UGH!! Why don't they ever upload right?! No matter what I try it always comes up on FF.Net different
then it looked on Microsoft Word! The spacing is all wrong and the line breaks are strange. Oh well,
perhaps I'll figure it out during the production of this fic! (Optimism sweeping over author.) I know, last
part = short. I just figured that was a good place to stop. No, I'm not rushing. I just wanted to get Misao
to the Kenshin-gumi quickly. The real plot to the story is coming up later and yes, all the rest of the
chapters will be longer. I'm quite the long-winded one. Enjoy! (Hopefully!)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
MISAO'S APPEARANCE
Part 2
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"We'll help you in any way we can, Misao-dono. What did these men look like or what were their
names?"
"Beshimi, Shikijo, Hyottoko, Hannya, and Aoshi Shinomori."
All eyes widened. Megumi's hand flew to her mouth. "Y-You-You're one of them! You're part of the
Oniwabanshuu!"
Yahiko, weak as he was, ran to his room and grabbed his shinai. He came running back and pointed it at
Misao. "Look. I don't know what you want, but you better keep your distance. I won't allow anyone to
hurt Kaoru or Megumi!"
Misao could only look on shocked. "I don't understand. Why do you all hate the Oniwabanshuu so much?
We're a respectable ninja clan in Kyoto. Our restaurant is one of the best. We've never hurt anybody.
What is going on?"
Kenshin noticed Misao's expression and knew she was speaking the truth. "Yahiko, please stand down.
Misao will not hurt us. I can tell. She's confused and needs our help. Perhaps she will be able to talk to
the Oniwabanshuu and we can avoid another confrontation."
Misao turned her attention to the rurouni. "Another? You mean you've already fought them?"
Kaoru looked at Misao's pained expression. "Misao, I think you need to hear what's been going on.
Kenshin will have to start from where he met Megumi-san."
Kenshin nodded at Kaoru and turned his attention fully to Misao. "I was with a friend of ours, Sanosuke,
and we were visiting some of his friends." 'Best to leave the gambling part out.' He knew Kaoru hated
gambling, so he was just going to keep that part quiet. "We were all talking when a woman, Megumi-dono,
came running in saying some men were chasing her. We fought off the two men easily and then noticed a
small man hidden in the corner shadows. He flicked a dart towards Megumi-dono, missed her on purpose,
but struck two of the other men in the room. She seemed to recognize him and told him to tell Kanryu she
wasn't going back. We fought that man off as well and Megumi-dono came back to the dojo with us." He
paused to think. "Later that night, a big man who blew fire and the same smaller man from earlier came
and attacked us."
Misao broke in. "Hyottoko and Beshimi. They were always the first to go on a mission."
Kenshin continued. "Sanosuke defeated the one that blew fire by bringing out his bag full of oil. The
smaller one fired another dart towards Megumi-dono, but Yahiko jumped in front of her and the dart hit
him instead. Megumi-dono went to work making a medicine to counter the poison and stunned all of us.
Sanosuke found a packet of opium that fell from one of her sleeves. It seems Kanryu was forcing her to
make opium and had sent the Oniwabanshuu to retrieve her."
Megumi spoke next. "I was tired of making opium and destroying lives. I wanted to be a doctor to help
people. But, Kanryu had other plans. I ran away so I could try to start over and live peacefully as a true
doctor, but the Oniwabanshuu won't let me. They will keep pushing until I go back."
Misao was turning over a thought in her head. It all didn't fit together. "But, why are the Oniwabanshuu
working for a man like Kanryu? We have pride and honor. I don't think Aoshi-sama would agree to help a
man like him."
Megumi spoke once more. "One of them was sick. I believe it was Beshimi. He was quite ill and they
didn't have enough money to pay for a doctor. Kanryu noticed them and knew they were warriors just by
looking at them. He offered to pay the fee for a doctor if they would be his bodyguards afterwards. So,
after Beshimi recovered and they had rested well, they started working for him."
Misao bowed her head. "Aoshi-sama was always true to his word. And if one of his comrades' lives was
at stake, he would do anything to help them."
Kaoru knew what had to be said, but didn't quite know how to put it. "Misao, I know you could never fight
against your friends, but we can't let them take Megumi-san back to Kanryu. What he's doing is wrong,
and they are wrong to help him. Do you think you could help in some way?"
Misao bit her lip. 'What can I do? She's right. Aoshi-sama and the others are doing the wrong thing. I
have to help these people, but I can't fight with the Oniwabanshuu.' "Kaoru, I will help you. You're right,
I can't fight against them, but maybe I could talk to them like Himura mentioned earlier."
