Part five: Dwindling hope
It took for awhile before the whole group calmed themselves, not knowing how to break the news to the members of the household. Why would Aoshi commit suicide? It's not like him to just give up on problems. The women are in full shock, that Kenshin has to escort them back to the dojo before they too, will collapse. Yahiko, who stumbled back at the sight, has to be dragged off the ground before he regained his senses. They have to leave Sanosuke momentarily.
"I'm going to take Misao home, you stay here." carrying Misao to his arms, Kenshin told Sanosuke not to leave his post while he'll break the saddening news to the dojo. He told him to take down the corpse, before anyone else sees it.
"H-Hey!! You can't leave me alone with HIM."
"Okay," Kenshin sighed, eyeing the dumbfounded Yahiko. "You stay with Sano here, while I bring everyone home." Still in sudden shock, Yahiko finds himself nodding and saying yes.
When the small group has moved to a considerable distance, Sanosuke and Yahiko looked on each other.
"You go first," Sanosuke said,
"No, YOU go first!" Yahiko said out loud, "You are the taller one!"
Sanosuke shrugged, and uneasily advanced at the tree, he can't believe he is seeing this himself. He climbed up, and starts working on cutting off the rope.
"A-Are you sure that is Aoshi?" Yahiko stammered, he can't believe what he is seeing.the former oniwabanshu leader now dead, hanged by the tree. "What is in his hand?"
"A piece of evidence, it's only Misao's link to the one who assaulted her."
"Assaulted her? I thought she fought off a small band of rogues?"
"I shouldn't have said that." Sanosuke mumbled, "It's a long story Yahiko," and he finally managed to slice the last string off the rope, resulting a sickening thud down below. He heard muffled screams,
"G-Get him off me!!"
The corpse had fallen down Yahiko. When Sanosuke have climbed down the tree, Yahiko is almost as deathly white and panting heavily as he tossed Aoshi's dead body aside. "What are you?! Do you have zero coordination or something?!" He screamed, "You dropped Aoshi over me!"
"Hey! That's not my fault!" he snapped, " Just help me wrap him in the bundle.that way, we wouldn't get to see his face." with mortified looks at their faces, the best the both could do is try to kick him to face the ground, without exactly looking at the corpse. "N-Now, you go back and get a really BIG blanket."
Yahiko quickly complied and ran off like his behind is on fire, "AND make sure you COME BACK!!!"
Sanosuke starts to wonder what Misao did last night that results to this tragedy. He did some thinking, Misao and Aoshi haven't been talking for almost a week.she seemingly outdone herself, and she even cut her own hair. And if Aoshi got really depressed, he should have done it a week ago. Something tells him that there is foul play.
He noticed that behind the dead Aoshi; laid a folded paper tucked by the belt. He opened it, and judging by its contents.it's a suicide note. It goes:
"I can never forgive myself to what have befallen Misao. I have failed once, and I failed again. There is nothing I could do to bring back what she has lost, and even if I tell the truth she'll hate me more. It's better that I'm dead, for I can never fulfill the responsibility as her guardian."
His name is signed below, but it seems not to make sense at all.the statement seemed to be vague and hollow. He is not just going to kill himself for that reason. And why would he tuck the letter behind his back? He looked back at the corpse, its face flat at damp rough earth.
"Well Aoshi, I think this is pretty stupid on what you did." he said grimly, leaning over. " You are the only key to who really attacked Misao.and here you are.dead!"
Wait a minute, what is on the ground? Dried blood.Sanosuke stared in horror, since the dried blood had seeped from Aoshi's face. Why would he bleeding when he died of suffocation and strangulation? He poked the corpse around, and restrained the urge to puke upon seeing Aoshi's face. The dried blood has seeped from his eyes, nose and mouth.not to mention from his ears. Now totally petrified, Sanosuke kicked the corpse again flat down. "I think it's better to have him face down..."
Then something hit him, and he extended a pinkie and scraped the blood. It is very flaky and dry. That means, he is ALREADY dead before he "hanged" himself by the tree. He felt Aoshi's body and was surprised that the rigor mortis has set in. Misao told him earlier that Aoshi left early last night back to the dojo when her "plan" failed. They found the corpse early morning, and it will take several hours before rigor mortis will actually take place. A person wouldn't bleed all over the face, even when he hanged himself.THERE must be a second person involved. He then recalled one of those few conversations Okina and Kenshin have when they do happen to pass by Edo.
