Disclaimer: Rurouni Kenshin belongs to Watsuki-san and I think it's like
Jump Comics, or something. I dunno. I have no clue. _ Anyways,
obviously it's not mine, this is just a story I had floating in my head
that I needed to get out. It's for my own personal pleasure mainly, but
reviews help me make my writing better! If you like the story, or even if
you think it's crap, please review and tell me! ^^ Danke.
Soft rain fell onto the Aoiya roof, a light percussion that created an aura of peace and serenity for its inhabitants.
Except for one.
One 16 year old ninja girl was desperately wishing the sky would just open up and pour out rain like stinging bullets while thunder roared and lightning tore the satin of the night. Then the weather would match her mood. It was too tame for the storm in her heart; she thought it an injustice that the world could be so peaceful outside while she was breaking down inside.
Misao leaned her cheek on one slim hand, staring out the window into the dark wet landscape. Everyone else was asleep, she was sure, Okon and Omasu, Jiya, not Aoshi-sama…
Aoshi-sama… Misao sighed and closed her shutters, refusing to let her thoughts wander onto that particular path. Aoshi had been gone for a week now, after an urgent call from the Himura residence. Of course she hadn't been allowed to go since her ankle was still mending and she would have never been able to keep up with Aoshi's swift pace. Damn the fates that gave her an injury right when she could be the most helpful. A Yukaza gang from Osaka had begun stirring up trouble in Tokyo, of course Aoshi-sama would go and offer his assistance. Not that he gave a single thought to how dangerous it could be, or how much she would miss him while he was gone. Kenshin had said perhaps three days, four at most since it was a relatively small band of gangsters.
Had it been raining steadily in Tokyo? Perhaps the storm was worse there and Aoshi-sama hadn't been able to travel. Misao clung to that hope like a lifesaver.
Besides, she reasoned with herself. Kaoru or Kenshin would have written if something had happened.
But messages couldn't travel in rain! Misao kicked at her covers and cursed under her breath. She would drive herself crazy with such thoughts. Willing her heart to clear and her mind to empty, she flopped down onto the futon and closed her eyes. After a few minutes, all that could be heard in the Aoiya was the even breathing and slight snoring from its occupants.
~*****~~~~*~*~*
Miles away, a tall dark figure was perched on a different window sill, his legs folded underneath him and his blue-green eyes half closed. Two kodachis lay on the floor beside him, along with a trenchcoat and a black shirt. Shinomori Aoshi rested with his chest bare against the wood panel, his thoughts almost as troubled as a certain weasel girl's.
Was Misao faring well? Should he have left her alone with a broken ankle and a watery smile? Of course she would smile to try and fool him. He knew she had wanted to come with him, but she absolutely refused to let them see how upset she was as he left. She was too young to be Okashira, too young to have such responsibility on her small shoulders.
She has grown, a little voice reminded him. Not grown enough, he responded. He could remember holding her when she was a baby, he was only 26 now! How could she have grown?
He forced his thoughts away from Misao and back to his present dilemma. He could have traveled in the light rain that fell over Tokyo, but Kaoru-san had insisted he stay for another night. He had a feeling she was a little lonely in the dojo by herself. Kenshin and the Roosterhead were still at Hajime Saitou's house, going over last-minute plans for dealing with the remaining Yukaza.
Ichihashinsei, they called themselves. "One Holy Blade." Aoshi's lip curled in involuntary disgust. A band of ragtag fighters, that's what they were. Corrupted by false ideals and justifying their senseless violence with Shinto teachings. Himura may have taken a vow never to slay again, but he himself had made no such promise with his soul. Ichihashinsei were just plain stupid. They deserved to die for their deeds.
A low rumble of thunder sounded in the distance and Aoshi hopped off the window sill. Such thoughts were no use to him or anyone else. Though he wouldn't admit it to the fox doctor, he was exhausted and felt battered in a hundred places. The Ichihashinsei may have been stupid, but they were strong, and they had training in ancient techniques mainly taught by monks. It was hard to keep up with them, but in a bladeless fight, they were cowards. The trick was to disarm them.
