And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am
Iris -Goo goo dolls Chapter 4: The traitor's delay."Yahiko! Bring some water! And the oils in my bag! Quick!" Megumi shrieked, while Kaoru was convulsing with great fever. The kid went running out from the room terrified about what he had just seen. Kaoru was trembling uncontrollably and the fever was increasing minute per minute. He tripped a several times, cursing Kenshin, the fate he had chosen. All the hopes he had put on the swordsman had already vanished.
Now tears were streaming down his face, his family was disintegrating before his eyes. Sano was leaning on the Aoiya's kitchen. His eyes so distant, he was lost too. Yahiko felt rage fill his veins. He won't lose his family again! He fetched some water and grabbed Megumi's bag. Then he ran to Kaoru's room. He breathed heavily as his eyes were still with that rage.
He handed the things to Megumi as she quickly made some antidote for her. Yahiko was in shock, looking in trance at the trembling figure lying down.
"I hate you Kenshin…" Yahiko murmured drawing back his tears. His fists clenched as ire was still on his nerves. Megumi made him exit the room, Kaoru needed some rest so the antidote could do effect. She exited Kaoru's room too. She sighed deeply, as she went to the kitchen. Yahiko went to do some katas to unleash his anger.
Megumi walked heavily, she couldn't do any more, and she was dying. She was dying and she could do anything to help it. Megumi gripped her hands around her arms; she was holding her tears back.
"Hey…" Sano said plainly. He wasn't looking at her; he was looking at the door. Megumi looked at him, as his saddened gaze still was locked on the door. Megumi passed without exchanging any words she wanted to be alone.
"It could be possible that the rooster scares the fox?" Sano chuckled, but his chocolate eyes still sparked with grief. Megumi looked at him defiantly.
"Would you stop your stupid jokes for once! For Kami-sama's sake! Someone's dying and all you do is joking like a spoiled brat!" Megumi greeted her teeth. Sano was caught of guard.
"Geez fox! I only wanted to make you smile!" Sano grumbled. Megumi still looked at him with not a single smile.
"I didn't ask a clown to cheer me up" she said entering the kitchen. Sano looked a little bit hurt, but he continued mocking all along.
"Are you on your days fox dear? 'Cause you'd been in a lousy mood" he said with a mocking smile. 'THAT WAS IT!!!!' Megumi screamed mentally.
"Can't you get it! This isn't the time for jokes when Kaoru is dying! Don't you know that I care for her, and that it hurts me to see her like that! I don't WANT you to make me smile!!! I don't WANT you being around here! Can't you get it!!! I want to be alone!!" Megumi shrieked whelming some tears. Sano's smile turned to a tender one. Then he looked down.
"I care for Jo-chan too, you know? I just wanted to ease the pain we all are feeling. You've done so much for Jo-chan, and all I can do is sit and wait" he said exiting the room, then he felt some slim hands grabbing his shirt, it was her, her head leaning on the "Bad" kanji. More tears falling to the ground.
"I did everything I could…but it was useless, she's dying…what should I do when I can't save her?" Megumi said hoarsely.
Sano stopped, as he turned around grabbing both of her wrists, looking at her gently.
"You did everything that was on your hands…you ceased her fever, you can't cure her, but you can keep her here..." he murmured softly. Megumi looked up, her eyes containing tears. She left a sigh escape from her lips as she fell on the gangster's chest. So firm and warm…She slowly made her hands trail his chest. She wanted to be protected, and no to be alone.
Sano smiled a little bit further as he let his arms encircle her trembling figure. She cried ion his chest, each tear crushing on his skin. Feeling the same pain she was feeling. Then he let his chin rest on her head, as he smelled her hair. Easing the pain. Misao sighed as she saw in her hiding place the couple embracing each other.
"I wished I could do that too…" she coaxed. Her eyes longed that moment…of course with Aoshi-sama.
"Misao, what are you doing here?" Aoshi asked making Misao trip. Then she looked at him smiling sheepishly. Then she shook her head as she leaped out of scene. Aoshi arched a brow, then he looked at Sano and Megumi embracing each other, looking for the other's comfort…
But it was useless to him to give some comfort with his bloodied hands. Hands that kill, those that seek for revenge do not comfort and do not deserve to love. So many scars, leaving the painful path his past has forbidden him to...