**********
"They call kiss of the dragon.it is one deadly move, taking only one needle to knock a person down"
".Violently?"
Okina curtly nodded. "To the victim, very much indeed." He sipped his tea, and proceeds to converse with Kenshin. "We rarely use it to an enemy, for it's a slow and painful way to die. But it is a sure guarantee .that if you are fast you can take down an enemy even how much stronger or seasoned he is."
"Tell me about it."
"It hits the nervous system, causing the body to paralyze all the muscles, and also the lungs so that you'll suffocate. Your veins will constrict with such pressure that it will burst out. not only to cause internal bleeding. but the blood to seep from your eyes, mouth, ears and nose. You are going to bleed and suffocate to death."
**********
"Shit." Sanosuke muttered,
He quickly tried to pry off the tight noose wrapped at Aoshi's neck. But it's wringed so tight, and when he cuts it off there is deep abrasions all over that it made his neck looks so swollen and very raw. So raw, that he swore some of the skin had came off. "He must have a needle prick behind his neck,"
But he can't see it. It is deeply eradicated by the rough abrasions. Maybe it is some sort of cover up, for if one hangs itself.it wouldn't leave such deep marks.
UNLESS someone else forcefully did it to him.
His deep thoughts where cut off when he heard Yahiko approaching, "Oi! Here is the blanket!" following him behind is Kenshin, and the rest of the grief- stricken Oniwabanshus. Yahiko and Sanosuke bundled up Aoshi good, before they shortly arrived.
"Master." one of them whispered, "He is gone.."
"It's impossible!"
"Why would he kill himself?" one of them demanded, voices that are angry and upset, but their eyes are all red and wet with tears, "It's not like Master Aoshi to do this!"
"He carried the secret of Misao to the grave." Kenshin mumbled silently, his head tilted down to show his sympathy. He then noticed that Sanosuke is holding something,
"It's from Aoshi.it's his note before he died." Sanosuke spoke, and the red-head read it. He nodded, as if he understood that it must be the whole reason why he did it. The other oniwabanshu's took a note of the letter,
"That's not the whole truth." one of them said, "He won't just take his life because he.failed."
"Master Aoshi always find away to resolve his own problems."
"We will never understand," Kenshin said, "for he is gone."
"We want to take one last look!" one of the Oni's pleaded.
"No!!" Sanosuke shouted, which seemed to sound more of a threatening scream. Kenshin looked at him with surprise, "Sano?"
"Aoshi's face.its terrible.you don't want to look at it." He looked up, confronting the oniwabanshus, "He didn't commit suicide.its foul play!!"
"What?!"
"It's the kiss of the dragon.THAT killed him," his heart start to pound fast, looking down the bundle with absolute horror written in his face. His breathing starts to sound shallow, ".that KILLED him, and whoever did it.strangled him afterwards to remove the evidence!! To make it look like suicide!!"
"You are being hysterical, Sano."
"I'm not being hysterical!!" He glared back at the hitokiri then pinning him behind the tree, Kenshin stumbled back; Sano's grip has tightened to his shoulders. He never saw Sanosuke's eyes with such deadly flame.and he sounds serious. "Kenshin! You got to believe me!! Someone out there killed Aoshi.he didn't want her him to tell Misao who he was!!!"
"Who is "he"?" One of the male Oni asked,
"He didn't want to tell Misao what?!" Yahiko called out,
"Sano, we can talk about this later.now if you just calm down." Kenshin tried to ease him, after all the latter is so tall that he is starting to drown him.
"It is a suicide Sano, he wrote this in his own handwriting.and it looks like no one forced him to do it." Kenshin waved the note, and the youth let him go. With that strange evidence, Sanosuke deemed that his explanations would be futile. "Now what are you telling, about something on Misao?"
He took a deep breath, and slowly calmed himself down. Everyone is waiting for what he is going to say. "Last night, I was able to sneak in and talk to Misao.and my suspicions happen to be right.and I don't know with you people, but what Aoshi told everyone, is not the truth."