A whole week spent fighting the Yukaza was beginning to take its toll. He had stubbornly refused any and all medicine or assistance, convincing himself that all he needed was sleep. He eased his sore, lean frame onto the floor and pulled up his blanket. In a second's time, he was asleep.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Misao-chan…wake up…mezameru! Wake up, Misao-chan!" Misao groaned and rolled over on the futon, pushing away the hands on her shoulder.
"Mmph…go 'way, Omasu…"
Omasu pursed her lips and, in one fluid movement, yanked the futon out from underneath the half-awake ninja girl. Misao yelped and hit the wood floor with a bang.
"Omaaassuuuuu!" She jumped up and chased her out of the room, both Oniwabanshuu shrieking and laughing. They skidded to a halt in front of Okina as the old man was turning the corner. He raised an eyebrow and placed a tray in Omasu's hands and a cup of tea in Misao's.
"Slow down, both of you, and have some breakfast. Misao, I need you to get something from the market today." The young Okashira opened her mouth to protest, but Okina held up his hand and silenced her complaints.
"No buts, Misao-chan, it won't take long."
"Jiya, can't Okon go instead?"
He shook his head and made shooing motions. "No, she's busy at the Aoiya today. Drink your tea and get dressed. Don't take all day about it, either! I need that salmon by this afternoon."
Misao groaned and gulped the scalding tea before trudging back to her room. Omasu gave her a cheerful wave and disappeared into the kitchen. Once inside her room, she pulled on her regular black outfit and braided her long hair into its usual plait. Today didn't seem like anything special, so she saw no reason to wear anything different.
She ran down the hallway and out the door, stopping only to call "ja ne!" to Omasu in the kitchen. Outside, the rain had stopped but the skies were still a murky gray, hiding the sun and any promise of a dry day. Birds came out to rest tentatively in the damp tree branches, showering Misao with leftover rain each time they hopped from one place to another. She didn't mind, it was nice to be out of the Aoiya after so long cooped up inside. Her leg was sore, but she could walk on it with only a slight limp.
It was still early, and few people were out in the marketplace yet. Shopkeepers were busy setting out their wares, merchants were already beginning to hawk their own products. Misao located the fish seller's stand and stood behind a portly old woman who was haggling over the price of a large tuna. Misao let her eyes wander to the netfuls of shrimp in baskets, wrinkling her nose at the smell of freshly caught fish. Since when did Jiya start eating salmon?
Wait a minute… Early spring rains meant the salmon weren't spawning anymore. None of the fishermen brought salmon in until the seventh week of spring. What was Jiya thinking, sending her out on a fool's errand?
No, she thought to herself in irritation. Jiya had sent her out of the Aoiya to get some exercise on her healing leg. Why hadn't he just told her to get out of the restaurant for some fresh air?
"He's trying to keep me from training," she muttered furiously. The old woman looked at her strangely, but she ignored her and began walking quickly away from the fish stand. If Okina wouldn't let her train, she didn't want to waste her time amongst all these people. In another hour, the streets would be choked with buyers and their families. Misao was angry that she was being treated like a nuisance or, worse, a young child who needed to be turned out of doors so that she wouldn't annoy her elders.
"Where do they get off trying to fool me like that? I'm the Okashira, for Kami's sake! Surely I've proved I'm old enough not to need coddling. There's nothing wrong with my leg, I'm perfectly alright to train!" Her thoughts soon turned stormy once more, and she walked for quite some time, her head trained straight ahead but her eyes focusing on nothing in particular. After about half an hour of stomping angrily along the main street, she slowed her pace and looked around.
"Chotto…This isn't the main street," she said absentmindedly. Somewhere along the way, she had taken a wrong turn into a much older, less well-kept area of Kyoto. No one was outside yet, the whole neighborhood looked like it was sleeping. The houses and buildings were dirty and the streets were unkempt and cluttered with filth. She was wrong; a few women and several men were lingering in the early morning shadows outside of the buildings. They looked at her as if she weren't welcome, as if they were wondering what a skinny little ninja girl was doing in their territory. She gulped down the nervousness that welled in her throat and turned around to begin retracing her steps.
