy love but sure Soujiro is a good candidate. Plus, he is one of the two survivors who was not able to be captured, he could be a wanderer just like Himura."
Okina is starting to have a headache, he prays for someone to intervene. The other oni's are starting to whisper if Master Aoshi is all right, for he is starting to be more spontaneous every minute.
Tei entered, serving some sushi for the guests, and seems to overheard the conversation. " Why, Misao had been here a couple of hours ago! She's with a young man.."
" Hontoi? Come.." Okina shot up to his feet, and dragged Tei outside the dining room. Having a meal with them is a torture, and before Aoshi would demand Misao's whereabouts they are in the farthest corner in the inn.
" Doesn't he know about Misao whereabouts?" Tei asked curiously, and Okina nodded, " yes, he didn't know. But I do. It was just going as planned."
"Misao had to go to Kamiya residence for help, along the way I let someone assist her to the travels."
" There is a youth with her, a ronin." Tei replied, and looking up she added, "Why would she need help? She is in trouble?"
" In a sense, " Okina replied curtly, she told him how Misao had to go to Kyoto so to escape the clutches of a relentless assassin who wants to have her, when Tei asked who might this cold- blooded ronin could be, he told her it's Seta Soujiro. " But isn't the young man with her is.." her voice trails off, "..Iya, it couldn't be..How could you do such a thing?"
"It's a long story." Okina sighed, " There is something about him that changed," he eventually tell her how he came unarmed to their residence in Edo and where Okina devised a pact where he would test if Soujiro could claim worthy to have the oni's new leader as is wife. "Now tell me, you had seen them. How long had they been staying here?" he finished, then asking a question.
"At the night of the Tamabata, they were here. They stayed here for the night, and they left earlier this day." She answered, by this time, Okina allowed Aoshi to overhear the conversation.
" You mean, she's not alone."
" She isn't, but I guess she decided to hire someone's services for her protection for a long journey."
After a few minutes conversation, Aoshi theorized that Misao would be in the Kamiya residence shortly with some hired bodyguard along the way. What he didn't know is Tei and Okina didn't clarified who this youth would be, they had to come for the conclusion by the time they reached there. Yukina firmly decided that Soujiro should have come up with the truce by then, and hoping that Misao would just be free from his clutches after learning Soujiro's real identity and no one know this had all had happened, he planned all this, all because he wants a proof of loyalty. Tei decided it's best not to tell what she saw that morning, nor Tsubame would not tell anyone. Solemnly, the party decided to go to their destination.
" Well we are quite near now," Misao called out enthusiastically, as she walks a few more lanes and spotted the dojo a few meters away. She looked over her shoulder, and noticed that Soujro had been disturbingly silent. Ever since they left the inn, he had been more cautious, if not, much colder. She could see in his eyes, a slight shadow of fear and worry. "Shimatta, sou-chan! If there is anything in your mind just say it!" she yelled, and it jolted him out of the reverie. " There is nothing to fear in meeting up with Himura, he is a pretty nice guy." She gaily chatters, as if she read his mind. " Besides you told me personally, you've met him yourself!"
"I did?" he said looking to her in surprise,
" Hai, it's the first day we've met, you told me remember?" she smiled sweetly, infecting him again with a pang of guilt. She does remember, but he haven't been honest lately.
He hadn't told her about his true identity, Seta Soujiro the jupon gatana right hand man and the merciless slasher. Well, the former merciless slasher. If she knew, it would break her heart and would even hate Okina for letting her in such game. But it's not a game; he is doing this to prove himself, for at least, that he changed. Okina might be there right now, he could have even been with Himura, and each step he takes there is like going to his own grave.
"Misao, I had not been honest about this lately.."
" About what?" her green orbs sparkling, and how he felt tormented looking at her, those look of pure innocence, something he had been deprived and had found in her. " I'm not who you think I am," he took a deep breath, " My encounter with Himura.." he sighs again, "My encounter with Himura, is not a good one."
"I bet he could have forgiven you, Kenshin does not want to make enemies he.."
" Himura used to be my sworn enemy," he cut abruptly, " Misao, I nearly killed him. I would have killed him by then and I had the chance. But." But what? It's pretty to useless if he spills the beans right now. Any minute they'll be near the Kamiya residence, and after seemingly what he blurted out, Misao stopped at her tracks. " I don't understand." She said, " why don't you tell me about this before? "
Her words mark a stir of confusion, maybe it's one reason why Soujiro don't like to talk about his past, and it involves something deeper. But why would he give a lethal deathblow to Himura? She recalls a badly injured Kenshin sometime a couple of years ago after a skirmish in Edo but there could be other encounters. " It's not of importance to talk about it," he replied grimly, as they made themselves prostate in front of the dojo itself. " He had forgiven me, that is what is important. I have no qualms to recall my past." Misao gave him a puzzled look, but respecting his feelings she just nodded in silence.
From a distance, she saw Yahiko and Sanosuke outside gave a friendly signal to tell Kaoru that they had arrived. Instead of the usual enthusiasm that the two shows, both Sano and Yahiko stood there in pale shock as if they saw a ghost, Soujiro couldn't hide himself right now from everyone's view and his heart pound erratically as Sano seemed to had recognized him. Sano seems to say something frantically to Yahiko, and quickly tagged the boy and both scampered in the dojo like there is no tomorrow
" What's wrong with those two? It's like they had seen a ghost!" Misao said out loud, "Sou-chan, you stay here, I'll go and tell the guys we had arrived." But it's no needed to, as if on cue, Kaoru came out. She seems to gain a little weight and her hair is tied in a simple twist, and there is her little baby clinging on her bosom. She called out for Kenshin, who followed shortly,
" Kenshin!!" she waved out enthusiastically, " So the rumors are true you are already married," Kenshin gave her a bright expression, but almost fell in shock on the recognition when he realized whose Misao's companion is. He fell in mute expression, and the two former adversaries lay eyes on each other. Soujiro feel grateful for him for having spared him from the brink of madness sometime a year ago, but he can't say a thank you right now, he knows well that he hadn't tell anyone else until that time Sanosuke had recognize him, on who he really was.
"Congratulations." He complimented, and sounds like he really meant it. Kenshin deserves to retire and a have a family after repaying his debt by doing a lot of good, saving lost souls rather than just finish them off and giving everyone a second chance, for he believed he was given that chance also not long ago. There they stood like a picture perfect family, having a little nice and quiet, living a normal life.
He wants to be like them.
" Well, it's a surprise to see you..Soujiro." Kenshin finally spoke, who seem to come out of his flood of shock. He didn't want to bring out that image in his mind, what Yahiko saw three days ago. But he knows one thing; Misao might have not really known who Soujiro really was. He just knew.
"Hai."
" How long have you known Misao?" asking, as if he is Misao's paternal authority, Misao seemed puzzled by the sudden tension the environment sets in. Kenshin shows a little uneasiness in his smile, Kaoru seems more a little cautious and silent rather than her usual talkative self, while Sanosuke and Yahiko instead of badgering in and making a lot of mischief they watched quietly by a distance and as still as a doorknob.
" I accompanied her from Edo this whole week," he paused "she asked for my assistance." He never felt so stupid, and he wished that Kenshin would rather slash him there or they rather exchange deathblows rather than this slow unraveling interrogation, which he don't know what will happen. Kenshin looks amused, nothing seems to happen to Misao and she seems more blooming than before, and he hate to admit it, they look a nice couple.
"For what purpose.."
" To protect her.." He whispered, his self doubt rising. To protect her from the ruthless assassin, the irony of it all..
" To protect her from YOU." A low monotonous voice in a slight macabre tone vibrated from behind, and indeed standing there is Aoshi Shinomori, along with the rest of the oniwabanshu's. Okina, was a few feet away, but made no qualms of moving.
"Aoshi!" Almost all of them said in unison, Misao looked to Soujiro, now really totally confused. "You know Aioshi as well?"
Before Soujiro could reply, Aioshi took a step forward.. "He does know ALL of us well, and I his dangerous so stay out of the way."
"I don't understand, Soujiro.."
