Fate Beckons

Chapter 17: Meet Me in Kyoto

Disclaimers apply. What I have written about the deaths of Misao's grandfather and of Aoshi's parents are just what could have happened. Information about the background of Misao and Aoshi mainly speculated from manga no 8 and the Kenshin Hiden and Kaden.

3 years later

Nineteen year old Misao made her way past the old style houses and people who were chatting to their companions, if not on their handphones. It was strange how strongly she felt an affinity with Kyoto the instant she stepped off the bus that had brought her here from the Osaka-Kansai airport. So familiar, yet so strange, but at least she knew it was due to her past life.

Idly, she speculated about her past life, wondering if she would ever know who Makimachi Misao of Meiji Japan was. For now, all she could gather about her past incarnation were from the dreams of her past life she still had occasionally.

The Meiji Misao had been a ninja--a member of the Onmitsu Oniwabanshuu or something. Born three years after the Bakumatsu started, her parents were killed soon after. Her grandfather was the Okashira, or head, of the group, and she was brought up as a ninja girl, equipped with just enough ninja skills to ensure her safety during those turbulent times. Any more and the Okashira as well as his followers feared that the little girl would be too deep in a life of violence.

Among the members of the Oniwabanshuu Misao grew up with was a boy ten years her senior, Shinomori Aoshi. She had been attracted to him at first sight, although just a toddler at that time. The usually sullen and aloof Aoshi, surprisingly, had a soft spot for her. He, too, had been orphaned at a young age. The okashira's best friend Kashiwazaki Nenji (Okina), had rescued him from a battle which left him orphaned during the start of the Bakumatsu (if I'm not wrong, 1860-1899). Seeing potential in the boy, Kashiwazaki had taken him to Kyoto to be trained as a ninja. Aoshi proved to be a prodigy, mastering the skills of a ninja faster and better than any of his peers. Many stood in awe of him.

Tragedy struck when Misao was five. Her grandfather, her last blood relative, was killed in the Boshin War. Shortly after, the new Okashira, Aoshi, regretful that the Edo Oniwabanshuu had no chance to fight as the shogun had welcomed the revolution, traveled around Japan with his followers, taking Misao with him. Three years later, when they returned to Kyoto, there were only four followers left--Hannya, Shikijou, Beshimi and Hyottoko. All the rest had left to lead better, more peaceful lives. As Tokyo, the new capital, was wrought with instability, the four of them decided to go there, leaving little Misao with Okina for her own safety.

One of Misao's most vivid dreams of that past life was of calling out for her Aoshi-sama and his friends, then waking up and realising that they had left her. Come to think of it, her past and present lives were similar in some ways, but had their differences as well. In both lives, she had been separated from Aoshi for around eight years; but while the Meiji Misao had gone in search for him and his friends, fate had reunited the present Misao and him. Also, the deaths of Hannya, Shikijou, Beshimi and Hyottoko had been kept from her in both lives although she soon found out, but at least Aoshi had not become a cold blooded killer searching for strength at any cost in this life! When she thought more about it, she felt lucky to be living in the peaceful present, and not the turmoil of Bakumatsu and Meiji Japan.

She had flamboyant dreams about the adventures she had had with Aoshi and their friends, especially the Kenshin Gumi. The battle against Shishio Makoto and the Juppon Gatana to protect Kyoto...bringing Yukishiro Tomoe's diary to Tokyo to return Enishi to his senses...although they were exciting, if they had all happened again in this life, she did not think she would be able to take it. Although they were incarnations of each other, she and the Meiji Misao still had their differences amid the similarities. They had been brought up in different times, and in different places.

She smiled as she thought about the dreams she had about her life after the Enishi episode. On returning to Kyoto, her relationship with Aoshi had bloomed and advanced quickly. She had finally brought the smiles to his face, and with it came peace and happiness. As he settled into life during the peaceful Meiji era and left his violent, bloodstained past behind, their love grew deeper and they were even engaged to be married.

Misao was always overcome by a sense of euphoria whenever she woke up from one of those happy dreams. She hoped that she and Aoshi would be as blissful and loving as they had been in their past lives. However, she hoped that their futures would not follow the path that their past lives had taken. Just when they thought they could live in eternal joy and peace, fortune turned against them. Someone who bore a personal grudge against the Oniwabanshuu had infiltrated the Oniwabanshuu and joined them as someone they had thought was a loyal member. He influenced a few of the newer members to turn against their leaders, in hope that it would destroy the group. As more and more loyal members were killed, the remaining members scattered into hiding under the orders of the co-Okashiras, Aoshi and his fiancee Misao. But the identity of the traitor was still unknown, and he managed to slip a lethal, slow acting poison into the water supply.

The Okashiras managed to unmask the traitor, but not before he led them into a trap--right into an ambush by a rival group. Together, Misao and Aoshi single handedly managed to defeat the enemy, including the traitor, albeit with much difficulty. However, in the end, their heavy wounds and the lethal poison took effect, ending their lives. But not before they made an everlasting vow...in an eternal embrace.

"If fate allows us to meet again, I will…and I'll never leave you again."

"Just like you promised all those years ago?"

"Yes. And we'll never be separated again."

The words still rang clear in her mind, and she smiled as she pressed the pendant that Aoshi had given her that day three years ago to her heart.

Un. Luck. Inochi. Life. Unmei. Destiny.

True to its meaning, the pendant had given her luck, or so she liked to believe. Having passed her O Levels with flying colours and a string of A1s, she had made it to a top junior college, and aced her A levels as well. The future shone bright and clear, like an airport runway at night. And she was an airplane, ready to take off. (Sounds stupid, I know, but to think of it, it is kind of true ne?)

Aoshi...they were as much in love as before. She smiled brightly as she recalled her reason for coming to Kyoto. A few times during her holidays, she had flown to the States to visit him, and they still kept up correspondence. He was now supposed to be in Tokyo University for an exchange programme, but two weeks ago, she had received a mysterious email from him.

"Meet me in Kyoto."

Following those five words were directions to what was seemingly a garden near a restaurant.

A restaurant called the Aoiya.

She did not know what he had in mind but somehow she had a feeling it was going to be pleasant.

Looking at the map, she realised she was nearing her destination. The sakuras were in full bloom, making the streets a picturesque sight. Weaving past the pink blossom crowned trees, she stopped at the sight if a building so familiar to her, as if it had been her home in a previous life.

And then she saw him.

tbc...