Catching hold of you
Hi minna-san !!! Chapter 6, yeaaaah !! In this chapter, you may learn that Yukiko and Misao share a lot of things (besides Aoshi, of course……)
Big thanks to : Al Bundi, Mikazuki, Noa, Sai, M2D, Chri, le bleu phenix, erin and the Mysterious Reviewer who didn't let his/her name !! I'll find you, guy !! Thank you everyone, you wonderful people ^^ !! And special thanks to M-A for adding me in his/her favourite authors !! I just can't believe this is happening *blushes*
*WARNING* : some nudity in this chapter. Nothing shocking, I think, but youngest readers shouldn't read. You've been warned ^^ !! AND the rating as been turned to PG-13 for graphic violence…
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Chapter 6: Lies
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Misao had been lying on her bed for more than an hour. Thanks to Aoshi's ointment, her wound was not so painful anymore, but the ache was reviving as the medicine was fading. She gritted her teeth when a new shooting pain went through her right side. At dinner Jiya and the others, except Aoshi, seemed to have been amazed that she wasn't eating much; they couldn't understand that every mouthful of food was like a martyrdom when she had to swallow it. Misao felt tired and aching, she wanted to spend time alone and, most of all, she wanted to have a good, hot bath.
She looked out of the window. A river of thick steam was rising from the chimney of the bathhouse, indicating that someone was already having a bath inside. Misao sighed; if this 'someone' were Okon, the bathroom wouldn't be available before at least one hour, or more. Suddenly, an idea popped in her mind. She could go to… But with all this snow, it wasn't very wise… But…
Misao got up quickly; a small smile played on her lips that disappeared fast as pain made her grimace. But she didn't care; she was in a very good mood, thinking of where she was going: there she would sure be on her own, she wouldn't be disturbed and surely it would be very agreeable… Humming a soft tune, she grabbed a thick coat, a pair of winter boots and a smooth towel on her shelves, then she slipped into the clothes, threw the towel on her shoulder and half-opened the shoji. No one in sight… Using her best ninja skills in order not to be located, Misao edged her way in the corridor, silently hurtled down the stairs and slipped out of the Aoiya.
An icy squall smashed her, and she hardly hold on a giggle as she shivered, her nose turning pink. Misao liked winter; she enjoyed the snow. Raising her eyes to the blue-black sky punctuated with hundreds of glistening stars, she breathed in deeply, smelling the peculiar scent of the cold, sharp air. Then she came back to reality and hurried in the direction of the wood. The soft cover of snow smothered her footsteps as she passed by the first trees, their black trunks standing out on the white-blue snow that reflected the starlight. Misao headed for the depths of the forest; and half an hour later, she reached a high cliff, rising towards the sky, too sheer to be climbed. Half smiling, she walked along the cliff for about ten minutes, and finally found what she was looking for.
Lying against the cliff, sheltered by an overhang, and surrounded by high pines and rocks covered with snow, was spreading a small onsen. Thin columns of steam were rising from the natural basin of hot water, fraying towards the sky. Misao's eyes started gleaming with contentment as she touched the surface and found deliciously hot water under her fingers. Immediately, she threw her towel on a flat rock near the spring and started undressing. Her teeth were chattering to death as the cold wind rushed around her naked body, her feet reddened as she stepped on the icy snow to enter in the natural hot bath.
In delight, she felt steam and hot water splashing over her skin as she dived in the spring. Misao surfaced again, sighing with happiness, and let herself float above the water, her limbs slightly outstretched. Steam was clouding everything; she hardly could see the rocks on the edge of the basin. Her long, black hair was floating around her, drawing small patterns in the impenetrable water.
Misao was relaxing in silence, her eyes closed, when she heard something disturbing her soundless serenity. It sounded like… very light footsteps on the snow. Immediately, she hid away behind a rock.
Shit! It couldn't be worse! I didn't take my kunai with me… Misao no baka… And I'm completely naked, in the bargain! What if I'm attacked now?! Baka!! How could you loosen your guard that way?!
But the lapping of the water had attracted the attention of the intruder, who called in a suspicious tone.
"Who's here?"
Misao's eyes widened in stupefaction and get out of her hiding place.
"HEY?! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!", Yukiko and Misao yelled at the same time. Both of them starred daggers at the other. Blushing furiously as she noted she was standing in front of Yukiko, nude up to the belly, Misao dived again in the water until only her nose and eyes surfaced. She groaned.
"Hey, get away. It's my onsen, and I'm totally naked."