"You don't have to explain," Aoshi whispered, mentioning to the dark haired youth. His tacit actions make Aoshi unpredictable if let out his hounds of rage. But his eyes, can't deny the fact and in a split second he moved into an offense. Misao gaped but her mouth does not make any sound, why are they doing this? First, the cold reception of Kenshin, then suddenly Aoshi became blinded with rage at the sight of him. Now in front of her will start a fight to reclaim her?
Soujiro closed his eyes and before Aoshi's weapon could sink to his flesh, he disappeared into a lighting fast speed. The veteran former oni's leader sense is not much keener than before, although he was able to dodge the blow that Soujiro delivered from the air, "Stop this Aoshi! It's not what you think it is." Kenshin called out, tempting to intervene. Soujiro is fast, and was able to dodge more of Aioshi's deadly blows and Soujiro has no choice but to use his "heaven sword" technique. "Aoshi! Let me explain! I don't want this fight!" Soujro called out.
"You fooled her. You fooled everyone." He can't believe it himself, Okina might be hiding something about this but he is so furious by the sight of Soujiro. He doesn't know what happened all those days and what trickery he used to deceived Misao.
Aoshi was about to corner him, but underestimating his speed and technique, Soujiro pulled one of the memorable moves that badly injured Himura long time ago, and he leaves him no choice. He maneuvered quickly from behind, catching Aioshi in the element of surprise, and strikes out his nihontou in one elliptical blow.
" Shit! That is the same move that the bastard pulled on Kenshin sometime ago!" Sanosuke said out loud, the others look in terror.
"Aoshi! Soujiro!! Stop it!!" Misao screamed, why did everyone didn't attempt even to stop one of them? What is the secret Soujiro has that her friends look at him with fear and distaste, and she wants to know it. Both of them stopped, heaving heavily. Soujiro suffered scratches and abrasions with his clothing a little tattered, Aoshi in the other hand suffered almost the same thing, except that his back is tainted with a deep red line of crimson, a flesh wound that leave him leaning in one knee to catch his breath. The oni's rush to his aid, but he shooed them off. "An assassin is always an assassin, isn't it. Soujiro Seta? "
Misao is now really confused, "Iya! That is not true! That is a.."
"You manipulative bastard, what had you done with her.." how could he fool Misao? He spotted them together a few minutes ago and it's not the presence of Misao's genuine affection with him that inflames him. He saw the rings, they are engagement rings, and Okina is not telling the whole truth.
"I've done nothing. I don't do anything to her. I swear."
Okina stepped forward, "You don't tell her didn't you. You broke the pact."
Soujjro turns white
"Are you also behind this? " Aoshi looked over his shoulder, Okina attempted to explain but Kenshin who can't bear the sight of the confusion, finally speaks out.
"Aoshi is right Misao, HE is Soujro Seta. He must have not told you his whole name. But yes, that is the reason why everyone is acting strange."
"Iya, that can't.."
" He is the one who seriously injured Kenshin in the Battle of Edo, I see it myself" Sanosuke added, "I can't get it how the heck you guys got acquainted, but that's the truth."
Everyone gave an affirmative glance, and stood a long silence. Misao looked at her koibito and he can't look her at the eye. He dropped his bloodstained Nihontou, and hastily approached and stopped dead at his tracks "G-gomen Nasai, Misao, I tried to tell you but.."
"So everything you told me is a lie," she muttered morosely, " You told me you're going to protect me from the enemy, I was wrong!"
"Misao.. Let me explain, it's not what you think it is!"
"No, you should have said that long time ago!!" her eyes in the verge of tears, she tried to shoved him off as he tried stopping her by grabbing her arm, "What happened when I said I trust you?" she looked up, her flaring green orbs meeting up with his pale face and his sad expression, "You're not better than any of them!! Murderer!! " She screamed, wrangling her arm of his grip and ran quick, hastily out of the dojo.
"Misao, Yameru!!(Stop!!)" He wanted to spirit away and give a chase, but something in Kenshin's eyes that made stay there still as if signaling not to worsen the situation.
"I think everyone had some explaining to do." Kenshin sighed,
-Later that afternoon-
"So you plotted that whole scheme, impressive but not a good idea.."
"I'm afraid I had told you earlier, but I don't think everyone can't easily accept it." Okina said quietly over the serving of tea, sitting across Himura, he nodded across Aoshi who's wound is getting treated and looks visibly upset but he was so tacit it does not show. Soujiro feels he knows where he belongs, that he stayed outside the dojo, standing near the door and listening, he can't bear the sheer intimidation his physical presence could bring. "I know the secret would sooner be out, but I blame myself by putting to much trust and I just wish my little angel could forgive me." He shouldn't have made the pact; Misao was visibly safe, but emotionally, no. His bets that Soujiro would be have a hard time admitting the truth is true, that's why he dispatches the ninjas in trying to regain her back, but it's still no use.
"You tried to take control of her life," Aoshi added stoically, on which Okina ignored the statement. For some reason, Aoshi is wondering that there is some hidden wisdom of sort that prevents him for blaming the old man.
"And where are you when she's growing up?" he said, as if in a lonesome disappointed tone. "You got to acknowledge that Misao is a grown woman, and that's the fact you can't change."
" I don't see why the proposition of sudden marriage came into the picture," Kenshin said, and the shadow behind the screen moved, Soujiro is listening much closely. " You said, he literally appears to your doorstep and begged for her hand.."
" That's true," Okina nodded curtly, " When, he came in, you can tell that he is telling the truth. It's in his eyes, he seems pretty honest and somehow I felt at ease, but to prove it I gave it a test." Adding, "..And besides, risking himself to go back to Edo, more or less in our stronghold just to do that is a pretty remarkable feat he is serious about it."
" Well, he is still young, I think it's easy for the young ones to fall in love. And Misao has come to the right age." Kenshin theorized, Okina is putting these two in a test, knowing that Misao would have good qualities if she learns how to learn love seriously.
"Isn't it just remarkable, what took you 9 years to search for meaning only take him a year and one week, so much for the young ones and I'm quite impressed."
Soujiro could feel a rush of crimson color to his cheeks, and mustered enough courage to intervene and join the conversation. Everyone seems to be listening, even though most of the inhabitants are a room or so apart.
" What Okina said is true," he said, surprising at least Kenshin when he joins in. " I came in to propose. But no, he didn't completely trust me. I had to prove myself."
Okina looked up from his tea, "Hai. After coming up with a plan, I came up with a pact. One week, if she managed to gain his trust and proved himself worthy for that time, including my dispatching of assassins. But at the end of the week, he shall tell the truth of the terms of his past, and if he pass, I'll allow his proposal."
"And unfortunately, it don't turn out that way." Kenshin looked to Soujiro, it's so amusing of all situations that they shall meet again, front in front. Soujiro felt like he needs to ask for assistance, but he knows Kenshin will advise him to search the answers for himself. "Soujiro, do you really like her? Do you actually love her?"
Soujiro looked up to the voice of tender fatherly concern and greeted him with a total determined expression, with his indigo eyes with a hint of loneliness, " It would not be long ago, when I accidentally came across her in Edo." He paused, " It's ridiculous, but I never felt anything wonderful in my life after meeting her, and I realized she does not know who I am. Even though I know her as my former enemy." He continued, his facial expression starting to break, " And I know better, that it's hard to ask for forgiveness and if she finds out that we used to be swore enemies, more or less a calculating killer that nearly destroyed her friends." His eyes glinted in a strange hue of blue, his voice starting to sound strangled, " I loved her so much, that I don't want her to be hurt and. I don't want her to hear the truth. She didn't go through what I go through; I don't want any of that! " He looked down, clenching his fist, "I'm afraid that I will lose her."
Kenshin glanced over Okina, " Then you are not ready, for people like us this needs time. You are still young Soujiro, you can still stand a chance." Then he noticed he is wearing a ring. "Okina, the end of the week is Tamabata…" his voice trails off, and his face suddenly drew pale. Soujiro looked up this time with sudden curiosity, as if second-guessing why Kenshin quickly averted the topic.