"You lost, little missie?" An oily voice greeted her as she came face to face with three greasy-looking men. One of them had the unmistakable shape of a dagger underneath his yukata, the other two had bokkens resting lazily in their hands. Misao kept the fear out of her expression and her voice as she replied, simply,
"No."
She began walking down the street again, doing her best to hide her limp by walking slowly and deliberately. The men weren't fooled.
"Hey, cutie, as long as you're in the neighborhood…" one of them called out suggestively. Misao began walking faster.
"Don't leave, you just got here!" They were laughing now, confident that she couldn't run away. Misao began jogging.
Now they were after her, laughing and jeering as they sprinted. The pain in her ankle was becoming unbearable as she choked back sobs and forced her body to move faster. Damn her absent mind for not bringing her kunai along! Her breath was coming in ragged gasps now, testament to too long without proper training. She took shallow breaths when her weight was on the bad leg and long gulps when it was on the good left leg, as Aoshi and Shijukso had taught her many years ago. How else could she turn an injury into an advantage? There was nothing for it, she had no weapons so she certainly wasn't going to stop and fight three men with only three fully working limbs. She spotted a dark alley to her left and ducked into it, tripping over a rock as she dashed along.
"OOF!" As soon as her hands smacked the ground, she had pushed herself up and began jogging again. The three men passed her by once before doubling back and following her labored breathing down the alleyway. Misao scooped up a fist-sized rock and twisted around to chuck it as she slowed her pace slightly. It struck the frontrunner square in the middle of his forehead and he dropped to the ground. His companions, however, kept up the chase, and soon they were only a foot away from her and closing the distance fast. She managed to put on an extra burst of speed, only to trip over another patch of grass. Her bad leg twisted painfully underneath her, and all hope was gone for her escape.
"Help! Please, someone help me!" she screamed. No one came, no one answered. The two remaining men sniggered and advanced toward the fallen girl. Sudden anger came over Misao, these creeps were trying to take something that belonged to her and was hers to give to whatever man she chose, not some under-city scum. And, if she didn't kill them now, they'd be free to do it again, to more girls who would be at an even greater disadvantage. Hadn't Aoshi-sama fought with ribs broken and ankles twisted before? And here she was, cringing on the ground like a defenseless maiden.
Filled with new vigor, Misao twisted her body to the right, just as one of the men grabbed for her shirt top. She pushed off against the wall to get herself onto her feet. Once she was standing, although it was painful, she felt more confident and able to fight. Her blue eyes searched wildly for any ammunition; the dagger inside the second man's yukata caught her vision. She delivered a punch to his windpipe that made him bend over for air; using his slight hesitation she reached into the folds of his yukata and wrenched the dagger out of its ties. Angrily, he straightened up and took a swing at her; his added slowness was to her advantage as she ducked beneath the oncoming arm and slashed down once with the dagger, then once again to finish him off. He slumped to the ground in a pool of blood. The last man standing kicked her stomach, sending her back a few steps. She shook the fuzziness out of her vision and faked a kick with her left foot to his right ribs; as he dodged the blow she brought her right fist crashing into his temple. He staggered a few paces before she struck him with the dagger as well. He was dead on the first blow. Misao swung it into his chest twice more to be sure.
By now she was exhausted, completely spent with the excess strain on her newly injured leg. She was in terrible shape, of that she was certain. Now just to get back to the Aoiya was her goal. Fat drops of water spilt onto her sweaty face, mingling with a small trickle of blood from a cut on her cheekbone. She looked up, her ocean blue eyes filled with the sight of storm clouds moving in, and rain falling heavier from the sky. A gusty sigh emitted forth from her bruised lungs, but she began walking down the alley with the dagger in her right hand and her left hand on the wall for support.