Yukiko shrugged her shoulders, unruffled and mocking.
"As though I cared about seeing you naked. And moreover, it's MY onsen. I knew it even before you were born, little one."
Misao ground her teeth.
"Maybe but you left, so now it's mine." she retorted, hoping Yukiko would catch the hint.
Obviously, it hit close to home, as Yukiko frowned deeply, a little vessel on her temple twitching slightly. She shrugged her shoulders again.
"Anyway, I came here to have a bath, try to stop me if you can, Misao."
It was Misao's turn to shrug her shoulders, and she didn't answer. On the edge of the basin, Yukiko started removing her shirt; and Misao blushed deeply as the young woman let shamelessly her clothes fall around her, not even caring about her presence. Immediately, jealousy spurred on her. She gritted her teeth, hard.
She's hundred times more feminine than I am… she thought bitterly as she couldn't help but risk a look at Yukiko's well-shaped breasts and marked hips. Indeed, Yukiko was very slim and had a supple, arched back and a pert bottom that would sure please more than one man. She's more feminine and more beautiful… I HATE her!! Misao fumed as she discreetly compared her small breasts with Yukiko's full chest.
Yukiko, as for herself, didn't seem to acknowledge Misao's glances. But she half-smiled mockingly when she noticed the way Misao was trying to hide her just nubile body. She couldn't help but think that Misao was turning into a lovely girl; her body was still childlike but round breasts and narrow hips started to appear. This made her feel quite awkward. Then she noticed that Misao was eyeing at the long scars on her arms, and she turned towards the younger girl.
Indeed Misao had caught sight of strange scars, looking like burns on Yukiko's arms.
Is that why she is usually wearing those strange black bandages around her arms?
Yukiko had a crooked smile.
"Hey, don't stare like that. Don't you remember how I got those ones?"
Misao remained mute for a few second, and then shook her head. Yukiko's eyes widened slightly.
"You were five… The headquarters of the Oniwabanshuu had been burned down by ninjas in the Ishin Shishi's pay. I was in the building with a few others when the fire broke out. Fortunately, Aoshi-sama went through the flames and got me out of the blaze. He got burns on his back and I got some on my arms. He saved my life," she explained sternly.
A lump came to Misao's throat. Aoshi had risked his own life to save Yukiko's… He loved her enough to go and look for her in a fire…
After that confession, both of them remained silent, enjoying their bath. About half an hour later, Yukiko spoke again.
"I think we should come back to the Aoiya now. It's past midnight, if anyone sees we are missing, they'll worry."
Misao nodded. Quickly the two of them got out of the hot water. The icy gusts of wind sending light ripples on the surface of the basin immediately embraced them. Clenching her teeth to avoid chattering, her breath turning into a cloud of white steam, Misao hurried to slip in her clothes scattered on the neighbouring rocks. Her fingers, wrinkled and numb from the hot bath, struggled for a long time with her bow before she managed to tie it, and she grabbed her shoes to cover her feet bitten by the snow.
But as she was bending over to catch her towel, Misao heard an almost inaudible, very familiar sound… Emergency signal screamed in her head.
DOWN!
Reacting quite instinctively, Misao hurled herself to the ground, obeying her ninja senses; and she had hardly hit the ground when two shuriken wheezed above her head and got stuck in a nearby tree. Not even thinking about what she was doing, Misao rolled on her side, got up as quickly as possible and ran towards a tree, leaning with her back against the trunk to protect the rear. Wild, she barely held on a cry when another shuriken embed in the trunk only a few inches away from her face. Her throat was dry, breathing in and out with pain; she scanned her neighbourhood, trying to remember what Hannya had told her about nocturnal ambushes. And suddenly, something came to her mind.
"Yukiko!! Yukiko, where are you?!", she screamed, looking frantically for the other girl. Had she been killed? Was she hurt, laying on the ground and bleeding?
"Yu…"
Misao's heart jumped in her chest in absolute terror as a hand wearing a glove was stuck on her mouth. Tears of dread came to her eyes. She tried to get out of the hold of the hand, when a feminine voice murmured in her ear.
"Shhh… Stop that you baka. It's me." The gloved hand released Misao's mouth and the latter turned round.
"Yu… Yukiko?" Misao asked in a strangled voice, glancing to the older ninja. Hidden in the darkness, the young woman was almost invisible, merging in the shadows and the dark tones of the wood as though she herself was cut into some mineral material. Yukiko frowned slightly and answered to Misao's unspoken question.