"You mean Misao's accident?"
He looked at every one of them, "Yes." And he wearily sat down on a rock, "It is not just an accident.it's a great injustice."
There is a barely readable expression from all their faces, as Sanosuke narrated the whole truth. Kenshin could not believe it at first, and the onis had feared their suspicions are so correct. They want to avenge Misao for what happened, and have their mixed feelings towards Aoshi's "suicide". Everything is shrouded by questions, mystery and every possible clue is leading a dead end. For the first time Yahiko have suddenly taken a serious insight in such a sensitive matter, and suggested that Aoshi have did it for Misao's protection.so he don't want her to know the assailant is, which may have resulted to overwhelming guilt that he committed suicide. But Kenshin argued, that what have befallen Misao is utmost vile thing.and if he is in Aoshi's shoes he will avenge her even if he happen to know or HOW influential the person is. One of the oni's can't think of any idea, of WHY Aoshi trying to keep the assailant's identity secret.as if he is choosing to protect the enemy than a loved one, questioning to whom his loyalties lie. But then again, Aoshi have done it out for "both of their sake". So is it really guilt that drove him to take his life? Only a coward would do such a thing, and Aoshi by all means is no coward.
"It only leaves Misao as the only credible living witness." Kenshin spoke softly, "there is a possible mark that maybe we could help her identify who did this, and why Aoshi don't want her to know." Remarkably even in such a dark and disturbing situation, Kenshin resolves to such distinct calmness and wisdom.and by means is an illuminating aura to everyone whose mind is clouded with vengeance and anger. He himself feels the same way like they do, but to get the matter settled he must keep composure, his mind working harder than ever and same with his heart.
"Kenshin.she didn't know." Sanosuke grumbled, "Misao never saw the assailant, he attacked her in the dark. Her only clue is that it's done by a young ronin..wearing this." He handed the light blue clothing. "I think it's a piece of a kimono,"
"Many young men wear THAT same color." Yahiko expressed his disbelief, "it's like looking for a needle in a haystack!"
Kenshin lifted a reproving gaze to Yahiko, as if telling him that he got a clue. But Sanosuke knows it before he could speak, "I thought it would be him too.."
"Him who?" Yahiko looked to both of them, "is there someone you know who could have done it?"
"If I remember correctly from memory, it would be Soujiro." Kenshin concluded, ".but I doubt he will suddenly stir some trouble, and not apparently now. I believed he have reformed"
"Soujiro? You mean Seta Soujiro.shi-shi-o's former right hand that escaped?" Yahiko gaped, as if not believing what he is hearing. He heard about the conquest in Mt. Hiei, and about the talented cold blooded henchman with such gifted speed that exhausted half of Kenshin's energy. He thought of the person as a gaunt expressionless stone of a man with fearful scars and a look so terrifying. But the way Sanosuke and Kenshin discuss about it, he is so amused and shocked the least, that they are describing that same man who happened to look nonetheless but a simply striking young lad who is like a boy next door with an amiable expression that could melt the hardest hearts of in-laws. The thought of the same smile if he kills his victims are even more mortifying, "sugoi.."
"So Misao met him.." Kenshin, who is unaware of the young boy's expression, is still analyzing the situation with Sanosuke. ".and obviously knowing who she was, didn't want to reveal himself. It's natural for him to do that, and I can't find any fault to place him as a possible suspect."
"But it rather seems unerring." one of the oni's suggested, "but isn't Soujiro who got himself acquainted with Aoshi before, during the jupon gatana days? He also knows of Misao,"
"BUT he never saw Misao, until just about last week."
"Kenshin, I need your opinion on this." One of the female oni's spoke seriously, "Soujiro is going to a process like where you have gone before, do you have any urge.even for once.that you are just to about to revert back to your old self?"
"There is saying, that you can't teach an old dog new tricks." another one added,
It's a sensitive question, and Sanosuke eyed Kenshin. This man has come in terms of his past and he knows it, and it was a great relief to find him nodding to them as if to say yes.