Overall, this had been a very interesting day. And it was only just mid-morning.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Aoshi reached the Aoiya just as the last sunrays were disappearing into the western sky. The rain had cleared up on his walk from Tokyo around early afternoon, it was late evening now. His clothes and hair were still slightly damp from the wetness, and a leftover winter chill was setting in. He shivered slightly before entering the yard, noticing with mild surprise that almost all the lights were on. Did they have a guest?
An elderly man, hunched over and wrinkled with great age exited the front door of the Aoiya. Upon passing Aoshi, he smiled and nodded to the taller man.
"Kon bon wa, Shinomori-san. Back from your trip?"
Aoshi nodded slightly to the Oniwabanshuu's preferred Doctor Kirikai. "Is someone ill?"
"Makimachi-san had a little run-in on the streets today, I think it's better explained in her words. Good night, Shinomori-san." Kirikai hobbled out into the yard as Aoshi flew past him into the Aoiya. Without even stopping to take off his coat, he burst through the door into Misao's room, where Okina and Omasu were seated on the floor next to a sleeping figure. Aoshi's face must have been frightening to behold, for Omasu was off the floor in an instant, bowing to the former Okashira and running out to get fresh towels. Okina got to his feet as well, and nodded to Misao's form on the futon.
"If you wake her, I'll forbid you to enter her room," he warned. "There was no need to come tearing in like that, she's fine."
Aoshi ignored the warning. "What happened?"
"I sent her out to the marketplace, and she made a wrong turn into a bad part of town. Apparently three men attacked her, but she had taken no weapons and her leg was bothering her again. She said she killed two and stunned one with a rock and a dagger. She may have won, but she suffered a bit for it."
In this light, Misao's pale face and the receding scar on her cheekbone did not look like "a bit" of suffering to Aoshi. He knew better than to say anything, or to let his emotions show on his face, however. He simply nodded and kneeled down to take off his trenchcoat and lay his kodachis on the floor. Okina left him alone in the room, handing him a warm wet towel and strict instructions not to wake Misao.
Once he was gone, Aoshi looked down at the 16 year old girl he had raised ever since he was a boy himself. She looked peaceful in her slumber, but every so often he could see her face twitch in pain. He looked at the towel in his hand, unsure of how he was supposed to take care of her if he wasn't allowed to wake her. The decision was made for him when Misao opened sleepy ocean-blue eyes and focused them on the tall man sitting next to her.
"Aoshi-sama?"
He nodded. She smiled, awake now and forgetful of the day's events for the moment. He pressed the towel to her forehead, and she closed her eyes again in contentment. Any kind of touch, even if it was separated by wet cloth, was welcome from Aoshi-sama.
"Misao?" She looked up. "What happened today?"
Her smile changed to a frown as memories caught up to her. Aoshi didn't miss the change in her countenance. "Jiya sent me out to the market, because I wasn't able to train or get exercise with my leg healing. I got angry when I realized how he had tricked me, I felt like a little kid that needed to be fooled." She paused, embarrassed now of her anger. I really am a child, she thought to herself remorsefully.
Aoshi waited for her to continue. "I walked for a while, until I realized I was, um, lost. These three guys came after me, so I ran down an alley and threw a rock at one of them. I think he was unconscious, but still alive. I took another guy's dagger from him and killed the other two. I was stupid to wander like that, I'm sorry." She hung her head in shame, wishing she had let the men rape her and leave her in the streets like the worthless youth she was. A warm hand on her chin surprised her into lifting her head and meeting blue-green eyes that smiled without consent of the mouth below it.
"Don't apologize. You know you made a mistake, and I know you'll never do something so careless again." Misao nodded, swallowing tears. He was so kind to her, but it was always the detached kindness, the older- brother kindness that killed her. And that was the only kindness he gave.
Aoshi sighed and released her chin. He hadn't expected to come home to this. Gathering up his kodachis, he made to leave the room.
"Chotto matte, Aoshi-sama!" He turned, holding the swords in his hand. Misao blushed and looked down.