"Thank you, Misao."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Misao rolled over in her futon with a groan. She cracked an eye and sat bolt upright when she didn't
recognize the room. 'Oh yeah. The dojo.' Her heart sank. 'Then the story about Aoshi-sama and the
others wasn't a dream. It's all real.'
She got out of bed and got dressed. She tried to be cheerful and skipped to the kitchen. "Good morning,
Himura. Is anyone else up yet?"
"Good morning, Misao-dono. And yes, Megumi-dono is outside doing some laundry and Kaoru and
Yahiko are training."
Misao started to wonder what time is was. She rarely slept in, and especially in unfamiliar surroundings.
"How late is it?"
"It's only around 9:00. Not too late."
"I guess I was more exhausted than I thought. That full night of traveling did me in! But, at least I can see
Aoshi-sama and the others today."
Kenshin smiled at her. He felt sorry for the girl. She had been left behind by her 'family' and when she
finds them they are assisting a drug lord. "Here is some breakfast, Misao-dono. Kaoru-dono didn't want to
disturb you earlier. She said you had a rather tough day yesterday and needed your rest." He smiled again
and set a bowl in front of the young girl.
"Thank you, Himura." 'These people are so nice. I know they are doing the right thing. And I know I'm
doing the right thing by helping them.' She tried to eat but was too excited about seeing everyone again. It
had been eight years and finally she would see her family. It was almost surreal. She couldn't really
believe it was happening. She ate half her food and cleaned her dishes. She set off to find Kaoru and
found her leaning against a wall in the training hall. "Good morning, Kaoru."
"Good morning, Misao. Did you sleep well?"
Misao smiled brightly at her. "Yes, thank you. I must have been more tired than I thought. I usually don't
sleep this late." Misao mulled over her next statement. Kaoru seemed very friendly, but Misao didn't
really know her that well. "Kaoru, may I ask you for a favor?"
"Of course, Misao. I'm here to help!" She looked back at Yahiko and noticed his form slipping. "Yahiko!
You know the right stance, now get back into it! Do five hundred strokes in that stance and then practice is
over!"
"Hey, busu! I'm getting tired! Why do have to be so hard on me?"
Kaoru rolled her eyes and giggled to Misao. "I'll beat that boy into shape yet! Come on. Let's go inside
and you can ask me your question."
Misao followed and sat across from Kaoru. "Ok, Misao. What did you want to ask me?"
Kaoru was startled when Misao bent over almost touching her forehead to the floor. "Kaoru, I would like
to look more grown up when we see them again. It's been eight years and I have grown up a lot from when
I last saw them. However, I'm just a larger version of the child they left behind. Will you help me? The
person I love most in the whole world will be there and I want to impress him." Misao felt her cheeks flush
and slowly rose to look at Kaoru.
Kaoru had a smile spreading across her face. 'So, she loves one of them.' "Misao, I would love to help
you, but you have to answer one question for me."
"What is it?"
Kaoru smile grew evil. "Which one do you love?"
Misao almost fell over. 'Oh crap. I did say I loved one of them. Ooh, stupid, stupid, stupid.' She regained
her composure and looked Kaoru in the eye. "Aoshi-sama. I have been in love with Aoshi-sama for a very
long time now."
Kaoru began twirling ideas around in her head about what to do with Misao. She motioned for Misao to
stand with her and began to circle Misao who was nervously fidgeting with her braid. "Well, for starters,
the braid has to go. And you'll need a kimono. I can have you looking like a different person in no time."
Misao smiled brightly at Kaoru. "Thank you so much, Kaoru. I really appreciate this."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Kaoru smiled as Misao fidgeted with the obi. "I CAN do this! I've seen Omasu and Okon do it countless
times before."
"Misao, it is very different to watch it done and do it yourself. Here, I'll help you."
Misao sighed in defeat as Kaoru expertly tied the obi. "There you go. Now, sit on the stool and I'll fix
your hair." She took the towel from the girl's wet hair and began to comb it. "This is a lot of fun, Misao.
I've never had a younger sister to do this with, so I'm enjoying it."
Misao gave a slight giggle. "This is fun, Kaoru. Especially since it's for Aoshi-sama and the rest of my
family."
Kaoru finished with Misao and led her into the dining room where everyone including Sanosuke were
getting ready to eat lunch.