"Yes I do, it's with Saitou Hajime. But in the end, I managed to control myself." He replied, yes he recalled he have to hit his head so hard that his eyes then.already a deadly feral yellow. Something did stop him, and it is the thought of his friends. Then looking at everyone else, "Are you all saying that something made Soujiro snap?"
"Kenshin-san. demo .what have befallen Misao, it's so.incomprehensible and no man with the right mind will enjoy seeing a tortured life, unless he is mad himself." Yahiko concluded, he finally got over the shock on which Soujiro really was. It's also starting to slowly impress everyone else on how he speaks, maybe it's because he felt partly sorry for Misao, she seems so normally bantering and arguing with him the whole time and he failed to ignore that she is hiding all the pain and agony inside. "They were right he must have suddenly reverted to his old self."
"Yahiko, the question is.what did make him snap? We don't have any evidence." speaking from experience, everyone knows Kenshin is right. They can't nail the youth as a suspect unless there is a solid reason that made him do it. As far as they know, Soujiro have no qualms of any lustful intentions the day he defended her from a bunch of rowdy drunks.it's just doing a deed one man would normally react if he sees a woman in danger, chivalry one would put it. Everything pointed to a dead end.
"I think it's better not to tell the women about this," Sanosuke assumed, "We have enough troubles to deal with now."
"It's just the beginning," say the other female oni, "Master Okina will be arriving shortly tomorrow noon from a short trip, we." her voice trails off, ".we don't know if he can take it."
It would even drive Okina to a brink of insanity, Kenshin thought. The suicide of Aoshi under shadowy circumstances is one. Another is Misao's forceful rape that left her so emotionally scarred that she changed thoroughly, physically and emotionally. To make it worse, he didn't know which one weigh heavy for both are a total disaster.
"We shall make preparations by the time he gets home," he sighed warily, "then.we will explain everything to him."
Misao was so in total shock that she slept through out the evening thanks to Megumi's timely medication. Then the men decided to send Aoshi's body to get a decent burial ceremony for early morning, and are making preparations. The gloomy atmosphere descended to them all, for neither of them is talking. Kaoru felt troubled when Kenshin didn't spoke a word when he came back, only to tell not to look at the bundled corpse. They helped by preparing the better clothes and things to honor the former Oniwabanshu leader at his untimely death. She suggested reporting the incident to the authorities, but he replied sharply that they don't want to draw attention, she silently agreed. Sanosuke is mostly affected of them all, since he spent most of the night near Misao's bedside, taking pity that she have to go althrough this. He gently whispered to her remaining guardians to keep the torn piece of clothing as evidence. While watching her solemnly as she sleeps.he burned his thoughts sitting by the near table, trying to analyze the supposedly "suicide note."
"It is a suicide Sano, he wrote this in his own handwriting.and it looks like no one forced him to do it."
Kenshin's voice echoed to his head, but he had a nagging feeling that it is not it.
He was awakened by Misao's noise. She finds herself again caught in throes of a bad dream, and every now and then he have to shake her so she'll wake up. The oni's have reportedly told him that she has been like that ever since last week, and fears for her health now that Aoshi thrown out his life in front of her very eyes.
"I dreamt that Aoshi is already dead.." She mumbled, as if to weak to act hysterical already.
"I'm afraid it's not a dream, Misao. He is dead." He tacitly replied, not bothering to lift up his eyes. "He took his own life, we all have seen it in front of our very eyes."
Her voice sounded like a child's broken cry, "But it can't be.he is not that stupid to take his own life.Aoshi-san.he is no coward!"
"He signed his own suicide note," he said, handing it to Misao. It is unmistakably Aoshi's handwriting. "There is nothing we could do now, I'm sorry."
She tilted her head lowly, and mumbled she have to get some sleep. Poor Misao, she has been such an emotional wreck, that she don't know how to respond on the situation anymore. It is more than shock, she lost all her hope now and no one could blame her. The only person who holds the key to all this chaos is already dead, and she can't do anything to bring him back. She silently understood that Sanosuke is trying to help in anyway he could, but the chances are now very dim.now that Okina will go home and hear about the bad news.no.she won't let him. He will endure the pain of loss like she did, and she don't want to see anymore suffering and loss of lives because of her.
