Kyaa Kyaff here!
Disclaimer: Kenshin & co does not belong to me.
___________________________________________________________________
'…' Kaoru thoughts
*…* Kenshin thoughts
"…" Dialogue
An Alternate Place and Time
Chapter 17: Aoshi and the Juppon Gatana
"We'll find him." Misao said after searching for half the day.
There had been no sign or information on either Aoshi or Shishio. Misao remained ever hopeful and energetic.
"Let's go this way," Misao declared.
Kaoru followed Misao not saying a word. In another hour they would have to give up the search for the day and start fresh tomorrow. The street was nearly deserted and in a very destitute looking area. Misao turned another corner into an alleyway. The two walked down that alleyway a little. Kenshin was not far behind.
"It's a dead end," Kaoru said.
The alley way had a little house at the end blocking the way through.
"We can go through or over the house. It will be much faster. I am sure whoever is living there won't mind." Misao said.
"Misao-chan!"
Misao began to approach the house.
"So I have heard you are trying to find Shishio-sama," a voice declared.
"Who's there?" Misao yelled looking around.
A girl stepped forward from the shadows holding a giant sickle in one hand. Misao readied herself for an attack while Kaoru pulled out her sakabatou.
"Kamatari Honzo, member of the Juppon Gatana." She said giving a slight bow.
"What do you want, girl?" Kaoru asked.
"Girl? You must be mistaken. I am male." Kamatari said smiling.
Misao's jaw dropped, "He's even more feminine looking then Kenshin!"
"What!" Kaoru exclaimed looking over to Misao.
"Enough idle chat. I have come to dispose of you. And I am looking for a companion of yours. Battousai, could you tell me where he went?"
Misao cried out suddenly. Kaoru pivoted around seeing a blond haired man pick Misao up and toss her at the house. She went crashing through the door.
"Misao-chan!" Kaoru yelled.
"Chou, I was trying to talk to her." Kamatari said in a scolding tone.
"Battousai is here. He is just hiding." The man known as Chou replied, "Let's get rid of these two, and take care of the real problem."
Kaoru began to become very angry, "I am the real problem."
Kaoru waited to see what the two would do hoping Misao was all right.
________________________________________________________________________
Sitting up Misao put a hand to her head wiping some of the blood from her forehead. A sudden noise caught her attention. Looking up she gasped in shock.
"Aoshi…sama."
There he sat leaning forward elbows resting on his knees, his hands folded chin resting on them. He watched her showing no indication of surprise except a minor widening of the eyes. Misao watched him speechless as he stood up. He wore a black outfit open at the chest revealing his many battle scars. His coat lie on the floor next to where he had been sitting.
As he passed her he spoke, "Stay here."
Misao watched him walk out the door still unable to say anything.
____________________________________________________
Chou initiated the attack. His sword came crashing toward Kaoru. She easily avoided it. He followed her trying to force her toward Kamatari. She maneuvered away as best she could. It wouldn't go over well if she had to fight in the middle of the two. Kaoru had seen the giant sickle. It would be heavy to swing, but he seemed to have something attached to it to counter the effect. She wasn't taking any chances. Kaoru wondered where Kenshin was.
"Oh look, someone new," Kamatari said.
Kaoru risked a glance behind her to see Aoshi of all people coming from the house.
"I want to know the location of Shishio Makoto," Aoshi said.
Kamatari started laughing, "Like I would tell you."
Aoshi pulled out his twin kodachis, "You will tell me."
That was all Kaoru saw before concentrating on Chou. He was wearing some type of armor that was making it hard for Kaoru to injure him. She would have to change her tactics.
__________________________________
Kenshin had sensed the two men, but before he could get closer to the girls Saitoh stepped into his path.
"Shinta, Shishio Makoto requests your presence," he said flicking the cigarette he had been smoking to the ground, "But I suspect you won't come without a fight."
"Stop calling me by that name." he said pulling his sword free.
"Let's get this over with," Saitoh said readying his own sword.
A thunderous explosion was heard from down the alley.
"It seems Henya has arrived."
___________________________________
Kaoru sensed someone else. She slashed hard at Chou making him step back. Looking up she saw a man sitting on the roof of another house holding an object in his hand. It was an explosive. Aoshi saw it too, realizing the man's target was the house.
"Misao," Aoshi shouted running toward the house.
He lit it and threw it down. A small explosion went off the house catching on fire half of it decimated.
"Misao!" Kaoru yelled.
"Pay attention to me!" Chou shouted lunging at her.