"Aoshi-sama, are you still going to get the antidote, even Himura isn't here?" Misao asked sadly. Aoshi looked at her but still his icy mask covered any feeling he could express. He nodded, Misao's face lit up as a beautiful smile formed. She leaped and landed on him embracing him tightly.
"Arigato Aoshi-sama!!! Arigato!!!" she said excitedly, and then she noticed what she was doing. She was hugging Aoshi-sama, and he wasn't hugging her back. She slowly backed away as she hang her head. A slight 'gomen' escaped from her lips, then she walked away. Sighing deeply. Aoshi was in a mild state of shock, what was that? 'A hug, you baka' he refuted mentally.
Leaving the couple as he went outside, he looked at his hands as he saw blood spiling on them. He shook his head. 'Now I'm like Himura..' he thought he sat on the koi's rocks where he tried to look at his reflection. Then he closed his eyes as he tried to remember the warmth he had felt before. Then he stood up rapidly disappearing from view. Now he was hiding on a tree.
He felt someone's ki and he went up to see who was coming. Aoshi's eyes widened. 'Himura…' he looked in awe. Kenshin entered the Aoiya as he sensed someone spying him.
He gripped his hand over the handle of his sakabatou his face calm but alert. Aoshi leaped from the tree as he landed smoothly over the grass. Then Aoshi bowed. Kenshin did the same.
"Why did you come back?" Aoshi asked coolly. Kenshin looked aside then he let his hand fall from his sakabatou.
"I wanted to solve all this, I just wanted to know who she really is" Kenshin murmured seriously. Aoshi approached Kenshin.
"You won't solve anything, it's already late…" Aoshi said not leaving Kenshin's glare. Kenshin's eyes widened.
"Did she die?" Kenshin asked hurriedly. Aoshi shook his head.
"But she's close to" Aoshi confirmed. Kenshin lowered his head, she wasn't Tomoe, so why was he grieving about her?
As a flash of light, both men stood in defensive, giving their backs to each other. Both sensed a third and a forth ki. Kenshin unsheathed his sakabatou while Aoshi unsheathed his kodachis. Thousands of shurikens and kunais were sent to them. Aoshi and Kenshin easily dodged them making a sort of hollow space between them. Then they not only sensed a third and a forth ki, they sensed at least 29 ki's. Kenshin sweated, his grip was tightening around his sakabatou. The first thing he though was about the Aoiya's security.
"Who are you? Show yourselves!" Kenshin commanded in a warning voice. Aoshi only closed his eyes lowering his kodachis.
"They won't show themselves, they are ninjas…"Aoshi said pointlessly.
"Trying to get something from our troop Shinomori?" One of them called from a strategic location. Aoshi's jaw tightened.
"You're not allowed to menace us! If you want the antidote, fine! It's yours! But first defeat us!" The 'one' appeared from shadows showing a triumphant smirk. Aoshi only adverted his eyes upon him.
"That icy glare won't make my legs tremble, so don't try to look 'mad'" The 'one' winked as another wry smiled appeared on his uncovered features.
"It's been a long time, ne Shinomori?" He leaped down, his hands behind his back. Then he took a small paper bag from his back showing it two the two men in front of him.
"Do you want this?" He moved the bag, taunting, searching. Kenshin's eyes widened then he frowned tightening his hand on the hilt of his sakabatou. Aoshi only nodded.
"Well then, say 'Please All-mighty Hidaka! I beg you to give me the antidote!!!" He declared, letting a high piercingly laugh. Aoshi arch a brow, what kind of joke was that?
"Give me the antidote" Shinomori hissed Himura only kept an eye for the other ki's. Hidaka took one step closer.
"Or what?" He said with a wider smile. Aoshi glared at him tightening more his kodachis.
"Or you'll die..." Hidaka chuckled at the last Okashira's statement. Kenshin only stared a bit. 'Kill again? But at what cost?' Kenshin thought sensing that the other ki's started to move.
"Oh I think I'll call my mommy, I'm so damn scared…" Hidaka mocked. Aoshi growled deeper positioning into a fighting stance. Kenshin did the same.