"You PROPOSED already to her?" Okina gasped, Aoshi sat up as he heard the sudden surprise at Okina's tone, "without even telling her.. Just YET?"
" I'm sorry, I think it's a right time to.."
"You don't happen to consume the engagement don't you?" Kenshin said out loud, hoping he was right. True, he can see that Soujiro had in fact changed at least during that Misao incident, but being young and reckless he is not hoping..
" Himura-san, G-gomen, but when after the festival we went to the inn and we lose control…" and he swear that Himura not only loses his color, but both of him and Okina crashed their tea glasses (or whatever you call it)
"You know what, himura?" Okina remarked, " Forget what I said awhile ago. Can I borrow your sakabatou for awhile?"
"Nani?!"
The Tamabata festival is two days away, and finally they made it shortly to Kyoto. Neither each one is talking to the other, nor he decided it's best to give her a little thinking over so he let her agree that they stay in a nearby inn with two separate rooms just facing each other by the corridor. Remarkably, the spies hadn't reached there yet. Besides, the condition he and Yukina agreed: 1 week. Nevertheless, he will wait for two days more, then the Tamabata festival.
He shall propose.
He knows the custom very well, but it makes him feel wary. He fell in love at first sight and learned to rediscover himself in this long journey with this girl he knew means more than anything to him. It means a lot, which he doubt if he ever had to tell his dark secret. His dark past, his dark reputation.
She is strong enough, maybe she learned to like him, and maybe she'll accept the truth. Soujiro crossed his fingers at his back as he waved a friendly gesture to Misao who he had been watching struggling with her baggage. Well at least that is the old Misao, who gave him a pout as she shoved her shabby belongings to her room. Maybe it would be wonderful, if she dresses to something fancy: like a pink kimono. It would be wonderful if they'll have four kids, 2 boys and 2 girls. Maybe they'll teach them various martial arts and politics like their mother par with his astounding sword fighting skills, and they'll be the best-respected fighters/strategists in Japan. And them, they'll be a husband and wife, Soujiro and Misao Seta.
Soujiro realize that he is going far-fetched, Misao is just a year shy to young adulthood and he is only 21. Maybe he matured too much at his young life or probably the pangs of being in love are driving him with those kooky thoughts. Like any confused guy would do, he headed at the tavern near the inn. But his youthful looks gives the people a doubt he is over 21 so he decided just to hang around to get some fresh air. Unaware that anyone in Kyoto would recognize him.
"Looks like you're in love, eh?" A husky voice from the shadowy alley rung that made him reflex to a defense stance. The stranger is covered, dressed like a ninja that he fought much earlier at the first days of their travels. "Don't worry kid, I won't do anything. I'm here to warn you."
"He wants her back, does he?"
He was right, from what he concluded before Soujiro won't let go Misao that easily. Yukina's drastic change of plan to have the youth captured would be really something worth why he is even more defensive. "Maybe he can't accept the fact of having you as a Mukodono... it's just not like everyday someone would rush out of oblivion and try to claim a girl who he raised for several years... You got to know that."
"I know..."
"You still got two days though. But be cautious at the last one."
"Tell me about it."
"At the Tamabata, he will deploy another one of us. This one will be wearing black so be careful. He will be at the inn around late night, so if you confront him ahead much chances he'll never bother you again. "
Soujiro nodded and bowed in gesture. "Arigatou, but how can I know that I trust you?" The blind orbs glared aimlessly, "I just did." And the stranger disappeared in a slight gush of the wind. Ninjas, they are always good when they dispersing into thin air. He thought, and he looked cautiously around him. Maybe it's better to stay indoors, but he can't always hide forever. He looked over a small crowd near the center of the town, bustling with activity as they start preparing for the festival. Maybe he could "mingle" around there. With tents and small booths being propped up, and people already stocking some goods, maybe he could see once in awhile how the Tamabata festival would look like.
"Ohayo, good day! Is there anything you're looking in particular? " A young lady in a green kimono approached him. " Oh it's nothing really, I just happen to pass by.."
" I think it would be not be nothing if you're not staring quite so long." Soujiro realized that he is indeed standing a little too long over some clothing selection. He is just imagining what kimono Misao would wear if he invites her to the festival...if she got any. " Alright, I'm deciding what my significant someone would wear..." he want to shrink down any minute now. " She never gets to wear any of those, so I think of buying something like that."
The young lady seemed to be more interested. " For what occasion?"
He found himself speaking out without thinking, " I'm going to propose this Tamabata, and I want to make sure she looks beautiful in it."
Now the lady looked stunned, Soujiro is too surprised to think what he just said and proceeds anyway as the lady silently led him to vast arrays of designs and styles of female kimonos.
" That's too long, she's petite.. Make it shorter...a little more shorter.."
" To intricate.. The bird designs would make her look bad, and those floral designs would make her look fat and..."
" The color is so bright, that one is too flashy.. No, she would look like a curtain with that ribbon.."
Looking for Misao's body type and color is sure giving him a headache that he wonders how long the members of the opposite sex do shop. The lady totally exhausted, finally pulled out a simple pink kimono.. With simple designs of periwinkle colored floral patterns peeking out at the lower portion and it's sleeves. The ribbon even had the two hues evenly mixed. " That's it! That would be perfect! I'll purchase that." She'll look lovely in pink..
" Young man, your fiancée sure had a body of a twelve year old." Soujiro sweat dropped at the comment, but don't say anything. He paid extra for the labor's fee since the poor woman seems to had gone through hell to get what he wanted. He was tempted not to look over by the section where they sold swords, and he was thinking if his nihontou has to be paired off with a *wakazahi. But then he came across some literature section and it strike his fancy when he overheard some reader browsing some Chinese legend of the universe of the four gods, matching the book are some hint of illustrations including that of the legendary priestess.. That idea struck him how Misao would put some fine things in her hair minus the boring braid and the more boring ponytail. He found himself doing some more shopping.. As if planning what he already had in mind.
Misao don't know if she's going to be miffed or curious, as Soujiro seemed to spend more time outside often.. It's been a couple of days. If he'll ever go back to inn, he does less talk and excitedly finishes his food or better yet locked up his room early. He seems to be enjoying something that she can't put a finger in it.
And she's very jealous of it.
It 's already Tamabata, she's wondering if he forgot all about it or maybe he starts seeing someone else.. Someone else? That's impossible; Soujiro is not very sociable with the opposite sex. But she finds herself snarling or getting steamed every time some group of young women would pass by trying to please them in front of him. Well, he is new in town and he got charming good looks.. And he is carrying a sword.
Maybe because the thrill of having a young ronin around is making those girls go following around him. Maybe too, he cannot be caught and he can walk about with the usual broad grin not worrying about it. Misao is tired of conclusions, and getting jealous after she realize that Soujiro got guts to entertain them after all.. And finally decided she'll make him go with her at the Tamabata. She had to look the darnest good... but unsure if it's really the jealousy is the love she feel for him.
The festival night of the Tamabata.
" Kuso..!! I can't find anything!!" she whined, as hordes of her clothes and belongings and furnishings turned are upside down, as she burrowed more mess as she searched for good clothes. No such luck, all her clothes are boy shorts and hakamas.. Forget the pink European dress she purchased, Sanosuke looked like he saw a thousand demons when she ogle him "how good" she looked in it. She is so busy that she didn't notice Soujiro came in. It was embarrassing, " you could've knocked at the door!"
The sight of the mess makes Soujiro want to laugh. " What are you looking for?"
" Clothes! I need something to wear for Tamabata, so I can go out with you."
Long silence, she wished she hadn't said that out loud. So I can go out with you... she repeated the statement at her head, wishing there is a nearby wall where she can bang her head on. Soujiro quietly approached, and put something down the floor. " No need to worry for that..." And he quietly walked out.. " I'll be meeting you outside, by the cherry blossom tree, okay? "
She nodded quietly, " okay." And she looked over by bundles of wrapped items and proceeds to open it.
