Well, I never thought I'd write an RK fanfic. Let alone one with Aoshi Shinomori. I did write a Sano/Megumi one that I never quite finished, but that's a whole different thing....^_^ Oh yeah, any Rurouni Kenshin characters in this fic, featured or mentioned are Watsuki's, not mine.
"So everything is going well?"
Kurihana Jiro nodded. "Hai. It is very generous of you to come by and visit."
"Okina speaks highly of you," Shinomori Aoshi responded, setting his teacup down. "And although it has been well over ten years, I remember you and the others clearly."
"So how are the remaining Oniwabanshu?" Jiro asked, a smile stretching over his weathered features.
Pausing slightly, Aoshi replied, "They are doing well. As expected..."
"This new era is very difficult for many to adjust to. I imagine that it had not been easy for you..."
Aoshi lifted his blue-gray eyes to meet a pair of black ones. The older man's eyes held wisdom, and an appreciation for life. Jiro was an old friend of Okina. Before the Meiji, the Oniwabanshu, while protecting the Edo castle, had made many connections throughout their lives. Some became enemies, casual acquaintances, others lifelong friends. In this case, Jiro, his son, daughter, and their families were the third.
"I understand you were offered a position with the new government?" Jiro asked.
Aoshi nodded briefly.
"You said no," Jiro added. It was a statement, not a question.
Aoshi sipped his tea. "I did not plan to work for the new government while my men were unable to use their talents."
Jiro smiled. "Okina was wise in suggesting you to become okashira."
Something flickered in Aoshi's eyes...something the older man noticed. Pain? Regret? It was gone before the older man decided to ask about it.
"You always seemed ready to take initiative," Jiro recalled. Then he added, "Of course, I have been known to do that myself, and not always with pleasant results..."
"How so?" Aoshi couldn't help but ask.
"Some of my men died because I ordered them to protect the lands of others who could not defend themselves. Those times were difficult. I let my guilt affect others who were close to me," Jiro said quietly. "But time heals...it reminds us that we are not perfect...and teaches us that we are not always in charge of our destinies..."
It sounded all too familiar to Shinomori Aoshi.
As if sensing that the young okashira had experienced the same pain, the older man merely wrung his fingers together, a habit that was distracting, as well as occasionally painful.
At the old man's slight wince, Aoshi asked quietly, "Is something wrong?"
"Stiff fingers...I'm told it happens with old age..." he smiled weakly. "The doctor prescribed some medication for me so that motion is less painful..."
"Does his recommendation work?"
"Her. And yes, it does..."
"Her?" Aoshi's brows rose slightly.
"Lovely young woman doctor who grew up here in Aizu. Her father...her entire family...were physicians, most of them died during the fires more than a decade ago. But from what she told me, she survived, lived in Tokyo for several years before finding her brother and moving back here..."
A ghost of a smile appeared on Aoshi's lips. "Interesting how small the world seems..." He had known that Takani Megumi was from Aizu. During her days as Kanryu's prisoner, he had discovered bits and pieces of her history. During a visit to Tokyo last year, he saw that she was still residing as an assistant at the clinic near the Kamiya dojo.
Jiro frowned. "Why do you say that?"
Aoshi merely said nothing.
Hearing a gong, Jiro glanced at the western clock which took up a space on the floor. "It is late. You are more than welcome to stay here as long as you need before returning to Kyoto. I am sure you have much business to take care of..."
"Perhaps you and your family can assist me in these matters," Aoshi spoke up. "Do you know of a chemical being produced...a drug, one would call it...that can be absorbed in many forms?"
Jiro frowned in thought. "I'm afraid I don't understand..."
"Rumors are circulating that Aizu is the center for such a chemical...Victims go into shock and as the drug enters their system, they undergo great pain before dying," Aoshi explained. "The chemical can be ingested, inhaled...It can be absorbed into the body many different ways..."
The old man's eyes rounded. "This is what you're investigating?"
Aoshi nodded. "If I am hearing word of this in Kyoto, it means that some citizens there may wish to get ahold of such a thing."
"And you wish to protect Kyoto from such a chemical?" Jiro asked.
Sipping his tea, Aoshi thought about how to articulate his words. It was not merely protecting Kyoto. The Oniwabanshu disbanded long ago. But they never gave up their fighting skills. And they never hesitated to use them if necessary. Okon, Okina, Misao and the others had adjusted just fine to the new era. But in spite of it being several years since the restoration, many had a difficult time adjusting. All it took was someone with the resources to obtain the chemical and use it to their advantage.
"Even with this new era," Aoshi began quietly, "there are some who refuse to acknowledge its presence. One can never be too careful..."
"What about the police?" Jiro asked.
"It is mere speculation to them," Aoshi responded in his ever present cool manner.