"Himura, whatever you do, don't use the Hiten Mitsuryugi Ryu Ougi…"Aoshi murmured as his back was roughly joined with Himura's.
"The Amak…" Kenshin tried to say but Aoshi shushed him.
"Just don't…" Aoshi stated as he charged Hidaka. Hidaka was dodging every swing Aoshi made. While Kenshin was battling with the rest of the ninjas using some Do Ryu Sen (when Kenshin slashes the ground near (or underneath) opponent, lifting the ground sending the opponent flying backwards) to locate every ninja's hiding place.
Then Kenshin used a couple of Ryu Tsui Sen (when Kenshin dives down from the air striking the opponent in the back) with some Ryu Sho Sen (Kenshin jumps upward shoving his sword into the opponent's neck).
Aoshi and Hidaka were in their own fight; Hidaka was mocking him while dodging every attack Aoshi made.
"KIYAAAAA!!" A battle cry stopped both men from fighting. Kenshin stayed in instance while the former ninjas stopped too.
"Anta Baka?! I'm Misao Makimachi! Let me down you moron!" Misao struggled from the enemy's grasp.
"Well well well, what do we have over here? The kawaii genki Makimachi Misao! You've had grown!" he said in a brotherly wryly tone. Aoshi clenched more his fists over his swords.
"Don't you remember me?" he said with a teary voice, but in seconds cracked in a cynical smile.
"How could I remember you?!" She struggled some more.
"I'd be a more capable okashira than you are Shinomori, but Okina chose wrong. Well everyone makes mistakes, ne?" Hidaka leaped to a tree.
"What are you talking about!!!?" Misao demanded, Hidaka chuckled as some ninjas revealed the oniwabanshu tied up.
"What a shame…I only used a few to capture them" he shook his head disappointed.
"But don't worry, my masquerade was done, as you told me to…" he grinned mischievously. Aoshi's eyes widened in horror, as all the members of the Oniwabanshu did the same. Misao stopped struggling as shock penetrated her.
"Here's your package…now I hope you do your part well, you told me to act, but you never told me to shut up my mouth! HA HA HA!" Hidaka started laughing loudly, as the package fell down on Aoshi's feet. Hidaka signaled to let the Oniwabanshu free, and disappeared in the fog.
"I'll give you only one week to complete your part, if you don't…she'll die too!" Hidaka say grabbing Misao's wrist, Misao tried to kick him but it was useless. He pulled out a small dart and pinned it on Misao's flesh. Misao's eyes widened as a moan escaped from her lips. She backed off taking out the goddamn thing. She turned around to yell him but then he was gone too.
An awkward silenced filled the Aoiya. No one spoke; even Megumi and Sano were looking the fight from the entrance to the building. Misao stayed on the roof, the wind playing roughly with her braid.
Okina shadowed his features as he coldly proclaimed.
"As a former member of the Oniwabanshu and Misao's mentor, I command you to give some explanation to the events earlier."
"I don't have to explain you anything Okina" Aoshi grimly said.
"Yes you have! Misao is involved in this! You are involved in this!" Okina's anger radiated in his flaming aura.
"This is my mission, I can't involve anyone on it!" Aoshi angrily declared walking towards the temple.
"Misao is involved now! Don't you care?!" Misao's eyes widened as fright consumed her, she really didn't want to hear that response.
"I told you, I'll arrange all this on my own!" He said without looking back. Okina rushed towards Aoshi as he grabbed his arm turning him to see the old man.
"Iie, Aoshi. You don't have to arrange anything if you're a traitor!!" Okina yelled. Aoshi looked down, as he frowned and pushed Okina's grasp aside. Aoshi turned around and walked towards the temple. Okina's rage was worse than in the battle, he was ready to attack him but two slim hands grabbed his wrists.
"Don't…Don't make it worse, if Aoshi isn't with us, we should do some research by our own." Kenshin advised and slowly loosened his grasp. Okina sighed deeply as his head hung down.
"Now everybody inside…" he ordered. Everyone nodded, as they slowly made their paths inside the building. Megumi was already boiling the water for the herbs. While she was preparing the antidote the rest were sitting on the dinning room, still shocked.
"Where is Misao?" Okina frowned as his forehead rested on his updrawn hands. Everybody looked at each other.