It came to her astonishment for what could have been the most beautiful and simple kimono she had ever seen. The size was right, which is difficult to find. And it came out with other objects, even with the matching pair of footwear because she always wears flat sandals, there are couples of things she can put into her hair. He brought her the whole wardrobe. All those time, he brought them for her for that occasion and it all perfectly fitted to her taste. He really did spend time to know her better, no else would put up patience like he did. More or less buying her the whole accessories. She crinkled her nose, after she read a note that putting the accessories on means having to get rid of the boring braid. Hmmm, when is the last time did she let her hair loose anyway? Soujiro was already by a considerable distance by the tree, waiting.
He didn't know if he is going to rehearse something to say, he feel a little nervous.. And he met some strange old woman who sold him a ring. The ring is adorned simply with small graved diamonds, and was sold to him at a very cheap price. It was said that in most customs, that if one proposes he shall present a ring and wear another.. Some sort of symbol of getting engaged. He knew that Misao is much fascinated with western customs. The week is over, this is it: either she accepts or she decline.. He sighed; he got himself to wear the same old thing.. Only this one is least worn than the rest. He wonders how she would look..
" Ne, Soujiro! " she called out, with her usual tone of confidence. He turned around and was render speechless for what he saw: Her locks cascaded to the length of her waist, wavy and shining in rich hue. The simple adornments in her hair are perfect accenting her looks, though she's not wearing any make up. The kimono looked great and she looks breathtakingly feminine in the color of pink and it set off her green sparkling eyes. He then noticed she is not used in wearing "normal" clothes as she nearly stumbled by a rock.
"Hey, easy there." He said softly, as he catches her easily as a falling feather. " You don't want such beautiful dress to be stained for the occasion, wouldn't you?" there is an unmistakable glint in his eyes, some warm aura that increases at her presence. " You are worried more about the dress?" she said flatly, as if summoning a tomboyish behavior again. He shook his head, " No, you look so wonderful in it. Like a transformed woman, and I don't want to change that for this night."
No, he couldn't be serious. Misao's eye's widened. Then why would he put time and money purchasing her clothes and materials for this evening? It is the feast of the Tamabata after all. But she felt terrible to confess her feelings for him, to this enigmatic youth who put up to her childish demeanor as an adult. Sometimes she thinks she sees the shadow of Himura- san in him. And probably she would be like Kaoru, now married and she has heard of the rumors the child look so much like Himura's and its a bouncing little boy. She shook off the thought immediately
Misao noticed that Soujiro is clutching something tightly in hand, she is curious and for the first time she is silent, she gave a questioning look to him, for whatever he is going to do and why he summoned her to dress so elegantly for the Tamabata. Her green eyes are waiting for an answer, and its skinning Soujiro alive, he hopes it will works. Then the truce will be over, he quickly forgot the pact he and Okina made, now that he is beneath the moonlit gentle slope under the cherry blossoms. Silently, he opened the small red box and took out the diamond ring; he took Misao's hand and gently placed it to her finger. Misao is now really curious, although she seemed familiar of the western custom much; she was really trying to figure out what this is.
Soujiro took a deep breath, he sighed, "Makamachi Misao.." and he looked up languidly on her with his indigo gaze to meet her own. "..Would you marry me? Be my wife?"
For Misao, it comes in a slow flood of shock. Something she hadn't expected, but deep inside she secretly wishes. Her yearning for him is not in vain, but it happens so fast that she didn't know he harbor some feelings for her too, she finds herself saying "yes". And she felt that tears seem to involuntary seeping down to her face
"anou.. You're crying.."
"It's nothing.." she wiped it off, showing him a bright expression. " I just never thought that someone would take me seriously, when all everyone knows that I act like a little girl."
The fireworks explode at the dimly moonlit sky, interlacing the reverie of that magical moment; the festival is about to start. The feast of the tamabata: "Where lovers became engaged." Little orange lanterns line up the streets and people carrying them in sticks seems like dotted fireflies floating at the streets down below in a distance. Rhythmic pudding of drums and Japanese music starts in it's lively yet engaging crescendo.
"Like a little girl, yes. But deep inside you are a headstrong woman." Soujiro whispered, his soft features played at the multicolored lights that played in the sky. He reached out to Misao's chin. He smiled, a lonely yet that of pride. " I never seen someone so strong and not even lost her innocence, that rarely happens to someone."
He seem to see Misao blush, for the first time she seems not to say anything, probably the silence is taken as a yes, " And Misao..I..aishiteru.." and he leans over to give her again that kiss, the heated passion he restrained for a few days before that finally cave in at that day they tumbled in a dry swamp. Misao took a step closer holding his hands tight, slowly surrendering to the seducing invitation of his mouth.
And a big firework exploded beneath their feet.
" G-Gomen nasai!" A young boy called out, guiltily scooping out some of the unused fireworks, and accidentally had already threw one near their direction. " I don't see you people closely, gomen!" and he scampers along which seems with another playmate. Misao let out a nervous laugh and Soujiro gave a big sigh of disappointment. I was just so near to it! But Misao let goes of Soujiro's hands, and starts heading down the slopes. " Nani..Where are you going? "
"Let's have fun, you baka!" she smiled broadly, having full command on the body wrapped long kimono. " It's the Tamabata festival, hadn't you have fun in your life?"
That's because I never did, not until now he said to himself. " Y-yes I'm coming down." He replied, " I'm not used in celebrations like these." The swarming crowd, the music, everything seems to be a carnival. " We had a reason to celebrate, Sou-chan!" Misao replied, her green eyes beaming. They do, they have to celebrate. Soujiro stretched his other hand and reached over Misao's as she lightly tugged him along down the slope, to the streets and they glide swiftly like once when Misao gave him a chase of his sword few days ago. She had innocence, and she made him found it again. His lost innocence, and how much he nearly wasted his youth for a meaningless oath of slaughter. Now he confronted the evils of his past, and is preparing for the bright future ahead of him. Him and her, together.
The festival is wonderful, Misao almost forget she was wearing womanly clothes as she participates in small contest booths; purchase food from stalls and watched a dazzling array of performers perform their art. She was enjoying herself, and she watches how many lovers seem to look so full as promise as they are now. One favorite spot she wants to go to is the souvenir sections, where rows of much larger stalls are by the sides of street, all attached by similar white tents for cover. She was tempted to buy western items, and was disappointed in not finding any. Soujiro laughed when she whined about it, and instead treat her by buying her some food she's starting to crave again. She find it disturbing, Soujiro brought all the pretty little things she's wearing and letting her enjoy the celebration with his cost. She decided to give him something in return; she went to a weaponry stall, looking for a sword. He had been protecting for her the past few days, and she'd noticed that his sword is starting to wear, as if he had been using it for sometime, undoubtedly a professional. First she thought of buying the pair of swords reserved for professional assassins since it's no joke, that it sets Soujiro perfectly, his moves are very much of a great swordsman for his young age. The merchant named a few digits and Misao gaped that the price is high, the swords do had quality, as if the last of sword makers work's are collected to be sold in much higher commission.
She then noticed the nihontou.
He carries a nihontou, she recalls. And since the last one is worn out, she decided it would be a great gift from him. The price is much lower, thank goodness, and with the sword wrapped around gingerly in wrappings she headed out where Soujiro is waiting.
" For me?" he seemed to be surprised, as he examined the sword, gleaming and very smooth, as it's reflection basked in the moonlight. " Oh, Misao you shouldn't.. I mean, I swore myself not to fight again."
" Yes, Soujiro. You need it to fight." She said, "A sword is not meant to kill. But to fight, you fight for the people you swore to protect, ga marimasu " She seem to avoid his questionable look as looked at her. " You had been protecting me for sometime, I trusted you with my life. It's at least what I can do for you."
She looked up at him, her gaze seemingly outpouring with pride and love, " When you defend me, I see it in your eyes that you want to fight, not for the honor not because.."
