"I am confused," Jiro announced, studying the notes Aoshi had taken.
Aoshi glanced at him before filing through his notes again.
"The patients went about their daily activities...nothing out of the ordinary happened to them," Jiro said aloud.
The onmitsu propped one elbow on the table, resting his chin on his hand. "This isn't making any sense to me at all...If these patients had gotten sick, during their usual daily routine...then the person who administered the drug knew exactly what they were doing..."
"You think the attacker knew each and every one of these families?" Jiro asked.
"The attacker didn't harm the family members, just one person in each family. And each of them were either a samurai or closely related to one." Aoshi sat back, crossing his arms. "And interestingly enough, each person treated by a physician were given some sort of medication to ease the pain." He frowned slightly. "Is it possible for the medication to react with the poison, making the effects even deadlier?"
Jiro cleared his throat, glancing at the notes. "It's highly possible. I...I am not an expert in chemicals and medicine...but...I would assume that anything is possible..."
"Do you know of any expert in chemicals and their effects on the body?" Aoshi asked.
"No, I am afraid not..."
Aoshi gathered his paperwork before rising to his feet.
Jiro followed his movements with his eyes. "Where are you going?"
"To the clinic," Aoshi responded quietly. "Takani-sensei insisted I inform her upon learning any new information."
"And since when did the okashira of the Oniwabanshu take orders from a woman?" Jiro teased.
"I used her resources."
"Therefore, it is only fair you honor her request," Jiro finished.
With a nod, Aoshi turned to leave.
***
It was fairly late in the afternoon and several merchants were already closing their shops. Aoshi couldn't help but notice how they seemed content with their lives. They obviously much preferred their simple lives. Wake up, open their businesses, close their businesses, and spend the reamining hours of the afternoon and evening with their families.
In Kyoto, he had gotten used to his routine of meditation. He would spend hours in the temple. It would be a long time before he was satisfied with the person he was. He didn't think he would ever accept what he had done...a part of him still felt guilty for the death of his comrades...and for nearly destroying the man who had raised him, who knew him better than anyone. He would never forget Misao's expression when she found him standing over Okina's body. He had caused such pain and misery. But that was in the past. It had been well over a year since that incident, yet it always hovered in the back of his mind.
Several months ago, Misao had placed the responsibilities for the Oniwabanshu back in Aoshi's hands, much to the surprise of the others, Okina, and Aoshi himself. At first, Aoshi was against it...the Oniwabanshu wasn't needed anymore...and yet...many people still needed information. They did not know how to obtain it. Aoshi did provide information for those who needed it, provided their motives were reasonable, but he refused to take up his swords.
When he heard the rumors of the deadly drug, he brought it to Okina's attention, wondering if the old man knew anything about it. Lately, Aoshi had been feeling restless. And it seemed as if Okina knew. The old man provided all the information he could on the drug, along with supporting words. If Aoshi wished to investigate, he would support his decision. Aoshi was, after all, the okashira.
Aoshi shook his head. He was never fond of formality. He never treated his former mentor as a subordinate, and he wasn't going to start anytime soon.
Something whistled through the air. Aoshi quickly jumped aside, and in barely a second, he knew exactly which direction the shuriken had come from. Aoshi looked in the direction of one building, his eyes narrowed.
"Very good, stranger...you knew you were being attacked and you knew its origin," a voice called out.
Aoshi merely watched as a skinny figure leapt from the building. He was dressed in a gray outfit which concealed his face.
"Who are you?" Aoshi asked calmly.
"You do not need to know." With that, he charged forward, fist pulled back, preparing to strike.
When Himura Battousai brought him to Kyoto after the defeat of Shishio Makoto, Aoshi swore that he would not take up his sword again. Intuition told him that this man was trying to stop him from investigating the drug. So he'd have to use his kempo skills as well. Unlike many swordsman, he never relied just on a sword.
At the last several seconds, the man pulled a concealed kunai into his fist. Aoshi dodged and kicked him across the midsection.
His attacker hunched over, attempting to catch his breath. Aoshi watched warily. The attacker's arm went out, tossing something in his direction. At the moment Aoshi jumped aside, the attacker jumped away. The smoke bomb went off. Aoshi quickly escaped from the cloud, only to see that his attacker stood high on a rooftop.
"I underestimated you. That is a warning, stranger. You and Kurihana-san should no longer get involved..." With that, his attacker left.
Aoshi blew out a breath in slight frustration. He would have preferred to catch him and find out the answers to what was happening, but...
He could not sense any enemy aura, so he headed to the clinic.
***
"You were what?" Megumi's eyes rounded.
"It's nothing. Someone knows what I'm doing and they tried to scare me into stopping my investigation," Aoshi explained.
She arched a brow. Shinomori Aoshi wasn't the type to be scared.
"Something bothers me, though..." Aoshi frowned in thought. "He tried to attack me with a shuriken, then a kunai, but when I deflected the second attack, he just gave up."