"Nevermind." He nodded and left the room. As soon as his form was out the door, she found a new flood of tears to swallow. The lump was becoming quite painful in her throat now. But a lump it would stay until the rain fell hard enough to muffle her cries.
~*~*~*~*~*~*
To be continued….
Soft rain fell onto the Aoiya roof, a light percussion that created an aura of peace and serenity for its inhabitants.
Except for one.
One 16 year old ninja girl was desperately wishing the sky would just open up and pour out rain like stinging bullets while thunder roared and lightning tore the satin of the night. Then the weather would match her mood. It was too tame for the storm in her heart; she thought it an injustice that the world could be so peaceful outside while she was breaking down inside.
Misao leaned her cheek on one slim hand, staring out the window into the dark wet landscape. Everyone else was asleep, she was sure, Okon and Omasu, Jiya, not Aoshi-sama…
Aoshi-sama… Misao sighed and closed her shutters, refusing to let her thoughts wander onto that particular path. Aoshi had been gone for a week now, after an urgent call from the Himura residence. Of course she hadn't been allowed to go since her ankle was still mending and she would have never been able to keep up with Aoshi's swift pace. Damn the fates that gave her an injury right when she could be the most helpful. A Yukaza gang from Osaka had begun stirring up trouble in Tokyo, of course Aoshi-sama would go and offer his assistance. Not that he gave a single thought to how dangerous it could be, or how much she would miss him while he was gone. Kenshin had said perhaps three days, four at most since it was a relatively small band of gangsters.
Had it been raining steadily in Tokyo? Perhaps the storm was worse there and Aoshi-sama hadn't been able to travel. Misao clung to that hope like a lifesaver.
Besides, she reasoned with herself. Kaoru or Kenshin would have written if something had happened.
But messages couldn't travel in rain! Misao kicked at her covers and cursed under her breath. She would drive herself crazy with such thoughts. Willing her heart to clear and her mind to empty, she flopped down onto the futon and closed her eyes. After a few minutes, all that could be heard in the Aoiya was the even breathing and slight snoring from its occupants.
~*****~~~~*~*~*
Miles away, a tall dark figure was perched on a different window sill, his legs folded underneath him and his blue-green eyes half closed. Two kodachis lay on the floor beside him, along with a trenchcoat and a black shirt. Shinomori Aoshi rested with his chest bare against the wood panel, his thoughts almost as troubled as a certain weasel girl's.
Was Misao faring well? Should he have left her alone with a broken ankle and a watery smile? Of course she would smile to try and fool him. He knew she had wanted to come with him, but she absolutely refused to let them see how upset she was as he left. She was too young to be Okashira, too young to have such responsibility on her small shoulders.
She has grown, a little voice reminded him. Not grown enough, he responded. He could remember holding her when she was a baby, he was only 26 now! How could she have grown?
He forced his thoughts away from Misao and back to his present dilemma. He could have traveled in the light rain that fell over Tokyo, but Kaoru-san had insisted he stay for another night. He had a feeling she was a little lonely in the dojo by herself. Kenshin and the Roosterhead were still at Hajime Saitou's house, going over last-minute plans for dealing with the remaining Yukaza.
Ichihashinsei, they called themselves. "One Holy Blade." Aoshi's lip curled in involuntary disgust. A band of ragtag fighters, that's what they were. Corrupted by false ideals and justifying their senseless violence with Shinto teachings. Himura may have taken a vow never to slay again, but he himself had made no such promise with his soul. Ichihashinsei were just plain stupid. They deserved to die for their deeds.
A low rumble of thunder sounded in the distance and Aoshi hopped off the window sill. Such thoughts were no use to him or anyone else. Though he wouldn't admit it to the fox doctor, he was exhausted and felt battered in a hundred places. The Ichihashinsei may have been stupid, but they were strong, and they had training in ancient techniques mainly taught by monks. It was hard to keep up with them, but in a bladeless fight, they were cowards. The trick was to disarm them.