He then realized that Himura's mantra had made that moment to make him know that Misao trusted him. It had made Misao fall for him, and he don't feel the lifeless lonely wanderer anymore. The emptiness in him and having filled that void but she completed him. " Hush.." he whispered, "Arigatou.." arigato gozaimasu. . And he brushed his lips to her own, and with mutual consent to each other, their mouths parted and they kissed underneath a small porch, with a dimly lit orange lantern nearby. First she seem to stiffen at the deep much passionate kiss than the last one before in the woods, but as Soujiro wound up his hands gently to her back, then she slowly relaxed inexorably and melting in his arms. She found her own arms cradling him to his neck, begging him to pull closer, as if she does not want this moment to stop, this dream. His thoughts are in the same, and his reverie enticing him not to let her go. The moment of touching and feeling, he rediscovered again, as his hands felt up her long silky cascading locks of black setting against her smooth pearl-white skin with her green misty eyes. They are half-closed, dazed by the slow sensual surrender against his smoldering gaze of desire. Time seems to stop forever, as tender caresses and sweet murmurs where exchanged, soft sounds secretly drifting unnoticed at the carnival like atmosphere.
Soujiro almost forgot the last warning.
At the corner of his eye, he saw a black clad figure, a ninja. The man was about to throw a weapon of some kind, but Soujiro's mercenary like skills still caught up with him, he tore himself from the passionate ardent kisses and drew his nihontou from its sheath. Probably out of sheer anger for having disturbed for the night, the weapon sliced into half with his sword and managed to strike one part to the middle. It is supposed to be a sleeping gas of sort. " It's too late, go away!" he said coldly, Misao was surprised that even spies was deployed during to the Tamabata, more or less..That special night. The ninja was about to challenge him yet again but was thrown aghast with shock when he noticed who seems the young lady Soujiro is sharing a passionate moment with!
" You're a real bastard aren't you?" the man lets out more of a guttural cry of disappointment rather than of taunt. " Even the our dear leader has to be dressed up like some geisha for your own selfish desires!!"
Soujiro felt inflamed when the ninja mentioned Misao a geisha, and him a bastard. But before he could do a threat, Misao stepped forward. " Tell master Okina that to stop this insane act!" she cried out, " This would be over, this is what I choose. I choose to be with him." Her strong remarkable words leaved the ninja looking crush and upset. He looked at the young swordsman, his eyes filled with defeat. " You will be glad to know, I'm the last sent to track you down. It seems that she firmly decided for her choice." Soujiro nodded curtly, the ninja stood up and added " But we don't completely trusted you, a truce is a truce." And he absorbs backed into the shadows, with an aura of loneliness surrounding him.
" He is the last one." Soujiro sighed. The truce, he recalled. He almost forgot the truce. It gives him a confused feeling; he starts to feel his hands run cold. He must let Misao know, who he really was. He is Soujiro Seta, the cold-blooded mercenary known for his capability not to register any human kind of emotion, the one who has to track her down to claim her his wife. But why would Misao accept his proposal? The same way he did, they felt true love to each other. But besides that, it dawns in him that what Misao saw that he is an able kindhearted wanderer out to protect her, that she trusts with her life, even if the worst comes to worst. He is happens to be that "worst."
" Misao, tomorrow we would be near to the Kamiya residence. We had to find a safe place this night to be sure if anything might happen."
She mutely nodded in consent, and he rendered himself speechless through out the short journey. It is not just the right time to tell the truth.
1 Midnight
It seems to after all, the lovers happen to find a local restaurant/ inn to stay for the night. Soujiro's trouble was then again slowly smothered away for the consummation of the engagement, like mostly of the couples do when they answer their lovers at the Tamabata. It's such an irony, when not so long ago he taunted the tradition. It seems again he was lulled into senseless excitement, and so was she, as the spark from the previous kiss at the festival is still fresh from their minds. The ignited passion easily melted their inexperienced novice nature in the ways of lovemaking, as they eagerly reveled and exchanged warm moist kisses and shed each other's clothing hastily in the dark. Misao never knew such pleasure, and shuddered at his eager caresses of his mouth and hands feeling and tasting her body's erogenous zones. He feels every moment alive as he let his body sensually cover her own, feeling every curve and crevice. Her hands clung on to his back, feeling how incredibly smooth and immaculate his skin is, how his youthful façade is so deceiving to his fierce passionate nature. The foreplay went from soft and sensual to a wild and bacchanal ride, as their strong intense passion collided. His eyes glowed with feral excitement of light blue and he gripped Misao's hands underneath his own, " I must have you." He whispered roughly, " If there is anything I want in my life, I want to have you."
She looks like she's in total daze, giddy and even lightheaded with green eyes half-closed and she was breathing heavily as he was, their faces inches apart and their hot slick bodies entwined. But nevertheless she's still in track, she smiled sweetly "And if there is anything I want in my life, is that someone would treat me like a woman." And with her eyes having a look of consent, " Soujiro-kun, you can have me."
"Oh, goodness" the old man managing the inn retorted as he noticed that his wooden ceiling is having one of those "shaky" aftershocks. He called for Tei, one of the waitresses in the restaurant/ inn to check it out. "Must be a bunch of honey mooners from last night." The old man grumbled, "and look how excited they could get."
"honey mooners?" Tei questioned,
"hai. A young girl with long black hair and a young boy that looks like a ronin has indigo eyes, They said they're like 19 and 21 years of age but I don't believe it." The man look at her blearily, " try to be polite and ask them to slow it down, I don't want to scare the other guests away. You had my permission."
It was already morning, and Soujiro never felt drained in his whole life. What happened last night is something remarkable for both of them (aside from losing both their virginity). He recalls when Misao whispered she is still a virgin and that he'll try to be gentle, at first it hurts for her that she cried. But sooner or later, it starts to feel good that they keep doing it until they went limp with exhaustion and they could have climaxed several times already. So much for being young and ruthless, he thought. They just made love 2 hours ago. And he can't count how many intervals already, if he does it again it might be good enough to induce a coma.
He looked over beside him, leaning over one shoulder and he looked at her, very much asleep. She looked like a princess, he thought. A fairy child, with her eyes so wild.. Goes poetry he recalls hearing off from somewhere. There encounter leaves her looking dewy and fresh, Her hair thrown messily from the recent coupling and her face flushed lightly by the cheeks with her small mouth is slightly parted. He seems to feel like he want to take her all over again, his indigo gaze languidly observed her lithe and slender features and most of all, he cant take his eyes off her face, with those lips begging him for a kiss. He leans over and delicately gave her a soft kiss; it felt like a feather brushes her lips and her eyes fluttered open.
Before either one of them could say something to each other, there came a tumulus crash coming from the door. It is already open, and it looks like little Sanjou Tsubame is doing her housekeeping duties that she was in total surprise when she came upon the two. "G-gomen!" she stuttered, her eyes went round in recognition when she realized the woman huddled naked between the covers is Misao.
"Tsubame?!" Misao exclaimed out loud that she sprang up and desperately tries to get herself covered, Tei realized the commotion of the clattering objects and astonished voices coming from above that she followed suit, "Tsubame you should.. oh my!" her own chinky eyes went wide open, gasped as a half dressed Misao met her. So they were the honeymooners.. "Tsubame, you go down now. This is too much for you."
"Hai!" and flushing profusely, she rushed downstairs.
"Nani?!" Tei exclaimed, "you're already "married"?" her eyes still open aghast. As Misao offered her best explanation at her messy state, Tei caught at the corner of her eye a very good looking youth falling down the bed as he clumsily staggered into his hakamas. "Besides, it's natural for engaged people.. To do it." Misao said, as she seem to signal Soujiro to start dressing faster before anyone outside could see them both half-naked.
"How long had you known him?"
"One week."
" Only one week? Misao, you don't have to.." Tei pleaded, Misao is a little too young to get married. She's 19, but the young stranger she's in bed she had only known for one week. She doesn't want to jump to any conclusions. "It's a long story, Tei." Misao sighed, " I owe him my life."
Tei noticed the gleaming nihontou, " he is a swordsman?"
"Not just a swordsman," Misao added. " A very good one, almost surpassing Himura's"
But there is no swordsman alive that can surpass Himura, not unless..
"Tei," Misao said, as she starts fixing her hair in it's usual braid, " you got to promise me not to tell anyone. I had to tell this myself. Sore wa himitsu desu!"