"Maybe he realized that you are no ordinary stranger," Megumi responded.
"I don't think-"
"Takani-sensei!" A frantic yell entered the clinic. "Takani-sensei! Help, my friend was shot!"
Megumi and Aoshi entered the main hall to find two young men, one barely able to stand, his body bleeding from his torso.
"Put him on the bed in this room," Megumi ordered, pointing to one of the rooms behind her. She turned to her assistant, "Ayu, take care of anyone else who comes in, I need to help this patient."
At that moment, a young boy with a broken wrist appeared. Ayu immediately tended to him. Megumi passed Aoshi two basins.
"Shinomori-san, I'll need your assistance. There's a well outside, I need you to get two containers of water, one you will boil. Everything is outside for you...I want to hear more about your investigation, but right now, that has to wait. Please hurry."
He nodded and quickly headed to retrieve what she needed.
While Aoshi was getting water, Megumi tied her hair back before sanitizing her hands.
"I need you to restrain your friend," Megumi told one young man.
He nodded, his eyes wide and panicky. She pulled out her surgical kit and began cutting away at the man's garments. She was currently in the process of digging a bullet out of a man's chest when Aoshi came in with a basin of cold water.
"Where's the hot water?" the doctor asked calmly.
"It's almost ready," Aoshi responded.
Megumi grit her teeth as she tried to clamp onto the foreign object with tweezers. Aoshi returned with hot water not long after she removed the first bullet.
It had been a long procedure. Aoshi had to bring in additional sources of light so she could see. When it was over, Megumi assured the young man who brought him in that he would be fine. She cleaned up, removing her doctor garmets to place them for cleaning. Aoshi stood waiting in the doorway.
Wordlessly, she went out to the waiting room to see Ayu closing up the clinic. Her assistant looked at her expectantly.
"He'll be fine..." Megumi assured her.
Ayu sighed with relief. "Thank goodness. It's late, Sensei, I think I'm going to head home. My brother will be outside to walk with me shortly."
Megumi nodded. "Good night."
"Good night..."
After she stepped out, Megumi turned to see Aoshi leaning back against a wall. He looked as drained as she did.
"Shinomori-san, thank you for your help," Megumi started. "I appreciate it."
"You're welcome," he replied. His jaw tightened, and his hands braced against the wall. "It's late...we can talk tomorrow..."
"Yes, that would..." Her eyes narrowed. "Are you all right?"
He nodded his head once. "Yes. I..." Without warning, his eyes rolled back before closing, his frame collapsing away from the wall.
Aoshi glanced at him before filing through his notes again.
"The patients went about their daily activities...nothing out of the ordinary happened to them," Jiro said aloud.
The onmitsu propped one elbow on the table, resting his chin on his hand. "This isn't making any sense to me at all...If these patients had gotten sick, during their usual daily routine...then the person who administered the drug knew exactly what they were doing..."
"You think the attacker knew each and every one of these families?" Jiro asked.
"The attacker didn't harm the family members, just one person in each family. And each of them were either a samurai or closely related to one." Aoshi sat back, crossing his arms. "And interestingly enough, each person treated by a physician were given some sort of medication to ease the pain." He frowned slightly. "Is it possible for the medication to react with the poison, making the effects even deadlier?"
Jiro cleared his throat, glancing at the notes. "It's highly possible. I...I am not an expert in chemicals and medicine...but...I would assume that anything is possible..."
"Do you know of any expert in chemicals and their effects on the body?" Aoshi asked.
"No, I am afraid not..."
Aoshi gathered his paperwork before rising to his feet.
Jiro followed his movements with his eyes. "Where are you going?"
"To the clinic," Aoshi responded quietly. "Takani-sensei insisted I inform her upon learning any new information."
"And since when did the okashira of the Oniwabanshu take orders from a woman?" Jiro teased.
"I used her resources."
"Therefore, it is only fair you honor her request," Jiro finished.
With a nod, Aoshi turned to leave.
***
It was fairly late in the afternoon and several merchants were already closing their shops. Aoshi couldn't help but notice how they seemed content with their lives. They obviously much preferred their simple lives. Wake up, open their businesses, close their businesses, and spend the reamining hours of the afternoon and evening with their families.
In Kyoto, he had gotten used to his routine of meditation. He would spend hours in the temple. It would be a long time before he was satisfied with the person he was. He didn't think he would ever accept what he had done...a part of him still felt guilty for the death of his comrades...and for nearly destroying the man who had raised him, who knew him better than anyone. He would never forget Misao's expression when she found him standing over Okina's body. He had caused such pain and misery. But that was in the past. It had been well over a year since that incident, yet it always hovered in the back of his mind.
Several months ago, Misao had placed the responsibilities for the Oniwabanshu back in Aoshi's hands, much to the surprise of the others, Okina, and Aoshi himself. At first, Aoshi was against it...the Oniwabanshu wasn't needed anymore...and yet...many people still needed information. They did not know how to obtain it. Aoshi did provide information for those who needed it, provided their motives were reasonable, but he refused to take up his swords.