She must take her own.
It took for awhile before the whole group calmed themselves, not knowing how to break the news to the members of the household. Why would Aoshi commit suicide? It's not like him to just give up on problems. The women are in full shock, that Kenshin has to escort them back to the dojo before they too, will collapse. Yahiko, who stumbled back at the sight, has to be dragged off the ground before he regained his senses. They have to leave Sanosuke momentarily.
"I'm going to take Misao home, you stay here." carrying Misao to his arms, Kenshin told Sanosuke not to leave his post while he'll break the saddening news to the dojo. He told him to take down the corpse, before anyone else sees it.
"H-Hey!! You can't leave me alone with HIM."
"Okay," Kenshin sighed, eyeing the dumbfounded Yahiko. "You stay with Sano here, while I bring everyone home." Still in sudden shock, Yahiko finds himself nodding and saying yes.
When the small group has moved to a considerable distance, Sanosuke and Yahiko looked on each other.
"You go first," Sanosuke said,
"No, YOU go first!" Yahiko said out loud, "You are the taller one!"
Sanosuke shrugged, and uneasily advanced at the tree, he can't believe he is seeing this himself. He climbed up, and starts working on cutting off the rope.
"A-Are you sure that is Aoshi?" Yahiko stammered, he can't believe what he is seeing.the former oniwabanshu leader now dead, hanged by the tree. "What is in his hand?"
"A piece of evidence, it's only Misao's link to the one who assaulted her."
"Assaulted her? I thought she fought off a small band of rogues?"
"I shouldn't have said that." Sanosuke mumbled, "It's a long story Yahiko," and he finally managed to slice the last string off the rope, resulting a sickening thud down below. He heard muffled screams,
"G-Get him off me!!"
The corpse had fallen down Yahiko. When Sanosuke have climbed down the tree, Yahiko is almost as deathly white and panting heavily as he tossed Aoshi's dead body aside. "What are you?! Do you have zero coordination or something?!" He screamed, "You dropped Aoshi over me!"
"Hey! That's not my fault!" he snapped, " Just help me wrap him in the bundle.that way, we wouldn't get to see his face." with mortified looks at their faces, the best the both could do is try to kick him to face the ground, without exactly looking at the corpse. "N-Now, you go back and get a really BIG blanket."
Yahiko quickly complied and ran off like his behind is on fire, "AND make sure you COME BACK!!!"
Sanosuke starts to wonder what Misao did last night that results to this tragedy. He did some thinking, Misao and Aoshi haven't been talking for almost a week.she seemingly outdone herself, and she even cut her own hair. And if Aoshi got really depressed, he should have done it a week ago. Something tells him that there is foul play.
He noticed that behind the dead Aoshi; laid a folded paper tucked by the belt. He opened it, and judging by its contents.it's a suicide note. It goes:
"I can never forgive myself to what have befallen Misao. I have failed once, and I failed again. There is nothing I could do to bring back what she has lost, and even if I tell the truth she'll hate me more. It's better that I'm dead, for I can never fulfill the responsibility as her guardian."
His name is signed below, but it seems not to make sense at all.the statement seemed to be vague and hollow. He is not just going to kill himself for that reason. And why would he tuck the letter behind his back? He looked back at the corpse, its face flat at damp rough earth.
"Well Aoshi, I think this is pretty stupid on what you did." he said grimly, leaning over. " You are the only key to who really attacked Misao.and here you are.dead!"
Wait a minute, what is on the ground? Dried blood.Sanosuke stared in horror, since the dried blood had seeped from Aoshi's face. Why would he bleeding when he died of suffocation and strangulation? He poked the corpse around, and restrained the urge to puke upon seeing Aoshi's face. The dried blood has seeped from his eyes, nose and mouth.not to mention from his ears. Now totally petrified, Sanosuke kicked the corpse again flat down. "I think it's better to have him face down..."
Then something hit him, and he extended a pinkie and scraped the blood. It is very flaky and dry. That means, he is ALREADY dead before he "hanged" himself by the tree. He felt Aoshi's body and was surprised that the rigor mortis has set in. Misao told him earlier that Aoshi left early last night back to the dojo when her "plan" failed. They found the corpse early morning, and it will take several hours before rigor mortis will actually take place. A person wouldn't bleed all over the face, even when he hanged himself.THERE must be a second person involved. He then recalled one of those few conversations Okina and Kenshin have when they do happen to pass by Edo.