______________________________________
"Aoshi-sama." Misao said looking up at him.
He was on his hands and knees keeping a beam that would have fallen on Misao up.
"Move," he said.
"No, I can't leave you like this!" Misao yelled angrily to his face, "Where have you been?"
"Move now. I can't hold this up much longer."
Misao carefully moved out from under him, but immediately went under the side of the beam she could fit under. Bracing her shoulders against it she tried to lift.
"Stop it." Aoshi said.
"I am not leaving you!" Misao cried.
Once again she tried pushing up with all her strength. It wasn't working. She began coughing. The smoke from the fire was filling the room.
All of the sudden there was a second explosion. It hit the house throwing Misao off her feet and into the wall knocking her unconscious.
"Misao," Aoshi said softly.
He had managed to keep his position. The beam from the roof was still on his back. He needed to save Misao, who was closer to the fire now. Aoshi knew he had to do something. Using all his strength he pushed up and managed to get out from under the beam. He limped over to Misao picking her up carefully. He looked down at Misao. Her face was pale and her arm looked broken. His eyes narrowed in anger.
________________________
Kaoru was dealing with all three at once now. Unfair odds if you asked her. She managed to injure Chou, but Kamatari and the other guy were unhurt. His huge sickle came crashing at her. She jumped out of the way, but had to twist around quickly to avoid being skewered by Chou.
She heard a scuffle behind her. Glancing over she saw Kenshin and Saitoh fighting. Saitoh looked over briefly and their eyes connected. He lowered his sword after deflecting Kenshin's strike.
"You want to protect that girl, you will willingly surrender." Saitoh said.
"I'll never surrender!" Kenshin replied.
Kaoru cried out a she fell to the ground from a blast that had fallen very close to her not having noticed the other two members of the Juppon Gatana moving out of the way. Chou attacked her giving her almost no time to recover. She blocked it then rolled back jumping to her feet only to see Kamatari swinging his sickle her way. She ducked low but was slammed with the ball on the end of a chain attached to the weapon. She fell once again holding her side.
"What do you have to say now?" Saitoh asked calmly, "I don't think she will live long at this rate. If you stop I give my word she will be safe"
"Your word means nothing." Kenshin spit out.
"They will kill her, but I can prevent it and will."
Everything in Kenshin screamed to keep fighting and kill this man, to not trust him, but he couldn't do it. Not with the chance that Kaoru might die. His revenge could wait. Kenshin dropped his sword to the ground.
"Chou, Kamatari, Henya, cease your attack. " Saitoh ordered, "Himura has surrendered."
Chou looked over, "Why not kill her?"
"Did you not hear me? Leave the girl alone. She is of no more use."
"Then we should finish the bitch off." Chou said.
Saitoh's eyes became deadly, "Listen and do as I say. If you harm that girl I will personally kill you myself for disobeying my order."
"Kenshin, don't give up! I can take care of myself, baka!" Kaoru shouted standing up.
Saitoh approached Kenshin who was shaking with rage, and hit the back of his neck knocking him out.
"Take him and bring him to Shishio. I will catch up." Saitoh said.
Chou glared at Saitoh, but came over grabbing the unconscious Kenshin. The three members of the Juppon Gatana left. Saitoh walked toward Kaoru, who put her sword up defensively.
"Stop, I am not going to harm you. I gave my word."
"What do you want with Kenshin?" Kaoru asked angrily.
"Kenshin? Is that what he goes by now. I do not want him. Shishio does."
"Who is Shishio?"
"Forget that name. And forget Himura," Saitoh said.
"I won't! I will find where you have taken him."
"Give it up girl. Don't get involved. You will only get yourself killed." Saitoh replied casually.
"I can take care of myself. I have been ever since you kicked me out Uncle!" The last word coming out with bitter sarcasm.
A pair of eyes watching the exchange narrowed, "Uncle?"
Saitoh gave her one more look before turning without a word and leaving. Kaoru had no intention of letting him leave, but before she could follow, she felt a rush of air behind her before everything went black.
_______________________________________________________________________
"Are you all right?" a woman's voice asked through the haze in Kaoru's mind.
Kaoru opened her eyes slowly. The first thing she noticed was a pair of dark eyes looking at her. Sitting up Kaoru put a hand to the back of her head. The older woman watched Kaoru. Kaoru looked at her. She was a pretty woman, dark hair and eyes. She looked tired and familiar.
"Who are you? Where am I?" Kaoru asked.