"Hey, Jouchan! Who's the new girl?" He eyed Misao, judging her appearance. She was wearing one of
Kaoru's kimonos. A deep purple with silver leaves and flowers on the edges of the sleeves and the bottom
third of the skirt. The obi was a pale pink with a purple cord. Her hair was pulled up into a half ponytail
with the rest flowing freely to her knees.
"This is Misao Makimachi. Misao, this is Sanosuke Sagara. Our resident free-loader."
Misao giggled while Sano feigned hurt at her words. "Oi, Jouchan! I have to come eat with you guys so
Yahiko doesn't eat it all and get too fat. I like to consider myself a helper in his training by keeping him in
shape."
Yahiko growled. "What did you say?" He immediately perched on Sano's head while Sano kept eating
and talking to the girls.
"So, is she the one who's part of the Oniwabanshuu?"
"Yes, I am. I'm hoping to help you all by talking some sense into Aoshi-sama."
The rest of the meal was spent in silence while each person thought about what to do next concerning the
Oniwabanshuu. The logical step was to send Misao to them. Kenshin was hesitant to send her into
Kanryu's alone, but if he accompanied her it would result in a fight.
After lunch, Megumi returned to her washing and Kaoru and Kenshin cleaned the dining room. Yahiko
went to clean the dojo and Misao decided to go to town and look around. "Hey, Kaoru? Himura? I'm
going into town for a while. Just to clear my head before I go to Kanryu's."
"All right, Misao-dono."
"Be careful, Misao."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Megumi stopped her washing when a dart with a note planted itself into the ground next to her. She read
the note and left. Sanosuke watched her leave and followed her secretly.
Kaoru went into the yard just a moment later to ask Megumi if she would like some tea and spotted the
crumpled note on the ground. She scanned the letter and ran inside to show Kenshin. They set off with
Yahiko towards Kanryu's mansion.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Misao continued walking through the marketplace, pausing to look at a stall here and there. Uneasiness
was settling upon her stomach and she rushed back to the dojo. When she found it empty she ran in the
direction of Kanryu's mansion. 'Please let me get there before they fight!'
She ran along the dirt path and paused to lift the kimono bottom higher. 'I won't get it dirty. I borrowed it
from Kaoru and plus I need to stay clean for Aoshi-sama.' Luckily, the weather was cool, so she wasn't
sweating. She rounded a bend in the path and saw a large mansion with several knocked out guards
littering the grounds.
then it looked on Microsoft Word! The spacing is all wrong and the line breaks are strange. Oh well,
perhaps I'll figure it out during the production of this fic! (Optimism sweeping over author.) I know, last
part = short. I just figured that was a good place to stop. No, I'm not rushing. I just wanted to get Misao
to the Kenshin-gumi quickly. The real plot to the story is coming up later and yes, all the rest of the
chapters will be longer. I'm quite the long-winded one. Enjoy! (Hopefully!)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
MISAO'S APPEARANCE
Part 2
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"We'll help you in any way we can, Misao-dono. What did these men look like or what were their
names?"
"Beshimi, Shikijo, Hyottoko, Hannya, and Aoshi Shinomori."
All eyes widened. Megumi's hand flew to her mouth. "Y-You-You're one of them! You're part of the
Oniwabanshuu!"
Yahiko, weak as he was, ran to his room and grabbed his shinai. He came running back and pointed it at
Misao. "Look. I don't know what you want, but you better keep your distance. I won't allow anyone to
hurt Kaoru or Megumi!"
Misao could only look on shocked. "I don't understand. Why do you all hate the Oniwabanshuu so much?
We're a respectable ninja clan in Kyoto. Our restaurant is one of the best. We've never hurt anybody.
What is going on?"
Kenshin noticed Misao's expression and knew she was speaking the truth. "Yahiko, please stand down.
Misao will not hurt us. I can tell. She's confused and needs our help. Perhaps she will be able to talk to
the Oniwabanshuu and we can avoid another confrontation."
Misao turned her attention to the rurouni. "Another? You mean you've already fought them?"
Kaoru looked at Misao's pained expression. "Misao, I think you need to hear what's been going on.
Kenshin will have to start from where he met Megumi-san."
Kenshin nodded at Kaoru and turned his attention fully to Misao. "I was with a friend of ours, Sanosuke,
and we were visiting some of his friends." 'Best to leave the gambling part out.' He knew Kaoru hated
gambling, so he was just going to keep that part quiet. "We were all talking when a woman, Megumi-dono,
came running in saying some men were chasing her. We fought off the two men easily and then noticed a
small man hidden in the corner shadows. He flicked a dart towards Megumi-dono, missed her on purpose,
but struck two of the other men in the room. She seemed to recognize him and told him to tell Kanryu she
wasn't going back. We fought that man off as well and Megumi-dono came back to the dojo with us." He
paused to think. "Later that night, a big man who blew fire and the same smaller man from earlier came
and attacked us."