**********
"They call kiss of the dragon.it is one deadly move, taking only one needle to knock a person down"
".Violently?"
Okina curtly nodded. "To the victim, very much indeed." He sipped his tea, and proceeds to converse with Kenshin. "We rarely use it to an enemy, for it's a slow and painful way to die. But it is a sure guarantee .that if you are fast you can take down an enemy even how much stronger or seasoned he is."
"Tell me about it."
"It hits the nervous system, causing the body to paralyze all the muscles, and also the lungs so that you'll suffocate. Your veins will constrict with such pressure that it will burst out. not only to cause internal bleeding. but the blood to seep from your eyes, mouth, ears and nose. You are going to bleed and suffocate to death."
**********
"Shit." Sanosuke muttered,
He quickly tried to pry off the tight noose wrapped at Aoshi's neck. But it's wringed so tight, and when he cuts it off there is deep abrasions all over that it made his neck looks so swollen and very raw. So raw, that he swore some of the skin had came off. "He must have a needle prick behind his neck,"
But he can't see it. It is deeply eradicated by the rough abrasions. Maybe it is some sort of cover up, for if one hangs itself.it wouldn't leave such deep marks.
UNLESS someone else forcefully did it to him.
His deep thoughts where cut off when he heard Yahiko approaching, "Oi! Here is the blanket!" following him behind is Kenshin, and the rest of the grief- stricken Oniwabanshus. Yahiko and Sanosuke bundled up Aoshi good, before they shortly arrived.
"Master." one of them whispered, "He is gone.."
"It's impossible!"
"Why would he kill himself?" one of them demanded, voices that are angry and upset, but their eyes are all red and wet with tears, "It's not like Master Aoshi to do this!"
"He carried the secret of Misao to the grave." Kenshin mumbled silently, his head tilted down to show his sympathy. He then noticed that Sanosuke is holding something,
"It's from Aoshi.it's his note before he died." Sanosuke spoke, and the red-head read it. He nodded, as if he understood that it must be the whole reason why he did it. The other oniwabanshu's took a note of the letter,
"That's not the whole truth." one of them said, "He won't just take his life because he.failed."
"Master Aoshi always find away to resolve his own problems."
"We will never understand," Kenshin said, "for he is gone."
"We want to take one last look!" one of the Oni's pleaded.
"No!!" Sanosuke shouted, which seemed to sound more of a threatening scream. Kenshin looked at him with surprise, "Sano?"
"Aoshi's face.its terrible.you don't want to look at it." He looked up, confronting the oniwabanshus, "He didn't commit suicide.its foul play!!"
"What?!"
"It's the kiss of the dragon.THAT killed him," his heart start to pound fast, looking down the bundle with absolute horror written in his face. His breathing starts to sound shallow, ".that KILLED him, and whoever did it.strangled him afterwards to remove the evidence!! To make it look like suicide!!"
"You are being hysterical, Sano."
"I'm not being hysterical!!" He glared back at the hitokiri then pinning him behind the tree, Kenshin stumbled back; Sano's grip has tightened to his shoulders. He never saw Sanosuke's eyes with such deadly flame.and he sounds serious. "Kenshin! You got to believe me!! Someone out there killed Aoshi.he didn't want her him to tell Misao who he was!!!"
"Who is "he"?" One of the male Oni asked,
"He didn't want to tell Misao what?!" Yahiko called out,
"Sano, we can talk about this later.now if you just calm down." Kenshin tried to ease him, after all the latter is so tall that he is starting to drown him.
"It is a suicide Sano, he wrote this in his own handwriting.and it looks like no one forced him to do it." Kenshin waved the note, and the youth let him go. With that strange evidence, Sanosuke deemed that his explanations would be futile. "Now what are you telling, about something on Misao?"
He took a deep breath, and slowly calmed himself down. Everyone is waiting for what he is going to say. "Last night, I was able to sneak in and talk to Misao.and my suspicions happen to be right.and I don't know with you people, but what Aoshi told everyone, is not the truth."