"We can ask around...see if anyone knows about this drug," Jiro suggested. "My children are in the next town visiting friends, but they will return tomorrow afternoon. We can start our inquiries tomorrow morning..."
"So everything is going well?"
Kurihana Jiro nodded. "Hai. It is very generous of you to come by and visit."
"Okina speaks highly of you," Shinomori Aoshi responded, setting his teacup down. "And although it has been well over ten years, I remember you and the others clearly."
"So how are the remaining Oniwabanshu?" Jiro asked, a smile stretching over his weathered features.
Pausing slightly, Aoshi replied, "They are doing well. As expected..."
"This new era is very difficult for many to adjust to. I imagine that it had not been easy for you..."
Aoshi lifted his blue-gray eyes to meet a pair of black ones. The older man's eyes held wisdom, and an appreciation for life. Jiro was an old friend of Okina. Before the Meiji, the Oniwabanshu, while protecting the Edo castle, had made many connections throughout their lives. Some became enemies, casual acquaintances, others lifelong friends. In this case, Jiro, his son, daughter, and their families were the third.
"I understand you were offered a position with the new government?" Jiro asked.
Aoshi nodded briefly.
"You said no," Jiro added. It was a statement, not a question.
Aoshi sipped his tea. "I did not plan to work for the new government while my men were unable to use their talents."
Jiro smiled. "Okina was wise in suggesting you to become okashira."
Something flickered in Aoshi's eyes...something the older man noticed. Pain? Regret? It was gone before the older man decided to ask about it.
"You always seemed ready to take initiative," Jiro recalled. Then he added, "Of course, I have been known to do that myself, and not always with pleasant results..."
"How so?" Aoshi couldn't help but ask.
"Some of my men died because I ordered them to protect the lands of others who could not defend themselves. Those times were difficult. I let my guilt affect others who were close to me," Jiro said quietly. "But time heals...it reminds us that we are not perfect...and teaches us that we are not always in charge of our destinies..."
It sounded all too familiar to Shinomori Aoshi.
As if sensing that the young okashira had experienced the same pain, the older man merely wrung his fingers together, a habit that was distracting, as well as occasionally painful.
At the old man's slight wince, Aoshi asked quietly, "Is something wrong?"
"Stiff fingers...I'm told it happens with old age..." he smiled weakly. "The doctor prescribed some medication for me so that motion is less painful..."
"Does his recommendation work?"
"Her. And yes, it does..."
"Her?" Aoshi's brows rose slightly.
"Lovely young woman doctor who grew up here in Aizu. Her father...her entire family...were physicians, most of them died during the fires more than a decade ago. But from what she told me, she survived, lived in Tokyo for several years before finding her brother and moving back here..."
A ghost of a smile appeared on Aoshi's lips. "Interesting how small the world seems..." He had known that Takani Megumi was from Aizu. During her days as Kanryu's prisoner, he had discovered bits and pieces of her history. During a visit to Tokyo last year, he saw that she was still residing as an assistant at the clinic near the Kamiya dojo.
Jiro frowned. "Why do you say that?"
Aoshi merely said nothing.
Hearing a gong, Jiro glanced at the western clock which took up a space on the floor. "It is late. You are more than welcome to stay here as long as you need before returning to Kyoto. I am sure you have much business to take care of..."
"Perhaps you and your family can assist me in these matters," Aoshi spoke up. "Do you know of a chemical being produced...a drug, one would call it...that can be absorbed in many forms?"
Jiro frowned in thought. "I'm afraid I don't understand..."
"Rumors are circulating that Aizu is the center for such a chemical...Victims go into shock and as the drug enters their system, they undergo great pain before dying," Aoshi explained. "The chemical can be ingested, inhaled...It can be absorbed into the body many different ways..."
The old man's eyes rounded. "This is what you're investigating?"
Aoshi nodded. "If I am hearing word of this in Kyoto, it means that some citizens there may wish to get ahold of such a thing."
"And you wish to protect Kyoto from such a chemical?" Jiro asked.
Sipping his tea, Aoshi thought about how to articulate his words. It was not merely protecting Kyoto. The Oniwabanshu disbanded long ago. But they never gave up their fighting skills. And they never hesitated to use them if necessary. Okon, Okina, Misao and the others had adjusted just fine to the new era. But in spite of it being several years since the restoration, many had a difficult time adjusting. All it took was someone with the resources to obtain the chemical and use it to their advantage.
"Even with this new era," Aoshi began quietly, "there are some who refuse to acknowledge its presence. One can never be too careful..."
"What about the police?" Jiro asked.
"It is mere speculation to them," Aoshi responded in his ever present cool manner.
"We can ask around...see if anyone knows about this drug," Jiro suggested. "My children are in the next town visiting friends, but they will return tomorrow afternoon. We can start our inquiries tomorrow morning..."