Misao broke in. "Hyottoko and Beshimi. They were always the first to go on a mission."
Kenshin continued. "Sanosuke defeated the one that blew fire by bringing out his bag full of oil. The
smaller one fired another dart towards Megumi-dono, but Yahiko jumped in front of her and the dart hit
him instead. Megumi-dono went to work making a medicine to counter the poison and stunned all of us.
Sanosuke found a packet of opium that fell from one of her sleeves. It seems Kanryu was forcing her to
make opium and had sent the Oniwabanshuu to retrieve her."
Megumi spoke next. "I was tired of making opium and destroying lives. I wanted to be a doctor to help
people. But, Kanryu had other plans. I ran away so I could try to start over and live peacefully as a true
doctor, but the Oniwabanshuu won't let me. They will keep pushing until I go back."
Misao was turning over a thought in her head. It all didn't fit together. "But, why are the Oniwabanshuu
working for a man like Kanryu? We have pride and honor. I don't think Aoshi-sama would agree to help a
man like him."
Megumi spoke once more. "One of them was sick. I believe it was Beshimi. He was quite ill and they
didn't have enough money to pay for a doctor. Kanryu noticed them and knew they were warriors just by
looking at them. He offered to pay the fee for a doctor if they would be his bodyguards afterwards. So,
after Beshimi recovered and they had rested well, they started working for him."
Misao bowed her head. "Aoshi-sama was always true to his word. And if one of his comrades' lives was
at stake, he would do anything to help them."
Kaoru knew what had to be said, but didn't quite know how to put it. "Misao, I know you could never fight
against your friends, but we can't let them take Megumi-san back to Kanryu. What he's doing is wrong,
and they are wrong to help him. Do you think you could help in some way?"
Misao bit her lip. 'What can I do? She's right. Aoshi-sama and the others are doing the wrong thing. I
have to help these people, but I can't fight with the Oniwabanshuu.' "Kaoru, I will help you. You're right,
I can't fight against them, but maybe I could talk to them like Himura mentioned earlier."
"Thank you, Misao."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Misao rolled over in her futon with a groan. She cracked an eye and sat bolt upright when she didn't
recognize the room. 'Oh yeah. The dojo.' Her heart sank. 'Then the story about Aoshi-sama and the
others wasn't a dream. It's all real.'
She got out of bed and got dressed. She tried to be cheerful and skipped to the kitchen. "Good morning,
Himura. Is anyone else up yet?"
"Good morning, Misao-dono. And yes, Megumi-dono is outside doing some laundry and Kaoru and
Yahiko are training."
Misao started to wonder what time is was. She rarely slept in, and especially in unfamiliar surroundings.
"How late is it?"
"It's only around 9:00. Not too late."
"I guess I was more exhausted than I thought. That full night of traveling did me in! But, at least I can see
Aoshi-sama and the others today."
Kenshin smiled at her. He felt sorry for the girl. She had been left behind by her 'family' and when she
finds them they are assisting a drug lord. "Here is some breakfast, Misao-dono. Kaoru-dono didn't want to
disturb you earlier. She said you had a rather tough day yesterday and needed your rest." He smiled again
and set a bowl in front of the young girl.
"Thank you, Himura." 'These people are so nice. I know they are doing the right thing. And I know I'm
doing the right thing by helping them.' She tried to eat but was too excited about seeing everyone again. It
had been eight years and finally she would see her family. It was almost surreal. She couldn't really
believe it was happening. She ate half her food and cleaned her dishes. She set off to find Kaoru and
found her leaning against a wall in the training hall. "Good morning, Kaoru."
"Good morning, Misao. Did you sleep well?"
Misao smiled brightly at her. "Yes, thank you. I must have been more tired than I thought. I usually don't
sleep this late." Misao mulled over her next statement. Kaoru seemed very friendly, but Misao didn't
really know her that well. "Kaoru, may I ask you for a favor?"
"Of course, Misao. I'm here to help!" She looked back at Yahiko and noticed his form slipping. "Yahiko!
You know the right stance, now get back into it! Do five hundred strokes in that stance and then practice is
over!"
"Hey, busu! I'm getting tired! Why do have to be so hard on me?"