A whole week spent fighting the Yukaza was beginning to take its toll. He had stubbornly refused any and all medicine or assistance, convincing himself that all he needed was sleep. He eased his sore, lean frame onto the floor and pulled up his blanket. In a second's time, he was asleep.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Misao-chan…wake up…mezameru! Wake up, Misao-chan!" Misao groaned and rolled over on the futon, pushing away the hands on her shoulder.
"Mmph…go 'way, Omasu…"
Omasu pursed her lips and, in one fluid movement, yanked the futon out from underneath the half-awake ninja girl. Misao yelped and hit the wood floor with a bang.
"Omaaassuuuuu!" She jumped up and chased her out of the room, both Oniwabanshuu shrieking and laughing. They skidded to a halt in front of Okina as the old man was turning the corner. He raised an eyebrow and placed a tray in Omasu's hands and a cup of tea in Misao's.
"Slow down, both of you, and have some breakfast. Misao, I need you to get something from the market today." The young Okashira opened her mouth to protest, but Okina held up his hand and silenced her complaints.
"No buts, Misao-chan, it won't take long."
"Jiya, can't Okon go instead?"
He shook his head and made shooing motions. "No, she's busy at the Aoiya today. Drink your tea and get dressed. Don't take all day about it, either! I need that salmon by this afternoon."
Misao groaned and gulped the scalding tea before trudging back to her room. Omasu gave her a cheerful wave and disappeared into the kitchen. Once inside her room, she pulled on her regular black outfit and braided her long hair into its usual plait. Today didn't seem like anything special, so she saw no reason to wear anything different.
She ran down the hallway and out the door, stopping only to call "ja ne!" to Omasu in the kitchen. Outside, the rain had stopped but the skies were still a murky gray, hiding the sun and any promise of a dry day. Birds came out to rest tentatively in the damp tree branches, showering Misao with leftover rain each time they hopped from one place to another. She didn't mind, it was nice to be out of the Aoiya after so long cooped up inside. Her leg was sore, but she could walk on it with only a slight limp.
It was still early, and few people were out in the marketplace yet. Shopkeepers were busy setting out their wares, merchants were already beginning to hawk their own products. Misao located the fish seller's stand and stood behind a portly old woman who was haggling over the price of a large tuna. Misao let her eyes wander to the netfuls of shrimp in baskets, wrinkling her nose at the smell of freshly caught fish. Since when did Jiya start eating salmon?
Wait a minute… Early spring rains meant the salmon weren't spawning anymore. None of the fishermen brought salmon in until the seventh week of spring. What was Jiya thinking, sending her out on a fool's errand?
No, she thought to herself in irritation. Jiya had sent her out of the Aoiya to get some exercise on her healing leg. Why hadn't he just told her to get out of the restaurant for some fresh air?
"He's trying to keep me from training," she muttered furiously. The old woman looked at her strangely, but she ignored her and began walking quickly away from the fish stand. If Okina wouldn't let her train, she didn't want to waste her time amongst all these people. In another hour, the streets would be choked with buyers and their families. Misao was angry that she was being treated like a nuisance or, worse, a young child who needed to be turned out of doors so that she wouldn't annoy her elders.
"Where do they get off trying to fool me like that? I'm the Okashira, for Kami's sake! Surely I've proved I'm old enough not to need coddling. There's nothing wrong with my leg, I'm perfectly alright to train!" Her thoughts soon turned stormy once more, and she walked for quite some time, her head trained straight ahead but her eyes focusing on nothing in particular. After about half an hour of stomping angrily along the main street, she slowed her pace and looked around.
"Chotto…This isn't the main street," she said absentmindedly. Somewhere along the way, she had taken a wrong turn into a much older, less well-kept area of Kyoto. No one was outside yet, the whole neighborhood looked like it was sleeping. The houses and buildings were dirty and the streets were unkempt and cluttered with filth. She was wrong; a few women and several men were lingering in the early morning shadows outside of the buildings. They looked at her as if she weren't welcome, as if they were wondering what a skinny little ninja girl was doing in their territory. She gulped down the nervousness that welled in her throat and turned around to begin retracing her steps.