Tei nodded
At the Kamiya Residence
"Something is wrong with Yahiko, he hadn't touched his food for almost three days!" Kaoru exclaimed, talking to the red head samurai as she carries up their bundle of joy, their son, as they peacefully stroll by the porch. They watch as Sanosuke mercilessly finished three dishes of the meal as Yahiko observed his own with strange silence. Seeing he had no interest, Sano grabbed it and was to gobble it down when Kaoru hits him at the head. "You baka, stop that! Why don't you just let him eat?"
" He won't like to." He said, and was able to successfully snatch the dish off Kaoru's hands. " I think he saw something that gave him such a shock."
"What did you see, Yahiko?" Kenshin said, finally surfacing from the outside stroll carrying his young child. " You are not telling about us anything since three days ago."
Yahiko looked up, " It's very disturbing!" he cried out. " Even (his friend) don't know what happened at the nearby swamp when we are practicing together."
Kenshin sat in front of him; his aura seems to comfort the agitated Yahiko. " You can tell us what you saw that day, Yahiko. We will surely understand."
" You had witnessed a conspiracy?" Kaoru said,
" You had witnessed a gruesome murder?" Sanosuke inquired, everyone gave him a sharp look. " Well, if it is not a murder, then what the hell is it?"
"Kenshin," Yahiko looked up from his dish, " had you seen a young man, probably around 15-20 years of age, dressed like a ronin roaming Kyoto? "
" A lot of young men here dressed like that Yahiko."
" Iya, this is no ordinary looking one. He carries around a sword, you see. Just like you. But I think it's a longer one, I think they call it a nihontou."
Kenshin carried his young son away from his lap, and placed it to Kaoru's bosom. He starts to take the conversation seriously. " A nihontou? What else?"
Yahiko gulped a cup of water, " He is wearing a matching blue kimono/hakama get up. He had a short black hair, and his arms are wearing this sort of arm protectors, something that you use for battle."
Now, even Sanosuke had looked up from his food, both him and Himura are seriously listening to Yahiko. They seem to mutually agreed to each other silently, to what and who Yahiko had saw. Seta Soujiro, could it be? He journeyed from Edo a year ago; probably his traveling had made him reach Kyoto.
" Doushita? What did I say? Why are you two looking at me like that?" Yahiko said, who sound more irritated with the sudden silence.
" Yahiko, you know who you had seen?" Kenshin whispered seriously, but Yahiko raked his head, since he can't think of whom he really saw and if that mysterious swordsman is so important. He forgot what scared him those three days ago.
" How should I know?" he said out loud, " I didn't see his face properly because I saw that guy making love with Misao near a forest clearing 3 days ago!"
" You WHAT!!!" Sanosuke screamed, pounding his fists into the table that it nearly broke into two. Kenshin is far from shocked; his eyes are wide opened like saucers and his mouth jaw dropped. Kaoru even nearly dropped their baby.
" anou.. Are you sure?" Kenshin squeaked, his eyes still gaping wide. At the background, Sanosuke is cussing out loud how the possibility that Misao suddenly get into to the picture. The baby starts to cry from the commotion and Kaoru hits Sano for making too much noise, everything starts to be in chaos.
" Wakaranai!!!" Yahiko cried out loud his reply to Kenshin, enough to silence everyone in the room. " I don't know why Misao is there, but that is what I saw!"
"Are you sure there are no reports of a missing body?" Sanosuke quipped, " She might have been raped then.."
"Urusai!" Kaoru and Yahiko yelled in unison, " You're making us nervous, continue Yahiko. Are you SURE on what you saw?" Kaoru huddled her little precious Kenji, hushing it to sleep.
" Well, it looks like Misao is actually enjoying it.." Yahiko replied, " And the young man does not look like he is lusting after her either."
" Actually, Yahiko. I'm not quite sure of the young man you saw that day. But you gave a perfect description who he might be possibly was." Kenshin concluded, nodding at Sanosuke.
" Then why did it have to scare you guys? Is he some assassin of sort? What?" Yahiko's intuitiveness gets the better of him. He is theorizing, now that he remembered, that the young man must be the notorious right hand of shi-shi-o. But he is only playing about the idea, he never thought seriously about it.
" You're pretty close, you little squirt." Sanosuke grumbled, " I don't know how on Buddha's name that Misao got into the picture, but the young man you had described is the relentless assassin called Seta Soujro."
No sign of Misao. Okina ventured, along with the other oniwabanshus heading towards Kyoto, they took the shorter route. None of the ninjas he sent came back either, except for one, the blind one. If maybe that they do tracked them down, Soujiro might have defeated them and they gave up trying to convince for their leader to go back. Aoshi insisted in coming up with them, having a slight caring motion to know what happened to her, but no one else told the whole story. Okina want to keep it a secret, all that has been told to Aoshi is she ran away from a fearful enemy to seek refuge to Kamiya's residence.
They took a short stop at the inn, hoping to take some rest and presumably, Okina could get some information. Besides, he gave the swordsman a deal: one week, after that he shall confront him and all is settled. Aoshi didn't speak throughout the journey, and he wished he'll be kept as that. But at the beginning of their little sojourn he starts being inquisitive, unusually so.
" I don't see why she had to ran away, she knows better that she can take care of herself." He said stoically, taking a sip of the warm tea being served. His blue gaze watched the green fluid catch a gleam as he solemnly stared at it.
" It is something not worth knowing," Okina added curtly, " she know how in deep danger she is, that is when she'll call Himura for assistance.."
" Then she should have been back from now, why is that not so?"
" She might have taken a longer route.." Okina replied, Aioshi is starting to grill him questions and he just would like to stand up and leave. It was his fault in letting Misao get into this, he don't know whether it is fear or the different aura Soujiro has when he walked unarmed to the dojo and begged Okina for Misao's hand for marriage. If Aoshi were there, there would be a treacherous showdown.
" How deep is the trouble is she in?"
Okina noticed that the other oniwabanshus didn't feel threatened by their former leaders interrogation; he sounds more like a concerned mother for a child, asking curiously. And he noticed Omasu trying to restrain an urge to laugh, it's because that Aoshi never spoke in such spontaneous lengths before.
He look blearily to Aoshi, and he can tell there is a hint of concern at his sharp blue eyes, they seem to look kinder and seems he won't stop until Okina will give him a complete answer. " Look Aoshi, I-need-to-eat. The meal is starting to go cold now if I don't eat it. I'll answer it later as soon as we resume our journey." He replied sarcastically, pointing his chopsticks to his warm noodles.
" She's my concern, now if anything happens.."
"Daijoubou.. Alright then.." Okina sighs, and dropped his hands wearily at the table. The other members seem to look all-straight to Okina as if on cue. " Misao is being tracked by a merciless ronin who wants her hand in marriage, it sounds ridiculous, but this man came up to me and told me he spotted her one day gaily walking around the village and felt an urge to claim her whether I like it or not. I told her, and she made her own decision to go." Before Aoshi would ask again, he added, " she's a grown woman now Aioshi, she knows how to deal with this kind of situations." The other members seem to sigh in relief, Okina happens only to tell the half- truth. These four are the only one who've known, the truce Okina and Soujiro had made.
" Marriage? To a ronin, I can't imagine of any." Aoshi seems to sound more surprised than upset, he took it with a long pause. " I think it could be Seta Soujiro." And the rest of them seem to turn white. " I supposed I'm right."
"Well. How can you know?" one of them called out, Aoshi looked up, " The only ronin I could think is almost Misao's age, older ronins don't have time for puppy love but sure Soujiro is a good candidate. Plus, he is one of the two survivors who was not able to be captured, he could be a wanderer just like Himura."
Okina is starting to have a headache, he prays for someone to intervene. The other oni's are starting to whisper if Master Aoshi is all right, for he is starting to be more spontaneous every minute.
Tei entered, serving some sushi for the guests, and seems to overheard the conversation. " Why, Misao had been here a couple of hours ago! She's with a young man.."
" Hontoi? Come.." Okina shot up to his feet, and dragged Tei outside the dining room. Having a meal with them is a torture, and before Aoshi would demand Misao's whereabouts they are in the farthest corner in the inn.