"You mean Misao's accident?"
He looked at every one of them, "Yes." And he wearily sat down on a rock, "It is not just an accident.it's a great injustice."
There is a barely readable expression from all their faces, as Sanosuke narrated the whole truth. Kenshin could not believe it at first, and the onis had feared their suspicions are so correct. They want to avenge Misao for what happened, and have their mixed feelings towards Aoshi's "suicide". Everything is shrouded by questions, mystery and every possible clue is leading a dead end. For the first time Yahiko have suddenly taken a serious insight in such a sensitive matter, and suggested that Aoshi have did it for Misao's protection.so he don't want her to know the assailant is, which may have resulted to overwhelming guilt that he committed suicide. But Kenshin argued, that what have befallen Misao is utmost vile thing.and if he is in Aoshi's shoes he will avenge her even if he happen to know or HOW influential the person is. One of the oni's can't think of any idea, of WHY Aoshi trying to keep the assailant's identity secret.as if he is choosing to protect the enemy than a loved one, questioning to whom his loyalties lie. But then again, Aoshi have done it out for "both of their sake". So is it really guilt that drove him to take his life? Only a coward would do such a thing, and Aoshi by all means is no coward.
"It only leaves Misao as the only credible living witness." Kenshin spoke softly, "there is a possible mark that maybe we could help her identify who did this, and why Aoshi don't want her to know." Remarkably even in such a dark and disturbing situation, Kenshin resolves to such distinct calmness and wisdom.and by means is an illuminating aura to everyone whose mind is clouded with vengeance and anger. He himself feels the same way like they do, but to get the matter settled he must keep composure, his mind working harder than ever and same with his heart.
"Kenshin.she didn't know." Sanosuke grumbled, "Misao never saw the assailant, he attacked her in the dark. Her only clue is that it's done by a young ronin..wearing this." He handed the light blue clothing. "I think it's a piece of a kimono,"
"Many young men wear THAT same color." Yahiko expressed his disbelief, "it's like looking for a needle in a haystack!"
Kenshin lifted a reproving gaze to Yahiko, as if telling him that he got a clue. But Sanosuke knows it before he could speak, "I thought it would be him too.."
"Him who?" Yahiko looked to both of them, "is there someone you know who could have done it?"
"If I remember correctly from memory, it would be Soujiro." Kenshin concluded, ".but I doubt he will suddenly stir some trouble, and not apparently now. I believed he have reformed"
"Soujiro? You mean Seta Soujiro.shi-shi-o's former right hand that escaped?" Yahiko gaped, as if not believing what he is hearing. He heard about the conquest in Mt. Hiei, and about the talented cold blooded henchman with such gifted speed that exhausted half of Kenshin's energy. He thought of the person as a gaunt expressionless stone of a man with fearful scars and a look so terrifying. But the way Sanosuke and Kenshin discuss about it, he is so amused and shocked the least, that they are describing that same man who happened to look nonetheless but a simply striking young lad who is like a boy next door with an amiable expression that could melt the hardest hearts of in-laws. The thought of the same smile if he kills his victims are even more mortifying, "sugoi.."
"So Misao met him.." Kenshin, who is unaware of the young boy's expression, is still analyzing the situation with Sanosuke. ".and obviously knowing who she was, didn't want to reveal himself. It's natural for him to do that, and I can't find any fault to place him as a possible suspect."
"But it rather seems unerring." one of the oni's suggested, "but isn't Soujiro who got himself acquainted with Aoshi before, during the jupon gatana days? He also knows of Misao,"
"BUT he never saw Misao, until just about last week."
"Kenshin, I need your opinion on this." One of the female oni's spoke seriously, "Soujiro is going to a process like where you have gone before, do you have any urge.even for once.that you are just to about to revert back to your old self?"
"There is saying, that you can't teach an old dog new tricks." another one added,
It's a sensitive question, and Sanosuke eyed Kenshin. This man has come in terms of his past and he knows it, and it was a great relief to find him nodding to them as if to say yes.