"There are three guys in the tree in our right, two others in the one on our left, and two other ones in the bushes. It'll be a matter of quickness. The bastards…"
Misao heard her mutter something about 'bloody hired killers' but couldn't quite catch what Yukiko really said. She only felt her strong hand clasping her shoulder, as Yukiko's fiery voice resounded in the silent wood.
"NOW!!"
Misao jumped out of their shelter and felt a feline form rushing by her side and overtaking her. Immediately shuriken surged from everywhere, scratching her arms as she tried to protect her face. Misao saw seven figures jumping from their hiding places, dressed in black suits, identical, and the rain of shuriken stopped as suddenly as it started. Wiping sweat from her forehead, Misao glanced around her; but six of the men attacked Yukiko, only one standing in front of herself. She was disarmed and only had her kempo to fight back.
The man rushed towards her, and tried to punch her, but she was quick and avoided quite easily his fist, grabbed his wrist and kicked him straight in his jaw. She felt his teeth crack as he stepped back, his jaw probably broken. Her opponent seemed knocked out, but nevertheless he fought back immediately trying to catch her and break her ribs. Misao felt his punch touching her already injured ribs, and she let out a moan of pain. Reacting faster than expected, she managed to grip his nape and hurled his face on her knee, hitting him seriously, and she felt a spurt of fresh blood surging from his broken nose, splashing her naked thigh. The man fell on the ground, almost unconscious, holding his disfigured face desperately as his crushed nose let out a flood of blood, one of his eyes scratched by Misao's nails.
Misao stared at her hands, covered with hot blood; her whole body was stained with large drops of crimson, sticky liquid. She bit her lips, hard. She had… She had been able to hurt someone so badly, so harshly, and as long as the fight had lasted, she hadn't even cared…
But she was pulled out of her awaken nightmare as another cry of pain surged in her back. Her mind filled with dread, she turned over and her eyes widened. Three of Yukiko's opponents were already lying on the ground… And seeing their condition, there was not doubt they had passed away. Blood streamed on the ground, splashing the immaculate snow with death. And in the middle of this carnage was taking place the most perfect thing Misao had ever seen. She had never seen someone fighting so… perfectly. Hanging in the air like a mysterious and fascinating demon, Yukiko was almost dancing. The most beautiful dance of death ever. Aoshi might be the most efficient fighter; Yukiko's grace was overtaking his most powerful strikes. She just sublimated the art of fighting. She fascinated. She danced. And her sword fell and sliced the flesh, as merciless as her emerald eyes. A goddess of war and death who lived for killing, lived for dying too, she was inaccessible and superb.
Suddenly, Yukiko's voice reached Misao's subjugated mind.
"Misao!! Behind you!"
Immediately Misao did an about-turn and stared at the shuriken coming with terrible speed towards her face… She bent over, and the weapon skimmed past her shoulder. As she was straightening her back, she saw Yukiko catch the small metallic star between her index and her middle finger, throwing it back to its owner; the man fell dead, his shuriken embed in the middle of his forehead…
And in a last and lithe move, Yukiko crashed her sword down the last fighter's skull, blood flooding for the last time on the now soiled snow. Wiping the dark red liquid from her sword and sheathing it, Yukiko got away from the slaughter. She was slightly pale, her lips drained of blood, her eyes were sunken and empty, just gleaming with a cold and mad anger. And when she spoke, her voice was toneless and harsh.
"Let's go back home."
Misao didn't answer. The landscape around her was crying with blood, sinister scene of a terrible carnage.
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Osaka, September 5, 1867.
The fire was glowing, red like blood, long flying sparks stretching towards the flared up sky. The heat was unbearable. A heavy smoke was rising above the high building, concealed behind the façade of an inn. Golden flames could be seen coming out of the doors and the windows, trying to consume the second floor.
"Misao!!"
"Oh Aoshi-sama!! It's terrible!! Misao is still in her room!!!"
A flash of dread flashed through the young okashira's eyes.
"Aoshi-sama, don't!! Everything is about to collapse!!"
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Misao woke up, her heart jumping to her throat. Straight away a soft and comforting hand stroke her forehead, calming her down.
"Shhh Misao… Everything's okay…"
Misao turned her head towards the sweet, familiar voice, feeling weird and feverish.
"Okon?"
Okon smiled softly, nodding. She was sitting near Misao's futon. The latter couldn't remember when or how she managed to get in bed at all. The last memory etched in her mind was the awful sight of the slaughter in the wood, she thought with a pang of terror. There was blood everywhere…
But Okon's comforting hand kept caressing her black hair, and her quiet voice raised in the silence.