" Doesn't he know about Misao whereabouts?" Tei asked curiously, and Okina nodded, " yes, he didn't know. But I do. It was just going as planned."
"Misao had to go to Kamiya residence for help, along the way I let someone assist her to the travels."
" There is a youth with her, a ronin." Tei replied, and looking up she added, "Why would she need help? She is in trouble?"
" In a sense, " Okina replied curtly, she told him how Misao had to go to Kyoto so to escape the clutches of a relentless assassin who wants to have her, when Tei asked who might this cold- blooded ronin could be, he told her it's Seta Soujiro. " But isn't the young man with her is.." her voice trails off, "..Iya, it couldn't be..How could you do such a thing?"
"It's a long story." Okina sighed, " There is something about him that changed," he eventually tell her how he came unarmed to their residence in Edo and where Okina devised a pact where he would test if Soujiro could claim worthy to have the oni's new leader as is wife. "Now tell me, you had seen them. How long had they been staying here?" he finished, then asking a question.
"At the night of the Tamabata, they were here. They stayed here for the night, and they left earlier this day." She answered, by this time, Okina allowed Aoshi to overhear the conversation.
" You mean, she's not alone."
" She isn't, but I guess she decided to hire someone's services for her protection for a long journey."
After a few minutes conversation, Aoshi theorized that Misao would be in the Kamiya residence shortly with some hired bodyguard along the way. What he didn't know is Tei and Okina didn't clarified who this youth would be, they had to come for the conclusion by the time they reached there. Yukina firmly decided that Soujiro should have come up with the truce by then, and hoping that Misao would just be free from his clutches after learning Soujiro's real identity and no one know this had all had happened, he planned all this, all because he wants a proof of loyalty. Tei decided it's best not to tell what she saw that morning, nor Tsubame would not tell anyone. Solemnly, the party decided to go to their destination.
" Well we are quite near now," Misao called out enthusiastically, as she walks a few more lanes and spotted the dojo a few meters away. She looked over her shoulder, and noticed that Soujro had been disturbingly silent. Ever since they left the inn, he had been more cautious, if not, much colder. She could see in his eyes, a slight shadow of fear and worry. "Shimatta, sou-chan! If there is anything in your mind just say it!" she yelled, and it jolted him out of the reverie. " There is nothing to fear in meeting up with Himura, he is a pretty nice guy." She gaily chatters, as if she read his mind. " Besides you told me personally, you've met him yourself!"
"I did?" he said looking to her in surprise,
" Hai, it's the first day we've met, you told me remember?" she smiled sweetly, infecting him again with a pang of guilt. She does remember, but he haven't been honest lately.
He hadn't told her about his true identity, Seta Soujiro the jupon gatana right hand man and the merciless slasher. Well, the former merciless slasher. If she knew, it would break her heart and would even hate Okina for letting her in such game. But it's not a game; he is doing this to prove himself, for at least, that he changed. Okina might be there right now, he could have even been with Himura, and each step he takes there is like going to his own grave.
"Misao, I had not been honest about this lately.."
" About what?" her green orbs sparkling, and how he felt tormented looking at her, those look of pure innocence, something he had been deprived and had found in her. " I'm not who you think I am," he took a deep breath, " My encounter with Himura.." he sighs again, "My encounter with Himura, is not a good one."
"I bet he could have forgiven you, Kenshin does not want to make enemies he.."
" Himura used to be my sworn enemy," he cut abruptly, " Misao, I nearly killed him. I would have killed him by then and I had the chance. But." But what? It's pretty to useless if he spills the beans right now. Any minute they'll be near the Kamiya residence, and after seemingly what he blurted out, Misao stopped at her tracks. " I don't understand." She said, " why don't you tell me about this before? "
Her words mark a stir of confusion, maybe it's one reason why Soujiro don't like to talk about his past, and it involves something deeper. But why would he give a lethal deathblow to Himura? She recalls a badly injured Kenshin sometime a couple of years ago after a skirmish in Edo but there could be other encounters. " It's not of importance to talk about it," he replied grimly, as they made themselves prostate in front of the dojo itself. " He had forgiven me, that is what is important. I have no qualms to recall my past." Misao gave him a puzzled look, but respecting his feelings she just nodded in silence.
From a distance, she saw Yahiko and Sanosuke outside gave a friendly signal to tell Kaoru that they had arrived. Instead of the usual enthusiasm that the two shows, both Sano and Yahiko stood there in pale shock as if they saw a ghost, Soujiro couldn't hide himself right now from everyone's view and his heart pound erratically as Sano seemed to had recognized him. Sano seems to say something frantically to Yahiko, and quickly tagged the boy and both scampered in the dojo like there is no tomorrow
" What's wrong with those two? It's like they had seen a ghost!" Misao said out loud, "Sou-chan, you stay here, I'll go and tell the guys we had arrived." But it's no needed to, as if on cue, Kaoru came out. She seems to gain a little weight and her hair is tied in a simple twist, and there is her little baby clinging on her bosom. She called out for Kenshin, who followed shortly,
" Kenshin!!" she waved out enthusiastically, " So the rumors are true you are already married," Kenshin gave her a bright expression, but almost fell in shock on the recognition when he realized whose Misao's companion is. He fell in mute expression, and the two former adversaries lay eyes on each other. Soujiro feel grateful for him for having spared him from the brink of madness sometime a year ago, but he can't say a thank you right now, he knows well that he hadn't tell anyone else until that time Sanosuke had recognize him, on who he really was.
"Congratulations." He complimented, and sounds like he really meant it. Kenshin deserves to retire and a have a family after repaying his debt by doing a lot of good, saving lost souls rather than just finish them off and giving everyone a second chance, for he believed he was given that chance also not long ago. There they stood like a picture perfect family, having a little nice and quiet, living a normal life.
He wants to be like them.
" Well, it's a surprise to see you..Soujiro." Kenshin finally spoke, who seem to come out of his flood of shock. He didn't want to bring out that image in his mind, what Yahiko saw three days ago. But he knows one thing; Misao might have not really known who Soujiro really was. He just knew.
"Hai."
" How long have you known Misao?" asking, as if he is Misao's paternal authority, Misao seemed puzzled by the sudden tension the environment sets in. Kenshin shows a little uneasiness in his smile, Kaoru seems more a little cautious and silent rather than her usual talkative self, while Sanosuke and Yahiko instead of badgering in and making a lot of mischief they watched quietly by a distance and as still as a doorknob.
" I accompanied her from Edo this whole week," he paused "she asked for my assistance." He never felt so stupid, and he wished that Kenshin would rather slash him there or they rather exchange deathblows rather than this slow unraveling interrogation, which he don't know what will happen. Kenshin looks amused, nothing seems to happen to Misao and she seems more blooming than before, and he hate to admit it, they look a nice couple.
"For what purpose.."
" To protect her.." He whispered, his self doubt rising. To protect her from the ruthless assassin, the irony of it all..
" To protect her from YOU." A low monotonous voice in a slight macabre tone vibrated from behind, and indeed standing there is Aoshi Shinomori, along with the rest of the oniwabanshu's. Okina, was a few feet away, but made no qualms of moving.
"Aoshi!" Almost all of them said in unison, Misao looked to Soujiro, now really totally confused. "You know Aioshi as well?"
Before Soujiro could reply, Aioshi took a step forward.. "He does know ALL of us well, and I his dangerous so stay out of the way."
"I don't understand, Soujiro.."
"You don't have to explain," Aoshi whispered, mentioning to the dark haired youth. His tacit actions make Aoshi unpredictable if let out his hounds of rage. But his eyes, can't deny the fact and in a split second he moved into an offense. Misao gaped but her mouth does not make any sound, why are they doing this? First, the cold reception of Kenshin, then suddenly Aoshi became blinded with rage at the sight of him. Now in front of her will start a fight to reclaim her?
Soujiro closed his eyes and before Aoshi's weapon could sink to his flesh, he disappeared into a lighting fast speed. The veteran former oni's leader sense is not much keener than before, although he was able to dodge the blow that Soujiro delivered from the air, "Stop this Aoshi! It's not what you think it is." Kenshin called out, tempting to intervene. Soujiro is fast, and was able to dodge more of Aioshi's deadly blows and Soujiro has no choice but to use his "heaven sword" technique. "Aoshi! Let me explain! I don't want this fight!" Soujro called out.