Kaoru rolled her eyes and giggled to Misao. "I'll beat that boy into shape yet! Come on. Let's go inside
and you can ask me your question."
Misao followed and sat across from Kaoru. "Ok, Misao. What did you want to ask me?"
Kaoru was startled when Misao bent over almost touching her forehead to the floor. "Kaoru, I would like
to look more grown up when we see them again. It's been eight years and I have grown up a lot from when
I last saw them. However, I'm just a larger version of the child they left behind. Will you help me? The
person I love most in the whole world will be there and I want to impress him." Misao felt her cheeks flush
and slowly rose to look at Kaoru.
Kaoru had a smile spreading across her face. 'So, she loves one of them.' "Misao, I would love to help
you, but you have to answer one question for me."
"What is it?"
Kaoru smile grew evil. "Which one do you love?"
Misao almost fell over. 'Oh crap. I did say I loved one of them. Ooh, stupid, stupid, stupid.' She regained
her composure and looked Kaoru in the eye. "Aoshi-sama. I have been in love with Aoshi-sama for a very
long time now."
Kaoru began twirling ideas around in her head about what to do with Misao. She motioned for Misao to
stand with her and began to circle Misao who was nervously fidgeting with her braid. "Well, for starters,
the braid has to go. And you'll need a kimono. I can have you looking like a different person in no time."
Misao smiled brightly at Kaoru. "Thank you so much, Kaoru. I really appreciate this."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Kaoru smiled as Misao fidgeted with the obi. "I CAN do this! I've seen Omasu and Okon do it countless
times before."
"Misao, it is very different to watch it done and do it yourself. Here, I'll help you."
Misao sighed in defeat as Kaoru expertly tied the obi. "There you go. Now, sit on the stool and I'll fix
your hair." She took the towel from the girl's wet hair and began to comb it. "This is a lot of fun, Misao.
I've never had a younger sister to do this with, so I'm enjoying it."
Misao gave a slight giggle. "This is fun, Kaoru. Especially since it's for Aoshi-sama and the rest of my
family."
Kaoru finished with Misao and led her into the dining room where everyone including Sanosuke were
getting ready to eat lunch.
"Hey, Jouchan! Who's the new girl?" He eyed Misao, judging her appearance. She was wearing one of
Kaoru's kimonos. A deep purple with silver leaves and flowers on the edges of the sleeves and the bottom
third of the skirt. The obi was a pale pink with a purple cord. Her hair was pulled up into a half ponytail
with the rest flowing freely to her knees.
"This is Misao Makimachi. Misao, this is Sanosuke Sagara. Our resident free-loader."
Misao giggled while Sano feigned hurt at her words. "Oi, Jouchan! I have to come eat with you guys so
Yahiko doesn't eat it all and get too fat. I like to consider myself a helper in his training by keeping him in
shape."
Yahiko growled. "What did you say?" He immediately perched on Sano's head while Sano kept eating
and talking to the girls.
"So, is she the one who's part of the Oniwabanshuu?"
"Yes, I am. I'm hoping to help you all by talking some sense into Aoshi-sama."
The rest of the meal was spent in silence while each person thought about what to do next concerning the
Oniwabanshuu. The logical step was to send Misao to them. Kenshin was hesitant to send her into
Kanryu's alone, but if he accompanied her it would result in a fight.
After lunch, Megumi returned to her washing and Kaoru and Kenshin cleaned the dining room. Yahiko
went to clean the dojo and Misao decided to go to town and look around. "Hey, Kaoru? Himura? I'm
going into town for a while. Just to clear my head before I go to Kanryu's."
"All right, Misao-dono."
"Be careful, Misao."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Megumi stopped her washing when a dart with a note planted itself into the ground next to her. She read
the note and left. Sanosuke watched her leave and followed her secretly.
Kaoru went into the yard just a moment later to ask Megumi if she would like some tea and spotted the
crumpled note on the ground. She scanned the letter and ran inside to show Kenshin. They set off with
Yahiko towards Kanryu's mansion.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Misao continued walking through the marketplace, pausing to look at a stall here and there. Uneasiness
was settling upon her stomach and she rushed back to the dojo. When she found it empty she ran in the
direction of Kanryu's mansion. 'Please let me get there before they fight!'
She ran along the dirt path and paused to lift the kimono bottom higher. 'I won't get it dirty. I borrowed it
from Kaoru and plus I need to stay clean for Aoshi-sama.' Luckily, the weather was cool, so she wasn't
sweating. She rounded a bend in the path and saw a large mansion with several knocked out guards
littering the grounds.