"Yukiko told us everything. You were in a great state of shock when you came back. But it's okay now, don't worry."
Misao leaned her head on her pillow. Now that she had awakened, she felt the tension in Okon's hand.
"Is there something wrong, Okon?"
Okon cast her eyes to her face.
"No, no… But… I can't help thinking that Yukiko only brings troubles…"
Misao sighed, staring at the ceiling. Maybe Okon wasn't so wrong. Their soft, peaceful and quiet life had been so disturbed since Yukiko's arrival.
"Where is she?"
Okon got up, looking slightly ill at ease.
"Huh… She's in Aoshi's room."
Misao's heart banged in her chest like thunder. Okon sighed.
"I don't know what they are speaking about. Since you returned, they're locked in that damned room. Okina was allowed to came in, but he doesn't want to explain us what's happening or who were those guys who attacked you."
Misao nodded and listened to Okon as the older girl got out of the room, leaving her rest in peace. But when the young woman opened the door, Aoshi and Yukiko were passing in the corridor. Misao saw Aoshi risking a glance in her room, and stating she had awaken. Yukiko's eyes followed Aoshi's ones and she simply nodded. Aoshi seemed really worried; his eyebrows were set in a deep frown.
"Are you alright Misao?" he asked, looking concerned.
Misao nodded. Okon glanced at her a last time, and the door shut.
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Aoshi and Yukiko left the febrile tension of the Aoiya to go out for a walk, both of them silent and deep in his thoughts. Suddenly, Aoshi broke the silence.
"You shouldn't have gone outdoors on your own, he said in a worried and cutting tone. You knew the risks, you knew the stakes."
Yukiko's eyes remained dull and empty.
"I didn't know Misao would be there. I thought that if I gave them a chance to attack me away from here, they would and then no one in here would be put into trouble."
Aoshi nodded.
"I didn't say it was your fault… We'll have to explain to the others what you are doing here… and why we had to lie to them…"
Yukiko closed her eyes, her jaw set, slightly shaking. Half smiling, Aoshi raised his hand and softly stroked her cheek.
"Hey, Yuki… Stop keeping all this sorrow and all this fear inside of you… There's no shame in showing it…"
Her lips trembling, Yukiko raised her eyes, pain, uncertainty and dread passing through them. She looked so young that way… when she let emotions run freely on her face, without hiding them behind her provocative mask, that impassive and self-confident façade she wore… Hesitant, Aoshi took her hand and coaxed her to sit down with him on the bench under the large pine tree, spreading its thick foliage of dark needles. Yukiko sat down, leaning her back against Aoshi's, her head lying on his nape. She sighed.
"Remember, Aoshi?" she said as she pointed the sky shuddered with stars, "The Great Bear and… Cassiopeia…"
A ghost of a smile played on Aoshi's lips.
"And the Swan," he added. Yukiko laughed lightly, "Yes, exactly. You taught me that, years ago. I didn't even know how to read. You taught me how to write, and how to become one of the few best ones. And you taught me how to survive when I had nothing left."
She went on, her voice soft and fragile.
"And you told me that your beloved ones became stars when they died. That day, I told you that…"
"So there would be no star for your father…"
Yukiko nodded. She remained quiet, and Aoshi wondered… Was she… crying? He had seen her cry once… But Yukiko turned her head to Aoshi, and her eyes were dry, as her cheeks.
"You know, Aoshi… I lied to Misao, today."
Aoshi raised an eyebrow questioningly.
"That terrible day, when the headquarters were set on fire… I told her that you saved me. But as always… that day you only thought about her…"
Aoshi's eyes widened, looking ill at ease.
"Yuki… I didn't know you were inside. No one told me… I learned about it only when you came out…"
Yukiko's eyes frowned slightly, but her lips stretched in a painful, sad smile.
"But would you have known, would it have changed anything? I know the answer is no… and you know as well…"
"Stop with it, please, Yuki… Today has already been a long day."
"I know."
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End of chapter 6
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Author's notes : Hum… This was pretty confused… I'll clarify everything in chappie 7 ^^ !! So keep reading !! And finally… You'll learn even more on Yukiko in next part ^^ !! I'm sorry !! I hope you won't drop this story because of this chapter… It's not clear at all, but you'll understand everything in part 7 !! There will be more AxM , more YxA and jealousy from everywhere, more fights, and….. You'll see !!
Be the last one to review !! This is a challenge !!