"You fooled her. You fooled everyone." He can't believe it himself, Okina might be hiding something about this but he is so furious by the sight of Soujiro. He doesn't know what happened all those days and what trickery he used to deceived Misao.
Aoshi was about to corner him, but underestimating his speed and technique, Soujiro pulled one of the memorable moves that badly injured Himura long time ago, and he leaves him no choice. He maneuvered quickly from behind, catching Aioshi in the element of surprise, and strikes out his nihontou in one elliptical blow.
" Shit! That is the same move that the bastard pulled on Kenshin sometime ago!" Sanosuke said out loud, the others look in terror.
"Aoshi! Soujiro!! Stop it!!" Misao screamed, why did everyone didn't attempt even to stop one of them? What is the secret Soujiro has that her friends look at him with fear and distaste, and she wants to know it. Both of them stopped, heaving heavily. Soujiro suffered scratches and abrasions with his clothing a little tattered, Aoshi in the other hand suffered almost the same thing, except that his back is tainted with a deep red line of crimson, a flesh wound that leave him leaning in one knee to catch his breath. The oni's rush to his aid, but he shooed them off. "An assassin is always an assassin, isn't it. Soujiro Seta? "
Misao is now really confused, "Iya! That is not true! That is a.."
"You manipulative bastard, what had you done with her.." how could he fool Misao? He spotted them together a few minutes ago and it's not the presence of Misao's genuine affection with him that inflames him. He saw the rings, they are engagement rings, and Okina is not telling the whole truth.
"I've done nothing. I don't do anything to her. I swear."
Okina stepped forward, "You don't tell her didn't you. You broke the pact."
Soujjro turns white
"Are you also behind this? " Aoshi looked over his shoulder, Okina attempted to explain but Kenshin who can't bear the sight of the confusion, finally speaks out.
"Aoshi is right Misao, HE is Soujro Seta. He must have not told you his whole name. But yes, that is the reason why everyone is acting strange."
"Iya, that can't.."
" He is the one who seriously injured Kenshin in the Battle of Edo, I see it myself" Sanosuke added, "I can't get it how the heck you guys got acquainted, but that's the truth."
Everyone gave an affirmative glance, and stood a long silence. Misao looked at her koibito and he can't look her at the eye. He dropped his bloodstained Nihontou, and hastily approached and stopped dead at his tracks "G-gomen Nasai, Misao, I tried to tell you but.."
"So everything you told me is a lie," she muttered morosely, " You told me you're going to protect me from the enemy, I was wrong!"
"Misao.. Let me explain, it's not what you think it is!"
"No, you should have said that long time ago!!" her eyes in the verge of tears, she tried to shoved him off as he tried stopping her by grabbing her arm, "What happened when I said I trust you?" she looked up, her flaring green orbs meeting up with his pale face and his sad expression, "You're not better than any of them!! Murderer!! " She screamed, wrangling her arm of his grip and ran quick, hastily out of the dojo.
"Misao, Yameru!!(Stop!!)" He wanted to spirit away and give a chase, but something in Kenshin's eyes that made stay there still as if signaling not to worsen the situation.
"I think everyone had some explaining to do." Kenshin sighed,
-Later that afternoon-
"So you plotted that whole scheme, impressive but not a good idea.."
"I'm afraid I had told you earlier, but I don't think everyone can't easily accept it." Okina said quietly over the serving of tea, sitting across Himura, he nodded across Aoshi who's wound is getting treated and looks visibly upset but he was so tacit it does not show. Soujiro feels he knows where he belongs, that he stayed outside the dojo, standing near the door and listening, he can't bear the sheer intimidation his physical presence could bring. "I know the secret would sooner be out, but I blame myself by putting to much trust and I just wish my little angel could forgive me." He shouldn't have made the pact; Misao was visibly safe, but emotionally, no. His bets that Soujiro would be have a hard time admitting the truth is true, that's why he dispatches the ninjas in trying to regain her back, but it's still no use.
"You tried to take control of her life," Aoshi added stoically, on which Okina ignored the statement. For some reason, Aoshi is wondering that there is some hidden wisdom of sort that prevents him for blaming the old man.
"And where are you when she's growing up?" he said, as if in a lonesome disappointed tone. "You got to acknowledge that Misao is a grown woman, and that's the fact you can't change."
" I don't see why the proposition of sudden marriage came into the picture," Kenshin said, and the shadow behind the screen moved, Soujiro is listening much closely. " You said, he literally appears to your doorstep and begged for her hand.."
" That's true," Okina nodded curtly, " When, he came in, you can tell that he is telling the truth. It's in his eyes, he seems pretty honest and somehow I felt at ease, but to prove it I gave it a test." Adding, "..And besides, risking himself to go back to Edo, more or less in our stronghold just to do that is a pretty remarkable feat he is serious about it."
" Well, he is still young, I think it's easy for the young ones to fall in love. And Misao has come to the right age." Kenshin theorized, Okina is putting these two in a test, knowing that Misao would have good qualities if she learns how to learn love seriously.
"Isn't it just remarkable, what took you 9 years to search for meaning only take him a year and one week, so much for the young ones and I'm quite impressed."
Soujiro could feel a rush of crimson color to his cheeks, and mustered enough courage to intervene and join the conversation. Everyone seems to be listening, even though most of the inhabitants are a room or so apart.
" What Okina said is true," he said, surprising at least Kenshin when he joins in. " I came in to propose. But no, he didn't completely trust me. I had to prove myself."
Okina looked up from his tea, "Hai. After coming up with a plan, I came up with a pact. One week, if she managed to gain his trust and proved himself worthy for that time, including my dispatching of assassins. But at the end of the week, he shall tell the truth of the terms of his past, and if he pass, I'll allow his proposal."
"And unfortunately, it don't turn out that way." Kenshin looked to Soujiro, it's so amusing of all situations that they shall meet again, front in front. Soujiro felt like he needs to ask for assistance, but he knows Kenshin will advise him to search the answers for himself. "Soujiro, do you really like her? Do you actually love her?"
Soujiro looked up to the voice of tender fatherly concern and greeted him with a total determined expression, with his indigo eyes with a hint of loneliness, " It would not be long ago, when I accidentally came across her in Edo." He paused, " It's ridiculous, but I never felt anything wonderful in my life after meeting her, and I realized she does not know who I am. Even though I know her as my former enemy." He continued, his facial expression starting to break, " And I know better, that it's hard to ask for forgiveness and if she finds out that we used to be swore enemies, more or less a calculating killer that nearly destroyed her friends." His eyes glinted in a strange hue of blue, his voice starting to sound strangled, " I loved her so much, that I don't want her to be hurt and. I don't want her to hear the truth. She didn't go through what I go through; I don't want any of that! " He looked down, clenching his fist, "I'm afraid that I will lose her."
Kenshin glanced over Okina, " Then you are not ready, for people like us this needs time. You are still young Soujiro, you can still stand a chance." Then he noticed he is wearing a ring. "Okina, the end of the week is Tamabata…" his voice trails off, and his face suddenly drew pale. Soujiro looked up this time with sudden curiosity, as if second-guessing why Kenshin quickly averted the topic.
"You PROPOSED already to her?" Okina gasped, Aoshi sat up as he heard the sudden surprise at Okina's tone, "without even telling her.. Just YET?"
" I'm sorry, I think it's a right time to.."
"You don't happen to consume the engagement don't you?" Kenshin said out loud, hoping he was right. True, he can see that Soujiro had in fact changed at least during that Misao incident, but being young and reckless he is not hoping..
" Himura-san, G-gomen, but when after the festival we went to the inn and we lose control…" and he swear that Himura not only loses his color, but both of him and Okina crashed their tea glasses (or whatever you call it)
"You know what, himura?" Okina remarked, " Forget what I said awhile ago. Can I borrow your sakabatou for awhile?"
"Nani?!"