"My name is Saitoh Tokio. You are in Shishio Makoto's main hideout."
"Saitoh!" Kaoru exclaimed.
"Yes, may I ask your name?"
"Kamiya Kaoru," Kaoru supplied.
The women's eyes opened in shock, "What are you doing here? Oh no! Shishio must have found out!"
"Found out what?" Kaoru asked.
"That you are my and Hajime's daughter," she accidentally slipped out realizing as she said so Kaoru had not known.
"Your and…what?" Kaoru stuttered out speechless.
"Shishio didn't know, but he will now," a familiar voice said from behind them.
Kaoru turned, "Soujiro!"
______________________________________________________________________
Misao woke up slowly. Her head ached and her armed was burning with pain.
"It's about time you woke up Itachi!" Megumi said, "Now stay still, your arm is broke and I need to finish binding it.
"Where's Aoshi!? Is he okay!? And Kaoru? What happened?" Misao said snapping fully awake.
Megumi watched her face becoming downcast, "We heard explosions going off. Sano and I. That's how we found you, but you were the only one there lying outside. There was no sign of Kenshin, Kaoru, or Aoshi when we arrived."
"No! What happened? I can't remember much after…" Misao stopped frowning.
"Do you have any idea where they might be?" Sano asked from across the room.
"All I know is we were fighting people who called themselves the Juppon Gatana. They work for Shishio I believe. If we can find them I am sure we can find the others."
"I am going out. See if my buddies have any info on this." Sano said walking toward the door.
"Sano," Megumi said.
"Yeah, Megitsune."
"Please be careful. And don't you dare think of going off by yourself!"
"I'll be back," Sano replied with a wink to Megumi.
Misao clenched the fist of her good hand.
^______________________________________________________________^
Kyaa Kyaff here!!!!! Yep I know I screwed up his name in the beginning chapters but now it's back the way it should be! And I know nothing about Tokio so I am just going with what fits in my story. But if anyone can tell me a bit about her! She will definitely be strong willed!
Thank you everyone! Now on to individual thanks!
Crystal- I love Sou-chan too! Thanks for your constant reviews! Hope you liked the chapter.
Lizzie- No! Don't die from suspense! Please! But anyway I love your reviews, so I hope to hear from you again.
Lina- I love Misao too! Hope you liked this chapter. Aoshi was in the chapter! There will be AxM later on!
t.anjel- Here's the continuation! Hoped you liked it!
Me me me and only me- Thanks for the reviews! I really appreciate it!
Joey- Greetings Joey! Love hearing from you! The two didn't fight! Well, I hope to hear from you again!
Marstanuki- Didn't update as fast as usual, but I really hope you liked this chapter too.
Fudieangel- Aoshi was there! And he will be back. Thanks for reviewing! Hope to hear from you on this chapter.
Alannah- Hiya! Thanks for the review. I love your reviews! Don't worry all of your opinions are welcome. Don't mind at all. Love to hear what you think. Hope to hear from you.
Chiki- Yay! Thank you for your constant reviews. You are a great support! Hope you start feeling better girl! : ( Well, I'll be wishing my best that you start feeling better! And I will definitely be reading your stories! Take it easy!
Naomi- Shishio has a bad habit of messing up stories, I agree. Yep, he is definitely disturbing the peace in this one! Thanks for your review can't wait to hear what you think of this chapter.
Omochi- There is a reason Saitoh's working for Shishio, but you probably figured it out! And he may be ooc! But I really appreciate your constant reviews. Motivation for me!
Jim- Can't wait to hear what you thought! Hope you enjoyed the trip you went on!
KitKat- Yay! I am soooo happy you like my story! Hoping to hear from you again!
Kamimura Kaoru- *eyes widen, jaw drops* Wow! I must say thank you for all those reviews! I checked my thing and was amazed. Talk about motivation. I really appreciate the fact that you took the time to review all my chapters! Can't wait to hear what you think of this chapter! And once I get the chance I am going to read a story of yours cause the summaries sounds interesting. I have just been real busy is all!
Nabi-chan- Yay! Hiya! I am glad you like my story! So happy! Hope to hear from you again! It's nice to know you don't think this story is too predictable!
Shizuka- Nice hearing from you again! Don't worry bout reviewing right away! It was nice hearing from you though! Thanks so much!
Apple- Hiya! I always love your reviews so much! Don't worry I didn't forget about Yumi! Did you understand Saitoh a little better now? I didn't explain everything yet, but it will be coming up!
Kyaa Kyaff saying love you guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!