"Yes I do, it's with Saitou Hajime. But in the end, I managed to control myself." He replied, yes he recalled he have to hit his head so hard that his eyes then.already a deadly feral yellow. Something did stop him, and it is the thought of his friends. Then looking at everyone else, "Are you all saying that something made Soujiro snap?"
"Kenshin-san. demo .what have befallen Misao, it's so.incomprehensible and no man with the right mind will enjoy seeing a tortured life, unless he is mad himself." Yahiko concluded, he finally got over the shock on which Soujiro really was. It's also starting to slowly impress everyone else on how he speaks, maybe it's because he felt partly sorry for Misao, she seems so normally bantering and arguing with him the whole time and he failed to ignore that she is hiding all the pain and agony inside. "They were right he must have suddenly reverted to his old self."
"Yahiko, the question is.what did make him snap? We don't have any evidence." speaking from experience, everyone knows Kenshin is right. They can't nail the youth as a suspect unless there is a solid reason that made him do it. As far as they know, Soujiro have no qualms of any lustful intentions the day he defended her from a bunch of rowdy drunks.it's just doing a deed one man would normally react if he sees a woman in danger, chivalry one would put it. Everything pointed to a dead end.
"I think it's better not to tell the women about this," Sanosuke assumed, "We have enough troubles to deal with now."
"It's just the beginning," say the other female oni, "Master Okina will be arriving shortly tomorrow noon from a short trip, we." her voice trails off, ".we don't know if he can take it."
It would even drive Okina to a brink of insanity, Kenshin thought. The suicide of Aoshi under shadowy circumstances is one. Another is Misao's forceful rape that left her so emotionally scarred that she changed thoroughly, physically and emotionally. To make it worse, he didn't know which one weigh heavy for both are a total disaster.
"We shall make preparations by the time he gets home," he sighed warily, "then.we will explain everything to him."
Misao was so in total shock that she slept through out the evening thanks to Megumi's timely medication. Then the men decided to send Aoshi's body to get a decent burial ceremony for early morning, and are making preparations. The gloomy atmosphere descended to them all, for neither of them is talking. Kaoru felt troubled when Kenshin didn't spoke a word when he came back, only to tell not to look at the bundled corpse. They helped by preparing the better clothes and things to honor the former Oniwabanshu leader at his untimely death. She suggested reporting the incident to the authorities, but he replied sharply that they don't want to draw attention, she silently agreed. Sanosuke is mostly affected of them all, since he spent most of the night near Misao's bedside, taking pity that she have to go althrough this. He gently whispered to her remaining guardians to keep the torn piece of clothing as evidence. While watching her solemnly as she sleeps.he burned his thoughts sitting by the near table, trying to analyze the supposedly "suicide note."
"It is a suicide Sano, he wrote this in his own handwriting.and it looks like no one forced him to do it."
Kenshin's voice echoed to his head, but he had a nagging feeling that it is not it.
He was awakened by Misao's noise. She finds herself again caught in throes of a bad dream, and every now and then he have to shake her so she'll wake up. The oni's have reportedly told him that she has been like that ever since last week, and fears for her health now that Aoshi thrown out his life in front of her very eyes.
"I dreamt that Aoshi is already dead.." She mumbled, as if to weak to act hysterical already.
"I'm afraid it's not a dream, Misao. He is dead." He tacitly replied, not bothering to lift up his eyes. "He took his own life, we all have seen it in front of our very eyes."
Her voice sounded like a child's broken cry, "But it can't be.he is not that stupid to take his own life.Aoshi-san.he is no coward!"
"He signed his own suicide note," he said, handing it to Misao. It is unmistakably Aoshi's handwriting. "There is nothing we could do now, I'm sorry."
She tilted her head lowly, and mumbled she have to get some sleep. Poor Misao, she has been such an emotional wreck, that she don't know how to respond on the situation anymore. It is more than shock, she lost all her hope now and no one could blame her. The only person who holds the key to all this chaos is already dead, and she can't do anything to bring him back. She silently understood that Sanosuke is trying to help in anyway he could, but the chances are now very dim.now that Okina will go home and hear about the bad news.no.she won't let him. He will endure the pain of loss like she did, and she don't want to see anymore suffering and loss of lives because of her.
She must take her own.