"She was still out, sitting on the roof." Sano murmured. His hands behind his nape, biting a bonefish.
"Should I…?" Omasu tried to ask, Okina shook his head slowly.
"Thank Kami-sama we have you over here Himura, arigatou gozaimasu." Okina murmured sadly, tired.
"Iie de gozaru" Kenshin bowed.
~*~
Misao was still sitting on the roof, her head hidden over her updrawn knees, the cool breeze fidgeting her long braid her dark bangs of hair covered her gloomy situation. A slim hand rested on her shoulder, she jumped back in response. She shook her head and was ready to…
"Himura I don't want you to…!" she trailed off as her eyes widened looking at the owner of that hand.
"Kaoru-san!! What are you doing here?! On the roof?! But you…have you taken the antidote?!" Misao said grabbing the ill girl's shoulders. Kaoru smiled lightly.
"How could you climb up here?! Without being seen?! You have to rest!! Come, I'll take you down" Misao was trying to carry her, but Kaoru stopped her.
"It's just that I'm too weak to be seen. I heard all that noise and I decided to see what happened. Finally I got out, with too much effort really, and hide behind that tree. Then I saw the ladder and thought I could see the battle better from the roof" she said restlessly. Misao's jaw hung down.
"Only to see the battle?!" an annoyed Misao shrieked.
"Yes, maybe it's the last time I see Kenshin in battle" she muttered in a shy and sad voice. Misao frowned and pointed the ladder for Kaoru to go down.
"Are you nuts?! You don't make any sense! The last time you saw him, you pushed him away!!" Misao gritted her teeth. Fists among her sides.
"Hai, I did. But that doesn't mean that I can't watch him battle for the last time ." She gazed straight ahead as her lips curved.
"What do you mean?!" Misao's frown deepened more.
"It doesn't matter Misao-chan, lets go down…" she said in a merry tone. Misao doubted a bit, then nodded as she stood up, grabbing Kaoru tightly.
"Thank you for everything…Misao-ch…" she trailed off as she fainted on the youngest Oniwabanshu. Misao yelled at the top of her lungs.
"No! Don't die on me! Not now!! We have the antidote!! Please wait! WAIT!!" the youngest Oniwabanshu shook Kaoru in frenzy.
Kenshin and the others hearing Misao, went outside immediately.
"Hey you baka weasel girl! What the heck are you doin' up with Jo-chan?!" Sanosuke snorted.
"Iie Baka tori!! She was here by her own will!!" Misao retorted hysterically. Everyone got stunned at her answer.
"She did what?!!" Everyone asked.
"Misao-dono, hold on a little longer, I'll help you to carry her" Kenshin declared leaping into the roof. But as he approached the unconscious body fear started creeping all over his body. It...it…was Tomoe-san, right? Right?!
But then he reflected the way she said those fierce words, those words weren't from Tomoe…but as he approached more, he knew she was Tomoe because his nostrils filled with the intoxicating white plums essence.
Idly, Kenshin took 'Tomoe' in his arms, as a small smile possessed his features.
"Don't you remember her yet, Himura?" Misao asked leisurely. Kenshin looked down at her, as another smile crept to his face.
"Remember who?" he bluntly said. Misao frowned, as she looked disappointed.
"Who do you see?" Sano joined the conversation. Kenshin looked up to find a worried expression over the gangster's face.
"Tomoe, of course…but what worries me the most is that she isn't the same…" he muttered slowly. Everyone look at each other in puzzlement. Then their attention came back to Kenshin. A SD form of chibi Misao yelled at himura.
"BECAUSE SHE ISN'T THAT PERSON!!!!!"
"Oro?" Kenshin was almost deaf. And everyone fell down to the floor.
"Can't Megumi check the wacky rurouni's head?" Misao said mournfully. Megumi sighed and shook her head.
"The first thing we have to do is to give Kaoru-san the antidote…" Megumi responded, as she guided Kenshin and everyone else to the building.
'Kaoru-san?' Kenshin asked himself mentally. The name was so vague so blurry.
Maybe his master was right, he came back to find his new answer…
End of Chapter 4
AN: T_T sorry for the delay, it's just that exams, graduations, birthdays, and FF.net failures got all the time to finish this chapter. I promise to bring more chapters up in a briefer period of time..