"You lost, little missie?" An oily voice greeted her as she came face to face with three greasy-looking men. One of them had the unmistakable shape of a dagger underneath his yukata, the other two had bokkens resting lazily in their hands. Misao kept the fear out of her expression and her voice as she replied, simply,
"No."
She began walking down the street again, doing her best to hide her limp by walking slowly and deliberately. The men weren't fooled.
"Hey, cutie, as long as you're in the neighborhood…" one of them called out suggestively. Misao began walking faster.
"Don't leave, you just got here!" They were laughing now, confident that she couldn't run away. Misao began jogging.
Now they were after her, laughing and jeering as they sprinted. The pain in her ankle was becoming unbearable as she choked back sobs and forced her body to move faster. Damn her absent mind for not bringing her kunai along! Her breath was coming in ragged gasps now, testament to too long without proper training. She took shallow breaths when her weight was on the bad leg and long gulps when it was on the good left leg, as Aoshi and Shijukso had taught her many years ago. How else could she turn an injury into an advantage? There was nothing for it, she had no weapons so she certainly wasn't going to stop and fight three men with only three fully working limbs. She spotted a dark alley to her left and ducked into it, tripping over a rock as she dashed along.
"OOF!" As soon as her hands smacked the ground, she had pushed herself up and began jogging again. The three men passed her by once before doubling back and following her labored breathing down the alleyway. Misao scooped up a fist-sized rock and twisted around to chuck it as she slowed her pace slightly. It struck the frontrunner square in the middle of his forehead and he dropped to the ground. His companions, however, kept up the chase, and soon they were only a foot away from her and closing the distance fast. She managed to put on an extra burst of speed, only to trip over another patch of grass. Her bad leg twisted painfully underneath her, and all hope was gone for her escape.
"Help! Please, someone help me!" she screamed. No one came, no one answered. The two remaining men sniggered and advanced toward the fallen girl. Sudden anger came over Misao, these creeps were trying to take something that belonged to her and was hers to give to whatever man she chose, not some under-city scum. And, if she didn't kill them now, they'd be free to do it again, to more girls who would be at an even greater disadvantage. Hadn't Aoshi-sama fought with ribs broken and ankles twisted before? And here she was, cringing on the ground like a defenseless maiden.
Filled with new vigor, Misao twisted her body to the right, just as one of the men grabbed for her shirt top. She pushed off against the wall to get herself onto her feet. Once she was standing, although it was painful, she felt more confident and able to fight. Her blue eyes searched wildly for any ammunition; the dagger inside the second man's yukata caught her vision. She delivered a punch to his windpipe that made him bend over for air; using his slight hesitation she reached into the folds of his yukata and wrenched the dagger out of its ties. Angrily, he straightened up and took a swing at her; his added slowness was to her advantage as she ducked beneath the oncoming arm and slashed down once with the dagger, then once again to finish him off. He slumped to the ground in a pool of blood. The last man standing kicked her stomach, sending her back a few steps. She shook the fuzziness out of her vision and faked a kick with her left foot to his right ribs; as he dodged the blow she brought her right fist crashing into his temple. He staggered a few paces before she struck him with the dagger as well. He was dead on the first blow. Misao swung it into his chest twice more to be sure.
By now she was exhausted, completely spent with the excess strain on her newly injured leg. She was in terrible shape, of that she was certain. Now just to get back to the Aoiya was her goal. Fat drops of water spilt onto her sweaty face, mingling with a small trickle of blood from a cut on her cheekbone. She looked up, her ocean blue eyes filled with the sight of storm clouds moving in, and rain falling heavier from the sky. A gusty sigh emitted forth from her bruised lungs, but she began walking down the alley with the dagger in her right hand and her left hand on the wall for support.
Overall, this had been a very interesting day. And it was only just mid-morning.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Aoshi reached the Aoiya just as the last sunrays were disappearing into the western sky. The rain had cleared up on his walk from Tokyo around early afternoon, it was late evening now. His clothes and hair were still slightly damp from the wetness, and a leftover winter chill was setting in. He shivered slightly before entering the yard, noticing with mild surprise that almost all the lights were on. Did they have a guest?
