Author's Note: Thank you, just a blade of grass and ??????? for offering me some great ideas! Teehee! I hope you guys like what I spun together. The end of this little 'incident' is dedicated to you two!
Disclaimer: Insert Disclaimer Here
A Friendship Growing:
"It's okay now, he's gone," Aiteru comforted the kids, hugging the younger ones that began to cry, not fully acknowledging a fainter one. Mou! Wasn't that out of the blue?
"I've been good just like I promised!" the youngest wailed.
"I don't wanna die!" whimpered another.
"Where did you get that silly idea?" Aiteru said sternly, hiding the sorrow.
"We're all gonna burn!" one said hysterically.
Soujiro watched them intently. Is this how people react to threats? Is this how people reacted to the threats I left as Shishio's messenger? How can people have this fear of death?
"Hush, now. Onichan Soujiro and I will never let anything happen to you," Aiteru whispered with four kids in her arms.
The eldest child was glaring at the gates. "This is the first time he has threatened us like that," he finally said. Soujiro and Aiteru waited quietly for him to explain himself. "Nishiwaki had always come to us demanding the payment. Usually, if we don't pay, one of us gets taken away. We never found out what happened to them, but we know it isn't good," Kouji frowned coldly.
Aiteru bit her lower lip. She hadn't expected them to be through so much pain already. They definitely don't deserve anymore! She thought fiercely, watching the kids in sympathy. She fought back tears, trying to stay brave for them.
"I'm pretty much done. Do you want to play with me?" Aiteru offered, smiling as brightly as she could.
"We don't feel like it," the second oldest said apathetically.
"Why not, Keshite? It's going to be fun!" Aiteru said cheerfully.
"Just don't want to," he replied, he looked at Kotae, who was still crying out "BURN!" like a maniac, his hands remained clawed, and indicated to go inside with his head. Obediently, Kotae followed Keshite inside.
"Besides," Kara whispered, pulling out of Aiteru's hold, "Baby's crying." Then she and the younger Kimi followed the two boys inside.
"I don't understand," Aiteru whispered, looking at Soujiro with begging eyes.
"Dr. Kimari also takes care of a baby that was left with us," Kouji said, purposely answering the wrong question. "I have to go watch over my siblings."
After Kouji left, leaving Soujiro and Aiteru confused with the whole situation. Aiteru sighed and pushed herself up to attend to the baby, whose cries had reached even higher decibels. Soujiro sat back down on the veranda of the dojo after retrieving his katana from the bath.
Usually with threats like that, there are minions who make sure the victims don't leave. Soujiro analyzed his past experience. Throwing his kenki out, he sensed several distinct spirits of warriors outside the dojo's walls. What am I to do? Aiteru seemed really upset with the killing earlier, so I probably shouldn't do that again. Even if we paid up, he'll be back again to stir up more trouble and it won't solve this problem in the long run. The only answer is to eliminate him. Soujiro smiled, how could it be in any other way? Aiteru would surely have a fit over it, Soujiro thought as he watched Aiteru sit next to him, a quieted baby in her arms.
"I guess we keep running into trouble wherever we go," Aiteru said as she settled herself down next to him, cradling the child.
"It does appear to be that way," smiled Soujiro, looking at the baby.
Aiteru smiled, amused by Soujiro's interest. "Do you want to hold him?" Aiteru asked.
"Ano, I might drop him," Soujiro smiled in a slightly sheepish tone, his hand scratching the back of his head.
"I know you wouldn't do a cold-hearted thing like that," Aiteru smiled, "here."
She leaned close to him to pass the baby safely, the fragrance of daisies after a spring rain drifted around her. Her bangs brushed softly against his face. Soujiro noticed how lovingly she looked at the child. A sweet, pacified expression he had seen on Yumi when she thought of Shishio... Something Yumi explained as love. Aiteru turned toward him, her expression remained the same… directed to him… for him… Aiteru thought she had seen a slight blush to his cheeks, but it was long gone before she was sure that she had even seen it. "Be careful," she whispered, her hand on his, supporting the child that looked up at the two with bright eyes filled with hope, love and trust.