When he heard the rumors of the deadly drug, he brought it to Okina's attention, wondering if the old man knew anything about it. Lately, Aoshi had been feeling restless. And it seemed as if Okina knew. The old man provided all the information he could on the drug, along with supporting words. If Aoshi wished to investigate, he would support his decision. Aoshi was, after all, the okashira.
Aoshi shook his head. He was never fond of formality. He never treated his former mentor as a subordinate, and he wasn't going to start anytime soon.
Something whistled through the air. Aoshi quickly jumped aside, and in barely a second, he knew exactly which direction the shuriken had come from. Aoshi looked in the direction of one building, his eyes narrowed.
"Very good, stranger...you knew you were being attacked and you knew its origin," a voice called out.
Aoshi merely watched as a skinny figure leapt from the building. He was dressed in a gray outfit which concealed his face.
"Who are you?" Aoshi asked calmly.
"You do not need to know." With that, he charged forward, fist pulled back, preparing to strike.
When Himura Battousai brought him to Kyoto after the defeat of Shishio Makoto, Aoshi swore that he would not take up his sword again. Intuition told him that this man was trying to stop him from investigating the drug. So he'd have to use his kempo skills as well. Unlike many swordsman, he never relied just on a sword.
At the last several seconds, the man pulled a concealed kunai into his fist. Aoshi dodged and kicked him across the midsection.
His attacker hunched over, attempting to catch his breath. Aoshi watched warily. The attacker's arm went out, tossing something in his direction. At the moment Aoshi jumped aside, the attacker jumped away. The smoke bomb went off. Aoshi quickly escaped from the cloud, only to see that his attacker stood high on a rooftop.
"I underestimated you. That is a warning, stranger. You and Kurihana-san should no longer get involved..." With that, his attacker left.
Aoshi blew out a breath in slight frustration. He would have preferred to catch him and find out the answers to what was happening, but...
He could not sense any enemy aura, so he headed to the clinic.
***
"You were what?" Megumi's eyes rounded.
"It's nothing. Someone knows what I'm doing and they tried to scare me into stopping my investigation," Aoshi explained.
She arched a brow. Shinomori Aoshi wasn't the type to be scared.
"Something bothers me, though..." Aoshi frowned in thought. "He tried to attack me with a shuriken, then a kunai, but when I deflected the second attack, he just gave up."
"Maybe he realized that you are no ordinary stranger," Megumi responded.
"I don't think-"
"Takani-sensei!" A frantic yell entered the clinic. "Takani-sensei! Help, my friend was shot!"
Megumi and Aoshi entered the main hall to find two young men, one barely able to stand, his body bleeding from his torso.
"Put him on the bed in this room," Megumi ordered, pointing to one of the rooms behind her. She turned to her assistant, "Ayu, take care of anyone else who comes in, I need to help this patient."
At that moment, a young boy with a broken wrist appeared. Ayu immediately tended to him. Megumi passed Aoshi two basins.
"Shinomori-san, I'll need your assistance. There's a well outside, I need you to get two containers of water, one you will boil. Everything is outside for you...I want to hear more about your investigation, but right now, that has to wait. Please hurry."
He nodded and quickly headed to retrieve what she needed.
While Aoshi was getting water, Megumi tied her hair back before sanitizing her hands.
"I need you to restrain your friend," Megumi told one young man.
He nodded, his eyes wide and panicky. She pulled out her surgical kit and began cutting away at the man's garments. She was currently in the process of digging a bullet out of a man's chest when Aoshi came in with a basin of cold water.
"Where's the hot water?" the doctor asked calmly.
"It's almost ready," Aoshi responded.
Megumi grit her teeth as she tried to clamp onto the foreign object with tweezers. Aoshi returned with hot water not long after she removed the first bullet.
It had been a long procedure. Aoshi had to bring in additional sources of light so she could see. When it was over, Megumi assured the young man who brought him in that he would be fine. She cleaned up, removing her doctor garmets to place them for cleaning. Aoshi stood waiting in the doorway.
Wordlessly, she went out to the waiting room to see Ayu closing up the clinic. Her assistant looked at her expectantly.
"He'll be fine..." Megumi assured her.
Ayu sighed with relief. "Thank goodness. It's late, Sensei, I think I'm going to head home. My brother will be outside to walk with me shortly."
Megumi nodded. "Good night."
"Good night..."
After she stepped out, Megumi turned to see Aoshi leaning back against a wall. He looked as drained as she did.
"Shinomori-san, thank you for your help," Megumi started. "I appreciate it."
"You're welcome," he replied. His jaw tightened, and his hands braced against the wall. "It's late...we can talk tomorrow..."
"Yes, that would..." Her eyes narrowed. "Are you all right?"
He nodded his head once. "Yes. I..." Without warning, his eyes rolled back before closing, his frame collapsing away from the wall.