An elderly man, hunched over and wrinkled with great age exited the front door of the Aoiya. Upon passing Aoshi, he smiled and nodded to the taller man.
"Kon bon wa, Shinomori-san. Back from your trip?"
Aoshi nodded slightly to the Oniwabanshuu's preferred Doctor Kirikai. "Is someone ill?"
"Makimachi-san had a little run-in on the streets today, I think it's better explained in her words. Good night, Shinomori-san." Kirikai hobbled out into the yard as Aoshi flew past him into the Aoiya. Without even stopping to take off his coat, he burst through the door into Misao's room, where Okina and Omasu were seated on the floor next to a sleeping figure. Aoshi's face must have been frightening to behold, for Omasu was off the floor in an instant, bowing to the former Okashira and running out to get fresh towels. Okina got to his feet as well, and nodded to Misao's form on the futon.
"If you wake her, I'll forbid you to enter her room," he warned. "There was no need to come tearing in like that, she's fine."
Aoshi ignored the warning. "What happened?"
"I sent her out to the marketplace, and she made a wrong turn into a bad part of town. Apparently three men attacked her, but she had taken no weapons and her leg was bothering her again. She said she killed two and stunned one with a rock and a dagger. She may have won, but she suffered a bit for it."
In this light, Misao's pale face and the receding scar on her cheekbone did not look like "a bit" of suffering to Aoshi. He knew better than to say anything, or to let his emotions show on his face, however. He simply nodded and kneeled down to take off his trenchcoat and lay his kodachis on the floor. Okina left him alone in the room, handing him a warm wet towel and strict instructions not to wake Misao.
Once he was gone, Aoshi looked down at the 16 year old girl he had raised ever since he was a boy himself. She looked peaceful in her slumber, but every so often he could see her face twitch in pain. He looked at the towel in his hand, unsure of how he was supposed to take care of her if he wasn't allowed to wake her. The decision was made for him when Misao opened sleepy ocean-blue eyes and focused them on the tall man sitting next to her.
"Aoshi-sama?"
He nodded. She smiled, awake now and forgetful of the day's events for the moment. He pressed the towel to her forehead, and she closed her eyes again in contentment. Any kind of touch, even if it was separated by wet cloth, was welcome from Aoshi-sama.
"Misao?" She looked up. "What happened today?"
Her smile changed to a frown as memories caught up to her. Aoshi didn't miss the change in her countenance. "Jiya sent me out to the market, because I wasn't able to train or get exercise with my leg healing. I got angry when I realized how he had tricked me, I felt like a little kid that needed to be fooled." She paused, embarrassed now of her anger. I really am a child, she thought to herself remorsefully.
Aoshi waited for her to continue. "I walked for a while, until I realized I was, um, lost. These three guys came after me, so I ran down an alley and threw a rock at one of them. I think he was unconscious, but still alive. I took another guy's dagger from him and killed the other two. I was stupid to wander like that, I'm sorry." She hung her head in shame, wishing she had let the men rape her and leave her in the streets like the worthless youth she was. A warm hand on her chin surprised her into lifting her head and meeting blue-green eyes that smiled without consent of the mouth below it.
"Don't apologize. You know you made a mistake, and I know you'll never do something so careless again." Misao nodded, swallowing tears. He was so kind to her, but it was always the detached kindness, the older- brother kindness that killed her. And that was the only kindness he gave.
Aoshi sighed and released her chin. He hadn't expected to come home to this. Gathering up his kodachis, he made to leave the room.
"Chotto matte, Aoshi-sama!" He turned, holding the swords in his hand. Misao blushed and looked down.
"Nevermind." He nodded and left the room. As soon as his form was out the door, she found a new flood of tears to swallow. The lump was becoming quite painful in her throat now. But a lump it would stay until the rain fell hard enough to muffle her cries.
~*~*~*~*~*~*
To be continued….