Something had changed ever so slightly inside of Soujiro as he looked into the child's eyes. How could anything accept people with such trust and readiness? Soujiro felt a sense of unprecedented newness bloom inside of him. The baby, still smiling joyfully, reached up with his tiny arms and giggled. Aiteru's soft touch left Soujiro's hand and gave her hand for the baby to play with. Aiteru giggled as the baby cooed and grasped her fingers. Soujiro's attention was on Aiteru. To him, she had somehow changed into a new woman and the sunlight shone differently on her… So this is the treasure in the world of those who do not fight…
Dr. Kimari returned home in an exhausted state. "I'm home," he said as he stepped through the gate door. Looking up to see the kids to rush out of the house to greet him, he saw a couple with a child… an impossible couple together… The doctor blinked and his vision cleared. It was only his guests from earlier, playing with the baby. The doctor sighed in relief and listened fully to the chatter of the kids who greeted him.
Aiteru looked up and smiled gratefully at the kind doctor. He'd know what to do! She thought cheerfully. We'll get out of this mess without bloodshed! She looked up at Soujiro. I can convince him! I can show him that there is always an alternative to killing. I can still save his soul if not Yumi's or the other's! she assured herself as her attention drifted back to the baby.
Soujiro barely noticed the hopeful look in Aiteru's eyes when she looked at him. He was too busy trying to figure out the expression that was on the doctor's face. It was of horror and surprise, like something that should never have happened, did. Why a doctor would ever wear an expression like that was beyond Soujiro. Soujiro smiled, Yumi-san has always said I wasn't too bright!
"May I?" Aiteru inquired, her arms poised to scoop the child up.
"Of course," Soujiro smiled, forgetting his previous worry. Aiteru leaned close to him and lifted the baby up. She held him so that his arms dangled over her shoulders, as if she had intended to burp him.
"Doctor, may we have a word with you?" Aiteru smiled politely as she walked up to him.
He nodded, "Perhaps later," he said glancing at the kids. Aiteru nodded her understanding. [Star-san now decides to speed through the rest of the uneventful day.] Aiteru helped fix dinner, and waited patiently by cleaning the dojo until the kids were done playing with the doctor and were in their beds sleeping. Soujiro merely sat around contemplating and planning his solution to the current problem, with the occasional aid with chores. Finally the last child was in his futon, and the doctor addressed the two in the room he lent them. [SLS: PLAY! ::stops pushing the FF button:: ]
"Kouji told me that Nishiwaki returned demanding money. You've helped me so much around this dojo, the least I can do is give the two of you an explanation," the doctor said in a tired tone. Aiteru could feel it. It was going to be some sad and tragic story. She hugged her knees in search of comfort, her head resting sadly on her knees. She couldn't comfort that great sea of sadness inside of her. No matter how hard she tried to hide it in her naivety and happiness, it was there… waiting to eat her alive. Aiteru looked up from her thoughts, she had felt warmth around her. Soujiro had slipped an arm around her waist. Aiteru looked up at Soujiro, pleasantly surprised. She smiled and snuggled closer in the nook of his arm. Dr. Kimari didn't notice the supposed siblings' actions for he was already lost in his story… his past…
"It happened about 5 years ago," the doctor began, "There were three of us who ran this dojo to keep the children happy-there was more back then… Koshi, myself, and the most beautiful lady in Japan, XiaoSing…"
Author's Note: I might even skip the doctor's tale. There are only a couple of key ideas of the story, and I'll incorporate it in the next one some other weird way. Just so you know, this chapter still bugs me somehow; I'm not satisfied with it yet. My "Hitokiri Tenshi" is a prelude to this, so I might go and finish that first to get the facts straight for this fic. [But it might ruin a few surprises.] Anyway, please review. I love hearing anything you have to say! ^-^